Interleukin-6 induces secretion of tissue inhibitors of etalloproteinases by breast carcinoma cells

Interleukin [IL]-6 can induce matrix metalloproteinases [MMPs] expression, which may be critical factors involved in tumor metastasis. Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases [TIMPs] are important inhibitory enzymes of MMP. This study was designed to investigate the effect of recombinant IL-6 on the MMP/TIMP expression in MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cell line in a dose dependent manner [10, 25 and 50ng/ml] in comparison to non-treated breast cancer cells [control]. The data demonstrated that low dose [10 ng/ml] of IL-6 failed to induce TIMP-1 and -2 production by breast cancer cells compared to control cells whereas moderate [25 ng/ml] and high [50ng/ml] exposure levels promoted a significant expression of TIMP-1 [P<0.01 and P<0.0001] respectively as compared to control cells. TIMP-2 was significantly released [P<0.0001] from breast cancer cells higher than in control cells at moderate and high exposure levels of IL-6. This up-regulation of TIMP-1 and -2 was accompanied with undetectable levels of MMP-1, -2, -3, -8, -9, - 10, and -13. Furthermore, IL-6 potentially increased the invasion potency of cancer cells significantly [P<0.05 and P<0.01] at moderate and high exposure levels respectively. These findings suggest that IL-6 could promote the invasion potency of breast cancer cells by inducing secretion of TIMP-1 and -2, causing a disturbance in TIMP/MMP balance

Plasma levels of interleukin-12 and interleukin-18 in plasmodium falciparum malaria patients in South Darfur

The interaction between cytokines such as interleukin-12 [IL-12] and IL-18 play an important role in malaria pathogenesis and outcome, modulating the immunoresponce in Plasmodium falciparum [P. falciparum] malaria. This work aimed at detecting the plasma levels of IL-12 and IL-18 in P. falciparum malaria patients and to correlate the production of these cytokines with the severity of the disease .this study was conducted on two groups: Group I, consisted of 80 patients with P. falciparum malaria infection they were classified into two groups according to disease severity, 30 patients with severe malaria and 50 patients with mild malaria. Group II, consisted of 30 healthy persons as a control group. The levels of IL-12 and IL-18 were higher [16.2 +/- 8.3 pg/ml and 2682.8 +/- 332.0 pg/ml, respectively] in patients with mild malaria than in patients with severe form of the disease [12.3 +/- 6.42 pg/ml and 1226 +/- 267.2 pg/ml respectively] A positive correlation was observed between IL-12 and IL-18. These findings suggest that the production of these cytokines may be coregulated and both have an immunoregulatory effect on the immune response to P. falciparum infection, so can be used as a reliable parameter to predict the progression of the disease and may be used as an immunotherapy against P. falciparum malaria infection, especially in the early phase of the disease. Further studies are needed to find out the relation between these cytokines and individual forms and complications of P. falciparum malaria infection

TH1/TH2 cytokine patterns in ankylosing spondylitis

Thl [IL-2] cytokine and Th2 [IL-10] cytokine were measured in the serum of 15 patients with ankylosing spondylitis [AS] and their relation with the disease activity were assessed. They were 12 males and 3 females. Another 12 healthy persons matched for age and sex were chosen as a control group. All The patients were subjected to clinical assessment and Laboratory investigations. IL-2 and IL-10 were measured using ELISA Technique. The Results showed a significant decrease in IL-2 and a significant increase in IL-10 in Ankylosing spondylitis patients as compared to the controls. Serum IL-2 showed a negative significant correlation with Laboratory parameters [ESR, CRP] and clinical parameters such as vertebral mobility and morning stiffness, while IL-10 showed a positive significant correlation with the Laboratory and clinical parameters of activity from the previous results we could conclude that the impaired IL-2 [Thl] and the increased IL-10 [Th2] cytokine levels and their correlation with the clinical and Laboratory criteria of As. could help in the assessment of the disease and follow up of the outcome of As therapeutic modalities

Immunogenicity of hepatitis B vaccine in term and preterm infants

The study was conducted on 60 infants born to hepatitis B surface antigen [HBsAg] negative mothers. Their gestational age ranged from 32 to 40 weeks [36 +/- 2.8] and their birth weight ranged from 1250 to 3800 gm [X2345 +/- 885]. Assessment of the seroprotection of these infants after hepatitis B virus [HBV] vaccination [at 2, 4 and 6 months of age] and its relation to prematurity, birth weight and medical problems as respiratory distress syndrome [RDS], blood transfusion, steriod treatment and sepsis, on seroconversion was done, anti-HBs antibody levels were measured one month after the third dose of vaccine [at 7 months of age]. Hepatitis B seroprotection could be obtained in 100% of infants with birth weight of 1500 gm or more. Very low birth weight [VLBW] infants [< 1500 gm] seroprotection was 3 7.5% which is unacceptably high due to severe immaturity of the immune system. Lower gestational age, sepsis, respiratory distress syndrome [RDS], treatment with steroids or infants who had a history of blood transfusion were associated with poor seroprotection rates [33.32%, 33.3%, 66.7%, 66.6% and 66.7% respectively]. It may be concluded that, premature infants of birth weight < 1500 gm, and who suffered from RDS, sepsis, received blood transfusion or had been treated with steroids, their anti-HBs antibody level must be checked after the age of 7 months to decide if they are in need of a booster dose of HBV vaccine or not

random study of a hundred consecutive cases of chronic bilharzial patients with special reference to refluxing ureters

A hundred consecutive bilharzial patients with urinary symptoms were investigated; blood chemistry intravenous pyelography, ascending cystography and endoscopic examination.The incidence of ureteric reflux is 21%. The possible etiology of ureteric reflux in chronic bilharzial patients was discussed