444 research outputs found
A new species of Aleurolobus Quaintance et Baker (Homoptera, Aleyrodidae) from Southern Europe.
No full textAleurolobus teucrii n. sp. is described from southern Italy and the Maltese Islands (Central Mediterranean). The species seems to be monophagous on Teucrium fruticans L. A key to the European species of this genus (A. niloticus Priesner et Hosny, A. olivinus (Silvestri), A. wunni (Ryberg) and A. teucrii n. sp.) is provided.peer-reviewe
New insights into basophil heterogeneity.
No full textBasophils have become increasingly recognized as important innate immune cells that mediate antihelminth immunity and barrier inflammation. Recent discoveries have uncovered previously unrecognized heterogeneity in basophil populations. However, how diversity in basophil regulation and function impacts human disease remains poorly defined. The goal of the present review is to highlight how new insights into basophil heterogeneity can help us to better understand disease pathogenesis and inform the development of new therapeutics
Innate immune cell populations function as initiators and effectors in Th2 cytokine responses
No full textThe recent identification of previously unrecognized innate cell populations, termed natural helper cells (NHCs), multi-potent progenitor type 2 (MPP(type2)) cells, nuocytes, and innate type 2 helper (Ih2) cells has provided new insights into our understanding of the cellular mechanisms that lead to the development of CD4(+) Th2 cell-dependent immunity and/or inflammation at mucosal sites. In this review, we focus on the functional significance, similarities, and differences between NHCs, MPP(type2) cells, nuocytes and Ih2 cells. All four cell populations are activated by interleukin (IL)-25 and/or IL-33 and are capable of promoting Th2 cytokine responses. Collectively, the identification of these cell populations might illuminate ancient evolutionary conserved pathways that are involved in the development of Th2 cytokine responses, and could be of benefit in the development of therapeutic approaches that target helminth infections and allergic diseases
Extra-adrenal glucocorticoid synthesis in the intestinal epithelium: more than a drop in the ocean?
No full textGlucocorticoids (GC) are lipophilic hormones commonly used as therapeutics in acute and chronic inflammatory disorders such as inflammatory bowel disease due to their attributed anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive actions. Although the adrenal glands are the major source of endogenous GC, there is increasing evidence for the production of extra-adrenal GC in the brain, thymus, skin, vasculature, and the intestine. However, the physiological relevance of extra-adrenal-produced GC remains still ambiguous. Therefore, this review attracts attention to discuss possible biological benefits of extra-adrenal-synthesized GC, especially focusing on the impact of locally synthesized GC in the regulation of intestinal immune responses
Keeping bugs in check: The mucus layer as a critical component in maintaining intestinal homeostasis
No full textIn the mammalian gastrointestinal tract the close vicinity of abundant immune effector cells and trillions of commensal microbes requires sophisticated barrier and regulatory mechanisms to maintain vital host-microbial interactions and tissue homeostasis. During co-evolution of the host and its intestinal microbiota a protective multilayered barrier system was established to segregate the luminal microbes from the intestinal mucosa with its potent immune effector cells, limit bacterial translocation into host tissues to prevent tissue damage, while ensuring the vital functions of the intestinal mucosa and the luminal gut microbiota. In the present review we will focus on the different layers of protection in the intestinal tract that allow the successful mutualism between the microbiota and the potent effector cells of the intestinal innate and adaptive immune system. In particular, we will review some of the recent findings on the vital functions of the mucus layer and its site-specific adaptations to the changing quantities and complexities of the microbiota along the (gastro-) intestinal tract. Understanding the regulatory pathways that control the establishment of the mucus layer, but also its degradation during intestinal inflammation may be critical for designing novel strategies aimed at maintaining local tissue homeostasis and supporting remission from relapsing intestinal inflammation in patients with inflammatory bowel diseases
Puppo, Mario
No full textMario Puppo (Genova 1913 – Trento 1989) è stato uno studioso di Storia della critica letteraria italiana e di Letteratura italiana.
Avviata la carriera di docente presso le scuole secondarie (1937), svolse il suo apprendistato nell’allora Facoltà di Magistero di Genova, per poi insegnare Storia della lingua e della letteratura italiana all’Università di Madrid (1958-1962) e Letteratura italiana moderna e contemporanea al Magistero di Trieste. Nel 1966 passò all’Ateneo patavino, dove insegnò Storia della critica (1965/66-1967/68) e Letteratura italiana (1965/66-1967/68). In questi tre anni si dedicò soprattutto allo studio del Settecento e del primo Ottocento, da cui sarebbe nato uno dei suoi lavori più noti: “Studi sul Romanticismo” (1969), coerentemente preparato dai tre corsi universitari di Storia della critica letteraria: “La critica letteraria nella prima metà del Settecento” (1965/66), “La critica letteraria italiana nella seconda metà del Settecento” (1966/67), “La critica letteraria romantica. Orientamenti della critica letteraria contemporanea da Croce allo Strutturalismo” (1967/68); cui si affiancarono i corsi di Letteratura italiana: “Pensiero e stile nel ‘Principe’ e nei ‘Discorsi’ del Machiavelli”, ma soprattutto “Cultura e poetica nel primo Romanticismo italiano: Ludovico Di Breme” e “Tendenze e problemi della letteratura italiana dell’Ottocento”.
Nel novembre del 1968 fece ritorno nell’Ateneo genovese, dove rimase fino al pensionamento.
Tra i suoi lavori, oltre il già ricordato “Studi sul Romanticismo” (1969), l’edizione delle opere di Ugo Foscolo (Milano 1962), “Discussioni linguistiche del Settecento” (1966), “La critica letteraria del Novecento. Orientamenti e problemi” (1991).
[Valentina Gallo]
Fonti bibliografiche:
“Critica e linguistica tra ’700 e ’900: studi in onore di Mario Puppo”, a cura di C. Marchiori, Genova 1989; “Studi in onore di Mario Puppo”, Padova 1969
Experimental food allergy models to study the role of innate immune cells as initiators of allergen specific Th2 immune responses
No full textAlthough our knowledge of the pathophysiology of food allergies has significantly improved over the last years, a more comprehensive understanding of basic immune mechanisms driving disease pathogenesis is important to develop new intervention strategies. The recent development of animal model systems recapitulating features of clinical food allergy provides an essential tool to study the immunology of IgE-mediated food allergies. While immunological effector responses have been well documented, how food allergic immune responses are initiated is not well defined. In this short review, we discuss the use of experimental mouse models both to study the role of innate immune cell populations in promoting disease and to test new treatment regimens that may prevent the onset of IgE-mediated food allergies
Keep calm: the intestinal barrier at the interface of peace and war
No full textEpithelial barriers have to constantly cope with both harmless and harmful stimuli. The epithelial barrier therefore serves as a dynamic and not static wall to safeguard its proper physiological function while ensuring protection. This is achieved through multiple defence mechanisms involving various cell types - epithelial and non-epithelial - that work in an integrated manner to build protective barriers at mucosal sites. Damage may nevertheless occur, due to pathogens, physical insults or dysregulated immune responses, which trigger a physiologic acute or a pathologic chronic inflammatory cascade. Inflammation is often viewed as a pathological condition, particularly due to the increasing prevalence of chronic inflammatory (intestinal) diseases. However, inflammation is also necessary for wound healing. The aetiology of chronic inflammatory diseases is incompletely understood and identification of the underlying mechanisms would reveal additional therapeutic approaches. Resolution is an active host response to end ongoing inflammation but its relevance is under-appreciated. Currently, most therapies aim at dampening inflammation at damaged mucosal sites, yet these approaches do not efficiently shut down the inflammation process nor repair the epithelial barrier. Therefore, future treatment strategies should also promote the resolution phase. Yet, the task of repairing the barrier can be an arduous endeavour considering its multiple integrated layers of defence - which is advantageous for damage prevention but becomes challenging to repair at multiple levels. In this review, using the intestines as a model epithelial organ and barrier paradigm, we describe the consequences of chronic inflammation and highlight the importance of the mucosae to engage resolving processes to restore epithelial barrier integrity and function. We further discuss the contribution of pre-mRNA alternative splicing to barrier integrity and intestinal homeostasis. Following discussions on current open questions and challenges, we propose a model in which resolution of inflammation represents a key mechanism for the restoration of epithelial integrity and function
Editorial overview: Allergy and hypersensitivity: Emerging concepts in allergy and type 2 immunity
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