Influence of precursors and additives on microbial lipases stabilized by sol-gel entrapment

Sol-gel entrapment of microbial lipases from Candida cylindracea (Cc lipase),Pseudomonas fluorescens (Lipase AK), and Pseudomonas cepacia (Lipase PS), using as precursors tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and silanes of type R-Si(OEt)₃ with alkyl or aryl R groups, has been investigated. Three different methods using these precursors were tried exhibiting protein immobilization yields in the range of 20–50%. Hydrolysis of emulsified olive oil, esterification of lauric acid with 1-octanol and enantioselective acylation of 2-pentanol have been used as model reactions for testing the properties of the encapsulated lipases. The recovery yields of the enzyme activity in the esterification reaction were between 20–68%, the best performance being achieved with phenyltriethoxysilane and tetraethoxysilane precursors at 3:1 molar ratio. When testing the entrapped Lipase AK in the enantioselective acylation reaction of 2-pentanol, activity recovery yields up to 32% related to the free enzyme were obtained and the immobilization increased the enantioselectivity of the enzyme.     

Evidence of mesenchymal stromal cell adaptation to local microenvironment following subcutaneous transplantation

Subcutaneous transplantation of mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) emerged as an alternative to intravenous administration because it avoids the pulmonary embolism and prolongs post‐transplantation lifetime. The goal of this study was to investigate the mechanisms by which these cells could affect remote organs. To this aim, murine bone marrow–derived MSC were subcutaneously transplanted in different anatomical regions and the survival and behaviour have been followed. The results showed that upon subcutaneous transplantation in mice, MSC formed multicellular aggregates and did not migrate significantly from the site of injection. Our data suggest an important role of hypoxia‐inducible signalling pathways in stimulating local angiogenesis and the ensuing modulation of the kinetics of circulating cytokines with putative protective effects at distant sites. These data expand the current understanding of cell behaviour after subcutaneous transplantation and contribute to the development of a non‐invasive cell‐based therapy for distant organ protection.     

Different presynaptic nicotinic receptor subtypes modulate in vivo and in vitro the release of glycine in the rat hippocampus

In the present study, using an in vivo approach (a microdialysis technique associated to HPLC with fluorimetric detection) and in vitro purified hippocampal synaptosomes in superfusion, we investigated the glycinergic transmission in the hippocampus, focusing on the nicotinic control of glycine (GLY) release. The acute administration of nicotine in vivo was able to evoke endogenous GLY release in the rat hippocampus. The specific nicotinic agonists PHA-543613 hydrochloride (PHA543613) selective for the α7 nicotinic receptor subtype administered in vivo also elicited GLY release in a similar extent, while the α4β2 agonist 5-IA85380 dihydrochloride (5IA85380) was less effective. Nicotine elicited GLY overflow also from hippocampal synaptosomes in vitro. This overflow was Ca²⁺-dependent and inhibited by methyllycaconitine (MLA), but was not modified by dihydro-beta-erythroidine (DHβE, 1 μM). Choline(Ch)-evoked GLY overflow was Ca²⁺ dependent, unaltered in presence of DHβE and blocked by methyllycaconitine (MLA). Additionally, 5IA85380 elicited a GLY overflow, which in turn was Ca²⁺ dependent, was significantly inhibited by DHβE but was unaffected by MLA. The GLY overflow produced by these nicotinic agonists quantitatively resembles that evoked by 9 mM KCl. The effects of a high concentration of 5IA85380 (1 mM), in the presence of 2 μM DHβE, on the release of GLY was also studied comparatively to that on glutamate and aspartate release. The nicotinic agonist 5IA85380 tested at high concentration (1 mM) was able to produce a stimulatory effect of endogenous release of the three amino acids, even in the presence of 2 μM DHβE, indicating the existence of a DHβE resistant, α4β2 nAChR subtype with a functional role in the modulation of GLY, ASP, and GLU release. Our results show that in the rat hippocampus the release of GLY is, at least in part, of neuronal origin and is modulated by the activation of both α7 and α4β2 (low and high affinity) nAChR subtypes.     

Ovarian follicular activity and hormonal profile during estrous cycle in cows: the development of 2 versus 3 waves

Most estrous cycles in cows consist of 2 or 3 waves of follicular activity. Waves of ovarian follicular development comprise the growth of dominant follicles some of which become ovulatory and the others are anovulatory. Ovarian follicular activity in cows during estrous cycle was studied with a special reference to follicular waves and the circulating concentrations of estradiol and progesterone. Transrectal ultrasound examination was carried out during 14 interovulatory intervals in 7 cows. Ovarian follicular activity was recorded together with assessment of serum estradiol and progesterone concentrations. Three-wave versus two-wave interovulatory intervals was observed in 71.4% of cows. The 3-wave interovulatory intervals differed from 2-wave intervals in: 1) earlier emergence of the dominant follicles, 2) longer in length, and 3) shorter interval from emergence to ovulation. There was a progressive increase in follicular size and estradiol production during growth phase of each wave. A drop in estradiol concentration was observed during the static phase of dominant anovulatory follicles. The size of the ovulatory follicle was always greater and produced higher estradiol compared with the anovulatory follicle. In conclusion, there was a predominance of 3-wave follicular activity that was associated with an increase in length of interovulatory intervals. A dominant anovulatory follicle during its static phase may initiate the emergence of a subsequent wave. Follicular size and estradiol concentration may have an important role in controlling follicular development and in determining whether an estrous cycle will have 2 or 3-waves.     

Measurement of 5-hydroxytryptamine and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in cultured rat mesencephalic neurons by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection

An HPLC method with electrochemical detection for the simultaneous measurement of serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine) and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid in primary mesencephalic cell culture is described. The serotonin and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid cell content was measured on different days of growth in vitro; after twelve days in culture the amounts of serotonin and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid detected were 916.0 ± 70.2 and 215.8 ± 15.5 pg per well, respectively. The heterogeneity of neurons in our cultures and their capacity to take up serotonin were assessed by measuring the amounts of exogenous serotonin taken up in the presence of different monoamine uptake inhibitors. This method, sensitive and reliable, can represent a valid alternative to the use of labelled compounds.     

Kappa-chain constant-region gene sequences in genus Rattus: coding regions are diverging more rapidly than noncoding regions

We have determined the nucleotide sequence of a 1,200-base pair (bp) genomic fragment that includes the kappa-chain constant-region gene (C kappa) from two species of native Australian rodents, Rattus leucopus cooktownensis and Rattus colletti. Comparison of these sequences with each other and with other rodent C kappa genes shows three surprising features. First, the coding regions are diverging at a rate severalfold higher than that of the nearby noncoding regions. Second, replacement changes within the coding region are accumulating at a rate at least as great as that of silent changes. Third, most of the amino acid replacements are localized in one region of the C kappa domain--namely, the carboxy-terminal "bends" in the alpha-carbon backbone. These three features have previously been described from comparisons of the two allelic forms of C kappa genes in R. norvegicus. These data imply the existence of considerable evolutionary constraints on the noncoding regions (based on as yet undetermined functions) or powerful positive selection to diversify a portion of the constant-region domain (whose physiological significance is not known). These surprising features of C kappa evolution appear to be characteristic only of closely related C kappa genes, since comparison of rodent with human sequences shows the expected greater conservation of coding regions, as well as a predominance of silent nucleotide substitutions within the coding regions.      

One new genus and three new species of Orsillinae (Hemiptera: Lygaeidae) from Australia

Abstract  Two new species of Nysius Dallas, N. orarius sp. n. and N. tasmaniensis sp. n. are described from New South Wales and Tasmania (Australia), respectively. A new monotypic genus, Reticulatonysius , with type-species R. queenslandensis sp. n. is described from Queensland, and its systematic relationship with other orsilline genera is discussed.     

Treatment with tumour infiltrating lymphocytes and interleukin-2 in patients with metastatic melanoma: A pilot study

Tumour infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) were isolated and expanded from biopsy samples of 4 patients with metastatic melanoma. The patients were treated with autologous expanded TIL and continuous or bolus infusion of Interleukin 2 (IL-2) at a dose of 18 × 10⁶ International Units/m²/day for 5 days starting 36–48 hours after administration of cyclophosphamide at a dose of 1 g/m². The number of TIL infused ranged from 10¹⁰ to 5,56 × 10¹⁰ cells. Two patients had stable disease (SD) lasting for 2 1/2 and 4 months respectively and they died 24 and 13 months after therapy. One patient died during therapy due to a pseudomonas septicaemia and another patient developed progressive disease (PD). He died 3 months after the start of therapy. The side effects were substantial but most of them were reversible upon cessation of the treatment.The majority of the expanded TIL of all patients were of the CD8+ phenotype. Cutaneous metastases from two patients, removed after treatment with IL-2 and TIL, showed moderate lymphocytic infiltration also mainly of CD8+ T cells.The treatment with IL-2 and TIL is feasible, but further investigations should continue in an attempt to improve the efficacy of the therapy, to reduce toxicity and to diminish the costs and labour of the culture methods.     

Mechanisms of haplotype divergence at the <Emphasis Type="Italic">RGA08</Emphasis> nucleotide-binding leucine-rich repeat gene locus in wild banana <Emphasis Type="Italic">(Musa balbisiana)</Emphasis>

Background  

Comparative sequence analysis of complex loci such as resistance gene analog clusters allows estimating the degree of sequence conservation and mechanisms of divergence at the intraspecies level. In banana (Musa sp.), two diploid wild species Musa acuminata (A genome) and Musa balbisiana (B genome) contribute to the polyploid genome of many cultivars. The M. balbisiana species is associated with vigour and tolerance to pests and disease and little is known on the genome structure and haplotype diversity within this species. Here, we compare two genomic sequences of 253 and 223 kb corresponding to two haplotypes of the RGA08 resistance gene analog locus in M. balbisiana "Pisang Klutuk Wulung" (PKW).