MXRA5 is a TGF-β1-regulated human protein with anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic properties

Current therapy for chronic kidney disease (CKD) is unsatisfactory because of an insufficient understanding of its pathogenesis. Matrix remodelling-associated protein 5 (MXRA5, adlican) is a human protein of unknown function with high kidney tissue expression, not present in rodents. Given the increased expression of MXRA5 in injured tissues, including the kidneys, we have suggested that MXRA5 may modulate kidney injury. MXRA5 immunoreactivity was observed in tubular cells in human renal biopsies and in urine from CKD patients. We then explored factors regulating MXRA5 expression and MXRA5 function in cultured human proximal tubular epithelial cells and explored MXRA5 expression in kidney cancer cells and kidney tissue. The fibrogenic cytokine transforming growth factor-β1 (TGFβ1) up-regulated MXRA5 mRNA and protein expression. TGFβ1-induced MXRA5 up-regulation was prevented by either interference with TGFβ1 activation of the TGFβ receptor 1 (TGFBR1, ALK5) or by the vitamin D receptor agonist paricalcitol. By contrast, the pro-inflammatory cytokine TWEAK did not modulate MXRA5 expression. MXRA5 siRNA-induced down-regulation of constitutive MXRA5 expression resulted in higher TWEAK-induced expression of chemokines. In addition, MXRA5 down-regulation resulted in a magnified expression of genes encoding extracellular matrix proteins in response to TGFβ1. Furthermore, in clear cell renal cancer, von Hippel–Lindau (VHL) regulated MXRA5 expression. In conclusion, MXRA5 is a TGFβ1- and VHL-regulated protein and, for the first time, we identify MXRA5 functions as an anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic molecule. This information may yield clues to design novel therapeutic strategies in diseases characterized by inflammation and fibrosis.This work was supported by grants from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (FEDER funds ISCIII RETIC REDINREN RD12/0021, PI13/00047, PI15/00298, PIE13/00051, Comunidad de Madrid (CIFRA S2010/BMD-2378), Sociedad Española de Nefrología. Programa Intensificación Actividad Investigadora (ISCIII/Agencia Laín-Entralgo/CM) to AO, ISCIII Joan Rodes JR14/00028 to BFF and Miguel Servet MS12/03262, MS14/00133, MECD to JP, and Biobanco IIS-FJD PT13/0010/001

Los derrubios estratificados holocenos de Praón (Picos de Europa, Montañas Cantábricas)

In this paper we study the stratified and cemented scree located in Praón, a low mountain sector of the Picos de Europa (Cantabrian Mountains). The field work has allowed to establish the geomorphological context in which the studied stratified scree are inserted, characterizing them from the sedimentological point of view. 14C ages have been obtained in remains of gastropods found at 4 meters deep (10.775 ± 325 years cal BP) and 1.7 meters deep (5.175 ± 135 years cal BP). Moreover, the precipitation climate conditions of carbonated cement have been obtained measuring the isotope ratio of both samples. These conditions would be colder for the oldest sample and warmer for the recent one. The results of this study show that stratified scree such as those studied, which are abundant in the area of the Picos de Europa, could have been originated in relation to diverse climatic conditions, and that they do not necessarily have to correspond, from the chronological point of view, with the cold stage of Lateglacial (14 to 10 ka) to which traditionally they have been assigned through relative chronology, in the Cantabrian Mountains.En este artículo se estudian los derrubios estratificados y cementados presentes en Praón, un sector de la baja montaña de los Picos de Europa. La realización de trabajo de campo sistemático ha permitido establecer el contexto geomorfológico en el que están insertos los derrubios estudiados, caracterizándolos desde el punto de vista sedimentológico. Se han obtenido dos edades 14C en restos de gasterópodos insertos a 4 metros (10.775 ± 325 años cal BP) y a 1,7 metros (5.175 ± 135 años cal BP) de profundidad, infiriendo las condiciones de precipitación del cemento carbonatado a partir de la realización de análisis isotópicos. Estas condiciones habrían sido más frías para la muestra más antigua y mucho más cálidas para la más reciente. Los resultados de este trabajo evidencian que, derrubios estratificados como los estudiados, los cuales son abundantes en el área de los Picos de Europa, podrían haberse originado en condiciones climáticas diversas y no necesariamente de frío extremo, ni exclusivas de ambientes periglaciares sensu stricto, no teniendo tampoco por qué corresponderse, desde el punto cronológico, con el Tardiglaciar (en cronologías de 14 a 10 ka), el periodo frío al que tradicionalmente han sido adscritos de forma relativa en las Montañas Cantábricas

A new Plotosaurini mosasaur skull from the upper Maastrichtian of Antarctica. Plotosaurini paleogeographic occurrences

During the Antarctic summer campaigns and as a result of paleontological fieldworks 2013–2015 several mosasaur remains have been collected from the upper Maastrichtian López de Bertodano Formation exposed at Marambio (=Seymour) Island, of the Antarctic Peninsula. One of these specimens preserves part of the skull and dentition, which represent one of the few known skulls from Antarctica. The new specimen (MLP 15-I-24-41) is similar to member of the mosasaur tribe Plotosaurini, sharing the same fronto-parietal suture pattern, and a similar dental morphology as some of the species assigned to the genus. As the specimen is not complete enough to propose a new name it is referred to Mosasaurus sp. The presence of these remains on the southern hemisphere represents one of the most complete records of a Mosasaurus mosasaur.Fil: González Ruiz, Pablo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Museo de Historia Natural de San Rafael - Ianigla | Provincia de Mendoza. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Museo de Historia Natural de San Rafael - Ianigla | Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Instituto Argentino de Nivología, Glaciología y Ciencias Ambientales. Museo de Historia Natural de San Rafael - Ianigla; ArgentinaFil: Fernández, Marta Susana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Paleontología Vertebrados; ArgentinaFil: Talevi, Marianella. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigación en Paleobiología y Geología; ArgentinaFil: Leardi, Juan Martín. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber". Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Estudios Andinos "Don Pablo Groeber"; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Biodiversidad y Biología Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Reguero, Marcelo Alfredo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. División Paleontología Vertebrados; Argentina. Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores, Comercio Interno y Culto. Dirección Nacional del Antártico. Instituto Antártico Argentino; Argentin

The influence of changes in vegetal cover on the evolution of damaging effects of snow avalanches in the Asturian Massif

Se analizan las características físicas y el daño generado por 126 avalanchas de nieve desencadenadas entre 1800 y 2015, relacionando las variaciones del daño con ciertos cambios experimentados en las dinámicas sociales que afectaron a la vegetación en este periodo. La información se ha obtenido a través de fuentes históricas, entrevistas, fotointerpretación y trabajo de campo. Posteriormente ha sido introducida en un sistema de información geográfica y ha sido tratada estadísticamente. Las avalanchas más dañinas se produjeron en un 75% antes de la década de 1940 recorriendo distancias cortas a medias, desencadenándose en su mayor parte por debajo del límite potencial del bosque y afectando a asentamientos. Ciertos cambios en los usos del suelo de las áreas afectadas, especialmente aquellos que han afectado a la cubierta vegetal de las áreas de desencadenamiento, podrían explicar la progresiva disminución de los daños. Estos se concentran a finales del siglo XIX y principios del XX, en un contexto legislativo favorable a la deforestación (desamortización), coincidente con el despegue de las actividades mineras e industriales y con un crecimiento demográfico que demandaba un aprovechamiento agropecuario intenso de las áreas de monte. Desde mediados del siglo XX, el descenso de la demanda de madera autóctona y el proceso de abandono progresivo de tierras vinculado al éxodo rural, dan paso a la revegetación pasiva de áreas marginales y con ello a la recuperación del bosque protector en las áreas de desencadenamiento de las avalanchas más dañinas, explicando en buena parte el descenso de los daños causados a través del tiempo.We analysed physical properties and damage of 126 snow avalanches occurred between 1800 and 2015 in the Asturian Massif. The variation of damage over time has been related with changes affecting social dynamics that could have induced to changes in vegetation cover. Data about location, avalanche paths and damages were obtained through historical sources, interviews to the population, photointerpretation and field work. Subsequently, data were introduced in a geographic information system (GIS) and were treated by statistical analysis. 75% of the most damaging avalanches occurred before 1940s: they were namely avalanches that started below the tree line, travelling small to medium distances and affecting settlements. Changes in land uses, especially those affecting the vegetation cover of the starting areas, could explain the progressive decrease of damages. The damage was concentrated in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, in a social and legal context favourable to deforestation (selling of communal and church properties and the start of mining and industrial activities), coinciding with a population peak that demanded an intense pastoral exploitation of the forest areas. Since the mid-20th century, the decline in the demand for native wood and the land abandonment related to the rural exodus resulted in to a process of passive reforestation of marginal areas and to the recovery of the protective forest in the starting areas, largely explaining the decrease in avalanche damage over time.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Agregaciones de pennatuláceos en la plataforma del norte de España: distribución y agrupaciones faunísticas

The sea pens Funiculina quadrangularis, Pennatula aculeata, Pennatula phosphorea, Pteroeides spinosum and Veretillum cynomorium are known to be characteristic species of the habitat ‘pennatulacean communities on circalittoral and upper bathyal soft bottoms’, described recently on the northern Atlantic Spanish shelf under the terms of the EU directives. Distribution, abundance and environmental data collected from 1995 to 2010 in the Northern Spanish Shelf Groundfish Surveys in the Cantabrian Sea and off Galicia (SPNGFS) were analysed. Although low densities of sea pens were commonly found over the years, some aggregations were shown. Multivariate analysis separated the aggregations of F. quadrangularis and of Pennatula spp. found on circalittoral soft bottoms. In addition, evidence of aggregations of F. quadrangularis on upper bathyal sites was also found. Depth and longitude, which were closely related to organic matter and sediment particle size, were key factors in determining the distribution and abundance of these aggregations. However, very little information on distribution and density of the species P. spinosum and V. cynomorium was obtained. Details of community composition of F. quadrangularis and Pennatula spp. were studied and compared with those of the OSPAR habitat “sea pen and burrowing megafauna communities” in other areas. The results improve our knowledge concerning sea pen communities in the southern Bay of Biscay and contribute to a global assessment of the status of these communities in the northeast Atlantic.Los pennatuláceos Funiculina quadrangularis, Pennatula aculeata, Pennatula phosphorea, Pteroeides spinosum y Veretillum cynomorium son especies características del hábitat “comunidades de pennatuláceos sobre fondos blandos profundos y circalitorales” descrito recientemente en la plataforma noratlántica española bajo directrices europeas. Datos de distribución, abundancia y ambientales recogidos desde 1995 hasta 2010 en las campañas demersales de la plataforma del norte de España y Galicia (SPNGFS) han sido analizados. Aunque predominan las bajas densidades de pennatuláceos a lo largo de los años, se han encontrado agregaciones. El análisis multivariante ha separado las agregaciones encontradas de F. quadrangularis y Pennatula spp. en los fondos blandos circalitorales. Además, se han encontrado agregaciones de F. quadrangularis en los fondos blandos profundos. La profundidad y la longitud, estrechamente relacionadas con el contenido de materia orgánica y el tamaño de partícula del sedimento, han sido los factores clave en la distribución y abundancia de estas agregaciones. Sin embargo, se ha obtenido poca información de la distribución y densidad de las especies P. spinosum y V. cynomorium. Se ha estudiado la composición de las comunidades de F. quadrangularis y Pennatula spp. y se ha comparado con el hábitat definido por OSPAR “sea pen and burrowing megafauna communities” en otras áreas. Los resultados mejoran el conocimiento de las comunidades de pennatuláceos en el sur del Golfo de Vizcaya y ayudan en la evaluación global del estatus de estas comunidades en el noreste Atlántico

Results on Argentine (Argentinaspp.), Bluemouth (Helicolenus dactylopterus), Greater forkbeard (Phycis blennoides), Spanish ling (Molva macrophthalma) and ling (Molva molva) from 2014 Porcupine Bank (NE Atlantic) survey

This working document presents the results on four of the most significant deep fish species of the last Porcupine Spanish survey carried in 2014, as well as it updates previous documents presented with the information on the fourteen years (2001-2014) of the Spanish bottom trawl survey on the Porcupine Bank. The document presents total abundances in weight, length frequencies and geographical distributions for Argentinaspp. (mostly A. silus, results on proportions by Argentine species distribution in last surveys are provided), Bluemouth (Helicolenus dactylopterus), Greater fork-beard (Phycis blennoides) and Spanish ling (Molva macrophthalma). Argentinaspp. and Spanish ling presented a decrease in their abundances, whereas Bluemouth remained stable and Greater forkbeard increased slightly. In terms of recruitment 2014 showed larger values than previous years for A. sphyraena, Helicolenus dactylopterusand Molva macrophtalmabut weaker for Phycis blennoides, and A silus. Furthermore results for ling (Molva molva) on the Spanish Porcupine Bank survey are summarizedpresenting the results to the WG so their utility for the assessment could be considered.Versión de edito

Reforestation and land use change as drivers for a decrease of avalanche damage in mid-latitude mountains (NW Spain)

Natural conditions that explain the triggering of snow avalanches are becoming better-known, but our understanding of how socio-environmental changes can influence the occurrence of damaging avalanches is still limited. This study analyses the evolution of snow avalanche damage in the Asturian Massif (NW Spain) between 1800 and 2015, paying special attention to changes in land-use and land-cover patterns. A damage index has been performed using historical sources, photointerpretation and fieldwork-based data, which were introduced in a GIS and processed by means of statistical analysis. Mapping allowed connecting spatiotemporal variations of damage and changes in human-environment interactions. The total number of victims was 342 (192 dead and 150 injured). Results show stability in the number of avalanches during the study period, but a progressive decrease in the damage per avalanche. Changes in land use explain the evolution of damage and its spatial/temporal behaviour. The role played by vegetation cover is at the root of this process: damage was the highest during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when a massive deforestation process affected the protective forest. This deforestation was the result of demographic growth and intensive grazing, disentailment laws and emerging coal mining. Since the mid-20th century, the transformation of a traditional land-management system based on overexploitation into a system based on land marginalization and reforestation, together with the decline of deforestation due to industrial and legal causes, resulted in the decrease of avalanches that affected settlements (mostly those released below the potential timberline). The decrease of damage has been sharper in the western sector of the Asturian Massif, where oak deforestation was very intense in the past and where lithology allows for a more successful ecological succession at present. Taking into account that reforestation can be observed in mountain environments of developed countries worldwide, and considering present initiatives conducted to counteract its negative cultural effects by means of grazing and clearing operations, planning is imperative, and this research provides useful information for environmental management policies and risk mitigation in avalanche prone areas.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Investigaciones e investigadores de la UAM

Continuamos en este número de la revista con la sección: Investigaciones en la Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, con la que se pretende dar a conocer investigaciones relacionadas con diversas disciplinas científicas que se han desarrollado o se están llevando a cabo en la UAM, con el fin de describir de una forma simple y didáctica tales trabajos, y con ello los contenidos de diversas ramas del conocimiento, y cumplir así con la finalidad inherente a esta revista de divulgar la ciencia así como de contribuir al surgimiento de posibles ideas o iniciativas para posteriores investigaciones por parte de los jóvenes científicos, o de estudiantes universitarios de grado o posgrado que están en disposición y voluntad de llegar a serlo. Se recogen a continuación algunos relatos de investigaciones realizadas por varios profesores de la UAM, los cuales se recogieron en una publicación conmemorativa del cumplimiento de los cuarenta años por parte de esta universidad y relativos a las siguientes disciplinas: Biomedicina, Historia Contemporánea, Química y alimentación, Matemáticas y Bioquímic

Results on main elasmobranch species captured during the 2001-2010 Porcupine Bank (NE Atlantic) bottom trawl surveys

This paper presents the results on nine of the most important elasmobranch fish species of the Porcupine bank Spanish surveys during the last decade (2001-2010). The main species in the captures in decreasing biomass order are: blackmouth catshark, birdbeak dogfish, knifetooth dogfish, velvet belly, lesser spotted dogfish, bluntnose sixgill shark, sandy ray, cuckoo ray and common skate. Manyof these species occupy mainly the deep areas covered in the survey,especially birdbeak dogfish, knifetooth dogfish and velvet belly. Less confined to deeper grounds are blackmouth catshark and sandy ray, while lesser spotted dogfish and cuckoo ray inhabit mainly the shallowergrounds close to the Irish shelf or the central mound in the bank. Length distributions of these species along the survey series are also presented and discussed. The few available data on siki sharks from the Porcupine bank survey are also summarized.Versión del edito