Muricholic Acids Promote Resistance to Hypercholesterolemia in Cholesterol-Fed Mice.

Background And Aims: Hypercholesterolemia is a major risk factor for atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases. Although resistant to hypercholesterolemia, the mouse is a prominent model in cardiovascular research. To assess the contribution of bile acids to this protective phenotype, we explored the impact of a 2-week-long dietary cholesterol overload on cholesterol and bile acid metabolism in mice.

Detection of Anti-Pentraxin-3 Autoantibodies in ANCA-Associated Vasculitis.

Objectives: Pentraxin 3 (PTX3), in common with myeloperoxidase and proteinase 3, is stored in human neutrophil granules and is expressed on apoptotic neutrophil surface. We therefore investigated the presence of anti-PTX3 autoantibodies (aAbs) in the sera of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) patients.

Methods: Presence of anti-PTX3 autoantibodies was analysed by a specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in sera from 150 patients with microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA), and in sera of 227 healthy subjects (HS), 40 systemic sclerosis (SSc) patients, and 25 giant cell arteritis patients (GCA).

IL-26 is overexpressed in chronically HCV-infected patients and enhances TRAIL-mediated cytotoxicity and interferon production by human NK cells.

Objective: Interleukin-26 (IL-26) is a member of the IL-10 cytokine family, first discovered based on its peculiar expression by virus-transformed T cells. IL-26 is overexpressed in chronic inflammation (rheumatoid arthritis and Crohn's disease) and induces proinflammatory cytokines by myeloid cells and some epithelial cells. We thus investigated the expression and potential role of IL-26 in chronic HCV infection, a pathology associated with chronic inflammation.

Proteolytic cleavage of the long pentraxin PTX3 in the airways of cystic fibrosis patients.

The prototypic long pentraxin PTX3, a soluble pattern recognition receptor, plays an important role in innate defense against selected pathogens by favoring their elimination and the initiation of protective responses. PTX3 has notably beneficial effects in mice infected with Aspergillus fumigatus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Cystic fibrosis (CF), a severe inherited autosomal recessive disease, is characterized by recurrent lung infections, especially by these two pathogens.

IL-34 induces the differentiation of human monocytes into immunosuppressive macrophages. antagonistic effects of GM-CSF and IFNγ.

IL-34 is a recently identified cytokine that signals via the M-CSF receptor and promotes monocyte survival. Depending on the environment, monocytes can differentiate into macrophages (Mφ) or dendritic cells (DC). A wide spectrum of Mφ and DC subsets, with distinct phenotypes and functions, has been described.

IL-26 is overexpressed in rheumatoid arthritis and induces proinflammatory cytokine production and Th17 cell generation.

Interleukin-26 (IL-26), a member of the IL-10 cytokine family, induces the production of proinflammatory cytokines by epithelial cells. IL-26 has been also reported overexpressed in Crohn's disease, suggesting that it may be involved in the physiopathology of chronic inflammatory disorders. Here, we have analyzed the expression and role of IL-26 in rheumatoid arthritis (RA), a chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by joint synovial inflammation.

The tachykinins substance P and hemokinin-1 favor the generation of human memory Th17 cells by inducing IL-1β, IL-23, and TNF-like 1A expression by monocytes.

The nervous system influences immune responses through the release of neural factors such as neuropeptides. Among them, the tachykinin substance P (SP) signals via the neurokinin 1 receptor (NK-1R), which is expressed by various immune cells. We thereby analyzed in this paper whether tachykinins may participate in human CD4(+) Th cell polarization.

The orphan nuclear receptor small heterodimer partner mediates male infertility induced by diethylstilbestrol in mice.

Studies in rodents have shown that male sexual function can be disrupted by fetal or neonatal administration of compounds that alter endocrine homeostasis, such as the synthetic nonsteroidal estrogen diethylstilbestrol (DES). Although the molecular basis for this effect remains unknown, estrogen receptors likely play a critical role in mediating DES-induced infertility. Recently, we showed that the orphan nuclear receptor small heterodimer partner (Nr0b2), which is both a target gene and a transcriptional repressor of estrogen receptors, controls testicular function by regulating germ cell entry into meiosis and testosterone synthesis.

PolyI:C plus IL-2 or IL-12 induce IFN-gamma production by human NK cells via autocrine IFN-beta.

NK lymphocytes and type I IFN (IFN-alpha/beta) are major actors of the innate anti-viral response that also influence adaptive immune responses. We evaluated type I IFN production by human NK cells in response to polyI:C, a potent type I IFN-inducing TLR3 agonist. PolyI:C plus IL-2/IL-12 induced IFN-beta (but not IFN-alpha) mRNA expression and protein production by highly pure human NK cells and by the human NK cell line NK92.

Quantitative ultrasonic tissue characterization as a new tool for continuous monitoring of chronic liver remodelling in mice.

Background/aim: Recognition of the limitations of liver biopsies has led to the need for non-invasive tests to assess liver fibrosis from intensity and kinetic point of views. The aim of the present study was to evaluate non-invasive ultrasonic tissue characterization for the continuous monitoring of this process in mice.

Methods: Twelve-week-old male and female C57Bl6/J mice were submitted to repetitive carbon-tetrachloride (CCl4) intraperitoneal injections during 8 weeks or analysed 28 days after common bile duct ligation (BDL).