Search results for "Acellular"
showing 10 items of 1986 documents
Disulfide-crosslinked hyaluronan-gelatin hydrogel films: a covalent mimic of the extracellular matrix for in vitro cell growth
2003
A new disulfide crosslinking method was developed for the preparation of blended hyaluronan (HA)-gelatin hydrogels to form a synthetic, covalently linked mimic of the extracellular matrix (ECM). The HA and gelatin were chemically modified using 3,3′-dithiobis(propionic hydrazide) (DTP). After reduction with dithiothreitol (DTT), the thiol derivatives of HA (HA-DTPH) and gelatin (gelatin-DTPH) were obtained and characterized. To minimize interference with biological function, the degree of substitution of HA-DTPH and gelatin-DTPH was kept below 50%. Solutions of HA-DTPH and gelatin-DTPH in varying blends (20%, 40%, 60%, 80% gelatin) were prepared in 1% w/v NaCl and crosslinked by disulfide b…
Mapping candidate genes for Drosophila melanogaster resistance to the parasitoid wasp Leptopilina boulardi.
2006
Drosophila melanogaster resistance against the parasitoid wasp Leptopilina boulardi is under the control of a single gene (Rlb), with two alleles, the resistant one being dominant. Using strains bearing deletions, we previously demonstrated that the 55E2–E6; 55F3 region on chromosome 2R is involved in the resistance phenomenon. In this paper, we first restricted the Rlb containing region by mapping at the molecular level the breakpoints of the Df(2R)Pc66, Df(2R)P34 and Df(2R)Pc4 deficiencies, using both chromosomal in situ hybridization and Southern analyses. The resistance gene was localized in a 100 kb fragment, predicted to contain about 10 different genes. Male recombination genetic exp…
Novel GPR120 agonist TUG891 modulates fat taste perception and preference and activates tongue-brain-gut axis in mice
2020
GPR120 is implicated as a lipid receptor in the oro-sensory detection of dietary fatty acids. However, the effects of GPR120 activation on dietary fat intake or obesity are not clearly understood. We investigated to determine whether the binding of TUG891, a novel GPR120 agonist, to lingual GPR120 modulates fat preference in mice. We explored the effects of TUG891 on obesity-related hormones and conducted behavioral choice tests on mice to better understand the physiologic relevance of the action of TUG891. In cultured mouse and human taste bud cells (TBCs), TUG891 induced a rapid increase in Ca2+ by acting on GPR120. A long-chain dietary fatty acid, linoleic acid (LA), also recruited Ca2+ …
Vitronectin as a molecular player of the tumor microenvironment in neuroblastoma
2019
Background Vitronectin is a multifunctional glycoprotein known in several human tumors for its adhesive role in processes such as cell growth, angiogenesis and metastasis. In this study, we examined vitronectin expression in neuroblastoma to investigate whether this molecule takes part in cell-cell or cell-extracellular matrix interactions that may confer mechanical properties to promote tumor aggressiveness. Methods We used immunohistochemistry and image analysis tools to characterize vitronectin expression and to test its prognostic value in 91 neuroblastoma patients. To better understand the effect of vitronectin, we studied its in vitro expression using commercial neuroblastoma cell lin…
Metabolic Inflammation-Associated IL-17A Causes Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma
2016
Obesity increases hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) risks via unknown mediators. We report that hepatic unconventional prefoldin RPB5 interactor (URI) couples nutrient surpluses to inflammation and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), a common cause of HCC. URI-induced DNA damage in hepatocytes triggers inflammation via T helper 17 (Th17) lymphocytes and interleukin 17A (IL-17A). This induces white adipose tissue neutrophil infiltration mediating insulin resistance (IR) and fatty acid release, stored in liver as triglycerides, causing NASH. NASH and subsequently HCC are prevented by pharmacological suppression of Th17 cell differentiation, IL-17A blocking antibodies, and genetic ablation of t…
β1 integrin signaling promotes neuronal migration along vascular scaffolds in the post-stroke brain
2017
Cerebral ischemic stroke is a main cause of chronic disability. However, there is currently no effective treatment to promote recovery from stroke-induced neurological symptoms. Recent studies suggest that after stroke, immature neurons, referred to as neuroblasts, generated in a neurogenic niche, the ventricular-subventricular zone, migrate toward the injured area, where they differentiate into mature neurons. Interventions that increase the number of neuroblasts distributed at and around the lesion facilitate neuronal repair in rodent models for ischemic stroke, suggesting that promoting neuroblast migration in the post-stroke brain could improve efficient neuronal regeneration. To move t…
Extra collagen overlay prolongs the differentiated phenotype in sandwich-cultured rat hepatocytes
2018
INTRODUCTION: Sandwich-cultured rat hepatocytes (SCRH) have become an invaluable in vitro model to study hepatic drug disposition. SCRH are maintained between two layers of extracellular matrix. In this configuration, culture periods of 4days are typically applicable. The aim of the present study was to modify conventional SCRH by applying an additional collagen overlay to prolong the hepatic phenotype in SCRH and thus to extend the applicability of the model. METHODS: The cultures receiving an extra top layer ('SCRH-plus' cultures) were compared with the conventional SCRH by testing the morphology, cell functionality, metabolic capacity and Mrp2-activity. RESULTS: In the SCRH-plus cultures…
Perineuronal Nets Regulate the Inhibitory Perisomatic Input onto Parvalbumin Interneurons and γ Activity in the Prefrontal Cortex
2020
Parvalbumin-expressing (PV+) interneurons play a key role in the maturation and synchronization of cortical circuitry and alterations in these inhibitory neurons, especially in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC), have been found in different psychiatric disorders. The formation of perineuronal nets (PNNs) around many of these interneurons at the end of the critical periods reduces their plasticity and sets their connectivity. Consequently, the presence of PNNs must have an important impact on the synaptic input and the physiology of PV+ cells. In the present study, we have found that in adult male mice, prefrontocortical PV+ cells surrounded by PNNs show higher density of perisomatic excit…
Regular monitoring of cytomegalovirus-specific cell-mediated immunity in intermediate-risk kidney transplant recipients: predictive value of the imme…
2018
Abstract Objective Previous studies on monitoring of post-transplant cytomegalovirus (CMV)-specific cell-mediated immunity (CMI) are limited by single-centre designs and disparate risk categories. We aimed to assess the clinical value of a regular monitoring strategy in a large multicentre cohort of intermediate-risk kidney transplant (KT) recipients. Methods We recruited 124 CMV-seropositive KT recipients with no T-cell-depleting induction pre-emptively managed at four Spanish institutions. CMV-specific interferon-γ-producing CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were counted through the first post-transplant year by intracellular cytokine staining after stimulation with pp65 and immediate early-1 peptide…
Diagnostic strategy in segmentation defect of the vertebrae: a retrospective study of 73 patients
2018
BackgroundSegmentation defects of the vertebrae (SDV) are non-specific features found in various syndromes. The molecular bases of SDV are not fully elucidated due to the wide range of phenotypes and classification issues. The genes involved are in the Notch signalling pathway, which is a key system in somitogenesis. Here we report on mutations identified in a diagnosis cohort of SDV. We focused on spondylocostal dysostosis (SCD) and the phenotype of these patients in order to establish a diagnostic strategy when confronted with SDV.Patients and methodsWe used DNA samples from a cohort of 73 patients and performed targeted sequencing of the five known SCD-causing genes (DLL3,MESP2,LFNG,HES7…