IL-10 and TNF α

The production of two regulators of the inflammatory response, interleukin 10 (IL-10) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), has been found to be deeply deregulated in SLE patients, suggesting that these cytokines may be involved in the pathogenesis of the disease. Genetic polymorphisms at the promoter regions of IL-10 and TNFα genes have been associated with different constitutive and induced cytokine production. Given that individual steady-state levels of these molecules may deviate an initial immune response towards different forms of lymphocyte activation, functional genetic variants in their promoters could influence the development of SLE. The present review summarizes the information previously reported about the involvement of IL-10 and TNFα genetic variants on SLE appearance, clinical phenotype, and outcome. We show that, in spite of the heterogeneity of the populations studied, the existing knowledge points towards a relevant role of IL-10 and TNFα genotypes in SLE

Chemical characterization of lignin and lipophilic fractions from leaf fibers of curaua (Ananas erectifolius)

E-mail: [email protected] (J.C. del Río)The chemical composition of leaf fibers of curaua (Ananas erectifolius), an herbaceous plant native of Amazonia, was studied. Special attention was paid to the content and composition of lignin and lipophilic compounds. The analysis of lignin in the curaua fibers was performed “in situ” by pyrolysis-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) and showed a lignin composition with a p-hydroxyphenyl:guaiacyl:syringyl units (H:G:S) molar proportion of 30:29:41 (S/G molar ratio of 1.4). The presence of p-hydroxycinnamic acids (p-coumaric and ferulic acids) in curaua fibers was revealed upon pyrolysis in the presence of tetramethylammonium hydroxide. On the other hand, the main lipophilic compounds, analysed by GC/MS, were series of long-chain n-fatty acids, n-fatty alcohols, α- and ω-hydroxyacids, monoglycerides, sterols and waxes. Other compounds, such as ω-hydroxy monoesters and ω-hydroxy acylesters of glycerol were also found in this fiber in high amounts.Peer reviewe

Cytokine polymorphisms influence treatment outcomes in SLE patients treated with antimalarial drugs

Antimalarial agents have been widely used as disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs in the treatment of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and other rheumatological diseases, although their mechanism of action has not yet been fully defined. It is known, however, that effective response to treatment is variable among patients. Thus, the identification of genetic predictors of treatment response would provide valuable information for therapeutic intervention. The aim of the present study was to analyze the effect of antimalarial treatment on tumor necrosis factor (TNF)α serum levels and evaluate the possible influence of TNFα and IL-10 functional genetic polymorphisms on the response to antimalarial drugs. To this end, TNFα serum levels were quantified in 171 SLE patients and 215 healthy controls by ELISA techniques and polymorphisms at positions -1,082 and -308 of the IL-10 and TNFα gene promoterswere determined by PCR amplification followed by hybridization with fluorescent-labeled allele-specific probes in 192 SLE patients and 343 matched controls. Data were related to clinical features and treatment at the time of sampling and during the course of the disease. Results showed a significantly higher amount of serum TNFα in the entire SLE population compared with controls. However, TNFα serum levels correlated negatively with the use of antimalarial treatment during at least three months before sampling. Patients under single or combined treatment with these drugs had TNFα serum levels similar to healthy controls, whereas untreated patients and those under corticosteroid or immunosuppressive therapies had increased amounts of this cytokine. This suggests, however, that antimalarial-mediated inhibition of TNFα was only significant in patients who were genetically high TNFα or low IL-10 producers. In addition, evaluation of SLE patients administered antimalarial drugs for three or more years who did not require any other specific SLE treatment indicates that patients with the combined genotype low IL-10/high TNFα are the best responders to antimalarial therapy, developing mild disease with a good course under this treatment. In conclusion, we proposed that an antimalarial-mediated downregulation of TNFα levels in SLE patients is influenced by polymorphisms at IL-10 and TNFα promoters. Our results may thus find important clinical application through the identification of patients who are the most likely to benefit from antimalarial therapy

Oxidative modification of paper pulp lipophilic extractives by laccase-mediator system

Recently, we have shown the effectiveness of the laccase-mediator system in removing lipophilic extractives from pulp regardless the pulping process and the raw material used. This paper summarizes our research findings on the chemistry of the reactions of the main lipophilic extractives present in paper pulps with the laccase-mediator system. The results attained in reactions of several model lipids - including alkanes, fatty alcohols, fatty acids, resin acids, free sterols, sterol esters and triglycerides - with a fungal laccase in the presence of HBT as mediator, are discussed in the context of enzymatic control of pitch deposits, to explain the removal of complex lipid mixtures during laccase-mediator treatment of different pulp types, including eucalypt pulp.This study was funded by the BIORENEW EU-project (NMP2-CT-2006-026456) and the Spanish MICINN (AGL-2008-00709). Beldem (Andenne, Belgium) is acknowledged for laccase supply. S. Molina and J. Rencoret are acknowledged for their contribution to this work.Peer reviewe

Chemical composition of lipophilic extractives from non-woody plants used for manufacturing high-quality papers

The chemical composition of lipophilic extractives from fibers of three annual plants, namely hemp (Cannabis sativa), flax (Linum usitatissimum) and kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus) that are commonly used for high quality paper pulp production was studied. The cloroform soluble fractions of the acetone extracts of the fibers were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The main compounds identified were series of n-alkanes, n-fatty acids, n-aldehydes, n-fatty alcohols and waxes. On the other hand, free and esterified sterols and triterpenols, steroid hydrocarbons, steroid and triterpenoid ketones, as well as sterol glycosides were also found in the fibers studied here.A.G. acknowledges a "Ramón y Cajal" contract of the Spanish MCYT. We thank CELESA (Tortosa, Spain) for providing the raw materials.Peer reviewe

Chemical composition of lipophilic extractives from sisal (Agave sisalana) fibers

Instituto de Recursos Naturales y Agrobiología de Sevilla, CSIC, PO Box 1052, E-41080 Seville, Spain. Corresponding author, E-mail: [email protected] (A. Gutiérrez)The chemical composition of lipophilic extractives from sisal (Agave sisalana) fibers, which are used for high-quality paper pulp production was studied. The lipophilic extract, which accounted for 0.5 % of total sisal fiber weight, was analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) using short- and medium-length high temperature capillary columns, respectively. For a more detailed characterization, the extract was fractionated by solid-phase extraction and the fractions obtained were analyzed by GC and GC/MS. The most predominant compounds identified were fatty acids (30% of total lipids) including α- and -hydroxyfatty acids, fatty alcohols (20%), free sterols (11%), alkanes (11%) and a series of ferulic acid esters of long chain alcohols and -hydroxyfatty acids (10%). Additionally, steroid hydrocarbons and ketones, monoglycerides, aldehydes, waxes, and sterol glycosides were also found together with minor amounts of diglycerides, and sterol esters.This study has been supported by the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología (MCYT) (projects AGL2002-00393 and AGL2005-01748) and EU project (BIORENEW, NMP2-CT-2006-026456). We thank CELESA pulp mill (Tortosa, Spain) for providing the sisal fibers.Peer reviewe

Isolation and structural characterization of the acetylated heteroxylan from sisal (Agave sisalana) and its fate during alkaline pulping and TCF/ECF bleaching.

The heteroxylan from sisal, an O-acetyl-(4-O-methylglucurono)xylan with a molecular weight (Mw) of 18 kDa, was isolated by extraction of peracetic holocellulose with Me2SO and thoroughly characterized by wet chemistry, and NMR spectroscopy. The heteroxylan backbone is composed of (1→4)-linked β-D-xylopyranosyl units (Xylp) partially ramified with terminal (1→2)-linked 4-O-methyl-α-D-glucuronosyl (MeGlcpA) and a small proportion of α-D-glucuronosyl (GlcpA) residues. Roughly 61mol% of Xylp residues are acetylated (DS =0.70). During soda/AQ pulping, GlcpA and MeGlcA are partially removed or converted to 4-deoxy-β-L-threo-hex-4-enopyranosyluronic acid (HexA), though notable proportion of GlcpA maintained intact. The major part of acetyl groups was hydrolyzed during pulping. It was proposed that the predominantly low molecular weight xylan fraction was removed from pulp during bleaching. The profiles of uronosyl residues in xylans from TCF and ECF bleached sisal pulps were rather different.This study has been supported by the Spanish MEC (Project AGL2005-01748) and EU Contract NMP2-CT-2006-26456. We thank CELESA (Tortosa, Spain) for providing the samples. G.M. thanks the Spanish Ministry of Education for a FPI fellowship.Peer reviewe

'Artilysation' of endolysin λSa2lys strongly improves its enzymatic and antibacterial activity against streptococci

Endolysins constitute a promising class of antibacterials against Gram-positive bacteria. Recently, endolysins have been engineered with selected peptides to obtain a new generation of lytic proteins, Artilysins, with specific activity against Gram-negative bacteria. Here, we demonstrate that artilysation can also be used to enhance the antibacterial activity of endolysins against Gram-positive bacteria and to reduce the dependence on external conditions. Art-240, a chimeric protein of the anti-streptococcal endolysin λSa2lys and the polycationic peptide PCNP, shows a similar species specificity as the parental endolysin, but the bactericidal activity against streptococci increases and is less affected by elevated NaCl concentrations and pH variations. Time-kill experiments and time-lapse microscopy demonstrate that the killing rate of Art-240 is approximately two-fold higher compared to wildtype endolysin λSa2lys, with a reduction in viable bacteria of 3 log units after 10 min. In addition, lower doses of Art-240 are required to achieve the same bactericidal effect.This research study was supported by grants AGL2012-40194-C02-01 (Ministry of Science and Innovation, Spain), FEDER founds and GRUPIN14-139 (Program of Science, Technology and Innovation 2013–2017, Principado de Asturias, Spain), bacteriophage network FAGOMA and research grant 1.5.171.15N of the Research Foundation – Flanders (FWO). DG was a fellow of the Ministry of Science and Innovation, Spain. LR-R was a FWO Pegasus Marie Curie Fellow. PG, BM, RL and AR are members of the FWO Vlaanderen funded “Phagebiotics” research community (WO.016.14).Peer Reviewe

Bacteriophages: The Enemies of Bad Bacteria Are Our Friends!

Some bacteria can enter the human body and make people ill. Usually, these diseases can be cured by antibiotics, but sometimes bacteria are resistant to them, meaning that the antibiotics do not kill the bacteria. In these cases, bacteria become very dangerous. Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria but are harmless to humans. To reproduce, they get into a bacterium, where they multiply, and finally they break the bacterial cell open to release the new viruses. Therefore, bacteriophages kill bacteria. Here, we explain how bacteriophages can be used to treat infectious diseases or to remove bacteria from other places where they are unwanted.Peer reviewedPeer Reviewe