The onset of infections by Leishmania parasites mainly caused by amastigote growth inside the macrophages. One of the important properties of lesion-derived amastigote is thought to be the attachment of various host proteins including immunoglobulins on the surface of amastigote. In this study, the presence of immunoglobulins on the surface of lesion-derived amastigotes was detected by Western ...

objective(s) shark liver oil (slo) is an immunomodulator. macrophages play a key role in host defense against pathogens like fungi. candida albicans have mechanisms to escape immune system. we determined the effect of killed-candida on the in vitro viability of macrophages and the effect of slo on augmentation of this potency. materials and methods peritoneal macrophages were separated and cult...

We hypothesize that selected combinations of nutrients commonly encountered in the human diet, suppress asthma-associated airway inflammation more effectively than currently available anti-inflammatory medications. Here we demonstrate that biflavones and terpenes, distributed widely in human diet (in this case derived from Ginkgo biloba) synergize with the carotenoid antioxidant astaxanthin and...

Human peripheral blood monocytes have been found to undergo a transitory state of high accessory activity before they fully become macrophages. Time kinetics were done to follow this accessory potential. Studying the regulation of accessory activity, we have found that monocyte derived accessory cells (m-AC) pass through two phases of development, both of which are adversely controlled by ...

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a ubiquitous adrenal hormone with immunomodulatory effects such as inhibition of the production of monokines. Whether DHEA itself or the downstream steroids are the immunomodulatory effector hormones in target cells is not known. In this study, we investigated the conversion of DHEA to downstream steroid hormones in target macrophages. Within 1 day of culture wi...

The uptake of lipoproteins by macrophages is a critical step in the development of atherosclerotic lesions. Cultured monocyte-derived macrophages take up large amounts of native LDL by receptor-independent fluid-phase pinocytosis, either constitutively or in response to specific activating stimuli, depending on the macrophage phenotype. We therefore sought to determine whether fluid-phase pinoc...

Campylobacter jejuni is the leading cause of bacterial food-borne gastroenteritis worldwide and human infections are frequently associated with handling and consumption of contaminated poultry. The polysaccharide capsule of C. jejuni plays important roles in colonisation of the chicken gut, invasion of epithelial cells and serum resistance and is subject to modification with O-methyl phosphoram...

PURPOSE To examine whether ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) has a chemotactic effect on macrophages and whether macrophages are involved in CNTF-induced retinal ganglion cell (RGC) survival and axonal regeneration after optic nerve (ON) injury. METHODS Adult Fischer 344 rats received an autologous peripheral nerve graft onto transected ON for injured axons to grow. CNTF was applied intravit...

The domestic pig is an important agricultural animal, and thus, infectious diseases that affect pigs can cause severe economic losses in the global swine industry. Various porcine pathogens target macrophages, which are classical innate immune cells. Although macrophages basically protect the host from pathogens, they also seem to contribute to infectious processes. Therefore, cultured macropha...

Atherosclerosis is characterized by a chronic inflammatory disease, and chemokines play an important role in both initiation and progression of atherosclerosis development. Leukotactin-1 (Lkn-1/CCL15), a new member of the human CC chemokine family, is a potent chemoattractant for leukocytes. Our previous study has demonstrated that Lkn-1/CCL15 plays a role in the initiation of atherosclerosis, ...