Inflammatory cells, such as eosinophils, seem to be key players in the inflammatory process of asthma. These cells are attracted by chemokines, for example eotaxin and monocyte chemotactic protein (MCP-1). In this study, the authors investigated whether eotaxin and MCP-1 expression and release in human airway smooth muscle cells could be modulated by an increase in intracellular cyclic adenosin...

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The purpose of this study was (1) to examine the contribution of microglia and macrophages with their interleukin-1beta production and (2) to assess the vulnerability and response of oligodendrocytes in cerebral infarction. METHODS Male Wistar rats were subjected to permanent occlusion of the left middle cerebral artery. Expansion of ischemic infarction and response of ...

PURPOSE To examine the effects of interleukin (IL)-1beta on the resistance and permeability of the tight junctions of cultured retinal pigment epithelial cells. METHODS A human RPE cell line (ARPE-19) cultured on microporous filter-supports was used. IL-1beta and monoclonal anti-IL-1beta antibody-treated IL-1beta (mAbIL-1beta) were added to the standard culture medium. Transepithelial resista...

Pneumolysin-deficient mutant strains of Streptococcus pneumoniae are known to cause less-severe sepsis than wild-type pneumococcal strains that produce pneumolysin. This difference is associated with greater host resistance in mice infected with the pneumolysin-deficient strains. These studies show that the host resistance developed during the first 1 to 2 days after infection with a pneumolysi...

Although interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) is well known to modulate synaptic transmission and plasticity of the hippocampus, no study has yet evaluated how this cytokine affects long-term depression (LTD), one of the major forms of hippocampal synaptic plasticity. Here we report that at Schaffer collateral-CA1 synapses, bath application of IL-1beta induces a long-lasting decrease in synaptic streng...

Caspase-1 (Casp-1) mediates the processing of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) and IL-18 to their mature forms. Casp-1-deficient mice succumb more rapidly to Salmonella challenge than do wild-type animals. Both Casp-1 substrates, IL-18 and IL-1beta, are relevant for control of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. We used IL-18-/- and IL-1beta-/- mice in addition to...

Interleukin (IL)-1beta mRNA expression in the liver and spleen was examined after subjection to oscillation stress in the rat. Thirty-minute subjection to oscillation stress increased IL-1beta mRNA expression in the both organs. Prior treatment of rats with gadolinium chloride, which eliminates macrophages, prevented the stress-induced IL-1beta expression. Either adrenalectomy or treatment of g...