Horst Rieth¹, Maik Mörmann¹, Adriana J. F. Luty^1,2, Constance A. Assohou-Luty¹, Maria Roupelieva¹, Peter G. Kremsner^1,2, Dieter Kube^1,3

European Cytokine Network, Vol.15, No.2, pp. 153-158, 2004

Abstract Interleukin-10 (IL-10) is an important multifunctional immunmodulator. There is evidence that IL-10 secretion is associated with certain genetic elements of the proximal IL-10 gene 5’-flanking region. The allelic and genotypic comparison of IL-10 expression by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- stimulated leukocytes (PBMC) with a recently discovered distal “indel” DNA-sequence variation at – 7400 bp revealed significant inter-individual differences in the IL-10 in vitro production capacity. Homozygotes lacking the three base pairs “GGA” (– 7400del) at this gene locus are characterised by high expression of IL-10 with a median of 1690pg/ml (P ≤ 0.009). The allelic comparison supports More >

Kathrin Lungstras-Bufler¹, Philip Bufler¹, Rabiatu Abdullah², Christine Rutherford², Stefan Endres³, Edward Abraham¹, Charles A. Dinarello¹, Robert M. Rodriguez²

European Cytokine Network, Vol.15, No.2, pp. 135-138, 2004

Abstract We evaluated in a blinded fashion the cytokine profiles of patients with suspected necrotizing fasciitis. In 15 out of 20 patients, the diagnosis of necrotizing fasciitis was established; five patients had cellulitis. Eighteen of the 20 patients were i.v. drug users. Five of the 15 patients with necrotizing fasciitis died (33%). On admission, serum levels for interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-1-receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), IL-18 and interferon-γ (IFNγ) as well as white blood cells (WBC) were significantly elevated in patients with fatal outcome compared to survivors with necrotizing fasciitis. IL-1Ra and WBC levels were also higher than in More >

Anna Maria Megiovanni, Françoise Sanchez, Jean Claude Gluckman, Michelle Rosenzwajg

European Cytokine Network, Vol.15, No.2, pp. 126-134, 2004

Abstract Monocyte-derived dendritic cells (DCs) were used as an in vitro model of myeloid DCs in order to determine a minimum marker pattern with which to characterize and distinguish different stages of DC activation and maturation. Phenotypic changes induced on immature DCs by two prototypic stimuli, poly I:C and CD40 ligation, were first examined. Both elicited HLA-DR, CD40, CD86 and CXCR4 upregulation, and CCR5 downregulation, but only CD40 ligand-stimulated DCs became CD83⁺ /CCR7⁺ , whereas poly I:C-stimulated DCs expressed lower CD83 levels and were mostly CCR7^– . CD40 ligation and poly I:C elicited increased production of inflammatory cytokines… More >

Cengiz Kirmaz¹, Ender Terzioglu², Omer Topalak³, Papatya Bayrak¹, Ozge Yilmaz⁴, Galip Ersoz⁵, Filiz Sebik⁶

European Cytokine Network, Vol.15, No.2, pp. 112-116, 2004

Abstract Chronic liver disease and cirrhosis are two of the most important health problems according to current gastroenterology literature. Based on the recent developments in the field of immunology, advanced follow-up and treatment modalities have been introduced for these disorders. Immune defence against viral infections depends on effective cellular immune responses derived mainly from Th1-related cytokines. Th2 type immune responses can inhibit efficient immune function by secretion of several cytokines such as IL-10, TGF-β1. In this particular study, we determined the serum levels of TGF-β1, which plays a role in immune suppression and induction of tissue… More >

Jörg-Matthias Brand, Christoph Frohn, Katharina Cziupka, Christian Brockmann, Holger Kirchner, Jürgen Luhm

European Cytokine Network, Vol.15, No.2, pp. 99-104, 2004

Abstract The peptide hormone prolactin (PRL) is produced by specialized cells in the anterior pituitary gland and in a number of sites outside the pituitary. Its biological actions consist of various roles in reproduction, lactation, and of a number of homeostatic biological activities that also include immune functions. Elevated serum PRL concentrations often correlate with abnormalities in immune responses. To determine the influence of PRL on human immune cells, human whole blood cultures were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS), supple-mented with various concentrations of human recombinant PRL. We found that PRL, at concentrations achievable during pregnancy, anesthesia… More >

Dimitrios Tziakas¹, Georgios Chalikias¹, John T. Parissis², Helen Hatzinikolaou¹, Dimitrios Stakos¹, Evropi Papadopoulou³, Alexandros Kortsaris³, Dimitrios Hatseras¹

European Cytokine Network, Vol.15, No.3, pp. 231-239, 2004

Abstract Introduction. Recent clinical and experimental studies indicate that upregulation of the TNF system can contribute to the progression of cardiac remodeling and heart failure decompensation, by promoting alterations in cardiomyocyte biology and extracellular matrix metabolism. Extracellular matrix turnover is regulated by the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which are endogenous enzymes responsible for extracellular collagen degradation. The present study investigates the fluctuation of serum levels of TNF-α, soluble TNF receptor-1 (sTNFR1) and -2 (sTNFR2), in patients with chronic heart failure both during acute decompensation and the stable state of the syndrome. The second goal of this study… More >

Ewa Robak¹, Piotr Smolewski², Anna Wozniacka¹, Anna Sysa-Jedrzejowska¹, Henryk Stepień³, Tadeusz Robak²

European Cytokine Network, Vol.15, No.3, pp. 222-230, 2004

Abstract Recent studies indicate that dendritic cells (DC) and several cytokines are implicated in the induction of autoimmune diseases. In this study we investigated the relationship between the total number of DC (tDC), and their plasmacytoid (pDC) and myeloid (mDC) subpopulations, with serum concentrations of interferons (IFN-α and IFN-γ) and selected cytokines (TNF-α, IL-4, IL-6), in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and healthy persons. Subpopulations of DC were determined by the following antigen expression profiles: BDCA-1+/CD11c+/HLA-DR+ (for mDC) and BDCA-2 +/CD123+/HLA-DR+ (for pDC), using flow cytometry. Serum levels of interferons and cytokines were assessed by… More >

Clara de Andrés¹, M. Carmen Rodríguez-Sáinz, M. Angeles Muñoz-Fernández, Nieves López-Lazareno², Margarita Rodríguez-Mahou, Angeles Vicente³, Eduardo Fernández-Cruz, Silvia Sánchez-Ramón

European Cytokine Network, Vol.15, No.3, pp. 197-202, 2004

Abstract Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an immune-mediated disease with a clear sex-bias that may be attributed to sex hormones, sex’ linked genes or both. Here we sought to determine the evolution pattern of cortisol and sex hormones at MS relapse and 2-months later in 7 male patients with relapsing remitting MS, and whether there was a correlation with a specific Th1 and Th2 cytokine pattern. Our findings indicate the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the concomitant upregulation of pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines during relapse. The further increase of sex hormones, in particular estradiol in our More >

Michael Ramharter^1,2,3, Peter G. Kremsner^2,3, Martin Willheim⁴, Heidi Winkler^1,3, Wolfgang Graninger¹, Stefan Winkler^1,3

European Cytokine Network, Vol.15, No.3, pp. 189-196, 2004

Abstract The frequency of P. falciparum-specific interleukin (IL)-2-, interferon (IFN)-γ-, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α- and IL-10-expressing CD3⁺ cells was studied in healthy Gabonese children segregated according to their clinical presentation at admission to a longitudinal study of severe and mild malaria. The percentage of IL-2- and TNF-α- expressing P. falciparum-specific CD3⁺ cells was significantly higher in the children with prior mild malaria and less frequent reinfections compared to the children with prior severe malaria and more frequent reinfections. No differences were shown for P. falciparum-specific IFN-γ and IL-10 expression within CD3⁺ cells and parasite-non-specific expression of IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, IL-13, More >

Jean-Jacques Lataillade¹, Jorge Domenech², Marie-Caroline Le Bousse-Kerdilès³

European Cytokine Network, Vol.15, No.3, pp. 177-188, 2004

Abstract Generation of haematopoietic cells is regulated by cellular and humoral interactions in which stromal cells, adhesion molecules, cytokines and chemokines play a crucial role. Among the chemokines, SDF-1 and its CXCR4 receptor have been reported to be key players in the nesting of haematopoietic progenitors within the bone marrow. Disruption of the SDF-1/CXCR4 axis results in cell mobilization and may participate in leukaemia extramedullary infiltration. In this review we will discuss the manifold roles of the SDF-1 chemokine and of its receptor in haematopoiesis regulation. By recruiting quiescent progenitors, by participating in their survival/cycling and More >