Perilymph sampling in Mongolian gerbil, technical note and procedure evaluation.

Objective: The aim of this study is to detail and evaluate the surgical procedure for perilymph sampling from the cochlear apex in the Mongolian gerbil.

Design: Perilymph sampling from the cochlear apex was performed one to three time in 12 male gerbils aged 8 to 12 months via the submandibular route. 11 of them were previously implanted with intracochlear implants loaded with dexamethasone and placed in the scala tympani, the 12th was used to collect control samples.

Characteristics and impact of infiltration of B-cells from systemic sclerosis patients in a 3D healthy skin model.

Introduction: In systemic sclerosis (SSc), B-cells are activated and present in the skin and lung of patients where they can interact with fibroblasts. The precise impact and mechanisms of the interaction of B-cells and fibroblasts at the tissular level are poorly studied.

Objective: We investigated the impact and mechanisms of B-cell/fibroblast interactions in cocultures between B-cells from patients with SSc and 3-dimensional reconstituted healthy skin model including fibroblasts, keratinocytes and extracellular matrix.

Interactions between eosinophils and IL-5Rα-positive mast cells in nonadvanced systemic mastocytosis.

Background: Bidirectional interactions between eosinophils and mast cells (MCs) have been reported in various allergic diseases. Bone marrow (BM) eosinophilia, and to a lesser extent blood eosinophilia, is common in systemic mastocytosis (SM), but its significance remains unknown.

Objective: We described blood and BM eosinophil characteristics in SM.

Removal of senescent cells reduces the viral load and attenuates pulmonary and systemic inflammation in SARS-CoV-2-infected, aged hamsters.

Older age is one of the strongest risk factors for severe COVID-19. In this study, we determined whether age-associated cellular senescence contributes to the severity of experimental COVID-19. Aged golden hamsters accumulate senescent cells in the lungs, and the senolytic drug ABT-263, a BCL-2 inhibitor, depletes these cells at baseline and during SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Three-dimensional imaging of vascular development in the mouse epididymis.

Long considered an accessory tubule of the male reproductive system, the epididymis is proving to be a key determinant of male fertility. In addition to its secretory role in ensuring functional maturation and survival of spermatozoa, the epididymis has a complex immune function. Indeed, it must manage both peripheral tolerance to sperm antigens foreign to the immune system and the protection of spermatozoa as well as the organ itself against pathogens ascending the epididymal tubule.

Adipocyte-specific FXR-deficiency protects adipose tissue from oxidative stress and insulin resistance and improves glucose homeostasis.

Objective: Obesity is associated with metabolic dysfunction of white adipose tissue (WAT). Activated adipocytes secrete pro-inflammatory cytokines resulting in the recruitment of pro-inflammatory macrophages, which contribute to WAT insulin resistance. The bile acid (BA)-activated nuclear Farnesoid X Receptor (FXR) controls systemic glucose and lipid metabolism.

Functional genomics uncovers the transcription factor BNC2 as required for myofibroblastic activation in fibrosis.

Tissue injury triggers activation of mesenchymal lineage cells into wound-repairing myofibroblasts, whose unrestrained activity leads to fibrosis. Although this process is largely controlled at the transcriptional level, whether the main transcription factors involved have all been identified has remained elusive. Here, we report multi-omics analyses unraveling Basonuclin 2 (BNC2) as a myofibroblast identity transcription factor.

Gene/environment interaction in the susceptibility of Crohn's disease patients to aluminum.

Background & Aim: The key role of environmental factors in the pathogenesis of Inflammatory Bowel Diseases (IBD) is recognized. Aluminum is suspected to be a risk factor for IBD. However, mechanisms linking aluminum exposure to disease development are unknown.

TRPM8 as an Anti-Tumoral Target in Prostate Cancer Growth and Metastasis Dissemination.

In the fight against prostate cancer (PCa), TRPM8 is one of the most promising clinical targets. Indeed, several studies have highlighted that TRPM8 involvement is key in PCa progression because of its impact on cell proliferation, viability, and migration. However, data from the literature are somewhat contradictory regarding the precise role of TRPM8 in prostatic carcinogenesis and are mostly based on in vitro studies.

Impaired Glucose Homeostasis in a Tau Knock-In Mouse Model.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the leading cause of dementia. While impaired glucose homeostasis has been shown to increase AD risk and pathological loss of tau function, the latter has been suggested to contribute to the emergence of the glucose homeostasis alterations observed in AD patients. However, the links between tau impairments and glucose homeostasis, remain unclear.

Adherent-Invasive and Non-Invasive Isolates Differ in Their Effects on Lifespan.

The adherent-invasive (AIEC) pathotype has been implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases in general and in Crohn's disease (CD) in particular. AIEC strains are primarily characterized by their ability to adhere to and invade intestinal epithelial cells. However, the genetic and phenotypic features of AIEC isolates vary greatly as a function of the strain's clonality, host factors, and the gut microenvironment.

A new pancreatic adenocarcinoma-derived organoid model of acquired chemoresistance to FOLFIRINOX: First insight of the underlying mechanisms.

Background Information: Although improvements have been made in the management of pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PDAC) during the past 20 years, the prognosis of this deadly disease remains poor with an overall 5-year survival under 10%. Treatment with FOLFIRINOX, a combined regimen of 5-fluorouracil, irinotecan (SN-38) and oxaliplatin, is nonetheless associated with an excellent initial tumour response and its use has allowed numerous patients to go through surgery while their tumour was initially considered unresectable. These discrepancies between initial tumour response and very low long-term survival are the consequences of rapidly acquired chemoresistance and represent a major therapeutic frontier.

CD27 is required for protective lytic EBV antigen-specific CD8+ T-cell expansion.

Primary immunodeficiencies in the costimulatory molecule CD27 and its ligand, CD70, predispose for pathologies of uncontrolled Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection in nearly all affected patients. We demonstrate that both depletion of CD27+ cells and antibody blocking of CD27 interaction with CD70 cause uncontrolled EBV infection in mice with reconstituted human immune system components. While overall CD8+ T-cell expansion and composition are unaltered after antibody blocking of CD27, only some EBV-specific CD8+ T-cell responses, exemplified by early lytic EBV antigen BMLF1-specific CD8+ T cells, are inhibited in their proliferation and killing of EBV-transformed B cells.

Beneficial effects of atorvastatin on sex-specific cognitive impairment induced by a cerebral microhaemorrhage in mice.

Background And Purposes: Cerebral microhaemorrhages (CMHs) are associated with cognitive decline in humans. In rodents, CMHs induces cognitive impairment in male mice along with sex-specific cortical and hippocampal changes affecting neural, glial and vascular functions. Statins, have been proposed to prevent cognitive decline.

Sex Differences in Cognitive Impairment Induced by Cerebral Microhemorrhage.

It has been suggested that cerebral microhemorrhages (CMHs) could be involved in cognitive decline. However, little is known about the sex-dependency of this effect. Using a multimodal approach combining behavioral tests, in vivo imaging, biochemistry, and molecular biology, we studied the cortical and hippocampal impact of a CMH in male and female mice (C57BL/6J) 6 weeks post-induction using a collagenase-induced model.

Galectin-3 modulates epithelial cell adaptation to stress at the ER-mitochondria interface.

Cellular stress response contributes to epithelial defense in adaptation to environment changes. Galectins play a pivotal role in the regulation of this response in malignant cells. However, precise underlying mechanisms are largely unknown.

Texture parameters of R2* maps are correlated with iron concentration and red blood cells count in clot analogs: A 7-T micro-MRI study.

Background And Purpose: Previous studies have suggested that mechanical revascularization in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients could be affected by clot histology. In this 7-T micro-MRI study, we used R2* relaxometry of clot analogs to evaluate the relationship between texture parameters of R2* maps and clot constituents.

Materials And Methods: Twelve AIS clot analogs were experimentally generated to obtain a wide range of red blood cell concentrations.

Benefits of cryopreserved human amniotic membranes in association with conventional treatments in the management of full-thickness burns.

The use of split-thickness skin autografts (STSA) with dermal substitutes is the gold standard treatment for third-degree burn patients. In this article, we tested whether cryopreserved amniotic membranes could be beneficial to the current treatments for full-thickness burns. Swines were subjected to standardised full-thickness burn injuries, and then were randomly assigned to treatments: (a) STSA alone; (b) STSA associated with the dermal substitute, Matriderm; (c) STSA plus human amniotic membrane (HAM); and (d) STSA associated with Matriderm plus HAM.

ESCRT-mediated lysosome repair precedes lysophagy and promotes cell survival.

Although lysosomes perform a number of essential cellular functions, damaged lysosomes represent a potential hazard to the cell. Such lysosomes are therefore engulfed by autophagic membranes in the process known as lysophagy, which is initiated by recognition of luminal glycoprotein domains by cytosolic lectins such as Galectin-3. Here, we show that, under various conditions that cause injury to the lysosome membrane, components of the endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT)-I, ESCRT-II, and ESCRT-III are recruited.

Oligomannose-Rich Membranes of Dying Intestinal Epithelial Cells Promote Host Colonization by Adherent-Invasive .

A novel mechanism is revealed by which clinical isolates of adherent-invasive (AIEC) penetrate into the epithelial cell layer, replicate, and establish biofilms in Crohn's disease. AIEC uses the FimH fimbrial adhesin to bind to oligomannose glycans on the surface of host cells. Oligomannose glycans exposed on early apoptotic cells are the preferred binding targets of AIEC, so apoptotic cells serve as potential entry points for bacteria into the epithelial cell layer.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis Controls Phagosomal Acidification by Targeting CISH-Mediated Signaling.

Pathogens have evolved a range of mechanisms to counteract host defenses, notably to survive harsh acidic conditions in phagosomes. In the case of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, it has been shown that regulation of phagosome acidification could be achieved by interfering with the retention of the V-ATPase complexes at the vacuole. Here, we present evidence that M.

CLAFEM: Correlative light atomic force electron microscopy.

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is becoming increasingly used in the biology field. It can give highly accurate topography and biomechanical quantitative data, such as adhesion, elasticity, and viscosity, on living samples. Nowadays, correlative light electron microscopy is a must-have tool in the biology field that combines different microscopy techniques to spatially and temporally analyze the structure and function of a single sample.