Search results for "plate"
showing 10 items of 1689 documents
Imaging Bacterial Colonies and Phage-Bacterium Interaction at Sub-Nanometer Resolution Using Helium-Ion Microscopy
2017
Imaging of microbial interactions has so far been based on well‐established electron microscopy methods. This study presents a new way to study bacterial colonies and interactions between bacteria and their viruses, bacteriophages (phages), in situ on agar plates using helium ion microscopy (HIM). In biological imaging, HIM has advantages over traditional scanning electron microscopy with its sub‐nanometer resolution, increased surface sensitivity, and the possibility to image nonconductive samples. Furthermore, by controlling the He beam dose or by using heavier Ne ions, the HIM instrument provides the possibility to mill out material in the samples, allowing for subsurface imaging and in …
Feedback Regulation of Syk by Protein Kinase C in Human Platelets
2019
The spleen tyrosine kinase (Syk) is essential for immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM)-dependent platelet activation, and it is stimulated by Src-family kinase (SFK)-/Syk-mediated phosphorylation of Y352 (interdomain-B) and Y525/526 (kinase domain). Additional sites for Syk phosphorylation and protein interactions are known but remain elusive. Since Syk S297 phosphorylation (interdomain-B) was detected in platelets, we hypothesized that this phosphorylation site regulates Syk activity via protein kinase C (PKC)-and cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-dependent pathways. ADP, the GPVI-agonist convulxin, and the GPIb&alpha
Early inflammatory players in cutanous fibrosis.
2017
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is one of the most complex systemic autoimmune diseases with multi-organ involvement and heterogeneous clinical manifestations. The exact etiology of SSc is still unknown. However, identified target structures are components of endothelial cells, the innate/adaptive immune systems and fibroblasts, resulting in the hallmarks of the disease in form of inflammation/autoimmunity, vasculopathy and fibrosis of the skin and internal organs. There has been a large body of evidence that the adaptive immune system with autoreactive T and B cells producing autoantibodies plays a central role in the pathogenesis of SSc but the role of earlier pathogenic processes involving the …
The Role of JAK/STAT Molecular Pathway in Vascular Remodeling Associated with Pulmonary Hypertension
2021
Pulmonary hypertension is defined as a group of diseases characterized by a progressive increase in pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR), which leads to right ventricular failure and premature death. There are multiple clinical manifestations that can be grouped into five different types. Pulmonary artery remodeling is a common feature in pulmonary hypertension (PH) characterized by endothelial dysfunction and smooth muscle pulmonary artery cell proliferation. The current treatments for PH are limited to vasodilatory agents that do not stop the progression of the disease. Therefore, there is a need for new agents that inhibit pulmonary artery remodeling targeting the main genetic, molecular,…
Pharmacokinetics of a sustained release formulation of PDGFβ-receptor directed carrier proteins to target the fibrotic liver
2018
Liver fibrogenesis is associated with excessive production of extracellular matrix by myofibroblasts that often leads to cirrhosis and consequently liver dysfunction and death. Novel protein-based antifibrotic drugs show high specificity and efficacy, but their use in the treatment of fibrosis causes a high burden for patients, since repetitive and long-term parenteral administration is required as most proteins and peptides are rapidly cleared from the circulation. Therefore, we developed biodegradable polymeric microspheres for the sustained release of proteinaceous drugs. We encapsulated the drug carrier pPB-HSA, which specifically binds to the PDGF beta R that is highly upregulated on a…
Imatinib spares cKit-expressing prostate neuroendocrine tumors, whereas kills seminal vesicle epithelial-stromal tumors by targeting PDGFR-β
2017
Abstract Prostate cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related death in males worldwide. Indeed, advanced and metastatic disease characterized by androgen resistance and often associated with neuroendocrine (NE) differentiation remains incurable. Using the spontaneous prostate cancer TRAMP model, we have shown that mast cells (MCs) support in vivo the growth of prostate adenocarcinoma, whereas their genetic or pharmacologic targeting favors prostate NE cancer arousal. Aiming at simultaneously targeting prostate NE tumor cells and MCs, both expressing the cKit tyrosine kinase receptor, we have tested the therapeutic effect of imatinib in TRAMP mice. Imatinib-treated TRAMP mice experience a pa…
Providing choice and/or variety during a meal: Impact on vegetable liking and intake
2016
Food choice is defined as providing the opportunity for an individual to select the food he or she wants to consume while food variety is defined as providing an individual with foods that differ on at least one sensory characteristic. Literature shows that providing food choice or providing food variety may increase meal enjoyment and food intake. However, these two factors have been mainly investigated separately, while they may actually co-occur in real-life settings. In fact, in many out-of-home catering situations, individuals have the possibility to choose as many dishes as they desire from among different proposals for their meal. The aim of the present study was to assess the impact…
The Commensal Microbiota Enhances ADP-Triggered Integrin αIIbβ3 Activation and von Willebrand Factor-Mediated Platelet Deposition to Type I Collagen
2020
The commensal microbiota is a recognized enhancer of arterial thrombus growth. While several studies have demonstrated the prothrombotic role of the gut microbiota, the molecular mechanisms promoting arterial thrombus growth are still under debate. Here, we demonstrate that germ-free (GF) mice, which from birth lack colonization with a gut microbiota, show diminished static deposition of washed platelets to type I collagen compared with their conventionally raised (CONV-R) counterparts. Flow cytometry experiments revealed that platelets from GF mice show diminished activation of the integrin αIIbβ3 (glycoprotein IIbIIIa) when activated by the platelet agonist adenosine diphosphate (ADP). Fu…
Plasmacytoid dendritic cells promote systemic sclerosis with a key role for TLR8
2018
Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a multisystem life-threatening fibrosing disorder that lacks effective treatment. The link between the inflammation observed in organs such as the skin and profibrotic mechanisms is not well understood. The plasmacytoid dendritic cell (pDC) is a key cell type mediating Toll-like receptor (TLR)-induced inflammation in autoimmune disease patients, including lupus and skin diseases with interface dermatitis. However, the role of pDCs in fibrosis is less clear. We show that pDCs infiltrate the skin of SSc patients and are chronically activated, leading to secretion of interferon-α (IFN-α) and CXCL4, which are both hallmarks of the disease. We demonstrate that the s…
Physical activity and environmental enrichment: Behavioural effects of exposure to different housing conditions in mice.
2020
Enriched environments and exercise provide complex environmental stimulation that can induce emotional and cognitive changes; however, few studies have evaluated the effects of these two components on other behaviours, such as novelty seeking or pain sensitivity. The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of voluntary physical activity provided through different housing conditions on anxiety, locomotor activity, pain sensitivity, and exploration. Male mice at postnatal day (PND) 21 and were randomly assigned to one of four different conditions on PND 28: Marlau cages (MC), a standardized cage designed to provide a complex environment; physical exercise in large groups (PE…