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

高炉内融着帯における酸性ペレットおよびオリビンペレットの軟化挙動

Abstract Softening behaviors of acid and olivine fluxed iron ore pellets in the cohesive zone of a blast furnace A ferrous burden loses its permeability in the cohesive zone of a Blast Furnace (BF) which has an effect on the flow of reducing gases. Iron ore pellets with various chemical compositions have different softening properties. Due to the occurrence of numerous simultaneous phenomena the clarification of different variables is difficult. In this study the effect of Reduction Degree (RD) on the softening behavior of individual acid and olivine fluxed iron ore pellets was experimentally tested under inert conditions. The acid pellet softened rapidly at 1150°C and reached about 40% contraction at 1200°C. The olivine fluxed pellet softened gradually in the range of 1150 and 1350°C and reached 30–35% contraction. The RDs of 50–70% for acid and 50–65% for olivine fluxed pellet had no significant effect on the softening behavior. However, the highest contraction-% was reached with the lowest RD. The results indicate that softening of the pellets is caused by the softening of the pellet core. The early softening of the acid pellet was attributed to high SiO₂ content and formation of fayalite slag with high wüstite solubility. The superior properties of the olivine fluxed pellet were attributed to the low SiO₂ content and favorable effects of fluxes to prevent wüstite dissolution. FactSage V6.4 -software and its FToxid-database was used to compute the phase equilibrium of a pre-reduced pellet with a quaternary FeO-SiO₂-CaO-MgO system in the core region. The computed phase equilibrium provided additional information about the effects of different components in the phase equilibrium

Softening behaviors of acid and olivine fluxed iron ore pellets in the cohesive zone of a blast furnace

Abstract A ferrous burden loses its permeability in the cohesive zone of a Blast Furnace (BF) which has an effect on the flow of reducing gases. Iron ore pellets with various chemical compositions have different softening properties. Due to the occurrence of numerous simultaneous phenomena the clarification of different variables is difficult. In this study the effect of Reduction Degree (RD) on the softening behavior of individual acid and olivine fluxed iron ore pellets was experimentally tested under inert conditions. The acid pellet softened rapidly at 1150°C and reached about 40% contraction at 1200°C. The olivine fluxed pellet softened gradually in the range of 1150 and 1350°C and reached 30–35% contraction. The RDs of 50–70% for acid and 50–65% for olivine fluxed pellet had no significant effect on the softening behavior. However, the highest contraction-% was reached with the lowest RD. The results indicate that softening of the pellets is caused by the softening of the pellet core. The early softening of the acid pellet was attributed to high SiO₂ content and formation of fayalite slag with high wüstite solubility. The superior properties of the olivine fluxed pellet were attributed to the low SiO₂ content and favorable effects of fluxes to prevent wüstite dissolution. FactSage V6.4 -software and its FToxid-database was used to compute the phase equilibrium of a pre-reduced pellet with a quaternary FeO–SiO₂–CaO–MgO system in the core region. The computed phase equilibrium provided additional information about the effects of different components in the phase equilibrium