Sexually dimorphic renal expression of Klotho is directed by a kidney-specific distal enhancer responsive to HNF1b

Transcription enhancers are genomic sequences regulating common and tissue-specific genes and their disruption can contribute to human disease development and progression. Klotho, a sexually dimorphic gene specifically expressed in kidney, is well-linked to kidney dysfunction and its deletion from the mouse genome leads to premature aging and death. However, the sexually dimorphic regulation of Klotho is not understood. Here, we characterize two candidate Klotho enhancers using H3K27ac epigenetic marks and transcription factor binding and investigate their functions, individually and combined, through CRISPR-Cas9 genome engineering. We discovered that only the distal (E1), but not the proximal (E2) candidate region constitutes a functional enhancer, with the double deletion not causing Klotho expression to further decrease. E1 activity is dependent on HNF1b transcription factor binding site within the enhancer. Further, E1 controls the sexual dimorphism of Klotho as evidenced by qPCR and RNA-seq. Despite the sharp reduction of Klotho mRNA, unlike germline Klotho knockouts, mutant mice presented normal phenotype, including weight, lifespan, and serum biochemistry. Lastly, only males lacking E1 display more prominent acute, but not chronic kidney injury responses, indicating a remarkable range of potential adaptation to isolated Klotho loss, especially in female E1 knockouts, retaining renoprotection despite over 80% Klotho reduction.

Awareness of possible complications associated with direct composite restorations: A multinational survey among dentists from 13 countries with meta-analysis

OBJECTIVES

Resin-based composites (RBCs) evolved into favoured materials for teeth restorations, marking a significant change in dental practice. Despite many advantages, RBCs exhibit various limitations in their physical and chemical properties. Therefore, we assessed the dentists' awareness of possible complications after direct composite restorations and their opinions about this material.

METHODS

The online questionnaire was created in English in May 2023. A 16-item survey was dedicated to general dentists and specialists. The first section included four questions related to demographic characteristics. The second section comprised twelve questions and focused on awareness of potential side effects of composite restorations, the most crucial advantages and disadvantages of composite resins, and the frequency of experienced clinical complications after the application of composite materials.

RESULTS

A total of 1830 dentists from 13 countries took part in the survey. Dentists most often declared awareness of low adhesion to the dentine (77.5 %) and, most rarely, solubility in oral fluids (42.6 %). Aesthetics was identified as the main advantage of composite fillings (79 %), followed by the possibility of repair (59 %) and adhesion to enamel (57 %). Polymerisation shrinkage was a major disadvantage for most countries (70 % overall). Analysing the declared potential clinical complications for all countries, statistically significant findings were obtained for marginal discolouration (OR=2.982, 95 % CI: 1.321-6.730, p-value=0.009) and borderline significance for secondary caries (OR=1.814, 95 % CI: 0.964-3.415, p-value=0.065).

CONCLUSIONS

Dentists value aesthetics and repairability but are aware of shrinkage and experience discolouration. The issue of toxicity and solubility seems to be the least known to dentists.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Dentists should use RBCs with critical caution due to possible side effects. Despite the undoubted aesthetics of direct composite restorations, it is necessary to remember potential clinical complications such as marginal discolouration or secondary caries.

Sexually dimorphic renal expression of Klotho is directed by a kidney-specific distal enhancer responsive to HNF1b

Transcription enhancers are genomic sequences regulating common and tissue-specific genes and their disruption can contribute to human disease development and progression. Klotho, a sexually dimorphic gene specifically expressed in kidney, is well-linked to kidney dysfunction and its deletion from the mouse genome leads to premature aging and death. However, the sexually dimorphic regulation of Klotho is not understood. Here, we characterize two candidate Klotho enhancers using H3K27ac epigenetic marks and transcription factor binding and investigate their functions, individually and combined, through CRISPR-Cas9 genome engineering. We discovered that only the distal (E1), but not the proximal (E2) candidate region constitutes a functional enhancer, with the double deletion not causing Klotho expression to further decrease. E1 activity is dependent on HNF1b transcription factor binding site within the enhancer. Further, E1 controls the sexual dimorphism of Klotho as evidenced by qPCR and RNA-seq. Despite the sharp reduction of Klotho mRNA, unlike germline Klotho knockouts, mutant mice presented normal phenotype, including weight, lifespan, and serum biochemistry. Lastly, only males lacking E1 display more prominent acute, but not chronic kidney injury responses, indicating a remarkable range of potential adaptation to isolated Klotho loss, especially in female E1 knockouts, retaining renoprotection despite over 80% Klotho reduction.

Salivary Biomarkers for Parkinson's Disease: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disease which manifests with motor features, such as bradykinesia, resting tremor, rigidity, and postural instability. Using the non-invasive technique of saliva collection, we designed a systematic review to answer the question "Are salivary biomarkers reliable for the diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease?". Following inclusion and exclusion criteria, 30 studies were included in this systematic review (according to the PRISMA statement guidelines). Mostly proteins were reported as potential biomarkers in saliva. Based on meta-analysis, in PD patients, salivary levels of total alpha-synuclein were significantly decreased, and those of oligomeric alpha-synuclein were significantly increased. Also, according to pooled AUC, heme oxygenase-1 demonstrated significant predictive value for saliva-based PD diagnosis. In conclusion, some potential biomarkers, especially alpha-synuclein, can be altered in the saliva of PD patients, which could be reliably useful for early diagnosis of this neurodegenerative disease differentiating other synucleopathies.

Salivary Biomarkers for Alzheimer's Disease: A Systematic Review with Meta-Analysis

Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease which manifests with progressive cognitive impairment, leading to dementia. Considering the noninvasive collection of saliva, we designed the systematic review to answer the question "Are salivary biomarkers reliable for the diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease?" Following the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 30 studies were included in this systematic review (according to the PRISMA statement guidelines). Potential biomarkers include mainly proteins, metabolites and even miRNAs. Based on meta-analysis, in AD patients, salivary levels of beta-amyloid42 and p-tau levels were significantly increased, and t-tau and lactoferrin were decreased at borderline statistical significance. However, according to pooled AUC, lactoferrin and beta-amyloid42 showed a significant predictive value for salivary-based AD diagnosis. In conclusion, potential markers such as beta-amyloid42, tau and lactoferrin can be detected in the saliva of AD patients, which could reliably support the early diagnosis of this neurodegenerative disease.

Network medicine-based epistasis detection in complex diseases: ready for quantum computing

Most heritable diseases are polygenic. To comprehend the underlying genetic architecture, it is crucial to discover the clinically relevant epistatic interactions (EIs) between genomic single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)1-3. Existing statistical computational methods for EI detection are mostly limited to pairs of SNPs due to the combinatorial explosion of higher-order EIs. With NeEDL (network-based epistasis detection via local search), we leverage network medicine to inform the selection of EIs that are an order of magnitude more statistically significant compared to existing tools and consist, on average, of five SNPs. We further show that this computationally demanding task can be substantially accelerated once quantum computing hardware becomes available. We apply NeEDL to eight different diseases and discover genes (affected by EIs of SNPs) that are partly known to affect the disease, additionally, these results are reproducible across independent cohorts. EIs for these eight diseases can be interactively explored in the Epistasis Disease Atlas (https://epistasis-disease-atlas.com). In summary, NeEDL is the first application that demonstrates the potential of seamlessly integrated quantum computing techniques to accelerate biomedical research. Our network medicine approach detects higher-order EIs with unprecedented statistical and biological evidence, yielding unique insights into polygenic diseases and providing a basis for the development of improved risk scores and combination therapies.

Eating Disorders and Dental Erosion: A Systematic Review

Both eating disorders and dental erosion are increasingly affecting adolescents and young adults. Thus, our systematic review was designed to answer the question: "Is there a relationship between dental erosion and eating disorders?" Following the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 31 studies were included in this systematic review (according to the PRISMA statement guidelines). Based on the meta-analysis, 54.4% of patients with bulimia nervosa and 26.7% with anorexia nervosa experienced tooth erosion. For the whole group of 1699 patients with eating disorders, erosive lesions were observed in 42.1% of patients. Bulimics were more than 10 times more likely to experience dental erosion compared to healthy individuals (OR = 10.383 [95%CI: 4.882-22.086]). Similarly, more than 16 times increased odds of tooth erosion were found in patients with self-induced vomiting (OR = 16.176 [95%CI: 1.438-181.918]). In conclusion, eating disorders are associated with an increased risk of developing erosive lesions, especially in patients with bulimia nervosa.

Kleefstra Syndrome-Dental Manifestations and Needs: A Case Report with a Literature Review

Kleefstra syndrome (KS) is a rare genetic disorder (prevalence < 1/1 000 000) characterised by autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), childhood hypotonia, and seizures. A typical facial appearance includes microcephaly, arched eyebrows, synophrism, hypertelorism, a short nose, midface hypoplasia, prognathism, and tongue protrusion. This case report presents a 19-year-old female with KS from a dentist's perspective. The patient demonstrates limited mouth opening with a slight deviation of the mandible on the left side. The mandibular prognathism and anterior open bite are visible. A generalised inflammatory gingival enlargement is most likely a response to local irritants like plaque and calculus but is enhanced by the patient's mouth breathing habit. Also, the tongue is unusually large-macroglossia. Dental anomalies were diagnosed by digital panoramic radiograph, including dilaceration of the maxillary left second premolar and taurodontism. The patient was qualified to be treated under general anaesthesia with multiple extractions, restorations, hygienisation procedures, and tooth remineralisation. This individual should also be considered for orthodontic treatment and an eventual tongue reduction procedure. In the case of KS, multidisciplinary cooperation as well as frequent dental check-ups with fluoride prophylaxis are recommended. Unfortunately, dental treatment is still not an integral part of taking care of disabled children and youth with rare diseases.

Salivary Alterations of Myeloperoxidase in Patients with Systemic Diseases: A Systematic Review

Salivary myeloperoxidase (MPO) is a key mediator of the oral immune system, acting as an enzyme that utilises H2O2 to generate molecules with high bactericidal activity. While MPO determination in plasma is quite common, the use of saliva is still rare. Our systematic review was designed to answer the question "Are salivary levels of myeloperoxidase altered in patients with systemic diseases?". Following the inclusion and exclusion criteria, we included twenty-six studies. Altered MPO levels in saliva were most commonly found in patients with cardiovascular and gastrointestinal diseases. Most studies concerned unstimulated whole saliva, and only a few of them stimulated, mainly by chewing paraffin. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was the most common method for determination of MPO concentrations in saliva. Increased salivary MPO levels were more often observed for inflammatory diseases, except patients with inflammatory bowel diseases who were eligible for biologic therapy. In conclusion, MPO could be altered in the saliva of patients with systematic diseases, especially cardiovascular or gastrointestinal diseases. However, further investigations are recommended to validate these outcomes.

circRNA-sponging: a pipeline for extensive analysis of circRNA expression and their role in miRNA sponging

Motivation

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) often associated with diseases and considered potential biomarkers for diagnosis and treatment. Among other functions, circRNAs have been shown to act as microRNA (miRNA) sponges, preventing the role of miRNAs that repress their targets. However, there is no pipeline to systematically assess the sponging potential of circRNAs.

Results

We developed circRNA-sponging, a nextflow pipeline that (i) identifies circRNAs via backsplicing junctions detected in RNA-seq data, (ii) quantifies their expression values in relation to their linear counterparts spliced from the same gene, (iii) performs differential expression analysis, (iv) identifies and quantifies miRNA expression from miRNA-sequencing (miRNA-seq) data, (v) predicts miRNA binding sites on circRNAs, (vi) systematically investigates potential circRNA-miRNA sponging events, (vii) creates a network of competing endogenous RNAs and (viii) identifies potential circRNA biomarkers. We showed the functionality of the circRNA-sponging pipeline using RNA sequencing data from brain tissues, where we identified two distinct types of circRNAs characterized by a specific ratio of the number of the binding site to the length of the transcript. The circRNA-sponging pipeline is the first end-to-end pipeline to identify circRNAs and their sponging systematically with raw total RNA-seq and miRNA-seq files, allowing us to better indicate the functional impact of circRNAs as a routine aspect in transcriptomic research.

Availability and implementation

https://github.com/biomedbigdata/circRNA-sponging.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics Advances online.

Glomangioma in the hand: diagnosis, treatment, and challenges

INTRODUCTION

In this paper, we have analysed all hand glomangioma cases referred to our clinic in the context of symptoms, time to diagnosis, and the role of surgical resection of the lesion.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

We have collected the following data: the presence of risk factors, manifestation, time to diagnosis, the treatment applied, and follow-up of patients.

RESULTS

We have collected medical records from six patients, three males and three females. The median age was 45 (IQR: 29.5-65.75). The main symptom in all patients was severe pain and tenderness. The first-choice physician(s) were: general practitioners, general surgeons, and neurologists. The median time to diagnosis was 7 (IQR: 5-10) years. The main complaint of our patients was severe pain - 9 (IQR: 9-10) on the VAS scale, which was significantly alleviated after surgical treatment - 0 (IQR: 0-0; p = 0.043).

CONCLUSIONS

Extremely long times to final diagnosis, and excellent outcomes of surgical treatment, highlight the necessity of raising awareness of glomangiomas among clinicians.

The Role of Cellular Metabolism in Maintaining the Function of the Dentine-Pulp Complex: A Narrative Review

The cellular metabolic processes ensure the physiological integrity of the dentine-pulp complex. Odontoblasts and odontoblast-like cells are responsible for the defence mechanisms in the form of tertiary dentine formation. In turn, the main defence reaction of the pulp is the development of inflammation, during which the metabolic and signalling pathways of the cells are significantly altered. The selected dental procedures, such as orthodontic treatment, resin infiltration, resin restorations or dental bleaching, can impact the cellular metabolism in the dental pulp. Among systemic metabolic diseases, diabetes mellitus causes the most consequences for the cellular metabolism of the dentine-pulp complex. Similarly, ageing processes present a proven effect on the metabolic functioning of the odontoblasts and the pulp cells. In the literature, several potential metabolic mediators demonstrating anti-inflammatory properties on inflamed dental pulp are mentioned. Moreover, the pulp stem cells exhibit the regenerative potential essential for maintaining the function of the dentine-pulp complex.

circRNA-sponging: a pipeline for extensive analysis of circRNA expression and their role in miRNA sponging

Motivation

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) are long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) often associated with diseases and considered potential biomarkers for diagnosis and treatment. Among other functions, circRNAs have been shown to act as microRNA (miRNA) sponges, preventing the role of miRNAs that repress their targets. However, there is no pipeline to systematically assess the sponging potential of circRNAs.

Results

We developed circRNA-sponging, a nextflow pipeline that (1) identifies circRNAs via back-splicing junctions detected in RNA-seq data, (2) quantifies their expression values in relation to their linear counterparts spliced from the same gene, (3) performs differential expression analysis, (4) identifies and quantifies miRNA expression from miRNA-sequencing (miRNA-seq) data, (5) predicts miRNA binding sites on circRNAs, (6) systematically investigates potential circRNA-miRNA sponging events, (7) creates a network of competing endogenous RNAs, and (8) identifies potential circRNA biomarkers. We showed the functionality of the circRNA-sponging pipeline using RNA sequencing data from brain tissues where we identified two distinct types of circRNAs characterized by a distinct ratio of the binding site length. The circRNA-sponging pipeline is the first end-to-end pipeline to identify circRNAs and their sponging systematically with raw total RNA-seq and miRNA-seq files, allowing us to better indicate the functional impact of circRNAs as a routine aspect in transcriptomic research.

Availability

https://github.com/biomedbigdata/circRNA-sponging.

Contact

markus.daniel.hoffmann@tum.de ; markus.list@tum.de.

Supplementary Material

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.

TF-Prioritizer: a Java pipeline to prioritize condition-specific transcription factors

BACKGROUND

Eukaryotic gene expression is controlled by cis-regulatory elements (CREs), including promoters and enhancers, which are bound by transcription factors (TFs). Differential expression of TFs and their binding affinity at putative CREs determine tissue- and developmental-specific transcriptional activity. Consolidating genomic datasets can offer further insights into the accessibility of CREs, TF activity, and, thus, gene regulation. However, the integration and analysis of multimodal datasets are hampered by considerable technical challenges. While methods for highlighting differential TF activity from combined chromatin state data (e.g., chromatin immunoprecipitation [ChIP], ATAC, or DNase sequencing) and RNA sequencing data exist, they do not offer convenient usability, have limited support for large-scale data processing, and provide only minimal functionality for visually interpreting results.

RESULTS

We developed TF-Prioritizer, an automated pipeline that prioritizes condition-specific TFs from multimodal data and generates an interactive web report. We demonstrated its potential by identifying known TFs along with their target genes, as well as previously unreported TFs active in lactating mouse mammary glands. Additionally, we studied a variety of ENCODE datasets for cell lines K562 and MCF-7, including 12 histone modification ChIP sequencing as well as ATAC and DNase sequencing datasets, where we observe and discuss assay-specific differences.

CONCLUSION

TF-Prioritizer accepts ATAC, DNase, or ChIP sequencing and RNA sequencing data as input and identifies TFs with differential activity, thus offering an understanding of genome-wide gene regulation, potential pathogenesis, and therapeutic targets in biomedical research.

Intramedullary Spinal Cord Abscess with Concomitant Spinal Degenerative Diseases: A Case Report and Systematic Literature Review

Intramedullary spinal cord abscess (ISCA) is a rare clinical pathology of the central nervous system that usually accompanies other underlying comorbidities. Traditionally it has been associated with significant mortality and neurological morbidities because it is often difficult to diagnose promptly, owing to its nonspecific clinical and neuroimaging features. The mortality rate and the outcome of these infections have been improved by the introduction into clinical practice of antibiotics, advanced neuroimaging modalities, and immediate surgery. We report the case of a 65-year-old male patient who presented with a progressive spastic gait and lumbar pain, predominantly in the left leg. An MRI image revealed an expansile intramedullary cystic mass in the thoracic spinal cord, which was initially diagnosed as a spinal tumor. He underwent laminectomy and myelotomy, and eventually the pus was drained from the abscess. The follow-up MRI showed improvement, but the patient’s paraplegia persisted. In light of his persistent hypoesthesia and paraplegic gait with developing neuropathic pain, he was readmitted, and an MRI of his lumbar spine revealed multilevel degenerative disease and tethered spinal cord syndrome with compression of the medulla at the L2–L3 level. The patient underwent central flavectomy with bilateral foraminotomy at the L2–L3 level, and the medulla was decompressed. Postoperatively, his neurological symptoms were significantly improved, and he was discharged from hospital on the third day after admission. In support of our case, we systematically reviewed the recent literature and analyzed cases published between 1949 and May 2022, including clinical features, mechanisms of infection, predisposing factors, radiological investigations, microbial etiologies, therapies and their duration, follow-ups, and outcomes. Initial clinical presentation can be misleading, and the diagnosis can be challenging, because this condition is rare and coexists with other spinal diseases. Hence, a high index of suspicion for making an accurate diagnosis and timely intervention is required to preclude mortality and unfavorable outcomes. Our case is a clear example thereof. Long-term follow-up is also essential to monitor for abscess recurrences.

What Is Currently Known about Intramedullary Spinal Cord Abscess among Children? A Concise Review

Intramedullary spinal cord abscesses (ISCA) are rare. Typical symptoms include signs of infection and neurological deficits. Symptoms among (younger) children can be highly uncharacteristic. Therefore, prompt and proper diagnoses may be difficult. Typical therapeutic options include antibiotics and neurosurgical exploration and drainage. In this review, we analyze published cases of ISCA among children. Most pediatric cases were found to be under the age of 6 years. The typical symptoms included motor deficits in 89.06%, infection signs in 85.94%, and sensory deficits in 39.06%. Urinary dysfunction was observed in 43.75%, and bowel dysfunction in 17.19%. The predisposing factors included dermal sinuses, (epi)dermoid cysts, prior infection, iatrogenic disorder, and trauma. The most common pathogens were: Staphylococcus aureus, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Escherichia coli, and Proteus mirabilis. The pediatric population has good outcomes as 45.93% of patients had complete neurological recovery and only 26.56% had residual neurological deficits. Fifteen (23.44%) had persistent neurological deficits. Only one (1.56%) patient died with an ISCA. In two (3.13%) cases, there were no details about follow-up examinations.

Cervical Paraspinal Chordoma: A Literature Review with a Novel Case Report

Chordomas are rare malignant neoplasms, accounting for 1–4% of all primary bone tumors. Most spinal chordomas occur in the sacrococcygeal region and the base of the skull; however, 6% of chordomas are observed in the cervical spine. In these cases, the lesion is mainly located in the midline. These tumors slowly grow before becoming symptomatic and encase the surrounding vascular and nerve structures. Patients with advanced chordoma have a poor prognosis due to local recurrence with infiltration and destruction of adjacent bone and tissues. Systemic chemotherapy options have not been fully effective in these tumors, especially for recurrent chordomas. Thus, new combinations of currently available targeted molecular and biological therapies with radiotherapy have been proposed as potential treatment modalities. Here, the present paper describes the case of a 41-year-old male with a C2–C4 chordoma located paravertebrally, who underwent surgical resection with a debulking procedure for a cervical chordoma. Computed tomography angiography revealed a paraspinal mass with bone remodeling and the MRI showed a paravertebral mass penetrating to the spinal canal with a widening of the intervertebral C2–C3 foramen. Initially, the tumor was diagnosed as schwannoma based on its localization and imaging features; however, the histopathology specimen confirmed the diagnosis of chordoma. This case study highlights the effectivity of radical surgical resection as a mainstay treatment for chordomas, discusses neuroimaging, diagnosis, and the use of currently available targeted therapies and forthcoming treatment strategies, as alternative treatment options for chordoma.

The Comparison of InSb-Based Thin Films and Graphene on SiC for Magnetic Diagnostics under Extreme Conditions

The ability to precisely measure magnetic fields under extreme operating conditions is becoming increasingly important as a result of the advent of modern diagnostics for future magnetic-confinement fusion devices. These conditions are recognized as strong neutron radiation and high temperatures (up to 350 °C). We report on the first experimental comparison of the impact of neutron radiation on graphene and indium antimonide thin films. For this purpose, a 2D-material-based structure was fabricated in the form of hydrogen-intercalated quasi-free-standing graphene on semi-insulating high-purity on-axis 4H-SiC(0001), passivated with an Al₂O₃ layer. InSb-based thin films, donor doped to varying degrees, were deposited on a monocrystalline gallium arsenide or a polycrystalline ceramic substrate. The thin films were covered with a SiO₂ insulating layer. All samples were exposed to a fast-neutron fluence of ≈7×1017 cm^-2. The results have shown that the graphene sheet is only moderately affected by neutron radiation compared to the InSb-based structures. The low structural damage allowed the graphene/SiC system to retain its electrical properties and excellent sensitivity to magnetic fields. However, InSb-based structures proved to have significantly more post-irradiation self-healing capabilities when subject to proper temperature treatment. This property has been tested depending on the doping level and type of the substrate.

The Underlying Pathogenesis of Neurovascular Compression Syndromes: A Systematic Review

Neurovascular compression syndromes (NVC) are challenging disorders resulting from the compression of cranial nerves at the root entry/exit zone. Clinically, we can distinguish the following NVC conditions: trigeminal neuralgia, hemifacial spasm, and glossopharyngeal neuralgia. Also, rare cases of geniculate neuralgia and superior laryngeal neuralgia are reported. Other syndromes, e.g., disabling positional vertigo, arterial hypertension in the course of NVC at the CN IX-X REZ and torticollis, have insufficient clinical evidence for microvascular decompression. The exact pathomechanism leading to characteristic NVC-related symptoms remains unclear. Proposed etiologies have limited explanatory scope. Therefore, we have examined the underlying pathomechanisms stated in the medical literature. To achieve our goal, we systematically reviewed original English language papers available in Pubmed and Web of Science databases before 2 October 2021. We obtained 1694 papers after eliminating duplicates. Only 357 original papers potentially pertaining to the pathogenesis of NVC were enrolled in full-text assessment for eligibility. Of these, 63 were included in the final analysis. The systematic review suggests that the anatomical and/or hemodynamical changes described are insufficient to account for NVC-related symptoms by themselves. They must coexist with additional changes such as factors associated with the affected nerve (e.g., demyelination, REZ modeling, vasculature pathology), nucleus hyperexcitability, white and/or gray matter changes in the brain, or disturbances in ion channels. Moreover, the effects of inflammatory background, altered proteome, and biochemical parameters on symptomatic NVC cannot be ignored. Further studies are needed to gain better insight into NVC pathophysiology.

Endothelial CaSR is involved in the induction of atherosclerosis by promoting cell adhesion and local inflammation

Funding Acknowledgements

Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): Humboldt foundation

Background

Calcium-Sensing Receptor (CaSR) is a cell surface G-protein coupled receptor that senses calcium in the extracellular environment. This receptor is widely studied in mineral homeostasis due to its presence in varied calcitropic tissues. However, CaSR is also present on the surface of vascular and hematopoietic cells and recent studies suggest that this receptor can also have pathological consequences related to cardiovascular diseases, like atherosclerosis. Since endothelial cells are crucial players in atherogenesis, we aimed to investigate which role endothelial CaSR plays in the development and progression of atherosclerosis.

Methods

We cross-bred CaSRflox/flox Apoe-/- mice with BmxCreERT2 Apoe-/- (endothelial cell specific Cre driver) mice to obtain tamoxifen-inducible mice which have an endothelial cell specific deletion of CaSR. The mice were then fed with a high fat diet (HFD) for 4 or 12 weeks, reflecting early and late atherosclerosis, respectively. We used histological and immuno-fluorescent stainings to analyse the atherosclerotic lesion size and its cellular and acellular composition. Systemic effects on leukocytes were evaluated using flow-cytometry, while intra-vital microscopy was used to study leukocyte adhesion to activated endothelium in-vivo. Further mechanistic studies were performed in human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs) in-vitro.

Results

Endothelial CaSR deficiency in mice resulted in significantly smaller lesion size in early atherosclerotic stages (4 weeks HFD), whereas late atherosclerotic lesions (12 weeks HFD) were not affected by the lack of endothelial CaSR. Moreover, the phenotype of atherosclerotic plaques, characterized by macrophage, smooth muscle cell, collagen and necrotic core content remained unaltered between wild-type and endothelial cell specific CaSR knockout mice. Interestingly, leukocyte adhesion in-vivo, especially neutrophil adhesion, was significantly reduced in endothelial cell CaSR deficient mice. In line with this, overexpression of CaSR in HCAECs in-vitro increased the production of inflammatory cytokines and expression of adhesion molecules ICAM and VCAM.

Conclusion

Our results indicate that while endothelial cell specific CaSR is involved in the induction of atherosclerosis, it does not play a major role in its progression. CaSR has a major influence on endothelium-leukocyte interaction and endothelial inflammation. The increased expression of ICAM/VCAM suggest that CaSR mainly mediates such adhesive effects by modulating integrin expression. Thereby this study highlights that CaSR plays a crucial role in atherosclerosis development, rendering it a novel, so far unexplored therapeutic target.

Reduction of protein-bound uraemic toxins in plasma of chronic renal failure patients: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Protein-bound uraemic toxins (PBUTs) accumulate in patients with chronic kidney disease and impose detrimental effects on the vascular system. However, a unanimous consensus on the most optimum approach for the reduction of plasma PBUTs is still lacking.

METHODS

In this systematic review, we aimed to identify the most efficient clinically available plasma PBUT reduction method reported in the literature between 1980 and 2020. The literature was screened for clinical studies describing approaches to reduce the plasma concentration of known uraemic toxins. There were no limits on the number of patients studied or on the duration or design of the studies.

RESULTS

Out of 1274 identified publications, 101 studies describing therapeutic options aiming at the reduction of PBUTs in CKD patients were included in this review. We stratified the studies by the PBUTs and the duration of the analysis into acute (data from a single procedure) and longitudinal (several treatment interventions) trials. Reduction ratio (RR) was used as the measure of plasma PBUTs lowering efficiency. For indoxyl sulphate and p-cresyl sulphate, the highest RR in the acute studies was demonstrated for fractionated plasma separation, adsorption and dialysis system. In the longitudinal trials, supplementation of haemodialysis patients with AST-120 (Kremezin®) adsorbent showed the highest RR. However, no superior method for the reduction of all types of PBUTs was identified based on the published studies.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study shows that there is presently no technique universally suitable for optimum reduction of all PBUTs. There is a clear need for further research in this field.

JAK inhibitors dampen activation of interferon-activated transcriptomes and the SARS-CoV-2 receptor ACE2 in human renal proximal tubules

SARS-CoV-2 infections initiate cytokine storms and activate genetic programs leading to progressive hyperinflammation in multiple organs of patients with COVID-19. While it is known that COVID-19 impacts kidney function, leading to increased mortality, cytokine response of renal epithelium has not been studied in detail. Here, we report on the genetic programs activated in human primary proximal tubule (HPPT) cells by interferons and their suppression by ruxolitinib, a Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitor used in COVID-19 treatment. Integration of our data with those from patients with acute kidney injury and COVID-19, as well as other tissues, permitted the identification of kidney-specific interferon responses. Additionally, we investigated the regulation of the recently discovered isoform (dACE2) of the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), the SARS-CoV-2 receptor. Using ChIP-seq, we identified candidate interferon-activated enhancers controlling the ACE2 locus, including the intronic dACE2 promoter. Taken together, our study provides an in-depth understanding of genetic programs activated in kidney cells.

•

We provide transcriptomic and epigenetic data sets for human renal proximal tubules

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Cytokine stimulation induces distinct genetic pathways in the kidney

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Short isoform of ACE2, dACE2, is expressed in renal proximal tubules

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Type I interferons increase dACE2, but not full ACE2 expression

Thoracic osteophyte as a cause of symptomatic greater splanchnic nerve compression. Case report

Thoracic osteophytes are a common feature of degenerative spine disease. However, it is rare that osteophytes overgrowth on the anterior surface of thoracic spine results in the compression of vital structures and causes symptoms. A 39-year old man with a two-year history of thoracic and upper abdominal pain was admitted to the neurosurgery ward after having been seen by several specialists. Thoracic spine MRI and CT scans were analyzed. Osteophytes were identified on the anterolateral right side at level T8-T9 and were indicated as a possible cause of the symptoms. After obtaining patient consent, surgery was performed with transthoracic access to the anterolateral surface of the spine. Intraoperatively, the greater splanchnic nerve was released by osteophyte removal. The patient reported improvement of the preoperative symptoms at the six-month and two-year follow-up visit. Postoperative MRI indicated complete osteophyte excision. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of symptomatic sympathetic trunk branch compression by thoracic osteophytes.

The effect of different dietary ratios of lysine, arginine and methionine on protein nitration and oxidation reactions in turkey tissues and DNA

An assumption was made in the study that the optimal inclusion levels and ratios of lysine (Lys), arginine (Arg) and methionine (Met) in diets with Lys content consistent with National Research Council (NRC) recommendations (1994) contribute to stimulate the antioxidant defense system and prevent disorders resulting from the oxidation and nitration of biologically important molecules. The experiment was carried out on 864 one-day-old Hybrid Converter turkeys divided into six experimental groups (8 replicates per group and 18 birds per replicate) receiving different levels of Arg and Met. Chickens from group Arg₉₀Met₃₀ received 90% Arg and 30% Met relative to Lys; Arg₉₀Met₄₅ - 90% Arg and 45% Met relative to Lys; Arg₁₀₀Met₃₀ - 100% Arg and 30% Met relative to Lys; Arg₁₀₀Met₄₅ - 100% Arg and 45% Met relative to Lys; Arg₁₁₀Met₃₀ - 110% Arg and 30% Met relative to Lys and Arg₁₁₀Met₄₅ - 110% Arg level and 45% Met level relative to the content of dietary Lys. In comparison with turkeys fed diets with moderate Arg content (100% of Lys content), a decrease in dietary Arg level (90% of Lys content) led to a decrease in plasma 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT) concentration (163.6 vs. 141.0), whereas an increase in dietary Arg level (110% of Lys content) led to an increase in plasma 3-NT concentration (163.6 vs. 202.6). In comparison with turkeys fed diets with moderate Arg content (100% of Lys content), the lowest dietary Arg level (90% of Lys content) decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the intestinal wall (19.68 vs. 17.41) and in the liver (11.51 vs. 7.94), increased SOD activity in the blood (507.6 vs. 961.4) and in breast muscles (6.26 vs. 7.43) and increased the concentration of malondiadehyde in breast muscles (1.10 vs. 1.50). An increase in dietary Met content from 30 to 45% of Lys content caused a decrease in plasma protein carbonyl concentration (4.33 vs. 3.8) and catalase activity in breast muscles (54.70 vs. 49.66), and an increase in SOD activity in the liver (8.90 vs. 10.41). The highest dietary Arg level (110% of Lys content) did not induce the oxidation of lipids, proteins or DNA, but it increased the risk of protein nitration. The lowest dietary Arg level (90% of Lys content) deteriorated the antioxidant status of turkeys. Regardless of dietary Arg levels, an increase in Met content from 30 to 45% of Lys content stimulated the antioxidant defense system of turkeys.

Interferon-regulated genetic programs and JAK/STAT pathway activate the intronic promoter of the short ACE2 isoform in renal proximal tubules

Recently, a short, interferon-inducible isoform of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 (ACE2), dACE2 was identified. ACE2 is a SARS-Cov-2 receptor and changes in its renal expression have been linked to several human nephropathies. These changes were never analyzed in context of dACE2, as its expression was not investigated in the kidney. We used Human Primary Proximal Tubule (HPPT) cells to show genome-wide gene expression patterns after cytokine stimulation, with emphasis on the ACE2/dACE2 locus. Putative regulatory elements controlling dACE2 expression were identified using ChIP-seq and RNA-seq. qRT-PCR differentiating between ACE2 and dACE2 revealed 300- and 600-fold upregulation of dACE2 by IFNα and IFNβ, respectively, while full length ACE2 expression was almost unchanged. JAK inhibitor ruxolitinib ablated STAT1 and dACE2 expression after interferon treatment. Finally, with RNA-seq, we identified a set of genes, largely immune-related, induced by cytokine treatment. These gene expression profiles provide new insights into cytokine response of proximal tubule cells.

Fibrotic remodeling of left ventricle in the murine remnant kidney model of chronic kidney disease is independent of arterial hypertension

Background

Cardiac fibrosis and arterial hypertension are common in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). We studied the mechanisms of cardiac fibrogenesis and the role of blood pressure in mice with CKD.

Methods and results

10-week-old male C57/BL6N (BL6) and SV129 wildtype (WT) mice were underwent 5/6 nephrectomy (remnant kidney model, RKM) or sham operation for 10 weeks. RKM significantly elevated plasma creatinine and urea. RKM elicited both interstitial and replacement renal and left ventricular (LV) (BL6: SHAM 5.6±0.4%, RKM 7.3±0.7%, p=0.04; SV129: SHAM 6.0±0.5%, RKM 14±2%, p=0.001) fibrosis as assessed by picrosirius red staining. In parallel, the number of cardiac fibroblasts per mm2 (BL6: SHAM 36±4, RKM 85±13, p=0.001; SV129: SHAM 82±11, RKM 200±34, p=0.006) was increased in RKM mice. With regard to possible mechanisms, cardiac oxidative stress as shown by co-immunostaining for intracellular fibronectin and 8-hydroxyguanosine (BL6: SHAM 44±14%, RKM 60±24%, p=0.03; SV129: SHAM 51±6%, RKM 70±7%, p=0.04) and the percentage of CXCR4+ fibroblasts in the myocardium (BL6: SHAM 47±5%, RKM 62±4%, p=0.04; SV129: SHAM 63±5%, RKM 81±3%, p=0.005) were increased. Furthermore, the number of circulating CD45+ / collagen I+ fibrocytes (FACS) in the peripheral blood was increased by RKM in BL6 (SHAM 100±23%, RKM 443±252%, p=0.04) and diminished in SV129 (SHAM 100±19%, RKM 43±11%, p=0.01), while an opposite regulation was seen in the bone marrow. To further confirm the role of bone-marrow derived fibroblasts in renal and cardiac remodeling 10-week-old WT BL6 mice were subjected to transplantation of bone marrow from 10-week-old WT BL6 mice expressing green fluorescent protein (GFP)+ ubiquitously. 28 days later, RKM or SHAM-operation was performed. RKM significantly increased the number of GFP+ fibroblasts in kidney and LV-myocardium. CKD significantly decreased myocardial capillarization assessed by immunostaining for podocalyxin in both mouse lines. In parallel, myocardial protein expression of fibrosis regulators fibronectin, collagen I, CTGF and Hif1a were up-regulated and expression of the active form of eNOS (phospho-S1177) was reduced.

As a possible confounder, tail-cuff blood pressure was moderately enhanced (Ø 30mmHg) 9 weeks after nephrectomy. In a control experiment using the vasodilator hydralazine (250 mg/L/day), peripheral blood pressure was equalized in all 4 experimental groups, but the extent of LV fibrosis and expression of the above-mentioned fibrosis markers remained unchanged.

Conclusions

Chronic kidney disease in the RKM model elicits left ventricle fibrosis by increasing myocardial protein expression of fibrosis regulators, reduction of myocardial capillarization and mobilization / recruitment of circulating fibroblasts, independently of blood pressure.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: Foundation. Main funding source(s): Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft

Enhancer and super-enhancer dynamics in repair after ischemic acute kidney injury

The endogenous repair process can result in recovery after acute kidney injury (AKI) with adaptive proliferation of tubular epithelial cells, but repair can also lead to fibrosis and progressive kidney disease. There is currently limited knowledge about transcriptional regulators regulating these repair programs. Herein we establish the enhancer and super-enhancer landscape after AKI by ChIP-seq in uninjured and repairing kidneys on day two after ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI). We identify key transcription factors including HNF4A, GR, STAT3 and STAT5, which show specific binding at enhancer and super-enhancer sites, revealing enhancer dynamics and transcriptional changes during kidney repair. Loss of bromodomain-containing protein 4 function before IRI leads to impaired recovery after AKI and increased mortality. Our comprehensive analysis of epigenetic changes after kidney injury in vivo has the potential to identify targets for therapeutic intervention. Importantly, our data also call attention to potential caveats involved in use of BET inhibitors in patients at risk for AKI.

Novel Genetic Melanoma Vaccines Based on Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells or Melanosphere-Derived Stem-Like Cells Display High Efficacy in a Murine Tumor Rejection Model

Therapeutic cancer vaccines have elicited renewed interest due to the development of immune checkpoint inhibitors. The role of these vaccines is to induce specific effector cells for killing cancer cells. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are responsible for tumor growth and progression. Accordingly, they are targets for various cancer therapies, including immunotherapy. Here, we demonstrate the effectiveness of melanoma vaccines composed of genetically modified tumor cells admixed with melanoma stem-like cells (MSC) or induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Two vaccines were constructed. The first vaccine contained cells derived from B16F10 melanospheres (SFs) with CSC characteristics. The second vaccine contained syngeneic murine induced pluripotent stem cells (miPSCs). iPSCs or SF cells were admixed with B16F10 cells, modified with the designer cytokine Hyper-IL6(H6) (B16/H6). Control mice received B16/H6 cells, B16F10 cells or PBS. Immunization with either vaccine significantly inhibited tumor growth and increased disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) in C57BL/6 mice. Mice treated with the SF or iPSC vaccine demonstrated increased activation of the immune response in the vaccination site and tumor microenvironment compared to those treated with B16/H6, B16F10 or PBS. Higher infiltration of dendritic cells (DCs) monocytes, and natural killer (NK) cells; lower numbers of myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) and regulatory T cells (Tregs); higher levels of the cytokines INFγ and IL-12 were observed with the novel vaccines than with the control treatments. In vitro restimulation of splenocytes derived from mice immunized with B16F10 cell, SF cell or miPSC lysates increased the proliferation of CD4+ T helper lymphocytes and secretion of cytokines. An increased serum titer of antibodies directed against B16F10 cells was found in mice immunized with the SF vaccine. The most effective DFS and OS extensions were reached with the miPSCs vaccine. The described results form the basis for a novel platform for the next generation of cancer vaccines composed of allogeneic cancer-specific cells modified with a molecular adjuvant gene and admixed with allogeneic miPSCs or SFs.

The effect of raw and fermented rapeseed cake on growth performance, carcass traits, and breast meat quality in turkey

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of including 15% of raw or fermented rapeseed cake (RRC or FRC) in turkey diets on growth performance, carcass traits, and breast meat characteristics. A total of 1,350 day-old female Hybrid Converter turkeys were allocated to 3 dietary treatments (9 replicates per treatment and 50 birds each) and fed complete isocaloric and isonitrogenous diets. In the control group, soybean meal was the main source of dietary protein, whereas the experimental groups were fed diets containing 15% of RRC or FRC. The fermentation of rapeseed cake reduced the content of glucosinolates and phytate-phosphorus. In comparison with RRC, turkeys receiving FRC achieved significantly higher final BW, comparable with that noted in the control group. The experimental factor had no effect on carcass dressing percentage or carcass fat content, whereas turkeys fed diets containing rapeseed cake were characterized by lower relative weight of breast muscles and higher relative gizzard weight. The muscles of birds from groups RRC and FRC had also significantly lower cholesterol concentration. In comparison with control diet, diets RRC and FRC contributed to a significant decrease in the levels of saturated fatty acids and an increase in the share of n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids in the total fatty acid pool in breast meat. The highest concentrations of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and the most desirable n-6/n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid ratio were noted in the breast muscles of RRC group turkeys. Both RRC and FRC reduced catalase and superoxide dismutase activity, and decreased the malondialdehyde content of muscle tissue. In conclusion, the replacement of RRC with FRC in diets led to an increase in the final BW of turkeys, but it had no influence on carcass quality and the majority of meat quality traits. The inclusion of rapeseed products in turkey diets positively affected meat quality, improving the fatty acid profile and antioxidant status, but it also decreased the yield of breast muscles.

Transseries gradient expansion of Yang-Mills plasma

We discuss a resurgence framework in which both hydrodynamical and transient degrees of freedom of N = 4 SYM plasma are incorporated on an equal footing. In consequence, at late times, all information about initial conditions is encoded in infinitely many exponentially damped modes, controlled by transseries parameters.

Differential expression of cell-cell junction proteins in the testis, epididymis, and ductus deferens of domestic turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) with white and yellow semen

Tight, adherens, and gap junctions are involved in the regulation of reproductive tissue function in male mammals. In birds, including domestic turkeys, intercellular interactions performed by junctional networks have not yet been studied. Furthermore, the cellular and molecular basis of yellow semen syndrome (YSS) in the turkey population remains poorly understood. Thus, the aim of the present study was 2-fold: first, to provide new information on the localization and expression of cell-cell junction proteins in the testis, epididymis, and ductus deferens of domestic turkeys and second, to compare expression of junctional protein genes between 2 turkey population, one that produces white normal semen (WNS) and the other that produces yellow abnormal semen. Expression of occludin, zonula occludens-1 (ZO-1), connexin 43 (Cx43), N- and E-cadherin, and β-catenin genes were investigated using 3 complementary techniques: quantitative real-time PCR, western blot, and immunohistochemistry. Compared to WNS testis, epididymis, and ductus deferens, YSS tissues exhibited downregulation of occludin and β-catenin mRNA (P < 0.05) and protein (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively) and upregulation of N- and E-cadherin mRNA (P < 0.001, P < 0.05, P < 0.01, respectively) and protein (P < 0.01, P < 0.05, and P < 0.05, respectively). In contrast, ZO-1 and Cx43 mRNA and protein were upregulated in YSS testis (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001, respectively) but not in epididymis and ductus deferens; both mRNAs and proteins were downregulated (P < 0.05) compared to the respective WNS epididymis and ductus deferens. Altered staining intensity of immunoreactive proteins in YSS vs. WNS reproductive tissue sections confirmed the gene expression results. The present study is the first to demonstrate altered levels of junctional protein gene expression in reproductive tissues of male YSS turkeys. These findings may suggest that subtle changes in junctional protein expression affect the microenvironment in which spermatozoa develop and mature and thus may have an impact on the appearance of yellow semen in domestic turkeys.

Metabolic parameters in young turkeys fed diets with different inclusion levels of copper nanoparticles

The aim of this study was to verify the hypothesis postulating that the supplementation of turkey diets with Cu nanoparticles can lower dietary inclusion levels of Cu without compromising the growth rate and antioxidant status of turkeys. The experiment was carried out on 648 one-day-old Hybrid Converter turkeys divided into 6 groups with 6 replicates per group, in a two-factorial design with 3 dietary inclusion levels of Cu (20, 10 and 2 mg/kg) and 2 dietary sources of Cu - copper sulfate (Cu-SUL) and Cu nanoparticles (Cu-NP). At 42 days of age, blood samples were collected from 2 birds per replicate (12 birds per group), after slaughter livers were collected for analyses. Blood and liver samples were assayed for: Cu, Zn, Ca, P, Mg, GLU, TP, ALB, UREA, TAG, TC, UA, ALT, AST, ALT, GGT, ALP, SOD, GPx, CAT, VIT C, FRAP, GSH+GSSG, LOOH, MDA. The results of this experiment demonstrate that a decrease in the dietary inclusion levels of Cu from 10 mg/kg to 2 mg/kg does not compromise the growth performance of turkeys, but weakens antioxidant defense mechanisms. A Cu dose of 20 mg/kg induces oxidation reactions and has a much more inhibitory effect on the antioxidant defense system than dietary Cu content of 2 mg/kg. In turkeys, dietary supplementation with Cu-NP has a more beneficial effect on carbohydrate metabolism and antioxidant status compared with Cu-SUL. The results of analyses examining the antioxidant and metabolic status of young turkeys indicate that 10 mg/kg is the optimal dietary inclusion level of Cu.

Differences in aromatase expression and steroid hormone concentrations in the reproductive tissues of male domestic turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) with white and yellow semen

1. To show hormonal differences between male turkeys with yellow semen syndrome (YSS) and white, normal semen (WNS), the expression of aromatase, oestrogen receptor α (ERα), and oestrogen receptor β (ERβ) as well as testosterone and oestradiol concentrations in YSS and WNS testes, epididymis, and ductus deferens were examined. 2. To measure gene expression levels of aromatase and oestrogen receptors (ERs), three complementary techniques (real-time PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry) were used, whereas steroid hormone levels were determined radio-immunologically. 3. Upregulation of aromatase and ERα mRNAs in YSS testes (P < 0.05; P < 0.01), epididymis (P < 0.001; P < 0.001), and ductus deferens (P < 0.05; P < 0.01) compared to those of WNS tissues was detected. Significant increases in the levels of aromatase and ERα proteins were detected in YSS testes (P < 0.001; P < 0.05), epididymis (P < 0.001; P < 0.001), and ductus deferens (P < 0.001; P < 0.05). The expression of ERβ mRNA and protein level was upregulated in the testes (P < 0.05; P < 0.01) and epididymis (P < 0.001; P < 0.01) but not in ductus deferens where it was downregulated (P < 0.01; P < 0.01). Increased intensity of immunoreactive proteins in YSS versus WNS reproductive tissues corroborated gene expression results. 4. Testosterone concentration diminished in YSS epididymis (P < 0.05) and ductus deferens (P < 0.05), but not in the testes, remaining at high level (P < 0.05) compared to WNS values. Concomitantly, increased oestradiol concentration was found in YSS testes (P < 0.05) and epididymis (P < 0.05) but decreased in the ductus deferens (P < 0.05). 5. From the published literature, this study is the first to demonstrate the ability for androgen aromatisation in the turkey reproductive tissues and to show the cellular targets for locally produced oestrogens. The data suggested that the androgen/oestrogen ratio is a mechanistic basis for amplification of differences between turkeys with white and yellow semen and that these results can have a relevance in applied sciences to widen the knowledge on domestic bird reproduction.

Epithelial and Endothelial Pannexin1 Channels Mediate AKI

Background Pannexin1 (Panx1), an ATP release channel, is present in most mammalian tissues, but the role of Panx1 in health and disease is not fully understood. Panx1 may serve to modulate AKI; ATP is a precursor to adenosine and may function to block inflammation, or ATP may act as a danger-associated molecular pattern and initiate inflammation.Methods We used pharmacologic and genetic approaches to evaluate the effect of Panx1 on kidney ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI), a mouse model of AKI.Results Pharmacologic inhibition of gap junctions, including Panx1, by administration of carbenoxolone protected mice from IRI. Furthermore, global deletion of Panx1 preserved kidney function and morphology and diminished the expression of proinflammatory molecules after IRI. Analysis of bone marrow chimeric mice revealed that Panx1 expressed on parenchymal cells is necessary for ischemic injury, and both proximal tubule and vascular endothelial Panx1 tissue-specific knockout mice were protected from IRI. In vitro, Panx1-deficient proximal tubule cells released less and retained more ATP under hypoxic stress.Conclusions Panx1 is involved in regulating ATP release from hypoxic cells, and reducing this ATP release may protect kidneys from AKI.

The effect of DL-, L-isomers and DL-hydroxy analog administered at 2 levels as dietary sources of methionine on the metabolic and antioxidant parameters and growth performance of turkeys

A hypothesis was verified that dietary methionine (Met) improves the growth and antioxidant status of turkeys, and that its effects depend on dietary inclusion levels and sources. A total of 816 female Hybrid Converter turkeys was fed wheat-soybean meal-based diets supplemented with 3 sources of Met: DL-, L-isomers and DL-hydroxy analog (DLM, LM, and MHA, respectively). In 4 4-week periods (from one to 16 wk of age), dietary Met content corresponded to NRC (1994) recommendations or was increased by approximately 50% (in one to 8 wk by 44 to 46% and in 9 to 16 wk by 55 to 56% vs. the NRC guidelines) to match the recommendations of some breeding companies. Increased Met content resulted in higher final body weights of turkeys (P = 0.002), an improved feed conversion ratio (P = 0.049), increased total glutathione concentration and ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP) values, and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration (all P < 0.001) in the blood plasma of turkeys. In comparison with DLM, LM and MHA contributed to an increase in plasma glutathione concentration (P = 0.001), a decrease in plasma triacylglycerol (P = 0.003) and uric acid (P = 0.001) concentrations, and a decrease in liver MDA (P = 0.001) levels. A decrease in plasma MDA (vs. DLM) and lipid peroxides (LOOH) (vs. DLM and LM) concentrations as well as a decrease in plasma superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity (vs. DLM and LM) also were noted in the MHA treatment (P = 0.016, P = 0.001 and P = 0.011, respectively). In conclusion, the results of the study indicate that the antioxidant status of turkeys could be affected by dietary Met levels and sources. The dietary Met content increased by 50% relative to NRC recommendations, improved the growth performance of turkeys, and strengthened their antioxidant defense system. In comparison with DLM, LM and MHA could be considered positive nutritional factors as manifested by a beneficial decrease in plasma and hepatic MDA concentrations as well as an increase in plasma glutathione levels, and the effect of MHA was more pronounced.

Proteomic identification of turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) seminal plasma proteins

SDS-PAGE combined with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) and 2-dimensional electrophoresis (2DE) combined with matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time of flight/time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI TOF/TOF) were applied to characterize the turkey seminal plasma proteome. LC-MS/MS led to the identification of 175 proteins, which were classified according to their function and to corresponding biochemical pathways. Using 2DE and MALDI TOF/TOF, 34 different turkey seminal plasma proteins could be identified, of which 20 were found in more than one spot, indicating different proteoforms of these proteins. For validation, antibodies against turkey albumin and ovoinhibitor as well as sperm acrosin were used in 2DE Western blots experiments. The bioinformatic analysis of the results indicates that turkey seminal plasma proteins may be involved in regulation of lipid metabolism [liver X receptor/retinoid X receptor (LXR/RXR) activation and farnesoid X receptor/retinoid X receptor (FXR/RXR) activation pathways)], endocytic entry of proteins and lipids at the plasma membrane (clathrin-mediated endocytosis pathway), and defense against pathogens (acute phase response signaling pathway) and energy production (glycolysis and gluconeogenesis). Moreover, a comparative meta-analysis of seminal plasma proteomes from other species indicated the presence of proteins specific for avian reproduction, but distinct differences between turkey and chicken seminal plasma proteomes were detected. The results of our study provide basic knowledge of the protein composition of turkey seminal plasma highlighting important physiological pathways which may play crucial roles in the sperm environment after ejaculation. This knowledge can be the basis to further develop procedures improving the reproduction of farmed turkeys.