Targeting connexin 43 protects against the progression of experimental chronic kidney disease in mice

Excessive recruitment of monocytes and progression of fibrosis are hallmarks of chronic kidney disease (CKD). Recently we reported that the expression of connexin 43 (Cx43) was upregulated in the kidney during experimental nephropathy. To investigate the role of Cx43 in the progression of CKD, we interbred RenTg mice, a genetic model of hypertension-induced CKD, with Cx43+/- mice. The renal cortex of 5-month-old RenTgCx43+/- mice showed a marked decrease of cell adhesion markers leading to reduced monocyte infiltration and interstitial renal fibrosis compared with their littermates. In addition, functional and histological parameters such as albuminuria and glomerulosclerosis were ameliorated in RenTgCx43+/- mice. Interestingly, treatment with Cx43 antisense produced remarkable improvement of renal function and structure in 1-year-old RenTg mice. Similar results were found in Cx43+/- or wild-type mice treated with Cx43 antisense after obstructive nephropathy. Furthermore, in these mice, Cx43 antisense attenuated E-cadherin downregulation and phosphorylation of the transcription factor Sp1 by the ERK pathway resulting in decreased transcription of type I collagen gene. Interestingly, Cx43-specific blocking peptide inhibited monocyte adhesion in activated endothelium and profibrotic pathways in tubular cells. Cx43 was highly increased in biopsies of patients with CKD. Thus, Cx43 may represent a new therapeutic target against the progression of CKD

A tunable bandpass BAW-filter architecture using negative capacitance cicuitry.

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60 GHz antennas in HTCC and glass technology

International audienceThis paper presents a 60 GHz antenna structure built on glass and flip-chipped on a ceramic module. A single antenna and a two antenna array have been fabricated and demonstrated good performances. The single antenna shows a return loss below −10 dB and a gain of 6–7 dBi over a 7 GHz bandwidth. The array shows a gain of 7–8 dBi over a 3 GHz bandwidth

A 23-24 GHz low power frequency synthesizer in 0.25 μm SiGe

This paper presents the design and the experimental measurements of a 24 GHz fully integrated fractional PLL, for ISM band, with a new low power prescaler. This circuit is implemented in a 0.25 mu m SiGe:C process from STMicroelectronics (BiCMOS7RF). The PLL power dissipation is 170 mW and fulfills a 23.7 to 24.9 GHz frequency locking range, while exhibiting a phase noise of -100 dBc/Hz at 100 KHz from the carrier. The simulated PLL unity-gain bandwidth is 36 MHz, with a phase margin of 54 degrees. The PLL uses a new latch-based prescaler (SRO) which exhibits a power dissipation of 0.68 GHz/m

SPAD FDSOI cell optimization for lower dark count rate achievement

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Integration of SPAD in 28nm FDSOI CMOS technology

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A digitally modulated mm-Wave cartesian beamforming transmitter with quadrature spatial combining

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Body-biasing considerations with SPAD FDSOI: advantages and drawbacks

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