Olfactory and gustatory dysfunctions in SARS-CoV-2 infection

Among Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) manifestations, Olfactory (OD) and Gustatory (GD) Dysfunctions (OGD) have drawn considerable attention, becoming a sort of hallmark of the disease. Many have speculated on the pathogenesis and clinical characteristics of these disturbances; however, no definite answers have been produced on the topic. With this systematic review, we aimed to collect all the available evidence regarding the prevalence of OGD, the timing of their onset and their resolution, their rate of recovery and their role as diagnostic and prognostic tools for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection

Inorganic arsenic speciation analysis in different tomato cultivars (Solanum lycopersicum L.) and influence of silicon (Si) exposure.

Poster Communication Abstract 2C.1

The effect of silicon on the uptake and translocation of arsenic in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

Measuring tomato seed germination on a medium containing either arsenite or arsenate showed that the presence of 0.5 mM NaH2AsO4·7H2O reduced germination by between 20% and 40%, depending on cultivar. The inhibitory effect was mitigated by the addition of CaSiO3. However, the presence of both forms of As had a drastic negative effect on seedling shoot elongation, which was not mitigated by the presence of CaSiO3. In a subsequent soil-based pot trial, damage due to the presence of As was visible by 15 days after the initiation of the treatment, and the provision of CaSiO3 was significantly ameliorative; again, the severity of the effects was cultivar-dependent. Analysis of the accumulation and distribution of As showed that some of the cultivars are As excluders, and others accumulators. As was taken up by the latter cultivars whether or not CaSiO3 supplementation was provided. The extent of As entry into the fruit varied from cultivar to cultivar, but never rose above the safety threshold. A survey of stress response-associated genes showed that LeGR was strongly up-regulated by exposure to As

Increased TIMP-3 expression alters the cellular secretome through dual inhibition of the metalloprotease ADAM10 and ligand-binding of the LRP-1 receptor

The tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-3 (TIMP-3) is a major regulator of extracellular matrix turnover and protein shedding by inhibiting different classes of metalloproteinases, including disintegrin metalloproteinases (ADAMs). Tissue bioavailability of TIMP-3 is regulated by the endocytic receptor low-density-lipoprotein receptor-related protein-1 (LRP-1). TIMP-3 plays protective roles in disease. Thus, different approaches have been developed aiming to increase TIMP-3 bioavailability, yet overall effects of increased TIMP-3 in vivo have not been investigated. Herein, by using unbiased mass-spectrometry we demonstrate that TIMP-3-overexpression in HEK293 cells has a dual effect on shedding of transmembrane proteins and turnover of soluble proteins. Several membrane proteins showing reduced shedding are known as ADAM10 substrates, suggesting that exogenous TIMP-3 preferentially inhibits ADAM10 in HEK293 cells. Additionally identified shed membrane proteins may be novel ADAM10 substrate candidates. TIMP-3-overexpression also increased extracellular levels of several soluble proteins, including TIMP-1, MIF and SPARC. Levels of these proteins similarly increased upon LRP-1 inactivation, suggesting that TIMP-3 increases soluble protein levels by competing for their binding to LRP-1 and their subsequent internalization. In conclusion, our study reveals that increased levels of TIMP-3 induce substantial modifications in the cellular secretome and that TIMP-3-based therapies may potentially provoke undesired, dysregulated functions of ADAM10 and LRP-1