Effect of pregnancy hormone mixtures on cytokine production and surface marker expression in naïve and LPS-activated THP-1 differentiated monocytes/macrophages.

In pregnancy, maternal monocytes and macrophages acquire a specific phenotype that enables them to maintain immune tolerance and facilitate hormone–immune cell interactions, which are necessary for gestational progression. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of pregnancy hormone mixtures of the first and third trimesters on both resting and activated monocytes and macrophages. Pregnancy hormone levels (cortisol, estradiol, progesterone, and prolactin) were quantified at the first and third trimesters.

Colostrum proinflammatory cytokines as biomarkers of bovine immune response to bovine tuberculosis (bTB).

Bovine colostrum contains compounds, which provide passive immune protection from mother to newborn calves. Little is known about cytokine levels and their role in bovine colostrum. Moreover, the capacity of bovine colostrum cells to mount specific immune responses after natural exposure to bovine tuberculosis (bTB) antigens in dairy herds has not been studied, thus far.

Divergent macrophage responses to Mycobacterium bovis among naturally exposed uninfected and infected cattle.

Mycobacterium bovis, the causative agent of bovine tuberculosis (TB), is a successful pathogen that remains an important global threat to livestock. Cattle naturally exposed to M. bovis normally become reactive to the M.

Differential expression of solute carrier family 11a member 1 and inducible nitric oxide synthase 2 in skin biopsies from leprosy patients.

Background: Leprosy is a chronic granulomatous infection caused by Mycobacterium leprae, an intracellular parasite that resides within macrophages and cannot be eliminated effectively. Solute carrier family 11a member 1 (Slc11a1) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), both expressed in macrophages, play major roles in host defense against several intracellular pathogens. However, the roles of these molecules in natural infection with M.

An approach to the immunophenotypic features of circulating CD4⁺NKG2D⁺ T cells in invasive cervical carcinoma.

Background: NKG2D, an activating immunoreceptor, is primarily restricted to NK cells and CD8(+) T cells. The existence of an atypical cytotoxic CD4(+)NKG2D(+) T cell population has also been found in patients with autoimmune dysfunctions. Nonetheless, contradictory evidence has categorized this population with a regulatory rather than cytotoxic role in other situations.

STAT3 activation is required for the antiapoptotic effects of prolactin in cervical cancer cells.

Background: Prolactin (PRL) has been implicated in the development of different types of cancer. However, signaling pathways might be activated depending on various forms of prolactin receptor (PRLR). JAK/STAT is an important pathway associated with PRL effects.

Expression of autocrine prolactin and the short isoform of prolactin receptor are associated with inflammatory response and apoptosis in monocytes stimulated with Mycobacterium bovis proteins.

Increased levels of prolactin (PRL) have recently been associated with carcinogenesis and the exacerbation of autoimmune diseases, and might be involved in the progression of tuberculosis (TB). To investigate the relationship between PRL and prolactin receptor (PRLr) expression with inflammatory response and apoptosis in monocytes, we used THP-1 cells stimulated with antigens of the Mycobacterium bovis AN5 strain culture filtrate protein (CFP-M. bovis).

Prolactin in inflammatory response.

Prolactin (PRL) is a peptide hormone produced by the pituitary gland and diverse extrapituitary sites, which triggers activation of various signaling pathways after binding to its receptor (PRLr) resulting in the activation of specific genes associated with the pleiotropic activities of PLR. To date, various PRLr isoforms have been described, generated by post-transcriptional or post-translational processes. PRL has been associated with the modulation of a variety of actions in the immune response and inflammatory processes in several physiologic and pathologic conditions.

Prolactin modulates cytokine production induced by culture filtrate proteins of M. bovis through different signaling mechanisms in THP1 cells.

The immunomodulatory functions of prolactin (PRL) are well recognized. Augmented PRL plasma levels were observed in patients with advanced tuberculosis (TB). Recently, we have reported that LPS and Mycobacterium bovis (M.

Prolactin and prolactin receptor expression in cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cancer.

Prolactin receptor (PRLR) overexpression could play a role in tumorigenesis. The aim of this study was to determine prolactin (PRL) and PRLR expression in biopsies from patients with precursor lesions and uterine cervical cancer. PRLR expression was analyzed in 63 paraffin-embedded biopsies of uterine cervical tissue.

Detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex by PCR in fresh cheese from local markets in Hidalgo, Mexico.

The objective of this study was to identify the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex bacterial DNA in samples extracted from fresh cheeses; 95 samples of fresh cheese were obtained from municipal markets in the state of Hidalgo, in central Mexico, and were analyzed in triplicate. The exogenous control for the amplification was the mitochondrial gene for cytochrome b (cyt-b). M.

High expression of prolactin receptor is associated with cell survival in cervical cancer cells.

Background: The altered expression of prolactin (PRL) and its receptor (PRLR) has been implicated in breast and other types of cancer. There are few studies that have focused on the analysis of PRL/PRLR in cervical cancer where the development of neoplastic lesions is influenced by the variation of the hormonal status. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of PRL/PRLR and the effect of PRL treatment on cell proliferation and apoptosis in cervical cancer cell lines.

Mycobacterium bovis infection in cattle induces differential expression of prolactin receptor isoforms in macrophages.

Prolactin receptor (PRLr) is a member of the cytokine receptor superfamily 1 showing tissue specific structural diversity. Expression of PRLr isoforms in lymphoid tissues has been associated with immunomodulatory function of prolactin. Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is characterized by chronic inflammation caused by the persistent infection of lymphoid tissues with Mycobacterium bovis.

Lipopolysaccharide induces the expression of an autocrine prolactin loop enhancing inflammatory response in monocytes.

Background: Prolactin from pituitary gland helps maintain homeostasis but it is also released in immune cells where its function is not completely understood. Pleiotropic functions of prolactin (PRL) might be mediated by different isoforms of its receptor (PRLr).

Methods: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the eventual synthesis of PRL and PRLr isoforms with the inflammatory response in monocytes.

The extrapituitary prolactin promoter polymorphism is associated with rheumatoid arthritis and anti-CCP antibodies in Mexican population.

Prolactin (PRL) is a hormone-cytokine that has been involved in autoimmunity due to its immunoregulatory and lymphoproliferative effects. It is produced by various extrapituitary sites including immune cells, under control of a superdistal promoter that contains a single nucleotide polymorphism -1149 G/T previously associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) susceptibility in European population. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of the extrapituitary PRL -1149 G/T promoter polymorphism with clinical parameters, clinical activity and disability indices in RA patients from Western Mexico and to analyze the PRL mRNA expression according to the PRL -1149 G/T promoter polymorphism in total leucocytes from RA patients and controls.

Mycobacterium bovis DNA detection in colostrum as a potential indicator of vaccination effectiveness against bovine tuberculosis.

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) remains a problem on many dairy farms in Mexico, as well as a public health risk. We previously found a high frequency of Mycobacterium bovis DNA in colostrum from dairy cows using a nested PCR to detect mpb70. Since there are no reliable in vivo tests to determine the effectiveness of booster Mycobacterium bovis BCG vaccination against bTB, in this work we monitored M.

Increased expression of the prolactin receptor is associated with malignant laryngeal tumors.

The altered expression of the prolactin receptor (PRLR) has been associated with the development of various types of cancer, particularly breast, prostate and endometrial cancer. However, in laryngeal tumors, the expression of PRLR has not yet been documented. The aim of this study was to determine the expression and localization of PRLR in laryngeal cancer (LC) in comparison with recurrent respiratory papillomatosis (RRP).

Population structure of Mycobacterium bovis isolates from cattle in Mexico.

The molecular fingerprints of 878 isolates of Mycobacterium bovis collected from cattle between 2009 and 2010 in different regions of Mexico were used in this study. One hundred and ninety-four spoligotypes were observed in total with a high degree of heterogeneity. Sixty-four percent of the isolates grouped into just nine spoligotypes, and 27% fell into only two spoligotypes: SB0673 and SB0669; 149 were orphan spoligotypes.

Serum levels of macrophage migration inhibitory factor are associated with rheumatoid arthritis course.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease of unknown etiology. Many cytokines have been found to be associated with RA pathogenesis and among them is macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF). The aim of this study was to determine whether MIF serum levels are associated with RA course, clinical activity, and clinical biomarkers of the disease.

Molecular findings and approaches spotlighting Mycobacterium bovis persistence in cattle.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) and Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) are the etiological agents of human and bovine tuberculosis (TB, bTB) respectively, and share genetic identity over 99% at the whole genome level. Progress has been made towards explaining how mycobacteria and their infected hosts remain in balance without producing clinical symptoms of disease, a phenomenon referred to as latency or persistence, which can be mimicked by certain in vitro conditions.

Frequent alterations of the beta-catenin protein in cancer of the uterine cervix.

Cancer of the uterine cervix is still the leading cause of death among women with cancer in developing countries. Although infections with human papillomavirus are necessary, other molecular alterations that are needed at the cellular level for development of these tumors remain largely unknown. Beta-catenin is a key regulator located within the Wnt signaling cascade whose alterations constitute an important event in colon carcinogenesis.