Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0432222 (SEM)
 47,337 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Dementia of Alzheimer type (DAT) is a neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system (CNS), in which an unbalanced cytokine network may lead to an altered immunoregulation. Tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha is a cytokine with manifold effects on the neuroimmune system. Specific TNF-alpha receptors have been found on human peripheral blood lymphocytes. The aim of the present study has been to assay TNF-alpha binding on T cells from DAT patients and healthy sex- and age-matched controls. We found that T lymphocytes from demented patients bear significantly more p60 and p80 TNF-alpha receptors than those from controls (Bmax: 705, 29 vs 131, 6 (mean, SEM) receptors/cell). Such TNF-alpha binding sites, of the same type in DAT patients and healthy subjects (Kd: 67.6, 5.0 vs 70.7, 5.6 (mean, SEM) pM), are functional, since they are able to mediate in vitro NF-kappa B activation. These results are discussed in terms of DAT pathogenesis. Since it has been reported that activated T cells have more TNF-alpha receptors than resting cells, an increased number of lymphocyte TNF-alpha receptors might indicate a systemic immune activation in DAT patients as compared with healthy controls.
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PMID:T-cell tumour necrosis factor-alpha receptor binding in demented patients. 926 59

During systemic infection, the serum lipopolysaccharide binding protein (LBP) binds to the lipid A component of bacterial endotoxins and facilitates its delivery to the CD 14 receptor on the cell surface of macrophages, where proinflammatory cytokines are released. There is no knowledge to date whether LBP is also present in the effluent of patients with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD)-associated peritonitis. We investigated the dialysis effluent of 37 patients with CAPD peritonitis for immunoreactive LBP, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, and interleukin (IL)-1 beta and compared the findings with the cytokine levels in 20 noninfected CAPD patients. The mean +/- SEM concentrations of LBP, TNF-alpha, and IL-1 beta were significantly higher in the effluent of patients with peritonitis than in noninfected CAPD effluent. In comparison to controls (0.23 +/- 0.05 microgram/mL), LBP was 0.68 +/- 0.13 microgram/mL in the effluent of patients with CAPD-associated infectious peritonitis. For TNF-alpha, levels were 0.50 +/- 0.25 pg/mL in the control effluent versus 124.7 +/- 46.6 pg/mL in the effluent of peritonitis patients. For IL-1 beta the levels were 0.24 +/- 0.14 pg/mL in the control effluent and 71.23 +/- 17.53 pg/mL in the peritonitis patients. Our findings demonstrate that LBP is significantly elevated in the effluent of CAPD patients during an episode of CAPD-associated peritonitis and might be used as a marker of intraperitoneal bacterial infection.
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PMID:Lipopolysaccharide binding protein: a marker for intraperitoneal bacterial infection in patients with CAPD peritonitis. 936 Jun 83

Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) is one of the immunoregulatory cytokines involved in T-cell activation and delayed-type hypersensitivity. To elucidate involvement of this cytokine in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD), we examined serum MIF concentrations of patients with AD and non-atopic normal healthy individuals. The mean serum MIF concentration of the AD patients (n = 36) was 36.4 +/- 3.7 ng/ml (mean +/- SEM), whereas that of the non-atopic dermatitis patients (n = 17) or healthy individuals (n = 61) were 13.1 +/- 1.8 or 6.5 +/- 0.45 ng/ml, respectively. Accordingly, immunohistochemistry of the inflammatory skin lesion of an AD patient demonstrated that MIF protein was diffusely expressed throughout the whole epidermal layer. After 4-week steroid ointment treatment, the MIF concentration decreased as clinical symptoms improved. The serum level of TNF-alpha was also decreased in parallel with that of MIF. Considering the T-cell dysfunction and disordered cytokine-network reported in AD, it was strongly suggested that MIF was a critical protein for immunoregulation in the pathophysiological mechanism of AD. In this context, MIF may become a useful laboratory parameter to comprehend the clinical course of the disease.
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PMID:Macrophage migration inhibitory factor is an essential immunoregulatory cytokine in atopic dermatitis. 936 5

We employed a bile duct ligation (BDL) model of cholestatic liver injury to test the hypothesis that this form of preexisting hepatic dysfunction alters the kinetics of circulating TNF-alpha and IL-6 after Escherichia coli endotoxemia, thereby augmenting mortality and lung injury by a TNF-alpha:leukotriene (LT) axis of inflammation. Male rats were catheterized 13 d after BDL or sham surgery and studied while awake 18 to 24 h later. Cholestasis after BDL was confirmed by baseline serum bilirubin (BDL = 7.34 +/- 0.72 mg/dl, mean +/- SEM, n = 17 versus Sham = 0.25 +/- 0.07, n = 20; p < 0.005) and histopathology. Sham and BDL animals received E. coli lipopolysaccharide serotype O55:B5 (LPS, 5 mg/kg i.v.) or 0.9% NaCl (NS) ending at t = 0 and were monitored over 24 h for vital signs and hemodynamics. In parallel studies, lipoxygenase inhibition was performed using diethylcarbamazine or the 5-lipoxygenase activating-protein inhibitor MK-886. Blood was collected at baseline and at t = 1.5, 3.5, and 24 h for formed elements and for serum endotoxin, TNF-alpha, IL-6, bilirubin, and alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Organs were evaluated at 24 h for histopathology, including neutrophil (PMN) densities and wet/dry weight (W/D) ratios. Cholestasis reduced survival after otherwise nonlethal endotoxemia, with seven of 11 BDL + LPS rats dying within 24 h versus no deaths in BDL + NS (n = 6), Sham + LPS (n = 14), or Sham + NS (n = 6) animals (p < 0.01). Despite equivalent serum endotoxin between groups, circulating TNF-alpha was 8-fold higher in BDL + LPS than in Sham + LPS rats at 1.5 and 3.5 h (p < 0.001), whereas serum TNF-alpha did not differ between BDL + NS and Sham + NS rats. IL-6 likewise was increased differentially by 1.5 h in BDL + LPS animals (11.98 +/- 2.42 ng/ml) versus Sham + LPS rats (3.05 +/- 0.58 ng/ml, p < 0.05). Hypothermia, bradycardic hypotension, and leukopenia were most severe and prolonged in BDL + LPS rats, which also had significantly higher ALT values, W/D ratios, and organ PMN counts. LT inhibition failed to reduce BDL-related differences in serum cytokines or survival after endotoxemia. Thus, cholestasis augments inflammatory responses to gram-negative endotoxemia, sensitizing the host to enhanced fluid flux in multiple organs and to mortality by a LT-independent mechanism.
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PMID:Cholestatic liver injury increases circulating TNF-alpha and IL-6 and mortality after Escherichia coli endotoxemia. 960 37

Cystic fibrosis (CF) is an inherited disorder associated with severe inflammation and repeated bacterial infection and colonization in the lung. Airway epithelium is involved in defence against bacteria, but this system may be defective in CF. Pro-inflammatory cytokines can stimulate the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), an enzyme generating nitric oxide, which functions as an important mediator in host defence mechanisms. To understand better the poor resistance to infections in the CF lung, the expression of the iNOS gene was investigated in explanted lungs from patients with cystic fibrosis (n = 13), bronchiectasis (n = 3), emphysema (n = 14), and in normal lungs (n = 8). In addition, bronchial epithelial cell lines were examined to study iNOS gene expression in vitro. Strong immunoreactivity for iNOS was seen in inflammatory cells and bronchial epithelium in all the diseased lungs, except for bronchial epithelium in CF. Quantitative analysis showed a significant reduction in the area of epithelium immunostained in CF [CF 6.8 +/- 1.6 (% +/- SEM); emphysema 18.2 +/- 2.8; normal 9.6 +/- 0.8, P < 0.01], regardless of steroid treatment. These results were supported by in situ hybridization of iNOS mRNA, which showed a pattern of gene expression in CF, emphysema, and normal lung which paralleled that of protein immunoreactivity. Stimulation with cytokines (IL-1 beta, TNF-alpha, and IFN-gamma) increased the expression of iNOS mRNA detected by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in cultures of normal (16HBE14o-), but not CF (CFBE41o-, with delta F508 CFTR mutation) epithelial cells. Expression of iNOS in inflammatory cells suggests that the gene is normal in CF. Absence of iNOS from bronchial epithelium may be due to low expression of the gene resulting from abnormalities in the signalling system that normally causes induction, such as cytokine receptors, second messengers or transcription factors. The resulting deficiency of the nitric oxide defence system may be relevant to the susceptibility of CF patients to pulmonary bacterial colonization.
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PMID:Lack of inducible nitric oxide synthase in bronchial epithelium: a possible mechanism of susceptibility to infection in cystic fibrosis. 961 86

We have previously shown that Curosurf, a natural porcine surfactant, and its phospholipids effectively suppressed secretion of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) by resting and through lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated human monocytes. In this study the effect of Curosurf on monocyte mRNA for TNF-alpha and TNF-alpha type II-receptor (TNF-alpha-RII) were analyzed to evaluate the cellular mechanisms involved in the modulation of TNF-alpha expression. LPS-stimulated monocytes simultaneously exposed to Curosurf (500 microg/mL for 24 h) expressed approximately 70% less TNF-alpha mRNA when compared with control subjects (p < 0.05). In addition, 86% less TNF-alpha RII mRNA was found in monocytes exposed to Curosurf (p < 0.001). Decreased mRNA expression was clearly associated with significantly reduced secretion of TNF-alpha protein (Curosurf-exposed LPS-stimulated monocytes 3628 +/- 1873 pg/mL TNF, LPS-stimulated monocytes 31,376 +/- 2524 pg/mL TNF; mean +/- SEM, p < 0.001). The activation of the transcription factor nuclear factor-kappaB upon LPS stimulation is not affected by Curosurf incubation. This excludes that the decrease in mRNA and protein levels of TNF-alpha and TNF-alpha-RII is due to an inhibition of nuclear factor-kappaB activation by Curosurf. We conclude that Curosurf affects TNF-alpha release of LPS-stimulated monocytes at a pretranslational site by down-regulating both mRNA for TNF-alpha and TNF-alpha-RII, therefore acting as an anti-inflammatory agent within alveolar space.
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PMID:Natural porcine surfactant (Curosurf) down-regulates mRNA of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and TNF-alpha type II receptor in lipopolysaccharide-stimulated monocytes. 966 67

Myasthenia gravis (MG) is a T-cell-dependent and antibody-mediated autoimmune disease of the neuromuscular junction, in which the cytokine network may be deranged. Specific receptors for tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, a cytokine with several effects on the neuroimmune system, were found on human lymphocytes. In the present study, we assayed TNF-alpha binding on peripheral blood T-cells from MG patients, finding that T-cells from patients have significantly more TNF-alpha receptors than those from controls (Bmax: 654 +/- 12 vs. 133 +/- 4 (mean +/- SEM) receptors/cell). Such TNF-alpha binding sites are of the same type in patients and healthy subjects (Kd: 68.7 +/- 4.3 vs. 70.1 +/- 4.8 (mean +/- SEM) pM). The enhanced T-cell TNF-alpha binding is due to an increased number of TNF-alpha receptors on T-helper lymphocytes. These results are discussed in terms of MG immunopathogenesis, since it has been reported that activated T-cells have increased amounts of TNF-alpha receptors.
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PMID:T-cell tumor necrosis factor-alpha receptor binding in myasthenic patients. 1037 84

We measured the plasma levels of adrenomedullin (AM), a novel vasodilating peptide, in 89 patients with various forms of systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and 13 healthy volunteers serving as controls. Plasma levels of AM in SIRS (burns: 20.5 +/- 3. 2 fmol/ml [mean +/- SEM]; pancreatitis: 13.8 +/- 3.8 fmol/ml; trauma: 14.9 +/- 2.5 fmol/ml; traumatic shock: 41.1 +/- 7.8 fmol/ml; severe sepsis: 59.9 +/- 11.2 fmol/ml; septic shock: 193.5 +/- 30.1 fmol/ml) were significantly increased over those of controls (5.1 +/- 0.2 fmol/ml). The patients with traumatic shock or septic shock especially had higher levels of plasma AM than those with trauma or severe sepsis, respectively. These data showed that in patients with SIRS, plasma AM levels increased in proportion to the severity of illness. Subsequently, we measured the plasma levels of mediators such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1, and thrombomodulin (TM) in patients with traumatic shock and septic shock. A significant correlation was observed between plasma AM and TNF-alpha levels in patients with septic shock, suggesting an important role for AM as well as of TNF-alpha in the pathophysiology of inflammation. Plasma AM and IL-8 levels correlated positively with Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score, peak multiple organ failure (MOF) score during the first month and prognosis in patients with septic shock, as did plasma IL-6 levels in patients with traumatic shock. The plasma AM level might serve as a useful marker for evaluating the severity of disease and as an early predictor of subsequent organ failure and outcome in septic shock.
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PMID:Increased plasma levels of adrenomedullin in patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome. 1039 Mar 90

Accommodation of the fetoplacental unit in human pregnancy requires maternal immune tolerance to this "semiallograft". Local antiplacental immunity is modified by synthesis of uncommon histocompatibility Ags (e.g., HLA-G), growth factors, and cytokines by the placenta. Placental interleukins have been identified in reproductive tissues, but their roles in adaptive maternal immunity and determining term pregnancy outcomes have not been fully clarified. This study examined the distribution of IL-10 and TNF-alpha staining in term placentas. Women with proteinuric hypertension (PE, n = 10) were compared with an age-matched group with normal pregnancy (NP, n = 14) and gestational hypertension (GH, n = 6). Using immunohistochemistry of parrafin-fixed tissues, trophoblast cells were identified by cytokeratin 7 and cytokeratin 18 staining. The cytokine binding of villous trophoblast cells was scored depending on the extent of circumferential cytoplasm staining (<25%; intermediate or >75%). The cytokine positive decidual cells were scored as a percentage of total extravillous trophoblast cells. There was a reduction in villous IL-10 immunostaining compared with normal term placenta (PE, 10.2 +/- 1.1, mean +/- SEM; NP, 14.07 +/- 1.16 Mann-Whitney U test; p = 0.02). In these patients, there was an increase in TNF-alpha immunostaining. Sparse endovascular extravillous trophoblast cells demonstrated nuclear IL-10 staining in 30% of patients with preeclampsia. Serum IL-10 was diminished in women with preeclampsia compared with normal pregnancy. In conclusion, villous trophoblast demonstrated diminished immunostaining of IL-10 in preeclampsia. This abnormality may be associated with heightened maternal antifetal immunity and therefore inadequate placental development in preeclampsia.
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PMID:A deficiency of placental IL-10 in preeclampsia. 1047 22

Reactive oxygen intermediates exert signalling functions and modulate gene transcription, particularly for pro-inflammatory cytokines. Since exogenous as well as endogenous thiols could be potent inhibitors of the production of cytokines, the effects of N-acetylcysteine (NAC), glutathione (GSH) and modulated GSH synthesis on the production of tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 by human alveolar macrophages (AMs) was evaluated, as well as the potential role of intracellular GSH depletion on the effect of exogenous thiols. AMs were stimulated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and cytokine production was measured by evaluating messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression and protein secretion. Depletion of intracellular GSH by treatment with buthionine sulphoximine (BSO) reached 45.2% after 3 h and was nearly complete at 24 h. Whereas a 24-h preincubation of AMs with BSO significantly increased LPS-induced secretion of TNF-alpha and IL-8, a 3-h preincubation only enhanced LPS-stimulated production of IL-8 (p<0.05). Treatment with NAC and GSH did not significantly increase intracellular content of GSH even after a 48-h incubation. Addition of GSH and NAC significantly reduced the secretion of TNF-alpha (mean+/-SEM 21.2+/-5 and 44.7+/-4.4% inhibition, respectively) as well as LPS-induced IL-6 and IL-8 (p<0.05). Similarly, NAC inhibited the production of TNF-alpha, IL-6 and IL-8 in GSH-depleted AMs obtained by BSO pretreatment. In conclusion, N-acetylcysteine and glutathione inhibit the production of tumour necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-8 and interleukin-6 by alveolar macrophages by a mechanism independent of glutathione metabolism. However, total depletion of glutathione within alveolar macrophages significantly increases tumour necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-8 synthesis whereas it does not modulate interleukin-6 secretion.
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PMID:Thiol regulation of the production of TNF-alpha, IL-6 and IL-8 by human alveolar macrophages. 1048 35


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