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The expression of terminal monosaccharides on immune complexes IgG glycans in rheumatoid arthritis
No full textRheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterised by the presence of rheumatoid factors (RFs;
autoantibodies against Fc region of IgG molecules) and autoantibodies against citrullinated peptides
(ACPAs), mostly of IgG isotype. Both RFs and ACPAs form immune complexes (IC). IgG glycans
are important for IgG proinflammatory effects and in this study, we analysed expression of terminal
monosaccharides of circulating immune complexes (CIC) IgG glycans in RA. IgG from polyethylene
glycol (PEG) precipitable CICs of healthy individuals and RA patients, were isolated by Protein G
chromatography. The expression of IgG heavy and light chains’ terminal galactose (Gal), sialic
acid, N-acetyl galactosamine (GalNAc), fucose (Fuc), and bisecting GalNAc were performed with
reducing SDS-PAGE followed by blotting with RCA I, SNA, GS II, UEA and succ. WGA lectins.
We detected a decreased expression of Gal (39%) and increased expression of sialic acid (31%) on
CIC IgG heavy chains. Due to difference in IgG light chains glycans expression, in both control and
RA, two light chain bands (L1 and L2), slightly different in molecular weight were detected. CIC
IgG L1 (higher molecular weight) expressed increased level of Gal (35%) and decreased level of
GalNAc expression (21%) on RA, comparing to control. On the IgG L2 light chains, an increased
Fuc expression was detected (24%). The difference between RA and control in the expression of
other CIC IgG heavy and light chains’ monosaccharides was not observed. The precise location
(variable vs. constant domains) and glycan monosaccharide composition on IgG light and heavy
chains in RA need further investigation using additional enzymatic and high-performance methods
(HPLC/MS)
The effect of feeding on different hosts on the egg proteins in Haemaphysalis qinghaiensis tick
No full textThe majority of ixodid ticks display host-specificity to varying extents. Feeding on different hosts affects their development and reproduction. Consequences can be analyzed at the level of the egg, as it is the initial stage of tick development. Tick egg proteins are abundant and diverse, providing nutrients for embryonic development. However, studies on tick egg profiles are scarce. In this study, we aimed to analyze whether feeding Haemaphysalis qinghaiensis ticks on the yaks (Bos grunniens) and domestic sheep (Ovis aries) has an impact on the variety and variability of the egg proteome. Detached engorged females were used to lay eggs, which were then collected, dewaxed, and subjected to protein extraction. The extracted egg proteins were enzymatically digested using Filter-Aided Sample Preparation (FASP), and the unique peptides were separated and detected by Liquid Chromatography-tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). The MS data were searched against the previously constructed whole tick transcriptome library of H. qinghaiensis, and the UniProt database for the identification of tick-derived egg proteins. The analysis revealed 49 and 53 high-confidence proteins identified in eggs collected from B. grunniens (EggBg) and O. aries (EggOa), respectively. Of these, 46 high-confidence proteins were common to both egg types, while three were unique to EggBg and seven to EggOa. All the identified proteins mainly belonged to enzymes, enzyme inhibitors, transporters, and proteins with unknown functions. The differential abundance analysis showed that nine proteins were significantly more present in EggBg, while six were significantly more present in EggOa. Overall, enzymes were the most diverse group, while vitellogenin (Vg) was the most abundant. Blood meal uptake on different hosts has a certain effect on the egg proteome composition and the abundance of some proteins, but it may also lead to compensation of protein roles
Comprehensive Analysis of Size and Morphology of Immunocomplexes isolated from Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis Using Scanning Electron Microscopy, Atomic Force Microscopy and Dynamic Light Scattering
No full textImmunocomplexes (ICs) are formed following the recognition and binding of specific
antigens to antibodies. The biological function of IC, beyond the chemical structure of antibodies
and antigens and associated constituents (proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, carbohydrates), is
also influenced by their size. Moreover, the efficiency of their removal from the circulation and
the pathogenic potential also depends on the ICs size
Consumer Response to Novel Foods: A Review of Behavioral Barriers and Drivers
No full textThere is a pressing need for a transition toward more sustainable diets, which has become a shared priority for both consumers and businesses. Innovation is becoming increasingly widespread across all facets of the food supply chain. This innovation spans various domains related to production, including sustainable cultivation methods as well as new food technologies like gene editing, new product development like functional foods, and revitalizing underutilized and genetically diverse varieties to preserve biodiversity. However, not all innovative efforts are accepted by consumers and survive in markets. The interwoven and long agri-food supply chains often obscure the feedback loop between production and consumption. Consequently, it is important to understand to what extent consumers embrace these food innovations and form new eating habits. This review aims to investigate the consumer response to novel foods, focusing on behavioral factors, which have yet to receive as much attention as sensory factors. Peer-reviewed empirical articles from the last decade are examined inductively to develop a bird’s-eye view of the behavioral barriers to and drivers of consumer acceptance of novel foods. In addition, strategies to overcome the identified challenges associated with the behavioral barriers are reviewed and examined. Based on this, the study links cognitive biases with behavioral factors influencing consumer acceptance of novel foods. This study concludes that the inconvenience associated with abandoning established eating habits is typically perceived as a loss, and avoiding this inconvenience is deemed more worth the risk than the potential gains associated with novel food consumption. This study suggests that framing and placing pro-diversity labels could serve as effective behavioral interventions for marketing strategists and food policymakers
A metalloprotease secreted by an environmentally acquired gut bacterium hinders Borrelia afzelii colonization in Ixodes ricinus
No full textAlthough the importance of the microbiome in the context of tick biology and vector competence has recently come into a broader research focus, the field is still in its infancy and the complex ecological interactions between the tick residential bacteria and pathogens are obscure. Here, we show that an environmentally acquired gut bacterium has the potential to impair Borrelia afzelii colonization within the tick vector through a secreted metalloprotease. Oral introduction of either Bacillus cereus LTG-1 isolate or its purified enhancin (BcEnhancin) protein significantly reduces B. afzelii burden in the guts of Ixodes ricinus ticks. This effect is attributed to the ability of BcEnhancin to degrade a glycan-rich peritrophic matrix (PM), which is a gut protective barrier essential for Borrelia survival. Our study highlights the importance of the gut microbiome in determining tick vector competence and provides a deeper mechanistic insight into the complex network of interactions between Borrelia, the tick, and the tick microbiome
Exploring the potential of human placental tissue as bioink in 3D bioprinting for use in soft tissue engineering applications
No full textInflammation and coagulation parameters as risk factors for development of thrombosis in patients with acute myeloid leukemia and acute promyelocytic leukemia
No full textBackground: Venous thrombosis (VT) is commonly observed in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and in patients with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL).
Aims:We wanted to observe the inflammation and coagulation parameters as risk factors for development of thrombosis in AML
and APL.The Abstract Book of European Hematology Association’s 29th Annual Congress - EHA2024 Hybrid Congress, June 13-16, Madrid, 202
Determining the potential of placental tissue derivatives for use in post-mastectomy breast reconstruction: development of a 3D-printed bioscaffold - AmnioPrintCare project
No full textINTRODUCTION Breast cancer (BC) is, according to the data from 2020, the cancer with the highest estimated
age-standardized incidence rates among women, ranking Serbia the 1st in Europe when it comes to
the mortality rate. Current surgical procedures for patients going under the treatment of BC involve mastectomy
and breast conserving surgeries. Although considered safe and viable for patients, current breast
reconstruction techniques following mastectomy still pose potential complications and do not substantially
affect the probability of disease recurrence compared to mastectomy alone. The field of tissue engineering
has been intensively growing, with special attention given to the development of different scaffolds to serve
as a template for tissue regeneration by providing structural support and biochemical and biophysical cues
to guide cell growth and tissue formation. Perinatal tissues including placental membranes have been gaining
attention in the field of regenerative medicine as the sources of different derivatives with the potential
for use in tissue engineering and therapy. The amniotic membrane (AM) from the placenta has been used in
the regeneration of skin and cornea, with numerous studies showcasing its promising therapeutic properties.
AmnioPrintCare aims to develop the scaffold biomaterial using human AM homogenate (hAM-h) that
could provide breast tissue repair and simultaneously hinder the disease recurrence, given the anti-tumour,
regenerative, and anti-scarring effects of hAM. By establishing advanced 3D bioprinting techniques for
scaffold fabrication, AmnioPrintCare will enable more accessible and personalized regenerative medicine
practices in breast reconstruction.
MATERIAL AND METHODS This project is organized around the following key concepts: 1) to establish
3D printed bioscaffold based on hAM-h; 2) to confirm its biocompatibility with the breast tissue and regenerative
potential in vitro and in vivo; 3) to confirm its antitumor effect towards BC in vitro and in vivo,
structured in four working packages. To achieve these goals, we will use a) different technological methods
and advanced 3D software and bioprinter for establishment of 3D printed bioscaffold based on hAM homogenate
produced by already established protocol at the Institute of cell biology, Faculty of Medicine, University
of Ljubljana, b) different cell lines and cell culture techniques, molecular biology analyses to follow
its biocompatibility and antitumor effect and c) healthy and BC-induced female BALB/C mice and different
cytological and histological methods to follow the effects after the implantation in mice.
EXPECTED RESULTS We expect to develop hAM-h based biomaterial for 3D bioprinting that will preserve
and exhibit its regenerative and antitumor effects over an extended period when applied. We also anticipate
confirming its biocompatibility with the breast tissue niche cells and its regenerative potential in vitro and
in vivo related to adipogenesis and angiogenesis along with the antitumor effect towards BC. We believe that
this interdisciplinary project will bring advancement in biotechnology and improvements in biomedicine as
it could patent the new ‘’bioink’’ for commercially available bioprinters
A Scoping Review on the Serum Biomarkers of Osteosarcopenic Obesity
No full textBackground and objectives: Osteosarcopenic obesity/adiposity (OSO/OSA) syndrome describes the concurrent deterioration of bone, muscle, and adipose tissue. The objective of this review was to evaluate human studies addressing serum biomarkers in relation to OSA. Methods: A search in the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases was conducted to examine relevant articles published from their inception to the end of March 2023, using the MeSH strings in the search strategy. Only studies published in English and conducted in humans (≥18 years) without chronic diseases (cancers, kidney/liver disease) or pregnancy were used. Book chapters, abstracts only, and studies in which participants did not have all three body composition components measured to identify OSA or in which the body composition components could not be related to the independent/exposure variables were excluded. Results: A total of n = 943 articles were retrieved from all three databases. After removing duplicates and articles unrelated to the topic, only n = 4 studies conducted in South Korea and China met the inclusion criteria. Three studies were cross-sectional while one was retrospective. Of the biomarkers, only serum 25(OH)D and ferritin were studied, showing strong relations with OSA. Discussion: Overall, lower serum vitamin D (<20 ng/mL) and higher serum ferritin were associated with a higher prevalence of OSA. Further research is needed to develop biomarkers for each tissue that, in combination, may indicate the existing impairments and presence of OSA.The 14th European Nutrition Conference FENS 2023 Belgrade, Serbia | 14–17 November 2023
