Exposure to an organometal compound stimulates adipokine and cytokine expression in white adipose tissue

ObjectiveWhite adipose tissue (WAT) is now considered a defined tissue capable of interactions with other organ systems. WAT role in elevating the level of systemic chronic inflammation suggests that alterations in this tissue as the result of disease or environmental factors may influence the development and progression of various obesity-related pathologies. This study investigated WAT cell-specific responses to an organometal compound, trimethyltin (TMT), to determine possible contribution to induced inflammation.MethodsHuman primary mature adipocytes and macrophage differentiated THP-1 cells were cultured in TMT presence and relative toxicities and different adipokine levels were determined. The inflammatory response was examined in TMT presence for primary cells from obese ob/ob mice WAT, and after TMT injection in ob/ob mice.ResultsBoth adipocytes and macrophages were resistant to cell death induced by TMT. However, adipocytes cultured in TMT presence showed increased expression of TNFα and IL-6, and modified leptin levels. In macrophage cultures, TMT also increased TNFα and IL-6, while MCP-1 and MIP-1α were decreased. In vivo, a single injection of TMT in ob/ob mice, elevated TNFα, MIP-1α and adiponectin in WAT.ConclusionsElevation of the inflammatory related products can be induced by chemical exposure in adipocytes and macrophages, as well as murine WAT. These data suggest that numerous factors, including a systemic chemical exposure, can induce an inflammatory response from the WAT. Furthermore, when characterizing both chemical-induced toxicity and the progression of the chronic inflammation associated with elevated WAT content, such responses in this target tissue should be taken into consideration.     

Expression,purification and functional characterization of recombinant Zucchini yellow mosaic virus HC-Pro

HC-Pro is a helper component-proteinase which acts as a multifunctional protein in the potyviral life cycle. Apart from its proteolytic activity, HC-Pro has the capacity to bind duplex small RNAs (sRNAs). To investigate HC-Pro-mediated sRNA binding in vitro, high amounts of purified protein are required. For this purpose, the Zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV) HC-Pro was expressed as a fusion with hexa-histidine (6xHis) or maltose-binding protein (MBP) in Escherichia coli. The expressed fusion proteins were purified by affinity chromatography. 6xHis:HC-Pro and MBP:HC-Pro were partially soluble. Electrophoretic mobility-shift assays demonstrated that only MBP:HC-Pro exhibits the sRNA binding activity. The recombinant HC-Pro bound 21 bp siRNAs as well as 19 bp and 24 bp siRNAs. A point mutation in the highly conserved FRNK box produced the HC-Pro^FINK protein, previously shown to be associated with reduced viral symptoms and weak sRNA binding. In this study, sRNA binding of the MBP:HA-HC-Pro^FINK was not detectable. The high yield of purified HC-Pro offers the possibility to study the biochemistry of the protein in detail.     

Larval survival,host plant preferences and developmental responses of the diamondback moth Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) on wild brassicaceous species

The diamondback moth Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) is an important pest of cultivated brassicaceous crops worldwide. The host plant preferences, developmental biology and survival and longevity of P. xylostella are relatively well understood on commercial crop species; however, its relationship with brassicaceous weeds is poorly known. Sinapis arvensis L., Erysimum cheiranthoides L. and Capsella bursa‐pastoris (L.) Medicus are among the most common brassicaceous weeds worldwide and can serve as important bridge hosts of P. xylostella. In this study, preference and performance of P. xylostella were compared on these weed species. In free‐choice situations, females deposited 5.5 and 18.8 times more eggs on S. arvensis than on E. cheiranthoides and C. bursa‐pastoris, respectively. Survival from neonate to pupa and from pupa to adult was highest on S. arvensis and E. cheiranthoides and lowest on C. bursa‐pastoris. Development was fastest, foliage consumption was greatest, pupae and silk cocoons were heaviest, adult body masses and longevities were highest and forewings were largest for both females and males when reared as larvae on S. arvensis. Realized fecundity of new generation adults was highest for individuals reared on S. arvensis compared to those reared on E. cheiranthoides or C. bursa‐pastoris. Relative growth rates of pupae and adults were highest on S. arvensis, suggesting that this plant species is a high‐quality host for P. xylostella compared with other species tested. Potential impacts of these wild brassicaceous species on P. xylostella populations are discussed.     

Protection from obesity and diabetes by blockade of TGF-β/Smad3 signaling

Imbalances in glucose and energy homeostasis are at the core of the worldwide epidemic of obesity and diabetes. Here, we illustrate an important role of the TGF-β/Smad3 signaling pathway in regulating glucose and energy homeostasis. Smad3-deficient mice are protected from diet-induced obesity and diabetes. Interestingly, the metabolic protection is accompanied by Smad3(-)(/-) white adipose tissue acquiring the bioenergetic and gene expression profile of brown fat/skeletal muscle. Smad3(-/-) adipocytes demonstrate a marked increase in mitochondrial biogenesis, with a corresponding increase in basal respiration, and Smad3 acts as a repressor of PGC-1α expression. We observe significant correlation between TGF-β1 levels and adiposity in rodents and humans. Further, systemic blockade of TGF-β signaling protects mice from obesity, diabetes, and hepatic steatosis. Together, these results demonstrate that TGF-β signaling regulates glucose tolerance and energy homeostasis and suggest that modulation of TGF-β activity might be an effective treatment strategy for obesity and diabetes.     

Determination of remifentanil in human plasma by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry utilizing micro extraction in packed syringe (MEPS) as sample preparation

Remifentanil is a synthetic short-acting opioid with a short half-life that is being used during anaesthesia of small children. In this work an LC-MS/MS method for remifentanil quantification in 20 μL volume of human plasma was developed and validated in connection with a clinical study on neonatal children. Sample preparation was performed with micro extraction in packed syringe (MEPS), which is a miniaturization of solid phase extraction. For this method a mixed phase sorbent M1 (C8, cation exchange), and a protocol for basic compound extraction was followed. Remifentanil-(13)C(6) was used as internal standard. For chromatographic separation, a C18 analytical column with gradient elution was used with mobile phase consisting of aqueous 0.1% formic acid and methanol. The total analysis time was 5.0 min and the measuring range was between 0.05 and 50 ng/mL. Precision and accuracy were with acceptance criteria of ±15%. Plasma samples were stable for 5 weeks at -20°C and for 4h at room temperature while 50% was lost after 24h. This method was successfully applied for remifentanil determination in clinical samples and results agreed with a reference method. With this method using MEPS, a low limit of quantification and much reduced sample volume was obtained as compared with previous methods.     

Elucidation of thermotolerance diversity in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) using physio-molecular approaches

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) is an important cash crop, but high temperature during its growing season is one of the major factors that limit its productivity. This problem compels plant breeders to breed for heat tolerance, which can help to overcome this challenge. It is very important to make a comprehensive screening of heat-tolerant genotypes so that only the best are chosen. Here we report the combined use of several techniques that can help breeders to screen their germplasm. Twelve cultivated cotton genotypes were evaluated for thermotolerance, using assays that included electrolyte leakage, chlorophyll accumulation and protein profiling, as well as RAPDs to assess genetic diversity. Two genotypes (B-557 and NIAB-78) showed tolerant behavior in three thermotolerance assays. RAPD analysis results showed maximum similarity in a range of 86.7-66.7% between the genotypes MNH-554 and CIM-443. We conclude that combined use should be made of relative electrolyte leakage, chlorophyll stability and differential display with SDS-PAGE to aid in screening for stress tolerance. RAPD-based diversity analysis will further help to improve the efficiency of breeding programs.     

Ichnospecies Teredolites longissimus and Teredinid Body Fossils from the Early Eocene of India—Taphonomic and Palaeoenvironmental Implications

Extensively bored log-grounds with ichnospecies Teredolites longissimus and body fossils of the causative teredinid molluscs are recorded from the Early Eocene subsurface beds of the Cambay Shale Formation at Vastan lignite Mine in western India. Three sizes of T. longissimus observed in Vastan mostly represent animals in different stages of maturity or successive infestation of substrate. Orientation of a majority of small borings suggests that teredinid larvae preferred to initiate boring across the wood grain and subsequently turned to become parallel to grain exhibiting adult boring behavior. Variations in morphology of recovered shells indicate involvement of at least two teredinid taxa in constructing T. longissimus from Vastan—one is identified as Bankia isp. based on pallets and the other remains unidentified and may possibly represent another bankiine, Nototeredo. Evidences of traumatic as well as attritional mortality are noticeable. The xylic substrates having affinity with woods of a modern tree genus Aglaia (Meliaceae) were apparently transported from their natural habitat of an inland moist tropical forest to the coastal region where they were colonized by the teredinid bivalves. The profusely infested wood logs were buried in a near shore lagoon or a tidal flat setting, which is corroborated by the known biota (vertebrate, invertebrate as well as plants) as well as sedimentary facies of the Cambay Shale Formation in Vastan section.     

Analysis of a self-propelling sheet with heat transfer through non-isothermal fluid in an inclined human cervical canal

The present theoretical analysis deals with biomechanics of the self-propulsion of a swimming sheet with heat transfer through non-isothermal fluid filling an inclined human cervical canal. Partial differential equations arising from the mathematical modeling of the proposed model are solved analytically. Flow variables like pressure gradient, propulsive velocity, fluid velocity, time mean flow rate, fluid temperature, and heat-transfer coefficients are analyzed for the pertinent parameters. Striking features of the pumping characteristics are explored. Propulsive velocity of the swimming sheet becomes faster for lower Froude number, higher Reynolds number, and for a vertical channel. Temperature and peak value of the heat-transfer coefficients below the swimming sheet showed an increase by the increment of Brinkmann number, inclination, pressure difference over wavelength, and Reynolds number whereas these quantities decrease with increasing Froude number. Aforesaid parameters have shown opposite effects on the peak value of the heat-transfer coefficients below and above the swimming sheet. Relevance of the current results to the spermatozoa transport with heat transfer through non-isothermal cervical mucus filling an inclined human cervical canal is also explored.     

Is coordination of leaf and root growth mediated by abscisic acid? Opinion

Leaf growth is more inhibited than root growth when the soil is nitrogen-deficient, dry, saline, compacted, or of restricted volume. Similar differential responses in leaf and root growth occur when ABA is applied to plants in well-watered and well-fertilised conditions, and opposite responses are often found in ABA-deficient mutants. ABA levels increase in plants in dry or saline soils, suggesting a regulating role in leaf and root growth in soils of low water potential. In nitrogen-deficient or compacted soils, or soils of restricted volume, ABA only sometimes increases, and in these situations its accumulation may be of secondary importance. Use of ABA-deficient mutants has so far indicated that ABA influences leaf and root growth in unstressed plants, and plants in dry soils, but not in soils that are compacted, of restricted volume, or are nitrogen-deficient.For ABA to determine the relationship between the rate of leaf growth and the rate of root growth, there must be long-distance transport of either ABA itself or a compound that controls ABA synthesis in the growing cells of leaves and roots. ABA invariably increases in xylem sap as the soil becomes dry or saline, and sometimes when it becomes nitrogen-deficient or compacted, however the ABA is of too low a concentration to affect leaf growth. There may be a compound in xylem sap that controls the synthesis of ABA in the leaf, but no such compound has been identified. ABA accumulates in phloem sap of plants in dry or saline soil, but its function in controlling root or leaf growth is unknown.We conclude that ABA affects the ratio of root growth to leaf growth via its independent effects on root and leaf growth, and may regulate the ratio of root to leaf growth via feedforward signals in xylem or phloem, but there is no satisfactory explanation of its mechanism of control.