Rice (Oryza sativa) seeds can germinate in the complete absence of oxygen. Under anoxia, the rice coleoptile elongates, reaching a length greater than that of the aerobic one. In this article, we compared and investigated the transcriptome of rice coleoptiles grown under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. The results allow drawing a detailed picture of the modulation of the transcripts involved in anaerobic carbohydrate metabolism, suggesting up-regulation of the steps required to produce and metabolize pyruvate and its derivatives. Sugars appear to play a signaling role under anoxia, with several genes indirectly up-regulated by anoxia-driven sugar starvation. Analysis of the effects of anoxia on the expansin gene families revealed that EXPA7 and EXPB12 are likely to be involved in rice coleoptile elongation under anoxia. Genes coding for ethylene response factors and heat shock proteins are among the genes modulated by anoxia in both rice and Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). Identification of anoxiainduced ethylene response factors is suggestive because genes belonging to this gene family play a crucial role in rice tolerance to submergence, a process closely related to, but independent from, the ability to germinate under anoxia. Genes coding for some enzymes requiring oxygen for their activity are dramatically down-regulated under anoxia, suggesting the existence of an energysaving strategy in the regulation of gene expression.Higher plants are aerobic organisms that rapidly die when oxygen availability is limited due to soil flooding (Voesenek et al., 2006). Species originating from semiaquatic environments are, however, able to cope with flooding stress. They can survive complete submergence for weeks and some even have the capacity to grow vigorously and produce flowers and seeds in permanently water-saturated soils. In this context, a wellknown crop is rice (Oryza sativa), which produces high yields even when it is grown in water-logged rice paddies. A broad range of metabolic and morphological adaptations characterizes these tolerant species. Floodtolerant plants have developed the capacity to generate ATP without the presence of oxygen (fermentative metabolism) and/or to develop specific morphologies (e.g. air channels, enhanced shoot elongation) that improve the entrance of oxygen

High macrophage infiltration into tumours often correlates with poor prognoses; in colorectal, stomach and skin cancers, however, the opposite is observed but the mechanisms behind this phenomenon remain unclear. Here, we sought to understand how tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs) in colorectal cancer execute tumoursuppressive roles. We found that TAMs in a colorectal cancer model were pro-inflammatory and inhibited the proliferation of tumour cells. TAMs also produced chemokines that attract T cells, stimulated proliferation of allogeneic T cells and activated type-1 T cells associated with anti-tumour immune responses. Using colorectal tumour tissues, we verified that TAMs in vivo were indeed pro-inflammatory. Furthermore, the number of tumour-infiltrating T cells correlated with the number of TAMs, suggesting that TAMs could attract T cells; and indeed, type-1 T cells were present in the tumour tissues. Patient clinical data suggested that TAMs exerted tumour-suppressive effects with the help of T cells. Hence, the tumour-suppressive mechanisms of TAMs in colorectal cancer involve the inhibition of tumour cell proliferation alongside the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines and promoting type-1 T-cell responses. These new findings would contribute to the development of future cancer immunotherapies based on enhancing the tumour-suppressive properties of TAMs to boost anti-tumour immune responses. To elucidate the roles of TAMs, we first used an in vitro model known as the multi-cellular tumour spheroid (MCTS) model. This model has been proven to exhibit micro-environmental heterogeneity comparable to that of tumours in vivo, in terms of oxygen, nutrient, catabolite and metabolite gradients, resulting in sub-populations of proliferative and necrotic tumour cells typical of non-vascular tumour micro-regions [9,10]. Compared with using animal models, this MCTS model offers the advantages of studying the interactions between tumour cells and TAMs without confounding factors from other cell types, and in a 'human' microenvironment. In this study, we used colorectal cancer as a model to study the mechanisms underlying the tumour-suppressive effects of TAMs. We co-cultured primary human monocytes with human colorectal tumour cells for 8 days as MCTSs, during which time the monocytes would differentiate into TAMs. We performed global gene expression profiling to obtain an overview of the biological functions of TAMs, followed by validation with functional assays. Subsequently, we verified the in vitro findings with tumour tissues from colorectal cancer patients.The TAMs in the colorectal cancer model were pro-inflammatory and inhibited the proliferation of tumour cells. The TAMs also secreted chemokines that attract T cells and expressed surface molecules for antigen presentation and T-cell co-stimulation. In a mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) assay, the TAMs stimulated proliferation of allogeneic T cells and activated type-1 T cells, which are associated with anti-tumour immune responses [11]. To co...

IFN-β and type I IFN-induced molecules are involved in PM as well as JDM/dermatomyositis. Endosomal TLRs (effectors of innate immunity) are also involved (but differently) in the 3 conditions, further suggesting viral involvement, although TLR activation could be secondary to tissue damage.

While lipopolysaccharides (LPS) induce dendritic cell (DC) maturation and migration to lymph nodes, glucocorticoids such as dexamethazone (Dex) have a profound suppressive effect on immune response. The mechanisms that might control this suppressive effect of Dex have been extensively investigated in lymphocytes as possible targets. Much less is known on the effects of Dex on DC, although they are recognized to regulate immunity. To get insights into possible combined effects of Dex and LPS on DC functions, we have undertaken a genome-wide analysis of differentially expressed genes of DC treated with Dex alone, LPS alone, or both, using high-density oligonucleotide microarrays. Hierarchical clustering and principal component analysis (PCA) agreed in identifying 24 h as the time point that best discriminated the three treatments. Among the counteracting effects we have observed an inhibition of Dex on the LPS-induced upregulation of the chemokine receptor CCR7. In vivo, Dex treatment blocked the LPSinduced migration of DC, which lost their ability to reach the draining lymph nodes. In addition, we observed a synergistic effect of Dex and LPS on the expression of the secreted lipocalin 24p3, which has been reported to induce apoptosis in T cells and thus may be related to immune suppression.

Background: Since its discovery more than 100 years ago, potato (Solanum tuberosum) tuber cold-induced sweetening (CIS) has been extensively investigated. Several carbohydrate-associated genes would seem to be involved in the process. However, many uncertainties still exist, as the relative contribution of each gene to the process is often unclear, possibly as the consequence of the heterogeneity of experimental systems. Some enzymes associated with CIS, such as β-amylases and invertases, have still to be identified at a sequence level. In addition, little is known about the early events that trigger CIS and on the involvement/association with CIS of genes different from carbohydrate-associated genes. Many of these uncertainties could be resolved by profiling experiments, but no GeneChip is available for the potato, and the production of the potato cDNA spotted array (TIGR) has recently been discontinued. In order to obtain an overall picture of early transcriptional events associated with CIS, we investigated whether the commercially-available tomato Affymetrix GeneChip could be used to identify which potato cold-responsive gene family members should be further studied in detail by RealTime (RT)-PCR (qPCR).