The a7 nicotinic ACh receptor agonist compound B and positive allosteric modulator PNU-120596 both alleviate inflammatory hyperalgesia and cytokine release in the rat.
Background and purpose: Agonists selective for the a7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) produce anti-hyperalgesic effects in rodent models of inflammatory pain, via direct actions on spinal pain circuits and possibly via attenuated release of peripheral pro-inflammatory mediators. Increasingly, allosteric modulation of ligand-gated receptors is recognised as a potential strategy to ... More
Translocator protein (18 kDa)/peripheral benzodiazepine receptor specific ligands induce microglia functions consistent with an activated state.
AuthorsChoi J, Ifuku M, Noda M, Guilarte TR
JournalGlia
PubMed ID21125642
'In the brain, translocator protein (18 kDa) (TSPO), previously called peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBR), is a glial protein that has been extensively used as a biomarker of brain injury and inflammation. However, the functional role of TSPO in glial cells is not well characterized. In this study, we show that ... More
Environmental levels of para-nonylphenol are able to affect cytokine secretion in human placenta.
AuthorsBechi N, Ietta F, Romagnoli R, Jantra S, Cencini M, Galassi G, Serchi T, Corsi I, Focardi S, Paulesu L
JournalEnviron Health Perspect
PubMed ID20194071
'para-Nonylphenol (p-NP) is a metabolite of alkylphenols widely used in the chemical industry and manufacturing. It accumulates in the environment, where it acts with estrogen-like activity. We previously showed that p-NP acts on human placenta by inducing trophoblast differentiation and apoptosis.' ... More
Natalizumab treatment in multiple sclerosis: marked decline of chemokines and cytokines in cerebrospinal fluid.
AuthorsMellergård J, Edström M, Vrethem M, Ernerudh J, Dahle C,
JournalMult Scler
PubMed ID20007431
'Natalizumab exerts impressive therapeutic effects in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). The proposed main mode of action is reducing transmigration of leukocytes into the CNS, but other immunological effects may also be operative. Cytokines and chemokines are involved in the regulation of inflammatory responses and may reflect the disease process ... More
Is there evidence of separate inflammatory or metabolic forms of preeclampsia?
AuthorsFounds SA, Catov JM, Gallaher MJ, Harger GF, Markovic N, Roberts JM
JournalHypertens Pregnancy
PubMed ID20462373
To examine whether high insulin resistance versus high inflammation identifies subtypes of preeclampsia.
Silica-based nanoparticle uptake and cellular response by primary microglia.
AuthorsChoi J, Zheng Q, Katz HE, Guilarte TR
JournalEnviron Health Perspect
PubMed ID20439179
Silica nanoparticles (SiNPs) are being formulated for cellular imaging and for nonviral gene delivery in the central nervous system (CNS), but it is unclear what potential effects SiNPs can elicit once they enter the CNS. As the resident macrophages of the CNS, microglia are the cells most likely to respond ... More
Biomarkers of coagulation, inflammation, and angiogenesis are independently associated with preeclampsia.
AuthorsBoij R, Svensson J, Nilsson-Ekdahl K, Sandholm K, Lindahl TL, Palonek E, Garle M, Berg G, Ernerudh J, Jenmalm M, Matthiesen L,
JournalAm J Reprod Immunol
PubMed ID22626009
Although preeclampsia has been associated with inflammation, coagulation, and angiogenesis, their correlation and relative contribution are unknown. About 114 women with preeclampsia, 31 with early onset (EOP) and 83 with late onset preeclampsia (LOP), and 100 normal pregnant controls were included. A broad panel of 32 biomarkers reflecting coagulation, inflammation, ... More
Effects of lipoic acid, caffeic acid and a synthesized lipoyl-caffeic conjugate on human hepatoma cell lines.
AuthorsGuerriero E, Sorice A, Capone F, Costantini S, Palladino P, D'ischia M, Castello G
JournalMolecules
PubMed ID21796075
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is among the most aggressive and fatal cancers. Its treatment with conventional chemotherapeutic agents is inefficient, due to several side effects linked to impaired organ function typical of liver diseases. Consequently, there exists a decisive requirement to explore possible alternative chemopreventive and therapeutic strategies. The use of ... More
Novel serum biomarkers for erythropoietin use in humans: a proteomic approach.
AuthorsChristensen B, Sackmann-Sala L, Cruz-Topete D, Jørgensen JO, Jessen N, Lundby C, Kopchick JJ
JournalJ Appl Physiol
PubMed ID20966191
Erythropoietin (Epo) is produced primarily in the kidneys upon low blood oxygen availability and stimulates erythropoiesis in the bone marrow. Recombinant human Epo (rHuEpo), a drug developed to increase arterial oxygen content in patients, is also illicitly used by athletes to improve their endurance performance. Therefore, a robust and sensitive ... More
Multisite comparison of high-sensitivity multiplex cytokine assays.
AuthorsBreen EC, Reynolds SM, Cox C, Jacobson LP, Magpantay L, Mulder CB, Dibben O, Margolick JB, Bream JH, Sambrano E, Martínez-Maza O, Sinclair E, Borrow P, Landay AL, Rinaldo CR, Norris PJ
JournalClin Vaccine Immunol
PubMed ID21697338
The concentrations of cytokines in human serum and plasma can provide valuable information about in vivo immune status, but low concentrations often require high-sensitivity assays to permit detection. The recent development of multiplex assays, which can measure multiple cytokines in one small sample, holds great promise, especially for studies in ... More