Natural killer cells: role in local tumor growth and metastasis

Historically, the name of natural killer (NK) cells came from their natural ability to kill tumor cells in vitro. From the 1970s to date, accumulating data highlighted the importance of NK cells in host immune response against cancer and in therapy-induced antitumor response. The recognition and the lysis of tumor cells by NK cells are regulated by a complex balance of inhibitory and activating signals. This review summarizes NK cell mechanisms to kill cancer cells, their role in host immune responses against tumor growth or metastasis, and their implications in antitumor immunotherapies via cytokines, antibodies, or in combination with other therapies. The regulatory role of NK cells in autoimmunity is also discussed

Cochlear connexin 30 homomeric and heteromeric channels exhibit distinct assembly mechanisms.

Many of the mutations in GJB2 and GJB6, which encode connexins 26 and 30 (Cx26 and Cx30), impair the formation of membrane channels and cause autosomal syndromic and non-syndromic hearing loss. In cochlear non-sensory supporting cells, Cx26 and Cx30 form two types of homomeric and heteromeric gap junctions. The biogenesis processes of these channels occurring in situ remain largely unknown. Here we show that Cx30 homomeric and Cx26/Cx30 heteromeric gap junctions exhibit distinct assembly mechanisms in the cochlea. When expressed as homomeric channels, Cx30 preferentially interacts with beta-actin in the peripheral non-junctional membrane region, called perinexus, and strongly relies on the actin network for gap junction plaque assembly. In contrast, we found that Cx26/Cx30 heteromeric gap junction plaques are devoid of perinexus and associated actin network, and resist to actin-depolymerizating drug. This supports that Cx26/Cx30 oligomers could be directly delivered from the interior of the cell to the junctional plaque. Altogether, our data provide a novel insight in homomeric and heteromeric gap junction plaque assembly in the cochlea

Cell biology: exercises and methods

Cet ouvrage propose aux étudiants des premières années d’études supérieures une méthode progressive et conviviale pour comprendre et appliquer les concepts fondamentaux de la biologie cellulaire. À la suite de rappels de cours, sous forme de fiches, chaque chapitre propose des exercices de difficulté croissante pour s’évaluer : QCM, questions Vrai/Faux et exercices de synthèse. Les corrigés détaillés mettent en évidence la méthodologie. Des ressources numériques avec des exercices d’entraînement supplémentaires complètent l’ouvrage. Cette nouvelle édition, actualisée, s'enrichit de nouveaux QCM, Vrai/Faux et exercices

Experimental Models of Dermatophytosis

peer reviewedDermatophytosis is a superficial fungal infection of the keratinized structures of the host. Since the last decade, this mycosis became an important health concern due to an increasing prevalence and to the limited number and efficacy of available treatments. Several experimental models have then been developed in order to improve knowledge about this infection and to design new therapeutic strategies. This chapter presents the variety of dermatophytosis experimental models and their contribution in the understanding of mechanisms used by dermatophytes to adhere and to invade the host tissue. Their support to study the establishment of effective antifungal defenses by the host is also summarized. The usefulness of these models for testing the efficacy of antifungal compounds is finally discussed

Description of plasma penicillin G concentrations after intramuscular injection in double-muscled cows to optimize the timing of antibiotherapy for Caesarean section

In order to improve the efficacy of penicillin injection during caesarean section, we aimed to identify the optimal timing of its preoperative administration. A study was conducted in 12 adult, non-pregnant Belgian Blue cows. To evaluate the plasma penicillin concentrations, blood samples were taken from the jugular vein at −5, 15, 30, 45, 60, 120, 240, 480 min relative to the intramuscular (IM) injection of 21,000 IU/kg of body weight of penicillin G. Results showed that plasma concentrations at 15 min after IM injection (668.3 ± 73.7 ng/mL) largely exceeded the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) of penicillin-sensitive bacteria (MIC &lt; 125 ng/mL). With increasing time, plasma concentrations continued to rise, attaining an increasing proportion of moderately sensitive bacteria (250 ng/mL &gt; MIC &lt; 2000 ng/mL). The maximal concentration was reached between 1 and 4 h (average: 1.495.1 ± 181.7 ng/mL) after IM injection in the majority of cows, and decreased non-significantly to 1002.1 ± 93.2 ng/mL at 8 h. In conclusion, plasma penicillin concentrations at 15 min after an IM injection inhibit penicillin-sensitive bacteria. However, in order to obtain the maximal protective effect of the antibiotherapy, surgery should be started at 1 to 2 h after IM penicillin injection.</jats:p

Identification of Shigatoxigenic and enteropathogenic Escherichia coli serotypes in healthy young dairy calves in Belgium by recto-anal mucosal swabbing

Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC), enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), and Shigatoxigenic E. coli (STEC) are carried by healthy adult cattle and even more frequently by young calves in their intestinal tract, especially at the height of the recto-anal junction. The purpose of the present study was to assess the presence of ten EHEC, EPEC, and/or STEC O serotypes (O5, O26, O80, O103, O111, O118, O121, O145, O157, and O165) in calves sampled via recto-anal mucosal swabs (RAMS) at three dairy farms in Belgium. A total of 233 RAMS were collected on three consecutive occasions from healthy &lt;6-month-old Holstein-Friesian calves and submitted to a PCR targeting the eae, stx1, and stx2 genes after non-selective overnight enrichment growth. The 148 RAMS testing positive were streaked on four (semi-)selective agar media; of the 2146 colonies tested, 294 from 69 RAMS were PCR-confirmed as EHEC, EPEC, or STEC. The most frequent virulotype was eae+ EPEC and the second one was stx1+ stx2+ STEC, while the eae+ stx1+ and eae+ stx1+ stx2+ virulotypes were the most frequent among EHEC. The majority of EHEC (73%) tested positive for one of the five O serotypes detected (O26, O103, O111, O145, or O157) vs. 23% of EPEC and 45% of STEC. Similarly, more RAMS (73%) harbored EHEC isolates positive for those five serotypes compared to EPEC (53%) or STEC (52%). This survey confirms that (i) healthy young dairy calves are asymptomatic carriers of EHEC and EPEC in Belgium; (ii) the carrier state rates, the virulotypes, and the identified O serotypes differ between farms and in time; and (iii) a majority of EPEC belong to so far unidentified O serotypes

Digging deeper into lymphatic vessel formation in vitro and in vivo

Background Abnormal lymphatic vessel formation (lymphangiogenesis) is associated with different pathologies such as cancer, lymphedema, psoriasis and graft rejection. Lymphatic vasculature displays distinctive features than blood vasculature, and mechanisms underlying the formation of new lymphatic vessels during physiological and pathological processes are still poorly documented. Most studies on lymphatic vessel formation are focused on organism development rather than lymphangiogenic events occurring in adults. We have here studied lymphatic vessel formation in two in vivo models of pathological lymphangiogenesis (corneal assay and lymphangioma). These data have been confronted to those generated in the recently set up in vitro model of lymphatic ring assay. Ultrastructural analyses through Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) were performed to investigate tube morphogenesis, an important differentiating process observed during endothelial cell organization into capillary structures