Gene deficiency in activating Fcγ receptors influences the macrophage phenotypic balance and reduces atherosclerosis in mice

Immunity contributes to arterial inflammation during atherosclerosis. Oxidized low-density lipoproteins induce an autoimmune response characterized by specific antibodies and immune complexes in atherosclerotic patients. We hypothesize that specific Fcγ receptors for IgG constant region participate in atherogenesis by regulating the inflammatory state of lesional macrophages. In vivo we examined the role of activating Fcγ receptors in atherosclerosis progression using bone marrow transplantation from mice deficient in γ-chain (the common signaling subunit of activating Fcγ receptors) to hyperlipidemic mice. Hematopoietic deficiency of Fcγ receptors significantly reduced atherosclerotic lesion size, which was associated with decreased number of macrophages and T lymphocytes, and increased T regulatory cell function. Lesions of Fcγ receptor deficient mice exhibited increased plaque stability, as evidenced by higher collagen and smooth muscle cell content and decreased apoptosis. These effects were independent of changes in serum lipids and antibody response to oxidized low-density lipoproteins. Activating Fcγ receptor deficiency reduced pro-inflammatory gene expression, nuclear factor-κB activity, and M1 macrophages at the lesion site, while increasing anti-inflammatory genes and M2 macrophages. The decreased inflammation in the lesions was mirrored by a reduced number of classical inflammatory monocytes in blood. In vitro, lack of activating Fcγ receptors attenuated foam cell formation, oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory gene expression, and increased M2-associated genes in murine macrophages. Our study demonstrates that activating Fcγ receptors influence the macrophage phenotypic balance in the artery wall of atherosclerotic mice and suggests that modulation of Fcγ receptor-mediated inflammatory responses could effectively suppress atherosclerosis

Reactivity of a Pt(100) cluster modified by adsorption of a nickel tetramer

The aim of this paper is to report a study of the reactivity of Pt(100) cluster and the same system modified by a nickel tetramer towards the atomic hydrogen adsorption. This study was carried out in the framework of density functional theory which provides global and local indexes that can be used to characterize the reactivity. The analyzed reactivity descriptors were: chemical potential, chemical hardness, electrophilicity index and Fukui function. The results showed that the global reactivity descriptor predicts that the platinum cluster modified by nickel is more reactive than the pure platinum cluster and that the local Fukui function provides information about the most susceptible site to electrophilic attack in platinum cluster.Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicada

Reactivity of a Pt(100) cluster modified by adsorption of a nickel tetramer

The aim of this paper is to report a study of the reactivity of Pt(100) cluster and the same system modified by a nickel tetramer towards the atomic hydrogen adsorption. This study was carried out in the framework of density functional theory which provides global and local indexes that can be used to characterize the reactivity. The analyzed reactivity descriptors were: chemical potential, chemical hardness, electrophilicity index and Fukui function. The results showed that the global reactivity descriptor predicts that the platinum cluster modified by nickel is more reactive than the pure platinum cluster and that the local Fukui function provides information about the most susceptible site to electrophilic attack in platinum cluster.Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicada

Developmental Sex Differences in the Metabolism of Cardiolipin in Mouse Cerebral Cortex Mitochondria

Cardiolipin (CL) is a mitochondrial-specific phospholipid. CL content and acyl chain composition are crucial for energy production. Given that estradiol induces CL synthesis in neurons, we aimed to assess CL metabolism in the cerebral cortex (CC) of male and female mice during early postnatal life, when sex steroids induce sex-dimorphic maturation of the brain. Despite the fact that total amount of CL was similar, its fatty acid composition differed between males and females at birth. In males, CL was more mature (lower saturation ratio) and the expression of the enzymes involved in synthetic and remodeling pathways was higher, compared to females. Importantly, the sex differences found in CL metabolism were due to the testosterone peak that male mice experience perinatally. These changes were associated with a higher expression of UCP-2 and its activators in the CC of males. Overall, our results suggest that the perinatal testosterone surge in male mice regulates CL biosynthesis and remodeling in the CC, inducing a sex-dimorphic fatty acid composition. In male's CC, CL is more susceptible to peroxidation, likely explaining the testosterone-dependent induction of neuroprotective molecules such as UCP-2. These differences may account for the sex-dependent mitochondrial susceptibility after perinatal hypoxia/ischemia.Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plat

Developmental Sex Differences in the Metabolism of Cardiolipin in Mouse Cerebral Cortex Mitochondria

Cardiolipin (CL) is a mitochondrial-specific phospholipid. CL content and acyl chain composition are crucial for energy production. Given that estradiol induces CL synthesis in neurons, we aimed to assess CL metabolism in the cerebral cortex (CC) of male and female mice during early postnatal life, when sex steroids induce sex-dimorphic maturation of the brain. Despite the fact that total amount of CL was similar, its fatty acid composition differed between males and females at birth. In males, CL was more mature (lower saturation ratio) and the expression of the enzymes involved in synthetic and remodeling pathways was higher, compared to females. Importantly, the sex differences found in CL metabolism were due to the testosterone peak that male mice experience perinatally. These changes were associated with a higher expression of UCP-2 and its activators in the CC of males. Overall, our results suggest that the perinatal testosterone surge in male mice regulates CL biosynthesis and remodeling in the CC, inducing a sex-dimorphic fatty acid composition. In male's CC, CL is more susceptible to peroxidation, likely explaining the testosterone-dependent induction of neuroprotective molecules such as UCP-2. These differences may account for the sex-dependent mitochondrial susceptibility after perinatal hypoxia/ischemia.Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de La Plat

Reactivity of a Pt(100) cluster modified by adsorption of a nickel tetramer

The aim of this paper is to report a study of the reactivity of Pt(100) cluster and the same system modified by a nickel tetramer towards the atomic hydrogen adsorption. This study was carried out in the framework of density functional theory which provides global and local indexes that can be used to characterize the reactivity. The analyzed reactivity descriptors were: chemical potential, chemical hardness, electrophilicity index and Fukui function. The results showed that the global reactivity descriptor predicts that the platinum cluster modified by nickel is more reactive than the pure platinum cluster and that the local Fukui function provides information about the most susceptible site to electrophilic attack in platinum cluster.Instituto de Investigaciones Fisicoquímicas Teóricas y Aplicada

Grasa Corporal De Patos Muscovy Cairina Moschata Y Pekín Anas Platyrhynchos Como Fuente De Biodiesel

The chemical composition in corporal fat of Muscovy Cairina moschata and Pekin Anas platyrhynchos ducks was evaluated and analyzed their suitability like biodiesel source. Sixteen Muscovy and Sixteen Pekin ducks, one day old were used for a total of 32 birds, 8 females and 8 males, growth under intensive productions conditions. Two males and two females were slaughtered for each specie and slaughter age 7, 12, 17 and 23 weeks of life. The yield of raw corporal fatty fat showed highly significant differences (P<0,001) with 16 and 40% for Muscovy and Pekin respectively. The refined oil showed highly significant differences (P<0,001) with 8 and 18% for Muscovy and Pekin respectively. The composition of the oil among the two species didn't present differences in two extreme ages (7 and 23 weeks of life). The Indexes of Iodine (II), Saponification (SI), Refraction (RI) and Acidity (AI) they revealed that the fatty duck is an oil non blotter, stable, of a fat with carbon long chains and unsaturated with low hydrolysis of the triglyceride; the coalition temperature oscillated among 28-32 ºC; on the average the value of specific weight for both species was among 0.900 – 0.920 and the concentration of total cholesterol went directly proportional to the presence of saturated fatty acids. Not saturated fatty acids oscillated between 69 and 75% for Muscovy and Pekin respectively, and it supposes suitability for transesterification process with alcohol (methanol) until biodiesel.El objetivo fue evaluar la composición química de la grasa corporal de patos Muscovy Cairina moschata y Pekín Anas platyrhynchos y analizar su idoneidad como fuente de biodiesel. Se emplearon 16 patos Muscovy y 16 patos Pekín de un día de nacidos para un total de 32 aves, 8 hembras y 8 machos para cada especie, criados bajo condiciones intensivas. Se sacrificaron 2 machos y 2 hembras por cada especie a las 2, 12, 17 y 23 semanas de vida. El rendimiento de grasa corporal cruda mostró diferencias altamente significativas (P<0,01) con 16 y 40% para Muscovy y Pekín respectivamente. El aceite refinado mostró diferencias altamente significativas (P<0,01) con 8 y 18% para Muscovy y Pekín respectivamente. La composición del aceite entre las dos especies no presentó diferencias en dos edades extremas (7 y 23 semanas de vida). Los Índices de Yodo (IY), Saponificación (IS), Refracción (IR) y Acidez (IA) revelaron que la grasa pato es un aceite no secante, estable, típico de una grasa con cadenas carbonadas largas e insaturada con baja hidrólisis del triglicérido; con temperatura de fusión entre 28-32 ºC; el valor de peso específico para ambas especies estuvo entre 0.900 – 0.920 y la concentración de colesterol total fue directamente proporcional a la presencia de ácidos grasos saturados. Los ácidos grasos poliinsaturados oscilaron entre el 69 y 75% para Muscovy y Pekin respectivamente, y ello supone idoneidad para el proceso transesterificación con alcohol mono hídrico hasta biodiesel

Phase profile analysis of transparent objects through the use of a two windows interferometer based on a one beam splitter configuration

AbstractIn this research we implemented a two windows interferometer based on polarization phase shifting and grating interferometry techniques in order to retrieve the phase data profile of the object in a single capture. The optical configuration has two optical beams with circular polarization in opposite directions, and it is coupled with a 4-f system. An amplitude grid is used as a filter which is placed at the Fourier plane to obtain replicas of each beam which can properly interfere, depending on the separation between beams. The interferometer presents the capability of changing the beam separation in order to make different orders interfere properly. The interference patterns produced can be separately modulated through the operation of linear polarizer's placed on each interference replica. In order to present the capabilities of the system we will select four interferograms result of contiguous orders interference

Acoustically Levitated Whispering-Gallery Mode Microlasers

Acoustic levitation has become a crucial technique for contactless manipulation in several fields, particularly in biological applications. However, its application in the photonics field remains largely unexplored. In this study, we implement an affordable and innovative phased-array levitator that enables stable trapping in the air of micrometer dye-doped droplets, thereby enabling the creation of microlasers. For the first time, this paper presents a detailed performance of the levitated microlaser cavity, supported by theoretical analysis concerning the hybrid technology based on the combination of whispering-gallery modes and acoustic fields. The pressure field distribution inside the acoustic cavity is numerically solved and qualitatively matched with the schlieren deflectometry technique. The optical lasing features of the levitated microlasers are highly comparable with those devices based On-a-Chip registering maximum Q-factors of ~ 105, and minimum lasing thresholds ~ 150 nJ cm−2. The emission comb is explained as a sum of multiple individual-supported whispering-gallery modes. The use of novel touchless micrometric lasers, produced with an acoustic levitator brings new technological opportunities based on photonic-acoustic technological platforms