Social sustainability in trade and development policy

The International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment - Social sustainability may be assessed using a variety of methods and indicators, such as the social footprint, social impact assessment, or...     

The epsilon-isoform of PKC mediates the hypertonic activation of cation channels in confluent monolayers of rat hepatocytes.

We were interested whether PKC alpha, delta, epsilon or zeta is the isoform actually employed in the activation of hypertonicity-induced cation channels (HICCs) in primary cultures of rat hepatocytes. Quantitative SDS-page and Western-blot experiments revealed that PKC alpha, delta and epsilon were stimulated by Indolactam V (as a DAG substitute for activation of c and nPKCs) but that only PKC delta and epsilon did respond to hypertonic stress. Furthermore, chelation of intracellular Ca(++) by BAPTA-AM did not alter HICC activation in cable-analysis experiments whereas Indolactam V as well as V8 (an Indolactam derivative specific for PKC delta and epsilon) activated HICC currents under isotonic conditions. Finally, by use of Rottlerin (as an inhibitor exhibiting a slight preference for PKC delta over epsilon) PKC epsilon could be identified as the most likely isoform responsible for the activation of the HICC.     

Lifetime of microsomal cytochrome P-450 and steroidogenic enzymes in rat testis as influenced by human chorionic gonadotrophin

The lifetime of different microsomal steroidogenic enzymes and the cytochrome components of the NADPH-cytochrome P-450 pathway have been determined in rat testis by measuring their decrease logarithmically after hypophysectomy. Although both cytochrome P-450 and 17α-hydroxylase show biphasic decay curves, the first decay curve contains 89–94% of the cytochrome P-450 and 17α-hydroxylase levels. Steroidogenic enzymes which are located mainly in the leydig cells, decay much faster than microsomal protein, $\text{t}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{= 12}$ days, which represents mainly decay of tubular protein. The similarity between the major half-life of cytochrome P-450, $\text{t}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{= 3.3}$ days, 17α-hydroxylase, $\text{t}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{= 2.3}$ days and the C₁₇–C₂₀ lyase, $\text{t}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{= 3.4}$ days and the uniformity of their response to human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) provides additional evidence that these two steroidogenic enzymes require cytochrome P-450. Both the 17α-hydroxylase and the C₁₇–C₂₀ lyase were shown to have a constant activity per nmole of cytochrome P-450 during a sixfold change in the level of cytochrome P-450 brought about by HCG treatment of rats with intact pituitaries. The decay of 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, $\text{t}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}\text{= 4.5}$ days, was slower than P-450 dependent enzymes. Rats with intact pituitaries are not under maximal stimulation by endogenous LH because addition of HCG increases the levels of microsomal and mitochondrial cytochrome P-450 220 and 1620%, respectively. The rates of synthesis during the increase from one cytochrome P-450 level to another was calculated at $\text{0.118}\text{2}$ testes/day for microsomal cytochrome P-450 and 0.10 nmoles/2 testes/day for mitochondrial cytochrome P-450. Treatment of hypophysectomized rats with HCG results in large increases of cytochrome P-450, 17α-hydroxylase, C₁₇–C₂₀ lyase and 5α-reductase, but not cytochrome b₅, microsomal protein, 7α-hydroxylase, or the 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase. While it is clear that the two cytochrome P-450 dependent hydroxylases involved in steroidogenesis and the 5α-reductase are under the control of gonadotrophin, it is not clear how 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase levels are maintained or in what manner the 5α-reductase level is controlled in mature animals.     

Phylogenetic analysis informed by geological history supports multiple, sequential invasions of the Mediterranean Basin by the angiosperm family Araceae

Despite the remarkable species richness of the Mediterranean flora and its well-known geological history, few studies have investigated its temporal and spatial origins. Most importantly, the relative contribution of geological processes and long-distance dispersal to the composition of contemporary Mediterranean biotas remains largely unknown. We used phylogenetic analyses of sequences from six chloroplast DNA markers, Bayesian dating methods, and ancestral area reconstructions, in combination with paleogeographic, paleoclimatic, and ecological evidence, to elucidate the time frame and biogeographic events associated with the diversification of Araceae in the Mediterranean Basin. We focused on the origin of four species, Ambrosina bassii, Biarum dispar, Helicodiceros muscivorus, Arum pictum, subendemic or endemic to Corsica, Sardinia, and the Balearic Archipelago. The results support two main invasions of the Mediterranean Basin by the Araceae, one from an area connecting North America and Eurasia in the Late Cretaceous and one from the Anatolian microplate in western Asia during the Late Eocene, thus confirming the proposed heterogeneous origins of the Mediterranean flora. The subendemic Ambrosina bassii and Biarum dispar likely diverged sympatrically from their widespread Mediterranean sister clades in the Early-Middle Eocene and Early-Middle Miocene, respectively. Combined evidence corroborates a relictual origin for the endemic Helicodiceros muscivorus and Arum pictum, the former apparently representing the first documented case of vicariance driven by the initial splitting of the Hercynian belt in the Early Oligocene. A recurrent theme emerging from our analyses is that land connections and interruptions, caused by repeated cycles of marine transgressions-regressions between the Tethys and Paratethys, favored geodispersalist expansion of biotic ranges from western Asia into the western Mediterranean Basin and subsequent allopatric speciation at different points in time from the Late Eocene to the Late Oligocene.     

Changes in the antioxidant metabolism in the embryonic development of the common South American toad Bufo arenarum: differential responses to pesticide in early embryos and autonomous-feeding larvae

Amphibians may be critically challenged by aquatic contaminants during their embryonic development. Many classes of compounds, including organophosphorus pesticides, are able to cause oxidative stress that affects the delicate cellular redox balance regulating tissue modeling. We determined the progression of antioxidant defenses during the embryonic development of the South American common toad, Bufo arenarum. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities were high in the unfertilized eggs, and remained constant during the first stages of development. SOD showed a significant increase when the gills were completely active and opercular folds began to form. Reductase (GR) activity was low in the oocytes and increased significantly when gills and mouth were entirely developed and the embryos presented a higher exposure to pro-oxidant conditions suggesting an environmental control. Reduced glutathione (GSH) content was also initially low, and rose continuously pointing out an increasing participation of GSH-related enzymes in the control of oxidative stress. GSH peroxidases and GSH-S-transferases showed relatively high and constant activities, probably related to lipid peroxide control. B. arenarum embryos have plenty of yolk platelets containing lipids, which provide the energy and are actively transferred to the newly synthesized membranes during the early embryonic development. Exposure to the pro-oxidant pesticide malathion during 48 h did not significantly affect the activity of antioxidant enzymes in early embryos, but decreased the activities of CAT, GR, and the pool of GSH in larvae. Previous work indicated that lipid peroxide levels were kept low in malathion-exposed larvae, thus we conclude that oxidative stress is overcome by the antioxidant defenses. The increase in the antioxidant metabolism observed in the posthatching phase of development of B. arenarum embryo, thus constitutes a defense against natural and human-generated pro-oxidants present in the aquatic environment.     

GPR30 contributes to estrogen-induced thymic atrophy

The mechanisms by which prolonged estrogen exposures, such as estrogen therapy and pregnancy, reduce thymus weight, cellularity, and CD4 and CD8 phenotype expression, have not been well defined. In this study, the roles played by the membrane estrogen receptor, G protein-coupled receptor 30 (GPR30), and the intracellular estrogen receptors, estrogen receptor alpha (ERalpha) and beta (ERbeta), in 17beta-estradiol (E2)-induced thymic atrophy were distinguished by construction and the side-by-side comparison of GPR30-deficient mice with ERalpha and ERbeta gene-deficient mice. Our study shows that whereas ERalpha mediated exclusively the early developmental blockage of thymocytes, GPR30 was indispensable for thymocyte apoptosis that preferentially occurs in T cell receptor beta chain(-/low) double-positive thymocytes. Additionally, G1, a specific GPR30 agonist, induces thymic atrophy and thymocyte apoptosis, but not developmental blockage. Finally, E2 treatment attenuates the activation of nuclear factor-kappa B in CD25(-)CD4(-)CD8(-) double-negative thymocytes through an ERalpha-dependent yet ERbeta- and GPR30-independent pathway. Differential inhibition of nuclear factor-kappaB by ERalpha and GPR30 might underlie their disparate physiological effects on thymocytes. Our study distinguishes, for the first time, the respective contributions of nuclear and membrane E2 receptors in negative regulation of thymic development.     

Influenza H5N1 virus infection of polarized human alveolar epithelial cells and lung microvascular endothelial cells

Background

Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus is entrenched in poultry in Asia and Africa and continues to infect humans zoonotically causing acute respiratory disease syndrome and death. There is evidence that the virus may sometimes spread beyond respiratory tract to cause disseminated infection. The primary target cell for HPAI H5N1 virus in human lung is the alveolar epithelial cell. Alveolar epithelium and its adjacent lung microvascular endothelium form host barriers to the initiation of infection and dissemination of influenza H5N1 infection in humans. These are polarized cells and the polarity of influenza virus entry and egress as well as the secretion of cytokines and chemokines from the virus infected cells are likely to be central to the pathogenesis of human H5N1 disease.

Aim

To study influenza A (H5N1) virus replication and host innate immune responses in polarized primary human alveolar epithelial cells and lung microvascular endothelial cells and its relevance to the pathogenesis of human H5N1 disease.

Methods

We use an in vitro model of polarized primary human alveolar epithelial cells and lung microvascular endothelial cells grown in transwell culture inserts to compare infection with influenza A subtype H1N1 and H5N1 viruses via the apical or basolateral surfaces.

Results

We demonstrate that both influenza H1N1 and H5N1 viruses efficiently infect alveolar epithelial cells from both apical and basolateral surface of the epithelium but release of newly formed virus is mainly from the apical side of the epithelium. In contrast, influenza H5N1 virus, but not H1N1 virus, efficiently infected polarized microvascular endothelial cells from both apical and basolateral aspects. This provides a mechanistic explanation for how H5N1 virus may infect the lung from systemic circulation. Epidemiological evidence has implicated ingestion of virus-contaminated foods as the source of infection in some instances and our data suggests that viremia, secondary to, for example, gastro-intestinal infection, can potentially lead to infection of the lung. HPAI H5N1 virus was a more potent inducer of cytokines (e.g. IP-10, RANTES, IL-6) in comparison to H1N1 virus in alveolar epithelial cells, and these virus-induced chemokines were secreted onto both the apical and basolateral aspects of the polarized alveolar epithelium.

Conclusion

The predilection of viruses for different routes of entry and egress from the infected cell is important in understanding the pathogenesis of influenza H5N1 infection and may help unravel the pathogenesis of human H5N1 disease.     

Insights in to the pathogenesis of axial spondyloarthropathy based on gene expression profiles

Introduction  

Axial spondyloarthropathy (SpA) is a group of inflammatory diseases, with ankylosing spondylitis as the prototype. SpA affects the axial skeleton, entheses, joints and, at times, the eyes. This study tested the hypothesis that SpA is characterized by a distinct pattern of gene expression in peripheral blood of affected individuals compared with healthy controls.