Despite extensive investigations, an effective treatment for sepsis remains elusive and a better understanding of the inflammatory response to infection is required to identify potential new targets for therapy. In this study we have used RNAi technology to show, for the first time, that the inducible lysophosphatidylcholine acyltransferase 2 (LPCAT2) plays a key role in macrophage inflammatory gene expression in response to stimulation with bacterial ligands. Using siRNA- or shRNA-mediated knockdown, we demonstrate that, in contrast to the constitutive LPCAT1, LPCAT2 is required for macrophage cytokine gene expression and release in response to TLR4 and TLR2 ligand stimulation but not for TLR-independent stimuli. In addition, cells transfected to overexpress LPCAT2 exhibited increased expression of inflammatory genes in response to LPS and other bacterial ligands. Furthermore, we have used immunoprecipitation and Western blotting to show that in response to LPS, LPCAT2, but not LPCAT1, rapidly associates with TLR4 and translocates to membrane lipid raft domains. Our data thus suggest a novel mechanism for the regulation of inflammatory gene expression in response to bacterial stimuli and highlight LPCAT2 as a potential therapeutic target for development of anti-inflammatory and anti-sepsis therapies.
Swarming is one of the most important virulence factors used by bacteria to invade new sites. This study aimed to test the effects of gentamicin on swarming motility of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, both phenotypically and molecularly. The present results revealed that 11/25 isolates had gentamicin MIC of 1024 µg/ml. However, gentamicin at sub-minimal inhibitory concentration significantly (P< 0.05) reduced the diameter of swarming in all P. aeruginosa isolates. Noticeably the mean and median swarming diameter before treatment with gentamicin 5.557 and 5.816 cm respectively had significantly (P < 0.001) reduced to 0.871 and 0.766 cm respectively. At the molecular level, amrZ (a global regulator
... Show MoreIntroduction and Aim: Forkhead box P3 (FOXP3) and interleukin-10 (IL-10) are the key regulators controlling the activity of Treg cells, which are crucial for maintaining immune tolerance and reducing autoimmune reactions. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential utility of elevated levels of FOXP3 and IL-10 gene expression as a diagnostic indicator in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Materials and Methods: The study used quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to examine the expression levels of FOXP3 and IL-10 transcripts in whole blood samples from Iraqi patients with rheumatoid arthritis. A group of healthy control subjects were also included in the study. Results: In blood samples taken fr
... Show MoreType 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic disorder that is a serious health concern all over the globe, it is linked to Interleukin-10 (IL-10) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at the promoter region. On the other hand, diabetes influences the cellular and humoral immunity predisposing the patient to a variety of opportunistic parasites one of them is Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), which may infect any nucleated cell, including pancreatic cells. The purpose of this research was to explore the association of IL-10 genetic polymorphisms with T2DM and latent toxoplasmosis among Iraqi patients with T2DM. Fifty-five and fifty-eight venous blood samples were taken from T2DM patients and age-matched non-diabetic person
... Show MoreLeishmania species are the causative agent of a tropical disease known as leishmaniasis. Previous studies on the old world species Leishmania major, showed that the amastigotes form which resides inside the macrophage of the vertebrate host, utilize host’s sphingolipids for survival and proliferation. In this study, gene expression of serine palmitoyltransferase (SPT) subunit two (MmLCB2) of the mouse macrophage cell line (RAW264.7), which is the first enzyme in the de novo sphingolipid biosynthesis, was detected in both infected and non-infected macrophages. This was detected under condition where available sphingolipid was reduced, with the new world species Leishmania mexicana. Results of qPCR analysis showed that there was no differen
... Show MoreThe external signals are used as elicitors that can modify the levels of secondary metabolites production and trigger the biotechnological enforcements to improve plant production. In this study, sodium chloride NaCl was used as a stimulating factor for the production of beta-carboline alkaloids, harmine and harmaline, in Peganum harmala. The in vitro induced callus of P. harmalain was used as a source for alkaloid production in the stimulating experiments with sodium chloride. The results illustrated that 2 mg.l-1 of NaCl increased the fresh and dry weight of callus with an average of 944.30 and 72.0 mg, respectively. In a comparative analysis through Gas Chromatography (GC)
... Show MoreA field experiment was carried out during winter season of 2019-2020 at Al-Mhanawyah Research Station - Agriculture Research Directorate - Babylon Governorate / Iraqi, to study the gene expression of Sgr gene responsible for controlling the duration of staying green in varieties of wheat under effect of plant growth regulator during the two growth stages (vegetative and reproductive) by using quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (RT-qPCR) technique and achieving the highest grain yield for a number of wheat varieties. Randomized complete block design (RCBD) arranged according to split plots used with three replicates. The experiment included twelve wheat varieties (Saberbic, Al-Rasheed, Iraq, Tamoz-3, Al-Adnaniya, Babel, IPA-99, Al-Latife
... Show MoreA field experiment was carried out in the College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences - University of Baghdad, during the fall season of 2021 to find out which cultivated cultivars of maize are efficient under nitrogen fertilization. The experiment was applied according to an RCBD (split-plot design with three replications). The cultivars of the experiment (Baghdad, 5018, Sarah) supply three levels of nitrogen fertilizer, which are N1 (100 kg.N/ha), N2 (200 kg.N/ha) and N3 (300 kg.N/ha). The statistical analysis results showed the superiority of the Sarah genotype, which gave the highest value of SOD and CAT enzymes, reaching 11.59 units mg-1 and 10.76 units mg-1 . Protein sequentially, while cultivar5018 outperformed as it gave th
... Show MoreEpilepsy is a central nervous system disease which is characterized by a recurrent seizure that distinguishes it from other similar diseases. Epilepsy may occur due to defects in genes that encode some receptors in the brain. For this reason, this study aimed to understand the association between Synapsin-2 (SYN2) gene and susceptibility to epilepsy. Blood samples were collected from 40 volunteers, including 30 patients suffering epilepsy with an age range of 26-49 years old and 10 healthy individuals with an age range of 25-53 years old. The study sample involved 16 males and 14 females with epilepsy along with 6 males and 4 females healthy subjects. DNA was isolated from the volunteers for PCR-RF
... Show MoreIntroduction: Biocides are commonly used for disinfection in a variety of contexts. They are generally used to avoid infection by controlling biofilm on medical equipment. However, the literature lacks information on the effect of biocide on efflux pump gene expression. Objective: To determine the influence of biocide on biofilm development and efflux pump acrA and ramA gene expression. Methodology: The microtiter plate method was used to identify biofilm development in 80 isolates of K. pneumoniae. The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of three biocides (quaternary ammonium compound (QAC), chlorohexidine digluconate, and chloroxylenol) were estimated. The effect of QAC on the intensity and viability of biofilms was investigated as we
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