Diseño y dinámicas sociales

ITESO, A.C

Adrenal cortical and chromaffin stem cells: Is there a common progeny related to stress adaptation?

The adrenal gland is a highly plastic organ with the capacity to adapt the body homeostasis to different physiological needs. The existence of stem-like cells in the adrenal cortex has been revealed in many studies. Recently, we identified and characterized in mice a pool of glia-like multipotent Nestin-expressing progenitor cells, which contributes to the plasticity of the adrenal medulla. In addition, we found that these Nestin progenitors are actively involved in the stress response by giving rise to chromaffin cells. Interestingly, we also observed a Nestin-GFP-positive cell population located under the adrenal capsule and scattered through the cortex. In this article, we discuss the possibility of a common progenitor giving rise to subpopulations of cells both in the adrenal cortex and medulla, the isolation and characterization of this progenitor as well as its clinical potential in transplantation therapies and in pathophysiology

Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density

Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals <1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data

Innovación Abierta en Tecnología, Diseño y Dinámicas Sociales - Implementación de soluciones en MiPyMES

El propósito es que el estudiante se integre en un equipo interdisciplinar para atender un reto que implica la innovación abierta. Los retos son colocados por empresas. Estos retos tienen relevancia industrial, de negocio o social y son elegidos no sólo con propósitos de aprendizaje, sino con el propósito de lograr el desarrollo de una propuesta de solución real (Demo). A estos retos se les denomina casos o retos de innovación abierta. Los retos de innovación abierta se desarrollan por medio de equipos interdisciplinares de estudiantes universitarios, típicamente de distintas facultades y departamentos, en un contexto de co-creación con responsables de las empresas que plantean los retos, al que se denomina socio y el acompañamiento de un facilitador. Dentro del equipo todos trabajan en un ambiente horizontal, es decir, no hay jerarquías de poder, pero sí existen roles y responsabilidades por atender. El resultado del desarrollo de cada caso es una demostración (demo) concreta del concepto de un nuevo producto, servicio o proceso. El demo podrá ser desarrollado después del proceso de innovación abierta, con el propósito de su implementación y así la solución propuesta llegue a sus beneficiarios. El trabajo de innovación se centra en la co-creación, es decir, producir a partir del trabajo en equipo y con la interacción de diferentes involucrados. Los equipos de innovación abierta operan siguiendo los principios de desarrollo iterativo y orientación al usuario del modelo Lean StartUp.ITESO, A.C

Isolation and characterization of adrenocortical progenitors involved in the adaptation to stress

The adrenal gland is a master regulator of the human body during response to stress. This organ shows constant replacement of senescent cells by newly differentiated cells. A high degree of plasticity is critical to sustain homeostasis under different physiological demands. This is achieved in part through proliferation and differentiation of adult adrenal progenitors. Here, we report the isolation and characterization of a Nestin population of adrenocortical progenitors located under the adrenal capsule and scattered throughout the cortex. These cells are interconnected with progenitors in the medulla. In vivo lineage tracing revealed that, under basal conditions, this population is noncommitted and slowly migrates centripetally. Under stress, this migration is greatly enhanced, and the cells differentiate into steroidogenic cells. Nestin cells cultured in vitro also show multipotency, as they differentiate into mineralocorticoid and glucocorticoid-producing cells, which can be further influenced by the exposure to Angiotensin II, adrenocorticotropic hormone, and the agonist of luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone, triptorelin. Taken together, Nestin cells in the adult adrenal cortex exhibit the features of adrenocortical progenitor cells. Our study provides evidence for a role of Nestin cells in organ homeostasis and emphasizes their role under stress. This cell population might be a potential source of cell replacement for the treatment of adrenal insufficiency