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1.
Integr Comp Biol ; 2024 Jul 09.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38982258

ABSTRACT

Trade-offs resulting from the high demand of offspring production are a central focus of many subdisciplines within the field of biology. Yet, despite the historical and current interest on this topic, large gaps in our understanding of whole-organism trade-offs that occur in reproducing individuals remain, particularly as it relates to the nuances associated with female reproduction. This volume of Integrative and Comparative Biology (ICB) contains a series of papers that focus on reviewing trade-offs from the female-centered perspective of biology (i.e., a perspective that places female reproductive biology at the center of the topic being investigated or discussed). These papers represent some of the work showcased during our symposium held at the 2024 meeting of the Society for Integrative and Comparative Biology (SICB) in Seattle, Washington. In this roundtable discussion, we use a question-and-answer format to capture the diverse perspectives and voices involved in our symposium. We hope that the dialogue featured in this discussion will be used to motivate researchers interested in understanding trade-offs in reproducing females and provide guidance on future research endeavors.

2.
J Alzheimers Dis ; 2024 Jul 05.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38995785

ABSTRACT

Alzheimer's disease (AD) accounts for most dementia cases, but we lack a complete understanding of the mechanisms responsible for the core pathology associated with the disease (e.g., amyloid plaque and neurofibrillary tangles). Inflammation has been identified as a key contributor of AD pathology, with recent evidence pointing towards Reelin dysregulation as being associated with inflammation. Here we describe Reelin signaling and outline existing research involving Reelin signaling in AD and inflammation. Research is described pertaining to the inflammatory and immunological functions of Reelin before we propose a mechanism through which inflammation renders Reelin susceptible to dysregulation resulting in the induction and exacerbation of AD pathology. Based on this hypothesis, it is predicted that disorders of both inflammation (including peripheral inflammation and neuroinflammation) and Reelin dysregulation (including disorders associated with upregulated Reelin expression and disorders of Reelin downregulation) have elevated risk of developing AD. We conclude with a description of AD risk in various disorders involving Reelin dysregulation and inflammation.

3.
Nat Med ; 2024 Jul 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38951635

ABSTRACT

For centuries scientists and technologists have sought artificial leg replacements that fully capture the versatility of their intact biological counterparts. However, biological gait requires coordinated volitional and reflexive motor control by complex afferent and efferent neural interplay, making its neuroprosthetic emulation challenging after limb amputation. Here we hypothesize that continuous neural control of a bionic limb can restore biomimetic gait after below-knee amputation when residual muscle afferents are augmented. To test this hypothesis, we present a neuroprosthetic interface consisting of surgically connected, agonist-antagonist muscles including muscle-sensing electrodes. In a cohort of seven leg amputees, the interface is shown to augment residual muscle afferents by 18% of biologically intact values. Compared with a matched amputee cohort without the afferent augmentation, the maximum neuroprosthetic walking speed is increased by 41%, enabling equivalent peak speeds to persons without leg amputation. Further, this level of afferent augmentation enables biomimetic adaptation to various walking speeds and real-world environments, including slopes, stairs and obstructed pathways. Our results suggest that even a small augmentation of residual muscle afferents restores biomimetic gait under continuous neuromodulation in individuals with leg amputation.

4.
Methods Mol Biol ; 2826: 3-13, 2024.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-39017881

ABSTRACT

Tools to study memory B cell (MBC) development and function are needed to understand their role in supporting sustained protection against recurrent infections. While human MBCs are traditionally measured using blood, there is a growing interest in elucidating their behavior within lymphoid tissues, which are the main sites where adaptive immune responses are orchestrated. In this chapter, we introduce a high-throughput organoid system that is derived from primary human lymphoid tissues. The approach can recapitulate many hallmarks of successful adaptive immune responses and capture inter-individual variation in response to a variety of stimuli. Lymphoid tissue organoids enable characterization of pre-existing antigen-specific MBCs within an entirely human system and can provide valuable insights into MBC dynamics.


Subject(s)
B-Lymphocytes , Immunologic Memory , Organoids , Palatine Tonsil , Humans , Organoids/cytology , Organoids/immunology , Palatine Tonsil/cytology , Palatine Tonsil/immunology , B-Lymphocytes/immunology , B-Lymphocytes/cytology , Cell Culture Techniques/methods , Cells, Cultured
5.
bioRxiv ; 2024 Jun 28.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38979327

ABSTRACT

The synaptonemal complex (SC) is a meiotic interface that assembles between parental chromosomes and is essential for the formation of gametes. While the dimensions and ultrastructure of the SC are conserved across eukaryotes, its protein components are highly divergent. Recently, an unexpected component of the SC has been described in the nematode C. elegans: the Skp1-related proteins SKR-1/2, which are components of the Skp1, Cullin, F-box (SCF) ubiquitin ligase. Here, we find that the role of SKR-1 in the SC is conserved in nematodes. The P. pacificus Skp1 ortholog, Ppa-SKR-1, colocalizes with other SC proteins throughout meiotic prophase, where it occupies the middle of the SC. Like in C. elegans, the dimerization interface of Ppa-SKR-1 is required for its SC function. A dimerization mutant, Ppa-skr-1 F105E , fails to assemble SC and is almost completely sterile. Interestingly, the evolutionary trajectory of SKR-1 contrasts with other SC proteins. Unlike most SC proteins, SKR-1 is highly conserved in nematodes. Our results suggest that the structural role of SKR-1 in the SC has been conserved since the common ancestor of C. elegans and P. pacificus, and that rapidly evolving SC proteins have maintained the ability to interact with SKR-1 for at least 100 million years.

6.
Clin Infect Dis ; 2024 Jun 07.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38845565

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Differences in opinion concerning the contribution of M. genitalium to pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) has resulted in inconsistencies across global testing and treatment guidelines. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to determine the association between M. genitalium and PID and M. genitalium positivity within PID cases to provide a contemporary evidence base to inform clinical practice (PROSPERO registration: CRD42022382156). METHODS: PubMed, Embase, Medline and Web of Science were searched to Dec 1, 2023 for studies that assessed women for PID using established clinical criteria and used nucleic acid amplification tests to detect M. genitalium. We calculated summary estimates of the 1) association of M. genitalium with PID (pooled odds ratio [OR]) and 2) proportion of PID cases with M. genitalium detected (pooled M. genitalium positivity in PID), using random-effects meta-analyses, with 95% confidence intervals (CI). RESULTS: Nineteen studies were included: 10 estimated M. genitalium association with PID, and 19 estimated M. genitalium positivity in PID. M. genitalium infection was significantly associated with PID (pooled OR=1.67 [95%CI: 1.24-2.24]). The pooled positivity of M. genitalium in PID was 10.3% [95%CI: 5.63-15.99]. Subgroup and meta-regression analyses showed that M. genitalium positivity in PID was highest in the Americas, in studies conducted in both inpatient and outpatient clinic settings, and in populations at high risk of sexually transmitted infections. CONCLUSIONS: M. genitalium was associated with a 67% increase in odds of PID and was detected in about one in ten clinical diagnoses of PID. These data support testing women for M. genitalium at initial PID diagnosis.

7.
MicroPubl Biol ; 20242024.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38938412

ABSTRACT

A Continuous Performance Task is an example of a mental stressor which requires vigilance, attention, and effort. We hypothesized that a sympathetic nervous system response would be evident from a resting baseline period to this attention test, and explored if physiological measures were correlated to state and trait anxiety, perceived stress, mindfulness, and performance on the task. In 20 undergraduates, blood pressure and skin conductance increased due to the attention test but heart rate variability did not change. The physiological variables did not correlate to psychological variables; there was a trend of higher perceived stress correlating to lower foil accuracy rate ( p = 0.09). ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT06098352.

8.
J Intensive Care Med ; : 8850666241259960, 2024 Jun 05.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38839241

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Reports have described increased sedation requirements in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) while on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and for intubated COVID-19 patients. Thus, the objective of this study was to assess the analgosedation requirements of COVID-19 patients receiving ECMO compared to non-COVID-19 ECMO patients. METHODS: This retrospective, observational cohort study included adult patients with ARDS requiring venovenous or venopulmonary arterial ECMO admitted to a single intensive care unit from January 2017 to December 2021. Patients were categorized as COVID-19 ECMO or non-COVID-19 ECMO. The primary outcome was median daily dosing of parenteral analgosedative medications. Pertinent secondary outcomes included incidence of extubation or tracheostomy and change in sedation following tracheostomy or addition of oral agents. RESULTS: A total of 109 patients were evaluated; 63 COVID-19 ECMO patients and 46 non-COVID ECMO patients. The primary outcome was statistically higher in the COVID-19 compared to non-COVID-19 patients for propofol (4131.0 mg vs 2704.8 mg, P < .001), dexmedetomidine (1581.4 mcg vs 1081.3 mcg, P = .016), and parenteral morphine equivalents ([PME], 209.3 mg vs 154.1 mg, P = .027), but only propofol remained significant after adjustment for weight (31.1 mcg/kg/day vs 37.7 mcg/kg/day, P = .014). COVID-19 was significantly associated with increased propofol and PME requirements after adjustment for confounders on linear regression analysis. COVID-19 patients had more days with non-zero dose for propofol (8 days vs 7 days), dexmedetomidine (13 days vs 8.5 days), and PME (17 days vs 8.5 days). The only interventions that were associated with reductions in propofol dose were tracheostomy and antipsychotics. CONCLUSIONS: COVID-19 patients on ECMO had significantly longer durations and higher doses of propofol, dexmedetomidine, and parenteral opioids over the first 28 days of cannulation. The only interventions that were associated with statistical reductions in propofol were antipsychotics and tracheostomy.

9.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38848279

ABSTRACT

Background: Choosing a contraceptive method is a pivotal decision for patients, whereas health care professionals (HCPs) face challenges in providing suitable recommendations. Adverse sexual effects often lead to dissatisfaction and discontinuation of contraceptives, underscoring the importance of thorough counseling and shared decision making between HCPs and patients. Objective: This article aims to investigate the relationship between contraceptive methods and female sexual function through a comprehensive review of available literature, emphasizing the importance of considering sexual health in contraceptive prescription and management. Methods: A systematic analysis of existing literature, incorporating studies utilizing validated sexual health questionnaires, was conducted to elucidate the intricate interplay between contraceptives and female sexual function. Results: The review encompasses various contraceptive methods, including combined hormonal contraceptives, progestin-only pills, depot medroxyprogesterone acetate, subdermal contraceptive implants, hormonal intrauterine devices, permanent sterilization, and barrier methods. Insights gleaned from the analysis shed light on the impact of these methods on female sexual health. Conclusion: Comprehensive understanding of the effects of contraceptives on female sexual function is crucial for both HCPs and patients. By integrating sexual health considerations into contraceptive surveillance, compliance can be improved, contraceptive efficacy optimized, and the risk of unwanted pregnancies minimized. This review underscores the significance of tailored counseling and shared decision making in contraceptive management, particularly for cisgender women.

10.
J Clin Oncol ; : JCO2302344, 2024 Jun 04.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38833643

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT-serine threonine kinase/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway abnormalities contribute to endocrine resistance. Everolimus, an mTOR inhibitor, improved progression-free survival in hormone receptor-positive metastatic breast cancer (BC) when combined with endocrine therapy (ET). In this phase III randomized, placebo-controlled trial, we assessed the efficacy of everolimus + ET as adjuvant therapy in high-risk, hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative BC after adjuvant/neoadjuvant chemotherapy. METHODS: Patients were randomly assigned 1:1 to physician's choice ET and 1 year of everolimus (10 mg orally once daily) or placebo stratified by risk group. The primary end point was invasive disease-free survival (IDFS) evaluated by a stratified log-rank test with the hazard ratio (HR) estimated by Cox regression. Subset analyses included preplanned evaluation by risk group and exploratory analyses by menopausal status and age. Secondary end points included overall survival (OS) and safety. Everolimus did not improve IDFS/OS when added to ET in patients with early-stage high-risk, hormone receptor-positive BC. RESULTS: One thousand and nine hundred thirty-nine patients were randomly assigned with 1,792 eligible for analysis. Overall, no benefit of everolimus was seen for IDFS (HR, 0.94 [95% CI, 0.77 to 1.14]) or OS (HR, 0.97 [95% CI, 0.75 to 1.26]). The assumption of proportional hazards was not met suggesting significant variability in the HR over time since the start of treatment. In an unplanned subgroup analysis among postmenopausal patients (N = 1,221), no difference in IDFS (HR, 1.08 [95% CI, 0.86 to 1.36]) or OS (HR, 1.19 [95% CI, 0.89 to 1.60]) was seen. In premenopausal patients (N = 571), everolimus improved both IDFS (HR, 0.64 [95% CI, 0.44 to 0.94]) and OS (HR, 0.49 [95% CI, 0.28 to 0.86]). Treatment completion rates were lower in the everolimus arm compared with placebo (48% v 73%) with higher grade 3 and 4 adverse events (35% v 7%). CONCLUSION: One year of adjuvant everolimus + ET did not improve overall outcomes. Subset analysis suggests mTOR inhibition as a possible target for patients who remain premenopausal after chemotherapy.

11.
Adv Pediatr ; 71(1): 181-194, 2024 Aug.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38944483

ABSTRACT

This article reviews pectus excavatum, carinatum, and arcuatum. Topics covered include etiology, epidemiology, associated syndromes, physiologic impact, workup, indications for treatment, surgical and nonsurgical therapy, results, complications, and emerging therapies. Pectus excavatum is an inward deformation of the sternum and/or anterior chest wall. Pectus carinatum is ether an outward protrusion or tilt of the sternum with potential psychological impact, but no demonstrated physiologic impact. Nonoperative compression bracing is successful in carinatum patients with chest wall flexibility who are compliant with a bracing program. Pectus arcuatum is an abnormally short, fully fused sternum with a high anterior protrusion.


Subject(s)
Funnel Chest , Pectus Carinatum , Humans , Funnel Chest/therapy , Funnel Chest/diagnosis , Pectus Carinatum/therapy , Pectus Carinatum/diagnosis , Child , Braces , Sternum/abnormalities
12.
Nat Med ; 2024 Jun 13.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38871006

ABSTRACT

Outbreaks of monkeypox (mpox) have historically resulted from zoonotic spillover of clade I monkeypox virus (MPXV) in Central Africa and clade II MPXV in West Africa. In 2022, subclade IIb caused a global epidemic linked to transmission through sexual contact. Here we describe the epidemiological and genomic features of an mpox outbreak in a mining region in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, caused by clade I MPXV. Surveillance data collected between September 2023 and January 2024 identified 241 suspected cases. Genomic analysis demonstrates a distinct clade I lineage divergent from previously circulating strains in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Of the 108 polymerase chain reaction-confirmed mpox cases, the median age of individuals was 22 years, 51.9% were female and 29% were sex workers, suggesting a potential role for sexual transmission. The predominance of APOBEC3-type mutations and the estimated emergence time around mid-September 2023 imply recent sustained human-to-human transmission.

13.
Hosp Pediatr ; 14(7): 556-563, 2024 Jul 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38853656

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic resulted in the underutilization of inpatient beds at our satellite location. A lack of clarity and standardized admission criteria for the satellite led to frequent transfers to the main campus, resulting in patients traveling larger distances to receive inpatient care. We sought to optimize inpatient resource use at the satellite campus and keep patients "closer to home" by admitting eligible patients to that inpatient unit (LA4). Our aim was to increase bed capacity use at the satellite from 45% to 70% within 10 months. Our process measure was to increase the proportion of patients needing hospitalization who presented to the satellite emergency department (ED) and were then admitted to LA4 from 76% to 85%. METHODS: A multidisciplinary team used quality improvement methods to optimize bed capacity use. Interventions included (1) the revision and dissemination of satellite admission guidelines, (2) steps to create shared understanding of appropriate satellite admissions between ED and inpatient providers, (3) directed provider feedback on preventable main campus admissions, and (4) consistent patient and family messaging about the potential for transfer. Data were collected via chart review. Annotated run charts were used to assess the impact of interventions over time. RESULTS: Average LA4 bed capacity use increased from 45% to 69%, which was sustained for 1 year. The average percentage of patients admitted from the satellite ED to LA4 increased from 76% to 84%. CONCLUSIONS: We improved bed capacity use at our satellite campus through transparent admission criteria and shared mental models of patient care needs between ED and inpatient providers.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , Emergency Service, Hospital , Hospital Bed Capacity , Quality Improvement , Humans , COVID-19/epidemiology , Child , Patient Admission/statistics & numerical data , SARS-CoV-2 , Patient Transfer
14.
Health Serv Res ; 2024 Jun 17.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38886563

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact on rural Veterans' access to social work services of a Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) national program to increase social work staffing, by Veterans' rurality, race, and complex care needs. DATA SOURCES AND STUDY SETTING: Data obtained from VA Corporate Data Warehouse, including sites that participated in the social work program between October 1, 2016 and September 30, 2021. STUDY DESIGN: The study outcome was monthly number of Veterans per 1000 individuals with 1+ social work encounters. We used difference-in-differences to estimate the program effect on urban, rural, and highly rural Veterans. Among rural and highly rural Veterans, we stratified by race (American Indian or Alaskan Native, Asian, Black, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and White) and complex care needs (homelessness, high hospitalization risk, and dementia). DATA COLLECTION: We defined a cohort of 740,669 Veterans (32,434,001 monthly observations) who received primary care at a participating site. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Average monthly social work use was 8.7 Veterans per 1000 individuals. The program increased access by 49% (4.3 per 1000; 95% confidence interval, 2.2-6.3). Rural Veterans' social work access increased by 57% (5.0; 3.6-6.3). Among rural/highly rural Veterans, the program increased social work access for those with high hospitalization risk by 63% (24.5; 18.2-30.9), and for Veterans experiencing homelessness, 35% (13.4; 5.2-21.7). By race, the program increased access for Black Veterans by 53% (6.1; 2.1-10.2) and for Asian Veterans by 82% (5.1; 2.2-7.9). CONCLUSIONS: At rural VA primary care sites with social work staffing below recommended levels, Black and Asian Veterans and those experiencing homelessness and high hospitalization risk may have unmet needs warranting social work services.

15.
J Acquir Immune Defic Syndr ; 96(3): 241-249, 2024 Jul 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38905475

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Ukraine has implemented ambitious HIV-prevention programs since 1999 and began offering preexposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in 2017. Little is known about PrEP uptake and persistence in this setting. SETTING: We analyzed data from 40 facilities providing PrEP in 11 oblasts (regions) of Ukraine between October 2020 and February 2022. METHODS: We estimated the time between PrEP visits and conducted Kaplan-Meier analyses to estimate retention on PrEP stratified by sex, age, and key populations (KPs): men who have sex with men (MSM), people who inject drugs (PWID), sex workers (SW), discordant couples, and others vulnerable to HIV acquisition (DC/other). We used Cox regression to estimate the risk of PrEP discontinuation by KP group and sex, adjusting for age. RESULTS: Overall, 2033 clients initiated PrEP across regions; the majority (51%) were DC/other, 22% were MSM, 22% were PWID, and 5% were SW. The overall 3-month persistence was 52.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 49.9% to 54.8%) and was lowest among MSM (46.7%; 95% CI: 41.9% to 52.2%) and SW (25.9%; 95% CI: 18.2% to 36.9%) (P < 0.05 for differences by KP group). After adjusting for age, PrEP discontinuation was not statistically significantly different across groups, although female PWID tended to have the lowest discontinuation risk (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.59; 95% CI: 0.31 to 1.11) while male SW tended to have the highest risk (aHR 1.87, 95% CI: 0.57 to 6.11) compared with females in the DC/other group. CONCLUSION: Three-month PrEP persistence was low across KP groups, especially in SW. Further research examining the barriers and enablers of persistence by KPs is needed.


Subject(s)
HIV Infections , Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis , Humans , Male , HIV Infections/prevention & control , Ukraine/epidemiology , Female , Adult , Homosexuality, Male , Anti-HIV Agents/therapeutic use , Anti-HIV Agents/administration & dosage , Middle Aged , Sex Workers/statistics & numerical data , Young Adult , Substance Abuse, Intravenous/epidemiology
16.
Clin Diabetes ; 42(2): 257-265, 2024.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38694243

ABSTRACT

This study examined the association between persistence to basal insulin and clinical and economic health outcomes. The question of whether a persistence measure for basal insulin could be leveraged in quality measurement was also explored. Using the IBM-Truven MarketScan Commercial and Medicare Supplemental Databases from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2015, a total of 14,126 subjects were included in the analyses, wherein 9,898 (70.1%) were categorized as persistent with basal insulin therapy. Basal insulin persistence was associated with lower A1C, fewer hospitalizations and emergency department visits, and lower health care expenditures. Quality measures based on prescription drug claims for basal insulin are feasible and should be considered for guiding quality improvement efforts.

17.
Nat Commun ; 15(1): 3745, 2024 May 03.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38702304

ABSTRACT

Early childhood tumours arise from transformed embryonic cells, which often carry large copy number alterations (CNA). However, it remains unclear how CNAs contribute to embryonic tumourigenesis due to a lack of suitable models. Here we employ female human embryonic stem cell (hESC) differentiation and single-cell transcriptome and epigenome analysis to assess the effects of chromosome 17q/1q gains, which are prevalent in the embryonal tumour neuroblastoma (NB). We show that CNAs impair the specification of trunk neural crest (NC) cells and their sympathoadrenal derivatives, the putative cells-of-origin of NB. This effect is exacerbated upon overexpression of MYCN, whose amplification co-occurs with CNAs in NB. Moreover, CNAs potentiate the pro-tumourigenic effects of MYCN and mutant NC cells resemble NB cells in tumours. These changes correlate with a stepwise aberration of developmental transcription factor networks. Together, our results sketch a mechanistic framework for the CNA-driven initiation of embryonal tumours.


Subject(s)
Cell Differentiation , DNA Copy Number Variations , N-Myc Proto-Oncogene Protein , Neural Crest , Neuroblastoma , Humans , Neuroblastoma/genetics , Neuroblastoma/pathology , Neural Crest/metabolism , Neural Crest/pathology , Female , N-Myc Proto-Oncogene Protein/genetics , N-Myc Proto-Oncogene Protein/metabolism , Chromosome Aberrations , Human Embryonic Stem Cells/metabolism , Transcriptome , Cell Line, Tumor , Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
18.
Front Immunol ; 15: 1373537, 2024.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38812520

ABSTRACT

Sex-based differences in immune cell composition and function can contribute to distinct adaptive immune responses. Prior work has quantified these differences in peripheral blood, but little is known about sex differences within human lymphoid tissues. Here, we characterized the composition and phenotypes of adaptive immune cells from male and female ex vivo tonsils and evaluated their responses to influenza antigens using an immune organoid approach. In a pediatric cohort, female tonsils had more memory B cells compared to male tonsils direct ex vivo and after stimulation with live-attenuated but not inactivated vaccine, produced higher influenza-specific antibody responses. Sex biases were also observed in adult tonsils but were different from those measured in children. Analysis of peripheral blood immune cells from in vivo vaccinated adults also showed higher frequencies of tissue homing CD4 T cells in female participants. Together, our data demonstrate that distinct memory B and T cell profiles are present in male vs. female lymphoid tissues and peripheral blood respectively and suggest that these differences may in part explain sex biases in response to vaccines and viruses.


Subject(s)
Palatine Tonsil , Humans , Female , Male , Child , Palatine Tonsil/immunology , Adult , Influenza Vaccines/immunology , Influenza, Human/immunology , Sex Characteristics , Child, Preschool , Adolescent , Antibodies, Viral/blood , Antibodies, Viral/immunology , Memory B Cells/immunology , Organ Specificity/immunology , Young Adult , Sex Factors , CD4-Positive T-Lymphocytes/immunology , B-Lymphocytes/immunology , Immunologic Memory
19.
J Mol Cell Cardiol ; 193: 25-35, 2024 May 18.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38768805

ABSTRACT

The YTH-domain family (YTHDF) of RNA binding proteins can control gene expression at the post-transcriptional level by regulating mRNAs with N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modifications. Despite the established importance of m6A in the heart, the cardiac role of specific m6A-binding proteins remains unclear. Here, we characterized the function of YTHDF1 in cardiomyocytes using a newly generated cardiac-restricted mouse model. Deletion of YTHDF1 in adult cardiomyocytes led to hypertrophy, fibrosis, and dysfunction. Using mass spectrometry, we identified the necessity of YTHDF1 for the expression of cardiomyocyte membrane raft proteins. Specifically, YTHDF1 bound to m6A-modified Caveolin 1 (Cav1) mRNA and favored its translation. We further demonstrated that YTHDF1 regulates downstream ERK signaling. Altogether, our findings highlight a novel role for YTHDF1 as a post-transcriptional regulator of caveolar proteins which is necessary for the maintenance of cardiac function.

20.
Hypertension ; 81(7): 1550-1560, 2024 Jul.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38690656

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Senescence, a mechanism of cellular aging, which is characterized by irreversible proliferation arrest and a proinflammatory secretory phenotype, has been documented in women with preeclampsia. As cellular senescence can persist and progress, we postulated that it is associated with accelerated aging phenotype and accumulation of comorbidities in women with a history of preeclampsia. METHODS: We included a cohort of women with a history of preeclampsia (n=40) age- and parity-matched to a group of referent women with normotensive pregnancies (n=40). Women with prior major cardiovascular events, neurological, or autoimmune conditions were excluded. We collected urine and blood samples to study markers of aging, data on multimorbidity at the time of enrollment, and prospectively followed them for events over the course of 6 years, on average. RESULTS: Women with a history of preeclampsia exhibited unfavorable aging profiles compared with referent women, including decreased urinary α-Klotho (P=0.018); increased leptin (P=0.016) and leptin/adiponectin ratio (P=0.027), and increased extracellular vesicles positive for tissue factor (P=0.025). Women with a history of preeclampsia likewise had a higher rate of comorbidities at the time of enrollment (P=0.003) and had a 4× higher risk of developing major cardiovascular events compared with referent women (P=0.003). CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that a history of preeclampsia is associated with accelerated aging as indicated by senescence marker differences and the accumulation of multimorbidity later in life. Targeting cellular senescence may offer novel, mechanism-based approaches for the diagnosis and treatment of adverse health outcomes in women with a history of preeclampsia.


Subject(s)
Biomarkers , Cellular Senescence , Pre-Eclampsia , Humans , Female , Pre-Eclampsia/epidemiology , Pre-Eclampsia/diagnosis , Pregnancy , Adult , Biomarkers/blood , Biomarkers/urine , Cellular Senescence/physiology , Aging , Klotho Proteins , Aging, Premature/epidemiology , Leptin/blood , Prospective Studies , Adiponectin/blood , Glucuronidase/blood
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