Elevated soluble Flt1 mediates an anti-angiogenic state in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis

International audiencen.

Uncovering the Importance of Selenium in Muscle Disease

A connection between selenium bioavailability and development of muscular disorders both in humans and livestock has been established for a long time. With the development of genomics, the function of several selenoproteins was shown to be involved in muscle activity, including SELENON, which was linked to an inherited form of myopathy. Development of animal models has helped to dissect the physiological dysfunction due to mutation in the SELENON gene; however the molecular activity remains elusive and only recent analysis using both in vivo and in vitro experiment provided hints toward its function in oxidative stress defence and calcium transport control. This review sets out to summarise most recent findings for the importance of selenium in muscle function and the contribution of this information to the design of strategies to cure the diseases

The unfolded protein response and its relevance to connective tissue diseases

The unfolded protein response (UPR) has evolved to counter the stresses that occur in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) as a result of misfolded proteins. This sophisticated quality control system attempts to restore homeostasis through the action of a number of different pathways that are coordinated in the first instance by the ER stress-senor proteins IRE1, ATF6 and PERK. However, prolonged ER-stress-related UPR can have detrimental effects on cell function and, in the longer term, may induce apoptosis. Connective tissue cells such as fibroblasts, osteoblasts and chondrocytes synthesise and secrete large quantities of proteins and mutations in many of these gene products give rise to heritable disorders of connective tissues. Until recently, these mutant gene products were thought to exert their effect through the assembly of a defective extracellular matrix that ultimately disrupted tissue structure and function. However, it is now becoming clear that ER stress and UPR, because of the expression of a mutant gene product, is not only a feature of, but may be a key mediator in the initiation and progression of a whole range of different connective tissue diseases. This review focuses on ER stress and the UPR that characterises an increasing number of connective tissue diseases and highlights novel therapeutic opportunities that may arise

Bovine cryptosporidiosis: impact, host-parasite interaction and control strategies

International audienceAbstractGastrointestinal disease caused by the apicomplexan parasite Cryptosporidium parvum is one of the most important diseases of young ruminant livestock, particularly neonatal calves. Infected animals may suffer from profuse watery diarrhoea, dehydration and in severe cases death can occur. At present, effective therapeutic and preventative measures are not available and a better understanding of the host–pathogen interactions is required. Cryptosporidium parvum is also an important zoonotic pathogen causing severe disease in people, with young children being particularly vulnerable. Our knowledge of the immune responses induced by Cryptosporidium parasites in clinically relevant hosts is very limited. This review discusses the impact of bovine cryptosporidiosis and describes how a thorough understanding of the host–pathogen interactions may help to identify novel prevention and control strategies