Selective Concurrence of the Long Non-Coding RNA MALAT1 and the Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 to Promoter Regions of Active Genes in MCF7 Breast Cancer Cells

In cancer cells, the long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) MALAT1 has arisen as a key partner for the Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2), an epigenetic modifier. However, it is unknown whether this partnership occurs genome-wide at the chromatin level, as most of the studies focus on single genes that are usually repressed. Due to the genomic binding properties of both macromolecules, we wondered whether there are binding sites shared by PRC2 and MALAT1. Using public genome-binding datasets for PRC2 and MALAT1 derived from independent ChIP- and CHART-seq experiments performed with the breast cancer cell line MCF7, we searched for regions containing PRC2 and MALAT1 overlapping peaks. Peak calls for each molecule were performed using MACS2 and then overlapping peaks were identified by bedtools intersect. Using this approach, we identified 1293 genomic sites where PRC2 and MALAT1 concur. Interestingly, 54.75% of those sites are within gene promoter regions (<3000 bases from the TSS). These analyses were also linked with the transcription profiles of MCF7 cells, obtained from public RNA-seq data. Hence, it is suggested that MALAT1 and PRC2 can concomitantly bind to promoters of actively-transcribed genes in MCF7 cells. Gene ontology analyses revealed an enrichment of genes related to categories including cancer malignancy and epigenetic regulation. Thus, by re-visiting occupancy and transcriptomic data, we identified a key gene subset controlled by the collaboration of MALAT1 and PRC2.

Direct effects of fermented cow's milk product with Lactobacillus paracasei CBA L74 on human enterocytes

Cow's milk fermented with Lactobacillus paracasei CBA L74 (FM-CBAL74) exerts a preventive effect against infectious diseases in children. We evaluated if this effect is at least in part related to a direct modulation of non-immune and immune defence mechanisms in human enterocytes. Human enterocytes (Caco-2) were stimulated for 48 h with FM-CBAL74 at different concentrations. Cell growth was assessed by colorimetric assay; cell differentiation (assessed by lactase expression), tight junction proteins (zonula occludens1 and occludin), mucin 2, and toll-like receptor (TRL) pathways were analysed by real-time PCR; innate immunity peptide synthesis, beta-defensin-2 (HBD-2) and cathelicidin (LL-37) were evaluated by ELISA. Mucus layer thickness was analysed by histochemistry. FMCBA L74 stimulated cell growth and differentiation, tight junction proteins and mucin 2 expression, and mucus layer thickness in a dose-dependent fashion. A significant stimulation of HBD-2 and LL-37 synthesis, associated with a modulation of TLR pathway, was also observed. FM-CBAL74 regulates non-immune and immune defence mechanisms through a direct interaction with the enterocytes. These effects could be involved in the preventive action against infectious diseases demonstrated by this fermented product in children.

Effect of cyclosporin A on autoimmune tubulointerstitial nephritis in the brown Norway rat

The effect of cyclosporin A (CyA) on the development of tubulointerstitial nephritis (TIN) in the brown Norway (BN) rat was assessed. All manifestations of TIN were prevented in rats by subcutaneously injected CyA (20 mg/kg/day). A short 7-day course of CyA beginning the day before immunization suppressed the primary and ongoing antibody response. In addition, delayed CyA treatment (starting on day 10 after immunization), when antibody response was established, drastically reduced the levels of serum anti-TBM IgG, and abrogated the interstitial inflammatory cell response, in spite of persistent kidney-bound TBM antibodies. These results indicate that CyA has a therapeutic effect on the BN rat model of TIN.

A simple method for detecting anti-tubular membrane antibodies in rat lymphoid cell cultures

The application of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to short cell cultures has proved to be useful in detecting immunoglobulins secreted to supernatants. This paper describes a modified ELISA to detect and quantify the production of specific anti-tubular basal membrane IgG released in vitro by lymphoid cells from Brown Norway rats with tubulointerstitial nephritis. This method uses 4-methyl-umbelliferyl-phosphate as substrate and allows to detect approximately concentrations 100 times less than the detectable concentration of visibly colored substrates. This method eliminates the need for mitogens, is precise and reproducible and the use of 4-methyl-umbelliferyl-phosphate allows a substantial increase in sensitivity.

Effect of theophylline on nuclear retention of oestrogenreceptor complexes: correlation with oestrogen responses

In the ovariectomized adult rat uterine oedema induced by 0.01 and 0.1 micrograms oestradiol-17 beta/100g body weight increased further in the presence of theophylline. Nuclear retention of oestrogen-receptor complexes also increased in response to theophylline both in vivo and in vitro. Theophylline decreased the number of eosinophils in the blood and concurrently decreased oestrogen-induced uterine eosinophilia at doses of 0.001, 0.01, 0.1, 1, 10 or 30 micrograms oestradiol/100 g body weight, through a mechanism independent of glucocorticoids. There was, therefore, no correlation between changes in the number of uterine eosinophils and changes in uterine wet weight induced by theophylline and oestrogen. It is suggested that the presence of oestrogen-receptor complexes in the nucleus for at least 4 h is a prerequisite for the induction of uterine oedema and growth in the presence of theophylline and oestradiol-17 beta.

Clinical significance of IgM mesangial deposits in the nephrotic syndrome

We have studied 32 patients with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome aged from 3 to 59 years. The clinical course of 20 patients with IgM mesangial deposits was compared with that of 12 patients without glomerular immune deposits. The presence of IgM deposits seems to be unrelated to any particular clinical onset, histological pattern on light microscopy, therapy response, or clinical course in our relatively short follow-up. The conclusion from this study is that IgM mesangial deposition is not a marker for response to therapy in patients with idiopathic nephrotic syndrome.

Expression of Ia like (HLA-DR) antigens on human alveolar macrophages

The distribution of Ia like (HLA-DR) antigens on human alveolar macrophages (HAM phi) has been investigated by indirect immunofluorescence staining of viable macrophages with a panel of monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) to common determinants of these antigens. HAM phi were characterized by non-specific esterase stain, plastic adherence, phagocytosis and IgG-Fc receptor expression. Ia like antigens were expressed in approximately 45-80% of HAM phi, being localized as patchy and lineal fluorescence along the membrane. Ia like expression was higher in macrophages from non-smoker subjects (P less than 0.025). No difference in Ia like antigen expression was found between adherent and non-adherent HAM phi subsets. Ia like positive HAM phi from both smoker and non-smoker subjects consisted of a large subpopulation of phagocytic cells (60-70%) and a smaller non-phagocytic subpopulation (20-25%). These subpopulations were also present in the Ia like negative HAM phi. The percentage of Ia like positive macrophages showed variable results depending on the MoAb used, suggesting that not all anti-Ia like antibodies recognize the same antigenic determinants. Moreover, lack of staining of one macrophage subset occurred with all MoAb tested, over a large range of concentrations.