Chung-Lin Tsai^1,2, Ying-Ming Chiu^3,4, Yi-Ju Lee⁵, Chin-Tung Hsieh⁶, Dong-Chen Shieh⁴, Gregory J. Tsay^7,8, Da-Tian Bau⁹, Yi-Ying Wu¹⁰

European Cytokine Network, Vol.29, No.1, pp. 36-47, 2018, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2018.0407

Abstract Interleukin-32 (IL-32) is an inflammatory cytokine produced mainly by T, natural killer, and epithelial cells. Previous studies on IL-32 have primarily investigated its proinflammatory properties. The IL-32 also has been described as an activator of the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and NF-κB, and induces several cytokines. In this study, we hypothesized that the inflammatory regulators NF-κB, MAP kinase, STAT1, and STAT3 are associated with the expression of the IL-32 protein in human calcified aortic valve cells. This study comprised aortic valve sclerotic patients and control group patients without calcified aortic valve. Increased IL-32 expression… More >

Mahmoud Al-Azab^a, Jing Wei^a, Xunli Ouyang, Abdalkhalig Elkhider^a, Williams Walana, Xiaotong Sun, Yawei Tang, Bing Wang, Xia Li

European Cytokine Network, Vol.29, No.1, pp. 27-35, 2018, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2018.0405

Abstract Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by joints inflammation. One of the aggressive characteristics of RA fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) is the tendency for migration in the local environment, which plays a central role in the RA pathogenesis. Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-like cytokine 1A (TL1A) is a member of TNF superfamily, which has a role in autoimmunity and influences the RA-FLS behavior through TNF receptor 2 (TNFR2). We investigated the effect of TNF-like cytokine 1A (TL1A) on RA-FLS migration using patients’ samples. Specifically, we examined the hedgehog signaling pathway which is a key More >

Sara Harsini^1,2, Amene Saghazadeh^1,2, Saharnaz Nedjat³, Nima Rezaei^1,2,4,5

European Cytokine Network, Vol.29, No.1, pp. 16-26, 2018, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2018.0404

Abstract Background: Cytokine genes, including interleukin-10 (IL-10), are known to play important roles in the pathogenesis of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). This study aims to determine whether the IL-10 polymorphisms confer susceptibility to JIA. Methods: A meta-analysis was performed on the associations between the IL-10 -1082 G/A, -592 C/A, and -819 C/T polymorphisms and JIA. A total number of 7 studies involving 1,785 patients and 6,142 controls were considered in the meta-analysis. Results: Meta-analysis of the IL-10 -592 C/A and -819 C/T polymorphisms showed no association with JIA in the study participants, or in Caucasian or… More >

Shi-Min Yuan

European Cytokine Network, Vol.29, No.1, pp. 1-15, 2018, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2018.0406

Abstract Interleukin (IL)-6 is a pleiotropic inflammatory cytokine with both pro- and anti-inflammatory capacities, produced by different cells and tissues, such as leukocytes, adipocytes, and endothelium. From the viewpoint of cardiologists, this cytokine is a reliable biomarker of cardiac dysfunction, occurrence of atrial fibrillation, cardiac myxoma with recurrence, remote metastasis or embolization, and atherosclerotic processes. Although IL-6 levels were detected in patients undergoing cardiac operations and reported sporadically, the perioperative kinetics of IL-6 in cardiac surgical patients was insufficiently elaborated. The influencing factors, clinical implications, and causative effects of IL-6 on clinical outcomes and potential treatment More >

Karinna Chouman¹, Birgit Korioth-Schmitz¹, Markus Sack², Jörn Engelbert Schmitz¹, Anh Tuan Pham¹, Rainer Fischer^2,4, Stefan Barth⁵, Torsten Klockenbring¹, Rolf Fendel^1,6

European Cytokine Network, Vol.29, No.2, pp. 59-72, 2018, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2018.0409

Abstract Interleukin-6 (IL-6) expression and secretion, induced by inflammatory processes, stimulate the acute phase response cascade. The overexpression of IL-6 contributes to a variety of inflammatory diseases, e.g. rheumatoid arthritis, Castleman’s disease, multiple myeloma, and prostate cancer. Screening for high amounts of IL-6 in the patients’ blood serum can be crucial for an adequate treatment. In this study, five novel murine monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) reactive to human IL-6 were generated. The mAbs were characterized for potential diagnostic purposes and recombinant antibodies were derived thereof. Initial epitope mapping using a combination of blocking experiments and Hyper-IL-6, a fusion… More >

Faruk Tas, Senem Karabulut, Kayhan Erturk, Derya Duranyildiz

European Cytokine Network, Vol.29, No.2, pp. 52-58, 2018, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2018.0408

Abstract Leptin may support the proliferation and hinder the apoptosis of tumor cells. Although leptin expression has been studied in several human tumors, its potential clinical significance remains uncertain in patients with gastric carcinoma. Furthermore, the majority of available findings have been determined from preclinical studies using stomach carcinoma tissue section and, to date, few studies have evaluated the clinical significance of leptin in the serum or plasma of gastric carcinoma patients. In the current study, the serum concentration of soluble leptin was assessed in gastric carcinoma patients, and its contributions to the clinical parameters and… 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 >

Jacek Karczewski¹, Ewelina Śledzi´ nska², Alina Baturo², Izabela Jończyk³, Aleksander Maleszko³, Paweł Samborski², Beata Begier-Krasińska⁴, Agnieszka Dobrowolska²

European Cytokine Network, Vol.29, No.3, pp. 83-94, 2018, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2018.0415

Abstract The prevalence of obesity has recently increased dramatically and has contributed to the increasing prevalence of various pathological conditions, including type 2 diabetes mellitus, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, asthma, various types of cancer, cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases, and others. Accumulating evidence points to localized inflammation in adipose tissue, which, in turn, promotes systemic low-grade inflammation as a primary force contributing to the development of these pathologies. A better understanding of the underlying mechanisms behind obesity-induced adipose tissue inflammation is required to develop effective therapeutic or prophylactic strategies. This review is aimed to present the current More >

Elyes Ben Salah¹, Karim Dorgham¹, Mylène Lesénéchal², Camille Pease², Laure Allard², Céline Dragonetti², Guy Gorochov¹, Amélie Guihot¹, Delphine Sterlin¹

European Cytokine Network, Vol.29, No.4, pp. 136-145, 2018, DOI:10.1684/ecn.2018.0417

Abstract Worldwide there are about 1.7 billion individuals with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) and only 5% to 15% will develop active tuberculosis (TB). It is recommended to treat only those most at risk of develop ing active TB to avoid problems of drug resistance. LTBI diagnosis involves reviewing the individual’s medical history, physical examination, and biological tests. Interferon gamma release assays (IGRA) can yield “undetermi nate” or “uncertain” results, which makes clinical management decisions difficult. We assessed an ultra-sensitive immunoassay prototype based on single molecule array (SiMoA) technology to evaluate its overall performance, and in particular,… More >

Wesley Baas, Blake O’Connor, Ahmed El-Zawahry

Canadian Journal of Urology, Vol.25, No.1, pp. 9217-9219, 2018

Abstract A 57-year-old African American male presented with vague abdominal pain and bilateral flank pain. The patient was found to have bilateral hydronephrosis and significant renal function impairment secondary to pelvic lipomatosis. Pelvic lipomatosis represents a clinically-diagnosed unique cause of ureteral obstruction and subsequent renal impairment. We present a case report of newly diagnosed pelvic lipomatosis, the clinical and imaging characteristics for diagnosis, and its conservative management with serial ureteral stent exchanges. More >