Concentration-dependent effects of native and polymerised α1-antitrypsin on primary human monocytes, in vitro

BACKGROUND: α1-antitrypsin (AAT) is one of the major serine proteinase inhibitors controlling proteinases in many biological pathways. There is increasing evidence that AAT is able to exert other than antiproteolytic effects. To further examine this question we compared how various doses of the native (inhibitory) and the polymerised (non-inhibitory) molecular form of AAT affect pro-inflammatory responses in human monocytes, in vitro. Human monocytes isolated from different donors were exposed to the native or polymerised form of AAT at concentrations of 0.01, 0.02, 0.05, 0.1, 0.5 and 1 mg/ml for 18 h, and analysed to determine the release of cytokines and to detect the activity of NF-κB. RESULTS: We found that native and polymerised AAT at lower concentrations, such as 0.1 mg/ml, enhance expression of TNFα (10.9- and 4.8-fold, p < 0.001), IL-6 (22.8- and 23.4-fold, p < 0.001), IL-8 (2.4- and 5.5-fold, p < 0.001) and MCP-1 (8.3- and 7.7-fold, p < 0.001), respectively, compared to buffer exposed cells or cells treated with higher doses of AAT (0.5 and 1 mg/ml). In parallel to increased cytokine levels, low concentrations of either conformation of AAT (0.02–0.1 mg/ml) induced NF-κB p50 activation, while 1 mg/ml of either conformation of AAT suppressed the activity of NF-κB, compared to controls. CONCLUSIONS: The observations reported here provide further support for a central role of AAT in inflammation, both as a regulator of proteinase activity, and as a signalling molecule for the expression of pro-inflammatory molecules. This latter role is dependent on the concentration of AAT, rather than on its proteinase inhibitory activity

Circulating monocytes from healthy individuals and COPD patients

BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by incompletely reversible airflow obstruction associated with inflammation in which monocytes/macrophages are the predominant inflammatory cells. The only known genetic factor related to COPD is inherited PiZZ deficiency of α1-antitrypsin (AAT), an inhibitor of serine proteases. METHODS: We investigated the basal and LPS-stimulated release of pro-inflammatory molecules from blood monocytes isolated from age and gender matched healthy (n = 30) and COPD (n = 20) individuals with and without AAT deficiency. RESULTS: After 18 h of cell culture the basal release of MMP-9 was 2.5-fold, p < 0.02 greater, whereas IL-8 was 1.8-fold (p < 0.01) lower from COPD patient monocytes than from controls. LPS-stimulated release of IL-6 and MCP-1 was greater from COPD patient's monocytes relative to controls, while activation of control cells resulted in enhanced secretion of ICAM-1 and MMP-9 compared to COPD patients. Independent of disease status, monocytes from PiZZ AAT carriers released less TNFα (by 2.3-fold, p < 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: The basal and LPS-stimulated secretion of specific pro-inflammatory molecules from circulating monocytes differs between healthy and COPD subjects. These findings may be valuable for further studies on the mechanisms involved in recruitment and activation of inflammatory cells in COPD

Kräftodlingens ABC : handbok för odlare

Flodkräftan har ett stort socialt, kulturellt och ekonomiskt värde i Sverige. Förutom att den ären värdefull delikatess, är även sensommarens fiske en mycket uppskattad tradition med möjlighetertill inkomster i form av försäljning av event. Eftersom flodkräftan är en akut hotad art,främst på grunda av spridningen av pestbärande signalkräftor, finns det också ett stort behov avutsättningsmaterial. Flodkräftans har stor potential och är högt värderad på marknaden medansignalkräftan sedan 2016 klassas som en oönskad och invasiv art i EU som inte får odlas. Detfinns därför all anledning att inom överskådlig framtid, satsa på att odla flodkräfta i dammar.Hur gör man då för att starta en flodkräftodling och vad ska man tänka på? Det finns stor efterfråganpå kunskaper men idag går det inte att få tag i utbildningsmaterial som är aktuellt. Måletmed denna handbok är att fler ska odla flodkräftor och att fler med hjälp av denna handbok ocksålyckas med sin odling. Vägledning och goda råda ges för att sätta upp rimliga målsättningaranpassat till de förutsättningar man har. Handboken vänder sig till alla som är intresserade avatt sätta ut flodkräfta i småvatten, odla flodkräfta mer kommersiellt, samt till alla som har flodkräftori sina vatten och vill ha mer kunskap. Handboken ingår som en del i ett utbildningspaketriktat till odlare. Den underlättar också för olika aktörer och myndigheter som får möjlighetenatt besvara frågor om hur man startar och driver en kräftodling.Handboken är framtagen av några av Sveriges mest erfarna forskare och praktiker på området.Finansiering av utbildningspaketet har skett genom anslag från Jordbruksverket för åtgärdermed koppling till Livsmedelsstrategin och Handlingsplan för utveckling av svenskt vattenbruk.Utbildningspaketet kan beställas från din länsstyrelse och laddas ner från www.slu.se/kraftorTack till de som bidragit med olika saker! Kommentarer: Susanne Gustavsson, Ekoll AB ochSofia Bureborn SLU Aqua. Layout och redigering: Marika Stenberg, Ekoll AB och Teresa Soler,SLU Aqua

Минеральные микровключения в глауконитах Бакчарского месторождения (Томская область)

За счет своих уникальных свойств глауконит является ценным источником геологической информации. Как активный природный сорбент глауконит способен накапливать элементы в обстановке седиментации, которые впоследствии образуют новые минеральные фазы внутри глауконитовых гранул. Актуальность исследования определяется возможностью познания процессов осадкообразования на основе и посредством изучения созданного ими вещества в пределах Бакчарского месторождения. Цель работы: изучение ультрадисперсных минеральных включений в глауконитах Бакчарского месторождения для характеристики минерального субстрата, поступающего в бассейн седиментации. Методы исследования: разделение проб на гранулометрические классы размером более 1 мм, 1…0,5, 0,5…0,2, 0,2…0,1, менее 0,1 мм методом «мокрого» ситования; электромагнитная сепарация (ЭВС 10/5) при силе тока 4…2 А; дочистка минеральных монофракций глауконита из магнитной фракции под бинокуляром; изготовление полированных шашек; сканирующая электронная микроскопия на оборудовании TESCAN VEGA 3 SBU с энергодисперсионной приставкой OXFORD X-Max50 для рентгеноспектрального анализа. В результате проведенных исследований в глауконитах Бакчарского месторождения были обнаружены микроскопические включения золота, серебра и некоторых других минералов (фосфатов, сульфидов, сульфатов, оксидов и силикатов). Минеральные ассоциации микровключений указывают на наличие в среде осадкообразования благородных, цветных и редких металлов. Предполагается, что глауконит как активный природный сорбент «загружался» металлами и терригенными ультрадисперсными компонентами на фоне сероводородного заражения осадка микроорганизмами. Эти условия способствовали образованию новых минеральных фаз сульфидов, сульфатов и золота. Полученные данные являются признаком потенциальной золотоносности глауконитовых пород Бакчарского месторождения.Due to its unique properties glauconite is a prospective geological information source. Glauconite is an active natural sorbent. It can accumulate elements in the environment of sedimentation, which subsequently form a new mineral phase within the granules of glauconite. The relevance of the study is determined by the possibility of awareness of sedimentation on the basis and through the study of the matter created by them within the Bakchar deposit. The main aim of the research is to study the mineral microinclusions in glauconite of Bakchar deposit to describe the mineral substrate coming into sedimentation basin. The methods used in the study: samples sieving into granulometric classes with the size more than 1mm, 1…0,5, 0,5…0,2, 0,2…0,1, less than 0,1 mm; electromagnetic separation (EVS 10/5) at 4…2 A; additional cleaning of glauconite grains from magnetic fraction under a binocular microscope; pressed pellet production; scanning electron microscope (TESCAN VEGA 3 SBU) with energy dispersive attachment OXFORD X-Max50 for X-ray spectroscopic analysis. With the help of electron microscopy, microinclusions of gold, silver and other minerals (phosphates, sulfides, sulfates, oxides, and silicates) were found in the glauconites of Bakchar deposit. Mineral associations of microinclusions indicate the occurrence of precious, non-ferrous and rare metals in the sedimentation environment. It is assumed that glauconite as an active natural sorbent «was loaded» by metals and ultrafine terrigenous components on the background of hydrogen sulfide contamination of sediment with microorganisms. These conditions were favorable for forming new mineral phases of sulfides, sulfates and gold. The findings are a sign of potential gold mineralization of glauconite rocks of Bakchar deposit

Subjective face recognition difficulties, aberrant sensibility, sleeping disturbances and aberrant eating habits in families with Asperger syndrome

BACKGROUND: The present study was undertaken in order to determine whether a set of clinical features, which are not included in the DSM-IV or ICD-10 for Asperger Syndrome (AS), are associated with AS in particular or whether they are merely a familial trait that is not related to the diagnosis. METHODS: Ten large families, a total of 138 persons, of whom 58 individuals fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for AS and another 56 did not to fulfill these criteria, were studied using a structured interview focusing on the possible presence of face recognition difficulties, aberrant sensibility and eating habits and sleeping disturbances. RESULTS: The prevalence for face recognition difficulties was 46.6% in individuals with AS compared with 10.7% in the control group. The corresponding figures for subjectively reported presence of aberrant sensibilities were 91.4% and 46.6%, for sleeping disturbances 48.3% and 23.2% and for aberrant eating habits 60.3% and 14.3%, respectively. CONCLUSION: An aberrant processing of sensory information appears to be a common feature in AS. The impact of these and other clinical features that are not incorporated in the ICD-10 and DSM-IV on our understanding of AS may hitherto have been underestimated. These associated clinical traits may well be reflected by the behavioural characteristics of these individuals

Intestinal Epithelial Stem/Progenitor Cells Are Controlled by Mucosal Afferent Nerves

Background: The maintenance of the intestinal epithelium is of great importance for the survival of the organism. A possible nervous control of epithelial cell renewal was studied in rats and mice. Methods: Mucosal afferent nerves were stimulated by exposing the intestinal mucosa to capsaicin (1.6 mM), which stimulates intestinal external axons. Epithelial cell renewal was investigated in the jejunum by measuring intestinal thymidine kinase (TK) activity, intestinal H-3-thymidine incorporation into DNA, and the number of crypt cells labeled with BrdU. The influence of the external gut innervation was minimized by severing the periarterial nerves. Principal Findings: Luminal capsaicin increased all the studied variables, an effect nervously mediated to judge from inhibitory effects on TK activity or H-3-thymidine incorporation into DNA by exposing the mucosa to lidocaine (a local anesthetic) or by giving four different neurotransmitter receptor antagonists i.v. (muscarinic, nicotinic, neurokinin1 (NK1) or calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP) receptors). After degeneration of the intestinal external nerves capsaicin did not increase TK activity, suggesting the involvement of an axon reflex. Intra-arterial infusion of Substance P (SP) or CGRP increased intestinal TK activity, a response abolished by muscarinic receptor blockade. Immunohistochemistry suggested presence of M3 and M5 muscarinic receptors on the intestinal stem/progenitor cells. We propose that the stem/progenitor cells are controlled by cholinergic nerves, which, in turn, are influenced by mucosal afferent neuron(s) releasing acetylcholine and/or SP and/or CGRP. In mice lacking the capsaicin receptor, thymidine incorporation into DNA and number of crypt cells labeled with BrdU was lower than in wild type animals suggesting that nerves are important also in the absence of luminal capsaicin, a conclusion also supported by the observation that atropine lowered thymidine incorporation into DNA by 60% in control rat segments. Conclusion: Enteric nerves are of importance in maintaining the intestinal epithelial barrier.Original Publication:Ove Lundgren, Mats Jodal, Madeleine Jansson, Anders T Ryberg and Lennart Svensson, Intestinal Epithelial Stem/Progenitor Cells Are Controlled by Mucosal Afferent Nerves, 2011, PLOS ONE, (6), 2, 16295.http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0016295Copyright: Public Library of Science (PLoS)http://www.plos.org