Dariusz P. Olszyna^1,2, Annelies Verbon², John P. Pribble³, Terence Turner³, Tim Axtelle³, Sander J. H. van Deventer¹, Tom van der Poll^1,2

European Cytokine Network, Vol.14, No.3, pp. 158-162, 2003

Abstract To determine the role of CD14 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced release of chemokines, 16 humans were injected with LPS (4 ng/kg) preceded (– 2 h) by intravenous IC14, an anti-human CD14 monoclonal antibody, or placebo. LPS elicited increases in interleukin (IL)-8 concentrations in plasma and in lysates of red blood cell (RBC), polymorphonuclear cell and mononuclear cell fractions, which were all reduced by IC14. LPS also induced rises in the plasma and RBC levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1, which were diminished by IC14. Macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1a and MIP-1β, chemokines that in contrast to IL-8 More >

Vito Lampasona¹, Jordi Rio², Diego Franciotta³, Roberto Furlan⁴, Carlo Avolio⁵, Raffaella Fazio⁶, Vito Lavolpe⁷, Angela Vincent⁸, Giancarlo Comi⁶, Maria Trojano⁷, Xavier Montalban², Gianvito Martino^4,6,*

European Cytokine Network, Vol.14, No.3, pp. 154-157, 2003

Abstract We devised a sensitive, radioimmunoprecipitation assay (RIPA) for anti-interferon (IFN)- b – binding antibody (BAB) detection. Our RIPA showed good agreement with a reference RIPA (mean difference, – 3.2 ± 10.6 AU), and detected BAB to both IFN-β-1α and IFN-β-1β. Neutralizing antibodies to IFN-β (NAB) were also determined with a standard method. BAB and NAB were measured in 393 serum samples from 77 multiple sclerosis (MS) patients treated with IFN-β-1α or -1β, who were studied over two years, and subsequently classified as responders and non-responders. BAB were found at higher concentrations, and more frequently detected, More >

Agnieszka Wierzbowska, Tadeusz Robak, Agata Wrzesień-Kuś, Anna Krawczyńska, Ewa Lech-Marańda, Halina Urbańska-Ryś

European Cytokine Network, Vol.14, No.3, pp. 149-153, 2003

Abstract Angiogenesis plays an important role in the pathogenesis of acute leukemia, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a crucial, positive regulator of this process. The biological activity of VEGF is mediated by two different receptor tyrosine kinases: VEGFR-2 and VEGFR-1. The soluble form of VEGFR-1 is likely to be a negative regulator of VEGF availability, but the physiological role of sVEGFR-2 is still unclear. The plasma levels of sVEGFR-1 and sVEGFR-2 in patients with acute leukemia have not been investigated. We measured the plasma concentrations of VEGF and its two soluble receptors in 39… More >

Gergely Klausz¹, Andrea Tiszai², László Tiszlavicz³, Zsófia Gyulai¹, Zsuzsa Lénárt², János Lonovics², Yvette Mándi¹

European Cytokine Network, Vol.14, No.3, pp. 143-148, 2003

Abstract The mucosal production of TNF-α, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and nitrotyrosine was investigated in H. pylori-positive patients with duodenal ulcer (DU). The concentrations of these cytokines in gastric antrum mucosal specimens from patients infected with H. pylori (n = 40) were determined by ELISA and compared with data on mucosal specimens from H. pylori-negative patients (n = 12). Nitrotyrosine was determined by ECL Western blotting. It was additionally investigated whether the tissue levels of the cytokines correlated with the peripheral cytokine levels, and the CagA status of the patients.
The local TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-8 concentrations in the antral biopsy… More >

Elie Mavoungou^1,2, Adrian J. F. Luty^1,2, Peter G. Kremsner^1,2

European Cytokine Network, Vol.14, No.3, pp. 134-142, 2003

Abstract The ability of human NK cells to inhibit the growth in vitro of the asexual blood stages of Plasmodium falciparum was tested. Purified NK cells from donors with no prior exposure to malaria significantly inhibited parasite growth after 48 hours of co-culture in the presence of human immune serum. This inhibition was completely abrogated by pre-treatment of the NK cells with an anti-CD95 (anti-Fas) monoclonal antibody and human Fas-Fc soluble protein. The level of growth inhibition was also substantially reduced by pre-treatment with an anti-CD56 antibody. These two antibodies caused reductions, to varying levels, of the More >

A. Veronica Araya¹, Violeta Pavez², Claudio Perez³, Fermin Gonzalez³, Alicia Colombo³, Adam Aguirre³, Irene Schiattino⁴, Juan C. Aguillón³

European Cytokine Network, Vol.14, No.3, pp. 128-133, 2003

Abstract Several studies have demonstrated that diabetes is a risk factor for developing periodontal disease, increasing its prevalence and severity. Furthermore, periodontitis may impair the metabolic control and adequate treatment of diabetic patients. LPS from Gram-negative bacteria penetrates the periodontal tissues and subsequently recruits and activates immune cells. Progression to severe periodontitis with loss of supporting structures is mediated by several factors, including secretion of a broad spectrum of inflammatory and destructive mediators such as cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6), chemokines (IL-8) and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂).
The aim of this work is to investigate differences in the… More >

Her Scientific Colleagues and ECN Editorial Committee

European Cytokine Network, Vol.14, No.4, pp. 260-260, 2003

Abstract This article has no abstract. More >

Vanessa Almendro, Neus Carbó, Sílvia Busquets, Maite Figueras, Luciana Tessitore^*, Francisco J. López-Soriano, Josep M. Argilés

European Cytokine Network, Vol.14, No.4, pp. 256-259, 2003

Abstract Recent studies have demonstrated the activation of skeletal muscle DNA fragmentation in some catabolic conditions [1]. In an attempt to elucidate if sepsis (a catabolic state) was also associated with muscle apoptosis, sepsis was induced by cecal ligation and puncture, and the results clearly show an induction of DNA fragmentation in gastrocnemius muscle following the induction of the septic state. Administration of rolipram (an inhibitor of tumour necrosis factor-a (TNF-α) synthesis) to septic rats clearly prevented the increased DNA fragmentation, suggesting that TNF-α is involved in the activation of the apoptotic events in septic rat More >

Olivier Toutirais¹, Patricia Chartier¹, Damien Dubois¹, Françoise Bouet¹, Jean Lévêque¹, Véronique Catros-Quemener¹, Noëlle Genetet¹

European Cytokine Network, Vol.14, No.4, pp. 246-255, 2003

Abstract Tumors could use several mechanisms to coexist with the host’s immune system or to protect themselves from an immune response. Thus, insufficient expression of cell surface molecules on tumor cells, which are important for T cell recognition or activation, could lead to induction of a state of tolerance. Tumor cells could also produce cytokines that would inhibit the immune response and allow tumor progression. Here, we studied, in vitro, the cell surface expression of immunologically important molecules in seven ovarian carcinoma (OVCA) cell lines and the constitutive expression of cytokines. All OVCA cell lines expressed… More >

Anita W. Rijneveld^1,2,*, Sandrine Florquin³, Peter Speelman^2,4, Carl K. Edwards⁵, Charles A. Dinarello⁶, Tom van der Poll^2,4

European Cytokine Network, Vol.14, No.4, pp. 242-245, 2003

Abstract The inhibition of the biological activity of IL-1 by recombinant human IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) has been investigated in several, controlled clinical trials. Encouraging results have been reported, in particular in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. In the present study, we investigated the influence of treatment of wild type mice with IL-1ra, which resulted in an incomplete and transient inhibition of IL-1 activity. Treatment with recombinant human IL-1ra resulted in an enhanced bacterial outgrowth in the lungs of BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice early after induction of pneumococcal pneumonia, without influencing survival or the pulmonary inflammatory response. More >