Indicators of the cytokine system in practically healthy women of different ages and interrelation with the emotional state

Numerous studies show the role of the cytokine network in the pathogenesis of anxiety and depression. However, at present, studies of the correlation between the levels of pro-inflammatory and antiinflammatory cytokines and the level of emotional stress are rather few. The aim of the study was to analyze the serum levels of pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines and the emotional state in apparently healthy women depending on age. Serum levels were tested IL-1β, IL-6, IL-17, IFNγ, IL-10 and IL-4 in 100 apparently healthy women, who were divided into 3 groups depending on age (WHO): 18-44 (young age) 30 people, 45-59 (middle age) 40 people, 60-74 (old age) 30 people (sandwich variant of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, pg/mL). To assess the emotional component of health, all the subjects passed the questionnaire SF-36 “Assessment of the quality of life”. Statistical processing of the obtained data was carried out using the analytical software IBM SPSS Statistics, 22.0. In practically healthy women, an increase in the values of IL-1β and IL-6 was found in the elderly group (p < 0.05), while no differences were found between the groups of young and middle age. The level of IFNγ in all age groups of women did not differ significantly. At the same time, in the elderly group, the levels of IFNγ in 40% ranged from 1.04 to 8.76 pg/mL, and in 60% of women – from 24.85 to 28.5 pg/mL. IL-17 was also high (p < 0.05-0.01) in the group of women aged 60-74. In the anti-inflammatory link, the opposite picture was observed, for example, in young and middle-aged women, the levels of IL-10 and IL-4 were higher than in the elderly group. Thus, the analysis made it possible to state that the parameters of the cytokine profile and emotional state in women are associated with age

Quantum Entanglement in Nitrosyl Iron Complexes

Recent magnetic susceptibility measurements for polycrystalline samples of binuclear nitrosyl iron complexes [Fe_2(C_3H_3N_2S)_2(NO)_4] (I) and [Fe_2(SC_3H_5N_2)_2(NO)_4] (II), suggest that quantum-mechanical entanglement of the spin degrees of freedom exists in these compounds. Entanglement E exists below the temperature T_E that we have estimated for complexes I and II to be 80-90 and 110-120 K, respectively. Using an expression of entanglement in terms of magnetic susceptibility for a Heisenberg dimer, we find the temperature dependence of the entanglement for complex II. Having arisen at the temperature T_E, the entanglement increases monotonically with decreasing temperature and reaches 90-95% in this complex at T=25 K, when the subordinate effects are still small.Comment: 8 page

Protecting Mice from H7 Avian Influenza Virus by Immunisation with a Recombinant Adenovirus Encoding Influenza A Virus Conserved Antigens

Influenza is a highly contagious disease that causes annual epidemics and occasional pandemics. Birds are believed to be the source of newly emerging pandemic strains, including highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses of the subtype H7. The aim of the study: to evaluate the ability of the recombinant human adenovirus, serotype 5, which expresses genes of influenza A highly conserved antigens (ion channel M2 and nucleoprotein NP), to provide protection to laboratory mice against infection with a lethal dose of avian influenza virus, subtype H7. To achieve this goal, it was necessary to adapt influenza A virus, subtype H7 for reproduction in the lungs of mice, to characterise it, and to use it for evaluation of the protective properties of the recombinant adenovirus. Materials and methods: avian influenza virus A/Chicken/NJ/294508-12/2004 (H7N2) was adapted for reproduction in the lungs of mice by repeated passages. The adapted strain was sequenced and assessed using hemagglutination test, EID50 and LD50 for laboratory mice. BALB/c mice were immunised once with Ad5-tet-M2NP adenovirus intranasally, and 21 days after the immunisation they were infected with a lethal dose (5 LD50) of influenza virus A/Chicken/NJ/294508-12/2004 (H7N2) in order to assess the protective properties of the recombinant adenovirus. The level of viral shedding from the lungs of the infected mice was evaluated by titration of the lung homogenates in MDCK cell culture on days 3 and 6 after infection. The level of specific antibodies to H7 avian influenza virus was determined by indirect enzyme immunoassay. Results: the use of Ad5-tet-M2NP adenovirus for immunisation of the mice ensured 100% survival of the animals that had disease symptoms (weight loss) after their infection with the lethal dose (5 LD50) of H7 avian influenza virus. The study demonstrated a high post-vaccination level of humoral immune response to H7 avian influenza virus. The virus titer decreased significantly by day 6 in the lungs of mice that had been immunised with Ad5-tet-M2NP compared to the control group. Conclusion: the Ad5-tetM2NP recombinant adenovirus can be used to create a candidate pandemic influenza vaccine that would protect against avian influenza viruses, subtype H7, in particular

Мутации в геноме вирусов гриппа птиц подтипов Н1 и Н5, ответственные за адаптацию к млекопитающим

Avian influenza viruses of H1 and H5 subtypes were involved in the formation of highly pathogenic viruses that caused pandemics and panzootics in the 20th–21st centuries. In order to assess the zoonotic potential of viruses of these subtypes, two viruses of H1N1 and H5N3 have been isolated from wild ducks in Moscow and adapted to growth in mouse lungs. Their phenotypic properties were studied, and the genetic changes that occurred during adaptation were identified. The original A/duck/Moscow/4970/2013 (H1N1) and A/duck/Moscow/4182-C/2010 (H5N3) viruses were apathogenic for mice but became pathogenic after 7–10 passages in mouse lungs. Complete genome sequencing revealed 2 amino acid substitutions in the proteins of the H1N1 mouse-adapted variant (Glu627Lys in PB2 and Asp35Asn in hemagglutinin (HA) – numbering according to H3) and 6 mutations in the proteins of H5N3 virus (Glu627lys in PB2, Val113Ala in PB1, Ser82Pro in PB1-F2, Lys52Arg in HA2, Arg65Lys in NP, and Ser59Ile in NA). The increase in virulence is most likely due to a common substitution in the protein PB2 Glu627Lys as revealed in both viruses. The replacement of Asp35Asn in HA of the mouse-adapted H1N1 virus is associated with an increase in the pH value of the HA transition from 5.0 for 5.5 in comparison to the HA of parent virus. The found mutations in HA, NA, and PB1-F2 proteins of the adapted H5N3 variant are unique. The mutations Glu627Lys in PB2, Arg65Lys in NP, and Val113Ala in PB1 are most likely host adaptive.Вирусы гриппа птиц подтипов Н1 и Н5 участвовали в формировании высокопатогенных вариантов вирусов, вызвавших пандемии и  панзоотии в  XX–XXI  веках. С  целью оценки зоонозного потенциала вирусов этих подтипов, выделенных от диких уток в черте Москвы, была проведена адаптация вирусов к размножению в легких мышей, изучены их фенотипические свойства и идентифицированы генетические изменения, возникшие при адаптации. Изначально апатогенные для мышей вирусы A/duck/Moscow/4970/2013 (H1N1) и A/duck/Moscow/4182‑C/2010 (H5N3) после 7–10 пассажей через легкие мышей изменили фенотип на патогенный. Полногеномное секвенирование выявило в адаптированных к мышам вирусах 2 аминокислотные замены в вирусе гриппа H1N1 (Glu627Lys в белке PB2 и Asp35Asn в гемагглютинине (HA) — нумерация по H3) и 6 мутаций в белках вируса H5N3 (Glu627Lys в PB2, Val113Ala в PB1, Ser82Pro в PB1‑F2, Lys52Arg в HA2, Arg65Lys в NP и Ser59Ile в NA). Возрастание вирулентности для мышей, скорее всего, обусловлено общей для обоих вирусов заменой – Glu627Lys в  белке PB2. Замена Asp35Asn в  HA адаптированного к  мышам вируса гриппа H1N1  ассоциирована с возрастанием значения рН конформационного перехода HA с 5.0 до 5.5 относительно HA дикого вируса. Обнаруженные в адаптированном варианте H5N3 мутации в белках НА, NA и PB1‑F2 — уникальные. Мутации Glu627Lys в PB2, Arg65Lys в NP и Val113Ala в PB1, скорее всего, носят адаптационный характер

Защита мышей от заражения вирусом гриппа птиц субтипа H7 с помощью иммунизации рекомбинантным аденовирусом, кодирующим консервативные антигены вируса гриппа А

Influenza is a highly contagious disease that causes annual epidemics and occasional pandemics. Birds are believed to be the source of newly emerging pandemic strains, including highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses of the subtype H7. The aim of the study: to evaluate the ability of the recombinant human adenovirus, serotype 5, which expresses genes of influenza A highly conserved antigens (ion channel M2 and nucleoprotein NP), to provide protection to laboratory mice against infection with a lethal dose of avian influenza virus, subtype H7. To achieve this goal, it was necessary to adapt influenza A virus, subtype H7 for reproduction in the lungs of mice, to characterise it, and to use it for evaluation of the protective properties of the recombinant adenovirus. Materials and methods: avian influenza virus A/Chicken/NJ/294508-12/2004 (H7N2) was adapted for reproduction in the lungs of mice by repeated passages. The adapted strain was sequenced and assessed using hemagglutination test, EID50 and LD50 for laboratory mice. BALB/c mice were immunised once with Ad5-tet-M2NP adenovirus intranasally, and 21 days after the immunisation they were infected with a lethal dose (5 LD50) of influenza virus A/Chicken/NJ/294508-12/2004 (H7N2) in order to assess the protective properties of the recombinant adenovirus. The level of viral shedding from the lungs of the infected mice was evaluated by titration of the lung homogenates in MDCK cell culture on days 3 and 6 after infection. The level of specific antibodies to H7 avian influenza virus was determined by indirect enzyme immunoassay. Results: the use of Ad5-tet-M2NP adenovirus for immunisation of the mice ensured 100% survival of the animals that had disease symptoms (weight loss) after their infection with the lethal dose (5 LD50) of H7 avian influenza virus. The study demonstrated a high post-vaccination level of humoral immune response to H7 avian influenza virus. The virus titer decreased significantly by day 6 in the lungs of mice that had been immunised with Ad5-tet-M2NP compared to the control group. Conclusion: the Ad5-tetM2NP recombinant adenovirus can be used to create a candidate pandemic influenza vaccine that would protect against avian influenza viruses, subtype H7, in particular.Грипп – высококонтагиозное заболевание, вызывающее ежегодные эпидемии и через неравные интервалы времени – пандемии. Источником вновь возникающих пандемичных штаммов, как правило, являются птицы, а наибольшее беспокойство в настоящее время вызывают высокопатогенные вирусы гриппа птиц субтипа H7. Цель работы: оценить способность рекомбинантного аденовируса человека пятого серотипа, экспрессирующего гены высококонсервативных антигенов вируса гриппа А (ионного канала М2 и нуклеопротеина NP), обеспечивать защиту от заражения лабораторных мышей летальной дозой вируса гриппа птиц субтипа H7. Для достижения цели необходимо было адаптировать для размножения в легких мышей вирус гриппа А субтипа Н7, охарактеризовать и с его помощью оценить защитные свойства рекомбинантного аденовируса. Материалы и методы: вирус гриппа птиц A/Chicken/NJ/294508-12/2004 (H7N2) был адаптирован для размножения в легких мышей путем многократного пассирования. Этот штамм был секвенирован и охарактеризован в реакции гемагглютинации, установлены его ЭИД50 и ЛД50 для лабораторных мышей. Для изучения защитных свойств рекомбинантного аденовируса мыши линии BALB/c были иммунизированы аденовирусом Ad5-tet-M2NP однократно интраназально и через 21 сутки после иммунизации заражены летальной дозой (5 ЛД50) вируса гриппа птиц A/Chicken/NJ/294508-12/2004 (H7N2). Уровень вирусовыделения из легких мышей был оценен на 3 и 6 сутки после заражения с помощью титрования гомогенатов легких на культуре клеток MDCK. Уровень специфических антител к вирусу гриппа птиц субтипа Н7 определяли методом непрямого иммуноферментного анализа. Результаты: иммунизация мышей аденовирусом Ad5-tet-M2NP при наличии симптомов заболевания (снижение массы тела) обеспечила 100% выживаемость животных после заражения летальной дозой (5 ЛД50) вируса гриппа птиц субтипа H7. Продемонстрирован высокий поствакцинальный уровень гуморального иммунного ответа к вирусу гриппа птиц субтипа H7. Показано, что в легких мышей из группы, иммунизированной Ad5-tet-M2NP, уже к 6 суткам наблюдалось существенное снижение титра вируса гриппа птиц субтипа H7 по сравнению с контрольной группой. Заключение: рекомбинантный аденовирус Ad5-tet-M2NP может быть использован для создания потенциальной пандемичной противогриппозной вакцины, в том числе и от вирусов гриппа птиц субтипа H7

Vitamin C Enhances Vitamin E Status and Reduces Oxidative Stress Indicators in Sea Bass Larvae Fed High DHA Microdiets

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is an essential fatty acid necessary for many biochemical, cellular and physiological functions in fish. However, high dietary levels of DHA increase free radical injury in sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) larvae muscle, even when vitamin E (α-tocopherol, α-TOH) is increased. Therefore, the inclusion of other nutrients with complementary antioxidant functions, such as vitamin C (ascorbic acid, vitC), could further contribute to prevent these lesions. The objective of the present study was to determine the effect of vitC inclusion (3,600 mg/kg) in high DHA (5 % DW) and α-TOH (3,000 mg/kg) microdiets (diets 5/3,000 and 5/3,000 + vitC) in comparison to a control diet (1 % DHA DW and 1,500 mg/kg of α-TOH; diet 1/1,500) on sea bass larvae growth, survival, whole body biochemical composition and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) content, muscle morphology, skeletal deformities and antioxidant enzymes, insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and myosin expression (MyHC). Larvae fed diet 1/1,500 showed the best performance in terms of total length, incidence of muscular lesions and ossification degree. IGFs gene expression was elevated in 5/3,000 diet larvae, suggesting an increased muscle mitogenesis that was confirmed by the increase in the mRNA copies of MyHC. vitC effectively controlled oxidative damages in muscle, increased α-TOH larval contents and reduced TBARS content and the occurrence of skull deformities. The results of the present study showed the antioxidant synergism between vitamins E and C when high contents of DHA are included in sea bass larvae diets

Характеристика лимфоидной ткани, ассоциированной со слизистой оболочкой кишечника, при экспериментальном трихинеллезе у крыс

The purpose of the research is studying intestinal mucosa-associated lymphadenoids (MALT) at trichinellosis. Materials and methods. The number of lymphoid nodules and Peyer’s patches was counted by grossing and microscope slides of intestinal specimen. We investigated their syntopy and morphological traits in Trichinella-infected and control animals. All morphological structures were described in accordance with anatomical, immunological and histological terminology. Results and discussion. The number of lymphoid nodules in the intestinal wall thickness increased by 1.63 times in the experimental group. The changes involved the syntopy of lymphoid tissue. There was an even distribution of lymphoid nodules being concentrated in some segments in the form of Peyer’s patches. The size of the grouped nodules in the experimental trichinellosis increased 1.31 times in the small intestine, and 1.26 times in the straight intestine. It was found that the MALTs were sensitive to the infection. Immunomorphological studies of the MALT should be considered in the development of safe complex drugs, immunostimulants or vaccines. Further, the condition of the MALT should be taken into account in the pathogenesis of trichinellosis along with classical methods such as parasitological (larvae or egg counts), immunological, immunohistochemical or other methods.Цель исследований – изучение лимфоидных образований, ассоциированных со слизистыми оболочками кишечника (ЛОАСО), при трихинеллезе. Материалы и методы. На макро- и микропрепаратах кишечника подсчитывали число лимфоидных узелков и лимфоидных бляшек. Исследовали их синтопию и морфологические особенности у инвазированных трихинеллами и контрольных животных. Все морфологические структуры описывали в соответствии с анатомической, иммунологической и гистологической терминологией. Результаты и обсуждение. В опытной группе увеличивалось число лимфоидных узелков в толще кишечной стенки в 1,63 раза. Изменения касались и синтопии лимфоидной ткани. Отмечено равномерное распределение лимфоидных узелков с концентрацией их в некоторых отделах в виде бляшек. Размер сгруппированных узелков при экспериментальном трихинеллезе в тонком отделе кишечника увеличился в 1,31 раза, а в прямой – в 1,26 раза. Установлено, что ЛОАСО чутко реагируют на инвазию. Иммуноморфологические исследования ЛОАСО необходимо учитывать в разработке безопасных комплексных препаратов, иммуностимуляторов, вакцин. Также, состояние ЛОАСО необходимо учитывать в патогенезе трихинеллеза наряду с классическими методами: паразитологическими (подсчет личинок или яиц), иммунологическими, иммуногистохимическими и др

Pan-cancer analysis of whole genomes

Cancer is driven by genetic change, and the advent of massively parallel sequencing has enabled systematic documentation of this variation at the whole-genome scale(1-3). Here we report the integrative analysis of 2,658 whole-cancer genomes and their matching normal tissues across 38 tumour types from the Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes (PCAWG) Consortium of the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). We describe the generation of the PCAWG resource, facilitated by international data sharing using compute clouds. On average, cancer genomes contained 4-5 driver mutations when combining coding and non-coding genomic elements; however, in around 5% of cases no drivers were identified, suggesting that cancer driver discovery is not yet complete. Chromothripsis, in which many clustered structural variants arise in a single catastrophic event, is frequently an early event in tumour evolution; in acral melanoma, for example, these events precede most somatic point mutations and affect several cancer-associated genes simultaneously. Cancers with abnormal telomere maintenance often originate from tissues with low replicative activity and show several mechanisms of preventing telomere attrition to critical levels. Common and rare germline variants affect patterns of somatic mutation, including point mutations, structural variants and somatic retrotransposition. A collection of papers from the PCAWG Consortium describes non-coding mutations that drive cancer beyond those in the TERT promoter(4); identifies new signatures of mutational processes that cause base substitutions, small insertions and deletions and structural variation(5,6); analyses timings and patterns of tumour evolution(7); describes the diverse transcriptional consequences of somatic mutation on splicing, expression levels, fusion genes and promoter activity(8,9); and evaluates a range of more-specialized features of cancer genomes(8,10-18).Peer reviewe

Understanding How Microplastics Affect Marine Biota on the Cellular Level Is Important for Assessing Ecosystem Function: A Review

Plastic has become indispensable for human life. When plastic debris is discarded into waterways, these items can interact with organisms. Of particular concern are microscopic plastic particles (microplastics) which are subject to ingestion by several taxa. This review summarizes the results of cutting-edge research about the interactions between a range of aquatic species and microplastics, including effects on biota physiology and secondary ingestion. Uptake pathways via digestive or ventilatory systems are discussed, including (1) the physical penetration of microplastic particles into cellular structures, (2) leaching of chemical additives or adsorbed persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and (3) consequences of bacterial or viral microbiota contamination associated with microplastic ingestion. Following uptake, a number of individual-level effects have been observed, including reduction of feeding activities, reduced growth and reproduction through cellular modifications, and oxidative stress. Microplastic-associated effects on marine biota have become increasingly investigated with growing concerns regarding human health through trophic transfer. We argue that research on the cellular interactions with microplastics provide an understanding of their impact to the organisms’ fitness and, therefore, its ability to sustain their functional role in the ecosystem. The review summarizes information from 236 scientific publications. Of those, only 4.6% extrapolate their research of microplastic intake on individual species to the impact on ecosystem functioning. We emphasize the need for risk evaluation from organismal effects to an ecosystem level to effectively evaluate the effect of microplastic pollution on marine environments. Further studies are encouraged to investigate sublethal effects in the context of environmentally relevant microplastic pollution conditions

Comprehensive analysis of chromothripsis in 2,658 human cancers using whole-genome sequencing

Chromothripsis is a mutational phenomenon characterized by massive, clustered genomic rearrangements that occurs in cancer and other diseases. Recent studies in selected cancer types have suggested that chromothripsis may be more common than initially inferred from low-resolution copy-number data. Here, as part of the Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes (PCAWG) Consortium of the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), we analyze patterns of chromothripsis across 2,658 tumors from 38 cancer types using whole-genome sequencing data. We find that chromothripsis events are pervasive across cancers, with a frequency of more than 50% in several cancer types. Whereas canonical chromothripsis profiles display oscillations between two copy-number states, a considerable fraction of events involve multiple chromosomes and additional structural alterations. In addition to non-homologous end joining, we detect signatures of replication-associated processes and templated insertions. Chromothripsis contributes to oncogene amplification and to inactivation of genes such as mismatch-repair-related genes. These findings show that chromothripsis is a major process that drives genome evolution in human cancer