Beta1 integrin expression by podocytes is required to maintain glomerular structural integrity

Integrins are transmembrane heteromeric receptors that mediate interactions between cells and extracellular matrix (ECM). β1, the most abundantly expressed integrin subunit, binds at least 12 α subunits. β1 containing integrins are highly expressed in the glomerulus of the kidney; however their role in glomerular morphogenesis and maintenance of glomerular filtration barrier integrity is poorly understood. To study these questions we selectively deleted β1 integrin in the podocyte by crossing β1^flox/flox mice with podocyte specific podocin-cre mice (pod-Cre), which express cre at the time of glomerular capillary formation. We demonstrate that podocyte abnormalities are visualized during glomerulogenesis of the pod-Cre;β1^flox/flox mice and proteinuria is present at birth, despite a grossly normal glomerular basement membrane. Following the advent of glomerular filtration there is progressive podocyte loss and the mice develop capillary loop and mesangium degeneration with little evidence of glomerulosclerosis. By 3 weeks of age the mice develop severe end stage renal failure characterized by both tubulointerstitial and glomerular pathology. Thus, expression of β1 containing integrins by the podocyte is critical for maintaining the structural integrity of the glomerulus.     

Characteristic of the genetic variability of four polymorphic variants (rs2069705, rs17880053, rs11126176, and rs804271) in representative samples of indigenous and arrived populations of Siberia

Russian Journal of Genetics - The variability of potentially important functional polymorphic variants rs2069705 (5'UTR of the IFNG gene), rs17880053 (near 5'UTR of the IFNGR2), rs11126176...     

Culturing Caenorhabditis elegans on Escherichia coli Strains Lacking the Synthesis of bo' and bd-I Terminal Oxidases Extends the Nematode Lifespan

Russian Journal of Genetics - The effect of E. colicyoA and cydA mutations that diminish the activity of bo' and bd-I terminal oxidases, respectively, on the lifespan of C. elegans nematodes...     

Selection of DNA aptamers for breast cancer

A method of selection of DNA aptamers to breast tumor tissue based on the use of postoperative material has been developed. Breast cancer tissues were used as the positive target; the negative targets included benign tumor tissue, adjacent healthy tissues, breast tissues from mastopathy patients, and also tissues of other types of malignant tumors. During selection a pool of DNA aptamers demonstrating selective binding to breast cancer cells and tissues and insignificant binding to breast benign tissues has been obtained. These DNA aptamers can be used for identification of protein markers, breast cancer diagnostics, and targeted delivery of anticancer drugs.     

Exosomes in tears of healthy individuals: Isolation,identification, and characterization

Exosomes represent a sort of extracellular vesicles, which transfer molecular signals in the body and contain markers of the exosome-producing cell. This study was aimed at search of exosomes in the tears of healthy humans, validation of their nature and examination of their morphological and molecular-biological characteristics. Samples of the tears individually collected from 24 healthy donors (aged 45–60 years) were centrifuged at 20000 g for 15 min to pellet cell debris. The supernatants were examined in an electron microscope using negative staining and were also used for isolation and purification of exosomes by filtration (100 nm pore-size) and double ultracentrifugation (90 min at 100000 g, 4°C). Resultant pellets were investigated by electron microscopy and immunolabeling, RNA and DNA were isolated and their sizes were determined by capillary electrophoresis, concentration and localization of nucleic acids in the isolated exosomes were studied. DNA sequencing was performed using MiSeq (Illumina, USA), data were analyzed using CLC GW 7.5 (Qiagen, USA). Sequences were mapped on human genome (hg19). Supernatants of the tears contained cell debris, spherical microparticles (20–40 nm), and vesicles; some of the vesicles had morphology and sizes corresponding to exosomes. The pellets obtained after ultracentrifugation of tears contained microparticles (17%), spherical and cup-shaped vesicles (40–100 nm, 83%), which were positive for CD63, CD9, and CD24 receptors (specific markers of exosomes). The study revealed high concentrations of exosomes in human tears; these exosomes contained both RNA (of less than 200 nucleotides in size) and DNA (of 3–9 kb in size). DNA sequencing demonstrated that about 92% of the reads was mapped to human genome.     

A comparative study of the fibronectin-binding capacity of staphylococci

The comparative study of the fibronectin-binding capacity of S. aureus and S. epidermidis of clinical etiology was carried out. Fibronectin binding was evaluated by original methods: the indirect hemagglutination test and the passive coagglutination test. In this study the occurrence of S. epidermidis isolates, as well as their level (evaluated by the titer) of fibronectin binding, was shown to be lower than those of S. aureus isolates. Fibronectin-binding representatives of S. epidermidis lost this capacity after storage in semiliquid agar at 4 degrees C for 2 months.