Oxidative Stress Parameters in Different Brain Structures Following Lateral Fluid Percussion Injury in the Rat

Free radicals mediated damage of phospholipids, proteins and nucleic acids results in subsequent neuronal degeneration and cell loss. Aim of this study was to evaluate the existence of lipid and protein oxidative damage and the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) in various rat brain structures 24 h after lateral fluid percussion brain injury (LFPI). Parietal cortex, hippocampus, thalamus, entorhinal cortex, and cerebellum from the ipsilateral hemisphere were processed for analyses of the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and oxidized protein levels as well as for the SOD and GSH-Px activities. Immunohistochemical detection of oxidized proteins was also performed. Results of our study showed that LFPI caused significant oxidative stress in the parietal cortex and hippocampus while other brain regions tested in this study were not oxidatively altered by LFPI. GSH-Px activities were significantly increased in the parietal cortex and hippocampus, while the SOD activities remained unchanged following LFPI in all regions investigated.     

Interaction of extravillous trophoblast galectin-1 and mucin(s)—Is there a functional relevance?

ABSTRACT

In the course of embryo implantation extensive interaction of the trophoblast with uterine tissue is crucial for adequate trophoblast invasion. This interaction is highly controlled, and it has been pointed out that a specific glycocode and changes in glycosylation may be important for successful implantation and maintenance of pregnancy. Both uterine and trophoblast cells have been shown to express cell surface glycoconjugates and sugar binding proteins, such as mucins (MUC) and galectins (gals). An increasing number of studies have investigated potential candidates interacting in this process. However, knowledge about the biochemical nature of the interactions and their importance for trophoblast cell function, and, consequently, for pregnancy outcome are still lacking. This review is aimed at deliberating the possibility that mucins, as heavily glycosylated proteins, might be among the functionally relevant galectin ligands in human trophoblast, based on both published data and our original research.     

Heat processing of soybean kernel and its effect on lysine availability and protein solubility

Soybean kernels of cultivars Bosa and ZPS 015 were used in the experiment. The contents of available lysine as well as water and salt soluble proteins, were analysed in fresh soybean kernels, soybean products made after the processes of dry extrusion, micronisation, microwave toasting and autoclaving. Utilizing a technological procedure of processing, kernels were exposed to temperatures from 57 to 150°C. The duration of exposure of the soybean kernels to the increased temperatures, ranged from 25-30 seconds in dry extrusion to 30 minutes in autoclaving. All treatments were subjected to different sources of heat, causing different thermodynamic processes to take place in kernels and change their chemical composition; i.e. nutritive quality. The content of water and salt soluble proteins decreased under the influence of higher temperatures in the course of all treatments of processing. The drop of solubility already was drastically effected by temperatures of 100°C in dry extrusion, while there was a gradual decrease in other treatments. The content of available lysine was determined by the modified Carpenter methods with DNFB. The processes of micronisation and microwave toasting showed the greatest effect on the reduction of lysine availability. Dry extrusion and autoclaving, performed within closed systems — in which the increased moisture content has a special effect — resulted in significantly smaller changes of the available lysine content.     

Correction to: Computational analysis of viable parameter regions in models of synthetic biological systems

Background

Myocardial infarction (MI) is a common cause of mortality in people. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) has been shown to exert therapeutic potential to treat myocardial infarction (MI). However, in patients with diabetes, the diabetic environment affected MSCs activity and could impair the efficacy of treatment. Interleukin-10 (IL-10) has been shown to attenuate MI by suppressing inflammation. In current study, the combination of MSC transplantation with IL-10 was evaluated in a diabetic mice model with MI.

Methods

We engineered bone marrow derived MSCs (BM-MSCs) to overexpress IL-10 by using CRISPR activation. We established the diabetic mice model with MI and monitored the IL-10 expression after BM-MSCs transplantation. We also evaluated the effects of BM-MSCs transplantation on inflammatory response, cell apoptosis, cardiac function and angiogenesis.

Results

CRISPR activation system enabled overexpression of IL-10 in BM-MSCs. Transplantation of BM-MSCs overexpressing IL-10 resulted in IL-10 expression in heart after transplantation. Transplantation of BM-MSCs overexpressing IL-10 inhibited inflammatory cell infiltration and pro-inflammatory cytokines production, improved cardiac functional recovery, alleviated cardiac injury, decreased apoptosis of cardiac cells and increased angiogenesis.

Conclusion

In summary, we have demonstrated the therapeutic potential of IL-10 overexpressed BM-MSCs in the treatment of MI in diabetic mice.

     

Behavioural and physiological plasticity of gypsy moth larvae to host plant switching

Larvae of the gypsy moth, Lymantria dispar L. (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae), a generalist species, frequently encounter spatial and temporal variations in diet quality. Such variation favoured the evolution of high behavioural and physiological plasticity which, depending on forest stand composition, enables more or less successful exploitation of the environment. Even in mixed oak stands, a suitable habitat, interspecific and intraspecific host quality variation may provoke significant variation in gypsy moth performance and, consequently, defoliation severity. To elucidate the insufficiently explored relationship between gypsy moth and oaks (Fagaceae), we carried out reciprocal switches between Turkey oaks (Quercus cerris L.) and less nutritious Hungarian oaks (Quercus frainetto Ten.) (TH and HT groups), under controlled laboratory conditions, and compared larval performance between the switched larvae and larvae continuously fed on either Turkey oak (TT) or Hungarian oak (HH). We found that larval traits were most strongly affected by among‐tree variation in oak quality and identity of the host consumed during the fourth instar. Switching from Turkey to Hungarian oak (TH) led to a longer period of feeding, decrease of mass gain, growth, and consumption rate, lower efficiency of food use and nutrient conversion, and increase of protease and amylase activities. Larvae exposed to the reverse switch (HT) attained values of these traits characteristic for TT larvae. It appeared that the lower growth in the TH group than in the TT group was caused by both behavioural (consumption, pre‐ingestive) and metabolic (post‐digestive) effects from consuming oaks. Multivariate analyses of growth, consumption, and efficiency of food use revealed that early diet experience influenced the sensitivity of the most examined traits to less suitable Hungarian oaks, suggesting the development of behavioural and physiological adjustments. Our results indicate that lower risks of defoliation by gypsy moth might be expected in mixed stands with a higher proportion of Hungarian oak.     

The Allee-type ideal free distribution

The ideal free distribution (IFD) in a two-patch environment where individual fitness is positively density dependent at low population densities is studied. The IFD is defined as an evolutionarily stable strategy of the habitat selection game. It is shown that for low and high population densities only one IFD exists, but for intermediate population densities there are up to three IFDs. Population and distributional dynamics described by the replicator dynamics are studied. It is shown that distributional stability (i.e., IFD) does not imply local stability of a population equilibrium. Thus distributional stability is not sufficient for population stability. Results of this article demonstrate that the Allee effect can strongly influence not only population dynamics, but also population distribution in space.     

Galectin-1 binds mucin in human trophoblast

Mucins are multifunctional highly glycosylated proteins expressed by the female reproductive tract. Differential expression of MUC1 and MUC15 has been shown in trophoblast. This study was undertaken to establish the distribution of mucin(s) in cytotrophoblast cell cultures using anti-bovine submaxillary mucin (BSM) and to investigate the possibility of MUC1/mucin(s) being a binding partner of trophoblast galectin-1. MUC1 is demonstrated here using immunocytochemistry on isolated cytotrophoblast and the HTR-8/SVneo extravillous trophoblast cell line but detection of additional trophoblast mucins cannot be excluded. Western blot analysis showed similar bands ranging from 30 to >200 kDa with anti-BSM and the well-known mucin antibodies HMFG1 and B72.3. Immunocytochemistry and cell-based ELISA data were found to support that all of the antibodies used are reactive with BSM, suggesting the presence of shared epitopes between BSM and trophoblast mucin(s). Binding of galectin-1 to trophoblast MUC1/mucin(s) was analyzed using a solid-phase assay and co-immunoprecipitation. Recombinant galectin-1 binding to isolated trophoblast mucin in solid-phase assay was sensitive to lactose, a carbohydrate inhibitor of galectin binding. In whole HTR-8/SVneo lysates, ~200 kDa mucin was detected in galectin-1 immunoprecipitates, while endogenous galectin-1 was present in BSM-immunoprecipitates. Furthermore, double fluorescence immunocytochemistry showed overlap of galectin-1 and trophoblast mucins at the plasma membrane of HTR-8/SVneo cells. These results suggest that trophoblast mucin(s) could act as binding partners of galectin-1, in a carbohydrate-dependent manner.     

Cranial shape variation and molecular phylogenetic structure of crested newts (Triturus cristatus superspecies: Caudata,Salamandridae) in the Balkans

In the present study, we investigated the degree of congruence between phylogeny, as inferred from mitochondrial (mt)DNA sequences, and cranium shape variation of crested newts (Triturus cristatus superspecies) in the Balkans. These newts belong to four phylogenetic clades defined by mtDNA analysis, and significantly differed in cranial shape. Allometry explained a high percentage of shape variation in crested newts. The clade‐specific allometric slopes significantly diverged for both the ventral cranium and dorsal cranium, indicating that differences in shape between clades could not be a simple consequence of their difference in size. The analysis of hierarchical and spatial variation showed similarity in the patterns of global and spatially localized hierarchical variation of cranial shape. We also found significant congruence between the pattern of cranial shape variation and molecular phylogeny. The differences in morphology of Triturus dobrogicus in comparison to other crested newt clades, including marked differences in cranium shape, is discussed in the context of the evolution and ecology of crested newts. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 95 , 348–360.     

Geographic morphological variation in parapatric Western Palearctic tree frogs,Hyla arborea and Hyla savignyi: are related species similarly affected by climatic conditions?

Tree frogs Hyla arborea and Hyla savignyi are similar, closely‐related species distributed in Europe and the Middle East. We investigated geographic variation in body shape within and between these species, and tested its relationships to macroclimatic conditions. We used morphometric distances (based on size corrected external measurements) to construct phenetic trees (unweighted pair‐group method of arithmetical averages, Neighbour‐joining), and to test correlations between morphology, geography, and climate by the partial Mantel test. Regardless of their specific affiliation, the parapatric populations of both species from the eastern Mediterranean, where they occupy comparable habitats, are closer to each other in morphospace than to conspecific populations from distal regions. This local interspecific similarity is probably driven by the common response to environment, expressed here as macroclimatic conditions. In support, the geographically close but ecologically vicariant populations of both species from the Caucasus region differ quite substantially in body shape. We suggest that climate‐provoked phenotypic variation in closely‐related parapatric species should be taken into account as a potential complication to character displacement in morphology. Contrariwise, morphological diversification between related species or their populations could be enhanced by habitat shifts resulting in occupation of different environmental space. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 95 , 539–556.