Publications by authors named "M I Fortea"

The mammary gland is a highly vascularized organ influenced by sex hormones including estrogen (E2) and progesterone (P4). Beyond whole-organism studies in rodents or cell monocultures, hormonal effects on the breast microvasculature remain largely understudied. Recent methods to generate 3D microvessels on-chip have enabled direct observation of complex vascular processes; however, these models often use non-tissue-specific cell types, such as human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and fibroblasts from various sources.

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The physiological functions of mast cells remain largely an enigma. In the context of barrier damage, mast cells are integrated in type 2 immunity and, together with immunoglobulin E (IgE), promote allergic diseases. Allergic symptoms may, however, facilitate expulsion of allergens, toxins and parasites and trigger future antigen avoidance.

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The enteric nervous system (ENS) is a complex network of diverse molecularly defined classes of neurons embedded in the gastrointestinal wall and responsible for controlling the major functions of the gut. As in the central nervous system, the vast array of ENS neurons is interconnected by chemical synapses. Despite several studies reporting the expression of ionotropic glutamate receptors in the ENS, their roles in the gut remain elusive.

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Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a prevalent gastrointestinal disorder linked to intestinal barrier dysfunction and life stress. We have previously reported that female sex per se determines an increased susceptibility to intestinal barrier dysfunction after cold pain stress (CPS). We aimed to identify sex-related molecular differences in response to CPS in healthy subjects to understand the origin of sex bias predominance in IBS.

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Article Synopsis
  • IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) is a condition characterized by abdominal pain and varying bowel habits, particularly focusing on the diarrhea subtype (IBS-D), which shows changes in gut barrier and immune responses.
  • A study analyzed jejunal biopsies and stool samples from both IBS-D patients and healthy controls, measuring factors like plasma cell activation, nerve proximity, and glycocalyx thickness, finding notable differences in humoral immune pathways.
  • Results indicated that IBS-D patients had heightened plasma cell activity and lower glycocalyx thickness, linking these factors to gut dysfunction and clinical symptoms, suggesting the need for further research to clarify the mechanisms involved.
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