Mahmoud Abu Elhija^1,4, Eitan Lunenfeld^2,4, Talia Eldar-Geva³, Mahmoud Huleihel^1,4

European Cytokine Network, Vol.19, No.1, pp. 15-24, 2008, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2008.0116

Abstract In this study we examined the cellular origin and the expression levels of interleukin-18 (IL-18), IL-18 receptor (IL-18R) and IL-1b-converting enzyme (ICE), which activates pro-IL-18, during normal maturation of murine testis. The levels of IL-18, IL-18R and ICE were significantly higher in testicular tissues and homogenates (but not in the spleen or liver) from sexually immature than mature mice. Immunohistochemical staining of testicular tissues from sexually immature and mature mice shows that testicular germ cells and Leydig cells/interstitial cells express higher levels of IL-18, as compared to other testicular cells. Peritubular cells of sexually immature More >

Mounir Chennaoui, Catherine Drogou, Danielle Gomez-Merino

European Cytokine Network, Vol.19, No.1, pp. 8-14, 2008, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2008.0115

Abstract There is increasing evidence that voluntary physical activity and exercise training have beneficial effects on brain function by facilitating neurovegetative, neuroadaptative and neuroprotective processes. Cytokines are chronically expressed at elevated levels within the CNS in many neurological disorders and may contribute to the histopathological, pathophysiological, and cognitive deficits associated with such disorders. In the present study, we examined the influence of seven weeks of physical training on IL-1b, IL-6 and IL-1ra concentrations in hypothalamus, pituitary, hippocampus, cerebellum and frontal cortex in rats. We determined circulating concentrations of cytokines, corticosterone, prolactin and leptin. Two groups of… More >

Diane Agay¹, Maud Andriollo-Sanchez¹, Richard Claeyssen^1,2, Laurence Touvard¹, Josiane Denis¹, Anne-Marie Roussel², Yves Chancerelle¹

European Cytokine Network, Vol.19, No.1, pp. 1-7, 2008, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2008.0113

Abstract Previous studies have demonstrated the early appearance of inflammatory cytokines in the systemic circulation after thermal injury both in humans and animals. The aim of this study was to evaluate the time course of several cytokines, IL-6, TNF-α and IL-1β in serum, lung, liver and brain of severely burned rats during the first week after thermal injury. Cytokine measurements were performed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The comparison between the sham-burned animals and animals with third-degree burns on 20% or 40% of their total body surface area allowed for the study of the inflammatory process… More >

Ali Akbar Amirzargar^1,2, Mehrnaz Naroueynejad¹, Farideh Khosravi¹, Saied Dianat¹, Nima Rezaei³, Joannis Mytilineos⁴, Behrouz Nikbin^1,2

European Cytokine Network, Vol.19, No.2, pp. 104-112, 2008, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2008.0122

Abstract Cytokines are important immunomodulatory molecules involved in immune responses against microorganisms; they also have an important role in the setting of immune system disorders. Cytokine single nucleotide polymorphisms have been extensively studied in different, normal populations as well as in association with disease. Cytokine gene polymorphisms are potentially important as genetic predictors of disease suscepti-bility, clinical outcome, and as a tool for anthropological studies. In this study, samples have been collected from 455 healthy individuals located in different regions of Iran (Tehran, Yazd, Sistan and Balochistan). Allele and genotype frequencies of cytokine SNP, including: IL-1α,… More >

Carlos Caorsi¹, Fernando Pineda¹, Carlos Munoz²

European Cytokine Network, Vol.19, No.2, pp. 99-103, 2008, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2008.0124

Abstract Background. While statins are increasingly used in cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), the anti-inflammatory effects of individual statins, within the context of various treatment regimes, need further examination. The present study evaluates the anti-inflammatory effectiveness of the short-term, preoperative and intensive postoperative use of pravastatin in CPB. Method. Forty three patients undergoing CPB were enrolled in a randomized, prospective clinical study. One group (n = 21), received pravastatin, the other (n = 22) did not. Patients in the pravastatin group received one dose of 40 mg per day for nine days, starting 48 hours before CPB, with… More >

Majid Mahmoodi^1,2, Mohammad-Reza Mir¹, Parviz Daryaei¹, Iraj Harirchi¹, Nima Rezaei³, Mohammad-Ali Mohagheghi¹, Alireza Mousavi-Jarrahi¹, Bijan Nahavandian¹, Morteza Kavianpour¹, Abbas Jafari¹

European Cytokine Network, Vol.19, No.2, pp. 92-98, 2008, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2008.0126

Abstract Curative esophageal resection is usually performed using either a transthoracic (TT) or transhiatal (TH) approach. Forty patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who underwent esophagectomies (24 TT and 16 TH), 12 patients who underwent surgery for gastric cancer, and 16 healthy individuals were enrolled in this study. Blood samples were taken from the patients, pre- and post-surgery. The levels of synthesis of T-helper 1 and 2 cytokines were assessed in vitro in the presence of mitogen. Our initial data indicated that at admission, 24 h before surgery, blood cells from both groups of esophageal cancer… More >

Alicja Kasperska-Zajac, Zenon Brzoza, Barbara Rogala

European Cytokine Network, Vol.19, No.2, pp. 89-91, 2008, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2008.0123

Abstract Background. Delayed pressure urticaria (DPU) is a distinct form of urticaria, characterized by marked dermal swelling, deep inflammatory infiltrate and systemic symptoms. Little is known about inflamma-tory mediators involved in this disease. Objective. To investigate secretion of platelet-specific chemokines, platelet factor 4 (PF-4) and beta-thromboglobulin (beta-TG) during the course of DPU. Methods and material. Plasma concentrations of PF-4 and beta-TG were measured in eight adult DPU patients and in 15, age- and sex-matched, healthy controls. Results. Plasma PF-4 and beta-TG concentration scores were significantly higher in the DPU group as compared with the control subjects. More >

Jean-Marc Schiano de Colella^1,2, Bernadette Barbarat¹, Ray Sweet⁴, Jean-Albert Gastaut², Daniel Olive^1,3, Regis T. Costello^1,2

European Cytokine Network, Vol.19, No.2, pp. 81-88, 2008, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2008.0125

Abstract Mature dendritic cells (DC) are efficient, antigen-presenting cells required for the stimulation of naive T lymphocytes. Many members of the tumour necrosis factor (TNF) receptor family are involved in DC maturation, such as Fas, CD40, OX40L, LIGHT (homologous to lymphotoxins, exhibits inducible expression, and competes with HSV glycoprotein D for herpes virus entry mediator (HVEM), a receptor expressed by T lymphocytes) or RANK (receptor activator of NFjB), with different, but often overlapping effects. We focused our attention on RANK DC stimulation, since RANK ligand (RL) is expressed on activated T lymphocytes with different kinetic and… More >

Marie-Caroline Le Bousse-Kerdilès^1,2, Marie-Claire Martyré^1,2, Michel Samson³

European Cytokine Network, Vol.19, No.2, pp. 69-80, 2008, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2008.0127

Abstract Chronic fibroproliferative diseases are an important cause of morbidity and mortality in the world. Fibrotic diseases occur in a large variety of vital organs, and the process of fibrosis seems common to all tissues. In all of fibrotic reactions, the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms involve leukocyte infiltration, the persistence of inflammation in the tissue, and the proliferation of cells with a myofibroblast phenotype. The different cell types participating to this process sustain production of growth factors, proteolytic enzymes, angiogenic factors, and fibrogenic cytokines, which together stimulate the deposition of connective tissue elements that progressively More >

Theodora Stroubini¹, Despoina Perrea², Apostolos Perelas¹, Charis Liapi¹, Ismini Dontas², Maria Trapali¹, Nikolaos Katsilambros², Panagiota Galanopoulou¹

European Cytokine Network, Vol.19, No.3, pp. 149-155, 2008, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2008.0130

Abstract Aim. The aim of the study was to investigate: a) the differential effect of the three main macronu-trients on food intake, fat depots and serum leptin levels and b) the impact of sibutramine on the above parameters in rats fed ad libitum with three isocaloric diets. Methods. Three groups of male Wistar rats (n = 63) were fed with a high fat diet (HFD), a high carbohydrate diet (HCD) or a high protein diet (HPD) for 13 weeks. In the last three weeks, each group was divided into three subgroups and received sibutramine (S) either at… More >