Ryoichi Nakazawa, MD, Department of Nephrology, Tokatsu Clinic Hospital, 822 Hinokuchi, Matsudo 271 (Japan) Dear Sir Endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) exists in the dialysate and is closely associated with the pathophysiology of dialysis-related amyloidosis [1]. LPS binds to LPS-binding protein (LBP), and the complex binds to CD 14 on the surface of mature monocytes. CD 14, the receptor of th...

BACKGROUND Breast milk contains many immunomodulatory factors (soluble CD14 (sCD14), IgA and cytokines) with the potential to influence infant immune development. OBJECTIVE To determine if changes in breast milk omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (n-3 PUFA) composition as a result of maternal dietary fish oil supplementation during pregnancy can modify levels of these immunological parameters...

OBJECTIVE To assess impact of probiotics and breastfeeding on gut microecology. STUDY DESIGN Mothers were randomized to receive placebo or Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG before delivery, with treatment of the infants after delivery. We assessed gut microbiota, humoral immune responses, and measured soluble cluster of differentiation 14 (sCD14) in colostrum in 96 infants. RESULTS Fecal Bifidobac...

Background Disease progression is rapid in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected infants. Whether intestinal damage and inflammation underlie mortality is unknown. Methods We measured plasma intestinal fatty acid binding protein (I-FABP), soluble CD14 (sCD14), interleukin 6 (IL-6), and C-reactive protein (CRP) at 6 weeks and 6 months of age in 272 HIV-infected infants who either died (c...

The soluble form of the endotoxin receptor CD14 is required for the LPS-induced activation of cells lacking membrane-bound CD14. It has been shown that a deletion mutant of human CD14 consisting of the N-terminal 152 amino acids has the capacity to mediate the stimulation of different cell types by LPS. To identify the structural domains of the molecule related to this functional property, we s...

Bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induces activation of the transcription factor nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) in host cells upon infection. LPS binds to the glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)- anchored membrane protein CD14, which lacks an intracellular signaling domain. Here we investigated the role of mammalian Toll-like receptors (TLRs) as signal transducers for LPS. Overexpression of ...

INTRODUCTION TLR7/8 and TLR9 signaling pathways have been extensively studied in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) as possible mediators of disease. Monocytes are a major source of pro-inflammatory cytokines and are understudied in SLE. In the current project, we investigated sex differences in monocyte activation and its implications in SLE disease pathogenesis. METHODS Human blood samples ...

OBJECTIVE Up to now, little was known about the immunological changes of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients treated with direct-acting antiviral agents (DAAs); we try to explore the effect of DAAs on the frequency of monocytes, NK cells, and cytokines that promote their activation. METHODS 15 treatment-naive CHC patients and 10 healthy controls were recruited. Patients were examined before DA...

OBJECTIVE The aim of this pilot study was to determine clinical and laboratory factors that predict amputation surgery and to evaluate the predictive value of soluble CD14 (sCD14), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and procalcitonin (PCT) in patients with diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs). METHODS Twenty-seven (20 males, 7 females) Diabetic Foot Ulcers (DFU) patients admitted to our department were consecutive...

Postpartum metritis in mares is a life-threatening condition associated with severe clinical signs due to endotoxemia, and it often followed by complications such as laminitis. Repeated large-volume uterine lavages are commonly recommended part of the treatment protocol remove endotoxin-laden contents from uterus. It has, however, also been suggested that may increase uptake endotoxin into circ...