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Chemokine Expression (chemokine + expression)
Selected AbstractsChemokine expression in the white matter spinal cord precursor niche after force-defined spinal cord contusion injuries in adult ratsGLIA, Issue 8 2010Friederike Knerlich-Lukoschus Abstract Inflammatory cascades induced by spinal cord injuries (SCI) are localized in the white matter, a recognized neural stem- and progenitor-cell (NSPC) niche of the adult spinal cord. Chemokines, as integrators of these processes, might also be important determinants of this NSPC niche. CCL3/CCR1, CCL2/CCR2, and SDF-1,/CXCR4 were analyzed in the ventrolateral white matter after force defined thoracic SCI: Immunoreactivity (IR) density levels were measured 2 d, 7 d, 14 d, and 42 d on cervical (C 5), thoracic (T 5), and lumbar (L 5) levels. On day post operation (DPO) 42, chemokine inductions were further evaluated by real-time RT-PCR and Western blot analyses. Cellular phenotypes were confirmed by double labeling with markers for major cell types and NSPCs (nestin, Musashi-1, NG2, 3CB2, BLBP). Mitotic profiles were investigated in parallel by BrdU labeling. After lesion, chemokines were induced in the ventrolateral white matter on IR-, mRNA-, and protein-level. IR was generally more pronounced after severe lesions, with soaring increases of CCL2/CCR2 and continuous elevations of CCL3/CCR1. SDF-1, and CXCR4 IR induction was focused on thoracic levels. Chemokines/-receptors were co-expressed with astroglial, oligodendroglial markers, nestin, 3CB2 and BLBP by cells morphologically resembling radial glia on DPO 7 to DPO 42, and NG2 or Musashi-1 on DPO 2 and 7. In the white matter BrdU positive cells were significantly elevated after lesion compared with sham controls on all investigated time points peaking in the early time course on thoracic level: Here, chemokines were co-expressed by subsets of BrdU-labeled cells. These findings suggest an important role of chemokines/-receptors in the subpial white matter NSPC niche after SCI. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Activation of the Nrf2/antioxidant response pathway increases IL-8 expressionEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 11 2005Xiaolan Zhang Abstract Oxidant stress can initiate or enhance inflammatory responses during tissue injury, possibly through activation of redox-sensitive chemokines. Because the transcription factor Nrf2 (NF-E2-related factor,2) is responsive to oxidative stress, and induces expression of cytoprotective and antioxidant genes that attenuate tissue injury, we postulated that Nrf2 may also regulate chemokine expression. To test this hypothesis, Nrf2 expression was directly increased in primary human kidney mesangial cells and aortic endothelial cells, or cell lines with an adenoviral construct, and the effects on the pro-inflammatory chemokine interleukin-8 (IL-8) were assessed. Nrf2 expression significantly increased IL-8 mRNA levels and protein secretion. Nrf2 caused only a weak induction of IL-8 transcription, but significantly increased the half-life of IL-8 mRNA. These data demonstrate that activation of the Nrf2/antioxidant response pathway induces expression of IL-8. The dominant mechanism of Nrf2-mediated IL-8 induction is through mRNA stabilization. Considering the evidence that Nrf2 activation is mainly cytoprotective, these observations raise the possibility that under certain circumstances IL-8 may serve an anti-inflammatory role and thereby contribute to the resolution of tissue injury. See accompanying commentary http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/eji.200535489 [source] CXC chemokine ligand 4 (Cxcl4) is a platelet-derived mediator of experimental liver fibrosis,HEPATOLOGY, Issue 4 2010Mirko Moreno Zaldivar Liver fibrosis is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Platelets are involved in liver damage, but the underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we investigate the platelet-derived chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 4 (CXCL4) as a molecular mediator of fibrotic liver damage. Serum concentrations and intrahepatic messenger RNA of CXCL4 were measured in patients with chronic liver diseases and mice after toxic liver injury. Platelet aggregation in early fibrosis was determined by electron microscopy in patients and by immunohistochemistry in mice. Cxcl4,/, and wild-type mice were subjected to two models of chronic liver injury (CCl4 and thioacetamide). The fibrotic phenotype was analyzed by histological, biochemical, and molecular analyses. Intrahepatic infiltration of immune cells was investigated by fluorescence-activated cell sorting, and stellate cells were stimulated with recombinant Cxcl4 in vitro. The results showed that patients with advanced hepatitis C virus,induced fibrosis or nonalcoholic steatohepatitis had increased serum levels and intrahepatic CXCL4 messenger RNA concentrations. Platelets were found directly adjacent to collagen fibrils. The CCl4 and thioacetamide treatment led to an increase of hepatic Cxcl4 levels, platelet activation, and aggregation in early fibrosis in mice. Accordingly, genetic deletion of Cxcl4 in mice significantly reduced histological and biochemical liver damage in vivo, which was accompanied by changes in the expression of fibrosis-related genes (Timp-1 [tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase 1], Mmp9 [matrix metalloproteinase 9], Tgf -, [transforming growth factor beta], IL10 [interleukin 10]). Functionally, Cxcl4,/, mice showed a strongly decreased infiltration of neutrophils (Ly6G) and CD8+ T cells into the liver. In vitro, recombinant murine Cxcl4 stimulated the proliferation, chemotaxis, and chemokine expression of hepatic stellate cells. Conclusion: The results underscore an important role of platelets in chronic liver damage and imply a new target for antifibrotic therapies. (HEPATOLOGY 2010.) [source] Interleukin 18 causes hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury by suppressing anti-inflammatory cytokine expression in miceHEPATOLOGY, Issue 3 2004Dan Takeuchi Hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury is a clinically important problem. While the mechanisms of the initial event and subsequent neutrophil-dependent injury are somewhat understood, little is known about the regulation of endogenous hepatoprotective effects on this injury. Interleukin 12 (IL-12) plays a role in the induction of this injury, but involvement of interleukin 18 (IL-18) has not been clarified. Using a murine model of partial hepatic ischemia and subsequent reperfusion, the aim of the current study was to determine whether IL-18 is up-regulated during hepatic ischemia/reperfusion and to determine the role of endogenous IL-18 in the development and regulation of inflammatory hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury. Hepatic IL-18 expression was up-regulated from 1 to 8 hours after reperfusion. Hepatic ischemia/reperfusion induced nuclear factor-,B (NF-,B) and activator protein 1 (AP-1) activation, as defined by electrophoretic mobility shift assay, and caused significant increases in liver neutrophil recruitment, apoptosis, hepatocellular injury, and liver edema as defined by liver myeloperoxidase content, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated deoxyuridine triphosphate biotin nick end-labeling (TUNEL) staining, serum aminotransferase levels, and liver wet-to-dry weight ratios. In mice treated with neutralizing antibody to IL-18, ischemia/reperfusion-induced increases in CXC chemokine expression, activation of NF-,B and AP-1, and apoptosis were greatly reduced. Furthermore, under blockade of IL-18, anti-inflammatory cytokines such as IL-4 and IL-10 were greatly up-regulated. Signal transducer and activator of transcription 6 (STAT6) was significantly activated under blockade of IL-18. These conditions also caused significant reduction in liver neutrophil sequestration and liver injury. In conclusion, the data suggest that IL-18 is required for facilitating neutrophil-dependent hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury through suppressing anti-inflammatory cytokine expression. (HEPATOLOGY 2004;39:699,710.) [source] Silencing of hSlo potassium channels in human osteosarcoma cells promotes tumorigenesisINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CANCER, Issue 2 2008Béatrice Cambien Abstract Potassium channels, the most diverse superfamily of ion channels, have recently emerged as regulators of carcinogenesis, thus introducing possible new therapeutic strategies in the fight against cancer. In particular, the large conductance Ca2+ -activated K+ channels, often referred to as BK channels, are at the crossroads of several tumor-associated processes such as cell proliferation, survival, secretion and migration. Despite the high BK channel expression in osteosarcoma (OS), their function has not yet been investigated in this malignant bone pathology. Here, using stable RNA interference to reduce the expression of hSlo, the human pore-forming ,-subunit of the BK channel, in human Cal72 OS cells, we show that BK channels play a functional role in carcinogenesis. Our results reveal for the first time that BK channels exhibit antitumoral properties in OS in vivo and affect the tumor microenvironment through the modulation of both chemokine expression and leukocyte infiltration. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Altered chemokine expression in the spinal cord and brain contributes to differential interleukin-1,-induced neutrophil recruitmentJOURNAL OF NEUROCHEMISTRY, Issue 2 2002Sandra J. Campbell Abstract The pattern of neutrophil recruitment that accompanies inflammation in the CNS depends on the site of injury and the stage of development. The adult brain parenchyma is refractory to neutrophil recruitment and associated damage as compared to the spinal cord or juvenile brain. Using quantitative Taqman RT,PCR and enzyme-liked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), we compared mRNA and protein expression of the rat neutrophil chemoattractant chemokines (CINC) in spinal cord and brain of adult and juvenile rats to identify possible association with the observed differences in neutrophil recruitment. Interleukin-1, (IL-1,) injection resulted in up-regulated chemokine expression in both brain and spinal cord. CINC-3 mRNA was elevated above CINC-1 and CINC-2,, with expression levels for each higher in spinal cord than in brain. By ELISA, IL-1, induced greater CINC-1 and CINC-2, expression compared to CINC-3, with higher protein levels in spinal cord than in brain. In the juvenile brain, significantly higher levels of CINC-2, protein were observed in response to IL-1, injection than in the adult brain following an equivalent challenge. Correspondingly, neutrophil recruitment was observed in the juvenile brain and adult spinal cord, but not in the adult brain. No expression of CINC-2, mRNA was detected. Thus differential chemokine induction may contribute to variations in neutrophil recruitment in during development and between the different CNS compartments. [source] Chemokine IL-8 induction by particulate wear debris in osteoblasts is mediated by NF-,BJOURNAL OF ORTHOPAEDIC RESEARCH, Issue 6 2005Elizabeth A. Fritz Abstract Chemokines, or chemotactic cytokines, are major regulators of the inflammatory response and have been identified as pathogenic factors in the periprosthetic soft tissue. Particulate wear debris induced NF-kB activation, the major transcriptional regulator of IL-8 and MCP-1 pro-inflammatory genes and, indeed, both IL-8 and MCP-1 chemokine gene expressions were upregulated in titanium particulate-stimulated human osteoblasts. Here, we demonstrate that phagocytosed particles activate the IL-8 gene promoter via a NF-kB-mediated mechanism. Transfection of a dominant negative mutant IkB, protein that cannot be serine phosphorylated led to suppression of IL-8 promoter activity. The p65/RelA NF-kB subunit activity was affected in both a time- and titanium particle concentration-dependent fashion. Titanium particles led to increased ERK, JNK, and p38 activation in MG-63 osteoblast cells, and IL-8 protein release was suppressed by specific inhibitors of the ERK and p38 MAPK pathways. Together, our results suggest that wear debris particles induce chemokine expression in osteoblasts via NF-kB-mediated transcriptional activation, which is controlled by the MAPK signal transduction pathway. © 2005 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. [source] Oxidative stress due to anesthesia and surgical trauma: Importance of early enteral nutritionMOLECULAR NUTRITION & FOOD RESEARCH (FORMERLY NAHRUNG/FOOD), Issue 6 2009Katerina Kotzampassi Abstract Anesthesia and surgical trauma are considered major oxidative and nitrosative stress effectors resulting in the development of SIRS. In this study we evaluated the usefulness of early enteral nutrition after surgical trauma. Sixty male Wistar rats were subjected to midline laparotomy and feeding-gastrostomy. Twenty of these rats served as controls after recovering from the operation stress. The remaining rats received, through gastrostomy, enteral nutrition or placebo-feeding for 24 h. Oxidative stress markers and CC chemokine production were evaluated in rat serum and liver tissue. The operation itself was found to increase nitric oxide (NO) and malondialdehyde (MDA) and to decrease superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), as well as liver tissue energy charge (EC) in relation to controls. The rats receiving enteral feeding exhibited statistically significantly lower levels of NO and MDA, and higher levels of SOD, GSH-Px, and liver EC, in relation to placebo feeding rats. The operation significantly increased the chemokines monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1 and regulated upon activation, normal T-cell expressed, and secreted (RANTES) in rat serum, while enteral nutrition caused a further significant increase in chemokine levels in serum. mRNA chemokine expression in liver was increased in a similar pattern. These findings indicate that early enteral feeding might play an important role after surgery ameliorating oxidative stress, affecting positively the hepatic EC and regulating, via chemokine production, cell trafficking, and healing process. [source] Effect of Low Intensity Helium,Neon (HeNe) Laser Irradiation on Experimental Paracoccidioidomycotic Wound Healing DynamicsPHOTOCHEMISTRY & PHOTOBIOLOGY, Issue 1 2009Maria Carolina Ferreira The effect of HeNe laser on the extracellular matrix deposition, chemokine expression and angiogenesis in experimental paracoccidioidomycotic lesions was investigated. At days 7, 8 and 9 postinfection the wound of each animal was treated with a 632.8 nm HeNe laser at a dose of 3 J cm,2. At day 10 postinfection, the wounds were examined by using histologic and immunohistochemical methods. Results revealed that laser-treated lesions were lesser extensive than untreated ones, and composed mainly by macrophages and lymphocytes. High IL-1, expression was shown in the untreated group whereas in laser-treated animals the expression was scarce. On the other hand, the expression of CXCL-10 was found to be reduced in untreated animals and quite intensive and well distributed in the laser-treated ones. Also, untreated lesions presented vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in a small area near the center of the lesion and high immunoreactivity for hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1), whereas laser-treated lesions expressed VEGF surrounding blood vessels and little immunoreactivity for HIF-1. Laser-treated lesions presented much more reticular fibers and collagen deposition when compared with the untreated lesion. Our results show that laser was efficient in minimizing the local effects observed in paracoccidioidomycosis and can be an efficient tool in the treatment of this infection, accelerating the healing process. [source] The chemokines CCL11, CCL20, CCL21, and CCL24 are preferentially expressed in polarized human secondary lymphoid folliclesTHE JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY, Issue 2 2004Caroline Buri Abstract Chemokines regulate cellular trafficking to and from lymphoid follicles. Here, the distribution pattern of four CCL chemokines is defined by in situ hybridization in human lymphoid follicles from tonsils and lymph nodes (LNs) of newborns and adults. Cells expressing CCL11 (eotaxin) and CCL20 (Exodus) were preferentially located within follicles, while cells expressing CCL21 (secondary lymphoid-tissue chemokine) and CCL24 (eotaxin-2) mRNA were almost exclusively found in the perifollicular areas. Hence, the two CCR3-binding chemokines, CCL11 and CCL24, showed a mutually exclusive expression pattern in the intra- and extra-follicular areas, respectively. Chemokine gene expression paralleled follicular maturation: in tonsils, where approximately 80% of follicles are polarized, CCL11 and CCL20 mRNA-positive cells were detected more frequently than in lymph nodes from adults, where about half of follicles are non-polarized. No intrafollicular chemokine expression was detectable in the primary follicles from newborns. Extrafollicular cells expressing CCL21 and CCL24 were again more frequent in tonsils than in LNs from adults. The observed preferential presence of cells expressing CC chemokines in polarized human lymphoid follicles indicates that chemokines are not only instrumental in the induction of follicle formation, but may also be involved in their further differentiation. Copyright © 2004 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] ORIGINAL ARTICLE: Peripheral Blood NK Cells Reflect Changes in Decidual NK Cells in Women With Recurrent MiscarriagesAMERICAN JOURNAL OF REPRODUCTIVE IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 2 2010Dong Wook Park Citation Park DW, Lee HJ, Park CW, Hong SR, Kwak-Kim J, Yang KM. Peripheral blood NK cells reflect changes in decidual NK cells in women with recurrent miscarriages. Am J Reprod Immunol 2010; 63: 173,180 Problem, We aimed to investigate if peripheral blood natural killer (pNK) cell levels are correlated with decidual NK (dNK) cell levels, and if chemokine expression has any role in dNK cell regulation. Method of study, Decidual tissues of women having two or more miscarriages with normal karyotype were collected after miscarriage and an immuno-histochemisty study was made. pNK cells were evaluated using flow cytometric analysis. Results, The %CD3,/56+ and %CD3,/56+/16+ pNK cells showed a significant correlation with mean number of CD56+ dNK cells. The number of decidual CD16+ cells was significantly higher in women with elevated pNK (,15%) than that of normal pNK (<15%). The %CD3,/56+ and %CD3,/56+/16+ pNK cells showed an inverse correlation with duration of gestation. The CCL3+ and CXCL12+ cells were present in the decidua; however, staining intensity was not correlated with number of dNK cells. Conclusion, The pNK cell levels reflect changes in dNK cell levels. This implicates that pNK cell level is a clinically useful marker to predict pregnancy outcome. Further study is needed to examine if elevated pNK cells enhance recruitment of dNK cells in the decidua. [source] Retinoid ameliorates experimental autoimmune myositis, with modulation of Th cell differentiation and antibody production in vivoARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM, Issue 10 2009Naho Ohyanagi Objective Polymyositis and dermatomyositis are chronic inflammatory muscle diseases. Retinoids are compounds that bind to the retinoic acid binding site of retinoic acid receptors and have biologic activities similar to those of vitamin A. Recent studies indicate that retinoids promote Th2 differentiation and suppress Th1 and Th17 differentiation in vitro. The present study was undertaken to examine the effects of a synthetic retinoid, Am80, on experimental autoimmune myositis as well as on Th phenotype development and antibody production. Methods Experimental autoimmune myositis was induced in SJL/J mice by immunization with rabbit myosin. Am80 was administered orally once daily. Its effects were evaluated by measurement of the numbers of infiltrating inflammatory cells, production of inflammatory cytokines in muscle, production of Th-specific cytokines by myosin-stimulated splenic T cells, and production of antimyosin antibodies in serum. Results In mice with experimental autoimmune myositis, orally administered Am80 significantly reduced the number of infiltrating inflammatory cells and the expression of tumor necrosis factor , and interleukin-1, (IL-1,) in muscle. Moreover, Am80 increased production of interferon-,, IL-4, and IL-10, but not IL-17, by myosin-stimulated splenic T cells of mice with experimental autoimmune myositis, suggesting that it could enhance differentiation into Th1 and Th2, but not Th17, in vivo. Am80 also decreased serum levels of IgG2a and IgG2b antimyosin antibodies, but did not affect levels of IgG1 antimyosin antibodies. In addition, it suppressed chemokine expression and activator protein 1 activity in myoblasts in vitro. Conclusion The synthetic retinoid Am80 has an inhibitory effect on experimental autoimmune myositis. It might regulate the development of Th phenotype and antibody production in vivo, in addition to its effects on cytokine and chemokine production. [source] Induction of CCL13 expression in synovial fibroblasts highlights a significant role of oncostatin M in rheumatoid arthritisARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM, Issue 7 2009Christoph Hintzen Objective To investigate the molecular mechanisms of CCL13/monocyte chemoattractant protein 4 (MCP-4) chemokine expression through proinflammatory cytokines in different primary human fibroblasts and the contribution of CCL13 to monocyte migration. Methods Using RNase protection assays and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, we quantified the expression of CCL13 compared with that of CCL2/MCP-1 in primary human fibroblasts. Boyden chamber assays were performed to determine the importance of CCL13 for migration of primary monocytes. Pharmacologic inhibitors as well as small interfering RNA knockdown approaches were used to investigate the signaling pathways regulating CCL13 expression. Results The interleukin-6 (IL-6),type cytokine oncostatin M (OSM) was a powerful inducer of CCL13 expression in primary synovial fibroblasts from patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as well as those from healthy control subjects but not in other types of fibroblasts. Neither IL-6 nor tumor necrosis factor , could stimulate the expression of CCL13 in synovial fibroblasts; IL-1, was a very weak inducer. Synovial fibroblasts from patients with RA constitutively produced low amounts of CCL13, which was partially dependent on constitutive production of OSM. By investigating the underlying molecular mechanism, we identified STAT-5, ERK-1/2, and p38 as critical factors involved in OSM-dependent transcription and messenger RNA stabilization of CCL13. Conclusion In contrast to other prominent cytokines involved in the pathogenesis of RA, OSM can strongly up-regulate the expression of CCL13, a chemokine recently identified in the synovial fluid of patients with RA. Despite potent OSM-induced signal transduction in all types of fibroblasts analyzed, only synovial fibroblasts secreted CCL13, which might be indicative of tissue-specific imprinting of different fibroblasts during development. [source] Role of osteopontin in induction of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 and macrophage inflammatory protein 1, through the NF-,B and MAPK pathways in rheumatoid arthritisARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM, Issue 7 2009Wenxin Zheng Objective Osteopontin (OPN) is a proinflammatory protein with a critical role in leukocyte migration. Although OPN has been implicated in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), its underlying mechanism remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the role and molecular mechanism of OPN in the induction of 2 key chemokines, monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) and macrophage inflammatory protein 1, (MIP-1,), in RA. Methods Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and quantitative polymerase chain reaction were used to determine chemokine expression. Leukocyte migration in the presence of OPN was measured by chemotaxis assay. Signaling and molecular events were analyzed by immunoblotting and chromatin immunoprecipitation. Results The effect of OPN on inflammatory cell migration was mediated through its unique property of inducing the expression of MCP-1 and MIP-1, in CD14+ monocytes. The concentration of OPN was significantly elevated in RA patients and appeared to correlate with the serum levels of inflammation markers and increased expression of MCP-1 or MIP-1, in monocytes in RA patients. Endogenous production of OPN in RA synovial fluid was attributable to increased production of MCP-1 or MIP-1,, and this effect could be blocked by an anti-OPN antibody. Furthermore, the structural motif responsible for this property resided within residues 50,83 of human OPN, sparing the known RGD or SVVYGLR sequences. It was evident that the effect of OPN on chemokine expression was mediated through both the NF-,B and MAPK pathways, involving the activation of IKK,, p38, and JNK. Conclusion These results support a unique role of OPN in leukocyte migration, in the context of perpetuation of rheumatoid synovitis through the induction of MCP-1 and MIP-1,. [source] Induction of CCR2-dependent macrophage accumulation by oxidized phospholipids in the air-pouch model of inflammationARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM, Issue 5 2009Alexandra Kadl Objective Macrophages are key players in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid synovitis as well as in atherosclerosis. To determine whether atherogenic oxidized phospholipids potentially contribute to synovial inflammation and subsequent monocyte/macrophage recruitment, we examined the effects of oxidized 1- palmitoyl-2-arachidonoyl- sn -3-glycero-phosphorylcholine (OxPAPC) on chemokine expression and leukocyte recruitment in a facsimile synovium in vivo using the murine air-pouch model. Methods Air pouches were raised by 2 injections of sterile air, and inflammation was induced by injecting either lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or OxPAPC into the pouch lumen. Inflammation was assessed by analysis of inflammatory gene expression using reverse transcription,polymerase chain reaction or immunohistochemical analysis, and leukocytes were quantified in the lavage fluid and in the pouch wall after staining with Giemsa or after enzymatic digestion followed by fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis. Results Application of OxPAPC resulted in selective recruitment of monocyte/macrophages into the air-pouch wall, but not in the lumen. In contrast, LPS induced both monocyte and neutrophil accumulation in the pouch lumen as well as in the wall. LPS, but not OxPAPC, induced the expression of adhesion molecules E-selectin, P-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule 1, and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1. OxPAPC increased the expression of the CCR2 ligands monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1), MCP-3, and MCP-5, as well as RANTES and growth-related oncogene , (GRO,), while it down-regulated the expression of CCR2 on macrophages. Moreover, oxidized phospholipid,induced macrophage accumulation was abrogated in CCR2,/, mice. Conclusion These data demonstrate that oxidized phospholipids trigger a type of inflammatory response that leads to selective macrophage accumulation in vivo, a process relevant for the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory rheumatic diseases. [source] Vitamin D and glucocorticoids differentially modulate chemokine expression in human airway smooth muscle cellsBRITISH JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGY, Issue 1 2008A Banerjee Background and purpose: Chemokines play a critical role in the pathogenesis of asthma and facilitate the recruitment of inflammatory cells in the airways. Evidence now suggests that airway smooth muscle (ASM) may serve as a source of chemokines in inflamed airways. Although vitamin D has potent anti-inflammatory properties in vitro in some cell types, its effects on ASM cells remain unclear. Here, we investigated whether 1,, 25-dihydroxy vitamin D3 (calcitriol) modulated chemokine production in ASM. Experimental approach: Human ASM cell cultures were derived from tracheal samples taken during surgery. ASM cells were treated with tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF,) and/or interferon gamma (IFN,) for 24 h in the presence of calcitriol and/or the glucocorticoid fluticasone added 2 h before. RANTES (regulated upon activation, normal T-cell expressed and secreted), interferon-inducible protein 10 (IP-10) and fractalkine (FKN) levels in cell supernatants were measured by ELISA. Key results: In TNF,-treated cells, calcitriol inhibited RANTES and IP-10 secretion in a concentration-dependent manner. FKN levels were negligible. In TNF,/IFN,-treated cells, whereas fluticasone or calcitriol alone partially inhibited RANTES secretion (by 38 and 20%, respectively), the combination of both drugs additively inhibited RANTES secretion (by 60%). No effect was observed on IP-10 secretion. Whereas fluticasone enhanced FKN secretion (by 50%), calcitriol significantly decreased FKN levels (by 50%). Interestingly, calcitriol blocked the stimulatory effect of fluticasone on FKN secretion, which was inhibited by 60% with the combination of calcitriol and fluticasone. Conclusions and implications: These findings suggest that vitamin D uniquely modulates human ASM expression of chemokines and may exert some beneficial effects in the treatment of steroid-resistant patients with asthma. British Journal of Pharmacology (2008) 155, 84,92; doi:10.1038/bjp.2008.232; published online 16 June 2008 [source] | |||||||||||||