No abstract available.
Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein*

This study investigated the cytokines (IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-1RA, TNF-alpha) mRNA expression in the early inflammatory process of alkali burned rabbit corneas. To create alkali burns, each 4 cornea of New Zealand White rabbits were exposed to filtering paper (5 mm diameter) treated with 1N NaOH for 1 minute at room temperature.e. Two unburned rabbits corneas were used as control. The mRNA levels for IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-1RA, and TNF-alpha were monitored in corneas at 3, 6, 24, and 48 hours after alkali burn with semiquantative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Transcripts for IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, and TNF-alphawere expressed in 3 hours and increased through 48 hours, whereas those for IL-1betawas expressed in 3 hours and was not changed through 48 hours. IL-1alphamRNA level was detected lower than IL-1betamRNA in 3 hours but IL-1alphamRNA level was persist higher than IL-1betafrom 6 hours through 48 hours. IL-1RA mRNA level was expressed higher than others through 48 hours. These results indicate that IL-1 and TNF-alphalevel in the cornea are elevated during the early inflammatory process of alkali burn. IL-1alpha, IL-RA and TNF-alphamay play an important role in alkali-burned corneal inflammatory process.
Alkalies ; Burns ; Cornea* ; Cytokines ; Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein ; Interleukin-1* ; Rabbits* ; RNA* ; RNA, Messenger ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

OBJECTIVETo investigate the expression of the human interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (hIL-1ra) in the transfected chondrocytes of temporomandibular joint (TMJ).

METHODSChondrocytes of TMJ in vitro were transfected by hIL-1ra gene via cationic liposome as a medium. The stable transfected cells were selected by G418. The proliferations of the transduced cell were examined with the growth curve, cell population doubling time. The protein expressing in different periods was detected by immunocytochemistry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

RESULTSThe proliferation suppression of gene transfected cells fell significantly with compared to normal cells. The expression of hIL-1ra was detected in the cell plasma and the cell culture supernatant. The highest expression of IL-1ra protein was at the time of 48 hours after gene transfection. The transiently transfected cells were secreted IL-1ra protein continuously 28 days and the stably transduced cells were secreted IL-1ra protein till 72 days.

CONCLUSIONThis study showed that hIL-1ra protein expressed positively in the cell plasma and the culture supernatant after gene transfection within a certain periods.

OBJECTIVE: Screw fixation via the paraspinal muscle sparing approach and by percutaneous screw fixation are known to diminish the risk of complications, such as, iatrogenic muscle injury as compared with the conventional midline approach. The purpose of this study was to evaluate tissue injury markers after these less traumatic screw fixation techniques for the treatment of L4-L5 spondylolisthesis. METHODS: Twenty-two patients scheduled for posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF) at the L4-L5 segment for spondylolisthesis were prospectively studied. Patients were divided into two groups by screw fixation technique (Group I: paraspinal muscle sparing approach and Group II: percutaneous screw fixation). Levels of serum enzymes representing muscle injury (CK-MM and Troponin C type 2 fast), pro-inflammatory cytokine (IL-8), and anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-1ra) were analyzed using ELISA techniques on the day of the surgery and 1, 3, and 7 days after the surgery. RESULTS: Serum CK-MM, Troponic C type 2 fast (TNNC2), and IL-1ra levels were significantly elevated in Group I on postoperative day 1 and 3, and returned to preoperative levels on postoperative day 7. No significant intergroup difference was found between IL-8 levels despite higher concentrations in Group I on postoperative day 1 and 3. CONCLUSION: This study shows that percutaneous screw fixation procedure is the preferable minimally invasive technique in terms of minimizing muscle injury associated with L4-L5 spondylolisthesis.
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein ; Interleukin-8 ; Muscles ; Prospective Studies ; Spondylolisthesis ; Troponin C

BACKGROUND: Several lines of evidence suggest that host genetic factors influence the outcome of exposure to Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The aim of this study was to determine whether polymorphisms in interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) genes associate with the susceptibility or resistance to pulmonary tuberculosis in Korean. METHODS: IL-1beta and IL-1Ra gene polymorphism were investigated in 60 drug sensitive (DS) and 100 multidrug-resistant (MDR) pulmonary tuberculosis cases, and 96 healthy controls. IL-1beta-511/-31/+3954 and IL-1Ra genotype were determined by polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS: Allelic and genotypic frequencies of IL-1beta-511/-31/+3954 showed no significant difference in 3 groups. IL-1Ra allele 2 heterozygotes were less frequent in DS (p=0.03, OR=0.26, 95% CI 0.07 to 0.95) and MDR tuberculosis (p=0.008, OR=0.26, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.75) than controls, but there was no significant difference between DS and MDR tuberculosis (p=1.00). CONCLUSION: IL-1Ra allele 2 heterozygote may be associated with resistance to pulmonary tuberculosis in Korean. Further studies will be required to confirm whether these results are of biologic significance.
Alleles ; Genotype ; Heterozygote ; Humans ; Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein ; Interleukin-1* ; Interleukin-1beta* ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary*

BACKGROUND: The Fas antigen is a cell surface molecule that mediates apoptosis in many cell types. Matsues group indicated that keratinocytes constitutively express the Fas antigen and apoptosis was induced only on pretreatment with interferon-r (IFN-y) in cultured normal human keratinocytes (NHK). OBJECTIVE: We undertook this study to determine the induction of apoptosis by Fas antibody alone and/or in combination with IFN y, IL-1a in normal human keratinocytes (NHK) and transitional epithelioma cell lines (KB cell) which had lower levels of intracellular IL-1 receptor antago- nists (IL-1ra ). METHODS: We used cultured NHK and KB cells. Each cell was treated with IFN-r, IL-la and Fas antibody for induction of apoptosis. For quantifying the apoptosis, index fluorescent DNA- binding dyes were used. Result: Fas antibody alone could induce apoptosis not only in KB cells but also in NHK cells. The combination of Fas antibody and IFN-r enhanced the induction of apoptosis in NHK and KB cells. The IL-la alone could induce apoptosis only in KB cells which had relatively small amounts of IL-1ra compared to NHK. CONCLUSION: Our result may indicate that Fas antigen in human keratinocytes can regulate normal epidermal cellular differentiation and proliferation.
Antigens, CD95 ; Apoptosis* ; Carcinoma ; Cell Line ; Coloring Agents ; Humans* ; Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein ; Interleukin-1 ; Interleukin-1alpha ; KB Cells* ; Keratinocytes*

OBJECTIVES: The role of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the course of chronic otitis media with effusion (COME) has been documented. However, there are fewer studies on the action of anti-inflammatory cytokines in the middle ear. We sought determine whether there is an association between COME and anti-inflammatory cytokines and whether there are any differences in the cytokine profile in COME children with and without atopy. METHODS: Eighty-four children were divided into 3 groups: 32 nonatopic children with COME (group NA), 31 atopic children with COME (group A), and 21 children without COME and without atopy (control group C). Specimens from the middle ear were collected and evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for the cytokines interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) and immunoregulatory IL-10. RESULTS: Significantly higher IL-10 concentrations were found in both nonatopic and atopic children with COME compared to controls. No significant differences in IL-1Ra levels were found between atopic and nonatopic children with COME and the control group. CONCLUSION: We found no differences in the levels of IL-1Ra in atopic and nonatopic children with COME compared to controls. However, we found elevated IL-10 levels in the middle ear effusions from children with COME, with or without atopy. These elevated immunoregulatory cytokine levels suggest a role for new immunomodulatory treatments to prevent disease progression in COME, regardless of atopy.
Child* ; Cytokines ; Disease Progression ; Ear, Middle* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein ; Interleukin-1* ; Interleukin-10* ; Otitis Media with Effusion* ; Otitis Media* ; Otitis*

BACKGROUND: Chronic low grade inflammation is closely linked to type II diabetes, obesity, and atherosclerosis. Macrophages play a key role in the regulation of pro- or anti-inflammatory actions at the lesion sites of disease. Components of cordyceps militaris, cordycepin and adenosine, have been used for the modulation of inflammatory diseases. The effects of cordycepin in the modulation of macrophages have yet to be elucidated. We investigated the effects of cordycepin and adenosine on the morphological changes of macrophages under the inflammatory condition of LPS and an anti-inflammatory condition involving high concentrations of adenosine. METHODS: We confirmed the mRNA levels of the M1/M2 cytokine genes through RT-PCR and morphological change. RESULTS: LPS-activated macrophages returned to their inactivated original shape, i.e., they looked like naive macrophages, through the treatment with high concentrations of cordycepin (40 microgram/ml). LPS and adenosine activated macrophages also returned to their original inactivated shapes after cordycepin treatment; however, at relatively higher levels of cordycepin than adenosine. This change did not occur with relatively low concentrations of cordycepin. Adenosine down-regulated the gene expression of M1 cytokines (IL-1beta, TNF-alpha) and chemokines (CX3CR1, RANTES), as well as cordycepin. Additionally, M2 cytokines (IL-10, IL-1ra, TGF-beta) were up-regulated by both cordycepin and adenosine. CONCLUSION: Based on these observations, both cordycepin and adenosine regulated the phenotypic switch on macrophages and suggested that cordycepin and adenosine may potentially be used as immunomodulatory agents in the treatment of inflammatory disease.
Adenosine ; Atherosclerosis ; Chemokines ; Cordyceps ; Cytokines ; Deoxyadenosines ; Gene Expression ; Inflammation ; Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein ; Macrophages ; Obesity ; RNA, Messenger

BACKGROUND: Psoriasis is an inflammatory skin disorder that is characterized by a marked proliferation of keratinocytes, vascular dilation and leukocyte infiltration. Cytokines play important roles in the pathogenesis of inflammatory disorders. An overexpression of proinflammatory cytokines was characterized in psoriasis plaque. Among these cytokines, IL-1beta is major pro-inflammatory cytokine synthesized during the infection and inflammatory process. The IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra) competes for the same IL-1 receptor for IL-1alpha and -1beta, which prevents activation of the target cells. Three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the IL-1beta gene have been reported at position-31, -511 and +3954. Within the IL-1Ra gene (IL-1RN), there is a variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) of an 86 bp length in intron 2. These polymorphisms related to cytokine production and associated with various diseases. METHODS: We investigated the polymorphisms of IL-1B (promoter -511 and +3954) and IL-1RN on 114 psoriasis patients and -311 healthy normal controls in Korean. We performed PCR-RFLP on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of IL-1B (promoter -511 and +3954) and fragment analysis on IL-1RN 86 bp VNTR polymorphism. RESULTS: The frequency of IL-1B-511*1 allele (patients vs. controls; 50.0% vs. 42.3%, RR=1.4) was significantly increased and IL-1B -511*2 allele (patients vs. controls; 50.0% vs. 57.7%, RR=0.7) decreased in psoriasis patients compared to normal controls. We also analyzed the IL-1B -511 polymorphism according to patients' characters (age of onset, sex and family history). The IL-1B -511 alleles were significantly associated in patients with male and family history than health normal controls. There were no significant associations of IL-1B +3954 and IL-1RN polymorphisms with psoriasis patients. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the polymorphism of IL-1B -511 could be genetic susceptibility to psoriasis in Koreans.
Alleles ; Cytokines ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Humans ; Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein ; Interleukin-1 ; Introns ; Keratinocytes ; Leukocytes ; Male ; Minisatellite Repeats ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Psoriasis* ; Skin

Adult onset Still's disease (AOSD) is a systemic autoinflammatory disorder that presents with recurrent fever, extreme fatigue, and joint pain. Pulmonary involvement is not uncommon and, although rare, severe pneumonitis can progress to respiratory failure. Still's disease-associated pneumonitis is generally treated with immunosuppressive agents, but improvement in our understanding of systemic inflammatory processes led us to explore alternative agents. Anakinra is an interleukin-1 receptor antagonist used to treat autoinflammatory disorders resistant to immunosuppressive therapy. Several case reports have demonstrated efficacy of anakinra in treating AOSD, but its relevance in cases complicated with severe pneumonitis has not been examined. Our patient's disease activity was not controlled with systemic steroids and cyclophosphamide. Treatment with anakinra led to a dramatic clinical response. This is the first reported case of AOSD with severe pneumonitis refractory to conventional therapy successfully treated with anakinra.
Arthralgia ; Cyclophosphamide ; Fatigue ; Fever ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Interleukin 1 Receptor Antagonist Protein* ; Interleukin-1 ; Pneumonia* ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Steroids ; Still's Disease, Adult-Onset*