Glycosyl phosphatidylinositol (GPI)/inositolphosphate glycan (GPI): An intracellular signalling system involved in the control of thyroid cell proliferation

In porcine thyrocytes, TSH alone does not induce cell growth. Recently, it has been demonstrated that acute stimulation by TSH of porcine thyrocytes leads to release an inositolphosphate glycan (IPG) described as a putative second messenger for various growth factors in different cell types. IPG isolated from porcine thyrocytes induces proliferation of fibroblasts EGFR T17 and porcine thyrocytes. In porcine thyrocytes we have confirmed that cell growth requires the presence of both TSH and insulin. This effect is reproduced by 8-bromo cyclic AMP suggesting a mediation by intracellular cyclic AMP. Cooperative effects between 8-bromo cyclic AMP and IPG have also been evidenced and are in favour of a crosstalk between distinct signalling pathways.Peer Reviewe

Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 signalling pathway leading to erythroid cell survival.

Tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMP) are specific inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and thus participate in maintaining the balance between extracellular matrix deposition and degradation in several physio-pathological processes. Nevertheless, TIMP must be regarded as multifunctional proteins involved in cell growth, angiogenesis and apoptosis. The molecular mechanisms induced by TIMP remain largely unknown. In the present study, we provide evidence that TIMP-1 induces a significant anti-apoptotic effect in the human erythroleukaemic cell line UT-7 and in the murine myeloid cell line 32D. Using specific kinases inhibitors, we show that TIMP-1-mediated cell survival is dependent upon Janus kinase (JAK) 2 and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) activities. By transient transfection of dominant-negative Akt in UT-7 cells, we demonstrate that this kinase is crucial for the TIMP-1 anti-apoptotic effect. Moreover, TIMP-1 enhances specific phosphorylation of both Akt and Bad (Bcl-2/Bcl-X(L)-antagonist, causing cell death) in a PI 3-kinase-dependent manner and, besides, controls the level of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-X(L). We conclude that TIMP-1 induces haematopoietic cell survival via the JAK2/PI 3-kinase/Akt/Bad pathway

Staphylococcus capitis isolated from bloodstream infections: a nationwide 3-month survey in 38 neonatal intensive care units

International audienceTo increase the knowledge about S. capitis in the neonatal setting, we conducted a nationwide 3-month survey in 38 neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) covering 56.6% of French NICU beds. We demonstrated 14.2% of S. capitis BSI (S.capBSI) among nosocomial BSIs. S.capBSI incidence rate was 0.59 per 1000 patient-days. A total of 55.0% of the S.capBSIs were late onset catheter-related BSIs. The S. capitis strains infected preterm babies (median gestational age 26 weeks, median birth weight 855 g). They were resistant to methicillin and aminoglycosides and belonged to the NRCS-A clone. Evolution was favorable in all but one case, following vancomycin treatment