Toll-like receptor 2 regulates intestinal inflammation by controlling integrity of the enteric nervous system.

Background & Aims: In the intestines, Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) mediates immune responses to pathogens and regulates epithelial barrier function; polymorphisms in TLR2 have been associated with inflammatory bowel disease phenotype. We assessed the effects of TLR2 signaling on the enteric nervous system (ENS) in mice.

Methods: TLR2 distribution and function in the ileal neuromuscular layer of mice were determined by immunofluorescence, cytofluorimetric analysis, immunoprecipitation, and immunoblot analyses.

Cingulin is dispensable for epithelial barrier function and tight junction structure, and plays a role in the control of claudin-2 expression and response to duodenal mucosa injury.

Cingulin (CGN) is a 140 kDa protein, which is localized to the cytoplasmic region of vertebrate tight junctions (TJ), and regulates gene expression and RhoA signaling in cultured cells. To investigate the function of CGN at the organism level, we generated CGN knockout (CGN(-/-)) mice by homologous recombination. CGN(-/-) mice are viable and fertile, and are born at the expected mendelian ratios.

In vitro model for IgE mediated food allergy.

Background: In intestinal food allergy, the non-specificity of gastrointestinal symptoms and the limited access to the reacting organ are the reasons for the limited understanding of the pathophysiology of this disease and the difficulties in establishing an appropriate diagnosis in the individual patient.

Objective: To develop an in vitro model reproducing pathophysiological mechanisms of IgE mediated food allergy.

Methods: Distal duodenum biopsies of nine patients with food allergy and 10 control subjects were cultured for 3 h with medium alone and with 1 mg/ml of peptic-tryptic digest of wheat gliadin, wheat albumins, and apple proteins.

Possible Anandamide and Palmitoylethanolamide involvement in human stroke.

Background: Endocannabinoids (eCBs) are ubiquitous lipid mediators that act on specific (CB1, CB2) and non-specific (TRPV1, PPAR) receptors. Despite many experimental animal studies proved eCB involvement in the pathogenesis of stroke, such evidence is still lacking in human patients. Our aim was to determine eCB peripheral levels in acute stroke patients and evaluate their relationship with clinical disability and stroke volume.

Immunomodulation techniques in a pig-to-rat model of xenoislet transplantation to prolong graft survival.

Pancreas allotransplantation can restore full metabolic control in patients with type I diabetes, but has several limitations. Pancreatic islet xenotransplantation (XiTx) is considered a reliable alternative. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of gamma-irradiation and a highly selective inducible nitric oxide synthase inhibitor (AE-ITU) in a model of pig-to-rat XiTx.

Lack of intestinal mucosal toxicity of Triticum monococcum in celiac disease patients.

Objective: The treatment of celiac disease is based on lifelong withdrawal of foods containing gluten. Unfortunately, compliance with a gluten-free diet has proved poor in many patients (mainly due to its low palatability), emphasizing the need for cereal varieties that are not toxic for celiac patients. In evolutionary terms, Triticum monococcum is the oldest and most primitive cultivated wheat.