Targeting cholesteryl ester accumulation in the heart improves cardiac insulin response.

Background: Antibodies against the P3 sequence (Gly1127-Cys1140) of LRP1 (anti-P3 Abs) specifically block cholesteryl ester (CE) accumulation in vascular cells. LRP1 is a key regulator of insulin receptor (InsR) trafficking in different cell types. The link between CE accumulation and the insulin response are largely unknown.

Simple Tube Centrifugation Method for Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) Preparation in Catalonian Donkeys as a Treatment of Endometritis-Endometrosis.

The aim of this study was to standardize a simple, manual platelet-rich plasma (PRP) protocol in Catalonian donkeys using single-spin tube centrifugation as a treatment for jenny endometritis. The objective was to obtain a blood product with a moderate concentration of platelets (2 or 3 times baseline physiologic values) and a low WBC (White Blood Cells) concentration. Blood was drawn from six Catalonian donkeys using acid citrate dextrose (ACD) as an anticoagulant, and then processed by single centrifugation at 133× for two different centrifugation times (10 and 15 min).

Immunization with the Gly-Cys amino acid sequence of the LRP1 receptor reduces atherosclerosis in rabbits. Molecular, immunohistochemical and nuclear imaging studies.

: The LRP1 (CR9) domain and, in particular, the sequence Gly-Cys (P3) plays a critical role in the binding and internalization of aggregated LDL (agLDL). We aimed to evaluate whether immunization with P3 reduces high-fat diet (HFD)-induced atherosclerosis. : Female New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits were immunized with a primary injection and four reminder doses (R1-R4) of IrP (irrelevant peptide) or P3 conjugated to the carrier.

Inntags: small self-structured epitopes for innocuous protein tagging.

Protein tagging is widely used in approaches ranging from affinity purification to fluorescence-based detection in live cells. However, an intrinsic limitation of tagging is that the native function of the protein may be compromised or even abolished by the presence of the tag. Here we describe and characterize a set of small, innocuous protein tags (inntags) that we anticipate will find application in a variety of biological techniques.

The effect of oxidative environment on immunosuppressive properties of human seminal plasma.

Problem: Human seminal plasma (SP) has an important immunosuppressive function that enables sperm survival in the female reproductive tract. The aim of this study was to evaluate how oxidized proteins, by oxidative stress, may influence seminal plasma immunosuppressive properties in male infertility.

Method Of Study: Human SP immunosuppressive ability was evaluated by a lymphocyte proliferation assay.

Canine normal corneal epithelium bears a large population of CD45-positive cells.

This investigation sought to identify the presence of immune cells in normal canine corneal epithelium. A whole-mount immunofluorescence study of normal canine epithelium using monoclonal antibodies against CD45, CD11c, CD1c and MHC class II was performed. CD45-positive cells were located in all epithelial layers throughout the cornea, occurring in greater numbers (51.

Membrane fluidity changes in goat sperm induced by cholesterol depletion using beta-cyclodextrin.

Cholesterol efflux from membranes promotes acrosome reaction in goat spermatozoa. In 1 h of incubation of sperm in the presence of beta-cyclodextrin (beta CD), all the interchangeable cholesterol is desorbed from sperm membranes, although acrosome reaction is fully accomplished only after 3-4 h of incubation, as previously published. In the present paper we investigate the effect of cholesterol removal from mature goat spermatozoa on the overall membrane "fluidity" of live cell membranes and of liposomes from sperm lipid extracts.

Oxidative stress and autoimmune response in the infertile woman.

There is convincing evidence that the establishment of a chronic inflammatory response, together with the presence of a local oxidative environment, could play an important role in the etiology and the progression of several human diseases. In the reproductive system, pathologies such as endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, tubal obstruction, preeclampsia and recurrent abortions are related to the presence of inflammatory cytokines (TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma, IL-1) and to high levels of free radicals that may damage biological molecules, such as lipids, proteins or DNA. Membrane lipids become oxidized and some of their products (malondialdehyde, acetaldehyde, hydroxynonenal) chemically modify proteins.