IL-10 and TGF-β1 gene polymorphisms in Greek patients with recurrent aphthous stomatitis

Recurrent aphthous stomatitis (RAS) is one of the most frequent inflammatory disorders of the oral mucosa. Cytokines, which play an important role in RAS pathogenesis, participate directly or indirectly in normal, immunological and inflammatory processes and are secreted from cells belonging to innate and adaptive immunity as a consequence of microbial and antigenic stimuli. Gene polymorphisms in specific cytokines may predispose to RAS development. The aim of this study was the investigation and association of IL-10 and TGF-β1 gene polymorphisms with RAS

Serum levels of Heat Shock Protein-70 in Patients with Oral Lichen Planus

Usually increased presence of Heat Shock Proteins (HSPs) is considered to mediate inflammation process in Oral Lichen Planus (OLP) lesions, but in contrast HSP-70 expression found to be stable or even decreased in those lesions. The purpose of this study was to detect the serum titres of the HSP-70 in patients with OLP compared to healthy individuals, which may indicate an alternative, systemic role. Serum levels of HSP-70 were detected by sandwich-ELISA in 45 patients with reticular (n=28) and erosive (n=17) OLP, respectively. A group of 35 healthy individuals was used as control. HSP-70 was detected in significantly increased levels in OLP (p<0.05) compared to controls. The increase was prominent in reticular-OLP (p<0.05), whereas no difference was observed between serum HSP-70 in erosive OLP compared to controls. These results indicate a systemic initiation of the immune response in the pathogenesis and process of OLP. The higher titres of HSP-70 in reticular but not erosive form of OLP indicate rather an immunoregulatory role in chronicity than in the acute inflammatory process of OLP. Consequently, the evaluation of serum imbalances of HSP-70 in OLP using ELISA may be a useful marker for disease’s monitoring and/or efficacy of systemic treatment

Progesterone treatment decreases traumatic brain injury induced anxiety and is correlated with increased serum IGF-1 levels; prefrontal cortex, amygdala, hippocampus neuron density; and reduced serum corticosterone levels in immature rats

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) may cause neuropsychiatric problems, such as anxiety disorder, that have negative effects on cognitive functions and behavior. We investigated the effects of progesterone on traumatic brain injury induced anxiety in 7-day-old rat pups subjected to contusion injury. Progesterone treatment decreased TBI induced anxiety and serum corticosterone levels, and increased serum IGF-1 levels. Moreover, progesterone treatment increased amygdala, prefrontal cortex and hippocampal neuron density. We found a negative correlation between serum corticosterone levels and anxiety tests, and a positive correlation between serum IGF-1 levels and anxiety tests. In addition, progesterone treatment decreased serum corticosterone compared to the controls and sham. Our results indicate that single dose progesterone may be effective for treating anxiety caused by TBI