Article
Immunology
Huan Xia, Suijuan Zhong, Yixiao Zhao, Boyang Ren, Zhongnan Wang, Yaoyao Shi, Qian Chai, Xiaoqun Wang, Mingzhao Zhu
Summary: Through studying different mouse models, we found that endothelial lymphotoxin beta receptor plays a key role in thymic egress, with T cell-derived ligands lymphotoxin and LIGHT being essential for this process. The research on thymic portal endothelial cells (TPECs) revealed that they serve as the exit site for mature thymocytes, and can be further classified into two subsets based on BST-1 expression levels.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Immunology
G. M. Corral-Ruiz, M. J. Perez-Vega, A. Galan-Salinas, I. Mancilla-Herrera, J. Barrios-Payan, L. Fabila-Castillo, R. Hernandez-Pando, L. E. Sanchez-Torres
Summary: This study investigated the impact of malaria parasites on the thymus and found that infection resulted in reduced thymic weight and cellularity, primarily affecting T cell differentiation and development. Thymic atrophy was not associated with elevated serum cytokines levels but with increased glucocorticoid levels. Both malaria infection models caused the same extent of thymic damage, regardless of parasitemia level but dependent on the specific host-parasite interaction.
IMMUNOLOGY LETTERS
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Manpreet K. Semwal, Nicholas E. Jones, Ann V. Griffith
Summary: The thymus is crucial for T lymphocyte development, with thymic stromal cells playing an important role. Metabolic regulation of thymic stromal cell function is an emerging area of study.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Mingli Luo, Lingxin Xu, Zhengyu Qian, Xi Sun
Summary: The thymus is crucial for immune system function, affecting the development and maturation of thymocytes. Thymic atrophy can be caused by various factors, leading to a reduction in T cells and limited receptor diversity. Further research may focus on the impact of neural modulation on thymic atrophy.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Oncology
Cexun Hu, Keyu Zhang, Feng Jiang, Hui Wang, Qixiang Shao
Summary: The thymus degenerates as humans age, leading to decreased immune response and higher susceptibility to autoimmune diseases. Epigenetics play a crucial role in regulating the development and senescence of thymic epithelial cells, offering potential therapeutic strategies for thymus atrophy.
CLINICAL EPIGENETICS
(2021)
Review
Immunology
Ruben G. R. Pinheiro, Nuno L. Alves
Summary: TECs play an essential role in the formation of functionally diverse and self-tolerant T cells, particularly in the first weeks after birth in mice. Recent studies highlight the critical coordination between the expansion and maturation of TECs during this period and their specialized role in T cell development and selection. The impact of aging on TEC progenitors and maintenance of functional thymic epithelial microenvironments is discussed, along with how these changes affect the thymus's ability to sustain regular thymopoiesis throughout life.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Developmental Biology
Jie Li, Lucas P. Wachsmuth, Shiyun Xiao, Brian G. Condie, Nancy R. Manley
Summary: The transcription factor FOXN1 is crucial for fetal thymic epithelial cell differentiation and proliferation. The K5.Foxn1 transgene can induce overexpression in mouse TECs without causing hyperplasia or delaying or preventing aging-related involution. It cannot rescue thymus size in Foxn1lacZ/lacZ mice, but TEC differentiation and cortico-medullary organization are still maintained.
Article
Immunology
Palmira Barreira-Silva, Rita Melo-Miranda, Claudia Nobrega, Susana Roque, Claudia Serre-Miranda, Margarida Borges, Gisela Armada, Daniela de Sa Calcada, Samuel M. Behar, Rui Appelberg, Margarida Correia-Neves
Summary: Infection with the high virulence strain of Mycobacterium avium 25291 results in progressive thymic atrophy, primarily due to a series of defects mediated by IFN-γ and NO, including alterations in BM T cell precursors, thymic structure, and thymocyte differentiation.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Javier Garcia-Ceca, Sara Montero-Herradon, Ana Gonzalez, Rosa Plaza, Agustin G. Zapata
Summary: The lack of EphA4 alters T-cell differentiation and the histological organization of the thymus, impacting various T cell subsets as well as the proportions of thymocytes selected positively and negatively.
CELLULAR AND MOLECULAR LIFE SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biology
Sayumi Fujimori, Izumi Ohigashi, Hayato Abe, Yosuke Matsushita, Toyomasa Katagiri, Makoto M. Taketo, Yousuke Takahama, Shinji Takada
Summary: The thymic epithelium plays a crucial role in supporting the development of T cells. This study found that enhanced expression of beta-catenin in thymic epithelial cells leads to thymic dysplasia and T cell deficiency in the embryonic period, while loss of beta-catenin function only slightly reduces cortical thymic epithelial cells and thymocytes in postnatal development.
Article
Allergy
Rafael Gras-Pena, Nichole M. Danzl, Mohsen Khosravi-Maharlooei, Sean R. Campbell, Amanda E. Ruiz, Christopher A. Parks, William Meng Suen Savage, Markus A. Holzl, Debanjana Chatterjee, Megan Sykes
Summary: This study developed a novel differentiation protocol to generate human thymic epithelial progenitors from human embryonic stem cells (hES-TEPs) and demonstrated their thymopoietic function in vivo. By incorporating hES-TEPs into a supportive thymic structure, the researchers enhanced human thymocyte development and increased the reconstitution of peripheral CD4+ naive T cells.
JOURNAL OF ALLERGY AND CLINICAL IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Xue Dong, Jiayu Zhang, Qian Zhang, Zhanfeng Liang, Yanan Xu, Yong Zhao, Baojun Zhang
Summary: Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) play a critical role in the development and function of the immune system. This study demonstrates the importance of Dhx9 protein in the differentiation and function of mTECs, and its deficiency leads to decreased TEC cell numbers and the development of spontaneous autoimmune disorders.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Biomaterials
Catarina S. Silva, Rute D. Pinto, Ricardo A. Pires, Margarida Correia-Neves, Rui L. Reis, Nuno L. Alves, Albino Martins, Nuno M. Neves
Summary: The thymus is essential for the development of T cells and plays a key role in adaptive immunity. Thymic epithelial cells (TECs) interact with thymocytes in the thymus 3D environment, and feeder-layer cells have been used for successful TEC cultures. This study evaluated the effect of feeder cell-derived extracellular matrix (ECM) on TEC cultures and found that ECM density impacts cellular performance and that feeder cell-derived ECM is a suitable substrate for TEC culture.
ACS BIOMATERIALS SCIENCE & ENGINEERING
(2023)
Review
Immunology
Takeshi Nitta, Hiroshi Takayanagi
Summary: The stromal microenvironment in the thymus is crucial for generating a functional T cell repertoire, with thymic epithelial cells (TECs) being the most prominent type. Besides TECs, other stromal cell types of mesenchymal origin also play important roles in controlling TEC development. The recently discovered functional effect of thymic fibroblasts on T cell repertoire selection is highlighted as a significant advancement in our understanding of thymic organogenesis and T cell development.
FRONTIERS IN IMMUNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Manpreet K. Semwal, Allison K. Hester, Yangming Xiao, Chioma Udeaja, Sergio Cepeda, John S. Verschelde, Nicholas Jones, Sarah A. Wedemeyer, Simon Emtage, Kymberly Wimberly, Ann V. Griffith
Summary: This study reveals that constitutive autophagy in TSCs is regulated by low expression of catalase, which affects central T cell tolerance and may be associated with the development of autoimmune diseases.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Camila de Almeida Velozo, Tailah Bernardo de Almeida, Marcelo Costa Velho Mendes de Azevedo, Isabela Espasandin, Jorge Francisco da Cunha Pinto, Sheila Lopez, Luciana Pizzatti, Amilcar Tanuri, Sabrina da Silva Santos, Marcelo Ribeiro-Alves, Cynthia Chester Cardoso
Summary: This study found that variants in NR1I2 and NR1I3 genes are associated with virologic responses to ART among Brazilians.
PHARMACOGENOMICS JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Livia Alvarenga, Ludmila F. M. F. Cardozo, Viviane de O. Leal, Julie A. Kemp, Juliana F. Saldanha, Marcelo Ribeiro-Alves, Tassiana Meireles, Lia S. Nakao, Denise Mafra
Summary: The study aimed to evaluate the effects of resveratrol supplementation on the plasma levels of uremic toxins in patients with CKD. The results showed that supplementation with trans-resveratrol did not reduce the levels of these toxins.
JOURNAL OF RENAL NUTRITION
(2022)
Article
Social Sciences, Interdisciplinary
Sandro Sperandei, Leonardo Soares Bastos, Marcelo Ribeiro-Alves, Arianne Reis, Francisco Inacio Bastos
Summary: The aim of this study is to investigate the impact of different logistic regression estimators applied to RDS studies via simulation and empirical data analysis. The results show that unweighted logistic regression estimators are the best option for simulated datasets, while the performance of weighted estimators in empirical datasets is unexpected.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SOCIAL RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Julio Castro-Alves, Lidia Santos Silva, Joao Paulo Lima, Marcelo Ribeiro-Alves
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the role of socioeconomic factors in the distribution of COVID-19-related mortality rates among Brazilian municipalities in 2020. The results showed that high-income, more educated, and well infrastructure municipalities generally had higher mortality rates, regardless of the socioeconomic indexes used.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Karina dos Santos, Eliane Lopes Rosado, Ana Carolina Proenca da Fonseca, Gabriella Pinto Belfort, Leticia Barbosa Gabriel da Silva, Marcelo Ribeiro-Alves, Veronica Marques Zembrzuski, J. Alfredo Martinez, Claudia Saunders
Summary: This study investigated the relationship between obesity-related gene polymorphisms and excessive gestational weight gain in pregnant women with pregestational diabetes. The study found that certain genotypes were associated with an increased risk of exceeding the recommended weight gain limit earlier in pregnancy.
Article
Oncology
Andrea Sabina Llera, Eliana Saul Furquim Werneck Abdelhay, Nora Artagaveytia, Adrian Daneri-Navarro, Bettina Muller, Carlos Velazquez, Elsa B. Alcoba, Isabel Alonso, Daniela B. Alves da Quinta, Renata Binato, Alicia Ines Bravo, Natalia Camejo, Dirce Maria Carraro, Monica Castro, Juan M. Castro-Cervantes, Sandra Cataldi, Alfonso Cayota, Mauricio Cerda, Alicia Colombo, Susanne Crocamo, Alicia Del Toro-Arreola, Raul Delgadillo-Cisterna, Lucia Delgado, Marisa Dreyer-Breitenbach, Laura Fejerman, Elmer A. Fernandez, Jorge Fernandez, Wanda Fernandez, Ramon A. Franco-Topete, Carolina Gabay, Fancy Gaete, Adriana Garibay-Escobar, Jorge Gomez, Gonzalo Greif, Thomas G. Gross, Marisol Guerrero, Marianne K. Henderson, Miguel E. Lopez-Munoz, Alejandra Lopez-Vazquez, Silvina Maldonado, Andres J. Moran-Mendoza, Maria Aparecida Nagai, Antonio Oceguera-Villanueva, Miguel A. Ortiz-Martinez, Jael Quintero, Antonio Quintero-Ramos, Rui M. Reis, Javier Retamales, Ernesto Rivera-Claisse, Dario Rocha, Robinson Rodriguez, Cristina Rosales, Efrain Salas-Gonzalez, Veronica Sanchotena, Laura Segovia, Juan Martin Sendoya, Aida A. Silva-Garcia, Alejandra Trinchero, Olivia Valenzuela, Vidya Vedham, Livia Zagame, Osvaldo L. Podhajcer
Summary: This study assessed molecular features at the transcriptomic level in a multicountry Latin American breast cancer patient cohort. Hormone-related and proliferation pathways were found to be the main tumor-driving mechanisms and have prognostic power. The immune-related features seen in the most aggressive subtypes may pave the way for therapeutic approaches not yet disseminated in Latin America.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Cecilia Castillo, Nora Artagaveytia, Lucia Brignoni, Yael Laitman, Natalia Camejo, Ana Laura Hernandez, Gabriel Krygier, Alfonso Cayota, Lucia Delgado, Eitan Friedman
Summary: This study aimed to assess the feasibility and outcomes of BRCA gene testing in the Jewish population of Uruguay. The study found that there is a significant proportion of Ashkenazi Jews in the greater Montevideo area who carry the BRCA1 c.68_69del PSV, while the other two common PSVs are less prevalent.
MOLECULAR GENETICS & GENOMIC MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
D. Mafra, L. Cardozo, M. Ribeiro-Alves, P. Bergman, P. G. Shiels, P. Stenvinkel
Summary: This cross-sectional pilot study aimed to investigate the possible relationship between plasma choline levels and transcriptional expression of nuclear factor-erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The study found a positive correlation between choline plasma levels and Nrf2 expression.
CLINICAL NUTRITION ESPEN
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bruno Costa, Marco Li Calzi, Mauricio Castellano, Valentina Blanco, Ernesto Cuevasanta, Irene Litvan, Pavel Ivanov, Kenneth Witwer, Alfonso Cayota, Juan Pablo Tosar
Summary: This study reveals the stability and function of nonvesicular extracellular RNAs (nv-exRNAs), particularly tRNA-derived small RNAs (tDRs), in human biofluids. It shows that traditional molecular biology methods can result in the denaturation of nicked tRNAs, leading to the production of artifactual tDRs. Enzymatic repair and chromatographic separation were used to regenerate full-length tRNAs and separate nicked tRNAs from tDRs, respectively.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
S. Horjales, M. Li Calzi, M. E. Francia, A. Cayota, M. R. Garcia-Silva
Summary: piRNAs function as genome defense mechanisms against transposable elements insertions within germ line cells, and recent studies have revealed their presence in non-gonadal somatic contexts. The presence of piRNA pathways has also been reported in bacteria, mollusks, and arthropods, with various functions including genome protection, gene expression regulation, and axon regeneration. In parasitic protozoa, the presence of PIWI-related machinery suggests the existence of an ancestral piRNA machinery that evolved in multicellular eukaryotes. Understanding current and ancestral PIWI/piRNAs will provide insights into genome integrity conservation and host defense mechanisms by protozoan parasites.
FRONTIERS IN GENETICS
(2023)
Article
Urology & Nephrology
Denise Mafra, Livia Alvarenga, Marcia Ribeiro, Beatriz G. Baptista, Susane Fanton, Bruna R. Paiva, Liana Trugilho, Julie Ann Kemp, Marcelo Alves-Ribeiro, Ludmila F. M. F. Cardozo
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the expression of Bach1 mRNA in different treatments for chronic kidney disease (CKD). The results showed that Bach1 mRNA expression was significantly higher in patients undergoing hemodialysis compared to peritoneal dialysis and nondialysis patients. This suggests that Bach1 may be a therapeutic target for regulating inflammation in CKD patients.
HEMODIALYSIS INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Biology
Karina dos Santos, Eliane Lopes Rosado, Ana Carolina Proenca da Fonseca, Gabriella Pinto Belfort, Leticia Barbosa Gabriel da Silva, Marcelo Ribeiro-Alves, Veronica Marques Zembrzuski, Mario Campos Jr., Lenita Zajdenverg, Michele Drehmer, J. Alfredo Martinez, Claudia Saunders
Summary: In a nutrigenetic trial in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the factors influencing hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) were analyzed. The study found that black skin color, previous preeclampsia, elevated blood pressure in the third trimester, elevated blood pressure in the first trimester, mean blood pressure, and high HbA1c level were significant risk factors for HDP. However, dietetic and genotypic features did not have a significant impact on the outcome.
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Marcia Ribeiro, Susane Fanton, Bruna R. Paiva, Beatriz G. Baptista, Livia Alvarenga, Marcelo Ribeiro-Alves, Ludmila FMF. Cardozo, Denise Mafra
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dark chocolate on inflammation and oxidative stress markers in patients with chronic kidney disease on hemodialysis. The results showed that dark chocolate intake for two months reduced the plasma levels of TNF-a, but did not significantly affect oxidative stress parameters. Moreover, dark chocolate intake did not increase phosphorus and potassium levels in these patients.
CLINICAL NUTRITION ESPEN
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Julie Ann Kemp, Henrique Fragoso dos Santos, Hugo Emiliano de Jesus, Marta Esgalhado, Bruna Regis de Paiva, Renata Azevedo, Peter Stenvinkel, Peter Bergman, Bengt Lindholm, Marcelo Ribeiro-Alves, Denise Mafra
Summary: The study showed that amylose-resistant starch (RS) supplementation did not affect plasma trimethylamine N-Oxide (TMAO) levels in hemodialysis (HD) patients, nor did it alter the bacterial taxa associated with TMAO. No significant impact of RS on choline, betaine, anthropometric measurements, biochemical parameters, or food intake was observed in both groups.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN NUTRITION ASSOCIATION
(2022)
Article
Oncology
Liz Maria de Almeida, Sandra Cortes, Marta Vilensky, Olivia Valenzuela, Laura Cortes-Sanabria, Mirian de Souza, Rafael Alonso Barbeito, Eliana Abdelhay, Nora Artagaveytia, Adrian Daneri-Navarro, Andrea S. Llera, Bettina Muller, Osvaldo L. Podhajcer, Carlos Velazquez, Elsa Alcoba, Isabel Alonso, Alicia Bravo, Natalia Camejo, Dirce Maria Carraro, Monica Castro, Sandra Cataldi, Alfonso Cayota, Mauricio Cerda, Alicia Colombo, Susanne Crocamo, Alicia Del Toro-Arreola, Raul Delgadillo-Cristerna, Lucia Delgado, Marisa Dreyer Breitenbach, Elmer Fernandez, Jorge Fernandez, Wanda Fernandez, Ramon A. Franco-Topete, Fancy Gaete, Jorge Gomez, Leivy P. Gonzalez-Ramirez, Marisol Guerrero, Susan A. Gutierrez-Rubio, Beatriz Jalfin, Alejandra Lopez-Vazquez, Dora Loria, Silvia Miguez, Andres de J. Moran-Mendoza, Gilberto Morgan-Villela, Carina Mussetti, Maria Aparecida Nagai, Antonio Oceguera-Villanueva, Rui M. Reis, Javier Retamales, Robinson Rodriguez, Cristina Rosales, Efrain Salas-Gonzalez, Laura Segovia, Juan M. Sendoya, Aida A. Silva-Garcia, Stella Vina, Livia Zagame, Beth Jones, Moyses Szklo
Summary: The molecular profile of breast cancer in Latin-American women was studied in five countries. The study described the socioeconomic characteristics, risk factors, prognostic factors, and molecular subtypes, and estimated the 60-month overall cumulative survival probabilities. Factors such as country of residence, intrinsic subtype, age, and tumor stage were found to be associated with overall survival.
FRONTIERS IN ONCOLOGY
(2022)