A series of three-dimensional (3D) extended metal catecholates (M-CATs) was synthesized by combining the appropriate metal salt and the hexatopic catecholate linker, H6THO (THO(6-) = triphenylene-2,3,6,7,10,11-hexakis(olate)) to give Fe(THO)·Fe(SO4) (DMA)3, Fe-CAT-5, Ti(THO)·(DMA)2, Ti-CAT-5, and V(THO)·(DMA)2, V-CAT-5 (where DMA = dimethylammonium). Their structures are based on the srs topology and are either a 2-fold interpenetrated (Fe-CAT-5 and Ti-CAT-5) or noninterpenetrated (V-CAT-5) porous anionic framework. These examples are among the first catecholate-based 3D frameworks. The single crystal X-ray diffraction structure of the Fe-CAT-5 shows bound sulfate ligands with DMA guests residing in the pores as counterions, and thus ideally suited for proton conductivity. Accordingly, Fe-CAT-5 exhibits ultrahigh proton conductivity (5.0 × 10(-2) S cm(-1)) at 98% relative humidity (RH) and 25 °C. The coexistence of sulfate and DMA ions within the pores play an important role in proton conductivity as also evidenced by the lower conductivity values found for Ti-CAT-5 (8.2 × 10(-4) S cm(-1) at 98% RH and 25 °C), whose structure only contained DMA guests.

Hydrophobic zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) with the chabazite (CHA) topology are synthesized by incorporating two distinct imidazolate links. Zn(2-mIm)0.86 (bbIm)1.14 (ZIF-300), Zn(2-mIm)0.94 (cbIm)1.06 (ZIF-301), and Zn(2-mIm)0.67 (mbIm)1.33 (ZIF-302), where 2-mIm = 2-methylimidazolate, bbIm = 5(6)-bromobenzimidazolate, cbIm = 5(6)-chlorobenzimidazolate, and mbIm = 5(6)-methylbenzimidazolate, were prepared by reacting zinc nitrate tetrahydrate and 2-mIm with the respective bIm link in a mixture of N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) and water. Their structures were determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and their permanent porosity shown. All of these structures are hydrophobic as confirmed by water adsorption isotherms. All three ZIFs are equally effective at the dynamic separation of CO2 from N2 under both dry and humid conditions without any loss of performance over three cycles and can be regenerated simply by using a N2 flow at ambient temperature.

Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) is caused by a dominant

Inflammatory bladder disorders such as interstitial cystitis (IC) deserve attention since a major problem of the disease is diagnosis. IC affects millions of women and isClinical and animal models of acute and chronic urinary bladder inflammation have provided several lines of evidence suggesting a central role of mast cells, sensory nerves, and neurokinin (NK)-1 receptors. Fundamental work regarding the participation of sensory nerves and mast cells in cystitis provides indirect evidence, such as increased numbers of mast cells in the detrusor and submucosa, and morphological evidence of mast cell activation and degranulation. [1][2][3][4] In addition, the extensive tissue remodeling seen in some clinical forms of bladder inflammation such as interstitial cystitis, 4 along with increased urinary levels of histamine and tryptase 5 suggest a role for mast cells. Because both mast cells 6 -8 and NK-1 receptors are increased in bladder biopsies of interstitial cystitis (IC) patients, 9,10 it is tempting to propose a role for sensory peptides-mast cell communication in the pathogenesis of this disorder.Experimentally, we have used classical morphometric analysis and microarray technology to determine the role of mast cells, NK-1 receptors, and bacterial toxins in animal models of cystitis. Time-course experiments indicated early and late genes involved in bladder inflammatory responses. 11 The availability of mice genetically deficient in neurokinin-1 receptor (NK-1R Ϫ/Ϫ ) allowed us to propose a mandatory role of SP receptors in cystitis. 12 We also determined genes that depend on the presence of tissue mast cells for their expression by comparing inflammatory responses in mast cell-deficient (Kit W /

Alveolar macrophages express many proteins important in iron homeostasis, including the iron importer divalent metal transport 1 (DMT1) and the iron exporter ferroportin 1 (FPN1) that likely participate in lung defense. We found the iron regulatory hormone hepcidin (HAMP) is also produced by alveolar macrophages. In mouse alveolar macrophages, HAMP mRNA was detected at a low level when not stimulated but at a high level when exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS). LPS also affected the mRNA levels of the iron transporters, with DMT1 being upregulated and FPN1 downregulated. However, iron had no effect on HAMP expression but was able to upregulate both DMT1 and FPN1 in alveolar macrophages. IL-1 and IL-6, which are important in HAMP augmentation in hepatocytes, also did not affect HAMP expression in alveolar macrophages. In fact, the LPS-induced alterations in the expression of HAMP as well as DMT1 and FPN1 were preserved in the alveolar macrophages isolated from IL-1 receptor or IL-6-deficient mice. When alveolar macrophages were loaded with transferrin-bound (55)Fe, the subsequent release of (55)Fe was inhibited significantly by LPS. In addition, treatment of these cells with either LPS or HAMP caused the diminishment of the surface FPN1. These findings are consistent with the current model that HAMP production leads to a decreased iron efflux. Our studies suggest that iron mobilization by alveolar macrophages can be affected by iron and LPS via several pathways, including HAMP-mediated degradation of FPN1, and that these cells may use unique regulatory mechanisms to cope with iron imbalance in the lung.

Inflammation underlines all major bladder pathologies and represents a defense reaction to injury involving a mandatory participation of mast cells and sensory nerves. Mast cells are particularly frequent in close proximity to epithelial surfaces where they are strategically located in the bladder and release their mediators in response to inflammation. Tryptase is specifically produced by mast cells and modulates inflammation by activating protease-activated receptors (PARs). We recently found that PAR-4 mRNA is up-regulated in experimental bladder inflammation regardless of the initiating stimulus. Because it has been reported that PAR-1, PAR-2, and PAR-3 may also be involved in the processes of inflammation, we used immunohistochemistry to characterize the expression of all known PARs in normal, acute, and chronic inflamed mouse bladder. We found that all four PARs are present in the control mouse bladder, and follow a unique distribution. All four PARs are co-expressed in the urothelium, whereas PAR-1 and PAR-2 are predominant in the detrusor muscle, and PAR-4 is expressed in peripheral nerves and plexus cell bodies. The strong expression of PARs in the detrusor muscle indicates the need for studies on the role of these receptors in motility whereas the pres- Inflammation underlines all major bladder pathologies and represents a defense reaction to injury caused by physical damage, chemical substances, microorganisms, or other agents. In consequence to inflammation, products of mast cell degranulation such as tryptase can be found in the urine of both cancer and cystitis patients.

Commensal microbiota are critical for the development of local immune responses. In this article, we show that gut microbiota can regulate CD4 T cell polarization during pulmonary fungal infections. Vancomycin drinking water significantly decreased lung Th17 cell numbers during acute infection, demonstrating that Gram-positive commensals contribute to systemic inflammation. We next tested a role for RegIIIγ, an IL-22–inducible antimicrobial protein with specificity for Gram-positive bacteria. Following infection, increased accumulation of Th17 cells in the lungs of RegIIIγ−/− and Il22−/− mice was associated with intestinal segmented filamentous bacteria (SFB) colonization. Although gastrointestinal delivery of rRegIIIγ decreased lung inflammatory gene expression and protected Il22−/− mice from weight loss during infection, it had no direct effect on SFB colonization, fungal clearance, or lung Th17 immunity. We further show that vancomycin only decreased lung IL-17 production in mice colonized with SFB. To determine the link between gut microbiota and lung immunity, serum-transfer experiments revealed that IL-1R ligands increase the accumulation of lung Th17 cells. These data suggest that intestinal microbiota, including SFB, can regulate pulmonary adaptive immune responses.

Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a debilitating disease that has been adversely affecting the quality of women's lives for many years. The trigger in IC is not entirely known, and a role for the sensory nerves in its pathogenesis has been suggested. In addition to inflammation, increased mast cell numbers in the detrusor muscle have been reported in a subset of IC patients. Experimentally, several lines of evidence support a central role for substance P and neurokinin-1 (NK-1) receptors in cystitis. The availability of mice genetically deficient in neurokinin-1 receptor (NK-1R Interstitial cystitis (IC) is a chronic bladder inflammation affecting millions of women and causing severe pain, increased frequency of micturition, and even disability. Clinical symptoms commonly associated with IC include increased urinary frequency and urgency, nocturia, suprapubic pressure, and pain that is generally relieved by voiding.2 Major pathological findings in bladder biopsies from IC patients include an intense vascular component and increased numbers of mast cells and lymphocytes.3,4 The intense tissue remodeling has implicated a role for neurotrophins 5 and mast cells 6 -7 in IC concomitantly with increased urinary levels of histamine and tryptase. 5Autoimmune and immune mechanisms have been implicated based on findings that at least a subset of IC patients present with allergy symptoms 8 and that immunoglobulin and complement deposits are present in affected bladders.9 The immunological component is also supported by the findings of increased interleukin-6 levels in the urine of patients with IC 10 and evidence of urothelial cell activation.11 Experimental animal models further support a possible role for an immunological component in cystitis. 12 Moreover, experiments in intact animals have indicated that antigen sensitization and challenge induce cystitis. 13,14 In this animal model, the inflammatory response is a complex cascade that involves disruption of the bladder permeability barrier. 15The trigger in IC is not entirely known, and pain often appears out of proportion to standard laboratory and pathological evaluation, thus continually raising questions as to the role of the sensory nerves in its pathogenesis.