Romanian Academy

About: Romanian Academy is a archive organization based out in Bucharest, Romania. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Nonlinear system. The organization has 3662 authors who have published 10491 publications receiving 146447 citations. The organization is also known as: Academia Română & Societatea Literară Română.

Proteomic analysis of plasma membranes isolated from undifferentiated and differentiated HepaRG cells

Abstract: Liver infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV), a DNA virus of the Hepadnaviridae family, leads to severe disease, such as fibrosis, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. The early steps of the viral life cycle are largely obscure and the host cell plasma membrane receptors are not known. HepaRG is the only proliferating cell line supporting HBV infection in vitro, following specific differentiation, allowing for investigation of new host host-cell factors involved in viral entry, within a more robust and reproducible environment. Viral infection generally begins with receptor recognition at the host cell surface, following highly specific cell-virus interactions. Most of these interactions are expected to take place at the plasma membrane of the HepaRG cells. In the present study, we used this cell line to explore changes between the plasma membrane of undifferentiated (−) and differentiated (+) cells and to identify differentially-regulated proteins or signaling networks that might potentially be involved in HBV entry. Our initial study identified a series of proteins that are differentially expressed in the plasma membrane of (−) and (+) cells and are good candidates for potential cell-virus interactions. To our knowledge, this is the first study using functional proteomics to study plasma membrane proteins from HepaRG cells, providing a platform for future experiments that will allow us to understand the cell-virus interaction and mechanism of HBV viral infection.

Different Profile of Peripheral Antioxidant Enzymes and Lipid Peroxidation in Active and Non-active Inflammatory Bowel Disease Patients

Abstract: The role of oxidative stress in inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) has been extended lately from a simple consequence of inflammation to a potential etiological factor, but the data are still controversial. Active disease has been characterized before by an enhanced production of reactive oxygen species and the increased peroxidation of lipids, but patients in remission were generally not considered different from healthy people in terms of oxidative stress. We evaluated the antioxidant defense capacity and lipid peroxidation status in the serum of patients with active and non-active disease compared with healthy matched control subjects. The study included 20 patients with confirmed IBD in clinical and biological remission, 21 patients with active disease, and 18 controls. We determined the serum levels of two antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and a lipid peroxidation marker, malondialdehyde (MDA). Active disease patients had an increased activity of both SOD and GPX, as well as significant high values of MDA versus controls. Furthermore, patients being in remission had significantly lower values of antioxidant enzymes (SOD and GPX) and increased lipid peroxidation measured by MDA serum levels, as compared with healthy control subjects. Our study confirmed the presence of high oxidative stress in active IBD. More importantly, we have demonstrated a lower antioxidant capacity of patients in remission versus control group. This may represent a risk factor for the disease and can be an additional argument for the direct implication of oxidative stress in the pathogenesis of IBD.

The SWAP EUV Imaging Telescope. Part II: In-flight Performance and Calibration

Abstract: The Sun Watcher with Active Pixel System detector and Image Processing (SWAP) telescope was launched on 2 November 2009 onboard the ESA PROBA2 technological mission and has acquired images of the solar corona every one to two minutes for more than two years. The most important technological developments included in SWAP are a radiation-resistant CMOS-APS detector and a novel onboard data-prioritization scheme. Although such detectors have been used previously in space, they have never been used for long-term scientific observations on orbit. Thus SWAP requires a careful calibration to guarantee the science return of the instrument. Since launch we have regularly monitored the evolution of SWAP’s detector response in-flight to characterize both its performance and degradation over the course of the mission. These measurements are also used to reduce detector noise in calibrated images (by subtracting dark-current). Because accurate measurements of detector dark-current require large telescope off-points, we also monitored straylight levels in the instrument to ensure that these calibration measurements are not contaminated by residual signal from the Sun. Here we present the results of these tests and examine the variation of instrumental response and noise as a function of both time and temperature throughout the mission.

Dual role of lipoproteins in endothelial cell dysfunction in atherosclerosis.

Abstract: The endothelium is a key constituent of the vascular wall, being actively involved in maintaining the structural integrity and proper functioning of blood vessels. Hyperlipidemia, diabetes, hypertension, smoking and aging are important risk factors for the dysfunction of endothelial cells (EC). Circulating lipoproteins (Lp) synthesized and secreted from the intestine or liver have an important role in supplying peripheral tissues with fatty acids from triglyceride rich lipoproteins (TGRLp) for energy production or storage, and cholesterol from low density lipoproteins (LDL) or high density lipoproteins (HDL) for the synthesis of cellular membranes and steroid hormones. Under pathological conditions, Lp may suffer alterations in concentration and composition and become aggressors for EC. Modified LDL, remnant Lp, TGRLp lipolysis products, dysfunctional HDL are involved in the changes induced in EC morphology (reduced glycocalyx, overdeveloped endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus and basement membrane), loose intercellular junctions, increased oxidative and inflammatory stress, nitric oxide/redox imbalance, excess Lp transport and storage, as well as loss of anti-thrombotic properties, all of these being characteristics of endothelial dysfunction. Normal HDL are able to counteract the harmful effects of atherogenic Lp in EC but under persistent pathological conditions they lose the protective properties and become pro-atherogenic. This review summarises recent advances in understanding the role of Lp in the induction of endothelial dysfunction and the initiation and progression of atherosclerotic lesions. Its main focus is the antagonistic role of atherogenic Lp (LDL, VLDL, dysfunctional HDL) versus anti-atherogenic Lp (HDL), also pointing out the potential targets for arresting or reversing this process.