Cytokine clinical relevance

Two more recent studies have also addressed SNP polymorphisms and potential links to clinically relevant conditions. " Given the role in inflammation and cytokine expression, one study examined the potential for linkage to autoimmune diseases including type 1 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, and inflammatory bowel disease in a population of more than 2000 patients. No significant association was found with any of the SNPs. In contrast, a strong association was found between a single polymorphism (G-105A alteration in the promoter) and women with preeclampsia. " Women who had preeclampsia were 1.34 times more likely to carry this mutant allele. The role that this mutant plays in the condition is unknown. 

Pollmacher T, Schuld A, Ri aus T, Haack M, Hiiize-Selch D (2001) [On die clinical relevance of clozapine-tiiggered release of cytokines and soluble cytokine-receptors]. Fortsclii Neurol Psychiati 69(Suppl 2) S65US74. 

Bonino F, Baldi M, Negro F, Oliveri F, Colombatto P, Bellati G, Brunette MR. Clinical relevance of anti-inter-feron antibodies in the serum of chronic hepatitis C patients treated with interferon-alpha. J Interferon Cytokine Res 1997 17(Suppl l) S35-8. 

We are still at the very early stages of interpreting the clinical relevance of endogenous cytokine concentrations. Not only is the immune system affected by cytokines such as IL-1, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor a (TNF-a), but other systems (skeletal, endocrine, central nervous system) are also affected. Therefore, measurement of... 

Information on this interaction and its clinical relevance is limited. The author of the pharmacokinetic study suggests that, if the drugs need to be used together, the dosage of pentoxifylline should be halved. In the absence of other information, if a short-course of ciprofloxacin is required in a patient taking pentoxifylline, this may be a sensible precaution. Alternatively, because the increase in AUC was minor, it may be sufficient to recommend a reduction in pentoxifylline dose only in those who experience adverse effects (e.g. nausea, headache). Note that ciprofloxacin has been used to boost pentoxifylline levels in studies investigating the possible therapeutic value of pentoxifylline s ability to inhibit various cytokines. For example, ciprofloxacin 500 mg twice daily was used with pentoxifylline 800 mg three times daily for up to one year in patients with myelod-ysplastic syndrome. ... 

Pertosa, G., Grandaiiano, G., Gesualdo, L., and Schena, F. P., Clinical relevance of cytokine production in hemodialysis, Kidney Int., 2000 S8(suppl 76) S104-S111. 

Several biomedical engineering techniques have heen employed to generate a clinically applicable number of therapeutic cells. For the generation of hematopoietic cells, these techniques often involve mimicking the bone marrow environment for the enhanced expansion or differentiation of stem cells. Another important concern is the ability to scale up culture methods to provide clinically relevant numbers of therapeutic cell populations. In addition to the use of cytokines and growth factors, culture techniques include manipulation of oxygen tension, stromal cell coculture, hiomaterial culture, and bioreactor culture. These methods will he discussed in further detail in the following sections. 

Walther, W. and Stein, U. (1994) Influence of cytokines on mdrl expression in hiunan colon carcinoma cell lines increased cytotoxicity of MDR relevant drugs. Journal of Cancer Resea rch and Clinical Oncology. 120 (8), 471—478. 

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