Pierre-and-Marie-Curie University

About: Pierre-and-Marie-Curie University is a education organization based out in Paris, France. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Raman spectroscopy. The organization has 34448 authors who have published 56139 publications receiving 2392398 citations.

Block copolymer-templated mesoporous oxides

Abstract: Block copolymers (BC) are indeed suitable and versatile templates for the creation of mesostructured and mesoporous materials. Great advances have been achieved in the last 3 years. Nowadays, it is possible to obtain highly controlled large-pore and highly stable mesostructured and mesoporous materials (silica, non-silica oxides, carbons,…) shaped as powders, films, monoliths or aerosols. This paper reviews mainly the synthesis of BC-templated mesostructured oxides, stressing in the physical, chemical and processing parameters, which have to be thoroughly controlled to reproducibly obtain mesoporous materials.

Macrophage Plasticity in Experimental Atherosclerosis

Abstract: As in human disease, macrophages (MO) are central players in the development and progression of experimental atherosclerosis. In this study we have evaluated the phenotype of MO associated with progression of atherosclerosis in the apolipoprotein E (ApoE) knockout (KO) mouse model.We found that bone marrow-derived MO submitted to M1 and M2 polarization specifically expressed arginase (Arg) II and Arg I, respectively. This distinct arginase expression was used to evaluate the frequency and distribution of M1 and M2 MO in cross-sections of atherosclerotic plaques of ApoE KO mice. Early lesions were infiltrated by Arg I(+) (M2) MO. This type of MO favored the proliferation of smooth muscle cells, in vitro. Arg II(+) (M1) MO appeared and prevailed in lesions of aged ApoE KO mice and lesion progression was correlated with the dominance of M1 over the M2 MO phenotype. In order to address whether the M2->M1 switch could be due to a phenotypic switch of the infiltrated cells, we performed in vitro repolarization experiments. We found that fully polarized MO retained their plasticity since they could revert their phenotype. The analysis of the distribution of Arg I- and Arg II-expressing MO also argued against a recent recruitment of M1 MO in the lesion. The combined data therefore suggest that the M2->M1 switch observed in vivo is due to a conversion of cells already present in the lesion. Our study suggests that interventional tools able to revert the MO infiltrate towards the M2 phenotype may exert an atheroprotective action.

The microbiome in cancer immunotherapy: Diagnostic tools and therapeutic strategies

Abstract: The fine line between human health and disease can be driven by the interplay between host and microbial factors. This “metagenome” regulates cancer initiation, progression, and response to therapies. Besides the capacity of distinct microbial species to modulate the pharmacodynamics of chemotherapeutic drugs, symbiosis between epithelial barriers and their microbial ecosystems has a major impact on the local and distant immune system, markedly influencing clinical outcome in cancer patients. Efficacy of cancer immunotherapy with immune checkpoint antibodies can be diminished with administration of antibiotics, and superior efficacy is observed with the presence of specific gut microbes. Future strategies of precision medicine will likely rely on novel diagnostic and therapeutic tools with which to identify and correct defects in the microbiome that compromise therapeutic efficacy.

Spectral absorption coefficients of living phytoplankton and nonalgal biogenous matter: A comparison between the Peru upwelling areaand the Sargasso Sea

Abstract: Absorption coefficients of total particulate (biogenous) matter were determined in the mesotrophic waters of the Peruvian upwelling and the oligotrophic waters of the Sargasso Sea. A method based on spectral criteria was used to partition these coefficients into absorption by living algal cells and by nonalgal (mainly detrital) material. This method was tested by independently measuring absorption by nonalgal material for samples from the Sargasso Sea. The average Chl-specific absorption coefficients measured in the Sargasso Sea are significantly higher than in the Peruvian upwelling and also higher in the surface layer than in the deep Chl maximum layer. These systematic variations appear to be mainly due to differences in sizes and intracellular pigment concentrations ofthe cells, inducing differences in the amplitude ofthe package effect. In the open ocean, particulate biogenous matter dominates the optical variability of the water column. This suspended matter includes two types of particles present in variable proportions and having different spectral properties: living pigmented algal cells, and weakly pigmented or unpigmented particles mainly derived from phytoplankton as well as other living heterotrophs such as bacteria. These two categories will hereafter be referred to as the “algal” and “nonalgal” fractions. Unlike the absorption coefficients of the pigments extracted from natural popula