Potential roles played by IL-6 in hepatitis B infection

Brain magnetic resonance imaging without contrast significantly increased serum levels of IL-6, but not IL-10, IL-17A and TGF-β

Introduction: Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is a non-invasive imaging modality. However, the effects of MRI on the immune system in the in vivo conditions are yet to be clarified. In this study we explored the effects of routine brain MRI on the protein and mRNA peripheral blood levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-10, IL-17A and transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β).Material and methods: 40 subjects, who referred for brain MRI, were entered for evaluating effects of routine brain MRI on the protein and mRNA peripheral blood levels of IL-6, IL-10, IL-17A and TGF-β. Accordingly, peripheral blood were collected before and 3 hours after MRI from the participants. Protein levels of the cytokines were evaluated using ELISA. Also, mRNA levels were analyzed using Real-Time PCR techniques.Results: Brain MRI without contrast led to an increase in protein levels of IL-6 in the peripheral serum, but did not change protein and mRNA levels of IL-10, IL-17A and TGF-β. IL-6 mRNA levels after MRI were higher in the participants with mild anxiety compared to those without anxiety.Conclusion: brain MRI without contrast can induce secretion of IL-6 and may be associated with its functions, such as development of plasma cells or induction of inflammation.

Macrophage Phenotypes and Hepatitis B Virus Infection

Globally, hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and its related liver diseases account for 780,000 deaths every year. Outcomes of HBV infection depend on the interaction between the virus and host immune system. It is becoming increasingly apparent that Kupffer cells (KCs), the largest population of resident and monocyte-derived macrophages in the liver, contribute to HBV infection in various aspects. These cells play an important role not only in the anti-HBV immunity including virus recognition, cytokine production to directly inhibit viral replication and recruitment and activation of other immune cells involved in virus clearance but also in HBV outcome and progression, such as persistent infection and development of end-stage liver diseases. Since liver macrophages play multiple roles in HBV infection, they are directly targeted by HBV to benefit its life cycle. In the present review, we briefly outline the current advances of research of macrophages, especially the studies of their phenotypes, in chronic HBV infection.

Role of maternal interleukin-8 (IL-8) in normal-term birth in the human

Cytokines are the main factors involved in the normal functions of the placenta and delivery process. The aim of this project was to compare serum levels of interleukin-8 (IL-8), IL-6, tumour necrosis factor α (TNF-α) and transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) in term and prolonged-pregnancy mothers and their neonates. This study was performed on 240 participants including 60 term and prolonged-pregnancy neonates and their corresponding mothers. Serum levels of IL-8, IL-6, TNF-α and TGF-β were evaluated by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay technique. The results revealed that IL-8 serum levels were significantly lower in the prolonged-pregnancy mothers and their neonates when compared with term mothers and their neonates. Data analysis also revealed a negative correlation between TGF-β and age of prolonged-pregnancy mothers. A poor positive correlation between IL-6 and head circumference of term neonates was also observed. IL-8 may play crucial roles in the process of on-time delivery and age may significantly affect TGF-β production in prolonged-pregnancy mothers. Pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6, can also be considered as main factors involved in fetal growth.

Interleukin-6 and Tumor Growth Factor-β are Risk Factors for Idiopathic Epistaxis

Objective

To evaluate the serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, tumor growth factor (TGF)-β, endothelin, and immunoglobulin (Ig)E in patients with idiopathic epistaxis, compared with healthy control individuals.

Methods

Serum levels of IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α, TGF-β, endothelin, and IgE were evaluated in 110 patients with idiopathic epistaxis and 100 healthy controls using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique.

Results

Serum levels of IL-6 (P <.001) and TGF-β (P = .001) were significantly increased in patients with idiopathic epistaxis, compared with controls. TNF-α serum levels were significantly increased in male patients, compared with female patients (P = .053). We observed decreased antihistamine levels and increased expression of TGF-β (P = .02) and TNF-α (P = .02), respectively.

Conclusions

IL-6 and TGF-β appear to participate in the pathogenesis of idiopathic epistaxis. TNF-α may be considered a risk factor for male patients in developing epistaxis. Antihistamines may inhibit angiogenesis by decreasing expression of TGF-β and increasing expression of TNF-α.

The study of the serum level of IL-4, TGF-β, IFN-γ, and IL-6 in overweight patients with and without diabetes mellitus and hypertension

BACKGROUND

Obesity increases the risk of diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension. We aimed to analyze the serum levels of cytokines that have relevance to the pathologies including, interleukin-4 (IL-4), transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), and IL-6 cytokines of overweight men with DM and/or hypertension.

METHODS

The study collected serum from 164 men. The sample population contained, 54 overweight men without DM or hypertension (control [CTL] group), 36 men with both DM and hypertension (DH group), 20 men with DM but no hypertension (D group), and 54 had hypertension without DM (H).

RESULTS

The main results showed that the concentration of IFN-γ in the DH group was significantly higher than the D, H, and CTL groups, IL-6 in DH and D groups was significantly lower than the CTL group. The serum level of TGF-β and IL-4 cytokines did not show any significant differences across the four groups. Serum levels of IL-6 were also significantly lower in untreated patients in D group than controls and in DH when compared with H groups.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, it appears that the proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines either play a significant role in the pathogenesis of hypertension and DM or serve as markers for these pathologies. Accordingly, increased serum levels of IFN-γ may participate in the pathogenesis of hypertension in the diabetic patients and decreased IL-6 is associated with type 2 DM.

Atorvastatin, Losartan and Captopril Lead to Upregulation of TGF-β, and Downregulation of IL-6 in Coronary Artery Disease and Hypertension

Introduction

Coronary artery disease (CAD) and hypertension are the main reasons of ischemic heart diseases (IHDs). Cytokines as the small glycoproteins are the main arm of immune system and manipulate all of the cardiovascular diseases. The aim of the current study was to examine the effects of treatment of hypertension and CAD on serum levels of IL-6, IL-8, TGF-β and TNF-α.

Material and Methods

This interventional study was performed on the patients with hypertension without CAD (group 1), hypertension and CAD (group 2), CAD but not hypertension (group 3) and without hypertension and CAD as controls (group 4). The patients received routine treatment for hypertension and CAD. Serum levels of IL-6, IL-8, TGF-β and TNF-α were analyzed in the groups treated with various drugs, using ELISA technique.

Results

With regard to the medications, Atorvastatin, Losartan and Captopril were administered more in patients (groups 1, 2 and 3) than the patients without hypertension and CAD. The results revealed that serum levels of TGF-β and IL-6 were significantly increased and decreased, respectively, in the groups 1, 2 and 3 when compared to group 4. Serum levels of TGF-β were also increased in females in comparison to males in the group 4.

Discussion

According to the results it seems that Atorvastatin, Losartan and Captopril have reduced inflammation in in vivo conditions via downregulation of IL-6 and upregulation of TGF-β.

Hepatitis B Virus Middle Protein Enhances IL-6 Production via p38 MAPK/NF-κB Pathways in an ER Stress-Dependent Manner

During hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, three viral envelope proteins of HBV are overexpressed in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). The large S protein (LHBs) and truncated middle S protein (MHBs^t) have been documented to play roles in regulating host gene expression and contribute to hepatic disease development. As a predominant protein at the ultrastructural level in biopsy samples taken from viremic patients, the role of the middle S protein (MHBs) remains to be understood despite its high immunogenicity. When we transfected hepatocytes with an enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP)-tagged MHBs expressing plasmid, the results showed that expression of MHBs cause an upregulation of IL-6 at the message RNA and protein levels through activating the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK) and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) pathways. The use of specific inhibitors of the signaling pathways can diminish this upregulation. The use of BAPTA-AM attenuated the stimulation caused by MHBs. We further found that MHBs accumulated in the endoplasmic reticulum and increased the amount of glucose regulated protein 78 (GRP78/BiP). Our results provide a possibility that MHBs could be involved in liver disease progression.

Evaluating Effect of Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Expression of TLR2 and TLR4 in Mouse DCs

PURPOSE

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent cells and recent findings suggest immunomodulatory effect of them on immune cells including T cells and dendritic cells (DCs). DCs are the most potent antigen presenting cells. It seems because of immunoregulatory properties of MSCs, they can affect the maturation and differentiation of DCs. DCs express a kind of surface receptors called toll-like receptors (TLRs) and play a key role in maturation process and activation of DCs. The aim of this study was to evaluate expression of TLR2 and TLR4 on DCs after exposure to mesenchymal stem cell's supernatant in culture media containing LPS and devoid of it.

METHODS

In this experimental study, MSCs and DCs were extracted from adult Balb/c mouse bone marrow and spleen, respectively. MSCs supernatant were collected 24 and 48 h after 5(th) passage, and in adjusted with DCs culture. Isolated DCs were co-cultured with MSCs supernatant, incubation time were 24 and 48 hours. mRNA levels of TLR2 and TLR4 were evaluated using real time PCR technique.

RESULTS

The results demonstrated that although, expressions of these two receptors were up-regulated in culture media lacking LPS in comparison with the control group but the increase was not significant. There were no significant associations between LPS stimulated DCs with and without MSCs supernatants.

CONCLUSION

According to the results presented here, it appears that TLR2 and TLR4 gene expressions on the DCs are not affected by MSCs supernatant.