Paracrine IL-33 Stimulation Enhances Lipopolysaccharide-Mediated Macrophage Activation

BACKGROUND: IL-33, a member of the IL-1 family of cytokines, provokes Th2-type inflammation accompanied by accumulation of eosinophils through IL-33R, which consists of ST2 and IL-1RAcP. We previously demonstrated that macrophages produce IL-33 in response to LPS. Some immune responses were shown to differ between ST2-deficient mice and soluble ST2-Fc fusion protein-treated mice. Even in anti-ST2 antibody (Ab)-treated mice, the phenotypes differed between distinct Ab clones, because the characterization of such Abs (i.e., depletion, agonistic or blocking Abs) was unclear in some cases. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: To elucidate the precise role of IL-33, we newly generated neutralizing monoclonal Abs for IL-33. Exogenous IL-33 potentiated LPS-mediated cytokine production by macrophages. That LPS-mediated cytokine production by macrophages was suppressed by inhibition of endogenous IL-33 by the anti-IL-33 neutralizing mAbs. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our findings suggest that LPS-mediated macrophage activation is accelerated by macrophage-derived paracrine IL-33 stimulation

New Gronwall-Ou-Iang type integral inequalities and their applications

Some new Gronwall-–Ou--Iang type integral inequalities in two independent variables are established. We also present some of its application to the study of certain classes of integral and differential equations. doi:10.1017/S144618110800026

“Probability of risk aversion” and other applications of derivatives of the certainty equivalent

Utility theory, Certainty equivalent, Risk aversion, Self-protection, Insurance, Properness, D11, D81, G22,