Publications by authors named "Alejandra Gutierrez-Gonzalez"

Multiple myeloma is a complex and challenging type of blood cancer that affects plasma cells in the bone marrow. In recent years, the development of advanced research techniques, such as omics approaches-which involve studying large sets of biological data like genes and proteins-and high-throughput sequencing technologies, has allowed researchers to analyze vast amounts of genetic information rapidly and gain new insights into the disease. Additionally, the advent of artificial intelligence tools has accelerated data analysis, enabling more accurate predictions and improved treatment strategies.

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Resident peritoneal macrophages (resMØs) are crucial for repairing peritoneal injuries and controlling infections by forming mesothelium-bound resMØ-aggregates in the peritoneal wall and omentum. Here we present a protocol to analyze these structures in mouse models of peritoneal inflammation. We describe the dissection, fixation, immunofluorescent staining, and mounting of whole peritoneal wall and omentum samples and subsequent confocal microscopy imaging of resMØ-aggregates.

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Large peritoneal macrophages (LPMs) are long-lived, tissue-resident macrophages, formed during embryonic life, developmentally and functionally confined to the peritoneal cavity. LPMs provide the first line of defense against life-threatening pathologies of the peritoneal cavity, such as abdominal sepsis, peritoneal metastatic tumor growth, or peritoneal injuries caused by trauma, or abdominal surgery. Apart from their primary phagocytic function, reminiscent of primitive defense mechanisms sustained by coelomocytes in the coelomic cavity of invertebrates, LPMs fulfill an essential homeostatic function by achieving an efficient clearance of apoptotic, that is crucial for the maintenance of self-tolerance.

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Peritoneal immune cells reside unanchored within the peritoneal fluid in homeostasis. Here, we examined the mechanisms that control bacterial infection in the peritoneum using a mouse model of abdominal sepsis following intraperitoneal Escherichia coli infection. Whole-mount immunofluorescence and confocal microscopy of the peritoneal wall and omentum revealed that large peritoneal macrophages (LPMs) rapidly cleared bacteria and adhered to the mesothelium, forming multilayered cellular aggregates composed by sequentially recruited LPMs, B1 cells, neutrophils, and monocyte-derived cells (moCs).

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Article Synopsis
  • α4β1 integrin and VEGFR2 work together as a receptor complex that interacts with VEGF in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells.
  • This interaction suggests that α4β1 integrin has a new and significant role in the development of CLL.
  • The findings highlight how understanding these receptors could lead to better insights into CLL pathology and potential treatments.
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Article Synopsis
  • MMP-9 plays a significant role in the pathology of Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL) by regulating cell survival, migration, and inducing cell arrest when expressed at high levels.
  • A study identified that MMP-9 alters the gene expression of specific genes in CLL cells, notably including CD99, which affects cell adhesion and migration.
  • The research highlights CD99 as a new therapeutic target that, when influenced by MMP-9, regulates CLL cell behavior and could lead to new treatment strategies.
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The chemokine axis CCR6/CCL20 is involved in cancer progression in a variety of tumors. Here, we show that CCR6 is expressed by melanoma cells. The CCR6 ligand, CCL20, induces migration and proliferation , and enhances tumor growth and metastasis Confocal analysis of melanoma tissues showed that CCR6 is expressed by tumor cells, whereas CCL20 is preferentially expressed by nontumoral cells in the stroma of certain tumors.

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Article Synopsis
  • Researchers found that MMP-9, when overexpressed, hinders the movement of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells, leading to studies on a mutant form of MMP-9 that doesn't break down proteins (MMP-9MutE).
  • In mouse models, these MMP-9MutE cells showed reduced ability to migrate to key areas like the spleen and bone marrow compared to control cells.
  • The study identified changes in cellular signaling pathways; MMP-9MutE cells had higher levels of PTEN and lower p-ERK, indicating that non-proteolytic functions of MMP-9 are important in CLL cell migration and may affect disease progression.
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Tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) are important components of the multiple myeloma (MM) microenvironment that support malignant plasma cell survival and resistance to therapy. It has been proposed that macrophages (MØ) retain the capacity to change in response to stimuli that can restore their antitumor functions. Here, we investigated several approaches to reprogram MØ as a novel therapeutic strategy in MM.

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