scholarly journals An in-vitro assay using human spermatozoa to detect toxicity of biologically active substances

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tino Vollmer ◽  
Börje Ljungberg ◽  
Vera Jankowski ◽  
Joachim Jankowski ◽  
Griet Glorieux ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Toxicity Testing ◽  
Biologically Active ◽  
Human Spermatozoa ◽  
Vitro Assay ◽  
Cellular Behavior ◽  
Novel Method ◽  
Set Up

Abstract Identifying the key toxic players within an in-vivo toxic syndrome is crucial to develop targeted therapies. Here, we established a novel method that characterizes the effect of single substances by means of an ex-vivo incubation set-up. We found that primary human spermatozoa elicit a distinct motile response on a (uremic) toxic milieu. Specifically, this approach describes the influence of a bulk toxic environment (uremia) as well as single substances (uremic toxins) by real-time analyzing motile cellular behavior. We established the human spermatozoa-based toxicity testing (HSTT) for detecting single substance-induced toxicity to be used as a screening tool to identify in-vivo toxins. Further, we propose an application of the HSTT as a method of clinical use to evaluate toxin-removing interventions (hemodialysis).

scholarly journals A Semi Rigid Novel Hydroxamate AMPED-Based Ligand for 89Zr PET Imaging

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (19) ◽  
pp. 5819
Author(s):  
Lisa Russelli ◽  
Francesco De Rose ◽  
Loredana Leone ◽  
Sybille Reder ◽  
Markus Schwaiger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pet Imaging ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Small Animal ◽  
Biologically Active ◽  
Small Animal Pet ◽  
Organ Distribution ◽  
Complexing Agent ◽  
Distribution Studies

In this work, we designed, developed, characterized, and investigated a new chelator and its bifunctional derivative for 89Zr labeling and PET-imaging. In a preliminary study, we synthesized two hexadentate chelators named AAZTHAS and AAZTHAG, based on the seven-membered heterocycle AMPED (6-amino-6-methylperhydro-1,4-diazepine) with the aim to increase the rigidity of the 89Zr complex by using N-methyl-N-(hydroxy)succinamide or N-methyl-N-(hydroxy)glutaramide pendant arms attached to the cyclic structure. N-methylhydroxamate groups are the donor groups chosen to efficiently coordinate 89Zr. After in vitro stability tests, we selected the chelator with longer arms, AAZTHAG, as the best complexing agent for 89Zr presenting a stability of 86.4 ± 5.5% in human serum (HS) for at least 72 h. Small animal PET/CT static scans acquired at different time points (up to 24 h) and ex vivo organ distribution studies were then carried out in healthy nude mice (n = 3) to investigate the stability and biodistribution in vivo of this new 89Zr-based complex. High stability in vivo, with low accumulation of free 89Zr in bones and kidneys, was measured. Furthermore, an activated ester functionalized version of AAZTHAG was synthesized to allow the conjugation with biomolecules such as antibodies. The bifunctional chelator was then conjugated to the human anti-HER2 monoclonal antibody Trastuzumab (Tz) as a proof of principle test of conjugation to biologically active molecules. The final 89Zr labeled compound was characterized via radio-HPLC and SDS-PAGE followed by autoradiography, and its stability in different solutions was assessed for at least 4 days.

scholarly journals iAmideV-Deep: Valine Amidation Site Prediction in Proteins Using Deep Learning and Pseudo Amino Acid Compositions

Symmetry ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 560
Author(s):  
Sheraz Naseer ◽  
Rao Faizan Ali ◽  
Amgad Muneer ◽  
Suliman Mohamed Fati
Keyword(s):  
Amino Acid ◽  
Computational Models ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Biologically Active ◽  
Peptide Sequence ◽  
Post Translational Modification ◽  
Amino Acid Compositions ◽  
Efficient Alternative

Amidation is an important post translational modification where a peptide ends with an amide group (–NH2) rather than carboxyl group (–COOH). These amidated peptides are less sensitive to proteolytic degradation with extended half-life in the bloodstream. Amides are used in different industries like pharmaceuticals, natural products, and biologically active compounds. The in-vivo, ex-vivo, and in-vitro identification of amidation sites is a costly and time-consuming but important task to study the physiochemical properties of amidated peptides. A less costly and efficient alternative is to supplement wet lab experiments with accurate computational models. Hence, an urgent need exists for efficient and accurate computational models to easily identify amidated sites in peptides. In this study, we present a new predictor, based on deep neural networks (DNN) and Pseudo Amino Acid Compositions (PseAAC), to learn efficient, task-specific, and effective representations for valine amidation site identification. Well-known DNN architectures are used in this contribution to learn peptide sequence representations and classify peptide chains. Of all the different DNN based predictors developed in this study, Convolutional neural network-based model showed the best performance surpassing all other DNN based models and reported literature contributions. The proposed model will supplement in-vivo methods and help scientists to determine valine amidation very efficiently and accurately, which in turn will enhance understanding of the valine amidation in different biological processes.

scholarly journals Influence of Intermittent Cold Stimulations on CREB and Its Targeting Genes in Muscle: Investigations into Molecular Mechanisms of Local Cryotherapy

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takehito Sugasawa ◽  
Tome Yoshiya ◽  
Yoshinori Takeuchi ◽  
Naoya Yahagi ◽  
Rahul Sharma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Skeletal Muscle ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Binding Protein ◽  
Cold Stimulation ◽  
Vitro Assay ◽  
Mitochondrial Dna Copy Number ◽  
Local Cryotherapy

Local cryotherapy is widely used as a treatment for sports-related skeletal muscle injury. However, its molecular mechanisms are unknown. To clarify these mechanisms, in this study, we applied one to three 15-min cold stimulations at 4 °C to various cell lines (in vitro), the tibialis anterior (TA) muscle (ex vivo), and mouse limbs (in vivo). In the in vitro assay, cAMP response element-binding protein 1 (CREB1) was markedly phosphorylated (as pCREB1) and CREB-binding protein (CBP) was recruited to pCREB-1 in response to two or three cold stimulations. In a reporter assay with the cAMP-responsive element, the signals significantly increased after two to three cold stimulations at 4 °C. In the ex vivo study, CREB-targeting genes were significantly upregulated following two or three cold stimulations. The in vivo experiment disclosed that cold stimulation of a mouse limb for 9 days significantly increased mitochondrial DNA copy number and upregulated genes such as Pgc-1α involved in mitochondrial biogenesis. The foregoing results suggest that local cryotherapy increases CREB transcription and upregulates CREB-targeting genes in a manner dependent on cold stimulation frequency and duration. This information may serve as an impetus for further investigations into local cryotherapy as a treatment for sports-related skeletal muscle trauma.

scholarly journals Characterization, Stability, and In Vivo Efficacy Studies of Recombinant Human CNTF and Its Permeation into the Neural Retina in Ex Vivo Organotypic Retinal Explant Culture Models

Pharmaceutics ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (7) ◽  
pp. 611 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaakko Itkonen ◽  
Ada Annala ◽  
Shirin Tavakoli ◽  
Blanca Arango-Gonzalez ◽  
Marius Ueffing ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Disease Model ◽  
Neural Retina ◽  
Biologically Active ◽  
Target Cells ◽  
Therapeutic Effects ◽  
Duration Of Action ◽  
In Vivo Efficacy

Ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) is one of the most studied neuroprotective agents with acknowledged potential in treating diseases of the posterior eye segment. Although its efficacy and mechanisms of action in the retina have been studied extensively, it is still not comprehensively understood which retinal cells mediate the therapeutic effects of CNTF. As with therapeutic proteins in general, it is poorly elucidated whether exogenous CNTF administered into the vitreous can enter and distribute into the retina and hence reach potentially responsive target cells. Here, we have characterized our purified recombinant human CNTF (rhCNTF), studied the protein’s in vitro bioactivity in a cell-based assay, and evaluated the thermodynamic and oligomeric status of the protein during storage. Biological activity of rhCNTF was further evaluated in vivo in an animal model of retinal degeneration. The retinal penetration and distribution of rhCNTF after 24 h was studied utilizing two ex vivo retina models. Based on our characterization findings, our rhCNTF is correctly folded and biologically active. Moreover, based on initial screening and subsequent follow-up, we identified two buffers in which rhCNTF retains its stability during storage. Whereas rhCNTF did not show photoreceptor preservative effect or improve the function of photoreceptors in vivo, this could possibly be due to the used disease model or the short duration of action with a single intravitreal injection of rhCNTF. On the other hand, the lack of in vivo efficacy was shown to not be due to distribution limitations; permeation into the retina was observed in both retinal explant models as in 24 h rhCNTF penetrated the inner limiting membrane, and being mostly observed in the ganglion cell layer, distributed to different layers of the neural retina. As rhCNTF can reach deeper retinal layers, in general, having direct effects on resident CNTF-responsive target cells is plausible.

scholarly journals Ex vivo Pretreatment of Islets with Mitomycin C

2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (8) ◽  
pp. 1392-1404 ◽  
Author(s):  
Naoya Sato ◽  
Junichiro Haga ◽  
Takayuki Anazawa ◽  
Akira Kenjo ◽  
Takashi Kimura ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mitomycin C ◽  
Validation Studies ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Chemotactic Activity ◽  
Vitro Assay ◽  
Proinflammatory Mediators ◽  
Genes Encoding ◽  
Matrix Metallopeptidase

Strategies to reduce the immunogenicity of pancreatic islets and to prevent the activation of proinflammatory events are essential for successful islet engraftment. Pretransplant islet culture presents an opportunity for preconditioning to improve outcomes of islet transplantation. We previously demonstrated that ex vivo mitomycin C (MMC) pretreatment and subsequent culture significantly prolonged graft survival. Fully understanding the biological process of pretreatment could result in the development of a protocol to improve the survival of islet grafts. Microarrays were employed to conduct a comprehensive analysis of genes expressed in untreated or MMC-treated rat islets that were subsequently cultured for 3 d. A bioinformatics software was used to identify biological processes that were most affected by MMC pretreatment, and validation studies, including in vivo and in vitro assay, were performed. The gene expression analysis identified significant downregulation of annotated functions associated with cellular movement and revealed significant downregulation of multiple genes encoding proinflammatory mediators with chemotactic activity. Validation studies revealed significantly decreased levels of interleukin 6 (IL-6), monocyte chemoattractant protein 3 (MCP-3), and matrix metallopeptidase 2 (MMP2) in culture supernatants of MMC-treated islets compared with controls. Moreover, we showed the suppression of leukocyte chemotactic activity of MMC-treated islets in vitro. We also showed that MMC-treated islets secreted lower levels of chemoattractants that synergistically reduced the immunogenic potential of islets. Histological and immunohistochemical analyses of the implant site revealed that infiltration of monocytes, CD3-positive T cells, and B cells was decreased in MMC-treated islets. In conclusion, the ex vivo pretreatment of islets with MMC and subsequent culture can reduce the immunogenic potential and prolong the survival of islet grafts by inducing the suppression of multiple leukocyte chemotactic factors.

scholarly journals Novel method to study pericyte contractility and responses to ischaemia in vitro using electrical impedance

2016 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 2013-2024 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ain A Neuhaus ◽  
Yvonne Couch ◽  
Brad A Sutherland ◽  
Alastair M Buchan
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Impedance ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Capillary Endothelium ◽  
Tissue Slices ◽  
In Vitro Techniques ◽  
Endothelin 1 ◽  
Mural Cells ◽  
Novel Method

Pericytes are contractile vascular mural cells overlying capillary endothelium, and they have been implicated in a variety of functions including regulation of cerebral blood flow. Recent work has suggested that both in vivo and ex vivo, ischaemia causes pericytes to constrict and die, which has implications for microvascular reperfusion. Assessing pericyte contractility in tissue slices and in vivo is technically challenging, while in vitro techniques remain unreliable. Here, we used isolated cultures of human brain vascular pericytes to examine their contractile potential in vitro using the iCelligence electrical impedance system. Contraction was induced using the vasoactive peptide endothelin-1, and relaxation was demonstrated using adenosine and sodium nitroprusside. Endothelin-1 treatment also resulted in increased proliferation, which we were able to monitor in the same cell population from which we recorded contractile responses. Finally, the observation of pericyte contraction in stroke was reproduced using chemical ischaemia, which caused a profound and irreversible contraction clearly preceding cell death. These data demonstrate that isolated pericytes retain a contractile phenotype in vitro, and that it is possible to quantify this contraction using real-time electrical impedance recordings, providing a significant new platform for assessing the effects of vasoactive and vasculoprotective compounds on pericyte contractility.

A New Bioassay Including a Small Scale Hepatocyte Bioreactor for Hepato-Mediated Toxicity Testing in a Target Cell Line

2002 ◽  
Vol 25 (10) ◽  
pp. 975-984 ◽  
Author(s):  
C.J. Deglmann ◽  
R. Metzger ◽  
M. Stickel ◽  
S. Hoerrlein ◽  
F.W. Schildberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Line ◽  
Toxicity Testing ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Animal Testing ◽  
Target Cell Line ◽  
Set Up ◽  
New Bioassay ◽  
Hepatocyte Bioreactor

New approaches for in vitro testing of hepato-mediated toxicity are undertaken to offer alternatives to in vivo animal testing. The described bioassay for hepato-mediated toxicity testing is based on a small scale hepatocyte-bioreactor with pig hepatocytes connected to a silicon sensor based microphysiometer system for monitoring of the extracellular acidification rate (EAR) of cells and the microphysiometer alone. EAR represents the metabolic activity of tested cells (hepatocytes and ZR 751 cells) under the influence of perfused media, compared to controls, which were set to 100%. Cyclophosphamide (CYCL), whose cytostatic effect is dependent on CYP 450 biotransformation was used as a model substrate. CYCL showed decrease of EAR in hepatocytes, but not in ZR 751 cells. Bioreactor supernatant including CYCL was pumped into the microphysiometer and EARs of the target ZR 751 cell line were recorded. After 7 h of bioreactor supernatant perfusion the ZR 751 cell line showed an EAR decrease of 18.68% ± 10.18, as compared to controls (bioreactor supernatant from the identical set-up without CYCL). Thus the presented model of hepato-activated toxicity showed an EAR decrease in the ZR 751 cell line that reflected the toxic activation of CYCL by the bioreactor. This new bioassay serves as an example of future applications for hepatocyte bioreactors in automated toxicity testing devices, e.g. in preclinical drug studies or evaluation of hepato-mediated toxicity, not depending on cell destruction or further assays.

The High Potential of Ozone Gas to Inactivate Echinococcus granulosus Protoscoleces During Hydatid Cyst Surgery

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 708-712
Author(s):  
Hossein Mahmoudvand ◽  
Majid Fasihi Harandi ◽  
Massumeh Niazi ◽  
Abdolreza Rouientan ◽  
Fazel Mohammadi-Moghadam ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hydatid Cyst ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Human Subjects ◽  
Oral Bacteria ◽  
Vitro Assay ◽  
Low Concentrations ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Resistant Strains

Background: In medicine, ozone therapy is effectively used in a broad spectrum of diseases. Reviews have shown that ozone gas demonstrates potent antimicrobial effects against a wide range of pathogenic microorganisms, such as oral bacteria, fungi, viruses, and parasite even in resistant strains. The present investigation was designed to assess the protoscolicidal effects of ozone gas on hydatid cysts protoscoleces in vitro and in vivo. Methods: Hydatid cyst protoscoleces were acquired from sheep livers that were slaughtered at Kerman slaughterhouse, Iran. The viability of protoscoleces was assessed by the eosin exclusion examination after exposure with ozone gas for 1 to 14 min in vitro and ex vivo. Results: In this study, in vitro assay showed that ozone gas at the concentration of 20 mg/L killed 85 and 100% of hydatid cyst protoscoleces after 4 and 6 min of treatment, respectively. However, in the ex vivo analysis, a longer time was needed to confirm a potent protoscolicidal activity such that ozone gas after an exposure time of 12 min, 100% of the protoscoleces were killed within the hydatid cyst. Conclusion: : In conclusion, the findings of the present study showed that ozone gas at low concentrations (20 mg/L) and short times (4-6 min) might be used as a novel protoscolicidal drug for use in hydatid cyst surgery. However, more clinical surveys are required to discover the precise biological activity of ozone gas in animal and human subjects.

scholarly journals Influence of Intermittent Cold Stimulations on CREB and Its Targeting Genes in Muscle: Investigations into Molecular Mechanisms of Local Cryotherapy

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (13) ◽  
pp. 4588
Author(s):  
Takehito Sugasawa ◽  
Yoshiya Tome ◽  
Yoshinori Takeuchi ◽  
Yasuko Yoshida ◽  
Naoya Yahagi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Skeletal Muscle ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Binding Protein ◽  
Cold Stimulation ◽  
Vitro Assay ◽  
Mitochondrial Dna Copy Number ◽  
Local Cryotherapy

Local cryotherapy is widely used as a treatment for sports-related skeletal muscle injuries. The molecular mechanisms are unknown. To clarify these mechanisms, we applied one to three 15-min cold stimulations at 4 °C to various cell lines (in vitro), the tibialis anterior (TA) muscle (ex vivo), and mouse limbs (in vivo). In the in vitro assay, cyclic AMP (cAMP) response element binding protein 1 (CREB1) was markedly phosphorylated (p-CREB1), and the CREB-binding protein (CBP) was recruited to p-CREB-1 in response to two or three cold stimulations. In a reporter assay with the cAMP-responsive element, the signals significantly increased after two to three cold stimulations at 4 °C. In the ex vivo study, CREB-targeting genes were significantly upregulated following two or three cold stimulations. The in vivo experiment disclosed that cold stimulation of a mouse limb for 9 days significantly increased mitochondrial DNA copy number and upregulated genes involved in mitochondrial biogenesis. The results suggest that local cryotherapy increases CREB transcription and upregulates CREB-targeting genes, in a manner dependent on cold stimulation frequency and duration. This information will inform further investigations into local cryotherapy as a treatment for sports-related skeletal muscle trauma.

scholarly journals Functions of FKBP12 and Mitochondrial Cyclophilin Active Site Residues In Vitro and In Vivo inSaccharomyces cerevisiae

1997 ◽  
Vol 8 (11) ◽  
pp. 2267-2280 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kara Dolinski ◽  
Christian Scholz ◽  
R. Scott Muir ◽  
Sabine Rospert ◽  
Franz X. Schmid ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Active Site ◽  
Active Sites ◽  
In Vitro Assay ◽  
Biologically Active ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Prolyl Isomerase ◽  
Vitro Assay ◽  
Isomerase Activity

Cyclophilin and FK506 binding protein (FKBP) acceleratecis–trans peptidyl-prolyl isomerization and bind to and mediate the effects of the immunosuppressants cyclosporin A and FK506. The normal cellular functions of these proteins, however, are unknown. We altered the active sites of FKBP12 and mitochondrial cyclophilin from the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae by introducing mutations previously reported to inactivate these enzymes. Surprisingly, most of these mutant enzymes were biologically active in vivo. In accord with previous reports, all of the mutant enzymes had little or no detectable prolyl isomerase activity in the standard peptide substrate-chymotrypsin coupled in vitro assay. However, in a variation of this assay in which the protease is omitted, the mutant enzymes exhibited substantial levels of prolyl isomerase activity (5–20% of wild-type), revealing that these mutations confer sensitivity to protease digestion and that the classic in vitro assay for prolyl isomerase activity may be misleading. In addition, the mutant enzymes exhibited near wild-type activity with two protein substrates, dihydrofolate reductase and ribonuclease T1, whose folding is accelerated by prolyl isomerases. Thus, a number of cyclophilin and FKBP12 “active-site” mutants previously identified are largely active but protease sensitive, in accord with our findings that these mutants display wild-type functions in vivo. One mitochondrial cyclophilin mutant (R73A), and also the wild-type human FKBP12 enzyme, catalyze protein folding in vitro but lack biological activity in vivo in yeast. Our findings provide evidence that both prolyl isomerase activity and other structural features are linked to FKBP and cyclophilin in vivo functions and suggest caution in the use of these active-site mutations to study FKBP and cyclophilin functions.

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