The Time Is Now: A New Vision for Greater Regent Park

http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/110961/1/the_time_is_now-a_new_vision_for_greater_regent_parkfinalreduced.pd

The Role of Cilia in the Regulation of Bile Flow

Cholangiocytes, the epithelial cells lining intrahepatic bile ducts, are ciliated cells. Each cholangiocyte has a primary cilium consisting of (i) a microtubule-based axoneme and (ii) the basal body, centriole-derived, microtubule-organizing center from which the axoneme emerges. Primary cilia in cholangiocytes were described decades ago, but their physiological and pathophysiological significance remained unclear until recently. We now recognize that cholangiocyte cilia extend from the apical plasma membrane into the bile duct lumen and, as such, are ideally positioned to detect changes in bile flow, bile composition and bile osmolality. These sensory organelles act as cellular antennae that can detect and transmit signals that influence cholangiocyte function. Indeed, recent data show that cholangiocyte primary cilia can activate intracellular signaling pathways when they sense modifications in the flow, molecular constituents and osmolarity of bile. Their ability to sense and transmit signals depends on the participation of a growing number of specific ciliary-associated proteins that act as receptors, channels and transporters. Cholangiocyte cilia, in addition to being important in normal biliary physiology, likely contribute to the cholangiopathies when their normal structure or function is disturbed. Indeed, the polycystic liver diseases that occur in combination with autosomal dominant and recessive polycystic kidney disease (i.e. ADPKD and ARPKD) are two important examples of such conditions. Recent insights into the role of cholangiocyte cilia in cystic liver disease using in vitro and animal models have already resulted in clinical trials that have influenced the management of cystic liver disease

SARS-CoV-2 and HIV: Impact on Pulmonary Epithelial Cells

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic provides a natural opportunity for the collision of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) with chronic infections, which place numerous individuals at high risk of severe COVID-19. Infection with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), a global epidemic, remains a major public health concern. Whether prior HIV+ status exacerbates COVID-19 warrants investigation. Herein, we characterized the impact of SARS-CoV-2 in human bronchial epithelial cells (HBECs) previously exposed to HIV. We optimized the air-liquid interface (ALI) cell culture technique to allow for challenges with HIV at the basolateral cell surface and SARS-CoV-2 spike protein on the apical surface, followed by genetic analyses for cellular stress/toxicity and innate/adaptive immune responses. Our results suggest that the IL-10 pathway was consistently activated in HBECs treated with spike, HIV, or a combination. Recombinant spike protein elicited COVID-19 cytokine storms while HIV activated different signaling pathways. HIV-treated HBECs could no longer activate NF-kB, pro-inflammatory TRAF-6 ubiquitination nor RIP1 signaling. Combinations of HIV and SARS-CoV-2 spike increased gene expression for activation of endoplasmic reticulum-phagosome pathway and downregulated non-canonical NF-kB pathways that are key in functional regulatory T cells and RNA Polymerase II transcription. Our in vitro studies suggest that prior HIV infection may not exacerbate COVID-19. Further in vivo studies are warranted to advance this field

PO004LBA/#1515 Efficacy and safety of avutometinib + defactinib in recurrent low-grade serous ovarian cancer following prior systemic therapy

peer reviewe