A multi-country test of brief reappraisal interventions on emotions during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The COVID-19 pandemic has increased negative emotions and decreased positive emotions globally. Left unchecked, these emotional changes might have a wide array of adverse impacts. To reduce negative emotions and increase positive emotions, we tested the effectiveness of reappraisal, an emotion-regulation strategy that modifies how one thinks about a situation. Participants from 87 countries and regions (n = 21,644) were randomly assigned to one of two brief reappraisal interventions (reconstrual or repurposing) or one of two control conditions (active or passive). Results revealed that both reappraisal interventions (vesus both control conditions) consistently reduced negative emotions and increased positive emotions across different measures. Reconstrual and repurposing interventions had similar effects. Importantly, planned exploratory analyses indicated that reappraisal interventions did not reduce intentions to practice preventive health behaviours. The findings demonstrate the viability of creating scalable, low-cost interventions for use around the world

Isolamento, caracterização e análise da multipotência de células-tronco adultas derivadas do tecido adiposo de bovinos e bubalinos

Adult stem cells are known for their potential and plasticity to differentiate into several different cell types (multipotency), which has implications for cell therapy as well as reproductive biotechnologies. In the present work we report isolation and characterization of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) derived from adipose tissue of cattle and buffaloes. Cells isolated by enzymatic digestion of adipose-tissue biopsy were grown for at least ten passages in vitro giving support to of their proliferative capacity. These cells were also subjected to immunophenotypic characterization to visualize the presence, of CD90, CD105 and CD79, and absence, of CD45, CD34 and CD73, wich are positive and negative markers of MSCs, respectively. In order to determine their multipotency, the cells were induced to differentiate into three different cell types and stained with tissue-specific dyes (Chondrogenic-Alcian Blue, Osteogenic- Alizarin Red and Adipogenic-Oil-Red O) to ensure their differentiation into chondrocytes, ostoblasts and adipocytes. Our results indicate that adipose tissue of cattle and buffaloes can be used as a source of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs), turning them into an interesting option of animal models for cell therapy and regenerative medicine. Additionally, these cells may be relevant for reproductive biotechnology since the use of MSCs as nuclear donors has been linked to an increase in the developmental rates of cloned embryos.FAPESPA - Fundação Amazônia de Amparo a Estudos e PesquisasCélulas-tronco adultas são conhecidas por seu potencial e plasticidade para se diferenciar em vários tipos celulares diferentes (multipotência), tendo assim, implicações para a terapia celular, bem como biotecnologias reprodutivas. No presente trabalho relatamos o isolamento e caracterização de células-tronco mesenquimais (CTM) derivadas de tecido adiposo de bovinos e bubalinos. As células foram isoladas por digestão enzimática da biópsia do tecido adiposo e cultivadas por pelo menos dez passagens in vitro,dando apoio a sua capacidade proliferativa. Estas células também foram submetidas à caracterização imunofenotípica para visualizar a presença de marcadores de CTM, CD90, CD105 e CD79, e ausência de marcadores de Células-Tronco Hematopoiéticas, CD45, CD34 e CD73, A fim de provar a sua multipotência, as células foram induzidas a diferenciação em três tipos de células diferentes e coradas com corantes tecidos-específicos (condrogênico-Alcian Blue, osteogênica-Alizarina Red e adipogênica-Oil-Red O) para confirmar a sua diferenciação em condrócitos, ostoblastos e adipócitos. Nossos resultados indicam que o tecido adiposo de bovinos e bubalinos podem ser usados como fonte de células-tronco mesenquimais (CTM), transformando-as em uma opção interessante de modelos animais para terapia celular e medicina regenerativa. Além disso, essas células podem ser relevantes para a biotecnologia reprodutiva desde o uso de CTM de doadoras nucleares, pois têm sido associadas com um aumento nas taxas de desenvolvimento de embriões clonados

Epigenetic modifications of chromatin and their relation with the nuclear reprogramming of bovine

A reprogramação nuclear de uma célula somática a um estado embrionário tem diversas aplicações, como pesquisas básicas na biologia do desenvolvimento, terapia celular, melhoramento genético em animais de produção e conservação de espécies. As principais técnicas utilizadas para a reprogramação nuclear são a transferência nuclear de células somáticas (TNCS) e a geração de células tronco pluripotente induzidas (iPS). Muitos trabalhos têm mostrado uma baixa eficiência no processo de reprogramação nuclear nas duas técnicas, além disso, modificações epigenéticas tem sido apontada como a principal barreira para uma reprogramação nuclear eficiente. Por esse motivo, medidas como a utilização de células menos diferenciadas e/ou alteração do perfil epigenético das células somáticas podem aumentar a eficiência destas técnicas. Por isso, o objetivo deste trabalho foi investigar a influência de marcas epigenéticas em células bovinas utilizadas na reprogramação nuclear mediada por TNCS ou superexpressão de genes relacionados a pluripotêcia (iPS). Para isso, utilizamos 3 abordagens. Primeiro, analisamos marcações epigenéticas relacionadas ao desenvolvimento embrionário e pluripotência (H3K9me2, H3K9me3, H3K9ac, 5mC e 5hmC) em diferentes tipos celulares, analisamos a expressão gênica de genes responsáveis por essas marcações em células de diferentes tecidos (ex. células tronco mesenquimais (MSC) e fibroblastos) e as utilizamos como doadoras de núcleo na TNCS. Na segunda e a terceira abordagem, utilizamos células com menores níveis de H3K9me2 para a geração de iPS e na TNCS, respectivamente. Além disso, por se mostrar eficiente na TNCS, analisamos o efeito da sincronização do ciclo celular por privação de soro fetal bovino (SFB) na geração de células iPS. Com o intuito de diminuir os níveis de H3K9me2, as células foram tratadas com UNC0638, um inibidor especifico das metiltransferases de histona G9a/GLP. Nossos resultados do primeiro experimento mostraram que as MSC podem ser utilizadas como doadoras de núcleo na TNCS, no entanto, mesmo com algumas diferenças na expressão gênica em relação aos fibroblastos, a produção de blastocistos não foi diferente entre as duas células. No segundo experimento, as células privadas de SFB geraram mais colônias que as células controle, enquanto que as células tratadas não apresentaram diferença. Por último, as células tratadas com o UNC0638 apresentaram um menor nível de metilação no DNA em zigotos em relação às células controle. Os resultados encontrados neste trabalho podem contribuir para o melhor entendimento dos mecanismos epigenéticos envolvidos na reprogramação nuclear de bovinosNuclear reprogramming of somatic cells to embryonic state has several aplications, such as basic research on developmental biology, cell therapy, genetic improvement in livestock animals and preservation of endangered species. The principal techniques utilized to achieve nuclear reprogramming are Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer (SCNT) and induced pluripotency. Several works has reported low efficiency rates of nuclear reprogramming when these techniques are used to reprogram somatic cells. Moreover, epigenetic modifications acquired during development act as epigenetic barrier to the complete reprogramming process. For this reason, strategies such as use of less differentiated cells and/or modification of epigenetic profile of somatic cells might increase the efficiency these techniques. The objective of this work was investigate the influence of epigenetic marks in bovine cells utilized on nuclear reprogramming experiments mediated by SCNT or induced pluripotency. To investigate it, we used three approaches. First, we analyzed the epigenetic marks related to the embryonic development and pluripotency (e.g H3K9me2, H3K9me3, H3K9ac, 5mC and 5hmC), gene expression of genes involved in these epigenetic marks in different tissues (i.e. mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) and fibroblasts) and their use as nuclear donor cells on SCNT procedure. Regarding the second and the third approach, we utilized cells with reduced levels of H3K9me2 to generate iPS cells and cloned embryos, respectively. Furthermore, since serum starvation has been demonstrated increase SCNT developmental rates, we assessed the effect of cell cycle synchronization mediated by serum starvation on nuclear reprogramming using iPS cells. Aiming decrease the levels of H3K9me2, cells were treated with UNC0638, a chemical probe that works as a specific inhibitor of the histone methyltransferases G9a and its counterpartner GLP. Our results showed that MSC are suitable to be used as nuclear donors on SCNT procedures, however, in spite of differences on gene expression comparing with fibroblasts, the embryonic developmental rates were not improved. On the second experiment, cells privated of fetal calf serum produced more iPS cells colonies than control cells, whereas cells treated with UNC did not show differences when compared with untreated cells. Lastly, UNC treated donor cells treated produced cloned zygotes with lower levels of DNA methylation compared to zygotes derivated from untreated cells. The results presented here will contribute to the better understanding of the epigenetic mechanisms involved on bovine nuclear reprogrammin

Challenges and perspectives to enhance cattle production via in vitro techniques: focus on epigenetics and cell-secreted vesicles

This review aim to present some clinical problems found in IVP-derived animals focusing on NT procedures and to discuss the possible role of epigenetics in such process. Also, as cell-secreted vesicles have been reported as possible regulators of important physiological reproductive processes such as folliculogenesis and fertilization, it is also presented herein a new perspective of manipulating the pre-implantation period trough effector molecules contained in such vesicles

Efficient derivation of stable primed pluripotent embryonic stem cells from bovine blastocysts

Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) are derived from the inner cell mass of preimplantation blastocysts. From agricultural and biomedical perspectives, the derivation of stable ESCs from domestic ungulates is important for genomic testing and selection, genome engineering, and modeling human diseases. Cattle are one of the most important domestic ungulates that are commonly used for food and bioreactors. To date, however, it remains a challenge to produce stable pluripotent bovine ESC lines. Employing a culture system containing fibroblast growth factor 2 and an inhibitor of the canonical Wnt-signaling pathway, we derived pluripotent bovine ESCs (bESCs) with stable morphology, transcriptome, karyotype, population-doubling time, pluripotency marker gene expression, and epigenetic features. Under this condition bESC lines were efficiently derived (100% in optimal conditions), were established quickly (3-4 wk), and were simple to propagate (by trypsin treatment). When used as donors for nuclear transfer, bESCs produced normal blastocyst rates, thereby opening the possibility for genomic selection, genome editing, and production of cattle with high genetic value

Influence of L-arginine during bovine <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">in vitro</i> fertilization

1159-1164The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of using L-arginine during in vitro fertilization (IVF) on <span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US" lang="EN-US">in vitro embryonic development using Bos taurus and Bos indicus semen. Effect of different concentrations (0, 1, 10 and 50 mM) of L-arginine, added to the IVF medium, was evaluated on the fertilization rate at 18 h post-fertilization (hpf), NO3-/NO2- production during IVF by the Griess colorimetric method (30 hpf), cleavage and blastocyst rates (on Day 2 and Day 7 of culture, respectively) and total blastocyst cell number (Day 7 of culture). The results reveal that the addition of 50 mM L-arginine to IVF medium, with either Bos taurus or Bos indicus spermatozoa, decreased the cleavage rate and blastocyst rate compared to the control group. Other concentrations did not affect embryo production. However, 1 mM L-arginine with Bos indicus semen increased the proportion of hatched blastocysts. These results indicate that high L-arginine concentrations may exhibit toxic effects on bovine gametes during in vitro fertilization. </span

The higher levels of histone acetylation in donor cells are not maintained after nuclear transfer.

<p>(A) Relative average intensity of H3K9ac of fused couplets from control and VPA-treated groups. (B) Relative average intensity of H3K9ac of presumptive zygotes 5 h.p.a from control and VPA-treated groups. (C–D) Immunofluorescence labelling for H3K9ac of fused couplets from (C) control and (D) VPA-treated groups. (E–F) Immunofluorescence labelling for H3K9ac of presumptive zygotes 5 h.p.a. from (E) control and (F) VPA-treated groups. The asterisk (*) denotes difference between control and VPA-treated groups (P = 0.03). All images were taken in the same magnification (200×).</p