Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0036690 (sepsis)
 59,461 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

It is currently hypothesized that the mechanisms of cancer cachexia involve the host's production of inflammatory cytokines, which in turn orchestrate a series of complex interrelated steps that ultimately lead to a chronic state of wasting, malnourishment, and death (see Fig. 1). The metabolic changes seen in the tumor-bearing host are similar, but not identical, to those seen in sepsis and inflammation and appear to result from a generalized response of the host to the stimulus of invasion--the tumor. Although there are likely to be several humoral factors, of either host or tumor origin (see Fig. 1), involved in cancer cachexia, recombinant DNA methodology has provided sufficient amounts of only a few cytokines to enable careful investigation of their cachectic potential. TNF/cachectin has been most extensively studied and appears to play a clear role, because administration of low-dose continuous or escalating doses simulates changes associated with cancer cachexia. In addition, these cachectic changes have been blocked by a specific antisera. IL-1, IL-6, and interferon-gamma all have potential as mediators of cancer cachexia and more work is clearly indicated. It is possible that, given our current understanding of the mechanisms of cancer cachexia, it can be theorized that TNF, which causes many of the manifestations of cancer cachexia, and IL-1 are released by macrophages in response to tumor (see Fig. 1). Interferon-gamma appears to potentiate these effects and may also be necessary for the complete syndrome of cancer cachexia. IL-6 probably is released as another mediator, principally mediating the acute phase response seen in cancer cachexia. Other factors are certain to be involved. Further study into the mechanisms and possible treatment of cancer cachexia is needed, because a large proportion of cancer patients who are incurable by current therapies continue to suffer from this lethal wasting diathesis. Furthermore, specific strategies to reverse the cachectic changes associated with cancer will likely improve antitumor treatment.
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PMID:Mechanisms of cancer cachexia. 202 66

Glucocorticoids almost completely inhibit the synthesis by isolated macrophages of cachectin/tumor necrosis factor (TNF), a cytokine implicated as a major endogenous mediator of septic shock. Despite this in vitro effectiveness, the clinical use of glucocorticoids has failed to demonstrate any clear benefit in the treatment of septic shock. In an effort to understand what other mechanisms might play a role in the patient with sepsis, we examined the effect of interferon-gamma (IFN gamma) on the synthesis of cachectin/TNF. We show here that IFN gamma, although unable by itself to induce cachectin/TNF synthesis, enhanced the endotoxin-induced production of cachectin/TNF in vitro. Furthermore, IFN gamma overcame the inhibition of cachectin/TNF synthesis caused by the glucocorticoid, dexamethasone. These effects of IFN gamma were accounted for by increased levels of cachectin/TNF mRNA. The in vivo implications of these studies are discussed with emphasis on their relevance in human sepsis.
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PMID:Interferon-gamma overcomes glucocorticoid suppression of cachectin/tumor necrosis factor biosynthesis by murine macrophages. 212 Feb 85

The etiology and mechanisms by which severe trauma or sepsis induce hepatic failure are unknown. Previously we showed that Kupffer cells (KC), the fixed macrophages of the liver, induce a profound decrease in hepatocyte (HC) total-protein synthesis when exposed to endotoxin. Furthermore we demonstrated that endotoxin-activated KCs induce these changes in HC protein synthesis through the induction of a novel L-arginine-dependent biochemical pathway within the HC. In this pathway, the guanido nitrogen of L-arginine is converted to the highly reactive molecule nitric oxide (NO.). To identify the KC factors that act as signals for induction of HC NO. biosynthesis, recombinant cytokines were added to HC cultures and HC nitrogen oxide production and protein synthesis levels were determined. We found that no single cytokine, but rather a specific combination of tumor necrosis factor, interleukin-1, interferon-gamma, and endotoxin, were required for maximal induction of HC nitrogen oxide production. This specific combination of cytokines induced a 248.8 +/- 26.0 mumol/L (micromolar) increase in HC nitrogen oxide production and simultaneously inhibited HC total protein synthesis by 36.1% +/- 3.1%. These data demonstrate that multiple cytokines, produced by endotoxin-activated KC, induce the production of NO. within HC, which in turn leads to the inhibition of HC total-protein synthesis.
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PMID:Multiple cytokines are required to induce hepatocyte nitric oxide production and inhibit total protein synthesis. 212 Nov 10

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) from patients with severe forms of inherited epidermolysis bullosa (EB) are deficient in functions governing cellular immunity. Very low levels of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), interleukin-1 (IL-1), and interleukin-2 (IL-2) were produced in vitro by PBMC from patients with severe forms of EB (recessive dystrophic and dominant dystrophic) as compared to sex- and age-matched controls. Lymphokine production by PBMC from patients with junctional EB was somewhat greater than that from patients with dystrophic forms of EB but was significantly less than that from controls. The production of interferon-alpha was not found to be altered in the severe forms of EB. The PBMC from dystrophic types of EB were also deficient in production of tumor necrosis factors (TNF-alpha and TNF-beta). The degree of the reduction in immune functions was directly related to the severity of skin involvement, with recessive dystrophic EB having the lowest level of cytokine production. This reduced production of monokines and lymphokines may be partially responsible for the progression of cutaneous infections to septicemia and for the metastasis of cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas in patients with severe forms of dystrophic EB.
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PMID:Patients with severe forms of inherited epidermolysis bullosa exhibit decreased lymphokine and monokine production. 212 88

Traumatic injury and sepsis reduce HLA-DR expression on monocytes. This study assessed the effect of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) on the expression of HLA-DR on monocytes taken from severely injured patients. The mononuclear layer of each blood sample was incubated with either 500 units IFN-gamma or control media. The mean baseline HLA-DR expression of the trauma group (n = 11) was 32%, significantly less than the mean HLA-DR expression of 91% for the control group (n = 10). In the trauma group, HLA-DR expression after culturing with IFN-gamma was 81%, significantly greater than both the mean baseline HLA-DR expression (32%). In the control group, HLA-DR expression after culturing with IFN-gamma was 94%, similar to the mean baseline HLA-DR expression of 91%. These data confirm that HLA-DR on monocytes of severely injured patients is markedly reduced and show that it can be increased significantly in vitro by IFN-gamma.
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PMID:Interferon-gamma treatment increases HLA-DR expression on monocytes in severely injured patients. 250 20

AIDS dementia complex (ADC) is a complex, progressive neuropsychiatric syndrome seen in 60-70% of the patients with AIDS. The structural and functional changes associated with ADC may be the result of a variety of indirect mechanisms mediated via activated brain cells or/and virus that produce neurotoxins including N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor agonist (eg, quinolinic acid, glutamate), cytokines, gp 120 and nitric oxide. The level of the neurotoxin and kynurenine pathway metabolite, quinolinic acid, is increased in the brain and CSF of HIV-1-infected patients, and is correlated with quantitative measures of neurologic impairment. Importantly, increased CSF and brain levels of QUIN also occur in other inflammatory neurologic diseases (bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic infections, meningitis, autoimmune diseases and septicemia), independent of HIV-1 infection. Therefore, QUIN and other neuroactive kynurenine pathway metabolites may be final common mediators of neurologic dysfunction in a broad spectrum of inflammatory neurologic diseases. Conversion of L-tryptophan to QUIN has also been demonstrated in vitro in both brain tissue following macrophage infiltration, and in macrophages stimulated by interferon-gamma or HIV infection. Macrophages in vitro have a high capacity to synthesize QUIN following exposure to interferon-gamma, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, IL-1 beta and IL-6, compared to cells derived from other tissues. Notably, the concentrations achieved in the macrophage incubates exceeded the levels found in the CNS of HIV-1-infected patients, and exceeded the concentrations shown to be neurotoxic in vitro. We hypothesize that increased kynurenine pathway metabolism following inflammation reflects the presence of macrophages and other reactive cell populations at the site of brain infection. Strategies to attenuate the neurotoxic effects of kynurenines, such as inhibitors of kynurenine pathway metabolism and cytokine antibodies may offer new approaches to therapy.
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PMID:[Biochemical studies on AIDS dementia complex--possible contribution of quinolinic acid during brain damage]. 747 52

Cytokine-inducible nitric oxide (NO) production has been implicated in the pathogenesis of septic shock. The present study was designed to determine which cytokines induce expression of the NO synthase gene in rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) in vitro and whether NO synthase gene expression is inducible in vivo. NO synthase mRNA appeared after 4-h exposure to interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta), and levels continued to increase up to 24 h. Levels of NO synthase transcripts were greatest in VSMC treated with IL-1 beta (1 nM), lower in VSMC treated with Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS; 100 micrograms/ml), and just detectable in VSMC treated with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha; 1 nM). IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha, and LPS each induced NO synthase activity, assessed by release of nitrite, conversion of L-arginine to L-citrulline, and increased levels of guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate, whereas IL-2, IL-6, and interferon-gamma were ineffective. IL-1 beta was more potent and effective than TNF-alpha; however, submaximal concentrations of TNF-alpha acted synergistically with IL-1 beta to induce NO synthase gene expression and activity. Inducible NO synthase mRNA was present in aorta from rats 6 h after treatment with LPS (5 mg/kg), but not at 24 h. Synergistic activation of NO synthase gene expression in VSMC by IL-1 beta and TNF-alpha may contribute to hypotension in sepsis.
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PMID:Interleukin-1 beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha synergistically induce NO synthase in rat vascular smooth muscle cells. 751 63

Stimulation with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) will lead to the expression of a variety of genes in CD14+ monocytes/macrophages, but also in CD14- fibroblasts and endothelial cells. Upon secondary LPS stimulation, the expression of many of these genes is only minimal. This applies to several cytokines, most prominent among them tumor necrosis factor (TNF). Induction of tolerance appears to require some degree of activation in the primary exposure, as partial structures of LPS induce tolerance, as long as they are able to activate cells. Studies on the mechanism of unresponsiveness in tolerant cells show that the CD14 LPS receptor is not downregulated but may even increase in number at the cell surface. Furthermore, this receptor appears to be functional in that mobilization of the transcription factor NF-kappa B does still occur. This NF-kappa B complex is composed primarily of p50p50 homodimers, that bind to the respective DNA motif in the promoter region of many proinflammatory genes, thereby blocking transactivation. However, LPS tolerance does not lead to downregulation of all kinds of response, as some genes are even increased in expression upon secondary stimulation; these include p50 of NF-kappa B, TNF receptor type II and interleukin-10 (IL-10). These gene products are involved in the downregulation of proinflammatory cytokines and may thereby be instrumental in the unresponsiveness observed. Hence, tolerance to LPS is not a passive process that occurs in an exhausted cell; rather, it is a well-controlled active response that is orchestrated in order to prevent excessive inflammation. Important modulators of tolerance are glucocorticoids, which result in a general decrease of gene expression, and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), which enhances expression of proinflammatory genes. LPS tolerance does occur in some clinical settings, as in hemodialysis, in sepsis and in patients treated repeatedly with LPS or other monocyte activators. In fact, LPS tolerance may be exploited for prophylaxis of severe sepsis in patients at risk.
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PMID:Molecular mechanism in tolerance to lipopolysaccharide. 758 50

We previously reported that sequential exposure of cultured porcine aortic endothelial cells to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and then to inducers of the heat shock response resulted in lethal injury by programmed cell death. In these present experiments, we evaluated the ability of other mediators of sepsis to prime endothelial cells for subsequent injury upon heat shock induction. We used SVEC4-10 microvascular endothelial cells, a cloned SV40-transformed cell line derived from LPS-resistant C3H/HeJ mice. When these endothelial cells were treated first with tumor necrosis factor-alpha followed by induction of the heat shock response with either heat or sodium arsenite (As), a standard chemical inducer of the heat shock response in vitro, a tumor necrosis factor dose-dependent cytotoxicity was observed, similar to that which we had seen previously in porcine endothelial cells primed with LPS. Subsequent experiments found that priming with interferon-gamma produced a similar dose-dependent toxicity upon heat shock with either heat or As. The reducing agents dithiothreitol and n-acetylcysteine, which we have previously shown to inhibit heat shock-induced programmed cell death in LPS-primed porcine endothelial cells, were also effective in protecting against heat shock-induced death following cytokine-priming in this microvascular cell line, suggesting that the intracellular signaling pathways of these priming agents are somewhere convergent. These data suggest that both exogenous and endogenous mediators of inflammation can prime endothelial cells for subsequent injury upon induction of the heat shock response, and are consistent with the emerging concept of redundancy in inflammatory signaling.
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PMID:Heat shock-induced cell death in murine microvascular endothelial cells depends on priming with tumor necrosis factor-alpha or interferon-gamma. 774 56

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) is an important mediator in sepsis and septic shock. Kupffer cells (KCs) are the resident macrophages of the liver and are potent producers of TNF-alpha in response to inflammatory stimuli such as bacterial endotoxin or lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Although the effects of exogenous cytokines such as interferon-gamma on TNF-alpha production by macrophages have been fairly well studied, the intracellular pathways regulating KC TNF-alpha synthesis are largely unknown. We investigated the role of guanylate cyclase and cGMP in LPS-induced KC TNF-alpha synthesis. Exogenous 8-BrcGMP and dbcGMP increased LPS-stimulated TNF-alpha synthesis but had no effect on KC TNF-alpha in the absence of LPS. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a nitric oxide-releasing substance that stimulates guanylate cyclase, increased TNF-alpha synthesis in response to LPS, whereas methylene blue and LY83583, guanylate cyclase inhibitors, decreased KC TNF-alpha synthesis. The inhibitory effect of methylene blue could be overcome with exogenous dbcGMP or SNP. Our results demonstrate that guanylate cyclase and cGMP mediate LPS-induced KC TNF-alpha synthesis and suggest that agents that alter cyclic nucleotide metabolism in KCs may affect the response of these cells to inflammation and inflammatory stimuli.
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PMID:Cyclic GMP and guanylate cyclase mediate lipopolysaccharide-induced Kupffer cell tumor necrosis factor-alpha synthesis. 785 45


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