The interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (IL1Ra) family of molecules now includes one secreted isoform (sIL1Ra) and three intracellular isoforms (icIL1Ra1, 2, and 3). Extensive evidence indicates that the sole biological function of sIL1Ra seems to be to competitively inhibit IL1 binding to cell-surface receptors. Although intracellular IL1Ra1 may be released from keratinocytes under some conditio...

To analyze the protective effect and mechanism of beta-asarone from Acorus tatarinowii on neuron injury in rats with Parkinson's disease. Thirty five male Sprague Dawley were randomly selected to establish rat model The divided into 5 groups as sham operation group, low dose medium group high betaasarone 7 each group. Rats injected same amount normal saline, while middle 10 mg/kg, 20 mg/kg 40 r...

In a recent study from our group, the combination of methotrexate and sulphasalazine (MTX + SASP) seemed superior to MTX alone in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). To assess the impact of these therapies on the cytokine cascade, the in vitro production and circulating concentrations of several cytokines and endogenous cytokine antagonists were measured in 30 healthy controls and longi...

BACKGROUND Increased transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF beta) expression in the kidney is central not only to the pathogenesis of tubulointerstitial fibrosis but also in repair following acute injury. Recent work suggests that pro-inflammatory cytokines may determine epithelial cell responses to TGF beta in the contexts of acute injury and chronic wounding. METHODS In this study, we exami...

Interleukin 1 induced proteoglycan loss from cartilage in vitro was prevented by a biochemical inhibitor of metalloproteinase activity. The inhibitor also partially relieved the inhibition of proteoglycan synthesis caused by interleukin 1. The loss of glycosaminoglycan by rat and human femoral head cartilage in response to human recombinant interleukin 1 beta (rhIL-1 beta) was established, and ...

OBJECTIVES To determine whether fibroblasts from patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) produce excessive amounts of endothelin-1 (ET-1), which is recognised as having vasoconstrictive properties and as having a potent mitogenic effect on fibroblasts. METHODS Dermal fibroblasts were removed from 11 patients with SSc and from five normal controls (NC). The assay of ET-1 protein was measured by...