Construyendo soberanía alimentaria en el barrio: forjando futuro : Algunas reflexiones a partir de la actividad extensionista

Desde el equipo interdisciplinario compuesto por integrantes de las Facultades de Trabajo Social, Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Ciencias Exactas y Periodismo y Comunicación Social de la UNLP, se ha generado un espacio de construcción de diálogo de saberes adecuados para la realización sistemática de acciones de capacitación, tendientes a formar en temas vinculados con la agro-ecología, la soberanía y la seguridad alimentaria, a aquellas personas que viven en situación de vulnerabilidad y exclusión, y que muchas veces ven agudizadas las problemáticas habituales por situaciones adversas vinculadas con catástrofes naturales (como las inundaciones del 2 de abril de 2013 u otras), cambio climático, etc. Este proyecto de extensión se ha articulado con la Coordinadora de Trabajadores Desocupados "Aníbal Verón” y la Comunidad Boliviana del barrio "El Futuro” del Gran La Plata. En este proyecto nos propusimos realizar acciones con la Coordinadora de Trabajadores Desocupados "Aníbal Verón”, el Movimiento Justicia y Libertad y la Comunidad Boliviana del barrio "El Futuro” del Gran La Plata. Se destaca que las organizaciones mencionadas vienen formando parte del Consejo Social de la UNLP, articulando acciones en distintas temáticas, en especial en cuestiones que dan origen y experiencia al presente proyecto. Se realizaron talleres periódicos orientados a consolidar prácticas agrícolas y hortícolas sustentables témporo-espacialmente, generando respuestas ante la creciente demanda que reclama la obtención de alimentos sanos y a bajo costo, en el marco de una economía social que se pretende solidaria, a escala humana, y que promueve una fuente de insumos y de trabajo en un contexto donde se privilegie el comercio justo. La misma dinámica del Proyecto llevó a que otras instituciones del Barrio que no estaban contempladas inicialmente, se incorporen al mismo como, es el caso de la Sala de Atención Primaria de la Salud. La problemáticas tratadas se vinculan con la necesidad de generar una formación sistemática y permanente sobre la nutrición, la producción y calidad de los alimentos, la soberanía y seguridad alimentaria, la manipulación y el impacto en la salud de los alimentos y la disponibilidad alimentaria en nuestro país, apuntando a favorecer estrategias de producción y obtención de alimentos sobre la base de una agricultura familiar desde una perspectiva agroecológica.Eje 2: Debates sobre el Trabajo Social y las ciencias sociales: su implicancia en el contexto actual.Facultad de Trabajo Socia

Construyendo soberanía alimentaria en el barrio: forjando futuro : Algunas reflexiones a partir de la actividad extensionista

Desde el equipo interdisciplinario compuesto por integrantes de las Facultades de Trabajo Social, Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Ciencias Exactas y Periodismo y Comunicación Social de la UNLP, se ha generado un espacio de construcción de diálogo de saberes adecuados para la realización sistemática de acciones de capacitación, tendientes a formar en temas vinculados con la agro-ecología, la soberanía y la seguridad alimentaria, a aquellas personas que viven en situación de vulnerabilidad y exclusión, y que muchas veces ven agudizadas las problemáticas habituales por situaciones adversas vinculadas con catástrofes naturales (como las inundaciones del 2 de abril de 2013 u otras), cambio climático, etc. Este proyecto de extensión se ha articulado con la Coordinadora de Trabajadores Desocupados "Aníbal Verón” y la Comunidad Boliviana del barrio "El Futuro” del Gran La Plata. En este proyecto nos propusimos realizar acciones con la Coordinadora de Trabajadores Desocupados "Aníbal Verón”, el Movimiento Justicia y Libertad y la Comunidad Boliviana del barrio "El Futuro” del Gran La Plata. Se destaca que las organizaciones mencionadas vienen formando parte del Consejo Social de la UNLP, articulando acciones en distintas temáticas, en especial en cuestiones que dan origen y experiencia al presente proyecto. Se realizaron talleres periódicos orientados a consolidar prácticas agrícolas y hortícolas sustentables témporo-espacialmente, generando respuestas ante la creciente demanda que reclama la obtención de alimentos sanos y a bajo costo, en el marco de una economía social que se pretende solidaria, a escala humana, y que promueve una fuente de insumos y de trabajo en un contexto donde se privilegie el comercio justo. La misma dinámica del Proyecto llevó a que otras instituciones del Barrio que no estaban contempladas inicialmente, se incorporen al mismo como, es el caso de la Sala de Atención Primaria de la Salud. La problemáticas tratadas se vinculan con la necesidad de generar una formación sistemática y permanente sobre la nutrición, la producción y calidad de los alimentos, la soberanía y seguridad alimentaria, la manipulación y el impacto en la salud de los alimentos y la disponibilidad alimentaria en nuestro país, apuntando a favorecer estrategias de producción y obtención de alimentos sobre la base de una agricultura familiar desde una perspectiva agroecológica.Eje 2: Debates sobre el Trabajo Social y las ciencias sociales: su implicancia en el contexto actual.Facultad de Trabajo Socia

p63 regulates Satb1 to control tissue-specific chromatin remodeling during development of the epidermis

Genome organizer Satb1 is regulated by p63 and contributes to epidermal morphogenesis by remodeling chromatin structure and gene expression at the epidermal differentiation complex locus

Gender Differences Associated with the Prognostic Value of BPIFB4 in COVID-19 Patients: A Single-Center Preliminary Study

In the ongoing global COVID-19 pandemic, male sex is a risk factor for severe disease and death, and the reasons for these clinical discrepancies are largely unknown. The aim of this work is to study the influence of sex on the course of infection and the differences in prognostic markers between genders in COVID-19 patients. Our cohort consisted of 64 adult patients (n = 34 men and n = 30 women) with PCR-proven SARS-CoV-2 infection. Further, a group of patients was characterized by a different severity degree (n = 8 high- and n = 8 low-grade individuals for both male and female patients). As expected, the serum concentrations of LDH, fibrinogen, CRP, and leucocyte count in men were significantly higher than in females. When serum concentrations of the inflammatory cytokines, including IL-6, IL-2, IP-10 and IL-4 and chemokines like MCP-1, were measured with multiplex ELISA, no significant differences between male and female patients were found. In COVID-19 patients, we recently attributed a new prognostic value to BPIFB4, a natural defensin against dysregulation of the immune responses. Here, we clarify that BPIFB4 is inversely related to the disease degree in men but not in women. Indeed, higher levels of BPIFB4 characterized low-grade male patients compared to high-grade ones. On the contrary, no significant difference was reported between low-grade female patients and high-grade ones. In conclusion, the identification of BPIFB4 as a biomarker of mild/moderate disease and its sex-specific activity would open an interesting field for research to underpin gender-related susceptibility to the disease

SARS-CoV-2 Lysate Stimulation Impairs the Release of Platelet-like Particles and Megakaryopoiesis in the MEG-01 Cell Line

SARS-CoV-2 infection causes a considerable inflammatory response coupled with impaired platelet reactivity, which can lead to platelet disorders recognized as negative prognostic factors in COVID-19 patients. The virus may cause thrombocytopenia or thrombocytosis during the different disease stages by destroying or activating platelets and influencing platelet production. While it is known that several viruses can impair megakaryopoiesis by generating an improper production and activation of platelets, the potential involvement of SARS-CoV-2 in affecting megakaryopoiesis is poorly understood. To this purpose, we explored, in vitro, the impact of SARS-CoV-2 stimulation in the MEG-01 cell line, a human megakaryoblastic leukemia cell line, considering its spontaneous capacity of releasing platelet-like particles (PLPs). We interrogated the effect of heat-inactivated SARS-CoV-2 lysate in the release of PLPs and activation from MEG-01, the signaling pathway influenced by SARS-CoV-2, and the functional effect on macrophagic skewing. The results highlight the potential influence of SARS-CoV-2 in the early stages of megakaryopoiesis by enhancing the production and activation of platelets, very likely due to the impairment of STATs signaling and AMPK activity. Overall, these findings provide new insight into the role of SARS-CoV-2 in affecting megakaryocyte-platelet compartment, possibly unlocking another avenue by which SARS-CoV-2 moves

Transfer of the longevity-associated variant of BPIFB4 gene rejuvenates immune system and vasculature by a reduction of CD38+ macrophages and NAD+ decline

: As we age, our body experiences chronic, systemic inflammation contributing to the morbidity and mortality of the elderly. The senescent immune system has been described to have a causal role in driving systemic aging and therefore may represent a key therapeutic target to prevent pathological consequences associated with aging and extend a healthy lifespan. Previous studies from our group associated a polymorphic haplotype variant in the BPIFB4 gene (LAV-BPIFB4) with exceptional longevity. Transfer of the LAV-BPIFB4 in preclinical models halted the progression of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and frailty by counterbalancing chronic inflammation. In the present study, we aimed to delineate the action of systemic adeno-associated viral vector-mediated LAV-BPIFB4 gene transfer (AAV-LAV-BPIFB4) on the deleterious age-related changes of the immune system and thereby the senescence-associated events occurring in C57BL/6J mice aged 26 months. Our in vivo data showed that 26-months-old mice had a higher frequency of CD45+SA-beta Gal+ immune cells in peripheral blood than young (4-months-old) C57BL/6J mice. Notably, AAV-LAV-BPIFB4 gene transfer in aged mice reduced the pool of peripheral immunosenescent cells that were shown to be enriched in the spleen. In addition, the proper tuning of the immune secretory phenotype (IL1βlow, IL6low, IL10high) associated with a significant reduction in SA-beta Gal-positive area of aorta from AAV-LAV treated mice. At the functional level, the reduction of senescence-associated inflammation ensured sustained NAD+ levels in the plasma of AAV-LAV-BPIFB4 old mice by preventing the NADase CD38 increase in F4/80+ tissue-resident macrophages and Ly6Chigh pro-inflammatory monocytes of the spleen and bone marrow. Finally, to validate the clinical implication of our findings, we showed that Long-living-individuals (LLIs, >95 years), which delay CVDs onset, especially if LAV-carriers, were characterized by high NAD+ levels. In conclusion, the new senotherapeutic action of LAV-BPIFB4 may offer a valuable therapeutic tool to control aging and reduce the burden of its pathophysiological disorders, such as CVDs

The Longevity-Associated Variant of BPIFB4 Reduces Senescence in Glioma Cells and in Patients’ Lymphocytes Favoring Chemotherapy Efficacy

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most common primary brain cancer with the median age at diagnosis around 64 years, thus pointing to aging as an important risk factor. Indeed, aging, by increasing the senescence burden, is configured as a negative prognostic factor for GBM stage. Furthermore, several anti-GBM therapies exist, such as temozolomide (TMZ) and etoposide (ETP), that unfortunately trigger senescence and the secretion of proinflammatory senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) factors that are responsible for the improper burst of (i) tumorigenesis, (ii) cancer metastasis, (iii) immunosuppression, and (iv) tissue dysfunction. Thus, adjuvant therapies that limit senescence are urgently needed. The longevity-associated variant (LAV) of the bactericidal/permeability-increasing fold-containing family B member 4 (BPIFB4) gene previously demonstrated a modulatory activity in restoring age-related immune dysfunction and in balancing the low-grade inflammatory status of elderly people. Based on the above findings, we tested LAV-BPIFB4 senotherapeutic effects on senescent glioblastoma U87-MG cells and on T cells from GBM patients. We interrogated SA-β-gal and HLA-E senescence markers, SASP factors, and proliferation and apoptosis assays. The results highlighted a LAV-BPIFB4 remodeling of the senescent phenotype of GBM cells, enhancement of their sensitivity to temozolomide and a selective reduction of the T cells’ senescence from GBM patients. Overall, these findings candidate LAV-BPIFB4 as an adjuvant therapy for GBM

Data set related to the article "Circulating BPIFB4 Levels Associate With and Influence the Abundance of Reparative Monocytes and Macrophages in Long Living Individuals"

This record contains raw data related to the article "Circulating BPIFB4 Levels Associate With and Influence the Abundance of Reparative Monocytes and Macrophages in Long Living Individuals" Abstract Long-Living Individuals (LLIs) delay aging and are less prone to chronic inflammatory reactions. Whether a distinct monocytes and macrophages repertoire is involved in such a characteristic remains unknown. Previous studies from our group have shown high levels of the host defense BPI Fold Containing Family B Member 4 (BPIFB4) protein in the peripheral blood of LLIs. Moreover, a polymorphic variant of the BPIFB4gene associated with exceptional longevity (LAV-BPIFB4) confers protection from cardiovascular diseases underpinned by low-grade chronic inflammation, such as atherosclerosis. We hypothesize that BPIFB4 may influence monocytes pool and macrophages skewing, shifting the balance toward an anti-inflammatory phenotype. We profiled circulating monocytes in 52 LLIs (median-age 97) and 52 healthy volunteers (median-age 55) using flow cytometry. If the frequency of total monocyte did not change, the intermediate CD14++CD16+ monocytes counts were lower in LLIs compared to control adults. Conversely, non-classical CD14+CD16++ monocyte counts, which are M2 macrophage precursors with an immunomodulatory function, were found significantly associated with the LLIs' state. In a differentiation assay, supplementation of the LLIs' plasma enhanced the capacity of monocytes, either from LLIs or controls, to acquire a paracrine M2 phenotype. A neutralizing antibody against the phosphorylation site (ser 75) of BPIFB4 blunted the M2 skewing effect of the LLIs' plasma. These data indicate that LLIs carry a peculiar anti-inflammatory myeloid profile, which is associated with and possibly sustained by high circulating levels of BPIFB4. Supplementation of recombinant BPIFB4 may represent a novel means to attenuate inflammation-related conditions typical of unhealthy aging

Data set related to the article: "Transfer of the longevity-associated variant of BPIFB4 gene rejuvenates immune system and vasculature by a reduction of CD38+ macrophages and NAD+ decline"

As we age, our body experiences chronic, systemic inflammation contributing to the morbidity and mortality of the elderly. The senescent immune system has been described to have a causal role in driving systemic aging and therefore may represent a key therapeutic target to prevent pathological consequences associated with aging and extend a healthy lifespan. Previous studies from our group associated a polymorphic haplotype variant in the BPIFB4 gene (LAV-BPIFB4) with exceptional longevity. Transfer of the LAV-BPIFB4 in preclinical models halted the progression of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and frailty by counterbalancing chronic inflammation. In the present study, we aimed to delineate the action of systemic adeno-associated viral vector-mediated LAV-BPIFB4 gene transfer (AAV-LAV-BPIFB4) on the deleterious age-related changes of the immune system and thereby the senescence-associated events occurring in C57BL/6J mice aged 26 months. Our in vivo data showed that 26-months-old mice had a higher frequency of CD45+SA-beta Gal+ immune cells in peripheral blood than young (4-months-old) C57BL/6J mice. Notably, AAVLAV-BPIFB4 gene transfer in aged mice reduced the pool of peripheral immunosenescent cells that were shown to be enriched in the spleen. In addition, the proper tuning of the immune secretory phenotype (IL1βlow, IL6low, IL10high) associated with a significant reduction in SA-beta Gal-positive area of aorta from AAV-LAV treated mice. At the functional level, the reduction of senescenceassociated inflammation ensured sustained NAD+ levels in the plasma of AAV-LAV-BPIFB4 old mice by preventing the NADase CD38 increase in F4/80+ tissue-resident macrophages and Ly6Chigh pro-inflammatory monocytes of the spleen and bone marrow. Finally, to validate the clinical implication of our findings, we showed that Long-living-individuals (LLIs, >95 years), which delay CVDs onset, especially if LAV-carriers, were characterized by high NAD+ levels. In conclusion, the new senotherapeutic action of LAV-BPIFB4 may offer a valuable therapeutic tool to control aging and reduce the burden of its pathophysiological disorders, such as CVDs