Nutritional and tissue-specific regulation of cytochrome P450 CYP711A MAX1 homologues and strigolactone biosynthesis in wheat

Strigolactones (SLs) are a class of phytohormones regulating branching/tillering, and their biosynthesis has been associated with nutritional signals and plant adaptation to nutrient-limiting conditions. The enzymes in the SL biosynthetic pathway downstream of carlactone are of interest as they are responsible for structural diversity in SLs, particularly cytochrome P450 CYP711A subfamily members, such as MORE AXILLARY GROWTH1 (MAX1) in Arabidopsis. We identified 13 MAX1 homologues in wheat, clustering in four clades and five homoeologous subgroups. The utilization of RNA-sequencing data revealed a distinct expression pattern of MAX1 homologues in above- and below-ground tissues, providing insights into the distinct roles of MAX1 homologues in wheat. In addition, a transcriptional analysis showed that SL biosynthetic genes were systematically regulated by nitrogen supply. Nitrogen limitation led to larger transcriptional changes in the basal nodes than phosphorus limitation, which was consistent with the observed tillering suppression, as wheat showed higher sensitivity to nitrogen. The opposite was observed in roots, with phosphorus limitation leading to stronger induction of most SL biosynthetic genes compared with nitrogen limitation. The observed tissue-specific regulation of SL biosynthetic genes in response to nutritional signals is likely to reflect the dual role of SLs as rhizosphere signals and branching inhibitors

Urticaire chronique superficielle associée aux cancers solides : un cas et revue de la littérature

BACKGROUND: Chronic urticaria is common and is generally idiopathic ("spontaneous"). Links between solid cancer and chronic urticaria have been mentioned in the literature. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We report the case of a 63-year-old man presenting with superficial chronic urticaria associated with adenocarcinoma of the ethmoid sinus. We discuss the possibility of systemic origin in light of the severity of the disease and its resistance to treatment. Only recurrent ethmoidal cancer was highlighted. Curative care resulted in complete resolution of the urticaria without relapse at 32 months of follow-up. DISCUSSION: In a literature review, we collected 17 cases of superficial chronic urticaria associated with cancer. These cases were marked by synchronous progression and by the inefficacy (86%) of anti-histamines and systemic corticosteroids. Although cases of chronic superficial urticaria associated with cancer remain rare, the condition merits discussion due to its severity and significant resistance to therapy

Human Muscle Satellite Cells as Targets of Chikungunya Virus Infection

BACKGROUND: Chikungunya (CHIK) virus is a mosquito-transmitted alphavirus that causes in humans an acute infection characterised by fever, polyarthralgia, head-ache, and myalgia. Since 2005, the emergence of CHIK virus was associated with an unprecedented magnitude outbreak of CHIK disease in the Indian Ocean. Clinically, this outbreak was characterized by invalidating poly-arthralgia, with myalgia being reported in 97.7% of cases. Since the cellular targets of CHIK virus in humans are unknown, we studied the pathogenic events and targets of CHIK infection in skeletal muscle. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Immunohistology on muscle biopsies from two CHIK virus-infected patients with myositic syndrome showed that viral antigens were found exclusively inside skeletal muscle progenitor cells (designed as satelllite cells), and not in muscle fibers. To evaluate the ability of CHIK virus to replicate in human satellite cells, we assessed virus infection on primary human muscle cells; viral growth was observed in CHIK virus-infected satellite cells with a cytopathic effect, whereas myotubes were essentially refractory to infection. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: This report provides new insights into CHIK virus pathogenesis, since it is the first to identify a cellular target of CHIK virus in humans and to report a selective infection of muscle satellite cells by a viral agent in humans

Secondary Metabolites of Marine Microbes: From Natural Products Chemistry to Chemical Ecology

Marine natural products (MNPs) exhibit a wide range of pharmaceutically relevant bioactivities, including antibiotic, antiviral, anticancer, or anti-inflammatory properties. Besides marine macroorganisms such as sponges, algae, or corals, specifically marine bacteria and fungi have shown to produce novel secondary metabolites (SMs) with unique and diverse chemical structures that may hold the key for the development of novel drugs or drug leads. Apart from highlighting their potential benefit to humankind, this review is focusing on the manifold functions of SMs in the marine ecosystem. For example, potent MNPs have the ability to exile predators and competing organisms, act as attractants for mating purposes, or serve as dye for the expulsion or attraction of other organisms. A large compilation of literature on the role of MNPs in marine ecology is available, and several reviews evaluated the function of MNPs for the aforementioned topics. Therefore, we focused the second part of this review on the importance of bioactive compounds from crustose coralline algae (CCA) and their role during coral settlement, a topic that has received less attention. It has been shown that certain SMs derived from CCA and their associated bacteria are able to induce attachment and/or metamorphosis of many benthic invertebrate larvae, including globally threatened reef-building scleractinian corals. This review provides an overview on bioactivities of MNPs from marine microbes and their potential use in medicine as well as on the latest findings of the chemical ecology and settlement process of scleractinian corals and other invertebrate larvae

Physiomer reduces the chemokine interleukin-8 production by activated human respiratory epithelial cells.

The authors have recently shown that the transcription factor nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) is a central mediator in the NaCl-mediated interleukin (IL)-8 production by human airway epithelial cells. In this study, it was investigated whether Physiomer, an isotonic sea water-derived solution commercialized for cleaning the nasal mucosa, impaired the chemokine IL-8 expression and secretion by human respiratory epithelial cells compared with that obtained with an isotonic 9% NaCl solution. Primary human bronchial gland (HBG) epithelial cells were incubated either in Physiomer or in a NaCl 9% solution and activated either with 20 ng x mL(-1) tumour necrosis factor-alpha, or IL-1beta, respectively. Physiomer significantly reduced the IL-8 protein release in basal and activated HBG cells in comparison with that obtained with the 9% NaCl solution. In contrast to the effects of Physiomer observed on resting HBG cells, Physiomer did not significantly reduce the level of phosphorylation of the NF-kappaB inhibitor protein IkappaBalpha or the steady-state IL-8 messenger ribonucleic acid levels in activated HBG cells, suggesting that Physiomer would have a post-transcriptional effect on IL-8 expression in activated HBG cells. The authors conclude that Physiomer is potentially useful in the reduction of airway mucosal inflammation

Purification and determination of the action pattern of Haliotis tuberculata laminarinase

The major laminarinase activity (EC 3.2.1.39) from the gastropodean marine mollusc Haliotis tuberculata was purified to homogeneity by cation exchange chromatography and its action pattern was investigated by HPAEC-PAD analysis off the degradation of various laminarin samples. It consists of a 60 kDa protein capable of depolymerizing the unbranched portions of the beta-(1-->3), beta-(1-->6)-glucan, down to laminaritriose. The enzyme operates via a molecular mechanism retaining the anomeric configuration. As the purified protein does not cleave the beta-(1-->6) linkages, it can be used for the structural analysis of laminarins