Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

Chronic Alcohol-Induced Microrna-155 Contributes To Neuroinflammation In A Tlr4-Dependent Manner In Mice, Dora Lippai, Shashi Bala, Timea Csak, Evelyn A. Kurt-Jones, Gyongyi Szabo

Gyongyi Szabo

INTRODUCTION: Alcohol-induced neuroinflammation is mediated by pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines including tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP1) and interleukin-1-beta (IL-1beta). Toll-like receptor-4 (TLR4) pathway induced nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) activation is involved in the pathogenesis of alcohol-induced neuroinflammation. Inflammation is a highly regulated process. Recent studies suggest that microRNAs (miRNAs) play crucial role in fine tuning gene expression and miR-155 is a major regulator of inflammation in immune cells after TLR stimulation. AIM: To evaluate the role of miR-155 in the pathogenesis of alcohol-induced neuroinflammation. METHODS: Wild type (WT), miR-155- and TLR4-knockout (KO) mice received 5% ethanol-containing or isocaloric …

Inhibition Of Lipopolysaccharide-Mediated Nfkappab Activation By Ethanol In Human Monocytes, Pranoti Mandrekar, Donna Catalano, Gyongyi Szabo

Gyongyi Szabo

Alcohol use is typically associated with impaired immunity and increased host susceptibility to infection, partially due to decreased inflammatory response. Acute ethanol exposure has been shown to down-regulate monocyte production of inflammatory cytokines. Activation of the pluripotent transcription factor NFkappaB is a pivotal step in the induction of inflammatory cytokines, chemokines and growth factors. Therefore, we hypothesized that alcohol may alter NFkappaB activation, thus providing a mechanism for the decreased inflammatory cytokine production by monocytes after acute alcohol treatment. We show here for the first time that alcohol inhibits lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced NFkappaB activation in human monocytes by decreasing DNA binding …

Distinct Toll-Like Receptor Expression In Monocytes And T Cells In Chronic Hcv Infection, Angela Dolganiuc, Catherine Garcia, Karen Kodys, Gyongyi Szabo

Gyongyi Szabo

AIM: Hepatitis C virus often establishes chronic infections. Recent studies suggest that viral and bacterial infections are more common in HCV-infected patients compared to controls. Pathogens are recognized by Toll-like receptors (TLRs) to shape adaptive and innate immune responses.

METHODS: In this study, to assess the ability of HCV-infected host to recognize invading pathogens, we investigated Toll-like receptor expression in innate (monocytes) and adaptive (T cells) immune cells by real-time PCR.

RESULTS: We determined that RNA levels for TLRs 2, 6. 7, 8, 9 and 10 mRNA levels were upregulated in both monocytes and T cells in HCV-infected patients compared …