Allogeneic Adipose-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells (Horse Allo 20) for the Treatment of Osteoarthritis-Associated Lameness in Horses: Characterization, Safety, and Efficacy of Intra-Articular Treatment.

Osteoarthritis commonly causes lameness in the horse and has a great impact in performance animals. Due to the limitations of current medical therapies, allogenic mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) may become an alternative method to control inflammation, reduce tissue damage and pain, and therefore improve lameness. We present the results of a regulatory clinical trial testing adipose-derived MSCs (Horse Allo 20) in veterinary (Agencia Española del Medicamento y Productos Sanitarios, Spanish Medicines Agency, Reference number 325/ECV) involving a total number of 80 participants and with 90 days of follow-up period.

Eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection with a new bismuth-based quadruple therapy in clinical practice.

Introduction: The eradication of Helicobacter pylori infection represents a clinical challenge.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy and safety of quadruple therapy with esomeprazole plus a 3-in-1 capsule containing bismuth subcitrate, metronidazole and tetracycline, plus probiotics in patients diagnosed with H. pylori infection in routine clinical practice.

The Pollen Coat Proteome: At the Cutting Edge of Plant Reproduction.

The tapetum is a single layer of secretory cells which encloses the anther locule and sustains pollen development and maturation. Upon apoptosis, the remnants of the tapetal cells, consisting mostly of lipids and proteins, fill the pits of the sculpted exine to form the bulk of the pollen coat. This extracellular matrix forms an impermeable barrier that protects the male gametophyte from water loss and UV light.

Biogenesis of protein bodies during legumin accumulation in developing olive (Olea europaea L.) seed.

Much of our current knowledge about seed development and differentiation regarding reserves synthesis and accumulation come from monocot (cereals) plants. Studies in dicotyledonous seeds differentiation are limited to a few species and in oleaginous species are even scarcer despite their agronomic and economic importance. We examined the changes accompanying the differentiation of olive endosperm and cotyledon with a focus on protein bodies (PBs) biogenesis during legumin protein synthesis and accumulation, with the aim of getting insights and a better understanding of the PBs' formation process.

Thiol-based redox regulation in sexual plant reproduction: new insights and perspectives.

The success of sexual reproduction in plants involves (i) the proper formation of the plant gametophytes (pollen and embryo sac) containing the gametes, (ii) the accomplishment of specific interactions between pollen grains and the stigma, which subsequently lead to (iii) the fusion of the gametes and eventually to (iv) the seed setting. Owing to the lack of mobility, plants have developed specific regulatory mechanisms to control all developmental events underlying the sexual plant reproduction according to environmental challenges. Over the last decade, redox regulation and signaling have come into sight as crucial mechanisms able to manage critical stages during sexual plant reproduction.

Olive seed protein bodies store degrading enzymes involved in mobilization of oil bodies.

The major seed storage reserves in oilseeds are accumulated in protein bodies and oil bodies, and serve as an energy, carbon, and nitrogen source during germination. Here, the spatio-temporal relationships between protein bodies and several key enzymes (phospholipase A, lipase, and lipoxygenase) involved in storage lipid mobilization in cotyledon cells was analysed during in vitro seed germination. Enzyme activities were assayed in-gel and their cellular localization were determined using microscopy techniques.

Proteomics profiling reveals novel proteins and functions of the plant stigma exudate.

Proteomic analysis of the stigmatic exudate of Lilium longiflorum and Olea europaea led to the identification of 51 and 57 proteins, respectively, most of which are described for the first time in this secreted fluid. These results indicate that the stigmatic exudate is an extracellular environment metabolically active, participating in at least 80 different biological processes and 97 molecular functions. The stigma exudate showed a markedly catabolic profile and appeared to possess the enzyme machinery necessary to degrade large polysaccharides and lipids secreted by papillae to smaller units, allowing their incorporation into the pollen tube during pollination.

Analysis of the effects of polymorphism on pollen profilin structural functionality and the generation of conformational, T- and B-cell epitopes.

An extensive polymorphism analysis of pollen profilin, a fundamental regulator of the actin cytoskeleton dynamics, has been performed with a major focus in 3D-folding maintenance, changes in the 2-D structural elements, surface residues involved in ligands-profilin interactions and functionality, and the generation of conformational and lineal B- and T-cell epitopes variability. Our results revealed that while the general fold is conserved among profilins, substantial structural differences were found, particularly affecting the special distribution and length of different 2-D structural elements (i.e.

A protocol for protein extraction from lipid-rich plant tissues suitable for electrophoresis.

Plant tissues contain high levels of nonprotein contaminants such as lipids, phenolic compounds, and polysaccharides among others, which interfere with protein extraction and electrophoretic separation. Preparation of good-quality protein extracts is a critical issue for successful electrophoretic analysis. Here, we describe a three-step method for protein extraction from lipid-rich plant tissues, which is suitable for both 1-D and 2-D electrophoresis and is compatible with downstream applications.

Somatic MYH7, MYBPC3, TPM1, TNNT2 and TNNI3 mutations in sporadic hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Background: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a clinically heterogeneous genetic heart disease characterized by left ventricular hypertrophy in the absence of another disease that could explain the wall thickening. Elucidation of the genetic basis of HCM lead to the identification of several genes encoding sarcomeric proteins, such as MYH7, MYBPC3, TPM1, TNNT2, and TNNI3. Sarcomeric genes are mutated in approximately 40% of HCM patients and a possible explanation for the incomplete yield of mutation-positive HCM may be somatic mutations.

Electrophoretic profiling and immunocytochemical detection of pectins and arabinogalactan proteins in olive pollen during germination and pollen tube growth.

Background And Aims: Cell wall pectins and arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) are important for pollen tube growth. The aim of this work was to study the temporal and spatial dynamics of these compounds in olive pollen during germination.

Methods: Immunoblot profiling analyses combined with confocal and transmission electron microscopy immunocytochemical detection techniques were carried out using four anti-pectin (JIM7, JIM5, LM5 and LM6) and two anti-AGP (JIM13 and JIM14) monoclonal antibodies.

Differential expression and sequence polymorphism of the olive pollen allergen Ole e 1 in two Iranian cultivars.

Molecular evidence on the heterogeneity present in the Ole e 1 allergen of the olive pollen is emerging. Such polymorphism is dependent on the cultivar origin of pollen, which also determines wide differences in the expression of this protein. Determination of biochemical and molecular characteristics of Ole e 1 pollen allergen in two Iranian olive cultivars, namely 'Rowghani' and 'Zard' is necessary to assess their allergenicity potential.

New insights into the early steps of oil body mobilization during pollen germination.

In some plants, pollen grains accumulate storage lipids that serve as energy supply during germination. Here, three enzymes involved in early steps of oil body mobilization in the male gametophyte were functionally characterized for the first time. The effect of extracellular sugars on pollen performance and oil body dynamics was also analysed.

Cellular localization and levels of pectins and arabinogalactan proteins in olive (Olea europaea L.) pistil tissues during development: implications for pollen-pistil interaction.

Cell wall components in the pistil are involved in cell-cell recognition, nutrition and regulation of pollen tube growth. The aim of this work was to study the level, whole-organ distribution, and subcellular localization of pectins and arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs) in the olive developing pistil. Western blot analyses and immunolocalization with fluorescence and electron microscopy were carried out using a battery of antibodies recognizing different types of pectin epitopes (JIM7, JIM5, LM5, and LM6) and one anti-AGPs antibody (JIM13).

Profiling and functional classification of esterases in olive (Olea europaea) pollen during germination.

Background And Aims: A pollen grain contains a number of esterases, many of which are released upon contact with the stigma surface. However, the identity and function of most of these esterases remain unknown. In this work, esterases from olive pollen during its germination were identifided and functionally characterized.

Structure and functional features of olive pollen pectin methylesterase using homology modeling and molecular docking methods.

Pectin methylesterases (PMEs), a multigene family of proteins with multiple differentially regulated isoforms, are key enzymes implicated in the carbohydrates (pectin) metabolism of cell walls. Olive pollen PME has been identified as a new allergen (Ole e 11) of potential relevance in allergy amelioration, since it exhibits high prevalence among atopic patients. In this work, the structural and functional characterization of two olive pollen PME isoforms and their comparison with other PME plants was performed by using different approaches: (1) the physicochemical properties and functional-regulatory motifs characterization, (2) primary sequence analysis, 2D and 3D comparative structural features study, (3) conservation and evolutionary analysis, (4) catalytic activity and regulation based on molecular docking analysis of a homologue PME inhibitor, and (5) B-cell epitopes prediction by sequence and structural based methods and protein-protein interaction tools, while T-cell epitopes by inhibitory concentration and binding score methods.

A novel multiplex method for the simultaneous detection and relative quantitation of pollen allergens.

Standardization of pollen protein extracts is essential in order to ensure efficiency and safety in allergy diagnosis and immunotherapy. In this paper, we have optimized a multiplex Western blotting method for the simultaneous detection of four olive pollen allergens (Ole e 1, Ole e 2, Ole e 5, and Ole e 9) on a single blot using a monoclonal antibody from mouse and three polyclonal antibodies raised in rabbit. We utilized unconjugated Fab antibody fragments for blocking rabbit primary antibodies, and fluorescence-based detection.

Characterization of profilin polymorphism in pollen with a focus on multifunctionality.

Profilin, a multigene family involved in actin dynamics, is a multiple partners-interacting protein, as regard of the presence of at least of three binding domains encompassing actin, phosphoinositide lipids, and poly-L-proline interacting patches. In addition, pollen profilins are important allergens in several species like Olea europaea L. (Ole e 2), Betula pendula (Bet v 2), Phleum pratense (Phl p 12), Zea mays (Zea m 12) and Corylus avellana (Cor a 2).

Whole-organ analysis of calcium behaviour in the developing pistil of olive (Olea europaea L.) as a tool for the determination of key events in sexual plant reproduction.

Background: The pistil is a place where multiple interactions between cells of different types, origin, and function occur. Ca(2+) is one of the key signal molecules in plants and animals. Despite the numerous studies on Ca(2+) signalling during pollen-pistil interactions, which constitute one of the main topics of plant physiology, studies on Ca(2+) dynamics in the pistil during flower formation are scarce.

Characterization of a caleosin expressed during olive (Olea europaea L.) pollen ontogeny.

Background: The olive tree is an oil-storing species, with pollen being the second most active site in storage lipid biosynthesis. Caleosins are proteins involved in storage lipid mobilization during seed germination. Despite the existence of different lipidic structures in the anther, there are no data regarding the presence of caleosins in this organ to date.

Development of the cotyledon cells during olive (Olea europaea L.) in vitro seed germination and seedling growth.

The structural changes occurred in differentiating olive cotyledon cells into mesophyll cells are described. Using histological and immunocytological methods as well as microscopic observations, we showed that in the cells of mature embryo, large electron-dense proteins bodies (PBs) are surrounded by numerous oil bodies (OBs). After 3 days of in vitro germination, the presence of large PBs originated by fusion of smaller PBs was observed.