Protein Phosphatase 2C of Toxoplasma Gondii Interacts with Human SSRP1 and Negatively Regulates Cell Apoptosis

International audienceBiographical notes of the first authors: GAO Xue Juan, female, born in 1980, PhD, assistant researcher, majoring in protein-protein interaction and signaling pathways; FENG Jun Xia, female, born in 1989, majoring in pathogenic molecular mechanism of pathogenic microorganisms. Abstract Objective The protozoan Toxoplasma gondii expresses large amounts of a 37 kDa Type 2C serine-threonine phosphatase, the so-called TgPP2C which has been suggested to contribute to parasite growth regulation. Ectopic expression in mammalian cells also indicated that the enzyme could regulate growth and survival. In this study, we aimed to investigate the interaction of TgPP2C with human SSRP1 (structure-specific recognition protein 1) and the effects of TgPP2C on cell viability. Methods The yeast two hybrid system, His-tag pull-down and co-immunoprecipitation assays were used to confirm the interaction of TgPP2C with SSRP1 and determine the binding domain on SSRP1. The evaluation of cell apoptosis was performed using cleaved caspase-3 antibody and Annexin-V/PI kit combined with flow cytometry. Results We identified human SSRP1 as an interacting partner of TgPP2C. The C-terminal region of SSRP1 including the amino acids 471 to 538 was specifically mapped as the region responsible for interaction with TgPP2C. The overexpression of TgPP2C down-regulated cell apoptosis and negatively regulated apoptosis induced by DRB, casein kinase II (CKII) inhibitor, through enhanced interaction with SSRP1. Conclusion TgPP2C may be a parasitic factor capable of promoting cell survival through interaction with the host protein SSRP1, thereby creating a favorable environment for parasite growth

Survival after adrenalectomy for metastatic hepatocellular carcinoma : a 25-year institutional experience

BACKGROUND Extrahepatic manifestation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is rare and primarily affects lung, lymph nodes and bone. Metastases to the adrenal glands are relatively infrequent. This 25-year institutional experience aimed for an analysis of factors influencing survival in patients undergoing surgery for HCC adrenal metastasis. METHODS A retrospective analysis of the institutional database of the Clinic for General-, Visceral- and Transplantation Surgery of the University Medical Center Mainz, Germany, was performed. Patients who underwent surgery for HCC adrenal metastases from January 1995 to June 2020 were included. Pre-, peri- and postoperative factors with potential influence on survival were assessed. RESULTS In 16 patients (14 males, two females), one bilateral and 15 unilateral adrenalectomies were performed (13 metachronous, three synchronous). Thirteen operations were carried out via laparotomy, and three adrenalectomies were minimally invasive (two laparoscopic, one retroperitoneoscopic). Median overall survival (after HCC diagnosis) was 35 months, range: 5–198. Median post-resection survival (after adrenalectomy) was 15 months, range: 0–75. Overall survival was longer in patients with the primary HCC treatment being liver transplantation (median 66 months) or liver resection (median 51 months), compared to only palliative intended treatment of the primary with chemotherapy (median 35 months) or local ablation (median 23 months). CONCLUSIONS Surgery is a feasible treatment option for patients with adrenal metastases originating from HCC. In patients who underwent adrenalectomy for HCC adrenal metastasis, overall survival was superior, if primary HCC treatment was potentially curative (liver transplantation or resection)

Introduction to the Special Issue on “Aging and Migration in Europe”

Aging and migration have become key issues in many European societies today, as an unprecedented number of first-generation immigrants of the big immigration waves of the 1960s and 1970s are currently approaching retirement age. This special issue on aging and migration serves to raise the awareness on this important topic in modern societies. It brings together researchers in aging and migration from four different European countries characterized by a large share of immigrants in their population, namely, the UK, Estonia, Denmark, and Luxembourg

Трехкоординатный пьезокерамический сканер на биморфных пьезо-элементах для зондового наномикроскопа

Предложена и исследована конструкция пьезокерамического сканера для наномикроскопов на основе диморфных пьезоэлементов. Построена и исследована модель сканера при помощи программы MicroCap 7.0