Accurate measurement of cytokine concentrations is a powerful and essential approach to the study of inflammation. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is a simple, low-cost analytical tool that provides both the specificity and sensitivity required for the study of cytokines in vitro or in vivo. This communication describes a systematic ...

Extreme climate events such as heat waves are expected to increase in frequency under global change. As one indirect effect, they can alter magnitude and direction of species interactions, for example those between hosts and parasites. We simulated a summer heat wave to investigate how a changing environment affects the ...

Colorectal cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the world; death usually results from uncontrolled metastatic disease. Previously, we developed a novel strategy of TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (Apo2L/TRAIL) in combination with hyperthermia to treat hepatic colorectal metastases. However, previous studies suggest a potential hepatocyte cytotoxicity with TRAIL. ...

The induction of cytokine release is a common consequence of the administration of therapeutic antibodies and in most cases is either tolerated by the patient or can be managed clinically by the administration of corticosteroids. However, in 2006, the administration of TGN1412 to six patients in a Phase I trial ...

Background.  Numerous molecular events have been associated with the development of malignant melanoma (MM). The cellular FLICE-like inhibitory protein (c-FLIP) was originally identified as an inhibitor of death-receptor signalling through competition with FADD-like interleukin-1β-converting enzyme (FLICE; also known as caspase-8) for recruitment to the FAS-associated death domain (FADD), and it ...

Interleukin 10 (IL-10) is a potent cytokine homodimer with multiple immunoregulatory functions. Here, we have characterized the effects of pegylation and formation of hIL-10/hαhIL-10 (humanized anti-hIL-10) immune complexes in the pharmacokinetics (PK), biodistribution and biotransformation of IL-10 in mice. In order to assess the fate of native, pegylated and antibody ...

Objective-To investigate the effect of opsonization of Rhodococcus equi with R equi-specific antibodies in plasma on bacterial viability and phagocyte activation in a cell culture model of infection. Sample-Neutrophils and monocyte-derived macrophages from 6 healthy 1-week-old foals and 1 adult horse. Procedures-Foal and adult horse phagocytes were incubated with either ...

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are chronic disabling diseases with significant morbidity. A deregulated immune response towards the intestinal microbiota is thought to play an important role in the pathogenesis of IBD, and thus biological therapies targeting key molecules such as cytokines have been designed. Several anti-TNF-α agents are currently being ...

Thymoquinone is an active ingredient isolated from Nigella sativa and has been investigated for its anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and anticancer activities in both in vitro and in vivo models since its first extraction in 1960s. Its anti-oxidant/anti-inflammatory effect has been reported in various disease models, including encephalomyelitis, diabetes, asthma and carcinogenesis. ...

Interleukin-5 is a Th2 homodimeric cytokine involved in the differentiation, maturation, migration, development, survival, trafficking and effector function of blood and local tissue eosinophils, in addition to basophils and mast cells. The IL-5 receptor (IL-5R) consists of an IL-5-specific α subunit that interacts in conformationally dynamic ways with the receptor's ...

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory arthritis with many systemic manifestations. Several monoclonal antibodies targeting different components of the immune systems have been licensed for treatment of RA. Inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) are found abundantly in the blood and the joints. The biologic effect of IL-6 on ...

BACKGROUND & AIMS: The anti-TNF antibodies infliximab, adalimumab and certolizumab pegol have proven clinical efficacy in Crohn's disease. Here, we assessed the effects of anti-TNF antibodies on apoptosis in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). METHODS: CD14+ macrophages and CD4+ T-cells were isolated from peripheral blood and lamina propria mononuclear cells from ...

Reliable and simple methods are required for detection of low concentrations of cytokines and some other proteins in complex biological fluids. This is especially important when monitoring the immune responses under various physiological and pathophysiological conditions in vivo or following production of these compounds in in vitro systems. Cytokines and ...

Bioassay-guided fractionation of the ethanolic extract of Pterodon emarginatus Vogel stem bark (EtEx) resulted in the isolation and characterization of lupeol and betulin. Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic methods including IR, (1)H-NMR, (13)C-NMR and comparison with literature values. This study showed the anti-inflammatory activity of EtEx, the hexane (HexL) ...

Pulmonary alveolar proteinosis (PAP) is a rare pulmonary disease characterised by alveolar accumulation of surfactant. It may result from mutations in surfactant proteins or granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) receptor genes, it may be secondary to toxic inhalation or haematological disorders, or it may be auto-immune, with anti-GM-CSF antibodies blocking ...

Momordica grosvenori (<i>Luo Han Guo</i>), grown primarily in Guangxi Province in China, has been traditionally used for thousands of years by the Chinese to make hot drinks for the treatment of sore throat and the removal of phlegm. The natural non-caloric sweetening triterpenoid glycosides (mogrosides) contained in the <i>M. grosvenori</i> ...

Inflammations and immune-related diseases including rheumatoid arthritis are widespread in the entire globe. The treatment of these illnesses is mainly based on the use of synthetic and biotechnological drugs, in recent years. Tunisian traditional medicine is a potential source of new remedies namely Citrullus colocynthis Schrad. (Cucurbitaceae): endemic in southern ...

  Caspase 14 is a unique member of the cysteinyl aspartate-specific proteinase family. Its expression is confined primarily to cornified epithelium such as the skin. Caspase 14 has been associated with the processing of filaggrin monomers and the development of natural moisturising factors of the skin, and thus, it could ...

  Background:  The stress-inducible chaperone heat shock protein (HSP) 70 is considered a 'danger signal' if released into the extracellular environment. It has been proposed to play a role in the pathogenesis of skin diseases such as psoriasis and lupus erythematosus (LE). Objectives:  The aim of this study was to ...

It was long believed that epidermal Langerhans cells (LC) are responsible for the initiation of cellular immunity. Only recently it has been shown that in skin alone 5 different subtypes of dendritic cells (DC) can be identified. Among these, LC, but also two Langerin-expressing dermal DC populations and two more ...

The Fas/Fas ligand (FasL) system has been recognized as an important pathway for apoptosis induction in cells and tissues. It has recently been shown that skin lesions of pemphigus vulgaris are associated with Fas mediated apoptosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of serum soluble Fas ...

Both the immune system and the epidermis likely have an important role in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD). The objective of the present study was to develop a human skin equivalent model exhibiting morphologic and molecular characteristics of AD in a controlled manner. Skin equivalents generated from normal adult ...

Keratinocytes play an important role in the inflammatory response of the skin. UVB stimulates keratinocytes to secrete several cytokines. To our knowledge, there are no reports that have examined which layer or cell type is responsible for producing these cytokines. Thus, in this study we performed immunohistochemical experiments to determine ...

Acute exposure of human skin to the ultraviolet radiation (UVR) in sunlight results in the sunburn response. This is mediated in part by pro-inflammatory eicosanoids and other bioactive lipids, which are in turn produced via mechanisms including UVR-induction of oxidative stress, cell signalling and gene expression. Sunburn is a self-limiting ...

Rainbow trout and Atlantic salmon interleukin-4/13A (IL-4/13A) genes were identified. They were found expressed at high level in thymus, gill, and skin, in concert with the transcription factor gene GATA-3. High expression levels of IL-4, IL-13, and GATA-3 were also detected in murine thymus, suggesting similar importance of the fish ...

Cocoa contains more phenolic antioxidants than most foods. Flavonoids, including catechin, epicatechin, and procyanidins predominate in antioxidant activity. The tricyclic structure of the flavonoids determines antioxidant effects that scavenge reactive oxygen species, chelate Fe2+ and Cu+, inhibit enzymes, and upregulate antioxidant defenses. The epicatechin content of cocoa is primarily responsible ...

The human body has its own innate electrical system that regulates the body's functions via communications among organs through the well-known neural system. While the effect of low-level electrical stimulation on wound repair has been reported, few studies have examined the effect of electric potential on non-wounded, intact skin. A ...

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a common inflammatory skin disease with a T(H)2 and "T22" immune polarity. Despite recent data showing a genetic predisposition to epidermal barrier defects in some patients, a fundamental debate still exists regarding the role of barrier abnormalities versus immune responses in initiating the disease. An extensive ...

The skin is the human body's largest organ, colonized by a diverse milieu of microorganisms, most of which are harmless or even beneficial to their host. Colonization is driven by the ecology of the skin surface, which is highly variable depending on topographical location, endogenous host factors and exogenous environmental ...

Malassezia yeasts are found on the skin of all humans and many warm-blooded animals. In vitro they have the ability to synthesize potent ligands (indolo[3,2-b]carbazole, malassezin and indirubin) of the aryl-hydrocarbon receptor (AhR; synonym: dioxin receptor) when the sweat contained l-tryptophan is used as the single nitrogen source. The production ...

To provoke an immune response, a transcutaneously administered vaccine has to diffuse into the skin, reach the lymph nodes and be taken up by dendritic cells (DCs). To study these three steps we immunised mice transcutaneously (with microneedles), intradermally and intranodally. The effect of the formulation was investigated by formulating ...

Interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) signaling in keratinocytes plays an important role in IFN-γ-mediated skin inflammation involved in psoriasis. Blocking IFN-γ signal transduction in keratinocytes could be a strategy for controlling inflammatory skin disorders. Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. F. (T. wilfordii) has been used effectively in psoriasis treatment in China. Its therapeutic mechanism on ...

Background:  A number of studies have challenged the T cell centred pathogenetic view of psoriasis by the finding that epithelium-expressed genes are intimately involved in the inflammatory process. IL-17 is an important inflammatory mediator in skin psoriasis. Objective:  IL-17 is known to act on keratinocytes and we were interested in ...

In this study, we have investigated the role of CD69, an early inducible leukocyte activation receptor, in murine dendritic cell (DC) differentiation, maturation, and migration. Skin DCs and DC subsets present in mouse lymphoid organs express CD69 in response to maturation stimuli. Using a contact sensitization model, we show that ...

  The complex biological trait 'susceptibility to apoptosis' is a nosological feature distinguishing squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) from keratoacanthomas (KA). The purpose of this study was to compare the expression of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF), a major effector of the caspase-independent apoptosis pathway, in formalin-fixed SCC (N = 23) and KA (N = 29) resection ...

  A failure to induce immune suppression after UV exposure has been implicated in the pathogenesis of polymorphic light eruption (PLE). This immunological resistance has been linked to an impaired neutrophil infiltration into the skin following UV exposure. Therapeutic photohardening can restore this abnormal neutrophil infiltration in PLE skin and ...

UV is a major environmental factor inducing and worsening the symptoms of hyperpigmentation disorders such as freckles, melasma and solar lentigines. During UV-induced skin inflammatory reactions, pro-inflammatory mediators initiate the production of various paracrine melanogenic factors (α-MSH, SCF, ET-1, bFGF and NO) in keratinocytes. These paracrine factors activate melanin synthase ...

Keloid, a fibro-proliferative benign tumor of skin, is characterized by an enriched milieu of growth factors and an abundant accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM). Transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1 is well known as the crucial fibrogenic cytokine promoting ECM production and tissue fibrosis in keloid forming. Epigenetic modifications have been shown ...

ABSTRACT UV radiation leads to the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). These molecules exert a variety of harmful effects by altering key cellular functions and may result in cell death. Several studies have demonstrated that human skin can be protected against UV radiation by using plant-derived antioxidants. Here we ...

BACKGROUND.: Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) is an important complication occurring after hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT). Animal model studies have shown the involvement of the Fas (APO-1/CD95)/Fas-Ligand pathway in GVHD pathogenesis, but its association with cutaneous GVHD in human remains to be established. METHODS.: In the present study, Fas involvement in skin ...

During skin repair, leukocyte infiltration is the principal inflammatory response which is instrumental in triggering growth factor and cytokine signals that orchestrate together to recruit cells necessary for healing. In severe wounds like burn, when acute inflammation becomes chronic, intervention is required to control inflammation so as to hasten the ...

Inflammation contributes to the development of papillomas and squamous cell carcinomas in the well established DMBA/TPA model of skin carcinogenesis. Synthetic oligonucleotides (ODN) containing repetitive TTAGGG motifs have been shown to block deleterious inflammatory reactions in murine models of autoimmunity, pneumonitis and shock. This work examines whether treatment with suppressive ...

Psoriasis is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that is considered to result from activated T cells stimulated by a population of inflammatory dermal dendritic cells (DCs). The origin and identity of these inflammatory dermal DCs are largely unknown. We previously identified slanDCs (6-sulfo LacNAc) DCs as a rich source of ...

Inflammation is a physiological response of the body to tissue injury, pathogen invasion and irritants. In the course of inflammation, immune cells of the innate and/or adaptive immune system are activated and recruited to the site of inflammation. Attraction and activation of immune cells is regulated by a variety of ...

AIM OF THE STUDY: Ononis L. species have been used for healing of wounds, eczema and rheumatic complaints, against skin cancer and lesions and topically used as antiseptic and antimicrobial agent in folk medicine. In the present study, the aqueous and methanolic extracts of three endemic Ononis species growing in ...

The protein phosphatase calcineurin has been gradually revealing itself as the central controller of our immune response, although it is involved in a wide array of signaling pathways related to cellular development and cell cycle progression. As such, calcineurin is an attractive, yet delicate therapeutic target for the prevention of ...

INTRODUCTION: The high incidence of morbidity and mortality following major burn can be in part attributed to immune dysfunction and wound healing complications. Inflammation plays a major role in the complex process of wound repair. Recently, a novel class of T-helper cells, termed Th-17 cells, has been found to secrete ...

The hypoxia inducible factor-1a (HIF-1a) is a pleiotropic transcription factor typically activated in response to low oxygen tension as well as other stress factors in normoxic conditions. Upon activation HIF-1a mediates the transcriptional activation of target genes involved in a variety of processes comprising stress adaptation, metabolism, growth and invasion, ...

Vitiligo is a common depigmenting disorder which may have devastating psychological and social consequences and is characterized by the presence of circumscribed white macules in the skin due to the destruction of melanocytes in the epidermis. Various hypotheses have been proposed to explain the pathomechanisms involved in this disease, and ...

Skin depigmentation represents a well-established treatment for extensive vitiligo and may likewise be suited to prevent tumor recurrences and as a prophylactic treatment of familial melanoma, as common bleaching agents are cytotoxic to melanocytes. Effective melanoma prevention requires a bleaching agent-induced loss of exposed melanocytes supported by an immune response ...