The Peritoneum: Health, Disease, and Perspectives regarding Tissue Engineering and Cell Therapies.

There are several pathologies associated with the peritoneum, such as mesothelioma and peritonitis. Moreover, the peritoneum is widely used in ultrafiltration procedures, i.e.

Lack of galectin-3 up-regulates IgA expression by peritoneal B1 lymphocytes during B cell differentiation.

Galectin-3 is a β-galactoside-binding protein with an inhibitory role in B cell differentiation into plasma cells in distinct lymphoid tissues. We use a model of chronic schistosomiasis, a well-characterized experimental disease hallmarked by polyclonal B cell activation, in order to investigate the role of galectin-3 in controlling IgA production through peritoneal B1 cells. Chronically infected, galectin-3-deficient mice (Lgals3(-/-)) display peritoneal fluid hypercellularity, increased numbers of atypical peritoneal IgM(+)/IgA(+) B1a and B1b lymphocytes and histological disturbances in plasma cell niches when compared with Lgals3(+/+) mice.

Lack of galectin-3 disturbs mesenteric lymph node homeostasis and B cell niches in the course of Schistosoma mansoni infection.

Galectin-3 is a β-galactoside-binding protein that has been shown to regulate pathophysiological processes, including cellular activation, differentiation and apoptosis. Recently, we showed that galectin-3 acts as a potent inhibitor of B cell differentiation into plasma cells. Here, we have investigated whether galectin-3 interferes with the lymphoid organization of B cell compartments in mesenteric lymph nodes (MLNs) during chronic schistosomiasis, using WT and galectin-3(-/-) mice.

Fine structure and molecular content of human chondrocytes encapsulated in alginate beads.

Preservation of the chondrocytic phenotype in vitro requires a 3D (three-dimensional) culture model. Diverse biomaterials have been tested as scaffolds for culture of animal chondrocytes; however, to date, none is considered a gold standard in regenerative medicine. Here, we studied the fine structure and the GAGs (glycosaminoglycans) content of human chondrocytes encapsulated in alginate beads by using electron microscopy and radioactive sulfate [35S] incorporation, respectively.