Proteome Characterization of BALF Extracellular Vesicles in Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: Unveiling Undercover Molecular Pathways.

In the longtime challenge of identifying specific, easily detectable and reliable biomarkers of IPF, BALF proteomics is providing interesting new insights into its pathogenesis. To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first shotgun proteomic investigation of EVs isolated from BALF of IPF patients. Our main aim was to characterize the proteome of the vesicular component of BALF and to explore its individual impact on the pathogenesis of IPF. To this purpose, ultracentrifugation was chosen as the EVs isolation technique, and their purification was assessed by TEM, 2DE and LC-MS/MS. Our 2DE data and scatter plots showed considerable differences between the proteome of EVs and that of whole BALF and of its fluid component. Analysis of protein content and protein functions evidenced that EV proteins are predominantly involved in cytoskeleton remodeling, adenosine signaling, adrenergic signaling, C-peptide signaling and lipid metabolism. Our findings may suggest a wider system involvement in the disease pathogenesis and support the importance of pre-fractioning of complex samples, such as BALF, in order to let low-abundant proteins-mediated pathways emerge.

Organoids of Human Endometrium: A Powerful In Vitro Model for the Endometrium-Embryo Cross-Talk at the Implantation Site.

Embryo implantation has been defined as the "black box" of human reproduction. Most of the knowledge on mechanisms underlining this process derives from animal models, but they cannot always be translated to humans. Therefore, the development of an in vitro/ex vivo model recapitulating as closely and precisely as possible the fundamental functional features of the human endometrial tissue is very much desirable. Here, we have validated endometrial organoids as a suitable 3D-model to studying epithelial endometrial interface for embryo implantation. Transmission and scanning electron microscopy analyses showed that organoids preserve the glandular organization and cell ultrastructural characteristics. They also retain the responsiveness to hormonal treatment specific to the corresponding phase of the menstrual cycle, mimicking the in vivo glandular-like aspect and functions. Noteworthy, organoids mirroring the early secretive phase show the development of pinopodes, large cytoplasmic apical protrusions of the epithelial cells, traditionally considered as reliable key features of the implantation window. Moreover, organoids express glycodelin A (GdA), a cycle-dependent marker of the endometrial receptivity, with its quantitative and qualitative features accounting well for the profile detected in the endometrium in vivo. Accordingly, organoids deriving from the eutopic endometrium of women with endometriosis show a GdA glycosylation pattern significantly different from healthy organoids, confirming our prior data on endometrial tissues. The present results strongly support the idea that organoids may closely recapitulate the molecular and functional characteristics of their cells/tissue of origin.

An antimicrobial molecule mitigates signs of sepsis in vivo and eradicates infections from lung tissue.

The peptide sequence KKIRVRLSA was synthesized in a dimeric structure (SET-M33DIM) and evaluated as a candidate drug for infections due to multidrug-resistant (MDR) Gram-negative pathogens. SET-M33DIM showed significant antibacterial activity against MDR strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, and Escherichia coli (Minimal Inhibitory Concentration [MICs], 1.5-11 µM), and less activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MICs, 11-22 µM). It showed very low toxicity in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo; in cytotoxicity tests, its EC50 was as much as 22 times better than that of SET-M33, a peptide with the same amino-acid sequence, but synthesized in tetra-branched form (638 vs 28 µM). In in vivo and ex vivo experiments, SET-M33DIM cleared P. aeruginosa infection, significantly reducing signs of sepsis in animals, and restoring cell viability in lung tissue after bacterial challenge. It also quelled inflammation triggered by LPS and live bacterial cells, inhibiting expression of inflammatory mediators in lung tissue, cultured macrophages, and bronchial cells from a cystic fibrosis patient.

Near-infrared quantum dots labelled with a tumor selective tetrabranched peptide for in vivo imaging.

BACKGROUND: Near-infrared quantum dots (NIR QDs) are a new class of fluorescent labels with excellent bioimaging features, such as high fluorescence intensity, good fluorescence stability, sufficient electron density, and strong tissue-penetrating ability. For all such features, NIR QDs have great potential for early cancer diagnosis, in vivo tumor imaging and high resolution electron microscopy studies on cancer cells. RESULTS: In the present study we constructed NIR QDs functionalized with the NT4 cancer-selective tetrabranched peptides (NT4-QDs). We observed specific uptake of NT4-QDs in human cancer cells in in vitro experiments and a much higher selective accumulation and retention of targeted QDs at the tumor site, compared to not targeted QDs, in a colon cancer mouse model. CONCLUSIONS: NIR QDs labelled with the tetrabranched NT4 peptide have very promising performance for selective addressing of tumor cells in vitro and in vivo, proving rising features of NT4-QDs as theranostics.

Insights into the role of sulfated glycans in cancer cell adhesion and migration through use of branched peptide probe.

The tetra-branched peptide NT4 selectively binds to different human cancer cells and tissues. NT4 specifically binds to sulfated glycosaminoglycans on cancer cell membranes. Since sulfated glycosaminoglycans are involved in cancer cell interaction with the extracellular matrix, we evaluated the effect of NT4 on cancer cell adhesion and migration. We demonstrated here that the branched peptide NT4 binds sulfated glycosaminoglycans with high affinity and with preferential binding to heparan sulfate. NT4 inhibits cancer cell adhesion and migration on different proteins, without modifying cancer cell morphology or their ability to produce protrusions, but dramatically affecting the directionality and polarity of cell movement. Results obtained by taking advantage of the selective targeting of glycosaminoglycans chains by NT4, provide insights into the role of heparan sulfate proteoglycans in cancer cell adhesion and migration and suggest a determinant role of sulfated glycosaminoglycans in the control of cancer cell directional migration.

Redox imbalance and morphological changes in skin fibroblasts in typical Rett syndrome.

Evidence of oxidative stress has been reported in the blood of patients with Rett syndrome (RTT), a neurodevelopmental disorder mainly caused by mutations in the gene encoding the Methyl-CpG-binding protein 2. Little is known regarding the redox status in RTT cellular systems and its relationship with the morphological phenotype. In RTT patients (n = 16) we investigated four different oxidative stress markers, F2-Isoprostanes (F2-IsoPs), F4-Neuroprostanes (F4-NeuroPs), nonprotein bound iron (NPBI), and (4-HNE PAs), and glutathione in one of the most accessible cells, that is, skin fibroblasts, and searched for possible changes in cellular/intracellular structure and qualitative modifications of synthesized collagen. Significantly increased F4-NeuroPs (12-folds), F2-IsoPs (7.5-folds) NPBI (2.3-folds), 4-HNE PAs (1.48-folds), and GSSG (1.44-folds) were detected, with significantly decreased GSH (-43.6%) and GSH/GSSG ratio (-3.05 folds). A marked dilation of the rough endoplasmic reticulum cisternae, associated with several cytoplasmic multilamellar bodies, was detectable in RTT fibroblasts. Colocalization of collagen I and collagen III, as well as the percentage of type I collagen as derived by semiquantitative immunofluorescence staining analyses, appears to be significantly reduced in RTT cells. Our findings indicate the presence of a redox imbalance and previously unrecognized morphological skin fibroblast abnormalities in RTT patients.

Aprenda a controlar sua hipertensäo / Learn to control your hypertension

O curso sobre controle da hipertensäo tem por objetivo transmitir à populaçäo informaçöes sobre a doença, permitir a troca de experiências entre os indivíduos hipertensos e destes com a equipe de saúde, bem como incentivar os profissionais de saúde e educaçäo no desenvolvimento das atividades educativas sobre a hipertensäo à comunidade