scholarly journals Development of P301S tau seeded organotypic hippocampal slice cultures to study potential therapeutics

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
James M. McCarthy ◽  
Jasmeet Virdee ◽  
Jessica Brown ◽  
Daniel Ursu ◽  
Zeshan Ahmed ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hippocampal Slice ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Direct Access ◽  
In Vivo Studies ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Ex Vivo Model ◽  
Concentration Dependent Manner ◽  
Hippocampal Slice Cultures ◽  
Organotypic Hippocampal Slice Cultures

AbstractIntracellular tau inclusions are a pathological hallmark of Alzheimer's disease, progressive supranuclear palsy, corticobasal degeneration and other sporadic neurodegenerative tauopathies. Recent in vitro and in vivo studies have shown that tau aggregates may spread to neighbouring cells and functionally connected brain regions, where they can seed further tau aggregation. This process is referred to as tau propagation. Here we describe an ex vivo system using organotypic hippocampal slice cultures (OHCs) which recapitulates aspects of this phenomenon. OHCs are explants of hippocampal tissue which may be maintained in culture for months. They maintain their synaptic connections and multicellular 3D architecture whilst also permitting direct control of the environment and direct access for various analysis types. We inoculated OHCs prepared from P301S mouse pups with brain homogenate from terminally ill P301S mice and then examined the slices for viability and the production and localization of insoluble phosphorylated tau. We show that following seeding, phosphorylated insoluble tau accumulate in a time and concentration dependent manner within OHCs. Furthermore, we show the ability of the conformation dependent anti-tau antibody, MC1, to compromise tau accrual in OHCs, thus showcasing the potential of this therapeutic approach and the utility of OHCs as an ex vivo model system for assessing such therapeutics.

scholarly journals Modulatory Effects of Osthole on Lipopolysaccharides-Induced Inflammation in Caco-2 Cell Monolayer and Co-Cultures with THP-1 and THP-1-Derived Macrophages

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 123
Author(s):  
Natalia K. Kordulewska ◽  
Justyna Topa ◽  
Małgorzata Tańska ◽  
Anna Cieślińska ◽  
Ewa Fiedorowicz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gene Expression ◽  
Inflammatory Reaction ◽  
Wide Spectrum ◽  
Cell Monolayer ◽  
In Vivo Studies ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Concentration Dependent Manner ◽  
Tnf Α

Lipopolysaccharydes (LPS) are responsible for the intestinal inflammatory reaction, as they may disrupt tight junctions and induce cytokines (CKs) secretion. Osthole has a wide spectrum of pharmacological effects, thus its anti-inflammatory potential in the LPS-treated Caco-2 cell line as well as in Caco-2/THP-1 and Caco-2/macrophages co-cultures was investigated. In brief, Caco-2 cells and co-cultures were incubated with LPS to induce an inflammatory reaction, after which osthole (150–450 ng/mL) was applied to reduce this effect. After 24 h, the level of secreted CKs and changes in gene expression were examined. LPS significantly increased the levels of IL-1β, -6, -8, and TNF-α, while osthole reduced this effect in a concentration-dependent manner, with the most significant decrease when a 450 ng/mL dose was applied (p < 0.0001). A similar trend was observed in changes in gene expression, with the significant osthole efficiency at a concentration of 450 ng/μL for IL1R1 and COX-2 (p < 0.01) and 300 ng/μL for NF-κB (p < 0.001). Osthole increased Caco-2 monolayer permeability, thus if it would ever be considered as a potential drug for minimizing intestinal inflammatory symptoms, its safety should be confirmed in extended in vitro and in vivo studies.

scholarly journals The MEMIC: An ex vivo system to model the complexity of the tumor microenvironment

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Libuše Janská ◽  
Libi Anandi ◽  
Nell C. Kirchberger ◽  
Zoran S. Marinkovic ◽  
Logan T. Schachtner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tumor Microenvironment ◽  
Tumor Cells ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Tumor Stroma ◽  
Stem Cell Differentiation ◽  
Blood Stream ◽  
Direct Access ◽  
Ex Vivo Model

There is an urgent need for accurate, scalable, and cost-efficient experimental systems to model the complexity of the tumor microenvironment. Here, we detail how to fabricate and use the Metabolic Microenvironment Chamber (MEMIC) – a 3D-printed ex vivo model of intratumoral heterogeneity. A major driver of the cellular and molecular diversity in tumors is the accessibility to the blood stream that provides key resources such as oxygen and nutrients. While some tumor cells have direct access to these resources, many others must survive under progressively more ischemic environments as they reside further from the vasculature. The MEMIC is designed to simulate the differential access to nutrients and allows co-culturing different cell types, such as tumor and immune cells. This system is optimized for live imaging and other microscopy-based approaches, and it is a powerful tool to study tumor features such as the effect of nutrient scarcity on tumor-stroma interactions. Due to its adaptable design and full experimental control, the MEMIC provide insights into the tumor microenvironment that would be difficult to obtain via other methods. As a proof of principle, we show that cells sense gradual changes in metabolite concentration resulting in multicellular spatial patterns of signal activation and cell proliferation. To illustrate the ease of studying cell-cell interactions in the MEMIC, we show that ischemic macrophages reduce epithelial features in neighboring tumor cells. We propose the MEMIC as a complement to standard in vitro and in vivo experiments, diversifying the tools available to accurately model, perturb, and monitor the tumor microenvironment, as well as to understand how extracellular metabolites affect other processes such as wound healing and stem cell differentiation.

scholarly journals Binding of Dipyridamole of Human Platelets and to α-Acid Glycoprotein and its Significance for the Inhibition of Adenosine Uptake

1977 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Subbarao ◽  
B. Rucinski ◽  
A. Summers ◽  
S. Niewiarowski
Keyword(s):  
Binding Sites ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Human Platelets ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Concentration Dependent Manner ◽  
Acid Glycoprotein ◽  
High Affinity ◽  
Adenosine Uptake ◽  
Adenosine Transport

The interactions of dipyridamole with α1-acid glycoprotein of plasma and with human platelets are related to inhibition of adenosine uptake by platelets. One mole of dipyridamole binds to one mole of α1-acid glycoprotein with a dissociation constant (Kd) of 1.3 μM. It was found that platelets contain both high and low affinity binding sites for the drug. The binding of dipyridamole to the high affinity sites follows a Michaelis Menten binding pattern with a Kd of 0.04 μM. Approximately 2x104 dipyridamole molecules are bound at the high affinity sites of each platelet. The lower affinity sites bind the drug with a Kd of 4 μM. In the presence of α1acid glycoprotein the binding of dipyridamole to platelets is inhibited. Correspondingly, the dipyridamole inhibition of adenosine uptake by platelets is reduced 1000-fold by α1acid glycoprotein. Binding of dipyridamole to human platelets is essential for its inhibition of adenosine uptake by platelets. Dipyridamole reduced the [14C]-ATP to [14C]-ADP ratio in the platelets. Purified α1acid glycoprotein reversed these effects of dipyridamole on adenosine metabolism of platelets in a concentration dependent manner. A correlationwas observed between the level of circulating dipyridamole in plasma and the inhibition of [14C]-adenosine uptake by platelets of PRP samples of 12 human volunteers given different amounts of dipyridamole. The in vitro and ex vivo effects of dipyridamole on the [14C]-adenosine uptake by platelets were found to be identical. Our data suggest the presence of dipyridamole binding sites in platelets that regulate adenosine transport across the cell surface.

scholarly journals Dipeptidyl-Peptidase IV Converts Intact B-Type Natriuretic Peptide into Its des-SerPro Form

2006 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 82-87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Inger Brandt ◽  
Anne-Marie Lambeir ◽  
Jean-Marie Ketelslegers ◽  
Marc Vanderheyden ◽  
Simon Scharpé ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Natriuretic Peptide ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Dipeptidyl Peptidase ◽  
Dipeptidyl Peptidase Iv ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Concentration Dependent Manner ◽  
Amino Terminal ◽  
Dpp Iv

Abstract Background: Analysis of plasma B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) has suggested the in vivo formation of a truncated form, BNP (3–32), also called des-SerPro-BNP. The objectives of this study were to investigate (a) whether BNP and other natriuretic peptides are truncated by dipeptidyl-peptidase IV (DPP IV/CD26; EC 3.4.14.5) and (b) whether this truncation affects the susceptibility to cleavage by neutral endopeptidase (NEP; EC 3.4.24.11). Methods: Human BNP (1–32), A-type natriuretic peptide 1–28 (ANP 1–28), and related peptides were incubated with purified DPP IV and with human plasma. In addition, BNP (1–32), BNP (3–32), and ANP (1–28) were subjected to hydrolysis by NEP. Cleavage products were analyzed by mass spectrometry. Results: BNP (1–32) was cleaved by purified DPP IV with a specificity constant of 0.37 × 106 L · mol−1 · s−1. The DPP IV activity in EDTA-plasma was able to truncate BNP (1–32) ex vivo. Addition of Vildagliptin, a specific DPP IV inhibitor, prevented this truncation in a concentration-dependent manner. Under in vitro circumstances in which ANP was hydrolyzed extensively, BNP (1–32) and BNP (3–32) were very resistant to NEP-mediated cleavage. Conclusions: DPP IV cleaves BNP (1–32) with an efficiency higher than or comparable to several known in vivo substrates of the enzyme. Even after loss of the amino-terminal dipeptide, BNP remains highly resistant to cleavage by NEP.

Exogenous NO inhibits basal NO release from vascular endothelium in vitro and in vivo

1996 ◽  
Vol 271 (5) ◽  
pp. H2045-H2051 ◽  
Author(s):  
X. L. Ma ◽  
B. L. Lopez ◽  
T. A. Christopher ◽  
D. S. Birenbaum ◽  
J. Vinten-Johansen
Keyword(s):  
In Vivo Studies ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Concentration Dependent Manner ◽  
No Donor ◽  
Parent Molecule ◽  
Arterial Blood ◽  
No Release ◽  
Basal Release

This study tested the hypothesis that exogenous nitric oxide (NO) inhibits basal release of NO in isolated rat aortic rings and in vivo. Thoracic aortic rings were suspended in organ chambers with Krebs-Henseleit solution. In untreated rings, the NO synthase inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) markedly increased basal vascular tone by 34.6 +/- 5.2% of maximal force produced by 100 nM thromboxane A2 mimetic U-46619, indicating a basal release of NO. Other rings were pretreated with the exogenous NO donor S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP) for 20 min and then washed free of drug. In these rings, L-NAME-induced vasoconstriction was significantly attenuated in a concentration-dependent manner (from 34.6 +/- 5.2 to 25.7 +/- 2.9% at SNAP = 0.5 microM, 15.2 +/- 3.1% at 1 microM, and 11.9 +/- 2.5% at 5 microM), while having no effect on NO-independent phenylephrine-induced vasoconstriction (35.4 +/- 4.7 untreated vs. 41.3 +/- 4.3% SNAP pretreated, not significant). In addition, the nonnitrosylated parent molecule of SNAP, acetylpenicillamine, had no effect on the vasoconstriction induced by L-NAME. In the in vivo studies in anesthetized rats, L-NAME caused significant hypertensive responses (34 +/- 4-mmHg increase in mean arterial blood pressure). Subvasoactive doses of SNAP attenuated these hypertensive responses in a dose-dependent manner (20 +/- 3-mmHg increase with 10 micrograms/kg SNAP pretreatment and 16 +/- 4-mmHg increase with 20 micrograms/kg SNAP pretreatment), but any dose of acetylpenicillamine studied had no effect. Coadministration of superoxide dismutase and SNAP significantly potentiated the inhibitory effect of the NO donor on vasocontraction responses to L-NAME. Furthermore, SNAP did not attenuate the hypertensive responses to phenylephrine. These results indicate that exogenous NO significantly inhibits basal NO release both in vitro and in vivo, suggesting that NO plays an important negative-feedback regulatory role under physiological conditions.

Complement C3 is a novel plasma clot component with anti-fibrinolytic properties

2012 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 216-225 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joanna-Marie Howes ◽  
Victoria R Richardson ◽  
Kerrie A Smith ◽  
Verena Schroeder ◽  
Riyaz Somani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Ex Vivo ◽  
Complement C3 ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Serum Samples ◽  
Plasma Clot ◽  
Concentration Dependent Manner ◽  
Proteomics Approach ◽  
Inflammatory Proteins ◽  
Components Analysis

Background and method: Increased plasma clot density and prolonged lysis times are associated with cardiovascular disease. In this study, we employed a functional proteomics approach to identify novel clot components which may influence clot phenotypes. Results: Analysis of perfused, solubilised plasma clots identified inflammatory proteins, including complement C3, as novel clot components. Analysis of paired plasma and serum samples confirmed concentration-dependent incorporation of C3 into clots. Surface plasmon resonance indicated high-affinity binding interactions between C3 and fibrinogen and fibrin. Turbidimetric clotting and lysis assays indicated C3 impaired fibrinolysis in a concentration-dependent manner, both in vitro and ex vivo. Conclusion: These data indicate functional interactions between complement C3 and fibrin leading to prolonged fibrinolysis. These interactions are physiologically relevant in the context of protection following injury and suggest a mechanistic link between increased plasma C3 concentration and acute cardiovascular thrombotic events.

scholarly journals In Silico, Ex Vivo and In Vivo Studies of Roflumilast as a Potential Antidiarrheal and Antispasmodic agent: Inhibition of the PDE-4 Enzyme and Voltage-gated Ca++ ion Channels

Molecules ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (4) ◽  
pp. 1008 ◽  
Author(s):  
Najeeb Ur Rehman ◽  
Mohd Nazam Ansari ◽  
Abdul Samad
Keyword(s):  
In Silico ◽  
Ex Vivo ◽  
In Silico Analysis ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
In Vivo Studies ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Ca Channels ◽  
Response Curves ◽  
Concentration Dependent Manner

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the possible gut inhibitory role of the phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitor roflumilast. Increasing doses of roflumilast were tested against castor oil-induced diarrhea in mice, whereas the pharmacodynamics of the same effect was determined in isolated rabbit jejunum tissues. For in silico analysis, the identified PDE protein was docked with roflumilast and papaverine using the Autodock vina program from the PyRx virtual screening tool. Roflumilast protected against diarrhea significantly at 0.5 and 1.5 mg/kg doses, with 40% and 80% protection. Ex vivo findings from jejunum tissues show that roflumilast possesses an antispasmodic effect by inhibiting spontaneous contractions in a concentration-dependent manner. Roflumilast reversed carbachol (CCh, 1 µM)-mediated and potassium (K+, 80 mM)-mediated contractile responses with comparable efficacies but different potencies. The observed potency against K+ was significantly higher in comparison to CCh, similar to verapamil. Experiments were extended to further confirm the inhibitory effect on Ca++ channels. Interestingly, roflumilast deflected Ca++ concentration–response curves (CRCs) to the right with suppression of the maximum peak at both tested doses (0.001-0.003 mg/mL), similar to verapamil. The PDE-inhibitory effect was authenticated when pre-incubation of jejunum tissues with roflumilast (0.03-0.1 mg/mL) produced a leftward deflection of isoprenaline-mediated inhibitory CRCs and increased the tissue level of cAMP, similar to papaverine. This idea was further strengthened by molecular docking studies, where roflumilast exhibited a better binding affinity (-9.4 kcal/mol) with the PDE protein than the standard papaverine (-8.3 kcal/mol). In conclusion, inhibition of Ca++ channels and the PDE-4 enzyme explains the pharmacodynamics of the gut inhibitory effect of roflumilast.

scholarly journals Gold Nanoparticles Induce Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis in Human Kidney Cells

Nanomaterials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (5) ◽  
pp. 995 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Enea ◽  
Eulália Pereira ◽  
Miguel Peixoto de Almeida ◽  
Ana Margarida Araújo ◽  
Maria de Lourdes Bastos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gold Nanoparticles ◽  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Mitochondrial Membrane Potential ◽  
Mitochondrial Membrane ◽  
Cell Damage ◽  
Human Kidney ◽  
In Vivo Studies ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Concentration Dependent Manner

Gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are highly attractive for biomedical applications. Therefore, several in vitro and in vivo studies have addressed their safety evaluation. Nevertheless, there is a lack of knowledge regarding their potential detrimental effect on human kidney. To evaluate this effect, AuNPs with different sizes (13 nm and 60 nm), shapes (spheres and stars), and coated with 11-mercaptoundecanoic acid (MUA) or with sodium citrate, were synthesized, characterized, and their toxicological effects evaluated 24 h after incubation with a proximal tubular cell line derived from normal human kidney (HK-2). After exposure, viability was assessed by the MTT assay. Changes in lysosomal integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm), reactive species (ROS/RNS), intracellular glutathione (total GSH), and ATP were also evaluated. Apoptosis was investigated through the evaluation of the activity of caspases 3, 8 and 9. Overall, the tested AuNPs targeted mainly the mitochondria in a concentration-dependent manner. The lysosomal integrity was also affected but to a lower extent. The smaller 13 nm nanospheres (both citrate- and MUA-coated) proved to be the most toxic among all types of AuNPs, increasing ROS production and decreasing mitochondrial membrane potential (p ≤ 0.01). For the MUA-coated 13 nm nanospheres, these effects were associated also to increased levels of total glutathione (p ≤ 0.01) and enhanced ATP production (p ≤ 0.05). Programmed cell death was detected through the activation of both extrinsic and intrinsic pathways (caspase 8 and 9) (p ≤ 0.05). We found that the larger 60 nm AuNPs, both nanospheres and nanostars, are apparently less toxic than their smaller counter parts. Considering the results herein presented, it should be taken into consideration that even if renal clearance of the AuNPs is desirable, since it would prevent accumulation and detrimental effects in other organs, a possible intracellular accumulation of AuNPs in kidneys can induce cell damage and later compromise kidney function.

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