TMAO enhances TNF-α mediated fibrosis and release of inflammatory mediators from renal fibroblasts.

Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) is a gut microbiota-derived metabolite and TNF-α is proinflammatory cytokine, both known to be associated with renal inflammation, fibrosis and chronic kidney disease. However, today there are no data showing the combined effect of TMAO and TNF-α on renal fibrosis-and inflammation. The aim of this study was to investigate whether TMAO can enhance the inflammatory and fibrotic effects of TNF-α on renal fibroblasts.

The Role of NLRP3 in Regulation of Antimicrobial Peptides and Estrogen Signaling in UPEC-Infected Bladder Epithelial Cells.

The NLRP3 inflammasome, estrogen and antimicrobial peptides have all been found to have a vital role in the protection of the bladder urothelium. However, the interdependence between these protective factors during a bladder infection is currently unknown. Our aim was to investigate the role of NLRP3 in the regulation of antimicrobial peptides and estrogen signaling in bladder epithelial cells during a UPEC infection.

TMAO Suppresses Megalin Expression and Albumin Uptake in Human Proximal Tubular Cells Via PI3K and ERK Signaling.

Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) is a uremic toxin, which has been associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Renal tubular epithelial cells play a central role in the pathophysiology of CKD. Megalin is an albumin-binding surface receptor on tubular epithelial cells, which is indispensable for urine protein reabsorption.

The role of caspase-1, caspase-4 and NLRP3 in regulating the host cell response evoked by uropathogenic Escherichia coli.

The inflammasome-associated proteins caspase-1, caspase-4 and NLRP3 have been emphasised to be essential in the host cell response during urinary tract infection (UTI) by regulating IL-1β release. Our aim was to investigate how the inflammasome-associated proteins regulate the cell response of bladder epithelial cells during infection with uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC). Human bladder epithelial cells (5637) and CRISPR/Cas9 generated caspase-1, caspase-4 and NLRP3 knockdown cells were stimulated with the UPEC strain CFT073.

Transcriptional alterations in bladder epithelial cells in response to infection with different morphological states of uropathogenic Escherichia coli.

Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) may undergo a cyclic cascade of morphological alterations that are believed to enhance the potential of UPEC to evade host responses and re-infect host cell. However, knowledge on the pathogenic potential and host activation properties of UPEC during the morphological switch is limited. Microarray analysis was performed on mRNA isolated from human bladder epithelial cells (HBEP) after exposure to three different morphological states of UPEC (normal coliform, filamentous form and reverted form).

The Fibrotic Effects of TMAO on Human Renal Fibroblasts Is Mediated by NLRP3, Caspase-1 and the PERK/Akt/mTOR Pathway.

Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), a product of gut microbiota metabolism, has previously been shown to be implicated in chronic kidney disease. A high TMAO-containing diet has been found to cause tubulointerstitial renal fibrosis in mice. However, today there are no data linking specific molecular pathways with the effect of TMAO on human renal fibrosis.

Activation of NLRP3 by uropathogenic Escherichia coli is associated with IL-1β release and regulation of antimicrobial properties in human neutrophils.

The NLRP3 inflammasome and IL-1β have recently been linked to the severity of uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC)-mediated urinary tract infection (UTI). However, not much is known about the contribution of NLRP3 to the antimicrobial properties of neutrophils and the release of IL-1β during UPEC infection. The purpose of this study was to elucidate the mechanisms behind UPEC-induced IL-1β release from human neutrophils, and to investigate the contribution of the NLRP3 inflammasome in neutrophil-mediated inhibition of UPEC growth.

IL-1RA is part of the inflammasome-regulated immune response in bladder epithelial cells and influences colonization of uropathogenic E. coli.

The NLRP3 inflammasome, IL-1β release and pyroptosis (cell lysis) have recently been proposed to be essential for the progression of urinary tract infection (UTI) and elimination of intracellular bacterial niches. However, the effects of IL-1R antagonist (IL-1RA) on immune responses during UTI, except for its ability to disrupt IL-1β signalling, are not well understood. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of IL-1RA in UPEC colonization of bladder epithelial cells and the subsequent host inflammatory response.

Host-Derived Nitric Oxide and Its Antibacterial Effects in the Urinary Tract.

Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the most common bacterial infections in humans, and the majority are caused by uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC). The rising antibiotic resistance among UPEC and the frequent failure of antibiotics to effectively treat recurrent UTI and catheter-associated UTI motivate research on alternative ways of managing UTI. Abundant evidence indicates that the toxic radical nitric oxide (NO), formed by activation of the inducible nitric oxide synthase, plays an important role in host defence to bacterial infections, including UTI.

Activation of the NLRP3 Inflammasome Pathway by Uropathogenic Is Virulence Factor-Dependent and Influences Colonization of Bladder Epithelial Cells.

The NLRP3 inflammasome and IL-1β release have recently been suggested to be important for the progression of urinary tract infection (UTI). However, much is still unknown regarding the interaction of UPEC and the NLRP3 inflammasome. The purpose of this study was to elucidate what virulence factors uropathogenic (UPEC) use to modulate NLRP3 inflammasome activation and subsequent IL-1β release and the role of NLRP3 for UPEC colonization of bladder epithelial cells.

Global gene expression profiling and antibiotic susceptibility after repeated exposure to the carbon monoxide-releasing molecule-2 (CORM-2) in multidrug-resistant ESBL-producing uropathogenic Escherichia coli.

Treatment of urinary tract infections is today a challenge due to the increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant ESBL-producing uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC). There is an urgent need for new treatment strategies for multidrug-resistant UPEC and preferably with targets that have low potential for development of resistance. Carbon monoxide-releasing molecules (CORMs) are novel and potent antibacterial agents.

Carbon monoxide releasing molecule-2 (CORM-2) inhibits growth of multidrug-resistant uropathogenic Escherichia coli in biofilm and following host cell colonization.

Background: Increased resistance to antimicrobial agents is a characteristic of many bacteria growing in biofilms on for example indwelling urinary catheters or in intracellular bacterial reservoirs. Biofilm-related infections caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria, such as extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae, are a major challenge. The aim of this study was to investigate if a carbon monoxide-releasing molecule (CORM-2) has antibacterial effects against ESBL-producing uropathogenic E.

Ceftibuten-induced filamentation of extended spectrum beta lactamase (ESBL)-producing uropathogenic Escherichia coli alters host cell responses during an in vitro infection.

Inadequate and delayed antibiotic treatment of extended spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing isolates have been associated with increased mortality of affected patients. The purpose of this study was to compare the host response of human renal epithelial cells and polymorphonuclear leucocyte (PMN) cells when infected by ESBL-producing uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) isolates in the presence or absence of ineffective antibiotics. The renal epithelial cell line A498 and PMN cells were stimulated with ESBL-producing UPEC isolates in the presence or absence of three different antibiotics (trimetoprim, ceftibuten and ciprofloxacin).

IL-8 and global gene expression analysis define a key role of ATP in renal epithelial cell responses induced by uropathogenic bacteria.

The recent recognition of receptor-mediated ATP signalling as a pathway of epithelial pro-inflammatory cytokine release challenges the ubiquitous role of the TLR4 pathway during urinary tract infection. The aim of this study was to compare cellular responses of renal epithelial cells infected with uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) strain IA2 to stimulation with ATP-γ-S. A498 cells were infected or stimulated in the presence or absence of apyrase, that degrades extracellular ATP, or after siRNA-mediated knockdown of ATP-responding P2Y2 receptors.

Characterization of CTX-M-producing Escherichia coli by repetitive sequence-based PCR and real-time PCR-based replicon typing of CTX-M-15 plasmids.

The emergence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae is a major global concern. CTX-M is the dominating ESBL type worldwide, and CTX-M-15 is the most widespread CTX-M type. The dissemination of CTX-M appears to be in part due to global spread of the Escherichia coli clone O25b-ST131.

The antibacterial effect of nitric oxide against ESBL-producing uropathogenic E. coli is improved by combination with miconazole and polymyxin B nonapeptide.

Background: Nitric oxide (NO) is produced as part of the host immune response to bacterial infections, including urinary tract infections. The enzyme flavohemoglobin, coded by the hmp gene, is involved in protecting bacterial cells from the toxic effects of NO and represents a potentially interesting target for development of novel treatment concepts against resistant uropathogenic bacteria. The aim of the present study was to investigate if the in vitro antibacterial effects of NO can be enhanced by pharmacological modulation of the enzyme flavohemoglobin.

Multiresistant uropathogenic extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli are susceptible to the carbon monoxide releasing molecule-2 (CORM-2).

Carbon monoxide (CO) releasing molecules (CO-RMs) have been shown to inhibit growth of commensal Escherichia coli (E. coli). In the present study we examined the effect of CORM-2 on uropathogenic E.

Comparison of host response mechanisms evoked by extended spectrum beta lactamase (ESBL)--and non-ESBL-producing uropathogenic E. coli.

Background: Infections caused by extended spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL)-producing bacteria have been emerging worldwide and the majority of ESBL-producing E. coli strains are isolated from patients with urinary tracts infections. The purpose of this study was to compare the host-response mechanisms in human polymorphonucleated leukocytes (PMN) and renal epithelial cells when stimulated by ESBL- or non-ESBL-producing uropathogenic E.

Adenosine triphosphate induced P2Y2 receptor activation induces proinflammatory cytokine release in uroepithelial cells.

Purpose: We characterized and identified the uroepithelial P2 receptor responsible for adenosine triphosphate mediated release of the cytokines interleukin-8 and 6.

Materials And Methods: The human renal epithelial cell line A498 (ATCC™) was cultured and stimulated with different purinergic agonists with or without prior inhibition with different antagonists or signaling pathway inhibitors. Supernatant was analyzed for interleukin-8 and 6 by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Expression of suppressor of cytokine signalling 3 (SOCS3) in human bladder epithelial cells infected with uropathogenic Escherichia coli.

Suppressor of cytokine signalling (SOCS) proteins inhibit pro-inflammatory signalling mediated by Janus-activated kinase (JAK)-signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) pathways. To evade the immune response some pathogens appear to modify the host SOCS proteins. Uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) are able to subvert the host response evoked by bladder epithelial cells, but the mechanisms are not fully understood.

A prospective study of nosocomial urinary tract infection in hip fracture patients.

Aim: To investigate risk factors and consequences of nosocomial urinary tract infection in hip fracture patients.

Background: Nosocomial urinary tract infection is a well-known problem in hip fracture patients. There are several risk factors for nosocomial urinary tract infection described in the literature.

Exogenously administered bombesin and gastrin releasing peptide contract the female rat urethra in vivo and in vitro.

Background: Bombesin (BOM) and gastrin releasing peptide (GRP) have been located to the lower urinary tract. However, there is a paucity of data demonstrating the impact of these neuropeptides.

Objectives: The present study investigates the impact of BOM and GRP in the female Sprague-Dawley rats 225  g b.