| 1. |
- Naidu Sjöswärd, Kerstin, et al.
(author)
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Decreased serum levels of P-selectin and eosinophil cationic protein in patients with mild asthma after inhaled salbutamol
- 2004
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In: Respiration. - : S. Karger. - 0025-7931 .- 1423-0356. ; 71:3, s. 241-245
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease of the airways associated with selective recruitment of activated eosinophils. P-selectin, a cell adhesion molecule, may be an important controller of the inflammation by mediating selective eosinophil cell influx to the lung. Serum levels of eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) have been used as a marker of eosinophil inflammation, and indirectly as a marker of disease activity of asthma. ECP levels may not be elevated in some patients with asthma, and this fact prompted us to search for additional surrogate markers for monitoring disease activity in asthma. Objectives: To evaluate whether repeated inhalations of salbutamol, a ß-2-receptor agonist used for bronchodilation, would lead to reduced serum levels of P-selectin and/or ECP. Methods: Fourteen patients with asymptomatic mild stable asthma were enrolled into a randomised crossover study. Salbutamol was inhaled three times every 3 h. Blood was sampled 4 h after the last inhalation. Nine non-treated healthy volunteers served as control subjects. Serum ECP and P-selectin levels were measured using radioimmunoassay and ELISA, respectively. Results: P-selectin and ECP levels in serum obtained from asymptomatic asthmatics were close to those of the volunteers, and inter-day variability tended to be lower for levels of P-selectin than for ECP. Significant decreases of P-selectin (p = 0.01) and ECP (p = 0.03) were recorded after salbutamol inhalation. There was no association between the changes in ECP and P-selectin levels in serum. Conclusions: We conclude that decreases in P-selectin and ECP may have different kinetics, suggesting different pathways of action of salbutamol. We judge that P-selectin may be used as a sensitive marker in mild asthma. Copyright © 2004 S. Karger AG, Basel.
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| 2. |
- Nyhlén, Kristina, et al.
(author)
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Corticosteroids and interferons inhibit cytokine-induced production of IL-8 by human endothelial cells
- 2000
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In: Cytokine. - : Elsevier BV. - 1043-4666 .- 1096-0023. ; 12:4, s. 355-360
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- IL-8, secreted by endothelial cells at the site of inflammation, participates in recruitment and transmigration of leukocytes. IL-8 may also have pathophysiological consequences in inflammatory and immunological disorders. We have investigated the effect of interferons (IFNs) and glucocorticosteroids (GCs) on cytokine induced secretion and production of IL-8 by human umbilical endothelial cells (HUVEC). There was a low spontaneous secretion of IL-8 by unstimulated HUVEC which increased after 6 or 24 h of stimulation with the pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α or IL-1β. IFN-γ as well as the GCs, Dexamethasone and Budesonide, inhibited TNF-α induced IL-8 secretion in a dose-dependent manner. IFNs may have a general modulating effect, since IFN-α also inhibited the TNF-α-induced IL-8 secretion. There was a slight, but significant, increase in the content of intracellular IL-8 in stimulated HUVEC. However, there was no difference between stimulation with IL-1β or TNF-α alone or in combination with IFNs or GCs, whereas inhibition of IL-8 secretion with monensin increased IL-8 content suggesting that IFNs and GCs inhibit synthesis rather than secretion of IL-8. In conclusion, IFNs or GCs may be useful for inhibiting IL-8 production by endothelial cells and could thus be used for therapeutic modulation of the inflammatory response.
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| 3. |
- Nyhlén, Kristina, 1967-, et al.
(author)
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Modulation of Cytokine-Induced Production of IL-8 in Vitro by Interferons and Glucocorticosteroids
- 2004
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In: Inflammation. - 0360-3997 .- 1573-2576. ; 28:2, s. 77-88
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Interleukin-8 (IL-8) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammation and cancer. Intracellular levels of cytokine-induced IL-8 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were modulated using interferons and steroids to further elucidate their mechanism. Basal and cytokine-induced production of IL-8 was studied using a novel ELISA application, flow cytometry, and RT-PCR. The intracellular amount of IL-8 increased after 6-h stimulation with TNF- (30%) or IL-1ß (55%) which was doubled when Golgi transport was disrupted using monensin. IFN-γ decreased the intracellular amount of IL-8 by 60% in both unstimulated and TNF--stimulated cells, but only when secretion was blocked using monensin. Dexamethasone inhibited the TNF--induced production by 33%, but had no effect in unstimulated cells. Our study indicated that both, dexamethasone and IFN inhibit TNF--induced upregulation of IL-8 at the mRNA level. It could be speculated that they inhibit IL-8 production by affecting different gene regulatory mechanisms.
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| 4. |
- Uppugunduri, Srinivas, et al.
(author)
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Effects of uridine, isomatitol and 4-thiouridine on in vitro cell adhesion and in vivo effects of 4-thiouridine in a lung inflammation model.
- 2004
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In: International Immunopharmacology. - : Elsevier BV. - 1567-5769 .- 1878-1705. ; 4:9, s. 1241-1248
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Since leukocyte adhesion to endothelial cells is crucial for extravasation of leukocytes to sites of inflammation, inhibition of cell-cell adhesion has been suggested as a means to achieve selective modulation of the immune system. We have, using a static in vitro adhesion assay involving adhesion of granulocytes to tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha)-stimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), found three substances--uridine, isomaltitol and 4-thiouridine-that, independently and significantly, reduced leukocyte adhesion by approximately 30-65%. 4-Thiouridine was also tested in an in vivo model of Sephadex (SDX)-induced lung inflammation with Sprague-Dawley rats. Intratracheal instillation of Sephadex (5 mg/kg) alone resulted in a dramatic increase in lung edema and total leukocyte count after 24 h. A differential count of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cells indicated an increased influx of macrophages, eosinophils and neutrophils. Co-administration of 4-thiouridine significantly reduced lung edema by 38%. There was also a significant reduction of the total leukocyte count by 58%. The differential leukocyte count indicated that eosinophil influx alone was reduced by 70%. After Sephadex challenge, we found elevated levels of TNFalpha--an important inflammatory mediator--in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). TNFalpha levels were significantly reduced by more than 80% by co-administration of 4-thoiuridine. These results suggest that uridine, isomaltitol and, especially, 4-thiouridine affect adhesion between leukocytes and activated endothelium, and warrant further in vitro and in vivo studies.
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