Lipocalin-2 as a fundamental protein in type 2 diabetes and periodontitis in mice.

Background: Lipocalin-2 (LCN-2) is an osteokine that suppresses appetite, stimulates insulin secretion, regulates bone remodeling, and is induced by proinflammatory cytokines. The aim of this work was to investigate the participation of LCN-2 in periodontitis associated with type 2 diabetes (T2D) by evaluating alveolar bone loss, glycemic control, inflammation, and femur fragility.

Methods: A murine model of periodontitis with T2D and elevated LCN-2 concentration was used.

Exercise improves intestinal IgA production by T-dependent cell pathway in adults but not in aged mice.

Introduction: Hypermutated high-affinity immunoglobulin A (IgA), neutralizes toxins and drives the diversification of bacteria communities to maintain intestinal homeostasis although the mechanism underlies the impact of moderate aerobic exercise (MAE) on the IgA-generation via T-dependent (TD) is not fully know. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the effect of long-time MAE on the production of IgA through the TD pathway in Peyer´s patches of the small intestine from aged mice.

Methods: MAE protocol consisted of twenty 3-month-old (young) BALB/c mice running in an endless band at 0° inclination and a speed of 10 m/h for 5 days a week and resting 2 days on the weekend until reaching 6-month-old (adulthood, n=10) or 24-month-old (aging, n=10).

[Peritoneal dialysis impact on quality of life in elderly].

Background: Nowadays elderly live longer but with more diseases and geriatric syndromes which can deteriorate their quality of life (QoL). Peritoneal dialysis (PD) is a renal replacement therapy which seeks to prolong an improve QoL; however, this is uncertain in elderly. Therefore, comparing QoL before and after starting dialysis in this population may let us know if there is a benefit at this level.

A diet rich in omega-3 fatty acid improves periodontitis and tissue destruction by MMP2- and MMP9-linked inflammation in a murine model.

Periodontitis is an oral-cavity inflammatory disease and is the principal cause associated with tooth loss. Matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 (MMP-2 and MMP-9) are important proteases involved in periodontal tissue destruction. The omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFA) have been demonstrated to possess immunoregulatory properties in periodontitis.

Bone Marrow as a Therapeutic Target for Type 2 Diabetes Complications.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a world epidemic with a high prevalence and mortality. The origin of macro and microvascular complications associated with T2DM is complex and new mechanisms to explain their development are emerging. The changes induced by T2DM in the microenvironment of bone marrow (BM) alter the expansion and differentiation of stem cells and have been related to the development of micro and macrovascular diseases.

Regionalized analysis of gut barrier components in the small intestine of BALB/c mice following chronic immobilization stress.

Background: Microbiota and tight junction proteins (TJPs) are components of the gut barrier, and are considered stress targets that have deleterious effects on intestinal homeostasis.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of chronic immobilization stress on selected small intestine homeostasis parameters.

Material And Methods: Female BALB/c mice were divided into a stress group that underwent short-term immobilization for 2 h per day for 4 consecutive days, and a non-stressed control group (n = 6 per group).

Aerobic training improves bone fragility by reducing the inflammatory microenvironment in bone tissue in type 2 diabetes.

Aerobic training (AT) is indicated in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) to control hyperglycaemia and inflammation. AT improves bone microarchitecture and resistance to fracture. The intensity of AT and the mechanisms that lead to the improvement in bone quality are still unknown.

Moderate aerobic exercise on bone quality changes associated with aging and oxidative stress in BALB/c mice.

Exercise encourages active and healthy aging, maintaining functional and physical capabilities. This study aimed to assess the effects of a long-term moderate aerobic exercise protocol on bone microarchitecture and fragility associated with chronic inflammation and oxidative stress in aging. Male BALB/c mice (n = 10 per group) underwent a moderate exercise protocol from 13 weeks to 27 (adulthood age) or 108 weeks of age (elderly age) and were then sacrificed.

Docosahexaenoic acid improves altered mineralization proteins, the decreased quality of hydroxyapatite crystals and suppresses oxidative stress induced by high glucose.

Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) experience an increased risk of fractures and a variety of bone pathologies, such as osteoporosis. The suggested mechanisms of increased fracture risk in DM2 include chronic hyperglycaemia, which provokes oxidative stress, alters bone matrix, and decreases the quality of hydroxyapatite crystals. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an omega-3 fatty acid, can increase bone formation, reduce bone loss, and it possesses antioxidant/anti-inflammatory properties.

Sensory, Affective, and Cognitive Effects of Trigeminal Injury in Mice.

Purpose: To characterize adequate study of chronic neuropathic orofacial pain induced by a mental nerve injury in a mouse model, we propose a behavioral assessment of its dimensions: sensory, affective, and cognitive.

Materials And Methods: Trigeminal injury was induced by a chronic mental nerve constriction (MnC). Behavioral tests were conducted to assess the different dimensions of pain and to evaluate the general well-being of mice.

Upregulation of proteins of the NLRP3 inflammasome in patients with periodontitis and uncontrolled type 2 diabetes.

Objectives: To evaluate the expression of proteins related to activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome in patients with chronic periodontitis (CP) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D), and to determine whether the exacerbated periodontal pathological process observed in diabetic patients is related to its upregulation.

Materials And Methods: We performed an observational, analytical, cross-sectional study in three study groups: individuals systemically and orally healthy, and patients with CP with and without T2D. Gingival biopsies were taken from the three study groups.

Cry1Ac toxin induces macrophage activation via ERK1/2, JNK and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases.

The Cry1Ac toxin from Bacillus thuringiensis is used commercially as a bio-insecticide and is expressed in transgenic plants that are used for human and animal consumption. Although it was originally considered innocuous for mammals, the Cry1Ac toxin is not inert and has the ability to induce mucosal and systemic immunogenicity. Herein, we examined whether the Cry1Ac toxin promotes macrophage activation and explored the signalling pathways that may mediate this effect.

A Plant-Derived Multi-HIV Antigen Induces Broad Immune Responses in Orally Immunized Mice.

Multi-HIV, a multiepitopic protein derived from both gp120 and gp41 envelope proteins of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), has been proposed as a vaccine prototype capable of inducing broad immune responses, as it carries various B and T cell epitopes from several HIV strains. In this study, the immunogenic properties of a Multi-HIV expressed in tobacco chloroplasts are evaluated in test mice. BALB/c mice orally immunized with tobacco-derived Multi-HIV have elicited antibody responses, including both the V3 loop of gp120 and the ELDKWA epitope of gp41.

The protoxin Cry1Ac of Bacillus thuringiensis improves the protection conferred by intranasal immunization with Brucella abortus RB51 in a mouse model.

Brucellosis is a zoonotic disease affecting many people and animals worldwide. Preventing this infection requires improving vaccination strategies. The protoxin Cry1Ac of Bacillus thuringiensis is an adjuvant that, in addition to increasing the immunogenicity of different antigens, has shown to be protective in different models of parasitic infections.

Cry1Ac protoxin from Bacillus thuringiensis promotes macrophage activation by upregulating CD80 and CD86 and by inducing IL-6, MCP-1 and TNF-α cytokines.

Bacillus thuringiensis Cry1Ac protoxin (pCry1Ac) is a promising mucosal adjuvant, but its action mechanism is unknown. We examined in vivo whether pCry1Ac promotes the activation of macrophages in the peritoneum, spleen and mesenteric lymph nodes or in the lungs and bronchoalveolar lavage after intraperitoneal or intranasal pCry1Ac administration, respectively, in BALB/c mice. pCry1Ac upregulated the costimulatory molecules CD80 and CD86 in these macrophages, but with distinct kinetics.

Immunogenic properties of a lettuce-derived C4(V3)6 multiepitopic HIV protein.

Elicitation of broad humoral immune responses is a critical factor in the development of effective HIV vaccines. In an effort to develop low-cost candidate vaccines based on multiepitopic recombinant proteins, this study has been undertaken to assess and characterize the immunogenic properties of a lettuce-derived C4(V3)6 multiepitopic protein. This protein consists of V3 loops corresponding to five different HIV isolates, including MN, IIIB, RF, CC, and RU.

A chloroplast-derived C4V3 polypeptide from the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is orally immunogenic in mice.

Although the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) causes one of the most important infectious diseases worldwide, attempts to develop an effective vaccine remain elusive. Designing recombinant proteins capable of eliciting significant and protective mammalian immune responses remain a priority. Moreover, large-scale production of proteins of interest at affordable cost remains a challenge for modern biotechnology.

Human Cementum Protein 1 induces expression of bone and cementum proteins by human gingival fibroblasts.

We recently presented evidence showing that a human cementoblastoma-derived protein, named Cementum Protein 1 (CEMP1) may play a role as a local regulator of cementoblast differentiation and cementum-matrix mineralization. This protein was shown to be expressed by cementoblasts and progenitor cells localized in the periodontal ligament. In this study we demonstrate that transfection of CEMP1 into human gingival fibroblasts (HGF) induces mineralization and expression of bone and cementum-matrix proteins.