Search results for "Tumor necrosis factor-alpha"

Analysis of T-Lymphocyte Subsets After Phytohemagglutinin Stimulation in Normal and Type 1 Diabetic Mothers and Their Infants

1992

Our aim was to investigate the immunological status of diabetic pregnancy, which is an overlap of diabetic immunity abnormalities and the immunological modifications normally occurring during pregnancy. METHOD: We studied lymphocyte subpopulations and lymphokine production, after 96 h of phytohemagglutinin (PHA) stimulation, from normal and Type I diabetic pregnant women at delivery time and from the respective cord blood. RESULTS: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from both normal and Type I diabetic mothers showed an increase in CD8+ and a decrease in CD4+ cells compared to the respective cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMC). Moreover, Type I PBMC showed a lower number of “activate…

Acute phase response after myocardial infarction: Correlation between serum levels of cytokines and C-reactive protein

1990

C-reactive protein and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 are stronger predictors of oxidant stress than blood pressure in established hypertension

2007

Oxidant stress is implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in cardiovascular diseases. Our aim was to test oxidative stress, as 8-iso-prostaglandin F2alpha (8-iso-PGF2alpha), and its relationship with inflammation markers C-reactive protein (CRP) and tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha), and endothelial activation assayed as soluble intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1 in essential hypertension.In 216 essential hypertensive patients and 55 healthy control individuals, plasma levels of high-sensitivity CRP and TNFalpha, 8-iso-PGF2alpha, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 were measured in basal conditions. Moreover, basal and 24-h ambulatory blood p…

Induction of oxidative stress and human leukocyte/endothelial cell interactions in polycystic ovary syndrome patients with insulin resistance.

2011

Insulin resistance is a feature of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and is related to mitochondrial and endothelial function.We tested whether hyperandrogenic insulin-resistant women with PCOS, who have an increased risk of vascular disease, display impaired leukocyte-endothelium interactions, and mitochondrial dysfunction.This was a prospective controlled study conducted in an academic medical center.The study population consisted of 43 lean reproductive-age women with PCOS and 39 controls subjects.We evaluated anthropometric and metabolic parameters, adhesion molecules, and interactions between leukocytes and human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Mitochondrial function was studied by as…

Effects of metformin on mitochondrial function of leukocytes from polycystic ovary syndrome patients with insulin resistance.

2015

ObjectiveOxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction are implicated in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The present study assesses the effect of metformin treatment on mitochondrial function in polymorphonuclear cells from PCOS subjects. Additionally, we evaluate endocrine parameters and levels of interleukin 6 (IL6) and tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNFα).Design and methodsOur study population was comprised of 35 women of reproductive age diagnosed with PCOS and treated with metformin for 12 weeks, and their corresponding controls (n=41), adjusted by age and BMI. We evaluated the alteration of endocrinological and anthropometrical parameters and androgen levels. Mitochondrial O2 consum…

The use of computer-assisted video image analysis for the quantification of CD8+ T lymphocytes producing tumor necrosis factor alpha spots in respons…

1997

Enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) analysis is a sensitive technique for the detection and quantification of single T lymphocytes forming cytokine spots after antigen contact in vitro. Herein computer-assisted video image analysis (CVIA) was applied to automatically determine the number and size of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) spots formed by single blood-derived CD8+ T cells after contact with peptide-loaded target cells. With CVIA and TNF-alpha ELISPOT analysis we quantified CD8+ T cells responsive to HLA-A2.1-binding tyrosinase and influenza matrix peptides in healthy donors. We followed the course of the virus-specific T cell response in two HLA-A2-positive patients with reac…

Major histocompatibility complex and sporadic Alzheimer's disease: a critical reappraisal

2003

Epidemiological data suggest that some genetic determinants of Alzheimer's disease (AD) might reside in those polymorphisms for the immune system genes that regulate immune inflammatory responses, such as the major histocompatibility complex (MHC). Therefore, MHC polymorphisms have been the focus of a large number of AD association studies. Class Ia, Ib (hemochromatosis gene (HFE)), class II and class III (complement, tumour necrosis factor and heat shock proteins) alleles have been studied. Nearly every positive result has been followed by several studies that have failed to replicate it or that have contradicted it. Several factors, including methodological biases, might explain these dis…

Inflammation, genes and zinc in ageing and age-related diseases.

2006

Lifelong antigenic burden determines a condition of chronic inflammation, with increased lymphocyte activation and pro-inflammatory cytokine production. A large number of studies have documented changes in Zn metabolism in experimental animal models of acute and chronic inflammation and in human chronic inflammatory diseases. In particular, modification of zinc plasma concentration as well as intracellular disturbance of antioxidant intracellular pathways have been found associated to age-related inflammatory diseases, like atherosclerosis. Zinc deficiency is extremely diffused in aged people that are educated to avoid meat and other high Zn-content foods due to fear of cholesterol. Rather,…

Cancer relapse under chemotherapy: why TLR2/4 receptor agonists can help.

2007

Liver or lung metastases usually relapse under chemotherapy. Such life-threatening condition urgently needs new, systemic anticancer compounds, with original and efficient mechanisms of action. In B16 melanoma mice treated with cyclophosphamide, D'Agostini et al. [D'Agostini, C., Pica, F., Febbraro, G., Grelli, S., Chiavaroli, C., Garaci, E., 2005. Antitumour effect of OM-174 and Cyclophosphamide on murine B16 melanoma in different experimental conditions. Int. Immunopharmacol. 5, 1205-1212.] recently found that OM-174, a chemically defined Toll-like receptor(TLR)2/4 agonist, reduces tumor progression and prolongs survival. Here we review 149 articles concerning molecular mechanisms of TLR2…

Mast cells in allergic asthma and beyond.

2010

Mast cells have been regarded for a long time as effector cells in IgE mediated type I reactions and in host defence against parasites. However, they are resident in all environmental exposed tissues and express a wide variety of receptors, suggesting that these cells can also function as sentinels in innate immune responses. Indeed, studies have demonstrated an important role of mast cells during the induction of life-saving antibacterial responses. Furthermore, recent findings have shown that mast cells promote and modulate the development of adaptive immune responses, making them an important hinge of innate and acquired immunity. In addition, mast cells and several mast cell-produced me…