Pro-atherogenic effect of interleukin-4 in endothelial cells: modulation of oxidative stress, nitric oxide and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 expression.

Background: Although considered as an anti-inflammatory cytokine, interleukin-4 (IL-4) has been shown to be pro-atherogenic in mice models of atherosclerosis.

Objectives: In order to elucidate this paradox, we have investigated the effects of IL-4 on characteristic atherogenic parameters in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs): production of reactive oxygen species, expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability.

Results: Incubation of HUVECs with IL-4 resulted in an increased production of reactive oxygen species and extracellular O(2)(-)(*) measured using fluorogenic probes and Cytochrome c that was inhibited by superoxide dismutase or gp91ds-tat, a selective NADPH oxidase inhibitor.

Transactivation of the metallothionein promoter in cisplatin-resistant cancer cells: a specific gene therapy strategy.

Background: Cisplatin (cis-diamminedichloroplatinum) is one of the most active agents against a broad range of malignancies, including ovarian cancer. Cisplatin resistance appears to be associated with several molecular alterations, including overexpression of metallothionein, a metal-binding protein. In the present study, we attempted to take advantage of metallothionein overexpression to overcome cisplatin resistance.

[Blood and leukocyte glutathione and glutathione S-transferase: relationship to cholesterolemia in healthy volunteers].

Hypercholesterolemia increases the oxidation of low density lipoprotein (LDL) which subsequently leads to atherogenesis. The oxidized LDL are also known to increase in vitro macrophage synthesis of glutathione. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between lipid parameters and the glutathione system (glutathione, glutathione S-transferase) in total blood and within leukocytes.

[Value and applications of pharmacogenetics in oncology and hematology].

Pharmacogenetics could be defined as the study of genetically controlled variations in drug response. Introduction of pharmacogenetics in hematology and oncology has been done recently. With recombinant DNA technology, like restriction analysis of genomic DNA, enzymatic amplification of DNA by the polymerase chain reaction and expression of cDNAs in cell cultures, this research area has been developed during the last 10 years.