Publications by authors named "GERARD H"

Identifying tumor-mediated mechanisms that impair immunity is instrumental for the design of new cancer therapies. Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are a key component of cancer-derived immune suppression; however, these lymphocytes are necessary to prevent systemic autoimmunity in mice and humans, and thus, direct targeting of Tregs is not a clinical option for cancer patients. We have previously demonstrated that excising transcription factor Kruppel-like factor 2 () within the T cell lineage blocks the generation of peripheral-derived Tregs (pTregs) without impairing production of thymic-derived Tregs.

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An original concerted antarafacial mechanism for the addition of diorganosilyl-zinc reagents across the C-C triple bond of ynamides is computationally investigated using DFT calculations. This concerted mechanism, leading to a trans-product in only one step, results in the formation of a Si-C and a Zn-C σ-bond on opposite sides of the π-system. We demonstrate that the mechanism going through a η-vinyl intermediate and the proposal of a radical chain pathway are energetically unsustainable.

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To understand the regioselectivity observed in the allylation of pyrimidine nucleosides and to identify the factors directing the reaction, a theoretical study of the regioselective allylation was carried out. Several key points were considered such as: the structure of the deprotonated nucleobase in the presence of Na; the effect of the solvent on the dissociation and aggregation reactions of thymidine/Na ion pair; and the likely allylation reaction mechanisms involved. The results showed that the regioselectivity observed experimentally can be attributed to a greater stability of a dimeric form coupled to an increase of the reaction barrier in THF due to larger Na binding to the nucleobase.

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Background: Recent studies have shown the implication of the ROBO-SLIT pathway in heart development. Within this study, we aimed to further assess the implication of the ROBO and SLIT genes mainly in bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) and other human congenital heart defects (CHD).

Methods: We have analyzed a cohort of singleton exome sequencing data comprising 40 adult BAV patients, 20 pediatric BAV patients generated by the Pediatric Cardiac Genomics Consortium, 10 pediatric cases with tetralogy of Fallot (ToF), and one case with coarctation of the aorta.

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Introduction: Most patients with Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) have limited levels of physical activity (PA). The aim of this systematic review was to examine the evidence regarding the benefits and potential risks of PA in SLE.

Methods: We searched the medical literature on MEDLINE (via PubMed) from inception to March 2022 using the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) terms "Exercise" and "Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic" as well as free text combinations such as "physical activity".

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Background: Whether left ventricular non-compaction (LVNC) bears a different prognosis than dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is still a matter of debate.

Methods: From a multicenter French prospective registry, we compared the outcomes of 98 patients with LVNC and 65 with DCM. The primary endpoint combined cardiovascular death, heart transplantation, and hospitalization for cardiovascular events.

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Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) is the most common congenital heart defect with a high index of heritability. Patients with BAV have different clinical courses and disease progression. Herein, we report three siblings with BAV and clinical differences.

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The configurational instability of allenyl copper reagents is unveiled. An experimental study highlights the crucial role of Li and of the reaction temperature in the control of the configurational stability of allenyl copper reagents. A judicious choice of the reaction conditions allows efficient dynamic kinetic resolution processes and gives a one-pot access to homopropargylic alcohols or amines bearing up to four contiguous defined stereogenic centers.

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Background: Few data exist concerning genotype-phenotype relationships in left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC).

Methods And Results: From a multicenter French Registry, we report the genetic and clinical spectrum of 95 patients with LVNC, and their genotype-phenotype relationship. Among the 95 LVNC, 45 had at least 1 mutation, including 14 cases of mutation in ion channel genes.

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The reaction of a silyl dienolate, a Cu(II) salt and TBAT yielding the corresponding copper dienolate is addressed. A combined NMR and cyclic voltammetry analysis first highlight the role of TBAT in the Cu(II) to Cu(I) reduction and the structure of the precatalytic species. From these first results a second set of NMR and theoretical studies enable the determination of the structure and the mechanism of formation of the copper dienolate catalytic species.

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An inner-sphere disproportionation mechanism of the Co(I) precursor CoCl(PPh ) is described through a Density Functional Theory study. The essential role of oleylamine in this process is unravelled. A detailed analysis of the electronic structure of Cobalt dimers of the general formula Co Cl L (L=NH and PH ) demonstrates that electron transfer is triggered by asymetric coordination of amine and phosphine to stabilize a mixed-valence Co(II)-Co(0) dimer.

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Background: The incremental prognostic value of left atrial (LA) dysfunction, emerging in various clinical contexts, remains poorly explored in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).

Objective: To assess LA strain correlation with outcome in HCM.

Methods: A cohort of all 307 consecutive patients presenting with HCM between 2007 and 2017 (54±17 years; 34% women), with comprehensive echocardiography at diagnosis and LA peak longitudinal strain (PALS) and LA peak contraction strain (PACS) measurement, was enrolled and occurrence of HCM related cardiac events analysed.

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A simple numerical experiment is presented which allows tuning the lithium electrophilicity, a parameter strongly affected by the solvent and additives coordination. A series of coordination of Li to carbanions or polydentate nucleophiles is examined showing the potential and the limits of this approach. The results suggest that such a simple trick can be remarkably helpful to model and decipher the effects of solvation on the structure and properties of lithiated organometallic species.

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3-Nitroindoles are easily reacted with highly substituted γ-allenoates in the presence of a commercially available phosphine catalyst. For instance, allenoates derived from biomolecules such as amino and deoxycholic acids are combined for the first time with 3-nitroindole. The corresponding dearomatized (3+2) tricyclic cycloadducts are obtained as α-regioisomers exclusively.

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Exchange of X (F, Cl, OMe) and a substituted enolate chain between SiMe and various Cu complexes was examined. Reaction mechanisms pass through a cyclic transition state in which the reaction coordinate is associated with rotation of the SiMe moiety. The dependence of the thermodynamic and kinetic features on the nature of the active and ancillary ligands was examined.

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Despite their apparent similarities, vinyl (thio)ethers and enamines display divergent reactivities toward nitroalkenes. Whereas [4+2] cycloadduct derivatives are generally obtained in the first case, a variety of adducts are observed in the second, and depend on the substrates and reaction conditions. Herein, a rationalization of this versatility is proposed through a theoretical study, in which the interactions between these electron-rich alkenes and nitroethylene are compared in conjugate addition, [4+2] and [2+2] cycloadditions, and ene reaction processes.

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The first stereocontrolled Cu-catalyzed sequential 1,6/1,4-asymmetric conjugate addition (ACA) of C-metalated hard nucleophiles to cyclic dienones is reported. The use of DiPPAM (diphenylphosphinoazomethinylate) followed by a phosphoramidite as the stereoinducing ligands facilitated both high ee values for the 1,6-ACA and high de values for the 1,4-ACA reaction components, which thus gave enantioenriched 1,3-dialkylated moieties. The absolute configurations were determined by using vibrational circular dichroism (VCD) and optical rotatory dispersion (ORD) spectroscopy, in combination with DFT calculations and X-ray analysis.

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Herein we describe the first synthesis of pure mono-disperse spherical hcp-nanocrystals ferromagnetic at room temperature. Our strategy, based on the simple combination of oleylamine and ClCo(PPh), allows the one-pot synthesis of size-controlled hcp-nanocrystals. The size and shape of the nanocrystals can be tuned by varying the reaction time or the concentration.

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The estuarine gram-negative rod and human diarrheal pathogen Vibrio cholerae synthesizes a VPS exopolysaccharide-dependent biofilm matrix that allows it to form a 3D structure on surfaces. Proteins associated with the matrix include, RbmA, RbmC, and Bap1. RbmA, a protein whose crystallographic structure suggests two binding surfaces, associates with cells by means of a VPS-dependent mechanism and promotes biofilm cohesiveness and recruitment of cells to the biofilm.

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Lack of a system for genetic manipulation of Chlamydia trachomatis has been a key challenge to advancing understanding the molecular genetic basis of virulence for this bacterial pathogen. We developed a non-viral, dendrimer-enabled system for transformation of this organism and used it to characterize the effects of inserting the common 7.5 kbp chlamydial plasmid into strain L2(25667R), a C.

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The chemo-, regio-, and stereoselectivities of multicomponent [4 + 2]/[3 + 2] domino cycloaddition reactions involving nitroindole derivatives with vinylethers and acrylates are studied computationnally and compared to experimental results. In this process, the nitroarene first reacts as an electron-deficient heterodiene with the electron-rich alkene following an inverse electron-demand [4 + 2] process, leading to a nitronate intermediate in a fully selective way. This intermediate exclusively interacts, in a second step, with the electron-deficient alkene and undergoes a chemo- and regioselective [3 + 2] cycloaddition.

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Objective: Factors that predispose patients to Chlamydia-induced reactive arthritis (CiReA) are poorly defined. Data indirectly suggest chemokine receptor-5 (CCR5)-delta-32 mutation might play a role in CiReA. We investigated the attack rate of CiReA and we hypothesized that the CCR5-delta-32 allele may modulate disease susceptibility.

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Background: Patients with chronic Chlamydia-induced reactive arthritis (ReA) often show a remitting-relapsing disease phenotype. Some information regarding bacterial and host responses to one another during active disease is available but no information for quiescence. This article presents the first molecular genetic insight into the behavior of bacterium and host during remitting ReA.

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