Thermosensitive Porcine Myocardial Extracellular Matrix Hydrogel Coupled with Proanthocyanidins for Cardiac Tissue Engineering.

Currently, there are no therapies that prevent the negative myocardial remodeling process that occurs after a heart attack. Injectable hydrogels are a treatment option because they may replace the damaged extracellular matrix and, in addition, can be administered minimally invasively. Reactive oxygen species generated by ischemia-reperfusion damage can limit the therapeutic efficacy of injectable hydrogels.

The Interstitial Gland as a Source of Pro- or Anti-Senescent Cells during Chinchilla Rabbit Ovarian Aging.

The aging ovary in mammals leads to the reduced production of sex hormones and a deterioration in follicle quality. The interstitial gland originates from the hypertrophy of the theca cells of atretic follicles and represents an accumulative structure of the ovary that may contribute to its aging. Here, reproductive and mature rabbit ovaries are used to determine whether the interstitial gland plays a crucial role in ovarian aging.

Protector Role of Cx30.2 in Pancreatic β-Cell against Glucotoxicity-Induced Apoptosis.

Unlabelled: Glucotoxicity may exert its deleterious effects on pancreatic β-cell function via a myriad of mechanisms, leading to impaired insulin secretion and, eventually, type 2 diabetes. β-cell communication requires gap junction channels to be present among these cells. Gap junctions are constituted by transmembrane proteins of the connexins (Cxs) family.

Subcutaneous Application of a Gelatin/Hyaluronic Acid Hydrogel Induces the Production of Skin Extracellular Matrix.

The development of injectable hydrogels with natural biopolymers such as gelatin (Ge) and hyaluronic acid (Ha) is widely performed due to their biocompatibility and biodegradability. The combination of both polymers crosslinked with N-Ethyl-N'-(3-dimethyl aminopropyl) carbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) can be used as an innovative dermal filler that stimulates fibroblast activity and increases skin elasticity and tightness. Thus, crosslinked Ge/Ha hydrogels with different concentrations of EDC were administered subcutaneously to test their efficacy in young and old rats.

Gelatin/Hyaluronic Acid Scaffold Coupled to CpG and MAGE-A5 as a Treatment against Murine Melanoma.

The half-time of cells and molecules used in immunotherapy is limited. Scaffolds-based immunotherapy against cancer may increase the half-life of the molecules and also support the migration and activation of leukocytes in situ. For this purpose, the use of gelatin (Ge)/hyaluronic acid (HA) scaffolds coupled to CpG and the tumor antigen MAGE-A5 is proposed.

Immunomodulatory Properties of Masticadienonic Acid and 3α-Hydroxy Masticadienoic Acid in Dendritic Cells.

Dendritic cells are antigen-presenting cells, which identify and process pathogens to subsequently activate specific T lymphocytes. To regulate the immune responses, DCs have to mature by the recognition of TLR ligands, TNFα or IFNγ. These ligands have been used as adjuvants to activate DCs in situ or in vitro, with toxic effects.

Three-Dimensional Porous Scaffolds Derived from Bovine Cancellous Bone Matrix Promote Osteoinduction, Osteoconduction, and Osteogenesis.

The use of three-dimensional porous scaffolds derived from decellularized extracellular matrix (ECM) is increasing for functional repair and regeneration of injured bone tissue. Because these scaffolds retain their native structures and bioactive molecules, in addition to showing low immunogenicity and good biodegradability, they can promote tissue repair and regeneration. Nonetheless, imitating these features in synthetic materials represents a challenging task.

Epicutaneous Administration of 17β-Estradiol Induces Langerhans Cells Depletion.

Background: Langerhans cells (LC) number and function in mouse vaginal mucosa are affected by 17β-estradiol (E) application; nonetheless, its effect on epidermal LC has not been studied. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of topical administration of E on the number, phenotype, and migratory ability of LC in mouse skin.

Methods: Ears of adult CD1 male mice were topically treated once with several doses.

Differential adhesion and fibrinolytic activity of mesenchymal stem cells from human bone marrow, placenta, and Wharton's jelly cultured in a fibrin hydrogel.

Mesenchymal stem cells isolated from different tissues should share associated markers and the capability to differentiate to mesodermal lineages. However, their behavior varies in specific microenvironments. Herein, adhesion and fibrinolytic activity of mesenchymal stem cells from placenta, bone marrow, and Wharton's jelly were evaluated in fibrin hydrogels prepared with nonpurified blood plasma and compared with two-dimensional cultures.

Influence of the PLGA/gelatin ratio on the physical, chemical and biological properties of electrospun scaffolds for wound dressings.

Chronic wounds are a global health problem, and their treatments are difficult and long lasting. The development of medical devices through tissue engineering has been conducted to heal this type of wound. In this study, it was demonstrated that the combination of natural and synthetic polymers, such as poly (D-L lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) and gelatin (Ge), were useful for constructing scaffolds for wound healing.

Toxicity of silver nanoparticles in mouse bone marrow-derived dendritic cells: Implications for phenotype.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNP) are one of the most studied nanoparticles due to their anti-bacterial, -fungal, -viral, -parasitic, and -inflammatory properties. This raises the need to evaluate the toxicity and biological effects of AgNP in the immune system in order to develop new safer biomedical products. In this study, an AgNP formulation currently approved for veterinary applications was applied to mouse bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (BMDC), considered important antigen-presenting cells of the immune system, to evaluate cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and any significant influence on expression of cellular markers associated with BMDC phenotype and maturation status.

The mitochondrial alternative oxidase Aox1 is needed to cope with respiratory stress but dispensable for pathogenic development in Ustilago maydis.

The mitochondrial alternative oxidase is an important enzyme that allows respiratory activity and the functioning of the Krebs cycle upon disturbance of the respiration chain. It works as a security valve in transferring excessive electrons to oxygen, thereby preventing potential damage by the generation of harmful radicals. A clear biological function, besides the stress response, has so far convincingly only been shown for plants that use the alternative oxidase to generate heat to distribute volatiles.

Enhancing dendritic cell immunotherapy for melanoma using a simple mathematical model.

Background: The immunotherapy using dendritic cells (DCs) against different varieties of cancer is an approach that has been previously explored which induces a specific immune response. This work presents a mathematical model of DCs immunotherapy for melanoma in mice based on work by Experimental Immunotherapy Laboratory of the Medicine Faculty in the Universidad Autonoma de Mexico (UNAM).

Method: The model is a five delay differential equation (DDEs) which represents a simplified view of the immunotherapy mechanisms.

Activation of Janus kinase/signal transducers and activators of transcription pathway involved in megakaryocyte proliferation induced by vanadium resembles some aspects of essential thrombocythemia.

Vanadium (V) is an air pollutant released into the atmosphere by burning fossil fuels. Also, it has been recently evaluated for their carcinogenic potential to establish permissible limits of exposure at workplaces. We previously reported an increase in the number and size of platelets and their precursor cells and megakaryocytes in bone marrow and spleen.

GK-1 improves the immune response induced by bone marrow dendritic cells loaded with MAGE-AX in mice with melanoma.

The aim of dendritic cell (DC) vaccination in cancer is to induce tumor-specific effector T cells that may reduce and control tumor mass. Immunostimulants that could drive a desired immune response are necessary to be found in order to generate a long lasting tumor immune response. GK-1 peptide, derived from Taenia crassiceps, induces not only increase in TNFα, IFNγ, and MCP-1 production in cocultures of DCs and T lymphocytes but also immunological protection against influenza virus.

CD11c decrease in mouse thymic dendritic cells after vanadium inhalation.

Vanadium (V) is a transition metal found in air adsorbed onto suspended particles. As a result, urban populations are often exposed to this element as a constituent of particulate matter (PM). One aspect of the myriad toxicities that might arise from these exposures is altered immune responses.

Ultrastructural megakaryocyte modifications after vanadium inhalation in spleen and bone marrow.

Previous reports from our laboratory informed in mice an increase in platelets in blood, and megakaryocytes in spleen and bone marrow after vanadium inhalation. This element has become important in recent years because of its increased presence as an air pollutant. With this precedent, we evaluate the ultrastructural modifications in MKs from the spleen and bone marrow in our mouse experimental model.

Spleen and bone marrow megakaryocytes as targets for inhaled vanadium.

An increased incidence in ischemic and thromboembolic events in the population of cities with rising air suspended particle pollution has suggested the interaction of some of the components of these particles in the coagulation system. A previous report from our laboratory identified thrombocytosis as a consequence of the subacute and chronic inhalation of vanadium. With this preceding information we decided to evaluate the effects of this element in the spleen and bone marrow in a mouse experimental model.

Vanadium pentoxide inhalation provokes germinal center hyperplasia and suppressed humoral immune responses.

Vanadium, an important air pollutant derived from fuel product combustion, aggravates respiratory diseases and impairs cardiovascular function. In contrast, its effects on immune response are conflicting. The aim of our work was to determine if spleens of vanadium-exposed CD1 mice showed histological lesions that might result in immune response malfunction.

Matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 in central nervous system and their modification after vanadium inhalation.

Vanadium (V) derivatives are well-known environmental pollutants and its toxicity has been related with oxidative stress. Toxicity after vanadium inhalation on the substantia nigra, corpus striatum, hippocampus and ependymal epithelium was reported previously. The purpose of this study was to analyse the role of matrix metalloproteinases 2 (MMP-2) and 9 (MMP-9) in the changes observed in brain tissue after chronic V inhalation.

Thrombocytosis induced in mice after subacute and subchronic V2O5 inhalation.

Reports about vanadium (V) inhalation toxicity on the hematopoietic system, specifically about coagulation are limited. Therefore, we decided to evaluate the effects of V with a complete blood count and morphologic analysis of platelets on blood smears. CD-1 male mice inhaled V2O5 0.