Invading parasites: spillover of an alien nematode reduces survival in a native species

Biological Invasions - It is widely assumed that spillover of alien parasites to native host species severely impacts naïve populations, ultimately conferring a competitive advantage to...     

SERS‐based biosensor for Alzheimer disease evaluation through the fast analysis of human serum

Alzheimer disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia in the elderly, progressively affecting the cognitive functions with a complex diagnostic procedure that limits the time for a prompt intervention. In this study we optimized a reliable protocol for the analysis of AD patients and healthy subjects' serum using the Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS), taking into consideration the effect of different variables on the final spectra, analyzed and compared through multivariate analysis and correlated with hippocampus volume. As results, we demonstrated a statistical difference between the spectra collected from the two investigated groups, with an accuracy, precision and specificity of respectively 83%, 86%, and 86%. The correlation of these data with those obtained from MRI, demonstrated a direct correlation between Raman spectra and hippocampus degeneration showing the Raman Spectroscopy (RS) as a potential tool for the monitoring of AD progression and rehabilitation treatments.     

Inflammatory cytokines in vitro production are associated with Ala16Val superoxide dismutase gene polymorphism of peripheral blood mononuclear cells

Obesity is considered a chronic low-grade inflammatory state associated with a chronic oxidative stress caused by superoxide production (O(2)(-)). The superoxide dismutase manganese dependent (SOD2) catalyzes O(2)(-) in H(2)O(2) into mitochondria and is encoded by a single gene that presents a common polymorphism that results in the replacement of alanine (A) with a valine (V) in the 16 codon. This polymorphism has been implicated in a decreased efficiency of SOD2 transport into targeted mitochondria in V allele carriers. Previous studies described an association between VV genotype and metabolic diseases, including obesity and diabetes. However, the causal mechanisms to explain this association need to be more elucidated. We postulated that the polymorphism could influence the inflammatory response. To test our hypothesis, we evaluated the in vitro cytokines production by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) carrier's different Ala16Val-SOD2 genotypes (IL-1, IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, IFN-γ). Additionally, we evaluated if the culture medium glucose, enriched insulin, could influence the cytokine production. Higher levels of proinflammatory cytokines were observed in VV-PBMCs when compared to AA-PBMCs. However, the culture medium glucose and enriched insulin did not affect cytokine production. The results suggest that Ala16Val-SOD2 gene polymorphism could trigger the PBMCs proinflammatory cytokines level. However, discerning if a similar mechanism occurs in fat cells is an open question.     

Organization of the pronephric kidney revealed by large-scale gene expression mapping

Background

The pronephros, the simplest form of a vertebrate excretory organ, has recently become an important model of vertebrate kidney organogenesis. Here, we elucidated the nephron organization of the Xenopus pronephros and determined the similarities in segmentation with the metanephros, the adult kidney of mammals.

Results

We performed large-scale gene expression mapping of terminal differentiation markers to identify gene expression patterns that define distinct domains of the pronephric kidney. We analyzed the expression of over 240 genes, which included members of the solute carrier, claudin, and aquaporin gene families, as well as selected ion channels. The obtained expression patterns were deposited in the searchable European Renal Genome Project Xenopus Gene Expression Database. We found that 112 genes exhibited highly regionalized expression patterns that were adequate to define the segmental organization of the pronephric nephron. Eight functionally distinct domains were discovered that shared significant analogies in gene expression with the mammalian metanephric nephron. We therefore propose a new nomenclature, which is in line with the mammalian one. The Xenopus pronephric nephron is composed of four basic domains: proximal tubule, intermediate tubule, distal tubule, and connecting tubule. Each tubule may be further subdivided into distinct segments. Finally, we also provide compelling evidence that the expression of key genes underlying inherited renal diseases in humans has been evolutionarily conserved down to the level of the pronephric kidney.

Conclusion

The present study validates the Xenopus pronephros as a genuine model that may be used to elucidate the molecular basis of nephron segmentation and human renal disease.     

Synthetic consolidants attacked by melanin-producing fungi: case study of the biodeterioration of Milan (Italy) cathedral marble treated with acrylics

Monuments and artistic stone surfaces are often consolidated and protected with synthetic polymers, in particular, acrylics. Although it is generally thought that acrylic polymers are resistant to biodeterioration, we report for the first time the systematic occurrence of dematiaceous meristematic fungi on many marble samples of the cathedral in Milan (Italy) previously treated with this material. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy applied to the Milan cathedral stone samples revealed characteristic features of biodeteriorated synthetic resins that differentiated them from the aged but nonbiodeteriorated samples. Samples showing biological colonization were analyzed for the presence of fungi. Cultivation and morphological characterization and methods independent from cultivation, such as denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis coupled with partial 18S rRNA gene sequencing and immunofluorescence staining with melanin-binding antibodies, showed that melanin-producing species are heavily present on stone surfaces protected with acrylic resins. This observation raises the question of the effectiveness of acrylics in protecting stone artworks.     

pRb-dependent cyclin D3 protein stabilization is required for myogenic differentiation

The expression of retinoblastoma (pRb) and cyclin D3 proteins is highly induced during the process of skeletal myoblast differentiation. We have previously shown that cyclin D3 is nearly totally associated with hypophosphorylated pRb in differentiated myotubes, whereas Rb-/- myocytes fail to accumulate the cyclin D3 protein despite normal induction of cyclin D3 mRNA. Here we report that pRb promotes cyclin D3 protein accumulation in differentiating myoblasts by preventing cyclin D3 degradation. We show that cyclin D3 displays rapid turnover in proliferating myoblasts, which is positively regulated through glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK-3beta)-mediated phosphorylation of cyclin D3 on Thr-283. We describe a novel interaction between pRb and cyclin D3 that maps to the C terminus of pRb and to a region of cyclin D3 proximal to the Thr-283 residue and provide evidence that the pRb-cyclin D3 complex formation in terminally differentiated myotubes hinders the access of GSK-3beta to cyclin D3, thus inhibiting Thr-283 phosphorylation. Interestingly, we observed that the ectopic expression of a stabilized cyclin D3 mutant in C2 myoblasts enhances muscle-specific gene expression; conversely, cyclin D3-null embryonic fibroblasts display impaired MyoD-induced myogenic differentiation. These results indicate that the pRb-dependent accumulation of cyclin D3 is functionally relevant to the process of skeletal muscle cell differentiation.     

Potential advantages of acute kidney injury management by mesenchymal stem cells

Mesenchymal stem cells are currently considered as a promising tool for therapeutic application in acute kidney injury (AKI) management. AKI is characterized by acute tubular injury with rapid loss of renal function. After AKI, inflammation, oxidative stress and excessive deposition of extracellular matrix are the molecular events that ultimately cause the end-stage renal disease. Despite numerous improvement of supportive therapy, the mortality and morbidity among patients remain high. Therefore, exploring novel therapeutic options to treat AKI is mandatory. Numerous evidence in animal models has demonstrated the capability of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to restore kidney function after induced kidney injury. After infusion, MSCs engraft in the injured tissue and release soluble factors and microvesicles that promote cell survival and tissue repairing. Indeed, the main mechanism of action of MSCs in tissue regeneration is the paracrine/endocrine secretion of bioactive molecules. MSCs can be isolated from several tissues, including bone marrow, adipose tissue, and blood cord; pre-treatment procedures to improve MSCs homing and their paracrine function have been also described. This review will focus on the application of cell therapy in AKI and it will summarize preclinical studies in animal models and clinical trials currently ongoing about the use of mesenchymal stem cells after AKI.     

Is coarse woody debris in lakes a refuge or a trap for benthic invertebrates exposed to fish predation?

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