Serum Macrophage Migration Inhibitory Factor as a Biomarker of Active Pulmonary Tuberculosis.

Background: Macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), a pro-inflammatory cytokine with chemokine-like functions, has been shown to play a central role in several acute and chronic inflammatory diseases. However, limited information is available regarding the use of MIF as an inflammatory pathway marker in patients with tuberculosis. This study aimed to investigate the association of MIF with IFN-γ and TNF-α in active pulmonary tuberculosis (APTB) following anti-tuberculosis treatment.

Functional polymorphisms in the gene encoding macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) are associated with active pulmonary tuberculosis.

Objective: The role of the cytokine, macrophage migration inhibition factor (MIF) was assessed in tuberculosis. This case-control study investigated whether commonly occurring functional MIF polymorphisms are associated with active tuberculosis as well as with serum levels of MIF, IFN-γ and TNF-α.

Methods: Two MIF promoter polymorphisms, a functional -794 CATT5-8 microsatellite repeat (rs5844572) and a -173G/C single-nucleotide polymorphism (rs755622), were analysed by PCR and PCR-RFLP, respectively, in 47 patients and 50 healthy subjects.

T helper cell dysregulation with hepatitis B and rebalance with glucocorticoids.

Aim: To investigate T helper 17/regulatory T cell alterations in early severe hepatitis B and the effect of glucocorticoids.

Methods: The study included 20 patients in the early stage of severe hepatitis B (SHB) and 11 healthy controls. All patients had elevated T helper 17 (Th17) levels, decreased regulatory T (Treg) cell levels, and significant Th17/Treg ratios.

[Cell death of THP-1 induced by puried Rv3671c protein of tuberculosis and the detection of TNF-α and IL-1β in Mycobacterium tuberculosis].

Objective: To assess the response in THP-1 treated with Rv3671c protein in Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tuberculosis).

Methods: The gene encoding Rv3671c protein of M.

CD25 is a novel marker of hepatic bile canaliculus.

Objective: Although many antigens have been investigated, the method for the bile canaliculus staining using optical microscopy needs to be improved. The aim of the present study was to assess the expression pattern of a candidate marker, CD25, in normal and diseased liver tissue.

Methods: Immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence, and immune electron microscopy assays were performed with 41 liver sections and 2 different anti-CD25 monoclonal antibodies.

The role of ABC efflux pump, Rv1456c-Rv1457c-Rv1458c, from Mycobacterium tuberculosis clinical isolates in China.

Recently the ATP-binding cassette (ABC) efflux pumps have been proved to be a major component of drug resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The objective of this study was to investigate the expression profiles of Rv1456c-Rv1457c-Rv1458c efflux system in clinical isolates of M. tuberculosis and its involvement in drug-resistance mechanisms.