Regulation of the Chemokine Receptor CXCR4 by Hypoxia

Cell adaptation to hypoxia (Hyp) requires activation of transcriptional programs that coordinate expression of genes involved in oxygen delivery (via angiogenesis) and metabolic adaptation (via glycolysis). Here, we describe that oxygen availability is a determinant parameter in the setting of chemotactic responsiveness to stromal-derived factor 1 (CXCL12). Low oxygen concentration induces high expression of the CXCL12 receptor, CXC receptor 4 (CXCR4), in different cell types (monocytes, monocyte-derived macrophages, tumor-associated macrophages, endothelial cells, and cancer cells), which is paralleled by increased chemotactic responsiveness to its specific ligand. CXCR4 induction by Hyp is dependent on both activation of the Hyp-inducible factor 1 α and transcript stabilization. In a relay multistep navigation process, the Hyp–Hyp-inducible factor 1 α–CXCR4 pathway may regulate trafficking in and out of hypoxic tissue microenvironments

Strumenti e strategie della comunicazione scritta in Europa fra Medioevo ed Età Moderna

The theme of written communication is the red thread linking all the historical essays collected here. However, it does not concern the study of the specific channel or of its history, but rather the methods used to create writings or editorial initiatives, for the achievement of specific objectives. Writing and publishing are the two poles around which the various contributions revolve, whose features respond to a project aimed at probing the intention underlying the work of authors and publishers engaged in transmitting not only news, but above all contents: from religious to cultural, literary, scientific, political, or propaganda. The aim is the one of trying to read European History through a lens supporting the trends of the contemporary world, reflecting opinions, strategies and communication methods developed in different eras, so as to arouse interest around aspects of past realities which reveal new historical processes

La Vita dell’Alessandra de’ Bardi e il Libro delle lode e comendatione delle donne di Vespasiano da Bisticci

Vespasiano da Bisticci (1421-1498), il «cartolaio » fiorentino che realizzò una fra le più importanti raccolte biografiche del Rinascimento, è autore di alcuni scritti sulle donne. Questo saggio pone in correlazione la Vita dell’Alessandra de’ Bardi, l’unica biografia femminile della silloge, con un’altra sua opera di impronta più marcatamente morale, il Libro delle lode delle donne, di poco successivo, riferibile al periodo 1484-1491. All’elogio dei costumi passati della città testimoniati dalla vita di Alessandra, mirabile esempio per le giovani del tempo presente, quest’opera conferisce ulteriori significati definendo un più ricco sistema di valori che individuano vari modelli di virtù femminili. L’ampio panorama dei profili di donne esemplari disegnato da Vespasiano si estende dall’antichità al mondo biblico, al primo cristianesimo fino all’epoca moderna, rappresentata principalmente da un piccolo gruppo di patrizie fiorentine colpite negli affetti, come Alessandra, dai provvedimenti punitivi del regime mediceo verso i loro familiari.Doni Garfagnini Manuela. La Vita dell’Alessandra de’ Bardi e il Libro delle lode e comendatione delle donne di Vespasiano da Bisticci. In: Mélanges de l'École française de Rome. Italie et Méditerranée, tome 113, n°1. 2001. Alle origini della biografia femminile : dal modello alla storia. Actes du colloque organisé par le Dipartimento di storia dell’Università degli studi di Firenze, l’École française de Rome et le Comune di Firenze «Progetto donna», Florence 11 et 12 juin 1999. pp. 45-68

Strumenti e strategie della comunicazione scritta in Europa fra Medioevo ed Et\ue0 Moderna

The theme of written communication is the red thread linking all the historical essays collected here. However, it does not concern the study of the specific channel or of its history, but rather the methods used to create writings or editorial initiatives, for the achievement of specific objectives. Writing and publishing are the two poles around which the various contributions revolve, whose features respond to a project aimed at probing the intention underlying the work of authors and publishers engaged in transmitting not only news, but above all contents: from religious to cultural, literary, scientific, political, or propaganda. The aim is the one of trying to read European History through a lens supporting the trends of the contemporary world, reflecting opinions, strategies and communication methods developed in different eras, so as to arouse interest around aspects of past realities which reveal new historical processes .Il tema della comunicazione scritta che attraversa i saggi storici qui raccolti, non riguarda lo studio del mezzo e della sua storia, bens\uec i metodi applicati alla realizzazione di scritture o iniziative editoriali per il conseguimento di obiettivi specifici sotto tale profilo. Scrittura ed editoria sono i due poli intorno ai quali ruotano i vari contributi, il cui taglio risponde alle linee di un progetto teso a sondare l’intenzione sottesa all’operato di autori ed editori impegnati nel trasmettere non tanto o non soltanto notizie, ma soprattutto contenuti: dal campo religioso a quello culturale, letterario, scientifico, politico, oppure della propaganda. Si tratta qui di provare a leggere la Storia europea attraverso una lente che assecondi le tendenze del mondo contemporaneo nel riflettere opinioni, strategie e modalit\ue0 comunicative maturate in epoche diverse, in modo da suscitare interesse intorno ad aspetti di passate realt\ue0, rivelatori di nuovi processi storici

Coregulation in human leukocytes of the long pentraxin PTX3 and TSG-6

The prototypic long PTX3 is a multifunctional protein involved in innate resistance to pathogens and in controlling inflammation. TSG-6 is a hyaluronan-binding protein that is involved in ECM remodeling and has anti-inflammatory and chondroprotective functions. PTX3 and TSG-6 are coregulated by growth differentiation factor-9 in granulosa cells, where they are produced during the periovulatory period and play essential roles in the incorporation of hyaluronan into the ECM during cumulus expansion. The present study was designed to assess whether PTX3 and TSG-6 are coregulated in leukocytes, in particular, in phagocytes and DC. Monocytes, macrophages, and myeloid DC were found to produce high levels of TSG-6 and PTX3 in response to proinflammatory mediators (LPS or cytokines). Unstimulated neutrophil polymorphonuclear granulocytes expressed high levels of TSG-6 mRNA, but not PTX3 transcript, and stored both proteins in granules. In contrast, endothelial cells expressed substantial amounts of PTX3 mRNA and low levels of TSG-6 transcript under the conditions tested. Anti-inflammatory cytokines, such as IL-4, dampened LPS-induced TSG-6 and PTX3 expression. Divergent effects were observed with IL-10, which synergizes with TLR-mediated PTX3 induction but inhibits LPS-induced TSG-6 transcription. Immunohistochemical analysis confirms the colocalization of the two proteins in inflammatory infiltrates and in endothelial cells of inflamed tissues. Thus, here we show that myelomonocytic cells and MoDC are a major source of TSG-6 and that PTX3 and TSG-6 are coregulated under most of the conditions tested. The coordinated expression of PTX3 and TSG-6 may play a role in ECM remodeling at sites of inflammatio

The Humoral Pattern Recognition Molecule PTX3 Is a Key Component of Innate Immunity against Urinary Tract Infection

International audienceImmunity in the urinary tract has distinct and poorly understood pathophysiological characteristics and urinary tract infections (UTIs) are important causes of morbidity and mortality. We investigated the role of the soluble pattern recognition molecule pentraxin 3 (PTX3), a key component of the humoral arm of innate immunity, in UTIs. PTX3-deficient mice showed defective control of UTIs and exacerbated inflammation. Expression of PTX3 was induced in uroepithelial cells by uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) in a Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4)- and MyD88-dependent manner. PTX3 enhanced UPEC phagocytosis and phagosome maturation by neutrophils. PTX3 was detected in urine of UTI patients and amounts correlated with disease severity. In cohorts of UTI-prone patients, PTX3 gene polymorphisms correlated with susceptibility to acute pyelonephritis and cystitis. These results suggest that PTX3 is an essential component of innate resistance against UTIs. Thus, the cellular and humoral arms of innate immunity exert complementary functions in mediating resistance against UTIs.</p