• A Complex Interaction between Rickettsia conorii and Dickkopf-1 - Potential Role in Immune Evasion Mechanisms in Endothelial Cells 

      Astrup, Elisabeth; Lekva, Tove; Davi, Giovanni; Otterdal, Kari; Santilli, Francesca; Øie, Erik; Halvorsen, Bente; Damås, Jan Kristian; Raoult, Didier; Vitale, Giustina; Olano, Juan P; Ueland, Thor; Aukrust, Pål (Journal article; Peer reviewed, 2012)
      The pathophysiological hallmark of spotted fever group rickettsioses comprises vascular inflammation. Based on the emerging importance of the wingless (Wnt) pathways in inflammation and vascular biology, we hypothesized ...
    • Absence of NLRP3 Inflammasome in Hematopoietic Cells Reduces Adverse Remodeling After Experimental Myocardial Infarction 

      Louwe, Maria Cornelia; Olsen, Maria Belland; Kaasbøll, Ole Jørgen; Yang, Kuan; Fosshaug, Linn Elisabeth Lillerud; Alfsnes, Katrine; Øgaard, Jonas; Rashidi, Azita; Skulberg, Vidar Magne; Yang, Mingyi; Fonseca, Davi de Miranda; Sharma, Animesh; Aronsen, Jan Magnus; Schrumpf, Elisabeth; Ahmed, Muhammad Shakil; Dahl, Christen Peder; Nyman, Tuula Anneli; Ueland, Thor; Melum, Espen; Halvorsen, Bente; Bjørås, Magnar; Attramadal, Håvard; Sjaastad, Ivar; Aukrust, Pål; Yndestad, Arne (Peer reviewed; Journal article, 2020)
      An inflammatory response is required for tissue healing after a myocardial infarction (MI), but the process must be balanced to prevent maladaptive remodeling. This study shows that improved survival and cardiac function ...
    • The Alternative Complement Pathway Is Activated Without a Corresponding Terminal Pathway Activation in Patients With Heart Failure 

      Shahini, Negar; Bjørkelund, Elisabeth; Bendz, Christina; Massey, Richard J; Schjalm, Camilla; Halvorsen, Bente; Broch, Kaspar; Ueland, Thor; Gullestad, Lars; Nilsson, Per H.; Aukrust, Pål; Mollnes, Tom Eirik; Louwe, Maria Cornelia (Journal article; Peer reviewed, 2021)
      Objective Dysregulation of the complement system has been described in patients with heart failure (HF). However, data on the alternative pathway are scarce and it is unknown if levels of factor B (FB) and the C3 convertase ...
    • Atherogenic Lipid Ratios Related to Myeloperoxidase and C-Reactive Protein Levels in Psychotic Disorders 

      Reponen, Elina Johanna; Dieset, Ingrid; Tesli, Martin Steen; Mørch, Ragni Helene; Aas, Monica; Vedal, Trude Seselie Jahr; Haug, Elisabeth; Drange, Ole Kristian; Steen, Nils Eiel; Hope, Sigrun; Szabo, Attila; Gohar, Sherif Mostafa Mohamed Ahmed; Wedervang-Resell, Kirsten; Djurovic, Srdjan; Melle, Ingrid; Aukrust, Pål; Andreassen, Ole Andreas; Ueland, Thor (Peer reviewed; Journal article, 2020)
      Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major cause of premature death in patients with psychotic disorders, where dyslipidemia occurs frequently. In the pathogenesis of these serious mental disorders, a low-grade ...
    • Complement factors B, D, C3bBbP and risk of future venous thromboembolism 

      Skjeflo, Espen Waage; Evensen, Line Holtet; Jensen, Søren Beck; Latysheva, Nadezhda; Michelsen, Annika Elisabet; Ueland, Thor; Brækkan, Sigrid Kufaas; Hindberg, Kristian Dalsbø; Snir, Omri; Mollnes, Tom Eirik; Hansen, John Bjarne (Peer reviewed; Journal article, 2023)
      The complement system appears to be involved in the pathogenesis of venous thromboembolism (VTE). We investigated the association of complement factors (CF) B, D, and the alternative pathway convertase, C3bBbP, measured ...
    • Cytokine Network in Scrub Typhus: High Levels of Interleukin-8 Are Associated with Disease Severity and Mortality 

      Astrup, Elisabeth; Janardhanan, J; Otterdal, Kari; Ueland, Thor; Prakash, JAJ; Lekva, Tove; Strand, Øystein Anders; Abraham, OC; Thomas, K; Damås, Jan Kristian; Mathews, P; Mathai, D; Aukrust, Pål; Varghese, GM (Journal article; Peer reviewed, 2014)
      Background: Scrub typhus, caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi, is endemic in the Asia-Pacific region. Mortality is high if untreated, and even with treatment as high as 10–20%, further knowledge of the immune response during ...
    • Cytokine pattern in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction treated with the interleukin-6 receptor antagonist tocilizumab 

      Woxholt, Sindre; Ueland, Thor; Aukrust, Pål; Anstensrud, Anne Kristine; Broch, Kaspar; Tøllefsen, Ingvild Maria; Ryan, Liv; Bendz, Bjørn; Hopp, Einar; Kløw, Nils-Einar; Seljeflot, Ingebjørg; Halvorsen, Bente; Dahl, Tuva Børresdatter; Huse, Camilla; Andersen, Geir Øystein; Gullestad, Lars; Wiseth, Rune; Amundsen, Brage H.; Damås, Jan Kristian; Kleveland, Ola (Peer reviewed; Journal article, 2023)
      Background Tocilizumab improves myocardial salvage index (MSI) in patients with ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), but its mechanisms of action are unclear. Here, we explored how cytokines were affected by tocilizumab ...
    • Cytokine responses, microbial aetiology and short-term outcome in community-acquired pneumonia 

      Siljan, William Ward; Holter, Jan Cato; Nymo, Ståle Haugset; Husebye, Einar; Ueland, Thor; Aukrust, Pål; Mollnes, Tom Eirik; Heggelund, Lars (Journal article; Peer reviewed, 2017)
      Background The inflammatory response to community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is orchestrated through activation of cytokine networks and the complement system. We examined the association of multiple cytokines and the ...
    • Effect of a single dose of the interleukin-6 receptor antagonist tocilizumab on inflammation and troponin T release in patients with non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled phase 2 trial 

      Kleveland, Ola; Kunszt, Gabor; Bratlie, Marte; Ueland, Thor; Broch, Kaspar; Holte, Espen; Michelsen, Annika; Bendz, Bjørn; Amundsen, Brage H.; Espevik, Terje; Aakhus, Svend; Damås, Jan Kristian; Aukrust, Pål; Wiseth, Rune; Gullestad, Lars (Journal article; Peer reviewed, 2016)
      Aims Interleukin-6 (IL-6) contributes to atherosclerotic plaque destabilization and is involved in myocardial injury during ischaemia–reperfusion. Interleukin-6 is therefore a potential therapeutic target in myocardial ...
    • Elevated plasma sTIM-3 levels in patients with severe COVID-19 

      Ueland, Thor; Heggelund, Lars; Lind, Andreas; Holten, Aleksander Rygh; Tonby, Kristian; Michelsen, Annika; Jenum, Synne; Jørgensen, Marthe Jøntvedt; Barratt-Due, Andreas; Skeie, Linda Gail; Nordøy, Ingvild; Aanensen Fraz, Mai Sasaki; Paulsen, Else Quist; Pischke, Soeren; Johal, Simreen Kaur; Hesstvedt, Liv; Bogen, Mette; Fevang, Børre; Halvorsen, Bente; Müller, Fredrik; Bekken, Gry Kloumann; Mollnes, Tom Eirik; Dudman, Susanne Gjeruldsen; Aukrust, Pål; Dyrhol-Riise, Anne Ma; Holter, Jan Cato (Peer reviewed; Journal article, 2020)
      Background The pathogenesis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is still incompletely understood, but it seems to involve immune activation and immune dysregulation. Objective We examined the parameters of activation ...
    • Elevated Systemic Levels of Markers Reflecting Intestinal Barrier Dysfunction and Inflammasome Activation Are Correlated in Severe Mental Illness 

      Jensen, Søren Beck; Sheikh, Mashhood Ahmed; Akkouh, Ibrahim Ahmed; Szabo, Attila; O'Connell, Kevin Sean; Lekva, Tove; Engh, John; Agartz, Ingrid; Elvsåshagen, Torbjørn; Ormerod, Monica Bettina E. Greenwood; Weibell, Melissa Anne Elin Authen; Johnsen, Erik; Kroken, Rune Andreas; Melle, Ingrid; Drange, Ole Kristian; Nærland, Terje; Vaaler, Arne; Westlye, Lars Tjelta; Aukrust, Pål; Djurovic, Srdjan; Steen, Nils Eiel; Andreassen, Ole; Ueland, Thor (Peer reviewed; Journal article, 2022)
      Abstract Background and Hypothesis Gut microbiota alterations have been reported in severe mental illness (SMI) but fewer studies have probed for signs of gut barrier disruption and inflammation. We hypothesized that ...
    • Fatty Acids Composition and HIV Infection: Altered Levels of n-6 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Are Associated with Disease Progression 

      Ueland, Thor; Waagsbø, Bjørn; Berge, Rolf Kristian; Trøseid, Marius; Aukrust, Pål; Damås, Jan Kristian (Peer reviewed; Journal article, 2023)
      Fatty acids (FAs) are important regulators of immune responses and innate defense mechanisms. We hypothesized that disturbed FA metabolism could contribute to the progression of HIV infection. Plasma levels of 45 FAs were ...
    • Functional Bowel Disorders Are Associated with a Central Immune Activation 

      Farup, Per Grønaas; Ueland, Thor; Rudi, Knut; Lydersen, Stian; Hestad, Knut (Journal article; Peer reviewed, 2017)
      Background. Subjects with depression and unexplained neurological symptoms have a high prevalence of gastrointestinal comorbidity probably related to the brain-gut communication. This study explored associations between ...
    • Gut microbiota-dependent trimethylamine N-oxide associates with inflammation in common variable immunodeficiency 

      Macpherson, Magnhild Eide; Hov, Johannes Espolin Roksund; Ueland, Thor; Dahl, Tuva Børresdatter; Kummen, Martin; Otterdal, Kari; Holm, Kristian; Berge, Rolf Kristian; Mollnes, Tom Eirik; Trøseid, Marius; Halvorsen, Bente; Aukrust, Pål; Fevang, Børre; Jørgensen, Silje Fjellgård (Peer reviewed; Journal article, 2020)
      A substantial proportion of patients with common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) have inflammatory and autoimmune complications of unknown etiology. We have previously shown that systemic inflammation in CVID correlates ...
    • High frequency and intensity of drinking may attenuate increased inflammatory cytokine levels of major depression in alcohol-use disorders 

      Neupane, Sudan Prasad; Lien, Lars; Martinez, Priscilla; Aukrust, Pål; Ueland, Thor; Mollnes, Tom Eirik; Hestad, Knut; Bramness, Jørgen Gustav (Journal article; Peer reviewed, 2014)
      As major depression (MD) is often comorbid with alcohol-use disorders (AUD) and alcohol itself modulates the immune system, we examined serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and interferon ...
    • High plasma levels of C1-inhibitor are associated with lower risk of future venous thromboembolism 

      Grover, Steven P.; Snir, Omri; Hindberg, Kristian Dalsbø; Englebert, Tatianna M.; Brækkan, Sigrid Kufaas; Morelli, Vania Maris; Jensen, Søren Beck; Wolberg, Alisa S.; Mollnes, Tom Eirik; Ueland, Thor; Mackman, Nigel; Hansen, John Bjarne (Peer reviewed; Journal article, 2023)
      Background C1-inhibitor (C1INH) is a broad-acting serine protease inhibitor with anticoagulant activity. The impact of C1INH plasma levels within the normal physiological range on risk of venous thromboembolism (VTE) ...
    • IL-6 receptor inhibition by tocilizumab attenuated expression of C5a receptor 1 and 2 in non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction 

      Orrem, Hilde Lang; Nilsson, Per; Pischke, Søren Erik; Kleveland, Ola; Yndestad, Arne; Ekholt, Karin; Damås, Jan Kristian; Espevik, Terje; Bendz, Bjørn; Halvorsen, Bente; Gregersen, Ida; Wiseth, Rune; Andersen, Geir Øystein; Ueland, Thor; Gullestad, Lars; Aukrust, Pål; Barratt-Due, Andreas; Mollnes, Tom Eirik (Journal article; Peer reviewed, 2018)
      Background: Elevated interleukin-6 (IL-6) and complement activation are associated with detrimental effects of inflammation in coronary artery disease (CAD). The complement anaphylatoxins C5a and C3a interact with their ...
    • Impaired HDL function amplifies systemic inflammation in common variable immunodeficiency 

      Macpherson, Magnhild Eide; Halvorsen, Bente; Yndestad, Arne; Ueland, Thor; Mollnes, Tom Eirik; Berge, Rolf Kristian; Rashidi, Azita; Otterdal, Kari; Gregersen, Ida; Kong, Xiang Yi; Holven, Kirsten Bjørklund; Aukrust, Pål; Fevang, Børre; Jørgensen, Silje Fjellgård (Journal article; Peer reviewed, 2019)
      Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is the most common symptomatic primary immunodeficiency, characterized by inadequate antibody responses and recurrent bacterial infections. Paradoxically, a majority of CVID patients ...
    • Increased circulating IL-18 levels in severe mental disorders indicate systemic inflammasome activation 

      Szabo, Attila; O’Connell, Kevin; Ueland, Thor; Ahmed, Mashhood Sheikh; Agartz, Ingrid; Andreou, Dimitrios; Aukrust, Pål; Boye, Birgitte; Bøen, Erlend; Drange, Ole Kristian; Elvsåshagen, Torbjørn; Engh, John Abel; Hope, Sigrun; Høegh, Margrethe Collier; Joa, Inge; Johnsen, Erik; Kroken, Rune Andreas; Lagerberg, Trine Vik; Lekva, Tove; Malt, Ulrik Fredrik; Melle, Ingrid; Morken, Gunnar; Nærland, Terje; Steen, Vidar Martin; Sørensen, Kjetil; Wedervang-Resell, Kirsten; Auten Weibell, Melissa; Westlye, Lars Tjelta; Steen, Nils Eiel; Andreassen, Ole; Djurovic, Srdjan (Peer reviewed; Journal article, 2022)
      Background Schizophrenia (SCZ) and bipolar disorder (BD) are severe mental illnesses (SMI) that are part of a psychosis continuum, and dysregulated innate immune responses have been suggested to be involved in their ...
    • Increased complement factor B and Bb levels are associated with mortality in patients with severe aortic stenosis 

      Shahini, Negar; Ueland, Thor; Auensen, Andreas; Michelsen, Annika; Ludviksen, Judith K; Hussain, Amjad Iqbal; Pettersen, Kjell; Aakhus, Svend; Espeland, Torvald; Lunde, Ida Gjervold; Kirschfink, Michael; Nilsson, Per; Mollnes, Tom Eirik; Gullestad, Lars; Aukrust, Pål; Yndestad, Arne; Louwe, Maria Cornelia (Journal article; Peer reviewed, 2019)
      Inflammation is involved in initiation and progression of aortic stenosis (AS). However, the role of the complement system, a crucial component of innate immunity in AS, is unclear. We hypothesized that circulating levels ...