To Örebro University

Skeletal dysplasias are a heterogeneous group of disorders ranging from mild to lethal skeletal defects. We investigated two unrelated families with individuals presenting with a severe skeletal disorder. In family NMD02, affected individuals had a dysostosis multiplex-like skeletal dysplasia and severe short stature (<-8.5 SD). They manifested increasingly coarse facial features, protruding abdomens, and progressive skeletal changes, reminiscent of mucopolysaccharidosis. The patients gradually lost mobility and the two oldest affected individuals died in their twenties. The affected child in family ID01 had coarse facial features and severe skeletal dysplasia with clinical features similar to mucopolysaccharidosis. She had short stature, craniosynostosis, kyphoscoliosis, and hip-joint subluxation. She died at the age of 5 years. Whole-exome sequencing identified two homozygous variants c.133C>T; p.(Arg45Trp) and c.215dupA; p.(Tyr72Ter), respectively, in the two families, affecting an evolutionary conserved gene TMEM251 (NM_001098621.1). Immunofluorescence and confocal studies using human osteosarcoma cells indicated that TMEM251 is localized to the Golgi complex. However, p.Arg45Trp mutant TMEM251 protein was targeted less efficiently and the localization was punctate. Tmem251 knockdown by small interfering RNA induced dedifferentiation of rat primary chondrocytes. Our work implicates TMEM251 in the pathogenesis of a novel disorder and suggests its potential function in chondrocyte differentiation.

The present invention regards polypeptides capable of eliciting an immunological response that is protective against Chlamydia trachomatis. The polypeptide comprises a first amino acid sequence which has at least 90% homology with the amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 1 and a second amino acid sequence which has at least 90% homology with the amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 2. Furthermore, production of these polypeptides and pharmaceutical compositions comprising them are also provided.

Neutrophils operate as part of the innate defence in the skin and may eliminate the Borrelia spirochaete via phagocytosis, oxidative bursts, and hydrolytic enzymes. However, their importance in Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB) is unclear. Neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation, which is associated with the production of reactive oxygen species, involves the extrusion of the neutrophil DNA to form traps that incapacitate bacteria and immobilise viruses. Meanwhile, NET formation has recently been studied in pneumococcal meningitis, the role of NETs in other central nervous system (CNS) infections has previously not been studied. Here, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from clinically well-characterised children (N = 111) and adults (N = 64) with LNB and other CNS infections were analysed for NETs (DNA/myeloperoxidase complexes) and elastase activity. NETs were detected more frequently in the children than the adults (p = 0.01). NET presence was associated with higher CSF levels of CXCL1 (p < 0.001), CXCL6 (p = 0.007), CXCL8 (p = 0.003), CXCL10 (p < 0.001), MMP-9 (p = 0.002), TNF (p = 0.02), IL-6 (p < 0.001), and IL-17A (p = 0.03). NETs were associated with fever (p = 0.002) and correlated with polynuclear pleocytosis (r(s) = 0.53, p < 0.0001). We show that neutrophil activation and active NET formation occur in the CSF samples of children and adults with CNS infections, mainly caused by Borrelia and neurotropic viruses. The role of NETs in the early phase of viral/bacterial CNS infections warrants further investigation.

Background: Our aim was to test the hypothesis that metabolic and inflammatory responses of the brain perioperatively during carotid endarterectomy (CEA) might affect blood brain barrier (BBB) integrity.

Methods: Twenty patients with >70% stenosis of internal carotid artery (ICA) were prospectively included. Surgery was performed under general anaesthesia. Blood was sampled from ipsilateral internal jugular vein and radial artery: just before, during, and after ICA clamping S100B protein, glucose, lactate, 20 amino acids, and key cytokines were analysed.

Results: Jugular vein S100B increased during clamping and reperfusion, while a marginal systemic increase was recorded, unrelated to stump pressure during clamping. Glucose increased during clamping in jugular vein blood and even more systemically, while jugular lactate values were higher than systemic values initially. Most amino acids did not differ significantly between jugular vein and systemic levels: glutamic acid and aspartic acid decreased during surgery while asparagine increased. Jugular vein interleukin (IL)-6 showed a transient non-significant increase during clamping and decreased systemically. IL-8 and IL-10 increased over time.

Conclusions: Rising jugular vein S100B concentrations indicated reduced BBB integrity, and marginal secondary increase of S100B systemically. Limited ischaemic effects on the brain during cross-clamping, unrelated to S100B concentrations, were confirmed by lower brain glucose levels and higher lactate levels than in systemic blood. The lack of increased jugular vein glutamic acid disproves any major ischaemic brain injury following CEA. The inflammatory response was limited, did not differ greatly between jugular and systemic blood, and was unrelated to S100B.

Physical inactivity increases the risk of thromboembolism. However, good standardized human models on inactivity are in short supply and experimental models are few.

Our objective was to investigate how standardized bed rest affects platelet aggregation in humans and to investigate if aggregation is altered in a translational model system - the hibernating brown bear (Ursus arctos). We collected blood from (1) healthy male volunteers participating in a 21-day bed rest study in head-down tilt position (-6°) 24 h a day; (2) free-ranging brown bears captured during winter hibernation and again during active state in summer. We analyzed platelet function using multiple electrode platelet aggregometry. In total, 9 healthy male volunteers (age 31.0 ± 6.4 years) and 13 brown bears (7 females and 6 males, age 2.8 ± 0.6 years) were included. In hibernating bears adenosine diphosphate, arachidonic acid, thrombin receptor activating peptide, and collagen impedance aggregometry tests were all halved compared to summer active state. In human volunteers no statistically significant changes were found between baseline and the end of bed rest. In human male volunteers 3 weeks of bed rest did not affect platelet function. In hibernating brown bears platelet aggregation was halved compared to summer and we hypothesize that this is a protective measure to avoid formation of thrombi under periods of low blood flow.

Flaviviruses are a threat to public health and can cause major disease outbreaks. Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is caused by a flavivirus, and it is one of the most important causes of viral encephalitis in Europe and is on the rise in Sweden. As there is no antiviral treatment availa-ble, vaccination remains the best protective measure against TBE. Currently available TBE vaccines are based on formalin-inactivated virus produced in cell culture. These vaccines must be delivered by intramuscular injection, have a burdensome immunization schedule, and may exhibit vaccine failure in certain populations. This project aimed to develop an edible TBE vaccine to trigger a stronger immune response through oral delivery of viral antigens to mucosal surfaces. We demonstrated successful expression and post-translational processing of flavivirus structural pro-teins which then self-assembled to form virus-like particles in Nicotiana benthamiana. We performed oral toxicity tests in mice using various plant species as potential bioreactors and evaluated the immunogenicity of the resulting edible vaccine candidate. Mice immunized with the edible vaccine candidate did not survive challenge with TBE virus. Interestingly, immunization of female mice with a commercial TBE vaccine can protect their offspring against TBE virus infection. 

Background: Genetic variation in the Laccase (multicopper oxidoreductase) domain-containing 1 (LACC1) gene has been shown to affect the risk of Crohn's disease, leprosy and, more recently, ulcerative colitis and juvenile idiopathic arthritis. LACC1 function appears to promote fatty-acid oxidation, with concomitant inflammasome activation, reactive oxygen species production, and anti-bacterial responses in macrophages. We sought to contribute to elucidating LACC1 biological function by extensive characterization of its expression in human tissues and cells, and through preliminary analyses of the regulatory mechanisms driving such expression.

Methods: We implemented Western blot, quantitative real-time PCR, immunofluorescence microscopy, and flow cytometry analyses to investigate fatty acid metabolism-immune nexus (FAMIN; the LACC1 encoded protein) expression in subcellular compartments, cell lines and relevant human tissues. Gene-set enrichment analyses were performed to initially investigate modulatory mechanisms of LACC1 expression. A small-interference RNA knockdown in vitro model system was used to study the effect of FAMIN depletion on peroxisome function.

Results: FAMIN expression was detected in macrophage-differentiated THP-1 cells and several human tissues, being highest in neutrophils, monocytes/macrophages, myeloid and plasmacytoid dendritic cells among peripheral blood cells. Subcellular co-localization was exclusively confined to peroxisomes, with some additional positivity for organelle endomembrane structures. LACC1 co-expression signatures were enriched for genes involved in peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR) signaling pathways, and PPAR ligands downregulated FAMIN expression in in vitro model systems.

Conclusion: FAMIN is a peroxisome-associated protein with primary role(s) in macrophages and other immune cells, where its metabolic functions may be modulated by PPAR signaling events. However, the precise molecular mechanisms through which FAMIN exerts its biological effects in immune cells remain to be elucidated.

Cigarette smoking (CS) represents the main causative agent underlying development and progress of COPD. Recently, involvement of CS in the pathogenesis of COPDassociated muscle abnormalities is becoming increasingly evident. Nevertheless, involved triggers and underlying mechanisms remain largely unknown. This study was conceived in order to examine effects of cigarette smoke exposure on skeletal muscle morphology, vascular supply and function. For this purpose, we have specifically designed murine COPD/emphysema model and gastrocnemius muscle was examined, while in vitro experiments were conducted using murine C2C12 skeletal muscle myocytes.

In addition to the mild emphysematous changes present in the lungs of CS-exposed mice, our results demonstrated evident signs of muscle atrophy reflected by decreased fiber cross-sectional area, profound fiber size variation and reduced body mass. Furthermore, we have observed impairment in terminal myogenesis and lower number of myonuclei in skeletal muscles of CS-exposed animals despite evident activation of muscle repair process. Additionally, our results demonstrate capillary rarefaction in skeletal muscles of CS-exposed animals which was associated with deregulation of hypoxia-angiogenesis signaling, reduced levels of angiogenic factors such as HIF1-α and VEGF and enhanced expression of VHL and its partner proteins PHD2 and Ube2D1. The results of our in-vitro experiments demonstrated that VHL and its ubiquitination machinery can be synergistically regulated by TNF and hypoxia consequentially impairing angiogenic potential of skeletal muscle myocytes. Finally, we have shown that CS elicits chronic ER stress in murine skeletal muscles which is associated with activation of ERAD and apoptotic pathways as mirrored by elevated expression of Usp19, caspase 12 and caspase 3 in skeletal muscles of CSexposed animals. Moreover, molecular and morphological alterations in CS-exposed mice resulted in impairment of muscle function as reflected by their impaired exercise capacity.

Taken together, from our results it is evident that cigarette smoke exposure elicits set of morphological, vascular and functional changes highly resembling those observed in COPD. Additionally, CS induces wide range of molecular alterations and signaling pathway deregulations suggesting profound effects of cigarette smoke exposure on skeletal muscle cell homeostasis.

Enhanced protein degradation via ubiquitin proteolytic system (UPS) was demonstrated to play an important role in the pathogenesis of cachexia syndrome and muscle wasting in patients with COPD and animal models of the disease. The role of cigarette smoke (CS) exposure in eliciting these abnormalities remains largely unknown. Usp19 is a member of UPS suggested to be involved in progressive muscle wasting in different catabolic conditions. However, factors regulating Usp19 expression, activity and correlation/s with CS-induced muscle atrophy remainunclear.

Methods: To address these questions, 129 SvJ mice were exposed to cigarette smoke for 6 months and the gastrocnemius muscles were collected. Expression levels of Usp19 as well as pivotal mediators of ER stress response have been studied using PCR, qPCR, western blot and immunofluorescence. Factors regulating muscle Usp19 expression were studied using in-silico analysis of Usp19 promoter as well as by stimulating C2C12 myocytes with different inducers of ER stress including hypoxia, TNF and tunicamycin. Finally, Usp19 expression was depleted in C2C12 myocytes using specific Usp19 siRNA quadriplex and the expression of pivotal myogenic regulators were analyzed.

Results: Usp19 mRNA expression was enhanced in skeletal muscles of CS-exposed mice. Concurrently, ER stress-associated Caspase 12 and Caspase 3 were activated in the CS-exposed group. Analysis of Usp19 promoter sequence revealed binding sites for ER stress response transcription factors such as HSF, STRE1 and AML1-α. Exposure of C2C12 myocytes to tunicamycin but not hypoxia elevated expression levels of Usp19. TNFstimulation elevated Usp19 protein expression but inhibited its RNA transcription in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Finally, Usp19 overexpression in tunicamycin-treated myocytes was accompanied by reduced expression of myosin heavy chain and tropomyosin and their levels were increased after knocking down Usp19 in C2C12 myocytes.

Conclusions: In summary, our data demonstrated elevated expression of Usp19 in skeletal muscles of CS-exposed 129 SvJ mice. Moreover, Usp19 overexpression was associated with muscle adaptations to ER stress and suppression of myogenesis. Taken together; our results might provide further insight into molecular mechanisms underlying development and progression of skeletal muscle abnormalities in response to chronic cigarette smoke exposure.

In spite of the growing body of evidence on the biology of the Zebrafish embryo and stem cells, including the use of Stem Cell Differentiation Stage Factors (SCDSFs) taken from Zebrafish embryo to impact cancer cell dynamics, comparatively little is known about the possibility to use these factors to modulate the homeostasis of normal human stem cells or to modulate the behavior of cells involved in different pathological conditions. In the present review we recall in a synthetic way the most important researches about the use of SCDSFs in reprogramming cancer cells and in modulating the high speed of multiplication of keratinocytes which is characteristic of some pathological diseases like psoriasis. Moreover we add here the results about the capability of SCDSFs in modulating the homeostasis of human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs) isolated from a fat tissue obtained with a novel-non enzymatic method and device. In addition we report the data not yet published about a first protein analysis of the SCDSFs and about their role in a pathological condition like neurodegeneration.

Diabetic neuropathy and nephropathy are common complications of type 1 diabetes (T1D). The symptoms are often elusive in the early stages, and available diagnostic methods can be improved using biomarkers. Matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP-3) has been identified in the kidneys and is thought to be involved in diabetic nephropathy. Growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF-15) has been suggested to have positive effects in diabetes, but is otherwise associated with adverse effects such as cardiovascular risk, declined kidney function, and neurodegeneration. This study aims to investigate plasma MMP-3 and GDF-15 as systemic biomarkers for diabetic neuropathy and nephropathy in T1D. The study involves patients with childhood-onset T1D (n = 48, age 38 +/- 4 years) and a healthy control group (n = 30, age 38 +/- 5 years). Neurophysiology tests, evaluations of albuminuria, and measurements of routine biochemical markers were conducted. The neuropathy impairment assessment (NIA) scoring system, where factors such as loss of sensation and weakened reflexes are evaluated, was used to screen for symptoms of neuropathy. MMP-3 and GDF-15 concentrations were determined in heparinized plasma using ELISA kits. In total, 9 patients (19%) had albuminuria, and 25 (52%) had diabetic neuropathy. No significant differences were found in MMP-3 concentrations between the groups. GDF-15 levels were higher in T1D, with median and interquartile range (IQR) of 358 (242) pg/mL in T1D and 295 (59) in controls (p < 0.001). In the merged patient group, a positive correlation was found between MMP-3 and plasma creatinine, a negative correlation was found between MMP-3 and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR; rho = -0.358, p = 0.012), and there was a positive correlation between GDF-15 and NIA (rho = 0.723, p < 0.001) and high-sensitive C-reactive protein (rho = 0.395, p = 0.005). MMP-3 was increased in macroalbuminuria and correlated positively with NIA only in the nine T1D patients with albuminuria (rho = 0.836, p = 0.005). The present study indicates that high MMP-3 is associated with low eGFR, high plasma creatinine, and macroalbuminuria, and that GDF-15 can be a biomarker for diabetic neuropathy in T1D. MMP-3 may be useful as biomarker for neuropathy in T1D with albuminuria.

Platelet function disorders (PFDs) are common in patients with mild bleeding disorders (MBDs), yet the significance of laboratory findings suggestive of a PFD remain unclear due to the lack of evidence for a clinical correlation between the test results and the patient phenotype. Herein, we present the results from a study evaluating the potential utility of platelet function testing using whole-blood flow cytometry in a cohort of 105 patients undergoing investigation for MBD. Subjects were evaluated with a test panel comprising two different activation markers (fibrinogen binding and P-selectin exposure) and four physiologically relevant platelet agonists (ADP, PAR1-AP, PAR4-AP, and CRP-XL). Abnormal test results were identified by comparison with reference ranges constructed from 24 healthy controls or with the fifth percentile of the entire patient cohort. We found that the abnormal test results are predictive of bleeding symptom severity, and that the greatest predictive strength was achieved using a subset of the panel, comparing measurements of fibrinogen binding after activation with all four agonists with the fifth percentile of the patient cohort (p = 0.00008, hazard ratio 8.7; 95% CI 2.5-40). Our results suggest that whole-blood flow cytometry-based platelet function testing could become a feasible alternative for the investigation of MBDs. We also show that platelet function testing using whole-blood flow cytometry could provide a clinically relevant quantitative assessment of platelet-related hemostasis.

Adverse perinatal events may increase the risk of Tourette's and chronic tic disorders (TD/CTD), but previous studies have been unable to control for unmeasured environmental and genetic confounding. We aimed to prospectively investigate potential perinatal risk factors for TD/CTD, taking unmeasured factors shared between full siblings into account. A population-based birth cohort, consisting of all singletons born in Sweden in 1973-2003, was followed until December 2013. A total of 3 026 861 individuals were identified, 5597 of which had a registered TD/CTD diagnosis. We then studied differentially exposed full siblings from 947 942 families; of these, 3563 families included siblings that were discordant for TD/CTD. Perinatal data were collected from the Medical Birth Register and TD/CTD diagnoses were collected from the National Patient Register, using a previously validated algorithm. In the fully adjusted models, impaired fetal growth, preterm birth, breech presentation and cesarean section were associated with a higher risk of TD/CTD, largely independent from shared family confounders and measured covariates. Maternal smoking during pregnancy was associated with risk of TD/CTD in a dose-response manner but the association was no longer statistically significant in the sibling comparison models or after the exclusion of comorbid attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. A dose-response relationship between the number of adverse perinatal events and increased risk for TD/CTD was also observed, with hazard ratios ranging from 1.41 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.33-1.50) for one event to 2.42 (95% CI: 1.65-3.53) for five or more events. These results pave the way for future gene by environment interaction and epigenetic studies in TD/CTD.

Changes in lipid metabolism are an important but not well-characterized hallmark of cancer. On the basis of our recent findings of lipidomic changes in breast cancer, we investigated glycerol-3-phosphate acyltransferase (GPAM), a key enzyme in the lipid biosynthesis of triacylglycerols and phospholipids. GPAM protein expression was evaluated and linked to metabolomic and lipidomic profiles in a cohort of human breast carcinomas. In addition, GPAM mRNA expression was analyzed using the GeneSapiens in silico transcriptiomics database. High cytoplasmic GPAM expression was associated with hormone receptor negative status (p = 0.013). On the protein (p = 0.048) and mRNA (p = 0.001) levels, increased GPAM expression was associated with a better overall survival. Metabolomic analysis by GC-MS showed that sn-glycerol-3-phosphate, the substrate of GPAM, was elevated in breast cancer compared to normal breast tissue. LC-MS based lipidomic analysis identified significantly higher levels of phospholipids, especially phosphatidylcholines in GPAM protein positive tumors. In conclusion, our results suggest that GPAM is expressed in human breast cancer with associated changes in the cellular metabolism, in particular an increased synthesis of phospholipids, the major structural component of cellular membranes.

Exposure of plants to UV-B radiation (280–320 nm) results in changes in expression of a large number of genes. Before UV-B radiation or light of other wavelengths can give rise to a cellular response, it has to be perceived by some kind of receptor, and the information transduced via a signalling pathway to the target molecules, be it proteins in the cytoplasm

or the genetic material in the nucleus. The perception of low levels of UV-B probably occurs via a UV-B photoreceptor followed by several different signalling pathways. These pathways include second messengers such as calcium, kinases and the catalytic formation of reactive oxygen species. High levels of UV-B, on the other hand, probably cause cellular damage

and oxidative stress, thus activating a general stress signal transduction pathway which leads to a response similar to that which occurs after pathogen attack and other stresses. Some of the genes identified so far as being regulated by UV-B encode proteins involved in the biosynthesis of protective pigments, DNA repair and antioxidative enzymes, photosynthetic genes, cell cycle genes, and stress genes induced by other types of stimuli (i.e. pathogenesis-related proteins and senescence-induced genes). In the light of the information obtained on components necessary for UV-B-induced changes in gene expression, we propose in this mini-review a working model for UV-B perception and signal transduction. This model also takes into account dosage differences for the observations, which imply a separation into UV-B-specific and more general stress signal transduction.

BACKGROUND: Changes in energy metabolism of the cells are common to many kinds of tumors and are considered a hallmark of cancer. Gas chromatography followed by time-of-flight mass spectrometry (GC-TOFMS) is a well-suited technique to investigate the small molecules in the central metabolic pathways. However, the metabolic changes between invasive carcinoma and normal breast tissues were not investigated in a large cohort of breast cancer samples so far.

RESULTS: A cohort of 271 breast cancer and 98 normal tissue samples was investigated using GC-TOFMS-based metabolomics. A total number of 468 metabolite peaks could be detected; out of these 368 (79%) were significantly changed between cancer and normal tissues (p<0.05 in training and validation set). Furthermore, 13 tumor and 7 normal tissue markers were identified that separated cancer from normal tissues with a sensitivity and a specificity of >80%. Two-metabolite classifiers, constructed as ratios of the tumor and normal tissues markers, separated cancer from normal tissues with high sensitivity and specificity. Specifically, the cytidine-5-monophosphate / pentadecanoic acid metabolic ratio was the most significant discriminator between cancer and normal tissues and allowed detection of cancer with a sensitivity of 94.8% and a specificity of 93.9%.

CONCLUSIONS: For the first time, a comprehensive metabolic map of breast cancer was constructed by GC-TOF analysis of a large cohort of breast cancer and normal tissues. Furthermore, our results demonstrate that spectrometry-based approaches have the potential to contribute to the analysis of biopsies or clinical tissue samples complementary to histopathology.

We examined correlating clinical biomarkers for the physical aspect of frailty among community-dwelling older adults in Japan, using Japanese Gerontological Evaluation Study (JAGES). We used information from the JAGES participants (N = 3,128) who also participated in the community health screening in 2010. We grouped participants' response to the Study of Osteoporotic Fracture (SOF) Frailty Index into robust (=0), intermediate frail (=1), and frail (=2+) ones to indicate physical aspect of frailty. Independent of sex and age, results from multinomial logistic regression showed above normal albumin and below normal HDL and haemoglobin levels were positively associated with intermediate frail (RRR = 1.99, 95% CI = 1.22-3.23; RRR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.33-1.39; RRR = 1.36, 95% CI = 1.23-1.51, resp.) and frail cases (RRR = 2.27, 95% CI = 1.91-2.70; RRR = 1.59, 95% CI = 1.51-1.68; RRR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.28-1.52, resp.). Limited to women, above normal Hb1Ac level was similarly associated with intermediate frail and frail cases (RRR = 1.18, 95% CI = 1.02, 1.38; RRR = 2.56, 95% CI = 2.23-2.95, resp.). Use of relevant clinical biomarkers can help in assessment of older adults' physical aspect of frailty.

Muscle tissue (1.1 +/- 0.1 grams) was obtained from seven healthy individuals (3 males, 4 females) using an open incision approach before and after ingestion of either 75 grams of dextrose (N=5) or water (N=2). Purified sarcolemmal membranes from the muscle were prepared using a sucrose step gradient. A polyclonal antibody raised against the purified (99%) rat hepatocyte 40 KD membrane fatty acid binding protein (mFABP-L) was used to probe for this putative transporter in the muscle membranes using Western blot. A single band at the 40 KD MW band was identified which reacted antigenically with the proteinpurified from rat livers. These response of Berk's protein 60-75 minutes after dextrose ingestion (or water) was erratic and no specific trend could be identified. Our data demonstrate that the 40 KD mFABP-L originally isolated from rat liver is also present in human skeletal muscle membrane. This protein may be involved in transport of fatty acids across the membrane of skeletal muscle, however its physiological role in human fatty acidmetabolism remains to be established.

Background: Zebrafish exhibits extraordinary ability for tissue regeneration. Despite growing investigations dissecting the molecular underpinning of such regenerative potential, little is known about the possibility to use the chemical inventory of the zebrafishembryo to modulate human stem cell dynamics.

Methods: Extracts from zebrafish embryo were collected at different developmental stages, referred to as ZF1, ZF2, ZF3 (early stages), and ZF4, ZF5 (late stages). Human adipose-derived stem cells (hASCs), isolated from microfractured fat tissue obtained with a novel non-enzymatic method (Lipogems), were cultured in absence or presence of each developmental stage extract. Cell viability was assessed by MTT assay. Nuclear morphology was investigated by cell-permeable dye 4’,6-DAPI. Caspase-3 activity was assessed by ELISA. Gene transcription was monitored by real-time PCR.

Results: Late developmental stage extracts decreased cell viability and elicited caspase-3 mediated apoptosis. This effect did not involve Bax or Bcl-2 transcription. Conversely, early developmental stage ZF1 did not affect cell viability or apoptosis, albeit increasing Bax/Bcl-2mRNA ratio. ZF1 enhanced transcription of the stemness/pluripotency genes Oct-4, Sox-2and c-Myc. ZF1 also induced the transcription of TERT, encoding the catalytic subunit of telomerase, as well as the gene expression of Bmi-1, a chromatin remodeler acting as a major telomerase-independent repressor of senescence. These transcriptional responses were restricted to the action of early stage factors, since they were not elicited by late developmental stage ZF5.

Conclusions: Exposure to early developmental stage zebrafish embryo extracts may enhance stem cell expression of multipotency and activate both telomerase-dependent and -independent antagonists of cell senescence. These outcomes may prove rewarding during prolonged expansion in culture, as it occurs in most cell therapy protocols.

The ribosome is typically viewed as a supramolecular complex with constitutive and invariant capacity in mediating translation of mRNA into protein. This view has been challenged by recent research revealing that ribosome composition could be heterogeneous, and this heterogeneity leads to functional ribosome specialization. This review presents the idea that ribosome heterogeneity results from changes in its various components, including variations in ribosomal protein (RP) composition, post-translational modifications of RPs, changes in ribosomal-associated proteins, alternative forms of rRNA and post-transcriptional modifications of rRNAs. Ribosome heterogeneity could be orchestrated at several levels and may depend on numerous factors, such as the subcellular location, cell type and tissue specificity, the development state, cell state, ribosome biogenesis, RP turnover, physiological stimuli and circadian rhythm. Ribosome specialization represents a completely new concept for the regulation of gene expression. Specialized ribosomes could modulate several aspects of translational control, such as mRNA translation selectivity, translation initiation, translational fidelity and translation elongation. Recent research indicates that the expression of Rpl3 is markedly increased, while that of Rpl3l is highly reduced during mouse skeletal muscle hypertrophy. Moreover, Rpl3l overexpression impairs the growth and myogenic fusion of myotubes. Although the function of Rpl3 and Rpl3l in the ribosome remains to be clarified, these findings suggest that ribosome specialization may be potentially involved in the control of protein translation and skeletal muscle size. Limited data concerning ribosome specialization are currently available in skeletal muscle. Future investigations have the potential to delineate the function of specialized ribosomes in skeletal muscle.

The ribosome has historically been considered to have no cell-specific function but rather serve in a "housekeeping" capacity. This view is being challenged by evidence showing that heterogeneity in the protein composition of the ribosome can lead to the functional specialization of the ribosome. Expression profiling of different tissues revealed that ribosomal protein large 3-like (Rpl3l) is exclusively expressed in striated muscle. In response to a hypertrophic stimulus, Rpl3l expression in skeletal muscle was significantly decreased by 82% whereas expression of the ubiquitous paralog Rpl3 was significantly increased by ∼fivefold. Based on these findings, we developed the hypothesis that Rpl3l functions as a negative regulator of muscle growth. To test this hypothesis, we used the Tet-On system to express Rpl3l in myoblasts during myotube formation. In support of our hypothesis, RPL3L expression significantly impaired myotube growth as assessed by myotube diameter (-23%) and protein content (-14%). Further analysis showed that the basis of this impairment was caused by a significant decrease in myoblast fusion as the fusion index was significantly lower (-17%) with RPL3L expression. These findings are the first evidence to support the novel concept of ribosome specialization in skeletal muscle and its role in the regulation of skeletal muscle growth.

Edible mushrooms contain biologically active compounds with antioxidant, antimicrobial, immunomodulatory and anticancer properties. The link between their anticancer and immunomodulatory properties with their possible prebiotic activity on gut micro-organisms has been the subject of intense research over the last decade. Lyophilized Pleurotus eryngii (PE) mushrooms, selected due to their strong lactogenic effect and anti-genotoxic, immunomodulatory properties, underwent in vitro static batch fermentation for 24 h by fecal microbiota from eight elderly apparently healthy volunteers  (>65 years old). The fermentation-induced changes in fecal microbiota communities were examined using Next Generation Sequencing of the hypervariable regions of the 16S rRNA gene. Primary processing and analysis were conducted using the Ion Reporter Suite. Changes in the global metabolic profile were assessed by 1H NMR spectroscopy, and metabolites were assigned by 2D NMR spectroscopy and the MetaboMiner platform. PLS-DA analysis of both metataxonomic and metabolomic data showed a significant cluster separation of PE fermented samples relative to controls. DEseq2 analysis showed that the abundance of families such as Lactobacillaceae and Bifidobacteriaceae were increased in PE samples. Accordingly, in metabolomics, more than twenty metabolites including SCFAs, essential amino acids, and neurotransmitters discriminate PE samples from the respective controls, further validating the metataxonomic findings.

Pectins are a class of soluble polysaccharides that can have anticancer properties through several mechanisms. This study aimed to characterize the molecular structure of water-soluble fractions (WSF) derived from ripe and unripe papayas and assess their biological effects in two models: the 3D colon cancer spheroids to measure cell viability and cytotoxicity, and the in vivo model to investigate the inhibition of preneoplastic lesions in rats. WSF yield was slightly higher in ripe papaya, and both samples mainly consisted of pectin. Both pectins inhibited the growth of colon cancer HT29 and HCT116 spheroids. Unripe pectin disturbed HT29/NIH3T3 spheroid formation, decreased HCT116 spheroid viability, and increased spheroid cytotoxicity. Ripe pectin had a more substantial effect on the reduction of spheroid viability for HT29 spheroids. Furthermore, in vivo experiments on a rat model revealed a decrease in aberrant crypt foci (ACF) formation for both pectins and increased apoptosis in colonocytes for ripe papaya pectins. The results suggest potential anticancer properties of papaya pectin, with ripe pectin showing a higher potency.

BACKGROUND: There is little transferability between D-dimer levels obtained by different reagents today. This makes it difficult to compare results from different clinical studies. OBJECTIVES: We give a comprehensive proposal for calibration of D-dimer assays. All crucial steps and underlying assumptions are made explicit. METHODS: The new approach is based on using a set of fibrinolysates of patient samples clotted and treated with tPA to obtain maximal conversion to D-dimers. Their expected maximal D-dimer concentrations are calculated stoichiometrically from their different fibrinogen values and the published molecular masses of fibrinogen and average D-dimer. The characteristics of five latex enhanced D-dimer immunoassays were also tested against early and late fibrin fragments using this procedure. These were produced by prolonged fibrinolysis of a set of patient samples of varying fibrinogen concentrations. RESULTS: These varied typically between methods and lysis times. One of the methods showing the highest yield irrespective of lysis time was used for calibration. A linear standard curve with zero intercept and R2 = 0.95 was obtained. CONCLUSION: Following this procedure will allow better transferability of D-dimer in future clinical trails.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD), currently the most common cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, is caused mainly by atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a chronic multifocal, immunoinflammatory, fibroproliferative disease of medium and large arteries. Atherosclerotic lesions and vascular cells express different genes, among these are genes regulated by retinoic acid. Retinoids have pleiotropic effects and are able to modulate gene expression involved in growth, function and adaptation. During atherosclerosis development, there is endothelial perturbation, lipid accumulation, attraction of immune cells, smooth muscle cell migration and extracellular matrix remodeling and eventually fibrous cap formation which results in plaques. Retinoids have been demonstrated to either inhibit or modulate the above processes, resulting in amelioration of atherosclerosis. So far, retinoids are known to have impact on cellular processes in SMC, vascular injury and atherosclerosis. However, little is known about catabolism of retinoids in vascular cells and lesions and the effects of alteration of retinoic catabolizing enzymes on retinoids’ status. Therefore, we investigated the expression of Cytochrome P450 26 (CYP26) which is thought to be dedicated to retinoid catabolism. In vascular SMCs and atherosclerotic lesions, we found that CYP26B1 was the only member of the CYP26 family expressed, and it was highly inducible by atRA. Our data revealed that blocking CYP26B1 by chemical inhibition, or by targeted siRNA knock-down, resulted in significantly increased cellular retinoid levels. This indicates that CYP26B1 is an important modulator of endogenous retinoic acid levels. Therefore, we studied the effect of the CYP26B1 nonsynonymous polymorphism rs224105 on retinoic acid availability and found that the minor allele was associated with an enhanced retinoic acid catabolism rate and also with a slightly larger area of atherosclerotic lesions. The expression of CYP26B1 in human atherosclerotic lesions was localized to macrophage rich areas, suggesting retinoic acid activity in macrophages. Furthermore, we demonstrated that a CYP26B1 splice variant, that lack exon two, is expressed in vascular cells and in vessels walls. It is functional, with a reduced catabolic activity to around 70%, inducible by atRA in vascular cells and expressed 4.5 times more in atherosclerotic lesions compared to normal arteries. Moreover, the statins simvastatin and rosuvastatin reduced CYP26B1 mediated atRA catabolism in a concentration-dependent manner, and in vascular cells increased the mRNA expression of the atRA-responsive genes CYP26B1 and RARβ. This could lead to statins indirectly augmenting retinoic acid action in vascular cells which mimic statins roles. In conclusion, CYP26B1 is a major retinoic acid modulator in vascular cells and atherosclerotic lesions. Blocking of CYP26B1 could provide an advantageous therapeutic alternative to exogenous retinoid administration for treatment of vascular disorders.

The sexually transmitted disease gonorrhea (causative agent: Neisseria gonorrhoeae) remains an urgent public health threat globally due to its reproductive health repercussions, high incidence, widespread antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and absence of a vaccine. To mine gonorrhea antigens and enhance our understanding of gonococcal AMR at the proteome level, we performed the first large-scale proteomic profiling of a diverse panel (n=15) of gonococcal strains, including the 2016 World Health Organization (WHO) reference strains. These strains show all existing AMR profiles - established through phenotypic characterization and reference genome publication - and are intended for quality assurance in laboratory investigations. Herein, these isolates were subjected to subcellular fractionation and labeling with tandem mass tags coupled to mass spectrometry and multi-combinatorial bioinformatics. Our analyses detected 904 and 723 common proteins in cell envelope and cytoplasmic subproteomes, respectively. We identified nine novel gonorrhea vaccine candidates. Expression and conservation of new and previously selected antigens were investigated. In addition, established gonococcal AMR determinants were evaluated for the first time using quantitative proteomics. Six new proteins, WHO_F_00238, WHO_F_00635c, WHO_F_00745, WHO_F_01139, WHO_F_01144c, and WHO_F_01126, were differentially expressed in all strains, suggesting that they represent global proteomic AMR markers, indicate a predisposition toward developing or compensating gonococcal AMR, and/or act as new antimicrobial targets. Finally, phenotypic clustering based on the isolates' defined antibiograms and common differentially expressed proteins yielded seven matching clusters between established and proteome-derived AMR signatures. Together, our investigations provide a reference proteomics databank for gonococcal vaccine and AMR research endeavors, which enables microbiological, clinical, or epidemiological projects and enhances the utility of the WHO reference strains.

The F1-ATP synthase atp operon in the proteobacterium Rhodobacter blasticus contains six open reading frames, encoding six hypothetical proteins. Five of these subunits, in the stoichiometry (ab)3gde make up the catalytic F1-ATP synthase complex similarly in bacteria, chloroplasts and mitochondria. The sixth gene of the Rb. blasticus atp operon, urf6, shows very little sequence homology to any protein of known structure or function. The gene has previously been cloned, the product (called majastridin) has been heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli, and purified to high homogeneity (Brosché et al. (1998) Eur. J. Biochem. 255: 87-92). We have solved the X-ray crystal structure and refined a model of majastridin to atomic resolution. Here we present the crystal structures of apo-majastridin and the complex of majastridin with Mn2+ and UDP and show it has extensive structural similarity to glycosyltransferases (EC 2.4). This is the first structure determined from a new group of distantly related bacterial proteins of at least six members. They share the identical amino acids that bind Mn2+and a triplet of amino acids in the putative sugar-binding site.

5-Aminolevulinic acid (5ALA) and ester derivates thereof are used as prodrugs in photodynamic therapy (PDT). The behavior of 5ALA and three esters of 5ALA in a DPPC lipid bilayer is investigated. In particular, the methyl ester displays a very different free energy profile, where the highest barrier is located in the region with highest lipid density, while the others have their peak in the middle of the membrane, and also displays a considerably lower permeability coefficient than neutral 5ALA and the ethyl ester. The zwitterion of 5ALA has the highest permeability constant, but a significant free energy minimum in the polar head-group region renders an accumulation in this region.

5-Aminolevulinic acid (5ALA) is the key synthetic building block in protoporphyrin IX (PpIX), the heme chromophore in mitochondria. In this study density functional theory calculations were performed on the tautomers of 5ALA and the tautomerization reaction mechanism from its enolic forms (5-amino-4-hydroxypent-3-enoic acid and 5-amino-4-hydroxypent-4-enoic acid) to the more stable 5ALA. The hydrated form 5-amino-4,4-dihydroxypentanoic acid was also studied. The lowest energy pathway of 5ALA tautomerization is by means of autocatalysis, in that an oxygen of the carboxylic group transfers the hydrogen atom as a "crane", with an activation energy of similar to 15 kcal/mol. This should be compared to the barriers of about 35 kcal/mol for water assisted tautomerization, and 60 kcal/mol for direct hydrogen transfer. For hydration of 5ALA, the water catalyzed activation barrier is found to be similar to 35 kcal/mol, approximately 5 kcal/mol lower than direct hydration.

Nanocomposites of metal nanoparticles (NPs) and bacterial nanocellulose (BC) enable fabrication of soft and biocompatible materials for optical, catalytic, electronic, and biomedical applications. Current BC-NP nanocomposites are typically prepared by in situ synthesis of the NPs or electrostatic adsorption of surface functionalized NPs, which limits possibilities to control and tune NP size, shape, concentration, and surface chemistry and influences the properties and performance of the materials. Here a self-assembly strategy is described for fabrication of complex and well-defined BC-NP composites using colloidal gold and silver NPs of different sizes, shapes, and concentrations. The self-assembly process results in nanocomposites with distinct biophysical and optical properties. In addition to antibacterial materials and materials with excellent senor performance, materials with unique mechanoplasmonic properties are developed. The homogenous incorporation of plasmonic gold NPs in the BC enables extensive modulation of the optical properties by mechanical stimuli. Compression gives rise to near-field coupling between adsorbed NPs, resulting in tunable spectral variations and enhanced broadband absorption that amplify both nonlinear optical and thermoplasmonic effects and enables novel biosensing strategies.

DNA methylation is an epigenetic mechanism that regulates the gene transcription. Folate is used in cellular synthesis of methyl groups, nucleic acids and amino acids. In complex diseases like cancer and neural tube defects (NTD), various genetic and epigenetic alterations can be found that disrupt the normal cell function. The main goals of this thesis were to analyze whether the genes responsible for the folate transport (FOLR1, PCFT, and RFC1) could be regulated by DNA methylation in placenta, blood leukocytes and colorectal cancer. We also addressed the genome-wide DNA methylation changes in colorectal cancer andcervical cancer.We found that changes in the methylated fraction of the RFC1 gene were dependent on the RFC1 80G>A polymorphism in placental specimens with NTDs and blood leukocytes from subjects with high homocysteine (Paper I). In colorectal cancer, the greatest difference in DNA methylation was observed in the RFC1 gene and was related to a lower protein expression (Paper II).In Paper III and IV we studied the DNA methylated fraction using a high-density array. Paper III was focused on genes in the DNA repair pathway and frequently mutated in colorectal cancer. We found that aberrant methylation in the DNA mismatch repair genes was not a frequent event in colorectal cancer and we identified five candidate biomarker genes in colorectal cancer, among them the GPC6 and DCLRE1C genes. In Paper IV, we found hypomethylation of genes involved in the immune system in cervical cancer specimens compared to healthy cervical scrapes and we identified twenty four candidate genes for further evaluation ofclinical value.In conclusion, the work of this thesis filled a relevant knowledge gap regarding the role of differential methylation of the folate transport genes in NTD and colorectal cancer. This thesis work also provided insights into the functional role of DNA methylation in cancer specific pathways and identified potential novel biomarker genes.

This study investigated the DNA methylation pattern and protein expression of the FOLR1, PCFT, and RFC1 genes in colorectal cancer (CRC) tissue. Our results showed statistically significant differences in the DNA methylated fraction of all three genes at several gene regions, we identified 3 differentially methylated CpG sites in the FOLR1 gene, 5 CpG sites in the PCFT gene, and 6 CpG sites in the RFC1 gene. We observed a pronounced expression of the FRα and RFC proteins in both the cancer and normal tissues, though the proteins were moderately expressed in cancer compared to the high expression in the paired healthy mucosa. The PCFT protein was undetectable or expressed very low in both tissues. Higher methylated fractions of the CpG sites 3-5 in the RFC1 gene were associated with a lower protein expression. When analyzing the association between DNA methylation and tumor characteristics (differentiation, location, primary tumor stage and lymph node involvement) we detected lower methylated fraction of specific CpG sites in the RFC1 gene in CRC located in the distal colon and rectum compared to the proximal colon. In the FOLR1 gene, we found CpG sites with a lower methylated fraction of colorectal cancers with the primary tumor stage 4 (pT4) compared to the pT2 and pT3 stages. Our results did not show association between the RFC and FRα protein expression and tumor stage, TNM classification or tumor location. In conclusion, these data suggest that there is a possible epigenetic regulation by DNA methylation of the RFC1 gene in the colorectal cancer.

The objectives of this study were to identify tissue-specific differentially methylated regions (T-DMR's) in the folate transport genes in placental tissue compared with leukocytes, and from placental tissues obtained from normal infants or with neural tube defects (NTDs). Using pyrosequencing, we developed methylation assays for the CpG islands (CGIs) and the CGI shore regions of the folate receptor a (FOLR1), proton-coupled folate transporter (PCFT) and reduced folate carrier 1 (RFC1) genes. The T-DMRs differed in location for each gene and the difference in methylation ranged between 2 and 54%. A higher T-DMR methylated fraction was associated with a lower mRNA level of the FOLR1 and RFC1 genes. Methylation fractions differed according to RFC1 80G > A genotype in the NTD cases and in leukocytes from subjects with high total plasma homocysteine (tHcy). There were no differences in methylated fraction of folate transporter genes between NTD cases and controls. We suggest that T-DMRs participate in the regulation of expression of the FOLR1 and RFC1 genes, that the RFC1 80G > A polymorphism exerts a gene-nutrition interaction on DNA methylation in the RFC1 gene, and that this interaction appears to be most prominent in NTD-affected births and in subjects with high tHcy concentrations.

The oncogenic human papilloma viruses (HPVs) are associated with precancerous cervical lesions and development of cervical cancer. The DNA methylation signatures of the host genome in normal, precancerous and cervical cancer tissue may indicate tissue-specific perturbation in carcinogenesis. The aim of this study was to identify new candidate genes that are differentially methylated in squamous cell carcinoma compared with DNA samples from cervical intraepithelial neoplasia grade 3 (CIN3) and normal cervical scrapes. The Illumina Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip method identifies genome-wide DNA methylation changes in CpG islands, CpG shores and shelves. Our findings showed an extensive differential methylation signature in cervical cancer compared with the CIN3 or normal cervical tissues. The identified candidate biomarker genes for cervical cancer represent several types of mechanisms in the cellular machinery that are epigenetically deregulated by hypermethylation, such as membrane receptors, intracellular signaling and gene transcription. The results also confirm extensive hypomethylation of genes in the immune system in cancer tissues. These insights into the functional role of DNA methylome alterations in cervical cancer could be clinically applicable in diagnostics and prognostics, and may guide the development of new epigenetic therapies.

Endometrial carcinoma is one of the most frequent gynecological malignancies of the female. The diagnostic and prognostic markers for the high-risk subgroups with unfavorable prognosis are under intense debate worldwide, and, therefore, the aim of this study was to identify new potential DNA methylation markers for the high-risk groups. We used the Illumina Infinium HumanMethylation450 BeadChip to analyze the DNA methylation pattern and investigated its association with clinicopathological features important for defining the high-risk (FIGO-grade 3) and low-risk (FIGO-grade 1) groups of patients with endometrial cancer (n = 31 and n = 39, respectively). We identified specific DNA methylation signature in high-risk endometrial tumors, and potential molecular biomarker genes (TBX2, CHST11, and NID2) associated with unfavorable clinical predictive and prognostic factors.

Aim: The onset and progression of colorectal cancer (CRC) involves a cascade of genetic and/or epigenetic events. The aim of the present study was to address the DNA methylation status of genes relevant in colorectal carcinogenesis and its progression, such as genes frequently mutated in CRC, genes involved in the DNA repair and Wnt signaling pathway.

Material & methods: We analyzed methylation status in totally 160 genes in 12 paired colorectal tumors and adjacent healthy mucosal tissues using the Illumina Infinium Human Methylation 450 BeadChip.

Results: We found significantly aberrant methylation in 23 genes (NEIL1, NEIL3, DCLRE1C, NHEJ1, GTF2H5, CCNH, CTNNB1, DKK2, DKK3, FZD5 LRP5, TLE3, WNT2, WNT3A, WNT6, TCF7L1, CASP8, EDNRB1, GPC6, KIAA1804, MYO1B, SMAD2 and TTN). External validation by mRNA expression showed a good agreement between hypermethylation in cancer and down-regulated mRNA expression of the genes EDNRB1, GPC6 and SMAD2, and between hypomethylation and up-regulated mRNA expression of the CASP8 and DCLRE1C genes.

Conclusion: Aberrant methylation of the DCLRE1C and GPC6 genes are presented here for the first time and are therefore of special interest for further validation as novel candidate biomarker genes in CRC, and merit further validation with specific assays.

Resistance in Neisseria gonorrhoeae to all available therapeutic antimicrobials has emerged and new efficacious drugs for treatment of gonorrhea are essential. The topoisomerase II inhibitor ETX0914 (also known as AZD0914) is a new spiropyrimidinetrione antimicrobial that has different mechanisms of action from all previous and current gonorrhea treatment options. In this study, the N. gonorrhoeae resistance determinants for ETX0914 were further described and the effects of ETX0914 on the growth of N. gonorrhoeae (ETX0914 wild type, single step selected resistant mutants, and efflux pump mutants) were examined in a novel in vitro time-kill curve analysis to estimate pharmacodynamic parameters of the new antimicrobial. For comparison, ciprofloxacin, azithromycin, ceftriaxone, and tetracycline were also examined (separately and in combination with ETX0914). ETX0914 was rapidly bactericidal for all wild type strains and had similar pharmacodynamic properties to ciprofloxacin. All selected resistant mutants contained mutations in amino acid codons D429 or K450 of GyrB and inactivation of the MtrCDE efflux pump fully restored the susceptibility to ETX0914. ETX0914 alone and in combination with azithromycin and ceftriaxone was highly effective against N. gonorrhoeae and synergistic interaction with ciprofloxacin, particularly for ETX0914-resistant mutants, was found. ETX0914, monotherapy or in combination with azithromycin (to cover additional sexually transmitted infections), should be considered for phase III clinical trials and future gonorrhea treatment.

Pregestational diabetes retards early embryonic growth. Placental and fetal growth are closely associated, suggesting that placental growth is also impaired. During the first trimester of gestation, oxygen tension rises steeply, leading to excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which is exacerbated in diabetes and may affect placental development. We hypothesized that oxygen modifies hyperglycemic effects on ROS formation, resulting in decreased first-trimester trophoblast growth. This was tested using a first trimester trophoblast-derived cell line (ACH-3P). Normoglycemia did not alter ACH-3P proliferation at 2.5%, 8%, and 21% oxygen. Hyperglycemic conditions for up to 3 days reduced cell number by 65% and resulted in cell cycle (G(1)- and S-phase) changes but only at 21% oxygen. Proliferation reduction could be partially restored by an inhibitor of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) ERK1/2 but not of Akt/PkB. Intracellular ROS elevation under hyperglycemia was oxygen independent, whereas mitochondrial superoxide levels were enhanced under hyperglycemia only at 21% oxygen. Intervention to modulate cytosolic and mitochondrial ROS, using ROS formation inducers and inhibitors, did not alter cell growth under hyperglycemia at 21% oxygen. The combination of hyperglycemia and high oxygen levels (21%) reduces proliferation of human first-trimester trophoblasts in a ROS-independent manner involving MAPK. This may account for reduced placental growth and, therefore, also for embryonic growth during the first-trimester pregestational diabetic pregnancies when the oxygen tension increases.

Wound dressings based on bacterial cellulose (BC) can form a soft and conformable protective layer that can stimulate wound healing while preventing bacteria from entering the wound. Bacteria already present in the wound can, however, thrive in the moist environment created by the BC dressing which can aggravate the healing process. Possibilities to render the BC antimicrobial without affecting the beneficial structural and mechanical properties of the material would hence be highly attractive. Here we present methods for functionalization of BC with ε-Poly-L-Lysine (ε-PLL), a non-toxic biopolymer with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. Low molecular weight ε-PLL was cross-linked in pristine BC membranes and to carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) functionalized BC using carbodiimide chemistry. The functionalization of BC with ε-PLL inhibited growth of S. epidermidis on the membranes but did not affect the cytocompatibility to cultured human fibroblasts as compared to native BC. The functionalization had no significant effects on the nanofibrous structure and mechanical properties of the BC. The possibility to functionalize BC with ε-PLL is a promising, green and versatile approach to improve the performance of BC in wound care and other biomedical applications.

DNA fragments containing the 5' promoter regions of the Pisum sativum sadA and sadC genes were amplified from genomic DNA, cloned and sequenced. These sequences contain a number of conserved cis-acting elements, which are potentially involved in stress-induced transcription of the sad genes. To determine whether any of the identified elements are active in binding nuclear factors in vitro, 11 60-bp overlapping (by 30 bp) DNA probe fragments covering the proximal sadC promoter sequence (360 bp) were used in electrophoretic mobility shift assays with competition. Binding activities were compared in nuclear extracts from control, UV-B-stressed and wounded pea leaves. The pattern of DNA binding was almost identical with all three extracts, with one 30-bp region being the predominant site for factor binding. Using overlapping sub-fragments of this region, the majority of the specific binding could be attributed to the novel 11-bp GC-rich sequence GTGGCGCCCAC. An almost identical sequence is conserved in the sadA promoter. This motif has features in common with a number of recognised cis-elements, which suggests a possible binding site for factors which play a role in regulating sad gene transcription.

We describe a Neisseria gonorrhoeae strain, found in Sweden in 2011, that harbours a N. meningitidis porA gene causing false-negative results in PCRs targeting the gonococcal porA pseudogene. Furthermore, the strain had no prolyliminopeptidase (PIP) activity that many commercial biochemical kits for species verification in culture rely on. Enhanced awareness of the spread of such strains and screening for them can be crucial.

MOA (Marasmius oreades agglutinin), a lectin isolated from fruiting bodies of the mushroom M. oreades, specifically binds nonreducing terminal Galα(1,3)Gal carbohydrates, such as that which occurs in the xenotransplantation epitope Galα(1,3)Galβ(1,4)GlcNAc and the branched blood group B determinant Galα(1,3)[Fucα(1,2)]Gal. Here, we present the crystal structure of MOA in complex with the blood group B trisaccharide solved at 1.8 Å resolution. To our knowledge, this is the first blood-group-B-specific structure reported in complex with a blood group B determinant. The carbohydrate ligand binds to all three binding sites of the N-terminal β-trefoil domain. Also, in this work, Ca²⁺ was included in the crystals, and binding of Ca²⁺ to the MOA homodimer altered the conformation of the C-terminal domain by opening up the cleft containing a putative catalytic site.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to explore the added value of common machine learning (ML) algorithms for prediction of outcome for moderate and severe traumatic brain injury.

STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: We performed logistic (LR), lasso, and ridge regression with key baseline predictors in the IMPACT-II database (15 studies, n=11,022). ML algorithms included support vector machines, random forests, gradient boosting machines, and artificial neural networks, and were trained using the same predictors. To assess generalizability of predictions, we performed internal, internal-external, and external validation on the recent CENTER-TBI study (patients with GCS<13, n = 1,554). Both calibration (calibration slope/intercept) and discrimination (AUC) was quantified.

RESULTS: In the IMPACT-II database, 3,332/11,022(30%) died and 5,233(48%) had unfavorable outcome (Glasgow Outcome Scale below 4). In the CENTER-TBI study, 348/1,554(29%) died and 651(54%) had unfavorable outcome. Discrimination and calibration varied widely between the studies, and less so between the studied algorithms. The mean AUC was 0.82 for mortality and 0.77 for unfavorable outcome in CENTER-TBI.

CONCLUSION: ML algorithms may not outperform traditional regression approaches in a low-dimensional setting for outcome prediction after moderate or severe TBI. Similar to regression-based prediction models, ML algorithms should be rigorously validated to ensure applicability to new populations.

The first cross-protective Neisseria meningitidis vaccine (focus on serogroup B), the protein-based 4 component meningococcus serogroup B (4CMenB), includes the New Zealand outer membrane vesicle and three main genome-derived neisserial antigens (GNAs). These GNAs are fHbp (fused to GNA2091), NHBA (fused to GNA1030) and NadA. In this study, the prevalence and polymorphisms of the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of the 4CMenB antigens in a temporally and geographically diverse collection of N. gonorrhoeae isolates (n similar to=similar to 111) were investigated. All the examined GNA genes, except the nadA gene, were present in all gonococcal isolates. However, 25 isolates contained premature stop codons in the fHbp gene and/or the nhba gene, resulting in truncated proteins. Compared with the 4CMenB antigen sequences in reference strain MC58, the gonococcal strains displayed 67.095.4% and 60.994.9% identity in nucleotide sequence and amino acid sequence, respectively, in the equivalent GNA antigens. The absence of NadA, lack of universal expression of fHbp and NHBA and the uncertainty regarding the surface exposure of fHbp as well as the function of NHBA in N. gonorrhoeae will likely limit the use of the identical 4CMenB antigens in a gonococcal vaccine. However, possible cross-immunity of 4CMenB with gonococci and expression and function of the equivalent gonococcal GNAs, as well as of more appropriate GNAs for a gonococcal vaccine, need to be further examined.

Pain is a common symptom which can result in disability and lower quality of life. The current review covers the use of medicinal plants as an alternative therapy for pain relief, as traditional painkillers like NSAIDs, opioids, and antidepressants can have serious side effects. Medicinal plants are effective, easily available, low-cost, and have fewer side effects. The review examines commonly used medicinal plants, their active components, their pharmacological activity, and their mechanism of action for different types of pain in humans and animal models. The review also discusses the use of herbal therapies for pain in various conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, neuropathies, osteoarthritis, dysmenorrhea, headache, migraine, wounds, low back pain, and chest pain, and weighs the advantages and disadvantages of using herbal therapies in light of recent research.