Tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) deletion in myeloid cells augments cholestatic liver injury.

Ductular reactive (DR) cells exacerbate cholestatic liver injury and fibrosis. Herein, we posit that tumor necrosis factor-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) emanates from recruited macrophages and restrains DR cell expansion, thereby limiting cholestatic liver injury. Wild type (WT), Trailfl/fl and myeloid-specific Trail deleted (TrailΔmye) C57BL/6 mice were exposed to DDC diet-induced cholestatic liver injury, which induced hepatomegaly and liver injury as compared to control diet-fed mice. However, parameters of liver injury, fibrosis, and inflammation were all increased in the TrailΔmye mice as compared to the WT and Trailfl/fl mice. High dimensional mass cytometry indicated that cholestasis resulted in increased hepatic recruitment of subsets of macrophages and neutrophils in the TrailΔmye mice. Spatial transcriptomics analysis revealed that the PanCK+ cholangiocytes from TrailΔmye mice had increased expression of the known myeloid attractants S100a8, Cxcl5, Cx3cl1, and Cxcl1. Additionally, in situ hybridization of Cxcl1, a potent neutrophil chemoattractant, demonstrated an increased expression in CK19+ cholangiocytes of TrailΔmye mice. Collectively, these data suggest that TRAIL from myeloid cells, particularly macrophages, restrains a subset of DR cells (i.e., Cxcl1 positive cells), limiting liver inflammation and fibrosis. Reprogramming macrophages to express TRAIL may be salutary in cholestasis.

Rejuvenation of the aged brain immune cell landscape in mice through p16-positive senescent cell clearance.

Cellular senescence is a plausible mediator of inflammation-related tissue dysfunction. In the aged brain, senescent cell identities and the mechanisms by which they exert adverse influence are unclear. Here we used high-dimensional molecular profiling, coupled with mechanistic experiments, to study the properties of senescent cells in the aged mouse brain. We show that senescence and inflammatory expression profiles increase with age and are brain region- and sex-specific. p16-positive myeloid cells exhibiting senescent and disease-associated activation signatures, including upregulation of chemoattractant factors, accumulate in the aged mouse brain. Senescent brain myeloid cells promote peripheral immune cell chemotaxis in vitro. Activated resident and infiltrating immune cells increase in the aged brain and are partially restored to youthful levels through p16-positive senescent cell clearance in female p16-InkAttac mice, which is associated with preservation of cognitive function. Our study reveals dynamic remodeling of the brain immune cell landscape in aging and suggests senescent cell targeting as a strategy to counter inflammatory changes and cognitive decline.

Caloric restriction overcomes pre-diabetes and hypertension induced by a high fat diet and renal artery stenosis.

BACKGROUND: Calorie restriction (CR) is a type of dietary intervention that is essential in weight loss through modulation of critical metabolic control pathways, is well established and understood in cases of systemic arterial hypertension, however, its role in renovascular hypertension is still unclear. METHODS: Rats were divided into three groups: SHAM, and two groups that underwent surgery to clip the left renal artery and induce renovascular hypertension (OH and OHR). The SHAM diet was as follows: 14 weeks normolipidic diet; OH: 2 weeks normolipidic diet + 12 weeks hyperlipidic diet, both ad libitum; OHR, 2 weeks normolipidic diet + 8 weeks ad libitum high-fat diet + 4 weeks 40% calorie-restricted high-fat diet. RESULTS: Rats in the OHR group had decreased blood pressure, body weight, and glucose levels. Reductions in insulinemia and in lipid and islet fibrotic areas in the OHR group were observed, along with increased insulin sensitivity and normalization of insulin-degrading enzyme levels. The expression of nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT), insulin receptor (IR), sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), and complex II proteins were increased in the liver tissue of the OHR group. Strong correlations, whether positive or negative, were evaluated via Spearman's model between SIRT1, AMPK, NAMPT, PGC-1α, and NNMT expressions with the restoration of normal blood pressure, weight loss, glycemic and lipid panel, and mitochondrial adaptation. CONCLUSION: CR provided short-term beneficial effects to recover the physiological parameters induced by a high-fat diet and renal artery stenosis in obese and hypertensive animals. These benefits, even in the short term, can provide physiological benefits in the long term.

The estrogen receptor variants ß2 and ß5 induce stem cell characteristics and chemotherapy resistance in prostate cancer through activation of hypoxic signaling.

Chemotherapy resistant prostate cancer is a major clinical problem. When the prostate cancer has become androgen deprivation resistant, one of the few treatment regimens left is chemotherapy. There is a strong connection between a cancer's stem cell like characteristics and drug resistance. By performing RNA-seq we observed several factors associated with stem cells being strongly up-regulated by the estrogen receptor ß variants, ß2 and ß5. In addition, most of these factors were also up-regulated by hypoxia. One mechanism of chemotherapy resistance was expression of the hypoxia-regulated, drug transporter genes, where especially ABCG2 and MDR1 were shown to be expressed in recurrent prostate cancer and to cause chemotherapy resistance by efficiently transporting drugs like docetaxel out of the cells. Another mechanism was expression of the hypoxia-regulated Notch3 gene, which causes chemotherapy resistance in urothelial carcinoma, although the mechanism is unknown. It is well known that hypoxic signaling is involved in increasing chemotherapy resistance. Regulation of the hypoxic factors, HIF-1α and HIF-2α is very complex and extends far beyond hypoxia itself. We have recently shown that two of the estrogen receptor ß variants, estrogen receptor ß2 and ß5, bind to and stabilize both HIF-1α and HIF-2α proteins leading to expression of HIF target genes. This study suggests that increased expression of the estrogen receptor ß variants, ß2 and ß5, could be involved in development of a cancer's stem cell characteristics and chemotherapy resistance, indicating that targeting these factors could prevent or reverse chemotherapy resistance and cancer stem cell expansion.

The ERß4 variant induces transformation of the normal breast mammary epithelial cell line MCF-10A; the ERß variants ERß2 and ERß5 increase aggressiveness of TNBC by regulation of hypoxic signaling.

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) still remains a challenge to treat in the clinic due to a lack of good targets for treatment. Although TNBC lacks expression of ERα, the expression of ERß and its variants are detected quite frequently in this cancer type and can represent an avenue for treatment. We show that two of the variants of ERß, namely ERß2 and ERß5, control aggressiveness of TNBC by regulating hypoxic signaling through stabilization of HIF-1α. RNA-seq of patient derived xenografts (PDX) from TNBC shows expression of ERß2, ERß4 and ERß5 variants in more than half of the samples. Furthermore, expression of ERß4 in the immortalized, normal mammary epithelial cell line MCF-10A that is resistant to tumorsphere formation caused transformation and development of tumorspheres. By contrast, ERß1, ERß2 or ERß5 were unable to support tumorsphere formation. We have previously shown that all variants except ERß1 stabilize HIF-1α but only ERß4 appears to have the ability to transform normal mammary epithelial cells, pointing towards a unique property of ERß4. We propose that ERß variants may be good diagnostic tools and also serve as novel targets for treatment of breast cancer.

Correção do dorso nasal baixo ou em sela com enxerto composto de cartilagem conchal fragmentada fixa ao pericôndrio envolvidos à fáscia da mastóide / Correction of low or saddle nasal dorsum with a composite graft of fragmented conchal cartilage fixed to the perichondrium wrapped in mastoid fascia

Introdução: A rinoplastia de aumento em muitos casos torna-se mais difícil que a rinoplastia de redução. Enxertos dorsais sólidos realizados com cartilagem costal têm sido muito utilizados para aumento dorsal, porém estão associados com altos índices de revisão, por isso, muitos autores passaram a utilizar cartilagem em cubos envoltos por fáscia. A fáscia da mastoide, conectada ao pericôndrio da cartilagem conchal auricular, pode formar um enxerto composto para o aumento do dorso nasal, sendo também uma opção de tratamento. O objetivo é demonstrar a possibilidade do uso de cartilagem da concha auricular fragmentada fixa ao seu pericôndrio, e envoltos na fáscia da mastoide, formando um enxerto composto para aumento do dorso nasal. Métodos: Tratase de um estudo retrospectivo de 9 pacientes operados entre 2012 e 2016 no Hospital de Base da Faculdade de Medicina de São José do Rio Preto, em que foi realizado aumento do dorso nasal com cartilagem conchal fragmentada fixa ao seu pericôndrio e envolto à fáscia da mastoide. Resultados: Os pacientes foram acompanhados de 6 a 48 meses. Foram questionados quanto à satisfação do procedimento nasal e sensibilidade auricular, com avaliação positiva dos pacientes e cirurgiões. Conclusão: A cartilagem conchal parece ser uma alternativa de grande valia para procedimentos de aumento de dorso nasal. Esta cartilagem envolta com fáscia da mastoide parece ser uma alternativa vantajosa em comparação ao uso de outras fáscias, com baixa morbidade e taxa de complicações, podendo ser uma grande opção para tratamento do nariz em sela.

Introduction: In many cases, augmentation rhinoplasty is more difficult than reduction rhinoplasty. Solid dorsal grafts performed with costal cartilage have been widely used for dorsal augmentation; however, they are associated with high rates of revision. Thus, many authors began to use cartilage cut into cubes wrapped in fascia. The mastoid fascia, connected to the perichondrium of the auricular conchal cartilage can form a composite graft to augment the nasal dorsum, which is also a treatment option. The objective is to demonstrate the possibility of using fragmented auricular conchal cartilage fixed to its perichondrium and wrapped in mastoid fascia to form a composite graft for augmentation of the nasal dorsum. Methods: This is a retrospective study of 9 patients who underwent operation between 2012 and 2016 at the Base Hospital of the Faculty of Medicine of São José do Rio Preto, in which the nasal dorsum was augmented with fragmented conchal cartilage fixed to its perichondrium and wrapped in the mastoid fascia. Results: The patients were followed up for up 6 to 48 months. They were questioned about their satisfaction with the nasal procedure and hearing sensitivity, and provided a positive evaluation of the surgeons. Conclusion: The conchal cartilage seems a highly valuable alternative graft for nasal dorsum augmentation procedures. The technique of using cartilage wrapped in mastoid fascia seems to be an advantageous alternative when compared with those using cartilage wrapped in other fasciae: it has low morbidity and complications rates and can be a great option for saddle nose treatment.

Estrogen Receptor ß2 Induces Hypoxia Signature of Gene Expression by Stabilizing HIF-1α in Prostate Cancer.

The estrogen receptor (ER) ß variant ERß2 is expressed in aggressive castration-resistant prostate cancer and has been shown to correlate with decreased overall survival. Genome-wide expression analysis after ERß2 expression in prostate cancer cells revealed that hypoxia was an overrepresented theme. Here we show that ERß2 interacts with and stabilizes HIF-1α protein in normoxia, thereby inducing a hypoxic gene expression signature. HIF-1α is known to stimulate metastasis by increasing expression of Twist1 and increasing vascularization by directly activating VEGF expression. We found that ERß2 interacts with HIF-1α and piggybacks to the HIF-1α response element present on the proximal Twist1 and VEGF promoters. These findings suggest that at least part of the oncogenic effects of ERß2 is mediated by HIF-1α and that targeting of this ERß2 - HIF-1α interaction may be a strategy to treat prostate cancer.

Effect of Cysticercus cellulosae fractions on the respiratory burst of pig neutrophils.

Neutrophils, eosinophils and macrophages are cells that interact with invading parasites and naive hosts have been shown to have anti-parasitic activity. The initial reaction of these leukocytes is the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) to play in parasite expulsion. The present work was carried out to study the effect of total extract, scolex and membrane fractions from Cysticercus cellulosae on respiratory burst by pig neutrophils. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production by neutrophils incubated with metacestode fractions from C. cellulosae showed an increase of: 190% (total extract), 120% (scolex) and 44% (membrane). High antioxidant catalatic activity (33%, 28%, 28% by total extract, scolex and membrane, respectively) was observed in neutrophils incubated with metacestode fractions, which could be an attempt at self-protection. Scolex and membrane fractions increased the phagocytic capacity of neutrophils (44% and 28%, respectively). On the other hand, total cysticerci did not alter the phagocytosis, possibly due to modifications in membrane function, caused by high ROS production from neutrophils in the presence of total cysticerci. Total fraction from C. cellulosae is toxic for neutrophils as shown by the decrease in phagocytic capacity, probably caused by high levels of ROS formation. The difference in toxicity of total extract, scolex and membrane fractions on neutrophils can be explained by the presence of an antigenic effect of the vesicular fluid in the total extract of C. cellulosae.

Effect of Cysticercus cellulosae fractions on the respiratory burst of pig neutrophils

Neutrófilos, eosinófilos e macrófagos são células que interagem com os parasitas no corpo do hospedeiro desenvolvendo atividade antiparasitária. A reação inicial destes leucócitos é a geração de espécies reativas de oxigênio (ERO) a fim de expulsar os parasitas. No presente trabalho estudou-se o efeito da fração total, de escolex e de membrana de Cysticercus cellulosae sobre a explosão respiratória de neutrófilos de suínos. A produção de peróxido de hidrogênio (H2O2) pelos neutrófilos incubados com as frações de C. cellulosae apresentou acréscimo de 190% (extrato total), 120% (escolex) e 44% (membrana). Alta atividade de catalase (33%, 28% e 28% para extrato total, escolex e membrana respectivamente) foi observada nos neutrófilos incubados com as frações de metacestodeo, podendo representar a própria proteção celular do neutrófilo. Frações de escolex e de membrana aumentaram a capacidade fagocitária dos neutrófilos (44% e 28%, respectivamente). Por outro lado, a fração total do cisticerco não alterou a capacidade fagocitária dos neutrófilos, o que pode estar relacionada com modificações na função da membrana celular causadas pela alta produção de ERO na presença da fração total. O extrato total de C. cellulosae é tóxico para os neutrófilos, indicada pela diminuição da capacidade fagocitária, provavelmente pela indução de alto nível de ERO. A diferença de toxicidade do extrato total, de escolex e de membrana para os neutrófilos pode ocorrer pelo efeito antigênico presente no fluido vesicular no extrato total de C. cellulosae.