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1.
Angew Chem Int Ed Engl ; 63(11): e202400261, 2024 Mar 11.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38246884

RESUMO

The formation of highly organized metal-DNA structures has significant implications in bioinorganic chemistry, molecular biology and material science due to their unique properties and potential applications. In this study, we report on the conversion of single-stranded polydeoxycytidine (dC15 ) into a Pd-DNA supramolecular structure using the [Pd(Aqa)] complex (Aqa=8-amino-4-hydroxyquinoline-2-carboxylic acid) through a self-assembly process. The resulting Pd-DNA assembly closely resembles a natural double helix, with continuous [Pd(Aqa)(C)] (C=cytosine) units serving as palladium-mediated base pairs, forming interbase hydrogen bonds and intrastrand stacking interactions. Notably, the design of the [Pd(Aqa)] complex favours the interaction with cytosine, distinguishing it from our previously reported [Pd(Cheld)] complex (Cheld=chelidamic acid). This finding opens possibilities for creating heteroleptic Pd-DNA hybrids where different complexes specifically bind to nucleobases. We confirmed the Pd-DNA supramolecular structural assembly and selective binding of the complexes using NMR spectroscopy, circular dichroism, mass spectrometry, isothermal titration calorimetry, and DFT calculations.


Assuntos
DNA , Paládio , Pareamento de Bases , Paládio/química , DNA/química , Citosina/química
2.
Antimicrob Agents Chemother ; 67(1): e0131522, 2023 01 24.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36602354

RESUMO

We report that ribavirin exerts an inhibitory and mutagenic activity on SARS-CoV-2-infecting Vero cells, with a therapeutic index higher than 10. Deep sequencing analysis of the mutant spectrum of SARS-CoV-2 replicating in the absence or presence of ribavirin indicated an increase in the number of mutations, but not in deletions, and modification of diversity indices, expected from a mutagenic activity. Notably, the major mutation types enhanced by replication in the presence of ribavirin were A→G and U→C transitions, a pattern which is opposite to the dominance of G→A and C→U transitions previously described for most RNA viruses. Implications of the inhibitory activity of ribavirin, and the atypical mutational bias produced on SARS-CoV-2, for the search for synergistic anti-COVID-19 lethal mutagen combinations are discussed.


Assuntos
COVID-19 , Ribavirina , Animais , Chlorocebus aethiops , Ribavirina/farmacologia , Ribavirina/uso terapêutico , Antivirais/farmacologia , Antivirais/uso terapêutico , SARS-CoV-2/genética , Células Vero , Mutação , Mutagênicos/farmacologia
3.
Eur J Immunol ; 52(1): 62-74, 2022 01.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34693521

RESUMO

NK cells play an important role in immunity by recognizing and eliminating cells undergoing infection or malignant transformation. This role is dependent on the ability of NK cells to lyse targets cells in a perforin-dependent mechanism and by secreting inflammatory cytokines. Both effector functions are controlled by several cell surface receptors. The Signaling Lymphocyte Activation Molecule (SLAM) family of receptors plays an essential role in regulating NK cell activation. Several studies have demonstrated that SLAMF7 regulates NK cell activation. However, the molecular and cellular mechanisms by which SLAMF7 influences NK effector functions are unknown. Here, we present evidence that physiological ligation of SLAMF7 in human NK cells enhances the lysis of target cells expressing SLAMF7. This effect was dependent on the ability of SLAMF7 to promote NK cell degranulation rather than cytotoxic granule polarization or cell adhesion. Moreover, SLAMF7-dependent NK cell degranulation was predominantly dependent on PLC-γ when compared to PI3K. These data provide novel information on the cellular mechanism by which SLAMF7 regulates human NK cell activation. Finally, this study supports a model for NK cell activation where activated receptors contribute by regulating specific discrete cellular events rather than multiple cellular processes.


Assuntos
Degranulação Celular/imunologia , Células Matadoras Naturais/imunologia , Ativação Linfocitária , Família de Moléculas de Sinalização da Ativação Linfocitária/imunologia , Linhagem Celular , Humanos
4.
Nature ; 544(7651): 493-497, 2017 04 27.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28424516

RESUMO

Cancer cells elude anti-tumour immunity through multiple mechanisms, including upregulated expression of ligands for inhibitory immune checkpoint receptors. Phagocytosis by macrophages plays a critical role in cancer control. Therapeutic blockade of signal regulatory protein (SIRP)-α, an inhibitory receptor on macrophages, or of its ligand CD47 expressed on tumour cells, improves tumour cell elimination in vitro and in vivo, suggesting that blockade of the SIRPα-CD47 checkpoint could be useful in treating human cancer. However, the pro-phagocytic receptor(s) responsible for tumour cell phagocytosis is(are) largely unknown. Here we find that macrophages are much more efficient at phagocytosis of haematopoietic tumour cells, compared with non-haematopoietic tumour cells, in response to SIRPα-CD47 blockade. Using a mouse lacking the signalling lymphocytic activation molecule (SLAM) family of homotypic haematopoietic cell-specific receptors, we determined that phagocytosis of haematopoietic tumour cells during SIRPα-CD47 blockade was strictly dependent on SLAM family receptors in vitro and in vivo. In both mouse and human cells, this function required a single SLAM family member, SLAMF7 (also known as CRACC, CS1, CD319), expressed on macrophages and tumour cell targets. In contrast to most SLAM receptor functions, SLAMF7-mediated phagocytosis was independent of signalling lymphocyte activation molecule-associated protein (SAP) adaptors. Instead, it depended on the ability of SLAMF7 to interact with integrin Mac-1 (refs 18, 19, 20) and utilize signals involving immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motifs. These findings elucidate the mechanism by which macrophages engulf and destroy haematopoietic tumour cells. They also reveal a novel SAP adaptor-independent function for a SLAM receptor. Lastly, they suggest that patients with tumours expressing SLAMF7 are more likely to respond to SIRPα-CD47 blockade therapy.


Assuntos
Neoplasias Hematológicas/imunologia , Neoplasias Hematológicas/patologia , Antígeno de Macrófago 1/metabolismo , Macrófagos/imunologia , Fagocitose/imunologia , Família de Moléculas de Sinalização da Ativação Linfocitária/metabolismo , Actinas/metabolismo , Animais , Antígenos de Diferenciação/imunologia , Antígenos de Diferenciação/metabolismo , Antígeno CD47/imunologia , Antígeno CD47/metabolismo , Feminino , Neoplasias Hematológicas/tratamento farmacológico , Humanos , Macrófagos/citologia , Macrófagos/metabolismo , Masculino , Camundongos , Camundongos Knockout , Receptores Imunológicos/antagonistas & inibidores , Receptores Imunológicos/imunologia , Receptores Imunológicos/metabolismo , Família de Moléculas de Sinalização da Ativação Linfocitária/deficiência
5.
Sensors (Basel) ; 23(4)2023 Feb 04.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36850369

RESUMO

Catenary-pantograph contact force is generally used for assessment of the current collection quality. A good current collection quality not only increases catenary lifetime but also keeps a stable electric supply and helps to avoid accidents. Low contact forces lead to electric arcs that degrade the catenary, and high contact forces generate excessive wear on the sliding surfaces. Railway track operators require track tests to ensure that catenary-pantograph force remains between safe values. However, a direct measure of the contact force requires an instrumented pantograph which is generally costly and complicated. This paper presents a test bench that allows testing virtual catenaries over real pantographs. Therefore, the contact point force behavior can be tested before the track test to guarantee that the test is passed. Moreover, due to its flexibility, the system can be used for model identification and validation, catenary testing, or contact loss simulation. The test bench also explores using computer vision as an additional sensor for each application. Results show that the system has high precision and flexibility in the available tests.

6.
Int J Mol Sci ; 24(10)2023 May 10.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37239868

RESUMO

Insulin resistance is one of the main characteristics of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and the main cause of the development of type II diabetes. The high prevalence of this syndrome in recent decades has made it necessary to search for preventive and therapeutic agents, ideally of natural origin, with fewer side effects than conventional pharmacological treatments. Tea is widely known for its medicinal properties, including beneficial effects on weight management and insulin resistance. The aim of this study was to analyze whether a standardized extract of green and black tea (ADM® Complex Tea Extract (CTE)) prevents the development of insulin resistance in mice with MetS. For this purpose, C57BL6/J mice were fed for 20 weeks with a standard diet (Chow), a diet with 56% kcal from fat and sugar (HFHS) or an HFHS diet supplemented with 1.6% CTE. CTE supplementation reduced body weight gain, adiposity and circulating leptin levels. Likewise, CTE also exerted lipolytic and antiadipogenic effects in 3T3-L1 adipocyte cultures and in the C. elegans model. Regarding insulin resistance, CTE supplementation significantly increased plasma adiponectin concentrations and reduced the circulating levels of insulin and the HOMA-IR. Incubation of liver, gastrocnemius muscle and retroperitoneal adipose tissue explants with insulin increased the pAkt/Akt ratio in mice fed with Chow and HFHS + CTE but not in those fed only with HFHS. The greater activation of the PI3K/Akt pathway in response to insulin in mice supplemented with CTE was associated with a decrease in the expression of the proinflammatory markers Mcp-1, IL-6, IL-1ß or Tnf-α and with an overexpression of the antioxidant enzymes Sod-1, Gpx-3, Ho-1 and Gsr in these tissues. Moreover, in skeletal muscle, mice treated with CTE showed increased mRNA levels of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (Ahr), Arnt and Nrf2, suggesting that the CTE's insulin-sensitizing effects could be the result of the activation of this pathway. In conclusion, supplementation with the standardized extract of green and black tea CTE reduces body weight gain, exerts lipolytic and antiadipogenic effects and reduces insulin resistance in mice with MetS through its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects.


Assuntos
Camellia sinensis , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2 , Resistência à Insulina , Síndrome Metabólica , Camundongos , Animais , Síndrome Metabólica/tratamento farmacológico , Síndrome Metabólica/complicações , Chá , Diabetes Mellitus Tipo 2/tratamento farmacológico , Fosfatidilinositol 3-Quinases , Caenorhabditis elegans , Proteínas Proto-Oncogênicas c-akt , Extratos Vegetais/farmacologia , Extratos Vegetais/uso terapêutico , Obesidade/metabolismo , Aumento de Peso , Insulina , Antioxidantes/farmacologia , Antioxidantes/uso terapêutico , Suplementos Nutricionais , Dieta Hiperlipídica/efeitos adversos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL
7.
J Infect Dis ; 225(2): 287-294, 2022 01 18.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34166509

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection induces epigenetic age acceleration (EAA), but it remains unclear whether epigenetic aging continues to accelerate during successful antiretroviral therapy (ART) and prolonged virological suppression. METHODS: We longitudinally analyzed 63 long-term aviremic HIV-infected adults. Using blood DNA methylation patterns, we calculated EAA measures based on 3 epigenetic clocks (Horvath's clock, PhenoAge, and GrimAge). We recorded the emergence of serious AIDS-related and non-AIDS-related events throughout the study to assess its association with EAA. RESULTS: All participants were on stable ART and were virologically suppressed. After 4 years of follow-up, PhenoAge-EAA and GrimAge-EAA showed no differences, whereas Horvath-EAA slightly decreased (median difference, -0.53 years; P = .015). Longitudinal changes in EAA measures were independent of changes in CD4 cell counts, the ART regimen, or other HIV-related factors. Nineteen percent of participants experienced a serious clinical event during the study. Horvath-EAA was significantly higher at baseline in participants with clinical events (P = .027). After adjusting for confounders, we found a trend toward an association of higher levels of all EAA measures at baseline with serious clinical events. CONCLUSIONS: Epigenetic aging did not accelerate in long-term aviremic HIV-infected adults after 4 years of successful ART. EAA measures deserve further study as potential tools for predicting clinical events.


Assuntos
Envelhecimento/genética , Terapia Antirretroviral de Alta Atividade/métodos , Epigênese Genética , Infecções por HIV/tratamento farmacológico , Adulto , Antirretrovirais/uso terapêutico , Terapia Antirretroviral de Alta Atividade/efeitos adversos , Epigenômica , Feminino , Humanos , Estudos Longitudinais , Masculino , Pessoa de Meia-Idade
8.
Int J Mol Sci ; 23(5)2022 Mar 03.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-35269936

RESUMO

Inhibition of the HIV-1 fusion process constitutes a promising strategy to neutralize the virus at an early stage before it enters the cell. In this process, the envelope glycoprotein (Env) plays a central role by promoting membrane fusion. We previously identified a vulnerability at the flexible C-terminal end of the gp41 C-terminal heptad repeat (CHR) region to inhibition by a single-chain miniprotein (named covNHR-N) that mimics the first half of the gp41 N-terminal heptad repeat (NHR). The miniprotein exhibited low stability, moderate binding to its complementary CHR region, both as an isolated peptide and in native trimeric Envs, and low inhibitory activity against a panel of pseudoviruses. The addition of a disulfide bond stabilizing the miniprotein increased its inhibitory activity, without altering the binding affinity. Here, to further study the effect of conformational stability on binding and inhibitory potency, we additionally stabilized these miniproteins by engineering a second disulfide bond stapling their N-terminal end, The new disulfide-bond strongly stabilizes the protein, increases binding affinity for the CHR target and strongly improves inhibitory activity against several HIV-1 strains. Moreover, high inhibitory activity could be achieved without targeting the preserved hydrophobic pocket motif of gp41. These results may have implications in the discovery of new strategies to inhibit HIV targeting the gp41 CHR region.


Assuntos
Inibidores da Fusão de HIV , HIV-1 , Sequência de Aminoácidos , Dissulfetos/metabolismo , Proteína gp41 do Envelope de HIV/química , Inibidores da Fusão de HIV/farmacologia , Conformação Proteica
9.
Int J Mol Sci ; 23(24)2022 Dec 07.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36555153

RESUMO

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, considerable efforts have been made to develop protective vaccines against SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, immunity tends to decline within a few months, and new virus variants are emerging with increased transmissibility and capacity to evade natural or vaccine-acquired immunity. Therefore, new robust strategies are needed to combat SARS-CoV-2 infection. The viral spike composed of S1 and S2 subunits mediates viral attachment and membrane fusion to infect the host cell. In this process, interaction between the highly conserved heptad repeat 1 and 2 regions (HR1 and HR2) of S2 is crucial and for this reason; these regions are promising targets to fight SARS-CoV-2. Here, we describe the design and characterization of chimeric proteins that structurally imitate the S2 HR1 region in a trimeric coiled-coil conformation. We biophysically characterized the proteins and determined their capacity to bind the HR2 region, as well as their inhibitory activity of SARS-CoV-2 infection in vitro. HR1 mimetic proteins showed conformational heterogeneity and a propensity to form oligomers. Moreover, their structure is composed of subdomains with varied stability. Interestingly, the full HR1 proteins showed high affinity for HR2-derived peptides and SARS-CoV-2 inhibitory activity, whereas smaller proteins mimicking HR1 subdomains had a decreased affinity for their complementary HR2 region and did not inhibit the virus. The results provide insight into effective strategies to create mimetic proteins with broad inhibitory activity and therapeutic potential against SARS-CoV-2.


Assuntos
COVID-19 , SARS-CoV-2 , Humanos , SARS-CoV-2/metabolismo , Proteínas do Envelope Viral/química , Glicoproteínas de Membrana/metabolismo , Sequência de Aminoácidos , Glicoproteína da Espícula de Coronavírus/metabolismo , Pandemias , Vacinas contra COVID-19 , Proteínas Recombinantes de Fusão
10.
J Clin Immunol ; 41(6): 1291-1302, 2021 08.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33954879

RESUMO

Mutations in recombinase activating genes 1 and 2 (RAG1/2) result in human severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID). The products of these genes are essential for V(D)J rearrangement of the antigen receptors during lymphocyte development. Mutations resulting in null-recombination activity in RAG1 or RAG2 are associated with the most severe clinical and immunological phenotypes, whereas patients with hypomorphic mutations may develop leaky SCID, including Omenn syndrome (OS). A group of previously unrecognized clinical phenotypes associated with granulomata and/or autoimmunity have been described as a consequence of hypomorphic mutations. Here, we present six patients from unrelated families with missense variants in RAG1 or RAG2. Phenotypes observed in these patients ranged from OS to severe mycobacterial infections and granulomatous disease. Moreover, we report the first evidence of two variants that had not been associated with immunodeficiency. This study represents the first case series of RAG1- or RAG2-deficient patients from Mexico and Latin America.


Assuntos
Proteínas de Ligação a DNA/deficiência , Proteínas de Ligação a DNA/genética , Proteínas de Homeodomínio/genética , Mutação/genética , Mutação/imunologia , Proteínas Nucleares/deficiência , Proteínas Nucleares/genética , Adolescente , Criança , Feminino , Humanos , Síndromes de Imunodeficiência/genética , Síndromes de Imunodeficiência/imunologia , Lactente , Linfócitos/imunologia , Masculino , México , Fenótipo
11.
Nat Immunol ; 10(3): 297-305, 2009 Mar.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-19151721

RESUMO

CRACC is a self-associating member of the signaling lymphocytic activation molecule family that is expressed on cells of the immune system, including natural killer cells and activated T cells. Here we examine the function and mechanism of action of CRACC using several complementary approaches, including the generation of a CRACC-deficient mouse. Our results demonstrate that CRACC positively regulated natural killer cell functions by a mechanism dependent on the adaptor EAT-2 but not the related adaptor SAP. However, in the absence of EAT-2, CRACC potently inhibited natural killer cell function. CRACC was also inhibitory in T cells, which are typically devoid of EAT-2. Thus, CRACC can exert activating or inhibitory influences on cells of the immune system depending on cellular context and the availability of effector proteins.


Assuntos
Células Matadoras Naturais/imunologia , Receptores Imunológicos/metabolismo , Fatores de Transcrição/metabolismo , Proteínas Adaptadoras de Transdução de Sinal , Animais , Perfilação da Expressão Gênica , Células Matadoras Naturais/metabolismo , Ativação Linfocitária , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Receptores Imunológicos/imunologia , Linfócitos T/imunologia , Linfócitos T/metabolismo , Fatores de Transcrição/imunologia
12.
Nat Immunol ; 10(9): 973-80, 2009 Sep.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-19648922

RESUMO

The adaptors SAP, EAT-2 and ERT are specific to cells of the immune system and belong to the SAP family. All three are expressed in natural killer (NK) cells. Here we examined the global function of the SAP family using mice lacking SAP, EAT-2 and ERT. These adaptors acted together in a mechanism that was essential for the elimination of hematopoietic but not nonhematopoietic cells by NK cells. This function was mediated by many receptors of the SLAM family on NK cells that were engaged by ligands found solely on hematopoietic cells. In the absence of SAP-related adaptors, SLAM receptors lost their activating function and became inhibitory receptors that repressed other activating receptors, such as NKG2D. Hence, the SAP family is essential for the elimination of unwanted hematopoietic cells by NK cells.


Assuntos
Proteínas Adaptadoras de Transdução de Sinal/fisiologia , Sistema Hematopoético/citologia , Peptídeos e Proteínas de Sinalização Intracelular/fisiologia , Células Matadoras Naturais/fisiologia , Animais , Antígenos CD/fisiologia , Antígenos Ly/fisiologia , Antígeno CD48 , Células CHO , Cricetinae , Cricetulus , Antígenos de Histocompatibilidade Classe I/fisiologia , Interferon gama/biossíntese , Ativação Linfocitária , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Camundongos Knockout , Subfamília K de Receptores Semelhantes a Lectina de Células NK/fisiologia , Ratos , Proteína Associada à Molécula de Sinalização da Ativação Linfocitária , Família de Moléculas de Sinalização da Ativação Linfocitária , Fatores de Transcrição/fisiologia
13.
Scand J Immunol ; 93(6): e13034, 2021 Jun.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33660295

RESUMO

Griscelli syndrome (GS) is a rare autosomal recessive disease with characteristic pigment distribution, and there are currently 3 types according to the underlying genetic defect and clinical features. We present the case of a girl born from consanguineous parents who presented with predominant neurologic symptoms, silvery hair and granulomatous skin lesions. Cerebral magnetic resonance revealed diffuse white matter lesions, and central nervous system (CNS) lymphocytic infiltration was suspected. The patient underwent haematopoietic stem cell transplantation with graft failure and autologous reconstitution. She developed elevated liver enzyme with a cholestatic pattern. Multiple liver biopsies revealed centrilobular cholestasis and unspecific portal inflammation that improved with immunomodulatory treatment. She was revealed to have an impaired cytotoxicity in NK cells and a decreased expression of RAB27A. However, no variants were found in the gene. All types of GS present with pigment dilution and irregular pigment clumps that can be seen through light microscopy in hair and skin biopsy. Dermic granulomas and immunodeficiency with infectious and HLH predisposition have been described in GS type 2 (GS2). Neurologic alterations might be seen in GS type 1 (GS1) and GS type 2 (GS2), due to different mechanisms. GS1 presents with neurologic impairment secondary to myosin Va role in neuronal development and synapsis. Meanwhile, GS2 can present with neurologic impairment secondary to SNC HLH. Clinical features and cytotoxicity might aid in differentiating GS1 and GS2, especially since treatment differs.


Assuntos
Perda Auditiva Neurossensorial/diagnóstico , Perda Auditiva Neurossensorial/terapia , Linfo-Histiocitose Hemofagocítica/diagnóstico , Linfo-Histiocitose Hemofagocítica/terapia , Piebaldismo/diagnóstico , Piebaldismo/terapia , Transtornos da Pigmentação/diagnóstico , Transtornos da Pigmentação/terapia , Doenças da Imunodeficiência Primária/diagnóstico , Doenças da Imunodeficiência Primária/terapia , Biomarcadores , Biópsia , Gerenciamento Clínico , Suscetibilidade a Doenças/imunologia , Predisposição Genética para Doença , Perda Auditiva Neurossensorial/etiologia , Humanos , Linfo-Histiocitose Hemofagocítica/etiologia , Mutação , Fenótipo , Piebaldismo/etiologia , Transtornos da Pigmentação/etiologia , Doenças da Imunodeficiência Primária/etiologia , Prognóstico
14.
J Allergy Clin Immunol ; 146(5): 1165-1179.e11, 2020 11.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32311393

RESUMO

BACKGROUND: Severe early-onset erythroderma and gut inflammation, with massive tissue infiltration of oligoclonal activated T cells are the hallmark of Omenn syndrome (OS). OBJECTIVE: The impact of altered gut homeostasis in the cutaneous manifestations of OS remains to be clarified. METHODS: We analyzed a cohort of 15 patients with OS and the 129Sv/C57BL/6 knock-in Rag2R229Q/R229Q (Rag2R229Q) mouse model. Homing phenotypes of circulating lymphocytes were analyzed by flow cytometry. Inflammatory cytokines and chemokines were examined in the sera by ELISA and in skin biopsies by immunohistochemistry and in situ RNA hybridization. Experimental colitis was induced in mice by dextran sulfate sodium salt. RESULTS: We show that memory/activated T cells from patients with OS and from the Rag2R229Q mouse model of OS abundantly express the skin homing receptors cutaneous lymphocyte associated antigen and CCR4 (Ccr4), associated with high levels of chemokine C-C motif ligands 17 and 22. Serum levels of LPS are also elevated. A broad Th1/Th2/Th17 inflammatory signature is detected in the periphery and in the skin. Increased Tlr4 expression in the skin of Rag2R229Q mice is associated with enhanced cutaneous inflammation on local and systemic administration of LPS. Likewise, boosting colitis in Rag2R229Q mice results in increased frequency of Ccr4+ splenic T cells and worsening of skin inflammation, as indicated by epidermal thickening, enhanced epithelial cell activation, and dermal infiltration by Th1 effector T cells. CONCLUSIONS: These results support the existence of an interplay between gut and skin that can sustain skin inflammation in OS.


Assuntos
Dermatite/imunologia , Inflamação/imunologia , Intestinos/imunologia , Imunodeficiência Combinada Severa/imunologia , Pele/patologia , Células Th1/imunologia , Junções Íntimas/patologia , Animais , Estudos de Coortes , Proteínas de Ligação a DNA/genética , Modelos Animais de Doenças , Microbioma Gastrointestinal , Humanos , Ativação Linfocitária , Camundongos , Camundongos Endogâmicos C57BL , Receptores CCR4/metabolismo
15.
Health Promot Pract ; 22(4): 462-468, 2021 07.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33073618

RESUMO

Latinos are the largest minority population group in the United States, and Latino children currently account for one fourth of U.S. children under age 18. Family is a core value in the Latino culture, and fathers play a central role within the family, including making decisions that influence their children's health. Nonetheless, Latino fathers are often underrepresented in child health research. This study was designed to describe effective strategies to recruit Latino fathers into five child health research studies. Using a data recruitment log, we collected quantitative and qualitative data on recruitment strategies used to reach and enroll Latino fathers into five child health research studies from 2016 to 2020. Methods classified as direct recruitment strategies involved interaction between potential participants with research staff, whereas indirect methods involved no interaction with research staff and potential participants. In total 113 Latino fathers, majority low-income, immigrant, participated in the studies. Direct recruitment methods in combination with snowball sampling were the most successful strategies for recruiting Latino fathers, contributing to approximately 96% (n = 107) of the total participants. Indirect methods were much less effective, with social media contributing to only 3.6% (n = 4) of total participants. Not a single participant was recruited through printed materials (e.g., flyers posted or distributed). Furthermore, qualitative findings revealed the importance of culturally and linguistically relevant approaches in efforts to recruit and enroll Latino fathers. Future research should consider directly asking Latino fathers' preferences for recruitment and participation in child health research.


Assuntos
Pai , Mídias Sociais , Adolescente , Criança , Saúde da Criança , Hispânico ou Latino , Humanos , Masculino , Pobreza , Estados Unidos
16.
Trop Anim Health Prod ; 53(3): 378, 2021 Jun 29.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34185177

RESUMO

Selection indexes in dual-purpose cattle should include beef, milk and reproductive traits. The principal component analysis is a multivariate technique that allows researchers to explore relationships between explanatory variables and traits of interest. The objective of this study was to construct selection indexes for tropical dual-purpose Simmental cattle based on principal components. The evaluated traits were weight at 8 months of age; age at first calving; cumulative first-lactation milk yield at 60, 150, 210 and 305 days; and first calving interval. The selection indexes were estimated as the sum of the products of the estimated breeding values for the seven traits times their respective eigenvectors for the first three principal components. The three selection indexes from principal components analysis generated favourable expected genetic progress for all the traits. However, a selection index with a high expected genetic progress for all traits could not be obtained. The principal component analysis allows breeders to have a selection index that simultaneously improves milk, beef and reproductive traits in dual-purpose Simmental cattle. Because a selection index yielding high expected genetic progress for all traits could not be achieved, the decision to use a specific selection index will depend on the specific conditions of the market, the local needs and the farmer preference.


Assuntos
Leite , Reprodução , Animais , Bovinos/genética , Feminino , Lactação , Fenótipo , Análise de Componente Principal
17.
Neurobiol Learn Mem ; 169: 107190, 2020 03.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32058005

RESUMO

Instrumental conditioning involves two different processes: Goal-directed behavior, characterized by its dependence on the causal relationship between action and outcome and the sensitivity of actions to changes in the value of the outcome; and habits, characterized for its persistence and insensitivity to changes after conditioning. It is known that the dopaminergic system is involved in both kind of learning. The present experiments analyzed two animal models of Parkinson's disease. The 6-OHDA model causes selective damage of the catecholaminergic neurons, specifically affecting the dopaminergic neurons in nigro-striatal system. This model simulates degenerative process symptomatology of Parkinson's disease. On the other hand, the LPS model generates an inflammation process in the infusion area. This model simulates the early symptoms of this disorder, including neuroinflammation and microglia activation. In order to validate both parkinsonian models, we studied if 6-OHDA and LPS models cause the same behavioral effects. The results showed that the 6-OHDA model interfered with the process involved in habit formation. In contrast, animals treated with LPS showed a goal-directed learning deficit. Differences between these models could be due to the different effects on Substantia Nigra neurons. 6-OHDA model might disrupt the nigrostriatal pathway, while LPS could interfere on efferences and afferences to Substantia Nigra.


Assuntos
Modelos Animais de Doenças , Objetivos , Hábitos , Doença de Parkinson/psicologia , Transtornos Parkinsonianos/psicologia , Animais , Condicionamento Operante/fisiologia , Extinção Psicológica , Lipopolissacarídeos/administração & dosagem , Masculino , Oxidopamina/administração & dosagem , Transtornos Parkinsonianos/induzido quimicamente , Ratos Wistar
18.
Arch Biochem Biophys ; 688: 108401, 2020 07 30.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32376316

RESUMO

HIV-1 glycoprotein 41 (gp41) mediates fusion between virus and target cells by folding into a fusion active state, in which the C-terminal heptad repeat (CHR) regions associate externally to the N-terminal heptad repeat (NHR) trimer and form a very stable six-helix bundle coiled-coil structure. Therefore, interfering with the NHR-CHR interaction of gp41 is a promising therapeutic approach against HIV-1. However, a full understanding of the molecular and mechanistic details of this interaction is still incomplete. Here, we use single-chain, chimeric proteins (named covNHR) that reproduce accurately the CHR-NHR interactions to analyze the binding thermodynamics of several peptides with different length from the CHR region. The results indicate that cooperative binding involving two or more pockets of the NHR groove is necessary to obtain relevant affinities and that the binding energy is broadly distributed along the interface, underlining a crucial role of a middle pocket to achieve tight binding. In contrast, targeting only the deep hydrophobic pocket is insufficient to achieve significant affinity. Moreover, calorimetry experiments in combination with limited proteolysis performed using a mutant with occluded binding in the N-terminal pocket reveal the existence of an allosteric communication between the different regions. This study is the first detailed thermodynamic dissection of the NHR-CHR interaction in gp41 and contributes therefore to a better understanding of HIV fusion. These results are relevant for the development of potential fusion inhibitors.


Assuntos
Proteína gp41 do Envelope de HIV/metabolismo , HIV-1/química , Fragmentos de Peptídeos/metabolismo , Motivos de Aminoácidos , Sequência de Aminoácidos , Calorimetria , Proteína gp41 do Envelope de HIV/química , Fragmentos de Peptídeos/química , Ligação Proteica , Proteínas Recombinantes de Fusão/química , Proteínas Recombinantes de Fusão/metabolismo , Termodinâmica
19.
J Math Biol ; 80(7): 2227-2255, 2020 06.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32335708

RESUMO

In this paper we present a novel method for finding unknown parameters for an unknown morphogen. We postulate the existence of an unknown morphogen in a given three-dimensional domain due to the spontaneous arrangement of a downstream species on the domain boundary for which data is known. Assuming a modified Helmholtz model for the morphogen and that it is produced from a single source in the domain, our method accurately estimates the source location and other model parameters. Notably, our method does not require the forward solution of the model to be computed which can often be a challenge for three-dimensional PDE model parameter fitting. Instead, an extension is made from the problem domain to an infinite domain and the analytic nature of the fundamental solution is exploited. We explore in this manuscript strategies for best conditioning the problem and rigorously explore the accuracy of the method on two test problems. Our tests focus on the effect of source location on accuracy but also the robustness of the algorithm to experimental noise.


Assuntos
Modelos Biológicos , Morfogênese/fisiologia , Algoritmos , Animais , Conceitos Matemáticos , Transdução de Sinais/fisiologia
20.
J Appl Biomech ; 36(4): 235-243, 2020 Aug 01.
Artigo em Inglês | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32659745

RESUMO

This study compared lower-limb muscle function, defined as the contributions of muscles to center-of-mass support and braking, during a single-leg hopping task in anterior cruciate ligament-reconstructed (ACLR) individuals and uninjured controls. In total, 65 ACLR individuals and 32 controls underwent a standardized anticipated single-leg forward hop. Kinematics and ground reaction force data were input into musculoskeletal models to calculate muscle forces and to quantify muscle function by decomposing the vertical (support) and fore-aft (braking) ground reaction force components into contributions by individual lower-limb muscles. Four major muscles, the vasti, soleus, gluteus medius, and gluteus maximus, were primarily involved in support and braking in both ACLR and uninjured groups. However, although the ACLR group demonstrated lower peak forces for these muscles (all Ps < .001, except gluteus maximus, P = .767), magnitude differences in these muscles' contributions to support and braking were not significant. ACLR individuals demonstrated higher erector spinae (P = .012) and hamstrings forces (P = .085) to maintain a straighter, stiffer landing posture with more forward lumbar flexion. This altered landing posture may have enabled the ACLR group to achieve similar muscle function to controls, despite muscle force deficits. Our findings may benefit rehabilitation and the development of interventions to enable faster and safer return to sport.

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