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In the present study, we investigate degradable anionic dendritic nanogels (DNG) as carriers for antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). In such systems, the dendritic part contains carboxylic acid-based anionic binding sites for cationic AMPs, whereas linear poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) chains form a shell for promotion of biological stealth. In order to clarify factors influencing membrane interactions of such systems, we here address effects of nanogel charge, cross-linking, and degradation on peptide loading/release, as well as consequences of these factors for lipid membrane interactions and antimicrobial effects. The DNGs were found to bind the AMPs LL-37 (LLGDFFRKSKEKIGKEFKRIVQRIKDFLRNLVPRTES) and DPK-060 (GKHKNKGKKNGKHNGWKWWW). For the smaller DPK-060 peptide, loading was found to increase with increasing nanogel charge density. For the larger LL-37, on the other hand, peptide loading was largely insensitive to nanogel charge density. In line with this, results on the secondary structure, as well as on the absence of stabilization from proteolytic degradation by the nanogels, show that the larger LL-37 is unable to enter into the interior of the nanogels. While 40-60% nanogel degradation occurred over 10 days, promoted at high ionic strength and lower cross-linking density/higher anionic charge content, peptide release at physiological ionic strength was substantially faster, and membrane destabilization not relying on nanogel degradation. Ellipsometry and liposome leakage experiments showed both free peptide and peptide/DNG complexes to cause membrane destabilization, indicated also by antimicrobial activities being comparable for nanogel-bound and free peptide. Finally, the DNGs were demonstrated to display low toxicity towards erythrocytes even at peptide concentrations of 100 µM.

International audience; Here we document the performance of a radiant cooling panel made of flow channels sandwiched between a suspended metal plate and an insulation layer. The flow passages represent the crucial element of the panel. In the present work, the heat transfer and flow characteristics of the panel are investigated. A numerical study is conducted to explore the role played by the flow architectures on the overall performance of the panel in steady state, subjected to radiation and convection heat fluxes from the bottom. A comparison between serpentine and canopy-to-canopy (dendritic) flow channels is presented. In all the cases, the following geometrical constrains apply: fixed plate area and flow volume. From one configuration to the other, the flow is given more freedom to morph in accord with the Constructal approach. We demonstrated that the dendritic architecture allows a significant improvement in the cooling panel performance, with more cooling capacity and less pumping power. In addition, we showed that the morphing of the panel itself toward more compactness is also a way to increase the ratio of cooling capacity/pumping power.

Dendritic growth of bismuth oxide nanostructured films was accomplished by reactive magnetron sputtering. The deposition of the Bi2O3 template layers was adapted to abide a vapour-liquid-solid mechanism in order to develop a 3D growth morphology with high surface area templates for photocatalytic applications. TiO2 photocatalytic thin films were deposited at a later stage onto Bi2O3 layers. The obtained heterostructured films were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and atomic force microscopy. Additionally, the photocatalytic efficiency was assessed by conducting an assay using methylene blue dye as testing pollutant under a UV-A illumination. The photocatalytic tests revealed that the Bi2O3 layers functionalized with TiO2 thin films are more efficient at degrading the pollutant, by a factor of 6, when compared with the individual layered films., The authors acknowledge the funding from the Portuguese institution Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia, through the Strategic project reference UID/FIS/04650/2013, Ph.D grant SFRH/BD/111720/2015 for Filipe C. Correia and Ph.D grant SFRH/BD/112868/2015 Juliana Marques.

Thymic Stromal Lymphopoietin (TSLP) and Interleukin-7 (IL-7) are widely studied cytokines within distinct branches of immunology. On one hand, TSLP is crucially important for mediating type 2 immunity at barrier surfaces and has been linked to widespread allergic and inflammatory diseases of the airways, skin, and gut. On the other hand, IL-7 operates at the foundations of T-cell and innate lymphoid cell (ILC) development and homeostasis and has been associated with cancer. Yet, TSLP and IL-7 are united by key commonalities in their structure and the structural basis of the receptor assemblies they mediate to initiate cellular signaling, in particular their cross-utilization of IL-7R alpha. As therapeutic targeting of TSLP and IL-7 via diverse approaches is reaching advanced stages and in light of the plethora of mechanistic and structural data on receptor signaling mediated by the two cytokines, the time is ripe to provide integrated views of such knowledge. Here, we first discuss the major pathophysiological roles of TSLP and IL-7 in autoimmune diseases, inflammation and cancer. Subsequently, we curate structural and mechanistic knowledge about receptor assemblies mediated by the two cytokines. Finally, we review therapeutic avenues targeting TSLP and IL-7 signaling. We envision that such integrated view of the mechanism, structure, and modulation of signaling assemblies mediated by TSLP and IL-7 will enhance and fine-tune the development of more effective and selective approaches to further interrogate the role of TSLP and IL-7 in physiology and disease.

Bi2O3 nanocone films functionalized with an overlayer of TiO2 were deposited by d.c. reactive magnetron sputtering. The aforementioned nanocone structures were formed via a vapour-liquid-solid (VLS) growth, starting from a catalytic bismuth seed layer. The resultant nanocones exhibit an improved surface area, measured by atomic force microscopy, when compared to non-VLS deposition of the same metal oxide. X-ray diffraction texture analysis enabled the determination of the crystallographic β-phase of Bi2O3. A very thin TiO2 overlayer (6 nm thick), undoped and doped with nitrogen, was deposited onto the nanocones template, in order to functionalize these structures with a photocatalytic, self-cleaning, cap material. N-doped TiO2 overlayers increased the selective absorption of visible light due to nitrogen doping in the anatase cell, thus, resulting in a concomitant increase in the overall photocatalytic efficiency., The authors acknowledge the financial support of the project “NANOPURIFY—Development of photocatalytic panels for air treatment units, Vieira & Lopes Lda.”, with the reference 024121, co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), through the Operational Programme for Competitiveness and Internationalisation (COMPETE 2020), under the PORTUGAL 2020 Partnership Agreement. Filipe C. Correia acknowledges the financial support from the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT) for the Ph.D grant SFRH/BD/111720/2015.

We report a series of six melanocytic proliferations harboring both NRAS and IDH1 hotspot mutations. Clinically, there was no specific sex-ratio, ages ranged from 18 to 85 years, and the trunk and limbs were the most affected localizations. In half of the cases, progressive modification of a pre-existing nevus was reported. Morphologically, all tumors were predominantly based in the dermis and the most striking pathological finding was the presence of a background architecture of congenital-type nevi with a superimposed biphasic pattern formed by dendritic pigmented melanocytes surrounding areas of nevoid melanocytes. This finding was further underscored by HMB45 staining, which was positive in the dendritic cells and negative in the nevoid melanocytes. Four cases displayed increased cellularity and one case showed increased dermal mitotic activity. DNA and RNA sequencing revealed NRAS Q61R and IDH1 R132C co-mutations in all six cases, with homogeneous expression data according to unsupervised clustering analysis. Array-CGH revealed no copy number alteration for the two most cellular and mitogenic cases. All were surgically excised, available follow-up for two patients showed no relapse nor metastases. We hypothesize that the IDH1 mutation is a secondary event in a pre-existing NRAS-mutated nevus and could be in part responsible for the emergence of a pigmented dendritic dermal component. So far, such co-mutations have been reported in one benign melanocytic nevus and several melanomas. This combination could represent a new subgroup of intermediate prognosis (melanocytoma) with a distinctive morphology. Further acquisition of genomic anomalies could progressively lead to malignant transformation.

Unit hydrographs (UHs) remain widely used in hydrologic modeling to predict the stormflow that is produced at a basin outlet in response to runoff generated throughout the basin. Numerous studies have demonstrated that a basin&rsquo, s UH depends on its geomorphic properties, and several methods estimate synthetic UHs using such properties. However, previous studies have not examined whether the channel network type (such as dendritic, parallel, pinnate, rectangular, and trellis) impacts the UH shape. The objectives of this study were to determine: (1) whether those five network types exhibit distinct UHs, and (2) whether knowledge of the network type is sufficient to replace the actual flow path structure in UH estimation. To achieve these objectives, a UH framework is developed based on kinematic wave theory. The framework allows the impacts of the network structure on the UH to be isolated into two random variables, which facilitates comparisons between network types. The framework is applied to 10 basins of each type. The results show that the five network types exhibit distinct instantaneous UHs, but the type allows accurate UH determination only for pinnate basins.

Surfaces with gold dendritic nanoforests (Au DNFs) on Si chips demonstrate broadband-light absorption. This study is the first to utilize localized surface plasmons of Au DNFs/Si chips for polymerase chain reaction (PCR) applications. A convenient halogen lamp was used as the heating source to illuminate the Au DNFs/Si chip for PCR. A detection target of Salmonella spp. DNA fragments was reproduced in this plasmonic PCR chip system. By semi-quantitation in gel electrophoresis analysis, the plasmonic PCR with 30 cycles and a largely reduced processing time provided results comparable with those of a commercial PCR thermal cycler with 40 cycles in more than 1 h. In the presence of an Au DNFs/Si chip, the plasmonic PCR provides superior results in a short processing time.

Les cèl·lules dendrítiques (DCs) són clau en la inducció de respostes immunitàries adaptatives gràcies a la seva capacitat de capturar, processar i presentar antígens derivats de patògens als limfòcits T. Tanmateix, aquestes cèl·lules podrien contribuir a la disseminació inicial del VIH-1 a través de la captura i transmissió viral a les cèl·lules T CD4+ diana, un procés conegut com a trans-infecció. Aquest mecanisme es basa en l'expressió del receptor Siglec-1 (CD169), que reconeix gangliòsids sialilats a la membrana viral. Els nivells de Siglec-1 augmenten en DCs estimulades amb interferó-alfa i lipopolisacàrid, factors immuno-activadors presents durant el decurs de la infecció per VIH-1. En aquesta tesi, hem demostrat que l'interferó-alfa secretat per DCs plasmacitoides (pDCs) infectades per VIH-1, així com l'inteferó-alfa autocrí secretat per cèl·lules mieloides en resposta a lipopolisacàrid, augmenten l'expressió de Siglec-1 en DCs. A més, les pDCs provinents de dones secreten quantitats superiors d'interferó-alfa que les d'homes, posant de manifest la rellevància d'estudiar la trans-infecció del VIH-1 en teixits clau per a l'adquisició del virus en dones. Així, també hem estudiat el paper de Siglec-1 en la transmissió del VIH-1 per part de DCs primàries aïllades directament de teixit cervical, identificant una població de cèl·lules mieloides cervicals que expressen Siglec-1 i capturen partícules de VIH-1 a través d'aquest receptor. Aquesta capacitat augmenta amb l'activació per interferó-alfa. A més, la transmissió del VIH-1 per cèl·lules mieloides del cèrvix es bloqueja de forma eficient amb un anticòs monoclonal dirigit contra Siglec-1. Per tant, hem generat una sèrie de nous anticossos monoclonals contra Siglec-1 amb la capacitat de bloquejar la tans-infecció del VIH-1 per DCs. S'han produït cinc nous clons, que han demostrat tenir una alta afinitat per diferents epítops localitzats a la regió N-terminal de Siglec-1. A més, aquests anticossos bloquegen la captura i trans-infecció del VIH-1 per DCs, de forma que podrien ser un component en estratègies microbicides dirigides contra aquest tipus de transmissió viral cèl·lula-cèl·lula. A banda del VIH-1, les cèl·lules dendrítiques participen en la patogènesi d'altres virus, com ara els filovirus d'Ebola i Marburg. A diferència del VIH-1, les DCs són permissives a la infecció per filovirus i són dianes primerenques en la patogènesi viral. Els factors cel·lulars implicats en l'entrada de filovirus en aquestes cèl·lules no han estat totalment caracteritzats, però tant Ebola com Marburg són virus embolcallats que incorporen gangliòsids sialilats durant el procés de gemmació viral. A més, els factors que activen l'expressió de Siglec-1 com ara interferó-alfa i lipopolisacàrid s'han trobat durant la infecció pel virus d'Ebola. Per tant, en aquesta tesi hem estudiat el paper de Siglec-1 en l'entrada de filovirus en DCs. Hem trobat que Siglec-1 està implicat en la captura de partícules no infeccioses d'Ebola per part d'aquestes cèl·lules, especialment després de l'activació per interferó-alfa i lipopolisacàrid. A més, les partícules capturades són acumulades en el mateix compartiment cel·lular en què prèviament s'havia detectat el VIH-1. Siglec-1 també facilita l'entrada citoplasmàtica del virus a les DCs, així que hem determinat la capacitat dels nous anticossos monoclonals contra Siglec-1 d'interferir amb aquest procés, i hem vist que aquests bloquegen tant la captura com l'entrada citoplasmàtica de partícules no infeccioses d'Ebola en cèl·lules mieloides activades. En general, l'activitat delsanticossos monoclonals contra Siglec-1 inhibeix l'accés de retrovirus i de filovirus a les cèl·lules mieloides, cosa que indica el seu potencial ús com a agents antivirals d'ampli espectre. Las células dendríticas (DCs) son clave en la inducción de respestas inmunitarias adaptativas gracias a su capacidad de capturar, procesar y presentar antígenos derivados de patógenos a los linfocitos T. Sin embargo, estas células también podrían contribuir a la diseminación inicial del VIH-1 a través de la captura de partículas virales y de su transmisión a las células T CD4+ diana, un proceso conocido como trans-infección. Este mecanismo se basa en la expresión del receptor Siglec-1 (CD169), que reconoce gangliósidos sialilados en la membrana viral. Los niveles de Siglec-1 aumentan en DCs estimuladas con interferón-alfa (IFN-α) y lipopolisacárido (LPS), factores immuno-activadores presentes durante el curso de la infección por VIH-1. En este trabajo, hemos demostrado que el IFN-α secretado por DCs plasmacitoides (pDCs) infectadas por VIH-1, así como el IFN-α autocrino secretado por células mieloides en respuesta a LPS, aumentan la expresión de Siglec-1 en DCs. Además, las pDCs provenientes de mujeres secretan cantidades superiores de IFN-α que las derivadas de hombres, poniendo de manifiesto la relevancia de estudiar la trans-infección del VIH-1 en tejidos clave para la adquisición del virus en mujeres. Por lo tanto, también hemos estudiado el papel de Siglec-1 en la transmisión del VIH-1 por parte de DCs primarias aisladas directamente de tejido cervical, identificando una población de DCs cervicales que expresan Siglec-1 y capturan partículas de VIH-1 a través de este receptor. Esta capacidad aumenta con la activación por IFN-α. Además, la transmisión célula-célula del VIH-1 por células mieloides del cérvix se puede bloquear de forma eficiente con un anticuerpo monoclonal (mAb) dirigido contra Siglec-1. Se han producido cinco nuevos clones, que han demostrado tener una alta afinidad por diferentes epítopos localizados en la región N-terminal de Siglec-1. Además, bloquean de forma eficaç la captura y trans-infección del VIH-1 por DCs, de forma que podrían ser un posible componente en estrategias microbicidas dirigidas contra este tipo de transmisión viral célula-célula. Además del VIH-1, las DCs pueden jugar un papel importante en la patogénesis de otros virus, como los filovirus Ébola y Marburg. A diferencia del VIH-1, las DCs son permisivas a la infección por filovirus y son dianas tempranas en lapatogénesis viral. Los factores celulares implicados en la entrada de filovirus en DCs no han sido totalmente caracterizados, pero tanto Ébola como Marburg son virus envueltos que incorporan gangliósidos sialilados durante el proceso de budding. Además, los factores que activan la expresión de Siglec-1 como IFN-α y LPS se han encontrado durante la infección por el virus de Ébola. Por tanto, en esta tesis hemos estudiado el papel de Siglec-1 en la entrada de filovirus en DCs. Hemos encontrado que Siglec-1 está implicado en la captura de partículas no infecciosas de Ébola (VLPs) por parte de estas células, especialmente tras la activación por IFN-α y LPS. Además, las VLPs capturadas se acumulan en el mismo compartimento en el que previamente se había detectado VIH-1. Siglec-1 también facilita la entrada citoplásmica del virus en las DCs, así que hemos determinado la capacidad de los nuevos mAbs contra Siglec-1 para interferir en este proceso, y hemos visto que dichos mAbs bloquean tanto la captura como la entrada citoplásmica de VLPs de Ébola en células mieloides activadas. En general, la actividad de los mAbs contra Siglec-1 inhibe el acceso de retrovirus y filovirus en las células mieloides, cosa que indica su potencial uso como agentes antivirales de amplio espectro. Dendritic cells are key inducers of specific adaptive immune responses due to their capacity to capture, process and present pathogen-derived antigens to T lymphocytes. However, they might also contribute to early HIV-1 dissemination by capturing HIV-1 particles and transmitting them to target CD4+ T cells, a process known as trans-infection. This mechanism relies on the expression of Siglec-1 receptor (CD169), which recognizes sialylated gangliosides on the viral membrane. Siglec-1 is potently up-regulated upon dendritic cell stimulation with interferon-alpha and lipopolysaccharide, which are both immune-activating factors present during the course of HIV-1 infection. Here, we demonstrated that interferon-alpha secreted by HIV-1-infected plasmacytoid dendritic cells and autocrine interferon-alpha secreted by myeloid cells in response to lipopolysaccharide up-regulate Siglec-1 on dendritic cells. Importantly, plasmacytoid dendritic cells derived from women secreted higher amounts of interferon-alpha than those derived from men, highlighting the relevance of studying HIV-1 trans-infection in key female tissues for HIV-1 acquisition. Thus, we next studied the role of Siglec-1 in HIV-1 transmission mediated by primary dendritic cells directly isolated from cervical tissues, identifying a subset of cervical myeloid cells that expressed Siglec-1 and captured HIV-1 particles in a Siglec-1-dependent manner. This capacity was enhanced upon activation with interferon-alpha. Moreover, HIV-1 cell-to-cell transmission mediated by these cells could be efficiently blocked using an anti-Siglec-1 monoclonal antibody, indicating the potential use of antibodies directed against Siglec-1 in prevention of sexually transmitted HIV-1 acquisition in women. Thus, we generated a set of new anti-Siglec-1 monoclonal antibodies with the capacity to block dendritic cell-mediated HIV-1 trans-infection. Five new clones were produced, demonstrating high affinity for different epitopes located in the N-terminal region of Siglec-1 receptor. Moreover, they efficiently blocked HIV-1 capture and trans-infection mediated by dendritic cells, indicating their potential use in microbicidal strategies targeting this type of viral cell-to-cell transmission. Aside from HIV-1, dendritic cells can play important roles in the pathogenesis of other viruses, including Ebola and Marburg filoviruses. In contrast to HIV-1, dendritic cells are permissive to filoviral infection and act as early targets in viral pathogenesis. The host factors governing filoviral entry into these cells are not fully characterized, but both Ebola and Marburg are enveloped viruses that incorporate sialylated gangliosides during the budding process. Moreover, Siglec-1-activating factors such as interferon-alpha and lipopolysaccharide have been found during Ebola virus disease. Thus, we investigated the role of Siglec-1 in filoviral entry into dendritic cells. We found that Siglec-1-mediated capture of non-infectious Ebola virus-like particles into these cells, especially upon interferon-alpha and lipopolysaccharide activation. Interestingly, captured Ebola virus-like particles accumulated in the same cellular compartment where HIV-1 was previously detected. Siglec-1 also facilitated Ebola cytoplasmic entry into dendritic cells, so we tested the capacity of novel anti-Siglec-1 monoclonal antibodies to interfere with this process. We found that capture and cytoplasmic entry of Ebola virus-like particles into activated myeloid cells was blocked by these novel antibodies. Overall, the activity of anti-Siglec-1 monoclonal antibodies inhibits the access of both retroviruses and filoviruses into myeloid cells and suggests their potential use as broad-spectrum antiviral agents.

Les cèl·lules dendrítiques (DCs) són clau en la inducció de respostes immunitàries adaptatives gràcies a la seva capacitat de capturar, processar i presentar antígens derivats de patògens als limfòcits T. Tanmateix, aquestes cèl·lules podrien contribuir a la disseminació inicial del VIH-1 a través de la captura i transmissió viral a les cèl·lules T CD4+ diana, un procés conegut com a trans-infecció. Aquest mecanisme es basa en l’expressió del receptor Siglec-1 (CD169), que reconeix gangliòsids sialilats a la membrana viral. Els nivells de Siglec-1 augmenten en DCs estimulades amb interferó-alfa i lipopolisacàrid, factors immuno-activadors presents durant el decurs de la infecció per VIH-1. En aquesta tesi, hem demostrat que l’interferó-alfa secretat per DCs plasmacitoides (pDCs) infectades per VIH-1, així com l’inteferó-alfa autocrí secretat per cèl·lules mieloides en resposta a lipopolisacàrid, augmenten l’expressió de Siglec-1 en DCs. A més, les pDCs provinents de dones secreten quantitats superiors d’interferó-alfa que les d’homes, posant de manifest la rellevància d’estudiar la trans-infecció del VIH-1 en teixits clau per a l’adquisició del virus en dones. Així, també hem estudiat el paper de Siglec-1 en la transmissió del VIH-1 per part de DCs primàries aïllades directament de teixit cervical, identificant una població de cèl·lules mieloides cervicals que expressen Siglec-1 i capturen partícules de VIH-1 a través d’aquest receptor. Aquesta capacitat augmenta amb l’activació per interferó-alfa. A més, la transmissió del VIH-1 per cèl·lules mieloides del cèrvix es bloqueja de forma eficient amb un anticòs monoclonal dirigit contra Siglec-1. Per tant, hem generat una sèrie de nous anticossos monoclonals contra Siglec-1 amb la capacitat de bloquejar la tans-infecció del VIH-1 per DCs. S’han produït cinc nous clons, que han demostrat tenir una alta afinitat per diferents epítops localitzats a la regió N-terminal de Siglec-1. A més, aquests anticossos bloquegen la captura i trans-infecció del VIH-1 per DCs, de forma que podrien ser un component en estratègies microbicides dirigides contra aquest tipus de transmissió viral cèl·lula-cèl·lula. A banda del VIH-1, les cèl·lules dendrítiques participen en la patogènesi d’altres virus, com ara els filovirus d’Ebola i Marburg. A diferència del VIH-1, les DCs són permissives a la infecció per filovirus i són dianes primerenques en la patogènesi viral. Els factors cel·lulars implicats en l’entrada de filovirus en aquestes cèl·lules no han estat totalment caracteritzats, però tant Ebola com Marburg són virus embolcallats que incorporen gangliòsids sialilats durant el procés de gemmació viral. A més, els factors que activen l’expressió de Siglec-1 com ara interferó-alfa i lipopolisacàrid s’han trobat durant la infecció pel virus d’Ebola. Per tant, en aquesta tesi hem estudiat el paper de Siglec-1 en l’entrada de filovirus en DCs. Hem trobat que Siglec-1 està implicat en la captura de partícules no infeccioses d’Ebola per part d’aquestes cèl·lules, especialment després de l’activació per interferó-alfa i lipopolisacàrid. A més, les partícules capturades són acumulades en el mateix compartiment cel·lular en què prèviament s’havia detectat el VIH-1. Siglec-1 també facilita l’entrada citoplasmàtica del virus a les DCs, així que hem determinat la capacitat dels nous anticossos monoclonals contra Siglec-1 d’interferir amb aquest procés, i hem vist que aquests bloquegen tant la captura com l’entrada citoplasmàtica de partícules no infeccioses d’Ebola en cèl·lules mieloides activades. En general, l’activitat delsanticossos monoclonals contra Siglec-1 inhibeix l’accés de retrovirus i de filovirus a les cèl·lules mieloides, cosa que indica el seu potencial ús com a agents antivirals d’ampli espectre. Las células dendríticas (DCs) son clave en la inducción de respestas inmunitarias adaptativas gracias a su capacidad de capturar, procesar y presentar antígenos derivados de patógenos a los linfocitos T. Sin embargo, estas células también podrían contribuir a la diseminación inicial del VIH-1 a través de la captura de partículas virales y de su transmisión a las células T CD4+ diana, un proceso conocido como trans-infección. Este mecanismo se basa en la expresión del receptor Siglec-1 (CD169), que reconoce gangliósidos sialilados en la membrana viral. Los niveles de Siglec-1 aumentan en DCs estimuladas con interferón-alfa (IFN-α) y lipopolisacárido (LPS), factores immuno-activadores presentes durante el curso de la infección por VIH-1. En este trabajo, hemos demostrado que el IFN-α secretado por DCs plasmacitoides (pDCs) infectadas por VIH-1, así como el IFN-α autocrino secretado por células mieloides en respuesta a LPS, aumentan la expresión de Siglec-1 en DCs. Además, las pDCs provenientes de mujeres secretan cantidades superiores de IFN-α que las derivadas de hombres, poniendo de manifiesto la relevancia de estudiar la trans-infección del VIH-1 en tejidos clave para la adquisición del virus en mujeres. Por lo tanto, también hemos estudiado el papel de Siglec-1 en la transmisión del VIH-1 por parte de DCs primarias aisladas directamente de tejido cervical, identificando una población de DCs cervicales que expresan Siglec-1 y capturan partículas de VIH-1 a través de este receptor. Esta capacidad aumenta con la activación por IFN-α. Además, la transmisión célula-célula del VIH-1 por células mieloides del cérvix se puede bloquear de forma eficiente con un anticuerpo monoclonal (mAb) dirigido contra Siglec-1. Se han producido cinco nuevos clones, que han demostrado tener una alta afinidad por diferentes epítopos localizados en la región N-terminal de Siglec-1. Además, bloquean de forma eficaç la captura y trans-infección del VIH-1 por DCs, de forma que podrían ser un posible componente en estrategias microbicidas dirigidas contra este tipo de transmisión viral célula-célula. Además del VIH-1, las DCs pueden jugar un papel importante en la patogénesis de otros virus, como los filovirus Ébola y Marburg. A diferencia del VIH-1, las DCs son permisivas a la infección por filovirus y son dianas tempranas en lapatogénesis viral. Los factores celulares implicados en la entrada de filovirus en DCs no han sido totalmente caracterizados, pero tanto Ébola como Marburg son virus envueltos que incorporan gangliósidos sialilados durante el proceso de budding. Además, los factores que activan la expresión de Siglec-1 como IFN-α y LPS se han encontrado durante la infección por el virus de Ébola. Por tanto, en esta tesis hemos estudiado el papel de Siglec-1 en la entrada de filovirus en DCs. Hemos encontrado que Siglec-1 está implicado en la captura de partículas no infecciosas de Ébola (VLPs) por parte de estas células, especialmente tras la activación por IFN-α y LPS. Además, las VLPs capturadas se acumulan en el mismo compartimento en el que previamente se había detectado VIH-1. Siglec-1 también facilita la entrada citoplásmica del virus en las DCs, así que hemos determinado la capacidad de los nuevos mAbs contra Siglec-1 para interferir en este proceso, y hemos visto que dichos mAbs bloquean tanto la captura como la entrada citoplásmica de VLPs de Ébola en células mieloides activadas. En general, la actividad de los mAbs contra Siglec-1 inhibe el acceso de retrovirus y filovirus en las células mieloides, cosa que indica su potencial uso como agentes antivirales de amplio espectro. Dendritic cells are key inducers of specific adaptive immune responses due to their capacity to capture, process and present pathogen-derived antigens to T lymphocytes. However, they might also contribute to early HIV-1 dissemination by capturing HIV-1 particles and transmitting them to target CD4+ T cells, a process known as trans-infection. This mechanism relies on the expression of Siglec-1 receptor (CD169), which recognizes sialylated gangliosides on the viral membrane. Siglec-1 is potently up-regulated upon dendritic cell stimulation with interferon-alpha and lipopolysaccharide, which are both immune-activating factors present during the course of HIV-1 infection. Here, we demonstrated that interferon-alpha secreted by HIV-1-infected plasmacytoid dendritic cells and autocrine interferon-alpha secreted by myeloid cells in response to lipopolysaccharide up-regulate Siglec-1 on dendritic cells. Importantly, plasmacytoid dendritic cells derived from women secreted higher amounts of interferon-alpha than those derived from men, highlighting the relevance of studying HIV-1 trans-infection in key female tissues for HIV-1 acquisition. Thus, we next studied the role of Siglec-1 in HIV-1 transmission mediated by primary dendritic cells directly isolated from cervical tissues, identifying a subset of cervical myeloid cells that expressed Siglec-1 and captured HIV-1 particles in a Siglec-1-dependent manner. This capacity was enhanced upon activation with interferon-alpha. Moreover, HIV-1 cell-to-cell transmission mediated by these cells could be efficiently blocked using an anti-Siglec-1 monoclonal antibody, indicating the potential use of antibodies directed against Siglec-1 in prevention of sexually transmitted HIV-1 acquisition in women. Thus, we generated a set of new anti-Siglec-1 monoclonal antibodies with the capacity to block dendritic cell-mediated HIV-1 trans-infection. Five new clones were produced, demonstrating high affinity for different epitopes located in the N-terminal region of Siglec-1 receptor. Moreover, they efficiently blocked HIV-1 capture and trans-infection mediated by dendritic cells, indicating their potential use in microbicidal strategies targeting this type of viral cell-to-cell transmission. Aside from HIV-1, dendritic cells can play important roles in the pathogenesis of other viruses, including Ebola and Marburg filoviruses. In contrast to HIV-1, dendritic cells are permissive to filoviral infection and act as early targets in viral pathogenesis. The host factors governing filoviral entry into these cells are not fully characterized, but both Ebola and Marburg are enveloped viruses that incorporate sialylated gangliosides during the budding process. Moreover, Siglec-1-activating factors such as interferon-alpha and lipopolysaccharide have been found during Ebola virus disease. Thus, we investigated the role of Siglec-1 in filoviral entry into dendritic cells. We found that Siglec-1-mediated capture of non-infectious Ebola virus-like particles into these cells, especially upon interferon-alpha and lipopolysaccharide activation. Interestingly, captured Ebola virus-like particles accumulated in the same cellular compartment where HIV-1 was previously detected. Siglec-1 also facilitated Ebola cytoplasmic entry into dendritic cells, so we tested the capacity of novel anti-Siglec-1 monoclonal antibodies to interfere with this process. We found that capture and cytoplasmic entry of Ebola virus-like particles into activated myeloid cells was blocked by these novel antibodies. Overall, the activity of anti-Siglec-1 monoclonal antibodies inhibits the access of both retroviruses and filoviruses into myeloid cells and suggests their potential use as broad-spectrum antiviral agents.

The increasing need to provide more efficient delivery of drugs for different illnesses is a key topic in the biomedical field. Synthetic polymers find wide employment in the development of diverse tools that perform their activity on the disease or can help to deliver small molecules like drugs to the desired site of action. In this thesis, biodegradable polyglycerol-based polymers for the treatment of inflammatory diseases and the delivery of hydrophobic guests were presented. Hyperbranched polyglycerol, which is a highly biocompatible polymer, with easy synthesis, hydrophilic character, and numerous end groups suitable for further functionalization, was chosen to develop new biodegradable compounds. The copolymerization of glycidol with Ɛ-caprolactone resulted in a biodegradable version of the well-established hyperbranched polyglycerol (hPG), thanks to the presence of ester bonds in the backbone. The copolymer has been further functionalized, characterized, and studied invitro regarding its biocompatibility, biodegradability, and suitability for the application in the biomedical field. In the first project, this new copolymer was functionalized to obtain a biodegradable sulfated derivate ((hPG-co-PCL)S), which has been investigated for possible applications in the treatment of inflammatory states. Previous studies have highlighted the high affinity of dendritic polyglycerol sulfate (dPGS) to L-selectin but also demonstrated its accumulation in organs such as the spleen and liver, remarking the necessity of biodegradable compounds for in vivo applications. In this work, it was observed that the biodegradable version of dPGS is a valid alternative to the well-established one and, depending on the molecular weight and the degree of sulfation, it was possible to achieve diverse performance profiles concerning the inhibition of the binding of L-selectin towards its ligands, a crucial step in the recruitment of leukocytes to the site of inflammation. The (hPG-co-PCL)S was also capable to reduce the activity of the complement system, showing at the same time only a restrained effect on blood coagulation. Moreover, the new copolymer was biodegradable and had low cytotoxicity, before and after degradation, which was demonstrated with different cell lines. In the second project, the biodegradable hPG-co-PCL was used as macroinitiator for the synthesis of pH responsive nanocarrier for the treatment of pancreatic cancer. It is well established that, while the human body generally presents a neutral pH, the cancer is characterized by a local acidic pH. This feature can be employed to induce the release of the guest molecules only at the desired site of action. The hPG-co-PCL core was used to graft a polycarbonate block, which was further functionalized with a tertiary amine, namely, N,N’-dibutylethylene diamine. The new polymer was used both for the covalent conjugation and physical encapsulation of the anticance drug gemcitabine (GEM). The nanocarrier was able to deliver its cargo in a pH-dependent fashion, with different rates depending on the type of loading. In the third project, the upscaling of the synthesis of hPG-co-PCL and its employment as a nanocarrier for hydrophobic guests, both before and after sulfation, was investigated. The parameters, which govern the synthesis of the hPG-co-PCL, were inspected to determine the conditions that lead to different molecular weights while improving the gram scale of the product. The production on large scale at low costs is a primary need to access the market. Moreover, the relationship between tumor and inflammation is generally accepted. The dPGS has already demonstrated to be capable of targeting the tumoral environment, which suggests using new abovementioned nanocarriers for the delivery of anticancer drugs. Two possible guests were physically encapsulated in the biodegradable copolymers: the anticancer drug doxorubicin, and a near infrared (NIR) dye. A great interaction both with doxorubicin and the dye was observed. The sulfated compounds displayed the best capacity of delivering the guest to the tumor cell line Hela in vitro, with increased performance depending on the molecular weight and correlating loading capacity. Moreover, the best candidate for the delivery of doxorubicin was loaded with the hydrophobic NIR dye S 0796 and tested in vivo to explore the capacity of the polymer in targeting the tumor. Accumulation in the tumor was observed 24 h after the injection, confirming the affinity of the sulfated compound to inflamed and cancerous tissue. These preliminary results show the potential for the employment of the new biodegradable sulfated nanocarriers for tumor therapy. These outcomes describe the potential of the new nanocarriers for biomedical application, but further studies are needed to expand these findings. In vivo studies, which demonstrate the stability of the nanocarriers in the blood stream and a sufficient circulation time, would be necessary to confirm their suitability as nanocarriers. Due to the large diversity of anticancer drugs, a screening of the possible guests should be performed to determine which cancer type represents an appropriate target for the above-presented nanocarriers. The increase in the hydrophobic caprolactone component might be taken in account to ensure a better loading capacity of small molecules like dexamethasone. The influence of the encapsulation method, namely the conjugation in comparison to the physical entrapment, of both the anticancer drugs and NIR dye should be studied to understand its role on the drug delivery in vivo. Moreover, the possibility to use the new biodegradable carriers for theranostics applications shall be further explored.

Electroacupuncture (EA) has been widely used for functional restoration after stroke. However, its role in post-stroke rehabilitation and the associated regulatory mechanisms remain poorly understood. In this study, we applied EA to the Zusanli (ST36) and Quchi (LI11) acupoints in rats with middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion. We found that EA effectively increased the expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor and its receptor tyrosine kinase B, synapsin-1, postsynaptic dense protein 95, and microtubule-associated protein 2 in the ischemic penumbra of rats with middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion. Moreover, EA greatly reduced the expression of myelin-related inhibitors Nogo-A and NgR in the ischemic penumbra. Tyrosine kinase B inhibitor ANA-12 weakened the therapeutic effects of EA. These findings suggest that EA can improve neurological function after middle cerebral artery occlusion and reperfusion, possibly through regulating the activity of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor/tyrosine kinase B signal pathway. All procedures and experiments were approved by the Animal Research Committee of Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, China (approval No. PZSHUTCM200110002) on January 10, 2020.

The importance of the bi-directional natural killer–dendritic cell crosstalk in coordinating anti-tumour and anti-microbial responses in vivo has been well established. However, physical parameters associated with natural killer–dendritic cell interactions have not been fully elucidated. We have previously used a simple “Y” shaped microfluidic device to study natural killer cell-migratory responses toward chemical gradients from a conditioned medium of dendritic cells. There are, however, limitations of the Y-shaped microfluidic devices that could not support higher throughput analyses and studies of cell–cell interactions. Here, we report two novel microfluidic devices (D3-Chip, T2-Chip) we applied in advanced studies of natural killer-cell migrations and their interactions with dendritic cells in vitro. The D3-Chip is an improved version of the previously published Y-shaped device that supports high-throughput analyses and docking of the cells of interest in the migration assay before they are exposed to a chemical gradient. The T2-Chip is created to support analyses of natural killer–dendritic cell cell–cell interactions without the requirement of promoting a natural killer cell to migrate long distances to find a loaded dendritic cell in the device. Using these two microfluidic platforms, we observe quantitative differences in the abilities of the immature and lipopolysaccharide-activated mature dendritic cells to interact with activated natural killer cells. The contact time between the activated natural killer cells and immature dendritic cells is significantly longer than that of the mature dendritic cells. There is a significantly higher frequency of an immature dendritic cell coming into contact with multiple natural killer cells and/or making multiple simultaneous contacts with multiple natural killer cells. To contrast, an activated natural killer cell has a significantly higher frequency of coming into contact with the mature dendritic cells than immature dendritic cells. Collectively, these differences in natural killer–dendritic cell interactions may underlie the differential maturation of immature dendritic cells by activated natural killer cells. Further applications of these microfluidic devices in studying natural killer–dendritic cell crosstalk under defined microenvironments shall enrich our understanding of the functional regulations of natural killer cells and dendritic cells in the natural killer–dendritic cell crosstalk.