Erretinako distrofia heredagarrien mutazioetarako etekin handiko baheketa, Axiom Exome genotipatze mikrotxipetan oinarrituta

Axiom Exome DNA Genotipatze mikrotxipetan oinarriturik, etekin handiko baheketa (screening) genetikoa garatu da Excel bidez eginiko filtraketez baliatuta. Modu honetan, erretinako distrofia heredagarriak (EDH) modu eraginkorrean diagnostikatzea lortu nahi da. Ikerketa honetan, 55 familia ezberdinetakoak diren 80 EDHdun gaixok eta hauen 108 senitarteko osasuntsuk hartu dute parte. Guztira 188 norbanakoen odol periferikoa bildu eta hauen DNA laginak aztertu dira bi Axiom Exome Genotipatze Mikrotxip erabilita. Mikrotxip honen bidez, erretinako distrofietan zuzeneko eragina duten 181 generi dagozkien 5.044 aldaera aztertu dira. Hauetatik 82 genek Erretinosi Pigmentarioa (EP) izeneko gaixotasuna eragiten dute (sindromikoa edo ez-sindromikoa). Excelen oinarrituriko baheketa estrategia garatuz, gure populazioan EDHak eragiten dituzten aldaerak aurkitzea izan da xedea. Ondoren, aurkikuntza horretan lorturiko aldaera genetikoak, zuzeneko Sanger sekuentziazio bidez egiaztatu dira. Ikerketa honetan lorturiko emaitza nagusia, gaixotasunen eragile diren aldaera genetikoak identifikatzea izan da. Guztira 8 aldaera genetiko aurkitu dira, erretinako gaixotasuna eragiten duten 8 geneetan. 12 familiatako 15 gaixo eta 12 eramailetan aurkitu dira aldaera genetiko hauek. Ondorio modura, DNA genotipatze mikrotxip hauetatik lortzen den datu pila guztitik, biologikoki garrantzitsua den informazioa soilik eskuratu eta identifikatzeko aukera dagoela ikusi da, ikerketa honi esker garatu den Excel bidezko baheketa estrategia erabilita. Beraz, garaturiko Excel bidezko baheketa estrategiak aukera ematen du, EDH heterogeneo hauen karakterizazio molekularra modu eraginkorrean gauzatzeko. Erretinarako berariazkoak diren APEX mikrotxipen kostuarekin alderatuta eginiko analisien kostua 1/5 izatera jaisten da. Honek klinikoki garrantzia handia du, izan ere, ahalik eta gaixo gehien diagnostikatzeko aukera ematen du.

Advantages and Versatility of Fluorescence-Based Methodology to Characterize the Functionality of LDLR and Class Mutation Assignment

Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a common autosomal codominant disease with a frequency of 1:500 individuals in its heterozygous form. The genetic basis of FH is most commonly mutations within the LDLR gene. Assessing the pathogenicity of LDLR variants is particularly important to give a patient a definitive diagnosis of FH. Current studies of LDLR activity ex vivo are based on the analysis of I-125-labeled lipoproteins (reference method) or fluorescent-labelled LDL. The main purpose of this study was to compare the effectiveness of these two methods to assess LDLR functionality in order to validate a functional assay to analyse LDLR mutations. LDLR activity of different variants has been studied by flow cytometry using FITC-labelled LDL and compared with studies performed previously with I-125-labeled lipoproteins. Flow cytometry results are in full agreement with the data obtained by the I-125 methodology. Additionally confocal microscopy allowed the assignment of different class mutation to the variants assayed. Use of fluorescence yielded similar results than I-125-labeled lipoproteins concerning LDLR activity determination, and also allows class mutation classification. The use of FITC-labelled LDL is easier in handling and disposal, cheaper than radioactivity and can be routinely performed by any group doing LDLR functional validations.

Human LDL Structural Diversity Studied by IR Spectroscopy

Lipoproteins are responsible for cholesterol traffic in humans. Low density lipoprotein (LDL) delivers cholesterol from liver to peripheral tissues. A misleading delivery can lead to the formation of atherosclerotic plaques. LDL has a single protein, apoB-100, that binds to a specific receptor. It is known that the failure associated with a deficient protein-receptor binding leads to plaque formation. ApoB-100 is a large single lipid-associated polypeptide difficulting the study of its structure. IR spectroscopy is a technique suitable to follow the different conformational changes produced in apoB-100 because it is not affected by the size of the protein or the turbidity of the sample. We have analyzed LDL spectra of different individuals and shown that, even if there are not big structural changes, a different pattern in the intensity of the band located around 1617 cm 21 related with strands embedded in the lipid monolayer, can be associated with a different conformational rearrangement that could affect to a protein interacting region with the receptor.

Notas sobre la "civitas" cántabra de los "orgenomesci" como paradigma de las ciudades "invisibles" en el registro arqueológico

Homenaje a Ignacio Barandiarán Maestu / coord. por Javier Fernández Eraso, Juan Santos Yanguas

Adenylate Cyclase Toxin promotes bacterial internalisation into non phagocytic cells

Bordetella pertussis causes whooping cough, a respiratory infectious disease that is the fifth largest cause of vaccine-preventable death in infants. Though historically considered an extracellular pathogen, this bacterium has been detected both in vitro and in vivo inside phagocytic and non-phagocytic cells. However the precise mechanism used by B. pertussis for cell entry, or the putative bacterial factors involved, are not fully elucidated. Here we find that adenylate cyclase toxin (ACT), one of the important toxins of B. pertussis, is sufficient to promote bacterial internalisation into non-phagocytic cells. After characterization of the entry route we show that uptake of "toxin-coated bacteria" proceeds via a clathrin-independent, caveolae-dependent entry pathway, allowing the internalised bacteria to survive within the cells. Intracellular bacteria were found inside non-acidic endosomes with high sphingomyelin and cholesterol content, or "free" in the cytosol of the invaded cells, suggesting that the ACT-induced bacterial uptake may not proceed through formation of late endolysosomes. Activation of Tyr kinases and toxin-induced Ca2+-influx are essential for the entry process. We hypothesize that B. pertussis might use ACT to activate the endocytic machinery of non-phagocytic cells and gain entry into these cells, in this way evading the host immune system.

Dietary animal and plant protein intakes and their associations with obesity and cardio-metabolic indicators in European adolescents: the HELENA cross-sectional study

Background: Previous studies suggest that dietary protein might play a beneficial role in combating obesity and its related chronic diseases. Total, animal and plant protein intakes and their associations with anthropometry and serum biomarkers in European adolescents using one standardised methodology across European countries are not well documented. Objectives: To evaluate total, animal and plant protein intakes in European adolescents stratified by gender and age, and to investigate their associations with cardio-metabolic indicators (anthropometry and biomarkers). Methods: The current analysis included 1804 randomly selected adolescents participating in the HELENA study (conducted in 2006-2007) aged 12.5-17.5 y (47% males) who completed two non-consecutive computerised 24-h dietary recalls. Associations between animal and plant protein intakes, and anthropometry and serum biomarkers were examined with General linear Model multivariate analysis. Results: Average total protein intake exceeded the recommendations of World Health Organization and European Food Safety Authority. Mean total protein intake was 96 g/d (59% derived from animal protein). Total, animal and plant protein intakes (g/d) were significantly lower in females than in males and total and plant protein intakes were lower in younger participants (12.5-14.9 y). Protein intake was significantly lower in underweight subjects and higher in obese ones; the direction of the relationship was reversed after adjustments for body weight (g/(kg.d)). The inverse association of plant protein intakes was stronger with BMI z-score and body fat percentage (BF%) compared to animal protein intakes. Additionally, BMI and BF% were positively associated with energy percentage of animal protein. Conclusions: This sample of European adolescents appeared to have adequate total protein intake. Our findings suggest that plant protein intakes may play a role in preventing obesity among European adolescents. Further longitudinal studies are needed to investigate the potential beneficial effects observed in this study in the prevention of obesity and related chronic diseases.