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BACKGROUND: Teplizumab, a FcR non-binding anti-CD3 mAb, is approved to delay progression of type 1 diabetes (T1D) at-risk patients. Previous investigations described the immediate effects of the 14-day treatment, but longer-term effects of the drug remain unknown. METHODS: With an extended analysis of study participants, we found that 36% were undiagnosed or remained clinical diabetes free after 5 years suggesting operational tolerance. Using single cell RNA-seq, we compared the phenotypes, transcriptome, and repertoire of peripheral blood CD8+ T cells including autoreactive T cells from study participants before and after teplizumab and features of responders and non-responders. RESULTS: At 3 months, there were transcriptional signatures of cell activation in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells including signaling that was reversed at 18 months. At that time, there was reduced expression of genes in T cell receptor and activation pathways in clinical responders. In CD8+ T cells, we found increased expression of genes associated with exhaustion and immune regulation with teplizumab treatment. These transcriptional features were further confirmed in an independent cohort. Pseudotime analysis showed differentiation of CD8+ exhausted and memory cells with teplizumab treatment. IL7R expression was reduced and patients with lower expression of CD127 had longer diabetes free intervals. In addition, the frequency of autoantigen reactive CD8+ T cells, that expanded in the placebo group over 18 months, did not increase in the teplizumab group. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate that teplizumab promotes operational tolerance in T1D, involving activation followed by exhaustion and regulation and prevents expansion of autoreactive T cells. CLINICALTRIALS: gov: NCT01030861. FUNDING: NIDDK/NIH, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.
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Background/Objectives: Develop a clinical and genetic characterization, in a group of small-for-gestational-age (SGA) patients who did not experience catch-up growth Methods: In an ambispective cohort study with (SGA) patients. These patients received one treatment with growth hormone (GH) over 14 years. This study analyzes their response to treatment and conducts a genetic analysis in order to identify cases with specific phenotypic and auxological characteristics, defined as presenting two or more dysmorphic traits and/or a stature below -3 SDS (standard deviation score). Whole-exome sequencing (WES) was performed on selected patients. Results: Forty-four SGA patients were examined, with an average age of 6.4 (2.49) years and an initial size of -3.3 SDS. The pubertal growth was 24.1 (5.2) cm in boys and 14.7 (4.3) cm in girls. WES in 11 SGA patients revealed conclusive genetic variants in eight, including two pathogenic ACAN variants, one 15q26.2-q26.3 deletion, and four variants of uncertain significance in other genes. Conclusions: Treatment with GH in SGA patients was shown to be effective, with a similar response in the group with positive genetic results and in the group who did not undergo a genetic study. Genetic testing based on auxological and clinical criteria proved highly cost-effective.
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Lipid droplets (LDs) are dynamic lipid storage organelles. They are tightly linked to metabolism and can exert protective functions, making them important players in health and disease. Most LD studies in vivo rely on staining methods, providing only a snapshot. We therefore developed a LD-reporter mouse by labelling the endogenous LD coat protein perilipin 2 (PLIN2) with tdTomato, enabling staining-free fluorescent LD visualisation in living and fixed tissues and cells. Here we validate this model under standard and high-fat diet conditions and demonstrate that LDs are highly abundant in various cell types in the healthy brain, including neurons, astrocytes, ependymal cells, neural stem/progenitor cells and microglia. Furthermore, we also show that LDs are abundant during brain development and can be visualized using live imaging of embryonic slices. Taken together, our tdTom-Plin2 mouse serves as a novel tool to study LDs and their dynamics under both physiological and diseased conditions in all tissues expressing Plin2.
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Encéfalo , Gotas Lipídicas , Perilipina-2 , Animales , Perilipina-2/metabolismo , Perilipina-2/genética , Gotas Lipídicas/metabolismo , Encéfalo/metabolismo , Ratones , Neuronas/metabolismo , Técnicas de Sustitución del Gen , Ratones Transgénicos , Femenino , Proteínas Luminiscentes/metabolismo , Proteínas Luminiscentes/genética , Masculino , Astrocitos/metabolismo , Dieta Alta en Grasa , Ratones Endogámicos C57BL , Células-Madre Neurales/metabolismo , Células-Madre Neurales/citología , Microglía/metabolismoRESUMEN
INTRODUCTION: In patients with atrial fibrillation (AF), up to one third have recurrence after a first catheter ablation (CA). Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) has been considered to be closely related to AF, with a potential role in its recurrence. We aimed to evaluate the association between the volume of EAT measured by cardiac computed tomography (CT) and AF recurrence after CA. METHODS: Consecutive AF patients underwent a standardized cardiac CT protocol for quantification of EAT, thoracic adipose volume (TAV) and left atrium (LA) volume before CA. An appropriate cut-off of EAT was determined and risk recurrence was estimated. RESULTS: 305 patients (63.6 % male, mean age 57.5 years, 28.2 % persistent AF) were followed for 24 months; 23 % had AF recurrence at 2-year mark, which was associated with higher EAT (p = 0.037) and LAV (p < 0.001). Persistent AF was associated with higher EAT volumes (p = 0.010), TAV (p = 0.003) and LA volumes (p < 0.001). EAT was predictive of AF recurrence (p = 0.044). After determining a cut-off of 92 cm3, survival analysis revealed that EAT volumes > 92 cm3 showed higher recurrence rates at earlier time points after the index ablation procedure (p = 0.006), with a HR of 1.95 (p = 0.008) of AF recurrence at 2-year. After multivariate adjustment, EAT > 92 cm3 remained predictive of AF recurrence (p = 0.028). CONCLUSION: The volume of EAT measured by cardiac CT can predict recurrence of AF after ablation, with a volume above 92 cm3 yielding almost twice the risk of arrhythmia recurrence in the first two years following CA. Higher EAT and TAV are also associated with persistent AF.
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Tejido Adiposo , Fibrilación Atrial , Ablación por Catéter , Pericardio , Recurrencia , Tomografía Computarizada por Rayos X , Humanos , Fibrilación Atrial/cirugía , Fibrilación Atrial/diagnóstico por imagen , Masculino , Femenino , Tejido Adiposo/diagnóstico por imagen , Persona de Mediana Edad , Ablación por Catéter/métodos , Pericardio/diagnóstico por imagen , Pericardio/patología , Tomografía Computarizada por Rayos X/métodos , Valor Predictivo de las Pruebas , Anciano , Resultado del Tratamiento , Tejido Adiposo EpicárdicoRESUMEN
The tumor microenvironment (TME) profoundly influences tumorigenesis, with gene expression in the breast TME capable of predicting clinical outcomes. The TME is complex and includes distinct cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF) subtypes whose contribution to tumorigenesis remains unclear. Here, we identify a subset of myofibroblast CAFs (myCAF) that are senescent (senCAF) in mouse and human breast tumors. Utilizing the MMTV-PyMT;INK-ATTAC (INK) mouse model, we found that senCAF-secreted extracellular matrix specifically limits natural killer (NK) cell cytotoxicity to promote tumor growth. Genetic or pharmacologic senCAF elimination unleashes NK cell killing, restricting tumor growth. Finally, we show that senCAFs are present in HER2+, ER+, and triple-negative breast cancer and in ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) where they predict tumor recurrence. Together, these findings demonstrate that senCAFs are potently tumor promoting and raise the possibility that targeting them by senolytic therapy could restrain breast cancer development. Significance: senCAFs limit NK cell-mediated killing, thereby contributing to breast cancer progression. Thus, targeting senCAFs could be a clinically viable approach to limit tumor progression. See related article by Belle et al., p. 1324.
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Neoplasias de la Mama , Fibroblastos Asociados al Cáncer , Progresión de la Enfermedad , Microambiente Tumoral , Animales , Femenino , Ratones , Humanos , Neoplasias de la Mama/inmunología , Neoplasias de la Mama/patología , Neoplasias de la Mama/genética , Fibroblastos Asociados al Cáncer/metabolismo , Fibroblastos Asociados al Cáncer/inmunología , Microambiente Tumoral/inmunología , Células Asesinas Naturales/inmunología , Senescencia Celular/inmunologíaRESUMEN
Transfection agents play a crucial role in facilitating the uptake of nucleic acids into eukaryotic cells offering potential therapeutic solutions for genetic disorders. However, progress in this field needs the development of improved systems that guarantee efficient transfection. Here, we describe the synthesis of a set of chemical delivery agents (TRIFAPYs) containing alkyl chains of different lengths based on the 1,3,5-tris[(4-alkyloxy-1pyridinio)methyl]benzene tribromide structure. Their delivery properties for therapeutic oligonucleotides were evaluated using PolyPurine Reverse Hoogsteen hairpins (PPRHs) as a silencing tool. The binding of liposomes to PPRHs was evaluated by retardation assays in agarose gels. The complexes had a size of 125 nm as determined by DLS, forming well-defined concentrical vesicles as visualized by Cryo-TEM. The prostate cancer cell line PC-3 was used to study the internalization of the nanoparticles by fluorescence microscopy and flow cytometry. The mechanism of entrance involved in the cellular uptake was mainly by clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Cytotoxicity analyses determined the intrinsic toxicity caused by each TRIFAPY and the effect on cell viability upon transfection of a specific PPRH (HpsPr-C) directed against the antiapoptotic target survivin. TRIFAPYs C12-C18 were selected to expand these studies in the breast cancer cell line SKBR-3 opening the usage of TRIFAPYs for both sexes and, in the hCMEC/D3 cell line, as a model for the blood-brain barrier. The mRNA levels of survivin decreased, while apoptosis levels increased upon the transfection of HpsPr-C with these TRIFAPYs in PC-3 cells. Therefore, TRIFAPYs can be considered novel lipid-based vehicles for the delivery of therapeutic oligonucleotides.
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Oligonucleótidos , Transfección , Humanos , Transfección/métodos , Oligonucleótidos/química , Oligonucleótidos/farmacología , Línea Celular Tumoral , Liposomas/química , Supervivencia Celular/efectos de los fármacos , Nanopartículas/química , Células PC-3 , MasculinoRESUMEN
Introduction: Atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation represents a safe and effective procedure to restore sinus rhythm. The idea that post-procedural AF episodes - during the blanking period - are not considered treatment failure has been increasingly challenged. The E-Patch, a single-use adhesive electrode, facilitates extended continuous ECG monitoring for 120 h. This pilot study aims to assess the effectiveness of this ambulatory monitoring device and investigate whether very-early AF recurrence correlates with delayed blanking period ablation outcomes. Methods: We conducted a single-center, prospective, longitudinal study, including consecutive post-ablation patients monitored with the E-patch. The ability of the device to continuously record was analyzed, as well as the occurrence of AF episodes during external 7-day loop-recorder in the 2nd-month post-ablation. Results: We included 40 patients, median age 62 years (IQR 56-70). E-Patch monitoring was obtained for a median of 118 h (IQR 112-120), with no discomfort nor interpretation artefacts. Very-early AF recurrence was detected in 11 (27.5 %) patients, with a median AF burden of 7 % (IQR 6 %-33 %). Late-blanking period AF was detected in 13 (33 %) of the external 7-day loop recordings. Of the 11 patients that had very-early AF recurrence, 10 (91 %) had late-blanking AF. Very-early AF detection showed 77 % (95 % CI 64 %-90 %) sensitivity and 96 % (95 % CI 90-100 %) specificity in predicting late-blanking AF, with a non-parametric ROC curve AUC of 0.903 (95 % 0.797--1.0). Conclusion: The E-Patch was able to detect very-early AF during an extended period. Very-early AF detection emerges as a predictor of AF recurrence during the late blanking period post-ablation.
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BACKGROUND: COVID-19 can have a particularly detrimental effect on patients with cancer, but no studies to date have examined if the presence, or site, of metastatic cancer is related to COVID-19 outcomes. METHODS: Using the COVID-19 and Cancer Consortium (CCC19) registry, the authors identified 10,065 patients with COVID-19 and cancer (2325 with and 7740 without metastasis at the time of COVID-19 diagnosis). The primary ordinal outcome was COVID-19 severity: not hospitalized, hospitalized but did not receive supplemental O2, hospitalized and received supplemental O2, admitted to an intensive care unit, received mechanical ventilation, or died from any cause. The authors used ordinal logistic regression models to compare COVID-19 severity by presence and specific site of metastatic cancer. They used logistic regression models to assess 30-day all-cause mortality. RESULTS: Compared to patients without metastasis, patients with metastases have increased hospitalization rates (59% vs. 49%) and higher 30 day mortality (18% vs. 9%). Patients with metastasis to bone, lung, liver, lymph nodes, and brain have significantly higher COVID-19 severity (adjusted odds ratios [ORs], 1.38, 1.59, 1.38, 1.00, and 2.21) compared to patients without metastases at those sites. Patients with metastasis to the lung have significantly higher odds of 30-day mortality (adjusted OR, 1.53; 95% confidence interval, 1.17-2.00) when adjusting for COVID-19 severity. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with metastatic cancer, especially with metastasis to the brain, are more likely to have severe outcomes after COVID-19 whereas patients with metastasis to the lung, compared to patients with cancer metastasis to other sites, have the highest 30-day mortality after COVID-19.
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COVID-19 , Hospitalización , Metástasis de la Neoplasia , Neoplasias , Sistema de Registros , SARS-CoV-2 , Humanos , COVID-19/mortalidad , COVID-19/complicaciones , COVID-19/epidemiología , COVID-19/patología , Masculino , Femenino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Estudios Retrospectivos , Anciano , Hospitalización/estadística & datos numéricos , Neoplasias/patología , Neoplasias/mortalidad , SARS-CoV-2/aislamiento & purificación , Índice de Severidad de la Enfermedad , Respiración Artificial/estadística & datos numéricosRESUMEN
The aim of this study is to assess how vertical skeletal malocclusion affects oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among a sample of individuals comprising adolescents, young adults, and adults seeking orthodontic treatment. From January 2019 to March 2020, participants were consecutively enrolled. The assessment of OHRQoL involved measurement using the oral health impact profile (OHIP-14). Lateral cephalograms were performed to measure the vertical skeletal divergency with four cephalometric measurements. Descriptive and inferential statistical analyses were performed. The Mann-Whitney test was applied to compare OHRQoL scores according to the vertical dimension category. The mean age of the participants ranged between 30.3 ± 14.9 and 29.9 ± 14.4 and there was a majority of female participants, between 64.1% and 65.9%. There were no statistically significant differences observed between hyperdivergent and normodivergent groups in either the total score or any domain of the OHIP-14 questionnaire. Individuals with hyperdivergent facial morphology did not show a reduced OHRQoL compared with a normodivergent facial type.
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INTRODUCTION: Black birthing people in the United States disproportionately endure inequitable experiences and outcomes during pregnancy and childbirth via structural, interpersonal, and obstetric racism. In this study, the researchers explore provider perspectives of how racism is perpetuated in institutional perinatal and reproductive health care. METHODS: Critical Race Theory, Reproductive Justice, and midwifery theory were operationalized through secondary thematic analysis of existing qualitative data from the Community Racial Equity and Training Interventions and Evaluation of Current and Future Healthcare Clinicians Study. Twenty-four perinatal providers (certified nurse-midwives [n = 7] and physicians [n = 17]) voluntarily participated in interviews. A comparative approach was used to determine how professional identity and model of care influence physicians' and certified nurse-midwives' perceptions of equity. RESULTS: Thematic analysis produced 5 themes: racism as a comorbidity, health care systems' inability to address the needs of Black birthing people, health care systems prioritizing providers over patients are failed systems, patients are the experts in the optimal health care model, and benefits of interprofessional teams grounded in Reproductive Justice. Additionally, both physicians and midwives expressed a need for a new care model. DISCUSSION: With these findings, our team proposes a modification of the midwifery model for application by all provider types that could radically shift the experience and outcomes of perinatal and reproductive health care and reduce mortality. Using a human rights approach to care, a Reproductive Justice-Public Health Critical Race praxis-informed midwifery model may be operationalized by all perinatal and reproductive health care providers. This novel model reflects an iterative process that may offer institutions and providers methods to build on past research supporting midwifery-centered care for improving outcomes for all patients by specifically focusing on improving care of Black birthing people. The implications of this work offer broad application in current clinical practice, quality improvement, research, technology, and patient resources.
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BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic prompted changes in medical practice, with a reduction in cytopathology volumes and a relative increase in the malignancy rate during lockdown and the initial postlockdown period. To date, no study has evaluated the impact of these changes on the volume of rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE) or on the frequency of cases according to The Bethesda System for Reporting Thyroid Cytopathology (TBSRTC) categories after vaccination. METHODS: Ultrasound-guided thyroid fine-needle aspiration (FNA) and ROSE assessments performed from January 2019 to May 2022 were evaluated retrospectively according to TBSRTC categories for three periods: prepandemic (period 1), from transmission to expansion (period 2), and after vaccination (period 3). RESULTS: There were 7531 nodules from 5815 patients. FNA cases increased throughout the pandemic despite a drop during lockdown. The frequency of TBSRTC categories changed. Nondiagnostic cases had an increase of 18.1% in period 2 and 76.2% after vaccination compared with prepandemic levels. Malignant cases increased from 2.3% to 4.2% in period 2 and to 5.1% in period 3, representing increases of 83.1% and 121.2%, respectively, compared with period 1. Data corrected by time showed increases in categories IV, V, and VI and a decrease in benign nodules during the two pandemic periods. ROSE was performed in 787 cases during the prepandemic period, and there were decreases of 29.4% and 22.8% in periods 2 and 3, respectively. The ROSE-to-category I ratio was reduced significantly after vaccination. CONCLUSIONS: Increased volume with sustained lower benign rates and higher malignant rates before and after vaccination indicate better selection of patients for FNA. A worse adequacy rate was correlated with a decrease in the number of ROSE assessments.
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COVID-19 , Neoplasias de la Tiroides , Nódulo Tiroideo , Humanos , Neoplasias de la Tiroides/patología , Biopsia con Aguja Fina , Pandemias , Estudios Retrospectivos , Brasil/epidemiología , COVID-19/epidemiología , COVID-19/prevención & control , Control de Enfermedades Transmisibles , Nódulo Tiroideo/diagnóstico por imagen , Nódulo Tiroideo/epidemiología , VacunaciónRESUMEN
BACKGROUND: Impaired left atrial (LA) strain predicts atrial fibrillation (AF) recurrence after catheter ablation (CA), but currently there is no cut-off to guide patient selection for CA. Integrated backscatter (IBS) is a promising tool for noninvasive quantification of myocardial fibrosis. The aim of this study was to compare LA strain and IBS between paroxysmal, persistent, and long-standing persistent AF and evaluate their association with AF recurrence after CA. METHODS: Analysis of consecutive patients with symptomatic paroxysmal and persistent AF who underwent CA. LA phasic strain, strain rate and IBS were assessed by two-dimensional speckle-tracking at baseline. RESULTS: We analyzed 78 patients, 31% with persistent AF (46% long-standing AF), 65% male, mean age 59 ± 14 years, who underwent CA and were followed-up for 12 months. AF recurrence occurred in 22 (28%) patients. LA phasic strain parameters were significantly impaired in patients with AF recurrence and were independent predictors of AF recurrence in a multivariable analysis. LA reservoir strain (LASr) < 18% predicted AF recurrence with 86% sensitivity and 71% specificity, with a higher predictive power compared to LA volume index (LAVI). LASr < 22% in paroxysmal AF and LASr < 12% in persistent AF correlated with AF recurrence. Increased IBS was a predictor of AF recurrence in patients with paroxysmal AF. CONCLUSION: LA phasic strain parameters were predictors of AF recurrence after CA, independently of LAVI and AF subtype. LASr < 18% showed a higher predictive power compared to LAVI. Further studies are needed to investigate the role of IBS as a predictor of AF recurrence.
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Fibrilación Atrial , Ablación por Catéter , Humanos , Masculino , Persona de Mediana Edad , Anciano , Femenino , Fibrilación Atrial/diagnóstico por imagen , Fibrilación Atrial/cirugía , Ecocardiografía/métodos , Resultado del Tratamiento , Valor Predictivo de las Pruebas , Atrios Cardíacos/cirugía , Ablación por Catéter/métodos , RecurrenciaRESUMEN
Background: An ablation catheter and a circular mapping catheter requiring a double transeptal puncture (TSP) for left atrial access have been conventionally used for atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation. Recently, different operators have combined a single transseptal puncture technique with 3D high-density mapping catheters for pulmonary vein isolation (PVI). Objective: This study aims to compare two strategies, single vs. double TSP, regarding the duration of the procedure, radiation time, complication rates, and outcomes. Methods: Retrospective analysis of a large cohort of consecutive patients that underwent first PVI with radiofrequency energy (RF), using a point-by-point strategy, with a 3D mapping system, either with single or double TSP, according to the operator's choice. Results: 285 patients with a mean age of 59.5 ± 11.6 years (36.5% female, 67.7% paroxysmal AF) underwent a point-by-point catheter ablation with RF between July 2015 and March 2020. The mean CHA2DS2-VASc score was 1.7 ± 1.3. Single TSP was performed in 115 (40.3%) patients and double TSP in 170 (59.6%). The operator's experience (≥5 years of AF ablation procedures) was equally distributed among the two groups. The average procedure time (133 ± 31.7â min vs. 123 ± 35.5â min, for single and double TSP, respectively) did reach a statistical difference between both groups (p = 0.008), but there was a substantial advantage regarding fluoroscopy time (13 ± 6.3â min vs. 19 ± 9.1â min, for single and double TSP, respectively; p < 0.001). Acute major complications present similar rates in both groups (2.6% vs. 2.3%, p = 0.799). At the 2-year follow-up, both groups had a similar sinus rhythm maintenance rate (76.5% vs. 78.8%, p = 0.646). Conclusion: A simplified single-TSP technique using high-density multi-electrode 3D mapping is a safe and highly successful option for AF ablation. This approach yields a substantial reduction in fluoroscopy time, with the potential to avoid acute complications, compared to a conventional double-TSP strategy.
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Adult neural stem cells (NSCs) contribute to lifelong brain plasticity. In the adult mouse ventricular-subventricular zone, NSCs are heterogeneous and, depending on their location in the niche, give rise to different subtypes of olfactory bulb (OB) interneurons. Here, we show that multiple regionally distinct NSCs, including domains that are usually quiescent, are recruited on different gestation days during pregnancy. Synchronized activation of these adult NSC pools generates transient waves of short-lived OB interneurons, especially in layers with less neurogenesis under homeostasis. Using spatial transcriptomics, we identified molecular markers of pregnancy-associated interneurons and showed that some subsets are temporarily needed for own pup recognition. Thus, pregnancy triggers transient yet behaviorally relevant neurogenesis, highlighting the physiological relevance of adult stem cell heterogeneity.
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Interneuronas , Ventrículos Laterales , Conducta Materna , Neurogénesis , Plasticidad Neuronal , Bulbo Olfatorio , Embarazo , Olfato , Animales , Femenino , Ratones , Embarazo/fisiología , Células Madre Adultas/fisiología , Interneuronas/citología , Interneuronas/fisiología , Ventrículos Laterales/citología , Ventrículos Laterales/crecimiento & desarrollo , Células-Madre Neurales/fisiología , Neurogénesis/fisiología , Bulbo Olfatorio/citología , Bulbo Olfatorio/crecimiento & desarrollo , Bulbo Olfatorio/metabolismo , Transcriptoma , Conducta Materna/fisiologíaRESUMEN
Sleep and circadian rhythm disruption (SCRD) is commonly observed in aging, especially in individuals who experience progressive cognitive decline to mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, precise molecular mechanisms underlying the association between SCRD and aging are not fully understood. Orexin A is a well-characterized "sleep neuropeptide" that is expressed in hypothalamic neurons and evokes wake behavior. The importance of Orexin is exemplified in narcolepsy where it is profoundly down-regulated. Interestingly, the synaptic immediate early gene NPTX2 is co-expressed in Orexin neurons and is similarly reduced in narcolepsy. NPTX2 is also down-regulated in CSF of some cognitively normal older individuals and predicts the time of transition from normal cognition to MCI. The association between Orexin and NPTX2 is further evinced here where we observe that Orexin A and NPTX2 are highly correlated in CSF of cognitively normal aged individuals and raises the question of whether SCRD that are typically attributed to Orexin A loss of function may be modified by concomitant NPTX2 down-regulation. Is NPTX2 an effector of sleep or simply a reporter of orexin-dependent SCRD? To address this question, we examined NPTX2 KO mice and found they retain Orexin expression in the brain and so provide an opportunity to examine the specific contribution of NPTX2 to SCRD. Our results reveal that NPTX2 KO mice exhibit a disrupted circadian onset time, coupled with increased activity during the sleep phase, suggesting difficulties in maintaining states. Sleep EEG indicates distinct temporal allocation shifts across vigilance states, characterized by reduced wake and increased NREM time. Evident sleep fragmentation manifests through alterations of event occurrences during Wake and NREM, notably during light transition periods, in conjunction with an increased frequency of sleep transitions in NPTX2 KO mice, particularly between Wake and NREM. EEG spectral analysis indicated significant shifts in power across various frequency bands in the wake, NREM, and REM states, suggestive of disrupted neuronal synchronicity. An intriguing observation is the diminished occurrence of sleep spindles, one of the earliest measures of human sleep disruption, in NPTX2 KO mice. These findings highlight the effector role of NPTX2 loss of function as an instigator of SCRD and a potential mediator of sleep disruption in aging.
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Background and aims: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection affects 300 million individuals worldwide, representing a major factor for the development of hepatic complications. Although existing antivirals are effective in suppressing replication, eradication of HBV is not achieved. Therefore, a multi-faceted approach involving antivirals and immunomodulatory agents is required. Non-human primates are widely used in pre-clinical studies due to their close evolutionary relationship to humans. Nonetheless, it is fundamental to identify the differences in immune response between humans and these models. Thus, we performed a transcriptomic characterization and interspecies comparison of the early immune responses to HBV in human and cynomolgus macaques. Methods: We characterized early transcriptomic changes in human and cynomolgus B cells, T cells, myeloid and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDC) exposed to HBV ex vivo for 2 hours. Differentially-expressed genes were further compared to the profiles of HBV-infected patients using publicly-available single-cell data. Results: HBV induced a wide variety of transcriptional changes in all cell types, with common genes between species representing only a small proportion. In particular, interferon gamma signaling was repressed in human pDCs. At the gene level, interferon gamma inducible protein 16 (IFI16) was upregulated in macaque pDCs, while downregulated in humans. Moreover, IFI16 expression in pDCs from chronic HBV-infected patients anti-paralleled serum HBsAg levels. Conclusion: Our characterization of early transcriptomic changes induced by HBV in humans and cynomolgus macaques represents a useful resource for the identification of shared and divergent host responses, as well as potential immune targets against HBV.
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Hepatitis B , Transcriptoma , Animales , Humanos , Virus de la Hepatitis B/genética , Interferón gamma , Antivirales , Macaca fascicularis , Hepatitis B/genéticaRESUMEN
Teplizumab has been approved for the delay of the onset of type 1 diabetes and may modulate new onset disease. We found that patients who were EBV positive at baseline had a more robust response to drug in two clinical trials and therefore postulated that latent virus has general effects in modifying immune responses. We compared the phenotypes, transcriptomes, and development of peripheral blood cells before and after teplizumab treatment. Higher number of Tregs and partially exhausted CD8 + T cells were found in EBV seropositive individuals at the baseline in the TN10 trial and AbATE trial. Single cell transcriptomics and functional assays identified downregulation of the T cell receptor and other signaling pathways before treatment. Impairments in function of adaptive immune cells were enhanced by teplizumab treatment in EBV seropositive individuals. Our data indicate that EBV can impair signaling pathways generally in immune cells, that broadly redirect cell differentiation.
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Microalgae and blue mussels are known to accumulate undesirable substances from the environment, including arsenic (As). Microalgae can biotransform inorganic As (iAs) to organoarsenic species, which can be transferred to blue mussels. Knowledge on As uptake, biotransformation, and trophic transfer is important with regards to feed and food safety since As species have varying toxicities. In the current work, experiments were conducted in two parts: (1) exposure of the microalgae Diacronema lutheri to 5 and 10 µg/L As(V) in seawater for 4 days, and (2) dietary As exposure where blue mussels (Mytilus edulis L.) were fed with D. lutheri exposed to 5 and 10 µg/L As(V), or by aquatic exposure to 5 µg/L As(V) in seawater, for a total of 25 days. The results showed that D. lutheri can take up As from seawater and transform it to methylated As species and arsenosugars (AsSug). However, exposure to 10 µg/L As(V) resulted in accumulation of iAs in D. lutheri and lower production of methylated As species, which may suggest that detoxification mechanisms were overwhelmed. Blue mussels exposed to As via the diet and seawater showed no accumulation of As. Use of linear mixed models revealed that the blue mussels were gradually losing As instead, which may be due to As concentration differences in the mussels' natural environment and the experimental setup. Both D. lutheri and blue mussels contained notable proportions of simple methylated As species and AsSug. Arsenobetaine (AB) was not detected in D. lutheri but present in minor fraction in mussels. The findings suggest that low-trophic marine organisms mainly contain methylated As species and AsSug. The use of low-trophic marine organisms as feed ingredients requires further studies since AsSug are regarded as potentially toxic, which may introduce new risks to feed and food safety.
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Arsénico , Microalgas , Mytilus edulis , Mytilus , Contaminantes Químicos del Agua , Animales , Arsénico/toxicidad , Arsénico/análisis , Mytilus edulis/metabolismo , Microalgas/metabolismo , Cadena Alimentaria , Organismos Acuáticos/metabolismo , Contaminantes Químicos del Agua/análisis , Mytilus/metabolismoRESUMEN
Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) is an emerging cereal crop in temperate climates due to its high drought tolerance and other valuable traits. Genetic transformation is an important tool for the improvement of cereals. However, sorghum is recalcitrant to genetic transformation which is almost only successful in warmer climates. Here, we test the application of two new techniques for sorghum transformation in temperate climates, namely transient transformation by Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated agroinfiltration and stable transformation using gold particle bombardment and leaf whorls as explants. We optimized the transient transformation method, including post-infiltration incubation of plants in the dark and using Agrobacterium grown on plates with a high cell density (OD600 = 2.0). Expression of the green fluorescence protein (GFP)-tagged endogenous sorghum gene SbDHR2 was achieved with low transformation efficiency, and our results point out a potential weakness in using this approach for localization studies. Furthermore, we succeeded in the production of callus and somatic embryos from leaf whorls, although no genetic transformation was accomplished with this method. Both methods show potential, even if they seem to be influenced by climatic conditions and therefore need further optimization to be applied routinely in temperate climates.