Browsing by Subject "Immune system"
Now showing 1 - 11 of 11
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- PublicationEmbargoAir pollution from traffic during pregnancy impairs newborn's cord blood immune cells: The NELA cohort(ELSEVIER, 2021) García-Serna, Azahara M; Hernández-Caselles, Trinidad; Jiménez-Guerrero, Pedro; Martín-Orozco, Elena; 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; 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 AccessBioinformatic and gene expression analysis of the somatostatin/cortistatin gene family in the gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata).Campos Sánchez, Jose Carlos; Serna‑Duque, Jhon A.; Guardiola, Francisco A.; Cuesta, Alberto; Esteban Abad, María Ángeles; Biología Celular e Histología- PublicationOpen AccessChemokines and their receptors in disease(Murcia : F. Hernández, 2005) Bendall, L.Chemokines are a family of structurally related low molecular weight (8–10 kDa) proteins that are important for the organization of tissues during development and regulate cell motility and localization both during development and in the adult. In the adult, this function is predominately related to the trafficking of leukocytes, although more recently the impact of these molecules on other cell types has become apparent. Chemokines mediate their effects by binding seven transmembrane, G-protein coupled, receptors. In addition to their primary role in regulating cell motility, they can also influence cell survival and proliferation. Antagonists for a number of chemokine receptor have been developed, raising the possibility of interfering with chemokine function as a therapeutic tool. This review focuses on the emerging roles for chemokines in normal physiology and disease.
- PublicationOpen AccessCocaine abuse and its impact on the thymus and spleen(Universidad de Murcia, Departamento de Biologia Celular e Histiologia, 2025) Aki, Toshihiko; Unuma, Kana; Biología Celular e HistologíaCocaine is a psychostimulant abused worldwide. Its pharmacotoxicological properties are derived mainly from its impact on the neurotransmission of sympathomimetic nerves. Cocaine enhances and prolongs the neurotransmission of monoamines, such as dopamine, serotonin, and adrenaline, which are responsible not only for cocaine’s euphoric effects, but also its cardiovascular toxicity. In addition to these effects on central as well as peripheral nerves, immunosuppression is also implicated in cocaine toxicity. The thymus and spleen are lymphoid organs that are essential in lymphocyte maturation and erythrocyte homeostasis. Reductions in thymus and spleen size, which are observed under both physiological and pathological conditions, are known as thymic involution and splenic contraction, respectively. These phenomena are also observed in experimental animal models of binge cocaine abuse. In this brief review, we describe the mechanisms of cocaine toxicity, thymic involution, and splenic contraction, followed by discussions about the possible role of the latter two phenomena in cocaine intoxication.
- PublicationOpen AccessEfecto de la temperatura sobre la microbiota del insecto comestible acheta domesticus(Facultad de Veterinaria y el Servicio de Publicaciones de la Universidad de Murcia, 2023) Beltran Soro, Leonardo; Bravo Peña, Yolanda; Galián Albadalejo, JoseLa microbiota de los insectos desempeña funciones esenciales en el metabolismo de los mismos, contribu-yendo al correcto funcionamiento del sistema inmune y favoreciendo la digestión. La especie de grillo Acheta do-mesticus ha sido recientemente autorizada para consumo humano. La producción masiva de esta especie implica grandes costes energéticos en la zona de cría, por lo que variaciones en la temperatura de la sala pueden suponer un importante ahorro en el coste de producción. Este estudio tiene como objetivo analizar la influencia de la tempe-ratura en la composición de la microbiota intestinal, planteándose la hipótesis de que los cambios de temperatura afectan a la microbiota de insectos ectotermos. Para ello se seleccionaron dos grupos de grillos en cajas separadas y se les sometió a temperaturas de 20 ºC y 30 ºC respectivamente. Posteriormente se les extrajo el intestino y se cuantificaron sus poblaciones bacterianas mediante técnicas metagenómicas. Los resultados obtenidos mostraron que los taxones más abundantes apenas variaron en todas las muestras. La abundancia relativa de bacterias perte-necientes al filo Firmicutes fue de 31,5 ± 2,06 %, en Bacteroidetes 24,25 ± 3,89 % y en Proteobacteria 44 ± 4,85 %. La única muestra que mostró diferencia fue la criada a 30ºC, en la que se detectó un 0,8% de Actinobacteria. Al cuantificar estas poblaciones se observó que la mayor parte de la microbiota en todas las muestras es similar a nivel taxonómico de filo y nivel de clase, excepto a la temperatura de 30 ºC en la que se detecta un pequeño porcentaje de Actinobacterias. En conclusión, se podría decir que la temperatura de cría de las granjas de grillos ha influido ligeramente en la composición de la microbiota intestinal, por lo que se acepta la hipótesis inicial.Se ha observado una alta mortalidad en la muestra mantenida a 30ºC, lo que sugiere que este factor debe ser cuidadosamente considerado en la cría masiva de grillos
- PublicationOpen AccessGender differences in the renal changes induced by a prolonged high-fat diet in rats altered renal developmet(2021-08) Moreno, Juan Manuel; Martínez, Carlos M.; De Jódar, Carlos; Reverte, Virginia; Bernabé, Antonio; Salazar, Francisco Javier; Llinás Más, María Teresa; Fisiologíahe mechanisms involved in renal dysfunction induced by high-fat diet (HFD) in subjects with altered renal development (ARDev) are understudied. The objective of this study is to examine whether there are sex-dependent differences in the mechanisms involved in the hypertension and deterioration of renal function in SD rats with prolonged HFD and ARDev. The role of angiotensin II (Ang II) in the arterial pressure (AP) increments, the renal hemodynamic sensitivity to Ang II, glomerular damage and changes in fat abdominal volume, plasma adipokine levels, renal NADPHp67phox expression, and renal infiltration of immune cells were examined. Hypertension and deterioration of renal function were enhanced (P < 0.05) in both sexes of rats with HFD and ARDev. The decrease (P < 0.05) of AP elicited by candesartan in hypertensive rats was similar to that induced by the simultaneous administration of candesartan and apocynin. The greater (P < 0.05) renal vasoconstriction induced by Ang II in both sexes of rats with HFD and ARDev was accompanied by an enhanced (P < 0.05) infiltration of CD-3 cells and macrophages in the renal cortex and renal medulla. The increments (P < 0.05) in the renal expression of NADPHp67phox and glomeruloesclerosis were greater (P < 0.05) in males than in females with HFD and ARDev. Our results suggest that the hypertension and deterioration of renal function induced by HFD in rats with ARDev are Ang II-dependent and mediated by increments in oxidative stress and immune system activation. Sex-dependent increments in oxidative stress and glomerular damage may contribute to the deterioration of renal function in these rats.
- PublicationOpen AccessGlycosylation and lectins-examples of immunesurveillance and immune evasion(Murcia : F. Hernández, 2004) Müller, I.; Jenner, J.; Handgretinger, R.; Riberdy, J.; Kerst, G.Cell surface proteins are posttranslationally modified by tightly regulated enzymes of glycosylation. Typical patterns of glycosylation may signal pathological situations to the immune system. Here, carbohydrate receptors on the surface of cells in the immune system are involved in regulation of effector cells. Moreover, some lectins are circulating in the plasma and take part in host defense. The code of carbohydrate modifications is impaired in malignant cells and yet they are not eliminated. In this review, we focus on recent experimental evidence for regulatory functions of lectins and carbohydrate derivatives in the immune system and tumours.
- PublicationOpen AccessImmunohistochemical study of human pterygium(Murcia : F. Hernández, 2002) Perra, M. T.; Maxia, C.; Zucca, I.; Piras, F.; Sirigu, P.The purpose of this study has been to evaluate the immunohistochemical characteristics of human pterygial tissues in order to ascertain the possible contribution of an immunological mechanism in the pathogenesis of pterygium and to investigate the presence in the pterygial tissues of some melanomaassociated antigens, in order to evaluate if there may be a small possibility of correlation of the two diseases. Human biopsy specimens of pterygium were obtained by surgery for pterygium excision. Ti s s u e segments were fixed and processed for paraf f i n embedding. Microtome sections were treated for the immunohistochemical demonstration of IgA, IgM, IgG, CD3, CD20, CD68, HLA-DR, Protein S100, HMB45, and Melan A using the avidin-biotin peroxidase method or the streptavidin biotin-alkaline phosphatase method. The findings suggest that all the effector components of the mucosal immune system are present in the human pterygium and, among the most sensitive markers for melanoma, only S100 shows immunoreactivity. An immunopathogenetic mechanism seems to be responsible for the pathogenesis of pterygium, perhaps being caused by pre-existing conjunctivitis or microtrauma in combination with the patient’s predisposition. No correlation between pterygium and melanoma was found.
- PublicationOpen AccessManual de prácticas de inmunología clínica(2014-01-31) Rubio Pedraza, Gonzalo; Bioquímica y Biología Molecular "B" e Inmunología; Facultad de Química
- PublicationEmbargoMercury accumulation, structural damages, and antioxidant and immune status changes in the Gilthead Seabream (Sparus aurata L.) exposed to methylmercury(Springer, 2016-02-23) Guardiola, F. A.; Chaves-Pozo, E.; Espinosa, C.; Romero, D.; Meseguer, J.; Cuesta, A.; Esteban Abad, María Ángeles; 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 AccessPrenatal and Perinatal Environmental Influences Shaping the Neonatal Immune System: A Focus on Asthma and Allergy Origins(MDPI, 2021-04-09) García-Serna, Azahara M; Martín-Orozco, Elena; Hernández-Caselles, Trinidad; Morales, Eva; Bioquímica y Biología Molecular B e InmunologíaIt is suggested that programming of the immune system starts before birth and is shaped by environmental influences acting during critical windows of susceptibility for human development. Prenatal and perinatal exposure to physiological, biological, physical, or chemical factors can trigger permanent, irreversible changes to the developing immune system, which may be reflected in cord blood of neonates. The aim of this narrative review is to summarize the evidence on the role of the prenatal and perinatal environment, including season of birth, mode of delivery, exposure to common allergens, a farming environment, pet ownership, and exposure to tobacco smoking and pollutants, in shaping the immune cell populations and cytokines at birth in humans. We also discuss how reported disruptions in the immune system at birth might contribute to the development of asthma and related allergic manifestations later in life.