(Press-News.org) New research reveals that a hormone best known for stimulating the production of red blood cells can modulate the immune response. The study, published by Cell Press in the January 27th issue of the journal Immunity, finds that erythropoietin (EPO) has contrasting influences on infectious and inflammatory diseases and may be useful in the design of new therapeutic strategies.
EPO is a cytokine hormone that stimulates the production of red blood cells by acting at EPO receptors (EPORs) on red blood cell precursors. Interestingly, other cell types also express EPORs. "It is clear that EPORs are present on immune cells, but the function of these receptors was completely unknown," says senior study author Dr. Guenter Weiss from Innsbruck Medical University in Austria. "We hypothesized that EPO might be able to modulate the immune system and could be of clinical relevance in certain diseases."
After showing that EPO inhibited induction of key pro-inflammatory genes, Dr. Weiss and colleagues examined the role of EPO-modulated immune cells in two mouse models of disease: systemic infection with Salmonella bacteria and chemically induced inflammation of the colon (colitis).
In mice infected with Salmonella, EPO treatment was associated with reduced survival and impaired ability to clear the pathogen, neutralization of EPO production in the body promoted Salmonella elimination. This suggests that EPO reduces the ability of the immune system to fight off a systemic infection with intracellular bacteria such as Salmonella.
The researchers went on to show that in contrast to bacterial infection, EPO had a beneficial effect on the severity of colitis. EPO decreased the production of nuclear factor (NF)-B, a protein that is critical for inflammation and thereby reduced the formation of cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor alpha which are centrally involved in the pathogenesis of autoimmune colitis. This suggests that EPO may exert beneficial effects in non-infectious inflammatory diseases.
"Our results provide novel evidence that EPO acts as a potent anti-inflammatory immune modulator by specifically targeting (NF)-B-driven inflammatory pathways," concludes Manfred Nairz, first author of the paper. "Although high dose EPO treatment in humans may lead to a dangerous excess of red blood cells, EPO derivatives that do not influence red blood cell production have been developed and these could possibly serve as valuable therapeutic tools in treatment of pathologic inflammation."
###
For more news from Immunity and to download a copy of the reseach please go to:
http://www.eurekalert.org/jrnls/cell/pages/immunity.php
Red blood cell hormone modulates the immune system
2011-01-21
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
Controlling symptoms can lead to improved quality of life for end-of-life patients
2011-01-21
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Healthcare workers can most directly affect quality of life (QOL) of patients with advanced stage lung cancer by helping manage symptoms such as pain, lack of energy, shortness of breath, coughing, difficulty sleeping and dry mouth, according to a study recently published in the journal Oncology Nursing Forum.
Understanding the symptoms, particularly symptom distress - or the degree to which a symptom bothers a person, is crucial to improved patient care. Intervention at the time of diagnosis is important because patients with stage IIIb or IV lung cancer ...
Go figure: Math model may help researchers with stem cell, cancer therapies
2011-01-21
The difficult task of sorting and counting prized stem cells and their cancer-causing cousins has long frustrated scientists looking for new ways to help people who have progressive diseases.
But in a development likely to delight math teachers, University of Florida researchers have devised a series of mathematical steps that accomplishes what the most powerful microscopes, high-throughput screening systems and protein assays have failed to do — assess how rapidly stem cells and their malignant, stemlike alter egos increase their numbers.
The method, published in the ...
How the hat fits: Structural biology study reveals shape of epigenetic enzyme complex
2011-01-21
To understand the emerging science of epigenetics—a field that describes how genes may be regulated without altering the underlying DNA itself—scientists are deciphering the many ways in which enzymes act on the proteins surrounding DNA within cells.
One type of these enzymes, proteins known as histone acetyltransferases (HATs), act on DNA by modifying DNA-bound proteins called histones. This act of modification, called acetlyation, can dictate how histones interact with DNA and other proteins affecting processes such as DNA replication, transcription (reading the gene), ...
State of the Union 2011: Will President Obama commit to R&D, for jobs and economic growth?
2011-01-21
Research!America's chair, former Congressman John E. Porter (R-IL), and Research!America's CEO, Mary Woolley, issued the following statement in anticipation of President Barack Obama's State of the Union address.
Porter said, "I think the president understands that science, technology, innovation and research are where we lead the world and where we must make the ongoing investments to maintain that leadership. But he must, both in his State of the Union speech next Tuesday night and in the Budget he submits to Congress, make the case to both the American people and ...
NASA prepares to launch next Earth-observing satellite mission
2011-01-21
WASHINGTON -- NASA's newest Earth-observing research mission is nearing launch. The Glory mission will improve our understanding of how the sun and tiny atmospheric particles called aerosols affect Earth's climate. Glory also will extend a legacy of long-term solar measurements needed to address key uncertainties about climate change.
Glory is scheduled to launch from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on Feb. 23 at 5:09 a.m. EST. It will join a fleet called the Afternoon Constellation or "A-train" of satellites. This group of other Earth-observing satellites, including ...
Swift survey finds 'missing' active galaxies
2011-01-21
Seen in X-rays, the entire sky is aglow. Even far away from bright sources, X-rays originating from beyond our galaxy provide a steady glow in every direction. Astronomers have long suspected that the chief contributors to this cosmic X-ray background were dust-swaddled black holes at the centers of active galaxies. The trouble was, too few of them were detected to do the job.
An international team of scientists using data from NASA's Swift satellite confirms the existence of a largely unseen population of black-hole-powered galaxies. Their X-ray emissions are so heavily ...
Gulf grows between research practice and participant preferences in genetic studies
2011-01-21
Obtaining consent for genetic studies can be an opportunity for researchers to foster respectful engagement with participants, not merely to mitigate legal risk. This shift is proposed in a policy forum appearing tomorrow, Jan. 21, in Science, the journal of the American Academy for the Advancement of Science.
The authors of the article, "Research Practices and Participant Preferences: The Growing Gulf" recommend new approaches that treat participants as true stakeholders in research, who willingly take on risks because they believe the potential benefits to society ...
Cell binding discovery brings hope to those with skin and heart problems
2011-01-21
A University of Manchester scientist has revealed the mechanism that binds skin cells tightly together, which he believes will lead to new treatments for painful and debilitating skin diseases and also lethal heart defects.
Professor David Garrod, in the Faculty of Life Sciences, has found that the glue molecules bind only to similar glue molecules on other cells, making a very tough, resilient structure. Further investigation on why the molecules bind so specifically could lead to the development of clinical applications.
Professor Garrod, whose Medical Research Council-funded ...
Friends of the UN Announces "2011 Tolerance Awardees" at United Nations Youth Assembly Friday January 21,2011
2011-01-21
Friends of the UN Announces 2011 Tolerance Awardees:
Honors Dr. Judy Kuriansky with 2011 Lifetime Achievement in Global Peace and Tolerance,
Nejeed Kassam as first Youth Ambassador
H/U/M and FOTUN Launches Tolerance Awareness Campaign, "Wear My Hat" with Awards
U.N. Ceremony streams live on The Huntington Buzz (www.HuntingtonBuzz.tv)
New York, NY 1/21/11 - Dr. Noel Brown, President of Friends of the United Nations (FOTUN) announces that as Friends of the UN grows to become the world's largest and most connected community of global citizens working to support ...
International Model Reveals You Can Have Your Own Million Dollar Look For Under $30: SurelyMine.com
2011-01-21
SurelyMine.com by JOlie Benoit is the newest online boutique that sells club wear, evening dresses, jewelry and accessories at a very low price. International Spokesmodel JOlie founded the company in 2010.
JOlie's innovative clothing has simply changed everything and now, SurelyMine.com is offering a great way to dress with style and look overwhelmingly smart and chic while maintaining affordability. It is the place where one can easily shop for the formal dresses, cocktail dresses, club wear and what not. SurelyMine.com is about high class dressing. Looking fashionable ...