ABSTRACT
Blastobotrys proliferans is an ascomycetous yeast never previously reported as a human pathogen. Here we report a case of peritonitis due to Blastobotrys proliferans in a 46-year-old man undergoing peritoneal dialysis.
Subject(s)
Ascomycota/isolation & purification , Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory/adverse effects , Peritonitis/microbiology , Ascomycota/classification , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Oxygen free-radical mediated lipid peroxidation has been implicated in many diseases such as chronic renal failure, hemodialysis and chronic kidney transplant rejection. However, insight into the role of free radical generation in kidney transplantation has been constrained by the limitations of current indexes of oxidant stress in vivo. Isoprostaglandin F2alpha type-III (iPF2alpha-III, formerly known as 8-iso-prostaglandin F2alpha) is emerging as a reliable marker of oxidant stress in vivo. The purpose of our study was to investigate iPF2alpha-III formation as an index of lipid peroxidation in the 5 d following kidney transplantation. METHODS: Urinary iPF2alpha-III measurements were performed by enzyme immunoassay from day I to 5 in 11 patients undergoing kidney transplantation. Results were compared with 11 healthy volunteers matched in sex, age and cigarette smoking. RESULTS: Urinary excretion of iPF2alpha-III at day 1 did not significantly differ between control and transplant group (111 +/- 17 vs. 92 +/- 10 pM/ mM creatinine, respectively, NS). Urinary iPF2alpha-III levels did not differ between day 1 to 5, and were not correlated to cold ischaemia time. CONCLUSION: Our study shows no evidence of enhanced lipid peroxidation in the first 5 d following kidney transplantation.
Subject(s)
Kidney Transplantation , Lipid Peroxidation , Prostaglandins F/urine , Adult , Case-Control Studies , Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Oxidative Stress , Postoperative Period , Regression AnalysisABSTRACT
Besides its acute and chronic effects on corticosteroid synthesis, the pituitary adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) regulates diverse adrenocortical biological functions including the synthesis of a number of mitochondrial, cytoplasmic, and secreted proteins. ACTH-induced secreted proteins are candidates to act as local extracellular relays of the hormone in either an autocrine or a paracrine manner. In the present study, we report that stimulation of primary cultures of bovine adrenocortical (BAC) fasciculata cells with 10 nM ACTH for 24 h results in a mean 8 +/- 4-fold induction of the synthesis of a secreted protein presenting an apparent Mr of 21 kDa. Peptide microsequencing and Western blotting allowed us to identify this 21-kDa ACTH-induced protein as the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2). The induction of TIMP-2 by ACTH required transcription, was mimicked by 8-bromo cyclic 3'-5' adenosine monophosphate, but was not observed in response to angiotensin II, IGF-1, fibroblast growth factor-2, transforming growth factor-beta1, or cortisol treatments. ACTH stimulated TIMP-2 mRNA levels by a factor 4, whereas TIMP-1 mRNA levels were not affected and TIMP-3 mRNA remained undetectable. The biological activity of TIMP-2 varied accordingly, as we observed that the conditioned medium of ACTH-treated BAC cells was four times more potent at inhibiting gelatinolytic activity than was the conditioned medium of control cells. Because the proteolytic activity of both progelatinase-B and progelatinase-A secreted by BAC cells remained latent, whether in the presence or in the absence of ACTH, a paracrine rather than autocrine role is proposed for TIMP-2 in the adrenal cortex.
Subject(s)
Adrenal Cortex/drug effects , Adrenal Cortex/metabolism , Adrenocorticotropic Hormone/pharmacology , Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2/metabolism , Adrenal Cortex/cytology , Adrenal Cortex/physiology , Animals , Cattle , Cells, Cultured , Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2/biosynthesis , Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2/physiologyABSTRACT
TGF beta is a ubiquitous multifunctional cytokine produced by a wide variety of cells; its amino acid sequence indicates a marked conservation across species. Five isoforms have been identified, three of which, TGF beta 1, 2, 3, in mammals. It is secreted in a biologically latent form and is then activated by physiological mechanisms which are still poorly characterized. TGF beta is known as a regulator of cell growth, differentiation and proliferation, but exerts also a tight control over extracellular matrix synthesis. Although TGF beta has been found to have a beneficial role in connective tissue and bone repair processes, its overexpression could lead to fibrosis and fibroproliferative diseases. TGF beta is also involved in kidney fibrogenesis and new pathways aimed at preventing glomerulosclerosis and interstitial fibrosis using TGF beta-inhibitors are new topics of research.
