Cytokine profiles during delivery affect cord blood hematopoietic stem and progenitors cells.

The study was aimed to determine the correlations between serum levels of cytokines (GM-CSF, IL-4, IL-10 and TNF) in maternal (MB) and cord blood (CB) and some features of cord blood hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (CB HSPCs). Study material was MB and concomitant CB samples collected from 98 volunteers at the moment of delivery. The IL-4, IL-10, TNF and GM-CSF concentrations in serum and in supernatants from PMA-stimulated mononuclear cells isolated from both blood types were measured using BD Cytometric Bead Array Flex Set System.

Successful ageing of nonagenarians is related to the sensitivity of NK cells to activation.

NK cells are a component of innate immunity which activity significantly correlates with health status. The aim of our study was to estimate a status of NK (natural killer) cells in the very old (mean age 92+/-2 ys) and old subjects (mean age 78+/-5 ys) as compared to a control group of young individuals (mean age 25+/-4 ys). NK cells were characterized by measurement of their cytotoxic activity, expression of intracellular interferon gamma, telomere length and telomerase activity in resting and activated cells.

Analogues of muramyl dipeptide (MDP) and tuftsin limit infection and inflammation in murine model of sepsis.

Pharmacological manipulation of the balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators emerges as a key aspect of a successful treatment of sepsis. A murine model of septic shock was developed and chosen conjugates (1a, 1b, 8a, 8c) and analogs (T2) of muramyl dipeptide and tuftsin were tested in this model as prospective anti-bacterial drugs or adjuvants. The phagocytic activity of monocytes/macrophages was determined (flow cytometry, bacterial clearance from vital organs).

Ex vivo expansion of CD4(+)CD25(+) T regulatory cells for immunosuppressive therapy.

Immunosuppressants are powerful drugs, capable of triggering severe adverse effects. Hence, there is tremendous interest in replacing them with less-toxic agents. Adoptive therapy with CD25(+)CD4(+) T regulatory cells (Tregs) holds promise as an alternative to immunosuppressants.

The effect of fasting and refeeding on thyroid follicule structure and thyroid hormone levels in young and old rats.

In order to assess morphological and functional plasticity of the thyroid gland in aging the effects of fasting and refeeding on the thyroid morphology and thyroid hormone serum levels were compared with morphometry and RIA in young and old rats. Young (4 months) and old (24 months) male Wistar rats were fasted for 40 h and sampled, or fasted and fed thereafter for 4 or 24 h. In control (fed) old animals the thyroid follicules were larger, the follicular epithelium was smaller and colloid resorption was smaller than in young rats.

From bench to bedside and back: the SENIEUR Protocol and the efficacy of influenza vaccination in the elderly.

Prophylaxis with vaccines is important in geriatrics as, apart from specific protection, it reduces incidence of potentially fatal infectious complications and exacerbations of existing medical conditions. Post-vaccination protection depends on immunity and therefore markers of immune status could be used to predict efficacy of vaccination. From the practical point of view, the determination of simple and robust methods for assessing immunity, which could enable practitioners to distinguish patients at risk of vaccination unresponsiveness, is desirable.

[Tuftsin--new analogues and properties].

Tuftsin, a natural tetrapeptide of sequence TKPR, occuring in the blood of humans and other mammals, capable of stimulating certain white blood cells (monocytes, macrophages, and neutrophils), was isolated at Tufts University in 1970 by Najjar and Nishioka. Tuftsin is a compound with a wide spectrum of biological activities, notable enhances phagocytosis, immune response, bactericidal, tumoricidal and antifungal activities. This article concerns new analogues and properties of tuftsin.

Anti-tumor action of tumor necrosis factor against Bomirski Ab melanoma in hamsters.

Introduction: Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is a cytokine able to exert anti-tumor activity in various models and modes of applications. However, the exact mechanism mediating the in vivo anti-tumor effect of TNF has not yet been clarified.

Materials And Methods: The effects of intratumoral injection of rat TNF into hamsters bearing Bomirski Ab amelanotic melanoma, a fast growing tumor of high metastatic potential, were tested.

Treatment with recombinant human erythropoietin is associated with rejuvenation of CD8+ T cell compartment in chronic renal failure patients.

Background: A growing body of evidence suggests an impact of rHuEpo on the immune system.

Methods: We assessed the impact of recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEpo) on the immunity of 11 chronic renal failure patients who did not require haemodialysis. Naïve (Tn), central (Tcm) and effectory memory (Tcm, Tem, TemRA) subsets of CD8+ T cells, memory-CMV-specific CD8+ T cells, titres of anti-CMV antibodies and activity of NK cells were evaluated during the first year of rHuEpo administration.

Mycobacterial heat shock protein-induced blood T lymphocytes subsets and cytokine pattern: comparison of sarcoidosis with tuberculosis and healthy controls.

Background And Objective: Sarcoidosis (SA) is a disorder of unknown aetiology. Mycobacterium tuberculosis heat shock proteins (Mtb-hsp) have been considered as causative agents of SA. The role of Mtb-hsp in the immune response in SA has not been investigated.

NK cell compartment in patients with coronary heart disease.

Background: Viral and bacterial infections have been considered as a risk factor for Coronary Heart Disease (CHD). NK cells, as a first line of defense against those infections, may play a role in CHD development. Thus, the main aim of our study was to determine NK cell compartment in patients with CHD undergoing coronary artery by-pass grafting.

Quantifying division of aortal smooth muscle cells in culture stimulated by 1,25(OH)2D3.

Inhibitory effect of 1alpha,25dihydroxycholecalciferol (1,25D(3)=calcitriol) in different cell type is well recognized but its promoting effect on vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) is poor established. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine stimulatory effect of calcitriol on aortal SMCs proliferation in culture. We used the cell division analysis procedure based on the quantitative sequential halving of the stably incorporating fluorescent dye carboxyfluorescein diacetate succinimidyl ester (CFSE).

The biological activity of new tuftsin derivatives--induction of phagocytosis.

Phagocytosis plays a crucial role in a host defense against invading microorganisms. This process can be induced by many phagocytosis stimulating factors. One of them is an endogenous tetrapeptide - tuftsin that occurs in the blood of mammals including human beings.

Serum and urinary cytokine homeostasis and renal tubular function in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Aim: To explore the relationships between tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) and the function of renal proximal tubules in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM1).

Methods: Fifty-six children with DM1 and 35 healthy controls were analyzed. We measured NAG (A and B isoforms) in urine as well as serum TNFalpha and urinary IL-6.

The effects of fasting and refeeding on adrenal cortex morphometry and serum concentrations of ACTH and corticosterone in young and old male rats.

The impairment of homeostatic mechanisms in ageing becomes often apparent upon physiological or pathological stimulation. We have previously shown that fasting and refeeding revealed the existence of age-related changes of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. Because fuel metabolism is partially controlled by corticosteroids we decided to determine the effects of refeeding on adrenal gland morphometry, ACTH, and corticosterone serum levels in young (5 mo) and (20 mo) old male Wistar rats.

Interleukin 6 polymorphism corresponds to the number of severely stenosed coronary arteries.

IL6 gene promoter polymorphisms may influence the outcome of cardiovascular diseases. The aim of our study was to find out whether the -174G>C polymorphism, as well as the IL6 secretory profile, may be linked to the number of severely (> or = 75%) occluded coronary arteries in patients with advanced coronary heart disease (CHD). Three hundred and twenty patients awaiting elective coronary artery bypass grafting were enrolled into the study.

Long-term prognosis after coronary bypass surgery depends on interleukin 6 polymorphism and past acute infections.

We were seeking for a mutual link between the -174G>C IL6 promoter polymorphism, history of the past acute respiratory infections and the long-term post-coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) incidence. Two hundred thirty seven post-CABG patients have been followed up for a median period of 36 months. We found that past acute infections, influenza-like illness and lack of vaccination against influenza confer a significant risk of the post-CABG MACE incidence in the -174G allele carrying patients.

Immunomodulatory properties of new conjugates of muramyl dipeptide and nor-muramyl dipeptide with retro-tuftsin (Arg-Pro-Lys-Thr-OMe).

Six new conjugates of muramyl dipeptide and nor-muramyl dipeptide with retro-tuftsin were synthesised at Gdansk University of Technology. All compounds were investigated at Medical University of Gdansk. Their immunomodulatory properties were assessed using in vitro cultures of human subpopulations of white blood cells (peripheral blood mononuclear cells, peripheral blood lymphocytes, monocytes).

The atypical pattern of cell death in B16F10 melanoma cells treated with TNP-470.

TNP-470 is an acknowledged anti-angiogenic factor, and was studied clinically as an anti-cancer drug. We previously reported on an additional property of this molecule: the intracellular generation of reactive oxygen species in B16F10 melanoma cells. We showed that a massive generation of ROS occurred in the first few hours after treatment with TNP-470 and that this event was critical to subsequent cell death.

Comparative analysis of mycobacterial heat shock proteins-induced apoptosis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in sarcoidosis and tuberculosis.

Sarcoidosis (SA) is a granulomatous disorder of an unknown etiology. Mycobacterium tuberculosis heat shock proteins (Mtb-hsp), considered as causative agents, play an important role in apoptosis. A role for apoptosis has been proposed in pathogenesis of SA and tuberculosis (TB) granuloma formation but results remain controversial.

CD4+CD25+ T regulatory cells inhibit cytotoxic activity of CTL and NK cells in humans-impact of immunosenescence.

We hypothesized that advanced age and medical conditions had an impact on the accumulation of CD4+CD25+ T regulatory cells (Treg), which in turn could deteriorate cytotoxic activity of CD8+ T and NK cells. Volunteers were divided according to the Senieur Protocol into healthy young and elderly and non-healthy young and elderly subjects. The numbers of Treg cells in peripheral blood, their influence on CD8+ T and NK cells and production of IL2 as well as apoptosis intensity of Treg cells were measured.

Effects of fasting and refeeding on serum leptin, adiponectin and free fatty acid concentrations in young and old male rats.

Background: Regulatory mechanisms of metabolic homeostasis undergo important alterations during ageing. The age-related changes become often evident only during stimulation of basic functions that occurs, e.g.

A novel mechanism of action of the fumagillin analog, TNP-470, in the B16F10 murine melanoma cell line.

TNP-470, a semisynthetic derivative of fumagillin, is an acknowledged angiogenesis inhibitor, presently undergoing clinical trials. It exerts an anti-proliferative effect directed against endothelial cells. This effect is known to be based on cell cycle inhibition effected by the p53/p21 pathway.