Quantitative and qualitative assessment of microbial aerosols in different indoor environments of a dental school clinic

Aerobiologia - In the indoor environment of dental clinics, dental staff and patients are exposed to various types of infectious agents transported by aerosols and particles, generated during...     

Identification and biochemical characterisation of α-amylase in the alimentary tract of Mediterranean fruit fly,Ceratitis capitata (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Tephritidae)

Mediterranean fruit fly (Medfly), Ceratitis capitata, is an important pest of many fruit crops in temperate and subtropical regions worldwide. α-Amylases are hydrolytic enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism in insects. There is no report about α-amylase activity in C. capitata in literature. So, the aim of the current study was biochemical characterisation of α-amylase in the alimentary canal of the pest to gain a better understanding of digestive physiology of the insect. α-Amylase of Medfly was extracted and characterised using starch as the substrate. The results showed the presence of α-amylase activity in the gut of the insect for carbohydrate digestion. Optimum activity of the enzyme occurs at pH 8.0 and 40?°C. The most effective activator of the enzyme was determined in treatment with 20?mM CaCl₂. Na⁺, K⁺ and Mg²⁺ ions also activated the enzyme. Native PAGE of α-amylase showed two isoenzymes suggesting the importance of α-amylase in the carbohydrate digestion in the insect. Understanding of the digestive physiology and α-amylase activity of Medfly is important when new management strategies for this economically important pest are devised.     

The effect of PTZ-induced epileptic seizures on hippocampal expression of PSA-NCAM in offspring born to kindled rats

Background

Maternal epileptic seizures during pregnancy can affect the hippocampal neurons in the offspring. The polysialylated neural cell adhesion molecule (PSA-NCAM), which is expressed in the developing central nervous system, may play important roles in neuronal migration, synaptogenesis, and axonal outgrowth. This study was designed to assess the effects of kindling either with or without maternal seizures on hippocampal PSA-NCAM expression in rat offspring.

Methods

Forty timed-pregnant Wistar rats were divided into four groups: A) Kind⁺/Seiz⁺, pregnant kindled (induced two weeks prior to pregnancy) rats that received repeated intraperitoneal (i.p.) pentylenetetrazol, PTZ injections on gestational days (GD) 14-19; B) Kind^-/Seiz⁺, pregnant non-kindled rats that received PTZ injections on GD14-GD19; C) Kind⁺/Seiz^-, pregnant kindled rats that did not receive any PTZ injections; and D) Kind^-/Seiz^-, the sham controls. Following birth, the pups were sacrificed on PD1 and PD14, and PSA-NCAM expression and localization in neonates’ hippocampi were analyzed by Western blots and immunohistochemistry.

Results

Our data show a significant down regulation of hippocampal PSA-NCAM expression in the offspring of Kind⁺/Seiz⁺ (p = 0.001) and Kind^-/Seiz⁺ (p = 0.001) groups compared to the sham control group. The PSA-NCAM immunoreactivity was markedly decreased in all parts of the hippocampus, especially in the CA3 region, in Kind⁺/Seiz⁺ (p = 0.007) and Kind^-/Seiz⁺ (p = 0.007) group’s newborns on both PD1 and 14.

Conclusion

Our findings demonstrate that maternal seizures but not kindling influence the expression of PSA-NCAM in the offspring’s hippocampi, which may be considered as a factor for learning/memory and cognitive impairments reported in children born to epileptic mothers.     

Evidence for crossing the blood barrier of adult rat brain by human adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells during a 6-month period of post-transplantation

Background aimsTherapeutic promises of adult stem cells have been overshadowed by an elicited immune response, low maintenance of implanted cells or concerns regarding their migration to non-target sites. These problems might be lessened by the use of immune privilege cells and tissues for implantation.MethodsIn this study, human adipose-derived mesenchymal stromal cells (hADMSCs) were stably transfected with a vector containing Turbo green fluorescent protein (GFP) and JRed, which allows tracing the cells after transplantation. Labeled hADMSCs were transplanted into the adult rat brain followed by assessment of their survival and migration during 6 months after transplantation.ResultsResults indicate that there were no postsurgical complications, and the animals thrived after transplantation. The lesions of the surgical process were remarkable at the first weeks, and a high number of transplanted cells were accumulated around them. Cell populations declined over time as they partly migrated away from the injection sites; nonetheless, they were detectable at each examination time point. Although the cells could survive and remain at the injection site for up to 6 months, some of them drifted to spleen, which is an indication of their ability to cross the blood-brain barrier.ConclusionsDespite the high survival rate of hADMSCs in the xenogenic condition, which is an ideal criterion in cell therapy, irregular migration tendency must be handled with caution.     

Determination of IL-23 receptor gene polymorphism in Iranian patients with ankylosing spondylitis

Introduction

The result of recent genome-wide association studies revealed that, in addition to HLA-B27, a few non-HLA genes are associated with susceptibility to ankylosing spondylitis (AS) in Caucasian populations. According to these studies, IL-23R is one of the genes that is associated with AS. In this study, we evaluated five important single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the IL-23R gene which confers susceptibility to AS, and its effects on the severity of the disease in HLA-B27 positive and negative patients and several subtypes of HLA-B27.

Materials and methods

The study population consisted of 294 AS patients and 352 age-, sex-, and ethnicity-matched healthy controls. All patients were examined by rheumatologists, and met modified,NewYork criteria for the disease. Five SNPs (rs1004819, rs11209032, rs1495965, rs11465804, and rs1004819) of the IL-23R gene were genotyped using the Real-Time PCR TaqMan genotyping method.

Results

We found that only rs1004819 has a significant association with AS, and that the remaining four SNP alleles are not associated with AS. Also, there was no association between these five polymorphisms and BASDAI, BASFI, and BASMI indices. Two haplotypes, ACGAT and ACGAG, were found to be associated with the heritability of AS. In addition, two significant, protective diplotypes (D8, \(\frac{{GCGAG}}{{GTGGG}}\); and D9, \(\frac{{ACGAG}}{{GCGAG}}\)) were discovered.

Conclusion

This study supported our previous findings regarding the differences between the genetic patterns of AS in Iranian patients compared with those in other parts of the world.

     

A comparison of Hsp90alpha and Hsp90beta interactions with cochaperones and substrates.

Hsp90 chaperone complexes function in assembly, folding, and activation of numerous substrates. The 2 vertebrate homologues encoded by the genes hsp90a and hsp90b are differentially expressed in embryonic and adult tissues and during stress; however, it is not known whether they possess identical functional activities in chaperone complexes. This question was addressed by examining potential differences between the Hsp90 isoforms with respect to both cochaperone and substrate interactions. Epitope-tagged proteins were expressed in mammalian cells or Xenopus oocytes and subjected to immunoprecipitation with an array of cochaperones. Both isoforms were shown to participate equally in multichaperone complexes, and no significant differences in cochaperone distribution were observed. The substrates Raf-1, HSF1, Cdc37, and MEK1 interacted with both Hsp90alpha and Hsp90beta, and the relative patterns of these interactions were not affected by heat shock. The substrate kinases c-Src, CKIIB, A-raf, and Erk interacted with both isoforms; however, significantly more Hsp90alpha was recovered after heat shock. The data demonstrate that Hsp90alpha and Hsp90beta exhibit similar interactions with cochaperones, but significantly different behaviors with respect to substrate interactions under stress conditions. These results reveal both functional similarities and key functional differences in the individual members of this protein family.     

Change in antioxidant enzymes activity and some morpho-physiological characteristics of strawberry under long-term salt stress

The effects of long term salinity on some morpho-physiological characteristics were studied in strawberry Kurdistan and Queen elisa cultivars. Vegetative and biochemical traits were measured in strawberry cultivars subjected to three levels of salinity including 0, 40 and 80 mM at 20, 40 and 60th days after NaCl addition. Results showed that in both cultivars the dry weight of plant organs decreased in response to NaCl, except of crown weight in cv. Kurdistan. Root to shoot ratio increased due to a greater reduction in above ground biomass under salinity. Strawberry cultivars tended to decrease their stomatal conductance, RWC, proline, soluble carbohydrates and proteins during the different evaluation periods. Compared to the 20th day, peroxidase activity decreased at 80 mM during 40 and 60 days in cv. Queen elisa. On the contrary, ascorbate peroxidase activity elevated until the 40th day and decreased afterwards, in addition application of 40 and 80 mM NaCl increased the ascorbate peroxidase activity of both studied cultivars. Catalase activity increased from 20th until 60th days in cv. Queen elisa, while showed increase in cv. Kurdistan until day 40 and then decreased again at day 60. Application of 40 and 80 mM NaCl resulted in an increase in peroxidase, ascorbate peroxidase and catalase activities of both cultivars. The Queen elisa cv. showed lower tolerance index (45.88%) compared with cv. Kurdistan (67.97%). Finally, higher salinity resistance of cv. Kurdistan is probably associated with its ability to maintain higher RWC and higher activity of antioxidant enzymes.     

Combination therapy of mesenchymal stromal cells and sulfasalazine attenuates trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid induced colitis in the rat: The S1P pathway

Adipose derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) transplantation is a novel immunomodulatory therapeutic tool to ameliorate the symptom of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The objective of this study was to investigate the therapeutic effects of combined sufasalazine and ASCs therapy in a rat model of IBD. After induction of colitis in rats, ASCs were cultured and intraperitoneally injected (3 × 10⁶cells/kg) into the rats on Days 1 and 5 after inducing colitis, in conjunction with daily oral administration of low dose of sulfasalazine (30 mg/kg). The regenerative effects of combination of ASCs and sulfasalazine on ulcerative colitis were assessed by measuring body weight, colonic weight/length ratio, disease activity index, macroscopic scores, histopathological examinations, cytokine, and inflammation markers profiles. In addition, western blot analysis was used to assess the levels of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) and apoptosis related proteins in colitis tissues. Simultaneous treatment with ASCs and sulfasalazine was associated with significant amelioration of disease activity index, macroscopic and microscopic colitis scores, as well as inhibition of the proinflammatory cytokines in trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis. Moreover, combined ASCs and sulfasalazine therapy effectively inhibited the NF-κB signaling pathway, reduced the expression of Bax and prevented the loss of Bcl-2 proteins in colon tissue of the rats with TNBS-induced colitis. Furthermore, combined treatment with ASCs and sulfasalazine shifted inflammatory M1 to anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages by decreasing the levels of MCP1, CXCL9 and increasing IL-10, Arg-1 levels. In conclusion, combination of ASCs with conventional IBD therapy is potentially a much more powerful strategy to slow the progression of colitis via reducing inflammatory and apoptotic markers than either therapy alone.     

MicroRNA-4731-5p delivered by AD-mesenchymal stem cells induces cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in glioblastoma

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) exhibits the most malignant brain tumor with very poor prognosis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are regulatory factors that can downregulate the expression of multiple genes. Several miRNAs acting as tumor-suppressor genes have been identified so far. The delivery of miRNA by mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) due to their ability to specifically target tumors is a new, hopeful therapeutic approach for glioblastoma. The objective of our study is the investigation of the effect of lentivirus-mediated microRNA-4731 (miR-4731) genetic manipulated adipose-derived (AD)-MSC on GBM. The downregulation of miR-4731 in human GBM tumor was detected using the GEO dataset. To evaluate the function of miR-4731, we overexpressed miR-4731 using lentiviral vectors in U-87 and U-251 GBM cell lines. The effects of miR-4731 on cell proliferation and cell cycle of glioma cells were analyzed by wound test and flow-cytometry assay. miR-4731 inhibited the proliferation of GBM cancer cells. Coculturing was used to study the antiproliferative effect of miR-4731-AD-MSCs on GBM cell lines. Direct and indirect coculture of GBM cell lines with miR-4731-AD-MSCs induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Our findings suggest that AD-MSCs expressing miR-4731 have favorable antitumor characteristics and should be further explored in future glioma therapy.     

MicroRNAs in breast cancer: Roles,functions, and mechanism of actions

Breast cancer is one of the most lethal malignancies in women in the world. Various factors are involved in the development and promotion of the malignancy; most of them involve changes in the expression of certain genes, such as microRNAs (miRNAs). MiRNAs can regulate signaling pathways negatively or positively, thereby affecting tumorigenesis and various aspects of cancer progression, particularly breast cancer. Besides, accumulating data demonstrated that miRNAs are a novel tool for prognosis and diagnosis of breast cancer patients. Herein, we will review the roles of these RNA molecules in several important signaling pathways, such as transforming growth factor, Wnt, Notch, nuclear factor-κ B, phosphoinositide-3-kinase/Akt, and extracellular-signal-regulated kinase/mitogen activated protein kinase signaling pathways in breast cancer.