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138 results on '"Cross, Alison"'

2. Global Distributions of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi

Author

Treseder, Kathleen K and Cross, Alison

Subjects
arbscular mycorrhizal fungi, belowground net primary productivity, fungal biomass, biome, colonization, fine root length, root C : N ratio, soil organic matter, survey, Environmental Sciences, Biological Sciences, Ecology
Abstract

We examined potential large-scale controls over the distribution of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and their host plants. Specifically, we tested the hypothesis that AM fungi should be more prevalent in biomes where nutrients are primarily present in mineral, and not organic, forms. Values of percentage root length colonized (%RLC) by AM fungi, AM abundance, and host plant availability were compiled or calculated from published studies to determine biome-level means. Altogether, 151 geographic locations and nine biomes were represented. Percent RLC differed marginally significantly among biomes and was greatest in savannas. AM abundance (defined as total standing root length colonized by AM fungi) varied 63-fold, with lowest values in boreal forests and highest values in temperate grasslands. Biomes did not differ significantly in the percentage of plant species that host AM fungi, averaging 75%. Contrary to the hypothesis, %RLC, AM abundance, and host plant availability were not related to the size, influx, or turnover rate of soil organic matter pools. Instead, AM abundance was positively correlated with standing stocks of fine roots. The global pool of AM biomass within roots might approach 1.4 Pg dry weight. We note that regions harboring the largest stocks of AM fungi are also particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic nitrogen deposition, which could potentially alter global distributions of AM fungi in the near future. © 2006 Springer Science+Business Media, Inc.

Published
2006

3. The in vitro effects of chemokines on microglia : implications for multiple sclerosis

Author

Cross, Alison Kay

Subjects
572.8, Genetics
Abstract

Microglia, the resident macrophages of the central nervous system (CNS), are the primary cell to respond to injury in the brain, both in inflammation e.g. in multiple sclerosis (MS), and in trauma. Microglia can be activated in vitro by proinflammatory cytokines such as IFNgamma and TNFalpha and respond by secretion of cytokines, chemokines, proteases, nitric oxide and superoxide radicals. As MS is a putative autoimmune disease of the CNS, chemokines (chemotactic cytokines), secreted by many cell types including T cells and macrophages in MS lesions, have been postulated as key players in the orchestration of the inflammatory response by recruitment and activation of inflammatory cells. As potential mediators of microglial cell recruitment to sites of injury, the ability of microglia to migrate in response to alpha and beta chemokines was assessed. All chemokines tested demonstrated the ability to induce migration and changes in the distribution of filamentous actin in adult rat microglia and a human microglial cell line, CHME3, in vitro. This study indicates that chemokines secreted by activated T cells in the CNS may attract microglia to areas of central nervous system inflammation where they could exert their well documented effects. Proteases are also found in close proximity to MS plaques in increased amounts as agents of myelin breakdown in MS. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are zinc-dependant enzymes, capable of degrading extracellular matrix proteins and are known to be produced by microglia. The control of MMP activity by plasmin, as well as the balance between MMP and levels of their natural inhibitors, TIMPs, may determine lytic or anti-lytic activity in MS. The in vitro control of MMPs 2 and 9, TIMPs 1 and 2 and urokinase type plasminogen activator (uPA) by microglia was examined in response to several chemokines using ELISA and zymography techniques. The chemokines tested were all found to significantly increase the secretion of MMPs and TIMPs by CHME3 cells after 24 hours stimulation. The chemokines, MCP1, MIP1beta and Fractalkine were also shown to increase MMP9 secretion by rat microglia with little or no effect on MMP2. Interestingly, MCP1, MIP1alpha/beta and RANTES significantly decreased the secretion of uPA by CHME3 cells which may indicate an increase in uPAR expression. These results suggest that chemokine mediated control of MMP activity in the breakdown of the blood brain barrier could allow further recruitment of immune cells into the CNS and also cause demyelination of axons by lysis of myelin basic protein. Since chemokines, as well as cytokines, are possible candidates for microglia activation, microglia were tested in their response to several chemokines by measurement of nitrite production, superoxide secretion and Fc receptor expression. The majority of the chemokines tested were able to increase superoxide and nitrite production as well as Fc receptor expression with the exception of the beta chemokine, RANTES, whereby only CHME3 cells produced a significant increase in superoxide production and Fc receptor expression above unstimulated levels suggesting a difference in chemokine receptor expression or a difference in the binding affinity and signal transduction in different cell types. The present study has led to a further understanding of the possible chemokine control of microglial migration, proteinase production and effector function in CNS diseases, as well as their well documented role in recruitment of lymphocytes. Targetting these chemokines in MS patients, with specific antibodies or use of synthetic inhibitors to block their receptors may lead to downregulation of the immune response and a decrease in the severity of the disease.

Published
1999

10. Lone student protester amplifies claim that UConn fails sexual violence survivors

Author

Cross, Alison

Subjects
Political activists -- Demonstrations and protests, Sexual abuse -- Demonstrations and protests, College students -- Demonstrations and protests, Reformers -- Demonstrations and protests, Social reformers -- Demonstrations and protests, Cells -- Demonstrations and protests, Family violence -- Demonstrations and protests, News, opinion and commentary, Sports and fitness, University of Connecticut -- Officials and employees
Abstract

Byline: Alison Cross View this post on Instagram A post shared by Maria (@elomariab) CONTENT WARNING: sexual assault, domestic violence Alexandra Docken stood alone in the rain. Two cardboard signs [...]

Published
2022

12. Tree species and soil nutrient profiles in old growth forests of the Oregon Coast Range

Author

Cross, Alison and Perakis, Steven S.

Subjects
Soils -- Research -- Environmental aspects, Ecosystems -- Research -- Environmental aspects, Trees -- Research -- Environmental aspects, Old growth forests -- Oregon -- Research -- Environmental aspects, Western hemlock -- Research -- Environmental aspects, Douglas fir -- Research -- Environmental aspects, Maple -- Research -- Environmental aspects, Earth sciences
Abstract

Old-growth forests of the Pacific Northwest provide a unique opportunity to examine tree species--soil relationships in ecosystems that have developed without significant human disturbance. We characterized foliage, forest floor, and mineral soil nutrients associated with four canopy tree species (Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirbel) Franco), western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.), western redcedar (Thuja plicata Donn ex D. Don), and bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum Pursh)) in eight old-growth forests of the Oregon Coast Range. The greatest forest floor accumulations of C, N, P, Ca, Mg, and K occurred under Douglas-fir, primarily due to greater forest floor mass. In mineral soil, western hemlock exhibited significantly lower Ca concentration and sum of cations (Ca + Mg + K) than bigleaf maple, with intermediate values for Douglas-fir and western redcedar. Bigleaf maple explained most species-based differences in foliar nutrients, displaying high concentrations of N, P, Ca, Mg, and K. Foliar P and N:P variations largely reflected soil P variation across sites. The four tree species that we examined exhibited a number of individualistic effects on soil nutrient levels that contribute to biogeochemical heterogeneity in these ecosystems. Where fire suppression and long-term succession favor dominance by highly shade-tolerant western hemlock, our results suggest a potential for declines in both soil Ca availability and soil biogeochemical heterogeneity in old-growth forests. Resume: Les forets anciennes du Pacific Northwest offrent une occasion unique d'etudier les relations entre l'espece d'arbre et le sol dans des ecosystemes qui se sont developpes sans avoir ete perturbes de facon significative par l'activite humaine. Nous avons caracterise les nutriments dans le feuillage, la couverture morte et le sol mineral associes a quatre especes qui forment le couvert: le douglas de Menzies (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirbel) Franco), la pruche de l'Ouest (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.), le thuya geant (Thuja plicata Donn ex D. Don) et l'erable a grandes feuilles (Acer macrophyllum Pursh), dans huit forets anciennes de la chaine cotiere de l'Oregon. Les plus fortes accumulations de C, N, P, Ca, Mg et K dans la couverture morte se retrouvaient sous le douglas de Menzies, surtout a cause de la plus grande masse de couverture morte. Dans le sol mineral, la quantite de Ca et la somme des cations (Ca + Mg + K) etaient significativement plus faibles sous la pruche de l'Ouest que sous l'erable a grandes feuilles alors que ces valeurs etaient intermediaires sous le douglas de Menzies et le thuya geant. Avec des concentrations foliaires elevees de N, P, Ca, Mg et K, l'erable a grandes feuilles expliquait la plupart des differences specifiques dans les nutriments foliaires. Le P foliaire et les variations du rapport N:P refletaient largement la variation de P dans le sol entre les stations. Chaque espece d'arbre que nous avons etudiee avait des effets distincts sur les niveaux de nutriments dans le sol qui contribuaient a l'heterogeneite biogeochimique dans ces ecosystemes. Dans les endroits ou la suppression du feu et la succession a long terme favorisent la dominance de la pruche de l'Ouest, qui est tres tolerante a l'ombre, nos resultats laissent entrevoir la possibilite d'un declin de la disponibilite du Ca dans le sol et d'une reduction de l'heterogeneite biogeochimique du sol. [Traduit par la Redaction], Introduction Tree species are an important control on soil properties and ecosystem development. Tree species influence soil nutrient cycling directly via nutrient uptake (Turner et al. 1993), litter inputs (Prescott [...]

Published
2011
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14. Feel Good Friday: 2020-2021 Edition

Author

Cross, Alison

Subjects
Online education, News, opinion and commentary, Sports and fitness
Abstract

Byline: Alison Cross In 2014 Jonathan XIV became the new mascot for UConn. Here he celebrates his birthday on a walk with his brother, Johnathan XIII, on Oct. 5, 2017. [...]

Published
2021

15. 21 of the biggest events for the class of '21

Author

Cross, Alison

Subjects
United States. Supreme Court, Sexual abuse, Scandals, Actors, Actresses, News, opinion and commentary, Sports and fitness, Instagram (Online service)
Abstract

Byline: Alison Cross View this post on Instagram A post shared by UConn (@uconn) Aug. 25, 2017 - Class of '21 moves in A total of 5,230 freshmen students entered [...]

Published
2021

16. Women's Rowing: UConn 'is in direct violation of Title IX'

Author

Cross, Alison

Subjects
College sports, Class actions (Civil procedure), Rowing, Discrimination in education, Attorneys, Athletes, News, opinion and commentary, Sports and fitness
Abstract

Byline: Alison Cross Members of the University of Connecticut women's rowing team allege that UConn's June 2020 deficit-driven decision to terminate rowing from its varsity roster violates Title IX, and [...]

Published
2021

17. Two UConn students stand among the nation's Goldwater Scholars

Author

Cross, Alison

Subjects
College students, News, opinion and commentary, Sports and fitness
Abstract

Byline: Alison Cross The UConn sign is illuminated with blue nights at night during a February snowfall. Two UConn students received the Barry Goldwater Scholarship, a scholarship celebrating exceptional undergraduate [...]

Published
2021

18. Meet Michael Christy, USG's new Chief Diversity Officer

Author

Cross, Alison

Subjects
Company business planning, News, opinion and commentary, Sports and fitness
Abstract

Byline: Alison Cross Students listening to a lecture in Laurel Hall on Feb. 8, 2018. (Sean Flynn/UConn Photo) This school year proved tumultuous for race relations; seven antisemitic incidents occurred [...]

Published
2021

19. A change in UConn's drug-enforcement policy may be on the horizon

Author

Cross, Alison

Subjects
Police administration -- Laws, regulations and rules -- Political aspects, Bills, Legislative -- Political aspects -- Laws, regulations and rules, Marijuana -- Laws, regulations and rules -- Political aspects, Law enforcement -- Political aspects -- Laws, regulations and rules, Government regulation, News, opinion and commentary, Sports and fitness
Abstract

Byline: Alison Cross The new proposal would limit UCPD's interaction with students suspected of possessing cannabis in residence halls say USG legislators. Photo courtesy of pixabay via pexels The University [...]

Published
2021

20. USG ushers in plans for syllabus database and mental health training

Author

Cross, Alison

Subjects
Bills, Legislative -- Political aspects, Mental health -- Political aspects, Medical personnel -- Training, Databases -- Political aspects, CD-ROM catalog, Database, CD-ROM database, News, opinion and commentary, Sports and fitness, University of Connecticut -- Political aspects -- Political activity -- Training
Abstract

Byline: Alison Cross Photo of USG offices from the outside. The USG passes two pieces of legislation Wednesday night. Photo by Eric Wang/The Daily Campus. The University of Connecticut Undergraduate [...]

Published
2021

21. USG Senate elects new CDO

Author

Cross, Alison

Subjects
News, opinion and commentary, Sports and fitness, Instagram (Online service) -- Political aspects
Abstract

Byline: Alison Cross View this post on Instagram A post shared by UConn USG (@usguconn) With a 25-3 vote in a special election Wednesday night, the University of Connecticut Undergraduate [...]

Published
2021

23. Busby reports additional fire, safety equipment tampering as potential arson investigation continues

Author

Cross, Alison

Subjects
Arson -- Safety and security measures -- Investigations, Vandalism -- Investigations -- Safety and security measures, Safety equipment -- Investigations -- Safety and security measures, Company legal issue, News, opinion and commentary, Sports and fitness
Abstract

Byline: Alison Cross Busby Suites encountered suspicious fires ib Feb 5th and Feb 18, 2021. Photo by Matt Harrison/The Daily Campus. The first Busby fire occurred Feb. 5, the second [...]

Published
2021

24. USG calls for Senate to remove Trump; condemns Capitol rioters

Author

Cross, Alison

Subjects
White supremacy movements -- Political aspects -- Laws, regulations and rules -- Demonstrations and protests, Riots -- Laws, regulations and rules -- Political aspects, Ex-presidents -- Political aspects -- Laws, regulations and rules -- Demonstrations and protests, Government regulation, News, opinion and commentary, Sports and fitness
Abstract

Byline: Alison Cross View this post on Instagram A post shared by UConn USG (@usguconn) The University of Connecticut Undergraduate Student Government Senate passed a statement backing congressional efforts to [...]

Published
2021

30. Basic science232. Certolizumab pegol prevents pro-inflammatory alterations in endothelial cell function

Author

Heathfield, Sarah, Parker, Ben, Zeef, Leo, Bruce, Ian, Alexander, Yvonne, Collins, Fraser, Stone, Michael, Wang, Edward, Williams, Anwen S., Wright, Helen L., Thomas, Huw B., Moots, Robert J., Edwards, Steven W., Bullock, Craig, Chapman, Victoria, Walsh, David A., Mobasheri, Ali, Kendall, David, Kelly, Sara, Bayley, Rachel, Buckley, Chris D., Young, Stephen P., Rump-Goodrich, Lisa, Middleton, Jim, Chen, Liye, Fisher, Roman, Kollnberger, Simon, Shastri, Nilabh, Kessler, Benedikt M., Bowness, Paul, Nazeer Moideen, Abdul, Evans, Laura, Osgood, Louise, Jones, Simon A., Nowell, Mari A., Mahadik, Younis, Young, Stephen, Morgan, Matthew, Gordon, Caroline, Harper, Lorraine, Giles, Joanna L., Paul Morgan, B., Harris, Claire L., Rysnik, Oliwia J., McHugh, Kirsty, Payeli, Sravan, Marroquin, Osiris, Shaw, Jacqueline, Renner, Christoph, Nayar, Saba, Cloake, Tom, Bombardieri, Michele, Pitzalis, Costantino, Buckley, Chris, Barone, Francesca, Lane, Peter, Coles, Mark, Williams, Emma L., Edwards, Christopher J., Cooper, Cyrus, Oreffo, Richard O., Dunn, Sara, Crawford, Aileen, Wilkinson, Mark, Le Maitre, Christine, Bunning, Rowena, Daniels, Jodie, Phillips, Kate L. E., Chiverton, Neil, Le Maitre, Christine L., Shaw, Jackie, Ridley, Anna, Wong-Baeza, Isabel, Keidel, Sarah, Chan, Antoni, Gullick, Nicola J., Abozaid, Hanan S., Jayaraj, David M., Evans, Hayley G., Scott, David L., Choy, Ernest H., Taams, Leonie S., Hickling, M., Golor, G., Jullion, A., Shaw, S., Kretsos, K., Bari, Syed F., Rhys-Dillon, Brian, Amos, Nicholson, Siebert, Stefan, Bunning, Rowena D., Haddock, Gail, Cross, Alison K., Kate, I., Phillips, E., Cross, Alison, Bunning, Rowena A. D., Ceeraz, Sabrina, Spencer, Jo, Choy, Ernest, Corrigall, Valerie, Crilly, Anne, Palmer, Helen, Lockhart, John, Plevin, Robin, Ferrell, William R., McInnes, Iain, Hutchinson, David, Perry, Liz, DiCicco, Maria, Humby, Frances, Kelly, Stephen, Hands, Rebecca, McInnes, Ian, Taylor, Peter, Mehta, Puja, Mitchell, Adam, Tysoe, Carolyn, Caswell, Richard, Owens, Martina, Vincent, Tonia, Hashmi, Tahir M., Price-Forbes, Alec, Sharp, Charlotte A., Murphy, Helen, Wood, Elizabeth F., Doherty, Teresa, Sheldon, Jo, Sofat, Nidhi, Goff, Iain, Platt, Philip N., Abdulkader, Rita, Clunie, Gavin, Ismajli, Mediola, Nikiphorou, Elena, Young, Adam, Tugnet, Nicola, Dixey, Josh, Banik, Snehashish, Alcorn, Desmond, Hunter, John, Win Maw, Win, Patil, Pravin, Hayes, Fiona, Main Wong, Way, Borg, Frances A., Dasgupta, Bhaskar, Malaviya, Anshuman P., Ostor, Andrew J., Chana, Jasroop K., Ahmed, Azeem A., Edmonds, Sally, Coward, Lucy, Borg, Frances, Heaney, Jonathan, Amft, Nicole, Simpson, John, Dhillon, Veena, Ayalew, Yezenash, Khattak, Fazlihakim, Gayed, Mary, Amarasena, Roshan I., McKenna, Frank, Mc Laughlin, Maeve, Baburaj, Krishnan, Fattah, Zozik, Ng, Nora, Wilson, Jo, Colaco, Bernard, Williams, Mark R., Adizie, Tochukwu, Casey, Matthew, Lip, Stefanie, Tan, Shaun, Anderson, David, Robertson, Calum, Devanny, Ian, Field, Max, Walker, David, Robinson, Sandra, Ryan, Sarah, Hassell, Andrew, Bateman, James, Allen, Maggie, Davies, David, Crouch, Carina, Walker-Bone, Karen, Gainsborough, Nicola, Lutalo, Pamela M., Davies, Ursula M., Mckew, Jennifer R., Millar, Auleen M., Wright, Stephen A., Bell, Aubrey L., Thapper, Muryum, Roussou, Thalia, Cumming, Jo, Hull, Richard G., McKeogh, John, O'Connor, Mortimer B., Hassan, Ahmed I., Bond, Ursula, Swan, Joan, Phelan, Mark J., Coady, David, Kumar, Namita, Farrow, Luke, Bukhari, Marwan, Oldroyd, Alexander G., Greenbank, Cathi, McBeth, John, Duncan, Rosie, Brown, Deborah, Horan, Michael, Pendleton, Neil, Littlewood, Alison, Cordingley, Lis, Mulvey, Matthew, Curtis, Elizabeth M., Cole, Zoe A., Crozier, Sarah R., Georgia, Ntani, Robinson, Siân M., Godfrey, Keith M., Sayer, Avan A., Inskip, Hazel M., Harvey, Nicholas C., Davies, Rebecca, Mercer, Louise, Galloway, James, Low, Audrey, Watson, Kath, Lunt, Mark, Symmons, Deborah, Hyrich, Kimme, Chitale, Sarang, Estrach, Cristina, Goodson, Nicola J., Rankin, Elizabeth, Jiang, C. Q., Cheng, K. K., Lam, T. H., Adab, Peymané, Ling, Stephanie, Humphreys, Jennifer, Ellis, Corrinne, Bunn, Diane, Verstappen, Suzanne M., Fluess, Elisa, Macfarlane, Gary J., Bond, Christine, Jones, Gareth T., Scott, Ian C., Steer, Sophia, Lewis, Cathryn M., Cope, Andrew, Mulvey, Matthew R., Lovell, Karina, Keeley, Philip, Woby, Steve, Beasley, Marcus, Viatte, Sebastien, Plant, Darren, Fu, Bo, Solymossy, Csilla, Worthington, Jane, Barton, Anne, Williams, Frances M., Osei-Bordom, Daniel-Clement, Popham, Maria, MacGregor, Alex, Spector, Tim, Little, Jayne, Herrick, Ariane, Pushpakom, S., Ennis, H., McBurney, H., Worthington, J., Newman, W., Ibrahim, Ibrahim, Morgan, Anne, Wilson, Anthony, Isaacs, John, Sanderson, Tessa, Hewlett, Sarah, Calnan, Michael, Morris, Marianne, Raza, Karim, Kumar, Kanta, Cardy, Caroline M., Pauling, John D., Jenkins, Jessica, Brown, Sue J., McHugh, Neil, Mugford, Miranda, Davies, Charlotte, Cooper, Nicola, Brooksby, Alan, Dures, Emma, Ambler, Nick, Fletcher, Debbie, Pope, Denise, Robinson, Frances, Rooke, Royston, Gorman, Claire L., Reynolds, Piero, Hakim, Alan J., Bosworth, Ailsa, Weaver, Dan, Kiely, Patrick D., Skeoch, Sarah, Jani, Meghna, Amarasena, Roshan, Rao, Chandini, Macphie, Elizabeth, McLoughlin, Yokemei, Shah, Preeti, Else, Sara, Semenova, Olga, Thompson, Helen, Ogunbambi, Olabambo, Kallankara, Sathish, Patel, Yusuf, Baguley, Elaine, Halsey, John, Severn, Andrew, Selvan, Shilpa, Price, Elizabeth, Husain, Muhammad J., Brophy, Sinead, Phillips, Ceri J., Cooksey, Roxanne, Irvine, Elizabeth, Lendrem, Dennis, Mitchell, Sheryl, Bowman, Simon, Pease, Colin T., Emery, Paul, Andrews, Jacqueline, Sutcliffe, Nurhan, Lanyon, Peter, Gupta, Monica, McLaren, John, Regan, Marian, Cooper, Annie, Giles, Ian, Isenberg, David, Griffiths, Bridget, Foggo, Heather, Edgar, Suzanne, Vadivelu, Saravanan, Ng, Wan-Fai, Iqbal, Itrat, Heron, Louise, Pilling, Claire, Marks, Jonathan, Hull, Richard, Ledingham, Jo, Han, Chenglong, Gathany, Tim, Tandon, Neeta, Hsia, Elizabeth, Taylor, P., Strand, V., Sensky, T., Harta, N., Fleming, S., Kay, Lesley, Rutherford, Michelle, Nicholl, Karl, Eyre, Tracey, Wilson, Gillian, Johnson, Phil, Russell, M., Timoshanko, J., Duncan, G., Spandley, A., Roskell, S., West, Louise, Adshead, Rebecca, Donnelly, Simon P., Ashton, Simon, Tahir, Hasan, Patel, Dipti, Darroch, James, Boulton, John, Ellis, Benjamin, Finlay, Ron, Murray-Brown, William, Priori, R., Tappuni, T., Vartoukian, S., Seoudi, N., Picarelli, G., Fortune, F., Valesini, G., Pitzalis, C., Bombardieri, M., Ball, Elisabeth, Rooney, Madeleine, Bell, Aubrey, Mérida, Angeles Acosta, Tarelli, Edward, Axford, John, Pericleous, Charis, Pierangeli, Silvia S., Ioannou, John, Rahman, Anisur, Alavi, Azita, Hughes, Michael, Evans, Bronwen, Zaki, Awal, Hui, Michelle, Garner, Rozeena, Rees, Frances, Bavakunji, Riaz, Daniel, Priya, Varughese, Sneha, Srikanth, Asha, Andres, Mariano, Pearce, Fiona, Leung, Jansen, Lim, Ken, Oomatia, Amin, Petri, Michelle, Fang, Hong, Birnbaum, Julius, Amissah-Arthur, Maame, Stewart, Kirsty, Jennens, Hannah, Braude, Simon, Sutton, Emily J., Watson, Kath D., Yee, Chee-Seng, Jayne, David, Akil, Mohammed, Ahmad, Yasmeen, D'Cruz, David, Khamashta, Munther, Teh, Lee-Suan, Zoma, Asad, Dey, Ida D., Kenu, Ernest, Garza-Garcia, Acely, Murfitt, Lucy, Driscoll, Paul C., Pierangeli, Silvia, Ioannou, Yiannis, Reynolds, John A., Ray, David W., O'Neill, Terence, Segeda, Iuliia, Shevchuk, Sergii, Kuvikova, Inna, Brown, Nina, Venning, Michael, Dhanjal, Mandish, Mason, Justin, Nelson-Piercy, Catherine, Basu, Neil, Paudyal, Priya, Stockton, Marie, Lawton, Sally, Dent, Caroline, Kindness, Kathy, Meldrum, Gillian, John, Elizabeth, Arthur, Catherine, West, Lucy, Macfarlane, Matthew V., Reid, David M., Yates, Max, Loke, Yoon, Watts, Richard, Christidis, Dimitrios, Williams, Mark, Sivakumar, Rajappa, Misra, Ramnath, Danda, Debashish, Mahendranath, K. M., Bacon, Paul A., and Mackie, Sarah L.

Abstract

Background: Cardiovascular disease is a major comorbidity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and a leading cause of death. Chronic systemic inflammation involving tumour necrosis factor alpha (TNF) could contribute to endothelial activation and atherogenesis. A number of anti-TNF therapies are in current use for the treatment of RA, including certolizumab pegol (CZP), (Cimzia ®; UCB, Belgium). Anti-TNF therapy has been associated with reduced clinical cardiovascular disease risk and ameliorated vascular function in RA patients. However, the specific effects of TNF inhibitors on endothelial cell function are largely unknown. Our aim was to investigate the mechanisms underpinning CZP effects on TNF-activated human endothelial cells. Methods: Human aortic endothelial cells (HAoECs) were cultured in vitro and exposed to a) TNF alone, b) TNF plus CZP, or c) neither agent. Microarray analysis was used to examine the transcriptional profile of cells treated for 6 hrs and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) analysed gene expression at 1, 3, 6 and 24 hrs. NF-κB localization and IκB degradation were investigated using immunocytochemistry, high content analysis and western blotting. Flow cytometry was conducted to detect microparticle release from HAoECs. Results: Transcriptional profiling revealed that while TNF alone had strong effects on endothelial gene expression, TNF and CZP in combination produced a global gene expression pattern similar to untreated control. The two most highly up-regulated genes in response to TNF treatment were adhesion molecules E-selectin and VCAM-1 (q < 0.00005). This was supported by qPCR analysis at 6 hrs (E-selectin and VCAM-1; 208.5 fold and 40.5, respectively above control) and also at 1, 3 and 24 hrs (E-selectin; 25.6, 93.5, 12.7 fold, respectively) (VCAM-1; 4.7, 47.2, 17.6 fold) (n = 3; p < 0.05). In contrast, HAoECs treated with TNF in combination with CZP exhibited control levels of E-selectin and VCAM-1 transcript (p > 0.2 compared to control; p > 0.05 compared to TNF alone). The NF-κB pathway was confirmed as a downstream target of TNF-induced HAoEC activation, via nuclear translocation of NF-κB and degradation of IκB, effects which were abolished by treatment with CZP. In addition, flow cytometry detected an increased production of endothelial microparticles in TNF-activated HAoECs, which was prevented by treatment with CZP. Conclusions: We have found at a cellular level that a clinically available TNF inhibitor, CZP reduces the expression of adhesion molecule expression, and prevents TNF-induced activation of the NF-κB pathway. Furthermore, CZP prevents the production of microparticles by activated endothelial cells. This could be central to the prevention of inflammatory environments underlying these conditions and measurement of microparticles has potential as a novel prognostic marker for future cardiovascular events in this patient group. Disclosure statement: Y.A. received a research grant from UCB. I.B. received a research grant from UCB. S.H. received a research grant from UCB. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest

Published
2017

31. The regulation of nerve and blood vessel ingrowth in aneural and avascular intervertebral disc and articular cartilage

Author

Binch, Abbie, Cross, Alison, and Le Maitre, Christine

Subjects
sense organs
Abstract

Introduction\ud \ud This review will discuss the regulatory mechanisms of both innervation and vascularisation within normally aneural and avascular tissues, and how they may become altered in degeneration enabling new nerve and blood vessel formation which is hypothesised to be a source of pain.\ud \ud Conclusion\ud \ud Normal intervertebral discs and articular cartilage are the largest aneural and avascular tissues in the human body yet during intervertebral disc degeneration and osteoarthritis these tissues become increasingly vascularised by small blood vessels and innervated by peptide containing sensory nerve fibres. The mechanism by which this process occurs remains largely unknown. Published data suggests that various factors present within the healthy tissues such as aggrecan, chondromodulin and semaphorins may act as repulsive barriers to neurite and endothelial cell invasion. During degeneration however, the synthesis of these molecules becomes disrupted, potentially leading to vascularisation and innervation of the tissue.

Published
2014

33. Class 3 semaphorins expression and association with innervation and angiogenesis within the degenerate human intervertebral disc

Author

Orthopaedie Onderzoek, Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cells, Binch, Abbie L A, Cole, Ashley A, Breakwell, Lee M, Michael, Anthony L R, Chiverton, Neil, Creemers, Laura B, Cross, Alison K, Le Maitre, Christine L, Orthopaedie Onderzoek, Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cells, Binch, Abbie L A, Cole, Ashley A, Breakwell, Lee M, Michael, Anthony L R, Chiverton, Neil, Creemers, Laura B, Cross, Alison K, and Le Maitre, Christine L

Published
2015

35. Texas Lenders' Foreclosure Tools

Author

Cross, Alison

Subjects
Foreclosure -- Laws, regulations and rules -- Cases, Company legal issue, Government regulation, Business, international
Abstract

Any lender who has worked on a foreclosure understands that a single mistake can be costly. Notices must be delivered on time in the exact manner specified by statute, and [...]

Published
2015

37. Texas Lenders' Tools For Foreclosing In Texas

Author

Cross, Alison

Subjects
Bankruptcy -- Laws, regulations and rules, Moneylenders -- Laws, regulations and rules, Foreclosure -- Analysis, Government regulation, Company bankruptcy, Business, international
Abstract

Any lender who has worked on a foreclosure understands that a single mistake can be costly. Notices must be delivered on time in the exact manner specified by statute, and [...]

Published
2015

38. Calculating Deficiencies And Offsets: How To Make Fair Market Value Truly Fair

Author

Cross, Alison

Subjects
PlainsCapital Bank -- Cases, Foreclosure -- Analysis, Real estate appraisal -- Cases, Banking industry -- Cases, Business, international, Texas. Property Code
Abstract

During the foreclosure process, lenders often purchase the subject property for an amount insufficient to cover the debt owed by the borrower. When this occurs, the lender may pursue a [...]

Published
2015

43. Inflammatory Cytokines Induce NOTCH Signaling in Nucleus Pulposus Cells

Author

Wang, Hua, primary, Tian, Ye, additional, Wang, Jianru, additional, Phillips, Kate L.E., additional, Binch, Abbie L.A., additional, Dunn, Sara, additional, Cross, Alison, additional, Chiverton, Neil, additional, Zheng, Zhaomin, additional, Shapiro, Irving M., additional, Le Maitre, Christine L., additional, and Risbud, Makarand V., additional

Published
2013
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