Effects of Carteolol Hydrochloride on theIn VitroProduction of LPS-Induced Proinflammatory Cytokines by Murine Macrophage

TaqMan real time RT-PCR assays for detecting ferret innate and adaptive immune responses

•

The ferret model is used to study human disease and physiology.

•

TaqMan realtime RT-PCR assays for ferret cytokine and chemokine mRNA were developed.

•

Cytokine and chemokine patterns in ferret cells were similar to other mammals.

•

A comprehensive panel of mRNAs can be measured in samples of limited quantity.

The ferret is an excellent model for many human infectious diseases including influenza, SARS-CoV, henipavirus and pneumococcal infections. The ferret is also used to study cystic fibrosis and various cancers, as well as reproductive biology and physiology. However, the range of reagents available to measure the ferret immune response is very limited. To address this deficiency, high-throughput real time RT-PCR TaqMan assays were developed to measure the expression of fifteen immune mediators associated with the innate and adaptive immune responses (IFNα, IFNβ, IFNγ, IL1α, IL1β, IL2, IL4, IL6, IL8, IL10, IL12p40, IL17, Granzyme A, MCP1, TNFα), as well as four endogenous housekeeping genes (ATF4, HPRT, GAPDH, L32). These assays have been optimized to maximize reaction efficiency, reduce the amount of sample required (down to 1 ng RNA per real time RT-PCR reaction) and to select the most appropriate housekeeping genes. Using these assays, the expression of each of the tested genes could be detected in ferret lymph node cells stimulated with mitogens or infected with influenza virus in vitro. These new tools will allow a more comprehensive analysis of the ferret immune responses following infection or in other disease states.

Does bacterial infection cause genome instability and cancer in the host cell?

Research of the past several decades suggests that bacterial infection can lead to genome instability of the host cell often resulting in cancer development. However, there is still a substantial lack of knowledge regarding possible mechanisms involved in the development of genomic instability. Several questions remain unanswered, namely: Why has the causative relationship between the bacterial infection and cancer been established only for a small number of cancers? What is the mechanism responsible for the induction of genome instability and cancer? Is the infection process required to cause genome instability and cancer? In this review, we present a hypothesis that the bacterial infection, exposure to heat-killed bacteria or even some bacterial determinants may trigger genome instability of exposed and distal cells, and thus may cause cancer. We will discuss the mechanisms of host responses to the bacterial infection and present the possible pathways leading to genome instability and cancer through exposure to bacteria.

Effects of a long-acting ophthalmic formulation of carteolol containing alginic acid on the corneal epithelial barrier function and water retentive effect

PURPOSE

Effects of a long-acting ophthalmic formulation of carteolol containing alginic acid on the corneal epithelial barrier function and its water retentive effect were investigated.

METHODS

Using 10 healthy adult subjects, 2% Mikelan Ophthalmic Solution(®) (MK) was instilled in the eye once daily for 7 days (MK group) and then after a washout period of at least 28 days, 2% Mikelan LA Ophthalmic Solution(®) (MKLA) was instilled in the eye once daily for 7 days (LA group). As an index of the corneal epithelial barrier function, the fluorescein uptake was measured using Kowa FL-500. A Schirmer test was conducted to evaluate the tear dynamics. In another 10 subjects, 0.5% Timoptol(®) (TM) was instilled in the eye unilaterally twice daily for 7 days (TM group), and the tests were conducted in the same manner.

RESULTS

Concerning the fluorescein uptake before and after initiation of instillation, the levels before and at 7 days after initiation of instillation were 20.7 and 26.5 ng/mL, respectively, in the LA group and 20.6 and 26.4 ng/mL, respectively, in the MK group, showing no significant difference between levels before and after initiation of instillation in either group. In the TM group, the levels were 21.4 and 65.5 ng/mL, respectively, showing a significant increase after initiation of instillation. In the Schirmer test, the values before and after initiation of instillation were 16.8 and 20.7 mm, respectively, in the LA group and 13.7 and 12.7 mm, respectively, in the MK group, showing a trend toward increase in the LA group.

CONCLUSIONS

The findings suggest that the long-acting ophthalmic formulation of carteolol containing alginic acid does not affect the corneal epithelial barrier function and that it may possess a water retentive action.

Apoprotein E isoform-dependent expression and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha and IL-6 in macrophages

The anti-atherogenic properties of human apoprotein E-associated lipoproteins have been partially attributed to its anti-inflammatory properties. We studied if endogenously expressed apoprotein E (apoE) elicits isoform-dependent effects on pro-inflammatory cytokine expression and secretion. Mouse J774A.1 peritoneal macrophages without native expression of apoE were used to establish cell lines with stable expression of the three human apoE isoforms, apoE2, apoE3 and apoE4. In the presence of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), expression and secretion of TNF-alpha and IL-6 in cells expressing different apoE isoforms were determined by RT-PCR, immunoblotting and ELISA assays. ApoE3-expressing cells have significantly lower expression and secretion levels of the two cytokines as compared to cells with apoE2 and apoE4 expression. Such observations were accompanied with the lowest ERK1/2 activity in apoE3-expressing cells. Further study shows that the apoE isoform-dependent variations of TNF-alpha and IL-6 expression/secretion in macrophages are diminished in the presence of ERK1/2 inhibitor U0126. In conclusion, apoE elicits isoform-dependent effects on macrophage TNF-alpha and IL-6 expression as well as secretion. The ERK1/2 signaling pathways are involved in mediating such apoE isoform-dependent effects.