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Seasonal daylength, or circadian photoperiod, is a pervasive environmental signal that profoundly influences physiology and behavior. In mammals, the central circadian clock resides in the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) of the hypothalamus where it receives retinal input and synchronizes, or entrains, organismal physiology and behavior to the prevailing light cycle. The process of entrainment induces sustained plasticity in the SCN, but the molecular mechanisms underlying SCN plasticity are incompletely understood. Entrainment to different photoperiods persistently alters the timing, waveform, period, and light resetting properties of the SCN clock and its driven rhythms. To elucidate novel candidate genes for molecular mechanisms of photoperiod plasticity, we performed RNA sequencing on whole SCN dissected from mice raised in long (light:dark [LD] 16:8) and short (LD 8:16) photoperiods. Fewer rhythmic genes were detected in mice subjected to long photoperiod, and in general, the timing of gene expression rhythms was advanced 4-6 h. However, a few genes showed significant delays, including Gem. There were significant changes in the expression of the clock-associated gene Timeless and in SCN genes related to light responses, neuropeptides, gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA), ion channels, and serotonin. Particularly striking were differences in the expression of the neuropeptide signaling genes Prokr2 and Cck, as well as convergent regulation of the expression of 3 SCN light response genes, Dusp4, Rasd1, and Gem. Transcriptional modulation of Dusp4 and Rasd1 and phase regulation of Gem are compelling candidate molecular mechanisms for plasticity in the SCN light response through their modulation of the critical NMDAR-MAPK/ERK-CREB/CRE light signaling pathway in SCN neurons. Modulation of Prokr2 and Cck may critically support SCN neural network reconfiguration during photoperiodic entrainment. Our findings identify the SCN light response and neuropeptide signaling gene sets as rich substrates for elucidating novel mechanisms of photoperiod plasticity. Data are also available at http://circadianphotoperiodseq.com/, where users can view the expression and rhythmic properties of genes across these photoperiod conditions.
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Heloderma horridum horridum, a venomous reptile native to America, has a venom with potential applications in treating type II diabetes. In this work, H. h. horridum venom was extracted, lyophilized, and characterized using enzymatic assays for hyaluronidase, phospholipase, and protease. Proteomic analysis of the venom was conducted employing bottom-up/shotgun approaches, SDS-PAGE, high-pH reversed-phase chromatography, and fractionation of tryptic peptides using nano-LC-MS/MS. The proteins found in H. h. horridum venom were reviewed according to the classification of the transcriptome previously reported. The proteomic approach identified 101 enzymes, 36 other proteins, 15 protein inhibitors, 11 host defense proteins, and 1 toxin, including novel venom components such as calcium-binding proteins, phospholipase A2 inhibitors, serpins, cathepsin, subtilases, carboxypeptidase-like, aminopeptidases, glycoside hydrolases, thioredoxin transferases, acid ceramidase-like, enolase, multicopper oxidases, phosphoglucose isomerase (PGI), fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase class 1, pentraxin-related, peptidylglycine α-hydroxylating monooxygenase/peptidyl-hydroxyglycine α-amidating lyase, carbonic anhydrase, acetylcholinesterase, dipeptidylpeptidase, and lysozymes. These findings contribute to understanding the venomous nature of H. h. horridum and highlight its potential as a source of bioactive compounds. Data are available via PRoteomeXchange with the identifier PXD052417.
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Animais Peçonhentos , Lagartos , Proteômica , Espectrometria de Massas em Tandem , Peçonhas , Animais , Animais Peçonhentos/genética , Animais Peçonhentos/metabolismo , Hialuronoglucosaminidase/metabolismo , Hialuronoglucosaminidase/antagonistas & inibidores , Hialuronoglucosaminidase/genética , Hypocreales/química , Hypocreales/genética , Lagartos/genética , Lagartos/metabolismo , Proteoma/análise , Proteômica/métodos , Proteínas de Répteis/genética , Proteínas de Répteis/metabolismo , Proteínas de Répteis/química , Transcriptoma , Peçonhas/químicaAssuntos
Aprendizagem , Humanos , Feminino , Masculino , Aprendizagem/fisiologia , Jogos de Vídeo , Aplicativos Móveis , Fatores Sexuais , Caracteres SexuaisRESUMO
BACKGROUND: There is evidence that global anthropogenic climate change may be impacting floral phenology and the temporal and spatial characteristics of aero-allergenic pollen. Given the extent of current and future climate uncertainty, there is a need to strengthen predictive pollen forecasts. METHODS: The study aims to use CatBoost (CB) and deep learning (DL) models for predicting the daily total pollen concentration up to 14 days in advance for 23 cities, covering all five continents. The model includes the projected environmental parameters, recent concentrations (1, 2 and 4 weeks), and the past environmental explanatory variables, and their future values. RESULTS: The best pollen forecasts include Mexico City (R2(DL_7) ≈ .7), and Santiago (R2(DL_7) ≈ .8) for the 7th forecast day, respectively; while the weakest pollen forecasts are made for Brisbane (R2(DL_7) ≈ .4) and Seoul (R2(DL_7) ≈ .1) for the 7th forecast day. The global order of the five most important environmental variables in determining the daily total pollen concentrations is, in decreasing order: the past daily total pollen concentration, future 2 m temperature, past 2 m temperature, past soil temperature in 28-100 cm depth, and past soil temperature in 0-7 cm depth. City-related clusters of the most similar distribution of feature importance values of the environmental variables only slightly change on consecutive forecast days for Caxias do Sul, Cape Town, Brisbane, and Mexico City, while they often change for Sydney, Santiago, and Busan. CONCLUSIONS: This new knowledge of the ecological relationships of the most remarkable variables importance for pollen forecast models according to clusters, cities and forecast days is important for developing and improving the accuracy of airborne pollen forecasts.
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Alérgenos , Previsões , Pólen , Pólen/imunologia , Previsões/métodos , Humanos , Mudança Climática , Modelos Teóricos , Monitoramento Ambiental/métodosRESUMO
This study is a comprehensive analysis of the oxidative potential (OP) of particulate matter (PM) and its environmental and health impacts. The researchers conducted a bibliometric analysis and scoping review, screening 569 articles and selecting 368 for further analysis. The study found that OP is an emerging field of study, with a notable increase in the number of publications in the 2010s compared to the early 2000s. The research is primarily published in eight journals and is concentrated in a few academic and university-based institutions. The study identified key research hotspots for OP-PM, emphasizing the importance of capacity building, interdisciplinary collaboration, understanding emission sources and atmospheric processes, and the impacts of PM and its OP. The study highlighted the need to consider the effects of climate change on OP-PM and the regulatory framework for PM research. The findings of this study will contribute to a better understanding of PM and its consequences, including human exposure and its effects. It will also inform strategies for managing air quality and protecting public health. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the field of OP-PM research and highlights the need for continued research and collaboration to address the environmental and health impacts of PM.
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BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: This study analyses whether first-line antihypertensive drugs ameliorate the dysbiosis state in hypertension, and to test if this modification contributes to their blood pressure (BP) lowering properties in a genetic model of neurogenic hypertension. EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Twenty-week-old male Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were untreated or treated with captopril, amlodipine or hydrochlorothiazide. A faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) experiment was also performed by gavage of faecal content from donor SHR-treated groups to SHR recipients for 3 weeks. KEY RESULTS: Faeces from SHR showed gut dysbiosis, characterized by lower acetate- and higher lactate-producing bacteria and lower strict anaerobic bacteria. All three drugs increased the anaerobic bacteria proportion, captopril and amlodipine restored the proportion of acetate-producing bacterial populations to WKY levels, whereas hydrochlorothiazide decreased butyrate-producing bacteria. Captopril and amlodipine decreased gut pathology and permeability and attenuated sympathetic drive in the gut. Both drugs decreased neuroinflammation and oxidative stress in the hypothalamic paraventricular nuclei. Hydrochlorothiazide was unable to reduce neuroinflammation, gut sympathetic tone and gut integrity. FMT from SHR-amlodipine to SHR decreased BP, ameliorated aortic endothelium-dependent relaxation to acetylcholine, lowered NADPH oxidase activity, aortic Th17 infiltration and reduced neuroinflammation, whereas FMT from SHR-hydrochlorothiazide did not have these effects. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: First-line antihypertensive drugs induced different modifications of gut integrity and gut dysbiosis in SHR, which result in no contribution of microbiota in the BP lowering effects of hydrochlorothiazide, whereas the vasculo-protective effect induced by amlodipine involves gut microbiota reshaping and gut-immune system communication.
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Anlodipino , Anti-Hipertensivos , Pressão Sanguínea , Microbioma Gastrointestinal , Ratos Endogâmicos SHR , Ratos Endogâmicos WKY , Animais , Microbioma Gastrointestinal/efeitos dos fármacos , Anti-Hipertensivos/farmacologia , Masculino , Ratos , Pressão Sanguínea/efeitos dos fármacos , Anlodipino/farmacologia , Captopril/farmacologia , Hipertensão/tratamento farmacológico , Hipertensão/microbiologia , Hidroclorotiazida/farmacologia , DisbioseRESUMO
Seasonal daylength, or circadian photoperiod, is a pervasive environmental signal that profoundly influences physiology and behavior. In mammals, the central circadian clock resides in the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) of the hypothalamus where it receives retinal input and synchronizes, or entrains, organismal physiology and behavior to the prevailing light cycle. The process of entrainment induces sustained plasticity in the SCN, but the molecular mechanisms underlying SCN plasticity are incompletely understood. Entrainment to different photoperiods persistently alters the timing, waveform, period, and light resetting properties of the SCN clock and its driven rhythms. To elucidate novel molecular mechanisms of photoperiod plasticity, we performed RNAseq on whole SCN dissected from mice raised in Long (LD 16:8) and Short (LD 8:16) photoperiods. Fewer rhythmic genes were detected in Long photoperiod and in general the timing of gene expression rhythms was advanced 4-6 hours. However, a few genes showed significant delays, including Gem . There were significant changes in the expression clock-associated gene Timeless and in SCN genes related to light responses, neuropeptides, GABA, ion channels, and serotonin. Particularly striking were differences in the expression of the neuropeptide signaling genes Prokr2 and Cck , as well as convergent regulation of the expression of three SCN light response genes, Dusp4 , Rasd1 , and Gem . Transcriptional modulation of Dusp4 and Rasd1, and phase regulation of Gem, are compelling candidate molecular mechanisms for plasticity in the SCN light response through their modulation of the critical NMDAR-MAPK/ERK-CREB/CRE light signaling pathway in SCN neurons. Modulation of Prokr2 and Cck may critically support SCN neural network reconfiguration during photoperiodic entrainment. Our findings identify the SCN light response and neuropeptide signaling gene sets as rich substrates for elucidating novel mechanisms of photoperiod plasticity.
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Bismuth sulfide (Bi2S3) nanostructures have gained significant attention in the fields of catalysis, optoelectronics, and biomedicine due to their unique physicochemical properties. This paper introduces a simple and cost-effective method for producing Bi2S3 microstructures at low temperatures (25 and 70 °C). These microstructures are formed by the hierarchical self-assembly of Bi2S3 nanoparticles, which are typically 15-40 nm in size. The nanoparticles are synthesized by the co-precipitation of thioglycolic acid, thioacetamide, and bismuth nitrate in water. The study delves into the phase composition and morphological evolution of the microstructures, concerning the chemical composition of the solution and the synthesis temperature. X-ray analysis has confirmed the formation of single-phase bismuthinite Bi2S3. The synthesis process generates primary building blocks in the form of 15-40 nm Bi2S3 nanocrystals, which then go through a hierarchical self-assembly process to produce a range of micrometer-sized structures. A scanning electron microscopy examination revealed that the primary nanoparticles self-assemble into quasi-1D worm-like nanostructures, which then self-assemble to create sponge-shaped microstructures. These structures subsequently self-organize and refine into either flower- or dandelion-like microstructures, mostly depending on the synthesis temperature and the chemistry of the digestion medium.
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Circadian rhythms in honey bees are involved in various processes that impact colony survival. For example, young nurses take care of the brood constantly throughout the day and lack circadian rhythms. At the same time, foragers use the circadian clock to remember and predict food availability in subsequent days. Previous studies exploring the ontogeny of circadian rhythms of workers showed that the onset of rhythms is faster in the colony environment (~2 days) than if workers were immediately isolated after eclosion (7-9 days). However, which specific environmental factors influenced the early development of worker circadian rhythms remained unknown. We hypothesized that brood nest temperature plays a key role in the development of circadian rhythmicity in young workers. Our results show that young workers kept at brood nest-like temperatures (33-35 °C) in the laboratory develop circadian rhythms faster and in greater proportion than bees kept at lower temperatures (24-26 °C). In addition, we examined if the effect of colony temperature during the first 48 h after emergence is sufficient to increase the rate and proportion of development of circadian rhythmicity. We observed that twice as many individuals exposed to 35 °C during the first 48 h developed circadian rhythms compared to individuals kept at 25 °C, suggesting a critical developmental period where brood nest temperatures are important for the development of the circadian system. Together, our findings show that temperature, which is socially regulated inside the hive, is a key factor that influences the ontogeny of circadian rhythmicity of workers.
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Relógios Circadianos , Comportamento Social , Humanos , Abelhas , Animais , Temperatura , Ritmo CircadianoRESUMO
Cereblon/CRBN is a substrate-recognition component of the Cullin4A-DDB1-Roc1 E3 ubiquitin ligase complex. Destabilizing mutations in the human CRBN gene cause a form of autosomal recessive non-syndromic intellectual disability (ARNSID) that is modelled by knocking-out the mouse Crbn gene. A reduction in excitatory neurotransmission has been proposed as an underlying mechanism of the disease. However, the precise factors eliciting this impairment remain mostly unknown. Here we report that CRBN molecules selectively located on glutamatergic neurons are necessary for proper memory function. Combining various in vivo approaches, we show that the cannabinoid CB1 receptor (CB1R), a key suppressor of synaptic transmission, is overactivated in CRBN deficiency-linked ARNSID mouse models, and that the memory deficits observed in these animals can be rescued by acute CB1R-selective pharmacological antagonism. Molecular studies demonstrated that CRBN interacts physically with CB1R and impairs the CB1R-Gi/o-cAMP-PKA pathway in a ubiquitin ligase-independent manner. Taken together, these findings unveil that CB1R overactivation is a driving mechanism of CRBN deficiency-linked ARNSID and anticipate that the antagonism of CB1R could constitute a new therapy for this orphan disease.
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Proteínas Adaptadoras de Transdução de Sinal , Transtornos da Memória , Ubiquitina-Proteína Ligases , Animais , Camundongos , Proteínas Adaptadoras de Transdução de Sinal/genética , Proteínas Adaptadoras de Transdução de Sinal/metabolismo , Mutação , Ubiquitina/metabolismo , Ubiquitina-Proteína Ligases/genética , Ubiquitina-Proteína Ligases/metabolismo , Receptor CB1 de Canabinoide/genética , Receptor CB1 de Canabinoide/metabolismo , Transtornos da Memória/genética , Transtornos da Memória/metabolismoRESUMO
Mammary gland development occurs primarily in adulthood, undergoing extensive expansion during puberty followed by cycles of functional specialization and regression with every round of pregnancy/lactation/involution. This process is ultimately driven by the coordinated proliferation and differentiation of mammary epithelial cells. However, the endogenous molecular factors regulating these developmental dynamics are still poorly defined. Endocannabinoid signaling is known to determine cell fate-related events during the development of different organs in the central nervous system and the periphery. Here, we report that the endocannabinoid-degrading enzyme fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) plays a pivotal role in adult mammary gland development. Specifically, it is required for luminal lineage specification in the mammary gland, and it promotes hormone-driven secretory differentiation of mammary epithelial cells by controlling the endogenous levels of anandamide and the subsequent activation of cannabinoid CB1 receptors. Together, our findings shed light on the role of the endocannabinoid system in breast development and point to FAAH as a therapeutic target in milk-production deficits.
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The Guadalupe cypress (Cupressus guadalupensis S. Watson) is an endangered species included in the list of the NOM-059-SEMARNAT-2010. The presence of wild goats in the habitat has been the greatest threat to the propagation and survival of this species. Therefore, there is a need to generate propagation protocols that facilitate the regeneration of the species. Plant tissue culture offers various possibilities that can facilitate the regeneration of species under some risk. Temporary immersion systems have proven to be an option with various advantages in plant tissue culture, such as increasing the number of seedlings generated and reducing production times, compared to semisolid media. The objective of this chapter is to describe a protocol to propagate Guadalupe cypress tissues in a RITA® temporary immersion system.
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Cupressus , Animais , Imersão , Cabras , Reprodução , PlântulaRESUMO
The World Health Organization strongly supports breastfeeding as the main source of infant feeding to ensure maternal and child health. Since its emergence, COVID-19 has become a disease affecting the health of the world's population, and vaccines have been developed to prevent it. However, the decision to license COVID-19 vaccines for infants under 6 months of age has been delayed. Different studies have shown that during the breastfeeding period, the benefit-risk balance is much higher in favor of the benefit, at the immunological level for the infant, due to its low perception of adverse effects and the low transmission of products such as mRNA from the mother to the child. Different organizations and societies recommend vaccination in breastfeeding women. COVID-19 vaccines have been shown to be safe and effective.
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Aleitamento Materno , Vacinas contra COVID-19 , COVID-19 , Feminino , Humanos , Lactente , COVID-19/prevenção & controle , Vacinas contra COVID-19/uso terapêutico , Lactação , VacinaçãoRESUMO
Our objective was to investigate whether short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), specifically acetate and butyrate, could prevent vascular dysfunction and elevated blood pressure (BP) in mice with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) induced by TLR7 activation using imiquimod (IMQ). Treatment with both SCFAs and dietary fibers rich in resistant starch (RS) or inulin-type fructans (ITF) effectively prevented the development of hypertension and cardiac hypertrophy. Additionally, these treatments improved aortic relaxation induced by acetylcholine and mitigated vascular oxidative stress. Acetate and butyrate treatments also contributed to the maintenance of colonic integrity, reduced endotoxemia, and decreased the proportion of helper T (Th)17 cells in mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs), blood, and aorta in TLR7-induced SLE mice. The observed changes in MLNs were correlated with increased levels of GPR43 mRNA in mice treated with acetate and increased GPR41 levels along with decreased histone deacetylase (HDAC)- 3 levels in mice treated with butyrate. Notably, the effects attributed to acetate, but not butyrate, were nullified when co-administered with the GPR43 antagonist GLPG-0974. T cell priming and differentiation into Th17 cells in MLNs, as well as increased Th17 cell infiltration, were linked to aortic endothelial dysfunction and hypertension subsequent to the transfer of faecal microbiota from IMQ-treated mice to germ-free (GF) mice. These effects were counteracted in GF mice through treatment with either acetate or butyrate. To conclude, these findings underscore the potential of SCFA consumption in averting hypertension by restoring balance to the interplay between the gut, immune system, and vascular wall in SLE induced by TLR7 activation.
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Microbioma Gastrointestinal , Hipertensão , Lúpus Eritematoso Sistêmico , Microbiota , Animais , Camundongos , Acetatos , Butiratos , Ácidos Graxos Voláteis , Microbioma Gastrointestinal/fisiologia , Hipertensão/prevenção & controle , Receptor 7 Toll-LikeRESUMO
This work describes the spray pyrolysis deposition of PbSe films, using as-prepared PbSe colloids as the starting solution. The PbSe colloids were prepared by using the alkahest approach, where Pb and Se precursors were made to react with the following green polyols: glycerin, ethylene glycol, and propylene glycol, to subsequently spray them onto glass substrates. The results of the characterization indicated that amine or thiol groups-free and single-phase rock-salt cubic PbSe powder was obtained, producing nanocrystals 16-30 nm in size. X-ray diffraction also showed that the PbSe films containing PbSeO3 and PbO·xH2O as impurity phases were produced during the deposition. The morphology of the powders and films was developed by a self-assembly process, in which the primary PbSe nanoparticles self-assemble to produce peanut-like microstructures. Additionally, a non-continuous and porous feature was formed in the thick films. Certain films revealed optical structures characterized by broad- and low-intensity bands resembling an exciton-like behavior. This could be attributed to the presence of nanocrystals with a size less than the Bohr radius, indicating reminiscent quantum effects. The results suggest that the usage of colloidal dispersions as spray solutions represents an effective approach to forming PbSe films, as well as that the synthesis method allows for the elimination of thiol and amine groups before deposition, significantly simplifying the process.
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Cannabinoids exert pleiotropic effects on the brain by engaging the cannabinoid CB1 receptor (CB1R), a presynaptic metabotropic receptor that regulates key neuronal functions in a highly context-dependent manner. We have previously shown that CB1R interacts with growth-associated protein of 43 kDa (GAP43) and that this interaction inhibits CB1R function on hippocampal excitatory synaptic transmission, thereby impairing the therapeutic effect of cannabinoids on epileptic seizures in vivo. However, the underlying molecular features of this interaction remain unexplored. Here, we conducted mechanistic experiments on HEK293T cells co-expressing CB1R and GAP43 and show that GAP43 modulates CB1R signalling in a strikingly selective manner. Specifically, GAP43 did not affect the archetypical agonist-evoked (i) CB1R/Gi/o protein-coupled signalling pathways, such as cAMP/PKA and ERK, or (ii) CB1R internalization and intracellular trafficking. In contrast, GAP43 blocked an alternative agonist-evoked CB1R-mediated activation of the cytoskeleton-associated ROCK signalling pathway, which relied on the GAP43-mediated impairment of CB1R/Gq/11 protein coupling. GAP43 also abrogated CB1R-mediated ROCK activation in mouse hippocampal neurons, and this process led in turn to a blockade of cannabinoid-evoked neurite collapse. An NMR-based characterization of the CB1R-GAP43 interaction supported that GAP43 binds directly and specifically through multiple amino acid stretches to the C-terminal domain of the receptor. Taken together, our findings unveil a CB1R-Gq/11-ROCK signalling axis that is selectively impaired by GAP43 and may ultimately control neurite outgrowth.
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Centruroides possanii is a recently discovered species of "striped scorpion" found in Mexico. Certain species of Centruroides are known to be toxic to mammals, leading to numerous cases of human intoxications in the country. Venom components are thought to possess therapeutic potential and/or biotechnological applications. Hence, obtaining and analyzing the secretory gland transcriptome and venom proteome of C. possanii is relevant, and that is what is described in this communication. Since this is a newly described species, first, its LD50 to mice was determined and estimated to be 659 ng/g mouse weight. Using RNA extracted from this species and preparing their corresponding cDNA fragments, a transcriptome analysis was obtained on a Genome Analyzer (Illumina) using the 76-base pair-end sequencing protocol. Via high-throughput sequencing, 19,158,736 reads were obtained and ensembled in 835,204 sequences. Of them, 28,399 transcripts were annotated with Pfam. A total of 244 complete transcripts were identified in the transcriptome of C. possanii. Of these, 109 sequences showed identity to toxins that act on ion channels, 47 enzymes, 17 protease inhibitors (PINs), 11 defense peptides (HDPs), and 60 in other components. In addition, a sample of the soluble venom obtained from this scorpion was analyzed using an Orbitrap Velos apparatus, which allowed for identification by liquid chromatography followed by mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) of 70 peptides and proteins: 23 toxins, 27 enzymes, 6 PINs, 3 HDPs, and 11 other components. Until now, this work has the highest number of scorpion venom components identified through omics technologies. The main novel findings described here were analyzed in comparison with the known data from the literature, and this process permitted some new insights in this field.
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Escorpiões , Peçonhas , Humanos , Animais , Camundongos , Escorpiões/genética , Cromatografia Líquida , Espectrometria de Massas em Tandem , Inibidores de Proteases , MamíferosRESUMO
Increasing evidence indicates that a key factor in neurodegenerative diseases is the activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR) caused by an accumulation of misfolded proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER stress). Particularly, in Huntington's disease (HD) mutant huntingtin (mHtt) toxicity involves disruption of the ER-associated degradation pathway and loss of the ER protein homeostasis leading to neuronal dysfunction and degeneration. Besides the role of the UPR in regulating cell survival and death, studies that demonstrate the contribution of sustained UPR activation, particularly of PERK signaling, in memory disturbances and synaptic plasticity deficiencies are emerging. Given the contribution of hippocampal dysfunction to emotional and cognitive deficits seen in HD, we have analyzed the involvement of ER stress in HD memory alterations. We have demonstrated that at early disease stages, ER stress activation manifested as an increase in GRP78 and CHOP is observed in the hippocampus of R6/1 mice. Genetic reduction of GRP78 expression resulted in preventing hippocampal-dependent memory alterations but no motor deficits. Accordingly, hippocampal neuropathology namely, dendritic spine loss and accumulation of mHtt aggregates was ameliorated by GRP78 reduction. To elucidate the signaling pathways, we found that the inactivation of PERK by GSK2606414 restored spatial and recognition memories in R6/1 mice and rescued dendritic spine density in CA1 pyramidal neurons and protein levels of some specific immediate early genes. Our study unveils the critical role of the GRP78/PERK axis in memory impairment in HD mice and suggests the modulation of PERK activation as a novel therapeutic target for HD intervention.
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Transtornos Cognitivos , Chaperona BiP do Retículo Endoplasmático , Doença de Huntington , Animais , Camundongos , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Chaperona BiP do Retículo Endoplasmático/metabolismo , Proteína Huntingtina/genética , Doença de Huntington/metabolismo , Transtornos da Memória/etiologia , Camundongos TransgênicosRESUMO
Clinical management of breast cancer (BC) metastasis remains an unmet need as it accounts for 90% of BC-associated mortality. Although the luminal subtype, which represents >70% of BC cases, is generally associated with a favorable outcome, it is susceptible to metastatic relapse as late as 15 years after treatment discontinuation. Seeking therapeutic approaches as well as screening tools to properly identify those patients with a higher risk of recurrence is therefore essential. Here, we report that the lipid-degrading enzyme fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH) is a predictor of long-term survival in patients with luminal BC, and that it blocks tumor progression and lung metastasis in cell and mouse models of BC. Together, our findings highlight the potential of FAAH as a biomarker with prognostic value in luminal BC and as a therapeutic target in metastatic disease.
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Amidoidrolases , Biomarcadores Tumorais , Neoplasias Pulmonares , Animais , Camundongos , Amidoidrolases/genética , Neoplasias Pulmonares/patologia , Recidiva Local de Neoplasia/patologiaRESUMO
Melanoma is one of the deadliest forms of cancer. Most melanoma deaths are caused by distant metastases in several organs, especially the brain, the so-called melanoma brain metastases (MBMs). However, the precise mechanisms that sustain the growth of MBMs remain elusive. Recently, the excitatory neurotransmitter glutamate has been proposed as a brain-specific, pro-tumorigenic signal for various types of cancers, but how neuronal glutamate shuttling onto metastases is regulated remains unknown. Here, we show that the cannabinoid CB1 receptor (CB1R), a master regulator of glutamate output from nerve terminals, controls MBM proliferation. First, in silico transcriptomic analysis of cancer-genome atlases indicated an aberrant expression of glutamate receptors in human metastatic melanoma samples. Second, in vitro experiments conducted on three different melanoma cell lines showed that the selective blockade of glutamatergic NMDA receptors, but not AMPA or metabotropic receptors, reduces cell proliferation. Third, in vivo grafting of melanoma cells in the brain of mice selectively devoid of CB1Rs in glutamatergic neurons increased tumour cell proliferation in concert with NMDA receptor activation, whereas melanoma cell growth in other tissue locations was not affected. Taken together, our findings demonstrate an unprecedented regulatory role of neuronal CB1Rs in the MBM tumour microenvironment.