Biodiversité et approche bioécologique de la faune des Monts des Traras Occidentaux (Nord-Ouest Algérien)

La région des Traras Occidentaux, important massif du littoral Oranais (Nord-Ouest Algérien), offre des conditions assez particulièrement favorables pour le développement d’une faune diversifiée. Elle se caractérise par un bioclimat semi-aride. Notre objectif de cette étude est de faire un inventaire faunistique au niveau de trois stations différentes de point de vue cortège floristique (Tamarchalet, Tarasmouth, El Mahsar). Les échantillonnages sont effectués du mars 2009 à décembre 2009, soit 18 prélèvements. L’analyse de la faune a révélé l’existence de 120 espèces. L’entomofaune est diversifiée (10 ordres systématiques), elle contient 77 espèces. Les Gastéropodes et les Oiseaux sont représentés par 10 espèces pour chacun. Ensuite viennent les Arachnides (8 espèces), les Mammifères (6 espèces). Les Crustacés et les Amphibiens viennent en dernier rang avec 2 espèces pour les premiers et 1 espèce pour les seconds. Une étude analytique avec la répartition des groupes faunistiques selon la saison, le mois et la strate est définie.Mots-clés : traras occidentaux, nord-ouest Algérien, faune, biodiversité.Biodiversity and bioecological approach fauna of the Traras mounts west (North Western Algerian). The Western Region Traras, important coastal massif Oran (North West Algeria), offers particularly favorable conditions enough for the development of a variety of wildlife. It is characterized by a semi-arid bioclimate. Our objective of this study is to make an inventory of fauna at three different stations of floristic point of view (Tamarchalet, Tarasmouth El Mahsar). Sampling is conducted from March 2009 to December 2009, 18 specimens. The analysis of the fauna revealed 120 species. The insect fauna is diverse (10 systematic orders), it contains 77 species. Gastropods and birds are represented by 10 species each. Then come the Arachnida (8 species), mammals (6 species). Crustaceans and amphibians come in last place with 2 species and 1 for the first case to the second. An analytical study with the distribution of faunal groups according to the season, month and stratum is defined.Keywords : traras west, north western Algerian, fauna, biodiversity

LIF-Dependent Signaling: New Pieces in the Lego

LIF, a member of the IL6 family of cytokine, displays pleiotropic effects on various cell types and organs. Its critical role in stem cell models (e.g.: murine ES, human mesenchymal cells) and its essential non redundant function during the implantation process of embryos, in eutherian mammals, put this cytokine at the core of many studies aiming to understand its mechanisms of action, which could benefit to medical applications. In addition, its conservation upon evolution raised the challenging question concerning the function of LIF in species in which there is no implantation. We present the recent knowledge about the established and potential functions of LIF in different stem cell models, (embryonic, hematopoietic, mesenchymal, muscle, neural stem cells and iPSC). We will also discuss EVO-DEVO aspects of this multifaceted cytokine

Current perspectives of the signaling pathways directing neural crest induction

The neural crest is a migratory population of embryonic cells with a tremendous potential to differentiate and contribute to nearly every organ system in the adult body. Over the past two decades, an incredible amount of research has given us a reasonable understanding of how these cells are generated. Neural crest induction involves the combinatorial input of multiple signaling pathways and transcription factors, and is thought to occur in two phases from gastrulation to neurulation. In the first phase, FGF and Wnt signaling induce NC progenitors at the border of the neural plate, activating the expression of members of the Msx, Pax, and Zic families, among others. In the second phase, BMP, Wnt, and Notch signaling maintain these progenitors and bring about the expression of definitive NC markers including Snail2, FoxD3, and Sox9/10. In recent years, additional signaling molecules and modulators of these pathways have been uncovered, creating an increasingly complex regulatory network. In this work, we provide a comprehensive review of the major signaling pathways that participate in neural crest induction, with a focus on recent developments and current perspectives. We provide a simplified model of early neural crest development and stress similarities and differences between four major model organisms: Xenopus, chick, zebrafish, and mouse

Molecular Study of a Hoxa2 Gain-of-Function in Chondrogenesis: A Model of Idiopathic Proportionate Short Stature.

In a previous study using transgenic mice ectopically expressing Hoxa2 during chondrogenesis, we associated the animal phenotype to human idiopathic proportionate short stature. Our analysis showed that this overall size reduction was correlated with a negative influence of Hoxa2 at the first step of endochondral ossification. However, the molecular pathways leading to such phenotype are still unknown. Using protein immunodetection and histological techniques comparing transgenic mice to controls, we show here that the persistent expression of Hoxa2 in chondrogenic territories provokes a general down-regulation of the main factors controlling the differentiation cascade, such as Bapx1, Bmp7, Bmpr1a, Ihh, Msx1, Pax9, Sox6, Sox9 and Wnt5a. These data confirm the impairment of chondrogenic differentiation by Hoxa2 overexpression. They also show a selective effect of Hoxa2 on endochondral ossification processes since Gdf5 and Gdf10, and Bmp4 or PthrP were up-regulated and unmodified, respectively. Since Hoxa2 deregulation in mice induces a proportionate short stature phenotype mimicking human idiopathic conditions, our results give an insight into understanding proportionate short stature pathogenesis by highlighting molecular factors whose combined deregulation may be involved in such a disease

Isolation and 3D expansion of multipotent Sox9+ mouse lung progenitors.

Multiple adult tissues are maintained by stem cells of restricted developmental potential which can only form a subset of lineages within the tissue. For instance, the two adult lung epithelial compartments (airways and alveoli) are separately maintained by distinct lineage-restricted stem cells. A challenge has been to obtain multipotent stem cells and/or progenitors that can generate all epithelial cell types of a given tissue. Here we show that mouse Sox9+ multipotent embryonic lung progenitors can be isolated and expanded long term in 3D culture. Cultured Sox9+ progenitors transcriptionally resemble their in vivo counterparts and generate both airway and alveolar cell types in vitro. Sox9+ progenitors that were transplanted into injured adult mouse lungs differentiated into all major airway and alveolar lineages in vivo in a region-appropriate fashion. We propose that a single expandable embryonic lung progenitor population with broader developmental competence may eventually be used as an alternative for region-restricted adult tissue stem cells in regenerative medicine. Nat Methods 2017 Dec; 14(12):1205-1212