PE/PPE family proteins, named after their conserved PE (Pro-Glu) and PPE (Pro-Pro-Glu) domains of N-terminal, are most intriguing aspects of pathologic mycobacterial genome. The roles of most members of this family remain unknown, although selected genes of this family are related to the virulence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In order to decipher the role of Rv1169c, the Mycobacterium smegmat...

A key role in the communication between the alphabetaTCR and the CD3/zeta complex is played by a specific motif within the connecting peptide domain of the TCR alpha chain (alpha-CPM). T cell hybridomas expressing an alpha-CPM-mutated TCR show a dramatic impairment in antigen-driven interleukin-2 production. This defect can be complemented by a calcium ionophore, indicating that activation of t...

BACKGROUND Considering the existence of controversies about the predictive value of inflammatory markers for cardiovascular disease (CVD), we aimed to compare the level of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and interlukin-6 (IL-6) level in chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients with and without CVD. MATERIALS AND METHODS In this historical cohort study, HD patients with and without CVD ...

OBJECTIVES Endothelial disturbance and excess inflammatory response are pathogenic mechanisms in pre-eclampsia (PE). Authors determine the clinical diagnostic role for thrombomodulin (TM), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) as endothelial markers and C-reactive protein (CRP), and interlukin-6 (IL-6) as inflammatory markers when tested independently or in combinations. MATERIALS AND MET...

A study was made to observe the association between the resistance to reinfection induced by irradiated metacercariae (MC) of Clonorchis sinensis and antigen specific Th1- and Th2-type cytokine productions in rats. Rats were infected with 20 MC of C. sinensis, previously exposed to a single dose of gamma irradiation, which varied from 0 to 100 Gy. All of them, single dose of 12 Gy showed higher...

The aim of the present study is to investigate the possible protective effect of dry olive leaf extract (OLE) against acetic acid-induced ulcerative colitis in rats, as well as the probable modulatory effect of nitrergic and opioidergic systems on this protective impact. Olive leaf extract was administered (250, 500 and 750 mg/kg) orally for two successive days, starting from the colitis induct...

OBJECTIVES Hypertension is characterized by systemic high blood pressure and is the most common and important risk factor for the development of cardiovascular diseases. Studies have shown that the circulating levels of certain inflammatory markers such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interlukin-6 (IL-6), c-reactive protein (CRP), and tumor suppressor protein-53 (p53) are upregulate...

The α7 subtype of nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) plays a role in the inflammation which is implicated in depression. This study was undertaken to examine the role of α7 nAChR in depression using α7 nAChR knock-out (KO) mice. Serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-α and interlukin-1β in KO mice were higher than wild-type mice, suggesting an inflammatory process in KO mice. α7 nAChR KO m...

Cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and COX-1 play an important role in prostacyclin production in vessels and participate in maintaining vascular homeostasis. Statins are inhibitors of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG CoA) reductase, which is crucial in cholesterol biosynthesis. Recently, cholesterol-independent effects of statins have been described. In this study, we evaluated the effect of two...

Distribution and characterization of interlukin-10 (IL-10)-secreting cells in lymphoid tissues of pigs naturally infected with porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) were evaluated in accordance with PCV2 antigen detection. After screening a total of 56 pigs showing the symptoms of postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS), 15 pigs were PCV2 positive and 5 pigs, which showed stronger positive...