Green Alga Ulva spp. Hydrolysates and Their Peptide Fractions Regulate Cytokine Production in Splenic Macrophages and Lymphocytes Involving the TLR4-NFkB/MAPK Pathways

Hydrolysates of food protein sources have immunomodulatory effects, which are of interest for use as functional foods. In this study, we have characterized the immune regulatory effect on rat splenocytes, macrophages and T lymphocytes of Ulva spp. hydrolysates and their peptide fractions with or without in vitro gastrointestinal digestion and/or ultrafiltration. IL-10 was induced in almost all conditions and cell types obtained from wild type animals. The induction was in general increased by ultrafiltration and in vitro gastrointestinal digestion. TNF was also induced in basal conditions. In turn, TNF and IFN- production was attenuated by the hydrolysate products in lipopolysaccharide or concanavalin A immune stimulated cells. Inhibitors for the activation of NF B, MAPK p38 and JNK inhibited IL-10 induction in rat splenocytes. The response was dramatically attenuated in TLR4-/- cells, and only modestly in TLR2-/- cells. Food peptides from Ulva spp. genus exert anti-inflammatory effects in immune cells mediated by TLR4 and NF B. Similarity with the immunomodulatory profile of protein hydrolysates from other sources suggests a common mechanism.This work was supported by funds from the Ministry of Economy and Competitivity, partly with Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional FEDER funds [SAF2017-88457-R, AGL2017-85270-R, BFU2014-57736-P, AGL2014-58883-R] and by Junta de Andalucía [CTS235, CTS164]. C.H.-C. and R.G.-B. were supported by the University of Granada (Contrato Puente Program—Plan Propio) and the Ministry of Education [Spain], respectively. CIBERehd is funded by Instituto de Salud Carlos III

Proteins and Carbohydrates from Red Seaweeds: Evidence for Beneficial Effects on Gut Function and Microbiota

Based on their composition, marine algae, and namely red seaweeds, are good potential functional foods. Intestinal mucosal barrier function refers to the capacity of the intestine to provide adequate containment of luminal microorganisms and molecules. Here, we will first outline the component of seaweeds and will summarize the effects of these on the regulation of mucosal barrier function. Special attention will be paid to unique components of red seaweeds: proteins and derived peptides (e.g., phycobiliproteins, glycoproteins that contain “cellulose binding domains”, phycolectins and the related mycosporine-like amino acids) together with polysaccharides (e.g., floridean starch and sulfated galactans, such as carrageenans, agarans and “dl-hybrid”) and minerals. These compounds have been shown to exert prebiotic effects, to regulate intestinal epithelial cell, macrophage and lymphocyte proliferation and differentiation and to modulate the immune response. Molecular mechanisms of action of peptides and polysaccharides are starting to be elucidated, and evidence indicating the involvement of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGFR), Toll-like receptors (TLR) and signal transduction pathways mediated by protein kinase B (PKB or AKT), nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) and mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPK) will also be summarized. The need for further research is clear, but in vivo experiments point to an overall antiinflammatory effect of these algae, indicating that they can reinforce membrane barrier function

AGN-Host Galaxy Connection: Morphology and Colours of X-ray Selected AGN at z < 2

The connection between AGN and their host galaxies has been widely studied over recent years, showing it to be of great importance for providing answers to some fundamental questions related with AGN fueling mechanisms, their formation and evolution. Using X-ray and one of the deepest broad-band optical data sets, we studied morphology and colours in relationship with X-ray properties for sources at redshifts z < 2.0, using a sample of 262 AGN in the Subaru/XMM-Newton Deep Survey (SXDS). Morphological classification was obtained using the galSVM code, one of the new methods useful especially when dealing with high-redshift sources and low-resolution data. Colour-magnitude diagrams were studied in relationship with redshift, morphology, X-ray obscuration, and X-ray-to-optical flux ratio. Finally, the significance of different regions was analysed on colour-magnitude diagrams, relating the observed properties of AGN populations with some models of their formation and evolution.Comment: 24 pages, 19 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy&Astrophysic

Daily consumption of a dairy drink enriched with DHA, Vitamins and minerals enhanced nutritional status and cognitive abilities parameters

Preadolescence is a period of growth with special nutritional requirements. In this research we investigated the effects produced by a 5-month consumption of an enriched dairy drink on biochemical and cognitive development parameters in children. Methods: 119 children (8 14y) of both genders (male 49%, female 51%) were randomly distributed into two study groups. The supplemented group (SG, n = 60) consumed 0.6 L/day (breakfast, elevenses and teatime) of an enriched dairy drink containing fish oils (high in DHA), oleic acid, carbohydrates (sugar and honey), vitamins (A, B complex, C, D, and E) and minerals (calcium, phosphorus, zinc) (Puleva Max®). The control group (CG, n = 59) consumed 0.6 L/day of standard whole milk. Both groups received the same dietary advice and consumed the dairy drinks for 5-moths, in addition to their usual diet. Blood samples and psychometric tests (some subscales of W.I.S.C.-IV of Wechsler and EVALUA of Vidal) were taken at 0 and 5 months. RM ANOVA was applied. Data are expressed as mean±SEM. Results: The consumption of the enriched dairy drink (SG) produced significant (p < 0.05) increases in plasma DHA (20%) and calcium (1.5%). Total proteins (1.9%), transferrine (2.1%), total cholesterol (3.3%) and HDLcholesterol (5.2%), but not LDL-cholesterol, decreased significantly in CG. Regarding psychometric parameters, digits span (working memory test), speed reading and reading comprehension scores showed significant increases in SG at the end of the study (16.8%, 19.1%, and 19.0% respectively) whereas CG only showed higher scores in the reading comprehension test (19.2%). Conclusion: The dietary supplementation with the enriched dairy drink improved the nutritional and biochemical status and a number of cognitive performance markers in children of 8 and 14 years. Supported by Puleva Food SA.Universidad e Granada Puleva Biotech S

The role of major mergers in the size growth of intermediate-mass spheroids

This article has been accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. © 2014 The Authors. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Royal Astronomical Society.We study of the role of ‘major’ mergers (mass ratios >1: 4) in driving size growth in high-redshift (1 1010.7 M⊙) SGs at z < 1, then major mergers are also likely to play an important role in the size growth of at least some massive SGs in this mass range.Peer reviewe

The ALHAMBRA survey: An empirical estimation of the cosmic variance for merger fraction studies based on close pairs

Aims. Our goal is to estimate empirically the cosmic variance that affects merger fraction studies based on close pairs for the first time. Methods. We compute the merger fraction from photometric redshift close pairs with 10 h-1 kpc ≤ rp ≤ 50 h-1 kpc and Δv ≤ 500 km s-1 and measure it in the 48 sub-fields of the ALHAMBRA survey. We study the distribution of the measured merger fractions that follow a log-normal function and estimate the cosmic variance σv as the intrinsic dispersion of the observed distribution. We develop a maximum likelihood estimator to measure a reliable σv and avoid the dispersion due to the observational errors (including the Poisson shot noise term). Results. The cosmic variance σv of the merger fraction depends mainly on (i) the number density of the populations under study for both the principal (n1) and the companion (n2) galaxy in the close pair and (ii) the probed cosmic volume Vc. We do not find a significant dependence on either the search radius used to define close companions, the redshift, or the physical selection (luminosity or stellar mass) of the samples. Conclusions. We have estimated the cosmic variance that affects the measurement of the merger fraction by close pairs from observations. We provide a parametrisation of the cosmic variance with n1, n2, and Vc, σv ∝ n1-0.54Vc-0.48 (n_2/n_1)-0.37 . Thanks to this prescription, future merger fraction studies based on close pairs could properly account for the cosmic variance on their results

Intrinsic Spin-Orbit Interaction in Graphene

In graphene, we report the first theoretical demonstration of how the intrinsic spin orbit interaction can be deduced from the theory and how it can be controlled by tuning a uniform magnetic field, and/or by changing the strength of a long range Coulomb like impurity (adatom), as well as gap parameter. In the impurity context, we find that intrinsic spin-orbit interaction energy may be enhanced by increasing the strength of magnetic field and/or by decreasing the band gap mass term. Additionally, it may be strongly enhanced by increasing the impurity strength. Furthermore, from the proposal of Kane and Mele [Phys. Rev. Lett. 95, 226801 (2005)], it was discussed that the pristine graphene has a quantized spin Hall effect regime where the Rashba type spin orbit interaction term is smaller than that of intrinsic one. Our analysis suggest the nonexistence of such a regime in the ground state of flat graphene

Intracellular expression of Tat alters mitochondrial functions in T cells: a potential mechanism to understand mitochondrial damage during HIV-1 replication

HIV-1 replication results in mitochondrial damage that is enhanced during antiretroviral therapy (ART). The onset of HIV-1 replication is regulated by viral protein Tat, a 101-residue protein codified by two exons that elongates viral transcripts. Although the first exon of Tat (aa 1–72) forms itself an active protein, the presence of the second exon (aa 73–101) results in a more competent transcriptional protein with additional functions. Results: Mitochondrial overall functions were analyzed in Jurkat cells stably expressing full-length Tat (Tat101) or one-exon Tat (Tat72). Representative results were confirmed in PBLs transiently expressing Tat101 and in HIV-infected Jurkat cells. The intracellular expression of Tat101 induced the deregulation of metabolism and cytoskeletal proteins which remodeled the function and distribution of mitochondria. Tat101 reduced the transcription of the mtDNA, resulting in low ATP production. The total amount of mitochondria increased likely to counteract their functional impairment. These effects were enhanced when Tat second exon was expressed. Conclusions: Intracellular Tat altered mtDNA transcription, mitochondrial content and distribution in CD4+ T cells. The importance of Tat second exon in non-transcriptional functions was confirmed. Tat101 may be responsible for mitochondrial dysfunctions found in HIV-1 infected patients.We greatly appreciate the secretarial assistance of Mrs Olga Palao. This work was supported by FIPSE (360924/10), Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (SAF2010-18388), Spanish Ministry of Health (EC11- 285), AIDS Network ISCIII-RETIC (RD12/0017/0015), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (FIS PI12/00506). The work of Sara Rodríguez-Mora is supported by a fellowship of Sara Borrell from Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness (2013). The work of María Rosa López-Huertas is supported by a fellowship of the European Union Programme Health 2009 (CHAARM).S

Towards precision medicine: defining and characterizing adipose tissue dysfunction to identify early immunometabolic risk in symptom-free adults from the GEMM family study

Interactions between macrophages and adipocytes are early molecular factors influencing adipose tissue (AT) dysfunction, resulting in high leptin, low adiponectin circulating levels and low-grade metaflammation, leading to insulin resistance (IR) with increased cardiovascular risk. We report the characterization of AT dysfunction through measurements of the adiponectin/leptin ratio (ALR), the adipo-insulin resistance index (Adipo-IRi), fasting/postprandial (F/P) immunometabolic phenotyping and direct F/P differential gene expression in AT biopsies obtained from symptom-free adults from the GEMM family study. AT dysfunction was evaluated through associations of the ALR with F/P insulin-glucose axis, lipid-lipoprotein metabolism, and inflammatory markers. A relevant pattern of negative associations between decreased ALR and markers of systemic low-grade metaflammation, HOMA, and postprandial cardiovascular risk hyperinsulinemic, triglyceride and GLP-1 curves was found. We also analysed their plasma non-coding microRNAs and shotgun lipidomics profiles finding trends that may reflect a pattern of adipose tissue dysfunction in the fed and fasted state. Direct gene differential expression data showed initial patterns of AT molecular signatures of key immunometabolic genes involved in AT expansion, angiogenic remodelling and immune cell migration. These data reinforce the central, early role of AT dysfunction at the molecular and systemic level in the pathogenesis of IR and immunometabolic disorders