The ovarian bone morphogenetic protein system in Oreochromis mossambicus

Dissertação de mest., Biotecnologia, Faculdade de Engenharia dos Recursos Naturais, Universidade do Algarve, 2008The study of ovarian follicle growth in teleosts provides basic knowledge but it may also find applications in the biomedical sciences, fisheries management, environmental science and aquaculture. The processes regulating ovarian development are still largely unknown, particularly for teleosts. Many of the genes involved and their roles on the various processes associated with reproduction are yet to be found. Rising experimental data support TGF-β superfamily members has key role players in numerous features of follicle development. Here we have studied several TGF-β superfamily members, namely several BMP subfamily ligands and receptors, and the GDF subfamily member - GDF-9, to help understand their roles in the ovary physiology of the teleost Oreochromis mossambicus. The characterization of those ligands and receptors included cloning of their cDNA coding regions, the identification of protein conserved domains and phylogenetic analysis. Several TGF-β members received special attention due to their reported importance and relevance in mammalian ovarian follicle development, namely BMP-2, BMP-4, BMP-6, BMP-7, BMP-15, GDF-9, BMPR-IA, BMPR-IB and BMPR-II. mRNA expression analysis of mature gonads was carried out on these TGF-β members. Because of their crucial participation in ovarian follicle development, BMP-15, GDF-9 and BMPR-IB were further studied by northern blot and in situ hybridization. All BMP family members studied were detected in ovary and testis but, mainly in ovary. BMP-15 and GDF-9 mRNAs were expressed abundantly in ovary compared to other tissues. BMPR-IB, in addition to ovary, was expressed abundantly in brain. These results further reinforce the essential role BMP family members in ovarian physiology

Efectos de un extracto de uva enriquecido en resveratrol en el perfil aterogénico, inflamatorio y fibrinolítico de pacientes en prevención primaria y secundaria de riesgo cardiovascular. Evidencia en marcadores y expresión genética en dos ensayos clínicos aleatorios de un año.

Las enfermedades cardiovasculares son la causa principal de muerte prematura en los países desarrollados. El control de los factores de riesgo disminuye la aparición de estas enfermedades (Prevención Primaria) o su recaída (Prevención Secundaria). Sin embargo, a pesar del uso de tratamientos farmacológicos optimizados, en muchas ocasiones siguen apareciendo eventos adversos debido a un riesgo residual por lo que resulta esencial la búsqueda de estrategias complementarias a estos tratamientos farmacológicos. En dos ensayos clínicos aleatorios de un año, triple-ciego, de tres brazos, controlados por placebo, en 150 pacientes de Prevención Primaria y Secundaria, hemos constatado la mejora del perfil aterogénico, inflamatorio y fibrinolítico tras el consumo de un extracto de uva enriquecido en resveratrol. Nuestros resultados avalan que este suplemento contribuye a la prevención cardiovascular y complementa su tratamiento, sin efectos adversos, y supone un importante avance en la prevención del riesgo cardiovascular a través de un tratamiento no farmacológico. Polifenoles, resveratrol, enfermedad cardiovascular, uva, prevención, nutracéutico, ensayo clínico, aterosclerosis, inflamación, fibrinólisis, expresión génica Cardiovascular diseases are the main cause of premature death in developed countries. Controlling risk factors reduces the beginning (Primary Prevention) or relapse (Secondary Prevention) of these diseases. Nevertheless, a residual risk still remains and adverse outcomes often arise despite of optimized pharmacological treatments, thus the search for complementary strategies to these treatments is essential. In two randomized, triple blind, three-arm parallel, placebo-controlled clinical trials, with 150 primary and secondary prevention patients, we observed an improvement on the atherogenic, inflammatory and fibrinolytic profile after the consumption of a resveratrol enriched grape extract. Our results support that this supplement contributes to cardiovascular prevention and complements its treatment, without adverse effects, and is an important advance in cardiovascular risk prevention through a non-pharmacological treatment. Polyphenols, resveratrol, cardiovascular disease, grape, prevention, nutraceutical, clinical trial, atherosclerosis, inflammation, fibrinolysis, gene expressio