Chagas disease (CD), a disease affecting millions globally, remains shrouded in scientific uncertainty, particularly regarding the role of the intestinal microbiota in disease progression. This study investigates the effects of antibiotic-induced microbiota depletion on parasite burden, immune responses, and clinical outcomes in BALB/c mice infected with either the Colombiana or CL Brener strains. Mice were treated with a broad-spectrum antibiotic cocktail before infection, and parasite burden was quantified via qPCR at 30 and 100 days post-infection (dpi).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSci Rep
October 2024
In recent years, clinical studies have shown positive results of the application of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (MSCs) in severe cases of COVID-19. However, the mechanisms of immunomodulation of IFN-γ licensed MSCs in SARS-CoV-2 infection are only partially understood. In this study, we first tested the effect of IFN-γ licensing in the MSC immunomodulatory profile.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFStem Cells Int
July 2024
Currently, a series of licensing strategies has been investigated to enhance the functional properties of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Licensing with IFN- is one of the most investigated strategies for enhancing the immunosuppressive potential of such cells. However, it is not yet known whether this licensing strategy could interfere with the ability of MSCs to control bacterial growth, which may be relevant considering their clinical potential.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: The present study compared the structural and proteomic architecture of extracellular matrices (ECM) of decellularized human dental pulp using two previously described protocols.
Design: Pulp tissue from 150 molars was extracted and three treatments took place, based on the Matoug-Elwerfelli Group (MG) and the Song Group (SG) protocols and an untreated pulp group (CG), to examine histoarchitecture and the effectiveness of the decellularization process, using histological analysis (n = 12) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) (n = 3). Protein extraction took place using 100 mg dry weight of pulp, in triplicates for each group, and the shotgun proteome analysis was performed by nanoUPLC-MS.
Aims: Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary malignant bone sarcoma among children and adolescents. Treatment is based on neo-adjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy, using the standard drugs cisplatin, methotrexate, doxorubicin, and ifosfamide (IFO). Due to the high capacity of tumor resistance, the current work aimed to analyze genes related to cycle control and cell differentiation in OS cells sensitive to and with induced resistance to IFO.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFUp to 40% of donor corneas are deemed unsuitable for transplantation, aggravating the shortage of graft tissue. In most cases, the corneal extracellular matrix is intact. Therefore, their decellularization followed by repopulation with autologous cells may constitute an efficient alternative to reduce the amount of discarded tissue and the risk of immune rejection after transplantation.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe conservation of genomic integrity and stability is essential for cell survival. DNA Damage Responses (DDRs) are considered of paramount importance for all living beings and involve mechanisms of cell cycle regulation and damage-specific DNA repair pathways. Hydrogen peroxide (HO) is a compound that, in supraphysiological concentrations, damages biomolecules including the DNA, causing base modifications and strand breaks.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe skin is our largest organ and the outermost protective barrier. Its aging reflects both intrinsic and extrinsic processes resulting from the constant insults it is exposed to. Aging in the skin is accompanied by specific epigenetic modifications, accumulation of senescent cells, reduced cellular proliferation/tissue renewal, altered extracellular matrix, and a proinflammatory environment favoring undesirable conditions, including disease onset.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOriginated in Wuhan, China, the coronavirus 19 disease (COVID-19) has quickly spread worldwide, reaching countries that already faced other endemics and epidemics. In Brazil, such a concerning situation includes arboviruses, among which the dengue virus stands out. Here, we determined the rate of SARS-CoV-2/dengue virus co-infection in a total of 178 patients with COVID-19 symtoms admitted into a large public hospital of the Federal District of Brazil.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMater Sci Eng C Mater Biol Appl
November 2020
The ability to decellularize and recellularize the corneas deemed unsuitable for transplantation may increase the number of available grafts. Decellularized corneas (DCs) may provide a natural microenvironment for cell adhesion and differentiation. Despite this, no study to date has evaluated their efficacy as a substrate for the induction of stem cell differentiation into corneal cells.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) therapy is an important alternative for GVHD treatment, but a third of patients fail to respond to such therapy. Therefore, strategies to enhance the immunosuppressive potential of MSCs constitute an active area of investigation. Here, we proposed an innovative priming strategy based on the plasma obtained from GVHD patients and tested whether this approach could enhance the immunosuppressive capacity of MSCs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMed Oncol
November 2018
The acquisition of complex karyotypes is related to the progression of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and patients with this condition have a poor prognosis. Despite recent advances in the classification of prognosis in CLL patients, understanding of the molecular mechanisms that lead to genomic instability and progression of this disease remains inadequate. Interestingly, dysregulated expression of KDM4 members is involved in the progression of several cancer types and plays a role in the DNA damage response; however, the gene expression profile and the importance of KDM4 members in CLL are still unknown.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground Heterodimeric methyltransferases GLP (EHMT1/KMT1D) and G9a (EHMT2/KMT1C) are two closely related enzymes that promote the monomethylation and dimethylation of histone H3 lysine 9. Dysregulation of their activity has been implicated in several types of human cancer. Patients and methods Here, in order to investigate whether GLP/G9a exerts any impact on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL), GLP/G9a expression levels were assessed in a cohort of 50 patients and the effects of their inhibition were verified for the viability of CLL cells.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRare genetic diseases collectively impact a significant portion of the world's population. For many diseases there is limited information available, and clinicians can find difficulty in differentiating between clinically similar conditions. This leads to problems in genetic counseling and patient treatment.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDuring the past decade, several types of stem cells have been investigated as promising therapeutic agents for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Among them, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) were the most investigated stem cell population. Hundreds of clinical trials later, results remain disappointing and far from the revolutionary improvements expected for heart function.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArterial bypass graft implantation remains the primary therapy for patients with advanced cardiovascular disease, but most lack adequate saphenous vein or other conduits for bypass procedures and would benefit from a bioartificial conduit. This study aimed to produce human endothelial cells (hECs) in large scale, free from xenogeneic antigens, to develop a small diameter, compatible vessel for potential use as a vascular graft. Human adipose-derived stromal cells (hASCs) were isolated, cultured, and differentiated in the presence of human serum and used for the reendothelization of a decellularized rat aorta.
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