Interleukin-6 is produced by epidermal cells and plays an important role in the activation of human T-lymphocytes and natural killer cells.
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Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to A Urbanski.
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It was recently demonstrated that murine keratinocytes upon irradiation with ultraviolet (UV) light release an immunosuppressive cytokine which blocks the biological activity of interleukin 1 (IL 1). This epidermal cell derived inhibitor (EC-contra IL 1) exhibits a molecular weight of 40 kD and a pI of approximately 9.0. EC-contra IL 1 in vivo possibly may penetrate through the basal lamina and subsequently cause systemic immunosuppression following UV-exposure. In the present study, we tested whether EC-contra IL 1 can also be detected in vivo. Serum samples obtained from total body UV-exposed mice were subjected to HPLC gel filtration and tested for IL 1 inhibitory activity. While a non-specific high molecular weight (300 kD) suppressor factor was detected in sera of both UV-exposed and sham treated control mice, a specific IL 1 inhibitor exhibiting a molecular weight of 40 kD was observed only in sera of UV-exposed mice. This cytokine named serum-contra IL 1 was maximally released 24 h after UV-exposure, exhibited a pI of 9.0, and blocked the activity of natural as well as recombinant interleukin 1 in a dose dependent manner. Serum-contra IL 1 did not suppress interleukin 2 or interleukin 3 and did not inhibit spontaneous cell proliferation. The present biochemical and biologic data suggest that serum-contra IL 1 and EC-contra IL 1 appear to be closely related if not identical. These observations therefore indicate that keratinocytes upon UV-irradiation in vivo release EC-contra IL 1 which may at least partly be responsible for the immunosuppression following UV-exposure.
There is ample evidence that cell-mediated immune mechanisms are crucial in the initiation of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). Therefore, the role of cytokines in the pathogenesis of IDDM was investigated in 51 patients with IDDM, in comparison with 20 normal controls. The patients were divided into three groups, group 1 consisting of 31 newly diagnosed type 1 diabetics, in group 2 IDDM had been diagnosed for between 2 months and 2 years, and in group 3 onset had occurred 2-20 years before. Interleukin 1 (IL 1) activity was measured by the thymocyte co-stimulator assay, and interleukin 2 (IL 2) using IL 2 dependent cell lines. Peripheral blood monocyte IL 1 production was not altered under basal conditions. However, silica-stimulated IL 1 release was normal in patients with newly diagnosed or short-term disease, but was significantly decreased in long-term diabetics. Peripheral blood T-lymphocyte IL 2 production at onset of IDDM was normal under basal conditions, and upon optimal stimulation with concanavalin A (ConA) and phorbol myristate acetate (PMA). However, in the two groups with longer standing diabetes, basal and stimulated IL 2 release was decreased. We conclude that monocytes and T-lymphocytes from patients with diabetes mellitus have a diminished capacity to release IL 1 and IL 2 only later in the course of the disease. At the time of manifestation of disease, IL 1 and IL 2 production is normal in type-I diabetes mellitus.
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The carpal tunnel syndrome is described as a compression of the N. medianus under the retinaculum flexorum with the causes for this syndrome being of the most varied nature. The aetiology is multifactorial with frequent alterations of the connective tissue being observed in the histological specimen, i.e. chronic inflammatory proliferations or fibrotic degenerations. Direct pressure measurements have shown that the pressure is markedly higher both at rest and extension or flexion as compared to normal healthy subjects. An exact diagnosis requires a measurable prolongation of the distal motorial latency. Surgery is the treatment of choice to ensure perfect recovery. For this purpose the retinaculum flexorum must be entirely split, and our experiments have shown that the splitting of the epineurium yields good results. The microsurgical interfascicular neurolysis, however, should be considered in special cases only. Complaints tend to disappear fairly quickly in the majority of cases, i.e. pain recedes by 90%, sensitivity disorders by more than 70% and muscle atrophy by 50%. The operation enables a measurable improvement of the distal motorial latency. The incidence of postoperative complications is relatively low, and if they do occur, then they are negligible and without any bearing on the final surgical result. Persistent residual complaints are very often due to other accompanying diseases such as cervical vertebral column syndrome, cervical ribs etc.
Aneurysms of the renal artery occur infrequently and remain mostly asymptomatic. A review of the pertinant literature reveals approximately 300 reports. Hypertension is the predominant sign and affects two thirds of all patients, particularly in aneurysms complicated by stenosis or thromboembolism of renal artery, which is caused by the renin-angiotensin-mechanism. A solitary renal aneurysm causes no renal hypertension; 66% of all diagnosed renal artery aneurysms require no treatment. Resection of the aneurysm and direct suture was done in half of all operated patients. Only in 27 cases operative treatment consisted of extirpation and patch-plastic (autologic or alloplastic). Two additional cases in our own hospital with resection and patch-plastic are described. By using those techniques it is possible to normalize renal artery blood flow as well as blood pressure. Other well-known surgical procedures are nephrectomy, aorto-renalbypass and several others.
The number and the location of the venous anastomosis in finger replantation are discussed. The principle: 'two veins for one artery' has been given up in favour to do only one venous anastomosis. A vein on the palmar side should be preferred. Here the anastomosis is protected by a thicker layer of subcutanous tissue. In addition this technique allows to do the total vascular reconstruction without turning the hand. In a number of 84 finger replantations there was a failure rate of 9,5% by using only one vein for replantation. In 17 finger replantations using one volar vein we lost only one finger (5.9%).
In the treatment of pertochanteric fractures of the femur, the use of a hip joint prosthesis is indicated in exceptional cases for patients of advanced age. Mechanical testing of the combined system (osteotomized bone-cement-prosthesis) reveals high resistance to stress. A report is presented on stress tests on pertrochanterically osteotomized cadaver femurs which have been treated with endoprostheses. Dynamic stressing was done in four stages up to a maximal force of 2050 N. The resulting movement was measured medially and laterally along the osteotomy fissure. In the medial area it was between 0 and 0.06 mm, and in the lateral between 0 and 0.2 mm. The mechanical stability of this combined system seems to be higher than other surgical methods (Ender-nailing, combined osteosynthesis with bone cement and angle plate). Its load bearing capacity is substantially greater than that of the physiological system.
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The production of interleukin-1 (IL-1) and interleukin-1 inhibitor by keratinocytes isolated from the skin of epidermodysplasia verruciformis patients was studied. Keratinocytes from uninvolved skin of patients with most pronounced neoplastic lesions produced large amounts of an IL-1 inhibitor (20-40 kD). Keratinocytes from preneoplastic lesions showed no significant differences compared to cells from healthy donors but their production of IL-1 after UVB irradiation was increased.