Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) modulate inflammatory profile in obese humans and mice: adipose tissue role on NETs levels.

BACKGROUND: Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are a recently discovered neutrophil defense mechanism which modulates several inflammatory conditions contributing to metabolic profile alterations. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the production of NETs in obese patients and mice, verifying the possible mechanisms associated with the release of NETs by the adipose tissue. METHODS AND RESULTS: The present study investigated NETs production in human adipose tissue and also showing the neutrophils using intravital microscopy in mouse epididymal adipose tissue. Blood and white adipose tissues were obtained from eutrophic and obese individuals and from mice. Lipid, glycemic and leukocyte profiles were evaluated, as well as the levels of NETs and its markers. Bioinformatics and proteomics analyses were performed and the identified key proteins were measured. The main findings showed that the inflammatory markers interleukin-8 (IL-8), heat shock protein 90 (HSP90) and the E1 heat shock protein family (HSPE1) can be modulated by the NETs levels in obesity. Obesity has also been associated with increased cholesterol, glucose intolerance, ionic calcium and NETs. We also observed an increase in catalase and a decreased superoxide dismutase activity. Bioinformatics and proteomics analyses revealed that IL-8, HSP90 and HSPE1 were associated with obesity, inflammation and NETs release. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the present study shows an increase in NETs production during obesity associated with important inflammatory markers in adipose.

Viabilidade dos grãos de pólen de flores de pinheira (Annona squamosa) em diferentes horários / Viability of the sugar apple (Annona squamosa) pollen grains at different hours of the day

No manejo do cultivo da pinha (Annona squamosa), a polinização artificial é uma prática preconizada para, obter maior pegamento dos frutos bem como uniformização do formato dos mesmos. Nesse sentido, conduziu-se este trabalho, com o objetivo de avaliar a viabilidade dos grãos de pólen de flores de pinheira em diferentes horários de coleta. O pólen foi obtido a partir de flores no estádio funcionalmente estaminada. Foram avaliados oito horários de coleta de pólen: zero hora, 1 hora, 2 horas, 3 horas, 4 horas, 5 horas, 6 horas e 7 horas da manhã. Foi utilizado meio de cultura padrão para germinação de pólen, com concentração de 10% de sacarose. As flores foram coletadas nos horários estabelecidos e os grãos de pólen foram retirados das anteras com auxílio de um pincel número 2 e em seguida inoculados em placas de Petri contendo o meio de cultura. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado com quatro repetições, sendo cada parcela experimental constituída por duas placas Petri. Foram contados 100 grãos de pólen por placa. Após 6 horas de inoculação, os grãos de pólen foram visualizados sob lupa. Foram considerados germinados os grãos de pólen que possuíam tubo polínico com tamanho igual ou superior ao diâmetro do próprio pólen. Não foram observadas diferenças significativas entre o horário de coleta dos grãos de pólen. A percentagem média da germinação variou de 46,75% a 53,62% dos grãos de pólen germinados.

In the management of the sugar apple (Annona squamosa) crop, the artificial pollination is a preconized practice to obtain higher establishment of the fruits as well as their standardization. This study was carried out to evaluate the viability of sugar apple pollen grains at different collecting times. The pollens were obtained from the flowers at the functional staminate stage. The pollen grains were collected every hour, starting from 00:00am and ending at 07:00am, totalizing 8 collections. The standard culture medium with 10 percent sucrose was used for the germination of the pollen. The flowers were collected at the scheduled hours and the pollen grains were taken from the anthers, by using a brush # 2. They were then inoculated on Petri dishes containing the culture medium. The completely randomized experimental design was used with four replicates, and each plot was constituted by two Petri dishes. One hundred pollen grains were counted in each Petri dish. After six hours of inoculation, the pollen grains were visualized under magnifying glass. Those pollen grains containing the pollinic tube with the same or higher size than their own pollen diameter were considered germinated. No significant differences were found among the different hours of the pollen grain collections, and the germination percentage ranged from 46.75% to 53.62%.

Efeito da substituição do farelo de soja pela amiréia 150S no consumo, produção e composição do leite / Effect of the substitution of the soybean meal for the starea 150S in the intake, production and composition of the milk

Doze vacas leiteiras (³/4 Holandês x ¹/4 Gir) foram utilizadas em um delineamento em quadrado latino, nas dependências da Fazenda Raposo - Nepomuceno, MG, entre novembro de 2001 e abril de 2002 para comparar o efeito da substituição parcial e total do farelo de soja pela amiréia na produção e composição do leite. Os animais apresentavam peso médio de 443 kg e estavam na quarta lactação. A amiréia substituiu o farelo de soja nas seguintes proporções: 0 - 0 por cento de amiréia 150 S; 33 - 33 por cento de amiréia 150 S; 66 - 66 por cento de amiréia 150 S e 100 - 100 por cento de amiréia 150 S, sendo que todos tratamentos foram isoenergéticos e isoprotéicos. Utilizou-se a cana-de-açúcar (Saccharum officinarum L.) como volumoso "ad libitum". Cada período experimental teve duração de 15 dias, 9 dias para adaptação e 6 dias para coleta de dados. A produção de leite de cada vaca foi pesada nas duas ordenhas (manhã e tarde) e as amostras enviadas para análise de gordura, proteína, lactose, sólidos totais e uréia, pelo processo de infravermelho, junto à Clínica do Leite do Departamento de Produção Animal da ESALQ/USP. A gordura e sólidos totais do leite não foram influenciados pelos tratamentos (P>0,05). A produção de leite, a proteína, a lactose e a uréia do leite diferiram entre os tratamentos (P<0,05). Conclui-se que, nas condições deste experimento, é viável a substituição total do farelo de soja pela amiréia.

Twelve dairy cows (³/4 Hoslten x ¹/4 Gir) were used in a desing in Latin square, at Fazenda Raposo's dependences in Nepomuceno, MG, between November of 2001 and April of 2002 to compare the effect of the partial and total substitution of soybean meal for starea in the production and composition of milk. The medium weight of the animals was 443 kg and they were in the fourth nursing. The starea substituted soybean meal in the following proportions: 0 - 0 percent of starea 150 S; 33 - 33¨ percent of starea 150 S; 66 - 66 percent of starea 150 S and 100 - 100 percent of starea 150 S, and every treatments were isoenergetics and isoproteics. Sugar-cane (Saccharum officinarum L.) was used ad libitum as roughage. Each experimental period had the duration of 15 days being 9 days for adaptation and 6 days for collection of data. The milk production of each cow was weighed twice a day (morning and afternoon) and samples were sent for analysis of fat, protein, lactose, total solids and urea, by the infrared method, at the Clinic of the Milk of the Department of Animal Production at ESALQ/USP, in Piracicaba, SP. Fat and total solids of milk were not influenced by the treatments. The production of milk, protein, lactose and urea content of milk differed among the treatments (P<0.05). The results showed that it is viable the total substitution of soybean meal for starea.