Modulation of cytokine-induced production of IL-8 in vitro by interferons and glucocorticosteroids.

Interleukin-8 (IL-8) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammation and cancer. Intracellular levels of cytokine-induced IL-8 in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were modulated using interferons and steroids to further elucidate their mechanism. Basal and cytokine-induced production of IL-8 was studied using a novel ELISA application, flow cytometry, and RT-PCR.

Improved fibrinolysis after one year of treatment with enalapril in men and women with uncomplicated myocardial infarction.

Aims: To study long-term effects of enalapril on mass concentrations of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1), tPA/PAI-1-complex and von Willebrand factor (vWF) in both genders with uncomplicated myocardial infarction.

Methods And Results: More than three months after an uncomplicated myocardial infarction 82 survivors (46 males, 36 females) were randomised to enalapril/placebo. PAI-1, tPA, tPA/PAI-1-complex and vWF were measured after two weeks, six and 12 months following randomisation.

Nitric oxide donors and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors act in concert to inhibit human angiotensin-converting enzyme activity and platelet aggregation in vitro.

This study investigates the effects of exogenous and endogenous nitric oxide (NO) on human circulating and endothelial angiotensin-converting enzyme activity and platelet aggregation. The NO donor S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (10(-8)-10(-6) M) significantly and dose-dependently inhibited serum angiotensin-converting enzyme activity. The concomitant addition of S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine to angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor-treated (captopril or enalaprilat) serum, further reduced angiotensin-converting enzyme activity.

Leukocyte sequestration in isolated guinea pig lungs during extracorporeal circulation: effects on microvascular function.

Neutrophils accumulate in patient lungs during clinical hemodialysis and in isolated blood-perfused guinea pig lungs due to the contact between blood and extracorporeal system. However, it is unclear how these sequestered and partly activated neutrophils affect the lung microvasculature. We, therefore, studied pulmonary vascular resistance, vascular permeability, gas exchange, and oxygen free radical production in isolated guinea pig lungs during perfusion with whole blood containing partly 'activated' neutrophils in comparison with perfusions using leukopenic blood.

Corticosteroids and interferons inhibit cytokine-induced production of IL-8 by human endothelial cells.

IL-8, secreted by endothelial cells at the site of inflammation, participates in recruitment and transmigration of leukocytes. IL-8 may also have pathophysiological consequences in inflammatory and immunological disorders. We have investigated the effect of interferons (IFNs) and glucocorticosteroids (GCs) on cytokine induced secretion and production of IL-8 by human umbilical endothelial cells (HUVEC).