Multiple evidences indicate that inflammation is an event occurring prior to infection in patients with cystic fibrosis. The self-perpetuating inflammatory cycle may play a pathogenic part in this disease. The role of the NF-kappaB pathway in enhanced production of inflammatory mediators is well documented. The pathophysiologic mechanisms through which the ...

Antimicrobial effector mechanisms are central to the function of the innate immune response in host defense against microbial pathogens. In humans, activation of Toll-like receptor 2/1 (TLR2/1) on monocytes induces a vitamin D dependent antimicrobial activity against intracellular mycobacteria. Here, we report that TLR activation of monocytes triggers induction of ...

Tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1) is a membrane receptor able to bind TNF-alpha or TNF-beta. TNFR1 can suppress apoptosis by activating the NF-kappaB or JNK/SAPK signal transduction pathway, or it can induce apoptosis through a series of caspase cascade reactions; the particular effect may depend on the cell line. ...

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an endogenous messenger that suppresses inflammation, modulates apoptosis and promotes vascular remodeling. Here, microarrays were employed to globally characterize the CO (250 ppm) suppression of early (1 h) LPS-induced inflammation in human monocytic THP-1 cells. CO suppressed 79 of 101 immediate-early genes induced by LPS; 19% ...

In response to viral infection, the innate immune system recognizes viral nucleic acids and then induces production of proinflammatory cytokines and type I interferons (IFNs). Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) and TLR9 detect viral RNA and DNA, respectively, in endosomal compartments, leading to the activation of nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) and ...

Mast cells and basophils are multifunctional effector cells and contain plentiful secretary granules in their cytoplasm. These cell types are involved in several inflammatory and immune events and are known to produce an array of mediators including a broad spectrum of cytokines. Pomegranate fruit is rich in anthocyanins and hydrolysable ...

Many cancer chemopreventive agents have been associated with lower cancer risk by suppressing nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) signaling pathways, which subsequently leads to attenuated pro-inflammatory mediators and activities. Of the natural compounds, the isothiocyanates (ITCs) found in cruciferous vegetables have received particular attention because of their potential anti-cancer effects. However, limited ...

Alcohol damages the developing brain and can lead to fetal alcohol syndrome. One of alcohol's most important neuropathologic effects is neuronal death. As neurons mature, they become less vulnerable to alcohol-induced death because they acquire a protective signaling pathway, mediated by nitric oxide (NO). This pathway is the NO-cGMP-cyclic GMP-dependent ...

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a complex disease that has potential involvement of inflammatory and oxidative stress-related pathways in its pathogenesis. In search of effective therapeutic agents, we tested curcumin, a naturally occurring compound with known anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties, in a rat model of light-induced retinal degeneration (LIRD) and ...

Expression of many pro-inflammatory cytokines is controlled by the NF-kappaB signaling pathway. NF-kappaB is induced by LPS through activation of TLR4. Melanins extracted from fungal, plant and human sources modulate cytokine production and activate NF-kappaB pathway. We showed that a herbal melanin (HM) from Nigella sativa L. modulates cytokine production ...

Although acute lung inflammation in response to local or systemic infection involves myeloid and nonmyeloid cells, the interplay between different cell types remains poorly defined. Since NF-kappaB is a key transcription factor for innate immunity, we investigated whether dysregulated NF-kappaB activation in myeloid cells impacts inflammatory signaling in nonmyeloid cells ...

Ecklonia cava (EC) is a brown alga that has demonstrated radical scavenging, bactericidal, tyrosinase inhibitory, and protease inhibitory activities. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying its anti-inflammatory action remain unclear. In the current study, we attempted to determine whether pretreatment with EC induces a significant inhibition of anti-inflammatory activity in lipopolysaccharide ...

Surfactin is a natural biosurfactant derived from Bacillus subtilis and has various biological activities such as anticancer, antiplatelet, and anti-inflammatory effects. In this study, the inhibitory mechanism of surfactin in NO production from macrophages was examined. Surfactin downregulated LPSinduced NO production in RAW264.7 cells and primary macrophages with IC50 values ...

Modulation of host immune responses is a common strategy for promoting virus persistence and avoiding clearance. Human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is known to encode numerous immunomodulatory genes, including a homolog of the cytokine human interleukin-10 (hIL-10). While having limited sequence homology to hIL-10, cytomegalovirus IL-10 (cmvIL-10) shares many functional characteristics with ...

Pharmaceuticals are regularly released into the environment; in particular non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and antibiotics. Erythromycin, naproxen, furosemide and atenolol are reported to be stable for up to 1 year in the environment, which increases the risk for accumulation. In the present study we have measured the occurrence and concentration ...

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the behavior of NF-kappaB in the cryptorchid testes, we investigated the testes of an experimentally induced cryptorchid rat model. Cryptorchid testes exhibit degenerative changes in the germinal epithelium with germ cell apoptosis, which results in future infertility. However, the mechanisms of apoptosis in the germ cells are ...

Overexpression of cyclooxygenase 2 (COX2) and uncontrolled wingless and Int (Wnt)-signaling pathway have long been suggested to play crucial roles in colorectal cancer. Studies show that selective COX2 inhibitors possess great potential as chemopreventive agents for colon cancer. Recent studies suggest that targeting COX2 and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) ...

BACKGROUND: Inhibition of specific coagulation pathways such as the factor VIIa-tissue factor complex has been shown to attenuate ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, but the cellular mechanisms have not been explored. OBJECTIVES: To determine the cellular mechanisms involved in the working mechanism of active site inhibited factor VIIa (ASIS) in the protection ...

Sulforaphane (SFN) is an indirect antioxidant that protects animal tissues from chemical or biological insults by stimulating the expression of several NF-E2-related factor-2 (Nrf2)-regulated phase 2 enzymes. Treatment of RINm5F insulinoma cells with SFN increases Nrf2 nuclear translocation and expression of phase 2 enzymes. In this study, we investigated whether ...

Inappropriate functioning of the immune system is linked to immune deficiency, autoimmune disease, and cancer. It is therefore not surprising that intracellular immune signaling pathways are tightly controlled. One of the best studied transcription factors in immune signaling is NF-kappaB, which is activated by multiple receptors and regulates the expression ...

OBJECTIVE: SIRT1, a class III histone/protein deacetylase, is known to interfere with the nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) signaling pathway and thereby has an anti-inflammatory function. Because of the central role of NF-kappaB in cytokine-mediated pancreatic beta-cell damage, we postulated that SIRT1 might work in pancreatic beta-cell damage models. RESEARCH DESIGN AND ...

We have previously shown that ethanol (EtOH) induces protective NF-kappaB activation in gastric surface epithelial cells. This study investigates the defense systems in rat gastric mucosal cells (RGM-1) exposed simultaneously to EtOH and taurocholate (TC) or acetylsalicylic acid (ASA). Simultaneous exposure to ASA and EtOH increased EtOH-induced caspase-3 activity and ...

LL-37, the only member of the cathelicidin family of cationic host defence peptides in humans, has been shown to mediate multiple immunomodulatory effects and as such is thought to be an important component of innate immune responses. A growing body of evidence indicates that LL-37 affects lung mucosal responses to ...

Lindane, an organochlorine pesticide, is known to impair testicular functions and fertility. To elucidate the mechanism(s) underpinning the gonadal effects of lindane, we sought to investigate the levels of apoptosis-related proteins, namely cytochrome c, caspase-3 and-9, Fas and FasL in the testis of adult rats. Furthermore, the study aims to ...

We used the model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans infected with the human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus to identify components of epithelial immunity. Transcriptional profiling and reverse genetic analysis revealed that mutation of the C. elegans beta-catenin homolog bar-1 or the downstream homeobox gene egl-5 results in a defective response and hypersensitivity to ...

Vgamma9 Vdelta2 T lymphocytes are involved in the immune response against hematological malignancies and certain pathogens through the recognition of nonpeptidic Ags expressed by tumors and infected cells. Being equipped with proinflammatory chemokine receptors, they participate to the early phases of inflammation acting as both effector and connector cells between ...

The nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) transcription factors are activated by a range of stimuli including pro-inflammatory cytokines. Active NF-kappaB regulates the expression of genes involved in inflammation and cell survival and aberrant NF-kappaB activity plays pathological roles in certain types of cancer and diseases characterized by chronic inflammation. NF-kappaB ...

Resistance to tumor necrosis factor (TNFalpha)-induced apoptosis in various cancer cells has been attributed to the activation of the transcription factor NF-kappaB. Ebselen (2-phenyl-1,2-benzisoselenazol-3[2H]one)-a selenoorganic compound is known to prevent TNFalpha-mediated NF-kappaB activity. As glioblastoma are resistant to the cytotoxic effect of TNFalpha, we investigated the potential of Ebselen in ...

STUDY DESIGN: Molecular biologic and immuno-histologic analyses using in vitro murine intervertebral disc tissue culture. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the role of tumor necrosis factor-like weak inducer of apoptosis (TWEAK) in matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP-3) pathway induction, and the effect of TWEAK to induce other cytokines or angiogenesis factors in disc ...

Background: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a genetic disease caused by mutations in the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR). dF508 CFTR deficient targeting to the cell membrane may activate the cellular stress response and induce a pro-inflammatory phenotype by activating potent transcription factors, including NF-kappaB In the lung, elafin and ...

In light of the anti-inflammatory properties of histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors, such as suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) and trichostatin A (TSA), we examined a new HDAC inhibitor KBH-A42 for its anti-inflammatory activities. KBH-A42 showed noteworthy anti-inflammatory properties in vitro via suppression of the production of TNF-alpha, a proinflammatory cytokine, and ...

Sulforaphane (SFN) is a biologically active compound extracted from cruciferous vegetables, and possessing potent anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory activities. Here, we show that tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), in combination with a sub-toxic dose of SFN, significantly triggered apoptosis in TNF-alpha-resistant leukemia cells (THP-1, HL60, U937, and K562), which was associated with ...

The close association of inflammation, angiogenesis and cancer progression is now highlighted, and in this study we especially focused on a close association of inflammation and lymphangiogenesis. We found that proinflammatory cytokine, interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), could induce lymphangiogenesis in mouse cornea through enhanced production of potent lymphangiogenic factors, VEGF-A, VEGF-C and ...

Individuals with sickle cell disease (SCD) have increased inflammation, a high incidence of airway hyperreactivity (AH), and increased circulating leukotrienes (LT). We show that expression of 5-lipoxygenase and 5-lipoxygenase activating protein (FLAP), key catalytic molecules in the LT pathway, were significantly increased in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (MNCs) in patients ...

Human malignant melanoma is notoriously resistant to currently available pharmacological modulation. Our aim was to evaluate the anti-tumor effect of a novel synthetic retinoid 6-[3-(1-adamantyl)-4-hydroxyphenyl]-2-naphthalene carbo-xylic acid (CD437) on melanoma cell line A375. Analysis of cell morphology showed that CD437 promoted marked apoptosis in A375 cells. To explore the mechanisms ...

Francisella tularensis, the causative agent of tularemia, is currently considered a category A bioterrorism agent due to its high virulence. Infection with F. tularensis results in an inflammatory response that plays an important role in the pathogenesis of the disease; however, the cellular mechanisms regulating this response are poorly understood. ...

We tested the anti-inflammatory agent methyl-2-acetamidoacrylate (M2AA), an ethyl pyruvate analog, in a cecal ligation-and-puncture (CLP) model of sepsis in CD-1 mice. M2AA administration at the time of CLP improved survival, renal function, kidney histology, liver injury, and splenocyte apoptosis, and lowered cytokine levels (TNF-alpha, IL-6, IFN-gamma, and IL-10). When ...

Antigen with dual costimulation through CD137 and CD134 induces powerful CD8 T cell responses. These effector T cells are endowed with an intrinsic survival program resulting in their accumulation in vivo, but the signaling components required for survival are unknown. We tested a cadre of pathway inhibitors and found one ...

We have identified a natural compound that activates apoptosis of epithelial cancer cells through activation of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), TNF receptor (TNFR)-associated death domain (TRADD), and caspases. The molecule 1-hydroxy-5,7-dimethoxy-2-naphthalene-carboxaldehyde (HDNC, marmelin) was isolated and characterized from ethyl acetate fraction of extracts of Aegle marmelos. HDNC treatment inhibited the ...

The innate inflammatory immune response must be tightly controlled to avoid damage to the host. Here, we showed that the tuberous sclerosis complex-mammalian target of rapamycin (TSC-mTOR) pathway regulated inflammatory responses after bacterial stimulation in monocytes, macrophages, and primary dendritic cells. Inhibition of mTOR by rapamycin promoted production of proinflammatory ...

Intrauterine infection is a common trigger for preterm birth and is also a risk factor for the subsequent development of neurodevelopmental abnormalities in the neonate. Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) binds to toll-like receptor-4 (TLR-4) to activate proinflammatory signaling pathways, which are implicated in both preterm delivery and antenatal brain injury. The ...

We describe a case of inflammatory myofibroblastic tumor (IMT) that occurred in the retroperitoneum. The patient manifested systemic symptoms, such as intermittent fever, anemia, thrombocytosis, and hypergammaglobulinemia. In order to elucidate the mechanism of intermittent fever in IMT, we analyzed nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) activation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells ...

To date, no countermeasures have been developed to overcome adenovirus (Ad) vector-induced innate immune responses in gene therapies that utilize these vectors. In the present study, we attempted to suppress Ad vector-induced innate immune responses and hepatotoxicity by delivering an NF-kappaB decoy to splenic macrophages and dendritic cells, as well ...

Rituximab in combination with chemotherapy is considered for the treatment of patients with AIDS-associated B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL); however, a subgroup of patients does not respond or develops resistance following initial treatments. To address the mechanism of rituximab-resistance, we have generated rituximab-resistant (RR) clones from wild-type (wT) 2F7. A representative ...

Mast cells participate in allergy and inflammation by secreting inflammatory mediators such as histamine and proinflammatory cytokines. Flavonoids are naturally occurring molecules with antioxidant, cytoprotective, and antiinflammatory actions. However, effect of flavonoids on the release of histamine and proinflammatory mediator, and their comparative mechanism of action in mast cells were ...

Human multiple myeloma is a presently incurable hematological malignancy and novel biologically based therapies are urgently needed. Triptolide (TPL) is a purified diterpenod isolated from the Chinese herb, Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. F that has shown antitumor activities in various cancer cell types. But its activity in Dex-resistant multiple myeloma cell ...

The recognition of the importance of angiogenesis in tumor progression has led to the development of antiangiogenesis as a new strategy for cancer treatment and prevention. By modulating tumor microenvironment and inducing angiogenesis, the proinflammatory cytokine interleukine (IL)-1beta has been reported to promote tumor development. However, the factors mediating IL-1beta-induced ...

The aging process involves changes in immune regulation, i.e. adaptive immunity declines whereas innate immunity becomes activated. NF-kappaB signaling is the master regulator of the both immune systems. Two recent articles highlight the role of the NF-kappaB system in aging and immune responses. Adler et al showed that the NF-kappaB ...

Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) activation has been associated with the tumorigenic growth of hepatitis B virus X protein (HBx)-transformed cells. This study was aimed to find a key target for treatment of HBx-mediated cancers. NF-kappaB activation, endoplasmic reticulum-stress (ER-stress), caspase-3 activation, and cell proliferation were evaluated after Chang/HBx cells permanently ...

NF-kappaB is a key transcriptional regulator of inflammatory responses, but also controls expression of prosurvival genes, whose products protect tissues from damage and may thus act indirectly in an antiinflammatory fashion. The variable importance of these two distinct NF-kappaB-controlled responses impacts the potential utility of NF-kappaB inhibition as a treatment ...