Effect of Th1/Th2 cytokine pretreatment on RSV-induced gene expression in airway epithelial cells.

Background: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in infants with Th2 predisposition is thought to increase the risk of allergic sensitization, recurrent wheezing, and bronchial asthma during childhood. We attempted to clarify the molecular mechanisms by which Th1/Th2 predisposition in the host alters RSV infection and facilitates airway inflammation.

Methods: A549 human airway epithelial cells were inoculated with live or UV-treated RSV after pretreatment with either a combination of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interferon-γ (Th1-primed) or a combination of TNF-α and interleukin-4 (Th2-primed) for 48 h.

CXCR3 binding chemokine and TNFSF14 over expression in bladder urothelium of patients with ulcerative interstitial cystitis.

Purpose: We investigated the genes responsible for ulcerative interstitial cystitis by DNA microarray analysis and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Materials And Methods: Bladder urothelial tissues were taken from a site apart from the ulcerative lesion in 9 patients with ulcerative interstitial cystitis and from a normal-looking area in 9 controls, including 7 with bladder carcinoma and 2 with benign prostatic hyperplasia. Total RNA was extracted from bladder samples and gene expression was compared between these 2 groups using Whole Human Genome DNA microarray 44K (Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, California).

ASK1 and ASK2 differentially regulate the counteracting roles of apoptosis and inflammation in tumorigenesis.

Apoptosis and inflammation generally exert opposite effects on tumorigenesis: apoptosis serves as a barrier to tumour initiation, whereas inflammation promotes tumorigenesis. Although both events are induced by various common stressors, relatively little is known about the stress-induced signalling pathways regulating these events in tumorigenesis. Here, we show that stress-activated MAP3Ks, ASK1 and ASK2, which are involved in cellular responses to various stressors such as reactive oxygen species, differentially regulate the initiation and promotion of tumorigenesis.

DNA microarray analysis of white adipose tissue from obese (fa/fa) Zucker rats treated with a beta3-adrenoceptor agonist, KTO-7924.

We aimed to examine the effects of KTO-7924 (beta3-adrenoceptor agonist) on lipid metabolism and mRNA expressions in retroperitoneal white adipose tissue (RP WAT) in obese (fa/fa) Zucker rats using DNA microarray. Oral KTO-7924 for 28 days significantly decreased RP WAT weight, plasma triglyceride, free fatty acid, and insulin, and improved insulin resistance in oral glucose tolerance tests. In RP WAT of KTO-7924-treated rats, DNA microarray analysis revealed specifically enhanced mRNA expressions of uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) and cytochrome c oxidase subunit VIII-H (COX8H), which are reportedly highly expressed in brown adipose tissue (BAT).

CpG oligodeoxynucleotides directly induce CXCR3 chemokines in human B cells.

CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG ODN) are known to elicit Th1 immune responses via TLR9. However, the precise mechanisms through which B cells are involved in this phenomenon are not fully understood. We investigated the effect of CpG ODN on the induction of Th1-chemoattractant CXCR3 chemokines, IP-10, Mig, and I-TAC, in B cells.

Corticosteroid and cytokines synergistically enhance toll-like receptor 2 expression in respiratory epithelial cells.

Respiratory epithelial cells play important roles not only in host defense mechanisms, but also in inflammatory responses. Inhaled corticosteroids are widely used for the treatment of patients with inflammatory lung disorders, including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and sarcoidosis. Corticosteroids effectively reduce the production of inflammatory mediators, such as cytokines and chemokines.

Lipopolysaccharide-binding protein critically regulates lipopolysaccharide-induced IFN-beta signaling pathway in human monocytes.

LPS binding to Toll-like receptor 4 induces a large number of genes through activation of NF-kappaB and IFN-regulatory factor-3 (IRF-3). However, no previous reports have tested the role of serum proteins in LPS-induced gene expression profiles. To investigate how serum proteins affect LPS-induced signaling, we investigated LPS-inducible genes in PBMC using an oligonucleotide probe-array system.

Interferon-alpha/beta receptor-mediated selective induction of a gene cluster by CpG oligodeoxynucleotide 2006.

Background: Oligodeoxynucleotides containing unmethylated CpG motifs (CpG ODN) are known to exert a strong adjuvant effect on Th1 immune responses. Although several genes have been reported, no comprehensive study of the gene expression profiles in human cells after stimulation with CpG ODN has been reported.

Results: This study was designed to identify a CpG-inducible gene cluster that potentially predicts for the molecular mechanisms of clinical efficacy of CpG ODN, by determining mRNA expression in human PBMC after stimulation with CpG ODN.

Eosinophil degranulation during pregnancy and after delivery by cesarean section.

Background: The physiological roles of eosinophils that accumulate in the uterus during pregnancy and of uterus-dwelling mast cells remain unknown. In the present study, we investigated the degranulation of eosinophils and mast cells within the normal course of pregnancy and after delivery by measuring the urinary concentrations of eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN) and N-methylhistamine.

Methods: Spot urine samples from 65 pregnant women and 15 nonpregnant, age-matched women were examined.