Characterization of CD4 and CD8 T cells responses in the mixed lymphocyte reaction by flow cytometry and single cell RNA sequencing.

Background: The Mixed Lymphocyte Reaction (MLR) consists in the allogeneic co-culture of monocytes derived dendritic cells (MoDCs) with T cells from another donor. This assay is largely used for the assessment of immunotherapy compounds. Nevertheless, the phenotypic changes associated with lymphocyte responsiveness under MLR have never been thoroughly evaluated.

Differences in autonomic innervation to the vertebrobasilar arteries in spontaneously hypertensive and Wistar rats.

Key Points: Essential hypertension is associated with hyperactivity of the sympathetic nervous system and hypoperfusion of the brainstem area controlling arterial pressure. Sympathetic and parasympathetic innervation of vertebrobasilar arteries may regulate blood perfusion to the brainstem. We examined the autonomic innervation of these arteries in pre-hypertensive (PHSH) and hypertensive spontaneously hypertensive (SH) rats relative to age-matched Wistar rats.

Inflammatory pathways are central to posterior cerebrovascular artery remodelling prior to the onset of congenital hypertension.

Cerebral artery hypoperfusion may provide the basis for linking ischemic stroke with hypertension. Brain hypoperfusion may induce hypertension that may serve as an auto-protective mechanism to prevent ischemic stroke. We hypothesised that hypertension is caused by remodelling of the cerebral arteries, which is triggered by inflammation.

Impact of gonadectomy on blood pressure regulation in ageing male and female rats.

Background: Sexual dimorphism in blood pressure has been associated with differential expression of the angiotensin II (AII) receptors and with activity of the nervous system. It is generally accepted that ageing affects kidney function as well as autonomic nervous system and hormonal balance. Given that hypertension is more prevalent in men than women until women reach their seventh decade, we hypothesised that females would be relatively protected from adverse effects of ageing compared to males and that this would be mediated by the protective effect of ovarian steroids.

Systemic leukotriene B receptor antagonism lowers arterial blood pressure and improves autonomic function in the spontaneously hypertensive rat.

Key Points: Evidence indicates an association between hypertension and chronic systemic inflammation in both human hypertension and experimental animal models. Previous studies in the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) support a role for leukotriene B (LTB ), a potent chemoattractant involved in the inflammatory response, but its mode of action is poorly understood. In the SHR, we observed an increase in T cells and macrophages in the brainstem; in addition, gene expression profiling data showed that LTB production, degradation and downstream signalling in the brainstem of the SHR are dynamically regulated during hypertension.

Cep126 is required for pericentriolar satellite localisation to the centrosome and for primary cilium formation.

Background Information: The centrosome is the primary microtubule-organising centre of animal cells and it has crucial roles in several fundamental cellular functions, including cell division, cell polarity, and intracellular transport. The mechanisms responsible for this are not completely understood.

Results: The poorly characterised protein CEP126 localises to the centrosome, pericentriolar satellites and the base of the primary cilium.

Dendron-anchored organocatalysts: the asymmetric reduction of imines with trichlorosilane, catalysed by an amino acid-derived formamide appended to a dendron.

Asymmetric reduction of ketimines with trichlorosilane can be catalysed by the Lewis-basic N-methylvaline-derived formamide anchored to a soluble dendron () with good enantioselectivity ( View Article and Find Full Text PDF