MAPK involvement in cytokine production in response to Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis infection.

Background: Caseous lymphadenitis (CL) is a contagious infectious disease of small ruminants caused by Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis. Is characterized by the formation of abscesses in the lymph nodes and intestines of infected animals, induced by inflammatory cytokines. The production of cytokines, such as IL-10, TNF-α, IL-4 and IFN-γ, is regulated by mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway activation.

Porphyromonas gingivalis HmuY-induced production of interleukin-6 and IL-6 polymorphism in chronic periodontitis.

Background: In chronic periodontitis (CP), the gene polymorphism of interleukin-6 (IL-6) to 174C/G has been associated with the altered production of this cytokine. The aim of this pilot study is to compare the allelic and genotypic frequencies in patients with CP with control individuals without periodontitis (NP) and to measure the production of IL-6 by whole blood cells stimulated with Porphyromonas gingivalis HmuY protein.

Methods: DNA was isolated from peripheral blood cells of 49 patients with CP and 60 control individuals classified as NP, and genotyping was performed by polymerase chain reaction using sequence-specific primers.