Nanomolar concentrations of lysophosphatidylcholine recruit monocytes and induce pro-inflammatory cytokine production in macrophages

Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) has been attributed a pro-inflammatory role in atherosclerosis. Cell culture studies have identified stimulation of cytokine expression and chemotaxis by micromolar (μM) concentrations of LPC. In the present study we have investigated if LPC, in similarity with many other lipid mediators, has pro-inflammatory effects also at nanomolar (nM) concentrations. Cultured mouse bone marrow derived and RAW264.7 macrophages exposed to LPC demonstrated two peaks of increased MIP-2 release and mRNA expression; one at 0.1-10 nM and another at μM concentrations. Both concentration ranges of LPC were also found to stimulate THP-1 monocyte chemotaxis. However, stimulation of the cells with μM concentrations of LPC may cause cell injury as increased release of lactate dehydrogenase was observed. Our findings demonstrate two peaks of LPC-induced pro-inflammatory activity, one in the nM and one in the μM range, and indicate that the latter may involve a stress response to lipid cytotoxicity.     

Melittin-lipid interaction: a comparative study using liposomes, micelles and bilayer disks

Comparison of melittin interaction with liposomes, bilayer disks and micelles showed that melittin binding to lipid aggregates is largely dictated by the amount of highly curved areas in the aggregates. The PEG-stabilised bilayer disks were characterised by a combination of small angle neutron scattering, cryo-transmission electron microscopy and dynamic light scattering. Importantly, the theoretically foreseen partial segregation of the lipid components, important for maintaining the structure of the bilayer disk, was confirmed. Steady state fluorescence spectroscopy indicated that melittin mainly resides at the rim of the bilayer disks. Results of the present study help increase the understanding of the mechanisms behind, and the physico-chemical factors affecting, melittin-lipid interaction. We suggest that bilayer disks, due to their stable structure, constitute interesting vehicles for transport of peptides that have high propensity to associate with lipid surfaces of high curvature.     

The role of glucosamine-6-phosphate deaminase at the early stages of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aspergillus niger</Emphasis> growth in a high-citric-acid-yielding medium

Glucosamine-6-phosphate (GlcN6P) deaminase seems to be the main enzyme in Aspergillus niger cells responsible for rapid glucosamine accumulation during the early stages of growth in a high-citric-acid-yielding medium. By determining basic kinetic parameters on the isolated enzyme, a high affinity toward fructose-6-phosphate (Fru6P) was measured, while in the reverse direction the K _m value for glucosamine-6-phosphate was lower than deaminases from other organisms measured so far. The enzyme characteristics of GlcN6P deaminase suggest it must compete with 6-phosphofructo-1-kinase (PFK1) for the common substrate—Fru6P in A. niger cells. Glucosamine accumulation seems therefore to remove an intermediate from the glycolytic flux, a situation which is reflected in slower citric acid accumulation and a specific growth rate after the germination of spores. When ammonium ions are depleted from the medium, one of the substrates for GlcN6P deaminase becomes limiting and Fru6P can be catabolised by PFK1 which enhances glycolytic flux. Other enzymatic features of GlcN6P deaminase such as pH optima for both aminating and deaminating reactions might play a significant role in rapid glucosamine accumulation during the early phase of fermentation and a slow consumption of aminosugar during the citric-acid-producing phase.     

Interleukin-6 as possible early marker of stress response after femoral fracture

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) activation is a key contributor to the carcinogenesis of colon cancer. Overexpression of galectin-1 (Gal-1) also correlates with increased invasive activity of colorectal cancer. Lactate production is a critical predictive factor of risk of metastasis, but the functional relationship between intracellular lactate and Gal-1 expression in TLR4-activated colon cancer remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the underlying mechanism and role of Gal-1 in metastasis and invasion of colorectal cancer (CRC) cells after TLR4 stimulation. Exposure to the TLR4 ligand lipopolysaccharide (LPS) increased expression of Gal-1, induced EMT-related cytokines, triggered the activation of glycolysis-related enzymes, and promoted lactate production. Gene silencing of TLR4 and Gal-1 in CRC cells inhibited lactate-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) after TLR4 stimulation. Gal-1-mediated activation of a disintegrin and metalloproteinase 10 (ADAM10) and ADAM 17 increased the invasion activity and expression of mesenchymal characteristics in LPS-activated CRC cells. Conversely, inhibition of ADAM10 or ADAM17 effectively blocked the generation of lactate and the migration capacity of LPS-treated CRC cells. Thus, the TLR4/Gal-1 signaling pathway regulates lactate-mediated EMT processes through the activation of ADAM10 and ADAM17 in CRC cells.     

Shifting paradigms in restoration of the world's coral reefs

Many ecosystems around the world are rapidly deteriorating due to both local and global pressures, and perhaps none so precipitously as coral reefs. Management of coral reefs through maintenance (e.g., marine‐protected areas, catchment management to improve water quality), restoration, as well as global and national governmental agreements to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (e.g., the 2015 Paris Agreement) is critical for the persistence of coral reefs. Despite these initiatives, the health and abundance of corals reefs are rapidly declining and other solutions will soon be required. We have recently discussed options for using assisted evolution (i.e., selective breeding, assisted gene flow, conditioning or epigenetic programming, and the manipulation of the coral microbiome) as a means to enhance environmental stress tolerance of corals and the success of coral reef restoration efforts. The 2014–2016 global coral bleaching event has sharpened the focus on such interventionist approaches. We highlight the necessity for consideration of alternative (e.g., hybrid) ecosystem states, discuss traits of resilient corals and coral reef ecosystems, and propose a decision tree for incorporating assisted evolution into restoration initiatives to enhance climate resilience of coral reefs.     

Antineoplastic effects of clove buds (Syzygium aromaticum L.) in the model of breast carcinoma

It is supposed that plant functional foods, rich in phytochemicals, may potentially have preventive effects in carcinogenesis. In this study, the anticancer effects of cloves in the in vivo and in vitro mammary carcinoma model were assessed. Dried flower buds of cloves (CLOs) were used at two concentrations of 0.1% and 1% through diet during 13 weeks after the application of chemocarcinogen. After autopsy, histopathological and immunohistochemical analyses of rat mammary carcinomas were performed. Moreover, in vitro evaluation using MCF‐7 cells was carried out. Dietary administered CLO caused the dose‐dependent decrease in tumour frequency by 47.5% and 58.5% when compared to control. Analysis of carcinoma cells in animals showed bcl‐2, Ki67, VEGFA, CD24 and CD44 expression decrease and Bax, caspase‐3 and ALDH1 expression increase after high‐dose CLO administration. MDA levels were substantially decreased in rat carcinomas in both CLO groups. The evaluation of histone modifications revealed increase in lysine trimethylations and acetylations (H4K20me3, H4K16ac) in carcinomas after CLO administration. TIMP3 promoter methylation levels of CpG3, CpG4, CpG5 islands were altered in treated cancer cells. An increase in total RASSF1A promoter methylation (three CpG sites) in CLO 1 group was found. In vitro studies showed antiproliferative and pro‐apoptotic effects of CLO extract in MCF‐7 cells (analyses of cytotoxicity, Brdu, cell cycle, annexin V/PI, caspase‐7, Bcl‐2 and mitochondrial membrane potential). This study showed a significant anticancer effect of clove buds in the mammary carcinoma model in vivo and in vitro.     

I can produce more offspring as you can imagine: first records on exceptionally large litters in roe deer in central/southern Europe

Most roe deer females produce twins and more rarely singletons and triplets. Some very rare reported cases of litters above three offspring refer to quadruplets which are, however, very much an exception in roe deer reproduction (only some tens of documented cases can be found in the scientific literature). In this paper, we present the first firm evidence that roe deer females are able to produce even five offspring. By examination of large sample set (n = 4690) of roe deer uteri and ovaries in two neighbouring countries in southern/central Europe (Italy and Slovenia), we found ten females that either carried or had potential to produce quadruplets, and in three does the (potential) litter size was even five. While one doe from Slovenia had five corpora lutea, two does from Tuscany, Italy, carried five foetuses. In both cases, all foetuses were normally and equally developed, indicating that none of them had predominant exposure to resorption/abortion. Six out of 13 females with exceptionally large potential litters (>3 offspring) had significantly higher body mass in comparison with mean body mass of all does harvested in the same hunting management district and in the same period, while five of them were significantly lighter. This indicates that some roe deer females can produce exceptionally large litters even when their phenotypic quality is not higher than the average in the population, and that such large litters are a stochastic episode rather than a reproductive performance of a very vital individual(s).     

Trace Metals in the Freshwater Fish Cyprinus carpio: Effect to Serum Biochemistry and Oxidative Status Markers

Biological Trace Element Research - Interactions between trace metals, serum biochemical parameters, and oxidative status markers were observed. Freshwater fish Cyprinuscarpio blood samples...