Catalytic Nanoceria Are Preferentially Retained in the Rat Retina and Are Not Cytotoxic after Intravitreal Injection

Cerium oxide nanoparticles (nanoceria) possess catalytic and regenerative radical scavenging activities. The ability of nanoceria to maintain cellular redox balance makes them ideal candidates for treatment of retinal diseases whose development is tightly associated with oxidative damage. We have demonstrated that our stable water-dispersed nanoceria delay photoreceptor cell degeneration in rodent models and prevent pathological retinal neovascularization in vldlr mutant mice. The objectives of the current study were to determine the temporal and spatial distributions of nanoceria after a single intravitreal injection, and to determine if nanoceria had any toxic effects in healthy rat retinas. Using inductively-coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), we discovered that nanoceria were rapidly taken up by the retina and were preferentially retained in this tissue even after 120 days. We also did not observe any acute or long-term negative effects of nanoceria on retinal function or cytoarchitecture even after this long-term exposure. Because nanoceria are effective at low dosages, nontoxic and are retained in the retina for extended periods, we conclude that nanoceria are promising ophthalmic therapeutics for treating retinal diseases known to involve oxidative stress in their pathogeneses.     

Serum levels of immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA, IgM) in Antarctic summer expeditioners and their relationship with seasickness

The Antarctic continent is full of environmental extremes like isolation, cold, UV exposure, and blizzards etc. The present study was conducted to analyze the effect of ship borne journey and the impact of Antarctic harsh environment on serum immunoglobulin (IgG, IgM, IgA) levels and their relationship with seasickness in Indian expeditioners. It was observed that one month onboard ship journey induced an increase in serum IgA levels and decrease in IgG levels while after being one month off board at the Indian research station Maitri, decreased levels of IgG and increased levels of IgA were found. IgM levels were not altered in comparison to the base line control. Moreover, serum IgG level showed a positive correlation while IgA level showed a negative correlation with seasickness. The stimulation of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with serum of expeditioner at different places showed that IgA at lower dose induces the release of pro-inflammatory IL-1β, and IL-6 cytokines from PBMCs while higher dose of IgA decreases proinflammatory cytokine production. The release of anti-inflammatory cytokines TGF-β1 and IL-10 was not significantly altered. Thus, the present study concluded that ship borne journey and Antarctic environment lead to increased serum IgA levels while decreased IgG levels. It also suggests that serum IgA level could be a possible biomarker for environmental stress.     

Identification and characterization of a sperm motility promoting glycoprotein from buffalo blood serum

Early investigators reported the occurrence of unidentified protein factors in biological fluids that may regulate sperm motility essential for fertility potential. This study reports for the first time purification of a forward motility stimulating protein (FMSF-I), to apparent homogeneity, from a biological fluid (buffalo blood serum) and its characterization. FMSF-I is the major motility protein of buffalo serum: a rich source of the factor. FMSF showed high protein specificity and affinity for activating forward motility of goat cauda epididymal spermatozoa. The motility promoter at 0.5 microM level showed maximal activity when nearly 60%-70% of spermatozoa expressed forward motility. It is a 66 kDa monomeric acidic protein rich in aspartate, glutamate, and leucine with isoelectric point of 3.7. FMSF: a Mg2+ -dependent protein binds to concanavalin A-agarose and the glycoprotein nature of FMSF has been confirmed by PAS staining. The factor lost activity completely when treated with alpha-mannosidase showing that the sugar part of the protein is essential for its biological activity. FMSF has no species specificity for its motility-activating potential. Sperm surface has specific receptors of FMSF, which is strongly immunogenic. The factor is present in testis and epididymis although liver is its richest source. Motility promoting efficacy of FMSF is markedly higher than the well-known non-protein motility activators: theophylline and bicarbonate or their combination. FMSF is a physiological activator of sperm motility and as a slaughterhouse byproduct it has potentiality for solving some of the problems of animal breeding, conservation of endangered species, and human infertility: a global social problem.     

Magnetopriming circumvents the effect of salinity stress on germination in chickpea seeds

Chickpea seeds of Pusa 1053 (Mediterranean) and Pusa 256 (native) were magnetoprimed with 100 mT static magnetic field for 1 h to evaluate the effect of magnetopriming on germination of seeds under saline conditions. Enhanced rate of germination and seedling growth parameters (root and shoot length, and vigour indices) under different salinity levels indicated that magnetopriming was more effective in alleviating salinity stress at early seedling stage in Pusa 1053 as compared to Pusa 256. Dynamics of seed water absorption in magnetoprimed seeds showed increased water uptake in Pusa 1053 under non-saline as compared to saline conditions. This could have resulted in faster hydration of enzymes in primed seeds leading to higher rate of germination. Total amylase, protease and dehydrogenase activities were higher in primed seeds as compared to unprimed seeds under both non-saline and saline conditions. Production of superoxide radicals was enhanced in germinating seeds of both the genotypes under salinity irrespective of priming. Increased levels of hydrogen peroxide in germinating magnetoprimed seeds, under both the growing conditions, suggested its role in promotion of germination. Our results showed that magnetopriming of dry seeds of chickpea can be effectively used as a pre-sowing treatment for mitigating adverse effects of salinity at seed germination and early seedling growth.     

Synthesis, structure and luminescence study of two cadmium(II) coordination polymers with hetero donor ligands: Expansion of network dimensionality from 2D to 3D through hydrogen bonding

Two coordination polymers of cadmium with formula [Cd(pyp)₂(H₂O)₂]_n (1) and {[Cd₂(pyzca)₃(atr)(H₂O)]·H₂O}_n (2) [pypH = 3-pyridinepropionic acid, pyzcaH = 2-pyrazinecarboxylic acid and atrH = 5-aminotetrazole] have been synthesized and structurally characterized by X-ray single crystal diffraction analysis. Both complexes display 2D structures that extend into a 3D network by means of hydrogen bonding. The crystal packing of both complexes is reinforced by π-π interactions between adjacent aromatic rings. The fluorescence study indicates intraligand π-π* charge transfer, which is the reason for emission in both the complexes.     

Evidence for <Emphasis Type="Italic">Wolbachia</Emphasis> symbiosis in microfilariae of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Wuchereria bancrofti</Emphasis> from West Bengal,India

Wolbachia are symbiotic endobacteria that infect the majority of filarial nematodes, including Wuchereria bancrofti, Brugia malayi and Onchocerca volvulus. Recent studies have suggested that Wolbachia are necessary for the reproduction and survival of filarial nematodes and have highlighted the use of antibiotic therapy such as tetracycline/doxycycline as a novel method of treatment for infections caused by these organisms. Before such therapy is conceived and implemented on a large scale, it is necessary to assess the prevalence of the endosymbiont in W. bancrofti from different geographical locations. We present data from molecular and electron microscopic studies to provide evidence for Wolbachia symbiosis in W. bancrofti microfilariae collected from two districts (Bankura and Birbhum) of West Bengal, India.     

LNA mediated in situ hybridization of miR171 and miR397a in leaf and ambient root tissues revealed expressional homogeneity in response to shoot heat shock in Arabidopsis thaliana

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous non-protein coding RNA molecules of approximately 21 nucleotides in length capable of modulating gene expression in animals and plants. The role of miRNA based gene regulation has been proved in several pathways including in plant growth, development and stress response. In this study miR171 and miR397a were tested for their expression pattern under different heat shock regimes in shoot and root tissues of Arabidopsis thaliana using Locked Nucleic Acid (LNA) mediated in situ hybridization. With an increase in temperature across 35 °C, 40 °C and 45 °C there was a corresponding increased up-regulation of miR171 in leaf tissues compared to ambient temperature. Similarly, an unambiguous elevated expression of miR171 within increase in duration of exposure at each temperature regime across 1 h, 2 h and 3 h was noticed in comparison to ambient control leaf tissue. On the other hand, miR397a, which expressed at ambient control conditions, got down-regulated both with increase in heat and exposure regime in leaf tissues. Both miRNAs expressed in control ambient root tissues. Maintaining the root zone temperature at ambient conditions, upon imposing heat shock regime to shoot system, miR171 recorded corresponding increased up-regulation as indicated by the intensity of in situ hybridization, while miR397a got down-regulated. Given the differential homogeneity in expression pattern of both miRNA in leaf and root tissues experiencing heat shock regimes, possibilities of movement of heat shock induced signals to root tissues seem to be obvious.     

Phosphoproteomic Analysis of Platelets Activated by Pro-Thrombotic Oxidized Phospholipids and Thrombin

Specific oxidized phospholipids (oxPC_CD36) promote platelet hyper-reactivity and thrombosis in hyperlipidemia via the scavenger receptor CD36, however the signaling pathway(s) induced in platelets by oxPC_CD36 are not well defined. We have employed mass spectrometry-based tyrosine, serine, and threonine phosphoproteomics for the unbiased analysis of platelet signaling pathways induced by oxPC_CD36 as well as by the strong physiological agonist thrombin. oxPC_CD36 and thrombin induced differential phosphorylation of 115 proteins (162 phosphorylation sites) and 181 proteins (334 phosphorylation sites) respectively. Most of the phosphoproteome changes induced by either agonist have never been reported in platelets; thus they provide candidates in the study of platelet signaling. Bioinformatic analyses of protein phosphorylation dependent responses were used to categorize preferential motifs for (de)phosphorylation, predict pathways and kinase activity, and construct a phosphoproteome network regulating integrin activation. A putative signaling pathway involving Src-family kinases, SYK, and PLCγ2 was identified in platelets activated by oxPC_CD36. Subsequent ex vivo studies in human platelets demonstrated that this pathway is downstream of the scavenger receptor CD36 and is critical for platelet activation by oxPC_CD36. Our results provide multiple insights into the mechanism of platelet activation and specifically in platelet regulation by oxPC_CD36.