Publications by authors named "Caroline Neu"
Bifidobacteria are an important component of the human gastrointestinal microbiota and are frequently used as probiotics. The genetic inaccessibility and lack of molecular tools commonly used in other bacteria have hampered a detailed analysis of the genetic determinants of bifidobacteria involved in their adaptation to, colonization of, and interaction with the host. In the present study, a range of molecular tools were developed that will allow the closing of some of the gaps in functional analysis of bifidobacteria.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMacrophages are an important line of defence against invading pathogens. Human macrophages derived by different methods were tested for their suitability as models to investigate Listeria monocytogenes (Lm) infection and compared to macrophage-like THP-1 cells. Human primary monocytes were isolated by either positive or negative immunomagnetic selection and differentiated in the presence of granulocyte macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) or macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) into pro- or anti-inflammatory macrophages, respectively.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- The protease web, which includes proteases, their inhibitors, and relevant signaling molecules, plays a crucial role in maintaining tissue health.
- An imbalance caused by increased tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 (TIMP-1) leads to a greater risk of metastasis by activating the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) pathway and the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF-1α) signaling.
- The study shows that elevated TIMP-1 levels boost HIF-1α expression, which contributes to tumor cell invasiveness and metastasis, revealing a previously unexplored link between TIMP-1 and HIF-1α in cancer progression.