Altered B cell phenotype and CD27+ memory B cells are associated with clinical features and environmental exposure in Colombian systemic lupus erythematosus patients.

Background: B lymphocytes are dysregulated in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) including the expansion of extrafollicular B cells in patients with SLE of African American ancestry, which is associated with disease activity and nephritis. The population of Colombia has a mixture of European, Native American, and African ancestry. It is not known if Colombian patients have the same B cell distributions described previously and if they are associated with disease activity, clinical manifestations, and environmental exposures.

DNA methylation changes on immune cells in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus.

DNA methylation as a process that regulates gene expression is crucial in immune cells biology. Global and gene specific methylation changes have been described in autoimmunity, especially in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus. These changes not only contribute to the understanding of the disease, but also some have been proposed as diagnostic or disease activity biomarkers.

Embryo development after vitrification of immature and in vitro-matured equine oocytes.

Effects of meiotic stage and cumulus status on development of equine oocytes after vitrification was evaluated. Immature oocytes with corona radiata (IMM); in vitro-matured oocytes with corona radiata (MAT CR+); and in vitro-matured oocytes denuded of cumulus (MAT CR-) were vitrified using the Cryotech® method. Warming medium was equilibrated either in 5% CO or Air.

Effect of resveratrol on vitrified in vitro produced bovine embryos: Recovering the initial quality.

Although vitrification is the current routine method for human embryo cryopreservation, it may cause detrimental effects. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of supplementing in vitro culture (IVC) media and/or vitrification solutions (VS) with Resveratrol on the presence of apoptotic markers, reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, glutathione (GSH) content and relative gene abundance. Abattoir-derived oocytes were matured and fertilized in vitro according to a standard procedure.

Ascorbic acid-cyclodextrin complex alters the expression of genes associated with lipid metabolism in bovine in vitro produced embryos.

Ascorbic acid (AC) used as antioxidant in embryo culture is very sensitive and degrades unavoidably in aqueous solution. Methyl-β-cyclodextrin (CD) improved the stability of AC in solution to elevated temperature, light, humidity and oxidation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the complex AC-CD during in vitro maturation (IVM) or in vitro culture (IVC) on oocyte developmental competence and subsequent embryo development and quality.

Resveratrol-cyclodextrin complex affects the expression of genes associated with lipid metabolism in bovine in vitro produced embryos.

Antioxidants have been widely used during in vitro production to decrease the negative effect of reactive oxygen species. It was reported that the complex resveratrol-methyl β-cyclodextrin (RV-CD) improves resveratrol's stability and bioavailability and increases its antioxidant activity. This study evaluates the effect of RV-CD during in vitro oocyte maturation (IVM) or in vitro embryo culture (IVC) on developmental competence and quantitative changes in gene expression of developmental important genes.

Satellite DNA methylation status and expression of selected genes in Bos indicus blastocysts produced in vivo and in vitro.

Bovine embryos produced in vivo and in vitro differ with respect to molecular profiles, including epigenetic marks and gene expression profiles. This study investigated the CpG methylation status in bovine testis satellite I (BTS) and Bos taurus alpha satellite I (BTαS) DNA sequences, and concomitantly the relative abundance of transcripts, critically involved in DNA methylation (DNMT1 and DNMT3A), growth and development (IGF2R) and pluripotency (POU5F1) in Bos indicus embryos produced in vitro or in vivo. Results revealed that methylation of BTS were higher (P < 0.

Follicular progesterone concentrations and messenger RNA expression of MATER and OCT-4 in immature bovine oocytes as predictors of developmental competence.

The ability of bovine embryos to develop to the blastocyst stage and to implant and generate healthy offspring depends greatly on the competence of the oocyte. Oocyte competence is attributed to its close communication with the follicular environment and to its capacity to synthesize and store substantial amounts of messenger RNA. Higher developmental competence of bovine oocytes has been associated with both the expression of a cohort of developmental genes and the concentration of sex steroids in the follicular fluid.

Exposure to cigarette smoke causes DNA damage in oropharyngeal tissue in dogs.

More than 40 mutagenic and carcinogenic agents present in cigarette smoke have been identified as causative factors of human cancer, but no relation has been clearly documented in companion animals. In dogs, in addition to smoke inhalation and transdermic absorption, exposure to smoke includes oral ingestion of particles adhered to the animal's fur. This study evaluates the presence and type of histological alterations and DNA integrity in oropharyngeal tissue in dogs exposed and non-exposed to household cigarette smoke by means of histopathology and comet assay studies on biopsy and swab samples.

Epigenetic disorders and altered gene expression after use of Assisted Reproductive Technologies in domestic cattle.

The use of Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ARTs) in modern cattle breeding is an important tool for improving the production of dairy and beef cattle. A frequently employed ART in the cattle industry is in vitro production of embryos. However, bovine in vitro produced embryos differ greatly from their in vivo produced counterparts in many facets, including developmental competence.

Reprogramming mammalian somatic cells.

Somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT), the technique commonly known as cloning, permits transformation of a somatic cell into an undifferentiated zygote with the potential to develop into a newborn animal (i.e., a clone).