Search results for "Cytokines"
showing 10 items of 845 documents
Genome-based in silico identification of new Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens activating polyfunctional CD8+ T cells in human tuberculosis.
2011
Although CD8(+) T cells help control Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection, their M. tuberculosis Ag repertoire, in vivo frequency, and functionality in human tuberculosis (TB) remains largely undefined. We have performed genome-based bioinformatics searches to identify new M. tuberculosis epitopes presented by major HLA class I supertypes A2, A3, and B7 (covering 80% of the human population). A total of 432 M. tuberculosis peptides predicted to bind to HLA-A*0201, HLA-A*0301, and HLA-B*0702 (representing the above supertypes) were synthesized and HLA-binding affinities determined. Peptide-specific CD8(+) T cell proliferation assays (CFSE dilution) in 41 M. tuberculosis-responsive donors ide…
Serum visfatin levels in acromegaly: Correlation with disease activity and metabolic alterations
2015
Objective: The studies that have extensively evaluated the relation between adipokines and metabolic parameters in acromegaly treatment are quite discordant. We aimed to evaluate and correlate a set of selected adipokines, known to have a metabolic role, with the disease activity, metabolic status and treatment modalities. Design: Data of 56 consecutive acromegalic patients (31 M and 25 F; aged 54 ± 12 years), admitted to the section of Endocrinology of the University of Palermo during the years 2005-2014, including 16 newly diagnosed untreated (ND), 21 during therapy with somatostatin analogues (SA), 12 with pegvisomant (PE) and 7 after surgical treatment (SU), grouped into uncontrolled (g…
Hawthorn extract inhibits human isolated neutrophil functions.
2008
Hawthorn extract is a popular herbal medicine given as adjunctive treatment for chronic heart failure. In contrast to the cardiac properties of hawthorn extract, its anti-inflammatory effect has been scarcely investigated. This study examines the effects of a dry extract of leaves and flowers of Crataegus laevigata on various functional outputs of human neutrophils in vitro. Incubation of human neutrophils obtained from peripheral blood of healthy donors with C. laevigata extract (0.75-250 microg/ml) inhibited N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (FMLP)-induced superoxide anion generation, elastase release and chemotactic migration with potency values of 43.6, 21.9, and 31.6 microg/ml, respectively. By con…
Expression of properdin in human monocytes
1994
Properdin is the only known positive regulator of the alternative pathway of complement activation. Northern blot analysis of cell lines derived from fibroblasts, B-cells, hepatoma cells, and cells of the monocyte-macrophage lineage revealed properdin expression only in the myelomonocytic cell line HL-60, in the monoblastic cell line U-937 and in the monocytic line Mono Mac 6. Culture of Mono Mac 6 cells for 24 h with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, bacterial lipopolysaccharide and the cytokines interleukin-1 beta and tumour necrosis factor-alpha enhanced mRNA abundance, with the strongest effect (tenfold) being observed with the lipopolysaccharide. In contrast, recombinant interferon-gamm…
LPS-mediated production of pro/anti-inflammatory cytokines and eicosanoids in whole blood samples: Biological effects of +896A/G TLR4 polymorphism in…
2011
Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are the principal mediators of rapid microbial recognition: the lipopolysaccharide (LPS) receptor TLR4 seems to have a paradigmatic role. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the TLR4 gene, such as +896A/G, known to attenuate receptor signaling, have been described. The +896A/G SNP is significantly less frequent in patients with myocardial infarction, Alzheimer's disease or prostate cancer, whereas it is overrepresented in centenarians. To clarify and confirm the biological effects of +896A/G SNP and its role in the pathophysiology of age-related diseases and longevity, we assessed the levels of IL-6, TNF-α, IL-10 and eicosanoids (LTB4 and PGE2) in LPS-stimul…
Reduced secretion of proinflammatory cytokines of monosodium urate crystal‐stimulated monocytes in chronic renal failure: an explanation for infreque…
2000
In gouty arthritis, monosodium urate (MSU) crystals interact with monocytes and neutrophils to produce inflammatory reactions associated with acute synovitis. In patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), gouty arthritis is a rare condition despite often severe hyperuricaemia. We wondered whether differences in the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines by MSU crystal-stimulated monocytes might be one explanation for the low incidence of gouty arthritis in patients with ESRD compared with healthy controls.Thirteen patients with ESRD on intermittent haemodialysis treatment, six patients with chronic renal failure not yet on dialysis, and 15 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were exami…
Liver cirrhosis associated with heterozygous alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency type Pi MS and autoimmune features.
1995
Patients with homozygous protease inhibitor (Pi) type ZZ or a few rare M-like types may develop liver cirrhosis due to intracellular storage of alpha-antitrypsin (AAT), whereas some patients with heterozygous Pi MZ or SZ normally present with transient abnormal liver function tests in childhood. We report a 42-year-old obese patient who developed liver cirrhosis in association with heterozygous Pi MS (AAT) deficiency. Immunohistological and electron microscope examination showed storage of AAT in the hepatocytes. Interestingly, autoimmune features in this patient suggest that abnormal immune responses may contribute to the pathology of chronic liver disease.
Pinitol alleviates systemic inflammatory cytokines in human obesity by a mechanism involving unfolded protein response and sirtuin 1
2017
Summary Background & aims It is known that pinitol acts as a mediator of the insulin-signaling pathway, though little is known about its anti-inflammatory effect in human obesity. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of pinitol on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and visceral (VAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissues (SAT), focusing on the involvement of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and sirtuin 1 (SIRT1). Methods In the intervention study, thirteen obese subjects consumed a pinitol-enriched beverage (PEB) for 12 weeks. In the ex vivo study, a biopsy of VAT and SAT was removed from thirty-four obese patients and incubated with D-pinitol for 48 h. Results The consump…
Metabolic disorders and inflammation are associated with familial combined hyperlipemia
2019
Background: Familial Combined Hyperlipidemia (FCH) is related to different metabolic disorders. The objective of this study was to evaluate the presence of alterations of hydrocarbonated metabolism and lipid profile together with inflammatory and adhesion molecules in subjects with FCH compared to controls. Methods: 75 HFC patients and 75 healthy individuals were studied. Glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR index and lipid parameters, in addition to anti-oxidized LDL antibodies (Anti ox-LDL), small and dense LDL (sdLDL) and HDL subfractions, proinflammatory cytokines and adhesion molecules were measured. Results: FCH patients showed higher levels of hydrocarbonated metabolism parameters, total choles…
Autoantibodies against the calcium-sensing receptor and cytokines in autoimmune polyglandular syndromes types 2, 3 and 4
2017
OBJECTIVE: The frequency of autoimmunity against the parathyroid glands in patients with polyglandular autoimmunity that is not due to autoimmune polyendocrine syndrome type 1 (APS1) is unclear. To investigate this, the current study aimed to determine the prevalence of autoantibodies against parathyroid autoantigens the calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) and NACHT leucine-rich-repeat protein 5 (NALP5) in a large group of patients with non-APS1 polyendocrine autoimmunity. Possible occult APS1 was investigated by cytokine autoantibody measurement and AIRE gene analysis. DESIGN, SUBJECTS, AND MEASUREMENTS: Subjects were 178 patients with APS2, 3 or 4, and 80 healthy blood donors. Autoantibodies …