Infection with Toxoplasma gondii does not Alter TNFα and IL-6 Secretion by A human Astrocytoma Cell Line

The secretion of tumour necrosis factor-α (TNFα), interleukin-1α (IL-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) by a human astrocytoma cell fine was studied 1 h, 3 h, 6 h and 24 h after infection with tachyzoites from three Toxoplasma gondii strains (virulent, RH; cystogentc, 76K and Prugniaud strains). The astrocytoma cell fine constitutively secreted TNFα and IL-6, but no IL-1α. A positive control was obtained by stimulation with phorbol esters inducing a significant increase (p < 0.05) in TNFα and IL- 6 secretion but not in IL-1α, while lipopolysaccharide (alone and after priming), interferon gamma, ionophore A 23187 and sera positive to T. gondii did not induce any increase in cytokine levels. None of the tachyzoites, whatever their virulence, induced a significant increase in cytokine production at any time in the study. Tachyzoites did not inhibit the secretion induced by phorbol esters

Remission of Merkel cell tumor after somatostatin analog treatment

We recently treated one patient presenting with a disseminated non-operable Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) by lanreotide (somatostatin analog), with a complete remission of the disease and a follow up of 17 months. We present in this paper a case report with a review of the utilization of somatostatin analogues in the treatment of MCC

Tumor necrosis factor production by human macrophages stimulated in vitro by Plasmodium falciparum.

Production of tumor necrosis factor by human macrophages may be induced in vitro by cytoadherent and noncytoadherent strains of Plasmodium falciparum, with an optimal ratio of one to three parasitized erythrocytes per macrophage. Centrifuged and heated crude culture supernatants have the same effect, thus showing the existence of a thermostable soluble factor able to induce this expression. In vitro kinetic experiments have shown that the secretion of tumor necrosis factor appears early, with a maximal peak at 8 h