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Cytokine Measurements (cytokine + measurement)
Selected AbstractsImpact of elemental diet on mucosal inflammation in patients with active Crohn's disease: Cytokine production and endoscopic and histological findingsINFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASES, Issue 6 2005Takayuki Yamamoto MD Abstract Background: The aim of this study was to examine the impact of elemental diet on mucosal inflammation in Crohn's disease (CD), mainly by cytokine measurements. Methods: Twenty-eight consecutive patients with active CD were treated with an elemental diet (Elental) for 4 weeks. The mucosal biopsies were obtained from the terminal ileum and large bowel before and after treatment. As a control group, mucosal biopsies were obtained from 20 patients without inflammation. Mucosal cytokine concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: After treatment, clinical remission was achieved in 20 patients (71%). Endoscopic healing and improvement rates were 44% and 76% in the terminal ileum and 39% and 78% in the large bowel, respectively. Histologic healing and improvement rates were 19% and 54% in the terminal ileum and 20% and 55% in the large bowel, respectively. Before treatment, the mucosal concentrations of interleukin (IL)-1,, IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-, in the ileum and large bowel were significantly higher than in controls. These cytokine concentrations decreased to the levels of control after treatment. IL-1ra/IL-1, ratio in the ileum and large bowel was significantly lower than in controls before treatment. The ratio increased to the level of controls after treatment. The endoscopic and histologic healing of the mucosal inflammation was associated with a decline of the mucosal cytokines and an increase of the IL-1ra/IL-1, ratio. Conclusions: The elemental diet (Elental) reduced mucosal cytokine production and corrected an imbalance between proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines in CD. [source] Blood leucocyte cytokine production after LPS stimulation at different concentrations of glucose and/or insulinACTA ANAESTHESIOLOGICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 2 2009S. BEITLAND Background: Previous studies have indicated that alterations in blood glucose and/or insulin levels modify the inflammatory response. The purpose of this study was to elucidate whether increased levels of glucose and/or insulin influence the activation pattern of blood leucocytes and their production of cytokines in vitro. Methods: Venous blood was obtained from eight healthy male volunteers after an overnight fast. Glucose and/or insulin were added to aliquots of whole blood to increase the blood glucose concentration by 5 or 20 mmol/l and/or the insulin concentration by 6 or 30 nmol/l, respectively, before stimulation with E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) at concentrations of 10, 100 or 1000 ng/ml. The samples were subsequently incubated at 37 °C for 6 h before cytokine measurements. After centrifugation the levels of interleukins (IL)-1,, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-, were measured in plasma using enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assays. The results were compared with cytokine levels in parallel control samples to which only identical amounts of LPS were added. Results: The LPS-stimulated production of IL-1, was significantly reduced by on average 26% in samples to which glucose 20 mmol/l was added; addition of insulin and/or glucose 5 mmol/l had no apparent effect on the IL-1, production at any LPS concentration. The levels of IL-6, IL-8, IL-10 and TNF-, were not manifestly altered by addition of glucose and/or insulin at any LPS concentration. Conclusion: A substantial increase in blood glucose concentration changed the IL-1, production, but not the production of other cytokines, in response to LPS stimulation. [source] In vivo electroporation and ubiquitin promoter , a protocol for sustained gene expression in the lungTHE JOURNAL OF GENE MEDICINE, Issue 7 2006Amiq Gazdhar Abstract Background Gene therapy applications require safe and efficient methods for gene transfer. Present methods are restricted by low efficiency and short duration of transgene expression. In vivo electroporation, a physical method of gene transfer, has evolved as an efficient method in recent years. We present a protocol involving electroporation combined with a long-acting promoter system for gene transfer to the lung. Methods The study was designed to evaluate electroporation-mediated gene transfer to the lung and to analyze a promoter system that allows prolonged transgene expression. A volume of 250 µl of purified plasmid DNA suspended in water was instilled into the left lung of anesthetized rats, followed by left thoracotomy and electroporation of the exposed left lung. Plasmids pCiKlux and pUblux expressing luciferase under the control of the cytomegalovirus immediate-early promoter/enhancer (CMV-IEPE) or human polyubiquitin c (Ubc) promoter were used. Electroporation conditions were optimized with four pulses (200 V/cm, 20 ms at 1 Hz) using flat plate electrodes. The animals were sacrificed at different time points up to day 40, after gene transfer. Gene expression was detected and quantified by bioluminescent reporter imaging (BLI) and relative light units per milligram of protein (RLU/mg) was measured by luminometer for p.Pyralis luciferase and immunohistochemistry, using an anti-luciferase antibody. Results Gene expression with the CMV-IEPE promoter was highest 24 h after gene transfer (2932 ± 249.4 relative light units (RLU)/mg of total lung protein) and returned to baseline by day 3 (382 ± 318 RLU/mg of total lung protein); at day 5 no expression was detected, whereas gene expression under the Ubc promoter was detected up to day 40 (1989 ± 710 RLU/mg of total lung protein) with a peak at day 20 (2821 ± 2092 RLU/mg of total lung protein). Arterial blood gas (PaO2), histological assessment and cytokine measurements showed no significant toxicity neither at day 1 nor at day 40. Conclusions These results provide evidence that in vivo electroporation is a safe and effective tool for non-viral gene delivery to the lungs. If this method is used in combination with a long-acting promoter system, sustained transgene expression can be achieved. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Risk Factors and Mechanisms of Preterm Delivery in MalawiAMERICAN JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 2 2004Elizabeth T. Abrams Problem:, We examined risk factors and mechanisms of preterm delivery (PTD) in malaria-exposed pregnant women in Blantyre, Malawi. Method of study:, The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), malaria, syphilis, and anemia were assessed in a cross-sectional study of 572 pregnant women. In a nested case,control study, chorioamnionitis (CAM) was examined; tumor necrosis factor (TNF)- ,, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, macrophage inflammatory protein (MIP)-1,, monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP)-1, transforming growth factor (TGF)- ,, cortisol, and corticotropin-releasing hormone were measured in placental, maternal and/or cord blood. Results:, HIV, infrequent antenatal clinic attendance, low-maternal weight, no intermittent preventive malaria therapy (IPT), and CAM were associated with PTD, while malaria was not. Of the 18 compartmental cytokine measurements, elevations in placental and/or cord IL-6 and IL-8 were associated with both CAM and PTD. In contrast, there was no overlap between the cytokines affected by malaria and those associated with PTD. Conclusions:, The HIV and CAM were the major infections associated with PTD in this study. CAM, but not malaria, causes PTD via its effect on proinflammatory cytokines. [source] | ||||||||||