Investigation of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1)

Thesis (D.Sc.D.)--Boston University, Henry M. Goldman School of Graduate Dentistry (Oral Biology)Includes bibliography (leaves 54-66)Mononuclear phagocytes play a critical role in defending the host against foreign organisms and in regulating the behavior of other cells. A characteristic feature of macrophages is their ability to infiltrate tumors. Human malignant cells secrete low molecular size proteins that attract peripheral blood monocytes and may be responsible for the accumulation of tumor associated macrophages observed in vivo. One such chemoattractant, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 is produced by smooth muscle cells and a human glioma cell line. Monocyte chemotactic factors produced by different malignant cell types were isolated by immunoprecipitation and then monocyte chemotactic activity was assayed. The results demonstrated that nine of thirteen human malignant cell lines synthesized detectable levels of MCP-1. In each case the chemotactic activity was completely inhibited by MCP-1 antisera. The four cell lines in which there were no detectable levels of MCP-1 in immunoprecipitation experiments also did not produce chemotactic activity. The results demonstrated the correlation between the production of monocyte chemotactic activity and the synthesis of MCP-1. Therefore, the predominant monocyte chemoattractant produced by tumor cells of differing origin are related to MCP-1. [TRUNCATED

A saturated genetic linkage map of autotetraploid alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) developed using genotyping-by-sequencing is highly syntenous with the Medicago truncatula genome.

A genetic linkage map is a valuable tool for quantitative trait locus mapping, map-based gene cloning, comparative mapping, and whole-genome assembly. Alfalfa, one of the most important forage crops in the world, is autotetraploid, allogamous, and highly heterozygous, characteristics that have impeded the construction of a high-density linkage map using traditional genetic marker systems. Using genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS), we constructed low-cost, reasonably high-density linkage maps for both maternal and paternal parental genomes of an autotetraploid alfalfa F1 population. The resulting maps contain 3591 single-nucleotide polymorphism markers on 64 linkage groups across both parents, with an average density of one marker per 1.5 and 1.0 cM for the maternal and paternal haplotype maps, respectively. Chromosome assignments were made based on homology of markers to the M. truncatula genome. Four linkage groups representing the four haplotypes of each alfalfa chromosome were assigned to each of the eight Medicago chromosomes in both the maternal and paternal parents. The alfalfa linkage groups were highly syntenous with M. truncatula, and clearly identified the known translocation between Chromosomes 4 and 8. In addition, a small inversion on Chromosome 1 was identified between M. truncatula and M. sativa. GBS enabled us to develop a saturated linkage map for alfalfa that greatly improved genome coverage relative to previous maps and that will facilitate investigation of genome structure. GBS could be used in breeding populations to accelerate molecular breeding in alfalfa

Na/K-ATPase Signaling and Salt Sensitivity: The Role of Oxidative Stress

Other than genetic regulation of salt sensitivity of blood pressure, many factors have been shown to regulate renal sodium handling which contributes to long-term blood pressure regulation and have been extensively reviewed. Here we present our progress on the Na/K-ATPase signaling mediated sodium reabsorption in renal proximal tubules, from cardiotonic steroids-mediated to reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated Na/K-ATPase signaling that contributes to experimental salt sensitivity

Reactive Oxygen Species Modulation of Na/K-ATPase Regulates Fibrosis and Renal Proximal Tubular Sodium Handling

The Na/K-ATPase is the primary force regulating renal sodium handling and plays a key role in both ion homeostasis and blood pressure regulation. Recently, cardiotonic steroids (CTS)-mediated Na/K-ATPase signaling has been shown to regulate fibrosis, renal proximal tubule (RPT) sodium reabsorption, and experimental Dahl salt-sensitive hypertension in response to a high-salt diet. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are an important modulator of nephron ion transport. As there is limited knowledge regarding the role of ROS-mediated fibrosis and RPT sodium reabsorption through the Na/K-ATPase, the focus of this review is to examine the possible role of ROS in the regulation of Na/K-ATPase activity, its signaling, fibrosis, and RPT sodium reabsorption

Research on Community Detection Algorithm Based on the UIR-Q

Aiming at the current problems of community detection algorithm in which user’s property is not used; the community structure is not stable and the efficiency of the algorithm is low, this paper proposes a community detection algorithm based on the user influence and its parallelization method. In terms of the concept of user influence in the subject communication and the PageRank algorithm, this paper uses the properties of nodes of users in social networks to form the user influence factors. Then, the user with the biggest influence is set as the initial node of new community and and the local modularity is introduced into detecting the community structure.  in order to make the result of community detection quick and efficient. Many experiments show that the improved algorithm can efficiently detect the community structure with large scale users and the results are stable. Therefore, this algorithm will have a wide applied prospect

The Cutoff protein regulates piRNA cluster expression and piRNA production in the Drosophila germline

The identity and function of many factors involved in the piRNA pathway remain unknown. Here, in Drosophila, cutoff plays a role in regulating piRNA cluster transcript levels and biogenesis together with the heterochromatin protein Rhino

Wettability Alteration of Sandstone by Chemical Treatments

Liquid condensation in the reservoir near a wellbore may kill gas production in gas-condensate reservoirs when pressure drops lower than the dew point. It is clear from investigations reported in the literature that gas production could be improved by altering the rock wettability from liquid-wetness to gas-wetness. In this paper, three different fluorosurfactants FG1105, FC911, and FG40 were evaluated for altering the wettability of sandstone rocks from liquid-wetting to gas-wetting using contact angle measurement. The results showed that FG40 provided the best wettability alteration effect with a concentration of 0.3% and FC911 at the concentration of 0.3%

Antibacterial Properties of Dental Luting Agents: Potential to Hinder the Development of Secondary Caries

A modified direct contact test was used to evaluate the antibacterial properties of four commercially available dental luting agents (RelyX Unicem, Ketac Cem, Ceramir Crown & Bridge and Harvard Cement) and two reference materials (glass-ionomer cement and calcium aluminate cement) compared to a negative-control material (PMMA). Streptococcus mutans bacteria were placed in direct contact with specimens that had been aged for 10 min, 1 day, and 7 days, in order to test the antibacterial properties of the materials. A metabolic assay containing resazurin was used to quantify the amount of viable bacteria remaining after the direct contact tests. The effects of pH and fluoride on bacteria proliferation were also evaluated. Strongest antibacterial properties were found for calcium aluminate cement, followed by Ceramir Crown & Bridge and RelyX Unicem. Ketac Cem, Harvard Cement, and the reference glass-ionomer cement showed bacteria content either higher than or not significantly different from the PMMA control in all instances. pH levels below 6.3 and above 9.0 were found to have negative effects on bacterial proliferation. No correlation between either acidic materials or fluoride release and antibacterial properties could be seen; rather, basic materials showed stronger antibacterial properties