Decreased IFN (decreased + ifn)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Distribution within Medical Sciences


Selected Abstracts


Vaccination with myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein adsorbed to alum effectively protects DBA/1 mice from experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 6 2003
Maja Wållberg
Abstract To prevent an organism from developing autoimmunity the body limits the number of autoreactive cells through thymic negative selection and regulates their activity through induction of suppressor T cells. Development of antigen-specific therapies provides an interesting opportunity to imitate the body's own, often effective, method of protection. Our study demonstrates that DBA/1 mice could be protected from experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis induced through injection of recombinant myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (rMOG) when they were previously immunized intraperitoneally with rMOG adsorbed to aluminium hydroxide. This protection was associated with a decreased IFN-, production by rMOG-specific cells, but not a decreased proliferative response. Protection was long lasting, indicating that MOG-alum vaccination might be developed as a prophylactic therapy in multiple sclerosis. [source]


Decay-accelerating factor 1 (Daf1) deficiency exacerbates xenobiotic-induced autoimmunity

IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 1 2010
Christopher B. Toomey
Summary Absence of decay-accelerating factor 1 (Daf1) has been shown to enhance T-cell responses and autoimmunity via increased expression of specific cytokines, most notably interferon (IFN)-,. To determine if Daf1 deficiency can exacerbate IFN-,-dependent murine mercury-induced autoimmunity (mHgIA), C57/BL6 Daf1+/+ and Daf1,/, mice were exposed to mercuric chloride (HgCl2) and examined for differences in cytokine expression, T-cell activation and features of humoral autoimmunity. In the absence of Daf1, mHgIA was exacerbated, with increased serum immunoglobulin G (IgG), anti-nuclear autoantibodies (ANAs) and anti-chromatin autoantibodies. This aggravated response could not be explained by increased T-cell activation but was associated with increased levels of IFN-,, interleukin (IL)-2, IL-4 and IL-10 but not IL-17 in Daf1-deficient mice. Anti-CD3/anti-CD28 costimulation of Daf1,/, CD4+ T cells in vitro was also found to increase cytokine expression, but the profile was different from that of mHgIA, suggesting that the cytokine changes observed in Daf1 deficiency reflect a response to mercury. The role of Daf1 in influencing cytokine expression was further examined by stimulation of CD4+ T cells in the presence of anti-CD3 and CD97, a molecular partner for Daf1. This resulted in increased IL-10, decreased IL-17 and IL-21 and decreased IFN-,. These findings demonstrate that the absence of Daf1 exacerbates mHgIA, with changes in the profile of expressed cytokines. Interaction between Daf1 and its molecular partner CD97 was found to modify expression of mHgIA-promoting cytokines, suggesting a possible approach for the suppression of overaggressive cytokine production in autoimmunity. [source]


Histamine and prostaglandin E2 up-regulate the production of Th2-attracting chemokines (CCL17 and CCL22) and down-regulate IFN-,-induced CXCL10 production by immature human dendritic cells

IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 4 2006
Anne McIlroy
Summary Effector memory T helper 2 (Th2) cells that accumulate in target organs (i.e. skin or bronchial mucosa) have a central role in the pathogenesis of allergic disorders. To date, the factors that selectively trigger local production of Th2-attracting chemokines remain poorly understood. In mucosa, at the sites of allergen entry, immature dendritic cells (DC) are in close contact with mast cells. Histamine and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) are two mediators released by allergen-activated mast cells that favour the polarization of maturing DC into Th2-polarizing cells. We analysed here the effects of histamine and PGE2 on the prototypic, Th2-(CCL17, CCL22) versus Th1-(CXCL10) chemokine production by human DC. We report that histamine and PGE2 dose-dependently up-regulate CCL17 and CCL22 by monocyte-derived immature DC. These effects were potentiated by tumour necrosis factor-,, still observed in the presence of the Th1-cytokine interferon-, (IFN-,) and abolished by the immunomodulatory cytokine interleukin-10. In addition, histamine and PGE2 down-regulated IFN-,-induced CXCL10 production by monocyte-derived DC. These properties of histamine and PGE2 were observed at the transcriptional level and were mediated mainly through H2 receptors for histamine and through EP2 and EP4 receptors for PGE2. Finally, histamine and PGE2 also up-regulated CCL17 and CCL22 and decreased IFN-,-induced CXCL10 production by purified human myeloid DC. In conclusion, these data show that, in addition to polarizing DC into mature cells that promote naïve T-cell differentiation into Th2 cells, histamine and PGE2 may act on immature DC to trigger local Th2 cell recruitment through a selective control of Th1/Th2-attracting chemokine production, thereby contributing to maintain a microenvironment favourable to persistent immunoglobulin E synthesis. [source]


Role of NK1.1+ and AsGm-1+ cells in oral immunoregulation of experimental colitis

INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASES, Issue 2 2003
Shivti Trop
Abstract NK1.1 and AsGm-1 expressing cells play a role in immunomodulation. Our purpose was to determine the role of NK1.1+ and AsGm-1+ expressing cells in the inflammatory/tolerance paradigm in experimental colitis. Oral tolerance towards colitis-extracted proteins had previously been shown to alleviate experimental colitis. Colitis was induced in C57/B6 mice by intracolonic instillation of trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS). Oral tolerance was induced via five oral doses of proteins extracted from TNBS-colitis colonic wall. Clinical, macroscopic, and microscopic scores were used for colitis assessment. To evaluate the putative role of AsGm-1 in tolerance induction, depletion of AsGm-1 expressing cells was performed. To evaluate the mechanism of tolerance induction, liver-associated NKT lymphocytes were harvested 14 days following tolerance induction, and cultured with concanavalin A (con A) and colitis-extracted proteins. T cell subsets were measured by flow cytometry. Cytokine expression was measured by intracellular staining and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Orally tolerized mice exhibited significant alleviation of the clinical, macroscopic, and microscopic parameters of colitis, with increased CD4+IL4+/CD4+IFN,+ lymphocyte ratio, increased IL-4, and decreased IFN, and IL-12 serum levels. In contrast, orally fed mice that were AsGm-1 depleted showed evidence of severe colitis. These mice exhibited significant decreased CD4+IL4+/CD4+IFN,+ ratios, and an increase in IFN, and IL-12, with decreased IL-4 levels. NKT cells harvested from tolerized mice secreted high levels of antiinflammatory cytokines. In contrast, in nontolerized mice, NKT cells mainly secreted proinflammatory cytokines. In a tolerized environment, both NK1.1 and AsGm-1 expressing cells are essential for disease alleviation. In contrast, in a nontolerized environment, AsGm-1 expressing cells support an antiinflammatory immune paradigm, while NKT lymphocytes support a proinflammatory shift. [source]


Hepatic inflammatory cytokine mRNA expression in hepatitis C virus,human immunodeficiency virus co-infection

JOURNAL OF VIRAL HEPATITIS, Issue 5 2008
S. A. Gonzalez
Summary., Although epidemiologic studies have documented that hepatitis C virus (HCV)/human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infected patients have accelerated fibrogenesis, especially those with CD4+ cell counts <200 cells/mm3, the pathogenic mechanisms are poorly understood. We investigated whether severe immunodeficiency in co-infection is associated with changes in intrahepatic inflammatory cytokine mRNA levels. We measured interferon (IFN)-,, tumour necrosis factor-,, transforming growth factor (TGF)-,1, interleukin (IL)-4, IL-10, IL-12p35 and IL-12p40 mRNA levels by real-time PCR performed on liver samples from HCV mono-infected (n = 19) and HCV/HIV co-infected (n = 24) patients. Co-infected patients had decreased intrahepatic mRNA levels of IFN-, (P = 0.09), IL-4 (P = 0.05) and IL-12p35 (P = 0.04) compared with mono-infected patients, while IL-10 was increased (P = 0.07). In co-infected patients, IFN-, mRNA levels increased linearly with increasing peripheral CD4+ cell counts by 1.23 times relative to the calibrator for every 100 CD4+ cells/mm3 increase (P = 0.02). No other cytokines were significantly associated with CD4+ cell counts. In conclusion, HIV-induced lymphopenia may result in hepatic inflammatory cytokine suppression in HCV/HIV co-infection. Intrahepatic IFN-, levels are significantly reduced in patients with advanced immunodeficiency. Further studies are needed to assess whether decreased IFN-, secretion by HCV-specific CD4+ cells may account for accelerated fibrogenesis in these patients. [source]


Relation between stressful life events, neuropeptides and cytokines: results from the LISA birth cohort study

PEDIATRIC ALLERGY AND IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 8 2008
Gunda Herberth
Stressful life events evidently have an impact on development of allergic diseases, but the mechanism linking stress to pathological changes of immune system function is still not fully understood. The aim of our study was to investigate the relationship between stressful life events, neuropeptide and cytokine concentrations in children. Within the LISAplus (Life style-Immune system-Allergy) study, blood samples from children of 6 yr of age were analysed for concentration of the neuropeptides vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), somatostatin (SOM), substance P (SP) and the Th1/Th2 cytokines interferon-, (IFN-,) and interleukin (IL)-4. Life events such as severe disease or death of a family member, unemployment or divorce of the parents were assessed with a questionnaire filled in by the parents. For 234 children, blood analysis and questionnaire data regarding life events were available. Children with separated/divorced parents showed high VIP levels and high concentrations of the Th2 cytokine IL-4 in their blood. Severe diseases and death of a family member were neither associated with neuropeptide levels nor with cytokine concentrations. Unemployment of the parents was associated with decreased IFN-, concentrations in children's blood but not with neuropeptide levels, whereas children experiencing concomitant severe disease and death of a family member had reduced SP blood levels. The neuropeptide VIP might be a mediator between stressful life events and immune regulation contributing to the Th2 shifted immune response in children with separated/divorced parents. Unemployment of the parents was associated with immune regulation in children on the basis of a still unknown mechanism whereas reduced SP levels seem to have no effect on immune regulation. [source]


UVB Irradiation of Normal Human Skin Favors the Development of Type-2 T-cells In Vivo and in Primary Dermal Cell Cultures,

PHOTOCHEMISTRY & PHOTOBIOLOGY, Issue 3 2002
Sergio Di Nuzzo
ABSTRACT To determine the effect of UVB exposure on the balance of type-1 or type-2 T-cells in skin, we examined the expression of key markers interferon (IFN)-, and interleukin (IL)-4 in cryostat sections. IFN-, mRNA was clearly detectable in nonirradiated control skin, and IFN-, protein was found in 2% of the dermal CD3pos T-cells, whereas IL-4 mRNA was hardly detectable, and no IL-4 protein was found. In contrast, IL-4 mRNA expression increased upon irradiation, and IL-4 was found in 2% of the T-cells at day 2 after UVB-exposure. Concomitantly, IFN-, mRNA expression decreased, and IFN-, protein became absent. We also analyzed T-cells present in primary dermal cell cultures, which were used as an in vitro equivalent of the in vivo situation. As compared with T-cells from control skin, T-cells in dermal cell cultures from UVB-exposed skin displayed an increased IL-4 and decreased IFN-, expression. No such skewing occurred when the T-cells from irradiated skin were cloned in the absence of a dermal microenvironment. Except for an occasional positive T-cell, type-1,associated cell-surface markers (CCR5, CXCR3) or type-2 markers (CCR3, CD30, CRTH2) were undetectable in situ. But these markers were expressed on cultured dermal T-cells from UVB-exposed and control skin at a comparable level, but did not correlate with the IFN-, and IL-4 production. Altogether, UVB-induced changes of the dermal microenvironment favor the development of type-2 T-cells. [source]


Age- and sex-related patterns of serum interferon-, activity in lupus families

ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATISM, Issue 7 2008
Timothy B. Niewold
Objective Interferon-, (IFN,) levels are elevated in many patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and may play a primary role in its pathogenesis. The purpose of this study was to determine whether serum IFN, activity in SLE patients and their healthy first-degree relatives is highest in early adulthood, when the incidence of SLE is greatest. Methods Serum samples from 315 SLE patients, 359 healthy first-degree relatives, and 141 healthy unrelated donors were measured for IFN, activity using a functional reporter cell assay. IFN, activity was analyzed in relation to age, and subgroups with high levels of IFN, activity were identified within the large data sets using a Mann-Whitney sliding window segmentation algorithm. The significance of each subgrouping was ranked by Kruskal-Wallis testing. Results Age was inversely correlated with IFN, activity in female SLE patients (r = ,0.20, P = 0.001) as well as their healthy female first-degree relatives (r = ,0.16, P = 0.02). In male patients and their healthy male first-degree relatives, there was no significant overall correlation between age and serum IFN, activity. The segmentation algorithm revealed significantly increased IFN, activity between the ages of 12 and 22 years in female SLE patients and between the ages of 16 and 29 years in male SLE patients. Both male and female healthy first-degree relatives had significantly decreased IFN, activity after the age of 50 years. Conclusion Serum IFN, activity is higher in younger individuals in the SLE family cohorts, and this tendency is accentuated in affected individuals. This age-related pattern of IFN, activity may contribute to the increased incidence of SLE in early adulthood, and interestingly, males and females had similar age-related patterns of IFN, activity. [source]


Relationship between changes in interferon-, production by peripheral blood T cells and changes in peak expiratory flow rate in patients with chronic stable asthma

CLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY, Issue 12 2002
Y. I. Koh
Summary Background Cytokines production by T helper lymphocytes (Th cells), which orchestrate the interplay of the different cells involved in airway inflammation of asthma, may be reflected in peripheral blood. Some studies have suggested that the Th cell cytokines by peripheral blood T cells correlate with asthma severity. Objective To investigate the relationship between changes in IFN-, production by peripheral blood T cells and changes in lung function in chronic stable asthmatics. Methods Sixteen patients with chronic stable moderate asthma aged 35,65 years (nine women) were recruited. Morning and evening peak expiratory flow rates (PEFR) monitoring and blood sampling for peripheral blood T cell culture, total IgE and blood eosinophils were performed at baseline and week 12. Levels of IFN-,, IL-4 and IL-5 in culture supernatants of peripheral blood T cell were determined by using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits. Results Patients with increased IFN-, changes from baseline showed significantly increased changes in morning (P = 0.02) and evening (P < 0.05) PEFR compared with those with decreased IFN-, changes. The changes in IFN-, production and IFN-,: IL-4 ratio significantly correlated with the changes in morning PEFR (Rs = 0.59, P < 0.02; Rs = 0.63, P < 0.01, respectively) and tended to correlate with the changes in evening PEFR (Rs = 0.45, P = 0.08; Rs = 0.5, P = 0.05, respectively). The changes in IL-4 and IL-5 did not correlate with the changes in IgE and blood eosinophils, respectively. Conclusions These findings suggest that IFN-, may be associated with the alteration of lung function in asthmatics and play a role in the pathophysiology of chronic stable asthma. [source]


Infection of mice with the helminth Strongyloides stercoralis suppresses pulmonary allergic responses to ovalbumin

CLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGY, Issue 3 2001
Chun-Chi Wang
Asthma and helminth infections induce similar immune responses characterized by the presence of peripheral blood eosinophilia and elevated serum IgE levels. Epidemiological surveys have reported either increases or decreases in the development of atopic diseases and asthma based on the prevalence of helminth infections in the population. The aim of this study was to determine if a pre-existing helminth infection would increase or decrease subsequent allergic responses to an unrelated allergen in the lungs. BALB/cByJ mice were infected with the nematode parasite Strongyloides stercoralis prior to ovalbumin (OVA) immunization and intratracheal challenge. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and fluid (BALF) were collected 3 days post-challenge and cellular and humoral immune responses were measured. Intracellular cytokine staining revealed increased IL-4 and IL-5 producing cells in BAL from mice infected with S. stercoralis before OVA sensitization. Increased IL-5 protein levels and decreased IFN-, protein levels were also observed in the BALF. There was, however, no increase in airway eosinophil accumulation in mice infectd with parasites before sensitization with OVA as compared to mice exposed to OVA alone. Furthermore, eotaxin levels in the lungs induced by OVA was suppressed in mice infected with the parasite before OVA sensitization. The development of OVA specific IgE responses in BALF was also impaired in mice infected with the parasite before sensitization with OVA. These results suggest that a pre-existing helminth infection may potentiate a systemic Type 2-type response yet simultaneously suppress in the lungs allergen-specific IgE responses and eotaxin levels in response to subsequent exposure to allergens. [source]