Urine-derived exosomes from individuals with IPF carry pro-fibrotic cargo.

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNA) and other components contained in extracellular vesicles may reflect the presence of a disease. Lung tissue, sputum, and sera of individuals with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) show alterations in miRNA expression. We designed this study to test whether urine and/or tissue derived exosomal miRNAs from individuals with IPF carry cargo that can promote fibrosis. Methods: Exosomes were isolated from urine (U-IPFexo), lung tissue myofibroblasts (MF-IPFexo), serum from individuals with IPF (n=16) and age/sex-matched controls without lung disease (n=10). We analyzed microRNA expression of isolated exosomes and their in vivo bio-distribution. We investigated the effect on ex vivo skin wound healing and in in vivo mouse lung models. Results: U-IPFexo or MF-IPFexo expressed miR-let-7d, miR-29a-5p, miR-181b-3p and miR-199a-3p consistent with previous reports of miRNA expression obtained from lung tissue/sera from patients with IPF. In vivo bio-distribution experiments detected bioluminescent exosomes in the lung of normal C57Bl6 mice within 5 min after intravenous infusion, followed by distribution to other organs irrespective of exosome source. Exosomes labeled with gold nanoparticles and imaged by transmission electron microscopy were visualized in alveolar epithelial type I and type II cells. Treatment of human and mouse lung punches obtained from control, non-fibrotic lungs with either U-IPFexo or MF-IPFexo produced a fibrotic phenotype. A fibrotic phenotype was also induced in a human ex vivo skin model and in in vivo lung models. Conclusions: Our results provide evidence of a systemic feature of IPF whereby exosomes contain pro-fibrotic miRNAs when obtained from a fibrotic source and interfere with response to tissue injury as measured in skin and lung models. Funding: This work was supported in part by Lester and Sue Smith Foundation and The Samrick Family Foundation and NIH grants R21 AG060338 (SE and MKG), U01 DK119085 (IP, RS, MTC).

Entamoeba gingivalis y Trichomonas tenax en cavidad bucal de pacientes de la Clínica Integral del Adulto de la Facultad de Odontología, Maracaibo, Venezuela / Entamoeba gingivalis and tricomonas tenax in the oral cavity of patients from the integral adult clinic of the faculty of odontology, Maracaibo, Venezuela

Para determinar la prevalencia de Entamoeba gingivalis y Trichomonas tenax en cavidad bucal, se analizaron 50 muestras de la cavidad bucal de individuos de ambos géneros que acudieron a la Clínica Integral del Adulto de la Facultad de Odontología de la Universidad del Zulia. Se dividieron en dos grupos, de 25 individuos cada uno. Grupo 1, con manifestaciones clínicas de enfermedad (enfermedad periodontal y/o caries dental) al cual se le tomaron muestras de caries dental, placa y cálculo dental y grupo 2 o control con cavidad bucal sin manifestaciones clínicas de enfermedad, al cual se le tomó muestras de saliva y placa dental. Las muestras fueron analizadas microscópicamente a través del examen directo y con coloración permanente de hematoxilina férrica. Se observó una prevalencia de protozoarios bucales de un 10%; la especie predominante fue Entamoeba gingivalis en 5 casos, seguida de Trichomonas tenax en 1 caso. El estrato de 20 a 39 años fue el más afectado con un 10% de los casos. Al realizar el análisis estadístico resultó significativo (p=0,011) para las variables parasitismo y cavidad bucal enferma. El presente estudio pone de manifiesto una baja prevalencia de los protozoarios bucales en la población estudiada.

Fifty samples from the oral cavity of individuals of both genders who attended the Integral Adult Clinic of the Faculty of Odontology of Universidad del Zulia were analyzed to determine Entamoeba gingivalis and Trichomonas tenax prevalence. The patients were divided into two groups of 25 individuals each: Group 1, with clinical disease manifestations (periodontal disease and/or dental caries) from which we took samples from dental caries, plaque and dental calculus; and Group 2 or control, who had no clinical disease manifestations, from which we took saliva and dental plaque samples. All samples were analyzed microscopically through direct examination and with a ferric hematoxilin stain. There was a 10% prevalence of oral protozoa; the predominant species was Entamoeba gingivalis in 5 cases followed by Trichomonas tenax in 1 case. The 20-39 years age group was the most affected with 10% of cases. The statistical analysis was significant (p=0.011) for the parasitism and diseased oral cavity variables. The present study shows a low prevalence of oral cavity protozoa in the population studied.