Publications (4)12.52 Total impact
-
Article: Increased TNF-alpha and decreased TGF-beta expression in peripheral blood leukocytes after acute myocardial infarction.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Inflammation contributes to the development of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular events. Counteracting pro- and anti-inflammatory responses of serum cytokines have been reported, but the relevance of TNF-alpha, TGF-beta and IL-6 gene expression in peripheral blood leukocytes and their contribution to systemic inflammation in atherosclerosis, especially after acute myocardial infarction (AMI), has not been investigated yet. Using quantitative RT-PCR, we determined temporal cytokine mRNA expression alterations in blood cells from patients with AMI (n = 51). Serum cytokine concentrations were analyzed in parallel using the ELISA technique. TNF-alpha mRNA expression rates and serum concentrations were significantly elevated in AMI patients compared to controls (n = 77), while mRNA expression and serum content of TGF-beta were decreased. Interestingly, we found no statistically significant correlation between transcript and protein levels, indicating that gene expression in leukocytes may be an independent sign for systemic inflammation. While IL-6 was significantly increased in serum from AMI patients with positive correlation to left ventricular dysfunction and negative correlation to ejection fraction, IL-6 mRNA levels did not differ between patients and controls. Gene expression alterations indicate a sophisticated regulation of counteracting TNF-alpha and TGF-beta cytokine expression in peripheral blood leukocytes after AMI with bias towards a pro-inflammatory situation.Hormone and Metabolic Research 06/2006; 38(5):346-51. · 2.19 Impact Factor -
Article: Altered chemokine levels in individuals at risk of Type 1 diabetes mellitus.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: The hypothesis was tested in an exploratory study that individuals at high risk of developing Type 1 diabetes mellitus have altered systemic levels of cytokines and chemokines. Forty-two non-diabetic first-degree relatives of patients with Type 1 diabetes mellitus were recruited. Of these, 18 had multiple islet autoantibodies (islet cell antibody, glutamic acid decarboxylase antibody, IA-2 antibody). Follow-up for 9-11 years confirmed high vs. moderate diabetes risk in islet autoantibody-positive vs. -negative relatives. Cytokines and chemokines were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Serum concentrations of classic Th1-associated cytokines (IFN-gamma, IL-12, IL-18) or Th2/Treg-associated cytokines (IL-5, IL-10, IL-13) did not significantly differ in high vs. moderate diabetes risk group. However, of six chemokines analysed, levels of CCL3 and CCL4 were increased (P = 0.0442 and P = 0.0334) while CCL2 was decreased (P = 0.0318) in the multiple islet autoantibody-positive group. No significant differences were seen for CCL5, CCL11, CXCL10. There was a significant correlation between the two closely related chemokines CCL3 and CCL4 in individuals at risk (r = 0.84, P = 0.00005), but not in the autoantibody-negative group. Relatives at high risk of developing Type 1 diabetes mellitus have abnormal cellular immune regulation at the level of systemic chemokines. The up-regulation of CCL3 and CCL4 vs. down-regulation of CCL2 suggests opposed functions of these chemokines in the disease process. These findings need to be confirmed by independent studies.Diabetic Medicine 03/2006; 23(2):156-63. · 2.90 Impact Factor -
Article: Inflammation and type 2 diabetes: results from KORA Augsburg.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Type 2 diabetes is associated with a systemic low-grade inflammation. First data provided by cross-sectional studies from as early as the 1960s demonstrated elevated systemic levels of glycoproteins and acute-phase reactants and increased leukocyte counts in type 2 diabetes patients. Subsequently, prospective studies showed that elevated concentrations of several acute-phase proteins and cytokines are predictive of later type 2 diabetes. Immune gene variants in man and in animal models were found to affect insulin resistance and diabetes incidence. Antidiabetic treatment by medication, diet or physical activity results in a significant decrease of systemic immune mediator concentrations. Immunological analyses of the KORA Survey S4 (1999/2001) allowed us to show that levels of circulating acute-phase proteins like CRP and of IL-6 are highly correlated and associated not only with overt type 2 diabetes, but already with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) pointing out a role of these mediators in the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetes. On the contrary, TNFalpha was neither coregulated with CRP nor associated with diabetes status. Our study therefore shows that type 2 diabetes is accompanied by a non-random and differential upregulation of components of the innate immunity and suggests that this inflammatory condition is involved in the aetiology of the disease. Future work will extend the range of analysed immune mediators to chemokines and will also investigate the association of immune markers with indices of obesity to elucidate the relevance of this traditional risk factor for low-grade inflammation.Das Gesundheitswesen 09/2005; 67 Suppl 1:S115-21. · 0.94 Impact Factor -
Article: Significant association of the interleukin-6 gene polymorphisms C-174G and A-598G with type 2 diabetes.
[show abstract] [hide abstract]
ABSTRACT: Elevated blood concentrations of IL-6 have been shown to predict type 2 diabetes. Because the impact of IL-6 gene polymorphisms on diabetes status, parameters of the metabolic syndrome, and low-grade systemic inflammation has not been analyzed in a population-based study, we investigated the association of the IL-6 single nucleotide polymorphisms C-174G and A-598G on these parameters in 704 elderly participants of the Kooperative Gesundheitsforschung im Raum Augsburg/Cooperative Research in the Region of Augsburg (KORA) Survey 2000. Both -174G and -598G alleles were significantly associated with type 2 diabetes (-174G: odds ratio = 1.51, 95% confidence interval = 1.11-2.07, P = 0.0096; -598G: odds ratio = 1.56, 95% confidence interval = 1.13-2.15, P = 0.0069) but not with impaired glucose tolerance. In subgroup analyses, the association reached statistical significance in men and in leaner subjects (body mass index <or= 28.7 kg/m(2), i.e. study median) but not in women or more obese persons. Circulating IL-6 levels were not associated with the IL-6 polymorphisms, but significantly elevated levels of the chemokine monocyte chemoattractant protein-1/CC chemokine ligand 2 in carriers of the protective genotypes indicated an indirect effect of these single nucleotide polymorphisms on the innate immune system. Our findings confirm that immune gene polymorphisms can be considered as independent risk factors in the etiology of type 2 diabetes and suggest that their contribution may be indirect, by influencing the levels of other immune mediators like monocyte chemoattractant protein-1.Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism 10/2004; 89(10):5053-8. · 6.50 Impact Factor
