Browsing by Author "Camacho, Antonio"
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- How threatened are large branchiopods (Crustacea, Branchiopoda) in the Iberian Peninsula?Publication . Garcia-de-Lomas, Juan; Sala, Jordi; Barrios, Violeta; Prunier, Florent; Camacho, Antonio; Machado, Margarida; Alonso, Miguel; Korn, Michael; Boix, Dani; Hortas, Francisco; Garcia, Carlos M.; Serrano, Laura; Munoz, GonzaloThe Iberian Peninsula harbours 24 taxa of native large branchiopods (LBs). Most of them inhabit Mediterranean temporary ponds, which are priority habitats under the EU Habitats Directive. In this work, Iberian LBs were evaluated using IUCN Red List criteria based on geographic range (extent of occurrence, area of occupancy, number of locations, habitat fragmentation and expected decline). Our results show that 46% of the Iberian LBs are threatened: four taxa should be considered as Critically Endangered (Linderiella baetica, Triops emeritensis, Cyzicus tetracerus and Leptestheria mayeti), three taxa fall under the category Endangered (Artemia salina, Tanymastigites lusitanica and Triops vicentinus) and four species (Artemia sp. parthenogenetic strains, Branchinecta orientalis, Lepidurus apus and Triops gadensis) are Vulnerable. Two species (Phallocryptus spinosus, and Maghrebestheria maroccana) are considered Near Threatened. Our results highlight the worrying risk of extinction of Iberian LBs at the regional level, mainly related to the disappearance and degradation of their habitats and the relatively low degree of habitat protection. For Iberian endemic species, this evaluation is also valid at the global level and gives strong support for their inclusion in the IUCN Red List.
- Intracellular iron uptake is favored in Hfe-KO mouse primary chondrocytes mimicking an osteoarthritis-related phenotypePublication . F. Simao, Marcio; J. Gavaia, Paulo; Camacho, Antonio; Porto, Graca; Jorge Pinto, I.; Ea, Hang-Korng; Cancela, M. LeonorHFE-hemochromatosis is a disease characterized by a systemic iron overload phenotype mainly associated with mutations in the HFE protein (HFE) gene. Osteoarthritis (OA) has been reported as one of the most prevalent complications in HFE-hemochromatosis patients, but the mechanisms associated with its onset and progression remain incompletely understood. In this study, we have characterized the response to high iron concentrations of a primary culture of articular chondrocytes isolated from newborn Hfe-KO mice and compared the results with that of a similar experiment developed in cells from C57BL/6 wild-type (wt) mice. Our data provide evidence that both wt- and Hfe-KO-derived chondrocytes, when exposed to 50 mu M iron, develop characteristics of an OA-related phenotype, such as an increased expression of metalloproteases, a decreased extracellular matrix production, and a lower expression level of aggrecan. In addition, Hfe-KO cells also showed an increased expression of iron metabolism markers and MMP3, indicating an increased susceptibility to intracellular iron accumulation and higher levels of chondrocyte catabolism. Accordingly, upon treatment with 50 mu M iron, these chondrocytes were found to preferentially differentiate toward hypertrophy with increased expression of collagen I and transferrin and downregulation of SRY (sex-determining region Y)-box containing gene 9 (Sox9). In conclusion, high iron exposure can compromise chondrocyte metabolism, which, when simultaneously affected by an Hfe loss of function, appears to be more susceptible to the establishment of an OA-related phenotype.
- Linderiella baetica Alonso & Garcia-de-Lomas 2009 (Crustacea, Branchiopoda, Anostraca): On the verge of extinction?Publication . Garcia de Lomas, Juan; Garcia, Carlos M.; Hortas, Francisco; Prunier, Florent; Boix, Dani; Sala, Jordi; Leon, David; Serrano, Laura; Prenda, José; Diego Gilbert, Juan; Guerrero, Francisco J.; Marrone, Federico; Sahuquillo, Maria; Camacho, Antonio; Olmo, Carla; Rosa Miracle, Maria; Zamora-Munoz, Carmen; Mura, Graziella; Machado, Margarida; Sanchez, Inigo; Angel Galvez, José; Florencio, Margarita; Luis Perez-Bote, José; Alonso, MiguelThe province of Cadiz (South of Spain) hosts the only known locality in the world of Linderiella baetica Alonso & Garcia-de-Lomas 2009 (Anostraca). In this paper, the geographical distribution of the species based on published sampling data focused on large branchiopods and temporary pools in Andalusia and the entire Iberian Peninsula is assessed. The current situation is summarized based on the threats to their survival, which are mainly related to habitat alteration. In the Iberian Peninsula, at least 1,648 bodies of water (about 720 in Andalusia) have been explored. Prevalence data suggest that L. baetica is a rare species (localities with presence / sample locations = 6.07 . 10-4). The application of the IUCN (2012) criteria suggests that L. baetica is a threatened species, catalogued as "critically endangered". Several emergency solutions such as translocation of individuals or their propagules to newly created ponds and to sustain the efforts of exploration have been proposed. However, conservation of the species in the current circumstances it is not considered viable if the natural habitat remains unprotected. The legal protection of L. baetica is proposed.