Search results for "mono"
showing 10 items of 6843 documents
Diversity, evolution, and function of myriapod hemocyanins.
2018
Background Hemocyanin transports O2 in the hemolymph of many arthropod species. Such respiratory proteins have long been considered unnecessary in Myriapoda. As a result, the presence of hemocyanin in Myriapoda has long been overlooked. We analyzed transcriptome and genome sequences from all major myriapod taxa – Chilopoda, Diplopoda, Symphyla, and Pauropoda – with the aim of identifying hemocyanin-like proteins. Results We investigated the genomes and transcriptomes of 56 myriapod species and identified 46 novel full-length hemocyanin subunit sequences in 20 species of Chilopoda, Diplopoda, and Symphyla, but not Pauropoda. We found in Cleidogona sp. (Diplopoda, Chordeumatida) a hemocyanin-…
Altered gastrointestinal motility in an animal model of Lesch-Nyhan disease.
2018
Mutations in the HGPRT1 gene, which encodes hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGprt), housekeeping enzyme responsible for recycling purines, lead to Lesch-Nyhan disease (LND). Clinical expression of LND indicates that HGprt deficiency has adverse effects on gastrointestinal motility. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate intestinal motility in HGprt knockout mice (HGprt(−)). Spontaneous and neurally evoked mechanical activity was recorded in vitro as changes in isometric tension in circular muscle strips of distal colon. HGprt(−) tissues showed a lower in amplitude spontaneous activity and atropine-sensitivity neural contraction compared to control mice. The responses to carbachol a…
Quantitative and qualitative profiles of circulating monocytes may help identifying tuberculosis infection and disease stages
2017
Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the most important cause of morbidity and death among infectious diseases, and continuous efforts are needed to improve diagnostic tools and therapy. Previous published studies showed that the absolute cells number of monocytes or lymphocytes in peripheral blood or yet the ratio of monocytes to lymphocytes displayed the ability to predict the risk of active TB. In the present study we evaluated the ratio of monocytes to lymphocytes variation and we also analyzed the ex-vivo expression of CD64 on monocytes as tools to identify biomarkers for discriminating TB stages. Significant differences were found when the average ratio of monocytes to lymphocytes of active TB…
Dextran-based therapeutic nanoparticles for hepatic drug delivery.
2016
Aim: Evaluation of dextran-based nanoparticles (DNP) as a drug delivery system to target myeloid cells of the liver. Materials & methods: DNP were synthesized and optionally PEGylated. Their toxicity and cellular uptake were studied in vitro. Empty and siRNA-carrying DNP were tested in vivo with regard to biodistribution and cellular uptake. Results: In vitro, DNP were taken up by cells of the myeloid lineage without compromising their viability. In vivo, empty and siRNA-carrying DNP distributed to the liver where a single treatment addressed approximately 70% of macrophages and dendritic cells. Serum parameters indicated no in vivo toxicity. Conclusion: DNP are multifunctional liver-s…
Double methylation of tRNA-U54 to 2′-O-methylthymidine (Tm) synergistically decreases immune response by Toll-like receptor 7
2018
Abstract Sensing of nucleic acids for molecular discrimination between self and non-self is a challenging task for the innate immune system. RNA acts as a potent stimulus for pattern recognition receptors including in particular human Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7). Certain RNA modifications limit potentially harmful self-recognition of endogenous RNA. Previous studies had identified the 2′-O-methylation of guanosine 18 (Gm18) within tRNAs as an antagonist of TLR7 leading to an impaired immune response. However, human tRNALys3 was non-stimulatory despite lacking Gm18. To identify the underlying molecular principle, interferon responses of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells to differentia…
H-ferritin and proinflammatory cytokines are increased in the bone marrow of patients affected by macrophage activation syndrome
2017
Summary Macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) is hyperinflammatory life-threatening syndrome, associated typically with high levels of serum ferritin. This is an iron storage protein including heavy (H) and light (L) subunits, categorized on their molecular weight. The H-/L subunits ratio may be different in tissues, depending on the specific tissue and pathophysiological status. In this study, we analysed the bone marrow (BM) biopsies of adult MAS patients to assess the presence of: (i) H-ferritin and L-ferritin; (ii) CD68+/H-ferritin+ and CD68+/L-ferritin+; and (iii) interleukin (IL)-1β, tumour necrosis factor (TNF) and interferon (IFN)-γ. We also explored possible correlations of these re…
Unsaturated Oral Fat Load Test Improves Glycemia, Insulinemia and Oxidative Stress Status in Nondiabetic Subjects with Abdominal Obesity.
2016
Aims To evaluate the changes in glycemia, insulinemia, and oxidative stress markers during an oral fat load test in nondiabetic subjects with abdominal obesity and to analyze the association between postprandial oxidative stress markers and postprandial glucose and insulin responses. Methods We included 20 subjects with abdominal obesity (waist circumference > 102 cm for men and > 88 cm for women) and 20 healthy lean controls (waist circumference < 102 cm for men and < 88 cm for women). After 12 hours of fasting we performed a standardized fat load test (0–8 hours) with supracal® (50 g/m2). We determined metabolic parameters, oxidized and reduced glutathione, and malondialdehyde. Results In…
Intervention of Inflammatory Monocyte Activity Limits Dermal Fibrosis
2019
Monocytes and monocyte-derived cells are important players in the initiation, progression, and resolution of inflammatory skin reactions. As inflammation is a prerequisite for fibrosis development, we focused on the role of monocytes in cutaneous fibrosis, the clinical hallmark of patients suffering from systemic sclerosis. Investigating the function of monocytes in reactive oxygen species–induced dermal fibrosis, we observed that early monocyte depletion partially reduced disease severity. Low numbers of inflammatory Ly6Chigh monocytes, as well as inhibition of CCR2 and CCL2 in wild type animals by a specific L-RNA aptamer, mitigated disease parameters, indicating a pivotal role for CCR2+ …
Immunological features of coronavirus disease 2019 in patients with cancer.
2020
Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, has caused a major pandemic. Patients with cancer are at higher risk of severe COVID-19. We aimed to describe and compare the immunological features of cancer patients hospitalised for COVID-19 or other concomitant, cancer-related illness. Methods In this prospective study, the clinical and immunological characteristics of 11 cancer patients with COVID-19 and 11 non–COVID-19 cancer patients hospitalised in the same unit at the same period for other medical issues were analysed. We also used 10 healthy volunteers as controls. Peripheral immune parameters were analysed using multiparamet…
Flow cytometric analysis of T cell/monocyte ratio in clinically isolated syndrome identifies patients at risk of rapid disease progression.
2015
Background: Multiple sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory central nervous system disease diagnosed by clinical presentation and characteristic magnetic resonance imaging findings. The role of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis has been emphasized in particular in the context of differential diagnosis in patients with a first episode suggestive of multiple sclerosis. Objective: We investigated here the potential additional value of analysis of CSF cellularity by fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) in the setting of a routine diagnostic work-up in our inpatient clinic. Methods: CSF cells from back-up samples from patients with suspected chronic inflammatory central nervous system disord…