Silver nanoparticles induce degradation of the endoplasmic reticulum stress sensor activating transcription factor-6 leading to activation of the NLRP-3 inflammasome.

In the past decade, the increasing amount of nanoparticles (NP) and nanomaterials used in multiple applications led the scientific community to investigate the potential toxicity of NP. Many studies highlighted the cytotoxic effects of various NP, including titanium dioxide, zinc oxide, and silver nanoparticles (AgNP). In a few studies, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress was found to be associated with NP cytotoxicity leading to apoptosis in different cell types.

Activation of human neutrophils by the anti-inflammatory mediator Esenbeckia leiocarpa leads to atypical apoptosis.

Despite the fact that Esenbeckia leiocarpa, a Brazilian plant, possesses potential anti-inflammatory properties, its effect in neutrophils, key players in inflammation, has never been investigated. In this study, a crude hydroalcoholic extract (CHE) was used to evaluate the potential toxic or agonistic effect of E. leiocarpa in human neutrophils.

Activation of human neutrophils by Esenbeckia leiocarpa: comparison between the crude hydroalcoholic extract (CHE) and an alkaloid (Alk) fraction.

Esenbeckia leiocarpa, a wide spread native Brazilian tree, was reported recently to possess anti-inflammatory effects in vivo, but the mechanisms involved are still not fully understood and its role in neutrophils is poorly documented. The aim of this study was to compare the effects of a crude hydroalcoholic extract (CHE) and an alkaloid-enriched (Alk) fraction obtained from Esenbeckia leiocarpa bark on human neutrophils by investigating the effect of each fraction alone or in a mixture with classical neutrophil agonists. CHE inhibited intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production but increased the extracellular superoxide (O2-) production, while Alk increased the former and also slightly increased O2- production.

Modulatory effect of mycophenolate mofetil on carrageenan-induced inflammation in the mouse air pouch model.

Unlabelled: The treatment of some inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis, remains an important target for studies because some patients are refractory to conventional treatment. Mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), an immunosuppressive drug, has been shown to have a beneficial effect on the therapy of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. In the present study, we aimed to analyse the anti-inflammatory effect of MMF administered by oral route in the mouse carrageenan-induced air pouch model.

Activation of neutrophils by nanoparticles.

The use of nanoparticles (NPs) has increased in the past few years in various fields, including defence, aerospace, electronics, biology, medicine, and so forth. and in applications such as diagnostic technology, bioimaging, and drug/gene delivery. Thus, human exposure to NPs and nanomaterials is unavoidable and will certainly expand in the future resulting in a growing interest in nanotoxicology, the study of toxicity of nanomaterials.

N-phenylmaleimide derivatives as mimetic agents of the pro-inflammatory process: myeloperoxidase activation.

Myeloperoxidase (MPO) is an important enzyme that catalyzes the reaction between hydrogen peroxide and chloride to generate hypochlorous acid, which oxidizes a range of biomolecules and has been associated with inflammatory diseases. The synthetic compounds N-phenylmaleimide (NFM) and 4-methyl-N-phenylmaleimide (Me-NFM) increased the MPO activity in vitro (of isolated enzyme and in isolated cells after animal treatment) and in vivo assays. MPO-induction may represent a good model system to investigate the molecular and cellular mechanisms of oxidative cell injury induced by activated neutrophils, and the interactions between damaging species involved in the respiratory burst.

Efficacy of tacrolimus in inhibiting inflammation caused by carrageenan in a murine model of air pouch.

Background: Tacrolimus (Tac) is a macrolide immunosuppressant drug isolated from Streptomyces tsukubaensis, widely used in organ transplantation.

Objective: This study examined the effect of tacrolimus administered by oral route (p.o.