Ying Jin¹, Deqiang Kong², Chen Liu², Weihua Gong²

European Cytokine Network, Vol.30, No.2, pp. 39-42, 2019, DOI:10.1684/ ecn.2019.0429

Abstract Since the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-33 and its receptor (ST2) are closely involved in regulating both innate and adaptiveimmune responses,itis conceivable that theymay play animportant rolein organ transplantation. IL-33 is broadly expressed by multiple cell types such as fibroblasts, epithelial cells, and endothelial cells. As a strong inducer of type 2 helperT (Th2) cellularimmune responses, IL-33 can significantly prolong allograft survivalin organ transplantation partially via altering gene expression profiles and increasing frequency of regulatory T cells (Tregs) and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). Nevertheless, the IL-33 signaling pathway and its underlying mechanisms remain largely undefined in transplant… More >

Christopher Maucourant^1,a, Gabriel Andrade Nonato Queiroz^2,3,a, Assia Samri¹, Maria Fernanda Rios Grassi^2,3, Hans Yssel¹, Vincent Vieillard¹

European Cytokine Network, Vol.30, No.3, pp. 74-81, 2019, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2019.0433

Abstract Zika virus (ZIKV) is an emerging arbovirus that causes a mosquito-borne disease. Although infection with ZIKV generally leads to mild disease, its recent emergence in the Americas has been associated with an increase in the development of the Guillain-Barre´ syndrome in adults, as well as with neurological complications, in particular congenital microcephaly, in new-borns. Over the five past years, through the combined efforts of the scientific community, comprehensive remarkable progress aimed at deciphering the clinical, virological, physiopathological, and immunological features of ZIKV infection. This review highlights some of the most recent advances in our understanding More >

Katarina Mirjačić Martinović¹, Milica Milićević¹, Annette K Larsen², Radan Džodić^3,4, Vladimir Jurišić⁵, Gordana Konjević^1,4, Ana Vuletić¹

European Cytokine Network, Vol.30, No.4, pp. 160-167, 2019, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2019.0440

Abstract Objective: Stage II melanoma patients have high risk for regional and distant metastases and may benefit from novel therapeutic strategies. To clarify the role of NK cells in Stage II melanoma, we characterized the cytotoxic activity of NK cells and the expression of various activating and inhibitory receptors in high-risk cutaneous melanoma patients (Stages IIB and IIC) compared to low-risk patients (Stage IA). Materials and Methods: Native and cytokinetreated peripheral blood mononuclear cells were used for functional and phenotypical analyses. Results: Compared to Stage IA-B patients, Stage IIB-C patients showed significantly decreased NK cell activity,… More >

Sifei Yu¹, Xi Luo², Binyan Yang¹, Li Xiao¹, Xingmei Wu³, Huabin Li³, Changyou Wu¹

European Cytokine Network, Vol.30, No.4, pp. 114-122, 2019, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2015.0368

Abstract Tonsils are important lymphoid organs in which B cells and T cells complete their maturation and identify cells that are infected by pathogens. However, the functions of T cells in human tonsils remain unclear, especially the characteristics of polyfunctional CD4⁺ T helper cells. In this study, we used multi-color flow cytometry to analyze the expression or co-expression of effector cytokines in CD4⁺ T cells from tonsillar tissues. We have demonstrated that tonsillar CD4⁺ T cell can express various Th effector cytokines after short-term polyclonal stimulation, and that cytokine-producing CD4⁺ T cells were CD45RO+ T cells. In addition, More >

Zhu Zeng^1,*, Zuquan Hu¹, Qinni Zheng¹, Xiaoli Xu¹, Rong Dong¹, Hui Xue¹, Hui Yang¹

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.16, Suppl.2, pp. 68-69, 2019, DOI:10.32604/mcb.2019.07085

Abstract Dendritic cells (DCs) play a crucial role in initiating and amplifying both the innate and adaptive immune responses [1]. Clinically, the DCs-based immunotherapy against cancer is considered one of the most promising therapies to overcome cancers, but there are still many challenges need to be overcome [2]. The motility of DCs is especially crucial for migration of immature DCs into peripheral tissue and dynamic physical interaction between mature DCs and naive T cells in the secondary lymph node. This study focuses on the investigations of DCs at different differentiation stages and under various suppressive cytokines… More >

Chen Liu^1,a, Juntao Chen^1,a, Baoqing Liu^1,a, Shunzong Yuan^2,a, Dawei Shou³, Liang Wen¹, Xiaoying Wu⁴, Weihua Gong¹

European Cytokine Network, Vol.29, No.2, pp. 48-51, 2018, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2018.0410

Abstract Since pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-18 and its receptor (IL-18R) are closely involved in regulating both adaptive and innate immune responses, it is conceivable that they might play an important role in organ transplantation. IL-18 can stimulate lymphocytes to produce the IFN-γ and regulate macrophage activity, thereby increasing the expression of proinflammatory cytokines including IL-1β, IL-6, CCL4 (macrophage inflammatory protein-1 β), CXCL2 (macrophage inflammatory protein-2), and CCL2 (monocyte chemotactic protein-1). Nevertheless, the IL-18 signaling pathway and its underlying mechanisms remain obscure in transplant biology. This review is to summarize recent advances in our knowledge about the IL-18… More >

Yumi Shiina¹, Tomoaki Murakami², Noriko Matsumoto³, Daisuke Okamura⁴, Yuta Takahashi⁴, Yosuke Nishihata¹, Nobuyuki Komiyama¹, Koichiro Niwa¹

Congenital Heart Disease, Vol.13, No.1, pp. 79-84, 2018, DOI:10.1111/chd.12555

Abstract Objectives: To assess body composition and relationships among body composition, appetiterelated hormones, adipocytokines, and heart failure (HF) in adult patients with congenital heart disease (CHD).
Patients: This prospective study enrolled 46 consecutive adult patients with CHD and 12 agematched healthy controls. The patients and control subjects were divided into four groups: 13 patients with Fontan circulation (group A), 16 patients with cyanosis (group B), 17 patients who previously underwent biventricular repair (group C), and 12 age-matched healthy controls.
Design: Body composition was measured using InBody730, and levels of appetite-related hormones (ghrelin and leptin) and adipocytokines (leptin, interleukin-6, and… More >

Virginia Aragon Sanabria¹, Cheng Dong^*

Molecular & Cellular Biomechanics, Vol.15, No.1, pp. 1-19, 2018, DOI:10.3970/mcb.2018.015.001

Abstract Endothelial barrier function is critical for tissue homeostasis throughout the body. Disruption of the endothelial monolayer leads to edema, vascular diseases and even cancer metastasis among other pathological conditions. Breakdown of the endothelial barrier integrity triggered by cytokines (e.g.IL-8,IL-1β) and growth factors (e.g.VEGF) is well documented. However, endothelial cells are subject to major biomechanical forces that affect their behavior. Due to their unique location at the interface between circulating blood and surrounding tissues, endothelial cells experience shear stress, strain and contraction forces. More than three decades ago, it was already appreciated that shear flow caused More >

Petra Jilma-Stohlawetz¹, Tuende Kliegel², Irene Kantner-Schlifke², Claudia Strasser-Marsik², Florian B. Mayr², Bernd Jilma²

European Cytokine Network, Vol.28, No.1, pp. 19-26, 2017, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2017.0389

Abstract Background: Endotoxemia induces pronounced changes in leukocyte count and enhances the release of many cytokines. However, the molecular regulation of this cytokine release is poorly characterized in humans. Methods: The time course of mRNA expression of 24 cytokines in circulating leukocytes was studied in a wellstandardized model of human endotoxemia (2 ng/kg). Real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to quantify the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-inducible mRNA levels of leukocytes from 16 healthy volunteers in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial. Results: Baseline mRNA levels of interleukins including IL-1α, IL-3, IL-5, IL-6, IL-12p40, IL-13, IL-15, IL-17, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor… More >

Takehiro Hasegawa^1,2, Hitoshi Uga¹, Akio Mori³, Hirokazu Kurata^1,2

European Cytokine Network, Vol.28, No.1, pp. 8-18, 2017, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2017.0390

Abstract Asthma is a syndrome of chronic bronchial inflammation and airway remodelling. Initially, asthma has been categorized into atopic and nonatopic types, based on antigen-specific IgE levels. Moreover, recently, asthma has been classified into different endotypes based on its pathophysiology, leading to the selection of the most optimal and effective therapies. Although T helper cell type 2 (Th2) cytokines were proven to play critical roles in atopic asthma, IL-17A has been reported to be involved in severe refractory asthma. Patients and methods: In this study, we measured the levels of 24 cytokines/chemokines in the sera of… More >