Search results for "mediator"
showing 10 items of 339 documents
Polymorphisms of Pro-Inflammatory IL-6 and IL-1β Cytokines in Ascending Aortic Aneurysms as Genetic Modifiers and Predictive and Prognostic Biomarkers
2021
Background: Previous studies have demonstrated that polymorphisms involved in immune genes can affect the risk, pathogenesis, and outcome of thoracic ascending aortic aneurysms (TAAA). Here, we explored the potential associations of five functional promoter polymorphisms in interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-1B, IL-1A, IL-18, and Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)A genes with TAAA. Methods: 144 TAAA patients and 150 age/gender matched controls were typed using KASPar assays. Effects on telomere length and levels of TAAA related histopathological and serological markers were analyzed. Results: Significant associations with TAAA risk were obtained for IL-6 rs1800795G>
Uncoupling of Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase in Perivascular Adipose Tissue of Diet-Induced Obese Mice
2015
Objective— The present study was conducted to investigate the contribution of perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) to vascular dysfunction in a mouse model of diet-induced obesity. Approach and Results— Obesity was induced in male C57BL/6J mice with a high-fat diet for 20 weeks, and vascular function was studied with myograph. In PVAT-free aortas isolated from obese mice, the endothelium-dependent, nitric oxide–mediated vasodilator response to acetylcholine remained normal. In contrast, a clear reduction in the vasodilator response to acetylcholine was observed in aortas from obese mice when PVAT was left in place. Adipocytes in PVAT were clearly positive in endothelial nitric oxide synthase…
A Natural Dietary Supplement with a Combination of Nutrients Prevents Neurodegeneration Induced by a High Fat Diet in Mice
2018
Obesity and metabolic disorders can be risk factors for the onset and development of neurodegenerative diseases. The aim of the present study was to investigate the protective effects of a natural dietary supplement (NDS), containing Curcuma longa, silymarin, guggul, chlorogenic acid and inulin, on dysmetabolism and neurodegeneration in the brains of high fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. Decrease in the expression of FACL-4, CerS-1, CerS-4, cholesterol concentration and increase in the insulin receptor expression and insulin signaling activation, were found in brains of NDS-treated HFD brains in comparison with HFD untreated-mice, suggesting that NDS is able to prevent brain lipid accumulation and …
Early high-dosage atorvastatin treatment improved serum immune-inflammatory markers and functional outcome in acute ischemic strokes classified as la…
2016
Statins have beneficial effects on cerebral circulation and brain parenchyma during ischemic stroke and reperfusion. The primary hypothesis of this randomized parallel trial was that treatment with 80 mg/day of atorvastatin administered early at admission after acute atherosclerotic ischemic stroke could reduce serum levels of markers of immune-inflammatory activation of the acute phase and that this immune-inflammatory modulation could have a possible effect on prognosis of ischemic stroke evaluated by some outcome indicators. We enrolled 42 patients with acute ischemic stroke classified as large arteries atherosclerosis stroke (LAAS) randomly assigned in a randomized parallel trial to the…
Apremilast, a novel phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) inhibitor, regulates inflammation through multiple cAMP downstream effectors
2015
Introduction This work was undertaken to delineate intracellular signaling pathways for the PDE4 inhibitor apremilast and to examine interactions between apremilast, methotrexate and adenosine A2A receptors (A2AR). Methods After apremilast and LPS incubation, intracellular cAMP, TNF-α, IL-10, IL-6 and IL-1α were measured in the Raw264.7 monocytic murine cell line. PKA, Epac1/2 (signaling intermediates for cAMP) and A2AR knockdowns were performed by shRNA transfection and interactions with A2AR and A2BR, as well as with methotrexate were tested in vitro and in the murine air pouch model. Statistical differences were determined using one or two-way ANOVA or Student’s t test. The alpha nominal…
Locus of control as a mediator of the association between attachment and children’s mental health
2019
Locus of control-the expectation that one is in control of one's outcomes in life-is linked to well-being. The authors explored one of the possible antecedents of locus of control such as secure children's attachment. The hypothesis was that locus of control acts as a mediator of the association between children's attachment and their mental health, in terms of depression, anxiety (internalizing problems), and aggression (externalizing problems). Participants were 206 children with ages ranging from 8 to 14 years. The authors obtained data from teachers as well as by self-report. Structural equations modelling yielded significant results for both a direct path from insecure attachment to in…
Redefining the MED13L syndrome
2015
Congenital cardiac and neurodevelopmental deficits have been recently linked to the mediator complex subunit 13-like protein MED13L, a subunit of the CDK8-associated mediator complex that functions in transcriptional regulation through DNA-binding transcription factors and RNA polymerase II. Heterozygous MED13L variants cause transposition of the great arteries and intellectual disability (ID). Here, we report eight patients with predominantly novel MED13L variants who lack such complex congenital heart malformations. Rather, they depict a syndromic form of ID characterized by facial dysmorphism, ID, speech impairment, motor developmental delay with muscular hypotonia and behavioral difficu…
Analysis of early biochemical markers and regulation by tin protoporphyrin IX in a model of spontaneous osteoarthritis
2011
Abstract Age-related changes in joint tissues lead to osteoarthritis (OA). Detection of early changes in OA patients may help to initiate treatments before the establishment of irreversible joint destruction. STR/ort mice develop with age a severe degenerative joint disease that resembles human OA thus allowing the investigation of biochemical markers as well as new treatments in an accelerated time frame. We have analyzed the changes in serum levels of different mediators during the early phases of idiopathic OA in STR/ort mice. Serum levels of matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) but not those of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin(IL)-1β, IL-17 or prostaglandin E 2 correlated with histopa…
Measurement of inflammatory mediators of mast cells and eosinophils in native nasal lavage fluid in nasal polyposis.
2001
<i>Background:</i> Nasal polyposis (NP) often coexists with asthma, rhinitis and sinusitis. Polyp histology typically shows chronic, eosinophilic inflammation. The inflammatory cell infiltrate generally includes eosinophils, lymphocytes, plasma cells and mast cells. <i>Objective:</i> To gain insight into the natural history of NP, we analysed mediator levels and leukocyte values in nasal fluids and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), total IgE levels and eosinophils in the blood in several groups of both allergic and non-allergic patients with nasal polyps and in patients with allergic rhinitis (AR). <i>Methods:</i> Thirty-two patients with nasal polyps en…
Noninvasive methods for the detection of upper and lower airway inflammation in atopic children
2006
Background Exhaled nitric oxide (FE NO ) and exhaled breath condensate (EBC) are noninvasive methods to assess inflammation. Objective To investigate the role of the FE NO and of the EBC pH and IL-5 levels in atopic children. Methods We evaluated oral and nasal FE NO and the pH and IL-5 of oral and nasal EBC in children with atopic dermatitis (AD; n=18), allergic rhinitis (AR; n=18), intermittent asthma (n = 21), moderate persistent asthma (n = 18), and healthy controls (HCs; n=16). Results Oral FE NO was significantly increased in asthma, whereas the nasal values were increased in AR and asthma in comparison with HCs. The pH of oral EBC was lower in AD and asthma than in AR and HCs, wherea…