Background: Operational tolerance in liver transplantation (OT-LT), defined as the graft survival with normal function in absence of immunosuppression, has been a field of intense research since the 1980s. Thereafter, tens of clinical trials and hundreds of articles have been published, making it challenging for researchers to assimilate all the information, more so outside of their disciplines. The aim of the present study was to analyze the research in OT-LT through a new web tool (https://tolerance.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInflammation is a tightly coordinated response of the host immune system to bacterial and viral infections, triggered by the production of inflammatory cytokines. Sepsis is defined as a systemic inflammatory response followed by immunosuppression of the host and organ dysfunction. This imbalance of the immune response increases the risk of mortality of patients with sepsis, making it a major problem for critical care units worldwide.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat containing receptors (NLRs) are components of the innate immune system, important in coordinating the inflammatory response. Among them, NLRP3 can form inflammasomes, multiprotein complexes activating the inflammatory caspase-1 and leading, through a cell death-mediated signaling cascade, to the release of several proinflammatory cytokines. Dietary polyphenols, plant secondary metabolites, have been reported to exhibit anti-inflammatory properties, although studies have focused most on their effect on the expression of the final circulating cytokines rather than on the upstream signals activating the NLRP3 inflammasome.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAloe mucilages of () and () were spray-dried (SD) at 150, 160 and 170 °C. Polysaccharide composition, total phenolic compounds (TPC), antioxidant capacity and functional properties (FP) were determined. polysaccharides were comprised mainly of mannose, accounting for >70% of SD aloe mucilages; similar results were observed for A.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: In the management of patients with IBD, there is a need to identify prognostic markers and druggable biological pathways to improve mucosal repair and probe the efficacy of tumour necrosis factor alpha biologics. Vnn1 is a pantetheinase that degrades pantetheine to pantothenate (vitamin B, a precursor of coenzyme A (CoA) biosynthesis) and cysteamine. Vnn1 is overexpressed by inflamed colonocytes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe bioactive compounds, antioxidant capacity and microbiological quality of melon juice processed by high-intensity ultrasound (HIUS) were studied. Melon juice was processed at two ultrasound intensities (27 and 52 W/cm2) for two different processing times (10 and 30 min) using two duty cycles (30 and 75%). Unprocessed juice was taken as a control.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe behavior and physiology of most organisms are temporally coordinated and aligned with geophysical time by a complex interplay between the master and peripheral clocks. Disruption of such rhythmic physiological activities that are hierarchically organized has been linked to a greater risk of developing diseases ranging from cancer to metabolic syndrome. Herein, we summarize the molecular clockwork that is employed by intestinal epithelial cells to anticipate environmental changes such as rhythmic food intake and potentially dangerous environmental stress.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCell adhesion is a characteristic feature of phagocytic myeloid cells, which is important for several inflammatory processes, such as migration, invasion, and proliferation. Purinergic signaling in macrophages plays an important role in cell adhesion of this cell type to different extracellular substrates. This protocol describes the use of two different detection methods to quantify cell adhesion upon P2X7 receptor activation by extracellular ATP.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe nucleotide-binding domain and leucine-rich repeat-containing receptor with a pyrin domain 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome is a sensor for different types of infections and alterations of homeostatic parameters, including abnormally high levels of the extracellular nucleotide ATP or crystallization of different metabolites. All NLRP3 activators trigger a similar intracellular pathway, where a decrease in intracellular K concentration and permeabilization of plasma membrane are key steps. Cationic amphipathic antimicrobial peptides and peptide toxins permeabilize the plasma membrane.
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