Stress, ageing and their influence on functional, cellular and molecular aspects of the immune system

The immune response is essential for keeping an organism healthy and for defending it from different types of pathogens. It is a complex system that consists of a large number of components performing different functions. The adequate and controlled interaction between these components is necessary for a robust and strong immune response. There are, however, many factors that interfere with the way the immune response functions. Stress and ageing now consistently appear in the literature as factors that act upon the immune system in the way that is often damaging. This review focuses on the role of stress and ageing in altering the robustness of the immune response first separately, and then simultaneously, discussing the effects that emerge from their interplay. The special focus is on the psychological stress and the impact that it has at different levels, from the whole system to the individual molecules, resulting in consequences for physical health

Evolution insolite d’une plaie complexe de la voie biliaire principale postcholécystectomie coelioscopique

Depuis l’avènement de la chirurgie coelioscopique de la lithiase biliaire le nombre  e plaies des voies biliaires a sensiblement augmenté dans la littérature en rapport avec la courbe d’apprentissage des opérateurs. Les plaies méconnues peuvent avoir des conséquences immédiates dramatiques et évoluer vers la péritonite  biliaire. Ailleurs la réparation des fistules biliaires externes au stade de dilatation des voies biliaires nécessite une anastomose bilio-digestive ou des résections  hépatiques réglées.Mots Clés : Plaies - voies biliaire.Since the advent of laparoscopic surgery of biliary stone, the number of wounds of the biliar tracthas increased significantly in the literature related to surgeons  experience. Unknown wound scan have dramatic immediate consequences and can progress to peritonitis. Moreover, the external biliary fistula repair at the stage of bile duct dilatation requires biliary digestive anastomosis or liver resections.Keys words : Wound - biliar tract

Molecular cloning and functional characterization of the pig homologue of integrin-associated protein (IAP/CD47)

We report the cloning of cDNA encoding the pig homologue of human integrin-associated protein (IAP or CD47). A pig CD47-specific probe was generated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of pig leucocyte cDNA, using primers based on consensus regions among the known sequences of CD47 from different species. Screening of a pig aorta smooth muscle cDNA library identified seven clones, all containing identical sequences. The clones contained an open reading frame (ORF) that encoded an 18 amino acid putative signal peptide, a 122 amino acid sequence consisting of a single extracellular immunoglobulin variable (IgV)-like domain followed by a 147 amino acid region containing five membrane-spanning domains and a 16 amino acid cytoplasmic tail. The amino acid sequence of the clones was 73% homologous to human IAP and therefore it was termed pig IAP or CD47. Reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR) showed that pig CD47 was expressed in a wide range of tissues and detected different alternatively spliced forms. The monoclonal antibody (mAb) BRIC 126, anti-human CD47, was shown, by flow cytometry, to stain pig platelets as well as Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells transfected with the cDNA encoding pig CD47. Western blot analysis of pig erythocytes and platelets showed a molecular weight (MW) of 43 000–50 000 and of 55 000–65 000, respectively, under non-reducing conditions. Pig CD47 was stably expressed on CHO cells and shown to bind human thrombospondin (TSP). BRIC126 antibody inhibited the binding of platelets and of CD47-transfected cells to human TSP and to pig fibrinogen, whereas no effect was observed on control CHO cells