Browsing by Author "Storer, B"

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    Mitochondrial translocator protein (TSPO) expression in the brain after whole body gamma irradiation
    (Frontier Media S.A., 2021-10-25) Betlazar, C; Middleton, RJ; Howell, NR; Storer, B; Davis, E; Davies, JB; Banati, RB; Liu, GJ
    The brain’s early response to low dose ionizing radiation, as may be encountered during diagnostic procedures and space exploration, is not yet fully characterized. In the brain parenchyma, the mitochondrial translocator protein (TSPO) is constitutively expressed at low levels by endothelial cells, and can therefore be used to assess the integrity of the brain’s vasculature. At the same time, the inducible expression of TSPO in activated microglia, the brain’s intrinsic immune cells, is a regularly observed early indicator of subtle or incipient brain pathology. Here, we explored the use of TSPO as a biomarker of brain tissue injury following whole body irradiation. Post-radiation responses were measured in C57BL/6 wild type (Tspo+/+) and TSPO knockout (Tspo–/–) mice 48 h after single whole body gamma irradiations with low doses 0, 0.01, and 0.1 Gy and a high dose of 2 Gy. Additionally, post-radiation responses of primary microglial cell cultures were measured at 1, 4, 24, and 48 h at an irradiation dose range of 0 Gy-2 Gy. TSPO mRNA and protein expression in the brain showed a decreased trend after 0.01 Gy relative to sham-irradiated controls, but remained unchanged after higher doses. Immunohistochemistry confirmed subtle decreases in TSPO expression after 0.01 Gy in vascular endothelial cells of the hippocampal region and in ependymal cells, with no detectable changes following higher doses. Cytokine concentrations in plasma after whole body irradiation showed differential changes in IL-6 and IL-10 with some variations between Tspo–/– and Tspo+/+ animals. The in vitro measurements of TSPO in primary microglial cell cultures showed a significant reduction 1 h after low dose irradiation (0.01 Gy). In summary, acute low and high doses of gamma irradiation up to 2 Gy reduced TSPO expression in the brain’s vascular compartment without de novo induction of TSPO expression in parenchymal microglia, while TSPO expression in directly irradiated, isolated, and thus highly activated microglia, too, was reduced after low dose irradiation. The potential link between TSPO, its role in mitochondrial energy metabolism and the selective radiation sensitivity, notably of cells with constitutive TSPO expression such as vascular endothelial cells, merits further exploration. © The Authors - Open Access
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    Small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) study on the structure of sodium caseinate in dispersions and at the oil-water interface: effect of calcium ions
    (Elsevier B. V., 2022-04) Cheng, LR; Ye, AQ; Yang, Z; Gilbert, EP; Knott, RB; de Campo, L; Storer, B; Hemar, Y; Singh, H
    The structure of sodium caseinate particles, as affected by the presence of calcium ions (Ca2+), in aqueous solution and in oil (toluene)-in-water emulsions, was investigated by small-angle X-ray and neutron scattering (SAXS and SANS). SAXS analyses indicated that the sodium caseinate dispersed in water as small particles with electrostatic interactions, which has a radius of gyration (Rg) of ~5 nm and an effective radius (Reff) of ~ 10 nm with an assuming spherical shape. In the presence of Ca2+, the caseinate particles aggregated as large particles with a hydrodynamic diameter > 100 nm as determined by dynamic light scattering. The networks within the large particles were self-assembled from the small Ca2+-cross-linked particles (Rg ~ 6.5–8.0 nm), as probed by SAXS. The fractal-like dimension increased from 2.5 to 3.4 with increasing protein and CaCl2 concentrations, suggesting a denser structure. The integrity of the caseinate particles at the oil-water interface was enhanced by Ca2+ cross-linking, as observed by transmission electron microscopy. The oilsingle bondwater interface stabilised by Ca2+-cross-linked caseinate particles was ~ 30 nm thick, six times thicker than that stabilised by sodium caseinate (~ 5 nm) as analysed by SANS with contrast variation technique. Quantifying the structure of sodium caseinate in an aqueous solution and at the oil-water interface provides valuable insights for designing new casein-based functional materials. © 2022 Elsevier Ltd