Characterisation, expression and ontogeny of interleukin-6 and its receptors in zebrafish (Danio rerio)

10 páginas, 8 figuras, 2 tablasInterleukin-6 (IL-6) is one of the most pleiotropic cytokines due to its importance in both innate and adaptive immune responses and other physiological processes. In this study, we identified the zebrafish (Danio rerio) IL-6 homologue by investigating the synteny between the human (Homo sapiens), the fugu (Takifugu rubripes) and the zebrafish genome. Although zebrafish IL-6 showed a low sequence homology with other IL-6 sequences in other species, it presented a high structural similarity to human IL-6. We also analysed IL-6 expression in several different tissues, along with analysis of the expression of the genes that form the IL-6 receptor complex, IL-6R and gp130. After treatment with bacterial or viral stimuli, zebrafish IL-6 expression was modulated in a manner similar to that of other proinflammatory molecules, such as IL-1β and TNF-α. The expression of IL-6, IL-6R and gp130 was also studied during the ontogeny of zebrafish larvae using quantitative PCR and in situ hybridisation. Our results indicated that the transcripts were detected very early, increased during the first week of life and were predominantly expressed in the head, epidermis and neuromasts of the anterior and posterior lateral line system, suggesting their involvement in the normal development of these tissues.We want to thank the funding from the project CSD2007-00002 “Aquagenomics” of the program Consolider-Ingenio 2010 from the Spanish Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación. M. Varela gratefully acknowledges the JAE Program, co financed by CSIC and European Social Funds, for a predoctoral grant.Peer reviewe

Why EU asylum standards exceed the lowest common denominator: the role of regulatory expertise in EU decision-making

While scholars traditionally expected EU policy-making in the area of asylum to produce lowest common denominator standards, recent studies on the first phase of the Common European Asylum System have observed higher asylum standards in some instances. This article aims at explaining this divergence. Drawing on concepts of regulatory expertise and ‘misfit’, it argues that the observed variation in policy output can be explained by the dominance of a few (Northern) member states which were highly successful in inserting their positions in the core EU directives. Government effectiveness and exposure to the phenomenon entailing regulatory expertise provide a powerful explanation for member states being effective policy-shapers. Characterized by low levels of government effectiveness and exposure in the asylum area, Southern European countries were, on the contrary, rather passive during the negotiations and barely left any mark on the EU directives

Nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (Gorlin syndrome)

Nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (NBCCS), also known as Gorlin syndrome, is a hereditary condition characterized by a wide range of developmental abnormalities and a predisposition to neoplasms

ACT-FASTER: An epidemiological prospective Cohort Study to describe treatment patterns of fulvestrant and exemestane in postmenopausal patients with advanced HR+ breast cancer under real-life conditions in Germany

Ostermann H, Bruno B, Greiner W, et al. ACT-FASTER: An epidemiological prospective Cohort Study to describe treatment patterns of fulvestrant and exemestane in postmenopausal patients with advanced HR+ breast cancer under real-life conditions in Germany. Onkologie. 2011;34:61-62

Atrichia with papular lesions resulting from compound heterozygous mutations in the hairless gene: A lesson for differential diagnosis of alopecia universalis

5 páginas, 1 figura.Background: Atrichia with papular lesions (APL) is a rare, autosomal recessive form of total alopecia in which mutations in the hairless (HR) gene have been shown to underlie the phenotype. Objective: We suspect that APL is actually much more common than previously believed. We sought to investigate whether APL might also be found among patients in small families, particularly those giving a history of (1) normal hair at birth, which was shed and never regrew, and (2) “alopecia universalis” that is recalcitrant to any treatment. Methods: We identified a small family of German origin in which 2 of 4 siblings were affected and gave this clinical history. Direct sequence analysis of the HR gene in the nuclear family was performed. Results: Mutation analysis revealed distinct mutations on each allele of the HR gene. This is the first demonstration of compound heterozygous mutations underlying APL. Conclusion: These findings support the hypothesis that APL can exist in small nonconsanguineous families and may be masquerading clinically as alopecia universalis. Accurate discrimination between APL and alopecia universalis should prevent unnecessary treatment of patients affected with APL.Peer reviewe