The role of l-arginine-nitric oxide pathway in bacterial translocation

This study investigated the nitric oxide (NO) role as a mediator of arginine on bacterial translocation (BT) and gut damage in mice after intestinal obstruction (IO). The effects of pretreatment with arginine with or without NO inhibition on the systemic and local immunological response were also assessed. Mice were categorized into four groups. Group ARG received chow containing 2 % arginine, while group ARG + l-NAME received the same diet plus l-NAME (N-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester) by gavage. The IO and Sham groups were fed standard chow. After 7 days, animals were gavaged with radiolabeled Escherichia coli, anesthetized and subjected to IO, except the Sham group. Animals were euthanized after 18 h, and BT was evaluated in the mesenteric lymph nodes, blood, liver, spleen and lungs. In another experiment, the intestinal injury was assessed regarding intestinal permeability and ileum histological analyses. Intestinal secretory immunoglobulin A (sIgA) levels, serum IFN-γ and IL-10 cytokines were assessed. Arginine reduced BT, but NO inhibition enhanced BT compared with the ARG group (p < 0.05). Intestinal permeability in the ARG and ARG + l-NAME groups was similar but decreased when compared with the IO group (p < 0.05). Histological preservation was observed. Arginine treatment increased IL-10 and sIgA levels when compared with the Sham and IO groups (p < 0.05). The cytokines and sIgA concentrations were similar in the ARG + l-NAME and Sham groups. Arginine appeared to reduce BT and its effects on the modulation of cytokines and secretory IgA in mice after IO are mediated by NO production.     

Redox signals as a language of interorganellar communication in plant cells

Plants are redox systems and redox-active compounds control and regulate all aspects of their life. Recent studies have shown that changes in reactive oxygen species (ROS) concentration mediated by enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants are transferred into redox signals used by plants to activate various physiological responses. An overview of the main antioxidants and redox signaling in plant cells is presented. In this review, the biological effects of ROS and related redox signals are discussed in the context of acclimation to changing environmental conditions. Special attention is paid to the role of thiol/disulfide exchange via thioredoxins (Trxs), glutaredoxins (Grxs) and peroxiredoxins (Prxs) in the redox regulatory network. In plants, chloroplasts and mitochondria occupying a chloroplasts and mitochondria play key roles in cellular metabolism as well as in redox regulation and signaling. The integrated redox functions of these organelles are discussed with emphasis on the importance of the chloroplast and mitochondrion to the nucleus retrograde signaling in acclimatory and stress response.     

Risk Factors for Normal and High-Tension Glaucoma in Poland in Connection with Polymorphisms of the Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase Gene

Aim

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of polymorphisms of the eNOS gene on the clinical status of patients with normal and high tension glaucoma.

Methods

266 Polish Caucasian patients with primary open angle glaucoma were studied. Of the 266, 156 had normal tension glaucoma (NTG) and 110 high tension glaucoma (HTG). DNA material was isolated from peripheral venous blood using commercial kits. Real-time PCR reaction was used to amplify the promoter site of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene, including the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) site T-786C and part of the 7^th exon of eNOS, including G894T SNP. Genotypes were determined with TaqMan SNP Genotyping Assays.

Results

There were no significant differences in frequencies of the allelic variants of both polymorphisms. In G894T SNP, however, the wild GG form was more common in the HTG group. The SNP of the eNOS gene did not significantly influence the progression rate in either of the groups studied. There were no differences in variants of the eNOS gene regarding the necessity for and success of surgery and the progression of the disease. In the NTG group, no statistical correlation was observed between G894T, T786C polymorphism variants, and risk factors such as optic disc haemorrhages, optic disc notches, and peripapillary atrophy. Mean diastolic and systolic pressure during the day and night were lowest in NTG patients with the CC variant of the T786C polymorphism. No statistical correlation was observed between the G894T and T786C polymorphisms and capillaroscopic examination results.

Conclusions

Genotype frequencies are similar for both the eNOS G894T and T-786C polymorphisms in NTG and HTG patients. These polymorphisms do not correlate with risk factors and do not influence the state of the capillary system in NTG patients. Systolic blood pressure is lower in NTG patients with mutated alleles of both polymorphisms.     

Ancient animal migration: a case study of eyeless,dimorphic Devonian trilobites from Poland

We report evidence of one of the oldest known animal migratory episodes in the form of queues of the eyeless trilobite Trimerocephalus chopini Kin & B?a?ejowski, from the Late Devonian (Famennian) of central Poland. In addition, there is evidence for two morphs in this population, one with nine segments and the other with ten. We infer that these queues represent mass migratory chains coordinated by chemotaxis, comparable to those observed in modern crustaceans such as spiny lobsters, and further suggest that the two forms, which occur in an approximately 1:1 ratio, may be dimorphs. These ancient arthropods may have migrated periodically to shallow marine areas for mass mating and spawning. The sudden death of the trilobites in the queues may have been caused by excess carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide introduced into the bottom water by distal storm disturbance of anoxic sediments. This study demonstrates the potential for further research on the evolution and ecology of aggregative behaviour in marine arthropods.     

Cis-regulatory elements used to control gene expression in plants

Plant biotechnology is a dynamically developing science, which comprises many fields of knowledge. Novel plant genetic engineering findings highly influence the improvement of industrial production. These findings mostly concern cis-regulatory elements, which are sequences controlling gene expression at all developmental stages. They comprise of promoters, enhancers, insulators and silencers, which are used to construct synthetic expression cassettes. Examples of most important cis-regulatory elements are reviewed in the present paper. Variability among core promoters content and distal promoter regions impedes evaluation of interactions between them during the artificial promoters construction. Synthetic promoters and artificial expression cassettes trigger a significant increase in gene expression level, better properties and quality of a product. Accumulating knowledge about gene promoters, cis sequences and their cooperating factors allows uniform expression systems and highly predictable results.     

Establishment of an effective TLC bioautographic method for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H37Ra phosphoglucose isomerase inhibition by phosphoenolpyruvate

A bioautographic assay based on thin layer chromatography was developed for phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) detecting as a known but rarely studied inhibitor of phosphoglucose isomerase (PGI). The protocol with NADP⁺/NBT/PMS (β-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate/nitrotetrazolium blue chloride/phenazine methosulfate) staining was capable of detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis H₃₇Ra PGI inhibition using PEP. According to this method, visibly brighter spots (zones) against purple background are observed in the area of inhibition of the above-mentioned enzyme activity. The detection limit for PEP as an inhibitor of Mycobacterium tuberculosis H₃₇Ra PGI was 226?μg per spot/zone. Noteworthy is that we are the first authors to have successfully used a bioautographic assay to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis H₃₇Ra PGI inhibition by PEP.     

Anticonvulsant Activity of Enantiomeric N‐trans‐Cinnamoyl Derivatives of 2‐Aminopropan‐1‐ols and 2‐Aminobutan‐1‐ols

Epilepsy, one of the most frequent neurological disorders, is still insufficiently treated in about 30% of patients. As a consequence, identification of novel anticonvulsant agents is an important issue in medicinal chemistry. In the present article we report synthesis, physicochemical, and pharmacological evaluation of N‐trans‐cinnamoyl derivatives of R and S‐2‐aminopropan‐1‐ol, as well as R and S‐2‐aminobutan‐1‐ol. The structures were confirmed by spectroscopy and for derivatives of 2‐aminopropan‐1‐ols the configuration was evaluated by means of crystallography. The investigated compounds were tested in rodent models of seizures: maximal electroshock (MES) and subcutaneous pentetrazol test (scPTZ), and also in a rodent model of epileptogenesis: pilocarpine‐induced status prevention. Additionally, derivatives of 2‐aminopropan‐1‐ols were tested in benzodiazepine‐resistant electrographic status epilepticus rat model as well as in vitro for inhibition of isoenzymes of cytochrome P450. All of the tested compounds showed promising anticonvulsant activity in MES. For R(–)‐(2E)‐N‐(1‐hydroxypropan‐2‐yl)‐3‐phenylprop‐2‐enamide pharmacological parameters were found as follows: ED₅₀ = 76.7 (68.2–81.3) mg/kg (MES, mice i.p., time = 0.5 h), ED₅₀ = 127.2 (102.1–157.9) mg/kg (scPTZ, mice i.p., time = 0.25 h), TD₅₀ = 208.3 (151.4–230.6) mg/kg (rotarod, mice i.p., time = 0.25 h). Evaluation in pilocarpine status prevention proved that all of the reported compounds reduced spontaneous seizure activity and act as antiepileptogenic agents. Both enantiomers of 2‐aminopropan‐1‐ols did not influence cytochrome P450 isoenzymes activity in vitro and are likely not to interact with CYP substrates in vivo. Chirality 28:482–488, 2016. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Ultrastructural Impact of Tobacco Rattle Virus on Tobacco and Pepper Ovary and Anther Tissues

The one‐third of plant viruses are seed transmitted, and this has significant economic consequences. Tobacco rattle virus (TRV), belonging to the genus Tobravirus and family Virgaviridae, has one of the widest host range of any known plant viruses. TRV infects vegetative organ and effects seed and pollen development that results in a decrease in crop yield. The mechanisms by which Tobravirus is transmissible to seeds are still poorly understood. The presence of the virus in pollen grains and inside ovaries is linked with seed transmission and can have effects on virus particles' transport during the pollination and fertilization process. This paper focuses on the significant impact of TRV on pepper and tobacco anthers and ultrastructure changes in ovaries. The presence of two types of TRV particles in ovary wall parenchyma and vascular tissues as well as in placenta cells was demonstrated via ultrastructural analysis. For the first time, the regular inclusion of virus particles was reported in both ovule integuments and nucellus parenchyma cells. Immunolocalization of TRV capsid proteins indicated the deposition of TRV CP epitope in ovary vascular bundles and in placenta cells. Moreover, the presence of virus particles was demonstrated inside pepper seeds in endothelium and integument parenchyma layers as well as on the embryo cell wall. Virus particles were found not only on the surface of pollen grains but also inside pepper pollen protoplasts in mature anthers. Also, this is the first time where TRV particles are reported in both differentiated endothecium cells and the remaining tapetum cells. Moreover, the detection of TRV capsid protein epitope in tobacco and pepper vascular anther tissues as well as in tapetum and endothecium cells was correlated with TRV distribution in infected anthers. Demonstrated analyses indicated that pollen grains and ovaries with ovules as well as could be a natural source of TRV transmission.