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- Günaydin, Gökce, et al.
(author)
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Impact of Q-Griffithsin anti-HIV microbicide gel in non-human primates : In situ analyses of epithelial and immune cell markers in rectal mucosa
- 2019
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In: Scientific Reports. - : NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP. - 2045-2322. ; 9
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Natural-product derived lectins can function as potent viral inhibitors with minimal toxicity as shown in vitro and in small animal models. We here assessed the effect of rectal application of an anti-HIV lectin-based microbicide Q-Griffithsin (Q-GRFT) in rectal tissue samples from rhesus macaques. E-cadherin(+) cells, CD4(+) cells and total mucosal cells were assessed using in situ staining combined with a novel customized digital image analysis platform. Variations in cell numbers between baseline, placebo and Q-GRFT treated samples were analyzed using random intercept linear mixed effect models. The frequencies of rectal E-cadherin(+) cells remained stable despite multiple tissue samplings and Q-GRFT gel (0.1%, 0.3% and 1%, respectively) treatment. Whereas single dose application of Q-GRFT did not affect the frequencies of rectal CD4(+) cells, multi-dose Q-GRFT caused a small, but significant increase of the frequencies of intra-epithelial CD4(+) cells (placebo: median 4%; 1% Q-GRFT: median 7%) and of the CD4(+) lamina propria cells (placebo: median 30%; 0.1-1% Q-GRFT: median 36-39%). The resting time between sampling points were further associated with minor changes in the total and CD4(+) rectal mucosal cell levels. The results add to general knowledge of in vivo evaluation of anti-HIV microbicide application concerning cellular effects in rectal mucosa.
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| 2. |
- Westberg, Lars, 1973, et al.
(author)
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Colocalization of connexin 36 and corticotropin-releasing hormone in the mouse brain.
- 2009
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In: BMC neuroscience. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1471-2202. ; 10:41
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Gap junction proteins, connexins, are expressed in most endocrine and exocrine glands in the body and are at least in some glands crucial for the hormonal secretion. To what extent connexins are expressed in neurons releasing hormones or neuropeptides from or within the central nervous system is, however, unknown. Previous studies provide indirect evidence for gap junction coupling between subsets of neuropeptide-containing neurons in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus. Here we employ double labeling and retrograde tracing methods to investigate to what extent neuroendocrine and neuropeptide-containing neurons of the hypothalamus and brainstem express the neuronal gap junction protein connexin 36. RESULTS: Western blot analysis showed that connexin 36 is expressed in the PVN. In bacterial artificial chromosome transgenic mice, which specifically express the reporter gene Enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein (EGFP) under the control of the connexin 36 gene promoter, EGFP expression was detected in magnocellular (neuroendocrine) and in parvocellular neurons of the PVN. Although no EGFP/connexin36 expression was seen in neurons containing oxytocin or vasopressin, EGFP/connexin36 was found in subsets of PVN neurons containing corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), and in somatostatin neurons located along the third ventricle. Moreover, CRH neurons in brainstem areas, including the lateral parabrachial nucleus, also expressed EGFP/connexin 36. CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that connexin 36 is expressed in subsets of neuroendocrine and CRH neurons in specific nuclei of the hypothalamus and brainstem.
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