Circulating alternative pathway complement cleavage factor Bb is associated with vascular lesions and outcomes in IgA nephropathy.

Background: Complement alternative pathway (AP) activation is linked to immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) prognosis severity, but Bb fragment's role is unclear. We examined the relationship between serum Bb fragment concentration at IgAN diagnosis and disease activity and outcomes.

Methods: This retrospective study included 125 biopsy-proven IgAN patients [age 39.

Methylome Response to Proteasome Inhibition by Virulence Factor Syringolin A.

DNA methylation is an important epigenetic mark required for proper gene expression and silencing of transposable elements. DNA methylation patterns can be modified by environmental factors such as pathogen infection, in which modification of DNA methylation can be associated with plant resistance. To counter the plant defense pathways, pathogens produce effector molecules, several of which act as proteasome inhibitors.

Validation of the international IgA nephropathy prediction tool in a French cohort beyond 10 years after diagnosis.

Introduction: The International IgA Nephropathy Network developed a tool (IINN-PT) for predicting the risk of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) or a 50% decline in the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). We aimed to validate this tool in a French cohort with longer follow-up than previously published validation studies.

Methods: The predicted survival of patients with biopsy-proven immunoglobulin A nephropathy (IgAN) from the Saint Etienne University Hospital cohort was computed with IINN-PT models with or without ethnicity.

[The Green Nephrology Group of the SFNDT: initial reflections].

Preserving the environment is becoming a universal priority. Human activities must be redesigned to best adapt them to available resources and to reduce their deleterious impact on the planet. The Green Nephrology Group of the “Société française de néphrologie, dialyse et transplantation” (SFNDT) has started a reflection on these issues, in particular on dialysis, a vital treatment but with high carbon production, associated with high water consumption.

Non-cell-autonomous small RNA silencing in Arabidopsis female gametes.

In recent years, small RNA movement has been both hypothesized and shown to be an integral part of the epigenetic DNA methylation reprogramming occurring during plant reproduction.It was suggested that the release of epigenetic silencing in accessory cell types or tissues is necessary to reinforce epigenetic silencing in the gametes (egg cell and sperm cells), which would in turn ensure the genomic stability of the next generation plant. In Arabidopsis thaliana, small RNA (sRNA) movement was indeed shown to occur during male gametogenesis.

Epigenetic dynamics during sexual reproduction: At the nexus of developmental control and genomic integrity.

Epigenetic marks influence gene regulation and genomic stability via the repression of transposable elements. During sexual reproduction, tight regulation of the epigenome must take place to maintain the repression of transposable elements while still allowing changes in cell-specific transcriptional programs. In plants, epigenetic marks are reorganized during reproduction and a reinforcing mechanism takes place to ensure transposable elements silencing.

DNA Methyltransferase 3 (MET3) is regulated by Polycomb group complex during Arabidopsis endosperm development.

Complex epigenetic changes occur during plant reproduction. These regulations ensure the proper transmission of epigenetic information as well as allowing for zygotic totipotency. In Arabidopsis, the main DNA methyltransferase is called MET1 and is responsible for methylating cytosine in the CG context.

Platelet, Plasma, Urinary Tryptophan-Serotonin-Kynurenine Axis Markers in Hyperacute Brain Ischemia Patients: A Prospective Study.

Ischemic stroke is one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality and has numerous clinical mimics. Previous studies have suggested a potential role of the tryptophan-serotonin (5-HT)-kynurenine (TSK) axis in ischemic stroke. Studies assessing this axis in the hyperacute phase of ischemic stroke (<4.

Evolution of CG Methylation Maintenance Machinery in Plants.

Cytosine methylation is an epigenetic mark present in most eukaryotic genomes that contributes to the regulation of gene expression and the maintenance of genome stability. DNA methylation mostly occurs at CG sequences, where it is initially deposited by de novo DNA methyltransferases and propagated by maintenance DNA methyltransferases (DNMT) during DNA replication. In this review, we first summarize the mechanisms maintaining CG methylation in mammals that involve the DNA Methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) enzyme and its cofactor, UHRF1 (Ubiquitin-like with PHD and RING Finger domain 1).

The miRNome function transitions from regulating developmental genes to transposable elements during pollen maturation.

Animal and plant microRNAs (miRNAs) are essential for the spatio-temporal regulation of development. Together with this role, plant miRNAs have been proposed to target transposable elements (TEs) and stimulate the production of epigenetically active small interfering RNAs. This activity is evident in the plant male gamete containing structure, the male gametophyte or pollen grain.

Asymmetric expression of Argonautes in reproductive tissues.

The Arabidopsis genome encodes ten Argonautes proteins showing distinct expression pattern as well as intracellular localisation during sexual reproduction.

Movement and differential consumption of short interfering RNA duplexes underlie mobile RNA interference.

In RNA interference (RNAi), the RNase III Dicer processes long double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) into short interfering RNA (siRNA), which, when loaded into ARGONAUTE (AGO) family proteins, execute gene silencing. Remarkably, RNAi can act non-cell autonomously: it is graft transmissible, and plasmodesmata-associated proteins modulate its cell-to-cell spread. Nonetheless, the molecular mechanisms involved remain ill defined, probably reflecting a disparity of experimental settings.

Functional characterization of Arabidopsis ARGONAUTE 3 in reproductive tissues.

Arabidopsis encodes 10 ARGONAUTE (AGO) effectors of RNA silencing, canonically loaded with either 21-22 nucleotide (nt) long small RNAs (sRNAs) to mediate post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS) or 24 nt sRNAs to promote RNA-directed DNA methylation. Using full-locus constructs, we characterized the expression, biochemical properties and possible modes of action of AGO3. Although AGO3 arose from a recent duplication at the AGO2 locus, their expression patterns differ drastically, with AGO2 being expressed in both male and female gametes whereas AGO3 accumulates in aerial vascular terminations and specifically in chalazal seed integuments.

The Diversity of Plant Small RNAs Silencing Mechanisms.

Small RNAs gene regulation was first discovered about 20 years ago. It represents a conserve gene regulation mechanism across eukaryotes and is associated to key regulatory processes. In plants, small RNAs tightly regulate development, but also maintain genome stability and protect the plant against pathogens.

Repeat renal biopsy improves the Oxford classification-based prediction of immunoglobulin A nephropathy outcome.

Background: The prognosis of IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is very heterogeneous. Predicting the nature and the rate of the disease progression is crucial for refining patient treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic impact of an Oxford classification-based repeat kidney tissue evaluation to predict end-stage renal disease (ESRD).

Deletion Variants of and Associate with Mesangial Immune Deposits but Not with Progression of IgA Nephropathy.

Activation of complement through the alternative pathway has a key role in the pathogenesis of IgA nephropathy (IgAN). Large, international, genome-wide association studies have shown that deletion of complement factor H-related genes 1 and 3 () is associated with a reduced risk of developing IgAN, although the prognostic value of these deletions in IgAN remains unknown. Here, we compared the renal outcomes of patients with IgAN according to their genotype.

Anti-phospholipase A2 receptor antibody levels at diagnosis predicts spontaneous remission of idiopathic membranous nephropathy.

The diagnostic role of circulating anti-phospholipase A2 receptor antibodies (anti-PLA2R Abs) is now well recognized in idiopathic membranous nephropathy (iMN). These Abs could also be interesting as predictors of clinical outcome. In this study, we explored the prognostic value of anti-PLA2R Abs measured in a cohort of iMN patients, with a special focus on their ability to detect patients achieving spontaneous remission.

A complex of DRB proteins can impair dsRNA processing.

Small RNAs play an important role in regulating gene expression through transcriptional and post-transcriptional gene silencing. Biogenesis of small RNAs from longer double-stranded (ds) RNA requires the activity of dicer-like ribonucleases (DCLs), which in plants are aided by dsRNA binding proteins (DRBs). To gain insight into this pathway in the model plant , we searched for interactors of DRB4 by immunoprecipitation followed by mass spectrometry-based fingerprinting and discovered DRB7.

Targeted temperature management after intraoperative cardiac arrest: a multicenter retrospective study.

Purpose: Few outcome data are available about temperature management after intraoperative cardiac arrest (IOCA). We describe targeted temperature management (TTM) (32-34 °C) modalities, adverse events, and association with 1-year functional outcome in patients with IOCA.

Methods: Patients admitted to 11 ICUs after IOCA in 2008-2013 were studied retrospectively.

DNA Methylation Influences the Expression of DICER-LIKE4 Isoforms, Which Encode Proteins of Alternative Localization and Function.

Plant RNA silencing operates via RNA-directed DNA-methylation (RdDM) to repress transcription or by targeting mRNAs via posttranscriptional gene silencing (PTGS). These pathways rely on distinct Dicer-like (DCL) proteins that process double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) into small-interfering RNAs (siRNAs). Here, we explored the expression and subcellular localization of Arabidopsis thaliana DCL4.

A multicentre study of 95 biopsy-proven cases of renal disease in primary Sjögren's syndrome.

Objective.: Renal involvement is a rare event during primary SS (pSS). We aimed to describe the clinico-biological and histopathological characteristics of pSS-related nephropathy and its response to treatment.

Epitope Spreading of Autoantibody Response to PLA2R Associates with Poor Prognosis in Membranous Nephropathy.

The phospholipase A2 receptor (PLA2R1) is the major autoantigen in idiopathic membranous nephropathy. However, the value of anti-PLA2R1 antibody titers in predicting patient outcomes is unknown. Here, we screened serum samples from 50 patients positive for PLA2R1 for immunoreactivity against a series of PLA2R1 deletion mutants covering the extracellular domains.

Predictors of functional outcome after intraoperative cardiac arrest.

Background: Few outcome data are available about intraoperative cardiac arrest (IOCA). The authors studied 90-day functional outcomes and their determinants in patients admitted to the intensive care unit after IOCA.

Methods: Patients admitted to 11 intensive care units in a period of 2000-2013 were studied retrospectively.