Trimer Carboxyl Propeptide of Collagen I Produced by Mature Osteoblasts Is Chemotactic for Endothelial Cells

During the second phase of osteogenesis in vitro, rat osteoblasts secrete inducer(s) of chemotaxis and chemoinvasion of endothelial and tumor cells. We report here the characterization and purification from mature osteoblast conditioned medium of the agent chemotactic for endothelial cells. The chemoactive conditioned medium specifically induces directional migration of endothelial cells, not affecting the expression and activation of gelatinases, cell proliferation, and scattering. Directional migration induced in endothelial cells by conditioned medium from osteoblasts is inhibited by pertussis toxin, by blocking antibodies to integrins alpha(1), beta(1), and beta(3), and by antibodies to metalloproteinase 2 and 9. The biologically active purified protein has two sequences, coincident with the amino-terminal amino acids, respectively, of the alpha(1) and of the alpha(2) carboxyl propeptides of type I collagen, as physiologically produced by procollagen C proteinase. Antibodies to type I collagen and to the carboxyl terminus of alpha(1) or alpha(2) chains inhibit chemotaxis. The chemoattractant is the propeptide trimer carboxyl-terminal to type I collagen, and its activity is lost upon reduction. These data illustrate a previously unknown function for the carboxyl-terminal trimer, possibly relevant in promoting endothelial cell migration and vascularization of tissues producing collagen type I

Tungiasis : enfermedad tropical con manifestación cutánea

La tungiasis es una ectoparasitosis prevalente en Sudamérica, el Caribe y algunas regiones de África. Clínicamente se manifiesta como pápulas o nódulos, únicos o múltiples, blanquecinos o grisáceos, que reflejan el desarrollo de la pulga. El diagnóstico se basa fundamentalmente en el antecedente epidemiológico, la clínica y la dermatoscopia. El tratamiento de elección es la extracción quirúrgica de la pulga, al que se le suma la profilaxis antitetánica.Tungiasis is an ectoparasitosis, prevalent in South America, the Caribbean and some regions of Africa. Clinical findings are papules or nodules, single or multiple, whitish or grayish, which reflect the development of the flea. The diagnosis is fundamentally based on the epidemiological history, the skin lesions and the dermoscopy. Standard treatment consists of surgical extraction of the flea followed by tetanus prophylaxis.Fil: Camardella, Ileana. Hospital Luis Lagomaggiore (Mendoza, Argentina). Servicio de DermatologíaFil: Boulet, María Julia. Hospital Luis Lagomaggiore (Mendoza, Argentina). Servicio de DermatologíaFil: Cantú Parra, Laura. Hospital Luis Lagomaggiore (Mendoza, Argentina). Servicio de DermatologíaFil: Cheseé, Carla. Hospital Luis Lagomaggiore (Mendoza, Argentina). Servicio de DermatologíaFil: Rivero, Lorena. Hospital Luis Lagomaggiore (Mendoza, Argentina). Servicio de MicrobiologíaFil: Borzotta, Florencia. Hospital Luis Lagomaggiore (Mendoza, Argentina). Servicio de DermatologíaFil: Innocenti Badano, Alicia Carolina. Hospital Luis Lagomaggiore (Mendoza, Argentina). Servicio de Dermatologí

Miasis cutánea foruncular : presentación de un caso autóctono en Mendoza

La miasis foruncular es una infestación cutánea infrecuente en la provincia de Mendoza. Es causada por larvas de moscas de la especie Dermatobia hominis. Clínicamente, se manifiesta como pápulas o nódulos eritematosos con orificio central, correspondiente al poro respiratorio de la larva. Presentamos el caso de un hombre de 49 años que consultó por nódulos eritematosos con sensación de movimiento en su interior, localizados en axila derecha. Es importante sospechar este diagnóstico en pacientes con lesiones símil forúnculos, para indicar un tratamiento precoz y evitar complicaciones.Furuncular myiasis is a skin infestation rarely observed in Mendoza. It is caused by the larvae of Dermatobia hominis. Clinically, it manifests as erythematous papules or nodules with a central orifice, corresponding to the respiratory pore of the larva. An otherwise healthy 49-year-old man who presented with erythematous nodules with a sensation of movement inside, located on the right axilla. It is important to suspect this diagnosis in patients with furuncular-type lesions, to indicate an accurate treatment and avoid complications.Fil: Camardella, Ileana. Hospital Luis Lagomaggiore (Mendoza, Argentina). Servicio de DermatologíaFil: Sánchez Martini, Pía Florencia. Hospital Luis Lagomaggiore (Mendoza, Argentina). Servicio de DermatologíaFil: Morea, Gastón. Hospital Luis Lagomaggiore (Mendoza, Argentina). Sección de InfectologíaFil: Cantú Parra, Laura. Hospital Luis Lagomaggiore (Mendoza, Argentina). Servicio de DermatologíaFil: Innocenti Badano, Alicia Carolina. Hospital Luis Lagomaggiore (Mendoza, Argentina). Servicio de DermatologíaFil: Tennerini, María Leticia. Hospital Luis Lagomaggiore (Mendoza, Argentina). Servicio de Dermatologí

Síndrome de Wells : reporte de un caso

El Síndrome de Wells o celulitis eosinofílica, es una dermatosis infrecuente de etiología desconocida. Se lo clasifica dentro de las enfermedades eosinofílicas, ya que presentan en la histopatología infiltración por dichas células. Se han reportado casos asociados a múltiples entidades, como infecciones, neoplasias y fármacos. Clínicamente se manifiesta con pápulas y placas eritematosas, de bordes definidos. La mayoría evidencia una buena respuesta al tratamiento con corticoides sistémicos y puede evolucionar con períodos de brotes y remisiones.Wells syndrome, also known as eosinophilic cellulitis, is a rare dermatosis of unknown etiology. It belongs to the eosinophilic skin diseases, characterized by an eosinophil-rich infiltrate in histopathology. Most cases have been reported associated with multiple entities, such as infections, neoplasms and drugs. Typical findings include infiltrated erythematous papules and plaques. Most patients benefit from systemic corticosteroid therapy and can evolve with alternating periods of flares and remissions.Fil: Arzalluz, Gabriela. Hospital Luis Lagomaggiore (Mendoza, Argentina). Servicio de DermatologíaFil: Camardella, Ileana Rosalía. Hospital Luis Lagomaggiore (Mendoza, Argentina). Servicio de DermatologíaFil: Boulet, María Julia. Hospital Luis Lagomaggiore (Mendoza, Argentina). Servicio de DermatologíaFil: Cantú Parra, Laura. Hospital Luis Lagomaggiore (Mendoza, Argentina). Servicio de DermatologíaFil: Cippitelli, María José. Hospital Luis Lagomaggiore (Mendoza, Argentina). Servicio de DermatologíaFil: Innocenti Badano, Alicia Carolina. Hospital Luis Lagomaggiore (Mendoza, Argentina). Servicio de Dermatologí

Allergenic Lipid Transfer Proteins from Plant-Derived Foods Do Not Immunologically and Clinically Behave Homogeneously: The Kiwifruit LTP as a Model

BACKGROUND: Food allergy is increasingly common worldwide. Tools for allergy diagnosis measuring IgE improved much since allergenic molecules and microarrays started to be used. IgE response toward allergens belonging to the same group of molecules has not been comprehensively explored using such approach yet. OBJECTIVE: Using the model of lipid transfer proteins (LTPs) from plants as allergens, including two new structures, we sought to define how heterogeneous is the behavior of homologous proteins. METHODS: Two new allergenic LTPs, Act d 10 and Act c 10, have been identified in green (Actinidia deliciosa) and gold (Actinidia chinensis) kiwifruit (KF), respectively, using clinically characterized allergic patients, and their biochemical features comparatively evaluated by means of amino acid sequence alignments. Along with other five LTPs from peach, mulberry, hazelnut, peanut, mugwort, KF LTPs, preliminary tested positive for IgE, have been immobilized on a microarray, used for IgE testing 1,003 allergic subjects. Comparative analysis has been carried out. RESULTS: Alignment of Act d 10 primary structure with the other allergenic LTPs shows amino acid identities to be in a narrow range between 40 and 55%, with a number of substitutions making the sequences quite different from each other. Although peach LTP dominates the IgE immune response in terms of prevalence, epitope recognition driven by sequence heterogeneity has been recorded to be distributed in a wide range of behaviors. KF LTPs IgE positive results were obtained in a patient subset IgE positive for the peach LTP. Anyhow, the negative results on homologous molecules allowed us to reintroduce KF in patients' diet. CONCLUSION: The biochemical nature of allergenic molecule belonging to a group of homologous ones should not be taken as proof of immunological recognition as well. The availability of panels of homologous molecules to be tested using microarrays is valuable to address the therapeutic intervention

PECTIN METYLESTERASE INHIBITOR IN TOMATO FRUITS: CLONING AND MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION

Pectin is one of the main components of primary plant cell wall and its structure is critical for plant growth, intercellular adhesion, fruit texture and interaction with pathogens. Pectin is secreted in a highly methyl-esterified form and subsequently de-esterified by pectin methylesterases (PMEs) localized in the wall. PMEs take part in important physiological processes such as pollen growth and fruit ripening and are involved in the resistance response to fungal and viral pathogens. A mechanism of regulation of PME activity is played by specific proteinaceous inhibitors (PMEI). The structural bases of the interaction between PME from tomato and PMEI from kiwi fruit have been defined by solving the 3D structure of the PME/PMEI complex. We have identified and cloned a fruit-expressed cDNA of tomato with a significant sequence identity with kiwi PMEI. Structural alignment and modelling indicate that the encoded protein has the same fold of kiwi PMEI. Expression and functional characterization of the putative tomato PMEI will be presented

A functional pectin methylesterase inhibitor protein (SolyPMEI) is expressed during tomato fruit ripening and interacts with PME-1

A pectin methylesterase inhibitor (SolyPMEI) from tomato has been identified and characterised by a functional genomics approach. SolyPMEI is a cell wall protein sharing high similarity with Actinidia deliciosa PMEI (AdPMEI), the best characterised inhibitor from kiwi. It typically affects the activity of plant pectin methylesterases (PMEs) and is inactive against a microbial PME. SolyPMEI transcripts were mainly expressed in flower, pollen and ripe fruit where the protein accumulated at breaker and turning stages of ripening. The expression of SolyPMEI correlated during ripening with that of PME-1, the major fruit specific PME isoform. The interaction ofSolyPMEI with PME-1 was demonstrated in ripe fruit by gel filtration and by immunoaffinity chromatography. The analysis of the zonal distribution of PME activity and the co-localization of SolyPMEI with high esterified pectins suggest that SolyPMEI regulates the spatial patterning of distribution of esterified pectins in fruit