IL-27, a member of the IL-12 family, plays a critical role in the control of innate and adaptive immune responses. IFN-λ1, a member of the type III IFN family, shows antiviral abilities. In this study, we investigated the effects of IL-27 and IFN-λ1 on the replication of hepatitis B virus (HBV), a major pathogen associated with a high risk for cirrhosis, liver failure, and hepatocellular carcin...

We have examined the mechanisms of activation of macrophages (Møs) induced by i.p. allografted Meth A tumor cells (Meth A-Møs) during the rejection of the cells by C57BL/6 mice. Inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase (iNOS), interleukin-12 (IL-12), and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)-inducing factor (IGIF) were transiently expressed in Meth A-Møs during the rejection. The expression was impaired in ...

Gamma interferon (IFN-gamma) has been proposed to play an important role in Helicobacter-related gastritis. Using the IFN-gamma gene knockout (IFN-gamma(-/-)) mouse model and a murine gastric epithelial cell line, GSM06, we demonstrated that Helicobacter pylori maximally induced macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) mRNA only in wild-type mice. MIP...

The mechanism of development of host resistance to blood-stage malarial infection was studied by use of an irradiation-induced attenuated variant, Plasmodium berghei XAT, obtained from a lethal strain, P. berghei NK65. The infection enhanced mRNA expression of interleukin (IL)-12 p40 and also of interferon (IFN)-gamma, IL-4, IL-10, and cytokine-inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in spleen. ...

During a blood meal, Lutzomyia intermedia sand flies transmit Leishmania braziliensis, a parasite causing tegumentary leishmaniasis. In experimental leishmaniasis, pre-exposure to saliva of most blood-feeding sand flies results in parasite establishment in absence of any skin damages in mice challenged with dermotropic Leishmania species together with saliva. In contrast, pre-immunization with ...

Obese individuals often have low plasma adiponectin and concomitant chronic inflammation with a predisposition to metabolic and cardiovascular diseases. The present study reports a novel antiinflammatory action of adiponectin in human monocyte-derived macrophages (MPhi) suppressing T-lymphocyte accumulation in atherogenesis. RNA profiling of lipopolysaccharide-stimulated human MPhi identified C...

The Th2-type cytokines, interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-13 (IL-13), induce expression of a distinct subset of genes in human monocytes, including FcepsilonRIIb (CD23), 15-lipoxygenase, IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), and type I and type II IL-1 receptors (IL-1R). Type I interferons (IFN-alpha and IFN-beta) and type II interferon (IFN-gamma) inhibit induction of these genes by IL-4 and I...

Objective(s) Although, type 2 diabetes is the most frequent type of diabetes, its main cause is yet to be clarified. Several environmental and genetic parameters are believed to be involved in diabetes. It has also been established that cytokines play key roles in pathogenesis of diabetes. Expression of cytokines is different from person to person and in different societies. Several studies sh...