The human cathelicidin peptide LL-37 induces autophagy in human macrophages. Different post-translational modifications (PTMs) such as citrullination, acetylation, and formylation impact LL-37, yet their effect on autophagy remains unknown. Thus, we set out to study how the cellular source could impact PTM of LL-37 and subsequent effects on autophagy initiation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPatients with hematologic malignancies (HM) are highly susceptible to bloodstream infection (BSI), particularly those undergoing treatments such as chemotherapy. A common and debilitating side effect of chemotherapy is oral and intestinal mucositis. These Patients are also at high risk of developing sepsis, which can arise from mucosal barrier injuries and significantly increases mortality in these patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe collapse of ice shelves could expose tall ice cliffs at ice sheet margins. The marine ice cliff instability (MICI) is a hypothesis that predicts that, if these cliffs are tall enough, ice may fail structurally leading to self-sustained retreat. To date, projections that include MICI have been performed with a single model based on a simple parameterization.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGenetic variation in Arctic species is often influenced by vicariance during the Pleistocene, as ice sheets fragmented the landscape and displaced populations to low- and high-latitude refugia. The formation of secondary contact or suture zones during periods of ice sheet retraction has important consequences on genetic diversity by facilitating genetic connectivity between formerly isolated populations. Brant geese () are a maritime migratory waterfowl (Anseriformes) species that almost exclusively uses coastal habitats.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSignals for the maintenance of epithelial homeostasis are provided in part by commensal bacteria metabolites, that promote tissue homeostasis in the gut and remote organs as microbiota metabolites enter the bloodstream. In our study, we investigated the effects of bile acid metabolites, 3-oxolithocholic acid (3-oxoLCA), alloisolithocholic acid (AILCA) and isolithocholic acid (ILCA) produced from lithocholic acid (LCA) by microbiota, on the regulation of innate immune responses connected to the expression of host defense peptide cathelicidin in lung epithelial cells. The bile acid metabolites enhanced expression of cathelicidin at low concentrations in human bronchial epithelial cell line BCi-NS1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Thorac Dis
January 2024
Background: Surgical lung biopsy (SLB) is required for diagnosis in patients with suspected interstitial lung disease (ILD) if other less invasive diagnostic methods are non-conclusive. We evaluated the outcome of SLB by using centralized databases in a whole-nation patient-cohort.
Methods: A population-based retrospective study on 68 consecutive patients (mean age 58 years, 58.
Background: A decline in forced expiratory volume (FEV1) is a hallmark of respiratory diseases that are an important cause of morbidity among the elderly. While some data exist on biomarkers that are related to FEV1, we sought to do a systematic analysis of causal relations of biomarkers with FEV1.
Methods: Data from the population-based AGES-Reykjavik study were used.
As one of short-chain fatty acids, butyrate is an important metabolite of dietary fiber by the fermentation of gut commensals. Our recent study uncovered that butyrate promoted IL-22 production in fish macrophages to augment the host defense. In the current study, we further explored the underlying signaling pathways in butyrate-induced IL-22 production in fish macrophages.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFWe report two Arctic species of incirrate octopods new to science. One is formally described here as Muusoctopus aegir Golikov, Gudmundsson & Sabirov sp. nov.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAm J Respir Crit Care Med
October 2023
A decline in forced expiratory volume (FEV1) is a hallmark of obstructive respiratory diseases, an important cause of morbidity among the elderly. While some data exist on biomarkers that are related to FEV1, we sought to do a systematic analysis of causal relations of biomarkers with FEV1. Data from the general population-based AGES-Reykjavik study were used.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInnate immunity of the mucosal surfaces provides the first-line defense from invading pathogens and pollutants conferring protection from the external environment. Innate immune system of the airway epithelium consists of several components including the mucus layer, mucociliary clearance of beating cilia, production of host defense peptides, epithelial barrier integrity provided by tight and adherens junctions, pathogen recognition receptors, receptors for chemokines and cytokines, production of reactive oxygen species, and autophagy. Therefore, multiple components interplay with each other for efficient protection from pathogens that still can subvert host innate immune defenses.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBMJ Open
May 2023
Objectives: To assess the association between traffic-related ambient air pollution and emergency hospital visits for cardiac arrest.
Design: Case-crossover design was used with a lag time to 4 days.
Setting: The Reykjavik capital area and the study population was the inhabitants 18 years and older identified by encrypted personal identification numbers and zip codes.
The East Antarctic Ice Sheet (EAIS) is currently surrounded by relatively cool water, but climatic shifts have the potential to increase basal melting via intrusions of warm modified Circumpolar Deep Water (mCDW) onto the continental shelf. Here we use an ice sheet model to show that under the current ocean regime, with only limited intrusions of mCDW, the EAIS will likely gain mass over the next 200 years due to the increased precipitation from a warming atmosphere outweighing increased ice discharge due to ice-shelf melting. However, if the ocean regime were to become dominated by greater mCDW intrusions, the EAIS would have a negative mass balance, contributing up to 48 mm of SLE over this time period.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAlthough evidence has shown that vitamin D (VD) influences gut homeostasis, limited knowledge is available how VD regulates intestinal immunity against bacterial infection. In the present study, mutant zebrafish, lacking the capacity to metabolize VD, and zebrafish fed a diet devoid of VD, were utilized as VD-deficient animal models. Our results confirmed that the expression of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and IL-22 was restrained and the susceptibility to bacterial infection was increased in VD-deficient zebrafish.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn the current context of antibiotic resistance, the need to find alternative treatment strategies is urgent. Our research aimed to use synthetized aroylated phenylenediamines (APDs) to induce the expression of cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide gene (CAMP) to minimize the necessity of antibiotic use during infection. One of these compounds, HO53, showed promising results in inducing CAMP expression in bronchial epithelium cells (BCi-NS1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFish Shellfish Immunol
February 2023
IL-22 has been characterized as a critical cytokine in maintaining barrier integrity and host immunity. So far, it has been known that IL-22 is mainly produced by lymphoid lineage cells. In the present study, we have thoroughly investigated butyrate-induced production and function of IL-22 in fish macrophages.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIdiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a rare, irreversible, and progressive disease of the lungs. Common genetic variants, in addition to nongenetic factors, have been consistently associated with IPF. Rare variants identified by candidate gene, family-based, and exome studies have also been reported to associate with IPF.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Increasing evidence shows that lifestyle interventions can improve the symptoms, quality of life (QoL), and even overall survival of patients with cancer. Digital therapeutics (DTx) can help implement behavioral modifications and empower patients through education, lifestyle support, and remote symptom monitoring.
Objective: We aimed to test the feasibility of a DTx program for patients with cancer, as measured by engagement, retention, and acceptability.
Introduction: Considering the pulmonary burden caused by acute COVID-19, questions remain of respiratory consequences after recovery. The aim of the study was to describe respiratory function of COVID-19 pneumonia survivors at mid-term follow-up (median 68 days) and assess whether impairments were predicted by acute illness severity or residual CT abnormalities.
Methods: Residents of Iceland that had COVID-19 and oxygen saturation ≤94% from 28 February 2020 to 30 April 2021 were offered a clinical follow-up visit with an interview, a 6 min walk test (6MWT), spirometry with gas exchange measurement and chest CT.
Background: Interstitial lung abnormalities (ILAs) are associated with increased mortality. It is unclear whether multimorbidity accounts for the mortality association or how strongly ILA is associated with mortality relative to other common age-associated diseases. We determined the association of ILA with all-cause mortality adjusted for multimorbidity, compared mortality associated with ILA and prevalent cardiovascular disease (CVD), diabetes mellitus, chronic kidney disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and cancer and also determined the association between ILA and these diseases.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAntarctica's contribution to global mean sea level rise has been driven by an increase in ice discharge into the oceans. The rate of change and the mechanisms that drive variability in ice discharge are therefore important to consider in the context of projected future warming. Here, we report observations of both decadal trends and inter-annual variability in ice discharge across the Antarctic Ice Sheet at a variety of spatial scales that range from large drainage basins to individual outlet glacier catchments.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis
May 2022
Aim: This phenomenological study was aimed at exploring principal physicians' (participants') experience of attending to COPD patients and motivating their self-management, in light of the GOLD clinical guidelines of COPD therapy.
Methods: Interviews were conducted with nine physicians, who had referred patients to PR, five general practitioners (GPs) and four lung specialists (LSs). The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed through a process of deconstruction and reconstruction.