Jolanta Myśliwska¹, Joanna Więckiewicz¹, Łukasz Hak¹, Janusz Siebert², Jan Rogowski³, Krzysztof Szyndler³, Andrzej Myśliwski⁴

European Cytokine Network, Vol.17, No.3, pp. 181-188, 2006, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2006.0035

Abstract IL6 gene promoter polymorphisms may influence the outcome of cardiovascular diseases. The aim of our study was to find out whether the –174G>C polymorphism, as well as the IL6 secretory profile, may be linked to the number of severely (≥ 75%) occluded coronary arteries in patients with advanced coronary heart disease (CHD). Three hundred and twenty patients awaiting elective coronary artery bypass grafting were enrolled into the study. Blood was taken the day before surgery. The PCR-RFLP method was used for IL6 gene polymorphism analysis. Spontaneous IL6 release was measured by bioassay in supernatants of… More >

Yvonne Kalmbach^1,2, Angelica B. W. Boldt¹, Rolf Fendel^1,2, Benjamin Mordmüller^1,2, Peter G. Kremsner^1,2, Jürgen F. J. Kun¹

European Cytokine Network, Vol.17, No.3, pp. 175-180, 2006, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2006.0032

Abstract The outcome of a Plasmodium falciparum infection differs greatly between patients, ranging from an asymptomatic carrier status to the most severe characteristics influenced by activating and inhibiting immune factors. The inhibitory leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor (LILRB1/CD85j) plays an important role in the immune response as regulator of cytotoxic T cells and of premature activation and clonal expansion of B cells. To investigate its role in malaria, we analyzed blood samples from malaria patients by cytometric analysis. We found a similar expression pattern of CD85j on PBMC in both patients and healthy children. However, malaria patients presented significantly More >

Ettore Capoluongo¹, Dario Pitocco², Concetta Santonocito¹, Paola Concolino^1,3, Stefano Angelo Santini^1,3, Andrea Manto², Paola Lulli¹, Giovanni Ghirlanda², Cecilia Zuppi¹, Franco Ameglio¹

European Cytokine Network, Vol.17, No.3, pp. 164-174, 2006, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2006.0036

Abstract Background. Patients with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) present lower serum free IGF and IGFBP-3 values than healthy people. T1DM patients often present with associated autoimmune diseases such as thyroiditis or coeliac disease, and over time they frequently develop proliferative retinopathy, neuropathy or nephropathy in different combinations. Objective. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of two associated autoimmune diseases or three diabetic complications on the serum free IGF-I or IGFBP-3 levels in T1DM patients, who also have a family history of T1DM. Design. 246 T1DM patients were enrolled, and then subdivided into… More >

Ahmed M. Abu El-Asrar¹, Sofie Struyf², Dustan Kangave³, Karel Geboes⁴, Jo Van Damme²

European Cytokine Network, Vol.17, No.3, pp. 155-165, 2006, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2006.0033

Abstract Purpose. To determine levels of the chemokines CCL1/I-309, CCL2/MCP-1, CCL3/MIP-1α, CCL4/MIP-1β, CCL7/MCP-3, CCL8/MCP-2, CXCL5/ENA-78, CXCL6/GCP-2, CXCL10/IP-10, and CXCL11/I-TAC in the vitreous humor and serum, from patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR), and rhegmatogenous retinal detachment with no PVR (RD), and to investigate the expression of MCP-1, CXCL12/SDF-1, and the chemokine receptor CXCR3 in epiretinal membranes. Methods. Paired vitreous humor and serum samples were obtained from patients undergoing vitrectomy for the treatment of RD (57 specimens), PVR (32 specimens), and PDR (88 specimens). The levels of chemokines were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.… More >

Susanne Schulz^1,2, Undraga Schagdarsurengin¹, Dirk Rehfeld^1,2, Thomas Süß^1,2, Karl Werdan², Ursula Müller-Werdan², Christiane Gläser¹

European Cytokine Network, Vol.17, No.3, pp. 148-154, 2006, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2006.0031

Abstract Background. Inflammatory processes are considered to play an important role in the development of coronary atherosclerosis. The proinflammatory cytokine, tumor necrosis factor b (TNF-β), is thought to contribute to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Study design. In this clinical study, the influence of genetic variants of TNF-β (c.7G>A, IVS1+90G>A, C13R, T60N) on major coronary risk factors, including gender, smoking, history of cardiovascular diseases, biochemical data (inflammatory markers, factors of lipid metabolism, coagulation/fibrinolysis balance), and angiographically-proven coronary state, was investigated in 176 European Caucasian probands (130 males, mean age: 51.9 ± 8.9 y). Results. The most frequent… More >

Arnon Blum¹, Khaled Khazim¹, Monir Merei¹, Aviva Peleg¹, Nava Blum², Vladimir Vaispapir¹

European Cytokine Network, Vol.17, No.4, pp. 295-298, 2006, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2006.0048

Abstract Background. Several studies have found that an increased concentration of haemostatic or inflammation markers was associated with worse prognosis in vascular disease. The inflammatory components in ischemic stroke are of current interest, and there is some experimental evidence that they may be linked. Hypothesis. The study was performed to determine the association between the neurological clinical outcome and levels of cell adhesion molecules in the first four days of hospitalization in patients with acute ischemic event. Methods. This prospective, pilot, case-controlled study examined the association between the clinical outcome and inflammatory markers within the first… More >

Christelle Vauloup¹, Roman Krzysiek^1,2, Liliane Greangeot-Keros¹, Daniel Wendling³, Phillippe Goupille⁴, Rachel Brault⁵, Christine Brousse⁶, Xavier Mariette⁷, Dominique Emilie^1,2

European Cytokine Network, Vol.17, No.4, pp. 290-293, 2006, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2006.0046

Abstract Background. Chronic hepatitis C infection is frequently associated with a mixed cryoglobulinaemia and circulating auto-antibodies, especially anti-smooth muscle cells (SMA) and anti-liver/kidney/microsome type 1 (LKM-1) anti-tissue antibodies. Treatments with TNF antagonists favour the emergence of auto-antibodies, and particularly anti-dsDNA antibodies. Objective. To determine the impact of TNF antagonists on hepatitis C-related immune abnormalities. Methods. We prospectively monitored for 14 weeks, six patients with actively replicating chronic hepatitis C, initiating an anti-TNF treatment for an associated rheumatoid arthritis. Results. Anti-nuclear and anti-dsDNA antibodies were induced in two and three patients, respectively. Treatment had no impact on More >

Amel Boumendjel^1,2, Lina Tawk¹, René de Waal Malefijt³, Vera Boulay¹, Hans Yssel¹, Jérôme Pène¹

European Cytokine Network, Vol.17, No.4, pp. 281-289, 2006, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2006.0045

Abstract It has been reported that IL-27 specifically induces the production of IgG2a by mouse B cells and inhibits IL-4-induced IgG1 synthesis. Here, we show that human naïve cord blood expresses a functional IL-27 receptor, consisting of the TCCR and gp130 subunits, although at lower levels as compared to naïve and memory splenic B cells. IL-27 does not induce proliferative responses and does not increase IgG1 production by CD19⁺ CD27⁺ memory B cells. However, it induces a low, but significant production of IgG1 by naïve CD19⁺ CD27^– IgD⁺ IgG^– spleen and cord blood B cells, activated via CD40, whereas… More >

Joanna Iłżecka¹, Marek Iłżecki²

European Cytokine Network, Vol.17, No.4, pp. 276-280, 2006, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2006.0044

Abstract A PRoliferation-Inducing Ligand (APRIL) is a cytokine with the ability to induce tumorigenesis. The aim of the study was to measure serum APRIL levels in patients with brain glioblastoma multiforme. Twenty five patients with brain tumor and a control group of 25 subjects took part in the study. APRIL was measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent method. The study showed increased APRIL levels in the serum of patients with brain glioblastoma multiforme compared to the control group (p < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference in the level of this cytokine between groups of patients… More >

Ilona Bányász¹, Géza Bokodi¹, Barna Vásárhelyi², András Treszl¹, László Derzbach¹, András Szabó¹, Tivadar Tulassay^1,2,3, Ádám Vannay³

European Cytokine Network, Vol.17, No.4, pp. 271-275, 2006, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2006.0043

Abstract Background. Fabry disease is an X-linked disorder associated with early-onset stroke, cardiomyopathy, and progression to end-stage renal failure. Correlations between inflammatory cytokines have been shown in other lysosomal storage diseases. The aim of the study was to evaluate functional gene polymorphisms of key pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines and to correlate them to a clinical score to assess the potential role of inflammation in Fabry disease. Design. Genotyping for IL-10[819C/T; -592C/A]; IL-1β[+3954C/T; –511C/T]; IL-1α[-889C/T]; and TNF-α[-308G/A] was performed in 76 patients and correlated with MSSI sub-scores and with enzyme (alpha-galactosidase A) levels. Fifty, normal, age- and… More >