Direct interaction of Su(var)2-10 via the SIM-binding site of the Piwi protein is required for transposon silencing in Drosophila melanogaster.

Nuclear Piwi/Piwi-interacting RNA complexes mediate co-transcriptional silencing of transposable elements by inducing local heterochromatin formation. In Drosophila, sumoylation plays an essential role in the assembly of the silencing complex; however, the molecular mechanism by which the sumoylation machinery is recruited to the transposon loci is poorly understood. Here, we show that the Drosophila E3 SUMO-ligase Su(var)2-10 directly binds to the Piwi protein.

TRPV4 Activation Increases the Expression of CD207 (Langerin) of Monocyte-Derived Langerhans Cells without Affecting their Maturation.

Langerhans cells (LCs) are the sole professional antigen-presenting cell normally found in the human epidermal compartment. Research into their physiological role is hindered by the fact that they are invariably activated during isolation from the skin. To overcome this challenge, we turned to a monocyte-derived LC (moLC) model, which we characterized with RNA sequencing, and compared the transcriptome of moLCs with that of donor-matched immature dendritic cells.

The Effect of Aerobic Exercise and Low-Impact Pilates Workout on the Adaptive Immune System.

Growing evidence indicates the pronounced effects of physical activity on immune functions, which may largely depend on the type of exercise, intensity, and duration. However, limited information is available regarding the effects of low-impact exercises, especially on the level of adaptive immune system. Our study aimed to investigate and compare the changes in a broad spectrum of lymphocyte subtypes after 14 weeks of aerobic-type total-body-shaping workouts (TBSW) and Pilates workouts (PW) among healthy individuals.

Ferryl Hemoglobin Inhibits Osteoclastic Differentiation of Macrophages in Hemorrhaged Atherosclerotic Plaques.

Intraplaque hemorrhage frequently occurs in atherosclerotic plaques resulting in cell-free hemoglobin, which is oxidized to ferryl hemoglobin (FHb) in the highly oxidative environment. Osteoclast-like cells (OLCs) derived from macrophages signify a counterbalance mechanism for calcium deposition in atherosclerosis. Our aim was to investigate whether oxidized hemoglobin alters osteoclast formation, thereby affecting calcium removal from mineralized atherosclerotic lesions.

Hydrogen Sulfide Abrogates Hemoglobin-Lipid Interaction in Atherosclerotic Lesion.

The infiltration of red blood cells into atheromatous plaques is implicated in atherogenesis. Inside the lesion, hemoglobin (Hb) is oxidized to ferri- and ferrylHb which exhibit prooxidant and proinflammatory activities. Cystathione gamma-lyase- (CSE-) derived HS has been suggested to possess various antiatherogenic actions.

Impaired Immunosuppressive Effect of Bronchoalveolar Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis: Preliminary Findings.

Background: Bronchoalveolar mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) play an important role in the maintenance of lung integrity. Therapeutic application of bone marrow-derived MSCs reduced chronic bronchial inflammation in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, and improved the ratio of survivors in sepsis with pneumonia. This study investigated the effect of MSCs from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) of hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) on T-cell function under in vitro conditions.

Interaction of HLA-DRB1*03 and smoking for the development of anti-Jo-1 antibodies in adult idiopathic inflammatory myopathies: a European-wide case study.

Objectives: HLA-DRB1*03 is strongly associated with anti-Jo-1-positive idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM) and there is now increasing evidence that Jo-1 antigen is preferentially expressed in lung tissue. This study examined whether smoking was associated with the development of anti-Jo-1 antibodies in HLA-DRB1*03-positive IIM.

Methods: IIM cases were selected with concurrent information regarding HLA-DRB1 status, smoking history and anti-Jo-1 antibody status.

Different effects of bortezomib on the expressions of various protein kinase C isoenzymes in T cells of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and in Jurkat cells.

The effects of proteosome inhibitor Bortezomib (BZ) were studied in vitro for 24 h on the protein kinase C (PKC) profiles, rates of proliferation and apoptosis in Jurkat cells and lymphocytes of 10 patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and nine healthy subjects. The expressions of PKC proteins, the rates of proliferation and apoptosis were determined. The effects of BZ were different in the Jurkat and lupus T cells.

Fc-gamma-receptor IIIa polymorphism and gene expression profile do not predict the prognosis in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma treated with R-CHOP protocol.

The addition of rituximab to conventional chemotherapy has significantly improved the treatment outcome in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. However, differences in treatment response and survival data can be observed independently from the International Prognostic Index scores. The current study evaluated the impact of Fc-gamma-receptor IIIa polymorphism and gene expression profile on the response of DLBCL patients to R-CHOP therapy as well as on their survival results.

An unusual association: anti-Jo1 and anti-SRP antibodies in the serum of a patient with polymyositis.

The idiopathic inflammatory myopathies are systemic autoimmune diseases characterized by chronic inflammation, resulting in the progressive weakness of the proximal muscles. Myositis-specific or myositis-associated autoantibodies can often be found in serum of polymyositis and dermatomyositis patients. This autoantibody presence may play a significant role in patient diagnosis and classification.

New classification of the shared epitope in rheumatoid arthritis: impact on the production of various anti-citrullinated protein antibodies.

Objective: HLA-DR [shared epitope (SE)] alleles have recently been re-classified into S1, S2, S3P and S3D groups. S2 and S3P have been associated with increased risk for RA. We assessed the impact of S1, S2, S3P and S3D alleles on anti-citrullinated protein antibody (ACPA) production.

Human leukocyte antigen-DRB1 and -DQB1 genotyping in lupus patients with and without antiphospholipid syndrome.

We investigated the genetic background regarding major histocompatibility complex (MHC) II alleles in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) only, in patients with SLE with secondary antiphospholipid syndrome (SLE+SAPS), and in patients whose clinical course began as primary antiphospholipid syndrome (PAPS) and subsequently progressed to SLE (PAPS+SLE) in order to explain the phenotypical differences found in our previous study. Those with primary or secondary APS present more thrombotic and less inflammatory activity. Fetal wastage was the highest in the PAPS+SLE group.

Anti-citrullinated protein/peptide autoantibodies in association with genetic and environmental factors as indicators of disease outcome in rheumatoid arthritis.

Anti-citrullinated protein/peptide antibodies (ACPA) have recently emerged as sensitive and specific serological markers of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), providing superior alternative of the rheumatoid factor (RF) test in the laboratory diagnostics of RA. Citrullination is a post-translational modification of arginine by deimination, physiologically occurring during apoptosis, inflammation or keratinization. The presence of several citrullinated proteins has been demonstrated in the RA synovium.

Protein tyrosine phosphatase gene C1858T allele confers risk for rheumatoid arthritis in Hungarian subjects.

The C1858T allele of the PTPN22 gene has been reported to confer risk for RA; but in some reports, the effect was restricted to RF- and/or anti-CCP-seropositive patients. Hungarian RA patients and matched controls were genotyped. The 1858T allele showed an increased prevalence in RA patients compared to controls.

Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide antibody isotypes in rheumatoid arthritis: association with disease duration, rheumatoid factor production and the presence of shared epitope.

Objective: Anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide (anti-CCP) antibodies of IgG isotype are specific diagnostic markers of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Recent evidence also points to their direct involvement in the pathophysiology. Little information is available, however, regarding the isotype distribution of anti-CCP antibodies and the characteristics of IgA and IgM anti-CCP.

Haptoglobin polymorphism: a novel genetic risk factor for celiac disease development and its clinical manifestations.

Background: Haptoglobin (Hp) alpha-chain alleles 1 and 2 account for 3 phenotypes that may influence the course of inflammatory diseases via biologically important differences in their antioxidant, scavenging, and immunomodulatory properties. Hp1-1 genotype results in the production of small dimeric, Hp2-1 linear, and Hp2-2 cyclic polymeric haptoglobin molecules. We investigated the haptoglobin polymorphism in patients with celiac disease and its possible association to the presenting symptoms.

Functional variants of interleukin-23 receptor gene confer risk for rheumatoid arthritis but not for systemic sclerosis.

Objectives: Recently, an association was found between Crohn's disease and the interleukin-23 receptor (IL-23R) gene. Since the IL-23/IL-17 pathway is known to associate with other autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic sclerosis (SSc), we hypothesised that IL-23R could be a shared susceptibility gene.

Methods: Groups of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (n = 412), systemic sclerosis (n = 224), Crohn's disease (n = 190) and healthy controls (n = 220) were genotyped for rs10889677 (exon-3'UTR C2370A), rs2201841, and rs1884444 variants; the first two have been shown to confer risk for Crohn's disease.

Development of oxidative stress tolerance resulted in reduced ability to undergo morphologic transitions and decreased pathogenicity in a t-butylhydroperoxide-tolerant mutant of Candida albicans.

We tested the hypothesis that adaptation of Candida albicans to chronic oxidative stress inhibits the formation of hyphae and reduces pathogenicity. Candida albicans cells were exposed to increasing concentrations of t-butylhydroperoxide (tBOOH), a lipid peroxidation-accelerating agent, and mutants with heritable tBOOH tolerance were isolated. Hypha formation by the mutants was negligible on Spider agar, indicating that the development of oxidative stress tolerance prevented Candida cells from undergoing dimorphic switches.

High-dose methylprednisolone influences the physiology and virulence of Candida albicans ambiguously and enhances the candidacidal activity of the polyene antibiotic amphotericin B and the superoxide-generating agent menadione.

Although exposure of Candida albicans cells to high-dose (4 mM) methylprednisolone stimulated microbial growth, germination rate in serum and phospholipase release, it also promoted the recognition of C. albicans cells by polymorphonuclear leukocytes. Pretreatment of C.

Lovastatin possesses a fungistatic effect against Candida albicans, but does not trigger apoptosis in this opportunistic human pathogen.

Lovastatin inhibited the growth of Candida albicans in a fungistatic way. Although it triggers apoptosis in a great variety of eukaryotic cells, including many tumour cell lines, lovastatin failed to provoke apoptotic events in this human pathogen. The fungistatic behaviour of this statin might arise from its negative influence on membrane fluidity.

[Prophylactic use of Zinacef in orthopedics].

Authors give a brief summary on necessity of antibiotic prophylaxis in orthopaedics, pointing out the hip, knee arthroplasty and the spinal fusion with Steffee plate. They introduce the applied antibiotic, called Zinacef and it's antibacterial spectrum and the way in prophylaxis is discussed. No any septic complication was observed out of one thousand surgical interventions.