Brain macrophages in vascular health and dysfunction.

Diverse macrophage populations inhabit the rodent and human central nervous system (CNS), including microglia in the parenchyma and border-associated macrophages (BAMs) in the meninges, choroid plexus, and perivascular spaces. These innate immune phagocytes are essential in brain development and maintaining homeostasis, but they also play diverse roles in neurological diseases. In this review, we highlight the emerging roles of CNS macrophages in regulating vascular function in health and disease.

Autocrine TGF-β1 drives tissue-specific differentiation and function of resident NK cells.

Group 1 innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) encompass NK cells and ILC1s, which have non-redundant roles in host protection against pathogens and cancer. Despite their circulating nature, NK cells can establish residency in selected tissues during ontogeny, forming a distinct functional subset. The mechanisms that initiate, maintain, and regulate the conversion of NK cells into tissue-resident NK (trNK) cells are currently not well understood.

Non-classical monocytes scavenge the growth factor CSF1 from endothelial cells in the peripheral vascular tree to ensure survival and homeostasis.

Unlike sessile macrophages that occupy specialized tissue niches, non-classical monocytes (NCMs)-circulating phagocytes that patrol and cleanse the luminal surface of the vascular tree-are characterized by constant movement. Here, we examined the nature of the NCM's nurturing niche. Expression of the growth factor CSF1 on endothelial cells was required for survival of NCMs in the bloodstream.

Gland Macrophages: Reciprocal Control and Function within Their Niche.

The human body contains dozens of endocrine and exocrine glands, which regulate physiological processes by secreting hormones and other factors. Glands can be subdivided into contiguous tissue modules, each consisting of an interdependent network of cells that together perform particular tissue functions. Among those cells are macrophages, a diverse type of immune cells endowed with trophic functions.

CD11cMHC2 Macrophages Are a New Inflammatory and Dynamic Subset in Murine Adipose Tissue.

Background: The prevalence of obesity is rising and leads to increased morbidity and mortality. Adipose tissue inflammation, due to accumulation and activation of adipose tissue macrophages (ATMs), is a key driver of this phenomenon. Macrophages are heterogeneous cells, adapting quickly to the microenvironment, resulting in so-called M1 or M2 macrophages.

The endothelial function biomarker soluble E-selectin is associated with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background & Aims: Plasma soluble E-selectin (sE-selectin) is a frequently used biomarker of systemic endothelial dysfunction. The present study explored the relationship between nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and plasma sE-selectin levels.

Methods: Expression of E-selectin in liver, visceral adipose tissue (VAT) and muscle was studied in relation to plasma sE-selectin in severely obese individuals (n = 74).

Hepatic Fat Content and Liver Enzymes Are Associated with Circulating Free and Protein-Bound Advanced Glycation End Products, Which Are Associated with Low-Grade Inflammation: The CODAM Study.

Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) accumulate in fatty livers and may contribute to low-grade inflammation (LGI), potentially via their receptor, RAGE. It is unknown if the AGE accumulation in fatty livers results in elevated circulating AGEs. In a cohort study, we investigated the association of liver fat and hepatocellular damage with circulating AGEs and soluble RAGE (sRAGE) and subsequently the association of circulating AGEs and sRAGE with LGI.

Adipose tissue macrophages do not affect atherosclerosis development in mice.

Background And Aims: Obese individuals have a higher risk of developing atherosclerosis, possibly driven by adipose tissue (AT) inflammation. We recently showed that AT macrophages (ATMs), which accumulate in the expanding obese AT, produce mediators causing immune cell recruitment from the bone marrow. In the current study, we evaluated whether ATMs are directly involved in atherosclerotic plaque development.

RAGE deficiency does not affect non-alcoholic steatohepatitis and atherosclerosis in Western type diet-fed Ldlr mice.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is a spectrum of liver diseases ranging from steatosis only to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The latter is characterized by hepatic inflammation, which increases the risk of cardiovascular disease. It is poorly understood which factors contribute to the onset of hepatic inflammation characterizing the progression from steatosis to NASH.

Characterization of Immune Cells in Human Adipose Tissue by Using Flow Cytometry.

Infiltration of immune cells in the subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue (AT) deposits leads to a low-grade inflammation contributing to the development of obesity-associated complications such as type 2 diabetes. To quantitatively and qualitatively investigate the immune cell subsets in human AT deposits, we have developed a flow cytometry approach. The stromal vascular fraction (SVF), containing the immune cells, is isolated from subcutaneous and visceral AT biopsies by collagenase digestion.

Abdominal subcutaneous and visceral adipocyte size, lipolysis and inflammation relate to insulin resistance in male obese humans.

Obesity is associated with a disturbed adipose tissue (AT) function characterized by adipocyte hypertrophy, an impaired lipolysis and pro-inflammatory phenotype, which contributes to insulin resistance (IR). We investigated whether AT phenotype in different AT depots of obese individuals with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with whole-body IR. Subcutaneous (SC) and visceral (V) AT biopsies from 18 lean, 17 obese and 8 obese T2DM men were collected.

MicroRNA-221/222 Family Counteracts Myocardial Fibrosis in Pressure Overload-Induced Heart Failure.

Pressure overload causes cardiac fibroblast activation and transdifferentiation, leading to increased interstitial fibrosis formation and subsequently myocardial stiffness, diastolic and systolic dysfunction, and eventually heart failure. A better understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying pressure overload-induced cardiac remodeling and fibrosis will have implications for heart failure treatment strategies. The microRNA (miRNA)-221/222 family, consisting of miR-221-3p and miR-222-3p, is differentially regulated in mouse and human cardiac pathology and inversely associated with kidney and liver fibrosis.

Adipose tissue macrophages induce hepatic neutrophil recruitment and macrophage accumulation in mice.

Objective: Obesity is a risk factor for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). This risk has been attributed to visceral adipose tissue (vAT) expansion associated with increased proinflammatory mediators. Accumulation of CD11c proinflammatory adipose tissue macrophages (ATM) is an important driver of vAT inflammation.

Circulating classical monocytes are associated with CD11c macrophages in human visceral adipose tissue.

Immune cell accumulation in adipose tissue (AT) is associated with the development of AT inflammation, resulting in metabolic dysfunction. Circulating immune cell patterns may reflect immune cell accumulation in expanding AT. However, data linking human leukocytes in blood and AT is lacking.

Key Factors Affecting Reproductive Success of Thoroughbred Mares and Stallions on a Commercial Stud Farm.

To evaluate factors contributing to fertility of thoroughbred mares, data from 3743 oestrous periods of 2385 mares were collected on a large thoroughbred farm in Ireland. Fourteen stallions (mean age 8.3 years; range 4-15 years) had bred 2385 mares (mean age 9.

Impact of sewer condition on urban flooding: an uncertainty analysis based on field observations and Monte Carlo simulations on full hydrodynamic models.

In-sewer defects are directly responsible for affecting the performance of sewer systems. Notwithstanding the impact of the condition of the assets on serviceability, sewer performance is usually assessed assuming the absence of in-sewer defects. This leads to an overestimation of serviceability.