Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0003873 (rheumatoid arthritis)
 53,068 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Natural Killer (NK) cells are a lymphocyte subset actively involved in cytotoxicity against tumor-transformed and virus-infected cells; they are a reliable model for the study of neuroendocrine-immune interactions. In previous works we demonstrated that in healthy subjects NK activity of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and susceptibility to endogenous modifiers display statistically validated circadian rhythms. In rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and in other autoimmune rheumatic diseases abnormalities of the circadian rhythm of serum cortisol and altered levels of NK cell activity have been reported. We evaluated the circadian pattern of NK cell activity in 7 hospitalized patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases (4 RA, 1 scleroderma, 2 mixed connective tissue disease). Temporal variations of in vitro responses to either positive recombinant (immune interferon, r IFN-gamma IFN-gamma: 650 IU/ml; recombinant interleukin-2, r IL-2 IL-2: 100 IU/ml) or negative (cortisol: 10(-6) M) modifiers were also studied. Blood was drawn at 4h intervals for 24 h, starting at 0800. PBMC preparations were immediately separated and incubated for 20h in the presence or absence of modifiers. NK activity was assessed with a direct non-radiometric 4h cytolytic assay, using K 562 cells as targets. Significant circadian variations of spontaneous NK activity were documented only in women with RA, with a peak in the evening hours and a minimum in the night or in the early morning (p < 0.05, PR 51.5%, phi 1829). Population-mean cosinor analysis did not yield detection of significant circadian variations of in vitro responsiveness to modifiers.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Altered circadian rhythms of natural killer (NK) cell activity in patients with autoimmune rheumatic diseases. 792 33

There are three types of interferons (IFN), alpha, beta and gamma. IFN-alpha is produced in the leukocytes infected with virus, while IFN-beta is from fibroblasts infected with virus. IFN-gamma is induced by the stimulation of sensitized lymphocytes with antigen or non-sensitized lymphocytes with mitogens. It is believed that IFN-alpha and beta originated from the same ancestral gene, whereas IFN-gamma did not. IFN has not only an antiviral activity, but also various kinds of biological activities including cell growth inhibition, immunosuppressive effects, enhancement of macrophage, natural killer (NK) cell, killer (K) cell and neutrophil functions, and cell differentiation-inducing activity. IFN also shows the antitumor activity resulting from the integration of the above-mentioned biological activities. IFN is also deeply involved in the pathogenesis of various diseases, e.g., collagen diseases such as SLE and rheumatoid arthritis, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, fulminant hepatitis, severe pancreatitis, nephritis, multiple sclerosis, allergic diseases, and atherosclerosis. At present, IFN is clinically used in therapy against virus infections such as hepatitis B and C, and for malignancies such as renal cell carcinoma, multiple myeloma, malignant melanoma, glioblastoma, skin cancers, malignant lymphoma and chronic myelogenous leukemia.
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PMID:[Interferon-alpha, beta, gamma]. 799 28

We characterized the immunophenotype as well as functional properties--phagocytosis, the uptake of acetylated LDL, and the expression of HLA class II antigens, adhesion molecules, and cytokine mRNA--of fibroblast-like synoviocytes from rheumatoid arthritis synovium. Skin fibroblasts (FB) and umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were studied in parallel. Cytofluorometric immunophenotyping by use of 84 mAb and 2 lectins and immunofluorescence microscopy indicated a high degree of homology between the three cell types. Only staining with mAb to von Willebrand factor (vWF) and CD31 and the lectin UEA-I appeared specific to HUVEC, whereas the mAb 5B5 to prolyl 4-hydroxylase that has been reported to be specific to FB stained HUVEC as well as synoviocytes and FB. All of the cells phagocytosed fluorescent latex beads of 1.7 and 2.6 microns in size. The uptake of acetylated LDL could be shown by HUVEC and, surprisingly, by synoviocytes, but not by FB. The induction of HLA-DR, -DP, and -DQ by IFN-gamma on the three cell types showed a similar dose-dependence. The upregulation of ICAM-1 by IL-1 alpha, TNF-alpha, and IFN-gamma appeared similar, whereas the induction of VCAM-1 by IL-1 alpha, IL-4, TNF-alpha, and IFN-gamma showed differences between the three cell types. ELAM-1 was expressed only on HUVEC after treatment with IL-1 alpha and TNF-alpha. The capacity of the cells to produce cytokines was studied at the level of mRNA by reverse transcription and PCR. All three cell types expressed the mRNA of IL-1 alpha, IL-6, IL-8, GM-CSF, and TGF-beta 1 spontaneously or after LPS stimulation, but never TNF-alpha mRNA. Our results indicate a high degree of relationship between the three cell types. In contrast to HUVEC, none of the markers and functional properties investigated appear specific to FB. Therefore, the issue of the origin of fibroblast-like synoviocytes and the role of vascular endothelial cells in the inflamed synovium is discussed.
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PMID:Characterization of the immunophenotype and functional properties of fibroblast-like synoviocytes in comparison to skin fibroblasts and umbilical vein endothelial cells. 808 88

This study analyzes the effects of the T cell cytokines IL-4 and IFN-gamma on the spontaneous and stimulated production of IL-8, MCP-1, IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), and PGE by synoviocytes from rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and osteoarthritis (OA) patients. Cells from both sources constitutively released IL-8 and MCP-1, but no IL-1ra or PGE. Stimulation with IL-1 beta or TNF-alpha massively increased chemokine production and induced the generation of PGE and low amounts of IL-1ra. The constitutive or cytokine-stimulated release of IL-8 was inhibited by IFN-gamma, but not by IL-4. The constitutive or IL-1 beta-stimulated release of MCP-1, by contrast, was markedly enhanced by IL-4 and IFN-gamma. Both cytokines, however, had only borderline effects on the release stimulated by TNF-alpha. The yield of IL-1ra was strongly enhanced by IFN-gamma in all cases, whereas the effect of IL-4 was pronounced only in IL-1 beta-stimulated OA synoviocytes. IL-4, on the other hand, markedly decreased the release of PGE, which was less susceptible to IFN-gamma. The observed effects on chemokines, IL-1ra expression, and PGE release by synoviocytes suggest that IFN-gamma and IL-4 are important regulatory elements in the inflamed synovium and may exert anti-inflammatory effects.
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PMID:Production of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, inflammatory chemotactic proteins, and prostaglandin E by rheumatoid and osteoarthritic synoviocytes--regulation by IFN-gamma and IL-4. 812 Apr 7

Cytokines are important protein mediators in inflammatory joint diseases. The synovial fluid and plasma concentrations of interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1 alpha), interleukin-2 (IL-2), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interferon-alpha (IF-alpha) and interferon-gamma (IF-gamma) were measured by RIA and ELISA in 28 rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients (5 males and 23 females). Ten patients with knee effusions due to other causes (osteoarthritis, psoriasis, gout, rheumatic fever, systemic lupus erythematosus) were also studied. Eight of the RA patients had erosive disease. The synovial fluid IL-1 alpha and IL-2 concentrations were higher in Group 1 (erosive) [IL-1 alpha: 524 pg/ml (SEM: 127), IL-2: 3.28 ng/ml (SEM: 1.0)] than in either Group 2 (non-erosive) [IL-1 alpha: 241 pg/ml (SEM: 24), IL-2: 1.93 ng/ml (SEM: 0.6)] or Group 3 (non-RA) [IL-1 alpha: 267 pg/ml (SEM: 58), IL-2: 0.35 ng/ml (SEM: 0.6)] (p < 0.003 and p < 0.06 respectively). Plasma IL-1 and IL-2 levels were higher in Group 1 [IL-1 alpha: 408 pg/ml (SEM: 107), IL-2: 4.20 ng/ml (SEM: 1.5)] than in Group 2 [IL-1 alpha 150 pg/ml (SEM: 15), IL-2: 2.58 ng/ml (SEM: 0.7)] or Group 3 [IL-1 alpha: 140 pg/ml (SEM: 11), IL-2: 1.93 ng/ml (SEM: 0.3)] (p < 0.01, p < 0.009 respectively). There were no differences in the IFN-alpha, IFN-gamma or TNF-alpha levels between groups. These findings suggest that plasma cytokines levels may reflect synovial levels and that IL-1 alpha may play a significant role in erosive joint disease.
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PMID:Cytokine concentrations in the synovial fluid and plasma of rheumatoid arthritis patients: correlation with bony erosions. 816 43

T-lymphocytes are involved in the inflammatory response that occurs in affected joints of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Some second-line disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs used in the treatment of patients with RA are known to block T-cell activation. The present study assessed whether tenidap, an investigational anti-rheumatic drug, affects in vitro T-cell responses such as proliferation and cytokine production. It was found that tenidap, in contrast to several nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, inhibits anti-CD3 or IL-2 driven proliferative responses of cloned human T-cells. Furthermore, tenidap was found to inhibit IFN-gamma production as well as the induction of mRNA encoding IFN-gamma or TNF-alpha. The results indicate that tenidap may exert at least part of its anti-inflammatory activity via inhibition of T-cell function and cytokine production.
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PMID:Tenidap, but not nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, inhibits T-cell proliferation and cytokine induction. 855 93

T2, an extract of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook F, has been reported to be effective in the treatment of a variety of autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis. Previous studies have shown that T2 inhibited mitogen- or antigen-induced proliferation of human peripheral blood T cells and B cells, IL-2 production by T cells and Ig production by B cells. In contrast, T2 did not affect monocyte functions, such as IL-1 production and antigen presentation. The current studies sought to localize the immunosuppressive action of T2 more precisely. Results show that T2 prevented [3H]-uridine uptake by mitogen-stimulated T cells and arrested them in the early GI phase of the cell cycle. The inhibitory effects of T2 could be partially overcome by costimulating PHA activated T cells with PMA and completely nullified by costimulation with PMA plus a monoclonal antibody to CD28. Moreover, T2 had no effect on expression of IL-2R or the transferrin receptor (CD71), but inhibited production of a number of cytokines, including IL-2 and IFN-gamma by activated T cells. T2 suppressed IL-2 mRNA levels, but not IL-2R mRNA levels, in activated T cells. T2-mediated inhibition reflected suppression of IL-2 gene transcription as indicated by suppression of the expression of a reporter gene driven by the IL-2 promoter. T2 had little inhibitory effect on either IL-2 gene expression or cell cycle progression when added after initial mitogenic stimulation, indicating that an early step in the cascade of activation events was inhibited. However, initial activation events including protein tyrosine phosphorylation, the generation of diacylglycerol, IP3, and the translocation of protein kinase C were not inhibited by T2. Moreover, T2 did not inhibit the phosphatase activity of calcineurin. These results have localized the effect of T2 to a step in the T cell activation cascade after initial second messenger generation, tyrosine phosphorylation and protein kinase activation, but before IL-2 gene transcription.
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PMID:The Chinese herbal remedy, T2, inhibits mitogen-induced cytokine gene transcription by T cells, but not initial signal transduction. 855 49

A large body of clinical experience on the adverse consequences of cytokine administration has accumulated since the last decade. Side-effects reported after the therapeutic use of cytokines has provided evidence that activation of the immune response may sometimes have deleterious consequences. Several effects appeared as a direct consequence of the immune activation induced by cytokines, e.g. flu-like reactions, vascular leak syndrome. Cytokine-induced exacerbation of underlying diseases or immune dysregulation were other complications of growing concern. Interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) treatment has now been clearly linked with the exacerbation or the occurrence of several types of autoantibodies or autoimmune diseases (thyroiditis, systemic lupus erythematosus, hematologic disorders, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus) or diseases involving altered cell-mediated immune functions (inflammatory dermatologic diseases, nephritis, pneumonitis, colitis). By contrast immunological side-effects of IFN-beta and IFN-gamma have been seldom reported. However, the extent of clinical experience with both of these cytokines is still very limited. Interleukin-2 (IL-2) has also been implicated in various conditions that may involve immunopathological processes (thyroid disorders, rheumatoid arthritis, dermatological diseases, interstitial nephritis). Growth factors have been more specifically linked with the development or the exacerbation of dermatological inflammatory diseases through neutrophils, monocytes/macrophages or eosinophils activation (e.g. cutaneous vasculitis and generalized cutaneous eruption, Sweet's syndrome, bullous eruption, psoriasis). Exacerbation of autoimmune thyroiditis was described with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) only. The immunogenicity of cytokines is also of great relevance and the occurrence of antibodies binding IFN-alpha and IFN-beta, IL2 and GM-CSF have been reported. While the clinical significance of non-neutralizing antibodies is not clearly established, an absence of response or reversal of clinical efficacy has been described in patients developing neutralizing antibodies. Finally, several isolated reports have recently suggested that IFN-alpha treatment may be associated with several immunosuppressive effects while IL-2 is clinically associated with an increased incidence of infectious complications.
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PMID:Immune-mediated side-effects of cytokines in humans. 863 83

T cell surface expression and the functional role of CD26 antigen (Ag), a surface ectoenzyme involved in T cell activation and migration across the extracellular matrix, were analyzed in the peripheral blood (PB) and synovial fluid (SF) from patients with inflammatory arthritides. CD26 membrane expression on T cells was detected by cytofluorometry using two different monoclonal antibodies, anti-Ta1 and anti-1F7, while cell proliferation and both IL-2 and IFN-gamma production were evaluated in anti-CD3- or anti-CD2-stimulated cell cultures after Ag surface modulation with anti-1F7. The results showed that Ta1 and 1F7 Ag expression were increased on T cells from PB of patients with active, but not inactive, rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Most SF T cells from RA or other inflammatory arthritides displayed the memory marker CD45R0 and the Ta1 Ag, but lacked the 1F7 molecule. In addition, in vitro 1F7 modulation, which enhanced RA PB T cell proliferation and both IL-2 and IFN-gamma synthesis, did not synergize with anti-CD3 or anti-CD2 in inducing IL-2-dependent activation of SF T cells, but reduced IFN-gamma production. A spontaneous reappearance of 1F7 Ag on the SF T cell surface was seen after 2-5 days in culture. Phorbol myristate acetate, able to accelerate its reexpression, also restored a normal response of SF T cells to anti-1F7 comitogenic effects. These data confirm a role of the CD26 surface molecule in regulating T cell activation and lymphokine synthesis. This observation may have important implications in the regulation of T cell activity at the joint level during chronic inflammatory processes.
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PMID:CD26 surface molecule involvement in T cell activation and lymphokine synthesis in rheumatoid and other inflammatory synovitis. 867 37

Nitric oxide (NO) is a critical mediator of a variety of biological functions. A range of micro-organisms, including viruses, bacteria, protozoa and helminths, is sensitive to NO produced by macrophages activated with gamma-interferon (IFN-gamma) and lipopolysaccharide. In contrast, NO is involved in a number of important immunopathologies, including diabetes, graft-vs-host reaction, rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis and multiple sclerosis. Thus, it is crucial that the synthesis of NO is under tight regulation. This is achieved, in part, through the opposing cytokines produced by T helper 1 (Th1) and Th2 cells. Th1 cells produce IFN-gamma, which is the most powerful inducer of inducible NO synthase (iNOS). In contrast, interleukin 4 is produced by Th2 cells and inhibits the induction of iNOS at the level of transcription. Furthermore, NO is also produced by Th1 cells, whose proliferation can be inhibited by high concentrations of NO. Thus, apart from being a mediator of Th1/Th2 interaction, NO may also be an important self-regulatory molecule that prevents the over-expansion of Th1 cells which are implicated in a range of severe immunopathologies.
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PMID:Nitric oxide in infectious and autoimmune diseases. 872 41


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