Effects of Electroacupuncture at Shangjuxu (ST 37) on Interleukin-1β and Interleukin-4 in the Ulcerative Colitis Model Rats

Interleukin-17 Serum Levels and TLR4 Polymorphisms in Ulcerative Colitis

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease, an autoimmune disease, has two clinical manifestations including Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis (UC). IL-17 has been the target of intensive research in autoimmune diseases. The influence of Toll like receptor 4 (TLR-4) gene polymorphisms on IL-17 production has also been revealed in UC patients and tissue inflammation in mice. Objectives: To inve...

Serum Interleukin-23 Levels in Patients with Ulcerative Colitis

Background: Patients with ulcerative colitis are at increased risk of inflammation. Interleukin 23 (IL-23) is a newly identified cytokine with increased expression in inflamed biopsies of colon mucosa in patients with Crohn's disease; however, there is inconsistent evidence on its role in ulcerative colitis. Objective: We aimed to compare serum IL-23 level in patients with ulcerative colitis an...

Interleukin 1 in ulcerative colitis.

Electroacupuncture at acupoint ST 37(Shangjuxu) improves function of the enteric nervous system in a novel mouse constipation model

BACKGROUND Electroacupuncture (EA) at acupoint ST 37 (Shangjuxu) has been used to alleviate gastrointestinal symptoms and improve gastrointestinal motility. However, the mechanisms by which EA affects the enteric nervous system (ENS) have scarcely been investigated. In this study, we investigated whether EA could improve ENS function. METHODS A constipation model was established by gastric in...

Soluble interleukin-2 receptors in ulcerative colitis

T-Cell activation results in the release or shedding of a soluble form (45 kDa) of the cellular (55 kDa) low-affinity interleukin-2 receptor (alpha-chain) (slL-2R). The present study was performed to investigate if the serum concentration of sIL-2R is a marker of disease activity in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), a chronic inflammatory bowel disease. Twenty-seven UC patients (about half...