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E Witte

Publications and source records attributed to E Witte.

14 recordsLinked to original sources

Is there an interaction between interleukin-10 and interleukin-22?

Interleukin(IL)-10 and IL-22 are structurally related cytokines. Their heterodimeric receptors consist of the cytokine-specific chains IL-10R1 and IL-22R1, respectively, and the common chain IL-10R2. This study focused on the question of whether IL-10 modulates IL-22 effects and vice versa. This question is important because IL-10 and IL-22 exert anti- and proinflammatory effects, respectively, and, as we show here, are simultaneously present in both systemic and local inflammation. The revealed lacking concomitance of IL-10R1 and IL-22R1 on identical cells excluded any possible interaction between IL-10 and IL-22 apart from the competition for IL-10R2. To study this competition, monocytes and hepatocytes were chosen. The dependence of the cytokine action on IL-10R2 was verified. Interestingly, no influence of IL-22 on IL-10 effects was observed. The same was true when IL-22 was used in complex with IL-22-binding protein. Similarly, no influence of IL-10 was found on IL-22 action. This missing competition seemed to be due to a lack of binding between IL-10R2 and the native cytokines in the absence of their corresponding R1 chain. However, IL-10R2 interacted with defined IL-10- and IL-22-derived peptides supporting the hypothesis that cytokine binding to its corresponding R1 chain creates a binding site on this cytokine for IL-10R2.

Animals↗

Neurophysiologic predictors of treatment response to fluoxetine in major depression.

Treatment with antidepressants is marked by heterogeneity of response; predicting individual response to any given agent remains problematic. Neuroimaging studies suggest that response is accompanied by physiologic changes in cerebral energy utilization, but have not provided useful markers at pretreatment baseline. Using quantitative EEG (QEEG) techniques, we investigated pretreatment neurophysiologic features to identify responders and non-responders to fluoxetine. In a double-masked study, 24 adult subjects with current major depression of the unipolar type were studied over 8 weeks while receiving fluoxetine (20 mg QD) or placebo. Neurophysiology was assessed with QEEG cordance, a measure reflecting cerebral energy utilization. Response was determined with rating scales and clinical interview. Subjects were divided into discordant and concordant groups based upon the number of electrodes exhibiting discordance. The concordant group had a more robust response than the discordant group, judged by lower final Hamilton Depression (HAM-D) mean score (8.0+/-7.5 vs. 19.6+/-4.7, P = 0.01) and final Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) mean score (14.0+/-9.4 vs. 27.8+/-3.7, P = 0.015), and by faster reduction in symptoms (HAM-D: 14.0+/-5.0 vs. 23.8+/-4.1, P = 0.004 at 1 week). Groups did not differ on pretreatment clinical or historical features. Response to placebo was not predicted by this physiologic measure. We conclude that cordance distinguishes depressed adults who will respond to treatment with fluoxetine from those who will not. This measure detects a propensity to respond to fluoxetine and may indicate a more general responsiveness to antidepressants.

Adult↗

Autoreactive human T cell lines recognizing ribosomal protein L7.

Sera of patients suffering from systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) frequently contain oligoclonal IgG autoantibodies with high affinity for the ribosomal protein L7 (rpL7). The humoral autoimmune response to rpL7 apparently is driven by antigen and T cell dependent. In order to analyze the T cell response to rpL7 we cultured peripheral blood lymphocytes of healthy individuals and SLE patients in the presence of recombinant rpL7. After 10 days, the cytokine response to re-stimulation with rpL7 was examined using a spot-ELISA. Measuring IFN-gamma secretion, the T cells of two patients and four healthy donors showed a significant increase in the number of spots as compared to control cells. Secretion of IL-4 or IL-10 was not detected. From the antigen-stimulated primary cultures we established by limiting dilution cloning six rpL7-reactive, IFN-gamma-secreting T cell lines which show a CD3+CD4+CD8- phenotype. One line additionally was shown to be positive for HLA-DR and CD45R0, but negative for CD27 and CD31. The cell lines carry alphabeta TCR chains which differ from each other in sequence and specificity. rpL7 fragments rich in basic amino acids could be identified as epitopes recognized by the TCR of three cell lines. Recognition of rpL7 is HLA-DR6 restricted or respectively HLA-DP restricted in the two cell lines analyzed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

[Baby massage].

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Humans↗

Tissue reaction to suture materials revisited: is there argument to change our views?

Tissue reactivity to ten different suture materials (silk, plain catgut, chrome catgut, tevdek, ticron, ethibond, vicryl, dexon, maxon and prolene) was evaluated on the basis of conventional microscopic assessment of eight histologic parameters at 7 days following surgery in the rat. Each suture material was placed at different localizations in the abdominal facial layer of 6 rats, thus a total of 60 rats were operated on. A completely standardized and reproducible system of microscopic assessment was used. Weighed discriminant sum values of these parameters showed no systematic differences between tissue reaction to these sutures. The computed addition of all possible magnitudes of weighing factors to the tissue reactivity parameters did not change this negative result. Discriminant analysis showed that it is unlikely that conventional histologic parameters of tissue reaction constitute a single concept like 'tissue reactivity'. It is concluded that at 7 days after surgery the effect of surgical trauma still nullifies the possible differences between suture materials with respect to tissue reaction. Minimizing surgical trauma should, therefore, be reappraised as more important for physiologic wound healing than the use of biocompatible sutures.

Animals↗

[Tuberculosis of the urogenital tract--guidelines for evaluation within the social compensation law and laws for the disabled].

For the urologist who works as a consultant in the German "Social Compensation Law" tuberculosis of the urogenital tract is of current interest. The assessment of a causal connection represents no difficulty, when the existence of a pleuritis exsudativa is proven or when tuberculosis is accepted as being military service connected. For the assumption of a causal connection in the so called compensation law the probability is sufficient and it should be considered, that long term latencies are typical. The consultant must realize that today tuberculosis is a curable infection because of the effective chemotherapy. One must be aware of this by the determination of the MdE. In the future a term of recovery will not be justified as a whole. The final decision will be made only according to the extent of the remaining functional disturbances. On the basis of 358 examinations of the Compensation board in Giessen an outline of present evaluation of tuberculosis of the urogenital tract is presented.

Aged↗