Search results for "Inflammation."
showing 10 items of 2627 documents
In vivo activity of pseudoguaianolide sesquiterpene lactones in acute and chronic inflammation.
2000
The pseudoguaianolide sesquiterpene lactones 4-alpha-O-acetyl-pseudoguaian-6beta-olide (1), hymenin (2), ambrosanolide (3), tetraneurin A (4), parthenin (5), hysterin (6) and confertdiolide (7) were evaluated for their ability to affect the inflammation responses induced by different agents. All the compounds showed activity against the 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA)-induced mouse ear edema. The ethyl phenylpropiolate (EPP)-induced mouse ear edema was inhibited by compounds 3, 5 and 7. However, when sesquiterpene-lactones were assayed on the arachidonic acid (AA)-induced mouse ear edema, none of them were active. The only sesquiterpene lactone orally active against the paw mouse…
Toward the Discovery of New Agents Able to Inhibit the Expression of Microsomal Prostaglandin E Synthase-1 Enzyme as Promising Tools in Drug Developm…
2010
In our recent studies, we focused our attention on the synthesis of several γ-hydroxybutenolides designed on the basis of petrosaspongiolide M 1 (PM) structure that has been recognized to potently inhibit the inflammatory process through the selective PLA2 enzyme inhibition. By means of a combination of computational methods and efficient synthetic strategies, we generated small collections of PM modified analogs to identify new potent PLA2 inhibitors, suitable for clinical development. In the course of the biological screening of our compounds, we discovered a potent and selective inhibitor of mPGES-1 expression, the benzothiophene γ-hydroxybutenolide 2, which so far represents the only pr…
Enhanced expression of haem oxygenase-1 by nitric oxide and antiinflammatory drugs in NIH 3T3 fibroblasts
2000
Haem oxygenase-1 (HO-1) can exert protective effects against oxidative stress and inflammation. Fibroblasts participate in inflammatory responses where they produce high levels of prostaglandins (PGs) and nitric oxide (NO). However, little is known of the presence of HO-1 in these cells and the possible interactions among these pathways. Incubation of cells with NO donors, spermine nonoate (SPNO) and S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP), induced a dose- and time-dependent expression of HO-1 protein. NO donors increased basal PGE2 release although they reduced PGE2 accumulated in the medium and cyclo-oxygenase (COX) activity when cells were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). COX-2 p…
Efficacy and Safety of Subthreshold Micropulse Yellow Laser for Persistent Diabetic Macular Edema After Vitrectomy: A Pilot Study
2022
Aim: To examine the effect of subthreshold micropulse yellow laser (SMYL) on best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), central macular thickness (CMT), and optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A) changes in eyes with persistent diabetic macular edema (DME) after pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) for tractional DME (TDME).Patients and Methods: In a comparative study, 95 eyes of 95 consecutive patients with persistent DME were prospectively enrolled. The SMYL group (54 eyes) was treated with SMYL 6 months after PPV, while the control group (41 eyes) was followed up without treatment. BCVA and CMT by OCT were analyzed at baseline and 3 and 6 months. Additionally, parameters such as the vessel de…
A Symphytum officinale Root Extract Exerts Anti-inflammatory Properties by Affecting Two Distinct Steps of NF-κB Signaling
2019
Symphytum officinale, commonly known as comfrey, constitutes a traditional medicinal plant with a long-standing therapeutic history, and preparations thereof have been widely used for the treatment of painful muscle and joint complaints, wound and bone healing, and inflammation. Today, its topical use is based on its analgesic and anti-inflammatory effects, which have been substantiated by modern clinical trials. However, the molecular basis of its action remained elusive. Here, we show that a hydroalcoholic extract of comfrey root impairs the development of a pro-inflammatory scenario in primary human endothelial cells in a dose-dependent manner. The extract, and especially its mucilage-de…
Involvement of nitric oxide and tachykinins in the effects induced by protease-activated receptors in rat colon longitudinal muscle
2003
The aim of the present study was to verify a possible involvement of nitric oxide (NO) and of tachykinins in the contractile and relaxant effects caused by the activation of protease-activated receptor (PAR)-1 and PAR-2 in the longitudinal muscle of rat colon. Mechanical responses to the PAR-1 activating peptides, SFLLRN-NH2 (10 nM–10 μM) and TFLLR-NH2 (10 nM–10 μM), and to the PAR-2-activating peptide, SLIGRL-NH2 (10 nM–10 μM), were examined in vitro in the absence and in the presence of different antagonists. The relaxation induced by SFLLRN-NH2, TFLLR-NH2 and SLIGRL-NH2 was antagonised by the inhibitor of NO synthase L-Nω-nitroarginine methyl ester (300 μM), or by the inhibitor of the gu…
The Non-neuronal Cholinergic System
2001
Acetylcholine, one of the most exemplary neurotransmitters, has been detected in bacteria, algae, protozoa, tubellariae and primitive plants, suggesting an extremely early appearance in the evolutionary process and a wide expression in non-neuronal cells. In plants (Urtica dioica), acetylcholine is involved in the regulation of water resorption and photosynthesis. In humans, acetylcholine and/or the synthesizing enzyme, choline acetyltransferase, have been demonstrated in epithelial (airways, alimentary tract, urogenital tract, epidermis), mesothelial (pleura, pericardium), endothelial, muscle and immune cells (granulocytes, lymphocytes, macrophages, mast cells). The widespread expression o…
Role of Redox Signaling, Protein Phosphatases and Histone Acetylation in the Inflammatory Cascade in Acute Pancreatitis: Therapeutic Implications
2010
Acute pancreatitis starts as a local inflammation of the pancreatic tissue but often leads to the systemic inflammatory response syndrome and death by multiple organ failure. Pro-inflammatory cytokines, particularly TNF-alpha and Il-1beta, play a pivotal role together with oxidative stress and glutathione depletion in the inflammatory response in this disease. Most inflammatory mediators act through mitogen activated protein kinases and nuclear factor kB. Nevertheless, elucidation of the precise mechanisms involved in activation and attenuation phases of the inflammatory cascade is still underway. Redox signaling mediated by inactivation of protein phosphatases and histone acetylation trigg…
Do Intestinal Unicellular Parasites Have a Role in the Inflammatory and Redox Status among the Severely Obese?
2022
The diagnosis of obesity comprises subjects with totally different phenotypes and metabolic profiles. Systemic inflammation and oxidative stress derived from the white adipose tissue are suggested as the link between this disease and the development of insulin resistance and metabolic comorbidities. The presence of unicellular eukaryotic parasites colonizing the human gut ecosystem is a common circumstance, and yet their influence on the inflammatory and redox status of the obese host has not been assessed. Herein, a set of inflammatory and redox biomarkers were assessed together with a parasitological analysis of 97 severely obese subjects. Information was also collected on insulin resista…
Neutralization of interleukin-18 reduces severity in murine colitis and intestinal IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha production.
2001
Interleukin (IL)-18, initially described as interferon (IFN)-gamma-inducing factor, is expressed in the inflamed mucosa of patients with Crohn's disease. To investigate the role of IL-18 in intestinal inflammation, the effect of neutralizing antimurine IL-18 antiserum in dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis in BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice was examined. During a dose response of DSS, levels of colonic IL-18 increased parallel with clinical worsening. With the use of confocal laser microscopy, the increased IL-18 was localized to the intestinal epithelial layer. Anti-IL-18 treatment resulted in a dose-dependent reduction of the severity of colitis in both BALB/c and C57BL/6 mice. Colon sho…