Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) Latent Membrane Protein 1 (LMP-1) Regulates Functional Markers in Intermediate and Non-Classical Monocytes.

: The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infects more than 90 percent of the human population. In pediatric patients, the innate immune response against EBV primary infection plays a key role. Monocytes and macrophages can have distinct functions depending on the microenvironment surrounding them.

In vitro and ex vivo activity of the fluoroquinolone DC-159a against mycobacteria.

Antimicrobial resistance is a global health problem. In 2021, it was estimated almost half a million of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) cases. Besides, non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are highly resistant to several drugs and the emergence of fluoroquinolone (FQ) resistant M.

Transforming growth factor-β, Interleukin-23 and interleukin-1β modulate TH22 response during active multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.

We previously reported that patients with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) showed low systemic and Mtb-induced Th22 responses associated to high sputum bacillary load and severe lung lesions suggesting that Th22 response could influence the ability of these patients to control bacillary growth and tissue damage. In MDR-TB patients, the percentage of IL-22 cells inversely correlates with the proportion of senescent PD-1 T cells. Herein, we aimed to evaluate the pathways involved on the regulation of systemic and Mtb-induced Th22 response in MDR-TB and fully drug-susceptible TB patients (S-TB) and healthy donors.

Molecular mechanisms regulating wound repair: Evidence for paracrine signaling from corneal epithelial cells to fibroblasts and immune cells following transient epithelial cell treatment with Mitomycin C.

In this paper, we use RNAseq to identify senescence and phagocytosis as key factors to understanding how mitomyin C (MMC) stimulates regenerative wound repair. We use conditioned media (CM) from untreated (CMC) and MMC treated (CMM) human and mouse corneal epithelial cells to show that corneal epithelial cells indirectly exposed to MMC secrete elevated levels of immunomodulatory proteins including IL-1α and TGFβ1 compared to cells exposed to CMC. These factors increase epithelial and macrophage phagocytosis and promote ECM turnover.

Proteomic Analysis Identifies Molecular Players and Biological Processes Specific to SARS-CoV-2 Exposure in Endothelial Cells.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been responsible for the severe pandemic of acute respiratory disease, coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), experienced in the 21st century. The clinical manifestations range from mild symptoms to abnormal blood coagulation and severe respiratory failure. In severe cases, COVID-19 manifests as a thromboinflammatory disease.

Corneal nerves and their role in dry eye pathophysiology.

As the cornea is densely innervated, its nerves are integral not only to its structure but also to its pathophysiology. Corneal integrity depends on a protective tear film that is maintained by corneal sensation and the reflex arcs that control tearing and blinking. Furthermore, corneal nerves promote epithelial growth and local immunoregulation.

Functional polymorphisms of DNA repair genes in Latin America reinforces the heterogeneity of Myelodysplastic Syndrome.

Nucleotide excision repair pathway (NER) is an essential mechanism for single-strand breaks (SSB) repair while xeroderma pigmentosum family (XPA to XPG) is the most important system to NER. Myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) is a heterogeneous hematological cancer characterized by cytopenias and risk of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) transformation. MDS pathogenesis has been associated with problems of DNA repair system.

Characterization of a Nanovaccine Platform Based on an α1,2-Mannobiose Derivative Shows Species-non-specific Targeting to Human, Bovine, Mouse, and Teleost Fish Dendritic Cells.

Dendritic cells serve as the main immune cells that trigger the immune response. We developed a simple and cost-effective nanovaccine platform based on the α1',2-mannobiose derivative for dendritic cell targeting. In previous work, we have formulated the α1,2-mannobiose-based nanovaccine platform with plasmid DNA and tested it in cattle against BoHV-1 infection.

Age-related changes in ocular mucosal tolerance: Lessons learned from gut and respiratory tract immunity.

The ocular surface is the part of the visual system directly exposed to the environment, and it comprises the cornea, the first refractive tissue layer and its surrounding structures. The ocular surface has evolved to keep the cornea smooth and wet, a prerequisite for proper sight, and also protected. To this aim, the ocular surface is a bona fide mucosal niche with an immune system capable of fighting against dangerous pathogens.

Genetic diversity of sp. paratuberculosis by mycobacterial interspersed repetitive Unit-Variable number tandem repeat and multi-locus short-sequence repeat one-sentence summary: Genetic diversity of sp. paratuberculosis isolates.

Background: Paratuberculosis is an enteric disease caused by Mycobacterium avium sp. paratuberculosis (MAP) that affects mainly ruminant producing losses to the livestock industry. Many molecular epidemiological methods have been used to discriminate MAP isolates.

The ocular surface immune system through the eyes of aging.

Since the last century, advances in healthcare, housing, and education have led to an increase in life expectancy. Longevity is accompanied by a higher prevalence of age-related diseases, such as cancer, autoimmunity, diabetes, and infection, and part of this increase in disease incidence relates to the significant changes that aging brings about in the immune system. The eye is not spared by aging either, presenting with age-related disorders of its own, and interestingly, many of these diseases have immune pathophysiology.

Th22 response induced by Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains is closely related to severity of pulmonary lesions and bacillary load in patients with multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis.

The role of interleukin-22 (IL-22) in the pathogenesis or tissue repair in human tuberculosis (TB) remains to be established. Here, we aimed to explore the ex-vivo and in-vitro T helper 22 (Th22) response in TB patients and healthy donors (HD) induced by different local multi-drug-resistant (MDR) Mvcobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) strains. For this purpose, peripheral blood mononuclear cells from drug-susceptible (S-TB) MDR-TB patients and HD were stimulated with local MDR strains and the laboratory strain H37Rv.

Platelet Toll-Like Receptors Mediate Thromboinflammatory Responses in Patients With Essential Thrombocythemia.

Essential thrombocythemia (ET) is comprised among chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) and is caused by driver mutations in 2, , and , which lead to megakaryocyte proliferation and prominent thrombocytosis. Thrombosis remains the main cause of morbidity in ET and is driven by the interplay between blood cells, the endothelium, the clotting cascade, and host-derived inflammatory mediators. Platelet activation plays a key role in the thrombotic predisposition, although the underlying mechanisms remain poorly defined.

Interplay between neutrophils and trophoblast cells conditions trophoblast function and triggers vascular transformation signals.

Normal placentation entails highly regulated interactions of maternal leukocytes with vascular and trophoblast cells to favor vascular transformation. Neutrophil activation and neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation associate with poor placentation and severe pregnancy complications. To deepen into the mechanisms of trophoblast-neutrophil interaction, we explored the effects of NETs on trophoblast cell function and, conversely, whether trophoblast cell-derived factors condition neutrophils to favor angiogenesis and anti-inflammatory signals required for fetal growth.

Tridimensional Retinoblastoma Cultures as Vitreous Seeds Models for Live-Cell Imaging of Chemotherapy Penetration.

A preclinical model could aid in understanding retinoblastoma vitreous seeds behavior, drug penetration, and response to chemotherapy to optimize patient treatment. Our aim was to develop a tridimensional in vitro model of retinoblastoma vitreous seeds to assess chemotherapy penetration by means of live-cell imaging. Cell cultures from patients with retinoblastoma who underwent upfront enucleation were established and thoroughly characterized for authentication of human tumor origin.

Crystal violet decolorization assay for rapid detection of multidrug-resistant isolates: A multicenter study.

Background: Effective control of tuberculosis is achieved by early diagnosis and drug susceptibility testing for initiation of appropriate treatment. The performance of crystal violet decolorization assay (CVDA) for susceptibility testing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to isoniazid (INH) and rifampicin (RIF) was compared in a multicenter study.

Methods: Seventy-two M.

Platelet TLR4 at the crossroads of thrombosis and the innate immune response.

Platelet TLR-4 activation by pathogen- or damage-associated molecular pattern molecules triggers pro-thrombotic, proinflammatory, and pro-coagulant effector responses. Moreover, platelet TLR4 has a prominent role as a sensor of high lipopolysaccharide circulating levels during sepsis and in the clearance of pathogens mediated by neutrophils. This review presents evidence pointing to TLR4 as a bridge connecting thrombosis and innate immunity.

Impact of the Reticular Stress and Unfolded Protein Response on the inflammatory response in endometrial stromal cells.

During decidualization, endometrial stromal cells undergo reticular stress (RS) and unfolded protein response (UPR), allowing the endoplasmic reticulum-expansion and immunomodulators production. Physiological RS generates the activation of sensing proteins, inflammasome activation and mature-IL-1β secretion, associated with pro-implantatory effects. We focus on the impact of RS and UPR on decidualized cells and whether they induce a physiological sterile inflammatory response through IL-1β production.

The mucosal surfaces of both eyes are immunologically linked by a neurogenic inflammatory reflex involving TRPV1 and substance P.

Immunological interdependence between the two eyes has been reported for the cornea and the retina but not for the ocular mucosal surface. Intriguingly, patients frequently report ocular surface-related symptoms in the other eye after unilateral ocular surgery. Here we show how unilateral eye injuries in mice affect the mucosal immune response of the opposite ocular surface.

Acidic preconditioning of endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFC) promote vasculogenesis under proinflammatory and high glucose conditions in vitro and in vivo.

Background: We have previously demonstrated that acidic preconditioning of human endothelial colony-forming cells (ECFC) increased proliferation, migration, and tubulogenesis in vitro, and increased their regenerative potential in a murine model of hind limb ischemia without baseline disease. We now analyze whether this strategy is also effective under adverse conditions for vasculogenesis, such as the presence of ischemia-related toxic molecules or diabetes, one of the main target diseases for cell therapy due to their well-known healing impairments.

Methods: Cord blood-derived CD34 cells were seeded in endothelial growth culture medium (EGM2) and ECFC colonies were obtained after 14-21 days.

Selective hemangioma cell dysfunction and apoptosis triggered by in vitro treatment with imiquimod.

Infantile hemangiomas are the most common benign tumors of infancy, characterized by unregulated angiogenesis and endothelial cells with high mitotic rate. Although spontaneous regression occurs, sometimes treatment is required and alternatives to corticosteroids should be considered to reduce side effects. Imiquimod is an imidazoquinoline, approved for some skin pathologies other than hemangioma.

VIP induces the decidualization program and conditions the immunoregulation of the implantation process.

The decidualization process involves phenotype and functional changes on endometrial cells and the modulation of mediators with immunoregulatory properties as the vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). We investigate VIP contribution to the decidualization program and to immunoregulation throughout the human embryo implantation process. The decidualization of Human endometrial stromal cell line (HESC) with Medroxyprogesterone-dibutyryl-cAMP increased VIP/VPAC-receptors system.

B cells inhibit the antitumor immunity against an established murine fibrosarcoma.

Despite the classic role of B cells in favoring the immune response, an inhibitory action of B lymphocytes in tumor immunity has emerged in certain studies. In methylcolanthrene-induced murine fibrosarcoma (MCC), the loss of immunogenicity and the establishment of tolerance are paralleled by systemic immune suppression and the appearance of BIL-10 cells in tumor-draining lymph nodes. The present study aimed to assess the role of the BIL-10 cell population in the immune evasion and tolerance induced by MCC through the depletion of B cells in mice at various times of tumor progression: Prior to or subsequent to tumor implantation.

Neutrophil extracellular trap formation and circulating nucleosomes in patients with chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms.

The mechanisms underlying increased thrombotic risk in chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) are incompletely understood. We assessed whether neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), which promote thrombosis, contribute to the procoagulant state in essential thrombocythemia, polycythemia vera and myelofibrosis (MF) patients. Although MPN neutrophils showed increased basal reactive oxygen species (ROS), enhanced NETosis by unstimulated neutrophils was an infrequent finding, whereas PMA-triggered NETosis was impaired, particularly in MF, due to decreased PMA-triggered ROS production.

Novel Use of All-Trans-Retinoic Acid in A Model of Lipopolysaccharide-Immunosuppression to Decrease the Generation of Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells by Reducing the Proliferation of CD34+ Precursor Cells.

All-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) is a derivative of vitamin A with antiproliferative properties. Endotoxin shock and subsequent immunosuppression (IS) by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulates myelopoiesis with expansion of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSC). Since we have previously shown that ATRA reverses the IS state by decreasing functional MDSC, our aim was to investigate if ATRA was able to modulate MDSC generation by regulating myelopoiesis in murine hematopoietic organs.