The effects of the mucolytic agent, dithioerythritol (DTE), and the temperature at which sputum processing is conducted on cellular and biochemical markers in induced sputum was assessed. Samples from healthy and atopic asthmatic subjects were treated with either DTE or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) at 22 or 37 degrees C and compared for cell counts and concentrations of histamine, tryptase, eosinophil cationic protein (ECP), free interleukin (IL)-8, immunoglobulin (Ig)A, IL-8/IgA complexes and secretory component (SC). In addition, the influence of DTE on in vitro mediator release from blood eosinophils, basophils and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) mast cells was studied. Processing with DTE improved cytospin quality and increased the cell yield and measurable ECP, tryptase, IgA and SC, but reduced levels of histamine in PBS-treated samples and had no effect on IL-8. Cell counts or mediator levels were similar when sputum was processed at 22 or 37 degrees C, even though DTE induced blood basophils and BAL mast cells to release histamine at 37 degrees C. In spiking experiments, recovery of added ECP, tryptase, total IL-8 and histamine from sputum was similar in DTE- and PBS-processed sputum, but reduced for free IL-8 in PBS-treated samples. In conclusion, dithioerythritol improves cell and mediator recovery without causing cell activation when sputum processing is conducted at room temperature. The extent of recovery depends on the mediator studied.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1183/09031936.99.13366099 | DOI Listing |
PLoS Pathog
January 2025
Department of Infectious Diseases, Shanghai Institute of Infectious Diseases and Biosecurity, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Infectious Diseases and Biosafety Emergency Response, National Medical Center for Infectious Diseases, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) X protein (HBx) is a key factor for regulating viral transcription and replication. We recently characterized homeobox protein MSX-1 (MSX1) as a host restriction factor that inhibits HBV gene expression and genome replication by directly binding to HBV enhancer II/core promoter (EnII/Cp) and suppressing its promoter and enhancer activities. Notably, HBx expression was observed to be repressed more drastically by MSX1 compared to other viral antigens.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAdv Biotechnol (Singap)
June 2024
MOE Key Laboratory of Gene Function and Regulation, State Key Laboratory of Biocontrol, School of Life Sciences, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong, 510275, China.
Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a dominant genetic disorder caused primarily by mutations in the PKD1 gene, resulting in the formation of numerous cysts and eventually kidney failure. However, there are currently no gene therapy studies aimed at correcting PKD1 gene mutations. In this study, we identified two mutation sites associated with ADPKD, c.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMol Biol Rep
January 2025
Department of Biology, Adelphi University, One South Avenue, P.O. Box 701, Garden City, NY, 11530-0701, USA.
Background: von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) hereditary cancer syndrome is caused by mutations in the VHL tumor suppressor gene and is characterized by a predisposition to form various types of tumors, including renal cell carcinomas, hemangioblastomas, and pheochromocytomas. The protein products of the VHL gene, pVHL, are part of an ubiquitin ligase complex that tags hypoxia inducible factor alpha (HIF-α) for proteosomal degradation. pVHL has also been reported to bind to atypical protein kinase C (aPKC).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFNeurosurg Rev
January 2025
Department of Critical Care Medicine, The Affiliated Taizhou People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Zhou shan hui shui Community,199 Hailing South Road, Taizhou, Jiangsu Province, 225300, China.
Traumatic brain injury (TBI)-associated neuroinflammation and neurotoxicity can induce gastrointestinal dysfunction through the brain-gut axis. Partially hydrolyzed guar gum (PHGG) was demonstrated to exert beneficial health effects by altering gut microbiota and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) production. Our study aimed to explore the effects of PHGG on gastrointestinal dysfunction in TBI mouse models.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Pharm Pharmacol
January 2025
Department of Biochemistry, State University of Maringá, 87020900, PR, Brazil.
Objectives: Copaiba essential oil (CEO) is obtained through the distillation of copaiba balsam and has been used in the traditional medicine to treat inflammatory conditions. However, the highly lipophilic nature of CEO restricts its pharmaceutical use. This study evaluated the effect of CEO, carried in a self-nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (SNEDDS), on articular and systemic inflammation and liver changes in Holtzman rats with Freund's adjuvant-induced arthritis.
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