At the same time, IL-10 strengthens the “scavenger”-function and contributes to induced tolerance. This review provides an overview about the cellular sources, molecular mechanisms, effects, and biological role of IL-10. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Severe asthma is a complex and heterogeneous phenotype characterized by persistent symptoms

and poor control. While GDC-0994 purchase some patients respond to high doses of inhaled corticosteroids in combination with long-acting beta-agonists, a significant subset require oral corticosteroids to achieve symptom control. This issue has led to the development of alternative therapeutic strategies for severe asthma. This article provides an overview of current therapeutic strategies and suggests how they can be best applied to the treatment of severe asthma. The article then reviews alternative therapeutic strategies including macrolide antibiotics, biologic agents, modulators of signal transduction pathways and bronchial thermoplasty. The challenge remains to determine the appropriate phenotype for each therapeutic strategy in view of the heterogeneity

of severe asthma.”
“Stroke is the fourth leading cause of death and a major cause of disability in stroke survivors. Studies have underlined the importance of repair mechanisms in the recovery phase of stroke. Neurogenesis in response GNS-1480 to brain injury is one of the regeneration processes that, if enhanced, may offer better stroke treatment alternatives. Previously, we have Sapitinib cell line demonstrated antioxidant, neuritogenic, and angiogenic properties of Ginkgo biloba/EGb 761A (R) (EGb 761) in different mouse models of stroke. In the present study, we were interested to study whether EGb 761 could protect mice from permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (pMCAO) and enhance neurogenesis. EGb 761 pre- and posttreated mice had lower infarct volume and improved motor skills with enhanced proliferation of neuronal stem/progenitor cells (NSPCs) at 24 h and 7 days posttreatment. Netrin-1 and its receptors (DCC and UNC5B) that mediate axonal attraction and repulsion were observed to be overexpressed in NSPCs only, implying that netrin-1 and its receptors

might have partly played a role in enhanced neurogenesis. Interestingly, in heme oxygenase 1 knockout mice (HO1(-/-)), neurogenesis was significantly lower than in vehicle-treated mice at day 8. Furthermore, EGb 761 posttreated mice also demonstrated heme oxygenase 1 (HO1)-activated pathway of phosphorylated glycogen synthase kinase 3 alpha/beta (p-GSK-3 alpha/beta), collapsin response mediator protein 2 (CRMP-2), semaphorin3A (SEMA3A), and Wnt, suggesting probable signaling pathways involved in proliferation, differentiation, and migration of NSPCs. Together, these results propose that EGb 761 not only has antioxidant, neuritogenic, and angiogenic properties, but can also augment the repair and regeneration mechanisms following stroke.