Angiopoietin (Ang)-1 is an important regulator of endothelial cell (EC) survival and stabilization. Ang-1 exerts its biological effects by binding to the EC-specific tyrosine kinase receptor Tie-2, and initiates intracellular signaling in ECs. However, regulatory mechanisms for endothelial Ang-1 expression have not been completely elucidated. In this study, we investigated the effects of angiog...

The IL-1beta-induced increase in intestinal epithelial tight junction (TJ) permeability has been postulated to be an important mechanism contributing to intestinal inflammation of Crohn's disease and other inflammatory conditions of the gut. The intracellular and molecular mechanisms that mediate the IL-1beta-induced increase in intestinal TJ permeability remain unclear. The purpose of this stu...

BACKGROUND We recently reported that colon tumor cells stimulate macrophages to release IL-1beta, which in turn inactivates GSK3beta and enhances Wnt signaling in colon cancer cells, generating a self-amplifying loop that promotes the growth of tumor cells. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Here we describe that macrophages protect HCT116 and Hke-3 colon cancer cells from TRAIL-induced apoptosis. Inactivati...

The aim of this study is to determine the effects of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NP) on vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-and interleukin-1 beta (IL-1beta)-induced vascular permeability, and to detect the underlying signaling mechanisms involved in endothelial cells. Porcine retinal endothelial cells (PRECs) were exposed to VEGF, IL-1beta and Ag-NP at different combinations and endothelial...

Interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) concentrations are frequently elevated in central nervous system (CNS) viral infections, but the pathophysiologic significance of such elevations is not known. To examine the role of IL-1beta in CNS viral pathogenesis, we compared the natural histories of IL-1beta-deficient and wild-type 129 SV(ev) mice infected with a neurovirulent viral strain, neuroadapted Sindbi...

Seven nor- and podocarpane-type diterpenes were isolated from the bark of Taiwania cryptomerioides Hayata, including three 18-nor-podocarpanes: 18-nor-1beta,4alpha,14-trihydroxy-13-methoxy-8,11,13-podocarpatriene (1), 18-nor-1beta,4alpha,13,14-tetrahydroxy-8,11,13-podocarpatrien-7-one (2), 18-nor-1beta,4alpha,14-trihydroxy-13-methoxy-8,11,13-podocarpatrien-7-one (3), 1beta,14,19-trihydroxy-13-m...

Peripheral immune stimulation such as that provided by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) has been reported to increase brain levels of IL-1beta mRNA, immunoreactivity, and bioactivity. Stressors produce many of the same neural and endocrine responses as those that follow LPS, but the impact of stressors on brain interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) has not been systematically explored. An ELISA designed to dete...

Experiments were performed to determine the actions of recombinant bovine interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta) on the growth of preimplantation embryos. In the first series of studies, IL-1beta was added at 8-10 h after insemination, and the percentage of oocytes developing to the blastocyst stage was evaluated. IL-1beta increased development to the blastocyst stage when embryos were cultured at high d...

PURPOSE To determine the effects of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin (IL)-1alpha, IL-1beta, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha on neurally mediated lacrimal gland protein secretion and to determine whether the amount of IL-1beta protein is upregulated in inflamed lacrimal glands of the MRL/lpr mouse, a murine model of human Sjögren syndrome. METHODS Lacrimal gland lobules of BALB/...

Using immunocytochemistry and ELISA, we investigated the production of interleukin (IL)-1beta in the rat hippocampus after focal application of kainic acid inducing electroencephalographic (EEG) seizures and CA3 neuronal cell loss. Next, we studied whether EEG seizures per se induced IL-1beta and microglia changes in the hippocampus using bicuculline as a nonexcitotoxic convulsant agent. Finall...