Search results for "Integument"
showing 10 items of 754 documents
Dysfunction of Oskyddad causes Harlequin-type ichthyosis-like defects in Drosophila melanogaster.
2020
Prevention of desiccation is a constant challenge for terrestrial organisms. Land insects have an extracellular coat, the cuticle, that plays a major role in protection against exaggerated water loss. Here, we report that the ABC transporter Oskyddad (Osy)—a human ABCA12 paralog—contributes to the waterproof barrier function of the cuticle in the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster. We show that the reduction or elimination of Osy function provokes rapid desiccation. Osy is also involved in defining the inward barrier against xenobiotics penetration. Consistently, the amounts of cuticular hydrocarbons that are involved in cuticle impermeability decrease markedly when Osy activity is reduced. …
Identification of Merkel cells in human skin by specific cytokeratin antibodies:
1984
Merkel cells are special neurosecretory cells which, in adult human skin, are usually very scarce. By immunofluorescence microscopy using antibodies to human cytokeratin polypeptide no. 18, we localized distinct non-keratinocyte cells in the glandular ridges of human fetal and adult plantar epidermis. Using electron and immunofluorescence microscopy, these cells were identified as Merkel cells containing typical neurosecretory granules as well as bundles of intermediate-sized filaments and desmosomes. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of the cytoskeletal fractions of microdissected epidermal preparations highly enriched in Merkel cells indicated the presence of cytokeratin polypeptides no…
Abstract 4239: Pterostilbene, a natural polyphenol, elicits full protection against ultraviolet B radiation-induced skin carcinogenesis: Preclinical …
2011
Abstract Solar radiation exposure is the chief cause of nonmelanoma (i e, basal cell and squamous cell) skin cancer, and it is also a prime factor in the etiology of cutaneous melanoma The cancer-causing effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation on the skin are mainly produced by UV-B radiation in the 290- to 320-nm range, the same range that produces burning in human skin (erythema) UV-B exposure can damage DNA and be immunosuppressive Thus, and considering the alarming numbers of skin cancers being diagnosed around the world, it is increasingly evident the need of effective protection from UV radiation Resveratrol (trans-3,5,4′-trihydroxystilbene; RES) is a phytoalexin present in a wide varie…
cDNA sequences of the authentic keratins 8 and 18 in zebrafish
2003
From the zebrafish Danio rerio, we have cDNA cloned and sequenced a novel type II and a novel type I keratin, termed DreK8 and DreK18, respectively. We identified DreK8/18 as the true orthologs of the human keratin pair K8/18 as follows: (i) MALDI-MS assignment to the biochemically identified K8 and K18 candidates that are co-expressed in simple epithelia and absent in epidermal keratinocytes; (ii) multiple sequence alignments and phylogenetic tree analysis, showing that DreK8, within the phylogenetic tree of type II keratins, forms a highly bootstrap-supported branch together with K8 from goldfish and rainbow trout, whereas DreK18, within the phylogenetic tree of type I keratins, groups wi…
CD1a expression by Barrett's metaplasia of gastric type may help to predict its evolution towards cancer
2005
As emerging in the recent literature, CD1a has been regarded as a molecule whose expression may reflect tumour evolution. The aim of the present work was to investigate the expression of CD1a in a series of Barrett's metaplasia (BM), gastric type (GTBM), with and without follow-up, in order to analyse whether its expression may help to diagnose this disease and to address the outcome. Indeed, GTBM may be confused sometimes with islets of ectopic gastric mucosa and its evolution towards dysplasia (Dy) or carcinoma (Ca) could not be foreseen. We showed a significant higher expression of CD1a in GTBM than in both Dy and Ca; nevertheless, the number of positive GTBM was significantly lower in t…
Cholinesterase Activity and Hematological Parameters as Biomarkers of Sublethal Molinate Exposure in Anguilla anguilla
2000
Cholinesterase (ChE) activity was measured in plasma, whole blood [using 5,5'-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid) and 2-PDS as chromophores], brain, and whole eyes of Anguilla anguilla exposed to a sublethal concentration of 11.15 mg/L (one-third of the 96-h LC(50)) of the carbamate herbicide molinate. ChE activity was evaluated after 6, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h of pesticide exposure. Results indicated that ChE activity in eel tissues decreased as time of exposure increased, especially in eel blood. Eels exposed to molinate were transferred to a pesticide-free water for a recovery period of 4 days and ChE activity was also evaluated. Results indicated that ChE activity for those animals with preexpo…
Different sensitivity of carp (Cyprinus carpio) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) to the immunomodulatory effects of UVB irradiation.
2006
Abstract In order to study the sensitivity of two fish species, carp (Cyprinus carpio) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), to the immunomodulatory effects of ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation, the fish were exposed to a single UVB dose of 50, 250, 500 or 1000 mJ cm−2. These species represent different phylogenetic groups of fish, and they differ also in their behaviour inhabitating often dark and turbid (carp) or clear and transparent waters (salmonids). Immune responses were studied on day 1 post-irradiation. Unexposed fish, and fish exposed to radiation depleted of UV wavelengths served as controls. UVB irradiation markedly enhanced the blood respiratory burst and cytotoxic activity in c…
TGF-β superfamily signaling is essential for tooth and hair morphogenesis and differentiation
2007
Members of the transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) superfamily of signaling molecules are involved in the regulation of many developmental processes that involve the interaction between mesenchymal and epithelial tissues. Smad7 is a potent inhibitor of many members of the TGF-beta family, notably TGF-beta and activin. In this study, we show that embryonic overexpression of Smad7 in stratified epithelia using a keratin 5 promoter, results in severe morphogenetic defects in skin and teeth and leads to embryonic and perinatal lethality. To further analyze the functions of Smad7 in epithelial tissues of adult mice, we used an expression system that allowed a controlled overexpression of …
The ultrastructure of the thread-hairs on the cerci of the cockroach Periplaneta americana L.: The intermoult phase
1976
The structure of the thread-hairs on the cerci of the cockroach Periplaneta american during the intermoult phase has been investigated by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The present study demonstrates that to each thread-hair belong one sensory cell, two glial cells, and three enveloping cells. The data indicate that: (a) the inner glial cells, which may have a trophic function, sends fingerlike processes into the cytoplasm of the senory cell body; (b) the internal enveloping cell forms the dendritic sheath; (c) the middle enveloping cell corresponds to the trichogen cell and the external enveloping cell to the tormogen cell; (d) the outer dendritic segment terminates in a ca…
Research in practice: Different dendritic cell types in skin with various functions - important implications for intradermal vaccines
2011
Summary It was long believed that epidermal Langerhans cells (LC) are responsible for the initiation of cellular immunity. Only recently it has been shown that in skin alone 5 different subtypes of dendritic cells (DC) can be identified. Among these, LC, but also two Langerin-expressing dermal DC populations and two more Langerin-negative DC subtypes exist. Novel findings in the model disease leishmaniasis, as well as evidence from research in contact hypersensitivity, have revealed that activation of LC in skin leads to induction of regulatory, immunosuppressive T cells, whereas the other skin DC subtypes stimulate effector T cells. Thus, when producing vaccines designed for intradermal us…