Opposite effect of angiotensin receptor blockade on CXCL8 production and CXCR1/2 expression of angiotensin II-treated THP-1 monocytes.

Interleukin-8 (IL-8) or CXCL8 is a potent chemotactic factor that is involved in atherogenesis. IL-8 mediates its pre-inflammatory effects through interaction with CXCR1 and CXCR2. In the present study, we investigated the effects of angiotensin II (Ang II) on IL-8 synthesis and CXCR1/CXCR2 expression of THP-1 monocytes.

Evaluation of specific immune responses to BoNT/A and tetanus toxoid in patients undergoing treatment for neurologic disorders.

Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs) are used in the treatment of many neurological disorders. The primary structure of BoNTs shows a high degree of homology with the tetanus neurotoxin, the toxoid of which is used as a vaccine. Because of the potential cross-reactivity between these toxins, we investigated the effects of Botulinum neurotoxin A (BoNT/A) and tetanus toxoid on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and the corresponding serum antibody levels, in twenty patients who had been treated with BoNT/A.

CX3CR1 receptor is up-regulated in monocytes of coronary artery diseased patients: impact of pre-inflammatory stimuli and renin-angiotensin system modulators.

Fractalkine/CX3CR1 pathway is considered a major modulator of atherosclerosis. In the present study, expression of CX3CR1 on PBMCs/monocytes of healthy individuals and coronary artery diseased patients was initially assessed by flow cytometry. Effects of pre-inflammatory cytokines interferon (INF)-gamma and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha on expression of CX3CR1 and a single representative of each major chemokine family (CCR5 and CXCR4) were further assessed in three cell models: THP-1 monocytes, Jurkat T lymphocytes and primary monocytes isolated from healthy donors.

HIV-1 gp120/V3-derived epitopes promote activation-induced cell death to superantigen-stimulated CD4+/CD45RO+ T cells.

The third hypervirable (V3) domain of the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein gp120 has been implicated in HIV pathogenesis via co-receptor usage of chemokine receptors CCR5 and CXCR4. As the protagonist cell populations in the asymptomatic phase of HIV-1 infection are infected macrophages and effector/memory (CD45RO+) CD4+ T cells that express CCR5, we established an in vitro model using human primary monocyte-derived macrophages and lymphocytes to investigate the role of V3 in affecting antigen presentation. We used staphylococcal enterotoxin A (SEA) as a superantigen at a low concentration of 1ng/ml, to activate naïve CD4+ T cells.

In vitro cytopathic effects of mycotoxin T-2 on human peripheral blood T lymphocytes.

The trichothecene mycotoxin T-2 is reported to exhibit immunotoxic activity. The potential presence of T-2 in foods renders it as public health hazard and its toxicity needs to be better understood. We investigated the in vitro effects of T-2 at sub-toxic (0.