Although increased concentrations of plasma inflammatory markers are not one of the criteria to diagnose the metabolic syndrome, low-grade systemic inflammation is receiving large attention as a metabolic syndrome component and cardiovascular risk factor. As several epidemiological studies have suggested a negative relationship between low-fat dairy consumption and the metabolic syndrome, we de...

BACKGROUND Two receptors that contain the so-called "death domain' have been described to date: tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (TNFR1) and Fas/Apo-1 (CD95); both belong to the TNFR gene family. The death domain of TNFR1 mediates the activation of programmed cell death (apoptosis) and of the transcription factor NF-kappa B, whereas the death domain of CD95 only appears to activate apoptosis. ...

Background & Aims: TNF has been implicated in the progression of many chronic liver diseases leading to fibrosis; however, the specific contribution of TNF or its receptors, TNF-R1 and TNF-R2, to HSC activation remains to be established. Methods: We have isolated hepatic stellate cells (HSC) from wild-type, and TNF-Receptors 1 (TNFR1), 2 (TNFR2), and double (TNFR-DKO) knockout mice, and culture...

Murine exposure to silica is associated with enhanced tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) expression and matrix deposition. The regulation of TNF is mediated through TNF receptor (TNFR) activation of transcription factors. In the present work we have studied the importance of the individual TNFR in silica-induced lung inflammation and matrix deposition in mice. We studied RNA expression of ...

CD40-CD40L blockade has potent immunosuppressive effects in cardiac allograft rejection but is less effective in the presence of inflammatory signals. To better understand the factors that mediate CD40-CD40L blockade-resistant rejection, we studied the effects of stimulation through glucocorticoid-induced TNFR-related protein (GITR), a costimulatory protein expressed by regulatory and effector ...

TNF is an important mediator of glomerulonephritis. The two TNF-receptors TNFR1 and TNFR2 contribute differently to glomerular inflammation in vivo, but specific mechanisms of TNFR-mediated inflammatory responses in glomeruli are unknown. We investigated their expression and function in murine kidneys, isolated glomeruli ex vivo, and glomerular cells in vitro. In normal kidney TNFR1 and TNFR2 w...

AIMS To examine the association of the serum levels of TNF receptors, adhesion molecules, and inflammatory mediators with diabetic retinopathy (DR) in T1D patients. METHODS Using the multiplex immunoassay, we measured serum levels of eight proteins in 678 T1D subjects aged 20-75 years. Comparisons were made between 482 T1D patients with no complications and 196 T1D patients with DR. RESULTS...