Differential plasma exosomal long non-coding RNAs expression profiles and their emerging role in E-cigarette users, cigarette, waterpipe, and dual smokers.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are the varied set of transcripts that play a critical role in biological processes like gene regulation, transcription, post-transcriptional modification, and chromatin remodeling. Recent studies have reported the presence of lncRNAs in the exosomes that are involved in regulating cell-to-cell communication in lung pathologies including lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). In this study, we compared the lncRNA profiles in the plasma-derived exosomes amongst non-smokers (NS), cigarette smokers (CS), E-cig users (E-cig), waterpipe smokers (WP) and dual smokers (CSWP) using GeneChip™ WT Pico kit for transcriptional profiling.

Exosomal microRNAs are novel circulating biomarkers in cigarette, waterpipe smokers, E-cigarette users and dual smokers.

Background: Electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) vaping, cigarette smoke, and waterpipe tobacco smoking are associated with various cardiopulmonary diseases. microRNAs are present in higher concentration in exosomes that play an important role in various physiological and pathological functions. We hypothesized that the non-coding RNAs transcript may serve as susceptibility to disease biomarkers by smoking and vaping.

Cellular stress responses and dysfunctional Mitochondrial-cellular senescence, and therapeutics in chronic respiratory diseases.

The abnormal inflammatory responses due to the lung tissue damage and ineffective repair/resolution in response to the inhaled toxicants result in the pathological changes associated with chronic respiratory diseases. Investigation of such pathophysiological mechanisms provides the opportunity to develop the molecular phenotype-specific diagnostic assays and could help in designing the personalized medicine-based therapeutic approaches against these prevalent diseases. As the central hubs of cell metabolism and energetics, mitochondria integrate cellular responses and interorganellar signaling pathways to maintain cellular and extracellular redox status and the cellular senescence that dictate the lung tissue responses.

Flavor Preference and Systemic Immunoglobulin Responses in E-Cigarette Users and Waterpipe and Tobacco Smokers: A Pilot Study.

Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use has had an exponential increase in popularity since the product was released to the public. Currently, there is a lack of human studies that assess different biomarker levels. This pilot study attempts to link e-cigarette and other tobacco product usage with clinical respiratory symptoms and immunoglobulin response.

Systemic biomarkers in electronic cigarette users: implications for noninvasive assessment of vaping-associated pulmonary injuries.

Background: Electronic cigarettes (e-cigs) were introduced as electronic nicotine delivery systems, and have become very popular in the USA and globally. There is a paucity of data on systemic injury biomarkers of vaping in e-cig users that can be used as a noninvasive assessment of vaping-associated lung injuries. We hypothesised that characterisation of systemic biomarkers of inflammation, anti-inflammatory, oxidative stress, vascular and lipid mediators, growth factors, and extracellular matrix breakdown may provide information regarding the toxicity of vaping in e-cig users.

Systemic biomarkers of inflammation, oxidative stress and tissue injury and repair among waterpipe, cigarette and dual tobacco smokers.

Background: Waterpipe tobacco (WPT) smoking is associated with deleterious effects on cardio-pulmonary systems which may have adverse repercussions in pathophysiology and progression of chronic lung and cardiovascular diseases. We compared the biomarkers of systemic inflammation, lipid mediators, injury/repair and oxidative stress between groups of non-smokers (NS), exclusive WPT smokers (WPS), exclusive cigarette smokers (CS) and dual WPS and CS (DS).

Methods: Two cohorts were recruited.

Conditional deletion of Ahr alters gene expression profiles in hematopoietic stem cells.

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a ligand activated bHLH transcription factor that belongs to the Per-Arnt-Sim (PAS) superfamily of proteins involved in mediating responses to cellular environment regulating normal physiological and developmental pathways. The AHR binds a broad range of naturally derived and synthetic compounds, and plays a major role in mediating effects of certain environmental chemicals. Although our understanding of the physiological roles of the AHR in the immune system is evolving, there is little known about its role in hematopoiesis and hematopoietic diseases.

Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Deficiency in an Exon 3 Deletion Mouse Model Promotes Hematopoietic Stem Cell Proliferation and Impacts Endosteal Niche Cells.

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor belonging to the Per-Arnt-Sim (PAS) family of proteins. The AHR is involved in hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) functions including self-renewal, proliferation, quiescence, and differentiation. We hypothesize that AHR impacts HSC functions by influencing genes that have roles in HSC maintenance and function and that this may occur through regulation of bone marrow (BM) niche cells.

Deficiency in Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AHR) Expression throughout Aging Alters Gene Expression Profiles in Murine Long-Term Hematopoietic Stem Cells.

Dysregulation of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) signaling can contribute to the development of diseases of the blood system. Lack of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) has been associated with alterations in gene expression related to HSC function and the subsequent development of a myeloproliferative disorder in aging female mice. We sorted the most primitive population of HSCs with the highest stem cell potential (Long-term, or LT-HSCs) from 18-month-old AhR-null-allele (AhR-KO) and WT mice and analyzed gene expression using microarray to determine alterations in gene expression and cell signaling networks in HSCs that could potentially contribute to the aging phenotype of AhR-KO mice.

Effects of pretreatment with different neuromuscular blocking agents on facilitation of intubation with rocuronium: A prospective randomized comparative study.

Background And Aims: Priming principle refers to administration of a small dose of non-depolarising blocker, which when followed by a large intubating dose produces a relatively rapid and profound blockade to ensure suitable conditions for endotracheal intubation. We aimed to compare the effects of rocuronium, vecuronium, and atracurium as "pretreatment" drugs on intubating conditions with rocuronium facilitated endotracheal intubation.

Methods: This double-blinded, randomised controlled prospective study was carried out at a tertiary health care hospital on patients undergoing surgical procedures under general anaesthesia.

The Ah receptor in stem cell cycling, regulation, and quiescence.

Processes that regulate quiescence, self-renewal, and differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are not well understood. Owing, in part, to the ability of xenobiotic ligands to have persistent effects on the immune system in experimental animals, there has been much work to define a physiological role of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and its relationship to human disease. Persistent AhR activation by dioxin, a potent agonist, results in altered numbers and function of HSCs in mice.

Loss of aryl hydrocarbon receptor promotes gene changes associated with premature hematopoietic stem cell exhaustion and development of a myeloproliferative disorder in aging mice.

Loss of immune function and increased hematopoietic disease are among the most clinically significant consequences of aging. Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) from mice lacking aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) have high rates of cell division. Studies were designed to test the hypothesis that aging AhR-null allele (AhR-KO) mice develop premature HSC exhaustion, and changes leading to hematological disease.

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor activation in hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells alters cell function and pathway-specific gene modulation reflecting changes in cellular trafficking and migration.

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a transcription factor belonging to the Per-ARNT-Sim family of proteins. These proteins sense molecules and stimuli from the cellular/tissue environment and initiate signaling cascades to elicit appropriate cellular responses. Recent literature reports suggest an important function of AhR in hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) biology.

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor-null allele mice have hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells with abnormal characteristics and functions.

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) belongs to the basic helix-loop-helix family of DNA-binding proteins that play a role in the toxicity and carcinogenicity of certain chemicals. The most potent ligand of the AhR known is 2,3,7,8-tetracholorodibenzo-p-dioxin. We previously reported tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin-induced alterations in numbers and function of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs).

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor: regulation of hematopoiesis and involvement in the progression of blood diseases.

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a basic helix-loop-helix protein that belongs to the superfamily of environment-sensing PAS (Per-ARNT-Sim) proteins. A large number of ligands have been described to bind AhR and promote its nuclear translocation. In the nucleus, the AhR and its dimerization partner the AhR nuclear translocator (ARNT) form a DNA-binding complex that acts as a transcriptional regulator.

Identification of stage-specific gene modulation during early thymocyte development by whole-genome profiling analysis after aryl hydrocarbon receptor activation.

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor, implicated as an important modulator of the immune system and of early thymocyte development. We have shown previously that AHR activation by the environmental contaminant and potent AHR agonist 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) leads to a significant decline in the percentage of S-phase cells in the CD3(-)CD4(-)CD8(-) triple-negative stage (TN) 3 and TN4 T-cell committed thymocytes 9 to 12 h after exposure. In the more immature TN1- or TN2-stage cells, no effect on cell cycle was observed.

Direct early identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis from clinical samples.

We attempted to apply the PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique for the early detection and identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis directly from clinical samples. PCR-RFLP of hsp65 was applied to the DNA extracted directly from sputum samples (n = 226) collected from 226 patients. We could detect and identify M.

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor has an important role in the regulation of hematopoiesis: implications for benzene-induced hematopoietic toxicity.

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) belongs to the basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) Per-Arnt-Sim (PAS) family of transcription factors. Many of these proteins are involved in regulating responses to signals in the tissue environment such as hypoxia, oxidation-reduction status, and circadian rhythms. Although the AhR is well studied as a mediator of the toxicity of certain xenobiotics, the normal physiological function remains unknown.

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor has a normal function in the regulation of hematopoietic and other stem/progenitor cell populations.

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is known mainly as the mediator for the toxicity of certain xenobiotics. However, there is also much information to indicate that this transcription factor has important biological functions. Here we review the evidence that the AhR has a significant role in the regulation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs).

Treatment of mice with the Ah receptor agonist and human carcinogen dioxin results in altered numbers and function of hematopoietic stem cells.

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) mediates the carcinogenicity of a family of environmental contaminants, the most potent being 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). Increased incidence of lymphoma and leukemia in humans is associated with TCDD exposure. Although AhR activation by TCDD has profound effects on the immune system, precise cellular and molecular mechanisms have yet to be determined.

Retroviral Foxp3 gene transfer ameliorates liver granuloma pathology in Schistosoma mansoni infected mice.

Schistosomiasis mansoni, a tropical helminthic disease, is caused by disseminated worm eggs that induce CD4(+) T-cell mediated granulomatous inflammation and fibrosis. T suppressor cell activity has been proposed as one of the mechanisms active in the down-modulation of the murine disease during the chronic stage (16-20 weeks of the infection). In recent years a new category of the CD4(+) CD25(+) T regulatory (Treg) lymphocyte has been identified that maintains immune tolerance to self, and also functions in the regulation of parasite-induced immunopathology.

Expression of matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors during the resorption of schistosome egg-induced fibrosis in praziquantel-treated mice.

Schistosomiasis mansoni is a tropical helminthic disease characterized by parasite egg-induced granulomatous inflammation and cumulative fibrosis. Because fibrosis is influenced by the imbalance between degradative matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), we analysed the resorption of fibrous tissue and MMP/TIMP expression in the livers of S. mansoni-infected and praziquantel-cured mice.

Soluble egg antigens from Schistosoma mansoni induce angiogenesis-related processes by up-regulating vascular endothelial growth factor in human endothelial cells.

Schistosomiasis mansoni is characterized by hepatic granuloma formation. Endothelial cell activation within these granulomas may contribute to their development and to increased vascularization in the granuloma periphery. The earliest event in granuloma formation is the lodging of schistosome eggs within presinusoidal capillaries.