Highlights

Combined role of Iron and toxic environmental elements in human endometriosis?




A recent international study arising from the collaboration of Burlo Garofolo hospital in Trieste and Elettra highlights the existence of a possible link between endometriosis and exposure to environmental pollutants, specifically metals. Endometriosis is an estrogen-dependent disease affecting about 10–15 % of women worldwide in fertile age. The pathology manifests as growth of endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity. Although the disease etiology has not yet been clarified, retrograde menstruation has become the most widely accepted theory for the initial development. However, since retrograde menstruation is quite common among women and not all of them suffer from endometriosis, other concurrent conditions promote the adhesion and the proliferation of endometrial tissue in very distant organs, such as lungs and brain. Even though most manifestations are known to arise from an oxidative stress state sustaining the inflammatory condition, it is generally accepted that several other factors may concur to the pathogenesis, including environmental factors and genetic predisposition. 

Thus, there is an increasing interest to explore the potential role of the exposure to environmental endocrine disruptors in the pathogenesis of this frequent and distressing disease.
Several studies have suggested a link between endometriosis and an altered iron metabolism, and possibly to other metals. In order to better investigate the iron overloads as well as the possible role or appearance of other metals in the endometrial lesions of women affected by endometriosis, X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) imaging at sub-micrometric spatial resolution was employed. Namely, low energy X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) mapping, combined with soft X-ray microscopy imaging, was carried out at the TwinMic of Elettra, and were complemented by hard XRF mappaing at ID21 and ID16b beamline of ESRF (Grenoble, France). This experimental approach allowed to cover a wide energy range and thus investigate the presence of several chemical elements, comparing healthy and diseased tissues.

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Detention and mapping of iron and toxic environmental elements in human ovarian endometriosis: A suggested combined role;
L. Pascolo, M. Pachetti, A. Camillo, A. Cernogoraz, C. Rizzardi, K. Vogel Mikus, F. Zanconati, M. Salomé, V. Suárez Tardillo, F. Romano, G. Zito, A. Gianoncelli and G. Ricci;
Science of The Total Environment, p. 161028 (2022).
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.161028


 


 

Glucose metabolism studied by low Energy XRF



Glucose metabolism is difficult to image with cellular resolution in mammalian brain tissue, particularly with 18fluorodeoxy-D-glucose (FDG) positron emission to- mography (PET). To this end, we explored the potential of synchrotron-based low-energy X-ray fluorescence (LEXRF) to image the stable isotope of fluorine (F) in phosphorylated FDG (DG-6P) at 1 um2 spatial resolution in 3 um-thick brain slices. The excitation-dependent fluorescence F signal at 676 eV varied linearly with FDG concentration between 0.5 and 10 mM, whereas the en- dogenous background F signal was undetectable in brain.



To validate LEXRF mapping of fluorine, FDG was administered in vitro and in vivo, and the fluorine LEXRF signal from intracellular trapped FDG-6P over selected brain areas rich in radial glia was spectrally quantitated at 1 lm2 resolution. The subsequent generation of spatial LEXRF maps of F reproduced the expected localization and gradients of glucose metabolism in retinal Mueller glia. In addition, FDG uptake was localized to periventric-ular hypothalamic tanycytes, whose morphological features were imaged simultaneously by X-ray absorption. We conclude that the high specificity of photon emission from F and its spatial mapping at 1 um resolution demonstrates the ability to identify glucose uptake at subcellular resolution and holds remarkable potential for imaging glucose metabolism in biological tissue.



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Feasibility of Direct Mapping of Cerebral Fluorodeoxy-D-Glucose Metabolism In Situ at Subcellular Resolution Using Soft X-Ray Fluorescence;
C. Poitry-Yamate, A. Gianoncelli, B. Kaulich, G. Kourousias, A.W. Magill, M. Lepore, V. Gajdosik, R. Gruetter;

Journal of Neuroscience Research 2012.
doi:10.1016/j.nima.2009.06.035




Cells and nanoparticles: a complex story


The effect of the concentration of cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4) nanoparticles (NPs) on their intracellular location and distribution has been explored by synchrotron radiation X-ray and fluorescence microscopy (SR-XRF) monitoring the evolution of NPs elemental composition as well. In cells exposed to low concentrations of CoFe2O4 NPs, the NPs preferentially segregate in the perinuclear region preserving their initial chemical content. At concentrations exceeding 500 uM the XRF spectra indicate the presence of Co and Fe also in the nuclear region, accompanied by sensible changes in the cellular morphology.


The increase of the Co/Fe ratio measured in the nuclear compartment indicates that above certain concentrations the CoFe2O4 NPs intracellular distribution could be accompanied by biodegradation resulting in Co accumulation in the nucleus.


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Cellular distribution and degradation of cobalt ferrite nanoparticles in Balb/3T3 mouse fibroblasts;
P Marmorato, G Ceccone, A Gianoncelli, L Pascolo, J Ponti, F Rossi, M Salomé, B Kaulich, M Kiskinova;
Toxicology Letters 207 (2011) 128– 136.
doi:10.1016/j.toxlet.2011.08.026



Synchrotron soft X-ray imaging and fluorescence microscopy to study asbestos body morphology and composition in human lung tissues

Asbestos is an established carcinogen and poses a number of serious health risks. While it is a prominent factor in asbestosis, the most aggressive illness associated with this mineral is pleural mesothelioma, a cancer that develops in the lining of the lungs. While asbestos exposure has been linked to cancer for quite long time, mechanisms are still undefined how exactly the fibres exert their toxic and carcinogenic activity. In our study, we used synchrotron soft X-ray imaging and X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF) microscopy to examine the chemical makeup of human tissues containing asbestos fibers. We have revealed new details in the chemical mechanisms that lock asbestos fibers in the lung and that could dictate how the body reacts to this dangerous material.
 

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Synchrotron soft X-ray imaging and fluorescence microscopy reveal novel features of asbestos body morphology and composition in human lung tissues;
L. Pascolo, A. Gianoncelli, B. Kaulich, C. Rizzardi, M. Schneider, C. Bottin, M. Polentarutti, M. Kiskinova, A. Longoni, M. Melato, Particle and Fibre Toxicology 8
doi:10.1186/1743-8977-8-7



X-ray Imaging and Microspectroscopy Study of Metallic Plate Corrosion and Uptake of Corrosion Products by Nafion in PEMFCs


Room-temperature ionic liquids are being intensively investigated as green solvents for several applications, but relatively limited research has been devoted to the stability of metals in contact with them. This paper reports a pioneering investigation of the corrosion of Ni in contact with room-temperature ionic liquid (RTIL) 1-butyl-1-methyl-pyrrolidinium bis (trifluoromethylsulfonyl) amide ([BMP][TFSA]), based on soft X-ray scanning transmission microscopy (STXM) - in conjunction with micro-spot X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and X-ray Fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF). X-ray imaging combined with spectromicroscopy allows in-situ characterisation of complex multi-material systems in electrochemical environments with submicrometer lateral resolution.1-5 Thanks to the properties of this RTIL, an open electrochemical cell could be used in vacuo for exploring some fundamental aspects of the aggressiveness of this RTIL towards Ni under in-situ electrochemical polarisation.

The possibility of imaging electrochemicallyinduced morphological features in conjunction with local XAS and XRF spectroscopies, yields details of the space distribution and chemical state of the corrosion products.

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Corrosion of Ni in 1-butyl-1-methyl-pyrrolidinium bis (trifluoromethylsulfonyl) amide room-temperature ionic liquid: an in-situ X-ray imaging and spectromicroscopy study;
B. Bozzini, A. Gianoncelli, B. Kaulich, M. Kiskinova, C. Mele, M. Prasciolu, ;
Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 13, (2011) 7968-7974.
doi:10.1039/C0CP02618BA


New insights into globoids of protein storage vacuoles in wheat aleurone using synchrotron soft X-ray microscopy


Mature developed seeds are physiologically and biochemically committed to store nutrients, principally as starch, protein, oils, and minerals. The composition and distribution of elements inside the aleurone cell layer reflect their biogenesis, structural characteristics, and physiological functions. It is therefore of primary importance to understand the mechanisms underlying metal ion accumulation, distribution, storage, and bioavailability in aleurone subcellular organelles for seed fortification purposes. Synchrotron radiation soft X-ray full-field imaging mode (FFIM) and low-energy X-ray fluorescence (LEXRF) spectromicroscopy were applied to characterize major structural features and the subcellular distribution of physiologically important elements (Zn, Fe, Na, Mg, Al, Si, and P). These direct imaging methods reveal the accumulation patterns between the apoplast and symplast, and highlight the importance of globoids with phytic acid mineral salts and walls as preferential storage structures. C, N, and O chemical topographies are directly linked to the structural backbone of plant substructures.

Zn, Fe, Na, Mg, Al, and P were linked to globoid structures within protein storage vacuoles with variable levels of co-localization. Si distribution was atypical, being contained in the aleurone apoplast and symplast, supporting a physiological role for Si in addition to its structural function. These results reveal that the immobilization of metals within the observed endomembrane structures presents a structural and functional barrier and affects bioavailability. The combination of
high spatial and chemical X-ray microscopy techniques highlights how in situ analysis can yield new insights into the complexity of the wheat aleurone layer, whose precise biochemical composition, morphology, and structural characteristics are still not unequivocally resolved.

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New insights into globoids of protein storage vacuoles in wheat aleurone using synchrotron soft X-ray microscopy;
M. Regvar, D. Eichert, B. Kaulich, A. Gianoncelli, P. Pongrac, K. Vogel-Mikus, I. Kreft;
J Exp Bot, 62(11), (2011) 3929-3939.
doi:10.1093/jxb/err090


Localization of aluminium in tea (Camellia sinensis) leaves using low energy X-ray fluorescence spectro-microscopy

Information on localization of Al in tea leaf tissues allows to understand better Al tolerance mechanism in this Al-accumulating plant species.
Here, we have used low-energy X-ray fluorescence spectro-microscopy (LEXRF) to study localization of Al and other low Z-elements, namely C, O, Mg, Si and P, in fully developed leaves of the tea plant [Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze].
Plants were grown from seeds for 3 months in a hydroponic solution, and then exposed to 200 uM AlCl3 for 2 weeks. Epidermal-mesophyll and xylem phloem regions of 20 um thick cryo-fixed freeze-dried tea-leaf cross-sections were raster scanned with 1.7 and 2.2 keV excitation energies to reach the Al–K and P–K absorption edges. Al was mainly localized in the cell walls of the leaf epidermal cells, while
almost no Al signal was obtained from the leaf symplast.

The results suggest that the retention of Al in epidermal leaf apoplast represent the main tolerance mechanism to Al in tea plants. In addition LEXRF proved to be a powerful tool for localization of Al in plant tissues, which can help in our understanding of the processes of Al uptake, transport and tolerance in plants.

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Localization of aluminium in tea (Camellia sinensis) leaves using low-energy X-ray fluorescence spectro-microscopy;
R. Tolra, K. Vogel-Mikus, R. Hajiboland, P. Kump. P. Pongrac, B. Kaulich, A. Gianoncelli, V. Babin, J. Barcelo, M. Regvar, C. Poschenrieder;
J Plant Research 124, 165-172;
doi:10.1007/s10265-010-0344-3


New Low Energy X-ray Fluorescence system

Novel low-energyX-ray fluorescence (LEXRF) system based on a multiple Si drift detector (SDD) configuration has been developed and implemented in the European TwinMic X-ray microspectroscopy station operating at the Italian synchrotron radiation facility ELETTRA. The setup, hosting up to eight large-area SDDs with specially adapted readout electronics, has demonstrated excellent performance for element alanalysis in the 400–2200 eV photon energy range, which covers the K and L edges of light elements, starting from B. The great advantage is the simultaneous acquisition of LEXRF, absorption and phase contrast maps,providing complementary information on elemental composition and morphology of specimen at submicrometer length scales.

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Simultaneous Soft X-ray Transmission and Emission Microscopy;
A. Gianoncelli, B. Kaulich, M. Kiskinova, R. Alberti, T. Klatka, A. Longoni, A. de Marco, A. Marcello;
Nucl. Instr. and Meth. A 608 (1), 195-198.
doi:10.1016/j.nima.2009.06.035

 

Last Updated on Wednesday, 13 December 2023 17:27