Jacek Karczewski^1,4, Aleksandra Zielin´ska², Rafał Staszewski³, Piotr Eder⁴, Agnieszka Dobrowolska⁴

European Cytokine Network, Vol.32, No.4, pp. 64-72, 2021, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2021.0474

Abstract The abnormal accumulation of visceral adipose tissue in obesity is associated with metabolic changes that include altered glucose tolerance, insulin resistance, hyperlipidemia, and metabolic syndrome. Obesity also coincides with increased incidence of autoimmune diseases. Accumulating evidence suggest that prolonged metabolic overload related to overnutrition, influenced by genetic and epigenetic factors, might affect immunologic self-tolerance through changes in the energy metabolism of immune cells, particularly regulatory T (Treg) cells. A strong activation of nutrient-energy signaling pathways blocks the induction of the transcription factor forkhead P3 (FOXP3), a master regulator of Treg cells, consequently inhibiting their generation More >

Xiaona Li^1,*, Sijia Wang¹, Jie Song¹, Yixian Qin², Jizhong Yang³, Rui He^4,*, Weiyi Chen¹

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.18, No.1, pp. 11-19, 2021, DOI:10.32604/mcb.2021.014071 - 26 January 2021

Abstract The cornea is a load-bearing tissue. Lower biomechanical properties in the local tissue of keratoconic cornea evoke mechanical stress increase. Inflammatory cytokines have been shown to be over-expressed in patients with keratoconus. However, how mechanical stimuli are involved in the production of inflammatory cytokines in keratoconus remains unclear. The objective of the study is to determine the role of mechanical stretch in the regulation of inflammatory cytokines and the underlying mechanisms in keratoconus. Human keratoconic fibroblasts (hKCFs) were subjected to 12% cyclic mechanical stretch at 0.1 Hz or in static conditions as controls. N-acetyl cysteine… More >

Yishay Szekely, Merav Ingbir, Ohad S. Bentur, Ohad Hochner, Reuven Porat

European Cytokine Network, Vol.31, No.2, pp. 50-58, 2020, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2020.0445

Abstract Natural cannabinoids may have beneficial effects on various tissues and functions including a positive influence on the immune system and the inflammatory process. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of natural cannabinoids on the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated whole human blood cells. Levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were measured before and after exposure of LPS-stimulated whole blood to different concentrations of Cannabidiol (CBD) or a combination of CBD and Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) extract. LPS stimulated the production of the pro-inflammatory… More >

Maroua Chaouali^1,2, Mouna Ben Azaiez¹, Aymen Tezeghdenti¹, Besma Yacoubi-Oueslati², Ezzedine Ghazouani¹, Radhia Kochkar¹

European Cytokine Network, Vol.31, No.3, pp. 94-103, 2020, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2020.0450

Abstract Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a chronic hepatitis of unknown etiology and several cytokines have been implicated in its pathogenesis and onset. Our objective was to determine the profile of pro and anti-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-23, IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-10 in autoimmune hepatitis and their association with HLA gene polymorphisms. Serum cytokine levels were determined in 50 autoimmune hepatitis patients and one hundred fifty controls using chemiluminescence and ELISA techniques and HLA genotyping performed by PCR SSP. The levels of IL-6 (12 pg/mL vs. 5.5 pg/mL, p = 0.017), IL-8 (24.1 pg/mL vs. 7.8 More >

Negar Moradian^1,2, Mahdi Gouravani^1,2, Mohammad Amin Salehi^1,2, Arash Heidari^1,2, Melika Shafeghat^1,2, Michael R. Hamblin^3,4,5, Nima Rezaei^1,2,6

European Cytokine Network, Vol.31, No.3, pp. 81-93, 2020, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2020.0451

Abstract Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) reached pandemic proportions at the beginning of 2020 and continues to be a worldwide concern. End organ damage and acute respiratory distress syndrome are the leading causes of death in severely or critically ill patients. The elevated cytokine levels in severe patients in comparison with mildly affected patients suggest that cytokine release syndrome (CRS) occurs in the severe form of the disease. In this paper, the significant role of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-alpha, and their mechanism of action in the CRS cascade is explained. Potential therapeutic approaches involving anti-IL-6 More >

EUN NA¹, MYOUNGWON CHOI², INDAL PARK², SUNYOUNG LIM^3,*

BIOCELL, Vol.44, No.2, pp. 193-199, 2020, DOI:10.32604/biocell.2020.08648 - 27 May 2020

Abstract We investigated the effect of black sea bream extracts on changes in pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in murine splenocytes. The levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines [interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IL-12/IL-23(p40) and IL-17A] and anti-inflammatory cytokines [IL-4, IL-10 and interferon-γ (IFN-γ)] were assessed. Incubation of murine splenocytes with acetone+methylene chloride (A+M) and methanol (MeOH) extracts significantly decreased LPS-induced IL-6, IL-12/IL-23(p40) and IL-17A productions after 6 h incubation (p < 0.05). The A+M and MeOH extracts significantly increased LPS-induced IL-4 and IFN-γ productions at 48 and 72 h incubation (p < 0.05). More >

Fugang Li¹, Li Liu^2,a, Xiaolan Guo¹, Zhigang Luo¹, Yong Zhang², Feng Lu¹, Gang Wang¹, Tao Chen¹, Dezheng Chen²

European Cytokine Network, Vol.30, No.1, pp. 34-38, 2019, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2019.0425

Abstract Objective: This study mainly to explore the change of serum cytokines in wasp sting patients and the potential correlation between cytokines and acute kidney injury (AKI) due to wasp stings. Methods: The levels of IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, and IFN-γ in 33 wasp sting and 24 healthy people were measured by flow cytometry, the level of IL-17 was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and the laboratory examination including inflammatory indicators, muscle enzyme markers, and renal function were detected by automatic biochemical analyzer, blood analyzer, and urine analyzer. The wasp sting patients were divided into… More >

Roba M. Talaat¹, Hiba Sibaii², Iman H. Bassyouni³, Amany El-Wakkad⁴

European Cytokine Network, Vol.30, No.1, pp. 15-22, 2019, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2019.0421

Abstract There are a limited number of studies that report the polarization of the immune system toward the production of T helper 1 (Th1), Th2, or Th17-type cytokines in patients with Behçet’s disease (BD). Here, we aimed to detect the presence of various cytokines in serum samples of Egyptian BD patients and to determine the correlation between their production levels and clinical manifestations. To that aim, serum levels of IFN-γ, IL-10, IL-6, and IL-17 measured by ELISA were determined in BD patients with active or inactive disease to evaluate their clinical relevance. The results of the… More >

Zahra Ebrahim Soltani^1,2, Farzaneh Rahmani^1,2, Nima Rezaei^2,3

European Cytokine Network, Vol.30, No.1, pp. 1-14, 2019, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2019.0424

Abstract Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) is the most common cause of acute paralysis in the United States. Campylobacter jejuni is a common trigger for GBS, igniting autoimmunity as a result of molecular mimicry between C. jejuni lipooligosaccharide (LOS) and host gangliosides. Evidence also suggests an active role for cell-mediated and innate immunity in pathogenesis of GBS. Infection alone is not enough for GBS to develop, infection with the same strain might yield different outcomes in different patients. C. jejuni strains with low to absent molecular mimicry to self-antigens can cause full-blown GBS with positive autoantibodies. A role for T helper More >

Anastasia S. Proskurina¹, Alisa V. Spaselnikova^1,2, Genrikh S. Ritter^1,2, Evgenia V. Dolgova¹, Ekaterina A. Potter¹, Margarita V. Romanenko², Sergey V. Netesov², Yaroslav R. Efremov^1,2, Oleg S. Taranov³, Nikolay A. Varaksin⁴, Tatiana G. Ryabicheva⁴, Aleksandr A. Ostanin⁵, Elena R. Chernykh⁵, Sergey S. Bogachev¹

European Cytokine Network, Vol.30, No.2, pp. 43-58, 2019, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2019.0427

Abstract The present study demonstrates that monocyte-derived dendritic cells (moDCs) produced in vitro using a GM-CSF and IFN-α differentiation protocol encompass a rare (~5%) subpopulation of cells showing classical dendritic cell morphology and capable of natural internalization of extracellular self-DNA. We established that DEFB, HMGB1, LL-37 and RAGE antigens, which mediate the process of DNA internalization, are expressed on the surface of moDCs similar to plasmacytoid dendritic cells. However, in constrast to the latter subpopulation, these cells do not produce interleukin (IL)-37. Nonetheless, the process of DNA internalization was not in direct relation to the presence… More >