CC-chemokine ligand 16 induces a novel maturation program in human immature monocyte-derived dendritic cells

Dendritic cells (DCs) are indispensable for initiation of primary T cell responses and a host's defense against infection. Many proinflammatory stimuli induce DCs to mature (mDCs), but little is known about the ability of chemokines to modulate their maturation. In the present study, we report that CCL16 is a potent maturation factor for monocyte-derived DCs (MoDCs) through differential use of its four receptors and an indirect regulator of Th cell differentiation. MoDCs induced to mature by CCL16 are characterized by increased expression of CD80 and CD86, MHC class II molecules, and ex novo expression of CD83 and CCR7. They produce many chemokines to attract monocytes and T cells and are also strong stimulators in activating allogeneic T cells to skew toward Th1 differentiation. Interestingly, they are still able to take up Ag and express chemokine receptors usually bound by inflammatory ligands and can be induced to migrate to different sites where they capture Ags. Our findings indicate that induction of MoDC maturation is an important property of CCL16 and suggest that chemokines may not only organize the migration of MoDCs, but also directly regulate their ability to prime T cell responses

Time-dependent metabolic disorders induced by short-term exposure to polystyrene microplastics in the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis.

Abstract In the modern society, plastic has achieved a crucial status in a myriad of applications because of its favourable properties. Despite the societal benefits, plastic has become a growing global concern due to it is persistence and bioavailability as microplastics (MPs) to aquatic biota. In order to provide mechanistic insights into the early toxicity effects of MPs on aquatic invertebrates, a short-term (up to 72 h) exposure to 3 µm red polystyrene MPs (50 particles/mL) was conducted on marine mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis, selected as model organism for their ability to ingest MPs and their commercial relevance. The use of protonic Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H NMR)-based metabolomics, combined with chemometrics, enabled a comprehensive exploration at fixed exposure time-points (T24, T48, T72) of the impact of MPs accumulated in mussel digestive glands, chosen as the major site for pollutants storage and detoxification processes. In detail, 1H NMR metabolic fingerprints of MP-treated mussels were clearly separated from control and grouped for experimental time-points by a Principal Component Analysis (PCA). Numerous metabolites, including amino acids, osmolytes, metabolites involved in energy metabolism, and antioxidants, participating in various metabolic pathways significantly changed over time in MP-exposed mussel digestive glands related to control, reflecting also the fluctuations in MPs accumulation and pointing out the occurrence of disorders in amino acid metabolism, osmotic equilibrium, antioxidant defense system and energy metabolism. Overall, the present work provides the first insights into the early mechanisms of toxicity of polystyrene MPs in marine invertebrates

Effects of pesticides on Chelon labrosus (Risso, 1827) evaluated by enzymatic activities along the north eastern Sicilian coastlines (Italy)

Pesticides are frequently applied to agricultural activities to improve harvest, in terms of yield and product quality. Useful tools for ecotoxicological studies of marine ecosystems are based on biomarker application on bioindicator key fish species. The main aim of the present study was to detect the potential presence of pesticides in a polluted coastal marine environment, namely Milazzo Gulf, situated in the north eastern coast of Sicily (Italy), by measuring the enzymatic activities of the ecotoxicological biomarkers acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) in brain and blood samples of Chelon labrosus. Also, Marinello Reserve was selected as a reference site. The data showed a significant inhibition in AChE (81%) and BChE (71%) activities in fish from Milazzo Gulf in respect to those from the reference site. The esterase inhibition is primarily due to the presence of organophosphorus insecticides and carbamates that resulted, in Milazzo Gulf, higher in concentration in respect to the reference quality standard decree (D.M. 260, 2010). The results obtained in this study confirm the suspected presence of insecticides in waters and fish from Milazzo Gulf, which may lead to a considerable hazard to humans. This study confirms the relevant advantages of the biomarker approach on fish species in the ecotoxicological evaluation of marine environments

Distributions and compositional patterns of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their derivatives in three edible fishes from Kharg coral Island, Persian Gulf, Iran

This is the first report on bioaccumulation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their derivatives (oxygen, nitrogen, sulfur, hydroxyl, carbonyl and methyl-containing PAHs) in three edible marine fishes, namely Lutjanus argentimaculatus, Lethrinus microdon and Scomberomorus guttatus, from Kharg Island, Persian Gulf, Iran. The concentrations (ng g−1dw) of Σ39PAHs resulted significantly higher in fish liver than muscle, with the PAH composition pattern dominated by low molecular weight compounds (naphthalene, alkyl-naphthalenes and phenanthrene). The highest mean concentrations of Σ9 oxygenated and Σ15 hydroxylated PAHs (ng g−1dw) were found ound in L. microdon and L. argentimaculatus, respectively, while the lowest values in S. guttatus. Additionally, the highest mean concentrations of Σ5 carbonylic PAHs (ng g−1dw) were found in L. argentimaculatus, followed by L. microdon. The PAHs levels and distribution in fish liver and muscle were dependent on both the Kow of PAHs congeners and fish lipid contents. Overall, the present findings provide important baseline data for further research on the ecotoxicity of PAHs in aquatic organisms, and consequent implications for human health

Nuclear localization and new isoforms detection give new insights on Hsp10 functions in normal and cigarette smoke-stressed lung cells

Heat-shock protein (Hsp)10 is the co-chaperone for Hsp60 inside mitochondria, but it also resides outside the organelle. Variations in its levels and intracellular dis- tribution have been documented in pathological conditions, e.g. cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Cigarette smoke (CS) is a potent stressor for the respiratory system, but its effects on the expression, function, and cellular locali- zation of mitochondrial chaperonins are still largely unknown. We studied in vivo (airways biopsies) the localization of Hsp10 and Hsp60 in patients (smokers and non-smokers) affected by mild-moderate COPD, and charac- terized the effects of non-lethal doses of CS extract (CSE) on the expression of these molecules in two human cell lines: lung fibroblasts (HFL-1) and bronchial epithelial cells (16HBE). We applied various in vitro methods: IHC, subcellular fractionation analyses (SFA), western blotting (WB), ICC, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) immunogold, chromati protein extracts (CPE), as well as 2D-gel based proteomics analyses. Bioinformatics was used to gather structural in silico data. IHC showed that Hsp10 occurred in nuclei of epithelial and lamina propria cells of bronchial mucosa from non-smokers and smokers. ICC, SFA, and WB showed that 16HBE and HFL-1 cells featured nuclear Hsp10, before and after CSE exposure; TEM immunogold further confirmed this observation. Proteomics data showed that CSE stimulation did not increase the levels of Hsp10 but did elicit qualitative changes as indicated by molecular weight and isoelectric point shifts. Bioinformatics analyses indicated that Hsp10 can localize in extramitochondrial sites, such as the nucleus, even if Hsp10 lacks known DNA-binding motifs or nuclear import signals. Hsp10 nuclear levels increased after CSE stimulation in HFL-1, indicating cytosol to nucleus migration, and although Hsp10 did not bind DNA, it bound a DNA-associated protein as suggested by CPE/gel retardation experiments. Data reported here indicate that in human cells of the respiratory mucosa there are at least three different intracellular locales for Hsp10: mitochondrial, nuclear, and cyto- solic. Further experiments are en route for the definition of the mechanisms underlying the transfer of Hsp10 to the nucleus and other cellular/extracellular compartments. This work was supported by grants from University of Palermo (FFR 2012) to GLR

Osservazioni

di Calogero Piro. Convertire la realtà che ci circonda in immagini, è stata fin dai primordi dell’essere umano un’atavica necessità. Ancora oggi nella nostra cultura visiva è tutto basato sull’utilizzo dell’immagine per conoscere la realtà che ci circonda. Con la scoperta della fotografia, la riflessione intorno alla natura si fa sempre più interessante. Il ruolo della macchina fotografica in questo progetto per raccontare l’ambiente, la struttura, gli oggetti, i segni, i colori e le atmosfere che caratterizzano il centro del CNR di capo Granitola ha trovato prepotentemente in questi giovani allievi della cattedra di fotografia dell’Accademia di Belle Arti di Palermo, diretta dal Professore Sandro Scalia, momenti di grande professionalità, realizzando un grande reportage con tutti gli aspetti essenziali della struttura e delle articolazioni primarie del linguaggio fotografico. Questa esperienza extradidattica difficile ed impegnativa non soltanto per la necessità del confronto col “nuovo” in termini organizzativi, ma anche per la necessità di descrivere attraverso la fotografia il tema della Biodiversità, è stato affrontato brillantemente. Mettendo in primo piano, siti naturali, siti storici come: Mozia e Selinunte, i laboratori del centro di ricerche, la Flora e la Fauna, sono riusciti a raggiungere con acuta osservazione ottimi risultati visibili in questo catalogo, e con la tangibile riprova di cosa possa e debba essere una educazione estetica assolutamente “libera” da condizionamenti, viatico ineludibile perché l’espressione artistica, sotto qualunque forma, sia artefice dei grandi processi di vera maturazione culturale, si avverte in questi giovani artisti la purezza e la consapevolezza dei propri messaggi ancora privi, e speriamo sempre, di qualunque tipo di inquinamento tendenzioso

Histomorphological Changes in Fish Gut in Response to Prebiotics and Probiotics Treatment to Improve Their Health Status: A Review

The gastrointestinal tract (GIT) promotes the digestion and absorption of feeds, in addition to the excretion of waste products of digestion. In fish, the GIT is divided into four regions, the headgut, foregut, midgut, and hindgut, to which glands and lymphoid tissues are associated to release digestive enzymes and molecules involved in the immune response and control of host-pathogens. The GIT is inhabited by different species of resident microorganisms, the microbiota, which have co-evolved with the host in a symbiotic relationship and are responsible for metabolic benefits and counteracting pathogen infection. There is a strict connection between a fish’s gut microbiota and its health status. This review focuses on the modulation of fish microbiota by feed additives based on prebiotics and probiotics as a feasible strategy to improve fish health status and gut efficiency, mitigate emerging diseases, and maximize rearing and growth performance. Furthermore, the use of histological assays as a valid tool for fish welfare assessment is also discussed, and insights on nutrient absorptive capacity and responsiveness to pathogens in fish by gut morphological endpoints are provided. Overall, the literature reviewed emphasizes the complex interactions between microorganisms and host fish, shedding light on the beneficial use of prebiotics and probiotics in the aquaculture sector, with the potential to provide directions for future research

Organ-Specific Metabolome Deciphering Cell Pathways to Cope with Mercury in Wild Fish (Golden Grey Mullet Chelon auratus)

Metabolomics is a powerful approach in evaluating the health status of organisms in ecotoxicological studies. However, metabolomics data reflect metabolic variations that are attributable to factors intrinsic to the environment and organism, and it is thus crucial to accurately evaluate the metabolome of the tissue/organ examined when it is exposed to no stressor. The metabolomes of the liver and gills of wild golden grey mullet (Chelon auratus) from a reference area were analyzed and compared by proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR)-based metabolomics. Both organs were characterized by amino acids, carbohydrates, osmolytes, nucleosides and their derivatives, and miscellaneous metabolites. However, similarities and differences were revealed in their metabolite profile and related to organ-specific functions. Taurine was predominant in both organs due to its involvement in osmoregulation in gills, and detoxification and antioxidant protective processes in liver. Environmental exposure to mercury (Hg) triggered multiple and often differential metabolic alterations in fish organs. Disturbances in ion-osmoregulatory processes were highlighted in the gills, whereas differential impairments between fish organs were pointed out in energy-producing metabolic pathways, protein catabolism, membrane stabilization processes, and antioxidant defense system, reflecting the induction of organ-specific adaptive and defensive strategies. Overall, a strict correlation between metabolites and organ-specific functions of fish gills and liver were discerned in this study, as well as organ-specific cytotoxicity mechanisms of Hg in fish