Browsing by Subject "Leukocytes"
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- PublicationRestrictedAir pollution from traffic during pregnancy impairs newborn's cord blood immune cells: The NELA cohort(ELSEVIER, 2021) García-Serna, Azahara M; Jiménez-Guerrero, Pedro; Pérez-Fernández, Virginia; Cantero-Cano, Esther; Muñoz-García, María; Ballesteros-Meseguer, Carmen; Pérez de Los Cobos, Irene; García-Marcos, Luis; Morales, Eva; NELA Study group; Hernández Caselles, Trinidad; Martín-Orozco Santiago, María Elena; Bioquímica y Biología Molecular B e InmunologíaBackground: Hazards of traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) on the developing immune system are poorly understood. We sought to investigate the effects of prenatal exposure to TRAP on cord blood immune cell distributions; and to identify gestational windows of susceptibility. Methods: In-depth immunophenotyping of cord blood leukocyte and lymphocyte subsets was performed by flow cytometry in 190 newborns embedded in the Nutrition in Early Life and Asthma (NELA) birth cohort (2015-2018). Long-term (whole pregnancy and trimesters) and short-term (15-days before delivery) residential exposures to traffic-related nitrogen dioxide (NO2), particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), and ozone (O3) were estimated using dispersion/chemical transport modelling. Associations between TRAP concentrations and cord blood immune cell counts were assessed using multivariate Poisson regression models. Results: Mean number of natural killer (NK) cells decreased 15% in relation to higher NO2 concentrations (≥36.4 μg/m3) during whole pregnancy (incidence relative risk (IRR), 0.85; 95% CI, 0.72, 0.99), with stronger associations in the first trimester. Higher PM2.5 concentrations (≥13.3 μg/m3) during whole pregnancy associated with a reduced mean number of cytotoxic T cells (IRR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.78, 0.99). Newborns exposed to higher PM10 (≥23.6 μg/m3) and PM2.5 concentrations during the first and third trimester showed greater mean number of helper T type 1 (Th1) cells (P < 0.05). Decreased number of regulatory T (Treg) cells was associated with greater short-term NO2 (IRR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.80, 1.01) and PM10 (IRR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.77, 0.99) concentrations. Conclusions: Prenatal exposure to TRAP, particularly in early and late gestation, impairs fetal immune system development through disturbances in cord blood leukocyte and lymphocyte distributions.
- PublicationOpen AccessAir pollution from traffic during pregnancy impairs newborn's cord blood immune cells: The NELA cohort(2020-11-17) García-Serna, Azahara M; Jiménez-Guerrero, Pedro; Pérez-Fernández, Virginia; Cantero-Cano, Esther; Muñoz-García, María; Ballesteros-Meseguer, Carmen; Pérez de los Cobos, Irene; García-Marcos, Luis; Morales, Eva; Hernández Caselles, Trinidad; Martín-Orozco Santiago, María Elena; Bioquímica y Biología Molecular B e InmunologíaBackground: Hazards of traffic-related air pollution (TRAP) on the developing immune system are poorly understood. We sought to investigate the effects of prenatal exposure to TRAP on cord blood immune cell distributions; and to identify gestational windows of susceptibility. Methods: In-depth immunophenotyping of cord blood leukocyte and lymphocyte subsets was performed by flow cytometry in 190 newborns embedded in the Nutrition in Early Life and Asthma (NELA) birth cohort (2015-2018). Long-term (whole pregnancy and trimesters) and short-term (15-days before delivery) residential exposures to traffic-related nitrogen dioxide (NO2), particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), and ozone (O3) were estimated using dispersion/chemical transport modelling. Associations between TRAP concentrations and cord blood immune cell counts were assessed using multivariate Poisson regression models. Results: Mean number of natural killer (NK) cells decreased 15% in relation to higher NO2 concentrations (≥36.4 μg/m3) during whole pregnancy (incidence relative risk (IRR), 0.85; 95% CI, 0.72, 0.99), with stronger associations in the first trimester. Higher PM2.5 concentrations (≥13.3 μg/m3) during whole pregnancy associated with a reduced mean number of cytotoxic T cells (IRR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.78, 0.99). Newborns exposed to higher PM10 (≥23.6 μg/m3) and PM2.5 concentrations during the first and third trimester showed greater mean number of helper T type 1 (Th1) cells (P < 0.05). Decreased number of regulatory T (Treg) cells was associated with greater short-term NO2 (IRR, 0.90; 95% CI, 0.80, 1.01) and PM10 (IRR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.77, 0.99) concentrations. Conclusions: Prenatal exposure to TRAP, particularly in early and late gestation, impairs fetal immune system development through disturbances in cord blood leukocyte and lymphocyte distributions.
- PublicationOpen AccessAstragaloside IV induces endothelial progenitor cell angiogenesis in deep venous thrombosis through inactivation of PI3K/AKT signaling(Universidad de Murcia, Departamento de Biologia Celular e Histiologia, 2024) Lyu, Xiaojiang; Yi, Zhigang; He, Yun; Zhang, Chunfeng; Zhu, Ping; Liu, ChonghaiBackground. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT), referred to as venous thromboembolism, is the third most frequent cardiovascular disease. Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) contribute to the recanalization of DVT. Astragaloside IV (AS-IV) has been suggested to have angiogenesis-enhancing effects. Here, we investigate the roles and mechanisms of AS-IV in EPCs and DVT. Methods. The experimental DVT model was established by inferior vena cava stenosis in rats. EPCs were collected from patients with DVT. Transwell assays were performed to detect cell migration. Tube formation was determined using Matrigel basement membrane matrix and ImageJ software. The thrombus weight and length were measured. Pathological changes were examined by hematoxylin-eosin staining. The production of proinflammatory cytokines was estimated by ELISA. The level of PI3K/AKT-related proteins was measured by western blotting. Results. AS-IV administration facilitated the migrative and angiogenic functions of human EPCs in vitro. Additionally, AS-IV inhibited thrombosis and repressed the infiltration of leukocytes into the thrombus and the production of proinflammatory cytokines in rats. Mechanistically, AS-IV inactivated PI3K/AKT signaling in rats. Conclusion. AS-IV prevents thrombus in an experimental DVT model by facilitating EPC angiogenesis and decreasing inflammation through inactivation of PI3K/AKT signaling.
- PublicationRestrictedMercury accumulation, structural damages, and antioxidant and immune status changes in the Gilthead Seabream (Sparus aurata L.) exposed to methylmercury(Springer, 2016-02-23) Chaves-Pozo, E.; Espinosa, C.; Romero, D.; Meseguer, J.; Cuesta Peñafiel, Alberto; Esteban Abad, María de los Ángeles; Guardiola Abellán, Francisco Antonio; Ciencias SociosanitariasIn aquatic systems, mercury (Hg) is an environmental contaminant that causes acute and chronic damage to multiple organs. In fish, practically all of the organic Hg found is in the form of methylmercury (MeHg), which has been associated with animal and human health problems. This study evaluates the impact of waterborne-exposure to sublethal concentrations of MeHg (10 [mu]g L^sup -1^) in gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata). Hg was seen to accumulate in liver and muscle, and histopathological damage to skin and liver was detected. Fish exposed to MeHg showed a decreased biological antioxidant potential and increased levels of the reactive oxygen molecules compared with the values found in control fish (nonexposed). Increased liver antioxidant enzyme activities (superoxide dismutase and catalase) were detected in 2 day-exposed fish with respect to the values of control fish. However, fish exposed to MeHg for 10 days showed liver antioxidant enzyme levels similar to those of the control fish but had increased hepato-somatic index and histopathological alterations in liver and skin. Serum complement levels were higher in fish exposed to MeHg for 30 days than in control fish. Moreover, head-kidney leukocyte activities increased, although only phagocytosis and peroxidase activities showed a significant increase after 10 and 30 days, respectively. The data show that 30 days of exposure to waterborne MeHg provokes more significant changes in fish than a short-term exposure of 2 or 10 days.
- PublicationOpen AccessOptimization of peritoneal fluid and leukocyte collection in patients with endometriosis(ELSEVIER, 2023-10-04) Machado-Linde, Francisco; García-Peñarrubia, Pilar; Nieto-Meca, Lucía; Marín-Sánchez, Pilar; Martínez-Esparza Alvargonzález, María Concepción; Ramírez Pávez, Tamara Nadira; Bioquímica y Biología Molecular B e InmunologíaObjective: To propose a standardized protocol for peritoneal free fluid and leukocyte sample collection in women with endometriosis suitable for biomedical research on the basis of the surgical procedure, the clinical and technical conditions, and the quality of the samples obtained. Design: Video showing the step-by-step collection procedure and the suitability of samples obtained for biomedical research. Subjects: This study included 103 women with confirmed endometriosis by pathology analysis, who signed informed consent and were recruited from the Hospital ‘‘Virgen de la Arrixaca’’, Murcia, Spain. The study was approved by the Ethics Committee of University of Murcia (CEI 3156/2020). Main Outcome Measures: We analyzed the presence of free fluid in the peritoneal cavity and its relationship with hormonal treatment intake. In addition, the presence of blood contamination, the number of viable leukocytes and macrophages in free peritoneal fluid and lavages as well as their relationship with the lavage volume used, the body mass index, and the age of patients were analyzed. Results: The presence of free peritoneal fluid, in which cells and molecules could be quantified, was scarce in the patients (21%), and it was not significantly related to hormonal treatment intake. The cell viability was higher than 98% in all collected samples; although 54% showed good quality and enough cellularity to be used in biomedical research, 40% were contaminated with blood and 6% had low cellularity. The number of leukocytes and macrophages recovered from the peritoneal lavages correlated positively with the lavage volume used and negatively with the body mass index and was independent of the age of the patients. Conclusion: We describe a standardized step-by-step procedure for peritoneal fluid and leukocyte collection in women with endometriosis, suitable for biomedical research, taking into account that not all women present free fluid in the peritoneal cavity. We propose to increase the lavage volume recommended by the World Endometriosis Research Foundation from 10 mL to at least 40 mL of sterile saline solution and its mobilization for at least 30 seconds within the peritoneal cavity, especially in patients with higher body mass index, to improve the efficiency of the procedure.
- PublicationOpen AccessPurinergic P2X7 receptor expression increases in leukocytes from intra-abdominal septic patients(Frontiers Media, 2023-11-29) Martínez Banaclocha, Helios; García Palenciano, Carlos; Martínez Alarcón, Laura; Amores Iniesta, Joaquín; Ercole, Giovanni A.; González Lisorge, Ada; Fernánde Pacheco, José; Martínez Gil, Piedad; Padilla Rodríguez, Julio; Baroja Mazo, Alberto; Martínez García, Juan José; Martín Sánchez, María Rosario Fátima; Pelegrín Vivancos, Pablo; Sanidad AnimalInflammation is a tightly coordinated response of the host immune system to bacterial and viral infections, triggered by the production of inflammatory cytokines. Sepsis is defined as a systemic inflammatory response followed by immunosuppression of the host and organ dysfunction. This imbalance of the immune response increases the risk of mortality of patients with sepsis, making it a major problem for critical care units worldwide. The P2X7 receptor plays a crucial role in activating the immune system by inducing the activation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells. In this study, we analyzed a cohort of abdominal origin septic patients and found that the expression of the P2X7 receptor in the plasma membrane is elevated in the different subsets of lymphocytes. We observed a direct relationship between the percentage of P2X7-expressing lymphocytes and the early inflammatory response in sepsis. Additionally, in patients whose lymphocytes presented a higher percentage of P2X7 surface expression, the total lymphocytes populations proportionally decreased. Furthermore, we found a correlation between elevated soluble P2X7 receptors in plasma and inflammasome-dependent cytokine IL-18. In summary, our work demonstrates that P2X7 expression is highly induced in lymphocytes during sepsis, and this correlates with IL-18, along with other inflammatory mediators such as IL-6, IL-8, and procalcitonin.
- PublicationOpen AccessStructure of the rat tracheal mucosa after chronic intermittent hypoxia or chronic hyperbaric oxygen therapy(Universidad de Murcia. Departamento de Biología Celular e Histología, 2016) Vera-Cruz, Paulo; Rito, Miguel; Diogo, Lucília; Zagalo, Carlos; dos Santos, José Martins; Monteiro, Maria Emília. Objective: This paper is aimed at identifying putative morphological changes induced in the rat’s tracheal mucosa by chronic hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) treatment or chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH). Study Design: Tracheal samples were obtained from three groups of 11, 12 and 13 adult Wistar rats. The first group was submitted to 20 sessions of 100 min-long HBO treatment; the second group was submited to eucapnic CIH for 35 days; and the third group was not submitted to any CIH or HBO therapy. Methods: Four proximal tracheal rings were collected after sacrifice and neck dissection of the animals. The samples were processed for both light microscopy and morphometric analysis. Inflammatory leukocyte infiltration was evaluated by a semiquantitative method. Unpaired t test and Bernoulli distribution were applied to evaluate statistical differences in the data collected from the three groups. Results: Both CIH and HBO promote an increase in the thickness of the epithelium and of the basement membrane of the rat tracheal mucosa, as well as an increment in the number of infiltrating leukocytes, when compared with results seen in the untreated group. In the HBO group there was a significant lack of seromucous glands, as opposed to the results obtained in the CIH group. Conclusions: Chronic HBO and CIH exposure causes only minor changes in the architecture of the tracheal mucosa of the rat. The respiratory tract of the rat showed a mild inflammatory response when subject to variations of pressure and oxygen content. Apparently these effects do not constitute a critical issue on prescribing HBO treatments and in the management of sleep apnea patients.