Histology and histopathology Vol.18, nº 4 (2003)
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PublicationMetadata onlya-synuclein: between synaptic function and dysfunction(2003) Di Rosa, G.; Puzzo, D.; Sant'Angelo, A.; Trinchese, F.; Arancio, O.Alpha-synuclein belongs to a family of vertebrate proteins, encoded by three different genes: a, ß, and g. The protein has become of interest to the neuroscience community in the last few years after the discovery that a mutation in the a-synuclein gene is associated with familial autosomal-dominant early-onset forms of Parkinson Disease. However, it is not yet clear how the protein is involved in the disease. Several studies have suggested that a-synuclein plays a role in neurotransmitter release and synaptic plasticity. This hypothesis might help elucidate how a-synuclein malfunctioning contributes to the development of a series of disorders known as synucleinopathies.- PublicationOpen AccessMuscle injuries and repair: The role of prostaglandins and inflammation(Murcia : F. Hernández, 2003) Prisk, V.; Huard, J.Skeletal muscle injuries are a common problem in trauma and orthopaedic surgery. Muscle injuries undergo the healing phases of degeneration, inflammation, regeneration, and fibrosis. Current and experimental therapies to improve muscle regeneration and limit muscle fibrosis include conservative and surgical principles with the adjuvant use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and growth factor manipulation. NSAIDs appear to have a paradoxical effect on the healing of muscle injuries with early signs of improvement and subsequent late impairment in functional capacity and histology. In vitro and in vivo studies have explored the role of the cyclooxygenases and prostaglandins in the biological processes of healing muscle, including precursor cell activation, myoblast proliferation, myoblast fusion, and muscle protein synthesis. Through use of more specific cyclooxygenase inhibitors, we may be able to better understand the role of inflammation in muscle healing.
- PublicationOpen AccessIGSF4: a new intercellular adhesion molecule that is called by three names, TSLC1, SgIGSF and SynCAM, by virtue of its diverse function(Murcia : F. Hernández, 2003) Watanabe, K.; Ito, A.; Koma, Y.; Kitamura, Y.Members of the immunoglobulin superfamily often play key roles in intercellular adhesion. IGSF4 is a novel immunoglobulin (Ig)-like intercellular adhesion molecule. Three Ig-like domains are included in the extracellular domain of IGSF4 and mediate homophilic or heterophilic interactions independently of Ca2+. The cytoplasmic domain of IGSF4 contains the binding motifs that connect to actin fibers. Since IGSF4 has been characterized by several independent research groups, this molecule is called by three names, TSLC1, SgIGSF and SynCAM. IGSF4 was first characterized as a tumor suppressor of non-small cell lung cancer and termed TSLC1, although how IGSF4 suppresses tumor growth remains unknown. Silencing of the IGSF4 gene was primarily achieved by allelic loss and promoter methylation in this type of cancers. Soon after this discovery, IGSF4 was found to have roles in adhesion of spermatogenic cells to Sertoli cells and mast cells to fibroblasts and termed SgIGSF. Other researchers revealed that IGSF4 drives synaptic formation of neural cells and termed it SynCAM.
- PublicationOpen AccessBiological behavior of Leishmania (L.) amazonensis isolated from a human diffuse cutaneous leishmaniasis in inbred strains of mice(Murcia : F. Hernández, 2003) Cupolilo, S.M.N.; Souza, C.S.F.; Abreu Silva, A.L.; Calabrese, K.S.; Gonçalves da Costa, S.C.After a subcutaneous injection of 104 purified amastigotes of an isolate from a diffuse case of cutaneous leishmaniasis caused by the MHOM/BR/76/Ma-5 strain of Leishmania amazonensis, three inbred mouse strains developed a progressive nodular lesion, which evolved to an ulcerated lesion. Based on these data, mice of BALB/c, C57BL/6 or C57BL/10 could be classified as susceptible. The majority of mice developed metastases in the footpads, ear, tail, nose and oral mucosa. Amputation of the members related to the primary lesion was frequent. Experiments using the limiting dilution analysis showed that there was no correlation between lesion and parasite load. It has been demonstrated that these mouse strains could be considered excellent models for mucocutaneous leishmaniasis when infected with L. amazonensis. Metastatic lesions caused destruction of the nasal region with many parasitized macrophages under the epithelial surface of the nasal mucosa. Bone destruction occurred with an extensive inflammatory reaction presenting macrophages heavily parasitized by amastigotes. The parasites also spread to the periodontal ligament and other structures of the oral cavity, which could induce a severe inflammatory process. This study indicates that both nasal and oral lesions in mice infected by L. amazonensis were characterized by an inflammatory reaction with the presence of a high parasite load within macrophages.
- PublicationOpen AccessOrganogenesis of the digestive tract in the white seabream, Diplodus sargus. Histological and histochemical approaches(Murcia : F. Hernández, 2003) Ortiz-Delgado, J.B.; Darias, M.J.; Cañavate, J.P.; Yúfera, M.; Sarasquete, C.The ontogeny of the digestive tract of the white seabream, Diplodus sargus during the larval development up to day 45 post-hatching (dph) has been studied using histological and histochemical techniques. The oesophageal goblet cells appeared around 6 dph and contained neutral and acid mucosubstances (PAS/diastase-PAS and Alcian Blue pH 2.5 positive reactions). An incipient stomach can be distinguished from 2 dph but the first sign of gastric gland development was detected around 13-15 dph, increasing in number and size by 22-23 dph. Gastric glands were concentrated in the cardiac stomach region and they had a high content of protein rich in tyrosine, arginine and tryptophan. Acidophilic supranuclear inclusions related to pynocitosis of proteins, were already observed in the intestinal cells of the posterior intestine around 4-6 dph (exogenous feeding) and they were present until 25 dph. The intestinal mucous cells appeared between 15-18 dph and contained a mixture of neutral and acid mucosubstances/glycoconjugates, carboxylated ones being more abundant than the sulphated ones. The stomach and gastric glands were fully developed by the first month of life marking the beginning of digestive features characteristic of the juvenile stage. Around 4-6 dph, glycogen, proteins and neutral lipids were observed in the granular cytoplasm of hepatocytes. Strongly acidophilic zymogen granules were also present, at this time, in the basophilic cytoplasm of the exocrine pancreatic acinar cells and contained abundant proteins, especially rich in arginine, tyrosine and tryptophan.