Glycan-dependent binding of galectin-1 to neuropilin-1 promotes axonal regeneration after spinal cord injury

Following spinal cord injury (SCI), semaphorin 3A (Sema3A) prevents axonal regeneration through binding to the neuropilin-1 (NRP-1)/PlexinA4 receptor complex. Here, we show that galectin-1 (Gal-1), an endogenous glycan-binding protein, selectively bound to the NRP-1/PlexinA4 receptor complex in injured neurons through a glycan-dependent mechanism, interrupts the Sema3A pathway and contributes to axonal regeneration and locomotor recovery after SCI. Although both Gal-1 and its monomeric variant contribute to de-activation of microglia, only high concentrations of wild-type Gal-1 (which co-exists in a monomer-dimer equilibrium) bind to the NRP-1/PlexinA4 receptor complex and promote axonal regeneration. Our results show that Gal-1, mainly in its dimeric form, promotes functional recovery of spinal lesions by interfering with inhibitory signals triggered by Sema3A binding to NRP-1/PlexinA4 complex, supporting the use of this lectin for the treatment of SCI patients.Fil: Quintá, Héctor Ramiro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Química y Fisicoquímica Biológicas; ArgentinaFil: Pasquini, Juana Maria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Química y Fisicoquímica Biológicas; ArgentinaFil: Rabinovich, Gabriel Adrian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (i); Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Pasquini, Laura Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Química y Fisicoquímica Biológicas; Argentin

Endoscopia respiratória em 89 pacientes com neoplasia pulmonar Respiratory endoscopy in 89 patients of lung neoplasms

Objetivos: As neoplasias pulmonares são uma das mais freqüentes causas de mortalidade no Brasil. Objetivou-se com o presente estudo avaliar o diagnóstico dessas neoplasias através da fibrobroncoscopia. Método: Foram analisados, retrospectivamente, 89 pacientes no período de cinco anos, divididos em dois grupos: grupo 1 (n = 53) -- presença de lesão visível à endoscopia, grupo 2 (n = 36) -- ausência de lesões na endoscopia. Na revisão dos prontuários retiraram-se os dados epidemiológicos, os achados endoscópicos, os exames cito e anatomopatológicos, bem como o exame que proporcionou o diagnóstico final. Resultados: Os achados endoscópicos indiretos de neoplasia corresponderam a 59,5% e a presença de tumor na luz brônquica a 48,8%. O tipo histológico mais freqüente foi o carcinoma epidermóide (59,5%), seguido do adenocarcinoma (15,7%), carcinoma indiferenciado de pequenas células (10,1%) e outros (14,7%). Nos tumores visíveis ou não na endoscopia o estudo anatomopatológico da biópsia brônquica e/ou da citopatologia do lavado e do escovado brônquico mostrou sensibilidade de 83,1% no diagnóstico de neoplasia pulmonar. Quando a lesão era visível à inspeção endoscópica, a sensibilidade atingiu percentual de 96,2%, sendo a biópsia positiva em 94,2% e a citologia em 43,75%. Quando não se observava lesão brônquica o rendimento foi sensivelmente menor (63,8%): a biópsia mostrou percentual de 72,7% e a citopatologia de 38,4%. As complicações menores decorrentes do exame endoscópico ocorreram em 11,2% dos pacientes; não ocorreram complicações graves. Conclusão: A fibrobroncoscopia foi um excelente método para investigação de pacientes com suspeita de neoplasia pulmonar com sensibilidade de 83,1%; sua sensibilidade foi maior nas lesões visíveis. Nas lesões não visíveis a sensibilidade aumentou com a biópsia endobrônquica.<br>Objectives: Lung neoplasms are one of the most common causes of mortality in Brazil. The objective of this survey is to evaluate the diagnosis of these neoplasms using fiberoptics bronchoscopy. Methods: 89 patients were analyzed retrospectively in a period of five years. They were divided into two groups: Group 1 (n = 53) -- the presence of visible lesion on endoscopy, Group 2 (n = 36) -- the absence of visible lesion on endoscopy. Epidemiological elements, endoscopic discoveries, cytopathologic and anatomopathologic examination were performed in the review, as well the examination that provided the final diagnosis. Results: The findings of indirect endoscopies of neoplasms corresponded to 59.5% and the presence of tumor inside bronchi was 48.8%. The most frequent histologic type was the epidermoid carcinoma (59.5%), followed by adenocarcinoma (15.7%), small-cell carcinoma (10.1%), and others (14.7%). In endoscopically visible or not visible tumors, the anatomopathologic study of bronchial biopsy and/or the cytopathologic examination of the bronchial washing and brushing showed a sensitivity of 83.1% in the diagnosis of lung neoplasms. When the lesion was visible on endoscopy, the sensitivity was 96.2%: positive biopsy was 94.2%, and cytology was 43.75%. When the lesion in the bronchi is not observed, its addition was significantly small (63.8%), namely: biopsy registered 72.7% and cytopathology 38.4%. Not significant complications resulting from the endoscopic examination occurred in 11.2% of patients and there were no serious complications. Conclusion: The fiberoptics bronchoscopy was an excellent method to investigate patients with suspicion of lung neoplasms, with 83.1% of sensitivity. This sensitivity was higher in visible lesions and in non-visible lesions when endobronchial biopsy was used