Interleukin-3 and stress

Specific Features of Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis Patients' Cytokine Profile

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a systemic autoimmune disease that affects the joints, leading to disability. Cytokines and signaling molecules expressed by the immune system cells play a key role in JIA pathogenesis. Understanding how their content changes during pathology development can open up new opportunities for its diagnosis and treatment. The blood plasma of 30 patients with JIA (14 males and 16 females with a mean age of 12.2 ± 4.1) and 20 relatively healthy individuals (10 males and 10 females with a mean age of 10.20 ± 5.85) was analyzed to determine the levels of cytokines using the MILLIPLEX® kit. An increase in interleukins (IL)-1α, 1β, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13, 15, 17F, 22, and 27 and a decrease in IL-3 levels have been shown in patients with JIA. Levels of cytokines, which are important for B-cell activation and proliferation, are increased, while levels of T-cell activating factors remained similar to the control group. Based on our results, it can be assumed that the use of combination therapy aimed at inhibiting both nonspecific interleukins and cytokines that activate B-cells will be more effective for the treatment of JIA.

Rutin Attenuates Hepatotoxicity in High-Cholesterol-Diet-Fed Rats

Background and Objective. High-cholesterol diet (HCD) intends to increase the oxidative stress in liver tissues inducing hepatotoxicity. Rutin is a natural flavonoid (vitamin p) which is known to have antioxidative properties. The aim of the present study was to investigate the potential effects of Rutin on hypercholesterolemia-induced hepatotoxicity in rats. Materials and Methods. Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: G-I control, G-II Rutin, G-III HCD, and G-IV Rutin + HCD. The liver functions and lipid profile were used to evaluate the HCD-induced hepatotoxicity. Quantitative real time-PCR was carried out to evaluate the expression levels of genes in TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway. Results. Rutin in combination with HCD showed a significant protective effect against hepatotoxicity. HCD caused significant increase in the mRNA expression of transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β), Mothers Against Decapentaplegic Homolog 2 (Smad-2), Mothers Against Decapentaplegic Homolog 4 (Smad-4), Bcl-2-binding component 3 (Bbc3), caspase-3, P53 and Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and decrease in the expression levels of Cyclin depended kinase inhibitor (P21) and Interleukin-3 (IL-3) in hepatic cells. Conclusion. TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway is involved in HCD-induced hepatotoxicity and Rutin inhibits the hepatotoxicity via suppressing this pathway. Therefore, Rutin might be considered as a protective agent for hepatotoxicity.

Chlorella vulgaris treatment ameliorates the suppressive effects of single and repeated stressors on hematopoiesis

The reports regarding the mutual influence between the central nervous system and the immune system constitute a vast and somewhat controversial body of literature. Stress is known to disturb homeostasis, impairing immunological functions. In this study, we investigated the hematopoietic response of Chlorella vulgaris (CV)-treated mice exposed to single (SST) and repeated stress (RST). We observed a reduction in the numbers of hematopoietic progenitors (HP) in the bone marrow and long-term bone marrow cultures (LTBMC) using flow cytometry and a coinciding decrease in the number of granulocyte-macrophage colonies (CFU-GM) after treatment with both stressors, but SST caused a more profound suppression. We observed a proportional increase in the colony-stimulating activity (CSA) of the serum of animals subjected to SST or RST. In the bone marrow, SST and RST induced a decrease in both mature myeloid and lymphoid populations but did not affect pluripotent hematopoietic progenitors (Lin(-)Sca-1(+)c-kit(+), LSK), and again, a more profound suppression was observed after SST. We further quantified the levels of interleukin-1α (IL-1α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) and the number of myeloid cells in LTBMC. Both SST and RST reduced the levels of these cytokines to similar degrees. The myeloid population was also reduced in LTBMC, and SST induced a more intense suppression. Importantly, CV treatment prevented the changes produced by SST and RST in all of the parameters evaluated. Together, our results suggest that CV treatment is an effective tool for the prophylaxis of myelosuppression caused by single or repeated stressors.

Early up-regulation of Th2 cytokines and late surge of Th1 cytokines in an atopic dermatitis model

We investigated cytokine profiles in interleukin (IL)-4 transgenic (Tg) mice with a skin inflammatory disease resembling human atopic dermatitis. cDNA microarray revealed that the mRNAs encoding IL-1beta, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, IL-12p40, IL-13, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, TNF-beta and interferon (IFN)-gamma were up-regulated in the skin of late lesion Tg mice and to a lesser degree in non-lesion Tg mice when compared to those of non-Tg mice. Real time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analyses indicated that the cDNA copy numbers of IL-1beta, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma from the skin of late, early and non-lesions increased significantly compared to non-Tg mice. IL-2 and IL-12p40 cDNA copy numbers were increased significantly in early, but not late, lesions. Interestingly, IL-1beta, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-10, IL-13, TNF-alpha, and IFN-gamma cDNAs were increased significantly the skin of before-onset and/or non-lesion mice. Flow cytometry analyses demonstrated an increased percentage of keratinocytes producing IL-4 as the disease progressed. The percentage of IL-2, IL-4, IL-10 and IFN-gamma-producing T cells and IL-12-producing antigen-presenting cells in skin-draining lymph nodes and inflammatory skin also increased, particularly in mice with late lesion. These results suggest that disease induction is primarily triggered by Th2 cytokines and that Th1, Th2 and non-Th proinflammatory cytokines are all involved in the disease process.

Cytokines in Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections

Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae) is one of the smallest free-living bacteria known. Along with other unique characteristics of this genus, it lacks the typical peptidoglycan cell wall of most eubacteria. Best known for causing tracheobronchitis and atypical pneumonia in humans, this pathogen also causes a number of extrapulmonary syndromes such as meningitis/encephalitis and arthritis. Recent studies also suggest that infection may be associated with chronic conditions such as asthma. Although the mechanisms of M. pneumoniae pathogenesis remain to be elucidated, one important component of M. pneumoniae infections is the induction of proinflammatory and other cytokines in both acute and chronic conditions. In this review, we survey the induction of cytokines by M. pneumoniae in different model systems, and we discuss the possible role of induced cytokines in M. pneumoniae pathogenesis.

Cytokines in patients with polytrauma

Patients with multiple injuries have alterations in hemodynamic, metabolic, and immune responses that largely are orchestrated by endogenous mediators referred to as cytokines. At the molecular level cytokines act as architects constructing a blueprint which ultimately will become the clinical "Big Picture"; however, the exact role and extent each cytokine has is still in question. In addition, the surface of research opportunities has nearly been scratched regarding the best way to control or manipulate the cytokine response in efforts to improve care for the trauma patient. Systemically organisms respond to injury regardless of the cause (hemorrhage, ischemia, reperfusion, fracture, and tissue damage) by attempting to restore homeostasis, which involves a coordination of the immune, cardiovascular, endocrine, and nervous systems. This systemic response can result in severe immunologic compromise that threatens the survival of patients with trauma. It seems that it is this balance or imbalance of cytokines, along with other associative factors, that controls the eventual clinical pathway a patient will take. Blood mediator concentrations often parallel the inflammatory process, and high levels of cytokines can be followed by severe organ dysfunction. Certain cytokine levels, such as the interleukins, can be used in predictive ways to correlate organ failure in multiply injured patients. Although much more research must be done, there is great promise in the study of cytokines through basic science research and clinical trials.