Loss of mTORC2 Activity in Neutrophils Impairs Fusion of Granules and Affects Cellular Metabolism Favoring Increased Bacterial Burden in Sepsis

Sepsis is a complex infectious syndrome in which neutrophil participation is crucial for patient survival. Neutrophils quickly sense and eliminate the pathogen by using different effector mechanisms controlled by metabolic processes. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway is an important route for metabolic regulation, and its role in neutrophil metabolism has not been fully understood yet, especially the importance of mTOR complex 2 (mTORC2) in the neutrophil effector functions. In this study, we observed that the loss of Rictor (mTORC2 scaffold protein) in primary mouse-derived neutrophils affects their chemotaxis by fMLF and their microbial killing capacity, but not the phagocytic capacity. We found that the microbicidal capacity was impaired in Rictor-deleted neutrophils because of an improper fusion of granules, reducing the hypochlorous acid production. The loss of Rictor also led to metabolic alterations in isolated neutrophils, increasing aerobic glycolysis. Finally, myeloid-Rictor-deleted mice (LysMRic Δ/Δ) also showed an impairment of the microbicidal capacity, increasing the bacterial burden in the Escherichia coli sepsis model. Overall, our results highlight the importance of proper mTORC2 activation for neutrophil effector functions and metabolism during sepsis.

Common mental disorders in pregnancy in the context of interpartner violence

Pregnancy is generally described as a period with a high incidence of common mental disorders (CMD) in the life cycle of many women who incur the risk of developing mental problems including depression, post-traumatic stress and drug abuse. Our objective with this study was to gauge how the presence of violence in Portuguese pregnant women affected their psychopathology. One hundred and eighty-four pregnant outpatients of the Obstetrics and Gynaecology Department of the Hospital Pedro Hispano in Matosinhos, Oporto, Portugal with an average age of 29 and in their last 3 months of pregnancy were the subjects of this study. These participants were divided into two groups: one of abused women (n= 107) and another of non-abused women (n= 77). In order to be able to compare them, both groups were assessed with the Conflict Tactic Scale 2, the Brief Symptom Inventory and the Inventory of the Clinical Evaluation of Depression. It was observed that pregnant women who had suffered violence during pregnancy exhibited some form of CMD during pregnancy. Another important finding was the evidence of the negative impacts that domestic violence had on the mental health of women.