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Background Increase in interleukin-8 in the oesophageal mucosa has been associated with the pathogenesis of reflux oesophagitis. Aim To assess the effect of bile acids on the interleukin-8 expression in normal human oesophageal epithelial cells and to determine its molecular mechanisms. Methods Human oesophageal epithelial cells were stimulated with unconjugated bile acids, conjugated bile acids and inflammatory cytokines. Protein and mRNA of interleukin-8 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, respectively. In addition, we examined protein kinases and transcription factors involved in interleukin-8 synthetic pathways using protein kinase inhibitors and luciferase expression vectors, respectively. Results Unconjugated bile acids induced interleukin-8 production from human oesophageal epithelial cells stronger than conjugated bile acids. However, conjugated bile acids in acidic media resulted in remarkable increase of interleukin-8 production compared with those in neutral-pH media. Mutation of the binding site of NF-kB, AP-1 and NF-IL6 abrogated the induction of luciferase activities by 100%, 70% and 30%, respectively. Inhibitor of protein kinase A, protein kinase C or p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase attenuated the production of interleukin-8 by cholic acid. Conclusions These results indicate that bile acids induce interleukin-8 expression from oesophageal epithelial cells mainly via the activation of NF-kB as well as AP-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Airway inflammation and remodelling are characteristic features of chronic asthma. To elucidate the role of interleukin (IL)-6 in airway responses to chronic antigen exposure. We compared airway inflammation, subepithelial collagen deposition, cytokine mRNA expression, and airway responsiveness between IL-6-deficient and wild-type (WT) mice following sensitization and repeated exposure to ovalbumin (OVA) three times a week for 8 weeks. The repeated exposure to OVA induced infiltration of eosinophils, neutrophils, and lymphocytes into the airway, and caused thickening of the basement membrane and subepithelial fibrosis. IL-6-deficient mice exhibited more pronounced infiltration of these cells, a thinner basement membrane, and decreased subepithelial fibrosis, compared with WT mice. The repeated OVA exposure increased expression of IL-4, IL-13, eotaxin, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and transforming growth factor-β1 mRNA in WT mice. Among these factors, expression of IL-13 and MCP-1 mRNA was further enhanced in IL-6-deficient mice, compared with WT mice. However, both WT and IL-6-deficient mice exhibited similar levels of airway responsiveness to increasing doses of methacholine, even after repeated exposure to OVA. These results suggest that IL-6 has dual roles in the chronic phase of asthma: down-regulation of inflammatory cell infiltration and enhancement of airway remodelling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Although it has been reported that the concentration of interleukin (IL)‐8 in nasal lavage fluid and sputum and its production in bronchial epithelium were increased in asthmatic subjects, the direct effects of IL‐8 on the airways in vivo is unclear. Methods: We examined bronchoconstriction in response to IL‐8 inhalation through an endotracheal cannula in anesthetized, artifically ventilated guinea pigs. Results: Inhalation of IL‐8 at concentrations of 1 and 10 μg/ml caused significant bronchoconstriction, as revealed by the elevation of pressure at the airway opening. Moreover, the bronchoconstriction induced by IL‐8 was significantly inhibited by the antihistamines diphenhydramine and terfenadine, suggesting the involvement of histamine release in the IL‐8‐induced bronchoconstriction. No significant leukocyte infiltration was observed in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid or histologic findings 25 min after the first IL‐8 inhalation. Conclusions: IL‐8 provokes bronchoconstriction without leukocyte accumulation in the airways, mediated in part by histamine release, in guinea pigs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large granular lymphocytes (LGL), which consist of a unique population comprising almost all of the natural killer (NK) cell activity, were separated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells by sequential depletion of monocytes and conventional discontinuous Percoll density gradient sedimentation. The LGL populations thus obtained exhibited significant levels of interferon-y (IFN- y) production and proliferation, as well as augmentation of NK cell activity in response to interleukin-2 (IL-2). Among these IL-2-driven phenomena, only IFNe-7 production was markedly inhibited by the monoclonal anti-Tac antibody, which presumably recognized the lL-2 receptor. whereas the proliferative response and the augmentation of NK cell activity were only minimally affected by the same antibody. even at the higher concentration. The dissociation of the effects of anti- Tac antibody on these IL-2-driven events gives us some insight on the role of IL-2 receptors involved in these immunologically interesting functions of IL-2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to analyse the effects of glucocorticoids on interleukin-8 (IL-8) production more precisely, we examined the effects of dexamethasone on IL-8 production at the molecular level in a human fibrosarcoma cell line, 8387, which IL-1 induces to express IL-8 messenger RNA (mRNA) and to secrete IL-8. Over a wide dose range, dexamethasone inhibited IL-8 production induced by IL-1α stimulation. Northern blotting analysis showed that dexamethasone also inhibited the IL-8 mRNA accumulation in a similar dose-related manner. Nuclear run-off assay revealed that dexamethasone decreased the transcription of the IL-8 gene and the degree of inhibition of transcription correlated well with the inhibition of IL-8 production, suggesting that the action of glucocorticoids is mainly at the transcriptional level. Furthermore, transfection with chloramphenicol acetyl transferase (CAT) expression vectors inserted with the 5′-deleted IL-8 gene demonstrated that the 5′-flanking region which contains the glucocorticoid response element (GRE) was mainly involved in the dexamethasone-induced repression of the IL-8 gene. These data suggest that the inhibition of the IL-8 gene transcription by glucocorticoids occurs through the interaction of the glucocorticoid receptor complex with GRE in the 5′-flanking region of the IL-8 gene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to elucidate the role of inflammatory cytokines in the central nervous system (CNS), we examined whether IL and TNF-α induce cells in the CNS to produce two newly identified leucocyte chemo-attractants, IL-8 and monocyte chemotactic and activating factor (MCAF). Several human astrocytoma and glioblastoma cell lines expressed high levels of IL-8 and MCAF mRNA in vitro upon stimulation with IL-1 and TNF-α. In particular, an astrocytoma cell line U373MG subclone responded markedly to IL-1 with high expression levels of IL-8 and MCAF mRNA as well as IL-6 mRNA. Both IL-8 and MCAF mRNA expression depended on the dose of IL-1 and appeared as early as 30 rain to 1 hr after IL-1 stimulation, confirming that these are early inducible genes. The production of IL-8 and MCAF in the U373MG cell culture supernatants was confirmed by a competitive radioimmunoassay (RIA) as well as chemotactic activities on human neutrophils and monocytes. IL-1-induced IL-8 and MCAF mRNA expression appeared to occur at least at the transcriptional level as revealed by a nuclear run-off assay. Moreover, IL-1 treatment increased the half-life of IL-8 and MCAF mRNA markedly, suggesting that increased mRNA stability was also responsible for the enhanced gene transcription. These data suggest that IL-1 and TNF-α induce astrocytes to produce IL-8 and MCAF transcriptionally and post-transcriptionally, both of which may be responsible for leucocytosis seen in inflammation of the CNS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A human T-leukaemic cell line, HSB.2-C5B2, which produces high levels of interleukin-2 (IL-2) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) when stimulated with phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) plus IL-1, was recloned to obtain spontaneous variants in IL-2 production in response to the stimuli. In these subclones, the ability of one clone to produce IL-2 correlated well with that to produce IFN-γ. Three C5B2 subclones: clone no. 28, a high IL-2 producer, clone no. 61, an intermediate IL-2 producer, and clone no. 40, a non-producer, were selected and examined for differences in signal transduction mechanisms. Since the three subclones were shown to express about the same number of IL-1 binding sites with similar affinities, the loss of ability to produce IL-2 was not due to decreased cell-surface receptor or changes in receptor property. In support of this, IL-1 induced expression of the IL-2 receptor (Tac/p55 antigen) to the same extent on the three subclones. The levels of conventional intracellular second messengers were compared and it was revealed that loss of responsiveness was closely related to the subclones' degree of (poly)phosphoinositide (PI) turnover, protein kinase C (PKC) activation and cyclic AMP formation in response to PHA. Moreover, resting intracellular cyclic AMP concentrations were found to be increased in subclones with attenuated IL-2 production. These results indicate that the variation of IL-1-induced production of IL-2 and IFN-γ in this T-cell line is attributed to the difference in the PHA-mediated signal transduction pathway and, presumably, to the different regulation of intracellular cyclic AMP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A clear understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying hemodynamic stress-initiated cardiac hypertrophy is important for preventing heart failure. Interferon-γ (IFN-γ) has been suggested to play crucial roles in various diseases other than immunological disorders by modulating the expression of myriad genes. However, the involvement of IFN-γ in the pathogenesis of cardiac hypertrophy still remains unclear., Methods and Results: In order to elucidate the roles of IFN-γ in pressure overload-induced cardiac pathology, we subjected Balb/c wild-type (WT) or IFN-γ-deficient ( Ifng -/- ) mice to transverse aortic constriction (TAC). Three weeks after TAC, Ifng -/- mice developed more severe cardiac hypertrophy, fibrosis, and dysfunction than WT mice. Bone marrow-derived immune cells including macrophages were a source of IFN-γ in hearts after TAC. The activation of PI3K/Akt signaling, a key signaling pathway in compensatory hypertrophy, was detected 3 days after TAC in the left ventricles of WT mice and was markedly attenuated in Ifng -/- mice. The administration of a neutralizing anti-IFN-γ antibody abrogated PI3K/Akt signal activation in WT mice during compensatory hypertrophy, while that of IFN-γ activated PI3K/Akt signaling in Ifng -/- mice. TAC also induced the phosphorylation of Stat5, but not Stat1 in the left ventricles of WT mice 3 days after TAC. Furthermore, IFN-γ induced Stat5 and Akt phosphorylation in rat cardiomyocytes cultured under stretch conditions. A Stat5 inhibitor significantly suppressed PI3K/Akt signaling activation in the left ventricles of WT mice, and aggravated pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy., Conclusions: The IFN-γ/Stat5 axis may be protective against persistent pressure overload-induced cardiac hypertrophy by activating the PI3K/Akt pathway., (© 2018 The Authors. Published on behalf of the American Heart Association, Inc., by Wiley.)

Objective: The pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) involves cytokines and chemokines. Given the role of intraarticular macrophage infiltration in RA, this study was undertaken to address the pathogenic role of CCR2, a chemokine receptor that is abundantly expressed by macrophages, in Il1rn-deficient mice, a mouse model of RA., Methods: Il1rn-deficient and Il1rn and Ccr2-double-deficient mice were subjected to clinical assessment of arthritis and histologic examination. Bone mineral density was measured with computed tomography. The types of cells infiltrating joints were determined by immunohistochemical analysis and flow cytometric analysis. Osteoclasts in joints were quantified after tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase staining. Cytokine and chemokine levels were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and multiplex suspension array assay. The expression patterns of chemokines and osteoclastogenic factors were determined by double-color immunofluorescence analysis. Anti-mouse CXCR2 antibody was injected into Il1rn and Ccr2-double-deficient mice for blocking experiments., Results: Ablation of the Ccr2 gene actually exacerbated arthritis and intraarticular osteoclastogenesis, while it enhanced intraarticular neutrophil but not macrophage accumulation in Il1rn-deficient mice. Infiltrated neutrophils expressed the osteoclastogenic factors RANKL and ADAM-8, thereby augmenting intraarticular osteoclastogenesis in Il1rn and Ccr2-double-deficient mice. Moreover, the double-deficient mice exhibited enhanced expression of the neutrophilic chemokines keratinocyte chemoattractant and macrophage inflammatory protein 2 (MIP-2), compared with Il1rn-deficient mice. Finally, neutralizing antibodies to CXCR2, the receptor for keratinocyte chemoattractant and MIP-2, dramatically attenuated arthritis in Il1rn and Ccr2-double-deficient mice., Conclusion: Our findings indicate that CCR2-mediated signals can modulate arthritis in Il1rn-deficient mice by negatively regulating neutrophil infiltration., (Copyright © 2011 by the American College of Rheumatology.)

The present study was designed to investigate the in vitro effects of potential therapeutic agents on cytokine production by five HTVL-I-infected T cell clones (TCC) established from the ocular fluid of patients with HTLV-I uveitis. Each of the five HTLV-I-infected TCC was cultured at 1 x 10(6) cells/ml with or without an immunosuppressive agent (hydrocortisone, FK506, rapamycin, indomethacin, or prostaglandin E2) for 22 hr in humidified 5% CO2 in air at 37 C. The production of various cytokines in the culture supernatant from each TCC was measured by ELISA. The HTLV-I-infected TCC produced high amounts of IL-1 alpha, IL-3, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, and GM-CSF, and low but significant levels of IL-2 and IL-10 without any stimuli. Hydrocortisone severely depressed the production by these TCC of all the cytokines except for IL-2, which was slightly increased. Prostaglandin E2 depressed the production of IL-1 alpha, while it up-regulated the production of IL-6, TNF-alpha, and IFN-gamma. Rapamycin depressed the production of IL-6 and TNF-alpha, and FK506 depressed the production of TNF-alpha. Hydrocortisone also severely depressed the cytokine production by PHA-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from healthy volunteers. Of the immunosuppressive agents tested, hydrocortisone exhibited the strongest suppression of cytokine production by HTLV-I-infected TCC. This result was in agreement with the in vivo effects of hydrocortisone in patients with HTLV-I uveitis. These TCC will be useful in investigating the effects of potential therapeutic agents for HTLV-I uveitis in vitro.

The role of interleukin 1 (IL1) in causing IL2 and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production and their associated gene activation has been studied in a human leukemic HSB.2 subclone. One of the subclones, HSB.2-C5B2 clone #28, which produced only low levels of IL2 and IFN-gamma when stimulated with phytohemagglutinin (PHA) or with a combination of phorbol-myristate-acetate (PMA) and Ca2+ ionophore, ionomycin, showed marked IL2 and IFN-gamma production in the presence of IL1. The augmentation by IL1 was observed in both dot and Northern blot analysis, indicating that IL1 regulates lymphokine genes at the pretranslational level. The kinetics of IL2 and IFN-gamma production were essentially similar for both lymphokines except that there was a faster accumulation of IFN-gamma mRNA than IL2 mRNA. In contrast to the IL2 and IFN-gamma gene activation, IL2 receptor (Tac/p55 antigen) expression was induced directly by IL1 itself as with PMA in this subclone. In these studies, IL1 action was not replaced by the drugs raising intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP). Taken collectively, these experiments support the notion that IL1 does not trigger IL2 gene activation per se, but amplifies the preactivated lymphokine genes initiated by PMA and ionomycin, whereas IL1 can activate the IL2 receptor gene without any other known signal requirements.