Publications by authors named "Avi Katav"

Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is an inflammatory and fibrotic biliary disease lacking approved treatment. We studied CCL24, a chemokine shown to be overexpressed in damaged bile ducts, and its involvement in key disease-related mechanisms. Serum proteomics of PSC patients and healthy controls (HC) were analyzed using the Olink proximity extension assay and compared based on disease presence, fibrosis severity, and CCL24 levels.

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ˆCCL24 is a pro-fibrotic, pro-inflammatory chemokine expressed in several chronic fibrotic diseases. In the liver, CCL24 plays a role in fibrosis and inflammation, and blocking CCL24 led to reduced liver injury in experimental models. We studied the role of CCL24 in primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and evaluated the potential therapeutic effect of blocking CCL24 in this disease.

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Background & Aims: C-C motif chemokine ligand 24 (CCL24) is a chemokine that regulates inflammatory and fibrotic activities through its receptor, C-C motif chemokine receptor (CCR3). The aim of the study was to evaluate the involvement of the CCL24-CCR3 axis in liver fibrosis and inflammation and to assess the potential of its blockade, by a monoclonal anti-CCL24 antibody, as a therapeutic strategy for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and liver fibrosis.

Methods: Expression of CCL24 and CCR3 was evaluated in liver biopsies and blood samples.

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Objectives: We aimed to assess the expression of the CCL24 chemokine in systemic sclerosis (SSc) and to evaluate the possible pathogenic implications of the CCL24/CCR3 axis using both in vitro and in vivo models. We further investigated the efficacy of an anti-CCL24 monoclonal antibody (mAb), CM-101, in inhibiting cell activation as well as dermal and pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis in experimental animal models.

Methods: We used ELISA and fluorescence immunohistochemistry to determine CCL24 levels in serum and CCL24/CCR3 expression in skin biopsies of SSc patients.

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FMS patients demonstrate an altered profile of chemokines relative to healthy controls (HC). Eotaxin-2 is a potent chemoattractant distributed in a variety of tissues. The aim of the study was to compare serum levels of eotaxin-2 between FMS patients and HC and to examine a potential correlation between eotaxin-2 levels and clinical parameters of FMS.

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Purpose: Angiogenesis is an essential process for solid tumor development. To interfere with angiogenesis, AdPPE3x-E1, an adenovirus that is transcriptionally targeted to replicate in angiogenic endothelial cells, was constructed, by replacing the E1 promoter with the modified preproendothelin-1 promoter, PPE-1-3x, previously shown to induce specific transcription in angiogenic endothelial cells.

Experimental Design: The specificity of AdPPE3x-E1 to endothelial cells was shown by quantitative PCR and immunostaining, and its antiangiogenic effect was evaluated in Matrigel models.

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