Chemically modified DNA aptamers bind interleukin-6 with high affinity and inhibit signaling by blocking its interaction with interleukin-6 receptor.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a pleiotropic cytokine that regulates immune and inflammatory responses, and its overproduction is a hallmark of inflammatory diseases. Inhibition of IL-6 signaling with the anti-IL-6 receptor antibody tocilizumab has provided some clinical benefit to patients; however, direct cytokine inhibition may be a more effective option. We used the systematic evolution of ligands by exponential enrichment (SELEX) process to discover slow off-rate modified aptamers (SOMAmers) with hydrophobic base modifications that inhibit IL-6 signaling in vitro.

Daily variance of urinary excretion of AQP2 determined by sandwich ELISA method.

Background: Urinary excretion of aquaporin 2 (AQP2) is a useful marker of kidney collecting duct function. A specific and convenient method to measure AQP2 in human urine would help to treat water balance disorders. It is unknown whether urinary excretion of AQP2 shows any daily variance.

Functional and structural changes in end-stage kidney disease due to glomerulonephritis induced by the recombinant alpha3(IV)NC1 domain.

The aim of this study was to develop and characterize a rat glomerulonephritis model, which progresses to renal fibrosis and renal failure. A single immunization of female WKY rats with more than 10 microg of recombinant alpha3(IV)NC1 protein caused severe proteinuria followed by progressive increases in plasma creatinine and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) level within 42 days. Sequential histopathological evaluation revealed crescent formation in glomeruli followed by tubular dilation and interstitial fibrosis.

Procaterol potentiates the anti-inflammatory activity of budesonide on eosinophil adhesion to lung fibroblasts.

Background: The interaction between leukocytes and various parenchymal cells is the first step of inflammation. Therefore, the adhesion of eosinophils to lung fibroblasts is thought to be a crucial step in the inflammatory process of asthma. Procaterol, a beta(2)-selective full agonist, is currently prescribed for patients with asthma.

Correlation between salivary secretion and salivary AQP5 levels in health and disease.

Saliva samples are useful for noninvasive diagnosis of oral and systemic diseases. The water channel protein aquaporin-5 (AQP5) is released into human saliva. Salivary AQP5 levels show a diurnal variation with the secretion of high levels during the waking hours.

Identification of aquaporin-5 and lipid rafts in human resting saliva and their release into cevimeline-stimulated saliva.

Background: It is unknown whether AQP5 and lipid rafts are released into human unstimulated (resting) saliva and saliva in response to secretagogues.

Methods: In order to quantitate the salivary concentration of AQP5, we produced a polyclonal antibody for human AQP5 and developed an enzyme-like immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

Results: AQP5 and lipid rafts were identified in human resting saliva.

Increased urinary levels of CXCL5, CXCL8 and CXCL9 in patients with Type 2 diabetic nephropathy.

CXC chemokines are particularly significant for leukocyte infiltration in inflammatory diseases. Recent reports have shown that inflammation is one of potential pathogenic mechanisms for diabetic nephropathy. However, information on inflammation related with CXC chemokines in human Type 2 diabetic nephropathy still remains scarce.

Functional expression of human type I interferon receptors in the mouse liver.

We expressed human type I interferon (IFN) receptors (IFNAR) in mice and investigated their signaling. Using a hydrodynamics-based delivery method, vectors containing the genes for IFNAR1 and IFNAR2 were transferred into mice. Six hours after gene-transfer, mice were intravenously injected with human IFN-alpha at 10,000 IU.

A flow cytometric method for determination of the interferon receptor IFNAR2 subunit in peripheral blood leukocyte subsets.

Introduction: It is expected that expression levels in the peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) of IFNAR2, a subunit of the interferon (IFN) receptor, may be a marker for predicting IFN response. In the present study, we have established a rapid and convenient method for assaying IFNAR2, using flow cytometry.

Methods: Fifty microliters of whole blood from healthy volunteers was treated with an anti-IFNAR2 antibody and stained with a Fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-conjugated secondary antibody.

Adipocyte-derived plasma protein adiponectin acts as a platelet-derived growth factor-BB-binding protein and regulates growth factor-induced common postreceptor signal in vascular smooth muscle cell.

Background: Vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation plays an important role in the development of atherosclerosis. We previously reported that adiponectin, an adipocyte-specific plasma protein, accumulated in the human injured artery and suppressed endothelial inflammatory response as well as macrophage-to-foam cell transformation. The present study investigated the effects of adiponectin on proliferation and migration of human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs).

HEPC-based liposomes trigger cytokine release from peripheral blood cells: effects of liposomal size, dose and lipid composition.

The immune response caused by liposome stimulation was studied by assessing the level of several cytokines released from human peripheral blood cells. Liposome stimulation resulted in the release of IL-6, IL-10, IL-1beta, TNF-alpha and IFN-gamma. The size of the liposomes affected the degree of the cytokine releases with larger sized liposomes causing higher levels of cytokine induction.