Chronic Inflammation and Neutrophil Activation as Possible Causes of Joint Diseases in Ballet Dancers

Herein, we investigated the effects of a ballet class on the kinetic profiles of creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activities, cytokines, complement component 3 (C3), and the concentrations of immunoglobulin (Ig), IgA and IgM, in ballerinas. We also verified neutrophil death and ROS release. Blood samples were taken from 13 dancers before, immediately after, and 18 hours after a ballet class. The ballet class increased the plasma activities of CK-total (2.0-fold) immediately after class, while the activities of CK-cardiac muscle (1.0-fold) and LDH (3.0-fold) were observed to increase 18 hours after the class. Levels of the TNF-α, IL-1β, IgG, and IgA were not affected under the study conditions. The exercise was found to induce neutrophil apoptosis (6.0-fold) 18 hours after the ballet class. Additionally, immediately after the ballet class, the neutrophils from the ballerinas were found to be less responsive to PMA stimulus. Conclusion. Ballet class was found to result in inflammation in dancers. The inflammation caused by the ballet class remained for 18 hours after the exercise. These findings are important in preventing the development of chronic lesions that are commonly observed in dancers, such as those with arthritis and synovitis

Oleic, Linoleic and Linolenic Acids Increase ROS Production by Fibroblasts via NADPH Oxidase Activation

The effect of oleic, linoleic and γ-linolenic acids on ROS production by 3T3 Swiss and Rat 1 fibroblasts was investigated. Using lucigenin-amplified chemiluminescence, a dose-dependent increase in extracellular superoxide levels was observed during the treatment of fibroblasts with oleic, linoleic and γ-linolenic acids. ROS production was dependent on the addition of β-NADH or NADPH to the medium. Diphenyleneiodonium inhibited the effect of oleic, linoleic and γ-linolenic acids on fibroblast superoxide release by 79%, 92% and 82%, respectively. Increased levels of p47phox phosphorylation due to fatty acid treatment were detected by Western blotting analyses of fibroblast proteins. Increased p47phox mRNA expression was observed using real-time PCR. The rank order for the fatty acid stimulation of the fibroblast oxidative burst was as follows: γ-linolenic > linoleic > oleic. In conclusion, oleic, linoleic and γ-linolenic acids stimulated ROS production via activation of the NADPH oxidase enzyme complex in fibroblasts

FGF-2: Study of structure and function

FGFs compreendem um grande família de 24 proteínas, participando de processos chaves nos mais variados tecidos, tendo funções parácrina, autócrina e intrácrina, regulando mitogênese, diferenciação celular, morfogênese e cicatrização. Mas, a relação estrutura-função dos FGFs é pobremente entendida. O membro protótipo desta família é o FGF-2, que apresenta quatro isoformas moleculares incluindo a forma de 18 kDa que é secretada e se liga aos receptores específicos (FGFRs) e dispara uma complexa sinalização. As outras isoformas, de alto peso molecular (21, 22 e 22,5 kDa) são expressas por códons alternativos (CUG) e permanecem no interior da célula interagindo com parceiros moleculares desconhecidos. Para antecipar mecanismos e parceiros do FGF-2 HMW foi realizada modelagem molecular desta isoforma que mostrou: uma estrutura do N-terminal da proteína com motivo β→α&#8594β e manutenção do barril β. A busca por parceiros intracelulares, foi realizada através da técnica do duplo hibrido de levedura, usando um biblioteca de cDNA de cérebro de rato. Foram encontrados 4 possíveis parceiros: BRD2, UBE2I, BRPF1, PC4. Todas essas interações foram confirmadas através do crescimento da levedura em meio sem histidina, produção de β-galactosidase e ensaios de \"pull-down\" com GST. Analises por FACS confirmam que FGF2 não causa apoptose em células adrenais tumorais Y1 de camundongo, mas promovem um acumulo de células na fase S com bloqueio do ciclo celular e da proliferação, configurando uma forma de senescência. Resultados com as células humanas HEK-ER:Ras permitem fazer a seguinte generalização: FGF2 induz senescência em células malignas transformadas pelos oncogenes raso A superexpressão da proteína de fusão FGF-2(18kDa):protA, mas não a da FGF-2(22,5 kDa):protA, protege a célula Y1 da senescência induzida por FGF-2. Por outro lado, a superexpressão destas mesmas isoformas de FGF-2 fusionadas à proteína A em células imortalizadas Balb3T3 não causou transformação celular e nem alterou a resposta mitogênica destas células ao FGF-2 recombinante adicionado ao meio de cultura. Células Y1 quando tratadas com FGF-2 recombinante produz ROS intracelular e libera anions superóxido no meio extracelular. Além disso, o anti-oxidante NAC protege estas células da indução de senescência induzida por FGF-2, sugerindo que ROS pode ser intermediário no disparo de senescência por FGF-2.FGFs comprise a large fami1y of 24 proteins that play key roles in a number of tissues as local paracrine, autocrine and intracrine regulators of mitogenesis, cellular differentiation, organ morphogenesis and tissue repair. Structure-function relationship among FGFs is still poorly understood. FGF-2, the fami1y prototype member, exists as four molecular species. The 18 kDa form is released to the extracellular milieu and binds to specific receptors (FGFR), initiating a complex array of signals. Other isoforms of higher molecular weights (21, 22 and 22,5 kDa) are translated from alternative codons (CUG) and remain inside of the cell interacting with unknown partners. Aiming to anticipate mechanisms and partners, we modeled the FGF2-HMW molecule, showing that the protein displays β→α&#8594β motif in the N-terminal region and maintains the β-barrel structure common to ali FGFs. By the yeast two-hybrid method, using a cDNA rat brain library, we found four possible partners for FGF2-HMW: BRD2, UBE2I, BRP1 and PC4. Ali partners were confirmed by yeast growth without histidine, production of β-galactosidase and \"pull-down\" assays with GST. FACS analyses confirmed that FGF2 does not cause apoptosis in mouse Y1 adrenal tumor cells. But, FGF2 inhibited S phase progression blocking cell cycle and proliferation, characterizing a form of senescence. In addition, results obtained with the human HEK-ER:Ras cells support the following general statement: FGF2 triggers senescence in malignant cells transformed by ras oncogenes. Ectopic expression of the fusion protein FGF-2(18 kDa):protA, but not of FGF-2(22,s kDa):protA, protected Y1 cells senescence induced by FGF-2. On the other hand, ectopic expression of FGF-2 isoforms fusioned to protA in Balb3T3 immortalized cells did not cause transformation and neither modified the mitogenic response of this cell to recombinant FGF2. Recombinant FGF-2 stimules Y1 cells to produce intracellular ROS and to release superoxide anions into intracellular medium. Moreover, the ROS scavenger NAC protect Y1 cells from senescence induced by FGF-2, suggesting that ROS may be mediate senescence triggering induced by FGF-2

GenFlow: generic flow for integration, management and analysis of molecular biology data

A large number of DNA sequencing projects all over the world have yielded a fantastic amount of data, whose analysis is, currently, a big challenge for computational biology. The limiting step in this task is the integration of large volumes of data stored in highly heterogeneous repositories of genomic and cDNA sequences, as well as gene expression results. Solving this problem requires automated analytical tools to optimize operations and efficiently generate knowledge. This paper presents an information flow model , called GenFlow, that can tackle this analytical task

Topical anti-inflammatory activity of palmitoleic acid improves wound healing.

This study investigated the effects of palmitoleic acid on different phases of the healing process. Macroscopic analyses were performed on wounds in rats with or without palmitoleic acid treatment, and the results showed that palmitoleic acid directly hastened wound closure. The topical treatment of wounds with palmitoleic acid resulted in smaller wounds than those observed in the control group. The anti-inflammatory activity of palmitoleic acid may be responsible for healing, especially in the stages of granulation tissue formation and remodelling. Palmitoleic acid modified TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, CINC-2α/β, MIP-3α and VEGF-α profiles at the wound site 24, 48, 120, 216 and 288 hours post-wounding. Assays assessing neutrophil migration and exudate formation in sterile inflammatory air pouches revealed that palmitoleic acid had potent anti-inflammatory activity, inhibiting the LPS-induced release of TNF-α (73.14%, p≤0.05), IL-1β (66.19%, p≤0.001), IL-6 (75.19%, p≤0.001), MIP-3α (70.38%, p≤0.05), and l-selectin (16%, p≤0.05). Palmitoleic acid also inhibited LPS-stimulated neutrophil migration. We concluded that palmitoleic acid accelerates wound healing via an anti-inflammatory effect

Neutrophil migration and adhesion molecule expression after acute high-intensity street dance exercise

The physical demands of street dancing may result in inflammation and changes in leukocyte numbers/function, impairing the health of dancers. Herein, we investigated the effect of street dancing on inflammation, adhesion molecules, and neutrophil function. Fifteen amateur dancers (mean ± SE: age 22.4 ± 1.08 years, BMI 24.8 ± 0.69 kg/m2, and body fat 12.3 ± 1.52%) participated in a single high-intensity street dance class. Blood samples were taken before and after the class. The dance class had no effect on the plasma concentration of CRP, TNF-α, IL-6, IL-10, and IL-8; however, we noted an increase in levels of IL-1β (4.06%) and sL-selectin (17.67%). The dance class resulted in a 12.36% increase in neutrophil counts, while neutrophil CD62L expression and migration were reduced (25.27% and 78.92%, resp.). After the dance class, neutrophil production of IL-8 and TNF-α increased, respectively, by 59.75% and 49.23%, in the control condition, and 43.55% and 32.22%, after LPS stimulation. A single bout of street dancing induced inflammation and reduced neutrophil migration and adhesion molecule expression. These findings may contribute to a better understanding of the susceptibility to infection after acute dance exercise

The effect of macadamia oil intake on muscular inflammation and oxidative profile kinetics after exhaustive exercise

In this study, we evaluated the onset and resolution of inflammation in control and macadamia oil-supplemented rats after a single session of exhaustive exercise. We also analysed the antioxidant enzymes catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). Rats were supplemented for ten days with macadamia oil (25 mg/kg), which is rich in oleic and palmitoleic acids. On the 10th day, control and macadamia oil-treated rats exercised to physical exhaustion. Plasma and muscular levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines (tumour necrosis factor alpha [TNF-], interleukin-1 beta [IL-1], IL-6, cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant-3 [CINC-3], macrophage inflammatory protein-3-alpha [MIP-3]) and soluble L-selectin were measured prior to, immediately after, and 2, 24, and 48 h after exercise. Our data revealed increases in the muscle concentrations of IL-1, L-selectin, CINC-3, and MIP-3 in the group supplemented with macadamia oil compared with the concentrations in the control group. CAT also increased in the treated group, which is important because pro-inflammatory cytokines precede growth factor production and might alter the muscle repair process. We concluded that inflammation resulting from exhaustive exercise was greater in animals that received macadamia oil than in control animals. Practical applications: There are potential benefits of using fatty acids in the treatment of injured muscles, and these substances have been used in several types of injured tissues. Macadamia oil intake alters muscle healing signaling by influencing the production of reactive oxygen species and inflammatory mediators. Therefore, it is reasonable to hypothesize that the intake of immunomodulatory supplements would be beneficial to the muscular recovery of an athlete following a strenuous exercise session.Fundação de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)Cruzeiro do Sul Univ, Inst Phys Act & Sport Sci, Rua Galvao Bueno 868,13 Andar, BR-01506000 São Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Paulista UNIP, Manaus, Amazonas, BrazilUniv Fed São Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Biociencias, São Paulo, SP, BrazilUniv Fed São Paulo UNIFESP, Dept Biociencias, São Paulo, SP, BrazilFAPESP: 14/03947-1CNPq: 307769/2014-3Web of Scienc