Constitutive expression of IL-22 in the human intervertebral disc and its reduction by exposure to pro-inflammatory cytokines in vitro

The importance of cytokines in disc degeneration is well recognized. Little is known about IL-22 expression in the human intervertebral disc. We investigated IL-22 immuno-localization in disc tissue, and molecular expression and production of IL-22 by annulus cells cultured in three-dimensional (3D) culture. We examined human disc tissue using immunohistochemistry and we cultured isolated annulus cells in 3D to analyze IL-22 expression and production, and its receptor, IL-22R, in conditioned media. Ingenuity pathway analysis (IPA) also was used to identify significant gene expression networks within the molecular data. IL-22 and IL-22R were immunolocalized in many cells in the human outer and inner annulus; fewer cells exhibited localization in the nucleus. Three-dimensional culture of annulus cells demonstrated production of IL-22 in conditioned media; exposure to IL-1ß or TNF-α significantly reduced IL-22 levels. Significant decreases also were identified in conditioned media assayed for IL-22R in TNF-α treated cells. IPA analysis showed that IL-22 ranked among the top canonical pathways. We found constitutive expression and production of IL-22 and IL-22R in the disc, which expands our understanding of the effect of pro-inflammatory cytokines on IL-22 expression and production. Three-dimensional cultured annulus cells exposed to IL-1ß or TNF produced significantly lower levels of IL-22 into their conditioned media compared to levels produced by control cells. Our findings have clinical relevance because of the elevated pro-inflammatory milieu within the degenerating human disc.     

Yield and quality of forage maize (<i>Zea mays</i> L.) with different levels of subsurface drip irrigation and plant density

The scarcity of water in arid and semiarid regions of the world is a problem that every day increases by climate change. The subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) and changes in population density of plants are alternatives that can be used to make a sustainable use of water. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to determine the combination that allows for an increased corn performance and efficient use of water without losing the quality of forage. Three different irrigation levels were applied through a system of a SDI at three different densities of forage maize plants in an arid region. The results demonstrated that by applying different levels of water, either enough or lack of soil moisture is created, which is directly reflected in crop yield, and its determining variables such as green forage and dry matter yield, and nutritional quality. The irrigation level to a 100% of potential evapotranspiration (PET), at a density of 80000 plants/ha, increased yield of green forage to 57664 kg/ha; crude protein was 8.59%, while the rest of the quality parameters decreased. This study allowed to conclude that the irrigation level was the major factor in the response of the crop.     

Effect of nitrogen source and concentration to produce proteins in mass cultures of the microalgae <i>Chaetoceros muelleri</i>

Proteins are one of the major metabolites in biomass from microalgae that constitute the diet of marine organisms grown in aquaculture, and are essential for their growth. The quantity of this component is influenced by nutrients, temperature and light intensity, among others. We examined the growth, biomass production and protein of Chaetoceros muelleri with two sources of nitrogen (nitrate and urea) at three concentrations, using the medium f/2 (0.88 mol/L) (nitrates) as control. The treatments were the medium 2f (3.53 mol/L) and 4f (7.05 mol/L) with NO_3^-, and the medium f/2 (0.88 mol/L), 2f (3.53mol/L) and 4f (7.05 mol/L) with urea. In general, the productive parameters were greater using urea than nitrate in the media. Higher cell concentrations (2.83 x 10⁶ cell/mL), average and cumulative growth rates (1.50 div/day and 6.01 divisions), dry weight (0.0044 g/L), and proportion of proteins (23.74%) were found when urea was used as the N source. However, most of the bands on the electrophoretic profile were present in the mediums with NO_3^- (~6.5 to 90 kDa).     

Increase in levels of microbiota recoverable from male and larval Myrmecia gulosa (Fabricius) (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) following segregation from worker ants

The segregation of laboratory maintained male and larval Myrmecia gulosa from workers resulted in increased levels of culturable microbiota. After 29 days, microbial levels recovered from segregated males and larvae were 27 and 126 times greater than from males and larvae not segregated from workers. These findings are consistent with the hypothesis that metapleural gland secretions, absent in larvae and males, are transferred from workers to larvae, and males contribute to the inhibition of cuticular microbiota.     

Direct effects of fructose metabolism on fatty acid oxidation in a recombined rat liver mitochondria-hish speed supernatant system.

The effects of fructose on the oxidation of [1-(14)C]palmitate in a rat liver mitochondria-high speed supernatant system have been investigated. This model system permitted study of the direct effects of fructose and the metabolism of fructose on fatty acid oxidation in the near absence of fatty acid esterification. Fructose inhibited the utilization of albumin-bound [1-(14)C] palmitate in the mitochondria-supernatant system, but did not affect fatty acid utilization by isolated liver mitochondria. Although fructose decreased the ATP content in the mitochondrial-supernatant system, the level of ATP throughout the incubation period was sufficient for maximal fatty acid activation. Fructose decreased the conversion of [1-(14)C]palmitate to 14CO2 and depressed the formation of total labeled oxidation products (14CO2 + 14C-labeled ketone bodies) in this system. The results suggest that fructose metabolism inhibited fatty acid oxidation in the mitochondria-supernatant system by competitive substrate oxidation and thereby decreased utilization of the added [1-(14)C]palmitate. The ihibition of L-[L-(14)C]palmitoylcarnitine oxidation, fructose was in all respects similar to its inhibition of palmitate oxidation, indicating that the site of fructose interaction was within the beta-oxidation sequence. These observations support the concept (Ontko, J.A. [1972] J. Biol. Chem. 247, 1788-1800) that the reciprocal changes in esterification and oxidation of palmitate caused by fructose in liver cells are primarily mediated via inhibitory effects on long-chain fatty acid oxidation.     

Description of Euroleptochromus gen.n. (Coleoptera,Staphylinidae, Scydmaeninae) from Baltic amber,with discussion of biogeography and mouthpart evolution within Clidicini

A new extinct species of the ant‐like stone beetle supertribe Mastigitae, Euroleptochromus sabathi gen. & sp.n. is described from Eocene Baltic amber. A phylogenetic analysis of Clidicini, with representatives of Leptomastacini and Mastigini as out‐group taxa, provided strong support for a sister‐group relationship between the Neotropical Leptochromus and the new genus. The monophyly of Clidicini is questioned because of an alternative placement of Nearctic Papusus as a sister taxon to Leptomastacini + [Clidicus + (Palaeoleptochromus + (Euroleptochromus + Leptochromus))]. A dispersal‐vicariance analysis provided three alternative scenarios for the evolution of Mastigitae; with Laurasia as the ancestral area of the supertribe, major branching events occurring within either Eurasia or Laurentia and two trans‐Beringia dispersals in Late Cretaceous and Eocene. Euroleptochromus, Palaeoleptochromus and Leptochromus share highly derived structures on postgenae and maxillary palps, probably as part of a specialised feeding or prey capture mechanism. The formation of these modifications in Clidicini is demonstrated to involve a process (traced back to the Campanian, 79 Ma) of elongation and narrowing of maxillary palps and forming a cuticular setal projection from a broadened insertion site of sensory setae.     

The consequence of passive administration of an anti-human immunodeficiency virus type 1 neutralizing monoclonal antibody before challenge of chimpanzees with a primary virus isolate.

The anti-gp41 virus neutralizing monoclonal antibody 2F5 was infused into chimpanzees, which were then given an intravenous challenge with a primary human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-1) isolate. In two control animals, the infection was established immediately, as evidenced by positive cell-associated DNA PCR and serum RNA PCR tests within 1 week, seroconversion by 4 weeks, and development of lymphadenopathy in this acute phase. Serum RNA PCR tests were negative in one of the two antibody-infused animals until week 8 and in the other antibody-infused animal until week 12; both animals seroconverted at week 14. The peak of measurable virus-specific serum RNA was delayed until week 16 in one antibody-infused animal. Virus-specific RNA in the other animal did not reach levels comparable to those in the other animals through 1 year of follow-up studies. Virus was isolated from the week 16 blood sample from one infused animal. Virus was not isolated from peripheral blood of the second animal but was isolated from lymph node cells taken at week 36. The infection of untreated chimpanzees with this primary isolate appears robust. Use of this isolate should widen the scope of possible experiments in the chimpanzee model. This antibody infusion study indicates that neutralizing antibody, when present at the time of challenge, affects the timing and level of infection and remains influential after it can no longer be detected in the peripheral circulation. It is possible that preexisting, neutralizing antibodies (passively administered or actively elicited) affect the course of acute-phase virus replication in humans. It remains to be established whether these immunologically mediated early effects will influence the course of HIV-1 disease.