Platelet activation and adhesion to the site of vascular injury is a dynamic process comprising reversible and irreversible phases. Platelet adhesion typically occurs in a multi-step process similar to the selectin/integrin-mediated adhesion of neutrophils. This phenomenon is highly regulated and influenced by the cross-talk between platelets and injured endothelium. This cross-talk involves a ...

Platelets play a central role in thrombosis, hemostasis, and inflammation. We show that activated platelets release inorganic polyphosphate (polyP), a polymer of 60-100 phosphate residues that directly bound to and activated the plasma protease factor XII. PolyP-driven factor XII activation triggered release of the inflammatory mediator bradykinin by plasma kallikrein-mediated kininogen process...

Bacterial exotoxins and endotoxins both stimulate proinflammatory mediators but the contribution of each individual toxin in the release of mediators causing lethal shock is incompletely understood. This study examines the cytokine response and lethality of mice exposed to varying doses of staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and their combinations. In vivo, SEB alone ...

Signal transducer and activator of transcription 2 (STAT2) is an essential transcription factor in the type I IFN (IFN-alpha/beta) signal transduction pathway and known for its role in mediating antiviral immunity and cell growth inhibition. Unlike other members of the STAT family, IFNs are the only cytokines known to date that can activate STAT2. Given the inflammatory and antiproliferative du...

A reduction in the amount of time spent sleeping occurs chronically in modern society. Clinical and experimental studies in humans and animal models have shown that immune function is impaired when sleep loss is experienced. Sleep loss exerts a strong regulatory influence on peripheral levels of inflammatory mediators of the immune response. An increasing number of research projects support the...

We previously demonstrated that ginsenosides Rg1 and Re enhanced the immune response in C3H/HeB mice but not in C3H/HeJ mice carrying a mutation in the Tlr4 gene. The results of the present study showed that both Rg1 and Re inhibited mRNA expression and production of proinflammatory mediators that included tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, cyclooxygenase-2, and inducible n...

Exposing blood to an artificial surface results in a systemic inflammatory response, including cytokine release and complement activation. We studied the artificial surface-induced inflammation in human whole blood using an extensive panel of inflammatory mediators including proinflammatory cytokines, chemokines and growth-factors and investigated the role of the complement system in the induct...

Decompression illness (DCI) is an illness affecting divers subjected to reductions in ambient pressure. Besides a mechanical explanation to DCI, an inflammatory mechanism has been suggested. In this study, levels of interleukin (IL)-8, IL-6, IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI), and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalcin (NGAL) were measured in d...

BACKGROUND Ganghwaljetongyeum (GHJTY), a complex herbal decoction, is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. However, the action mechanism of GHJTY is not still unclear on rheumatoid arthritis. In this study, we examined the beneficial effects and the action mechanisms of GHJTY on synoviocyte proliferation and inflammatory mediators. METHODS To test the effect of GHJTY on synoviocyte proliferati...

Excessive microglial stimulation has been recognized in several neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson's disease (PD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), amyotropic lateral sclerosis (ALS), HIV-associated dementia (HAD), multiple sclerosis (MS), and stroke. When microglia are stimulated, they produce proinflammatory mediators and cytokines, including nitric oxide (NO) derived from inducible NO ...