Madeleine Collette¹, Géraldine Descamps¹, Catherine Pellat-Deceunynck, Régis Bataille, Martine Amiot

European Cytokine Network, Vol.18, No.3, pp. 1-7, 2007, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2007.0095

Abstract In multiple myeloma, a large number of growth factors (IL-6, IGF-1, FGF, HGF and HB-EGF) are involved in promoting myeloma cell growth. In the present study, a serum-free, cytokine-free, collagen-based assay, which does not allow the generation of spontaneous myeloma colonies, was used to identify the clonogenic growth factors for fourteen myeloma cell lines. IL-6 is the only clonogenic factor able to stimulate both CD45+ and CD45- myeloma cell lines, generating myeloma colonies from 10 out of 14 myeloma cell lines. Using a pharmacological Erk inhibitor, we show that the Erk/MAPK pathway is involved in… More >

Atosa Azarang¹, Majid Mahmoodi^1,2, Said Rajabalian¹, Majid Asadi Shekari¹, Jafar Nosratabadi¹, Nima Rezaei³

European Cytokine Network, Vol.18, No.4, pp. 210-214, 2007, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2007.0107

Abstract There are a few studies with conflicting results on the effects of opioids on the functioning of immune system. This study was performed to investigate the in vitro production of interferon-c and interleukin-10 after antigenic stimulation of cells using whole blood from opioid addicts. Blood samples were taken from 20 chronically opioid-addicted persons, who voluntarily enrolled for detoxification (10 opium and 10 heroin addicts). Blood samples were also taken from 10 healthy individuals with no history of drug abuse as the control. Cell culture was performed in a whole blood culture assay. Diluted blood samples… More >

Kyriaki Venetsanou¹, Konstantinos Vlachos², Athanassios Moles¹, Gerassimos Fragakis², George Fildissis¹, George Baltopoulos¹

European Cytokine Network, Vol.18, No.4, pp. 206-209, 2007, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2007.0112

Abstract Traumatic brain injury (TBI) acts as an inducer of the inflammatory reaction expressed by the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1b [IL-1b], interleukin-6 [IL-6] and interleukin-8 [IL-8]), and causes metabolic alterations in the early, post-traumatic state, either in the brain or/and the systemic circulation. The metabolic changes involve carbohydrates, proteins and lipids. We focused on the serum lipid profile, the impact of trauma on lipoproteins, and their subsequent effects, on inflammation. We investigated the role of cytokines and serum lipids, in patient outcome, reviewing 30-day mortality and the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). A total of 75… More >

Pierre-Blaise Matsiegui^1,2, Michel A. Missinou^1,2, Saadou Issifou¹, Magdalena Necek^1,3, Elie Mavoungou^1,2

European Cytokine Network, Vol.18, No.4, pp. 201-205, 2007, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2007.0105

Abstract We assessed the ability of ibuprofen to modulate tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor type I (sTNFR-I), and soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor type II (sTNFR-II) responses during the treatment of fever in uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria, in a placebo-controlled, randomized, double-blind study of 50 pediatric patients in Lambaréné, Gabon. Treatment of the malaria involved the patients receiving intravenous quinine (12 mg/kg of quinine dihydrochloride every 12 h for 72 h) followed by a single dose of oral sulfadoxine/pyrimethamine (25 mg and 1.25 mg/kg). Fever was treated by mechanical treatment plus either… More >

Maha Kammoun-Krichen¹, Noura Bougacha-Elleuch¹, Kaouthar Makni¹, Maha Rebai³, Sylvie Peraldi-Roux², Ahmed Rebai³, Mouna Mnif⁴, Mohamed Abid⁴, Joumaa Jouida⁵, Hammadi Ayadi¹

European Cytokine Network, Vol.18, No.4, pp. 196-200, 2007, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2007.0104

Abstract Autoimmune thyroid diseases (AITDs), including Graves’ disease (GD) and autoimmune hypothy-roidism (AH), are inherited as complex traits. Among the genes contributing to AITDs susceptibility are genes of the IL-1 family. IL-1 regulates T and B lymphocyte maturation, including the induction of several cytokines and cytokine receptors. Therefore, disturbances of this balance may not only play a role in inflammation but also in the pathogenesis of autoimmunity. In order to investigate genetic association of IL-1 gene polymorphisms with AITDs, we performed both a familial study in a large Tunisian pedigree with high prevalence of AITDs (64… More >

Alaa Amash^1,4,*, Mahmoud Huleihel^1,4,*, Sheiner Eyal^2,4, Ester Maor^3,4, Leslie Myatt⁵, Gershon Holcberg^2,4,*

European Cytokine Network, Vol.18, No.4, pp. 188-194, 2007, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2007.0102

Abstract The aim of the study was to examine the stimulatory effect of the inflammatory agent lipopolysac-charide (LPS) on the capacity of human term placenta to secrete interleukin (IL)-15 and IL-18. Isolated placental cotyledons from normal human term deliveries were dually perfused for ten hours with perfusion medium alone (n = 5) or with perfusion medium containing LPS (1 lg/kg perfused placental tissue) (n = 5). Placental tissue was collected from three different placental compartments (amnion, chorion, and placenta) before and after perfusion. The placental tissues collected were homogenized and examined for IL-15 and IL-18 by… More >

Ewa Robak¹, Lilianna Kulczycka¹, Anna Sysa-JVdrzejowska¹, Agnieszka Wierzbowska², Tadeusz Robak²

European Cytokine Network, Vol.18, No.4, pp. 181-187, 2007, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2007.0103

Abstract Serum concentrations of three angiogenic cytokines: vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) and placental growth factor (PIGF) and soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (sVCAM-1), were investigated in the serum of 61 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and 20 healthy subjects. The possible association between serum levels of these proteins and SLE activity, as well as correlation between the concentrations of cytokines were also analysed. All of these factors were detectable in all SLE patients and the healthy control group. The median concentration of VEGF was higher in active SLE (386… More >

René Rodríguez¹, Victor M. Campa¹, José Riera¹, M. Teresa Carcedo¹, David S. Ucker², Sofía Ramos¹, Pedro S. Lazo¹

European Cytokine Network, Vol.18, No.4, pp. 172-180, 2007, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2007.0106

Abstract Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is known to be a mediator of a variety of cellular responses including apoptotic death or proliferation depending on the target cell and the environmental conditions. We show here that TNF triggers both growth and death signals in NIH 3T3 murine fibroblasts. In cells arrested in G₀ by serum deprivation, TNF drives approximately 50% of them to enter the cell cycle, but kills the cells that remain quiescent. The presence of serum prevents toxic effects of TNF, suggesting that TNF can cooperate to drive cells through the cell cycle, but is unable… More >

Kyriaki Venetsanou¹, Konstantinos Vlachos², Athanassios Moles¹, Gerassimos Fragakis², George Fildissis¹, George Baltopoulos¹

European Cytokine Network, Vol.18, No.4, pp. 39-42, 2007, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2007.0112

Abstract Traumatic brain injury (TBI) acts as an inducer of the inflammatory reaction expressed by the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines [interleukin-1b (IL-1b), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8)], and causes metabolic alterations in the early, post-traumatic state, either in the brain or/and the systemic circulation. The metabolic changes involve carbohydrates, proteins and lipids. We focused on the serum lipid profile, the impact of trauma on lipoproteins, and their subsequent effects, on inflammation. We investigated the role of cytokines and serum lipids, in patient outcome, reviewing 30-day mortality and the Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS). A total of 75… More >

Atosa Azarang¹, Majid Mahmoodi^1,2, Said Rajabalian¹, Majid Asadi Shekari¹, Jafar Nosratabadi¹, Nima Rezaei³

European Cytokine Network, Vol.18, No.4, pp. 33-37, 2007, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2007.0107

Abstract There are a few studies with conflicting results on the effects of opioids on the functioning of immune system. This study was performed to investigate the in vitro production of interferon-c and interleukin-10 after antigenic stimulation of cells using whole blood from opioid addicts.Blood samples were taken from 20 chronically opioid-addicted persons, who voluntarily enrolled for detoxification (10 opium and 10 heroin addicts). Blood samples were also taken from 10 healthy individuals with no history of drug abuse as the control. Cell culture was performed in a whole blood culture assay. Diluted blood samples were… More >