No abstract available.
Animals ; Colitis/physiopathology/*therapy ; Cytokines/*secretion ; *Lactobacillus ; Probiotics/*therapeutic use

To systematically evaluate the effects of Tripterygium Glycosides Tablets alone or in combination with methotrexate(MTX) and leflunomide(LEF) on the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in patients or animal models with rheumatoid arthritis(RA), and to provide reference for clinical application and related basic research, this study systematically searched databases of CNKI, VIP, WanFang, PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library, collected relevant clinical or animal experimental studies, used risk assessment tools to evaluate the quality of research, and used Revman 5.3 software to conduct Meta-analysis or descriptive analysis of the outcome indicators included in the literatures. Of the 1 709 papers retrieved, 3 clinical studies and 12 animal experiments were included. The results showed that compared with MTX alone, Tripterygium Glycosides Tablets combined with MTX could further reduce the expression levels of peripheral blood TNF-α(SMD=-8.88,95%CI[-10.77,-6.99],P<0.000 01),IL-1β(P<0.000 01) and IL-6(SMD=-8.63, 95%CI[-10.57,-6.69], P<0.000 01) in RA patients. Compared with LEF alone, the combination of Tripterygium Glycosides Tablets and LEF could not further reduce the expression levels of TNF-α(P=0.20), IL-1β(P=0.17), IL-6(P=0.31). In RA animal model, compared with model group, Tripterygium Glycosides Tablets could reduce the expression levels of peripheral blood IL-1β(SMD=-6.29,95%CI[-9.64,-2.93],P<0.000 2)in peripheral blood(SMD=-1.39,95%CI[-1.77,-1.02],P<0.000 01), joint fluid(P<0.000 01) and paw plasma(P=0.02), and also reduce the expression levels of TNF-α in RA animal model group. Compared with MTX alone, Tripterygium Glycosides Tablets alone reduced the same levels of TNF-α(P=0.42) and IL-6(P=0.08) in joint fluid, while Tripterygium Glycosides Tablets combined with MTX could further reduce the levels of IL-6(P=0.000 1) in joint fluid; compared with LEF alone, Tripterygium Glycosides Tablets have the similar effects on reducing the expression levels of peripheral blood TNF-α(P=0.16), IL-1β(P=0.32), IL-6(P=0.12), while Tripterygium Glycosides Tablets combined with LEF could further reduce the expression levels of TNF-α(P=0.008), IL-1β(P=0.02), IL-6(P<0.000 1) in peripheral blood. Therefore, Tripterygium Glycosides Tablets combined with MTX could further reduce the expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in peripheral blood of RA patients. Tripterygium Glycosides Tablets alone could reduce the expression levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in peripheral blood and local joint of RA animal models. Tripterygium Glycosides Tablets combined with MTX or LEF could further reduce the express levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines in peripheral blood of RA animal models. Due to the limitation of literature, this conclusion needs to be further validated.
Animals ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid/drug therapy* ; Cytokines ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal/therapeutic use* ; Glycosides/therapeutic use* ; Humans ; Leflunomide/therapeutic use* ; Methotrexate/therapeutic use* ; Tablets ; Tripterygium/chemistry*

The present study was designed to determine if levels of serum cytokines, such as interleukin (IL) -1beta, IL-2, IL-2r, IL-6, IL-6r, IL-8, IL-10, and TNF-alpha are different in osteoporotic and non-osteoporotic postmenopausal women, and to evaluate the effects of calcitonin and alendronate therapies over a six month period on serum cytokine levels in postmenopausal osteoporotic women. Serum levels of IL-2, TNF-alpha and IL-8 were found to be significantly higher (p < 0.05), and serum IL-10, and IL-6r significantly lower in the calcitonin (N=60) and the alendronate (N=60) treatment groups than in the control group (N=50) (p < 0.05). But, no significant difference was apparent between the calcitonin and alendronate treated groups before treatment. Statistically significant changes occurred in patients, with respect to the levels of serum IL-6r, and IL-8 after one month (p < 0.05), in IL-2r, IL-6r, IL-8, IL-10 after three months, and in IL-1beta, IL-6r, IL-8, IL-10 and TNF-alpha after six months of calcitonin therapy (p < 0.05). No significant difference was observed in IL-6r after one month, in IL-8 and IL-10 after three months, and in TNF-alpha after six months in the calcitonin treated group and in the control group, whereas these parameters were significantly different at baseline. In the alendronate treated group, statistically significant changes occurred in the levels of serum IL-1alpha and IL-6 after three months, and in IL-1beta, IL-6, IL-6r and TNF-alpha after six months (p < 0.05). No significant difference was observed in IL-6r after one month, in IL-10 after three months or in TNF-alpha after six months between the alendronate treatment group and the control group, whereas these parameters were significantly different at baseline. In conclusion, we suggest that; 1) not only IL-1, IL-6, TNF-alpha and IL-11 but also IL-2, IL-8 and IL-10 may have roles in the etiopathogenesis of osteoporosis, 2) calcitonin therapy have a more distinct influence on serum levels of some cytokines and have an earlier effect than alendronate therapy (especially upon IL-2r, IL-8, and IL-10). Nevertheless, further longitudinal studies are needed to identify the cytokines involved in the pathogenesis of postmenopausal osteoporosis and to evaluate the influence of different treatments on these cytokines.
Aged ; Alendronate/*therapeutic use ; Calcitonin/*therapeutic use ; Cytokines/*metabolism ; Female ; Human ; Middle Aged ; Osteoporosis, Postmenopausal/*drug therapy/*metabolism ; Time Factors

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) manifests as an imbalance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines. Cytokine imbalance is suggested to play critical roles in the development of RA. Currently, various treatments for RA, including biological agents such as antibodies against inflammation mediators, or Chinese herbal medicines, intervene the disease by restoring the balance of cytokines. Chinese medicine (CM) can not only suppress the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, but also induce the expression of cytokines with anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory effects. Thus, Chinese medicine can effectively reduce inflammatory cell infiltration into synovial tissue, pannus formation, and degradation of the extracellular matrix surrounding cartilage cells, thereby reducing subchondral bone damage. This paper reviews the changes of cytokine profiling during development of RA and discuss the mechanisms by which Chinese medicine restores the cytokine balance.
Animals ; Antirheumatic Agents ; therapeutic use ; Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; drug therapy ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; therapeutic use ; Humans

Tissue engineering has been applied to various tissues, and particularly significant progress has been made in the areas of skin, cartilage, and bone regeneration. Inclusion of bioactive factors into the synthetic scaffolds has been suggested as one of the possible tissue engineering strategies. The growth factors are polypeptides that transmit signals to modulate cellular activities. They have short half-lives, for example, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), isolated from platelets, has a half life of less than 2 minutes when injected intravenously. Extended biological activity and the controlled release of growth factor are achieved by incorporating growth factor into the polymeric device. This review will focus on growth factor delivery for tissue engineering. Particular examples will be given whereby growth factors are delivered from a tissue-engineered device to facilitate wound healing and tissue repair.
Animal ; Biomedical Engineering/methods* ; Bone Morphogenetic Proteins/administration & dosage ; Cytokines/therapeutic use ; Cytokines/administration & dosage* ; Growth Substances/physiology

Objective: To investigate the changes in the cytokine profiles of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients undergoing antiviral treatment. Methods: Hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg)-positive patients were treated with Pegylated interferon (PEG-IFN) and entecavir (ETV). Clinical biochemistry and cytokines were detected at baseline and every 3 months. Results: In all, 200 patients completed 48 weeks of treatment, 100 in the PEG-IFN group and 100 in the ETV group. During 3-6 months of treatment, compared with baseline, the PEG-IFN group showed a significant decrease in interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), interleukin-17A (IL-17A), interleukin-6(IL-6), interleukin-10(IL-10), and transforming growth factor beta (TGF-β) ( Conclusion During antiviral therapy, a change in the cytokine profile occurred; in the aspect of immune control and functional cure, PEG-IFN was significantly better than ETV.
Adult ; Antiviral Agents/therapeutic use* ; Cytokines/blood* ; Female ; Guanine/therapeutic use* ; Hepatitis B, Chronic/drug therapy* ; Humans ; Interferon-alpha/therapeutic use* ; Male ; Polyethylene Glycols/therapeutic use* ; Prospective Studies ; Recombinant Proteins/therapeutic use*

PURPOSE: The combined use of antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medicine to manage bacterial endotoxin-induced inflammation following injuries or diseases is increasing. The cytokine level produced by macrophages plays an important role in this treatment course. Ciprofloxacin and indomethacin, two typical representatives of antibiotics and anti-inflammatory medicine, are cost-effective and has been reported to show satisfactory effect. The current study aims to investigate the effect of ciprofloxacin along with indomethacin on the secretion of inflammatory cytokines by macrophages in vitro. METHODS: Primary murine peritoneal macrophages and RAW 264.7 cells were administrated with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 24 h. The related optimal dose and time point of ciprofloxacin or indomethacin in response to macrophage inflammatory response inflammation were determined via macrophage secretion induced by LPS. Then, the effects of ciprofloxacin and indomethacin on the secretory functions and viability of various macrophages were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and flow cytometry analysis, especially for the levels of interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-10, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. The optimal dose and time course of ciprofloxacin affecting macrophage inflammatory response were determined by testing the maximum inhibitory effect of the drugs on pro-inflammatory factors at each concentration or time point. RESULTS: According to the levels of cytokines secreted by various macrophages (1.2 × 10⁶ cells/well) after administration of 1 μg/mL LPS, the optimal dose and usage timing for ciprofloxacin alone were 80 μg/mL and 24 h, respectively, and the optimal dose for indomethacin alone was 10 μg/mL. Compared with the LPS-stimulated group, the combination of ciprofloxacin and indomethacin reduced the levels of IL-1β (p < 0.05), IL-6 (p < 0.05), IL-10 (p < 0.01)), and TNF-α (p < 0.01). Furthermore, there was greater stability in the reduction of inflammatory factor levels in the combination group compared with those in which only ciprofloxacin or indomethacin was used. CONCLUSION The combination of ciprofloxacin and indomethacin suppressed the levels of inflammatory cytokines secreted by macrophages in vitro. This study illustrates the regulatory mechanism of drug combinations on innate immune cells that cause inflammatory reactions. In addition, it provides a new potential antibacterial and anti-inflammatory treatment pattern to prevent and cure various complications in the future.
Humans ; Mice ; Animals ; Cytokines ; Lipopolysaccharides/pharmacology* ; Interleukin-10 ; Indomethacin/therapeutic use* ; Interleukin-6/therapeutic use* ; Ciprofloxacin/therapeutic use* ; Macrophages ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Inflammation/drug therapy* ; Anti-Inflammatory Agents/therapeutic use* ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/therapeutic use*

The overall goal of our research projects is to develop effective immunotherapeutic regimens, particularly combining vaccine and gene therapy/ cell therapy strategies. For the development of clinically effective immunotherapy for brain cancers, the following issues are considered to be particularly important: 1) Induction of effective immune responses against tumors (afferent arm of the immune response), 2) Delivery of immune effector cells to the target tumor sites and maintaining the activity of the effector cells (efferent arm), 3) For specific and safe immunotherapy, specific brain tumor rejection antigens have to be identified, 4) Feasibility, safety and efficacy need to be tested in a series of clinical trials. The following presentation summarizes my research projects and demonstrates how each plan will fit in the whole schema of designing successful immunotherapeutic strategies for brain cancers. In this presentation, I would like to focus on our clinical and basic studies related to the vaccine strategies for patients with glioma, and modulation of tumor-microenvironment using bone-marrow derived stroma cells as vehicles for cytokine- gene delivery.
*Biological Therapy ; Brain Neoplasms/*therapy ; Cancer Vaccines/*therapeutic use ; Cytokines/*genetics ; *Gene Therapy ; Humans

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease. Cytokine-related research provides an important direction for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis. Cytokines, produced by different types of cells and acting on a range of targets, play a key role in the pathogenesis and progression of atherosclerosis. This review summarizes the main pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines related to atherosclerosis and their underlying mechanism. We also outline current anti-atherosclerosis treatments targeting cytokines. The research and treatment prospects of cytokines in the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis are discussed briefly as well.
Anti-Inflammatory Agents/therapeutic use* ; Atherosclerosis/drug therapy* ; Cytokines ; Humans ; Inflammation/drug therapy*

OBJECTIVETo explore the anti-inflammatory effect and possible mechanism of Shuang-huang-lian (SHL) microemulsion.

METHODRat model of pleuritis was established by thoracic injecting 0.2 mL of 1% carrageenan. Rats in the treated groups were orally administered with SHL microemulsion prescription 1, 2, and oral liquid, while those in the positive control group were given aspirin. Rats in the normal group and the model group were given equal volume of water. Each groups were given their medicine for successive 6 days. Modeling was performed 30 mins after the 5th day medication. After 12 hrs of modeling, took suction of the pleurorrhea and measured the amount of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-8 (IL-8), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and protein (pro).

RESULTCompared with the normal group, all the parameters were higher in model group (TNF-alpha and IL-8 P<0.01, PGE2 and pro P<0.05). While compared with the model group, only the amount of TNF-alpha and PGE2 were lower in all the treated group (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONBoth SHL microemulsion prescription 1 and 2 have obvious anti-inflammatory effect. The effect might be related to inhibiting the increase of cytokines as TNF-alpha and PGE2, and intervening of the metabolic process of arachidonic acid (AA).

Animals ; Antineoplastic Agents ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Carrageenan ; adverse effects ; Cytokines ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Emulsions ; Male ; Pleurisy ; chemically induced ; drug therapy ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Wistar