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| 2. |
- Jönsson, Maria, 1977-, et al.
(författare)
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FLT3 ligand regulates apoptosis through AKT-dependent inactivation of transcription factor Fox03
- 2004
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Ingår i: Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications. - : Elsevier BV. - 1090-2104 .- 0006-291X. ; 318:4, s. 899-903
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Proliferation, differentiation, and survival of hematopoietic cells are regulated by cytokines, acting through specific receptors. FLT3 ligand (FL) is one of the most important cytokines for regulation of the hematopoietic system, and its receptor FLT3 is expressed on both stem cells and progenitors. Regulation of Forkhead transcription factors has been described as an important mechanism to control apoptosis and cell cycle progression in hematopoietic progenitors. Here we report that FL induces AKT/PKB activation, which in turn phosphorylates and thereby inactivates the Forkhead protein FoxO3 in the progenitor cell line FDC-P1 stably expressing murine FLT3 receptor. Phosphorylation of AKT and FoxO3 was blocked by the PI-3 kinase inhibitor LY294002 but not by the MAP kinase inhibitor PD98059. Expression of a mutated FoxO3, in which all three inhibitory phosphorylation sites were mutated to alanine, led to rapid increase of apoptotic cells in the presence of FL. These results suggest that FL-induced regulation of apoptosis is executed by FoxO3. (C) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
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| 5. |
- Bednarska, Olga, 1973-
(författare)
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Peripheral and Central Mechanisms in Irritable Bowel Syndrome : in search of links
- 2019
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a chronic visceral pain disorder with female predominance, characterized by recurrent abdominal pain and disturbed bowel habits in the absence of an identifiable organic cause. This prevalent and debilitating disease, which accounts for a substantial economic and individual burden, lacks exact diagnostic tools and effective treatment, since its pathophysiology remains uncertain. The bidirectional and multilayered brain-gut axis is a well-established disease model, however, the interactions between central and peripheral mechanisms along the brain-gut axis remain incompletely understood. One of the welldescribed triggering factors, yet accounting for only a fraction of IBS prevalence, is bacterial gastroenteritis that affects mucosal barrier function. Altered gut microbiota composition as well as disturbed intestinal mucosal barrier function and its neuroimmune regulation have been reported in IBS, however, the impact of live bacteria, neither commensal nor pathogenic, on intestinal barrier has not been studied yet. Furthermore, abnormal central processing of visceral sensations and psychological factors such as maladaptive coping have previously been suggested as centrally-mediated pathophysiological mechanisms of importance in IBS. Brain imaging studies have demonstrated an imbalance in descending pain modulatory networks and alterations in brain regions associated with interoceptive awareness and pain processing and modulation, particularly in anterior insula (aINS), although biochemical changes putatively underlying these central alterations remain poorly understood. Most importantly, however, possible associations between these documented changes on central and peripheral levels, which may as complex interactions contribute to disease onset and chronification of symptoms, are widely unknown.This thesis aimed to investigate the peripheral and central mechanisms in women with IBS compared to female healthy controls (HC) and to explore possible mutual associations between these mechanisms.In Paper I, we studied paracellular permeability and passage of live bacteria, both commensal and pathogenic through colonic biopsies mounted in Ussing chambers. We explored the regulation of the mucosal barrier function by mast cells and the neuropeptide vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) as well as a correlation between mucosal permeability and gastrointestinal and psychological symptoms. We observed increased paracellular permeability and the passage of commensal and pathogenic live bacteria in patients with IBS compared with HC, which was diminished by blocking the VIP receptors as well as after stabilizing mast cells in both groups. Moreover, higher paracellular permeability was associated with less somatic and psychological symptoms in patients.In Paper II, we aimed to determine the association between colonic mucosa paracellular permeability and structural and resting state functional brain connectivity. We demonstrated different patterns of associations between mucosa permeability and functional and structural brain connectivity in IBS patients compared to HC. Specifically, lower paracellular permeability in IBS, similar to the levels detected in HC, was associated with more severe IBS symptoms and increased functional and structural connectivity between intrinsic brain resting state network and descending pain modulation brain regions. Our findings further suggested that this association between mucosa permeability and functional brain connectivity was mainly mediated by coping strategies.In Paper III, we investigated putative alterations in excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmission of aINS, as the brain’s key node of the salience network crucially involved in cognitive control, in IBS patients relative to HC and addressed possible connections with both symptoms and psychological factors. We found decreased concentrations of the excitatory neurotransmitter Glx in bilateral aINS in IBS patients compared to HC, while inhibitory neurotransmitter GABA+ levels were comparable. Further, we demonstrated hemisphere-specific associations between abdominal pain, coping and aINS excitatory neurotransmitter concentration.In conclusion, this thesis broadens the knowledge on peripheral and central mechanisms in IBS and presents novel findings that bring together the ends of brain-gut axis. Our results depict association between mucosal permeability, IBS symptoms and functional and structural connectivity engaging brain regions involved in emotion and pain modulation as well as underlying neurotransmitter alterations.
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| 6. |
- Ekoff, Maria, et al.
(författare)
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The BH3-only protein Puma plays an essential role in cytokine deprivation-induced apoptosis of mast cells
- 2007
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Ingår i: Blood. - : American Society of Hematology. - 0006-4971 .- 1528-0020. ; 110:9, s. 3209-3217
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Mast cells play critical roles in the regulation of inflammation. One characteristic feature of mast cells is their relatively long lifespan in vivo. Members of the Bcl-2 protein family are regulators of cell survival and apoptosis, where the BH3-only proteins are critical proapoptotic proteins. In this study we investigated the role of the BH3-only proteins Noxa, Bad, Bim, Bmf, Bid, and Puma in apoptosis of mucosal-like mast cells (MLMCs) and connective tissue-like mast cells (CTLMCs). We demonstrate that Puma is critical for the induction of mast-cell death following cytokine deprivation and treatment with the DNA-damaging agent etoposide in MLMCs and CTLMCs. Using p53-/- mast cells, we found that cytokine deprivation-induced apoptosis, in contrast to that elicited by etoposide, is p53-independent. Interestingly, mast cells deficient in FOXO3a, previously proposed as a transcription factor for Puma induction in response to growth factor deprivation, were markedly resistant to cytokine withdrawal compared with wildtype cells. Moreover, overexpression of phosphorylation-deficient, constitutively active FOXO3a caused an up-regulation of Puma. In conclusion, our data demonstrate a pivotal role for Puma in the regulation of cytokine deprivation-induced mast-cell apoptosis and suggest a plausible role for Puma in the regulation of mast cell numbers in vivo. © 2007 by The American Society of Hematology.
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| 7. |
- Engström, Gunnar, et al.
(författare)
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Pulmonary function and atherosclerosis in the general population : causal associations and clinical implications
- 2024
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Ingår i: European Journal of Epidemiology. - : Springer Nature. - 0393-2990 .- 1573-7284. ; 39:1, s. 35-49
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Reduced lung function is associated with cardiovascular mortality, but the relationships with atherosclerosis are unclear. The population-based Swedish CArdioPulmonary BioImage study measured lung function, emphysema, coronary CT angiography, coronary calcium, carotid plaques and ankle-brachial index in 29,593 men and women aged 50–64 years. The results were confirmed using 2-sample Mendelian randomization. Lower lung function and emphysema were associated with more atherosclerosis, but these relationships were attenuated after adjustment for cardiovascular risk factors. Lung function was not associated with coronary atherosclerosis in 14,524 never-smokers. No potentially causal effect of lung function on atherosclerosis, or vice versa, was found in the 2-sample Mendelian randomization analysis. Here we show that reduced lung function and atherosclerosis are correlated in the population, but probably not causally related. Assessing lung function in addition to conventional cardiovascular risk factors to gauge risk of subclinical atherosclerosis is probably not meaningful, but low lung function found by chance should alert for atherosclerosis.
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| 8. |
- Hedlund, Anna, 1973-, et al.
(författare)
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Detection of Gd2O3 Nanoparticles in Hematopoietic Cells for MRI Contrast Enhancement
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Annan publikation (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- As the utility of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) broadens, the importance of having specific and efficient contrast agents increases and there has been a huge development in the fields of molecular imaging and intracellular markers. Previous studies have shown that gadolinium oxide (Gd2O3 ) nanoparticles generate higher relaxivity than currently available Gd chelates. The Gd2O3 nanoparticles are also promising for MRI cell tracking. The aim of the present work was to study cell labeling with Gd2O3 nanoparticles and to improve techniques for monitoring hematopoietic stem cell migration by MRI. We studied particle uptake in two cell lines; the hematopoietic progenitor cell line Ba/F3 and the monocytic cell line THP-1. Cells were incubated with Gd2O3 nanoparticles as well as superparamagnetic iron oxide particles (SPIOs) for comparison. In addition, it was investigated whether the transfection agent protamine sulfate increased the particle uptake. Treated cells were examined by microscopic techniques, MRI and analyzed for particle content. Results showed that particles were intracellular, however in Ba/F3 only sparsely. The relaxation times were shortened with increasing particle concentration. Overall relaxivities, r1 and r2 for Gd2O3 nanoparticles in all cell samples measured were 5.1 ± 0.3 and 14.9 ± 0.7 (s-1mM-1) respectively. Goodness of fit was 0.97 in both cases. Protamine sulfate treatment increased the uptake in both Ba/F3 cells and THP-1 cells. Viability of treated cells was not significantly decreased and thus, we conclude that the use of Gd2O3 nanoparticles is suitable for this type of cell labeling by means of detecting and monitoring hematopoietic cells.
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| 9. |
- Hedlund, Anna, et al.
(författare)
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Gd2O3 nanoparticles in hematopoietic cells for MRI contrast enhancement
- 2011
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Ingår i: International journal of nano medicine. - Manchester, UK : Dove Medical Press Ltd. - 1178-2013. ; 6, s. 3233-3240
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- As the utility of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) broadens, the importance of having specific and efficient contrast agents increases and in recent time there has been a huge development in the fields of molecular imaging and intracellular markers. Previous studies have shown that gadolinium oxide (Gd2O3) nanoparticles generate higher relaxivity than currently available Gd chelates: In addition, the Gd2O3 nanoparticles have promising properties for MRI cell tracking. The aim of the present work was to study cell labeling with Gd2O3 nanoparticles in hematopoietic cells and to improve techniques for monitoring hematopoietic stem cell migration by MRI. Particle uptake was studied in two cell lines: the hematopoietic progenitor cell line Ba/F3 and the monocytic cell line THP-1. Cells were incubated with Gd2O3 nanoparticles and it was investigated whether the transfection agent protamine sulfate increased the particle uptake. Treated cells were examined by electron microscopy and MRI, and analyzed for particle content by inductively coupled plasma sector field mass spectrometry. Results showed that particles were intracellular, however, sparsely in Ba/F3. The relaxation times were shortened with increasing particle concentration. Relaxivities, r1 and r2 at 1.5 T and 21°C, for Gd2O3 nanoparticles in different cell samples were 3.6–5.3 s-1 mM-1 and 9.6–17.2 s-1 mM-1, respectively. Protamine sulfate treatment increased the uptake in both Ba/F3 cells and THP-1 cells. However, the increased uptake did not increase the relaxation rate for THP-1 as for Ba/F3, probably due to aggregation and/or saturation effects. Viability of treated cells was not significantly decreased and thus, it was concluded that the use of Gd2O3 nanoparticles is suitable for this type of cell labeling by means of detecting and monitoring hematopoietic cells. In conclusion, Gd2O3 nanoparticles are a promising material to achieve positive intracellular MRI contrast; however, further particle development needs to be performed.
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| 10. |
- Norlin, Anna-Karin, 1977-, et al.
(författare)
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Fatigue in irritable bowel syndrome is associated with plasma levels of TNF-α and mesocorticolimbic connectivity
- 2021
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Ingår i: Brain, behavior, and immunity. - Amsterdam, Netherlands : Elsevier. - 0889-1591 .- 1090-2139. ; 92, s. 211-220
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a symptom-based disorder of gut-brain interactions generating abdominal pain. It is also associated with a vulnerability to develop extraintestinal symptoms, with fatigue often reported as one of the most disturbing. Fatigue is related to brain function and inflammation in several disorders, however, the mechanisms of such relations in IBS remain elusive. This study aimed to elucidate fatigue and its association with a resting state network of mesocorticolimbic regions of known importance in fatigue, and to explore the possible role of circulating TNF-α levels in IBS and healthy controls (HC). Resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was conducted in 88 IBS patients and 47 HC of similar age and gender to investigate functional connectivity between mesocorticolimbic regions. Further, fatigue impact on daily life and plasma levels of the proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), of known relevance to immune activation in IBS, were also measured. The selected mesocorticolimbic regions indeed formed a functionally connected network in all participants. The nucleus accumbens (NAc), in particular, exhibited functional connectivity to all other regions of interest. In IBS, fatigue impact on daily life was negatively correlated with the connectivity between NAc and dorsolateral prefrontal cortex bilaterally (left p = 0.019; right p = 0.038, corrected for multiple comparisons), while in HC, fatigue impact on daily life was positively correlated to the connectivity between the right NAc and anterior middle insula in both hemispheres (left p = 0.009; right p = 0.011). We found significantly higher levels of TNF-α in IBS patients compared to HC (p = 0.001) as well as a positive correlation between TNF-α and fatigue impact on daily life in IBS patients (rho = 0.25, p = 0.02) but not in HC (rho = −0.13, p = 0.37). There was no association between functional connectivity in the mesocorticolimbic network and plasma levels of TNF-α in either group In summary, this novel multimodal study provides the first evidence that the vulnerability to fatigue in IBS is associated with connectivity within a mesocorticolimbic network as well as immune activation. These findings warrant further investigation, both peripherally and potentially with measurements of central immune activation as well.
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