Temporal gene expression analysis of human coronary artery endothelial cells treated with Simvastatin.

Increasing evidence indicates that the beneficial "pleiotropic" effects of statins on clinical events involve nonlipid mechanisms including the modification of blood vessel endothelial cell function. However, the involved molecular events and pathways are not completely understood. In the present study, Affymetrix microarrays were used to monitor the temporal gene expression of human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAEC) treated with simvastatin (Sim) to gain insight into statins' direct effects on the endothelial function.

Release of both CCR4-active and CXCR3-active chemokines during human allergic pulmonary late-phase reactions.

Background: Segmental antigen bronchoprovocation has long been used as a model to study allergic pulmonary inflammatory responses. Among the characteristics of the resulting cellular infiltrate is the preferential recruitment of TH2 lymphocytes. The mechanisms responsible for their selective recruitment remain unknown, but T(H)(2) cells preferentially express the chemokine receptors CCR4 and CCR8.

Occurrence of an activated, profibrotic pattern of gene expression in lung CD8+ T cells from scleroderma patients.

Objective: Pulmonary fibrosis is a major cause of death in scleroderma patients. Previous studies have shown an increase in CD8+ T cells in the lungs of scleroderma patients. In the present study, we sought to determine whether activated CD8+ T cells contribute to pulmonary fibrosis in scleroderma patients through the production and activation of profibrotic mediators.

Gene expression in bronchoalveolar lavage cells from scleroderma patients.

The hypothesis of this study is that activation of cell-mediated immunity with associated macrophage activation occurs in the lungs of scleroderma patients with lung inflammation. Gene expression profiles were determined in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cells from scleroderma patients with and without lung inflammation and control subjects, using DNA array technology. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to measure proteins in BAL fluids.