Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cells are known to constitutively overexpress cyclooxygenase (COX)-2. Tumor COX-2-dependent production of PGE2 triggers the synthesis of lymphocyte and macrophage interleukin (IL)-10 that, in turn, is known to potently suppress COX-2 in normal cells. Thus, we investigated the capacity of IL-10 to down-regulate COX-2 expression in NSCLC cells. Western blotting ...

In order to determine if mononuclear cells may be secreting factors capable of modulating fibroblast growth, the in vitro proliferative response of fibroblasts to cytokines known to be secreted by mononuclear cells was measured, using both growth arrested and proliferating cells. Of the cytokines tested, which included interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-2 (IL-2), interleukin-3 (IL-3), interleuki...

Although the beta2-adrenergic receptor (beta2AR) is the most extensively characterized G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR), the effects of beta-agonists on T-cell subtype function remain poorly understood. In contrast to studies suggesting lack of beta2AR expression on type 2 T cells, we demonstrate that type 2 interleukin-13+ (IL-13+) T cells (CD4+ or CD8+) in human peripheral blood lymphocytes ...

Westover AJ, Hooper SB, Wallace MJ, Moss TJM. Prostaglandins mediate the fetal pulmonary response to intrauterine inflammation. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 302: L664–L678, 2012. First published January 27, 2012; doi:10.1152/ajplung.00297.2011.— Intra-amniotic (IA) lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induces intrauterine and fetal lung inflammation and increases lung surfactant and compliance in pre...

Bordetella bronchiseptica is a Gram-negative bacterium equipped with several colonization factors that allow it to establish a persistent infection of the murine respiratory tract. Previous studies indicate that B. bronchiseptica adenylate cyclase toxin (ACT) and the type III secretion system (TTSS) synergize to drive dendritic cells into an altered phenotype to down-regulate the host immune re...

We have recently reported that in astrocytoma cells the expression of interleukin-8 (IL-8) is upregulated by prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Unfortunately, the exact mechanism by which this happens has not been clarified yet. Here, we have investigated whether IL-8 activation by PGE2 involves changes in DNA methylation and/or histone modifications in 46 astrocytoma specimens, two astrocytoma cell line...

Prostaglandins (PGs) cause uterine contraction to initiate labor at term. We investigated the effect of progesterone and 17beta-estradiol on the production of PGE2 in rabbit uterine cervical fibroblasts. When the cervical fibroblasts were treated with interleukin-1alpha (IL-1alpha), the level of PGE2 was augmented in a time- and dose-dependent manner. The IL-1alpha-augmented PGE2 level was almo...

Skin injuries such as wounds or burns following whole-body γ-irradiation (radiation combined injury (RCI)) increase mortality more than whole-body γ-irradiation alone. Wound-induced decreases in survival after irradiation are triggered by sustained activation of inducible nitric oxide synthase pathways, persistent alteration of cytokine homeostasis, and increased susceptibility to systemic bact...

Prostaglandins (PGs) derived from inducible cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 are important proinflammatory mediators of the host-immune response to infection. Since the role of host-derived PG in human malaria is unknown, plasma bicyclo-PGE2 (a stable catabolite of PGE2), peripheral blood mononuclear cell COX-2 protein, and mRNA were measured in Gabonese children with and without malaria (n=129). Relativ...