Co-exposure of the organic nanomaterial fullerene C60 with benzo[a]pyrene in Danio rerio (zebrafish) hepatocytes: Evidence of toxicological interactions

Compounds from the nanotechnology industry, such as carbon-based nanomaterials, are strong candidates to contaminate aquatic environments because their production and disposal have exponentially grown in a few years. Previous evidence shows that fullerene C60, a carbon nanomaterial, can facilitate the intake of metals or PAHs both in vivo and in vitro, potentially amplifying the deleterious effects of these toxicants in organisms. The present work aimed to investigate the effects of fullerene C60 in a Danio rerio (zebrafish) hepatocyte cell lineage exposed to benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) in terms of cell viability, oxidative stress parameters and BaP intracellular accumulation. Additionally, a computational docking was performed to investigate the interaction of the fullerene C60 molecule with the detoxificatory and antioxidant enzyme πGST. Fullerene C60 provoked a significant (p 0.05) alter the enzyme activity when added to GST purified extracts from the zebrafish hepatocyte cells. These results show that fullerene C60 can increase the intake of BaP into the cells, decreasing cell viability and impairing the detoxificatory response by phase II enzymes, such as GST, and this latter effect should be occurring at the transcriptional level.Fil: Ribas Ferreira, Josencler L.. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Lonné, María Noelia. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: França, Thiago A.. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Maximilla, Naiana R.. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Lugokenski, Thiago H.. Universidade Federal de Santa Maria. Departamento de Química; BrasilFil: Costa, Patrícia G.. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Fillmann, Gilberto. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; BrasilFil: Soares, Félix A.. Universidade Federal de Santa Maria. Departamento de Química; BrasilFil: de la Torre, Fernando Roman. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Luján. Departamento de Ciencias Básicas; ArgentinaFil: Monserrat, José María. Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul; Brasil. Instituto Nacional de Ciência e Tecnologia de Nanomateriais de Carbono; Brasi

Trends in the size of mesozooplankton during the last 25 years at A Coruña (N Spain)

Temporal changes in the mean individual size and in the abundance of taxonomical groups of different size of mesozooplankton (200-2000 µm) were investigated in samples collected in the shelf waters of A Coruña (N Spain) since 1988. An overall decreasing trend in the average size of individuals, indicated by the biomass (dry weight) to abundance ratio was observed. Most of this decrease can be attributed to the increase in the dominance of copepods of small size ( 1 mm) were found. Indeed, some species of large size showed increasing trends in abundance during the study period. Nevertheless these trends were small at linear scales and most species did not show significant linear trends during the study period. The observed trends in zooplankton were related to weak changes in sea surface temperature and upwelling intensity during the studied period. This suggests that the effects of the general warming of the surface ocean on plankton are weakened in regions of coastal upwelling.IEO (RADIALES

Intercambio comercial agroalimentario argentino

El objetivo del artículo es analizar la inserción de los productos agroalimentarios argentinos en el comercio mundial y regional (MERCOSUR), entre 1961 y 1997. Se evalúa el dinamismo de bienes agroalimentarios en los mercados internacionales de mayor poder de compra, destacándose el carácter concentrado en la composición y el destino de los bienes exportados, que remite a un patrón de inserción internacional basado en las ventajas comparativas. Paralelamente al comercio inter e intraregional, se asiste a un incipiente comercio intraindustrial con el MERCOSUR

Vascular tone regulation induced by C-Type natriuretic peptide: Differences in endothelium-dependent and -independent mechanisms involved in normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats

Given that the role of C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) in the regulation of vascular tone in hypertensive states is unclear, we hypothesized that impaired response of the nitric oxide system to CNP in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) could affect vascular relaxation induced by the peptide in this model of hypertension, and that other endothelial systems or potassium channels opening could also be involved. We examined the effect of CNP on isolated SHR aortas, and the hindlimb vascular resistance (HVR) in response to CNP administration compared to normotensive rats. Aortas were mounted in an isometric organ bath and contracted with phenylephrine. CNP relaxed arteries in a concentration-dependent manner but was less potent in inducing relaxation in SHR. The action of CNP was diminished by removal of the endothelium, inhibition of nitric oxide synthase by Nù -nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, and inhibition of soluble guanylyl cyclase by 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-alpha]quinoxalin-1-one in both groups. In contrast, blockade of cyclooxygenase or subtype 2 bradykinin receptor increased CNP potency only in SHR. In both Wistar and SHR, CNP relaxation was blunted by tetraethylammonium and partially inhibited by BaCl2 and iberiotoxin, indicating that it was due to opening of the Kir and BKCa channels. However, SHR seem to be more sensitive to Kir channel blockade and less sensitive to BKCa channel blockade than normotensive rats. In addition, CNP decreases HVR in Wistar and SHR, but the effect of CNP increasing blood flow was more marked in SHR. We conclude that CNP induces aorta relaxation by activation of the nitric oxide system and opening of potassium channels, but the response to the peptide is impaired in conductance vessel of hypertensive rats.Fil: Caniffi, Carolina Cecilia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Química y Metabolismo del Fármaco. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Química y Metabolismo del Fármaco; ArgentinaFil: Cerniello, Flavia Micaela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Química y Metabolismo del Fármaco. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Química y Metabolismo del Fármaco; ArgentinaFil: Gobetto, María Natalia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Química y Metabolismo del Fármaco. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Química y Metabolismo del Fármaco; ArgentinaFil: Sueiro, María L.. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica; ArgentinaFil: Costa, María A.. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica; ArgentinaFil: Arranz, Cristina Teresa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Química y Metabolismo del Fármaco. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica. Instituto de Química y Metabolismo del Fármaco; Argentin

Macrophage Gal/GalNAc lectin 2 (MGL2)+ peritoneal antigen presenting cells during Fasciola hepatica infection are essential for regulatory T cell induction

Fasciola hepatica, one of the agents that causes fasciolosis, modulates the host immune system to allow parasite survival in the host. F. hepatica expresses carbohydrate-containing glycoconjugates that are decoded by C-type lectin receptors, such as Dectin-1, mannose receptor, DC-SIGN and MGL, that are mainly present on myeloid antigen presenting cells (APCs) and can mediate immunoregulatory properties on T cells. In particular, Macrophage Gal/GalNAc lectin 2 (MGL2) expands modified Th2 immune responses, while suppressing Th1 polarization, upon recognition of GalNAc-glycosylated parasite components. In this study, by using MGL2-DTR transgenic mice that encode human diphtheria toxin receptor in MGL2+ cells, we demonstrate the role of peritoneal APCs during F. hepatica infection in favoring parasite survival. This process might be mediated by the induction of splenic Tregs in vivo, since the depletion of MGL2+ cells conferred mice with partial resistance to the infection and abrogated the increase of CD4+/CD25+ FoxP3+ Tregs induced by the parasite. Therefore, MGL2+ cells are critical determinants of F. hepatica infection and could constitute immune checkpoints to control parasite infection.Agencia Nacional de Investigación e InnovaciónPrograma de Desarrollo de las Ciencias Básica

Relación entre la actividad física de los adolescentes y la de madres/padres

Este estudio tiene como objetivo analizar la relación entre la AF de los padres y madres con la de sus hijas e hijos. Participaron en el estudio 1604 adolescentes (807 portugueses, 797 españoles). Para la recogida de datos sobre práctica de AF se utilizó un cuestionario para los adolescentes y otro para los padres y madres. El efecto de la AF de las madres y de los padres sobre la AF de sus hijas e hijos fue evaluado a través de regresión logística multinomial. Los adolescentes con progenitores físicamente activos practicaban semanalmente más veces AF no organizada (59.4% vs. 37.9%, p<0.001), organizada (39.6% vs. 22.7%, p<0.001) y durante más tiempo (24.8% vs. 17.0%, p=0.010) que los que tenían madre y padre poco activos. Los adolescentes con madres activas y padres poco activos (OR=1.8, 95% IC: 1.3-2.7, p=0.002), y los que tenían ambos activos (OR=2.1, 95% IC: 1.4-3.2, p<0.001) tenían mayor probabilidad de practicar AF no organizada. Tener el padre activo y la madre poco activa (OR=1.6, 95% IC: 1.1-2.1, p=0.024) y tener ambos activos (OR=1.6, 95% IC: 1.1-2.3, p=0.017) estaba asociado a una mayor probabilidad de práctica de AF organizada. El presente estudio demostró la existencia de una relación entre la AF de padres y madres con la AF de sus hijos e hijas.This study aimed to examine the relationship between the physical activity (PA) levels of parents and that showed by their children. A sample comprised of 1604 adolescents (807 Portuguese, 797 Spanish)participated in this study. For PA data collection it was used a questionnaire for parents and another one for their children. Multinomial logistic regression was used to examine the relationship between the PA levels of parents and that showed by their children. Adolescents with active parents practiced more often non-organized PA (59.4% vs. 37.9%, p<0.001), organized PA (39.6% vs. 22.7%, p<0.001) on a weekly basis, and during more time (24.8% vs. 17.0%, p=0.010) than those who had a mother and father less actives. Adolescents with active mothers and less active fathers (OR=1.8, 95% IC: 1.3-2.7, p=0.002), and those who had both active parents (OR=2.1, 95% IC: 1.4-3.2, p<0.001) were more likely to practice non-organized PA. To have active father and less active mother (OR=1.6, 95% IC: 1.1-2.1, p=0.024), and have both active parents (OR=1.6, 95% IC: 1.1- 2.3, p=0.017) were associated with a greater likelihood of practice of organized AF. These results highlight the relationship between parents PA participation and their children PA participation.Este estudo teve como objetivo analisar a relação entre os níveis de atividade física (AF) dos pais e os mostrados pelos respetivos filhos. Participaram no estudo 1604 adolescentes (807 portugueses, 797 espanhóis). Para a recolha de dados referente à AF recorreu-se à aplicação de um questionário para os pais e outro para os filhos. Foi utilizada uma regressão múltipla logística para averiguar a relação entre os níveis de AF dos pais e os mostrados pelos filhos. Adolescentes com pais ativos praticaram AF não organizada mais frequentemente (59,4% vs. 37,9%, p <0,001), AF organizada (39,6% vs. 22,7%, p <0,001) semanalmente e durante mais tempo (24,8% Versus 17,0%, p = 0,010) do que aqueles que tinham uma mãe e pai menos ativos. Adolescentes com mães ativas e pais menos ativos (OR = 1,8, IC 95%: 1,3-2,7, p = 0,002), e aqueles que tiveram ambos os pais ativos (OR = 2,1, IC 95%: 1,4-3,2, p <0,001) eram mais propensos a praticar AF não organizada. Aqueles que tinham pai ativo e mãe menos ativa (OR = 1,6, IC 95%: 1,1-2,1, p = 0,024), e ambos os pais ativos (OR = 1,6, IC 95%: 1,1-2,3, p = 0,017) foram associados a uma maior probabilidade de prática de AF organizada. Esses resultados destacam a relação entre a participação em AF dos pais e a participação de seus filhos em AF

Heme-Oxygenase-1 Attenuates Oxidative Functions of Antigen Presenting Cells and Promotes Regulatory T Cell Differentiation during Fasciola hepatica Infection

Fasciola hepatica is a fluke that infects livestock and humans causing fasciolosis, a zoonotic disease of increasing importance due to its worldwide distribution and high economic losses. The parasite regulates the host immune system by inducing a strong Th2 and regulatory T (Treg) cell immune response through mechanisms that might involve the expression or activity of heme-oxygenase-1 (HO-1), the rate-limiting enzyme in the catabolism of free heme that also has immunoregulatory and antioxidant properties. In this paper, we show that F. hepatica-infected mice upregulate HO-1 on peritoneal antigen-presenting cells (APC), which produce decreased levels of both reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS/RNS). The presence of these cells was associated with increased levels of regulatory T cells (Tregs). Blocking the IL-10 receptor (IL-10R) during parasite infection demonstrated that the presence of splenic Tregs and peritoneal APC expressing HO-1 were both dependent on IL-10 activity. Furthermore, IL-10R neutralization as well as pharmacological treatment with the HO-1 inhibitor SnPP protected mice from parasite infection and allowed peritoneal APC to produce significantly higher ROS/RNS levels than those detected in cells from infected control mice. Finally, parasite infection carried out in gp91phox knockout mice with inactive NADPH oxidase was associated with decreased levels of peritoneal HO-1+ cells and splenic Tregs, and partially protected mice from the hepatic damage induced by the parasite, revealing the complexity of the molecular mechanisms involving ROS production that participate in the complex pathology induced by this helminth. Altogether, these results contribute to the elucidation of the immunoregulatory and antioxidant role of HO-1 induced by F. hepatica in the host, providing alternative checkpoints that might control fasciolosis.Agencia Nacional de Investigación e InnovaciónPrograma de Desarrollo de las Ciencias Básica

Celiac disease detection using a transglutaminase electrochemical immunosensor fabricated on nanohybrid screen-printed carbon electrodes

Celiac disease is a gluten-induced autoimmune enteropathy characterized by the presence of tissue tranglutaminase (tTG) autoantibodies. A disposable electrochemical immunosensor (EI) for the detection of IgA and IgG type anti-tTG autoantibodies in real patient’s samples is presented. Screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCE) nanostructurized with carbon nanotubes and gold nanoparticles were used as the transducer surface. This transducer exhibits the excellent characteristics of carbon–metal nanoparticle hybrid conjugation and led to the amplification of the immunological interaction. The immunosensing strategy consisted of the immobilization of tTG on the nanostructured electrode surface followed by the electrochemical detection of the autoantibodies present in the samples using an alkaline phosphatase (AP) labelled anti-human IgA or IgG antibody. The analytical signal was based on the anodic redissolution of enzymatically generated silver by cyclic voltammetry. The results obtained were corroborated with a commercial ELISA kit indicating that the electrochemical immunosensor is a trustful analytical screening tool

An electrochemical deamidated gliadin antibody immunosensor for celiac disease clinical diagnosis

The first electrochemical immunosensor (EI) for the detection of antibodies against deamidated gliadin peptides (DGP) is described here. A disposable nanohybrid screen-printed carbon electrode modified with DGP was employed as the transducer's sensing surface. Real serumsampleswere successfully assayed and the results were corroborated with an ELISA kit. The presented EI is a promising analytical tool for celiac disease diagnosis