J C Schmitt's research primarily investigates how oxidative stress, a form of cellular damage, hampers the ability of immune cells called macrophages to remove excess cholesterol from arteries. He highlights how a type of damaged cholesterol, introduced through stress, disrupts the normal functions of these cells. This is particularly important for individuals with obesity and high blood pressure, as chronic oxidative stress leads to a build-up of harmful cholesterol, significantly increasing their risk of developing heart disease.
Additionally, Schmitt explores the impact of oxidative stress on hormone-producing cells. His studies show that damaged cholesterol enters the mitochondria (the power plants of cells) in these hormone-making cells, interfering with their ability to produce vital hormones. This raises concerns about hormone imbalances in conditions like aging and metabolic diseases.
Key findings
In one study, researchers found that oxidative stress caused macrophages to lose their ability to remove cholesterol, leading to a higher risk of heart disease due to plaque build-up caused by excess cholesterol.
Another study revealed that under chronic stress, a protein mistakenly transports harmful oxidized cholesterol into the mitochondria of macrophages, impairing cholesterol removal and increasing heart disease risk.
Schmitt discovered that the presence of damaged cholesterol in hormone-producing cells led to mitochondrial damage, ultimately resulting in cell death and potentially explaining hormone issues such as infertility.
Frequently asked questions
Does Dr J C Schmitt study heart disease?
Yes, he focuses on how oxidative stress impacts cholesterol removal in immune cells, which is critical for preventing heart disease.
What types of conditions does Dr Schmitt's research address?
His research addresses conditions related to oxidative stress, such as obesity, high blood pressure, and metabolic diseases that affect cholesterol management.
Is Dr Schmitt's work relevant to hormone-related conditions?
Yes, his studies on how damaged cholesterol affects hormone-producing cells are relevant to understanding hormonal imbalances related to aging and infertility.
Publications in plain English
Efficacy of a transdiagnostic internet-based program for adolescents with emotional disorders: A randomized controlled trial.
2024
Behaviour research and therapy
Espinosa V, Valiente RM, García-Escalera J, Chorot P, Arnáez S +2 more
Plain English This study tested an online program called "Learn to Manage your Emotions" (AMtE) that helps teenagers deal with anxiety and depression. Researchers found that both the AMtE program and a traditional video call therapy reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression among 58 Spanish teenagers, with both groups showing significant improvements. The results show that the AMtE program is an effective alternative for treating emotional disorders in young people, making therapy more accessible.
Who this helps: This helps teenagers struggling with emotional disorders and their families.
Prevention of Depression and Anxiety in Subclinical Adolescents: Effects of a Transdiagnostic Internet-Delivered CBT Program.
2022
International journal of environmental research and public health
Schmitt JC, Valiente RM, García-Escalera J, Arnáez S, Espinosa V +2 more
Plain English This study looked at an online program called AMTE designed to prevent anxiety and depression in teenagers who show early signs of these issues. It involved 30 adolescents aged 12 to 18, and after completing the program, they reported a significant drop in both their anxiety and depression symptoms. Specifically, participants showed improvements in self-reported and clinician-rated symptoms, as well as reduced anxiety sensitivity and emotional avoidance.
Who this helps: This benefits adolescents at risk for anxiety and depression and their families.
Effects of Coronavirus Fears on Anxiety and Depressive Disorder Symptoms in Clinical and Subclinical Adolescents: The Role of Negative Affect, Intolerance of Uncertainty, and Emotion Regulation Strategies.
Plain English This study looked at how fears related to COVID-19 affect anxiety and depression in teenagers. Researchers found that fears about the virus, along with feelings of negativity and uncertainty, significantly contributed to higher anxiety and depression symptoms in 144 adolescents. Specifically, these fears and factors explained unique aspects of the severity of these mental health issues, showing that understanding these fears is important for treatment.
Who this helps: This helps teenagers experiencing anxiety and depression related to COVID-19 fears.
[The trajectories and choices of Jean-Claude Schmitt].
2019
Historia, ciencias, saude--Manguinhos
Schmitt JC, Teodoro LA
Plain English This paper presents an interview with Jean-Claude Schmitt, a prominent French scholar who specializes in medieval studies. Schmitt discusses his research approach and thematic interests, highlighting his dedication to exploring the beliefs and imagery of the Middle Ages while building on the work of Jacques Le Goff. His diverse contributions span from editing historical documents to analyzing medieval images, emphasizing the importance of understanding cultural beliefs from that era.
Who this helps: This benefits students, researchers, and anyone interested in medieval history and culture.
Observation of Flat Electron Temperature Profiles in the Lithium Tokamak Experiment.
2017
Physical review letters
Boyle DP, Majeski R, Schmitt JC, Hansen C, Kaita R +3 more
Plain English This study looked at how well certain materials can contain hot plasma in a fusion energy experiment called the Lithium Tokamak Experiment (LTX). Researchers found that after stopping the fuel injection, they achieved very high edge temperatures (over 200 eV) and flat electron temperature profiles, which led to keeping about 60% of the injected hydrogen inside the walls. This finding is important because it could improve how fusion devices are designed and operated, potentially lowering their costs.
Who this helps: This helps researchers and engineers working on fusion energy technology.
Adiabaticity of the proton-coupled electron-transfer step in the reduction of superoxide effected by nickel-containing superoxide dismutase metallopeptide-based mimics.
2015
The journal of physical chemistry. B
Shearer J, Schmitt JC, Clewett HS
Plain English This study looked at how certain nickel-containing enzymes called NiSODs help break down harmful molecules known as superoxides. The researchers found that when a specific part of the enzyme is tightly attached to the nickel, the process of breaking down superoxides becomes faster and more efficient. This is important because understanding this process can lead to better ways to manage oxidative stress in cells, which plays a role in various diseases.
Who this helps: Patients with conditions related to oxidative stress, like cancer or neurodegenerative diseases.
Impairment of Macrophage Cholesterol Efflux by Cholesterol Hydroperoxide Trafficking: Implications for Atherogenesis Under Oxidative Stress.
2015
Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology
Korytowski W, Wawak K, Pabisz P, Schmitt JC, Chadwick AC +2 more
Plain English Researchers studied how oxidative stress (cellular damage from harmful molecules) affects the ability of immune cells called macrophages to remove cholesterol from artery walls—a process that normally protects against heart disease. They discovered that a specific toxic form of oxidized cholesterol (7-OOH) gets transported into the cell's power plants (mitochondria) and damages them, which then shuts down the cholesterol removal system.
This matters because people with conditions like obesity and high blood pressure have high oxidative stress, and this research explains a new reason why their bodies can't clear cholesterol from arteries effectively, leading to heart disease.
Formation and structure of two luminescent salts of [Au(SCSN3)2]- obtained through the [2 + 3] cyclization of carbon disulfide and azide ion.
2014
Dalton transactions (Cambridge, England : 2003)
Lim SH, Schmitt JC, Shearer J, England KR, Olmstead MM +1 more
Plain English This study focused on two new compounds made from gold and special chemical components called thiolates. Researchers found that these compounds form unique structures where gold atoms are connected by thioether linkages, creating organized chains and clusters. Specifically, they noticed that the distances between gold atoms in these structures were around 3.2 to 3.3 angstroms, which is key for understanding how the materials behave and could be used in various applications.
Who this helps: This research benefits chemists and material scientists working on advanced materials or new technologies.
Cysteinate protonation and water hydrogen bonding at the active-site of a nickel superoxide dismutase metallopeptide-based mimic: implications for the mechanism of superoxide reduction.
2014
Journal of the American Chemical Society
Shearer J, Peck KL, Schmitt JC, Neupane KP
Plain English This study looked at a specific enzyme that contains nickel and helps break down harmful superoxide molecules, which can damage cells. Researchers found that a simplified version of this enzyme, created from the first few building blocks of its protein sequence, operates differently from the natural enzyme, particularly in how it interacts with water and cysteine, an amino acid. They used advanced techniques to discover that this simplified enzyme reduces superoxide through a unique mechanism, suggesting that these models could provide better insights into how the real enzyme works.
Who this helps: This benefits researchers and scientists working on treatments for diseases related to oxidative stress.
Development progress of the Materials Analysis and Particle Probe.
2014
The Review of scientific instruments
Lucia M, Kaita R, Majeski R, Bedoya F, Allain JP +3 more
Plain English This study focused on the development of a new tool called the Materials Analysis and Particle Probe (MAPP), which is designed to analyze the surfaces of materials used in fusion energy experiments. MAPP was tested on the Lithium Tokamak Experiment at Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, and it will allow researchers to remotely control and analyze materials in real-time. This is important because it helps improve our understanding of how materials behave in extreme conditions, which is crucial for the future of fusion energy technology.
Who this helps: This benefits researchers working on fusion energy and the development of new technologies.
Magnetic diagnostics for equilibrium reconstructions with eddy currents on the Lithium Tokamak eXperiment.
2014
The Review of scientific instruments
Schmitt JC, Bialek J, Lazerson S, Majeski R
Plain English This research focused on improving the way scientists monitor and understand plasma behavior in the Lithium Tokamak eXperiment, a type of fusion energy device. The study found that long-lasting currents, called eddy currents, affect the measurements of plasma conditions; specifically, they analyzed how these currents influence data used to reconstruct the plasma's balance. The introduction of new magnetic diagnostic tools helps improve the accuracy of these measurements, which is crucial for advancing fusion energy research and development.
Who this helps: This helps researchers and engineers working on fusion energy, leading to better technology for clean energy production.
Macrophage mitochondrial damage from StAR transport of 7-hydroperoxycholesterol: implications for oxidative stress-impaired reverse cholesterol transport.
2014
FEBS letters
Korytowski W, Wawak K, Pabisz P, Schmitt JC, Girotti AW
Plain English Researchers studied how cells remove excess cholesterol from arteries—a process that helps prevent heart disease—and found that under stressful conditions, a protein called StarD1 accidentally transports harmful oxidized cholesterol into the cell's power plants (mitochondria) instead of just regular cholesterol. This damaged the mitochondria and shut down the cholesterol removal process, essentially jamming up the system that's supposed to protect us from heart disease. This discovery matters because it explains why people under chronic stress or with inflammatory diseases have worse cholesterol control and higher heart disease risk.
Crystallographic and computational studies of luminescent, binuclear gold(I) complexes, Au(I)2(Ph2P(CH2)nPPh2)2I2 (n = 3-6).
2013
Inorganic chemistry
Lim SH, Schmitt JC, Shearer J, Jia J, Olmstead MM +2 more
Plain English This study looked at four different crystal structures of gold compounds that luminesce, meaning they can emit light. Researchers used advanced techniques to analyze these compounds and found that they all emit light at room temperature, with unique orientations in their structures affecting how they interact with light. Specifically, the relationship between how the gold atoms bond with iodine and the emission of light was highlighted, indicating that the length of the gold-iodine bond is a key factor.
Who this helps: This research benefits chemists and materials scientists seeking to develop new luminescent materials for applications in lighting and sensing.
Sequential oxidations of thiolates and the cobalt metallocenter in a synthetic metallopeptide: implications for the biosynthesis of nitrile hydratase.
2013
Inorganic chemistry
Dutta A, Flores M, Roy S, Schmitt JC, Hamilton GA +3 more
Plain English This study looked at a molecule called cobalt nitrile hydratase (Co-NHase), which contains cobalt and sulfur components, to understand how these parts are chemically modified after being formed. The researchers found that when they exposed a cobalt-containing peptide to oxygen, the cobalt started to change in two stages: first, the sulfur part of the peptide was altered quickly, and then the cobalt itself changed more slowly. This research sheds light on how the body may naturally create these important enzymes, which could help us understand or develop treatments involving them.
Who this helps: This helps scientists and researchers looking to improve enzyme-related therapies.
Copper ligation to soluble oligomers of the English mutant of the amyloid-β peptide yields a linear Cu(I) site that is resistant to O2 oxidation.
2013
Chemical communications (Cambridge, England)
Peck KL, Clewett HS, Schmitt JC, Shearer J
Plain English This study looked at how copper interacts with a specific form of the amyloid-β peptide, which is linked to Alzheimer's disease. Researchers found that when copper is introduced, it creates a stable structure that doesn't react with oxygen, which is important for understanding how to prevent changes in the brain associated with this disease. These findings could lead to new ways to treat or manage Alzheimer's by targeting this interaction.
Who this helps: This benefits patients with Alzheimer's disease and their doctors.
Deleterious cholesterol hydroperoxide trafficking in steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein-expressing MA-10 Leydig cells: implications for oxidative stress-impaired steroidogenesis.
2013
The Journal of biological chemistry
Korytowski W, Pilat A, Schmitt JC, Girotti AW
Plain English Researchers found that when cells that make sex hormones are stimulated, they produce proteins that actively transport damaged cholesterol (cholesterol with extra oxygen attached) into the cell's power plants (mitochondria), where it causes destructive free radical damage instead of being used to make hormones.
When these hormone-making cells were exposed to this damaged cholesterol, the stimulated cells took in much more of it, their mitochondria lost the ability to function, and the cells died—but knocking down the transport protein stopped this damage from happening.
This matters because it explains how oxidative stress (an imbalance of damaging molecules in cells) can break down the body's ability to produce hormones like testosterone and progesterone, which could help explain hormone problems related to aging, infertility, or metabolic disease.
Plain English This study explored a special gold and copper compound that can glow in different colors when exposed to ultraviolet light. Researchers found that the arrangement of certain molecules around it affects its glow, with the distance between the gold and copper atoms being about 2.7 angstroms. This is important because understanding how these interactions work could lead to new materials for better lighting or display technologies.
Who this helps: This helps researchers and developers in materials science and optics.
Surprising inability of singlet oxygen-generated 6-hydroperoxycholesterol to induce damaging free radical lipid peroxidation in cell membranes.
2010
Photochemistry and photobiology
Korytowski W, Schmitt JC, Girotti AW
Plain English This study examined how different forms of a cholesterol-related compound, 6-hydroperoxycholesterol, react in cell membranes. Researchers found that one type, 5alpha-OOH, caused significant damage to cells, while another type, 6beta-OOH, did not harm cells at all. This is important because it helps us understand how certain types of damage are linked to exposure to sunlight and could inform treatments for conditions affecting skin and eye health.
Who this helps: Patients suffering from skin and eye conditions related to sun exposure.
Sterol carrier protein-2 (SCP-2) involvement in cholesterol hydroperoxide cytotoxicity as revealed by SCP-2 inhibitor effects.
2010
Journal of lipid research
Kriska T, Pilat A, Schmitt JC, Girotti AW
Plain English This study focused on a protein called SCP-2, which helps manage cholesterol in cells. Researchers found that when they blocked SCP-2 in certain mouse cells, the cells were less damaged by a harmful cholesterol compound known as 7α-hydroperoxycholesterol (7α-OOH). In fact, the cells exposed to 7α-OOH experienced less cell death and damage when SCP-2 was inhibited, showing that this protein plays a significant role in spreading the harmful effects of cholesterol hydroperoxides.
Who this helps: This research benefits patients with conditions related to cholesterol and oxidative stress, potentially guiding treatment strategies.
Operative injuries to the bile ducts. Report on 12 cases.
1978
International surgery
Seror J, Schmitt JC, Pateras C, Sava G
Plain English This study looked at 12 cases where surgery accidentally injured the bile ducts, which can happen during certain operations like gallbladder removal and stomach surgeries. The researchers found that these injuries occurred in about 0.2% of gallbladder surgeries and 0.4% of stomach surgeries. They emphasize that using a specific imaging technique during surgery can help spot these injuries early, and fixing them right away is the best approach.
Who this helps: This benefits surgeons and their patients by reducing risks during surgery.
[Accidental papillary disinsertions during gastroduodenectomies. Report of two cases (author's transl)].
1978
Acta chirurgica Belgica
Schmitt JC, Sava G, Seror J
Plain English This report discusses two cases where a part of the intestine was accidentally disconnected during surgery to remove a portion of the stomach and duodenum. In the first case, the patient had a positive outcome 23 years after the surgery, while the second patient also showed good results 10 years later after undergoing another surgery to fix the issue. The authors emphasize that it can be hard to identify these accidental disconnections during surgery and that quick follow-up surgery is important to avoid serious complications.
Who this helps: This helps patients undergoing stomach and intestinal surgery.
[Operative wounds of the main biliary tract: immediate repair (author's transl)].
1977
Acta chirurgica Belgica
Schmitt JC, Sava G, Kunnert C, Seror J
Plain English This study looked at 11 cases of surgical injuries to the main bile duct that were repaired right away. The authors found that such injuries happen in about 2% of gallbladder surgeries and 4% of stomach surgeries. They suggest that stitching the damaged areas together immediately leads to the best long-term outcomes and emphasize the need for better prevention to avoid these injuries in the first place.
Who this helps: This helps patients undergoing gallbladder or stomach surgeries.
[Volvulus of the ascending colon. Apropos of 5 cases].
1977
La semaine des hopitaux : organe fonde par l'Association d'enseignement medical des hopitaux de Paris
Schmitt JC, Sava G, Pateras C, Séror J
Plain English This study looked at five patients who had a serious twisting of the right side of their colon, known as volvulus. Out of these patients, three experienced complications that required part of their colon to be surgically removed. The research highlights the importance of diagnosing this condition quickly because it has a high risk of death, and it emphasizes that the best treatment is a surgery called right hemicolectomy.
Who this helps: This helps patients with colon problems and the doctors treating them.
[Acute cholecystitis without stones (author's transl)].
1976
Acta chirurgica Belgica
Schmitt JC, Sava G, Seror J
Plain English This study looked at ten patients with acute cholecystitis, a severe gallbladder inflammation, who did not have gallstones. The researchers found that two cases were linked to typhoid fever, six cases had no clear cause, one was related to previous surgery, and one followed an injury. They emphasized that complications, like gangrene, were common in the surgical and injury-related cases, and that surgery to remove the gallbladder is the most effective treatment.
Who this helps: This helps patients suffering from acute cholecystitis and doctors treating them.