The proinflammatory cytokine response to Chlamydia trachomatis elementary bodies in human macrophages is partly mediated by a lipoprotein, the macrophage infectivity potentiator, through TLR2/TLR1/TLR6 and CD14

Chlamydiae components and signaling pathway(s) responsible for the production of proinflammatory cytokines by human monocytes/macrophages are not clearly identified. To this aim, Chlamydia trachomatis-inactivated elementary bodies (EB) as well as the following seven individual Ags were tested for their ability to induce the production of proinflammatory cytokines by human monocytes/macrophages and THP-1 cells: purified LPS, recombinant heat shock protein (rhsp)70, rhsp60, rhsp10, recombinant polypeptide encoded by open reading frame 3 of the plasmid (rpgp3), recombinant macrophage infectivity potentiator (rMip), and recombinant outer membrane protein 2 (rOmp2). Aside from EB, rMip displayed the highest ability to induce release of IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, IL-6, and IL-8. rMip proinflammatory activity could not be attributed to Escherichia coli LPS contamination as determined by the Limulus Amoebocyte lysate assay, insensitivity to polymyxin B (50 microg/ml), and different serum requirement. We have recently demonstrated that Mip is a "classical" bacterial lipoprotein, exposed at the surface of EB. The proinflammatory activity of EB was significantly attenuated in the presence of polyclonal Ab to rMip. Native Mip was able to induce TNF-alpha and IL-8 secretion, whereas a nonlipidated C20A rMip variant was not. Proinflammatory activity of rMip was unaffected by heat or proteinase K treatments but was greatly reduced by treatment with lipases, supporting a role of lipid modification in this process. Stimulating pathways appeared to involve TLR2/TLR1/TLR6 with the help of CD14 but not TLR4. These data support a role of Mip lipoprotein in pathogenesis of C. trachomatis-induced inflammatory responses.     

Eimeria stiedae: experimental infection in rabbits and the effect of treatment with toltrazuril and ivermectin

The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical, haematological, biochemical, lipid peroxidation, ultrasonographic and pathologic findings in hepatic coccidiosis induced by Eimeria stiedae in rabbits, and also to compare the treatment effects of both toltrazuril and ivermectin separately and in combination. In this study, 56 rabbits were divided into eight groups. The first group was designated as healthy control group. Rabbits were infected with 40.000 sporulated oocysts of E. stiedae. Groups 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8 were allocated as the infected control group, infected+toltrazuril-treated group, infected+ivermectin-treated group, infected+toltrazuril+ivermectin-treated group, non-infected+toltrazuril-treated group, non-infected+ivermectin-treated group, non-infected+toltrazuril+ivermectin-treated group, respectively. Haematocrit, Haemoglobin and MCV values as well as percentage of lymphocyte decreased in Groups 2 and 4 whereas leucocyte counts and percentage of granulocyte leucocyte increased. Serum GGT, ALT and AST activities increased but albumin value decreased. Plasma MDA concentrations increased whereas erythrocyte CAT, GSH-Px, and SOD activities decreased. Mean oocyst numbers in per gram faeces (epg values) increased in both groups during the study. Ultrasonographic examination revealed that the liver was enlarged and had hyperechogenic parenchyma. Bile ducts were dilated and hyperechogenic and the gall bladder was dilated. The livers of these animals were enlarged and typical macroscopic and microscopic findings of coccidiosis were present. Treatment with toltrazuril and toltrazuril+ivermectin combination were highly effective in reducing faecal oocyst output in infected rabbits. Haematological, biochemical and lipid peroxidation parameters and, ultrasonographic findings of the liver were close to control values for Groups 3 and 5. Necropsy of these animals showed no visible lesions related to hepatic coccidiosis although a few oocysts were detected in the bile duct epithelial cells.     

Methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase gene polymorphisms in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH)

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common cause of abnormal hepatic steatosis in the absence of a history of alcohol use. Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is the progressive form of NAFLD. Hyperhomocysteinemia causes steatosis, and the methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T and A1298C polymorphisms result in hyperhomocysteinemia. To examine whether the C677T and A1298C polymorphisms of the MTHFR gene were associated with NASH, we analysed the allele and genotype distribution of the MTHFR C677T and A1298C polymorphisms in 57 well-diagnosed NASH patients, 324 healthy controls in a case-control study of Turkish subjects of Caucasian origin. The diagnosis of the NASH patients was based on liver biopsy. The method used in the analysis of genotypes was PCR-RFLP. The MTHFR A1298C polymorphism was significantly associated with NASH (chi(2) = 8.439; p = 0.015) in the total NASH patients compared with healthy controls. The MTHFR 1298C allele (odds ratio (OR) = 2.480; 95%CI = 1.286-4.782; chi(2) = 7.703; df = 1; p = 0.006) was significantly associated with NASH in the total NASH patients. The MTHFR C677C/A1298C compound genotype (OR = 2.218; 95%CI = 1.003-4.906; chi(2) = 3.998; df = 1; p = 0.046) in men patients was also significantly associated with NASH. Likewise the MTHFR C1298C genotype was significantly associated with NASH in women patients with NASH (OR = 2.979; 95%CI = 1.027-8.641; chi(2) = 4.343; df = 1; p = 0.037). In conclusion, the MTHFR 1298C allele in all NASH patients, C1298C genotype, C677C/C1298C compound genotype in women NASH patients and C677C/A1298C compound genotype in men NASH patients were genetic risk factors for NASH.     

Seed morphology and its systematic implications for genus Astragalus L. sections Onobrychoidei DC., Uliginosi Gray and Ornithopodium Bunge (Fabaceae)

Forty-eight species of Astragalus L. sections Onobrychoidei DC., Uliginosi Gray and Ornithopodium Bunge (Fabaceae) in Turkey were studied in order to describe and investigate their seed morphologies and to evaluate the diagnostic value of this character using a stereoscopic microscope and a scanning electron microscope (SEM). SEM pictures of seeds were taken as a whole and in detail. The systematic implications of the findings are discussed. Six main seed types were observed. A key to identifying the different seed types is provided.     

HLA-B51 gene and its expression in association with Behçet’s Disease in Denizli Province of Turkey

Behçet’s Disease (BD) is a multisystemic inflammatory disorder as a triad of symptoms including recurrent oral and genital aphthous ulceration, and uveitis with unknown pathogenesis. Many researchers have tried to investigate the association of HLA-B51 gene with the BD. We aimed to investigate the association of the HLA-B51 gene and its expression, also polymorphic structure by PCR, RT-PCR and sequence specific oligonucleotide primers and probes in BD patients (n: 35) and control group (n: 50). According to our results, we did not observe any association in between HLA-B51 gene, its polymorphism, expression and BD patients.     

Microwave-assisted synthesis and bioevaluation of new sulfonamides

In this study, 4-[5-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-3-aryl-4,5-dihydro-1H-pyrazol-1-yl]benzenesulfonamide derivatives (8-14) were synthesized for the first time by microwave irradiation and their chemical structures were confirmed by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR and HRMS. Cytotoxic activities and inhibitory effects on carbonic anhydrase I and II isoenzymes of the compounds were investigated. The compounds 9 (PSE?=?4.2), 12 (PSE?=?4.1) and 13 (PSE?=?3.9) with the highest potency selectivity expression (PSE) values in cytotoxicity experiments and the compounds 13 (Ki?=?3.73?±?0.91?nM toward hCA I) and 14 (Ki?=?3.85?±?0.57?nM toward hCA II) with the lowest Ki values in CA inhibition studies can be considered as leader compounds for further studies.     

Leptin signaling deficiency impairs humoral and cellular immune responses and attenuates experimental arthritis.

Leptin is produced almost exclusively by adipocytes and regulates body weight at the hypothalamic level. In addition, recent studies showed that leptin plays an important role in T lymphocyte responses. To examine the role of leptin in Ag-induced arthritis, the development of joint inflammation was assessed in immunized leptin-deficient mice (ob/ob), +/?, and wild-type mice (+/+) following the administration of methylated BSA into the knees. The results showed that ob/ob mice developed less severe arthritis compared with control mice. The levels of IL-1beta and TNF-alpha mRNA in the synovium of arthritic knees were lower in ob/ob than in +/? mice. In vitro Ag-specific T cell proliferative responses were significantly decreased in ob/ob mice with lower IFN-gamma and higher IL-10 production, suggesting a shift toward a Th2-type response in ob/ob mice. The serum levels of anti-methylated BSA Abs of any isotype were significantly decreased in arthritic ob/ob mice compared with controls. Essentially identical results were obtained in db/db mice, which lack the expression of the long isoform of leptin receptor. By RT-PCR, we observed that B lymphocytes express leptin receptor mRNA, indicating that in addition to its effect on the cellular response, leptin may exert a direct effect on B cell function. In conclusion, leptin contributes to the mechanisms of joint inflammation in Ag-induced arthritis by regulating both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses.     

Fundamentals of chirality,resolution, and enantiopure molecule synthesis methods

The chirality of molecules is a concept that explains the interactions in nature. We may observe the same formula but different organizations revolving around the chiral center. Since Pasteur's meticulous observation of sodium ammonium tartrate crystals' structure, scientists have discovered many features of chiral molecules. The number of newly approved single enantiomeric drugs increases every year and takes place in the market. Thus, separation or resolution methods of racemic mixtures are of continued importance in the efficacy of drugs, installation of affordable production processes, and convenient synthetic chemistry practice. This article presents the asymmetric synthesis approaches and the classification of direct resolution methods of chiral molecules.     

Two Distinct Categories of Focal Deletions in Cancer Genomes

One of the key questions about genomic alterations in cancer is whether they are functional in the sense of contributing to the selective advantage of tumor cells. The frequency with which an alteration occurs might reflect its ability to increase cancer cell growth, or alternatively, enhanced instability of a locus may increase the frequency with which it is found to be aberrant in tumors, regardless of oncogenic impact. Here we’ve addressed this on a genome-wide scale for cancer-associated focal deletions, which are known to pinpoint both tumor suppressor genes (tumor suppressors) and unstable loci. Based on DNA copy number analysis of over one-thousand human cancers representing ten different tumor types, we observed five loci with focal deletion frequencies above 5%, including the A2BP1 gene at 16p13.3 and the MACROD2 gene at 20p12.1. However, neither RNA expression nor functional studies support a tumor suppressor role for either gene. Further analyses suggest instead that these are sites of increased genomic instability and that they resemble common fragile sites (CFS). Genome-wide analysis revealed properties of CFS-like recurrent deletions that distinguish them from deletions affecting tumor suppressor genes, including their isolation at specific loci away from other genomic deletion sites, a considerably smaller deletion size, and dispersal throughout the affected locus rather than assembly at a common site of overlap. Additionally, CFS-like deletions have less impact on gene expression and are enriched in cell lines compared to primary tumors. We show that loci affected by CFS-like deletions are often distinct from known common fragile sites. Indeed, we find that each tumor tissue type has its own spectrum of CFS-like deletions, and that colon cancers have many more CFS-like deletions than other tumor types. We present simple rules that can pinpoint focal deletions that are not CFS-like and more likely to affect functional tumor suppressors.