Effect of Mifepristone on Transforming Growth Factor -βand its Receptor Transcription in Decidua, Villi and Serum Tumor Necrosis Factor -α Level in Early Human Gestation

Objective To investigate the role of mifepristone in regulating cytokines of materno-fetal interface and serum of human early gestationMethods Thirty-five women with early pregnancy received mifepristone 50 mg orallyon study d 1 and d 2, respectively, followed by undergoing artificial abortion to getdecidua and villi on study d 3. Twenty-five women with early pregnancy withoutmifepristone administration as control also underwent artificial abortion to get de-cidua and villi. The expressions of TGF-β1 and TGF-β1 receptor mRNA in the earlydecidua and villi were assessed by using RT-PCR . The concentrations of serum TNF-α were measured by radioimmunoassay.Results The decidual expressions of TGF- β1 mRNA and TGF-β1 receptor mRNA in thetreated group were significantly lower than those of the control (P<0.05), while thevillus expressions of TGF-β1 and TGF-β1 receptor mRNA in the treated group were notsignificantly different from those of the control (P>0.05). The serum TNF-β1 levelselevated significantly after mifepristone treatment.Conclusion The antigestational effect of mifepristone might act through suppressingthe transcription of TGF-β1 and TGF-β1 receptor in the decidua and increasing theserum TNF-α level, which interfered in the materno-fetal interface Th2 bias.

Early screening to identify and diagnose primary nasal tuberculosis in patients with tumor necrosis factor inhibitors

In this editorial,we comment on the article by Liu et al.Based on our analysis of a case report,we consider that early screening and recognition of primary nasal tuberculosis are crucial for patients undergoing treatment with tumor necrosis factor inhibitor(TNFi).While TNFi therapy increases the risk of reactivating latent tuberculosis,primary nasal tuberculosis remains rare due to the protective mechanisms of the nasal mucosa.Risk factors for primary nasal tuberculosis include minimally invasive nasal surgery,diabetes,and human immunodefi ciency virus.Patients with early symptoms such as nasal congestion,rhinorrhea,altered olfaction,epistaxis,or ulceration,and unresponsive to conventional antibiotics and antihistamines should undergo early rhinoscopy,possibly followed by repeated tissue biopsies and acid-fast bacilli culture when necessary.When diagnosis is challenging,it is essential to consider local tuberculosis epidemiology and the efficacy of diagnostic antituberculosis treatment.The preferred method for tuberculosis screening is the Interferon Gamma Release Assay,with a general recommendation for screening at 3 and 6 months after initial treatment and then every six months.However,the optimal frequency is not yet consensus-driven and may be increased in economically viable settings.

Relationship between tumor necrosis factor-α and liver fibrosis

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Influence of granulocyte-macrophage colonystimulating factor and tumor necrosis factor on anti-hepatoma activities of human dendritic cells

INTRODUCTIONDendritic cells (DCs) play a key regulatory role inantitumor immunity,especially in its immuneaccessory role via MHC-Ⅰ molecules.We haverecently reported that DCs were able to enhance thekilling activity of Lymphokine and PHA activatedkiller (LPAK) cells in vitro.In the presentstudy,we evaluated the effects of GM-CSF andTNF upon antitumor activities of freshly

Blood glucose changes surrounding initiation of tumor-necrosis factor inhibitors and conventional disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs in veterans with rheumatoid arthritis

AIM To determine the scope of acute hypoglycemic effects for certain anti-rheumatic medications in a large retrospective observational study. METHODS Patients enrolled in the Veterans Affairs Rheumatoid Arthritis (VARA) registry were selected who, during follow-up, initiated treatment with tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi's, including etanercept, adalimumab, infliximab, golimumab, or certolizumab), prednisone, or conventional disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs(DMARDs), and for whom proximate random blood glucose (RBG) measurements were available within a window 2-wk prior to, and 6 mo following, medication initiation. Similar data were obtained for patients with proximate values available for glycosylated hemoglobin A1C values within a window 2 mo preceding, and 12 mo following, medication initiation. RBG and A1C measurements were compared before and after initiation events using paired t-tests, and multivariate regression analysis was performed including established comorbidities and demographics.RESULTS Two thousands one hundred and eleven patients contributed at least one proximate measurement surrounding the initiation of any examined medication. A significant decrease in RBG was noted surrounding 653 individual hydroxychloroquine-initiation events(-3.68 mg/dL, P = 0.04), while an increase was noted for RBG surrounding 665 prednisone-initiation events(+5.85 mg/d L, P < 0.01). A statistically significant decrease in A1C was noted for sulfasalazine initiation, as measured by 49 individual initiation events(-0.70%, P < 0.01). Multivariate regression analyses, using methotrexate as the referent, suggest sulfasalazine (β =-0.58, P = 0.01) and hydroxychloroquine(β =-5.78, P = 0.01) use as predictors of lower post-medicationinitiation RBG and A1C values, respectively. Analysis by drug class suggested prednisone (or glucocorticoids) as predictive of higher medication-initiation event RBG among all start events as compared to DMARDs, while this analysis did not show any drug class-level effect for TNFi. A diagnosis of congestive heart failure(β = 4.69, P = 0.03) was predictive for higher post-initiation RBG values among all medication-initiation events.CONCLUSION No statistically significant hypoglycemic effects surrounding TNFi initiation were observed in this large cohort. Sulfasalazine and hydroxychloroquine may have epidemiologically significant acute hypoglycemic effects.

The Change of Interleukin-6 and Tumor Necrosis Factor in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome

The levels of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induced interleukin 6 (IL 6) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF α) expression in culture of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and the plasma levels of IL 6 and TNF α in the patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) were measured and the relationship between OSAS and IL 6 or TNF α expression studied. Both IL 6 and TNF α were detected by using ELISA in 22 patients with OSAS and 16 normal controls. The levels of LPS induced IL 6 (787.82±151.97 pg/ml) and TNF α (4165.45±1501.43 pg/ml) expression in the supernatant of the culture of PBMC and plasma level of IL 6 (50.67±4.70 pg/ml) and TNF α (299.09±43.57 pg/ml) in the patients with OSAS were significantly higher than those in the normal controls (in the supernatant of the culture of PBMC: 562.69±197.54 pg/ml and 1596.25±403.08 pg/ml respectively; in the plasma: 12.69±2.75 pg/ml and 101.88±21.27 pg/ml respectively). There were significantly positive correlation between the levels of IL 6 and TNF α and the percentage of time of apnea and hyponea, as well as the percentage of time spending at SaO 2 below 90 % in the total sleep time. It was concluded that LPS induced IL 6 and TNF α levels as well as plasma IL 6 and TNF α levels in the patients with OSAS were up regulated, which may be associated with the pathogenesis of OSAS.

Tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 in cirrhotic patients with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis

AIM: To evaluate the role of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in cirrhotic patients who have hepatic and renal impairment with spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP).

Claudin 1 mediates tumor necrosis factor alpha-induced cell migration in human gastric cancer cells

AIM: To investigate the role of claudin 1 in the regulation of genes involved in cell migration and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-&#x003b1;)-induced gene expression in human gastric adenocarcinoma cells.

Anti Cervix Cancer Activity of Co-immobilized Tumor Necrosis Factor-α and Interferon-γ

Tumor necrosis factor α （TNF-α） and interferon-γ （IFN-γ） are cytokines with strong antitumor activities. They were reacted with a photoactive arylazide-4-azidobenzoic acid, resulting in photoactive TNF-α and IFN-γ. The infrared （IR） spectra of these products showed the characteristic absorption of an azido group at 2127 cm^-1. By photo-immobilization, this modified TNF-α and IFN-γ were immobilized on polystyrene membranes for cell culture to prepare biomaterials. The micro-morphology of photoactive cytokines was observed with a scanning electron microscope （SEM）. The inhibitory effect on growth of Hela cells and inducing apoptosis activity of these two cytokines were analyzed by growth curve, transmission electron microscope （TEM） and fluorescence active cell sorter （FACS）. The results showed that co-immobilization of IFN-γ and TNF-α had significant inhibitory effect on growth of Hela cells, inhibitory rate up to 82%, and IFN-γ had obviously synergistic action.

Molecular mechanism of action of anti-tumor necrosis factor antibodies in inflammatory bowel diseases

Anti-tumor necrosis factor(TNF) antibodies are successfully used in the therapy of inflammatory bowel diseases(IBD). However, the molecular mechanism of action of these agents is still a matter of debate. Apart from neutralization of TNF, influence on the intestinal barrier function, induction of apoptosis in mucosal immune cells, formation of regulatory macrophages as well as other immune modulating properties have been discussed as central features. Nevertheless, clinically effective anti-TNF antibodies were shown to differ in their mode-of-action in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, the anti-TNF agent etanercept is effective in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis but failed to induce clinical response in Crohn's disease patients, suggesting different contributions of TNF in the pathogenesis of these inflammatory diseases. In the following, we will review different aspects regarding the mechanism of action of anti-TNF agents in general and analyze comparatively different effects of each antiTNF agent such as TNF neutralization, modulation of the immune system, reverse signaling and induction of apoptosis. We discuss the relevance of the membranebound form of TNF compared to the soluble form for the immunopathogenesis of IBD. Furthermore, we review reports that could lead to personalized medicine approaches regarding treatment with antiTNF antibodies in chronic intestinal inflammation, by predicting response to therapy.

TUMOR NECROSIS FACTOR-ALPHA POLYMORPHISM AND SECRETION IN MYASTHENIA GRAVIS

Objective To analyze the relationship between tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) gene promoter -308 polymorphism and myasthenia gravis (MG) in Chinese and analyze secretion of TNFα in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) in MG patients. Methods A biallelic polymorphism at position -308 in the promoter of TNFα gene was screened by PCR amplification and NcoI recognition site. One hundred and twenty-three MG cases and 115 healthy controls were included in this study. MG patients were classified to different groups according to clinical type, age at onset, and sex respectively. PBMC were isolated from 20 patients and 20 healthy controls, and then cultured in the presence or absence of phytohemag- glutinin (PHA) and acetycholine receptors (AchR). The supernatants were harvested after incubation and stored until TNFα was assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results The frequency of TNFα-308 allele 2 (A) was found significantly increase in MG patients and showed a trend especially in late onset (≥ 40 years) and male patients (P < 0.05). The allele A had no relationship with thymic pathogenesis in MG patients. But frequency of allele A was significantly higher in general type than in ocular type (P < 0.05). MG patients had a higher inducible level of TNFα by PHA and AchR, and could be down regulated after treatment. Conclusion Polymorphism in TNFα gene promoter -308 is associated with onset of MG. The microsatellite allele TNFα2 confer risk for the development of MG in Chinese patients. MG patients have a higher inducible level of TNFα.

Effect of oxymatrine on interferon-gamma and tumor necrosis factor-alpha serum levels in an experimental rat model of autoimmune encephalomyelitis

BACKGROUND： Studies have demonstrated that experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis （EAE） onset correlates with increased interferon-v （IFN-γ） and tumor necrosis factor-α （TNF-α） expression. Oxymatrine （OM） has been shown to inhibit autoimmune responses, but there are no reports showing that it could prevent the development of EAE. OBJECTIVE： To observe the effect of OM on serum levels of IFN-γ and TNF-α in a rat model of EAE.DESIGN, TIME AND SETTING： A randomized, controlled, animal study was performed at the Experimental Animal Center of Henan Academy of Chinese Medicine and at the Key Disciplines Laboratory Clinical Medicine of Henan Province between July and December 2008. MATERIALS： OM was purchased from Chia-tai Tianqing Pharmaceutical, China; complete Freund＇s adjuvant was purchased from Sigma, USA. METHODS： Forty female Wistar rats were randomly assigned to four groups： EAE model （M）, low-dose OM treatment （OM-L）, high-dose OM treatment （OM-H）, and normal control （N, no immunization）, with 10 rats in each group. EAE was established in the M, OM-L, and OM-H groups following immunization with Guinea pig spinal cord homogenate and complete Freund＇s adjuvant. The M and N groups were intraperitoneally injected with normal saline （6.7 mL/kg per day）, the OM-L group received an intraperitoneal injection of OM （100 mg/kg per day）, and the OM-H group received OM （150 mg/kg per day）. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES： At 16 days after immunization, the degree of histopathological changes in the spinal cord was assessed by hematoxylin-eosin stanining. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to detect serum levels of IFN-γ, and radioimmunoassay was utilized to determine serum TNF-α level. Neurological scores were measured on a daily basis according to a 0-5 scale. RESULTS： Daily injections of OM, both high and low doses, resulted in decreased neurological scores in EAE rats （P〈0.01）, as well as reduced cellular infiltration in the spinal cord and decreased levels of serum IFN-γ and TNF-α （P〈 0.01）. CONCLUSION： OM reduced the onset and severity of EAE, which correlated with decreased IFN-γ and TNF-α expression.

Hemozoin triggers tumor necrosis factor alpha-mediated release of lysozyme by human adherent monocytes:new evidences on leukocyte degranulation in P.falciparum malaria

Objective:Avidly phagocytosed hemozoin(malarial pigment) alters several functions of human monocytes and stimulates generation of several cytokines.Recently,we showed that phagocytosis of hemozoin by human monocytes increases expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinase-9,a proteolytic enzyme available in specific gelatinase granules,which contain several enzymes including lysozyme.Present work investigated active lysozyme release after phagocytosis of hemozoin and its dependence on production of tumor necrosis factor alpha. Methods:After phagocytosis of hemozoin,hemozoin-containing trophozoites or control meals(opsonized nonparasitized red blood cells and latex particles),monocyte supematants were monitored for 2 hours,in presence of blocking anti-human tumor necrosis factor alpha antibodies or recombinant human tumor necrosis factor alpha cytokine in selected experiments.Lysozyme release was evaluated by a specific spectrometric assay measuring lysozyme activity after coincubation of cell supematants with suspensions of Mycrococcus Lysodeikticus,while levels of soluble tumor necrosis factor alpha were analyzed by specific enzyme-linked immunodsorbent assay. Results:Levels of lysozyme activity and soluble tumor necrosis factor alpha protein were increased in hemozoin in-or trophozoites-laden monocytes supematants.Phagocytosis per se(control meals) also increased lysozyme release,but levels were significantly lower than those obtained after phagocytosis of hemozoin or trophozoites. Interestingly,all effects on lysozyme release observed after phagocytosis were abrogated by blocking anti-human tumor necrosis factor alpha antibodies,while they were mimicked by recombinant human tumor necrosis factor alpha cytokine.Conclusions:Present work shows that phagocytosis of hemozoin promotes monocyte degranulation and enhances active lysozyme release.The effect requires tumor necrosis factor alpha mediation.

Tumor necrosis factor-α-G308A polymorphism is associated with liver pathological changes in hepatitis C virus patients

AIM To investigate the association of tumor necrosis factor alpha(TNFα)-G308 A polymorphism with different liver pathological changes in treatment-na?ve Egyptian patients infected with hepatitis C virus(HCV) genotype 4.METHODS This study included 180 subjects,composed of 120 treatment-na?ve chronic HCV patients with different fibrosis grades(F0-F4) and 60 healthy controls. The TNFα-G308 A region was amplified by PCR and the different genotypes were detected by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. The TNFα protein was detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The influence of different TNFα-G308 A genotypes on TNFα expression and liver disease progression were statistically analyzed. The OR and 95%CI were calculated to assess the relative risk confidence.RESULTS Current data showed that the TNFα-G308 A SNP frequency was significantly different between controls and HCV infected patients(P = 0.001). Both the AA genotype and A allele were significantly higher in late fibrosis patients(F2-F4,n = 60) than in early fibrosis patients(F0-F1,n = 60)(P = 0.05,0.04 respectively). Moreover,the GA or AA genotypes increased the TNFα serum level greater than the GG genotype(P = 0.002). The results showed a clear association between severe liver pathological conditions(inflammation,steatosis and fibrosis) and(GA + AA) genotypes(P = 0.035,0.03,0.04 respectively). The stepwise logistic regression analysis showed that the TNFα genotypes(GA + AA) were significantly associated with liver inflammation(OR = 3.776,95%CI: 1.399-10.194,P = 0.009),severe steatosis(OR = 4.49,95%CI: 1.441-14.0,P = 0.010) and fibrosis progression(OR = 2.84,95%CI: 1.080-7.472,P = 0.034). Also,the A allele was an independent risk factor for liver inflammation(P = 0.003),steatosis(P = 0.003) and fibrosis(P = 0.014). CONCLUSION TNFα SNP at nucleotide-308 represents an important genetic marker that can be used for the prognosis of different liver pathological changes in HCV infected

Elevated levels of interleukin-1β, interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α and vascular endothelial growth factor in patients with knee articular cartilage injury

BACKGROUND Inflammatory cytokines play a vital role in the occurrence of osteoarticular injury and inflammation. Whether inflammation-associated factors interleukin-1β(IL- 1β), IL-6, tumor necrosis factor-α(TNF-α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are involved in the pathogenesis of keen articular cartilage injury remains poorly understood. AIM To measure the levels of inflammatory factors [IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and VEGF] in patients with knee articular cartilage injury. METHODS Fifty-five patients with knee articular cartilage injury were selected as patient groups, who were divided into three grades [mild (n = 20), moderate (n = 19) and severe (n = 16)] according to disease severity and X-ray examinations. Meanwhile, 30 healthy individuals who underwent physical examination were selected as the control group. The levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and VEGF were measured by ELISA and immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS Compared with the control group, patient groups displayed significantly higher levels of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and VEGF, and the extent of increase was directly proportional to the severity of injury (P < 0.05). In addition, the number of cells with positive staining of IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and VEGF in the synovial membrane were significantly increased, along with increased disease severity (P < 0.05). After treatment, the scores of visual analogue scale and the Western Ontario and McMaster University of Orthopaedic Index in patient groups were 2.26 ± 1.13 and 15.56 ± 7.12 points, respectively, which were significantly lower than those before treatment (6.98 ± 1.32 and 49.48 ± 8.96). Correlation analysis suggested that IL-1β and TNF-α were positively correlated with VEGF. CONCLUSION IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and VEGF levels are increased in patients with knee articular cartilage injury, and are associated with the disease severity, indicating they might play an important role in the occurrence and development of knee articular cartilage injury. Furthermore, therapeutically targeting them might be a novel approach for the treatment of keen articular cartilage injury.

Effect of tumor necrosis factor inhibitors on rheumatoid arthritis-induced peripheral neuropathy A cohort study

In this historical cohort study, 236 patients with primary rheumatoid arthritis were treated with the tumor necrosis factor inhibitors, etanercept or infliximab （n = 80）, or by conventional methods （n = 156）. Results revealed that 11 patients developed varying types of peripheral neuropathy at 1-2 years post-treatment （mean 16 months）. The incidence of peripheral neuropathy in the tumor necrosis factor inhibitors treatment group was 8.8% （7/80）, which was significantly higher than the conventional treatment group （2.6%; 4/156）. The relative risk of developing peripheral neuropathy in the tumor necrosis factor inhibitors treatment group was 3.41 （95% confidence interval： 1.03 11.31）. Comparison of the tumor necrosis factor inhibitors revealed that etanercept and infliximab had no significant difference in terms of inducing peripheral neuropathy. Experimental findings indicate that tumor necrosis factor inhibitors may increase the risk of peripheral neuropathy.

Investigation of tumor necrosis factor receptor -p55expression in human colorectal cancer

Objective:To investigatetheclinicalsignificanceof tumornecrosisfactorreceptor-p55(TNFR-p55)expression anditsrelationshipwiththeclinicalpathologyandDukes’classificationof humancolorectalcancer.Methods:SABCimmuno-histochemistrymethodwasusedto examineTNFR-p55expressionin91specimensof colorectalcancer,81surroundingmu-cosasof thetumorsand13normaltissues.Results:TNFR-p55expressionincolorectalcancerwas significantlyhigher than thatinthesurroundingmucosaandnormaltissues,anditwassignificantlyhigherinthesurroundingmucosathaninnormal tissue.TNFR-p55was inverselycorrelatedto serousmembraneinvasionandlymphnodemetastasisof colorectalcancers.TNFR-p55expressioninDukes’A andB stageswassignificantlyhigherthanthatof C stage.Conclu sion:TNFR-p55expres-sionwasimportantto determinethedegreeof malignancyandassessinvasiondepth,lymphnodemetastasisandDukes’clas-sificationincolorectalcancer.

Anti-tumor necrosis factor α therapy associates to type 17 helper T lymphocytes immunological shift and significant microbial changes in dextran sodium sulphate colitis

BACKGROUND Anti-tumor necrosis factor α(TNFα) represents the best therapeutic option to induce mucosal healing and clinical remission in patients with moderate-severe ulcerative colitis. On the other side gut microbiota plays a crucial role in pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis but few information exists on how microbiota changes following anti-TNFα therapy and on microbiota role in mucosal healing.AIM To elucidate whether gut microbiota and immune system changes appear following anti TNFα therapy during dextran sulfate sodium(DSS) colitis.METHODS Eighty C57 BL/6 mice were divided into four groups: "No DSS", "No DSS + antiTNFα", "DSS" and "DSS + anti-TNFα". "DSS" and "DSS + anti-TNFα" were treated for 5 d with 3% DSS. At day 3, mice whithin "No DSS+anti-TNFα" and"DSS+anti-TNFα" group received 5 mg/kg of an anti-TNFα agent. Forty mice were sacrificed at day 5, forty at day 12, after one week of recovery post DSS. The severity of colitis was assessed by a clinical score(Disease Activity Index), colon length and histology. Bacteria such as Bacteroides, Clostridiaceae, Enterococcaceae and Fecalibacterium prausnitzii(F. prausnitzii) were evaluated by quantitative PCR.Type 1 helper T lymphocytes(Th1), type 17 helper T lymphocytes(Th17) and CD4+ regulatory T lymphocytes(Treg) distributions in the mesenteric lymph node(MLN) were studied by flow cytometry.RESULTS Bacteria associated with a healthy state(i.e., such as Bacteroides, Clostridiaceae and F. prausnitzii) decreased during colitis and increased in course of anti-TNFαtreatment. Conversely, microorganisms belonging to Enterococcaceae genera,which are linked to inflammatory processes, showed an opposite trend.Furthermore, in colitic mice treated with anti-TNFα microbial changes were associated with an initial increase(day 5 of the colitis) in Treg cells and a consequent decrease(day 12 post DSS) in Th1 and Th17 frequency cells. Healthy mice treated with anti-TNFα showed the same histological, microbial and immune features of untreated colitic mice. "No DSS + anti-TNFα" group showed a lymphomononuclear infiltrate both at 5 th and 12 th d at hematoxylin and eosin staining, an increase of in Th1 and Th17 frequency at day 12, an increase of Enterococcaceae at day 5, a decrease of Bacteroides and Clostridiaceae at day 12.CONCLUSION Anti-TNFα treatment in experimental model of colitis improves disease activity but it is associated to an increase in Th17 pathway together with gut microbiota alteration.

Genetic polymorphisms predict response to anti-tumor necrosis factor treatment in Crohn's disease

To investigate genetic factors that might help define which Crohn’s disease (CD) patients are likely to benefit from anti-tumor necrosis factor (TNF) therapy. METHODSThis was a prospective cohort study. Patients were recruited from a university digestive disease practice database. We included CD patients who received anti-TNF therapy, had available medical records (with information on treatment duration and efficacy) and who consented to participation. Patients with allergic reactions were excluded. Patients were grouped as ever-responders or non-responders. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood, and 7 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were assessed. The main outcome measure (following exposure to the drug) was response to therapy. The patient genotypes were assessed as the predictors of outcome. Possible confounders and effect modifiers included age, gender, race, and socioeconomic status disease, as well as disease characteristics (such as Montreal criteria). RESULTS121 patients were included. Twenty-one were non-responders, and 100 were ever-responders. Fas ligand SNP (rs763110) genotype frequencies, TNF gene -308 SNP (rs1800629) genotype frequencies, and their combination, were significantly different between groups on multivariable analysis controlling for Montreal disease behavior and perianal disease. The odds of a patient with a Fas ligand CC genotype being a non-responder were four-fold higher as compared to a TC or TT genotype (P = 0.009, OR = 4.30, 95%CI: 1.45-12.80). The presence of the A (minor) TNF gene -308 allele correlated with three-fold higher odds of being a non-responder (P = 0.049, OR = 2.88, 95%CI: 1.01-8.22). Patients with the combination of the Fas ligand CC genotype and the TNF -308 A allele had nearly five-fold higher odds of being a non-responder (P = 0.015, OR = 4.76, 95%CI: 1.35-16.77). No difference was seen for the remaining SNPs. CONCLUSIONThe Fas-ligand SNP and TNF gene -308 SNP are associated with anti-TNF treatment response in CD and may help select patients likely to benefit from therapy.

Higher production of tumor necrosis factor alpha in hemozoin-fed human adherent monocytes is dependent on lipidic component of malarial pigment:new evidences on cytokine regulation in Plasmodium falciparum malaria

Objective:To investigate whether the increase of tumor necrosis factor alpha is dependent on lipidic component of malarial pigment.Methods:Adherent human monocytes were fed for 3 hours with different meals(native hemozoin;lipid free hemozoin;and control latex particles),then tumor necrosis factor alpha was monitored in cell supernatants up to 48 hours through western blotting or specific enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay.In selected experiments,unfed monocytes were treated with different doses of 15(S,R)-hydroxy-6,8,11,13-eicosatetraenoic acid or 4-hydroxynonenal instead of phagocytosis.Results:Hemozoin-fed monocytes produced higher levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha than unstimulated and latex-fed cells, while lipid-free hemozoin did not reproduce these results.Additionally,hemozoin effects were mimicked dose-dependently by 15(S,R)-hydroxy-6,8,11,13-eicosatetraenoic acid,but not by 4-hydroxynonenal.Conclusions:Present data suggest an essential role for lipids in hemozoindependent enhanced release of tumor necrosis factor alpha from monocytes,and 15(S,R)hydroxy -6,8,11,13-eicosatetraenoic acid could be one possible specific mediator.