Imbalance in gut bacterial composition provokes host proinflammatory responses causing diseases such as colitis. Colonization with a mixture of Clostridium species from clusters IV and XIVa was shown to suppress colitis through the induction of IL-10-producing regulatory T (Treg) cells. We demonstrate that a distinct Clostridium strain from cluster I, ...

Abstract The gut microflora is an immense health asset for human beings. The mammalian gut harbors trillions of commensals. These microbes not only modulate local but also systemic immunity. Recently, various reports are evolving, which signify that the gut microbes can modulate, tune and tame the host immune response. Consequently, ...

Flavonoids are secondary products of plants that include thousands of compounds classified in several classes. Preclinical studies mainly carried out in rodents suggest that they may have a role in the prevention of immunoglobulin E (IgE) synthesis and mast cell degranulation. Interestingly, using animal models with allergic asthma, it can ...

Recent evidence has brought to the spotlight plant-derived polyphenols as a promising tool to prevent allergy. The worldwide increase of allergic disease, probably relying on many factors including immune response to stressors and its loss in complexity, environmental pressure by pollutants and chemical allergens, changes in lifestyle and lifespan, failure ...

The immunoglobulin superfamily member EMMPRIN (CD147) plays an important role in a number of organ systems, including the cardiovascular system. Here we review the contemporary understanding of EMMPRIN and EMMPRIN-associated sequelae in the course of atherosclerosis. A significant body of data documents the pivotal role of EMMPRIN in the complex ...

Large amounts of anti-inflammatory mediators, such as interleukin (IL)-10, are produced and found early in the course of sepsis. We explore the role of IL-10 on neutrophil (PMN) activation/function using an in vitro model. Isolated human PMN were pre-incubated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and/or IL-10 for 18h. Subsequently, a second LPS ...

First established as a diagnosis by Nikolaus Friedreich in 1863, Friedreich's ataxia (FA) is an autosomal recessive progressive neurodegenerative disorder cause by a trinucleotide repeat expansion. FA begins with the functional absence of the FXN gene product frataxin, a protein whose exact function still remains unknown. This absence results in ...

The increasing allergy prevalence in affluent countries may be caused by reduced microbial stimulation and a decreased dietary ω-3/ω-6 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCPUFA) ratio, resulting in an abnormal postnatal immune maturation. The timing of allergy-preventive probiotic and ω-3 LCPUFA interventions is critical, as early-life events occurring during critical windows ...

The pathophysiology of asthma is complex and involves a number of factors including atopy and bronchial hyperreactivity. A strong body of evidence suggests that structural and functional respiratory epithelial alterations play a crucial role in both development and persistence of this condition. From the onset of symptoms the airways epithelium ...

ABSTRACT: The intestinal microbiota plays an important role in the development of post-natal gastrointestinal functions of the host. Recent advances in our capability to identify microbes and their function offer exciting opportunities to evaluate the complex cross talk between microbiota, intestinal barrier, immune system and the gut-brain axis. This review ...

Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the most common age related neurodegenerative disease and affects million of people worldwide. Strong evidence suggests a role for oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunctions in the pathogenesis of PD. Recent epidemiologic and toxicological studies have shown that environmental factors, especially herbicides such as paraquat ...

Cell injury associated with reactive oxygen species (ROS) has been reported in various muscular disorders. We found that a Cichorium intybus (Cii) extract reduced H(2)O(2)-induced viability loss in C2C12 myoblasts, inhibited oxidative stress-induced apoptosis and increased intracellular heat shock protein 70 (Hsp 70) expression. Cii also inhibited the level of ...

Carbonyl compounds such as methylglyoxal (MGO) seem to play an important role in complications resulting from diabetes mellitus, in aging and neurodegenerative disorders. In this study, we are showing, that MGO is able to suppress cell viability and induce apoptosis in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of neonatal rats ex-vivo. ...

The lung environment is designed to prevent innate responses to harmless commensal microorganisms and environmental antigens. Features of an intact respiratory epithelium are critical to this process. A damaged or altered lung epithelial surface will therefore remove or alter the suppressive signals delivered to local innate immune cells, and inflammation ...

The epidemiology and pathogenesis of, and risk factors for, cryptococcal immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (CM-IRIS) are reviewed with an emphasis on how new insights inform a rational management approach and prevention strategies. Risk factors for paradoxical CM-IRIS are a low inflammatory response and CD4 cell count at baseline, rapid immune ...

Acute inflammation, a physiologic response to protect cells from microbial infection and other noxious stimuli, is automatically terminated by endogenous anti-inflammatory and pro-resolving mediators to restore homeostatic conditions. However, if timely resolution of inflammation is failed, inflammation persists and can progress to a chronic inflammation which has long been thought ...

ABSTRACT: The clinical, human and economic burden associated with sepsis is huge. Initiatives such as the Surviving Sepsis Campaign aim to effectively reduce risk of death from severe sepsis and septic shock. Nonetheless, although substantial benefits raised from the implementation of this campaign have been obtained, much work remains if ...

The dampening of host immune responses is a critical aspect of pathogenesis for the enteropathogen Salmonella enterica. Our laboratory has recently described a role for the secreted effector GogB in disruption of NFκB activation and limitation of the host inflammatory response to infection. GogB alters the NFκB pathway by preventing ...

Our knowledge concerning the workings of the immune system has evolved considerably over the past 20 years, with great strides being made as regard to complex interactions and repertoire of effector reactions under a host of conditions. Many of our previous understandings have been challenged, especially concerning tumor immunology and ...

The innate immune receptor Toll-like 4 (TLR4) is the receptor activated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and TLR4-LPS interaction is well known to induce an innate immune response, triggering sickness behavior. Within the brain, TLR4 is highly expressed in brain microglia, and excessive inflammation resulting from activation of this pathway in the ...

Sulforaphane (SFN), an isothiocyanate naturally occurring in Cruciferae, induces cytoprotection in several tissues. Its protective effect has been associated with its ability to induce cytoprotective enzymes through an Nrf2-dependent pathway. Gentamicin (GM) is a widely used antibiotic; nephrotoxicity is the main side effect of this compound. In this study, it ...

Pyruvate is an endogenous antioxidant substance. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effects of ethyl pyruvate (EP) on retinal vascular injury in diabetic retinopathy. To investigate the protective effect of EP on vascular cell apoptosis and blood-retinal barrier (BRB) breakage, we have used intravitreally methylglyoxal-(MGO-) injected ...

Activation of microglia with an inflammatory insult, which plays a central role in periventricular leukomalacia (PVL), results in premyelinating oligodendrocyte death via release of certain cytokines, reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 is necessary for lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced oligodenrocyte injury in the CNS. Having an ability to ...

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Particulate air pollution in lung epithelial cells induces pathogenic endpoints like proliferation, apoptosis, and pro-inflammatory reactions. The activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a key event responsible for signalling events involving mitogen activated protein kinases specific for these endpoints. The molecular events leading to receptor ...

Streptococcus pneumoniae is one of the most important aetiological agents of bacterial pneumonia and meningitis in the world. This bacterium can cause severe inflammation of lung tissue and disseminate to the central nervous system. Although B cell activation and antibody secretion is considered one of the most important events in ...

Heterotopic ossification (HO) is a common complication following with musculoskeletal trauma and surgical procedures. It usually decreases joint mobility and eventually causes loss of joint function. Despite nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), the inhibitor of cyclooxygenase(COX), have been proven to prevent HO effectively via prostaglandin E2 synthesis regulation and modulation of ...

ABSTRACT: The only existing preventive measure against American trypanosomosis, or Chagas disease, is the control of the transmitting insect, which has only been effective in a few South American regions. Currently, there is no vaccine available to prevent this disease. Here, we present the clinical and cardiac levels of protection ...

Contrast media (CM)-induced nephropathy is a common cause of iatrogenic acute renal failure. The aim of the present review was to discuss the mechanisms and risk factors of CM, to summarize the controlled studies evaluating measures for prevention and to conclude with evidence-based strategies for prevention. A review of the ...

Abstract Necrotising enterocolitis (NEC) continues to have significant mortality, and morbidity including neurodevelopmental impairment, especially in extreme preterm neonates needing surgery for the illness. The incidence of NEC has not changed significantly despite the advances in neonatal care. Preventing NEC thus remains a priority. Protecting the intestinal barrier function and ...

Infection is common after stroke and is independently associated with a worse outcome. The predisposition to infection following stroke is in part related to a sympathetically mediated suppression of the peripheral immune response. The teleological explanation for this immune dysfunction is that it serves to prevent autoimmune responses to brain ...

Arsenic trioxide (ATO) is one of the most potent drugs in cancer chemotherapy, and is highly effective in treating both newly diagnosed and relapse patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Despite a number of reports regarding the molecular mechanisms by which ATO promotes anti-tumor or pro-apoptotic activity in hematological and ...

The life span of neutrophilic granulocytes has determining impact on the intensity and duration of neutrophil driven lung inflammation. Based on the compatible solute ectoine, we aimed to prevent anti-apoptotic reactions in neutrophils triggered by the inflammatory microenvironment in the lung.Neutrophils from COPD patients and control individuals were exposed to ...

Cytokines are soluble proteins secreted by a broad range of cell types that play pivotal roles in the regulation of inflammation and the immune response. Recent advances in avian genetics and immunology have explored the application of exogenous avian cytokines against infectious agents in poultry medicine. To use exogenous cytokines ...

Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) is associated with intellectual disability and neurodevelopmental abnormalities. Neuroprotective peptides NAPVSIPQ (NAP) and SALLRSIPA (SAL) can prevent some of the alcohol-induced teratogenesis including fetal death, growth abnormalities, and learning impairment in part by preventing alcohol-induced alterations in N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor gene expression in a mouse model for ...

Because of the potent effector mechanisms of the immune system, the potential for self-destructive immune responses is especially high and many negative regulatory modalities exist to prevent excessive tissue damage. This Commentary places such regulatory mechanisms in the larger context of system organization on many scales. The sometimes counterintuitive nature ...

This review focused on potential regulatory mechanisms of Trichomonas vaginalis virulence properties, cytoadherence, cytotoxicity, phagocytosis, hemolysis, induction of apoptosis, and immune evasion in response to environmental factors of the human urogenital tract, iron, zinc, and polyamines. Understanding the multifactorial nature of trichomonal pathogenesis and its regulation may help to unravel ...

Resistance mechanisms of the innate and adaptive immune responses prevent the colonization of foreign organisms in unwanted anatomical sites and participate in tissue repair and restoration of homeostasis after damage induced either by the invasion of pathogenic microbes or by the organism's response to them. The intensity of the response ...

Myocarditis is commonly associated with cardiotropic infections and has been linked to development of autoimmunity. N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline (Ac-SDKP) is a naturally occurring tetrapeptide that prevents inflammation and fibrosis in hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases; however, its effect on autoimmune-mediated cardiac diseases remains unknown. We studied the effects of Ac-SDKP in experimental ...

A novel lotus plumule polysaccharide (LPPS) was purified, characterised and cultured with RAW264.7 macrophages to evaluate its anti-inflammatory characteristics. LPPS was purified using Sepharose 6B gel filtration and dissolved into two major components, fraction-1 (F1) and fraction-2 (F2). The molecular weights of native F1 and F2 were approximately distributed at ...

The innate immune system provides the first line of defense against invading microorganisms by inducing a variety of inflammatory and antimicrobial responses. These responses are particularly important in the gastrointestinal tract, where the needs for efficient nutrient uptake and host defense collide. Many pathogens have evolved to specifically colonize the ...

Autophagy is a housekeeping process that maintains cellular homeostasis through recycling of nutrients and degradation of damaged or aged cytoplasmic constituents. Over the past several years, accumulating evidence has suggested that autophagy can function as an intracellular innate defense pathway in response to infection with a variety of bacteria and ...

Eradication of infectious disease is our global health challenge. After encountering intestinal infection with a bacterial pathogen, the host defense program is initiated by local antigen-presenting cells (APCs) that eliminate invading pathogens by phagocytosis and establish localized inflammation by secreting cytokines and chemokines. These pathogen-experienced APCs migrate to the mesenteric ...

Mucormycosis is a devastating disease and can occur in patients with a variety of risk factors, the most important of which are immunosuppression, anatomic barrier breakdown, iron overload, and hyperglycemia/acidosis. Similarly to what occurs with Aspergillus, the host stimulates an innate immune response against the challenging sporangiospores and invading hyphae ...

To study the chemical constituents of stembark of Garcinia malaccensis (G. malaccensis) together with apoptotic, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. Purification and structure elucidation were carried out by chromatographic and spectroscopic techniques, respectively. MTT and trypan blue exclusion methods were performed to study the cytotoxic activity. Antibacterial activity was conducted by ...

Quorum sensing (QS) is a mechanism of microbial communication dependent on cell density that can regulate several behaviors in bacteria such as secretion of virulence factors, biofilm formation, competence and bioluminescence. The existence of fungal QS systems was revealed ten years ago after the discovery that farnesol controls filamentation in ...

In the obligate mutualism between figs (Ficus) and their specific pollinators (Chalcidoidea, Agaonidae), each species of fig wasp typically reproduces in figs of a single host species. Host specificity is maintained largely because pollinators are attracted to tree-specific volatiles released from their host figs, but whether the wasps can reproduce ...

Defensins and cathelicidins are anti-microbial peptides (AMPs) that act as natural antibiotics and are part of the innate immune defence in many species. We consider human defensins and LL37, the only human member of the cathelicidin family. In particular, we refer to the human alpha-defensins called human neutrophil peptides (HNP1 ...

Candida albicans is both the most common fungal commensal microorganism in healthy individuals and the major fungal pathogen causing high mortality in at-risk populations, especially immunocompromised patients. In this review, we summarize the interplay between the host innate system and C. albicans, ranging from how the host recognizes, responds, and ...

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Pyrostegia venusta (Ker Gawl) Miers. (Bignoniaceae), has been traditionally used as a remedy for treating white patches and infections on the skin (leukoderma, vitiligo). AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate wound healing and antimicrobial activity of flower extract of Pyrostegia venusta, including in vivo antioxidant activity. MATERIALS AND ...

Aims: The ability of pathogens to cope with the damaging effects of nitric oxide (NO), present in certain host niches and produced by phagocytes that support innate immunity, relies on multiple strategies that include the action of detoxifying enzymes. As for many other pathogens, these systems remained unknown for <i>Helicobacter ...