Publications by authors named "Neda Djedovic"

Gallic acid is a phenolic acid present in various plants, nuts, and fruits. It is well known for its anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. The phenethyl ester of gallic acid (PEGA) was synthesized with the aim of increasing the bioavailability of gallic acid, and thus its pharmacological potential.

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Rosmarinic acid is a polyphenolic compound, abundantly present in herbs of the Lamiaceae family. The aim of the study was to evaluate the immunomodulatory properties of a recently developed phenethyl ester derivative of rosmarinic acid (PERA), with enhanced ability of diffusion through biological membranes, in an animal model of the central nervous system (CNS) autoimmunity. To this end, experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of multiple sclerosis was used.

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Ethyl pyruvate (EP) has potent influence on redox processes, cellular metabolism, and inflammation. It has been intensively studied in numerous animal models of systemic and organ-specific disorders whose pathogenesis involves a strong immune component. Here, basic chemical and biological properties of EP are discussed, with an emphasis on its redox and metabolic activity.

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Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is classically induced with complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA). The immune response against CFA has a confounding influence on the translational capacity of EAE as a multiple sclerosis model. Here, we compare clinical, cellular and molecular properties between syngeneic spinal cord homogenate (SCH)- and SCH + CFA-immunized Dark Agouti rats.

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Background: Benfotiamine is a synthetic liposoluble derivative of vitamin B1 that has been shown to have anti-inflammatory properties.

Objective: To study the effects of benfotiamine on dendritic cells.

Methods: Dendritic cells were obtained from murine bone marrow precursor cells in the presence of GM-CSF.

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Article Synopsis
  • Autoimmune diseases are increasingly common in Western societies, highlighting the need to understand how reactive oxygen species (ROS) influence immune responses and the development of these disorders.
  • The review emphasizes the critical role of ROS in the functioning of tolerogenic dendritic cells and regulatory T cells, which are essential for preventing autoimmune diseases and enhancing treatment options.
  • While research on the relationship between ROS and immune cells is abundant, the effectiveness of modulating ROS to promote tolerogenic cell types and improve cellular therapies for autoimmune conditions is still uncertain and requires further investigation.
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Dendritic cells (DC) are professional antigen presenting cells that have a key role in shaping the immune response. Tolerogenic DC (tolDC) have immuno-regulatory properties and they are a promising prospective therapy for multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune diseases. Ethyl pyruvate (EP) is a redox analog of dimethyl fumarate (Tecfidera), a drug for multiple sclerosis treatment.

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Dendritic cells (DC) are responsible for the initiation and shaping of the adaptive immune response and are in the focus of autoimmunity research. We were interested in comparison of DC obtained from autoimmunity-prone Dark Agouti (DA) rats and autoimmunity-resistant Albino Oxford (AO) rats. DC were generated from bone marrow precursors and matured (mDC) by lipopolysaccharide.

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Particulate adjuvants have shown increasing promise as effective, safe, and durable agents for the stimulation of immunity, or alternatively, the suppression of autoimmunity. Here we examined the potential of the adjuvant carbonyl iron (CI) for the modulation of organ-specific autoimmune disease-type 1 diabetes (T1D). T1D was induced by multiple low doses of streptozotocin (MLDS) that initiates beta cell death and triggers immune cell infiltration into the pancreatic islets.

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Ethyl pyruvate is a redox analogue of dimethyl fumarate (Tecfidera), a drug for multiple sclerosis treatment. We have recently shown that ethyl pyruvate ameliorates experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of multiple sclerosis. It affects encephalitogenic T cells and macrophages in vitro, as well as in lymph nodes draining the site of encephalitogenic immunization and within the central nervous system (CNS).

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Article Synopsis
  • Cucurbitacin E (CucE) is a natural compound from Cucurbitaceae plants known for its strong anti-inflammatory properties.
  • It was found to inhibit the production of key pathogenic cytokines in CD4(+) T helper cells, specifically interferon-gamma and interleukin-17.
  • CucE also suppresses harmful processes in macrophages, indicating that it has significant potential as a treatment for autoimmune conditions affecting the central nervous system.
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Infiltration of macrophages into the central nervous system and activation of microglia are hallmarks of multiple sclerosis and its animal model-experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Cell death in EAE has been demonstrated as an essential mechanism in the local regulation of the inflammatory reaction, but also as one of the major factors contributing to the destruction of the nervous tissue. The focus of this study was on detection of cell death among ED1(+) cells (macrophages/activated microglia) in the spinal cord of Dark Agouti rats at the peak of EAE.

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Article Synopsis
  • Ethyl pyruvate (EP) shows promise as an anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective agent in treating central nervous system (CNS) disorders, especially impacting microglial cells.
  • Short-term exposure (10-120 minutes) to EP significantly reduced the production of key inflammatory markers like interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor, and nitric oxide in these cells after 24 hours.
  • Importantly, the effects of EP occur independently of NFκB activation, suggesting a unique mechanism that could enhance its therapeutic potential for CNS inflammation.
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Dimethyl fumarate (DMF), a new drug for multiple sclerosis (MS) treatment, acts against neuroinflammation via mechanisms that are triggered by adduct formation with thiol redox switches. Ethyl pyruvate (EP), an off-the-shelf agent, appears to be a redox analog of DMF, but its immunomodulatory properties have not been put into the context of MS therapy. In this article, we examined and compared the effects of EP and DMF on MS-relevant activity/functions of T cells, macrophages, microglia, and astrocytes.

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