Genetic Regulation of Redox Balance in β-Thalassemia Trait.

β-Thalassemia (β-thal) trait is a heterogeneous group of genetic defects leading to decreased β-globin production, ineffective erythropoiesis, and oxidative stress. The aim is to evaluate the cytoprotective response, at transcriptional and systemic levels, of the variations of global redox balance in β-thal trait patients. Sixty-six subjects (40 healthy and 26 with β-thal trait) were analyzed at the Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, Tucumán, Argentina, between 2016 and 2017.

Lactobacillus casei beneficially modulates immuno-coagulative response in an endotoxemia model.

: The current study aims at evaluating the effect of the oral administration of Lactobacillus casei CERELA (CRL) 431 on parameters implicated in inflammation-coagulation interaction using a model of acute inflammation induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in mice. Six-week-old Balb/c mice were treated with L. casei for 5 consecutive days.

Foxo3 gene expression and oxidative status in beta-thalassemia minor subjects.

Background: Oxidative stress may aggravate symptoms of hemolytic anemias such as beta-thalassemia. FoxO3 activation results in resistance to oxidative stress in fibroblasts and neuronal cell cultures.

Objective: The purpose of this research was to study FoxO3 gene expression and oxidative status in beta-thalassemia minor individuals.

Erythrocyte Catalase Activity in More Frequent Microcytic Hypochromic Anemia: Beta-Thalassemia Trait and Iron Deficiency Anemia.

Most common microcytic hypochromic anemias are iron deficiency anemia (IDA) and β-thalassemia trait (BTT), in which oxidative stress (OxS) has an essential role. Catalase causes detoxification of H2O2 in cells, and it is an indispensable antioxidant enzyme. The study was designed to measure erythrocyte catalase activity (ECAT) in patients with IDA (10) or BTT (21), to relate it with thalassemia mutation type (β (0) or β (+)) and to compare it with normal subjects (67).

Molecular characterization and phenotypical study of β-thalassemia in Tucumán, Argentina.

The main hereditary hemoglobin (Hb) disorder in Argentina is β-thalassemia (β-thal). Molecular studies performed in the center of the country exhibited a marked prevalence of the codon 39 (C > T) and IVS-I-110 (G > A) mutations. The northwest region of Argentina has a different demographic history characterized by an important Spanish influx.

Involvement of cAMP and calmodulin in endocytic yolk uptake during Xenopus laevis oogenesis.

The aim of the present study was to show the participation and physiological role of calmodulin (CaM) and cAMP during vitellogenin endocytic uptake in the amphibian Xenopus laevis. The results showed a differential distribution of CaM in the ovary follicles during oogenesis. The CaM intracellular localization was not affected by gap junction's downregulation and CaM inhibition did not completely abolished the endocytic activity of oocytes.

Cloning and functional characterization of two key enzymes of glycosphingolipid biosynthesis in the amphibian Xenopus laevis.

Gangliosides are a subfamily of complex glycosphingolipids (GSLs) with important roles in many biological processes. In this study, we report the cDNA cloning, functional characterization, and the spatial and temporal expression of Xlcgt and Xlgd3 synthase during Xenopus laevis development. Xlcgt was expressed both maternally and zigotically persisting at least until stage 35.