0000000000482029
AUTHOR
Irene Sarrion
Respiratory syncytial virus inhibits ciliagenesis in differentiated normal human bronchial epithelial cells: effectiveness of N-acetylcysteine.
Persistent respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections have been associated with the exacerbation of chronic inflammatory diseases, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This virus infects the respiratory epithelium, leading to chronic inflammation, and induces the release of mucins and the loss of cilia activity, two factors that determine mucus clearance and the increase in sputum volume. These alterations involve reactive oxygen species-dependent mechanisms. The antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has proven useful in the management of COPD, reducing symptoms, exacerbations, and accelerated lung function decline. NAC inhibits RSV infection and mucin release in human A54…
New adenylate kinase 7 (AK7) mutation in primary ciliary dyskinesia.
Background Primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) is a congenital hereditary disease affecting 1/20,000–60,000 people that causes chronic sinusitis, bronchiectasis, sinus hypoplasia, secretory otitis media, and low fertility. The complexity and heterogeneity of the disease make diagnosis difficult. Although the genetic origin of PCD is clear, mutations in only five genes have been associated with the disease, and, to date, no disease-causing gene has been identified. Recently, low levels of AK7 gene expression have been linked to PCD. This study was designed to determine the mutational status of the AK7 gene in 31 PCD (17 PCD and 14 Kartagener syndrome diagnosed) patients compared with 40 healthy…
PGC-1α Induction in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Idiopathic Pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) is characterized by the obstructive remodelling of pulmonary arteries, and a progressive elevation in pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) with subsequent right-sided heart failure and dead. Hypoxia induces the expression of peroxisome proliferator activated receptorγcoactivator-1α(PGC-1α) which regulates oxidative metabolism and mitochondrial biogenesis. We have analysed the expression of PGC-1α, cytochrome C (CYTC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), the total antioxidant status (TAS) and the activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPX) in blood samples of IPAH patients. Expression of PGC-1αwas detected in IPAH patients but not in healthy volunteers. Th…
Role of Circulating miRNAs as Biomarkers in Idiopathic Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Possible Relevance of miR-23a
Idiopathic pulmonary hypertension (IPAH) is a rare disease characterized by a progressive increase in pulmonary vascular resistance leading to heart failure. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small noncoding RNAs that control the expression of genes, including some involved in the progression of IPAH, as studied in animals and lung tissue. These molecules circulate freely in the blood and their expression is associated with the progression of different vascular pathologies. Here, we studied the expression profile of circulating miRNAs in 12 well-characterized IPAH patients using microarrays. We found significant changes in 61 miRNAs, of which the expression of miR23a was correlated with the patients’ …