Multistep IgE Mast Cell Desensitization Is a Dose- and Time-Dependent Process Partially Regulated by SHIP-1

Instituto de Investigacion Marques de Valdecilla-IDIVAL (Santander, Spain)Official Doctoral Program in Biomedicine of the University of GranadaPlan Estatal de Investigaci´on Cient´ıfica y T´ecnica y de Innovaci´on 2013 2016ISCIII-Subdirecci´on General de Evaluaci´on y Fomento de la Investigaci´onMinisterio de Econom´ıa y Competitividad, Spain (Grants PI16/01642 and PI10/01096)Plan Propio de la Universidad de Granada, Spain 2014 (Grant PP2014.01

The Role of Images in the Translation of Technical and Scientific Texts

The information transmitted by images accompanying technical and scientific texts id supposed to lead to a better, visually-oriented understanding of the concepts and descriptions contained in the text. Given that conceptualising scientific information entails creating mental representations of the concepts, and since the function of images is complementary to the function of texts, cultural attitudes might well influence many aspects of an image ranging from its contents, to shape or colour. One might ask if the translation process should include the adaptation of original images in the text in order to avoid a misunderstanding of the message by readers from a target culture, or if images should be treated differently depending on the target audience.As images in technical and scientific books and articles are often difficult to interpret a close study of them is needed so that the visual message matches the knowledge of the receiver in the target culture. In this article we propose cognitive and pragmatic criteria regarding the message transmitted by images in scientific texts as a guide to translation-oriented image analysis.L’information véhiculée par les images dans les textes de vulgarisation scientifique prétend faciliter la compréhension des concepts et des descriptions grâce à la perception visuelle. Étant donné que le processus de conceptualisation de l’information scientifique comporte la représentation mentale des concepts et que la fonction des images est complémentaire de celle du texte, les inférences culturelles peuvent influer sur les différents aspects du traitement de l’information contenue dans les images, que ce soit leur contenu, leur forme ou leur couleur. Le processus de traduction devrait-il entraîner l’adaptation des images présentes dans le texte d’origine afin d’éviter une mauvaise compréhension du message de la part des lecteurs dans la culture d’arrivée? Cette étude fournit une description de certains aspects cognitifs et pragmatiques entourant le message virtuel transmis par les images des textes scientifiques dans le but de proposer des règles pour une analyse orientée vers la traduction

Relevance of TMPRSS2, CD163/ CD206, and CD33 in clinical severity stratification of COVID-19

Background: Approximately 13.8% and 6.1% of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients require hospitalization and sometimes intensive care unit (ICU) admission, respectively. There is no biomarker to predict which of these patients will develop an aggressive stage that we could improve their quality of life and healthcare management. Our main goal is to include new markers for the classification of COVID-19 patients. Methods: Two tubes of peripheral blood were collected from a total of 66 (n = 34 mild and n = 32 severe) samples (mean age 52 years). Cytometry analysis was performed using a 15-parameter panel included in the Maxpar® Human Monocyte/Macrophage Phenotyping Panel Kit. Cytometry by time-of-flight mass spectrometry (CyTOF) panel was performed in combination with genetic analysis using TaqMan® probes for ACE2 (rs2285666), MX1 (rs469390), and TMPRSS2 (rs2070788) variants. GemStone™ and OMIQ software were used for cytometry analysis. Results: The frequency of CD163+/CD206- population of transitional monocytes (T-Mo) was decreased in the mild group compared to that of the severe one, while T-Mo CD163-/CD206- were increased in the mild group compared to that of the severe one. In addition, we also found differences in CD11b expression in CD14dim monocytes in the severe group, with decreased levels in the female group (p = 0.0412). When comparing mild and severe disease, we also found that CD45- [p = 0.014; odds ratio (OR) = 0.286, 95% CI 0.104–0.787] and CD14dim/CD33+ (p = 0.014; OR = 0.286, 95% CI 0.104–0.787) monocytes were the best options as biomarkers to discriminate between these patient groups. CD33 was also indicated as a good biomarker for patient stratification by the analysis of GemStone™ software. Among genetic markers, we found that G carriers of TMPRSS2 (rs2070788) have an increased risk (p = 0.02; OR = 3.37, 95% CI 1.18–9.60) of severe COVID-19 compared to those with A/A genotype. This strength is further increased when combined with CD45-, T-Mo CD163+/CD206-, and C14dim/CD33+. Conclusions: Here, we report the interesting role of TMPRSS2, CD45-, CD163/CD206, and CD33 in COVID-19 aggressiveness. This strength is reinforced for aggressiveness biomarkers when TMPRSS2 and CD45-, TMPRSS2 and CD163/CD206, and TMPRSS2 and CD14dim/CD33+ are combined.Desarrollo e Innovación (I+D+i) en Biomedicina y en Ciencias de la Salud en Andalucía, ́ FEDER”, internal code PECOVID-0006-2020, by Consejería de ́ Salud, Junta de AndalucíaUso de la metodologíá NGS y CYTOF para caracterizar a los pacientes con COVID-19”, internal code CV20-36740, by Secretaria General Universidades, Investigación y Tecnología, Junta de Andalucí

A Review of the Current Impact of Inhibitors of Apoptosis Proteins and Their Repression in Cancer

J.P.-D. is part of the "UGR Plan Propio de Investigacion 2016" and the "Excellence actions: Unit of Excellence on Exercise and Health (UCEES), University of Granada". J.P.-D. is supported by a fellowship to postdoctoral researchers at foreign universities and research centers from the "Fundacion Ramon Areces", Madrid, Spain.The Inhibitor of Apoptosis (IAP) family possesses the ability to inhibit programmed cell death through different mechanisms; additionally, some of its members have emerged as important regulators of the immune response. Both direct and indirect activity on caspases or the modulation of survival pathways, such as nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-kappa B), have been implicated in mediating its effects. As a result, abnormal expression of inhibitor apoptosis proteins (IAPs) can lead to dysregulated apoptosis promoting the development of different pathologies. In several cancer types IAPs are overexpressed, while their natural antagonist, the second mitochondrial-derived activator of caspases (Smac), appears to be downregulated, potentially contributing to the acquisition of resistance to traditional therapy. Recently developed Smac mimetics counteract IAP activity and show promise in the re-sensitization to apoptosis in cancer cells. Given the modest impact of Smac mimetics when used as a monotherapy, pairing of these compounds with other treatment modalities is increasingly being explored. Modulation of molecules such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) present in the tumor microenvironment have been suggested to contribute to putative therapeutic efficacy of IAP inhibition, although published results do not show this consistently underlining the complex interaction between IAPs and cancer."Fundacion Ramon Areces", Madrid, Spai

Caracterización de los cambios en la actividad neuronal asociados con la maduración cerebral mediante medidas de conectividad y sincronización

En este Trabajo Fin de Grado se han analizado los patrones de maduración cerebral de 220 sujetos sanos, con edades comprendidas entre 7 y 84 años, divididos en 8 grupos. Para ello se han empleado registros magnetoencefalográficos (MEG), que recogen las señales magnéticas generadas por el cerebro de forma no invasiva. Los cambios que provoca la edad en la actividad neuronal se analizaron mediante varias medidas de conectividad y sincronización. En concreto, se aplicaron la coherencia (COH), la parte imaginaria de la coherencia (ICOH), el phase locking value (PLV) y la synchronization likelihood (SL). Estas medidas de acoplamiento neuronal se calcularon en las bandas de frecuencia convencionales en neurofisiología: delta (1-4 Hz), zeta (4-8 Hz), alfa (8-13 Hz), beta-1 (13-30 Hz), beta-2 (30-40 Hz) y gamma (30-65 Hz). Los resultados obtenidos para las medidas de conectividad y sincronización fueron similares. No obstante, en el caso del PLV se encontraron diferencias significativas en los patrones de sincronización de las bandas beta-2 y gamma al comparar los grupos de edad II (10-19 años) y III (20-29 años). Concretamente, se observó un descenso de la sincronización neuronal conforme aumentaba la edad.Grado en Ingeniería de Tecnologías de Telecomunicació

SLAMF8 Downregulates Mouse Macrophage Microbicidal Mechanisms via PI3K Pathways

SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL The Supplementary Material for this article can be found online at: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fimmu.2022.910112/ full#supplementary-materialACKNOWLEDGMENTS SR-P is a PhD student belonging to the Official Doctoral Program in Biomedicine of the University of Granada. The authors thank Dr. Ana Santos Carro and Dr. David Porcell from the Center of Technical Instrumentation, University of Granada, for their excellent technical assistance with confocal microscopy, and Dr. M.C. Ruiz-Ruiz and Dr. Silvia Calpe-Flores for revising the manuscript.Signaling lymphocytic activation molecule family 8 (SLAMF8) is involved in the negative modulation of NADPH oxidase activation. However, the impact of SLAMF8 downregulation on macrophage functionality and the microbicide mechanism remains elusive. To study this in depth, we first analyzed NADPH oxidase activation pathways in wild-type and SLAMF8-deficient macrophages upon different stimulus. Herein, we describe increased phosphorylation of the Erk1/2 and p38 MAP kinases, as well as increased phosphorylation of NADPH oxidase subunits in SLAMF8-deficient macrophages. Furthermore, using specific inhibitors, we observed that specific PI3K inhibition decreased the differences observed between wild-type and SLAMF8-deficient macrophages, stimulated with either PMA, LPS, or Salmonella typhimurium infection. Consequently, SLAMF8-deficient macrophages also showed increased recruitment of small GTPases such as Rab5 and Rab7, and the p47phox subunit to cytoplasmic Salmonella, suggesting an impairment of Salmonella-containing vacuole (SCV) progression in SLAMF8-deficient macrophages. Enhanced iNOS activation, NO production, and IL-6 expression were also observed in the absence of SLAMF8 upon Salmonella infection, either in vivo or in vitro, while overexpression of SLAMF8 in RAW264.7 macrophages showed the opposite phenotype. In addition, SLAMF8-deficient macrophages showed increased activation of Src kinases and reduced SHP-1 phosphate levels upon IFNγ and Salmonella stimuli in comparison to wild-type macrophages. In agreement with in vitro results, Salmonella clearance was augmented in SLAMF8-deficient mice compared to that in wild-type mice. Therefore, in conclusion, SLAMF8 intervention upon bacterial infection downregulates mouse macrophage activation, and confirmed that SLAMF8 receptor could be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of severe or unresolved inflammatory conditions.Plan Estatal de Investigación Científica y Ténica y de Innovación, ISCIII Subdirección General de Evaluación y Fomento de la Investigación, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, Spain (Grants PI16/01642 and PI10/01096

Inhibition of BMP2 and BMP4 Represses Barrett’s Esophagus While Enhancing the Regeneration of Squamous Epithelium in Preclinical Models

European Research Council (ERC) starting grant: ERC-StG 282079 TargetS4BarretERC-POC 632258 BMP4EACDutch government grant: LSH-TKI-PPP 2017Plan Estatal de Investigación Científica y Técnica y de Innovación 2013–2016, ISCIII-Subdirección General de Evaluación y Fomento de la InvestigaciónMinisterio de Economía y Competitividad, Spain (grant PI16/01642 & PI10/01096

The Gut Microbiota and Its Implication in the Development of Atherosclerosis and Related Cardiovascular Diseases

Julio Plaza-Díaz is part of the “UGR Plan Propio de Investigación 2016” and the “Excellence actions: Unit of Excellence on Exercise and Health (UCEES), University of Granada”. We are grateful to Belen Vazquez-Gonzalez for assistance with the illustration service.The importance of gut microbiota in health and disease is being highlighted by numerous research groups worldwide. Atherosclerosis, the leading cause of heart disease and stroke, is responsible for about 50% of all cardiovascular deaths. Recently, gut dysbiosis has been identified as a remarkable factor to be considered in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). In this review, we briefly discuss how external factors such as dietary and physical activity habits influence host-microbiota and atherogenesis, the potential mechanisms of the influence of gut microbiota in host blood pressure and the alterations in the prevalence of those bacterial genera affecting vascular tone and the development of hypertension. We will also be examining the microbiota as a therapeutic target in the prevention of CVDs and the beneficial mechanisms of probiotic administration related to cardiovascular risks. All these new insights might lead to novel analysis and CVD therapeutics based on the microbiota

Modelo de estimación del contenido de carbono sobre el suelo en bosque húmedo tropical de la Amazonía Occidental usando tecnología LiDAR aerotransportada.

El modelo aplicado en el estudio, se basa en una metodología publicada en trabajos anteriores en bosques tropicales. El análisis se apoya en información obtenida con tecnología LiDAR aerotransportada y datos de censo de una mega-parcela forestal de 50 ha, en el Parque Nacional ?Yasuní? (PNY) en Ecuador. La metodología considera los hábitats topográficos, la distribución espacial de las parcelas de ajuste y validación en el diseño de muestreo y un modelo general para estimación de densidad de carbono. El modelo se ajusta usando técnicas de análisis de regresión lineal (R2=0,89, RMSE=8,67 MgC ha-1). Este enfoque metodológico hace posible calibraciones más precisas y permite cartografiar la distribución espacial de la biomasa sobre el suelo en alta resolución para una mejor estimación de las reservas de carbono en bosque tropical

Neuronal apoptosis inhibitory protein (NAIP) localizes to the cytokinetic machinery during cell division

The neuronal apoptosis inhibitory protein (NAIP) is a constituent of the inflammasome and a key component of the innate immune system. Here we use immunofluorescence to position NAIP within the cytokinetic apparatus, contiguous to chromosomal passenger complex (CPC), Centralspindlin, PRC1 and KIF4A. During metaphase, NAIP accumulates in the mitotic spindle poles and is shown in spindle microtubules; in anaphase NAIP is detected in the middle of the central spindle. At the end of cytokinesis, NAIP is localized in the outlying region of the stem body, the center of the intercellular bridge formed between daughter cells prior to cellular abscission. We also describe the sustained presence of NAIP mRNA and protein throughout the cell cycle with a significant increase observed in the G2/M phase. Consistent with a role for NAIP in cytokinesis, NAIP overexpression in HeLa cells promotes the acquisition of a multinuclear phenotype. Conversely, NAIP siRNA gene silencing results in an apoptotic lethal phenotype. Our confocal and super resolution stimulated-emission-depletion (STED) examination of mammalian cell cytokinesis demonstrate a potential new role for NAIP in addition to anti-apoptotic and innate immunology functions.This work was supported by operating grants from FightSMA, The SMA Foundation, The Canadian Gene Cure Foundation, CIHR and Families of SMA to A.M