Large-scale propagation of four undifferentiated human embryonic stem cell lines in a feeder-free culture system.

We describe an improved and more robust protocol for transfer and subsequent propagation of human embryonic stem cells under feeder-free conditions. The results show that mechanical dissociation for transfer of the human embryonic stem cells to Matrigel resulted in highest survival rates. For passage of the cultures on the other hand, enzymatic dissociation was found to be most efficient.

Increased gene expression of interleukin-1alpha and interleukin-6 in rat primary glial cells induced by beta-amyloid fragment.

One of the pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the presence of amyloid plaques. The main constituent of the amyloid plaques is the amyloid beta-peptide (A beta) shown to activate glial cells in vitro. A growing body of evidence suggests that these cells contribute to neurotoxicity through production of inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and neurotoxic substances, such as reactive oxygen species (ROS).

Delineation of the proinflammatory cytokine cascade in fever induction.

Bacterial lipopolypolysaccharide (LPS)-induced fever involves induction of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and IL-6, both in the periphery and in the brain. These molecules can induce expression of each other and also regulate expression of their own receptors in a complex manner. The functional hierarchy of these highly inducible proteins is therefore difficult to determine.

Hypersensitive cytokine response to beta-amyloid 25-35 in astroglial cells from IL-1 receptor type I-deficient mice.

betaA25-35, a neurotoxic fragment of the Alzheimer beta-amyloid peptide (betaA), acts as a strong inducer of pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL)-1 and IL-6, in glial cells. Since IL-1 is known to induce expression of both IL-1 and IL-6, we have investigated to what extent the induction of IL-1alpha and IL-6 by betaA25-35, is dependent on the IL-1 receptor type I (IL-1RI), the only known signalling IL-1 receptor. Primary astroglial cell cultures prepared from wild-type and IL-1RI-deficient mice were incubated in the presence of betaA25-35 (100 microM) for 19 h, followed by analysis of mRNA levels of IL-1alpha and IL-6.

Interleukin-1-mediated febrile responses in mice and interleukin-1 beta activation of NFkappaB in mouse primary astrocytes, involves the interleukin-1 receptor accessory protein.

The endogenous pyrogen interleukin-1 (IL-1) is considered as one of the key molecules in orchestrating the host response of injury and inflammation. IL-1 exerts its effects upon binding to the type I IL-1 receptor (IL-1RI). The IL-1-IL-1RI complex is further thought to associate with the IL-1 receptor accessory protein (IL-1RAcP), which is suggested to be important for most IL-1 signal transduction pathways.