Ativação de defesa em cacaueiro contra a murcha-de-verticílio por extratos naturais e acibenzolar-S-metil

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o potencial de extratos fúngicos e vegetais na redução da murcha-de-verticílio do cacaueiro, as atividades da peroxidase e polifenoloxidase e o conteúdo de lignina. Mudas de cacaueiro foram pulverizadas com filtrado de micélio de Rhizopus sp. (FMR), quitosana de Rhizopus sp. (QMR) e Trichoderma sp. (QMT), extratos de casca in natura e seca de maracujá, extrato metanólico de casca seca de frutos de maracujá (MMS) e acibenzolar-S-metil (ASM - 0.2 mg mL-1) e sete dias depois, submetidas à inoculação de Verticillium dahliae. O ASM reduziu a murcha-de-verticílio em 38,0%, seguido dos extratos FMR, QMT, MMS e QMR, que apresentaram reduções em 22,8, 20,1, 19,2 e 15,7%, respectivamente, em relação à testemunha. Plantas pulverizadas com ASM ou FMR seguidas de inoculação apresentaram aumento da atividade de peroxidase aos oito dias após a pulverização, comparadas às respectivas testemunhas, com pico aos 18 dias após a pulverização. ASM e FMR aumentaram a atividade de polifenoloxidase aos quatro dias após a pulverização. Maiores concentrações de lignina foram obtidas em plantas tratadas com FMR e FMR seguido de inoculação. FMR é um potencial indutor de resistência para manejo de murcha-de-verticílio em cacaueiro.

Targeting microglial KATP channels to treat neurodegenerative diseases: a mitochondrial issue

Neurodegeneration is a complex process involving different cell types and neurotransmitters. A common characteristic of neurodegenerative disorders is the occurrence of a neuroinflammatory reaction in which cellular processes involving glial cells, mainly microglia and astrocytes, are activated in response to neuronal death. Microglia do not constitute a unique cell population but rather present a range of phenotypes closely related to the evolution of neurodegeneration. In a dynamic equilibrium with the lesion microenvironment, microglia phenotypes cover from a proinflammatory activation state to a neurotrophic one directly involved in cell repair and extracellular matrix remodeling. At each moment, the microglial phenotype is likely to depend on the diversity of signals from the environment and of its response capacity. As a consequence, microglia present a high energy demand, for which the mitochondria activity determines the microglia participation in the neurodegenerative process. As such, modulation of microglia activity by controlling microglia mitochondrial activity constitutes an innovative approach to interfere in the neurodegenerative process. In this review, we discuss the mitochondrial KATP channel as a new target to control microglia activity, avoid its toxic phenotype, and facilitate a positive disease outcome.

Targeting microglial KATP channels to treat neurodegenerative diseases: a mitochondrial issue

Neurodegeneration is a complex process involving different cell types and neurotransmitters. A common characteristic of neurodegenerative disorders is the occurrence of a neuroinflammatory reaction in which cellular processes involving glial cells, mainly microglia and astrocytes, are activated in response to neuronal death. Microglia do not constitute a unique cell population but rather present a range of phenotypes closely related to the evolution of neurodegeneration. In a dynamic equilibrium with the lesion microenvironment, microglia phenotypes cover from a proinflammatory activation state to a neurotrophic one directly involved in cell repair and extracellular matrix remodeling. At each moment, the microglial phenotype is likely to depend on the diversity of signals from the environment and of its response capacity. As a consequence, microglia present a high energy demand, for which the mitochondria activity determines the microglia participation in the neurodegenerative process. As such, modulation of microglia activity by controlling microglia mitochondrial activity constitutes an innovative approach to interfere in the neurodegenerative process. In this review, we discuss the mitochondrial KATP channel as a new target to control microglia activity, avoid its toxic phenotype, and facilitate a positive disease outcome.

Enhanced cerebral expression of MCT1 and MCT2 in a rat ischemia model occurs in activated microglial cells.

Monocarboxylate transporters (MCTs) are essential for the use of lactate, an energy substrate known to be overproduced in brain during an ischemic episode. The expression of MCT1 and MCT2 was investigated at 48 h of reperfusion from focal ischemia induced by unilateral extradural compression in Wistar rats. Increased MCT1 mRNA expression was detected in the injured cortex and hippocampus of compressed animals compared to sham controls. In the contralateral, uncompressed hemisphere, increases in MCT1 mRNA level in the cortex and MCT2 mRNA level in the hippocampus were noted. Interestingly, strong MCT1 and MCT2 protein expression was found in peri-lesional macrophages/microglia and in an isolectin B4+/S100beta+ cell population in the corpus callosum. In vitro, MCT1 and MCT2 protein expression was observed in the N11 microglial cell line, whereas an enhancement of MCT1 expression by tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) was shown in these cells. Modulation of MCT expression in microglia suggests that these transporters may help sustain microglial functions during recovery from focal brain ischemia. Overall, our study indicates that changes in MCT expression around and also away from the ischemic area, both at the mRNA and protein levels, are a part of the metabolic adaptations taking place in the brain after ischemia.

Microglial cells in astroglial cultures: a cautionary note

Primary rodent astroglial-enriched cultures are the most popular model to study astroglial biology in vitro. From the original methods described in the 1970's a great number of minor modifications have been incorporated into these protocols by different laboratories. These protocols result in cultures in which the astrocyte is the predominant cell type, but astrocytes are never 100% of cells in these preparations. The aim of this review is to bring attention to the presence of microglia in astroglial cultures because, in my opinion, the proportion of and the role that microglial cells play in astroglial cultures are often underestimated. The main problem with ignoring microglia in these cultures is that relatively minor amounts of microglia can be responsible for effects observed on cultures in which the astrocyte is the most abundant cell type. If the relative contributions of astrocytes and microglia are not properly assessed an observed effect can be erroneously attributed to the astrocytes. In order to illustrate this point the case of NO production in activated astroglial-enriched cultures is examined. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induces nitric oxide (NO) production in astroglial-enriched cultures and this effect is very often attributed to astrocytes. However, a careful review of the published data suggests that LPS-induced NO production in rodent astroglial-enriched cultures is likely to be mainly microglial in origin. This review considers cell culture protocol factors that can affect the proportion of microglial cells in astroglial cultures, strategies to minimize the proportion of microglia in these cultures, and specific markers that allow the determination of such microglial proportions.

Ativação do peróxido de hidrogênio para a epoxidação de olefinas não-funcionalizadas

A general overview about the more useful activating agents of the hydrogen peroxide in the epoxidation of unfunctionalized alkenes, focusing mechanistic proposals. Moreover, reactivity and stereochemistry, including the stereogenic effect of the hydroxyl group is presented.

The L-type voltage-gated calcium channel modulates microglial pro-inflammatory activity

Under pathological conditions, microglia, the resident CNS immune cells, become reactive and release pro-inflammatory cytokines and neurotoxic factors. We investigated whether this phenotypic switch includes changes in the expression of the L-type voltage-gated calcium channel (VGCC) in a rat model of N-methyl-d-aspartate-induced hippocampal neurodegeneration. Double immunohistochemistry and confocal microscopy evidenced that activated microglia express the L-type VGCC. We then analyzed whether BV2 microglia express functional L-type VGCC, and investigated the latter's role in microglial cytokine release and phagocytic capacity. Activated BV2 microglia express the CaV1.2 and CaV1.3 subunits of the L-type VGCC determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, Western blot and immunocytochemistry. Depolarization with KCl induced a Ca2+ entry facilitated by Bay k8644 and partially blocked with nifedipine, which also reduced TNF-α and NO release by 40%. However, no nifedipine effect on BV2 microglia viability or phagocytic capacity was observed. Our results suggest that in CNS inflammatory processes, the L-type VGCC plays a specific role in the control of microglial secretory activity.

Emprego de compostos organometálicos mononucleares de paládio(II) na ativação de macrófagos peritoneais de camundongos

The immune responses are mediated by a variety of cells that, when activated, produce a number of molecules. Macrophages are the first cells to take part in the immune response releasing many compounds in the extracellular environment such as H2O2. Taking into account this aspect we evaluated the activation of an immunological system, in vitro, by determining the H2O2 released in cultures of peritoneal macrophage cells from Swiss mice in the presence of organopalladated compounds of the type [Pd(dmba)(X)(dppp)], dmba = N,N-dimethylbenzylamine, dppp = 1,3-bis(diphenylphosphine)propane, X = Cl, N3, NCO, NCS. An excellent activation of macrophages by the [Pd(dmba)(X)(dppp)] compounds was observed and the influence of the X ligand on the immune response could be verified.

O emprego da termogravimetria para determinar a energia de ativação do processo de combustão de óleos combustíveis

Activation energy (Ea) is a parameter that can be applied to make predictions about the quality of oils to be used in an ICO engine. In this study, Ea was determined by thermogravimetry following two different procedures: ASTM E 1641 and Model-free kinetics. The energies were calculated in the low temperature oxidation (LTO) region for three Brazilian fuel oils (denominated A, B and C) and the results were equal using both methods: 43 kJ mol-1 (alpha=0.1 to 0.9) for oil A, 48 kJ mol-1 (alpha=0.1 to 0.5) and 65 kJ mol-1 (alpha=0.5 to 0.9) for oil B, and 58 kJ mol-1 (alpha=0.1 to 0.5) and 65 kJ mol-1 (alpha=0.5 to 0.9) for oil C. It was concluded that, among the oils studied, sample A was potentially the best option concerning the behavior in the LTO region.

Argilas bentoníticas da península de Santa Elena, Equador: pilarização, ativação ácida e seu uso como descolorante de óleo de soja

Two samples of calcic bentonite of the Santa Elena Peninsula, Ecuador, were pillared with Al13 ions in the ratio of 10, 15 and 20 meq of Al g-1 of clay, calcinated at 573, 723 and 873 ºK and acid activated with 4, 6 and 8 mol L-1 H2SO4. Analyses by X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, differential and gravimetric thermal, density, surface area and porosity, were applied in order to study the modifications occurred in the crystalline structure of the montmorillonite. The 8 mol L-1 H2SO4 acid-activated 15 meq of Al g-1 of clay at 573 ºK Al-pillared samples indicated the best results in the bleaching of the soybean oil measured by UV-visible spectrophotometer.

O desafio da ativação das ligações C-H em síntese orgânica

This review aims at to the presentation and discussion of the principal aspects of the C-H activation by transition metals. Representative examples were selected from the recent literature to illustrate these principles beginning with somewhat simple examples and moving up to more complex ones. The synthetic potential of the C-H activation, as well as the potential advantages and disadvantages of the methodology are highlighted with relevant recent examples, along with brief insights on the mechanism aspects of these reactions.

Triagem de suportes orgânicos e protocolos de ativação na imobilização e estabilização de lipase de Thermomyces lanuginosus

Lipase from Thermomyces lanuginosus was covalently immobilized on activated poly-hydroxybutyrate, sugarcane bagasse and the chemically modified hybrid hydrogel chitosan-alginate prepared by different strategies. Among the tested supports, chitosan-alginate chemically modified with 2,4,6-trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid rendered derivatives with the highest hydrolytic activity and thermal-stability, 45-fold more stable than soluble lipase and was then selected for further studies. The pH of maximum activity was similar for both immobilized and free lipase (pH 8.0) while optimum temperature was 5 - 10 ºC higher for the immobilized lipase. Higher yields in the butyl butyrate synthesis were found for the derivatives prepared by activation with glycidol and epichlorohydrin.

Efeito da ativação mecânica de uma formulação de talco/caulim/alumina sobre o mecanismo e a cinética de formação de cordierita

In this study, the influence of mechanical activation by intensive ball milling of a stoichiometric mixture of talc, kaolin, and alumina on the mechanism and kinetics of cordierite (2MgO·2Al2O3·5SiO2) formation was evaluated. The raw materials were characterized by chemical analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), laser diffraction, and helium pycnometry. The kinetics and mechanism of cordierite formation were studied by XRD, differential thermal analysis, and dilatometry in order to describe the phase formation as a function of temperature (1000-1400 ºC), time of thermochemical treatment (0-4 h), and grinding time of the mixture (0-45 min). Finally, the optimal conditions of the thermochemical treatment that ensured the formation of cordierite were determined: milling time of 45 min and thermal treatment at 1280 ºC for 1 h.

Estudo da cinética de oxidação de biodiesel b100 obtido de óleo de soja e gordura de porco: determinação da energia de ativação

The quality of biodiesel is extremely important for its commercialization and use; oxidation of biodiesel is a critical factor because it decreases the fuel storage time. A commercial biodiesel was mixed with synthetic antioxidants, according to a simplex-centroid experimental mixture design, and its stability was evaluated through induction period and activation energy. In all trials, addition of antioxidants increased activation energy in the mixtures containing tertiary butylhydroquinone (TBHQ). When a mixture containing 50% TBHQ and 50% butylated hydroxyanisole was used, synergistic effect was observed, and the major activation energy obtained was 104.43 kJ mol-1.

Seleção de extratos vegetais para indução de resistência e ativação de respostas de defesa em cacaueiro contra a vassoura-de-bruxa

Objetivou-se encontrar novos indutores de resistência contra a vassoura-de-bruxa (Crinipellis perniciosa) do cacaueiro (Theobroma cacao), com eficácia igual ou superior a aquela conferida pelo indutor de resistência padrão, acibenzolar-S-metil, e estudar possíveis respostas de defesa ativadas no cacaueiro por esses eliciadores mais eficazes. Foram testados extratos de várias plantas, principalmente, nativas do cerrado mineiro, bem como extratos provenientes de outras espécies cultivadas. Verificou-se que extratos aquosos produzidos a partir de ramos de lobeira (Solanum lycocarpum) com sintomas de vassoura-de-bruxa induziram proteção de mudas de cacaueiros contra a mesma doença em nível estatisticamente similar à proteção conferida pelo ASM. O extrato aquoso e fervido de lobeira, aqui denominado VLA, não foi tóxico in vitro, pelo contrário, induziu maior crescimento do fungo C. perniciosa em BDA, quando comparado à testemunha (crescimento em BDA puro). Quando se quantificou a atividade de proteínas relacionadas à patogênese (quitinase e beta-1,3-glucanase) estimuladas por VLA e ASM (como padrão), observou-se que ambos os tratamentos induziram maiores atividades de peroxidase, quitinase e beta-1,3-glucanase em mudas de cacaueiros, comparados às respectivas testemunhas, no período de 4 a 18 dias após a pulverização (DAP). Também o teor de lignina aumentou em plantas tratadas com VLA ou ASM, principalmente aos 18 DAP.