Neuropeptide Y induces secretion of high-mobility group box 1 protein in mouse macrophage via PKC/ERK dependent pathway.

Despite increasing evidence highlighting the role of NPY in the modulation of inflammatory reaction, surprisingly little is known about the direct effects of NPY on the release of proinflammatory mediators. In the present work, we have evaluated the effects of NPY on the release of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and HMGB1 mediators in peritoneal macrophages. Our results demonstrate for the first time that NPY can directly induce active HMGB1 release and cytoplasmic translocation, while the production of TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 is not affected.

Tanshinone IIA pretreatment attenuates hepatic ischemia-reperfusion.

Tanshinone IIA (Tan IIA), an active component derived from Salvia miltiorrhiza root, has been used to treat various ischemic cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. However, its impact on hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury remains unclear. Here, we addressed this issue by using a 90-minute partial liver ischemia model.

Corticosterone rapidly promotes respiratory burst of mouse peritoneal macrophages via non-genomic mechanism.

Background: The immunomodulatory effects of glucocorticoids (GCs) have been described as bimodal. High concentration of GCs exerts immunosuppressive effects and low levels of GCs are immunopermissive. While the immunosuppressive mechanisms of GCs have been investigated intensely, the immunopermissive effects of GCs remain unclear.

Suppression of allograft rejection by Tim-1-Fc through cross-linking with a novel Tim-1 binding partner on T cells.

Engagement of T-cell immunoglobulin mucin (Tim)-1 on T cells with its ligand, Tim-4, on antigen presenting cells delivers positive costimulatory signals to T cells. However, the molecular mechanisms for Tim-1-mediated regulation of T-cell activation and differentiation are relatively poorly understood. Here we investigated the role of Tim-1 in T-cell responses and allograft rejection using recombinant human Tim-1 extracellular domain and IgG1-Fc fusion proteins (Tim-1-Fc).