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International Journal of Molecular... Jul 2019During pregnancy, the placenta, the mother and the fetus exploit several mechanisms in order to avoid fetal rejection and to maintain an immunotolerant environment... (Review)
Review
During pregnancy, the placenta, the mother and the fetus exploit several mechanisms in order to avoid fetal rejection and to maintain an immunotolerant environment throughout nine months. During this time, immune cells from the fetal and maternal compartments interact to provide an adequate defense in case of an infection and to promote a tolerogenic milieu for the fetus to develop peacefully. Trophoblasts and decidual cells, together with resident natural killer cells, dendritic cells, Hofbauer cells and other macrophages, among other cell types, contribute to the modulation of the uterine environment to sustain a successful pregnancy. In this review, the authors outlined some of the various roles that the innate immune system plays at the maternal-fetal interface. First, the cell populations that are recruited into gestational tissues and their immune mechanisms were examined. In the second part, the Toll-like receptor (TLR)-dependent immune responses at the maternal-fetal interface was summarized, in terms of their specific cytokine/chemokine/antimicrobial peptide expression profiles throughout pregnancy.
Topics: Animals; Biomarkers; Chorioallantoic Membrane; Cytokines; Female; Humans; Immunity; Immunity, Innate; Immunomodulation; Maternal-Fetal Exchange; Placenta; Pregnancy; Toll-Like Receptors
PubMed: 31357391
DOI: 10.3390/ijms20153654 -
International Journal of Molecular... Jan 2020Nasal mucosa injury can be caused by trauma, radiotherapy, chronic infection such as sinusitis, and post sinus surgery. The rate of healing and its treatment are... (Review)
Review
Nasal mucosa injury can be caused by trauma, radiotherapy, chronic infection such as sinusitis, and post sinus surgery. The rate of healing and its treatment are important in the recovery of patients especially in post sinus surgery, which introduces new injuries. In this review, the current knowledge in terms of the mechanism underlying nasal wound healing was initially discussed. The currently available treatment options for enhancement of wound healing following sinus surgery were discussed and these had included intravenous antibiotics or steroids, various nasal sprays, and nasal packing. In addition, emerging alternative therapies in nasal mucosa wound healing such as herbal medicine and the advancement of regenerative medicine therapies such as stem cells and their byproducts were also discussed. Despite the various available treatment options for wound healing in nasal mucosa, rigorous strong evidence of their efficacy is gravely warranted in order to recommend them as part of the treatment modality.
Topics: Administration, Oral; Anti-Bacterial Agents; Complementary Therapies; Endoscopy; Humans; Nasal Mucosa; Nasal Sprays; Paranasal Sinus Diseases; Postoperative Complications; Steroids; Wound Healing
PubMed: 31940884
DOI: 10.3390/ijms21020480 -
Nutrients May 2020The so-called Western diet is rich in saturated fat and sugars and poor in plant-derived fibers, and it is associated with an increased risk of metabolic and...
The so-called Western diet is rich in saturated fat and sugars and poor in plant-derived fibers, and it is associated with an increased risk of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases, as well as chronic (low grade) inflammation. The detrimental effects of poor diet are in part mediated by gut microbiota, whose composition, functionality and metabolic end products respond to dietary changes. Recent studies have shown that high intake of sugars increase the relative abundance of Proteobacteria in the gut, while simultaneously decreasing the abundance of Bacteroidetes, which can mitigate the effects of endotoxin, as well as reinforce gut barrier function. Thus, a high sugar intake may stagger the balance of microbiota to have increased pro-inflammatory properties and decreased the capacity to regulate epithelial integrity and mucosal immunity. Consequently, high dietary sugar can, through the modulation of microbiota, promote metabolic endotoxemia, systemic (low grade) inflammation and the development of metabolic dysregulation and thereby, high dietary sugar may have many-fold deleterious health effects, in addition to providing excess energy.
Topics: Bacteroidetes; Cardiovascular Diseases; Dietary Sugars; Eating; Endotoxemia; Endotoxins; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Heart Disease Risk Factors; Humans; Intestinal Mucosa; Metabolic Diseases; Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Proteobacteria
PubMed: 32397233
DOI: 10.3390/nu12051348 -
Journal of Hepatology Dec 2015Studies examining the mechanisms by which the liver incurs injury and then regenerates usually focus on factors and pathways directly within the liver, neglecting the... (Review)
Review
Studies examining the mechanisms by which the liver incurs injury and then regenerates usually focus on factors and pathways directly within the liver, neglecting the signaling derived from the gut-liver axis. The intestinal content is rich in microorganisms as well as metabolites generated from both the host and colonizing bacteria. Through the gut-liver axis, this complex "soup" exerts an immense impact on liver integrity and function. This review article summarizes data published in the past 30 years demonstrating the signaling derived from the gut-liver axis in relation to liver injury and regeneration. Due to the intricate networks of implicated pathways as well as scarcity of available mechanistic data, it seems that nutrigenomic, metabolomics, and microbiota profiling approaches are warranted to provide a better understanding regarding the interplay and impact between nutrition, bacteria, and host response in influencing liver function and healing. Therefore elucidating the possible molecular mechanisms that link microbiota alteration to host physiological response and vice versa.
Topics: Bile Acids and Salts; Endotoxins; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Humans; Intestinal Mucosa; Liver; Liver Regeneration; Microbiota; Models, Biological; Probiotics; Signal Transduction
PubMed: 26256437
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhep.2015.08.001 -
Science Signaling Feb 2020The amnion is remodeled during pregnancy to protect the growing fetus it contains, and it is particularly dynamic just before and during labor. By combining...
The amnion is remodeled during pregnancy to protect the growing fetus it contains, and it is particularly dynamic just before and during labor. By combining ultrastructural, immunohistochemical, and Western blotting analyses, we found that human and mouse amnion membranes during labor were subject to epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), mediated, in part, by the p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway responding to oxidative stress. Primary human amnion epithelial cell cultures established from amnion membranes from nonlaboring, cesarean section deliveries exhibited EMT after exposure to oxidative stress, and the pregnancy maintenance hormone progesterone (P4) reversed this process. Oxidative stress or transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) stimulated EMT in a manner that depended on TGF-β-activated kinase 1 binding protein 1 (TAB1) and p38 MAPK. P4 stimulated the reverse transition, MET, in primary human amnion mesenchymal cells (AMCs) through progesterone receptor membrane component 2 (PGRMC2) and c-MYC. Our results indicate that amnion membrane cells dynamically transition between epithelial and mesenchymal states to maintain amnion integrity and repair membrane damage, as well as in response to inflammation and mechanical damage to protect the fetus until parturition. An irreversible EMT and the accumulation of AMCs characterize the amnion membranes at parturition.
Topics: Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing; Amnion; Animals; Cells, Cultured; Epithelial Cells; Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; Female; Gene Expression; Humans; Membrane Proteins; Mesenchymal Stem Cells; Mice; Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; Oxidative Stress; Parturition; Pregnancy; Receptors, Progesterone; Transforming Growth Factor beta1; p38 Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
PubMed: 32047115
DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.aay1486 -
Frontiers in Immunology 2021Periodontal disease, a common inflammatory disease, is considered a hazardous factor that contributes to the development of diseases of the digestive system as well as... (Review)
Review
Periodontal disease, a common inflammatory disease, is considered a hazardous factor that contributes to the development of diseases of the digestive system as well as other systems. The bridge between periodontitis and systemic diseases is believed to be periodontal pathogens. The intestine, as part of the lower gastrointestinal tract, has a close connection with the oral cavity. Within the intestine, the intestinal barrier acts as a multifunctional system including microbial, mucous, physical and immune barrier. The intestinal barrier forms the body's first line of defense against external pathogens; its breakdown can lead to pathological changes in the gut and other organs or systems. Reports in the literature have described how oral periodontal pathogens and pathobiont-reactive immune cells can transmigrate to the intestinal mucosa, causing the destruction of intestinal barrier homeostasis. Such findings might lead to novel ideas for investigating the relationship between periodontal disease and other systemic diseases. This review summarizes studies on the effects of periodontal pathogens on the intestinal barrier, which might contribute to understanding the link between periodontitis and gastrointestinal diseases.
Topics: Animals; Bacteria; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Gastrointestinal Microbiome; Host-Pathogen Interactions; Humans; Intestinal Mucosa; Mouth; Periodontal Diseases; Permeability
PubMed: 34386004
DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.693479 -
American Journal of Botany Apr 2018While tradeoffs among mechanical and conductive functions have been well investigated in woody stems, these tradeoffs are relatively unexplored in petioles, the...
PREMISE OF THE STUDY
While tradeoffs among mechanical and conductive functions have been well investigated in woody stems, these tradeoffs are relatively unexplored in petioles, the structural link between stems and laminas. We investigated size-independent scaling relationships between cross-sectional areas of structural and vascular tissues, relationships between tissue areas of xylem and phloem, vessel packing within xylem, and scaling of vascular and structural tissues with lamina traits.
METHODS
We examined allometric relationships among petiole tissues and as a function of lamina and petiole size variation on eleven species of Pelargonium. From transverse sections of methacrylate-embedded tissue, we measured the cross-sectional areas of all tissues within the petiole and vessel lumen, and cell wall areas of each vessel. Allometric scaling relationships were analyzed using standardized major axis regressions.
KEY RESULTS
Pelargonium petiole vessels were packed as predicted by Sperry's packing rule for woody stems. In contrast to woody stems, there was no evidence of a tradeoff between vessel area and fiber area. Within cross-sections, more xylem was produced than phloem. Among bundles, xylem and phloem scaling relationships varied with bundle position. Except for lamina dry mass and petiole fiber cross-sectional area, petiole and lamina traits were independent.
CONCLUSIONS
Petioles share vascular tissue traits with stems despite derivation from leaf primordia. We did not find evidence for a tradeoff between structural and vascular tissues, in part because fibers occur outside the xylem. We propose this separation of conduction and support underlies observed developmental and evolutionary plasticity in petioles.
Topics: Basement Membrane; Pelargonium; Phloem; Plant Leaves; Plant Stems; Xylem
PubMed: 29664993
DOI: 10.1002/ajb2.1054 -
Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry :... 2018Angiogenesis is a key feature during embryo development but is also part of the pathogenesis of cancer in adult life. Angiogenesis might be modulated by inflammation.
BACKGROUND/AIMS
Angiogenesis is a key feature during embryo development but is also part of the pathogenesis of cancer in adult life. Angiogenesis might be modulated by inflammation.
METHODS
We established an angiogenesis model in chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) induced by the exposure of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and analyzed the effects of the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on angiogenesis in this model as well as on the expression of key genes known to involved in the regulation of angiogenesis.
RESULTS
Treatment with NAC was able to normalize LPS induced angiogenesis and restore the LPS-induced damage of vascular epithelium in chick CAM. Using quantitative PCR, we showed that NAC administration normalized the LPS induced expression of Keap1-Nrf2 signaling and oxidative stress key enzyme gene expressions (SOD, GPx and YAP1).
CONCLUSION
We established a LPS-induced angiogenesis model in chick CAM. NAC administration could effectively inhibit LPS-induced angiogenesis and restore the integrity of endothelium on chick CAM. LPS exposure caused an increased expression of genes involved in oxidative stress in chick CAM. NAC administration could abolish this effect.
Topics: Acetylcysteine; Angiotensins; Animals; Antioxidants; Aorta, Thoracic; Chick Embryo; Chickens; Chorioallantoic Membrane; Claudins; Lipopolysaccharides; NF-E2-Related Factor 2; Neovascularization, Physiologic; Oxidative Stress; Signal Transduction; Superoxide Dismutase
PubMed: 30261511
DOI: 10.1159/000493874 -
Scientific Reports Dec 2022The boot-shaped respiratory complex I (CI) consists of a mitochondrial matrix and membrane domain organized into N-, Q- and P-modules. The N-module is the most distal...
The boot-shaped respiratory complex I (CI) consists of a mitochondrial matrix and membrane domain organized into N-, Q- and P-modules. The N-module is the most distal part of the matrix domain, whereas the Q-module is situated between the N-module and the membrane domain. The proton-pumping P-module is situated in the membrane domain. We explored the effect of aging on the disintegration of CI and its constituent subcomplexes and modules in Drosophila flight muscles. We find that the fully-assembled complex remains largely intact in aged flies. And while the effect of aging on the stability of many Q- and N-module subunits in subcomplexes was stochastic, NDUFS3 was consistently down-regulated in subcomplexes with age. This was associated with an accumulation of many P-module subunits in subcomplexes. The potential significance of these studies is that genetic manipulations aimed at boosting, perhaps, a few CI subunits may suffice to restore the whole CI biosynthesis pathway during muscle aging.
Topics: Animals; Electron Transport Complex I; Drosophila melanogaster; Mitochondria; Membranes; Muscles
PubMed: 36575244
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-26414-5 -
World Journal of Gastroenterology Sep 2022Advances in diagnostics of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and improved treatment strategies allowed the establishment of new therapeutic endpoints. Currently, it is... (Review)
Review
Advances in diagnostics of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) and improved treatment strategies allowed the establishment of new therapeutic endpoints. Currently, it is desirable not only to cease clinical symptoms, but mainly to achieve endoscopic remission, a macroscopic normalization of the bowel mucosa. However, up to one-third of IBD patients in remission exhibit persisting microscopic activity of the disease. The evidence suggests a better predictive value of histology for the development of clinical complications such as clinical relapse, surgical intervention, need for therapy escalation, or development of colorectal cancer. The proper assessment of microscopic inflammatory activity thus became an important part of the overall histopathological evaluation of colonic biopsies and many histopathological scoring indices have been established. Nonetheless, a majority of them have not been validated and no scoring index became a part of the routine bioptic practice. This review summarizes a predictive value of microscopic disease activity assessment for the subsequent clinical course of IBD, describes the most commonly used scoring indices for Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, and comments on current limitations and unresolved issues.
Topics: Colitis, Ulcerative; Crohn Disease; Endoscopy; Humans; Inflammatory Bowel Diseases; Intestinal Mucosa
PubMed: 36185628
DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v28.i36.5300