Phagocytosis or endocytosis by macrophages is critical to the uptake of fine particles, including nanoparticles, in order to initiate toxic effects in cells. Here, our data enhance the understanding of the process of internalization of silver nanoparticles by macrophages. When macrophages were pre-treated with inhibitors to phagocytosis, caveolin-mediated endocytosis, or clathrin-mediated endocytosis, prior to exposure to silver nanoparticles, Interleukin-8 (IL-8) production was inhibited. Although cell death was not reduced, the inflammatory response by macrophages was compromised by phagocytosis and endocytosis inhibitors.
Cell Line ; Cell Survival/drug effects ; Endocytosis/*physiology ; Humans ; Interleukin-8/*metabolism ; Macrophages/drug effects/*metabolism ; Metal Nanoparticles/*chemistry ; Phagocytosis/*physiology ; Silver/*chemistry/pharmacology

In modern medicine the resistance to conventional antibiotics is becoming a serious concern due to high instances of mortality. Several metallic nanoparticles are suggested as promising anti-microbial agents against multidrug-resistant bacteria and some viruses. Among the nanoparticles mentioned, we review the recent finding which demonstrate the impact of silver nanoparticles on antimicrobial activities and recommend them as a potential candidate for restraining infections.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Anti-Infective Agents ; Bacteria ; History, Modern 1601- ; Metal Nanoparticles ; Nanoparticles ; Silver

Silica nanoparticles, which are applicable in many industrial fields, have been reported to induce cellular changes such as cytotoxicity in various cells and fibrosis in lungs. Because the immune system is the primary targeting organ reacting to internalized exogenous nanoparticles, we tried to figure out the immunostimulatory effect of silica nanoparticles in macrophages using differently sized silica nanoparticles. Using U937 cells we assessed cytotoxicity by CCK-8 assay, ROS generation by CM-H2DCFDA, intracellular Ca++ levels by staining with Fluo4-AM and IL-8 production by ELISA. At non-toxic concentration, the intracellular Ca++ level has increased immediately after exposure to 15 nm particles, not to larger particles. ROS generation was detected significantly in response to 15 nm particles. However, all three different sizes of silica nanoparticles induced IL-8 production. 15 nm silica nanoparticles are more stimulatory than larger particles in cytotoxicity, intracellular Ca++ increase and ROS generation. But IL-8 production was induced to same levels with 50 or 100 nm particles. Therefore, IL-8 production induced by silica nanoparticles may be dependent on other mechanisms rather than intracellular Ca++ increase and ROS generation.
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Fibrosis ; Immune System ; Interleukin-8 ; Lung ; Macrophages ; Nanoparticles ; Silicon Dioxide ; Sincalide ; U937 Cells

Since CKD-712 has been developed as an anti-inflammatory agent, we examined the effect of CKD-712 during TLR4 signaling. Using HEK293 cells expressing TLR4, CKD-712 was pre-treated 1 hr before LPS stimulation. Activation of NF-kappaB was assessed by promoter assay. The activation of ERK, JNK, p38, IRF3 and Akt was measured by western blotting. CKD-712 inhibited the NF-kappaB signaling triggered by LPS. The activation of ERK, JNK, p38 or IRF3 was not inhibited by CKD-712. On the contrary the activation of these molecules was augmented slightly. The activation of Akt with stimulation of LPS was also enhanced with CKD-712 pre-treatment at lower concentration, but was inhibited at higher concentration. We suggest that during TLR4 signaling CKD-712 inhibits NF-kappaB activation. However, CKD-712 augmented the activation of Akt as well as Map kinases. Therefore, we suggest that CKD-712 might have a role as an immunomodulator.
Blotting, Western ; HEK293 Cells ; NF-kappa B ; Phosphotransferases ; Tetrahydroisoquinolines

Toll-like receptor (TLR) 3 is a member of the TLR family that confers innate immunity by recognizing viral pathogens. Herein, we report that the TLR3 isoform is expressed on human primary cells and cell lines. This isoform has 2, 520 bp cDNAs compared to the 2, 712 bp of full cDNA, is produced by deletion of an intron-like sequence within exon 4 and is co-expressed with wild type TLR3 in primary human astrocytes and glioblastoma cell lines. This finding suggests the TLR3 isoform in astrocytes may have a different immunological role for binding ligands during the immune response in brain.
Astrocytes/*physiology ; Cloning, Molecular ; Human ; Isomerism ; Membrane Glycoproteins/chemistry/*genetics ; Receptors, Cell Surface/chemistry/*genetics ; Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

BACKGROUND: One method for achieving medical practice to be more evident, especially in the field of primary care, is to encourage the use of clinical guidelines. If development of guidelines is difficult because of time and cost, an evidence based foreign guidelines can be selected and translated into Korean for application. METHODS: A team was formed, consisting of 11 family physician experts on evidence based medicine and clinical practice guidelines. We selected six respiratory diseases requiring clinical guidelines because of variability in practice. We searched several clinical practice guideline databases and selected one guideline according to currency, scope of guideline, whether it was evidence based, and its feasibility in the field of primay care. We translated selected guideline's full-texts or summaries which were done by authorized organization into Korean. RESULTS: The selected respiratory diseases were chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, pneumonia, sinusitis, rhinitis, and influenza. According to criterion, we selected GOLD (Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease) for chronic obstructive lung disease, GINA (Global initiative for asthma) for asthma, CDC (Center for disease control) guideline for influenza, IDSA (Infectious Diseases Society of America) guideline for pneumonia, AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) guideline for sinusitis, and JCAAI (Joint Council of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology) for rhinitis. CONCLUSION: We selected six common respiratory diseases and the most appropriate evidence based guidelines for those particular diseases.
Asthma ; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.) ; Evidence-Based Medicine ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Influenza, Human ; Lung ; Physicians, Family ; Physicians, Primary Care* ; Pneumonia ; Primary Health Care ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; Rhinitis ; Sinusitis

165Dy Hydroxide Macroaggregates(165Dy HMA) has a short half life(2.3 hours) and a size range of 3-5µm that give the advantage of reduced leakage and a shorter hospital stay. This report will show the results of a prospective open study on the efficacy and safety of 165Dy HMA in 178 knees of 141 patients with chronic synovitis refractory to conventional antirheumatic therapy. The final global assessment was classified as good, fair or poor. Extra-articular leakage of 165Dy HMA was determined by the scintigraphic evaluation of liver, groin and knee joints. The optimum radiation dose was 250 mCi. The mean follow up periods were 32.4(14-112) weeks. Thirty seven percent of the knees showed good results, 48% fair results and 15% poor results. In the knees with stage I radiographic changes, 82% showed improvement including 32% of the patients with good results. In the knees with stage II radiographic changes, 90% showed improvement including 42% of the patients with good results. The mean period of improvement for the 158 knees that responded to treatment was 41.4(24-106) weeks. Leakage of radioactivity from the injected joint was minimal. Adverse reactions were rare(radiation burn : 4 cases, transient postinjection swelling : 14 cases). In conclusion, 165Dy HMA radiation synovectomy is a safe and useful therapy for chromic synovitis of the rheumatoid knees.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Burns ; Follow-Up Studies ; Groin ; Humans ; Injections, Intra-Articular ; Joints ; Knee Joint ; Knee ; Length of Stay ; Liver ; Prospective Studies ; Radioactivity ; Synovitis