Biology subjects

Cortes, C.

Publications and source records attributed to Cortes, C..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2026

Morphogenesis of the muscular ventricular septum of the mouse heart is driven by retinoic acid signalling to myocardium

The mammalian heart is divided into four chambers by septa that isolate systemic and pulmonary circulation and are hotspots of congenital heart defects (CHD). The muscular ventricular septum develops between left and right ventricular cardiomyocytes derived from the first and second heart fields. Despite its clinical importance, mechanisms underlying development of the ventricular septum are poorly understood. Here we show that myocardial reception of retinoic acid (RA) signalling regulates formation of the compact septal core. Activation of a dominant negative RA receptor in second heart field-derived myocardium during septal morphogenesis results in a deep interventricular cleft and bifid cardiac apex. This phenotype is preceded by ectopic trabecular contributions to a RA-independent septal primordium. Molecular analysis implicates defective cardiomyocyte maturation and impaired RAC1 activation in mutant hearts. These results support an infolding and RA-dependent fusion model of septal morphogenesis, providing new insights into ventricular development and the origins of CHD.

developmental biology↗

bioRxiv2024

The genomic and cultural diversity of the Inka Qhapaq hucha ceremony in Chile and Argentina

The South American archaeological record has ample evidence of the socio-cultural dynamism of human populations in the past. This has also been supported through the analysis of ancient genomes, by showing evidence of gene flow across the region. While the extent of these signals is yet to be tested, the growing number of ancient genomes allows for more fine-scaled hypotheses to be evaluated. In this study, we assessed the genetic diversity of individuals associated with the Inka ritual, Qhapaq hucha. As part of this ceremony, one or more individuals were buried with Inka and local-style offerings on mountain summits along the Andes, leaving a very distinctive record. Using paleogenomic tools, we analyzed three individuals: two newly-generated genomes from El Plomo Mountain (Chile) and El Toro Mountain (Argentina), and a previously published genome from Argentina (Aconcagua Mountain). Our results reveal a complex demographic scenario with each of the individuals showing different genetic affinities. Furthermore, while two individuals showed genetic similarities with present-day and ancient populations from the southern region of the Inka empire, the third individual may have undertaken long-distance movement. The genetic diversity we observed between individuals from similar cultural contexts supports the highly diverse strategies the Inka implemented while incorporating new territories. More broadly, this research contributes to our growing understanding of the population dynamics in the Andes by discussing the implications and temporality of population movements in the region.

genomics↗

bioRxiv2020

The lack of myelin in the mutant taiep rat induces a differential immune response related to protection to the human parasite Trichinella spiralis

Taiep rat is a myelin mutant with a progressive motor syndrome characterized by tremor, ataxia, immobility episodes, epilepsy and paralysis of the hindlimbs, accompanied with differential expression of interleukins and their receptors that correlated with the progressive demyelination that characterize this mutant. Thus, the taiep rat is a suitable model to study neuroimmune alterations. The aim of this study was to investigate the immune alterations present in the mutant taiep rat during the acute infection with Trichinella spiralis. Our results show that there is an important decrease in the number of intestinal larvae in the taiep rat when compared to the Sprague-Dawley control rats. We also found differences in the percentage of innate and adaptive immune cell profile in the mesenteric lymphatic nodes and the spleen associated to the lack of myelin in the taiep rat. Finally, a clear pro-inflammatory cytokine pattern was seen in the infected taiep rat, which may explain the decrease in larvae number. These results sustain the theory that neuroimmune interaction is a fundamental process capable of modulating the immune response, particularly against the parasite Trichinella spiralis in a model of progressive demyelination that could be an important mechanism in autoimmune diseases and parasite infection. Author summaryThe complex communication among the brain and the immune system may be certainly altered during an infection and may be determinant in the resolution of this. We analyze the immune response to a parasite in a rat model in which a demyelinization process occur naturally and found that parasite loads were reduced when comparing with control subjects and this was accompanied to changes in the systemic immune response.

immunology↗