Ginger extract reduces the expression ofIL-17 and IL-23 in the seraand centralnervous system of EAEMice

Background: IL-17/IL-23 axis plays an important role in the pathogenesis of severalautoimmune diseases such as experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis [EAE] andmultiple sclerosis [MS]. The immunomodulatory properties of ginger are reported in previous studies

Objective: To evaluate the effects of ginger extract on the expressionof IL-17 and IL-23 in a model of EAE

Methods: EAE was induced in C57BL/6 miceby immunization with myelin oligodendroglial glycoprotein and then treated with PBSor ginger extracts, from day +3 to +30. At day 31, mice were scarificed and theexpression of IL-17 and IL-23 mRNA in spinal cord were determined by using realtime-PCR. The serum levels of cytokines were measured by ELISA

Results: ThemRNA expression of IL-17, IL-23 P19 and IL-23 P40 in CNS and serum levels of IL-17 and IL-23 were significantly higher in PBS-treated EAE mice than non-EAE group[p<0.003, p<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively]. In 200 mg/kg gingertreatedEAE mice the mRNA expression of IL-17, P19 and P40 in CNS and serum IL-23 levels were significantly decreased as compared to PBS-treated EAE mice [p<0.05,p<0.001, p<0.001 and p<0.05, respectively]. Moreover, 300 mg/kg ginger-treated EAEgroup had significantly lower expression of IL-17, P19 and P40 in CNS and lowerserum IL-17 and IL-23 levels than PBS-treated EAE group [p<0.02, p<0.001, p<0.001,p<0.03 and p<0.004, respectively]

Conclusion: Ginger extract reduces the expressionof IL-17 and IL-23 in EAE mice. The therapeutic potential of ginger for treatment ofMS could be considered in further studies

Lower circulating levels of chemokine CXCL10 in Helicobacter pylori- infected patients with peptic ulcer: influence of the bacterial virulence factor CagA

Alterations in CXCL10 [a Th1 chemokine] expression have been associated with various diseases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the serum CXCL10 levels in H. pylori- infected patients with peptic ulcer [PU], H. pylori- infected asymptomatic [AS] subjects and healthy H. pylori-negative subjects, and also to determine its association with bacterial virulence factor cytotoxin-associated gene A [CagA]. Serum samples from 90 H. pylori infected patients with PU [70 were anti-CagA[+], 20 were anti-CagA[-]], 65 AS carriers [40 were anti-CagA[+], 25 were anti-CagA[-]] and 30 healthy H. pylori-negative subjects [as a control Group] were tested for concentrations of CXCL 10 by using the ELISA method. The mean serum levels of CXCL10 in PU patients [96.64 +/- 20.85 pg/mL] were significantly lower than those observed in AS subjects [162.16 +/- 53.31 pg/mL, P < 0.01] and the control group [193.93 +/- 42.14 pg/mL, P < 0.02]. In the PU group, the serum levels of CXCL10 in anti-CagA[+] subjects was significantly higher in comparison to anti-CagA[-] patients [P < 0.04]. These results showed that the mean concentrations of CXCL10 in H. pylori-infected-PU patients was lower than AS carriers and control group. In the PU group, the serum levels of CXCL10 were associated with bacterial factor CagA