The Effects of Hypokalaemia on the Hormone Exocytosis in Adenohypophysis and Prolactinoma Cell Culture Model Systems

The extracellular ion milieu determines the exocytosis mechanism that is coupled to spontaneous electrical activity. The K+ ion plays crucial role in this mechanism: as the potassium current is associated with membrane hyperpolarization and hormone release through protein cascade activation. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the response mechanisms of normal adenohypophysis and adenohypophyseal prolactinoma cell populations at different extracellular K+ levels with an otherwise isoionic milieu of all other essential ions. We focused on prolactin (PRL) and adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) release.In our experimental study, female Wistar rats (n=20) were treated with estrone-acetate (150 mug/kg b.w./week) for 6 months to induce prolactinomas in the adenohypophysis. Primary, monolayer cell cultures were prepared by enzymatic and mechanical digestion. PRL and ACTH hormone presence was measured by radioimmunoassay or immuno-chemiluminescence assay. Immunocytochemistry was used to assess the apoptotic cells.Differences between the effects of hypokalaemia on normal adenohypophysis cultures and prolactinoma cell populations were investigated. Significant alteration (p<0.001, n=10) in hormone exocytosis was detected in K+ treated adenohypophyseal and prolactinoma cell cultures compared to untreated groups. Immunocyto-chemistry showed that Bcl-2 expression was reduced under hypokalaemic conditions.The decrease in hormone exocytosis was tightly correlated to the extracellular K+ in both cell types, leading to the conclusion that external K+ may be the major factor for the inhibition of hormone release. The significant increase in hormone content in supernatant media suggests that hypokalaemia may play important role in apoptosis

Additive and Subtractive Modification of Butterfly Wing Structural Colors

The modification of photonic nanoarchitectures occurring in butterfly wing scales with different nanostructures was investigated experimentally and by modeling. Single crystalline, polycrystalline, simple thin film, and pepper-pot-type photonic nanoarchitectures in the wing scales of different butterflies were investigated. By atomic layer deposition (ALD) (additive) the color of all nanoarchitectures was red shifted and by plasma etching (subtractive) the color of all nanoarchitectures was blue shifted in a controllable way. Langmuir-Blodgett multilayers of silica nanospheres were used as physical models. ALD produced color shifts similar to those for butterfly wings. In the case of a simple thin film, a theoretical calculation reproduced the spectral alterations well. For the more complex photonic nanoarchitectures, the general trends of the modifications were well reproduced by more sophisticated models, but differences in the magnitude of the alterations were found, attributed to the complex, random porous structures of the pepper-pot-type structures

Propionibacterium acnes induces autophagy in keratinocytes: involvement of multiple mechanisms

Propionibacterium acnes is a dominant member of the cutaneous microbiota. Herein, we evaluate the effects of different P. acnes strains and propionic acid on autophagy in keratinocytes. Our results showed that P. acnes strain 889 altered the architecture of the mitochondrial network, elevated the levels of LC3B-II, Beclin-1 and phospho-AMPKalpha, stimulated autophagic flux, facilitated intracellular redistribution of LC3B, increased average number of autophagosomes per cell, and enhanced development of acidic vesicular organelles in the HPV-KER cell line. Propionic acid increased the level of phospho-AMPKalpha, enhanced lipidation of LC3B, stimulated autophagic flux, as well as facilitated translocation of LC3B into autophagosomes in HPV-KER cells. P. acnes strains 889, 6609 and heat-killed strain 889 also stimulated autophagosome formation in primary keratinocytes to varying degrees. These results indicate that cell wall components and secreted propionic acid metabolite of P. acnes evoke mitochondrial damage successively, thereby trigger AMPK-associated activation of autophagy, which in turn facilitates the removal of dysfunctional mitochondria and promotes survival of keratinocytes. Thus, we suggest that low-level colonization of hair follicles with non-invasive P. acnes strains, by triggering a local increase in autophagic activity, might exert a profound effect on several physiological processes responsible for the maintenance of skin tissue homeostasis

Titán-dioxid-nanopálcikák tüdőre kifejtett hatásának állatkísérletes vizsgálata szubakut patkánymodellben = Investigation of the effect of titanium dioxide nanorods on the lungs in a subacute rat model

Absztrakt: Bevezetés: Napjainkban a nanotechnológia intenzív terjedésével nő a munkahelyi és lakossági nanorészecske-expozíció veszélye. Jelenleg azonban kevés tudományosan megalapozott, ellentmondásmentes ismeret áll rendelkezésre a nehézfém nanorészecskék toxicitásáról és potenciális egészségkárosító hatásairól. Célkitűzés: Szubakut, intratrachealisan instillált, pálcika alakú titán-dioxid (TiO2)-nanorészecskék indukálta tüdőszövet-károsodás vizsgálata morfológiai, kémiai és biokémiai módszerekkel, patkánymodellben. Módszer: Az általános toxicitást (test- és szervtömegváltozás), a lokális (alveolaris üregekben/epithelben, hilusi nyirokcsomóban zajló) akut és krónikus celluláris toxicitást (gyulladás, sejtpusztulás), továbbá az oxidatív stresszt fény- és elektronmikroszkópiával, valamint biokémiai (lipidperoxidáció, reaktívoxigén-gyök, proinflammatoricus citokin expressziója) úton mértük. Eredmények: A kezelt csoportok testtömegében dózis- és időfüggő eltérés nem volt, azonban a tüdők tömege és Ti-tartalma a dózissal arányosan nőtt. A tüdőszövet fény- és elektronmikroszkópos vizsgálata igazolta a nanorészecskék jelenlétét az alveolaris térben szabadon és az alveolaris epitheltől független macrophagok phagosomáiban. A lokális akut alveolitis krónikussá válását alátámasztotta az alveolaris régió macrophagszámának dózisfüggő növekedése, az interstitium ödémája és megvastagodása, valamint egyes proinflammatoricus citokinek (interleukin-1a, LIX, L-szelektin, vascularis endothelialis növekedési faktor) fokozott expressziója. A kezelt állatok tüdőszövetében az oxidatív stressz és a lipidperoxidáció jelentősen fokozódott. A kezelt tüdők tömege, Ti-tartalma és a lipidperoxidáció mértéke között korrelációt találtunk. Az alveolaris epithel-capillaris endothel barrier elégtelenségére utaltak a nanorészecskékkel telt falósejtek a hilusi nyirokcsomóban, ami felveti a nanorészecskék szisztémás keringésbe és távolabbi szervekbe jutásának és akut szisztémás gyulladás kialakulásának lehetőségét. Következtetés: Az alsó légutakba jutott TiO2-nanorészecskék etiológiai tényezőként szerepelhetnek az akut, illetve idült légúti gyulladással és/vagy progrediáló fibrosissal és obstrukcióval járó légzőszervi betegségek (például idült obstruktív tüdőbetegség, asztma) kialakulásában és/vagy progressziójában, melyben jelentősége lehet az autophagiának és az immunválasz (lymphocytaműködés) károsodásának. Orv Hetil. 2019; 160(2): 57–66. | Abstract: Introduction: The development of nanotechnology increases the risk of occupational and population-level exposure to nanoparticles nowadays. However, scientifically based knowledge relating to the toxicity of heavy metal nanoparticles and potential health damage is insufficient. Aim: Investigation of lung tissue damage induced by titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanorods in subacute intratracheal instillation by morphological, chemical and biochemical methods in rat model. Method: General toxicity (changes of body and organ weights), local acute and chronic cellular toxicity (in alveolar spaces and epithelium, in hilar lymph nodes) and oxidative stress were examined using light and electron microscopy, and biochemical methods (reactive oxygen species, lipid peroxidation, expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines). Results: No dose- and time-dependent alteration was found in the body weight of the treated groups; but the mass and Ti content of lungs increased with dose. Light and electron microscopy of the lung tissue verified the presence of nanoparticles, free in the alveolar space and within phagosomes of macrophages not attached to alveolar epithelium. Chronification of local acute alveolitis was supported by dose-dependent increase of macrophage count in the alveolar region, oedema and thickening of interstitium, and increased expression of certain pro-inflammatory cytokines (interleukin-1a, LIX, L-selectin, vascular endothelial growth factor). Oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation increased substantially in the treated rats’ lungs, and correlation was found between Ti content and lipid peroxidation. Insufficiency of the alveolar epithelial and capillary endothelial barrier was indicated by nanoparticle-laden phagocytes in hilar lymph nodes, suggesting nanoparticles reaching systemic circulation and distant organs, inducing systemic acute inflammation. Conclusion: TiO2 nanoparticles, reaching lower airways, may be etiological factors in the causation or aggravation of pulmonary diseases with acute and chronic airways inflammation and/or progressive fibrosis and obstruction (e.g., chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma). Autophagy and damaged immune response (lymphocytic activity) may have here a role. Orv Hetil. 2019; 160(2): 57–66

Herpes Simplex Virus Infection Alters the Immunological Properties of Adipose-Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal-Stem Cells

The proper functioning of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) is of paramount importance for the homeostasis of the body. Inflammation and infection can alter the function of MSCs, which can also affect the regenerative potential and immunological status of tissues. It is not known whether human herpes simplex viruses 1 and 2 (HSV1 and HSV2), well-known human pathogens that can cause lifelong infections, can induce changes in MSCs. In non-healing ulcers, HSV infection is known to affect deeper tissue layers. In addition, HSV infection can recur after initially successful cell therapies. Our aim was to study the response of adipose-derived MSCs (ADMSCs) to HSV infection in vitro. After confirming the phenotype and differentiation capacity of the isolated cells, we infected the cells in vitro with HSV1-KOS, HSV1-532 and HSV2 virus strains. Twenty-four hours after infection, we examined the gene expression of the cells via RNA-seq and RT-PCR; detected secreted cytokines via protein array; and determined autophagy via Western blot, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and fluorescence microscopy. Infection with different HSV strains resulted in different gene-expression patterns. In addition to the activation of pathways characteristic of viral infections, distinct non-immunological pathways (autophagy, tissue regeneration and differentiation) were also activated according to analyses with QIAGEN Ingenuity Pathway Analysis, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genome and Genome Ontology Enrichment. Viral infections increased autophagy, as confirmed via TEM image analysis, and also increased levels of the microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3B) II protein. We identified significantly altered accumulation for 16 cytokines involved in tissue regeneration and inflammation. Our studies demonstrated that HSV infection can alter the viability and immunological status of ADMSCs, which may have implications for ADMSC-based cell therapies. Alterations in autophagy can affect numerous processes in MSCs, including the inhibition of tissue regeneration as well as pathological differentiation

Impaired regulation of PMCA activity by defective CFTR expression promotes epithelial cell damage in alcoholic pancreatitis and hepatitis

Alcoholic pancreatitis and hepatitis are frequent, potentially lethal diseases with limited treatment options. Our previous study reported that the expression of CFTR Cl- channel is impaired by ethanol in pancreatic ductal cells leading to more severe alcohol-induced pancreatitis. In addition to determining epithelial ion secretion, CFTR has multiple interactions with other proteins, which may influence intracellular Ca2+ signaling. Thus, we aimed to investigate the impact of ethanol-mediated CFTR damage on intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis in pancreatic ductal epithelial cells and cholangiocytes. Human and mouse pancreas and liver samples and organoids were used to study ion secretion, intracellular signaling, protein expression and interaction. The effect of PMCA4 inhibition was analyzed in a mouse model of alcohol-induced pancreatitis. The decreased CFTR expression impaired PMCA function and resulted in sustained intracellular Ca2+ elevation in ethanol-treated and mouse and human pancreatic organoids. Liver samples derived from alcoholic hepatitis patients and ethanol-treated mouse liver organoids showed decreased CFTR expression and function, and impaired PMCA4 activity. PMCA4 co-localizes and physically interacts with CFTR on the apical membrane of polarized epithelial cells, where CFTR-dependent calmodulin recruitment determines PMCA4 activity. The sustained intracellular Ca2+ elevation in the absence of CFTR inhibited mitochondrial function and was accompanied with increased apoptosis in pancreatic epithelial cells and PMCA4 inhibition increased the severity of alcohol-induced AP in mice. Our results suggest that improving Ca2+ extrusion in epithelial cells may be a potential novel therapeutic approach to protect the exocrine pancreatic function in alcoholic pancreatitis and prevent the development of cholestasis in alcoholic hepatitis