Estradiol Synthesis in Gut-Associated Lymphoid Tissue: Leukocyte Regulation by a Sexually Monomorphic System.

17β-estradiol is a potent sex hormone synthesized primarily by gonads in females and males that regulates development and function of the reproductive system. Recent studies show that 17β-estradiol is locally synthesized in nonreproductive tissues and regulates a myriad of events, including local inflammatory responses. In this study, we report that mesenteric lymph nodes (mLNs) and Peyer's patches (Pps) are novel sites of de novo synthesis of 17β-estradiol.

Physicochemical Properties of β-Glucan from Acid Hydrolyzed Barley.

This study was performed to investigate changes in the content and purity, as well as physical characteristics of β-glucan extracted from acid hydrolyzed whole grain barleys. Waxy and non-waxy barleys (Hordeum vulgare) were hydrolyzed with different concentrations of HCl (0.1~0.

A correlation between tocopherol content and antioxidant activity in seeds and germinating seeds of soybean cultivars.

Background: Tocopherols are crucial lipid-soluble antioxidants and essential nutrients. There is increasing interest in the biofortification of crops with vitamin E for reducing micronutrient malnutrition. However, relatively little is known about the development of soybean cultivars with high levels of tocopherol through combined breeding.

Brain inositol is a novel stimulator for promoting Cryptococcus penetration of the blood-brain barrier.

Cryptococcus neoformans is the most common cause of fungal meningitis, with high mortality and morbidity. The reason for the frequent occurrence of Cryptococcus infection in the central nervous system (CNS) is poorly understood. The facts that human and animal brains contain abundant inositol and that Cryptococcus has a sophisticated system for the acquisition of inositol from the environment suggests that host inositol utilization may contribute to the development of cryptococcal meningitis.

Cryptococcus neoformans activates RhoGTPase proteins followed by protein kinase C, focal adhesion kinase, and ezrin to promote traversal across the blood-brain barrier.

Cryptococcus neoformans is an opportunistic fungal pathogen that causes meningoencephalitis. Previous studies have demonstrated that Cryptococcus binding and invasion of human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC) is a prerequisite for transmigration across the blood-brain barrier. However, the molecular mechanism involved in the cryptococcal blood-brain barrier traversal is poorly understood.

Molecular mechanisms involving sigma receptor-mediated induction of MCP-1: implication for increased monocyte transmigration.

Cocaine abuse hastens the neurodegeneration often associated with advanced HIV-1 infection. The mechanisms, in part, revolve around the neuroinflammatory processes mediated by the chemokine monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1/CCL2). Understanding factors that modulate MCP-1 and, in turn, facilitate monocyte extravasation in the brain is thus of paramount importance.

Cleavage of myelin associated glycoprotein by matrix metalloproteinases.

Derivative myelin associated glycoprotein (dMAG) results from proteolysis of transmembrane MAG and can inhibit axonal growth. We have tested the ability of certain matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) elevated with inflammatory and demyelinating diseases to cleave MAG. We show MMP-2, MMP-7 and MMP-9, but not MMP-1, cleave recombinant human MAG.

Frontal EEG asymmetry and regulation during childhood.

Previous research suggests an association between frontal electroencephalographic (EEG) asymmetries and both positive and negative emotion reactivity. Specifically, right frontal EEG activation is associated with emotions of negative valence in both infants and adults, whereas left frontal EEG activation is associated with emotions of more positive valence. Relatively few studies have examined such associations in children.

Mental health of rural young adults: prevalence of psychiatric disorders, comorbidity, and service utilization.

Few studies estimate rural psychiatric disorder rates. No study has reported either DSM-III-R or DSM IV disorder prevalence and mental health service use among US rural young adults. This paper reports psychiatric disorder prevalence, comorbidity, service utilization, and disorder correlates in a community sample of 536 young adults, aged 19 to 23 years, living in the rural Midwestern US.

Cognitive and parenting pathways in the transmission of antisocial behavior from parents to adolescents.

This study examined the role of adolescent perceptions of parental behavior and disrupted parenting in the continuity of antisocial behavior across generations. Participants included 430 adolescents and their biological parents assessed during the period from the 9th to 12th grades (9th grade age in years: M=15.09, SD=0.

Entry of Trypanosoma brucei gambiense into microvascular endothelial cells of the human blood-brain barrier.

Using an in vitro model of the human blood-brain barrier consisting of human brain microvascular endothelial cells we recently demonstrated that Trypanosoma brucei gambiense bloodstream-forms efficiently cross these cells via a paracellular route while Trypanosoma brucei brucei crosses these cells poorly. Using a combination of techniques that include fluorescence activated cell sorting, confocal and electron microscopy, we now show that some T.b.

Borrelia burgdorferi, host-derived proteases, and the blood-brain barrier.

Neurological manifestations of Lyme disease in humans are attributed in part to penetration of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and invasion of the central nervous system (CNS) by Borrelia burgdorferi. However, how the spirochetes cross the BBB remains an unresolved issue. We examined the traversal of B.

African trypanosome interactions with an in vitro model of the human blood-brain barrier.

The neurological manifestations of sleeping sickness in man are attributed to the penetration of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and invasion of the central nervous system by Trypanosoma brucei gambiense and Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense. However, how African trypanosomes cross the BBB remains an unresolved issue. We have examined the traversal of African trypanosomes across the human BBB using an in vitro BBB model system constructed of human brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) grown on Costar Transwell inserts.

67-kDa laminin receptor promotes internalization of cytotoxic necrotizing factor 1-expressing Escherichia coli K1 into human brain microvascular endothelial cells.

Escherichia coli K1 is the most common Gram-negative organism causing meningitis, and its invasion of human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC) is a prerequisite for penetration into the central nervous system. We have reported previously that cytotoxic necrotizing factor 1 (CNF1) contributes to E. coli K1 invasion of HBMEC and interacts with 37-kDa laminin receptor precursor (37LRP) of HBMEC, which is a precursor of 67-kDa laminin receptor (67LR).

Current concepts on Escherichia coli K1 translocation of the blood-brain barrier.

The mortality and morbidity associated with neonatal gram-negative meningitis have remained significant despite advances in antimicrobial chemotherapy. Escherichia coli K1 is the most common gram-negative organism causing neonatal meningitis. Our incomplete knowledge of the pathogenesis of this disease is one of the main reasons for this high mortality and morbidity.

Anaplasma phagocytophilum AnkA binds to granulocyte DNA and nuclear proteins.

Human granulocytic anaplasmosis (HGA) is caused by the obligate intracellular bacterium Anaplasma phagocytophilum. The bacterium infects, survives, propagates in, and alters neutrophil phenotype, indicating unique survival mechanisms. AnkA is the only known A.

Anaplasma phagocytophilum major surface protein-2 (Msp2) forms multimeric complexes in the bacterial membrane.

Anaplasma phagocytophilum 44-kDa major surface protein-2 (Msp2) mediates partial neutrophil adhesion and interactions. Since A. phagocytophilum 44-kDa monoclonal antibodies also react with 160- and 100-kDa bands, a putative adhesin complex was studied.

Angry and aggressive behavior across three generations: a prospective, longitudinal study of parents and children.

This investigation examined intergenerational continuities in both angry, aggressive parenting and also the angry, aggressive behavior of children and adolescents. Data from 75 G2 youth (26 men, 49 women, M = 22-years old), their mothers (G1), and their G3 children (47 boys, 28 girls, M = 2.4-years old) were included in the analyses.

The K1 capsule modulates trafficking of E. coli-containing vacuoles and enhances intracellular bacterial survival in human brain microvascular endothelial cells.

Escherichia coli K1 has been shown to invade human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC) in vitro and translocate the blood-brain barrier in vivo, but it is unclear how E. coli K1 traverses HBMEC. We have previously shown that internalized E.

Reciprocal influences between stressful life events and adolescent internalizing and externalizing problems.

Investigated in this study were hypothesized reciprocal influences between stressful life events and adolescent maladjustment using data from a 6-year, prospective longitudinal study. Stressful life experiences, internalizing symptoms, and externalizing behaviors were assessed for a sample of adolescents (215 males, 236 females) living in the rural Midwest. From 7th to 12th grades, autoregressive analyses showed that stressful life events and these two forms of maladjustment were reciprocally interrelated over time.

37-kDa laminin receptor precursor modulates cytotoxic necrotizing factor 1-mediated RhoA activation and bacterial uptake.

Cytotoxic necrotizing factor 1 (CNF1) is a bacterial toxin known to activate Rho GTPases and induce host cell cytoskeleton rearrangements. The constitutive activation of Rho GTPases by CNF1 is shown to enhance bacterial uptake in epithelial cells and human brain microvascular endothelial cells. However, it is unknown how exogenous CNF1 exhibits such phenotypes in eukaryotic cells.

Transforming growth factor-beta increases Escherichia coli K1 adherence, invasion, and transcytosis in human brain microvascular endothelial cells.

Escherichia coli K1 traversal of the human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC) that constitute the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a complex process involving E. coli adherence to and invasion of HBMEC. In this study, we demonstrated that human transforming growth factor-beta-1 (TGF-beta1) increases E.

Cytotoxic necrotizing factor-1 contributes to Escherichia coli K1 invasion of the central nervous system.

Escherichia coli K1 invasion of brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) is a prerequisite for penetration into the central nervous system and requires actin cytoskeletal rearrangements. Here, we demonstrate that E. coli K1 invasion of BMECs requires RhoA activation.