Biomedical subjects

Shuji Mori

Publications and source records attributed to Shuji Mori.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

PubMed2004

Histamine inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced interleukin (IL)-18 production in human monocytes.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is an inducer of interleukin (IL)-18, which in turn plays important roles in immune responses. Previously, we reported that tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha production could be detected in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) treated with relatively low concentration of LPS (1 ng/ml), but that same concentration of LPS could not induce IL-18 production. In the present study, we found that LPS at relatively high concentrations (10-1000 ng/ml) induced IL-18 production in a concentration-dependent manner both in monocytes isolated from PBMC, and that histamine (10(-7) to 10(-4) M) inhibited IL-18 production induced by LPS. The studies using receptor subtype-selective agonists and antagonists suggested that the effect of histamine was mediated by H2 receptor but not by H1, H3 and H4 receptors. Therefore, the stimulation of H2 receptor might be beneficial in the treatment of sepsis through inhibiting LPS-elicited IL-18.

Bucladesine↗

PubMed2004

Beta 2-adrenergic receptor agonist induces IL-18 production without IL-12 production.

Endogenous catecholamine, epinephrine and norepinephrine, and isoproterenol concentration-dependently induced the production of interleukin (IL)-18, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha and interferon (IFN)-gamma, and inhibited that of IL-10 in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). All responses by these stimulations were antagonized by the selective beta 2-adrenergic receptor (AR) antagonist, butoxamine, but not by alpha 1-, alpha 2- and beta 1-AR antagonists. The selective beta 2-AR agonists, salbutamol and terbutaline, induced a similar pattern of cytokine production, indicating that the effect of these AR agonists on cytokine production was through beta 2-AR stimulation. Anti-IL-18 Ab or caspase-1 inhibitor prevented all increase/decrease effects, suggesting that IL-18 might affect the production of all other cytokines. While endogenous IL-18 produced by salbutamol and terbutaline reached a sufficient concentration to induce IL-12 production, these beta 2-AR agonists did not induce the production of IL-12 at all. Epinephrine/norepinephrine/isoproterenol/beta 2-AR agonists increased the production of IL-18 in monocytes, but had no effect on IL-12, TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma and IL-10 production. The lack of beta 2-AR-induced effect on IL-12 production was due to a beta 2-AR-induced inhibition of an IL-18-elicited upregulation of both CD40 and CD40 ligand (CD40L/CD154) expressions on monocytes. The sympathetic innervating lymphoid organs may be under the control of beta2-AR stimulation, maintaining the basal cytokine environment in the tissues.

Adrenergic Antagonists↗

PubMed2004

Study on biologic effects of radon and thermal therapy on osteoarthritis.

UNLABELLED: Radon therapy uses radon (222Rn) gas, which mainly emits alpha-rays and induces a small amount of active oxygen in the body. We first examined the temporal changes in antioxidants, immune, vasoactive, and pain-associated substances in human blood by therapy to elucidate the mechanism of osteoarthritis in which radon therapy is used as a treatment. Results showed that radon inhalation enhanced the antioxidation and immune function, and the findings suggest that radon therapy contributes to the prevention of osteoarthritis related to peroxidation reactions and immune depression. Moreover, the changes in vasoactive and pain-associated substances indicated increases in tissue perfusion brought about by radon therapy, suggesting that radon inhalation plays a role in alleviating pain. PERSPECTIVE: The findings suggest that an appropriate amount of active oxygen is produced in the body after radon inhalation, and this contributes to the alleviation of the symptoms of active oxygen diseases such as osteoarthritis.

Aged↗

PubMed2004

Inducible histamine protects mice from P. acnes-primed and LPS-induced hepatitis through H2-receptor stimulation.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Inducible histamine and histamine H2-receptors have been suggested to be involved in innate immune response. METHODS: We examined a functional role of inducible histamine in the protection against hepatic injury and lethality in Propionibacterium acnes -primed and lipopolysaccharide-induced hepatitis, using histidine decarboxylase knockout and H2-receptor knockout mice. RESULTS: Lipopolysaccharide challenge after Propionibacterium acnes priming increased histidine decarboxylase activity in the liver of wild-type mice, associated with a marked elevation of histamine turnover. Histidine decarboxylase-like immunoreactivity was observed in CD68-positive Kupffer cells/macrophages. Treatment of wild-type mice with famotidine or ranitidine but not d -chlorpheniramine augmented hepatic injury and inhibited the survival rate significantly. The same dose of Propionibacterium acnes and lipopolysaccharide induced severe hepatitis and high lethality in histidine decarboxylase knockout and H2-receptor knockout mice; the former were rescued by the subcutaneous injection of histamine. Immunohistochemical study supported the protective role of histamine against the apoptosis of hepatocytes. Histamine suppressed the expression of IL-18 and tumor necrosis factor alpha in the liver, leading to the reduced plasma levels of cytokines including IL-18, TNF-alpha, IL-12, IFN-gamma, and IL-6. CONCLUSIONS: These findings as a whole indicated that endogenously produced histamine in Kupffer cells/macrophages plays a very important role in preventing excessive innate immune response in endotoxin-induced fulminant hepatitis through the stimulation of H2-receptors.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

Biochemical comparison between radon effects and thermal effects on humans in radon hot spring therapy.

The radioactive and thermal effects of radon hot spring were biochemically compared under a sauna room or hot spring conditions with a similar chemical component, using the parameters that are closely involved in the clinic for radon therapy. The results showed that the radon and thermal therapy enhanced the antioxidation functions, such as the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase, which inhibit lipid peroxidation and total cholesterol produced in the body. Moreover the therapy enhanced concanavalin A (ConA)-induced mitogen response and increased the percentage of CD4 positive cells, which is the marker of helper T cells, and decreased the percentage of CD8 positive cells, which is the common marker of killer T cells and suppressor T cells, in the white blood cell differentiation antigen (CD8/CD4) assay. Furthermore, the therapy increased the levels of alpha atrial natriuretic polypeptide (alpha ANP), beta endorphin, adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), insulin and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G-6-PDH), and it decreased the vasopression level. The results were on the whole larger in the radon group than in the thermal group. The findings suggest that radon therapy contributes more to the prevention of life-style-related diseases related to peroxidation reactions and immune suppression than to thermal therapy. Moreover, these indicate what may be a part of the mechanism for the alleviation of hypertension, osteoarthritis (pain), and diabetes mellitus brought about more by radon therapy than by thermal therapy.

Administration, Inhalation↗

PubMed2004

Inhibitory effects of prior low-dose X-ray irradiation on carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatopathy in acatalasemic mice.

The catalase activities in blood and organs of the acatalasemic (C3H/AnLCs(b)Cs(b)) mouse of C3H strain are lower than those of the normal (C3H/AnLCs (a)Cs(a)) mouse. We examined the effects of prior low-dose (0.5 Gy) X-ray irradiation, which reduced the oxidative damage under carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatopathy in the acatalasemic or normal mice. The acatalasemic mice showed a significantly lower catalase activity and a significantly higher glutathione peroxidase activity compared with those in the normal mice. Moreover, low-dose irradiation increased the catalase activity in the acatalasemic mouse liver to a level similar to that of the normal mouse liver. Pathological examinations and analyses of blood glutamic oxaloacetic and glutamic pyruvic transaminase activity and lipid peroxide levels showed that carbon tetrachloride induced hepatopathy was inhibited by low-dose irradiation. These findings may indicate that the free radical reaction induced by the lack of catalase and the administration of carbon tetrachloride is more properly neutralized by high glutathione peroxidase activity and low-dose irradiation in the acatalasemic mouse liver.

Acatalasia↗

PubMed2004

Quantifying frequency dependence of auditory search.

In the present study, we examined the frequency dependence of auditory search performance. Detection thresholds were measured for an 800-Hz target tone in a sequence of distractor tones (informational masking) as a function of frequency separation between the target and the distractor tones. The results showed that the thresholds decreased monotonically with frequency separation increasing. To further quantify the frequency dependence of auditory search performance, we applied a roex function (Patterson and Moore, 1986) to estimate a filter bandwidth for the threshold data. The estimated bandwidth was wider than that of an auditory filter by a factor of five (Leek et al., 1991). This result, together with some earlier results (Mori, 2003), demonstrates the effectiveness of the informational masking we used.

Acoustics↗

PubMed2004

Frame effects in visual search for line orientation.

In the present study, we investigated the effects of surrounding frames on visual search for line orientation. Every line item presented in the display was surrounded by a square frame of identical size and orientation. The orientations of the frames, as well as those of the target and distractor lines, were either vertical or tilted. In six experiments, the surrounding frames caused substantial changes in search efficiency for vertical targets and for tilted targets. The search asymmetry between the two types of targets was reversed when the frame was tilted at the same angle as the tilted line. Several variations of the frames (a pair of parallel lines, squares with gaps, and squares with circular contours inside) also changed search efficiency significantly. Taken together, these results imply that three different sources contribute to frame effects: distractor roles played by the frame components, orientation contrast from the frame contour, and interference in local orientation processing (Hayward & Burke, 2000). Implications of the present findings are discussed in reference to rod-and-frame effects (Witkin & Asch, 1948) and to the effects of a large frame surrounding an entire display of lines (Marendaz, 1998; Treisman, 1985).

Adult↗

PubMed2003

MAP kinase-mediated proliferation of DLD-1 carcinoma by the stimulation of protease-activated receptor 2.

Protease-activated receptor-2 (PAR-2) has been demonstrated to be highly expressed in the gastrointestinal tract. In the present study, we investigated the effects of PAR-2 stimulation on the cell signaling and proliferation of DLD-1, a human colon carcinoma cell line, in comparison with the PAR-1 stimulation. PAR-2 stimulation by agonist peptide SLIGKV concentration-dependently induced the increase in [Ca2+]i and the proliferation of DLD-1 whereas the inverse peptide LSIGKV did not. Trypin (10(-9) M), an agonist protease for PAR-2, also enhanced the proliferation of DLD-1. The proliferative response of DLD-1 to PAR-2 stimulation was associated with the transient phosphorylation of MEK and MAP kinase, but not p38 MAP kinase and JNK. Inhibition of MEK by PD98059 (50 microM) completely inhibited the proliferation-stimulating effects as well as the phosphorylation of MAP kinase induced by PAR-2 agonist peptide (100 microM) and trypsin (10(-9) M). The prolonged treatment with PAR-2 agonist peptide for more than one hour was required for the enhanced proliferative response, suggesting the existence of unknown long-lasting cooperative signaling with MAP kinase cascade. PAR-1 stimulation by the agonist peptide SFLLRN (100 microM) or thrombin (10(-8) M) produced Ca2+ signaling, however, the stimulation neither produced the cell proliferative response nor the activation of MEK-MAP kinase cascade. These results indicated that Ca2+ signaling induced by PARs activation was not enough for inducing the cell proliferation in DLD-1 cells and that stimulation of PAR-2 can induce the activation of MEK-MAP kinase cascade, leading to the growth promoting response.

Calcium↗

PubMed2003

Unique regulation profile of prostaglandin e1 on adhesion molecule expression and cytokine production in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

In the present study, we examined the effects of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) on the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1, B7.1, B7.2, CD40, and CD40 ligand (CD40L) on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) using fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis as well as its effects on cytokine production using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Whereas no inhibitor of spontaneous expression of adhesion molecules was reported, we found that PGE1 inhibited spontaneous ICAM-1, B7.2, and CD40 expression on monocytes in a concentration-dependent manner but had no effect on the expression of B7.1 and CD40L. Although interleukin (IL)-18 induced the expression of ICAM-1, B7.2, CD40, and CD40L, PGE1 prevented IL-18-induced expression of ICAM-1, B7.2, and CD40. We examined the involvement of five subtypes of PGE1 receptors (IP, EP1, EP2, EP3, and EP4) in the effect of PGE1 on the expression of these adhesion molecules using subtype-specific agonists. Among EP receptor agonists, EP2 and EP4 receptor agonists inhibited IL-18-elicited ICAM-1, B7.2, and CD40 expression. ONO-1301 (IP receptor agonist) prevented the expression of ICAM-1, B7.2, and CD40 regardless of the presence of IL-18 with the same potency as PGE1. The effect of a combination of ONO-1301 and 11-deoxy (D)-PGE1 (EP2/EP4 receptor agonist) on ICAM-1, B7.2, and CD40 expression mimicked that of PGE1. Moreover, PGE1 inhibited the production of IL-12 and interferon-gamma in PBMC in the presence and absence of IL-18, whereas PGE1 induced IL-10 production. In conclusion, IP receptor and EP2/EP4 receptor play an important role in the action of PGE1 on the expression of adhesion molecules on monocytes and cytokine production.

Alprostadil↗

PubMed2003

Effect of prostaglandin E2 on intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and B7 expression in mixed lymphocyte reaction.

BACKGROUND: The elevation of plasma interleukin (IL)-18 levels and the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 and B7 on monocytes are involved in acute rejection. Prostaglandin (PG) E2 suppresses the rejection in animal transplantation models; however, little is known about its action mechanism. We examined the effect of PGE2 on the expression of ICAM-1 and B7 in the human mixed leukocyte reaction (MLR) in the presence or absence of IL-18. METHODS: We measured the expression of ICAM-1, B7.1, and B7.2 on human monocytes by flow cytometry and determined the associated production of interferon-gamma and IL-12 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The modulatory effects of PGE2 and the relevant PGE2 receptor subtypes were characterized pharmacologically. RESULTS: PGE2 inhibited the expression of ICAM-1, B7.1, and B7.2 on monocytes in MLR in a concentration-dependent manner. Whereas IL-18 significantly induced the expression of ICAM-1, B7.1, and B7.2 on monocytes in MLR and the production of interferon-gamma and IL-12, PGE2 inhibited these IL-18-initiated enhancements. The effects of PGE2 were mimicked by selective EP2 and EP4 agonists, but not by EP1 and EP3 agonists. CONCLUSION: PGE2 strongly inhibited MLR with respect to the expression of ICAM-1, B7.1, and B7.2 via the EP2 and EP4 receptors, irrespective of the presence or absence of IL-18. In the previous study, histamine inhibited ICAM-1 expression in the presence of IL-18 but had no effect in the absence of IL-18. These results indicate that the inhibitory effect of PGE2 may be more general and stronger than that of histamine and may play an important role in future immunosuppressive strategies.

B7-1 Antigen↗

PubMed2003

Histidine-rich glycoprotein plus zinc reverses growth inhibition of vascular smooth muscle cells by heparin.

Vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) hyperplasia is known to be an important component in the pathogenesis of arteriosclerosis and restenosis. Although heparin has been well recognized as the representative molecule suppressing SMC growth in vitro, attempts to use heparin as a therapeutic anti-restenosis drug have not favorably influenced the angiographic or clinical outcome after angioplasty in some clinical trials. In this study, we have examined the effect of histidine-rich glycoprotein (HRG), a relatively abundant serum glycoprotein (~100 micrograms/ml in human serum), on the growth inhibition of cultured vascular SMC by heparin. Vascular SMC growth was significantly inhibited by heparin, giving nearly 85% inhibition with 100 micrograms/ml heparin. HRG reversed heparin-induced SMC growth inhibition in a dose dependent manner; 75% restoration of cell growth was observed when 100 micrograms/ml of HRG was co-added with 100 micrograms/ml heparin. Interestingly, micromolar concentrations of the zinc ion (0-10 microM), compatible with concentrations released from activated platelets, were found to enhance the restorative action of HRG. Western blot experiment demonstrated no significant amounts of the HRG moiety in fetal bovine serum, eliminating the possible contribution of contaminant HRG from culture media. These findings indicate that HRG, in combination with the zinc ion, plays a role in modulating the SMC growth response in pathophysiological states and explain the lack of success of heparin as a therapeutic anti-restenosis drug in clinical trials.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

High affinity binding of serum histidine-rich glycoprotein to nickel-nitrilotriacetic acid: the application to microquantification.

Histidine-rich glycoprotein (HRG) is a serum protein with possible pluripotent activities. In this study, a method for the quantification of rabbit histidine-rich glycoprotein (rHRG) was developed based upon the high affinity binding profile of rHRG to nickel-nitrilotriacetic acid (Ni-NTA), an improved chelation agent. When the binding profile of Ni-NTA for whole serum proteins was assessed by Western blotting, Ni-NTA exhibited the binding specificity only to rHRG even after washing with 20 mM imidazole, owing to the unusual amounts of histidine residues in rHRG. In the following experiments, the rHRG immobilized onto a microplate with specific antibody was determined spectrophotometrically with peroxidase-labeled Ni-NTA. This method permitted evaluation of rHRG concentrations ranging from 1.0 to 100 ng/ml, and was actually applicable to the monitoring of rHRG in Resource Q-fractionated serum preparations. Also, the co-addition of L-histidine into the incubation mixture significantly diminished the specific binding between rHRG and Ni-NTA. These findings indicate the potential usefulness of this method for the specific measurement of small amounts of rHRG and for understanding the roles of abundant histidine residues in rHRG-metal cation interaction.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Kainic acid-induced convulsions cause prolonged changes in the chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans neurocan and phosphacan in the limbic structures.

Systemic administration of kainic acid induces repeated convulsive seizures (KA convulsions) that result in neuropathological changes similar to temporal lobe epilepsy and the appearance of spontaneous recurrent seizures (SRS). The appearance of SRS is considered a result of the remodeling of neuronal networks following neuronal degeneration. We investigated the changes in chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) in the limbic structures after KA convulsions in the rat using monoclonal antibodies 1G2, which recognizes full-length neurocan and the C-terminal half of neurocan, neurocan C, and 6B4, which recognize phosphacan and protein tyrosine phosphatase zeta. After KA convulsions, full-length neurocan appeared by 24 h and reached a peak by 48 to 72 h, whereas phosphacan decreased within 24 h in the hippocampus. In immunohistochemistry, neurocan increased in the limbic structures coincident with the appearance of reactive astrocytes. Phosphacan decreased coincident with pyramidal cell loss in the hippocampus, and the number of phosphacan-positive perineuronal nets around parvalbumin neurons decreased, whereas parvalbumin neurons were relatively conserved. In contrast, phosphacan increased in the entorhinal and piriform cortices in correlation with the severity of neuronal loss. Both neurocan and phosphacan recovered to the control level by 8 weeks after KA convulsions in some rats, but the changes in neurocan and phosphacan described above still persisted in more than half the rats. The results indicate that KA convulsions induce prolonged changes in neurocan and phosphacan similar to those in the developing rat brain and suggest a role of these CSPGs in the remodeling of neuronal networks related to the establishment or enhancement of epileptogenesis.

Animals↗

PubMed2003

Involvement of proteinase-activated receptor-2 in mast cell tryptase-induced barrier dysfunction in bovine aortic endothelial cells.

We report here a direct modulation by mast cell tryptase of endothelial barrier function through activation of proteinase-activated receptor-2 (PAR-2). In cultured bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs), tryptase, trypsin and PAR-2 activating peptide impaired the barrier function as determined by the permeability of protein-conjugated Evans blue. The tryptase-induced barrier dysfunction was completely blocked by U73122, and partially reversed by xestospongin C, calphostin C or Y27632. The intracellular Ca(2+) was elevated by tryptase. It was notable that ioxaglate, a contrast material that degranulates mast cells, markedly increased the permeability when applied to BAECs in combination with mast cells, an action that was blocked by nafamostat, a potent tryptase inhibitor. Immunofluorescence analysis showed that actin stress fibre formation and disruption of VE-cadherin were observed after exposure to tryptase or ioxaglate in combination with mast cells. Therefore, it is suggested that mast cell tryptase impairs endothelial barrier function through activation of endothelial PAR-2 in a manner dependent on the phospholipase C activity.

Actins↗

PubMed2003

Histamine downregulates CD14 expression via H2 receptors on human monocytes.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) binds to LPS-binding protein (LBP) in plasma and is delivered to the cell surface receptor CD14 on human monocyte. LPS is transferred to the transmembrane signaling receptor toll-like receptor (TLR) 4. In the present study, the effect of histamine on the expression of CD14 on human monocytes was investigated. Histamine concentration- and time-dependently decreased the expression of cell surface CD14, whereas histamine did not decrease mRNA for CD14 nor increase soluble CD14 (sCD14). The inhibitory effects of histamine on CD14 expression were antagonized by H2-receptor antagonist, but not by H1 and H3/H4 antagonist. The effects of selective H2-receptor agonists, 4-methylhistamine and dimaprit, on CD14 expression mimicked that of histamine indicating that histamine regulated CD14 expression through the stimulation of H2-receptors. The pretreatment with histamine partially inhibited the LPS-induced TNF-alpha production in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Such inhibition might be due to the down-regulation of CD14 expression on monocytes by histamine.

Cells, Cultured↗

PubMed2003

Histamine inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced tumor necrosis factor-alpha production in an intercellular adhesion molecule-1- and B7.1-dependent manner.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is recognized as a key molecule in the pathogenesis of Gram negative sepsis and septic shock. In the present study, we demonstrate that LPS (1-1000 pg/ml) concentration dependently up-regulated the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1, B7.1, and B7.2 on human monocytes using fluorescence-activated cell sorting analysis, and that tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha production induced by LPS in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) was inhibited by the addition of antibodies against these adhesion molecules, suggesting the dependence of TNF-alpha production on cell-cell interaction through these adhesion molecules. Moreover, we found that histamine (10(-7)-10(-4) M) concentration dependently inhibited the expression of ICAM-1 and B7.1, but not B7.2 on monocytes induced by LPS. Histamine also inhibited the responses of TNF-alpha production induced by LPS. The modulatory effects of histamine on ICAM-1 and B7.1 expression and TNF-alpha production were all concentration dependently antagonized by famotidine but not by d-chlorpheniramine and thioperamide, and were mimicked by selective H2-receptor agonists but not by H1-, H3-, and H4-receptor agonists, indicating the involvement of H2-receptors in the histamine action. Dibutyryl cAMP down-regulated ICAM-1 and B7.1 expression on monocytes stimulated by LPS, suggesting the mediation by the cyclic adenosine monophosphate-protein kinase A pathway of H2-receptor activation. These results as a whole indicated that histamine via H2-receptor inhibited the LPS-induced TNF-alpha production through the regulation of ICAM-1 and B7.1 expression, leading to the reduction of innate immune response stimulated by LPS.

B7-1 Antigen↗

PubMed2003

Effect of beta 2-adrenergic receptor stimulation on interleukin-18-induced intercellular adhesion molecule-1 expression and cytokine production.

beta-Adrenergic receptor (AR) agonists have been demonstrated to modulate the production of inflammatory mediators. Recent studies implied that beta 2-AR agonists might be useful for chronic inflammatory diseases caused by interleukin (IL)-18. In the present study, we found that norepinephrine, epinephrine, or isoproterenol down-regulated IL-18 (100 ng/ml)-induced intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 expression on monocytes in a dose-dependent manner (10(-8)-10(-4) M), but did not effect B7.1 and B7.2 expression after 24-h incubation. The modulatory effect of these catecholamines on ICAM-1 expression was antagonized by beta 2-AR antagonist, but not by alpha 1-, alpha 2-, or beta 1-AR antagonist. beta 2-AR-selective agonists salbutanol and terbutaline down-regulated IL-18-induced ICAM-1 expression on monocytes, but alpha 1-, alpha 2-, or beta1-AR agonist had no effect. In the same manner, salbutanol and terbutaline as well as norepinephrine, epinephrine, and isoproterenol regulated the IL-18-induced cytokine production, including IL-12, tumor necrosis factor-alpha or interferon-gamma through the stimulation of beta 2-AR. Together with the previous finding that ICAM-1/lymphocyte function-associated antigen-1 interaction plays a crucial role in the IL-18-initiated cytokine network, the present study strongly suggested that the stimulation of beta 2-AR inhibited the IL-18-activated cytokine cascade through the inhibitory effect on ICAM-1 expression, contributing to finding a new method for clinical treatment.

Adrenergic Agonists↗