Educação Popular e Universidade: vivências a partir da extensão, pesquisa e ensino

Este livro é um apanhado histórico, mas atual. É uma reunião de relatos, textos, reflexões, processos, partilhas, que versam sobre nosso sonho de construir uma educação libertadora, um mundo de liberdade. Ainda há muito que ser construído e o caminho é árduo, não temos dúvida. A verdadeira práxis revolucionária não se nutre de seres apenas caminhantes, mas de seres que se envolvem com o caminhar, que são capazes de mudar, mudando a si mesmos também. Somos indivíduos sociais e pintamos o quadro da vida em múltiplas linguagens. É por isso que este livro também carrega diferentes apostas acadêmico-estético-políticas. Por meio de fotografias, poesias, relatos, ensaios e reflexões teóricas, olhares que abordaram com muito carinho e rigor o universo do PET Educação Popular. Foi escrito por várias mãos que constituíram a trajetória do grupo nas diversidades humanas (relações de sexo/gênero), étnico-raciais (negros, indígenas, imigrantes, nordestinos, pobres em geral) e de classes sociais. Combate-se assim, nas ações concretas, as desigualdades sociais, de sexo/gênero, étnico-racial etc, o patriarcado, machismo, LGBTQIA+fobia, o racismo e o capitalismo, a falta de democracia, de liberdade, que outrora iluminaram a modernidade do Capital.Ministério da Educação (MEC

Chemical and physical properties of soil influencing TiO2 nanoparticles availability in terrestrial ecosystems

Nanotechnology is a new and fast emerging field that involves the design, production and use of structures at the nanoscale. Despite the widespread application of nanotechnology in agricultural, environmental and industrial sectors, a growing concern is coming to light in the recent years about the effects of nanoproducts within different environmental compartments and their likely impacts on human health. Precautionary measures are warranted until possible risks have been elucidated, hence the fate and behavior of nanoparticles in soils and groundwater must be investigated. Using three different Italian soils, we conducted a preliminary investigation of TiO2 nanoparticles (TiO2-NPs) behavior in soil suspensions. Aliquots of TiO2-NPs suspensions with and without soil were periodically collected after their preparation, and monitored for aggregate size distribution and Ti concentration. Experimental results suggest that soil properties affect the behavior of TiO2-NPs, in particular the dissolved organic matter as well as the ionic strength seem to be the main influencing factors

Manifactured TiO2 nanoparticles availability and behavior in soil

The increase in applications of nanostructured materials and consequently their industrial production lead to an uncontmlled release of nanaparticies into the environment. The knowledge of the impact of nanoparticles, their availability or how they may alter terrestrial or aquatic ecosystems is limited. Nanomaterials containaining (TiO2-NPs) are usefull for a wide range of applications and at the end of life-cycle they could become nano-wastes, thus the need of understanding their transport and diffusion in terrestrial ecosystems (Sigma-Aldrich, anatase 25 nm) suspended with three Italian soils. Aliquots of soil suspensions with and without TiO2-NPs were periodically collected, and monitored for aggregate size distribution (Mastersizer2000_Malvern) and Ti concentration (ICP-OES Varian). Soils analysis showed huge differences in particle size distribution and organic matter content, where the cationic exchange capacity was higher in soils richer in clay and in organic carbon, and the values of electrical conductivity suggests ionic strength higher in the sandy soils suspension and lower in in the clayey one. TiO2-NPs are particularly influenced by the dissolved organic matter as well as the ionic strength. From day 6 ail soils suspensions and their mixture with TiO2-NPs showed size distribution similar to that of TiO2-NPs alone however differences in Ti concentration were found. TiO2-NPs suspended in soil richer in organic carbon showed higher Ti concentrations indicating a stabilization of TiO2-NPs aggregates probably due to a sterically stabilized system formed by the dissolved organic matter. In sandy soil suspension. the lowest Ti concentration could be attributed to the higher ionic strength despite of the expected lower adsorption capacity of this soil

Behaviour of TiO2 nanoparticles in different soil suspension

The emergence of nanotechnology can cause an exponentially and uncontrolled emission in the environment (air, water and soil ecosystems) of the nanomaterials that are produced and used. The effects of these products on the environment and on human health are unknown, and precautionary measures are warrented until possible risks have been elucidated. In particular, fate and behavior of nanomaterials in soils and groundwater must be investigated. We studied the behavior of nanoparticles in suspension in three different Italian soils. Aliquots of TiO2-nanoparticle suspensions with and without soil were collected periodically after their preparation, and monitored for aggregate size distribution and Ti concentration. Experimental results suggest that the soil properties affect the behavior of TiO2-NPs, as they are particularly influenced by the dissolved organic matter as well as the ionic strenght

Complement Regulatory Protein Crry/p65-mediated Signaling in T Lymphocytes: Role of Its Cytoplasmic Domain and Partitioning into Lipid Rafts

Crry/p65 is a type I glycoprotein, which protects mouse T cells from complement attack. We have previously shown that complement receptor I-related protein Crry/p65 (Crry) ligation has a costimulatory effect on mouse CD4+ T cell activation. Here, we have examined the mechanisms responsible for Crry costimulation, addressing the question of whether Crry potentiates signal transduction starting at the T cell receptor (TCR)/CD3 complex or promotes distinct costimulatory signals. We show that Crry increases early TCR-dependent activation signals, including p56lck-, zeta-associated protein-70 (ZAP-70), Vav-1, Akt, and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) phosphorylation but also costimulation-dependent mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), such as the stress-activated c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK). It is intriguing that Crry costimulus enhanced p38 MAPK activation in T helper cell type 1 (Th1) but not in Th2 cells. A fraction of Crry is found consistently in the detergent-insoluble membrane fraction of Th1 or Th2 cells or CD4+ lymphoblasts. Crry costimulation induced clustering of lipid rafts, increasing their content in Crry, CD3epsilon, and p59-60 forms of p56lck, and caused actin polymerization close to the site of activation in Th2 cells. Such events were inhibited by wortmannin, suggesting a role for phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase in these effects. The Crry cytoplasmic domain was required for JNK activation and interleukin-4 secretion but not for the presence of Crry in rafts or activation of p56lck, ZAP-70, Akt, Vav-1, or ERK. This suggests that Crry costimulation involves two different but not mutually exclusive signal transduction modules. The dual function of Crry as a complement regulatory protein and as a T cell costimulator illustrates the importance of complement regulatory proteins as links between innate and adaptive immunity

Pro-tumor Tfh2 cells induce detrimental IgG4 production and PGE2-dependent IgE inhibition in pancreatic cancerResearch in context

Summary: Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) has a dismal prognosis and it is characterized by predominant pro-tumor Th2-type inflammation. T follicular helper (Tfh) cells are relevant immunoregulators in cancer, and often correlate with better survival. How the Th2-skewed microenvironment in PDAC modulates the differentiation of Tfh cells and their immunoregulatory function is unknown. Methods: We carried out high-dimensional flow cytometry and T-cell receptor- and RNA-sequencing, as well as bioinformatics, immunohistochemistry and in vitro mechanistic studies. Findings: We identified Tfh1-, Tfh2-, and Tfh17-like cell clusters in the blood, tumors and tumor-draining lymph-nodes (TDLNs) of chemo-naïve PDAC patients and showed that high percentages of Tfh2 cells within the tumor tissue and TDLNs correlated with reduced patient survival. Moreover, only Tfh2 cells were highly activated and were reduced in frequency in patients who responded to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. RNA-sequencing analysis of immunoglobulin expression showed that tumor and TDLN samples expressed all immunoglobulin (IGH) isotypes apart from IGHE. Consistent with these findings, Tfh2 cells differentiated in vitro by tumor microenvironment-conditioned dendritic cells promoted the production of anti-inflammatory IgG4 antibodies by co-cultured B cells, dependent on IL-13. Moreover, unexpectedly, Tfh2 cells inhibited the secretion of pro-inflammatory IgE, dependent on prostaglandin E2. Interpretation: Our results indicate that in PDAC, highly activated pro-tumor Tfh2 favor anti-inflammatory IgG4 production, while inhibit pro-inflammatory IgE. Thus, targeting the circuits that drive Tfh2 cells, in combination with chemotherapy, may re-establish beneficial anti-tumor Tfh–B cell interactions and facilitate more effective treatment. Funding: Research grants from the Italian Association for Cancer Research (AIRC) IG-19119 to MPP and the AIRC Special Program in Metastatic disease: the key unmet need in oncology, 5 per Mille no. 22737 to CB, MF, CD, MR and MPP; the ERA-NET EuroNanoMed III (a collaborative european grant financed by the Italian Ministry of Health, Italy) project PANIPAC (JTC2018/041) to MPP; the Fondazione Valsecchi to SC

Add-On Effect of Selenium and Vitamin D Combined Supplementation in Early Control of Graves’ Disease Hyperthyroidism During Methimazole Treatment

Prompt and stable control of hyperthyroidism is fundamental to avoid the detrimental effects of thyroid hormone excess, and antithyroid drugs, mainly methimazole (MMI), represent the first-line treatment for Graves’ disease (GD) hyperthyroidism. Decreased serum concentrations of selenium (Se) and calcifediol (25(OH)D, VitD) have been reported in newly diagnosed GD patients in observational studies. Low Se levels might exacerbate oxidative stress by compromising the antioxidant machinery’s response to reactive oxygen species, and low VitD levels might hamper the anti-inflammatory immune response. We performed a randomized controlled clinical trial (EudraCT 2017-00505011) to investigate whether Se and cholecalciferol (VitD) addition to MMI is associated with a prompter control of hyperthyroidism. Forty-two consecutive patients with newly-onset GD and marginal/insufficient Se and VitD levels were randomly assigned to treatment with either MMI monotherapy or MMI combined with Se and VitD. Se treatment was withdrawn after 180 days, while the other treatments were continued. Combination therapy resulted in a significantly greater reduction in serum FT4 concentration at 45 days (-37.9 pg/ml, CI 95%, -43.7 to -32.2 pg/ml) and 180 days (-36.5 pg/ml, CI 95%, -42 to -30.9 pg/ml) compared to MMI monotherapy (respectively: -25.7 pg/ml, CI 95%, -31.6 to -19.7 pg/ml and -22.9 pg/ml, CI 95%, -28 to -17.3 pg/ml, p 0.002). Data at 270 days confirmed this trend (-37.8 pg/ml, CI 95%, -43.6 to -32.1 pg/ml vs -24.4 pg/ml, CI 95%, -30.3 to -18.4 pg/ml). The quality of life (QoL) score was investigated by the validated “Thyroid-related Patient-Reported Outcome” questionnaire (ThyPRO). ThyPRO composite score showed a greater improvement in the intervention group at 45 days (-14.6, CI 95%, -18.8 to -10.4), 180 (-9, CI 95%, -13.9 to -4.2) and 270 days (-14.3, CI 95%, -19.5 to -9.1) compared to MMI group (respectively, -5.2, CI 95%, -9.5 to -1; -5.4, CI 95%, -10.6 to -0.2 and -3.5, CI 95%, -9 to -2.1, p 0-6 months and 6-9 months <0.05). Our results suggest that reaching optimal Se and VitD levels increases the early efficacy of MMI treatment when Se and VitD levels are suboptimal. Copyright © 2022 Gallo, Mortara, Veronesi, Cattaneo, Genoni, Gallazzi, Peruzzo, Lasalvia, Moretto, Bruno, Passi, Pini, Nauti, Lavizzari, Marinò, Lanzolla, Tanda, Bartalena and Piantanida

CD4+ICOS+ T-lymphocytes inhibit T cell activation "in vitro" and attenuate autoimmune encephalitis "in vivo"

13 páginas, 6 figuras, 1 tabla -- PAGS nros. 577-589The inducible co-stimulator (ICOS, CD278) is essential to the efficient development of normal and pathological immune reactions. Since ICOS-deficient mice have enhanced susceptibility to experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE), we have functionally analyzed a CD4+ICOS+ population comprising 6–15% of all CD4+ T cells in secondary lymphoid organs of unmanipulated wild-type mice and checked for their ability to suppress EAE. In C57BL/6 mice, CD4+ICOS+ cells were a major source of cytokines including IFN-γ, IL-2, IL-4, IL-10 or IL-17A. Upon activation, these cells showed preferentially enhanced production of IL-4 or IL-10 but inhibited IFN-γ production. In contrast, CD4+ICOS− cells mainly produced IFN-γ. Interestingly, CD4+ICOS+ cells partially suppressed the proliferation of CD4+ICOS− or CD4+CD25− lymphocytes ‘in vitro’ by an IL-10-dependent mechanism. Furthermore, CD4+ICOS+ activated and expanded under appropriate conditions yielded a population enriched in cells producing IL-10 and Th2 cytokines that also suppressed the proliferation of CD4+CD25− lymphocytes. CD4+ICOS+ cells, before or after expansion in vitro, reduced the severity of EAE when transferred to ICOS-deficient mice. In the same EAE model, lymph node cells from ICOS-deficient mice receiving ICOS+ cells showed reduced IL-17A production and enhanced IL-10 secretion upon antigen activation in vitro. Thus, naturally occurring CD4+ICOS+ cells, expanded or not in vitro, are functionally relevant cells able of protecting ICOS-deficient mice from severe EAEMinisterio de Sanidad y Consumo, Spain (ISCIII-05/054, PI070620, PI070484); Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología, Spain (SAF2004-06852); Italian Foundation for Multiple Sclerosis, Genoa (2005/R/10); Associazione Italiana Ricerca sul Cancro, Milan; predoctoral fellowships of Instituto de Salud Carlos III and Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología, Spain, to E.P. and R.B.Peer reviewe