IFN-( and Cortisol Levels in CSF During Aseptic Meningoencephalitis Interferon-( and Cortisol Levels in Cerebrospinal Fluid and its Relationship to the Etiology of Aseptic Meningoencephalitis

Holub M.; Beran O.; Lacinová Z.; Cinek O.; Chalupa P. Abstract: The aim of the study was to analyze the concentrations of Th1/Th2 cytokines and cortisol in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) from patients with aseptic meningoencephalitis (AM). The study enrolled 37 patients with AM and 11 control subjects. CSF concentrations of IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-10, IFN-(, and TNF-a were analyzed using cytokine bead array and flow cytometry; CSF cortisol concentrations were measured by a RIA method. Cortisol was detected in 37 CSF samples (100%) from patients with AM, and it was significantly elevated in comparison to control subjects. IFN-( was detected in 32 CSF samples (86.5%) and IL-10 was detectable in 9 CSF samples (24.3%). The CSF cortisol levels correlated negatively with the duration of AM. The intrathecal concentration of IFN-( correlated positively with CSF numbers of leukocytes and lymphocytes, and negatively with the duration of AM. The etiology of AM influenced the CSF cortisol concentration, which was significantly higher in patients with tick-borne encephalitis when compared to persons with AM of unknown origin and control subjects. The results indicate that the prevailing intrathecal immune reaction during AM is shifted to a Th1-like response, whereas anti-inflammatory response in the brain is executed by the effect of cortisol

Serum ghrelin levels in obese patients: the relationship to serum leptin levels and soluble leptin receptors levels

Summary Ghrelin is a new endogenous ligand for the growth hormone secretagogue receptor. It activates the release of growth hormone from the pituitary and it also participates in the regulation of energy homeostasis. The aim of the study was to characterize changes in serum ghrelin levels in obese subjects and their relationship to the serum levels of leptin and soluble leptin receptor. Eight obese patients (6 women and 2 men) with body mass index (BMI) 40.3±13.4 kg.m -2 and eight healthy controls (5 women and 3 men) with BMI 22.7±1.3 kg.m -2 were examined. The ghrelin serum levels (165.0±58.1 vs. 343.37±81.96; p<0.001) and soluble leptin receptor serum levels (7.25±3.44 vs. 21.80±4.99; p<0.0001) were significantly lower in obese patients. The leptin serum levels (23.45±12.90 vs. 6.41±2.96; p<0.005) were significantly higher compared to the lean subject group. In both measured groups the levels of serum leptin significantly positively correlated with BMI. We proved a significantly lower serum ghrelin levels in the group of obese patients in comparison with the control group

Changes in FGF21 Serum Concentrations and Liver mRNA Expression in an Experimental Model of Complete Lipodystrophy and Insulin-Resistant Diabetes

Summary Patients with obesity and type 2 diabetes often display high levels of the anti-diabetic factor fibroblast growth factor-21 (FGF21), suggesting that the overproduction of FGF21 may result from increased adiposity in an attempt by white adipose tissue (WAT) to counteract insulin resistance. However, the production of FGF21 diabetes in the absence of WAT has not been examined. In this study, we investigated the effects of lipodystrophy in A-ZIP F-1 mice on FGF21 production in relation to diabetes. A-ZIP F-1 mice displayed high FGF21 plasma levels resulting from enhanced FGF21 mRNA expression in the liver