Cristina Tena-Tomás¹, Maria Lucia Pedroso², Iara J. de Messias-Reason^1,2, Peter G. Kremsner¹, Jürgen F. J. Kun¹

European Cytokine Network, Vol.18, No.3, pp. 136-141, 2007, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2007.0098

Abstract Aims. Interferon-a (IFN-α) alone or in combination with ribavirin has been used for the last decade in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C, although the achievement of a sustained virological response (SVR) has not been very satisfactory. The treatment outcome depends on viral genotypes and host genetic polymorphisms in genes involved in the IFN-α signaling cascade. In this paper, we investigated the distribution of two variants of the IFNAR1 gene, G17470C and L168V, in two patient groups having received IFN-α alone or in combination with ribavirin. Methods. The analysis was performed using DNA sequencing of More >

Carlos González¹, Paula Abello², Raquel Cepeda¹, Lorena Salazar³, Octavio Aravena², Barbara Pesce², Diego Catalán², Juan C. Aguillón²

European Cytokine Network, Vol.18, No.3, pp. 127-135, 2007, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2007.0099

Abstract Using the murine model of type II collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), we studied its evolution over time by histopathological, immunohistochemical and clinical evaluations. The first clinical symptoms appeared 28 days post-inoculation (dpi), with bovine type II collagen, with an average arthritic index of 1.00 ± 0.48 corresponding to erythema of the articulation. The disease progressed, and by 70 dpi showed an average arthritic index of 3.83 ± 0.27 corresponding to edema and maximum deformation, with ankylosis. Computed morphometry demonstrated that, in comparison to controls, the induction of CIA, produces a significant and increasing accumulation of inflammatory… More >

Jesus F. Bermejo-Martin¹, Maria C. Garcia-Arevalo¹, Raul Ortiz De Lejarazu², Julio Ardura³, Jose M. Eiros², Ana Alonso³, Vanesa Matías³, Maria Pino³, David Bernardo¹, Eduardo Arranz¹, Alfredo Blanco-Quiros¹

European Cytokine Network, Vol.18, No.3, pp. 45-50, 2007, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2007.0096

Abstract Profiling of immune mediators in both nasal and plasma samples is a common approach to the study of pathogenesis in respiratory viral infections. Nevertheless, mucosal immunity functions essentially independently from peripheral immunity. In our study, 27 immune mediators were profiled in parallel, in nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPAs) and plasma from 22 < 2 year-old children with a severe respiratory syncytial virus infection involving the lower respiratory tract, using a multiplex assay. NPAs from 22 children with innocent heart murmurs were used as controls. Differences in mediator concentrations between NPAs from patients and controls were assessed using… More >

Chantal Jimenez, Bruno Melin, Gustave Savourey, Jean-Claude Launay, Antonia Alonso, Jacques Mathieu

European Cytokine Network, Vol.18, No.3, pp. 37-44, 2007, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2007.0101

Abstract Different stress hormones are released during prolonged exercise and passive hyperthermia. We hypothesized that these different hormonal responses could contribute to the different changes in the immune response during these two challenges.MethodsEight subjects completed three trials in a randomized order. In the control trial (C), the subjects remained in a sitting posture for three hours in thermoneutral conditions. In the exercise hyperthermia trial (E), they exercised for two hours on a treadmill at 65% VO₂ max in thermoneutral conditions, followed by 1-h recovery in thermoneutral conditions; in the passive hyperthermia trial (PH), the subjects remained in… More >

Bilgin Ozmen¹, Cengiz Kirmaz², Kadir Aydin³, Sabriye O. Kafesciler¹, Feyzullah Guclu¹, Zeliha Hekimsoy¹

European Cytokine Network, Vol.18, No.3, pp. 31-36, 2007, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2007.0097

Abstract Background. Osteoporosis that is encountered frequently in postmenopausal women, may cause an increased incidence of vertebral and iliac fractures that are associated with excess morbidity. Raloxifene hydrochloride, a selective oestrogen receptor modulator, has been shown to increase bone mineral density and decrease biochemical markers of bone turnover in postmenopausal women, without stimulatory effects on breast or uterus. Levels of proinflammatory cytokines, including IL-6, and TNF-α and TGF-β1 which are important cytokines involved in remodeling, have been evaluated previously in in vitro studies of osteoporosis. However, there seems to be a paucity of in vivo research… More >

Cristina Tena-Tomás¹, Maria Lucia Pedroso², Iara J. de Messias-Reason^1,2, Peter G. Kremsner¹, Jürgen F. J. Kun¹

European Cytokine Network, Vol.18, No.3, pp. 19-24, 2007, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2007.0098

Abstract Aims. Interferon-a (IFN-α) alone or in combination with ribavirin has been used for the last decade in the treatment of chronic hepatitis C, although the achievement of a sustained virological response (SVR) has not been very satisfactory. The treatment outcome depends on viral genotypes and host genetic polymorphisms in genes involved in the IFN-α signaling cascade. In this paper, we investigated the distribution of two variants of the IFNAR1 gene, G17470C and L168V, in two patient groups having received IFN-α alone or in combination with ribavirin. Methods. The analysis was performed using DNA sequencing of More >

Carlos González¹, Paula Abello², Raquel Cepeda¹, Lorena Salazar³, Octavio Aravena², Barbara Pesce², Diego Catalán², Juan C. Aguillón²

European Cytokine Network, Vol.18, No.3, pp. 9-18, 2007, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2007.0099

Abstract Using the murine model of type II collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), we studied its evolution over time by histopathological, immunohistochemical and clinical evaluations. The first clinical symptoms appeared 28 days post-inoculation (dpi), with bovine type II collagen, with an average arthritic index of 1.00 ± 0.48 corresponding to erythema of the articulation. The disease progressed, and by 70 dpi showed an average arthritic index of 3.83 ± 0.27 corresponding to edema and maximum deformation, with ankylosis. Computed morphometry demonstrated that, in comparison to controls, the induction of CIA, produces a significant and increasing accumulation of inflammatory… 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 >