Delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), the psychoactive component of marijuana, is known to suppress the immune responses to bacterial, viral and protozoan infections, but its effects on fungal infections have not been studied. Therefore, we investigated the effects of chronic Δ9-THC treatment on mouse resistance to systemic Candida albicans (C. albicans) infection. To determine the outcome of ...

Andrographolide has been reported to possess a variety of pharmacological activities. In this study, we have investigated the effect of andrographolide on the production of TNF-alpha and IL-12 (Interleukin-12) in murine peritoneal macrophages. Andrographolide decreased TNF-alpha, IL-12a and IL-12b at mRNA level, and reduced the production of TNF-alpha and IL-12p70 proteins in a concentration-de...

Infection by Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) causes serious sepsis and meningitis leading to mortality in neonates. This work explored the ability of CD11c(high) lineage DCs to induce CD8+ T-cell immune protection against Lm in mice before 7 days of life, a period symbolized by the absence of murine IL-12p70-producing CD11c(high)CD8α+ dendritic cells (DCs). We characterized a dominant functional Ba...

BACKGROUND We studied on the anti-tumour effects of recently cloned cytokine interleukin-12 (IL-12) for murine renal cell carcinoma (RC-2) with special reference to the difference of its activity based upon the different method of administration. MATERIALS AND METHODS Ten days after RC-2 inoculation to subcutaneous of BALB/C mice, the recombinant murine IL-12 (rMu-IL-12 was administered (0.5 ...

The aim of study was to investigate the association between serum levels of IL-12p40 and IL-10 and progression of the colorectal cancer (CRC). Be observed an association between severity of CRC and serum levels of investigated cytokines. IL-12p40 was in the highest level in stage-I (423.6 +/- 224.7 pg/ml) compared to more severe stages. In the opposite direction were the data for immunosuppress...

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic multisystem autoimmune disease common in all races and ethnics. Cytokines and cytokines receptors play an important role in RA pathogenesis and clinical presentation. Objective: To investigate the serum levels of TNF-α, TNF-α RI, TNF-α RII and IL-12 in RA patients and healthy control group. Methods: In this study 43 patients fulfilling the revi...