Huijie Jia^*†1, Tiesuo Zhao^‡§1, Di Zou^¶, Xiaolong Jia^§, Ji Gao^#, Xiangfeng Song^‡§

Oncology Research, Vol.23, No.6, pp. 321-326, 2015, DOI:10.3727/096504016X14570992647041

Abstract Synthetic CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs), as TLR9 agonists, have been found to play a possible role in antitumor effect. In order to determine the effect of YW002, known as a C-type CpG ODN, on the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), which is one of the most aggressive carcinomas, we chose to inject YW002 at the doses of 12.5 μg and 25 μg per mouse 7 days post-tumor challenge. The survival rate of mice was recorded every day. On day 14 postinjection, five mice in each group were bled and randomly sacrificed. The level of IFN-γ or… More >

Ewa Ziemann¹, Robert A. Olek², Tomasz Grzywacz¹, Jan J. Kaczor³, Jędrzej Antosiewicz⁴, Wojciech Skrobot³, Sylwester Kujach¹, Radosław Laskowski¹

European Cytokine Network, Vol.25, No.1, pp. 14-23, 2014, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2014.0349

Abstract Inflammation may accompany obesity and a variety of diseases, or result from excessive exercise. The aim of this study was to investigate the anti-inflammatory effect of whole-body cryostimulation on the inflammatory response induced by eccentric exercise under laboratory conditions. The study also sought to establish if cold treatment changes the lipid profile and modifies energy expenditure in young people. Eighteen healthy and physically active, college-aged men volunteered to participate in the experiment. They were divided into two subgroups: CRY-submitted to whole-body cryostimulation, and CONT- a control group. Both groups performed eccentric work to induce muscle… More >

Martin Kováč^1,2, Martina Vášková^1,2, Denisa Petráčková³, Vendula Pelková^1,2, Ester Mejstříková^1,2, Tomáš Kalina^1,2, Markéta Žaliová^1,2, Jaroslav Weiser³, Jan Starý², Ondřej Hrušák^1,2

European Cytokine Network, Vol.25, No.1, pp. 8-13, 2014, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2014.0348

Abstract Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells depend on the microenvironment of the host in vivo and do not survive in in vitro culture. Conversely, the suppression of non-malignant tissues is one of the leading characteristics of the course of ALL. Both the non-malignant suppression and malignant cell survival may be partly affected by soluble factors within the bone marrow (BM) environment. Here, we aimed to identify proteins in BM plasma of children with ALL that may contribute to ALL aggressiveness and/or the microenvironment-mediated survival of ALL cells. LBMp (leukemic bone marrow plasma) at the time of… More >

Harika Atmaca¹, Selim Uzunoglu²

European Cytokine Network, Vol.25, No.1, pp. 1-7, 2014, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2014.0347

Abstract Trabectedin, a tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloid derived from a Caribbean tunicate Ecteinascidia turbinata, has been shown to have antitumor effects. In this study, we assessed the possible anti-angiogenic effects of trabectedin on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and breast cancer cell lines. An XTT cell viability assay was used to determine cytotoxicity. A scratch assay was used to detect the migration of cells after trabectedin treatment. Angiogenic cytokine profiles of breast cancer cell lines, before and after treatment with trabectedin, were investigated using an angiogenesis antibody array. Changes in mRNA expression levels of VEGF were evaluated… More >

Ozbey G¹, Gorczynski R², Erin N¹

European Cytokine Network, Vol.25, No.2, pp. 30-34, 2014, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2014.0353

Abstract Measurements of cytokines in cell culture supernatants are widely used to evaluate the immune response. Cytokine levels in secretomes are usually quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), which have easy, sensitive, specific, rapid, cost-effective, and reproducible protocols. To our knowledge, the stability of cytokines in secretomes has not been hitherto investigated. We present data that involve; time-dependent changes during storage at +4℃, and the effects of freeze-thaw cycles in samples frozen at -80℃, instant freezing of samples with liquid nitrogen, and addition of protease inhibitors on the stability of certain cytokines (TNF-α, MIP-2, IFN-γ, IL-6, More >

Mounir Chennaoui^1,2, Catherine Drogou^1,2, Fabien Sauvet^1,2, Danielle Gomez-Merino^1,2, Denis E. Scofield³, Bradley C. Nindl⁴

European Cytokine Network, Vol.25, No.3, pp. 52-57, 2014, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2014.0356

Abstract Acute sleep deprivation in humans has been found to increase inflammatory markers and signaling pathways in the periphery through a possible Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4). In addition, short duration sleep has been associated with low circulating total Insulin-like Growth Factor-I (IGF-I) concentrations. We aimed to determine whether a total sleep deprivation (TSD) protocol with recovery altered whole-blood gene expression of the proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-6, as well as TLR-4 expression, and to examine the relationship with circulating concentrations of the IGF-I system. Twelve healthy men participated in a five-day TSD (two control nights followed… More >

Ewa Robak¹, Lilianna Kulczycka-Siennicka¹, Zofia Gerlicz¹, Monika Kierstan¹, Anna Korycka-Wolowiec², Anna Sysa-Jedrzejowska¹

European Cytokine Network, Vol.24, No.1, pp. 60-68, 2013, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2013.0330

Abstract Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease of multifactorial pathoaetiology. Different organs and blood vessels may be affected by chronic inflammation. A direct cause of the disease has not yet been found, so research is being carried out to this effect. The role of the recently identified helper T lymphocyte CD4+, described as Th17, and its dependent cytokines have been of particular interest. The aim of the study was to evaluate IL-17A, IL-17B, IL-17F and IL-23 in 60 SLE patients and 26 age-matched, healthy volunteers and also to investigate the correlation between levels of… More >

Bijan Keikhaei¹, Ali Reza Mohseni², Reza Norouzirad³, Mastaneh Alinejadi⁴, Somayeh Ghanbari¹, Fariba Shiravi¹, Ghasem Solgi⁵

European Cytokine Network, Vol.24, No.1, pp. 45-52, 2013, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2013.0328

Abstract Objective: This study aimed to evaluate serum levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and TGF-β in sickle cell disease (SCD) patients, and to compare the results during vaso-occlusive crisis (VOC) or steady state (StSt) conditions. Methods: 54 SCD patients (37HbSS and 17Sβ⁺Thal) were enrolled in the study and evaluated in two groups as follows; group A consisted of 39 VOC patients and group B comprised 15 StSt patients. Nineteen healthy volunteers were included as controls. Circulating levels of IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, IL-17,TNF-α and TGF-β were measured using ELISA. Results: Patients in VOC showed higher mean levels of all… More >

Matteo Auriemma¹, Giovina Vianale¹, Paolo Amerio², Marcella Reale¹

European Cytokine Network, Vol.24, No.1, pp. 37-44, 2013, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2013.0333

Abstract Atopic dermatitis (AD) is an inflammatory disorder of the skin characterized by an impaired immune response. Several effector T cell subsets, such as pro-inflammatory cells like Th9, Th17 and Th22 cells, expressing high levels of IL-9, IL-17 and IL-22, together with the anti-inflammatory, immuno-modulating Treg cells constitutively producing IL-10, seem to play a role in this condition. IL-9 and IL-9 receptors are significantly increased in lesional AD skin compared to normal control skin. In addition, some polymorphisms in IL-9 and IL-9r genes have been associated with AD. The role of IL-17 and IL-17-producing T cells… More >

Moustafa Hamze, Caroline Desmetz, Paul Guglielmi

European Cytokine Network, Vol.24, No.1, pp. 20-26, 2013, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2013.0327

Abstract B cells regulate immune responses during infectious, inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. Beside their unique and characteristic antibody production, B lymphocytes can modulate physiological and pathological processes by presenting antigens or synthesizing signaling molecules. In human and mouse diseases, immunointervention, targeting B cells, has revealed and highlighted their antibody-independent regulatory contribution. In this review, we focus on B cell-cytokine production, which is commonly disturbed in inflammatory disorders, and describe the B cell cytokine profile in different diseases. Finally, we discuss some key issues for future B cell-targeted therapies. More >