scholarly journals Morphological Alterations and Stress Protein Variations in Lung Biopsies Obtained from Autopsies of COVID-19 Subjects

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 3136
Author(s):  
Rosario Barone ◽  
Antonella Marino Gammazza ◽  
Letizia Paladino ◽  
Alessandro Pitruzzella ◽  
Giulio Spinoso ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Chaperones ◽  
Histological Analysis ◽  
Stress Protein ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Post Translational Modifications ◽  
Morphological Alterations ◽  
New Biomarkers ◽  
Lung Biopsies ◽  
Cell Stress Response ◽  
Shock Proteins

Molecular chaperones, many of which are heat shock proteins, play a role in cell stress response and regulate the immune system in various ways, such as in inflammatory/autoimmune reactions. It would be interesting to study the involvement of these molecules in the damage done to COVID-19-infected lungs. In our study, we performed a histological analysis and an immunomorphological evaluation on lung samples from subjects who succumbed to COVID-19 and subjects who died from other causes. We also assessed Hsp60 and Hsp90 distribution in lung samples to determine their location and post-translational modifications. We found histological alterations that could be considered pathognomonic for COVID-19-related lung disease. Hsp60 and Hsp90 immunopositivity was significantly higher in the COVID-19 group compared to the controls, and immunolocalization was in the plasma membrane of the endothelial cells in COVID-19 subjects. The colocalization ratios for Hsp60/3-nitrotyrosine and Hsp60/acetylate-lisine were significantly increased in the COVID-19 group compared to the control group, similar to the colocalization ratio for Hsp90/acetylate-lisine. The histological and immunohistochemical findings led us to hypothesize that Hsp60 and Hsp90 might have a role in the onset of the thromboembolic phenomena that lead to death in a limited number of subjects affected by COVID-19. Further studies on a larger number of samples obtained from autopsies would allow to confirm these data as well as discover new biomarkers useful in the battle against this disease.

scholarly journals Morphological alterations in the heart and aorta of rats treated with glucocorticoids

2015 ◽  
Vol 32 (04) ◽  
pp. 231-235
Author(s):  
R. Dantas ◽  
K. Souza ◽  
D. Santos ◽  
V. Feitosa ◽  
E. Fioretto ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wistar Rats ◽  
Histological Analysis ◽  
Saline Solution ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Morphological Structure ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Morphological Alterations ◽  
Heart Chamber ◽  
Male Wistar Rats ◽  
Synthetic Glucocorticoid

Abstract Introduction: The objective of this study was to analyze the morphological structure of the heart and aorta of rats treated with the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone. Material and Methods: Male Wistar rats were divided into two groups: 08 control rats undergoing treatment with a 0.9% saline solution for 10 days and 08 rats treated for 10 days with dexamethasone (2mg/kg animal weight). Results: Histological analysis detected a mild cardiac hypertrophy and 15% reduction of collagen located in the aorta of animals treated with glucocorticoid when compared to the control group. Conclusion: We conclude that treatment with dexamethasone for a period of 10 consecutive days is able to promote morphological changes in the structure of the heart chamber and, impair morphological structure of aorta.

THE LEVEL OF CYTOKINES IN THE SALIVA OF PATIENTS WITH BREAST CANCER

2019 ◽  
Vol 65 (6) ◽  
pp. 825-831
Author(s):  
Lyudmila Belskaya ◽  
Viktor Kosenok
Keyword(s):  
Breast Cancer ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Early Stages ◽  
Promising Tool ◽  
Urgent Task ◽  
Advanced Stages ◽  
New Biomarkers ◽  
Histological Verification ◽  
Control Study ◽  
Biochemical Examination

Currently, the urgent task is to search for new biomarkers as a promising tool for early detection and monitoring of breast cancer. The aim of the study was to study the level of cytokines in the saliva of patients with breast cancer. In the case-control study volunteers participated, which were divided into 3 groups: the main (breast cancer, n = 43), the comparison group (fibroadenoma, n = 32) and the control group (conditionally healthy, n = 39). All participants were questioned; biochemical examination of saliva, histological verification of the diagnosis was carried out. Intergroup differences are estimated by a nonparametric criterion. It is shown that in the context of breast cancer, the level of cytokines (IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10 and IL-18) is increasing, except for IL-8, the content of which decreases compared to the control group. When the disease progresses by the nature of the dynamics, the parameters are divided into two groups: IL-2, IL-4, IL-18 and IL-6, IL-8, IL-10. For the first group of cytokines, there was a decrease in content during the transition from the early stages to the more common ones. For the second group, when passing from stages T1-2N0M0 to T1-2NjM0, the level of cytokines remains practically constant. In the future, the level of cytokines is observed for stage T3_4N0_2M0, and for IL-2, IL-4 and IL-10, the level of cytokines reaches values corresponding to early stages, whereas for IL-6, IL-8 and IL-18 in the same direction, a significant increase in indicators was noted. Additionally, the IL-6/IL-8 ratio was calculated depending on the tumor size, as well as the presence / absence of metastasis. It is shown that this ratio is statistically significantly increased in the advanced stages of the disease. Particularly interesting is the increase in this ratio in saliva at the initial stages of the disease.

scholarly journals Detection of Salivary miRNAs That Predict Chronic Periodontitis Progression: A Cohort Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (15) ◽  
pp. 8010
Author(s):  
Kohei Fujimori ◽  
Toshiki Yoneda ◽  
Takaaki Tomofuji ◽  
Daisuke Ekuni ◽  
Tetsuji Azuma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cohort Study ◽  
Chronic Periodontitis ◽  
Characteristic Curve ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Discrimination Power ◽  
Whole Saliva ◽  
Supportive Periodontal Therapy ◽  
New Biomarkers ◽  
Unstimulated Whole Saliva ◽  
Attachment Level

The aim of this two-year cohort study was to investigate salivary microRNAs (miRNAs) that predict periodontitis progression. A total of 120 patients who underwent supportive periodontal therapy were recruited. Unstimulated whole saliva was collected at baseline. Two years later, 44 patients were followed up (median age, 67.1 years) and divided into two groups: progression group (n = 22), with one or more sites with clinical attachment level (CAL) progression (>3 mm compared with baseline) or tooth extraction due to periodontitis progression; and the control group (n = 22), which did not exhibit CAL progression. In the microarray analysis of salivary miRNAs, hsa-miR-5571-5p, hsa-miR-17-3p, hsa-let-7f-5p, hsa-miR-4724-3p, hsa-miR-99a-5p, hsa-miR-200a-3p, hsa-miR-28-5p, hsa-miR-320d, and hsa-miR-31-5p showed fold change values <0.5 or ≥2.0 in the progression group compared with the control group (p < 0.05). On receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, areas under the curves of hsa-miR-5571-5p, hsa-let-7f-5p, hsa-miR-99a-5p, hsa-miR-28-5p, and hsa-miR-320d were >0.7, indicating fair discrimination power. The expressions of salivary hsa-miR-5571-5p, hsa-let-7f-5p, hsa-miR-99a-5p, hsa-miR-28-5p, and hsa-miR-320d were associated with periodontitis progression in patients with chronic periodontitis. These salivary miRNAs may be new biomarkers for progression of periodontitis, and monitoring them may contribute to new diagnostics and precision medicine for periodontitis.

scholarly journals Action of vanillin (Vanilla planifolia) on the morphology of tibialis anterior and soleus muscles after nerve injury

2017 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 186-191 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Luiza Peretti ◽  
Juliana Sobral Antunes ◽  
Keli Lovison ◽  
Regina Inês Kunz ◽  
Lidyane Regina Gomes Castor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nerve Injury ◽  
Tibialis Anterior ◽  
Morphological Analysis ◽  
Morphological Changes ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Vanilla Planifolia ◽  
Morphological Alterations ◽  
Injury Group ◽  
Fiber Atrophy ◽  
Oral Doses

ABSTRACT Objective To evaluate the action of vanillin (Vanilla planifolia) on the morphology of tibialis anterior and soleus muscles after peripheral nerve injury. Methods Wistar rats were divided into four groups, with seven animals each: Control Group, Vanillin Group, Injury Group, and Injury + Vanillin Group. The Injury Group and the Injury + Vanillin Group animals were submitted to nerve injury by compression of the sciatic nerve; the Vanillin Group and Injury + Vanillin Group, were treated daily with oral doses of vanillin (150mg/kg) from the 3rd to the 21st day after induction of nerve injury. At the end of the experiment, the tibialis anterior and soleus muscles were dissected and processed for light microscopy and submitted to morphological analysis. Results The nerve compression promoted morphological changes, typical of denervation, and the treatment with vanillin was responsible for different responses in the studied muscles. For the tibialis anterior, there was an increase in the number of satellite cells, central nuclei and fiber atrophy, as well as fascicular disorganization. In the soleus, only increased vascularization was observed, with no exacerbation of the morphological alterations in the fibers. Conclusion The treatment with vanillin promoted increase in intramuscular vascularization for the muscles studied, with pro-inflammatory potential for tibialis anterior, but not for soleus muscle.

Increased oxidative stress and plasma Hsp70 levels among gasoline filling station attendants

2016 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 171-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bing Xia ◽  
Kangcheng Chen ◽  
Yingnan Lv ◽  
Damin Huang ◽  
Jing Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Stress Protein ◽  
Weighted Average ◽  
Exposed Group ◽  
Cumulative Exposure ◽  
Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Gasoline Station ◽  
Filling Station ◽  
Exposed Workers

Objectives: Methylcyclopentadienyl manganese tricarbonyl (MMT) is an organic derivative of manganese (Mn) and is used as an antiknock agent and octane enhancer in gasoline. In this article, we tested the oxidative stress and heat stress protein (Hsp) 70 levels of gasoline station attendants to explore potential plasma biomarkers. Furthermore, the dose–response relationship was also identified. Methods: A total of 144 workers, including 96 petrol fillers and 48 cashiers, participated in the study. Ambient concentrations of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) and Mn were monitored at nine filling stations. During the measuring process, the individual cumulative exposure index was calculated. Plasma oxidative stress and Hsp70 levels were also analysed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: The BTEX time-weighted average in office areas was significantly lower than in refuelling areas ( p < 0.05). In refuelling areas, the content of Mn ranged from 6.44 μg/m3 to 127.34 μg/m3, which was much higher than that in office areas (3.16–7.22 μg/m3; p < 0.05). Exposed workers had significantly different plasma oxidative stress indicators compared with the control group, respectively: superoxide dismutase (SOD), 39.18 ± 6.05 U/mL versus 52.84 ± 3.87 U/mL; glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), 186.07 ± 15.63 U versus 194.38 ± 10.42 U; and malondialdehyde (MDA), 1.68 ± 0.52 nmol/L versus 1.43 ± 0.64 nmol/L (in all comparisons, p < 0.05). Plasma Hsp70 level in the exposed group (2.77 ± 0.64 ng/mL) was significantly higher than in the control group (2.32 ± 0.87 ng/mL; p < 0.05). Furthermore, Hsp70 levels were inversely correlated with the activities of SOD ( r = −0.305) and GSH-Px ( r = −0.302) in the exposed group ( p < 0.05). Moreover, a positive correlation ( r = 0.653) was found between plasma Hsp70 levels and plasma MDA levels ( p < 0.05). Conclusion: Exposure to MMT-containing gasoline may result in increasing reactive oxygen stress among filling station attendants. Plasma Hsp70 levels could be used as a sensitive responsive biomarker for exposed workers.

scholarly journals Effects of Dietary Inclusion of Bilberry and Walnut Leaves Powder on the Digestive Performances and Health of Tetra SL Laying Hens

Animals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 823 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roua Gabriela Popescu ◽  
Sorina Nicoleta Voicu ◽  
Gratiela Gradisteanu Pircalabioru ◽  
Alina Ciceu ◽  
Sami Gharbia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Histological Analysis ◽  
Specific Activity ◽  
Basal Diet ◽  
Intestinal Content ◽  
Final Concentration ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Villus Height ◽  
Tissue Samples ◽  
Walnut Leaves ◽  
Digestive Health

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of dietary inclusion of two additives at the final concentration of 0.5% bilberry (E1) and 1% walnut (E2) leaves powder in the basal diet on digestive health of hens. A total number of 90 Tetra SL hens were divided into two experimental groups (E1 and E2) and one control group (C) consisting of 30 hens each. After four weeks, 10 hens of each group were sacrificed and tissue samples and intestinal content were taken from the duodenum, jejunum, and cecum in order to perform histological, enzymatic, and microbiota analyses. In groups E1 and E2, the histological analysis showed a significant increase of villus height, resulting probably in increased absorption of nutrients in duodenum and jejunum. A decrease in the specific activity of alpha-amylase and trypsin in E1 and E2 for both duodenum and jejunum compared to the control one was also recorded. In addition, the maltase and invertase specific activity in duodenum increased, a tendency that was kept for maltase but not for invertase in jejunum. The cecal microbiota of E1 and E2 individuals was characterized by an increase of Firmicutes and Lactobacilli and a decrease of Enterobacteriaceae. In conclusion, our results indicate that bilberry and walnut leaves additives in feed may improve the health status of the poultry gastrointestinal tract.

Principles of chaperone-mediated protein folding

1995 ◽  
Vol 348 (1323) ◽  
pp. 107-112 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Protein Folding ◽  
Heat Shock ◽  
Heat Shock Proteins ◽  
Molecular Chaperones ◽  
Cellular Protein ◽  
Chaperone Proteins ◽  
Shock Proteins ◽  
Polypeptide Chains

The recent discovery of molecular chaperones and their functions has changed dramatically our view of the processes underlying the folding of proteins in vivo . Rather than folding spontaneously, most newly synthesized polypeptide chains seem to acquire their native conformations in a reaction mediated by chaperone proteins. Different classes of molecular chaperones, such as the members of the Hsp70 and Hsp60 families of heat-shock proteins, cooperate in a coordinated pathway of cellular protein folding.

Nephrotoxicity and its prevention by catechin in ferric nitrilotriacetate promoted oxidative stress in rats

2004 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 137-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kanwaljit Chopra ◽  
Devinder Singh ◽  
Vikas Chander
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Renal Function ◽  
Renal Dysfunction ◽  
Thiobarbituric Acid ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Morphological Alterations ◽  
Group Iii ◽  
Ferric Nitrilotriacetate ◽  
Group I ◽  
Rats And Mice

Intraperitoneal injection of ferric nitrilotriacetate (Fe-NTA) to rats and mice results in iron-induced free radical injury and cancer in kidneys. This study was designed to investigate the effect of catechin, a bioflavonoid with antioxidant potential, on Fe-NTA-induced nephrotoxicity in rats. Four groups were employed in the present study. Group I served as control group, Group II animals received Fe-NTA (8 mg iron/kg body weight i.p.), Group III animals were given 40 mg/kg catechin p.o. twice a day for 4 days and on the 5th day Fe-NTA was challenged, and Group IV animals received catechin alone for 4 days. Renal function was assessed by measuring plasma creatinine and blood urea nitrogen. The oxidative stress was measured by renal malondialdehyde levels, reduced glutathione levels and by enzymatic activity of catalase, glutathione reductase and superoxide dismutase. One hour after a single intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of Fe-NTA (8 mg iron/kg), a marked deterioration of renal architecture, renal function and severe oxidative stress was observed. Pretreatment of animals with catechin markedly attenuated renal dysfunction, reduced elevated thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (TBARS), restored the depleted renal antioxidant enzymes and normalized the renal morphological alterations. These results clearly demonstrate the role of oxidative stress and its relation to renal dysfunction, and suggest a protective effect of catechin on Fe-NTA-induced nephrotoxicity in rats.

Heat shock proteins: Molecular chaperones

1991 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 166-172 ◽  
Author(s):  
Najma Ali ◽  
Naheed Banu
Keyword(s):  
Heat Shock ◽  
Heat Shock Proteins ◽  
Molecular Chaperones ◽  
Shock Proteins

Interaction between heat shock factor and hsp70 is insufficient to suppress induction of DNA-binding activity in vivo

1994 ◽  
Vol 14 (10) ◽  
pp. 6552-6560
Author(s):  
S K Rabindran ◽  
J Wisniewski ◽  
L Li ◽  
G C Li ◽  
C Wu
Keyword(s):  
Heat Shock ◽  
Dna Binding ◽  
Heat Shock Proteins ◽  
Expression System ◽  
Stress Protein ◽  
Binding Activity ◽  
Protein Family ◽  
Oligomeric State ◽  
Dna Binding Activity ◽  
Shock Proteins

The intracellular level of free heat shock proteins, in particular the 70-kDa stress protein family, has been suggested to be the basis of an autoregulatory mechanism by which the cell measures the level of thermal stress and regulates the synthesis of heat shock proteins. It has been proposed that the DNA-binding and oligomeric state of the heat shock transcription factor (HSF) is a principal step in the induction pathway that is responsive to the level of 70-kDa stress protein. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the association between HSF and 70-kDa stress protein by means of a coimmunoprecipitation assay. We found that 70-kDa stress proteins associate to similar extents with both latent and active forms of HSF, although unlike other 70-kDa stress protein substrates, the association with HSF was not significantly disrupted in the presence of ATP. Gel mobility shift assays indicated that active HSF trimers purified from a bacterial expression system could not be substantially deactivated in vitro with purified 70-kDa stress protein and ATP. In addition, elevated concentrations of hsp70 alone could not significantly inhibit induction of the DNA-binding activity of endogenous HSF in cultured rat cells, and the induction was also not inhibited in cultured rat cells or Drosophila cells containing elevated levels of all members of the heat shock protein family. However, the deactivation of HSF to the non-DNA-binding state after prolonged heat stress or during recovery could be accelerated by increased levels of heat shock proteins. Hence, the level of heat shock proteins may affect the rate of disassembly of HSF trimers, but another mechanism, as yet undefined, appears to control the onset of the oligomeric transitions.

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