Neutrophils Enhance Their Own Influx to Sites of Bacterial Infection via Endosomal TLR-Dependent Cxcl2 Production.

The influx of neutrophils to infection sites is a fundamental step in host defenses against the frequent human pathogen group B (GBS) and other extracellular bacteria. Using a mouse model of GBS-induced peritonitis, we show in this study that the chemokines Cxcl1 and Cxcl2 play distinctive roles in enhancing the recruitment and the antibacterial activities of neutrophils in a manner that is linked to differences in the cellular sources of these mediators. Cell depletion experiments demonstrated that neutrophils make a significant contribution to the in vivo production of Cxcl2 but not Cxcl1.

Role of Paricalcitol in Modulating the Immune Response in Patients with Renal Disease.

Introduction. The aim was to highlight the existence of a relationship between vitamin D deficiency, chronic inflammation, and proteinuria, by measuring neutrophil gelatinase associated lipocalin (NGAL) and common inflammatory markers after administration of paricalcitol, a vitamin D analog, in vivo and in vitro. Methods.

Both IL-1β and TNF-α regulate NGAL expression in polymorphonuclear granulocytes of chronic hemodialysis patients.

Background: NGAL is involved in modulation of the inflammatory response and is found in the sera of uremic patients. We investigated whether hemodiafiltration (HDF) could influence the ability of polymorphonuclear granulocytes (PMGs) to release NGAL. The involvement of interleukin- (IL-)1β and tumor necrosis factor- (TNF-)α on NGAL release was evaluated.

An exopolysaccharide produced by Geobacillus thermodenitrificans strain B3-72: antiviral activity on immunocompetent cells.

The immunomodulatory and antiviral effects of an extracellular polysaccharide (EPS-2), produced by a strain of Geobacillus thermodenitrificans isolated from a shallow marine vent of Vulcano Island (Italy), were evaluated. In the present study, we show for the first time that EPS-2 treatment hinder HSV-2 replication in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) but not in WISH cells. In fact, high levels of IFN-alpha, IL-12, IFN-gamma, TNF-alpha, IL-18 were detected in supernatants of EPS-2 treated PBMC.

Facile biocatalytic access to 9-fluorenylmethyl polyglycosides: evaluation of antiviral activity on immunocompetent cells.

The biological activities of a series of mono- and oligosaccharides (beta-xylosides and alpha-glucosides) of 9-fluorenylmethanol were investigated together with mono-beta-galactoside and beta-glucoside of this aglycone, produced by biocatalytic routes. By using marine glycoside hydrolases and inexpensive donors such as maltose or xylan, access to mono-alpha-glucoside or mono-beta-xyloside of 9-fluorenylmethanol was obtained. Additionally, interesting polyglycoside derivatives were isolated.

Impaired antiviral activity of monocytes from patients on hemodiafiltration.

Background: The aim of our study was to determine whether intermittent hemodiafiltration (HDF) leads to an alteration in monocyte antiviral activity as well as in the in vitro release of cytokines such as interleukin-12 (IL-12), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha) by the same cells.

Methods: We enrolled 25 patients undergoing HDF for 3.5-4 hours 3 times a week (12 men, 13 women; mean age 58 +/- 6.

Antiviral and immunoregulatory effect of a novel exopolysaccharide from a marine thermotolerant Bacillus licheniformis.

EPS-1 is a novel extracellular polysaccharide produced by a strain of thermotolerant Bacillus licheniformis, isolated from a shallow marine hot spring of Vulcano Island (Italy). In this paper, antiviral and immunomodulatory effects of EPS-1 were evaluated. It was found that EPS-1 treatment impaired HSV-2 replication in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) but not in WISH cells.