Background: Previous studies have demonstrated the value of serum procalcitonin (PCT) as a marker of bacterial infection, as well as the rapid decrease in its concentration with appropriate antibiotic treatment. The aim of this study was to determine the variation in serum PCT levels over time during the treatment of acute bacterial meningitis (ABM) in adults. Methods: In this prospective analy...

background: previous studies have demonstrated the value of serum procalcitonin (pct) as a marker of bacterial infection, as well as the rapid decrease in its concentration with appropriate antibiotic treatment. the aim of this study was to determine the variation in serum pct levels over time during the treatment of acute bacterial meningitis (abm) in adults. methods: in this prospective analy...

Members of the IFN regulatory factor (IRF) family regulate gene expression critical to immune response, hemopoiesis, and proliferation. Although related by homology at their N-terminal DNA-binding domain, they display individual functional properties. The distinct properties result from differences in regulated expression, response to activating signals, and interaction with DNA regulatory elem...

Interleukin-12 (IL-12) is a heterodimeric cytokine produced by dendritic cells (DCs) in response to Toll-like receptor (TLR) ligation. While the mechanisms regulating IL-12p40 chain gene expression are well characterized, molecular events involved in IL-12p35 chain gene activation remain to be clarified. Since IL-12p35 mRNA was induced in human DCs activated through TLR3 or TLR4 but not TLR2, w...

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin 1 are known to initiate endothelial vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1 transcription primarily by activating nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB, which translocates to the nucleus. In addition to two NF-kappaB elements found within the minimal cytokine-inducible VCAM-1 promoter, an interferon-related factor (IRF) element (IRF-1) has been identified close...

Megakaryopoiesis is associated with inflammation, and certain inflammatory cytokines stimulate hematopoietic progenitors to differentiate into megakaryocytes. Interferon-γ ( IFN-γ) is an inflammatory cytokine that stimulates megakaryocyte development, and interferon regulatory factors (IRFs), IRF-1 and IRF-2 are typical transcription factors that are involved in the IFN-γ response. We investiga...

A member of the IFN regulatory factor (IRF) family of transcription factors, IRF-4 is expressed in lymphocytes and macrophage/dendritic cells. Studies using IRF-4-deficient mice have revealed the critical roles of IRF-4 in lymphocyte responses. However, the role of IRF-4 in innate immune responses is not clearly understood. Here, we demonstrate that IRF-4 negatively regulates the production of ...

Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) replication is controlled by both cis- and trans-acting elements. The virus-encoded transactivator, Tax, is necessary for efficient transcription from the BLV promoter, although it is not present during the early stages of infection. Therefore, sequences that control Tax-independent transcription must play an important role in the initiation of viral gene expression....