Many Inflammatory Diseases (many + inflammatory_disease)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Type II collagen without adjuvant induces eosinophilic arthritis

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 2 2007
Robert Bockermann
Abstract Eosinophilia is a characteristic feature of many inflammatory diseases including inflammatory bowel disease and asthma. It also occurs in a subtype of rheumatoid arthritis but the role of eosinophils has been unclear and animal models have been lacking. Here, we introduce a new mouse model to study the role of eosinophilia in arthritis. Intraperitoneal injection of type II collagen alone, without any adjuvant, was sufficient to induce chronic arthritis in a mouse with transgenic T cells specific for type II collagen. The arthritis was accompanied by infiltration of eosinophils into the synovial tissue and the disease could be blocked with neutralizing anti-IL-5 antibodies. To our knowledge, this is the first description of an eosinophilic disease form of destructive arthritis. [source]


Oxidized low-density lipoprotein induces matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression via a p42/p44 and JNK-dependent AP-1 pathway in brain astrocytes

GLIA, Issue 1 2009
Hui-Hsin Wang
Abstract Upregulation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), especially MMP-9, by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) is implicated in many inflammatory diseases including brain injury. However, the signaling mechanisms underlying oxLDL-induced MMP-9 expression in astrocytes largely remain unknown. Here we report that oxLDL induces expression of proMMP-9 via a MAPK-dependent AP-1 activation in rat brain astrocyte (RBA)-1 cells. Results revealed by gelatin zymography, RT-PCR, and Western blotting analyses showed that oxLDL-induced proMMP-9 gene expression was mediated through Akt, JNK1/2, and p42/p44 MAPK phosphorylation in RBA-1 cells. These responses were attenuated by inhibitors of PI3K (LY294002), JNK (SP600125), and p42/p44 MAPK (PD98059), or transfection with dominant negative mutants and short hairpin RNA. Moreover, we demonstrated that AP-1 (i.e., c-Fos/c-Jun) is crucial for oxLDL-induced proMMP-9 expression which was attenuated by pretreatment with AP-1 inhibitor (curcumin). The regulation of MMP-9 gene transcription by AP-1 was confirmed by oxLDL-stimulated MMP-9 luciferase activity which was totally lost in cells transfected with the AP-1 binding site-mutated MMP-9 promoter construct (mt-AP1-MMP-9). These results suggested that oxLDL-induced proMMP-9 expression is mediated through PI3K/Akt, JNK1/2, and p42/p44 MAPK leading to AP-1 activation. Understanding the regulatory mechanisms underlying oxLDL-induced MMP-9 expression in astrocytes might provide a new therapeutic strategy of brain injuries and diseases. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Corticosteroid Osteoporosis: Practical Implications of Recent Trials

JOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCH, Issue 9 2000
Philip N. Sambrook
Abstract Corticosteroids are widely used and effective agents for control of many inflammatory diseases, but osteoporosis is a common problem associated with their long-term use. Several large double-blind controlled clinical trials in patients with corticosteroid osteoporosis recently have been published, indicating it is possible to prevent or reverse this bone loss. Ultimately, the aim of treatment is to prevent fractures, especially vertebral fractures that are the most common type of fracture associated with corticosteroid therapy, yet it remains unclear exactly which patients should receive prophylaxis. Understanding the differences between these trials is key to interpreting the results, which have important practical implications for patient management. [source]


Structural analysis of caspase-1 inhibitors derived from Tethering

ACTA CRYSTALLOGRAPHICA SECTION F (ELECTRONIC), Issue 5 2005
Bruce T. Fahr
Caspase-1 is a key endopeptidase responsible for the post-translational processing of the IL-1, and IL-18 cytokines and small-molecule inhibitors that modulate the activity of this enzyme are predicted to be important therapeutic treatments for many inflammatory diseases. A fragment-assembly approach, accompanied by structural analysis, was employed to generate caspase-1 inhibitors. With the aid of Tethering® with extenders (small molecules that bind to the active-site cysteine and contain a free thiol), two novel fragments that bound to the active site and made a disulfide bond with the extender were identified by mass spectrometry. Direct linking of each fragment to the extender generated submicromolar reversible inhibitors that significantly reduced secretion of IL-1, but not IL-6 from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells. Thus, Tethering with extenders facilitated rapid identification and synthesis of caspase-1 inhibitors with cell-based activity and subsequent structural analyses provided insights into the enzyme's ability to accommodate different inhibitor-binding modes in the active site. [source]


Interferon, tryptophan and depression

ACTA NEUROPSYCHIATRICA, Issue 1 2003
D. Fekkes
Depression is a frequent comorbid disorder of many inflammatory diseases and it is suggested that brain inflammatory processes have a pathogenic role in mood dysregulation. Several immunocompromised patients have been treated with cytokines and long-term treatments have resulted in a variety of neuropsychiatric side-effects. The objective of the study was to present evidence for an association between the induction of neuropsychiatric side-effects during treatment with interferon-, (IFN-,) and changes in serotonergic and immunological parameters. Moreover, the use of IFN-,-induced depression as a paradigm for research into the pathophysiology of depressive disorders in general will be discussed. This literature review focused on the relationships between tryptophan, serotonin, cytokines and depression associated with interferon treatment. Immunotherapy with IFN-, influences several immunological and serotonergic parameters, and induces in most patients neurovegetative, somatic and depressive symptoms. Literature findings indicate that the development of depressive symptoms in patients undergoing cytokine therapy are secondary to cytokine induction and could be mediated by a reduced availability of tryptophan to the brain, resulting ultimately in decreased serotonergic activity. Changes in the metabolism of tryptophan and consequently of serotonin may play a role in the pathophysiology of interferon-induced depression. Studies on interferon-induced neuropsychiatric side-effects may be a promising research paradigm and shed light on the role of immunological and serotonergic factors in the pathogenesis of depressive disorders in general. However, first the appropriate symptomatology of the interferon-induced depressive states has to be documented. [source]