METHODOLOGY: The present study was carried out to determine the role of TLR-4 on eliciting the immunomodulatory effects of recombinant BCG expressing MSP-1C of Plasmodium falciparum leading to the production of NO and IL-10, as well as the expression of iNOS. Six groups of mice (n = 6 per group) were immunised thrice, three weeks apart with intraperitoneal phosphate buffered saline T80 (PBS-T80), BCG or rBCG in the presence or absence of a TLR-4 inhibitor; TAK-242, given one hour prior to each immunisation. Peritoneal macrophages were harvested from the mice and cultured for the determination of NO, iNOS and IL-10 via Griess assay, ELISA and Western blot respectively.
RESULTS: The results showed significant inhibition of the production of NO and IL-10 and the expression of iNOS in all groups of mice in the presence of TAK-242.
CONCLUSIONS: These results presented evidence of the role of TLR-4/rBCG attachment mechanism in modulating the production of NO and IL-10 and the expression of iNOS in response to our rBCG-based malaria vaccine candidate expressing MSP-1C of P. falciparum.
METHODS: The participants were divided into control and allergic rhinitis groups based on the clinical symptoms and skin prick tests. The AR group was treated with intranasal corticosteroid after the diagnosis. The nasal fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) levels were compared between control and AR groups. In the AR group, the visual analogue scale (VAS), Nasal Obstruction Symptoms Evaluation (NOSE) questionnaire, and nasal fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) were assessed pre- and post-treatment.
RESULTS: One hundred ten adults were enrolled. The nasal FeNO level was significantly higher in AR compared to control (p
METHODS: In this study, the anti-inflammatory activity of ZCA was investigated and compared with that of nonintercalated CA. Evaluations were based on the capacity of ZCA and CA to modulate the release of nitric oxide, prostaglandin E2, interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), IL-1β, and IL-10 in lipopolysaccharide-induced RAW 264.7 cells. Additionally, the expression of proinflammatory enzymes, ie, cyclooxygenase-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase, and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), were examined.
RESULTS: Although both ZCA and CA downregulated nitric oxide, prostaglandin E2, tumor necrosis factor alpha, IL-1β, and IL-6, ZCA clearly displayed better activity. Similarly, expression of cyclooxygenase-2 and inducible nitric oxide synthase were inhibited in samples treated with ZCA and CA. The two compounds effectively inactivated the transcription factor NF-κB, but the anti-inflammatory cytokine, IL-10, was significantly upregulated by ZCA only.
CONCLUSION: The present findings suggest that ZCA possesses better anti-inflammatory potential than CA, while zinc layered hydroxide had little or no effect, and these results were comparable with the positive control.