Search results for " ALPHA"
showing 10 items of 1610 documents
Effect of partially modified retro-inverso analogues derived from C-reactive protein on the induction of nitric oxide synthesis in peritoneal macroph…
1997
The ability of three modified tetrapeptides, representing fragments of the C-reactive protein (CRP) sequence and stabilized in the first peptide bond by retro-inverso modification, to affect the secretion of nitric oxide (NO) was studied in macrophages of BALB/c mice. These tetrapeptides, resembling the aminoacid sequence of tuftsin (CRP I, H-gThr-(R,S)mLys-Pro-Leu-OH, ITF 1192; CRP II, H-gGly-(R, S)mLys-Pro-Arg-OH, ITF 1127; CRP III, H-gThr-(R,S)mLys-Pro-Gln-OH, ITF 1193), were able to induce NO synthesis by peritoneal macrophages in a dose-dependent manner; the most stimulating dose was 1000 ng ml−1 for CRP II and 100 ng ml−1 for CRP I and CRP III. NO synthesis was not strictly dependent …
Differential effects of leflunomide on leukocytes: Inhibition of ratin vivo adhesion and humanin vitro oxidative burst without affecting surface mark…
1994
Leflunomide has been shown to combat effectively autoimmune diseases in a number of animal models, as well as chronic polyarthritis of humans. Here we report on the effects of this novel drug on the adherence of leukocytes to endothelium, an essential event in establishment and maintenance of inflammation. The entry of cells into tissues is dependent on interactions of adhesion molecules. The process of diapedesis, which these molecules control, involves three phases: tethering, triggering of receptors on endothelial cells and firm attachment of leukocytes to these cells. The interaction of LECAM-1 (constitutively expressed on circulating leukocytes) and P- and E-selectins on the vessel wll…
The carbon monoxide-releasing molecule CORM-2 inhibits the inflammatory response induced by cytokines in Caco-2 cells
2007
Background and purpose: Recent evidence indicates that carbon monoxide-releasing molecules (CO-RMs) exhibit potential anti-inflammatory properties. In the present study, we have investigated whether tricarbonyl dichloro ruthenium(II) dimer (CORM-2) can control the inflammatory response induced by cytokines in a human colonic epithelial cell line, Caco-2. Experimental approach: Caco-2 cells were preincubated with CORM-2 for 30 minutes and then stimulated with interleukin (IL)-1β, tumor necrosis factor-α and interferon-γ for different times. Gene expression was analyzed by real-time PCR. Protein expression was investigated by Western blot and ELISA. Transcription factor activation was determi…
Reduction of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) related nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) translocation but not inhibitor kappa-B (Iκ-B)-degradation by …
2002
Degradation of inhibitor kappa-B (Ikappa-B) followed by translocation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) into the nucleus and activation of gene expression is essential in tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-signaling. In order to analyze the role of Rho proteins in TNF-alpha-induced NF-kappaB-activation in human umbilical cord vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) we used Clostridium difficile toxin B-10463 (TcdB-10463) which inactivates RhoA/Rac1/Cdc42 by glucosylation and Clostridium botulinum C3-toxin which inhibits RhoA/B/C by ADP-ribosylation. Exposure of HUVEC to 10 ng/mL TcdB-10463 or 2.5 microg/mL C3-toxin inhibited TNF-alpha (100 ng/mL)-induced expression of a NF-kappaB-dependent r…
Increased Percentages of Tumor Necrosis Factor-α+/Interferon-T+Lymphocytes and Calprotectin+/Tumor Necrosis Factor-A+ Monocytes in Patients with Acut…
2012
In vivo exposure to microorganisms resident in the oral cavity is considered as a possible cause of Kawasaki disease (KD), and some epitopes derived from streptococci display homology with Factor H of Complement. Additionally, calprotectin, a major calcium binding protein released by neutrophils and activated monocytes, could be directly involved in endothelial damage occurring in KD. The aim of our study is to evaluate the percentages of IFN-γ+ and/or TNF-α+ lymphocytes and double positive calprotectin/TNF-α monocytes (CD14+) after in vitro stimulation with streptococcal- and/or Factor H-derived peptides, in patients with acute KD. Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMCs) obtained from …
Hepatic steatosis and peroxisomal fatty acid beta-oxidation.
2012
Three subhepatocellular compartments concur for fatty acids degradation including ω-oxidation in endoplasmic reticulum and β-oxidation in both mitochondria and peroxisomes. Deficits affecting the peroxisomal physiology may be associated with multiple metabolic disturbances. Nowadays, a growing body of evidence underlines the key role of peroxisomal β-oxidation in the sensing of lipid metabolism through the production/degradation of some essential metabolites. Lessons from several mice models strengthen the link between fatty acid β-oxidation in peroxisomes and the nuclear hormone receptor Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor (PPAR)-α with an additional level of coregualtor complexity,…
PPARα/HNF4α Interplay on Diversified Responsive Elements. Relevance in the Regulation of Liver Peroxisomal Fatty Acid Catabolism
2012
In mammals, the liver is the major organ of fatty acid catabolism. This pathway is involved in both mitochondria and peroxisome. While mitochondria breaks down fatty acids with short, medium and long carbon chains, peroxisomes are involved in the catabolism of very long and branched chain fatty acids, which are degraded by three enzymes: acyl-CoA oxidase, multifunctional enzyme and thiolase enzyme. The active pathway results mainly from a tight transcriptional control of these gene-encoding enzymes. Two major nuclear receptors that are highly expressed in this organ are involved in this control, e.g. PPARα (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor, α isoform) and HNF4α (hepatic nuclear fa…
Erythromycin exertsin vivoanti-inflammatory activity downregulating cell adhesion molecule expression
2005
1. Macrolides have long been used as anti-bacterial agents; however, there is some evidence that may exert anti-inflammatory activity. Therefore, erythromycin was used to characterize the mechanisms involved in their in vivo anti-inflammatory activity. 2. Erythromycin pretreatment (30 mg kg(-1) day(-1) for 1 week) reduced the lipopolysaccharide (LPS; intratracheal, 0.4 mg kg(-1))-induced increase in neutrophil count and elastase activity in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and lung tissue myeloperoxidase activity, but failed to decrease tumor necrosis factor-alpha and macrophage-inflammatory protein-2 augmented levels in BALF. Erythromycin pretreatment also prevented lung P-selectin,…
Modifications induced in the renin-angiotensin-aldo-sterone system of rats by alpha-blocking drugs.
1978
Summary The data reported in the present paper refer to quantitative variations of plasma renin activity and plasma aldosterone levels after administration of alpha-blocking agents, i.e. phentolamine, phenoxybenzamine and gihydroergotoxin derivatives, either to rats kept on a standard diet with water ad libitum or to rats receiving distilled water load, the latter treatment causing an increase of both plasma renin activity and plasma aldosterone levels if compared to control values. No strict correlation between (a) drug-induced modifications of plasma renin activity and plasma aldosterone levels and (b) blood pressure drop caused by the same drugs was shown to occur under either experiment…
Antipsoriatic effects of avarol-3′-thiosalicylate are mediated by inhibition of TNF-αgeneration and NF-κB activation in mouse skin
2007
Background and purpose: Avarol is a marine sesquiterpenoid hydroquinone with anti-inflammatory and antipsoriatic properties. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro and in vivo pharmacological behaviour of the derivative avarol-3′-thiosalicylate (TA) on some inflammatory parameters related to the pathogenesis of psoriasis. Experimental approach: Human neutrophils and monocytes as well as the human keratinocyte cell line HaCaT were used to study the effect of TA on oxidative stress, the arachidonic acid pathway, tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) release and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activation. All these parameters were also determined in vivo using the zymosan induced mouse air po…