Hunter-Gatherer Inter-Band Interaction Rates: Implications for Cumulative Culture

Our species exhibits spectacular success due to cumulative culture. While cognitive evolution of social learning mechanisms may be partially responsible for adaptive human culture, features of early human social structure may also play a role by increasing the number potential models from which to learn innovations. We present interview data on interactions between same-sex adult dyads of Ache and Hadza hunter-gatherers living in multiple distinct residential bands (20 Ache bands; 42 Hadza bands; 1201 dyads) throughout a tribal home range. Results show high probabilities (5%–29% per year) of cultural and cooperative interactions between randomly chosen adults. Multiple regression suggests that ritual relationships increase interaction rates more than kinship, and that affinal kin interact more often than dyads with no relationship. These may be important features of human sociality. Finally, yearly interaction rates along with survival data allow us to estimate expected lifetime partners for a variety of social activities, and compare those to chimpanzees. Hadza and Ache men are estimated to observe over 300 men making tools in a lifetime, whereas male chimpanzees interact with only about 20 other males in a lifetime. High intergroup interaction rates in ancestral humans may have promoted the evolution of cumulative culture.     

GLP-1 receptor activation improves beta cell function and survival following induction of endoplasmic reticulum stress

Perturbation of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homeostasis impairs insulin biosynthesis, beta cell survival, and glucose homeostasis. We show that a murine model of diabetes is associated with the development of ER stress in beta cells and that treatment with the GLP-1R agonist exendin-4 significantly reduced biochemical markers of islet ER stress in vivo. Exendin-4 attenuated translational downregulation of insulin and improved cell survival in purified rat beta cells and in INS-1 cells following induction of ER stress in vitro. GLP-1R agonists significantly potentiated the induction of ATF-4 by ER stress and accelerated recovery from ER stress-mediated translational repression in INS-1 beta cells in a PKA-dependent manner. The effects of exendin-4 on the induction of ATF-4 were mediated via enhancement of ER stress-stimulated ATF-4 translation. Moreover, exendin-4 reduced ER stress-associated beta cell death in a PKA-dependent manner. These findings demonstrate that GLP-1R signaling directly modulates the ER stress response leading to promotion of beta cell adaptation and survival.     

Prevention and treatment of respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis and postbronchiolitic wheezing

Growth factors mediate tissue interactions and regulate a variety of cellular functions that are critical for normal lung development and homeostasis. Besides their involvement in lung pattern formation, growth and cell differentiation during organogenesis, these factors have been also implicated in modulating injury-repair responses of the adult lung. Altered expression of growth factors, such as transforming growth factor β1, vascular endothelial growth factor and epidermal growth factor, and/or their receptors, has been found in a number of pathological lung conditions. In this paper, we discuss the dual role of these molecules in mediating beneficial feedback responses or responses that can further damage lung integrity; we shall also discuss the basis for their prospective use as therapeutic agents.     

The role of the P2X7 receptor in murine cutaneous leishmaniasis: aspects of inflammation and parasite control

Leishmania amazonensis is the etiological agent of diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis. The immunopathology of leishmaniasis caused by L. amazonensis infection is dependent on the pathogenic role of effector CD4⁺ T cells. Purinergic signalling has been implicated in resistance to infection by different intracellular parasites. In this study, we evaluated the role of the P2X7 receptor in modulating the immune response and susceptibility to infection by L. amazonensis. We found that P2X7-deficient mice are more susceptible to L. amazonensis infection than wild-type (WT) mice. P2X7 deletion resulted in increased lesion size and parasite load. Our histological analysis showed an increase in cell infiltration in infected footpads of P2X7-deficient mice. Analysis of the cytokine profile in footpad homogenates showed increased levels of IFN-γ and decreased TGF-β production in P2X7-deficient mice, suggesting an exaggerated pro-inflammatory response. In addition, we observed that CD4⁺ and CD8⁺ T cells from infected P2X7-deficient mice exhibit a higher proliferative capacity than infected WT mice. These data suggest that P2X7 receptor plays a key role in parasite control by regulating T effector cells and inflammation during L. amazonensis infection.     

Sea‐level variations have influenced the demographic history of estuarine and freshwater fishes of the coastal plain of Paraná, Brazil

This study surveyed the mitochondrial haplotype diversity of nine freshwater fish species and two estuarine–marine species from the coastal basins and drainages of the highland plateaus of Paraná, Brazil. Portions of the cytochrome b gene or the control region were sequenced. The demographic history of each species was inferred using the Bayesian skyline method, mismatch distribution analysis and statistical neutrality tests. Demographic reconstruction analyses revealed a single pattern of variation in the effective population size (N_e) among species. No dramatic changes in N_e were detected in upland species. By contrast, evidence of population expansion over the past 200 000 years was detected in all coastal plain and estuarine species. These findings correspond to periods of low sea‐level (regressions) followed by a rapid increase in the sea‐level by >100 m. The resulting reconnections and subsequent fragmentation and isolation between the estuarine and freshwater bodies were putatively relevant to the historical demography of the fish species in these areas.