Deciphering Differential Life Stage Radioinduced Reproductive Decline in Caenorhabditis elegans through Lipid Analysis

Wildlife is chronically exposed to various sources of ionizing radiations, both environmental or anthropic, due to nuclear energy use, which can induce several defects in organisms. In invertebrates, reproduction, which directly impacts population dynamics, has been found to be the most radiosensitive endpoint. Understanding the underlying molecular pathways inducing this reproduction decrease can help in predicting the effects at larger scales (i.e., population). In this study, we used a life stage dependent approach in order to better understand the molecular determinants of reproduction decrease in the roundworm C. elegans. Worms were chronically exposed to 50 mGy·h⁻¹ external gamma ionizing radiations throughout different developmental periods (namely embryogenesis, gametogenesis, and full development). Then, in addition to reproduction parameters, we performed a wide analysis of lipids (different class and fatty acid via FAMES), which are both important signaling molecules for reproduction and molecular targets of oxidative stress. Our results showed that reproductive defects are life stage dependent, that lipids are differently misregulated according to the considered exposure (e.g., upon embryogenesis and full development) and do not fully explain radiation induced reproductive defects. Finally, our results enable us to propose a conceptual model of lipid signaling after radiation stress in which both the soma and the germline participate.     

The Lack of Amyloidogenic Activity Is Persistent in Old WT and APPswe/PS1ΔE9 Mouse Retinae

We have previously reported that vision decline was not associated with amyloidogenesis processing in aging C57BL/6J wild-type (WT) mice and in a mouse model of Alzheimer’s disease, the APP_swe/PS1ΔE9 transgenic mouse model (APP/PS1). This conclusion was drawn using middle-aged (10–13 months old) mice. Here, we hypothesized that compared with hippocampal and cortical neurons, the weak amyloidogenic activity of retinal neurons may result in a detectable release of amyloid β (Aβ) only in aged mice, i.e., between 14 and 24 months of age. The aim of the present study was thus to follow potential activity changes in the amyloidogenic and nonamyloidogenic pathways of young (4 months) and old (20–24 months) WT and APP/PS1 mice. Our results showed that in spite of retinal activity loss reported by electroretinogram (ERG) recordings, the level of amyloid beta precursor protein (APP) and its derivatives did not significantly vary in the eyes of old vs. young mice. Strikingly, the ectopic expression of human APP_swe in APP/PS1 mice did not allow us to detect Aβ monomers at 23 months. In contrast, Aβ was observed in hippocampal and cortical tissues at this age but not at 4 months of life. In contrast, optic nerve transection-induced retinal ganglion cell injury significantly affected the level of retinal APP and the secretion of soluble APP alpha in the vitreous. Collectively, these results suggest that the amyloidogenic and nonamyloidogenic pathways are not involved in visual function decline in aging mice. In WT and APP/PS1 mice, it is proposed that retinal neurons do not have the capacity to secrete Aβ in contrast with other cortical and hippocampal neurons.     

Study of the Role of the Tyrosine Kinase Receptor MerTK in the Development of Kidney Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in RCS Rats

Renal ischaemia reperfusion (I/R) triggers a cascade of events including oxidative stress, apoptotic body and microparticle (MP) formation as well as an acute inflammatory process that may contribute to organ failure. Macrophages are recruited to phagocytose cell debris and MPs. The tyrosine kinase receptor MerTK is a major player in the phagocytosis process. Experimental models of renal I/R events are of major importance for identifying I/R key players and for elaborating novel therapeutical approaches. A major aim of our study was to investigate possible involvement of MerTK in renal I/R. We performed our study on both natural mutant rats for MerTK (referred to as RCS) and on wild type rats referred to as WT. I/R was established by of bilateral clamping of the renal pedicles for 30′ followed by three days of reperfusion. Plasma samples were analysed for creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase (ASAT), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), kidney injury molecule -1 (KIM-1), and neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) levels and for MPs. Kidney tissue damage and CD68-positive cell requirement were analysed by histochemistry. monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), myeloperoxidase (MPO), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and histone 3A (H3A) levels in kidney tissue lysates were analysed by western blotting. The phagocytic activity of blood-isolated monocytes collected from RCS or WT towards annexin-V positive bodies derived from cultured renal cell was assessed by fluorescence-activated single cell sorting (FACS) and confocal microscopy analyses. The renal I/R model for RCS rat described for the first time here paves the way for further investigations of MerTK-dependent events in renal tissue injury and repair mechanisms.     

First direct synthesis of highly ordered bifunctionalized mesoporous silica thin films

Optically transparent and highly ordered mesoporous organosilica thin films functionalized with two different organic groups in various proportions were synthesized by templated-directed cocondensation of tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS) and a mixture of two distinct and functional organotriethoxysilanes [NC(CH2)3Si(OEt)3 and O=P(OEt)2(CH2)3Si(OEt)3]. The mesostructured films obtained by evaporation induced self-assembly (EISA) approach were deposited on glass or silicon substrates by dip-coating. They were characterized by Grazing Incidence Small Angle X-ray Scattering (GISAXS) and X-ray reflectivity. We showed that whatever the proportion in organic groups, only 2D hexagonal phase having p6m symmetry was observed for all the materials indicating a good compatibility between the organic groups. The bi-functionalization of the internal pores surface by the organotriethoxysilanes groups was clearly evidenced by using micro-Raman spectroscopy.     

Thin chromium nitride PVD coatings on stainless steel for conductive component as bipolar plates of PEM fuel cells: Ex-situ and in-situ performances evaluation

In this paper, two types of chromium PVD coatings (100 nm) have been elaborated on 316L stainless steel (SS) by adjusting the nitrogen flow rate. The first coating is a mixture of Cr₂N and Cr, the second one is a single phase CrN. It is shown that the performances of the material are strongly dependant of the nature of the passive film formed on the chromium nitride layers due to the galvanic coupling between the coating and the substrate. The CrN coated SS shows very good corrosion resistance in simulated PEMFC media. The surface conductivity of the SS is also greatly improved and the CrN coated SS shows an interfacial contact resistance of 10 mΩ cm² at 140 N cm⁻². Five single cells of stainless steel bipolar plates coated with the CrN film were assembled for performance test. This 5 cell stack does not show any mean voltage degradation over 200 h dynamic cycling. Moreover, the performances of the CrN coated SS bipolar plates are very close to the Au-coated SS bipolar plates.     

The effect of expectancy of a threatening event on time perception in human adults.

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of a threatening stimulus in human adults in a temporal bisection task. In Experiment 1, for two anchor duration conditions (400/800 vs. 800/1600 ms), the participants completed trials in which the probe duration was followed by an aversive stimulus or a nonaversive stimulus. The results showed that the duration was judged longer when the participants expected an aversive rather than a nonaversive stimulus. In Experiment 2, the effect of the temporal localization of the aversive stimulus was also tested, with the aversive stimulus being presented at the beginning or at the end of the probe duration. The results revealed a temporal overestimation in each condition compared to the trials in which no aversive stimulus was presented. Furthermore, the temporal overestimation was greater when the expectation for the forthcoming threatening stimulus was longer. This temporal overestimation is explained in terms of a speeding-up of the neural timing system in response to the increase in the arousal level produced by the expectation of a threatening stimulus. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Peptide-grafted nanodiamonds: preparation, cytotoxicity and uptake in cells

Nanodiamonds that were prepared by high pressure/high temperature were functionalized with biomolecules for biological applications. Nanodiamonds (NDs, < or =35 nm) that were coated by silanization or with polyelectrolyte layers were grafted with a fluorescent thiolated peptide via a maleimido function; this led to an aqueous colloidal suspension that was stable for months. These substituted NDs were not cytotoxic for CHO cells. Their capacity to enter mammalian cells, and their localisation inside were ascertained after labelling the nucleus and actin, by examining the cells by confocal, reflected light and fluorescence microscopy.     

The first dairy product exclusively fermented by Propionibacterium freudenreichii: A new vector to study probiotic potentialities in vivo

Dairy propionibacteria display probiotic properties which require high populations of live and metabolically active propionibacteria in the colon. In this context, the probiotic vector determines probiotic efficiency. Fermented dairy products protect propionibacteria against digestive stresses and generally contain a complex mixture of lactic and propionic acid bacteria. This does not allow the identification of dairy propionibacteria specific beneficial effects. The aim of this study was to develop a dairy product exclusively fermented by dairy propionibacteria. As they grow poorly in milk, we determined their nutritional requirements concerning carbon and nitrogen by supplementing milk ultrafiltrate (UF) with different concentrations of lactate and casein hydrolysate. Milk or UF supplemented with 50 mM lactate and 5 g L⁻¹ casein hydrolysate allowed growth of all dairy propionibacteria studied. In these new fermented dairy products, dairy propionibacteria remained viable and stress-tolerant in vitro during minimum 15 days at 4 °C. The efficiency of milk fermented by the most tolerant Propionibacterium freudenreichii strain was evaluated in piglets. Viability and SCFA content in the colon evidenced survival and metabolic activity of P. freudenreichii. This work results in the design of a new food grade vector, which will allow preclinical and clinical trials.     

Population-level modeling to account for multigenerational effects of uranium in Daphnia magna

As part of the ecological risk assessment associated with radionuclides in freshwater ecosystems, toxicity of waterborne uranium was recently investigated in the microcrustacean Daphnia magna over a three-generation exposure (F0, F1, and F2). Toxic effects on daphnid life history and physiology, increasing over generations, were demonstrated at the organism level under controlled laboratory conditions. These effects were modeled using an approach based on the dynamic energy budget (DEB). For each of the three successive generations, DEBtox (dynamic energy budget applied to toxicity data) models were fitted to experimental data. Lethal and sublethal DEBtox outcomes and their uncertainty were projected to the population level using population matrix techniques. To do so, we compared two modeling approaches in which experimental results from F0, F1, and F2 generations were either considered separately (F0-, F1-, and F2-based simulations) or together in the actual succession of F0, F1, and F2 generations (multi-F-based simulation). The first approach showed that considering results from F0 only (equivalent to a standard toxicity test) would lead to a severe underestimation of uranium toxicity at the population level. Results from the second approach showed that combining effects in successive generations cannot generally be simplified to the worst case among F0-, F1-, and F2-based population dynamics.