scholarly journals 3528 Common Mechanisms Underlying Epilepsy and Tauopathy

2019 ◽  
Vol 3 (s1) ◽  
pp. 6-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan Adam Cloyd ◽  
Joe Abisambra ◽  
Bret Smith
Keyword(s):  
Status Epilepticus ◽  
Tau Phosphorylation ◽  
Common Disease ◽  
Neurologic Disorders ◽  
Study Population ◽  
Future Work ◽  
Society Today ◽  
Significant Health ◽  
Time Point

OBJECTIVES/SPECIFIC AIMS: Neurologic disorders are among the most significant health challenges facing society today. Although different neurologic disorders are often thought to be distinct from one another, evidence suggests similar processes may contribute to pathology in different diseases. Previous studies suggest that common disease mechanisms contribute to the development of epilepsy and tauopathy. The purpose of this study is to better characterize this relationship and explore potential therapeutic avenues to slow disease progress. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: This study uses the pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus model of temporal lobe epilepsy to explore the effect of severe seizures on tau pathology. Brains were collected from mice at 6 or 24 hours after induced status epilepticus. Homogenates were analyzed via Western blot to look for changes in tau phosphorylation or activity of two major regulators of tau phosphorylation, GSK3β and PP2A. These data show that changes in tau phosphorylation dynamics occur at a much earlier time point after status epilepticus than has previously been described. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: GSK3β activity increased within 6 hours and remained elevated by 24 hours. PP2A activity initially decreased but returned to normal by 24 hours. These data show that changes in tau phosphorylation dynamics occur at a much earlier time point after status epilepticus than has previously been described. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: The current project supports previous observations that seizures promote tau phosphorylation in vivo, but suggests that changes begin much earlier than previously thought. Further work is needed to understand how post-seizure changes in tau phosphorylation develop over longer periods of time. Additionally, future work will characterize the effect of tauopathy on electrical activity in vivo and in vivo.

Production and Preliminary In Vivo Evaluations of a Novel in silico-designed L2-based Potential HPV Vaccine

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 316-324
Author(s):  
Manica Negahdaripour ◽  
Navid Nezafat ◽  
Reza Heidari ◽  
Nasrollah Erfani ◽  
Nasim Hajighahramani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
In Silico ◽  
Group Versus ◽  
Tlr Agonists ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Metal Affinity ◽  
Th1 And Th2 Cytokines ◽  
Ifn Γ ◽  
Humoral Responses ◽  
Future Work

Background: L2-based Human Papillomavirus (HPV) prophylactic vaccines, containing epitopes from HPV minor capsid proteins, are under investigation as second-generation HPV vaccines. No such vaccine has passed clinical trials yet, mainly due to the low immunogenicity of peptide vaccines; so efforts are being continued. A candidate vaccine composed of two HPV16 L2 epitopes, flagellin and a Toll-Like Receptor (TLR) 4 agonist (RS09) as adjuvants, and two universal T-helper epitopes was designed in silico in our previous researches. Methods: The designed vaccine construct was expressed in E. coli BL21 (DE3) and purified through metal affinity chromatography. Following mice vaccination, blood samples underwent ELISA and flow cytometry analyses for the detection of IgG and seven Th1 and Th2 cytokines. Results: Following immunization, Th1 (IFN-γ, IL-2) and Th2 (IL-4, IL-5, IL-10) type cytokines, as well as IgG, were induced significantly compared with the PBS group. Significant increases in IFN-γ, IL-2, and IL-5 levels were observed in the vaccinated group versus Freund’s adjuvant group. Conclusion: The obtained cytokine induction profile implied both cellular and humoral responses, with a more Th-1 favored trend. However, an analysis of specific antibodies against L2 is required to confirm humoral responses. No significant elevation in inflammatory cytokines, (IL-6 and TNF-α), suggested a lack of unwanted inflammatory side effects despite using a combination of two TLR agonists. The designed construct might be capable of inducing adaptive and innate immunity; nevertheless, comprehensive immune tests were not conducted at this stage and will be a matter of future work.

scholarly journals Osteoprotective Effects of Loganic Acid on Osteoblastic and Osteoclastic Cells and Osteoporosis-Induced Mice

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 233
Author(s):  
Eunkuk Park ◽  
Chang Gun Lee ◽  
Eunguk Lim ◽  
Seokjin Hwang ◽  
Seung Hee Yun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Osteoclast Differentiation ◽  
Osteoblastic Differentiation ◽  
Common Disease ◽  
Root Extract ◽  
Mouse Bone Marrow ◽  
Mineral Density ◽  
Bone Mineral Density Loss ◽  
In Vivo Experiments

Osteoporosis is a common disease caused by an imbalance of processes between bone resorption by osteoclasts and bone formation by osteoblasts in postmenopausal women. The roots of Gentiana lutea L. (GL) are reported to have beneficial effects on various human diseases related to liver functions and gastrointestinal motility, as well as on arthritis. Here, we fractionated and isolated bioactive constituent(s) responsible for anti-osteoporotic effects of GL root extract. A single phytochemical compound, loganic acid, was identified as a candidate osteoprotective agent. Its anti-osteoporotic effects were examined in vitro and in vivo. Treatment with loganic acid significantly increased osteoblastic differentiation in preosteoblast MC3T3-E1 cells by promoting alkaline phosphatase activity and increasing mRNA expression levels of bone metabolic markers such as Alpl, Bglap, and Sp7. However, loganic acid inhibited osteoclast differentiation of primary-cultured monocytes derived from mouse bone marrow. For in vivo experiments, the effect of loganic acid on ovariectomized (OVX) mice was examined for 12 weeks. Loganic acid prevented OVX-induced bone mineral density loss and improved bone structural properties in osteoporotic model mice. These results suggest that loganic acid may be a potential therapeutic candidate for treatment of osteoporosis.

scholarly journals Recent Developments in Inonotus obliquus (Chaga mushroom) Polysaccharides: Isolation, Structural Characteristics, Biological Activities and Application

Polymers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (9) ◽  
pp. 1441
Author(s):  
Yangpeng Lu ◽  
Yanan Jia ◽  
Zihan Xue ◽  
Nannan Li ◽  
Junyu Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Biological Activities ◽  
Structural Characteristics ◽  
Potential Candidate ◽  
Health Food ◽  
Inonotus Obliquus ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Inonotus Obliquus Polysaccharide ◽  
Future Work

Inonotus obliquus (Chaga mushroom) is a kind of medicine and health food widely used by folk in China, Russia, Korea, and some occidental countries. Among the extracts from Inonotus obliquus, Inonotus obliquus polysaccharide (IOPS) is supposed to be one of the major bioactive components in Inonotus obliquus, which possesses antitumor, antioxidant, anti-virus, hypoglycemic, and hypolipidemic activities. In this review, the current advancements on extraction, purification, structural characteristics, and biological activities of IOPS were summarized. This review can provide significant insight into the IOPS bioactivities as their in vitro and in vivo data were summarized, and some possible mechanisms were listed. Furthermore, applications of IOPS were reviewed and discussed; IOPS might be a potential candidate for the treatment of cancers and type 2 diabetes. Besides, new perspectives for the future work of IOPS were also proposed.

The neurophysiology of ketamine: an integrative review

2020 ◽  
Vol 31 (5) ◽  
pp. 457-503
Author(s):  
Rebecca McMillan ◽  
Suresh D. Muthukumaraswamy
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Integrative Review ◽  
Acute Effects ◽  
Future Work

AbstractThe drug ketamine has been extensively studied due to its use in anaesthesia, as a model of psychosis and, most recently, its antidepressant properties. Understanding the physiology of ketamine is complex due to its rich pharmacology with multiple potential sites at clinically relevant doses. In this review of the neurophysiology of ketamine, we focus on the acute effects of ketamine in the resting brain. We ascend through spatial scales starting with a complete review of the pharmacology of ketamine and then cover its effects on in vitro and in vivo electrophysiology. We then summarise and critically evaluate studies using EEG/MEG and neuroimaging measures (MRI and PET), integrating across scales where possible. While a complicated and, at times, confusing picture of ketamine’s effects are revealed, we stress that much of this might be caused by use of different species, doses, and analytical methodologies and suggest strategies that future work could use to answer these problems.

scholarly journals Injectable non-leaching tissue-mimetic bottlebrush elastomers as an advanced platform for reconstructive surgery

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Erfan Dashtimoghadam ◽  
Farahnaz Fahimipour ◽  
Andrew N. Keith ◽  
Foad Vashahi ◽  
Pavel Popryadukhin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mechanical Properties ◽  
Reconstructive Surgery ◽  
Biomedical Applications ◽  
The Body ◽  
Surrounding Tissue ◽  
Curing Time ◽  
Materials Used ◽  
Significant Health

AbstractCurrent materials used in biomedical devices do not match tissue’s mechanical properties and leach various chemicals into the body. These deficiencies pose significant health risks that are further exacerbated by invasive implantation procedures. Herein, we leverage the brush-like polymer architecture to design and administer minimally invasive injectable elastomers that cure in vivo into leachable-free implants with mechanical properties matching the surrounding tissue. This strategy allows tuning curing time from minutes to hours, which empowers a broad range of biomedical applications from rapid wound sealing to time-intensive reconstructive surgery. These injectable elastomers support in vitro cell proliferation, while also demonstrating in vivo implant integrity with a mild inflammatory response and minimal fibrotic encapsulation.

scholarly journals The Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transcription Factor SNAI1 Represses Transcription of the Tumor Suppressor miRNA let-7 in Cancer

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 1469
Author(s):  
Hanmin Wang ◽  
Evgeny Chirshev ◽  
Nozomi Hojo ◽  
Tise Suzuki ◽  
Antonella Bertucci ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ovarian Cancer ◽  
Stem Cell ◽  
Cancer Cells ◽  
Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Tumor Burden ◽  
Cell Phenotype ◽  
Mesenchymal Transition ◽  
Carcinoma Cell Lines ◽  
Future Work

We aimed to determine the mechanism of epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT)-induced stemness in cancer cells. Cancer relapse and metastasis are caused by rare stem-like cells within tumors. Studies of stem cell reprogramming have linked let-7 repression and acquisition of stemness with the EMT factor, SNAI1. The mechanisms for the loss of let-7 in cancer cells are incompletely understood. In four carcinoma cell lines from breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, and ovarian cancer and in ovarian cancer patient-derived cells, we analyzed stem cell phenotype and tumor growth via mRNA, miRNA, and protein expression, spheroid formation, and growth in patient-derived xenografts. We show that treatment with EMT-promoting growth factors or SNAI1 overexpression increased stemness and reduced let-7 expression, while SNAI1 knockdown reduced stemness and restored let-7 expression. Rescue experiments demonstrate that the pro-stemness effects of SNAI1 are mediated via let-7. In vivo, nanoparticle-delivered siRNA successfully knocked down SNAI1 in orthotopic patient-derived xenografts, accompanied by reduced stemness and increased let-7 expression, and reduced tumor burden. Chromatin immunoprecipitation demonstrated that SNAI1 binds the promoters of various let-7 family members, and luciferase assays revealed that SNAI1 represses let-7 transcription. In conclusion, the SNAI1/let-7 axis is an important component of stemness pathways in cancer cells, and this study provides a rationale for future work examining this axis as a potential target for cancer stem cell-specific therapies.

scholarly journals 4518 Metabolomic Identifiers Predictive of Adverse Events due to Acetaminophen Administration

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (s1) ◽  
pp. 110-110
Author(s):  
Brandon Joseph Sonn ◽  
Kennon Heard ◽  
Andrew Monte
Keyword(s):  
High Performance ◽  
Adverse Reactions ◽  
Demographic Variable ◽  
Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Toxic Response ◽  
Therapy Initiation ◽  
Study Population ◽  
Therapeutic Doses ◽  
Time Point

OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Acetaminophen (Tylenol, APAP) toxicity has been well documented and well explored over the last 50 years. However, there has been no investigation into identification of specific metabolites that can predict which patients will have adverse reactions to therapeutic doses of APAP. METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: 205 subjects recruited from the Denver, CO community received the highest recommended daily dosing of APAP, 4 grams, for 16 days. Subjects were grouped by 1) alanine aminotransferase (ALT) at any monitored time point above 60units/L (n = 20) vs 2) no increase in ALT at any time point (n = 185). Blood was collected at days 0, 4, 7, 16, and 31. Samples were run on ultra-high performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry with 27 heavy-labeled standards for metabolites documented to be associated with APAP metabolism. Data will be analyzed to look for significant changes in metabolite and demographic variable expressions using t-tests, chi square and logistic regression, as appropriate. RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: It is expected that there will be greater elevations of conjugated non-toxic APAP metabolites (APAP-glucuronide, APAP-sulfate) in subjects whose ALT did not elevate because of successful hepatoprotection. Conjugated APAP metabolites are expected to only be present in samples taken after APAP therapy initiation confirming exposure as compared to being predictive of toxic response. Increases in lactate and cysteine in pre-exposure samples would allow for prediction of APAP toxicity as they are expected to have increased expression in subjects whose ALT became elevated which is indicative of increased hepatic damage due to oxidative damage. DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: Identification of metabolites and/or demographic factors associated with toxic response to APAP prior to administration could advise APAP recommendations. Quantification of post-APAP administration metabolites would identify extent of successful hepatoprotective mechanisms.

scholarly journals EJE Prize 2013: Regulation of aldosterone secretion: from physiology to disease

2013 ◽  
Vol 168 (6) ◽  
pp. R85-R93 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felix Beuschlein
Keyword(s):  
High Throughput Sequencing ◽  
Secondary Hypertension ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Cellular Systems ◽  
Common Disease ◽  
Aldosterone Secretion ◽  
Technical Developments ◽  
Starting Point

Arterial hypertension is a major cardiovascular risk factor that affects between 10 and 40% of the population in industrialized countries. Primary aldosteronism (PA) is the most common form of secondary hypertension with an estimated prevalence of around 10% in referral centers and 4% in a primary care setting. Despite its high prevalence until recently, the underlying genetic and molecular basis of this common disease had remained largely obscure. Over the past decade, a number of insights have been achieved that have relied onin vitrocellular systems, wild-type and genetically modifiedin vivomodels, as well as clinical studies in well-characterized patient populations. This progress has been made possible by a number of independent technical developments including that of specific hormone assays that allow measurement in small sample volumes as well as genetic techniques that enable high-throughput sequencing of a large number of samples. Furthermore, animal models have provided important insights into the physiology of aldosterone regulation that have served as a starting point for investigation of mechanisms involved in autonomous aldosterone secretion. Finally, national and international networks that have built up registries and biobanks have been instrumental in fostering translational research endeavors in PA. Therefore, it is to be expected that in the near future, further pathophysiological mechanisms that result in autonomous aldosterone secretion will be unraveled.

scholarly journals Essential role of glucose transporter GLUT3 for post-implantation embryonic development

2008 ◽  
Vol 200 (1) ◽  
pp. 23-33 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Schmidt ◽  
A Hommel ◽  
V Gawlik ◽  
R Augustin ◽  
N Junicke ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Essential Role ◽  
Glucose Transporter ◽  
Growth Arrest ◽  
Complete Loss ◽  
Transporter Gene ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Post Implantation ◽  
Time Point

Deletion of glucose transporter geneSlc2a3(GLUT3) has previously been reported to result in embryonic lethality. Here, we define the exact time point of growth arrest and subsequent death of the embryo.Slc2a3−/−morulae and blastocysts developed normally, implantedin vivo, and formed egg-cylinder-stage embryos that appeared normal until day 6.0. At day 6.5, apoptosis was detected in the ectodermal cells ofSlc2a3−/−embryos resulting in severe disorganization and growth retardation at day 7.5 and complete loss of embryos at day 12.5. GLUT3 was detected in placental cone, in the visceral ectoderm and in the mesoderm of 7.5-day-old wild-type embryos. Our data indicate that GLUT3 is essential for the development of early post-implanted embryos.

Simvastatin Prevents Neurodegeneration in the MPTP Mouse Model of Parkinson’s Disease via Inhibition of A1 Reactive Astrocytes

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Ren-Wei Du ◽  
Wen-Guang Bu
Keyword(s):  
Parkinson’S Disease ◽  
Parkinson's Disease ◽  
Mouse Model ◽  
Underlying Mechanism ◽  
Reactive Astrocytes ◽  
Dopamine Neurons ◽  
Neuron Death ◽  
Neurologic Disorders

Emerging evidence indicates that A1 reactive astrocytes play crucial roles in the pathogenesis of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Thus, development of agents that could inhibit the formation of A1 reactive astrocytes could be used to treat PD. Simvastatin has been touted as a potential neuroprotective agent for neurologic disorders such as PD, but the specific underlying mechanism remains unclear. The 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) mouse model of PD and primary astrocytes/neurons were prepared to investigate the effects of simvastatin on PD and its underlying mechanisms in vitro and in vivo. We show that simvastatin protects against the loss of dopamine neurons and behavioral deficits in the MPTP mouse model of PD. We also found that simvastatin suppressed the expression of A1 astrocytic specific markers in vivo and in vitro. In addition, simvastatin alleviated neuron death induced by A1 astrocytes. Our findings reveal that simvastatin is neuroprotective via the prevention of conversion of astrocytes to an A1 neurotoxic phenotype. In light of simvastatin favorable properties, it should be evaluated in the treatment of PD and related neurologic disorders characterized by A1 reactive astrocytes.

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