We evaluated the impact of postprandial glycemia on blood levels of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines during an oral glucose tolerance test in non-diabetic patients with symptoms suggesting reactive hypoglycemia. Eleven patients with clinical symptoms suggesting reactive hypoglycemia received an oral glucose solution (75 g) Blood was collected at 0 (baseline), 30, 60, 120 and 180...

Recent data have indicated that orbital fibroblasts (OF) can be stimulated to produce marked quantities of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1RA), a powerful inhibitor of the proinflammatory activities of interleukin-1 in the orbital tissues in Graves' ophthalmopathy (GO). We examined whether the beneficial effects of dexamethasone or irradiation, the two main therapeutic modalities applied...

Introduction Interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) contribute to the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC). The aim of our study was to evaluate the serum and stool IL-1β, IL-1ra and IL-6 concentrations as potential prognostic factors in children with UC. Material and methods Thirty-eight children with UC (20 active, 18 inactive) and 14 ...

The current outbreak of Ebola virus (EBOV) infection in West Africa is unprecedented, with nearly 26 000 confirmed cases and >10 000 deaths. Comprehensive data on the pathogenesis of EBOV infection are lacking; however, recent studies suggested that fatal EBOV infections are characterized by dysregulation of the innate immune response and a subsequent cytokine storm. Specifically, several studi...

BACKGROUND It has been reported that inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-8 and 6 (IL-8, IL-6) increase during cardiac surgery and caused postoperative cardiac dysfunction. Therefore, it is important to investigate changes of suppressive cytokines such as IL-10, interleukin-4 (IL-4) and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) during cardiac surgery. METHOD Serum levels of cytokines a...

OBJECTIVE The purpose of this study was to determine relationships between acculturation, body mass index (BMI), and depressive symptoms with the Interleukin 1-mediated inflammatory response marker IL-1RA in pregnant Hispanic women at 22-24 weeks gestation. DESIGN An observational, prospective design with data collected at 22-24 weeks gestation. SETTING Public prenatal health clinics and pr...

By reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction on messenger RNA from human polymorphonuclear cells, we have isolated a sequence identical to the cDNA coding for intracellular interleukin 1 receptor antagonist (icIL-1ra), but containing an additional in-frame 63-bp sequence located three codons downstream of the translation start of icIL-1ra. This additional sequence is inserted between the ...

BACKGROUND The cytokine interleukin (IL)-1 is an important mediator of inflammation and cardiovascular disease. Activity of this cytokine is modulated endogenously via the IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra). The role of IL-1Ra in neointima formation after injury, however, is poorly understood. METHODS AND RESULTS Using IL-1Ra-deficient (IL-1Ra-/-; backcrossed 8 generations into the C57BL/6J ba...

PURPOSE To evaluate the potential of gene therapy with a recombinant adeno-associated virus vector encoding the interleukin-1 receptor antagonist gene (rAAV-IL-1Ra) in the treatment of experimental uveitis. METHODS The vitreal cavity of New Zealand white rabbits was injected with rAAV-IL-1Ra (4x10(7) infectious units), and the contralateral eye was injected with the same amount of rAAV-LacZ o...

PURPOSE Data are accumulating to support the involvement of inflammatory mechanisms in the pathogenesis and course of epilepsy. METHODS The aim of this study was to examine seizure-induced changes in plasma concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) in 23 patients with epilepsy undergoing a video-electroencephalography (E...