CR–39(DOP) kao detektor relativističkih iona 238U

CR-39(DOP) stack was exposed to 927 MeV/n 238 92 U beam from the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratory (LBL) accelerator BEVALAC at an angle of 30o to the detector surface. The chemically processed sheets were investigated using a Leitz Ortholux optical microscope. 644 etch pit cone lengths were measured and the track etch rate has been found to be (174 ± 11) µm/h. The present result is in accord with the data of Heyna et al. The estimated charge sensitivity has been found to follow the extrapolated results of Salamon et al. The present survey on the etch rate ratio has been found to increase faster than exponentially with Z/β and follows the relation VT /VG = exp[A + B(Z/β − 60) + C(Z/β − 60)2 ] where A = 1.623 ± 0.064, B = −0.0444± 0.0015 and C = 0.000506 ± 0.000064 for 27.6 ≤ Z/β ≤ 106.4.Slog CR–39(DOP) listova bio je izložen snopu iona 238 92 U energije 927 MeV/nukleon u akceleratoru BEVALAC, u Lawrence Berkeley laboratoriju, pod kutom od 30◦ prema površini tih detektorskih listova. Listovi su kemijski obradeni i ispitani pomoću optičkog mikroskopa Leitz Ortholux. Premjereno je 644 koničnih rupica nastalih prolaskom iona, i određena je brzina jetkanja oko tragova iona od (174±11) µm/h. Ovi su rezultati u skladu s rezultatima Heina i suradnika. Ocjenjena nabojna osjetljivost je u skladu s ekstrapoliranim rezultatima Salamonova i suradnika. Utvrđeno je da brzina jetkanja raste brže nego eksponencijalno o Z/β, i može se opisati relacijom VT /VG = exp(A + B(Z/β − 60) + C(Z/β − 60)2 ), gdje je A = 1.623 ± 0.064, B = −0.0444 ± 0.0015 i C = 0.000506 ± 0.000064, za 27.6 ≤ Z/β ≤ 106.4

Kinetics of nitrite reduction and peroxynitrite formation by ferrous heme in human cystathionine β-synthase

Cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) is a pyridoxal phosphate-dependent enzyme that catalyzes the condensation of homocysteine with serine or with cysteine to form cystathionine and either water or hydrogen sulfide, respectively. Human CBS possesses a noncatalytic heme cofactor with cysteine and histidine as ligands, which in its oxidized state is relatively unreactive. Ferric CBS (Fe(III)-CBS) can be reduced by strong chemical and biochemical reductants to Fe(II)-CBS, which can bind carbon monoxide (CO) or nitric oxide (NO·), leading to inactive enzyme. Alternatively, Fe(II)-CBS can be reoxidized by O2 to Fe(III)-CBS, forming superoxide radical anion (O2 -·). In this study, we describe the kinetics of nitrite (NO2·-) reduction by Fe(II)-CBS to form Fe(II)NO·-CBS. The second order rate constant for the reaction of Fe(II)-CBS with nitrite was obtained at low dithionite concentrations. Reoxidation of Fe(II)NO·-CBS by O2 showed complex kinetic behavior and led to peroxynitrite (ONOO-) formation, which was detected using the fluorescent probe, coumarin boronic acid. Thus, in addition to being a potential source of superoxide radical, CBS constitutes a previously unrecognized source of NO· and peroxynitrite

Interplay of Ferritin Accumulation and Ferroportin Loss in Ageing Brain: Implication for Protein Aggregation in Down Syndrome Dementia, Alzheimer's, and Parkinson's Diseases.

Iron accumulates in the ageing brain and in brains with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), Huntington's disease (HD), and Down syndrome (DS) dementia. However, the mechanisms of iron deposition and regional selectivity in the brain are ill-understood. The identification of several proteins that are involved in iron homeostasis, transport, and regulation suggests avenues to explore their function in neurodegenerative diseases. To uncover the molecular mechanisms underlying this association, we investigated the distribution and expression of these key iron proteins in brain tissues of patients with AD, DS, PD, and compared them with age-matched controls. Ferritin is an iron storage protein that is deposited in senile plaques in the AD and DS brain, as well as in neuromelanin-containing neurons in the Lewy bodies in PD brain. The transporter of ferrous iron, Divalent metal protein 1 (DMT1), was observed solely in the capillary endothelium and in astrocytes close to the ventricles with unchanged expression in PD. The principal iron transporter, ferroportin, is strikingly reduced in the AD brain compared to age-matched controls. Extensive blood vessel damage in the basal ganglia and deposition of punctate ferritin heavy chain (FTH) and hepcidin were found in the caudate and putamen within striosomes/matrix in both PD and DS brains. We suggest that downregulation of ferroportin could be a key reason for iron mismanagement through disruption of cellular entry and exit pathways of the endothelium. Membrane damage and subsequent impairment of ferroportin and hepcidin causes oxidative stress that contributes to neurodegeneration seen in DS, AD, and in PD subjects. We further propose that a lack of ferritin contributes to neurodegeneration as a consequence of failure to export toxic metals from the cortex in AD/DS and from the substantia nigra and caudate/putamen in PD brain

Hepcidin Increases Cytokines in Alzheimer's Disease and Down's Syndrome Dementia: Implication of Impaired Iron Homeostasis in Neuroinflammation.

The liver-derived hormone hepcidin, a member of the defensin family of antimicrobial peptides, plays an important role in host defense and innate immunity due to its broad antibacterial and antiviral properties. Ferritin, an iron storage protein is often associated with iron deficiency, hypoferritinemia, hypoxia, and immune complications, which are all significant concerns for systemic infection in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Down's syndrome (DS) dementia. Serum and post-mortem brain samples were collected from AD, DS and age-matched control subjects. Serum samples were analyzed with ELISA for ferritin, hepcidin and IL-6. Additionally, post-mortem brain sections were assessed by immunohistochemistry for iron-related and inflammatory proteins. A significant increase in serum hepcidin levels was found in DS, compared to controls and AD subjects (p < 0.0001). Hepcidin protein was visible in the epithelial cells of choroid plexus, meningeal macrophages and in the astrocytes close to the endothelium of blood vessels. Hepcidin co-localized with IL-6, indicating its anti-inflammatory properties. We found significant correlation between hypoferritinemia and elevated levels of serum hepcidin in AD and DS. Hepcidin can be transported via macrophages and the majority of the vesicular hepcidin enters the brain via a compromised blood brain barrier (BBB). Our findings provide further insight into the molecular implications of the altered iron metabolism in acute inflammation, and can aid towards the development of preventive strategies and novel treatments in the fight against neuroinflammation

Hepcidin Increases Cytokines in Alzheimer's Disease and Down's Syndrome Dementia: Implication of Impaired Iron Homeostasis in Neuroinflammation.

The liver-derived hormone hepcidin, a member of the defensin family of antimicrobial peptides, plays an important role in host defense and innate immunity due to its broad antibacterial and antiviral properties. Ferritin, an iron storage protein is often associated with iron deficiency, hypoferritinemia, hypoxia, and immune complications, which are all significant concerns for systemic infection in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Down's syndrome (DS) dementia. Serum and post-mortem brain samples were collected from AD, DS and age-matched control subjects. Serum samples were analyzed with ELISA for ferritin, hepcidin and IL-6. Additionally, post-mortem brain sections were assessed by immunohistochemistry for iron-related and inflammatory proteins. A significant increase in serum hepcidin levels was found in DS, compared to controls and AD subjects (p < 0.0001). Hepcidin protein was visible in the epithelial cells of choroid plexus, meningeal macrophages and in the astrocytes close to the endothelium of blood vessels. Hepcidin co-localized with IL-6, indicating its anti-inflammatory properties. We found significant correlation between hypoferritinemia and elevated levels of serum hepcidin in AD and DS. Hepcidin can be transported via macrophages and the majority of the vesicular hepcidin enters the brain via a compromised blood brain barrier (BBB). Our findings provide further insight into the molecular implications of the altered iron metabolism in acute inflammation, and can aid towards the development of preventive strategies and novel treatments in the fight against neuroinflammation