Lung regions differently modulate bronchial branching development and extracellular matrix plays a role in regulating the development of chick embryo whole lung.

Normal branching development is dependent on the correlation between cells and extracellular matrix. In this interaction glycosaminoglycans, cytokines and growth factors play a fundamental role. In order to verify the distribution and influence of extracellular matrix and related enzymes on chick embryo lung development, 6 day-old whole lungs were maintained in vitro with testicular hyaluronidase, beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase and chondrotinase ABC or in linkage with apical, medial and caudal lung regions of 6-day development before and after enzyme treatment. In a separate lung region beta-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase and hyaluronidase were determined. Our data show that the whole lung cultures increase bronchial branching development when the medial region is admixed separately, while the separate apical or caudal regions or apical combined with caudal region do not affect bronchial branching development. The enzyme treatment of medial region prevents the branching development in associated whole lung. The bronchial branching development of whole lung cultured in medium containing the enzymes related to glycosaminoglycans turnover is significantly altered. In conclusion, these data show that the different influence of separate apical, medial, caudal lung regions on bronchial branching development is related to the extracellular matrix composition

Spatial and Temporal Dust Source Variability in Northern China Identified Using Advanced Remote Sensing Analysis

The aim of this research is to provide a detailed characterization of spatial patterns and temporal trends in the regional and local dust source areas within the desert of the Alashan Prefecture (Inner Mongolia, China). This problem was approached through multi-scale remote sensing analysis of vegetation changes. The primary requirements for this regional analysis are high spatial and spectral resolution data, accurate spectral calibration and good temporal resolution with a suitable temporal baseline. Landsat analysis and field validation along with the low spatial resolution classifications from MODIS and AVHRR are combined to provide a reliable characterization of the different potential dust-producing sources. The representation of intra-annual and inter-annual Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) trend to assess land cover discrimination for mapping potential dust source using MODIS and AVHRR at larger scale is enhanced by Landsat Spectral Mixing Analysis (SMA). The combined methodology is to determine the extent to which Landsat can distinguish important soils types in order to better understand how soil reflectance behaves at seasonal and inter-annual timescales. As a final result mapping soil surface properties using SMA is representative of responses of different land and soil cover previously identified by NDVI trend. The results could be used in dust emission models even if they are not reflecting aggregate formation, soil stability or particle coatings showing to be critical for accurately represent dust source over different regional and local emitting areas

Glycosidases during chick embryo lung development and their colocalization with proteoglycans and growth factors

During development, the epithelial component of the lung goes through a complex orderly process of branching, following strict patterns of space and time. Proteoglycans, glycosaminoglycans and growth factors are fundamental components of the extracellular matrix and perform a key role in differentiative processes. The embryonic chick lung shows a specific glycosaminoglycan composition at different levels of branching and at different embryonic stages. Proteoglycan and glycosaminoglycan accumulation is the result of secretion, absorption and degradation processes. In this pathway, enzymes, such as glycosidases, growth factors and cytokines are involved. We examined the behaviour of glycosidases, such as ß-hexosaminidases (ß-N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase, ß- N-acetyl-D-galactosaminidase), ß-glucuronidase and ß-galactosidase, during the development of the lung bud. Our data show that the activity of the enzymes is closely linked to the processes of epithelial proliferation, bronchial tubule lengthening and infiltration of the surrounding mesenchyme. The glycosaminoglycans colocalize with transforming growth factor ß2 and inter- leukin-1 in the basement membrane and in the mesenchymal areas where the epithelium grows, and are complementary to the presence of the glycosidases. In conclusion, the activity of these glycosidases is spatially and temporally programmed and favors the release of the factors and the events which they influence

Neurovirulence factors coding sequences of Herpes simplex virus type 1 map in two distinct genomic loci.

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Ultrastructural Features of Cyclosporine -Induced Gingival Hyperplasia

THE PRESENT WORK COLLECTED DATA on the ultrastructural features of the attached gingiva in kidney transplant patients who showed gingival hyperplasia following cyclosporin A (Cy A) treatment. Ultrastructural examination was carried out on biopsies of attached gingiva obtained from 8 male patients (30 to 60 years old) undergoing treatment at the Dental Clinic of the University of Ferrara. The data showed that, although many fibroblasts are present in Cy A-induced hyperplasia, there is a particular abundance of amorphous substance compared to fibrous, as well as marked plasma cell infiltration. On the basis of the data collected, we hypothesize that the morphological features of the dimensional increase in gingival tissue associated with CY A treatment in kidney transplant patients may be considered local manifestations of a systemic phenomenon

A Model Chain Application to Estimate Mixing Layer Height Related to PM10 Dispersion Processes

The mixing layer height (MLH) is a crucial parameter in order to investigate the near surface concentrations of air pollutants. The MLH can be estimated by measurements of some atmospheric variables, by indirect estimates based on trace gases concentration or aerosol, or by numerical models. Here, a modelling approach is proposed. The developed modelling system is based on the models WRF-ARW and CALMET. This system is applied on Firenze-Prato-Pistoia area (Central Italy), during 2010, and it is compared with in situ measurements. The aim of this work is to evaluate the use of MLH model estimates to characterize the critical episodes for PM10 in a limited area. In order to find out the meteorological conditions predisposing accumulation of PM10 in the atmosphere’s lower level, some indicators are used: daily mean wind speed, cumulated rainfall, and mean MLH estimates from CALMET model. This indicator is linked to orography, which has important consequences on local weather dynamics. However, during critical events the local emission sources are crucial to the determination of threshold exceeding of PM10. Results show that the modelled MLH, together with cumulative rainfall and wind speed, can identify the meteorological conditions predisposing accumulation of air pollutant at ground level

Ultrastructural changes in Langerhans cells in gingival overgrowth in cyclosporin A-treated renal transplant patients

Aim: Our research was focused on the ultrastructural features of gingival epithelium in kidney transplant patients and, in particular, on Langerhans cells, with the aim of verifying whether ultrastructural modifications might explain gingival overgrowth. Methods: Using electron microscopy and immunohistochemical S100 staining at optical microscopy, we examined gingival samples obtained from 18 kidney transplant patients who presented with gingival overgrowth following cyclosporin A treatment. Results: The hyperkeratosis shown by the epithelium, and especially the absence of Birbeck granules in the Langerhans cells observed in serial sections, lead us to correlate these data to an immunodeficiency which affects the epithelium in the complex mechanism determining overgrowth. Conclusions: In our previous studies we attributed the responsibility of overgrowth to the connective tissue alone. However, in the light of the present results, we cannot exclude a contribution of the epithelium to gingival overgrowth

In vivo and in vitro human osteoblast morphology and Cyclosporin A treatment

Introduction Osteoporosis and osteomalacia are both characterized by an imbalance between synthesis, degradation and mineralization of extracellular matrix (ECM). Cyclosporin A (CyA) is able to modify the ECM components such as collagen and proteoglycans. Cell activity is dependent on cell morphology and substrate cell attachment. Moreover, cell morphology and polarization are dependent on cytoskeletal organization. In this work, we have treated normal human osteoblasts with CyA and analysed the gene expression related to cell cytoskeleton and polarization by microarray and immunofluorescent antibody methods. Materials and Methods Cells obtained from iliac crest of 5 healthy patients without immune and bone pathologies, were grown in culture flasks with 199 medium supplemented with 10% fetal calf bovine serum (FBS) and antibiotics, at 37°C and 5% CO2. At the 4th passage, fully confluent cultures were maintained in 199 medium containing 10% FBS alone or 800 mg/ml CyA for 24 hours. After this time, the gene expression related to actin polymerization, focal adhesion and Wnt signaling pathways were analyzed by microarray methods, cytoskeletal components by fluorescent antibodies and cellular organules by transmission electron microscope. Results The microarray analysis shows that the CyA inhibits or stimulates the gene related to actin polimerization, focal adhesion and Wnt signaling pathways. The immunofluorescent observations show that the CyA decreases actin (P≤0.01), while the tubulin of cytoskeleton does not change. TEM observations of osteoblasts cultures show that rough endoplasmic reticulum and secretory vesicles are increased in treated osteoblasts compared to controls. The optical microscope observations do not show morphological osteoblasts changes between treated and control cultures, while in vivo the osteoblasts show different morphology. Discussion Our data show that in vitro CyA modifies the cytoskeletal components and gene expression related to osteoblast morphology and polarity, in accordance with in vivo data, showing that osteoblasts have different morphology and ECM synthesis in osteoporosis and osteomalacia. Since CyA-treated patients develop different bone pathologies, it suggests a possible genetic sensitivity according to Tipon et al. (1991) that observed inter-individual heterogeneity in the collagenolytic responses of gingival fibroblasts after CyA treatment. Moreover, in vivo the bone physiology is the result of the relation between several cells and stimuli that are omissis in vitro. These data seem suggest that in CyA-treated patients the bone pathologies could be the result of multiple effects at cellular level according to literature

Depletion of polyamines and increase of transforming growth factor-beta1, c-myc, collagen-type I, matrix metalloproteinase-1, and metalloproteinase-2 mRNA in primary human gingival fibroblasts

The polyamines spermidine, spermine, and putrescine are known to be deeply linked with growth processes, gene expression, and extracellular matrix synthesis. Their cellular content depends primarily on the activity of the enzyme ornithine decarboxylase. High levels of ornithine decarboxylase and polyamines have been found in proliferative, inflammatory, and neoplastic pathologies of the oral cavity and in gingival fluid. Difluoromethylornithine (DFMO) selectively inhibits ornithine decarboxylase, thus depleting polyamine content and preventing cell proliferation and synthesis activity. The aim of this study was to investigate whether DFMO treatment could modify the genes involved in cell proliferation and extracellular matrix turnover. METHODS: Fibroblasts derived from non-inflamed gingiva were maintained in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) plus alpha-difluoromethylornithine for 4 days. At 0, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours cell number was assessed, polyamine levels were quantified with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method, and transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1), c-myc, matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-1 and 2, collagen type I (COL-I) and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMP)-1 were evaluated by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS: Fibroblasts treated with DFMO significantly decreased cell proliferation, ornithine decarboxylase activity, and putrescine levels at all treatment times, spermidine after 72 and 96 hours, and spermine after 96 hours of culture. Total polyamines decreased (P < or =0.01) at 96 hours after DFMO treatment, while c-myc, TGF-beta1, MMP-1 and 2, COL-I mRNA significantly increased. Conversely, TIMP-1 did not show any significant change. The polyamines trend was not correlated to c-myc, TGF-beta1, MMP-1 and -2, and TIMP-1 mRNA levels. Transforming growth factor-beta1 and c-myc mRNA expression were related and correlated to MMP-1 and 2, COL-I and TIMP-1 mRNA trend after DFMO treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Our data show that as the polyamine content decreases, TGF-beta1, c-myc, MMP-1 and -2, and COL-I mRNA levels increase, therefore a negative regulatory role of the polyamines on the mRNA expression could be suggested