Ying Gao¹, Hans Tapper², Jero Calafat³, Inge Olsson¹, Markus Hansson¹

European Cytokine Network, Vol.17, No.2, pp. 98-108, 2006

Abstract In this experiment, we explored the potential of secretory lysosomes of hematopoietic cells to act as vehicles for immunomodulatory protein delivery at an inflammation site. We investigated whether exogenous soluble TNF-receptor 1 (sTNFR1) could be expressed in primary hematopoietic progenitor cells and become targeted for storage and secretion during granulopoietic differentiation. An sTNFR1 construct with a transmembrane domain (tm) and a cytosol sorting signal (Y) taken from CD63, was retrovirally transduced to lineage-negative murine hematopoietic bone marrow stem/progenitor cells. This process was followed by cytokine-driven granulopoietic maturation. The sTNFR1-tm-Y was found to be synthesized in… More >

Silvia Stojanov^1,*, Florian Hoffmann^1,*, Anja Kéry¹, Ellen D. Renner^1,2, Dominik Hartl¹, Peter Lohse³, Kristina Huss¹, Peter Fraunberger³, James D. Malley⁴, Stephanie Zellerer¹, Michael H. Albert¹, Bernd H. Belohradsky¹

European Cytokine Network, Vol.17, No.2, pp. 90-97, 2006

Abstract PFAPA syndrome is characterized by periodic episodes of high fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis, and/or cervical adenitis. It is of unknown etiology and manifests usually before 5 years of age. We determined serum and intracellular cytokine levels in six PFAPA patients (4 males, 2 females, mean age 8 years (± 1.2 SEM), range 4-13) during the symptom-free period as well as 6-12 hours and 18-24 hours after fever onset. Values were compared to age-matched, healthy controls. Febrile PFAPA attacks led to a significant increase in IL-6 and IFN-γ serum concentrations compared to symptom-free periods and to… More >

Ali Akbar Amirzargar¹, Nima Rezaei², Hossein Jabbari³, Abdol-Ali Danesh¹, Farideh Khosravi¹, Mahboubeh Hajabdolbaghi³, Alireza Yalda³, Behrouz Nikbin¹

European Cytokine Network, Vol.17, No.2, pp. 84-89, 2006

Abstract Background. Several genes coding for different cytokines may affect host susceptibility totuberculosis. Methods. In the present study, the allele and genotype frequencies of a number polymorphic genescoding for cytokines or cytokine receptors were investigated in Iranian patients with pulmonary tuberculosis(PTB). Results. From the IL-1 cluster, a positive, significant difference was found at position -889, where the T/Tgenotype was over represented in PTB patients (p = 0.01); a positive, significant increase was found in the IL1RPstI 1970 C/C genotype, where the C allele was over represented in the PTB patients (p = 0.01). A significantnegative association… More >

Delphine Lavens, Julie Piessevaux, Jan Tavernier

European Cytokine Network, Vol.17, No.3, pp. 211-219, 2006, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2006.0040

Abstract Leptin was discovered as an adipostat, regulating body weight by balancing food intake and energy expenditure. Recently, leptin emerged as a pleiotropic cytokine. It plays a substantial role in a wide spectrum of other functions including immune regulation, bone formation and fertility. Leptin signalling is under tight control. Aberrations of this stringent control system may be implicated in a variety of pathologies. Here, we review the various mechanisms that control cellular leptin receptor signalling. More >

Gaelle Clavel^1,2,3, Chiara Valvason^1,2,4, Kunio Yamaoka^1,2,4, Delphine Lemeiter^1,2,4, Liliane Laroche^2,5, Marie-Christophe Boissier^1,2,4, Natacha Bessis^1,2,4

European Cytokine Network, Vol.17, No.3, pp. 202-210, 2006, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2006.0038

Abstract 1 INSERM, ERI-18, University of Paris 13 and Rheumatology Dpt, CHU Avicenne (AP-HP), 74 rue Marcel Cachin, 93017 Bobigny Cedex, France.
Fax: (+00 33) 1 48 38 88 93
2 Rheumatology Dpt, CHU Nord, Amiens, France
3 CHU Nord Amiens, Rheumatology dpt, 80000 Amiens, France
4 AP-HP, Avicenne hospital, Rheumatology department, Bobigny, France
5 AP-HP, Avicenne hospital, Dermatology department, Bobigny, France More >

Hubertus Himmerich^1,2, Stephany Fulda¹, Jakob Linseisen^3,4, Henrike Seiler³, Günther Wolfram⁵, Stephanie Himmerich⁶, Kurt Gedrich⁶, Thomas Pollmächer^1,7

European Cytokine Network, Vol.17, No.3, pp. 196-201, 2006, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2006.0037

Abstract The cytokines tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-α), soluble TNF receptors p55 and p75, and interleukin 6 (IL-6) are involved in host defense against several microbiological agents, in the process of inflammation and also in body weight regulation. In the present study, we sought to assess the influence of age, gender, smoking, and body mass index on plasma levels of TNF-α, TNF receptors, and IL-6 in more than 550 adult subjects randomly selected from the Bavarian population. None of the cytokine parameters had a normal distribution and all distributions were significantly skewed. The cytokine plasma levels investigated More >

Lei Zhou, Yixing Li, Tao Xia, Shengqiu Feng, Xiaodong Chen, Zaiqing Yang

European Cytokine Network, Vol.17, No.3, pp. 189-195, 2006, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2006.0039

Abstract Resistin is a 12.5-kDa cysteine-rich protein secreted from adipose tissue and is an important factorlinking obesity with insulin resistance. Here, we investigated the effect of resistin on glucose tolerance in adulthuman hepatocytes (L-02 cells). In this study, resistin cDNA was transfected into L-02 cells, and glucoseconcentration and glucokinase activity were determined subsequently. The data indicated resistin impaired,insulin-stimulated glucose utilization, which implied liver was a target tissue of resistin. To understand itsmolecular mechanism, mRNA levels of key genes in glucose metabolism and insulin signaling pathway wereanalyzed. The results demonstrated resistin-stimulated expression of glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase), sterolregulatory element-binding More >

Jolanta Myśliwska¹, Joanna Więckiewicz¹, Łukasz Hak¹, Janusz Siebert², Jan Rogowski³, Krzysztof Szyndler³, Andrzej Myśliwski⁴

European Cytokine Network, Vol.17, No.3, pp. 181-188, 2006, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2006.0035

Abstract IL6 gene promoter polymorphisms may influence the outcome of cardiovascular diseases. The aim of our study was to find out whether the –174G>C polymorphism, as well as the IL6 secretory profile, may be linked to the number of severely (≥ 75%) occluded coronary arteries in patients with advanced coronary heart disease (CHD). Three hundred and twenty patients awaiting elective coronary artery bypass grafting were enrolled into the study. Blood was taken the day before surgery. The PCR-RFLP method was used for IL6 gene polymorphism analysis. Spontaneous IL6 release was measured by bioassay in supernatants of… More >

Yvonne Kalmbach^1,2, Angelica B. W. Boldt¹, Rolf Fendel^1,2, Benjamin Mordmüller^1,2, Peter G. Kremsner^1,2, Jürgen F. J. Kun¹

European Cytokine Network, Vol.17, No.3, pp. 175-180, 2006, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2006.0032

Abstract The outcome of a Plasmodium falciparum infection differs greatly between patients, ranging from an asymptomatic carrier status to the most severe characteristics influenced by activating and inhibiting immune factors. The inhibitory leukocyte immunoglobulin-like receptor (LILRB1/CD85j) plays an important role in the immune response as regulator of cytotoxic T cells and of premature activation and clonal expansion of B cells. To investigate its role in malaria, we analyzed blood samples from malaria patients by cytometric analysis. We found a similar expression pattern of CD85j on PBMC in both patients and healthy children. However, malaria patients presented significantly More >

Ettore Capoluongo¹, Dario Pitocco², Concetta Santonocito¹, Paola Concolino^1,3, Stefano Angelo Santini^1,3, Andrea Manto², Paola Lulli¹, Giovanni Ghirlanda², Cecilia Zuppi¹, Franco Ameglio¹

European Cytokine Network, Vol.17, No.3, pp. 164-174, 2006, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2006.0036

Abstract Background. Patients with type 1 diabetes (T1DM) present lower serum free IGF and IGFBP-3 values than healthy people. T1DM patients often present with associated autoimmune diseases such as thyroiditis or coeliac disease, and over time they frequently develop proliferative retinopathy, neuropathy or nephropathy in different combinations. Objective. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of two associated autoimmune diseases or three diabetic complications on the serum free IGF-I or IGFBP-3 levels in T1DM patients, who also have a family history of T1DM. Design. 246 T1DM patients were enrolled, and then subdivided into… More >