Germinal Layer (germinal + layer)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


Comparative distribution of the mammalian mediator subunit thyroid hormone receptor-associated protein (TRAP220) mRNA in developing and adult rodent brain

EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE, Issue 4 2002
Anastasia Galeeva
Abstract TRAP220 (thyroid hormone receptor-associated protein) is a recently cloned nuclear receptor coactivator, which interacts with several nuclear receptors in a ligand-dependent manner and stimulates transcription by recruiting the TRAP mediator complex to hormone responsive promoter regions. TRAP220 has been shown to interact with thyroid hormone receptors, vitamin D receptors, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors, retinoic acid receptors and oestrogen receptors. Thyroid hormone and retinoic acid play very important roles in brain development and they also influence adult brain. Using in situ hybridization we have examined expression of TRAP220 mRNA in the central nervous system during development and in adult rat and mouse brain. Expression of TRAP220 was seen already during early embryonic development in the epithelium of neural tube at E9 in mouse and at E12 in rat. At later stages of development the strongest signal was seen in different layers of cerebral neocortex, external germinal layer of cerebellum, differentiating fields of hippocampus and neuroepithelium, and a moderate signal was detected in basal ganglia, different areas of diencephalon and midbrain. In adult rat brain the signal was more restricted than during development. TRAP220 expression occurred mostly in the granular layer of cerebellar cortex, piriform cortex and hippocampal formation. The signal was found predominantly in neurons. Our work supports the assumption that TRAP220 plays an important role in growth and differentiation of central nervous system and may have a function in certain areas of adult brain. [source]


Cellular organization and appearance of differentiated structures in developing stages of the parasitic platyhelminth Echinococcus granulosus

JOURNAL OF CELLULAR BIOCHEMISTRY, Issue 2 2005
Claudio Martínez
Abstract Echinococcus granulosus is the causative agent of hydatidosis, a major zoonoses that affects humans and herbivorous domestic animals. The disease is caused by the pressure exerted on viscera by hydatid cysts that are formed upon ingestion of E. granulosus eggs excreted by canine. Protoscoleces, larval forms infective to canine, develop asynchronously and clonally from the germinal layer (GL) of hydatid cysts. In this report, we describe the cellular organization and the appearance of differentiated structures both in nascent buds and developed protoscoleces attached to the GL. Early protoscolex morphogenesis is a highly complex and dynamic process starting from the constitution of a foramen in the early bud, around which nuclei are distributed mainly at the lateral and apical regions. Similarly, distribution of nuclei in mature protoscoleces is not homogenous but underlies three cellular territories: the suckers, the rostellar pad, and the body, that surrounds the foramen. Several nuclei are associated to calcareous corpuscles (Cc), differentiated structures that are absent in the earlier bud stages. The number of nuclei is similar from the grown, elongated bud stage to the mature protoscolex attached to the GL, strongly suggesting that there is no significant cellular proliferation during final protoscolex development. The amount of DNA per nucleus is in the same range to the one described for most other platyhelminthes. Our results point to a sequential series of events involving cell proliferation, spatial cell organization, and differentiation, starting in early buds at the GL of fertile hydatid cysts leading to mature protoscoleces infective to canine. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]


Screening of an Echinococcus granulosus cDNA library with IgG4 from patients with cystic echinococcosis identifies a new tegumental protein involved in the immune escape

CLINICAL & EXPERIMENTAL IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 3 2005
E. Ortona
Summary The worldwide problem of chronic Echinococcus granulosus disease calls for new parasite-derived immunomodulatory molecules. By screening an E. granulosus cDNA library with IgG4 from patients with active cystic echinococcosis, we identified a cDNA that encodes a predicted partial protein that immunofluorescence studies localized in the protoscolex tegument and on the germinal layer of cyst wall. We named this protein EgTeg because the 105 amino acid sequence scored highest against a family of Schistosoma tegumental proteins. Evaluating the role of EgTeg in the human early inflammatory response we found that EgTeg significantly inhibited polymorphonuclear cell (PMN) chemotaxis. Cytometric analysis of intracellular cytokines disclosed a significantly higher percentage of cells producing IL-4 than IFN-, (P = 0·001, Student's t-test) in T lymphocytes from patients with cystic echinococcosis stimulated with EgTeg. EgTeg induced weak Th1-dependent proliferation in 42% of patients' peripheral blood mononuclear cells. In immunoblotting (IB) analysis of total IgG and IgG subclass responses to EgTeg in patients with cystic echinococcosis, patients with other parasitoses, patients with cystic lesions and healthy controls, total IgG specific to EgTeg yielded high sensitivity (73%) but low specificity (44%) precluding its use in immunodiagnosis. Conversely, IgG4 specific to EgTeg gave acceptable sensitivity (65%) and high specificity (89%) suggesting its use in immunodiagnosis to confirm ultrasound documented cysts suggestive of E. granulosus. Because the new tegumental antigen EgTeg inhibits chemotaxis, induces IL-4-positive T lymphocytes and noncomplement fixing antibodies (IgG4) it is an immunomodulatory molecule associated with chronic infection. [source]


Human immature dental pulp stem cells share key characteristic features with limbal stem cells

CELL PROLIFERATION, Issue 5 2009
B. G. Monteiro
Objectives:, Limbal stem cells (LSC) are self-renewing, highly proliferative cells in vitro, which express a set of specific markers and in vivo have the capacity to reconstruct the entire corneal epithelium in cases of ocular surface injury. Currently, LSC transplantation is a commonly used procedure in patients with either uni- or bilateral total limbal stem cells deficiency (TLSCD). Although LSC transplantation holds great promise for patients, several problems need to be overcome. In order to find an alternative source of cells that can partially substitute LSC in cornea epithelium reconstruction, we aimed at investigating whether human immature dental pulp stem cells (hIDPSC) would present similar key characteristics as LSC and whether they could be used for corneal surface reconstruction in a rabbit TLSCD model. Materials:, We used hIDPSC, which co-express mesenchymal and embryonic stem cell markers and present the capacity to differentiate into derivative cells of the three germinal layers. TLSCD was induced by chemical burn in one eye of rabbits. After 30 days, the opaque tissue formed was removed by superficial keratectomy. Experimental group received undifferentiated hIDPSC, while control group only received amniotic membrane (AM). Both groups were sacrificed after 3 months. Results and conclusions:, We have demonstrated, using immunohistochemistry and reverse transcription,polymerase chain reaction, that hIDPSCs express markers in common with LSC, such as ABCG2, integrin ,1, vimentin, p63, connexin 43 and cytokeratins 3/12. They were also capable of reconstructing the eye surface after induction of unilateral TLSCD in rabbits, as shown by morphological and immunohistochemical analysis using human-specific antibodies against limbal and corneal epithelium. Our data suggest that hIDPSCs share similar characteristics with LSC and might be used as a potential alternative source of cells for corneal reconstruction. [source]