Performance of Repetitive Tasks Induces Decreased Grip Strength and Increased Fibrogenic Proteins in Skeletal Muscle: Role of Force and Inflammation

Background This study elucidates exposure-response relationships between performance of repetitive tasks, grip strength declines, and fibrogenic-related protein changes in muscles, and their link to inflammation. Specifically, we examined forearm flexor digitorum muscles for changes in connective tissue growth factor (CTGF; a matrix protein associated with fibrosis), collagen type I (Col1; a matrix component), and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFB1; an upstream modulator of CTGF and collagen), in rats performing one of two repetitive tasks, with or without anti-inflammatory drugs. Methodology/Results To examine the roles of force versus repetition, rats performed either a high repetition negligible force food retrieval task (HRNF), or a high repetition high force handle-pulling task (HRHF), for up to 9 weeks, with results compared to trained only (TR-NF or TR-HF) and normal control rats. Grip strength declined with both tasks, with the greatest declines in 9-week HRHF rats. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) analyses of HRNF muscles showed increased expression of Col1 in weeks 3–9, and CTGF in weeks 6 and 9. Immunohistochemistry confirmed PCR results, and also showed greater increases of CTGF and collagen matrix in 9-week HRHF rats than 9-week HRNF rats. ELISA, and immunohistochemistry revealed greater increases of TGFB1 in TR-HF and 6-week HRHF, compared to 6-week HRNF rats. To examine the role of inflammation, results from 6-week HRHF rats were compared to rats receiving ibuprofen or anti-TNF-α treatment in HRHF weeks 4–6. Both treatments attenuated HRHF-induced increases in CTGF and fibrosis by 6 weeks of task performance. Ibuprofen attenuated TGFB1 increases and grip strength declines, matching our prior results with anti-TNFα. Conclusions/Significance Performance of highly repetitive tasks was associated with force-dependent declines in grip strength and increased fibrogenic-related proteins in flexor digitorum muscles. These changes were attenuated, at least short-term, by anti-inflammatory treatments

Role of periostin

Periostin, also termed osteoblast-specific factor 2, is a matricellular protein with known functions in osteology, tissue repair, oncology, cardiovascular and respiratory systems, and in various inflammatory settings. However, most of the research to date has been conducted in divergent and circumscribed areas meaning that the overall understanding of this intriguing molecule remains fragmented. Here, we integrate the available evidence on periostin expression, its normal role in development, and whether it plays a similar function during pathologic repair, regeneration, and disease in order to bring together the different research fields in which periostin investigations are ongoing. In spite of the seemingly disparate roles of periostin in health and disease, tissue remodeling as a response to insult/injury is emerging as a common functional denominator of this matricellular molecule. Periostin is transiently upregulated during cell fate changes, either physiologic or pathologic. Combining observations from various conditions, a common pattern of events can be suggested, including periostin localization during development, insult and injury, epithelial–mesenchymal transition, extracellular matrix restructuring, and remodeling. We propose mesenchymal remodeling as an overarching role for the matricellular protein periostin, across physiology and disease. Periostin may be seen as an important structural mediator, balancing appropriate versus inappropriate tissue adaption in response to insult/injury

Proyecto, investigación e innovación en urbanismo, arquitectura y diseño industrial

Actas de congresoLas VII Jornadas de Investigación “Encuentro y Reflexión” y I Jornadas de Investigación de becarios y doctorandos. Proyecto, investigación e innovación en Urbanismo, Arquitectura y Diseño Industrial se centraron en cuatro ejes: el proyecto; la dimensión tecnológica y la gestión; la dimensión social y cultural y la enseñanza en Arquitectura, Urbanismo y Diseño Industrial, sustentados en las líneas prioritarias de investigación definidas epistemológicamente en el Consejo Asesor de Ciencia y Tecnología de esta Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Con el objetivo de afianzar continuidad, formación y transferencia de métodos, metodología y recursos se incorporó becarios y doctorandos de los Institutos de investigación. La Comisión Honoraria la integraron las tres Secretarias de Investigación de la Facultad, arquitectas Marta Polo, quien fundó y María del Carmen Franchello y Nora Gutiérrez Crespo quienes continuaron la tradición de la buena práctica del debate en la cotidianeidad de la propia Facultad. Los textos que conforman las VII Jornadas son los avances y resultados de las investigaciones realizadas en el bienio 2016-2018.Fil: Novello, María Alejandra. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Arquitectura, Urbanismo y Diseño; ArgentinaFil: Repiso, Luciana. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Arquitectura, Urbanismo y Diseño; ArgentinaFil: Mir, Guillermo. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Arquitectura, Urbanismo y Diseño; ArgentinaFil: Brizuela, Natalia. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Arquitectura, Urbanismo y Diseño; ArgentinaFil: Herrera, Fernanda. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Arquitectura, Urbanismo y Diseño; ArgentinaFil: Períes, Lucas. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Arquitectura, Urbanismo y Diseño; ArgentinaFil: Romo, Claudia. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Arquitectura, Urbanismo y Diseño; ArgentinaFil: Gordillo, Natalia. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Arquitectura, Urbanismo y Diseño; ArgentinaFil: Andrade, Elena Beatriz. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Arquitectura, Urbanismo y Diseño; Argentin

Developmental expression of regionally specific cell surface antigens in the Xenopus gastrula

Molecular markers for specific cell lineages would be useful in studies of cellular differentiation. To isolate such markers monoclonal antibodies (MoABs) were raised against plasma membranes isolated from gastrulating Xenopus embryos. Those antibodies that recognized subsets of cells within the embryo were selected by indirect immunofluorescence. The analysis of eight such MoAbs is presented. Western blot analysis showed that all but one MoAb recognized a complex pattern of glycoconjugates associated with glycoproteins. All the antigens recognized by the MoAbs were maternal in origin and displayed similar spatial patterns of pregastrular expression. This pattern of immunoreactivity at the apical surface was inherited passively during cleavage by the resulting superficial blastomeres suggesting that ectodermal specific markers of maternal origin are pre‐localized to the cortical ooplasm in mature oocytes. We suggest that these maternal components may be specific glycosyl transferases. Three different patterns of expression were observed during gastrulation as exemplified by MoAbs 1F10C1, 3A4D1, and 6F10B6. MoAb 6F10B6 was specific for both neural and non‐neural epithelium. MoAb 3A4D1 was specific for non‐neural epidermis. MoAb 1F10C1 appeared to recognize a protein epitope on an extracellular component expressed by the superificial and involuting epithelial cells. The pattern of expression for the 1F10C1 antigen suggests that it may play a role in facilitating the movement of the involuting cells during gastrulation

Requirement of Cdk4 for v-Ha-ras–Induced Breast Tumorigenesis and Activation of the v-ras–Induced Senescence Program by the R24C Mutation

Activating mutations in CDK4 and inactivation of its key kinase inhibitor, p16INK4A, have been implicated in the genesis and progression of human cancer. Previous work has demonstrated that CDK4 expression is required for Neu-induced but not Wnt-induced breast tumorigenesis in mice. However, the role that CDK4 plays in ras-mediated breast tumor development is not well defined. To gain an understanding of the role of Cdk4 in ras-induced breast tumorigenesis, MMTV-v-Ha-ras transgenic mice were bred with Cdk4(+/neo) and Cdk4(R24C/R24C) mice to generate Cdk4(neo/neo):MMTV-v-Ha-ras, Cdk4(+/+):MMTV-v-Ha-ras, and Cdk4(R24C/R24C):MMTV-v-Ha-ras mice. The studies presented here demonstrate that Cdk4 expression is essential for Ras-mediated breast tumorigenesis. Surprisingly, the results also show that coexpression of mutant ras and Cdk4R24C genes in breast epithelial cells leads to an activation of senescent pathways that delay tumorigenesis. Analysis of the phosphorylated form of H2AX, a marker for DNA damage, indicated its increased presence in the tumors of Cdk4(R24C/R24C):MMTV-v-Ha-ras mice. These observations indicate that the increased apoptosis and senescence seen in breast tumors of these mice might be due to increased DNA damage response in cells expressing activated forms of ras and Cdk4(R24C)

Development of a new ELISA for serum periostin: evaluation of growth-related changes and bisphosphonate treatment in mice

Periostin is a gamma-carboxyglutamic acid protein preferentially expressed in periosteum and bone mesenchymal stem cells. Lack of a precise assay for measuring circulating levels impairs the investigation of its biological significance. We developed a new ELISA and studied changes of periostin levels both locally at the bone site and systemically in circulating blood during growth and after bisphosphonate-induced inhibition of bone remodeling in the mouse. The ELISA we developed is based on an affinity-purified polyclonal antibody that was raised against the C-terminal sequence of mouse periostin. Reproducibility, repeatability, precision, and accuracy tests met standards of acceptance. Serum periostin and levels of the bone turnover markers osteocalcin, PINP, CTX-I, and TRAP5b were measured in (1) 4-, 6-, 8-, 10-, and 12-week-old wild-type female Balb/c mice and (2) adult ovariectomized female Balb/c mice treated with zoledronic acid or vehicle. Serum periostin decreased during growth and stabilized from 8 weeks and older, its levels correlating with bone turnover markers. Immunohistochemistry in bones from different growth stages showed that periostin localized specifically at the sites of endochondral and intramembranous ossification, especially at the periosteal envelopes. Zoledronic acid induced a marked decrease in bone remodeling markers but did not alter serum periostin levels or periostin immunostaining pattern. The novel ELISA is highly specific and allows accurate and precise measurements of serum periostin levels in mice