Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0036572 (seizures)
 80,221 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Although it is usually accepted that the pathogeny of HIV infection is related to the direct cytotoxic effect of the virus or indirectly by the invasion of T4 cells altering the T4/T8 ratio, clinical and serological and biochemical manifestations of the B cell polyclonal activation were described early in HIV infection epidemy. It is postulated that the central pathophysiologic mechanism in HIV infection is a high and inefficient production of interferon-gamma, genetically determined, leading to a production of autoantibodies that blocks the target organs even the immune system as well as a progressive interleukins levels increase, including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), responsible for many of the symptoms of these patients like fever, headache, fatigue, myalgia, hypotension, seizure and other neurological disorders, hematologic and hepatic disorders. Thalidomide reduces polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia, that is associated with a clinical and laboratorial improvement, in a dose dependent manner as well as TNF-alpha levels. It seems that HIV infection is more a disease of abnormal host response triggered by HIV than an HIV disease.
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PMID:Autoimmunity in human immunodeficiency virus infection and the use of thalidomide. 809 May 35

There has been a growing body of evidence suggesting that CD4+ Th1/Th2 cell responses participate in pathologic and immunologic processes in infectious disease. Bacterial meningitis is a fatal disease of children and is associated with a spectrum of clinical syndromes. This study provides evidence of CD4+ enhanced interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-6 but decreased IL-2 and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production, the induction of characteristic Th2 cell response cytokines in bacterial meningitis, which may play an important role in disease mechanism. Additionally, monocyte-induced enhanced IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha production may be associated with distinct clinical features such as fever, seizures, and neurological sequelae. A striking finding was also the highly deficient monocyte-induced granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor production. Of particular interest, the CD(8+)-enhanced IFN-gamma production may be required for the cytolytic activity or protective response to be maintained in this disease. Taken together, these data reveal that monocytes and CD4+ (Th2) and CD8+ subsets produce distinct cytokines in bacterial meningitis, which may exert an immunoregulatory and immunopathologic effect and thus mediate some of the clinical manifestations of the disease.
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PMID:CD4+ Th2 cell response cytokine production in bacterial meningitis. 857 20

At present, only a little is known about the transcriptional regulation in chondrocytes submitted to various physicomechanical factors known to exist in articular cartilage. Recently, we have investigated the effects of hydrostatic pressure on transcriptional control in chondrocytes using human chondrosarcoma and immortalized chondrocyte cell lines for the experiments. Hydrostatic pressure was applied on the cells in a special computer-controlled, water-filled pressure chamber, where cyclic and static pressures up to 32 MPa can be created. Differential display RT-PCR and probing of cDNA arrays are the methods we have used to study differential gene expression due to hydrostatic pressure. By differential display RT-PCR experiments, we have observed several differentially expressed cDNA bands under continuous 30 MPa hydrostatic pressure, while 30 MPa cyclic pressure at 1 Hz produced much fewer changes. In the first phase of our studies, we have focused on the effects of 30 MPa hydrostatic pressure because it causes a unique hsp70-mediated stress response in immortalized chondrocytes. Differential display RT-PCR screening provided us with several clones that derive from low-abundance mRNAs, such as death-associated protein 3 (DAP3), a nucleotide-binding protein which increases due to interferon-gamma induced cell death; PTZ-17 (or p311), a seizure-related protein; H-NUC, a nuclear DNA binding protein; and one new gene of unknown function. In Northern blots, an induction was confirmed for the new gene, DAP3 and PTZ-17 were down-regulated in some but not in all parallel experiments; however, basal level of H-NUC mRNA was too low to be detected in Northern blots. We then chose to widen our screening to a number of known genes arrayed as cDNA blots. Under 30 MPa continuous hydrostatic pressure, four different time points were chosen (0, 3, 6 and 24 h) for the experiments. The screening of 588 cDNAs showed 15 up-regulated and 6 down-regulated genes. Consistently with our previous results hsp70 was highly induced, as well as hsp40, a chaperone protein functioning together with hsp70. Gadd45 and to a lesser extent Gadd153 (stress genes induced by, e.g., ionizing radiation and ischaemia) were up-regulated, as well as p21waf1,cip1, a protein participating in cell cycle regulation that can interact with Gadd45. Northern blots confirmed Gadd45 induction. Down-regulated transcripts included, e.g., DAD-1, glutathione S-transferase pI, DNA-binding inhibitor ID-1H, and cytoplasmic dynein light chain.
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PMID:Transcriptional activation in chondrocytes submitted to hydrostatic pressure. 1091 81

Chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) is a genetic disorder characterized by recurrent bacterial and fungal infections and tissue granuloma formation. CGD phagocytes are unable to generate superoxide because of mutations in any of four proteins of the phagocyte NADPH oxidase. Prophylactic recombinant human interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) has been shown to reduce the frequency and severity of infections in CGD patients, but its mechanism(s) remains undefined, and its benefit has been questioned. We investigated the prophylactic effect of IFN-gamma in the mouse model of the major autosomal recessive (p47(phox)) form of CGD. In a prospective, randomized, placebo-controlled study, we compared IFN-gamma, 20,000 U administered subcutaneously (s.c.) three times weekly, to placebo in 118 p47(phox-/-) mice. By 6 weeks of study, there were 3 infections in the IFN-gamma group compared with 13 infections in the placebo group (77% reduction in infections, p<0.01). By 18 months of study, there were 7 infections in the IFN-gamma group compared with 18 infections in the placebo group (39% reduction in infections, p<0.01). Two animals receiving IFN-gamma had seizures after 7 months in the study. No other toxicities were observed. Peripheral blood phagocytes from IFN-gamma treated p47(phox-/-) mice produced no superoxide, excluding restoration of the oxidative burst as a mechanism for the IFN-gamma effect. There were no differences in either peritoneal macrophage nitrate production or thioglycollate-induced peritoneal exudate between treatment groups. This animal model demonstrates a prophylactic benefit of IFN-gamma similar to that seen in humans and provides an opportunity to investigate the mechanism(s) of action for IFN-gamma in CGD.
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PMID:IFN-gamma is effective in reducing infections in the mouse model of chronic granulomatous disease (CGD). 1155 34

A 44-month-old boy with chronic granulomatous disease has been suffering from fever and skin rash for 7 days prior to admission. The blood culture obtained on admission revealed Salmonella enterica subspecies houtenae. He received intravenous ceftriaxone therapy during his hospital stay and oral cefixime after discharge. Unfortunately, the same symptoms recurred 2 weeks after discontinuing cefixime and the culture from the aspirate of a skin nodule yielded the same microorganism again. He received intravenous ceftriaxone therapy after readmission and became afebrile 3 days later. However, focal seizure was noted on the 14th day of hospitalization. Brain magnetic resonance imaging revealed multiple brain abscesses, and electroencephalogram showed epileptiform activity. The intravenous antimicrobial agents were continued for a total of 84 days and interferon-gamma was administered as adjunctive therapy. Finally, he recovered from brain abscesses without any neurologic sequel. It is suggested that an extended course of antimicrobial treatment is necessary for chronic granulomatous disease with pyogenic infection because of the defective intracellular killing ability.
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PMID:Brain abscess caused by Salmonella enterica subspecies houtenae in a patient with chronic granulomatous disease. 1472 60

Topiramate, a new anticonvulsant, has been reported to possess neuroprotective effects in both in vivo and in vitro experiments. In the present study, the effect of topiramate (40 and 80 mg/kg ip) on the fully developed kainate-induced status epilepticus was evaluated in the rat. Injection of kainate (15 mg/kg ip) evoked recurrent limbic seizures which lasted several hours. Topiramate injected 1.5 h after kainate administration had no effect on the seizures and mortality of the animals. Biochemical study revealed that at 80 mg/kg ip, topiramate significantly attenuated the kainate-induced lipid peroxidation in the piriform cortex and showed similar tendency in the frontal cortex. Besides the central nervous system, the kainate-induced seizures evoked significant changes in immunoreactivity, such as reduction in thymus weight and the proliferative activity of splenocytes, and the splenocyte-increased production of interleukin-10, but not interferon-gamma. Topiramate did not affect the kainate-induced reduction in thymus weight, but attenuated changes in the proliferative activity of splenocytes. It is concluded that topiramate, when given during the fully developed kainate-induced status epilepticus in rats, has no effect on seizures, but attenuates lipid peroxidation in piriform cortex and prevents certain changes in immunoactivity.
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PMID:Effect of topiramate on the kainate-induced status epilepticus, lipid peroxidation and immunoreactivity of rats. 1559 43

Apart from the essential role of 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 in calcium and phosphorus metabolism, this compound and its analogs are involved in regulating the functions of the central nervous and immune systems. Active forms of vitamin D3 have been reported to stimulate neurotrophin gene expression and to prevent neuronal damage against a variety of insults. In the present study, we evaluated the effects of PRI-2191-a low-calcemic analog of 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (50 ng/kg i.p., once daily for 8 days) on seizure-related neuronal degeneration, changes in some brain gene expression and immune system activity. Seizures were induced by pilocarpine (400 mg/kg; i.p.) administration. An in situ hybridization study showed that the pilocarpine-induced seizures led to time-dependent changes in the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), heat shock protein 70 (HSP-70) and prepro-thyreoliberin (prepro-TRH) gene expression in several cortical and hippocampal regions. The maximal induction of gene expression was 3 h for BDNF and 24 h for HSP-70 and prepro-TRH; however, only in the case of prepro-TRH that effect was long-lasting. PRI-2191 alone had no effect on gene expression, but it enhanced the seizure-evoked expression of HSP-70, had an opposite effect on BDNF mRNA level and did not affect prepro-TRH mRNA level. Moreover, PRI-2191 had a moderate inhibitory effect on the seizure-related hippocampal damage in the CA1 field only. An immunological study revealed that PRI-2191 reversed the seizure-induced decrease in the proliferative activity of splenocytes and their ability to produce interferon-gamma. Summing up, the present study demonstrated that subchronic administration of PRI-2191 significantly modulated the seizure-related changes in both the brain and the peripheral immune system of rats.
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PMID:Effects of PRI-2191--a low-calcemic analog of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 on the seizure-induced changes in brain gene expression and immune system activity in the rat. 1578 Oct 40

Cerebral involvement during malaria is a complication that leads to seizure, coma, and death. The effect of new neuroprotective therapies has not yet been investigated, although cerebral malaria shares some features with neurological stroke. Erythropoietin (EPO) is one of the more promising drugs in this area. We measured the effect of EPO on the survival of mice infected with Plasmodium berghei ANKA and demonstrated that inoculations of recombinant human EPO at the beginning of the clinical manifestations of cerebral malaria protect >90% of mice from death. This drug has no effect on the course of parasitemia. The effect of EPO was not related to either the inhibition of apoptosis in the brain or the regulation of the increase and decrease of nitric oxide production in the brain and blood, respectively. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interferon-gamma mRNA overexpression was inhibited by EPO, and treated mice had fewer brain hemorrhages. EPO has been used in patients with chronic diseases for years, and more recently it has been used to treat acute ischemic stroke. The data presented here provide the first evidence indicating that this cytokine could be useful for the symptomatic prevention of mortality during the acute stage of cerebral malaria.
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PMID:Recombinant human erythropoietin prevents the death of mice during cerebral malaria. 1739 15

Dietary restriction (DR) increases the life span of many different organisms, and recent findings have demonstrated neuroprotective effects of DR in rodent and nonhuman primate models of neurodegenerative disorders. The neuroprotective mechanism of action of DR is unknown, but it may result from a mild cellular stress response involving increased production of neurotrophic factors. Because several different cytokines are known to be up-regulated in brain cells in response to stress, we determined whether DR affected cytokine expression in the rat brain. Levels of expression of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and its receptor were significantly increased in the hippocampus of rats that had been maintained on an intermittent fasting DR regimen compared with rats on the ad libitum control diet. Pretreatment of embryonic rat hippocampal cell cultures with IFN-gamma protected neurons against glutamate-induced death. IFN-gamma-mediated neuroprotection was associated with an enhanced recovery of intracellular Ca(2+) concentrations following exposure to glutamate. Our data show that intermittent fasting DR stimulates IFN-gamma-mediated neuroprotective signaling in the hippocampus, suggesting a role for this cytokine in the previously reported ability of DR to protect neurons in animal models of severe epileptic seizures, stroke, and neurodegenerative disorders.
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PMID:Interferon-gamma is up-regulated in the hippocampus in response to intermittent fasting and protects hippocampal neurons against excitotoxicity. 1652 Nov 27

Valproic acid, a drug commonly used to treat seizures and other psychiatric disorders, causes neural tube defects (NTDs) in exposed fetuses at a rate 20 times higher than in the general population. Failure of the neural tube to close during development results in exencephaly or anencephaly, as well as spina bifida. In mice, nonspecific activation of the maternal immune system can reduce fetal abnormalities caused by diverse etiologies, including diabetes-induced NTDs. We hypothesized that nonspecific activation of the maternal immune system with interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) could reduce valproic acid (VA)-induced defects as well. Female CD-1 mice were given immune stimulant prebreeding: either IFN-gamma or GM-CSF. Approximately half of the control and immune-stimulated pregnant females were then exposed to 500 mg/kg VA on the morning of gestational day 8. The incidence of developmental defects was determined on gestational day 17 from at least eight litters in each of the following treatment groups: control, VA only, IFN-gamma only, IFN-gamma+VA, GM-CSF only, and GM-CSF+VA. The incidence of NTDs was 18% in fetuses exposed to VA alone, compared to 3.7% and 2.9% in fetuses exposed to IFN-gamma+VA, or GM-CSF+VA respectively. Ocular defects were also significantly reduced from 28.0% in VA exposed groups to 9.8% in IFN-gamma+VA and 12.5% in GM-CSF+VA groups. The mechanisms by which maternal immune stimulation prevents birth defects remain unclear, but may involve maternal or fetal production of cytokines or growth factors which protect the fetus from the dysregulatory effects of teratogens.
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PMID:Valproic acid-induced fetal malformations are reduced by maternal immune stimulation with granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor or interferon-gamma. 1707 42


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