Endogenous erythropoietin as part of the cytokine network in the pathogenesis of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis

Erythropoietin (EPO) is of great interest as a therapy for many of the central nervous system (CNS) diseases and its administration is protective in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), an animal model of multiple sclerosis (MS). Endogenous EPO is induced by hypoxic/ischemic injury, but little is known about its expression in other CNS diseases. We report here that EPO expression in the spinal cord is induced in mouse models of chronic or relapsing-remitting EAE, and is prominently localized to motoneurons. We found a parallel increase of hypoxia-inducible transcription factor (HIF)-1 alpha, but not HIF-2 alpha, at the mRNA level, suggesting a possible role of non-hypoxic factors in EPO induction. EPO mRNA in the spinal cord was co-expressed with interferon (IFN)-gamma and tumor necrosis factor (TNF), and these cytokines inhibited EPO production in vitro in both neuronal and glial cells. Given the known inhibitory effect of EPO on neuroinflammation, our study indicates that EPO should be viewed as part of the inflammatory/anti-inflammatory network in MS

Role of SP-1 in SDS-Induced Adipose Differentiation Related Protein Synthesis in Human Keratinocytes

Skin irritation is a complex phenomenon, and keratinocytes play an important role in it. We have recently characterized the expression and protective role of adipose differentiation related protein (ADRP) in skin irritation. In particular, ADRP expression is induced to recover functional cell membrane following the cell damage caused by skin irritants

Hodgkin's lymphoma: post- autologous transplantation consolidation therapy

A first-line chemotherapy program based on the ABVD regimen is currently considered the golden standard by most hematologists, being able to achieve a cure without any need of subsequent therapies in >70% of patients with advanced-stage Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL). To increase this percentage, efforts in recent decades focused on the development of new therapeutic strategies. A first major effort was the introduction of the BEACOPP chemotherapy regimen, which is able to increase the response rate and to reduce the need of salvage therapies. However, this result did not demonstrate an advantage in terms of overall survival compared to ABVD, mainly due to an excess of non lymphoma-related events in the follow-up phase. Here we describe three clinical cases of young HL patients who had relapsed/refractory disease after the induction chemotherapy. These three clinical cases provide practical and real world evidence in favor of the use of BV in monotherapy as consolidation treatment after autologous stem cells transplantation in patients with relapsed/refractory HL

Distribution of interleukin-1 receptor complex at the synaptic membrane driven by interleukin-1β and NMDA stimulation

Interleukin-1β (IL-1β) is a pro-inflammatory cytokine that contributes to neuronal injury in various degenerative diseases, and is therefore a potential therapeutic target. It exerts its biological effect by activating the interleukin-1 receptor type I (IL-1RI) and recruiting a signalling core complex consisting of the myeloid differentiation primary response protein 88 (MyD88) and the IL-1R accessory protein (IL-1RAcP). This pathway has been clearly described in the peripheral immune system, but only scattered information is available concerning the molecular composition and distribution of its members in neuronal cells. The findings of this study show that IL-1RI and its accessory proteins MyD88 and IL-1RAcP are differently distributed in the hippocampus and in the subcellular compartments of primary hippocampal neurons. In particular, only IL-1RI is enriched at synaptic sites, where it co-localises with, and binds to the GluN2B subunit of NMDA receptors. Furthermore, treatment with NMDA increases IL-1RI interaction with NMDA receptors, as well as the surface expression and localization of IL-1RI at synaptic membranes. IL-1β also increases IL-1RI levels at synaptic sites, without affecting the total amount of the receptor in the plasma membrane. Our results reveal for the first time the existence of a dynamic and functional interaction between NMDA receptor and IL-1RI systems that could provide a molecular basis for IL-1β as a neuromodulator in physiological and pathological events relying on NMDA receptor activation

Erythropoietin Selectively Attenuates Cytokine Production and Inflammation in Cerebral Ischemia by Targeting Neuronal Apoptosis

Ischemic brain injury resulting from stroke arises from primary neuronal losses and by inflammatory responses. Previous studies suggest that erythropoietin (EPO) attenuates both processes. Although EPO is clearly antiapoptotic for neurons after experimental stroke, it is unknown whether EPO also directly modulates EPO receptor (EPO-R)–expressing glia, microglia, and other inflammatory cells. In these experiments, we show that recombinant human EPO (rhEPO; 5,000 U/kg body weight, i.p.) markedly reduces astrocyte activation and the recruitment of leukocytes and microglia into an infarction produced by middle cerebral artery occlusion in rats. In addition, ischemia-induced production of the proinflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor, interleukin 6, and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 concentration is reduced by >50% after rhEPO administration. Similar results were also observed in mixed neuronal-glial cocultures exposed to the neuronal-selective toxin trimethyl tin. In contrast, rhEPO did not inhibit cytokine production by astrocyte cultures exposed to neuronal homogenates or modulate the response of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, rat glial cells, or the brain to lipopolysaccharide. These findings suggest that rhEPO attenuates ischemia-induced inflammation by reducing neuronal death rather than by direct effects upon EPO-R–expressing inflammatory cells

Brentuximab vedotin in relapsed/refractory Hodgkin's lymphoma: the Italian experience and results of its use in daily clinical practice outside clinical trials

Clinical trial results indicate that brentuximab vedotin brings considerable promise for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin's lymphoma. A retrospective multicenter study was conducted on 65 heavily pretreated patients who underwent therapy through a Named Patient Program in Italy (non trial-setting). The primary study endpoint was the objective response rate; secondary endpoints were safety, overall survival and progression-free survival. The best overall response rate (70.7%), including 21.5% complete responses, was observed at the first restaging after the third cycle of treatment. After a median follow up of 13.2 months, the overall survival rate at 20 months was 73.8% while the progression-free survival rate at 20 months was 24.2%. Globally nine patients are in continuous complete response with a median follow up of 14 months (range, 10-19 months). Four patients proceeded to autotransplantation and nine to allotransplantation. The most frequent extra-hematologic toxicity was peripheral neuropathy, observed in 21.5% of cases (9 patients with grade 1/2 and 5 patients with grade 3/4); neurological toxicity led to discontinuation of treatment in three patients and to dose reduction in four. In general the treatment was well tolerated and toxicities, both hematologic and extra-hematologic, were manageable. This report indicates and confirms that brentuximab vedotin as a single agent is effective and safe also when used in standard, everyday clinical practice outside a clinical trial. Best overall responses were recorded after three or four cycles and showed that brentuximab vedotin provides an effective bridge to further therapeutic interventions

Transcriptional adaptations during long-term persistence of Staphylococcus aureus in the airways of a cystic fibrosis patient

AbstractThe lungs of Cystic fibrosis (CF) patients are often colonized and/or infected by Staphylococcus aureus for years, mostly by one predominant clone. For long-term survival in this environment, S. aureus needs to adapt during its interactions with host factors, antibiotics, and other pathogens. Here, we study long-term transcriptional as well as genomic adaptations of an isogenic pair of S. aureus isolates from a single patient using RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) and whole genome sequencing (WGS). Mimicking in vivo conditions, we cultivated the S. aureus isolates using artificial sputum medium before harvesting RNA for subsequent analysis. We confirmed our RNA-Seq data using quantitative real-time (qRT)-PCR and additionally investigated intermediate isolates from the same patient representing in total 13.2 years of persistence in the CF airways. Comparative RNA-Seq analysis of the first and the last (“late”) isolate revealed significant differences in the late isolate after 13.2 years of persistence. Of the 2545 genes expressed in both isolates that were cultivated aerobically, 256 genes were up- and 161 were down-regulated with a minimum 2-fold change (2f). Focusing on 25 highly (≥8f) up- (n=9) or down- (n=16) regulated genes, we identified several genes encoding for virulence factors involved in immune evasion, bacterial spread or secretion (e.g. spa, sak, and esxA). Moreover, these genes displayed similar expression trends under aerobic, microaerophilic and anaerobic conditions. Further qRT-PCR-experiments of highly up- or down-regulated genes within intermediate S. aureus isolates resulted in different gene expression patterns over the years. Using sequencing analysis of the differently expressed genes and their upstream regions in the late S. aureus isolate resulted in only few genomic alterations. Comparative transcriptomic analysis revealed adaptive changes affecting mainly genes involved in host-pathogen interaction. Although the underlying mechanisms were not known, our results suggest adaptive processes beyond genomic mutations triggered by local factors rather than by activation of global regulators

Discutindo a educação ambiental no cotidiano escolar: desenvolvimento de projetos na escola formação inicial e continuada de professores

A presente pesquisa buscou discutir como a Educação Ambiental (EA) vem sendo trabalhada, no Ensino Fundamental e como os docentes desta escola compreendem e vem inserindo a EA no cotidiano escolar., em uma escola estadual do município de Tangará da Serra/MT, Brasil. Para tanto, realizou-se entrevistas com os professores que fazem parte de um projeto interdisciplinar de EA na escola pesquisada. Verificou-se que o projeto da escola não vem conseguindo alcançar os objetivos propostos por: desconhecimento do mesmo, pelos professores; formação deficiente dos professores, não entendimento da EA como processo de ensino-aprendizagem, falta de recursos didáticos, planejamento inadequado das atividades. A partir dessa constatação, procurou-se debater a impossibilidade de tratar do tema fora do trabalho interdisciplinar, bem como, e principalmente, a importância de um estudo mais aprofundado de EA, vinculando teoria e prática, tanto na formação docente, como em projetos escolares, a fim de fugir do tradicional vínculo “EA e ecologia, lixo e horta”.Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias de la Educació