Explosive Volcanism in a tuff-dominated Intraplate Setting, Sarmiento Formation (Middle Eocene- lower Miocene), Patagonia Argentina

The Sarmiento Formation (middle Eocene to early Miocene) represents the distal record of the activity of the Andean volcanic arc in central Patagonia, mainly dominated by accumulation and reworking of fine ash in a low-gradient continental setting. Intraplate volcanism takes place in the Golfo San Jorge Basin during the deposition of the Sarmiento Formation, and shallow intrusives and basaltic lava flows occurs. An exposure of basaltic volcaniclastic deposits was analyzed in the proximity of the Cerro Dragón intrusive rocks. These deposits consist of eight volcaniclastic lithofacies, organized in three distinct lithofacies association: volcaniclastic debris flow (lahar), base surge, and scoriaceous breccias of a strombolian-style eruption. Explosive volcanism is evidenced by the fallout of ballistic bombs over base surge and scoriaceous deposits, which produced bedding sags in the plastic lapilli. These deposits constitute the first published record of explosive volcanism (Strombolian) associated to the emplacement of the Oligocene alkaline volcanic rocks in the Golfo San Jorge Basin, generally considered as subintrusive or hypabissal intrusions

Targeting galectin-1 overcomes breast cancer-associated immunosuppression and prevents metastatic disease

Galectin-1 (Gal1), an evolutionarily conserved glycan-binding protein, contributes to the creation of an immunosuppressed microenvironment at sites of tumor growth. In spite of considerable progress in elucidating its role in tumor-immune escape, the mechanisms underlying the inhibitory functions of Gal1 remain obscure. Here, we investigated the contribution of tumor Gal1 to tumor growth, metastasis, and immunosuppression in breast cancer. We found that the frequency of Gal1(+) cells in human breast cancer biopsies correlated positively with tumor grade, while specimens from patients with benign hyperplasia showed negative or limited Gal1 staining. To examine the pathophysiologic relevance of Gal1 in breast cancer, we used the metastatic mouse mammary tumor 4T1, which expresses and secretes substantial amounts of Gal1. Silencing Gal1 expression in this model induced a marked reduction in both tumor growth and the number of lung metastases. This effect was abrogated when mice were inoculated with wild-type 4T1 tumor cells in their contralateral flank, suggesting involvement of a systemic modulation of the immune response. Gal1 attenuation in 4T1 cells also reduced the frequency of CD4(+)CD25(+) Foxp3(+) regulatory T (T(reg)) cells within the tumor, draining lymph nodes, spleen, and lung metastases. Further, it abrogated the immunosuppressive function of T(reg) cells and selectively lowered the expression of the T-cell regulatory molecule LAT (linker for activation of T cells) on these cells, disarming their suppressive activity. Taken together, our results offer a preclinical proof of concept that therapeutic targeting of Gal1 can overcome breast cancer-associated immunosuppression and can prevent metastatic disease.Fil: D'alotto Moreno, Tomas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (i); ArgentinaFil: Croci Russo, Diego Omar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (i); ArgentinaFil: Cerliani, Juan Pablo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (i); ArgentinaFil: Martínez Allo, Verónica Candela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (i); ArgentinaFil: Dergan Dylon, Leonardo Sebastian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (i); ArgentinaFil: Mendez Huergo, Santiago Patricio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (i); ArgentinaFil: Stupirski, Juan Carlos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (i); ArgentinaFil: Mazal, Daniel. Centro Hospitalario Pereira Rossell. Servicio de Anatomía Patologica,; UruguayFil: Osinaga, Eduardo. Universidad de la Republica; UruguayFil: Toscano, Marta Alicia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (i); ArgentinaFil: Sundblad, Victoria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (i); ArgentinaFil: Rabinovich, Gabriel Adrian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (i); Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Química Biológica; ArgentinaFil: Salatino, Mariana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (i); Argentin

Glicômica da resposta imune: o universo de glicanos e lectinas em microambientes inflamatórios e neoplásicos

Las galectinas, una familia de lectinas que reconocen glico-conjugados específicos en la superficie celular y la matriz, participan en diversos procesos biológicos como reguladores de la ho-meostasis de la respuesta inmune y de la progresión tumoral. Considerando el papel inmunomodulador de Galectina-1 (Gal-1) en modelos de inflamación crónica y su contribución a la creación de microambientes tolerogénicos, durante los últimos años exploramos el impacto de esta proteína sobre el balance de células T y la funcionalidad de células dendríticas (CDs). Mientras las células Th1 y Th17 poseen el repertorio de glicanos necesarios para la unión de Gal-1, los linfocitos Th2 son resistentes a la unión de esta proteína, lo cual explicaría el incremento en la susceptibilidad de los linfocitos Th1 y Th17 a la apoptosis inducida por Gal-1 y la consecuente desviación en el balance de la respuesta inmune hacia un perfil Th2. Además, identificamos un circuito tolerogénico en el que Gal‐1 induce la diferenciación de CDs tolerogénicas productoras de IL‐27, la consecuente expansión de células T regulatorias productoras de IL‐10 y la supresión de la inflamación mediada por células Th1 y Th17. Postulamos un nuevo mecanismo de regulación homeostática de la respuesta inmune basado en la interacción entre Gal‐1 y sus gli-canos específicos, el cual permite anticipar nuevos horizontes terapéuticos, en los que la modulación de la expresión de Gal‐1 o sus glicanos nos permitiría regular la respuesta inmune.Galectins, a family of endogenous glycan-binding proteins able to recognize specific glycoconjugates on cell surface and extracellular matrix, control critical immunological processes involved in immune homeostasis and tumor progression. Given the immunosuppressive role of Galectin-1 (Gal-1) in different models of chronic inflammation and its contribution to the creation of tolerogenic microenvironments in cancer and pregnancy models, the impact of this protein on T helper cell balance and dendritic cells (DCs) functionality was explored. A novel mechanism, based on the differential glycosylation of T helper cell subsets, by which Gal-1 preferentially eliminates antigen-specific Th1 and Th17 cells, leading to a shift toward a Th2 profile was identified. While Th1- and Th-17-differentiated cells expressed the repertoire of cell surface glycans that are critical for Gal-1-induced cell death, Th2 cells are protected from Gal-1 through differential sialylation of cell surface glycoproteins. More recently, the ability of Gal-1 to trigger the differentiation of tolerogenic dendritic cells (DCs), which promote resolution of autoimmune inflammation, was demonstrated. A tolerogenic circuit linking Gal-1 signaling, IL-27-producing DCs and IL-10-secreting T cells was identified. It can be postulated that molecular interactions between endogenous galectins and specific glycans constitute a novel mechanism of homeostatic regulation of immune responses. Understanding the role of protein-glycan interactions in the establishment of tolerogenic or inflammatory programs will enable the design of more rational immunotherapeutic strategies with broad biomedical implications.As galectinas, uma família de lectinas que reconhecem gli-coconjugados específicos na superfície celular e a matriz, participam em diversos processos biológicos como reguladores da homeostase da resposta imune e da progressão tu-moral. Considerando o papel imunomodulador de Galec-tina-1 (Gal-1) em modelos de inflamação crônica e sua contribuição à criação de microambientes tolerogênicos, durante os últimos anos exploramos o impacto desta proteína sobre o balanço de células T e a funcionalidade de células dendríticas (CDs). Enquanto as células Th1 e Th17 possuem o repertório de glicanos necessários para a união de Gal-1, os linfócitos Th2 são resistentes à união desta proteína, o qual explicaria o incremento na suscetibilidade dos linfóci-tos Th1 e Th17 à apoptose induzida por Gal-1 e o conse-guinte desvio no balanço da resposta imune para um perfil Th2. Além disso, identificamos um circuito tolerogênico no qual Gal‐1 induz a diferenciação de CDs tolerogênicas pro-dutoras de IL‐27, a conseguinte expansão de células T re-gulatórias produtoras de IL‐10 e a supressão da inflamação mediada por células Th1 e Th17. Postulamos um novo mecanismo de regulação homeostática da resposta imune ba-seado na interação entre Gal‐1 e seus glicanos específicos, que permite antecipar novos horizontes terapêuticos, nos quais a modulação da expressão de Gal‐1 ou seus glicanos nos permitiria regular a resposta imune.Fil: Sundblad, Victoria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (i); Argentina; ArgentinaFil: Cerliani, Juan Pablo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (i); Argentina; ArgentinaFil: Compagno, Daniel Georges. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Croci Russo, Diego Omar. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (i); Argentina; ArgentinaFil: D'alotto Moreno, Tomas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (i); Argentina; ArgentinaFil: Dergan Dylon, Leonardo Sebastian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (i); Argentina; ArgentinaFil: Di Lella, Santiago. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (i); Argentina; ArgentinaFil: Gatto, Claudia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular; ArgentinaFil: Gentilini, Lucas Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (i); Argentina; ArgentinaFil: Giribaldi, María Laura. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Cs.exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Quimica Biologica. Laboratorio de Analisis Biologicos E Inmunoquimica; ArgentinaFil: Guardia, Carlos Manuel Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (i); Argentina; ArgentinaFil: Ilarregui, Juan Martin. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (i); Argentina; ArgentinaFil: Laderach, Diego Jose. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Ciudad Universitaria. Instituto de Química Biológica de la Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales; ArgentinaFil: Martínez Allo, Verónica Candela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (i); Argentina; ArgentinaFil: Mascanfroni, Ivan Darío. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (i); Argentina; ArgentinaFil: Mendez Huergo, Santiago Patricio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (i); Argentina; ArgentinaFil: Salatino, Mariana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (i); Argentina; ArgentinaFil: Stupirski, Juan Carlos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (i); Argentina; ArgentinaFil: Toscano, Marta Alicia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (i); Argentina; ArgentinaFil: Rabinovich, Gabriel Adrian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Biología y Medicina Experimental (i); Argentina; Argentin

A Chronicle of Indonesia’s Forest Management: A Long Step towards Environmental Sustainability and Community Welfare

Indonesia is the largest archipelagic country in the world, with 17,000 islands of varying sizes and elevations, from lowlands to very high mountains, stretching more than 5000 km eastward from Sabang in Aceh to Merauke in Papua. Although occupying only 1.3% of the world’s land area, Indonesia possesses the third-largest rainforest and the second-highest level of biodiversity, with very high species diversity and endemism. However, during the last two decades, Indonesia has been known as a country with a high level of deforestation, a producer of smoke from burning forests and land, and a producer of carbon emissions. The aim of this paper is to review the environmental history and the long process of Indonesian forest management towards achieving environmental sustainability and community welfare. To do this, we analyze the milestones of Indonesian forest management history, present and future challenges, and provide strategic recommendations toward a viable Sustainable Forest Management (SFM) system. Our review showed that the history of forestry management in Indonesia has evolved through a long process, especially related to contestation over the control of natural resources and supporting policies and regulations. During the process, many efforts have been applied to reduce the deforestation rate, such as a moratorium on permitting primary natural forest and peat land, land rehabilitation and soil conservation, environmental protection, and other significant regulations. Therefore, these efforts should be maintained and improved continuously in the future due to their significant positive impacts on a variety of forest areas toward the achievement of viable SFM. Finally, we conclude that the Indonesian government has struggled to formulate sustainable forest management policies that balance economic, ecological, and social needs, among others, through developing and implementing social forestry instruments, developing and implementing human resource capacity, increasing community literacy, strengthening forest governance by eliminating ambiguity and overlapping regulations, simplification of bureaucracy, revitalization of traditional wisdom, and fair law enforcement