Cerebrospinal fluid levels of insulin, leptin, and agouti-related protein in relation to BMI in pregnant women

Objective: During pregnancy, metabolic interactions must be adapted, though neuroendocrine mechanisms for increased food intake are poorly understood. The objective of this study was to characterize differences in insulin, leptin, and agouti‐related protein (AgRP) levels in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in pregnant women with normal weight (NW) and pregnant women with overweight (OW) or obesity (OB). Placenta as a source for increased peripheral AgRP levels during pregnancy was also investigated. Methods: Women were recruited at admission for elective cesarean section. Insulin, AgRP, and leptin were measured in serum and CSF from 30 NW, 25 OW, and 21 OB at term. Serum during pregnancy and placenta at term were collected for further AgRP analysis. Results Immunohistology showed placental production of AgRP and serum AgRP levels increased throughout pregnancy. CSF AgRP, leptin, and insulin levels were higher in OW and OB than NW. Serum leptin and insulin levels were higher and AgRP lower in OB than NW. Conclusions: High serum AgRP levels might protect from the suppressive effects of leptin during pregnancy. Pregnant women with OB and OW might further be protected from the suppressive effect of leptin by high CSF AgRP levels. Evidence was found, for the first time, of human placental AgRP production mirrored by levels in the circulation

Uncropped western blot.

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Unusual histology in clear cell renal cell carcinoma from a COVID-19 patient.

(A) The basic histopathological pattern of the cancer case was clear cell renal cell carcinoma. (B) In about 60% of the tumor tissue extensive areas of necrosis could be seen. (C and D) Areas displaying very unusual features where the cancer cells had coalesced into syncytial, multinuclear and discohesive cancer cells with fusion of the lipid laded cytoplasms. All images were stained by Hematoxylin/Eosin, Scale bars in A-C: 100 μm, in D: 200 μm. (TIF)</p

SARS-CoV-2 virus replicates in cultured renal cell carcinoma cells and causes a distinct virus cytopathogenic effect.

(A) Negative strand qPCR analysis of SARS-CoV-2 viral RNA copy number at 24h, 48h and 72h post-infection in primary normal tubular epithelial cells, CCRCC cells, PRCC cells and the renal cell carcinoma cell line RCC4. (B) Representative images of virus cytopathogenic effect (CPE) for normal (NKE863), clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC) (CCRCC863) and papillary renal cell carcinoma (PRCC) (PRCC545) at 48 hours after infection. The CPE causes rounding up of cells, followed by detachment from the growth surface. Mock is control. Scale bar = 200μm.</p