Physical exercise triggers the release of several cytokines/chemokines from working skeletal muscles, but the underlying mechanism(s) by which skeletal muscles decipher and respond to highly complex contractile stimuli remains largely unknown. In an effort to investigate the regulatory mechanisms of the expressions of two contraction-inducible CXC chemokines, CXCL1/KC and CXCL5/LIX, in contract...

BACKGROUND A number of studies have suggested that angiotensin II (AII) receptor type 1 (ATR1) blocking drugs (ARBs) have anti-inflammatory effects however the mechanisms responsible are poorly investigated. OBJECTIVE To determine the role of extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK)1/2 in ARB induced anti-inflammatory effects within human carotid atherosclerosis. METHODS Atheroma samples...

Aside from its mechanical barrier function, bronchial epithelium plays an important role both in the host defense and in the pathogenesis of inflammatory airway disorders. To investigate its role in lung defense, the effect of a bacterial cell wall protein, the outer membrane protein A from Klebsiella pneumoniae (kpOmpA) on bronchial epithelial cells (BEC) was evaluated on adhesion molecule exp...

Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is caused byMycobacterium tuberculosis in susceptible humans. Here, we infected Diversity Outbred (DO) mice with ∼100 bacilli by aerosol to model responses in a highly heterogeneous population. Following infection, ‘supersusceptible’, ‘susceptible’ and ‘resistant’ phenotypes emerged. TB disease (reduced survival, weight loss, high bacterial load) correlated strongly ...

Trachoma is a poorly understood immunofibrogenic disease process, initiated by Chlamydia trachomatis. Differences in conjunctival gene expression profiles between Ethiopians with trachomatous trichiasis (with [TTI] or without [TT] inflammation) and controls (C) were investigated to identify relevant host responses. Tarsal conjunctival swab samples were collected for RNA isolation and C. trachom...

Although previous studies reported the involvement of the TLR4-TRIF pathway in alcohol-induced liver injury, the role of TLR2 and TLR9 signaling in alcohol-mediated neutrophil infiltration and liver injury has not been elucidated. Since alcohol binge drinking is recognized to induce more severe form of alcohol liver disease, we used a chronic-binge ethanol-feeding model as a mouse model for ear...

BACKGROUND Surgery for trachomatous trichiasis (TT) is a key component of the SAFE Strategy for trachoma control. Unfortunately, recurrent TT following surgery is common, probably due to various surgical and disease factors. To develop strategies to reduce recurrence rates it is necessary to understand its pathological basis. In this study we investigated the relationship between recurrent tric...