High-density lipoprotein contribute to G0-G1/S transition in Swiss NIH/3T3 fibroblasts

High density lipoproteins (HDLs) play a crucial role in removing excess cholesterol from peripheral tissues. Although their concentration is lower during conditions of high cell growth rate (cancer and infections), their involvement during cell proliferation is not known. To this aim, we investigated the replicative cycles in synchronized Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts in different experimental conditions: i) contact-inhibited fibroblasts re-entering cell cycle after dilution; ii) scratch-wound assay; iii) serum deprived cells induced to re-enter G1 by FCS, HDL or PDGF. Analyses were performed during each cell cycle up to quiescence. Cholesterol synthesis increased remarkably during the replicative cycles, decreasing only after cells reached confluence. In contrast, cholesteryl ester (CE) synthesis and content were high at 24h after dilution and then decreased steeply in the successive cycles. Flow cytometry analysis of DiO-HDL, as well as radiolabeled HDL pulse, demonstrated a significant uptake of CE-HDL in 24h. DiI-HDL uptake, lipid droplets (LDs) and SR-BI immunostaining and expression followed the same trend. Addition of HDL or PDGF partially restore the proliferation rate and significantly increase SR-BI and pAKT expression in serum-deprived cells. In conclusion, cell transition from G0 to G1/S requires CE-HDL uptake, leading to CE-HDL/SR-BI pathway activation and CEs increase into LDs

C-reactive protein levels in the first days of life: a systematic statistical approach

Microbial neonatal infections are responsible for considerable morbidity and mortality and for this reason there is a growing interest for new approaches in the clinical government of this human affection. Using an integrated statistical model, this work investigated the role of the C-reactive protein (CRP) in the diagnosis and therapy assessment for sepsis in 386 cases of early-onset neonatal sepsis . Methods: 386 intensive care unit (ICU) neonatal patients were enrolled in this work. Different clinical-laboratory parameters, such as : CRP level, blood culture, complete blood cell count (CBC), urine and other blood tests were assessed for the first seven days after birth. Several statistical methods have been used to estimate the correlation CRP –septicaemia, using Chi-squared, Pearson, Anova and Poisson distribution. Results: a statistical positive correlation (CRP value vs septicaemia status) was observed to integrate the Anova and Poisson distribution methods, especially in the first days after birth. Conclusion: A correct statistical evaluation of CRP values could be significant for risk prediction and subsequent prompt therapy in neonatal sepsi