Elena Westphal^1,*, Mona Herzberg^2,*, Ingo Neumann^1,**, Li Beibei¹, Claudia Pilowski¹, Chen Li¹, Karl Werdan¹, Harald Loppnow^1,2

European Cytokine Network, Vol.17, No.1, pp. 19-28, 2006

Abstract Inflammation contributes to the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukin-1 (IL-1), may be involved in the local inflammation occurring in the vessel wall. Vascular smooth muscle cells express the unprocessed IL-1β precursor molecule. Invading leukocytes, such as monocytes or polymorphonuclear granulocytes (PMN) may activate the IL-1β precursor during atherogenesis. Thus, we investigated the capacity of PMN to process IL-1β and IL-18 precursors. Processing was analyzed using Western blot and bioassay for IL-1-activity was performed. As few as 80 to 400 PMN/mL detectably processed preIL-1β. PMN also cleaved the caspase-1 substrate preIL-18. The preIL-1β and… More >

Danielle Gomez-Merino¹, Catherine Drogou¹, Charles Yannick Guezennec¹, Pascal Burnat², Cyprien Bourrilhon¹, Armand Tomaszewski³, Stéphane Milhau⁴, Mounir Chennaoui¹

European Cytokine Network, Vol.17, No.2, pp. 117-124, 2006

Abstract Suggested mechanisms for the systemic, circulating cytokinemia observed during heavy physical exertion include inflammation and energy demand. We compared cytokine levels and examined the underlying physiological mechanisms between a long-distance triathlon and a 100-km run, two endurance races of similar duration but characterized by differences in muscle strain. Blood samples were collected from 12 triathletes (34.8 ± 1.4 yr) and 11 runners (42.4 ± 2.2 yr) the day before and at the end of races (T1, R1), and 24 h and 7 days post-race (R2, R3). At R1, significant race-related differences were observed, with greater… 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 >

A. L. McNulty¹, F. T. Moutos¹, R. E. Wilusz¹, J. B. Weinberg², F. Guilak¹

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.3, No.4, pp. 197-198, 2006, DOI:10.32604/mcb.2006.003.197

Abstract This article has no abstract. More >

Reshma S. Phillips¹, Cyril O. Enwonwu^1,2, William A. Falkler¹

European Cytokine Network, Vol.16, No.1, pp. 70-77, 2005

Abstract Fresh noma is a severe orofacial necrosis with an astonishingly rapid development. It is seen mainly in malnourished children less than 4 years old from developing countries. Cytokines play a central role in oral mucosal inflammation. We therefore studied the relevance of circulating cytokines to noma, and the key microorganisms associated with the lesion. Nigerian village children with acute noma (n=68) and their neighborhood village (n=63) as well as urban (n=45) counterparts of comparable age and free of overt infections were evaluated for serum cytokine levels by ELISA. Oral bacteria were studied by polymerase chain… More >

Sara Pagani, Cristina Meazza, Paola Travaglino, Antonia Moretta, Mauro Bozzola

European Cytokine Network, Vol.16, No.1, pp. 65-69, 2005

Abstract The aim of the present study was to establish whether growth hormone (GH) treatment in vivo affects pro-inflammatory cytokine production by resting or in vitro, activated, cultured, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from children with complete growth hormone deficiency (GHD). We evaluated 11, pre-pubertal children (6 males and 5 females) with GHD, aged between 6 and 14 years, and 9, age- and sex-matched healthy subjects were studied as controls (CTRLs). Freshly isolated PBMC were cultured for 4 or 24 h in X-VIVO medium in the presence or absence of 0.01 lg/mL lipopolysaccharide for the determination… More >

Rafael Botella-Estrada¹, Marta Escudero², José E. O’Connor², Eduardo Nagore¹, Bernardo Fenollosa³, Onofre Sanmartín¹, Celia Requena¹, Carlos Guillén¹

European Cytokine Network, Vol.16, No.1, pp. 47-55, 2005

Abstract Background. The differentiation of T cells towards a T helper 1 (Th1) or Th2 phenotype based on their profile of cytokine production, is of great relevance in the regulation of immune responses. We have determined by flow cytometry, the expression of selected Th1 and Th2 cytokines by activated T cells in whole blood samples (WB) from normal donors and from patients with different clinical stages of melanoma in different clinical stages. Methods. WB samples from 6 normal donors and 19 patients with melanoma were activated over 4 hours with PMA + ionomycin in presence or… More >

Othmar Ludwiczek¹, Arthur Kaser¹, Daniela Novick², Charles A. Dinarello³, Menachem Rubinstein², Herbert Tilg^1,4

European Cytokine Network, Vol.16, No.1, pp. 27-33, 2005

Abstract Objectives. Interleukin 18 (IL-18) is a proinflammatory cytokine and a member of the IL-1 family. Animal models and investigations in humans point to an important role for this cytokine in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). IL-18 binding protein (IL-18BP) is a naturally occurring antagonist of IL-18. Methods. In this study, we measured IL-18 and IL-18BP plasma concentrations and spontaneous release in cultures of colonic explants from healthy subjects (n = 41), patients with Crohn’s disease (CD, n = 135), and patients with ulcerative colitis (UC, n = 93). Results. Both CD and UC patients had higher… More >

Anja Ten Brinke, David W. C. Dekkers, Silla M. Notten, Miriam L. Karsten, Els R. de Groot, Lucien A. Aarden

European Cytokine Network, Vol.16, No.2, pp. 144-151, 2005

Abstract 4-hydroxy-oxyphenbutazone (4OH-OPB), is currently in phase II trials for its immunosuppressive effect in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. 4OH-OPB and other compounds related to phenylbutazone were tested for their effect on in vitro cytokine production by monocytes and lymphocytes present in peripheral mononuclear cells (PBMC) or whole blood (WB) cultures, and compared against phenylbutazone and oxyphenbutazone, two known anti-inflammatory drugs. In PBMC cultures, 4OH-OPB was by far the most potent inhibitor, and both monokines and Th1 and Th2 lymphokines were efficiently inhibited at low concentrations. In WB cultures, 4OH-OPB was less effective than in PBMC cultures,… More >