scholarly journals Photovoltaic neurointerface based on aluminum antimonide nanocrystals

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mertcan Han ◽  
Houman Bahmani Jalali ◽  
Erdost Yildiz ◽  
Mohammad Haroon Qureshi ◽  
Afsun Şahin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Hippocampal Neurons ◽  
Size Control ◽  
Neural Stimulation ◽  
Neural Systems ◽  
Accelerated Ageing ◽  
Aluminum Antimonide ◽  
Toxic Heavy Metal ◽  
High Level ◽  
Effective Use

AbstractLight activated modulation of neural activity is an emerging field for the basic investigation of neural systems and development of new therapeutic methods such as artificial retina. Colloidal inorganic nanocrystals have great potential for neural interfaces due to their adjustable optoelectronic properties via high-level structural, compositional, and size control. However, toxic heavy metal content (e.g., cadmium, mercury), electrochemical coupling to the cells and low photon-to-current efficiency limit their effective use. Here, we introduce the use of aluminum antimonide (AlSb) nanocrystals as the cell interfacing layer for capacitive neural stimulation in the blue spectrum. We demonstrate successful photostimulation of primary hippocampal neurons below ocular safety limits. In addition, our device shows high biocompatibility in vitro and passive accelerated ageing tests indicate a functional lifetime over 3 years showing their feasible use for chronic implants. We demonstrate that nanocrystal biointerfaces hold high promise for future bioelectronics and protheses.

Astrocytic Expression of the Immunoreceptor CD300f Protects Hippocampal Neurons from Amyloid-β Oligomer Toxicity In Vitro

2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Thiago Zaqueu Lima ◽  
Luis Roberto Sardinha ◽  
Joan Sayos ◽  
Luiz Eugenio Mello ◽  
Hugo Peluffo
Keyword(s):  
Hippocampal Neurons ◽  
Amyloid Β ◽  
Toxicity In Vitro

Computational and In-Vitro Validation of Natural Molecules as Potential Acetylcholinesterase Inhibitors and Neuroprotective Agents

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 116-127 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashwani Kumar ◽  
Vineet Mehta ◽  
Utkarsh Raj ◽  
Pritish Kumar Varadwaj ◽  
Malairaman Udayabanu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
In Silico ◽  
Hippocampal Neurons ◽  
Symptomatic Relief ◽  
In Vitro Assays ◽  
Disease Modifying Drugs ◽  
In Silico Docking ◽  
Ache Inhibitors ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Disease Modifying

Background: Cholinesterase inhibitors are the first line of therapy for the management of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), however, it is now established that they provide only temporary and symptomatic relief, besides, having several inherited side-effects. Therefore, an alternative drug discovery method is used to identify new and safer ‘disease-modifying drugs’. Methods: Herein, we screened 646 small molecules of natural origin having reported pharmacological and functional values through in-silico docking studies to predict safer neuromodulatory molecules with potential to modulate acetylcholine metabolism. Further, the potential of the predicted molecules to inhibit acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and their ability to protect neurons from degeneration was determined through in-vitro assays. Results: Based on in-silico AChE interaction studies, we predicted quercetin, caffeine, ascorbic acid and gallic acid to be potential AChE inhibitors. We confirmed the AChE inhibitory potential of these molecules through in-vitro AChE inhibition assay and compared results with donepezil and begacestat. Herbal molecules significantly inhibited enzyme activity and inhibition for quercetin and caffeine did not show any significant difference from donepezil. Further, the tested molecules did not show any neurotoxicity against primary (E18) hippocampal neurons. We observed that quercetin and caffeine significantly improved neuronal survival and efficiently protected hippocampal neurons from HgCl2 induced neurodegeneration, which other molecules, including donepezil and begacestat, failed to do. Conclusion: Quercetin and caffeine have the potential as “disease-modifying drugs” and may find application in the management of neurological disorders such as AD.

Spastin Interacts with CRMP2 to Regulate Neurite Outgrowth by Controlling Microtubule Dynamics through Phosphorylation Modifications

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sumei Li ◽  
Jifeng Zhang ◽  
Jiaqi Zhang ◽  
Jiong Li ◽  
Longfei Cheng ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Neurite Outgrowth ◽  
Hippocampal Neurons ◽  
Neuronal Development ◽  
Phosphorylation Site ◽  
Microtubule Dynamics ◽  
Microtubule Assembly ◽  
C Terminus ◽  
Mediator Protein ◽  
Branch Formation

Aims: Our work aims to revealing the underlying microtubule mechanism of neurites outgrowth during neuronal development, and also proposes a feasible intervention pathway for reconstructing neural network connections after nerve injury. Background: Microtubule polymerization and severing are the basis for the neurite outgrowth and branch formation. Collapsin response mediator protein 2 (CRMP2) regulates axonal growth and branching as a binding partner of the tubulin heterodimer to promote microtubule assembly. And spastin participates in the growth and regeneration of neurites by severing microtubules into small segments. However, how CRMP2 and spastin cooperate to regulate neurite outgrowth by controlling the microtubule dynamics needs to be elucidated. Objective: To explore whether neurite outgrowth was mediated by coordination of CRMP2 and spastin. Method: Hippocampal neurons were cultured in vitro in 24-well culture plates for 4 days before being used to perform the transfection. Calcium phosphate was used to transfect the CRMP2 and spastin constructs and their control into the neurons. An interaction between CRMP2 and spastin was examined by using pull down, CoIP and immunofluorescence colocalization assays. And immunostaining was also performed to determine the morphology of neurites. Result: We first demonstrated that CRMP2 interacted with spastin to promote the neurite outgrowth and branch formation. Furthermore, our results identified that phosphorylation modification failed to alter the binding affinities of CRMP2 for spastin, but inhibited their binding to microtubules. CRMP2 interacted with the MTBD domain of spastin via its C-terminus, and blocking the binding sites of them inhibited the outgrowth and branch formation of neurites. In addition, we confirmed one phosphorylation site S210 at spastin in hippocampal neurons and phosphorylation spastin at site S210 promoted the neurite outgrowth but not branch formation by remodeling microtubules. Conclusion: Taken together, our data demonstrated that the interaction of CRMP2 and spastin is required for neurite outgrowth and branch formation and their interaction is not regulated by their phosphorylation.

In Vitro Effect of Chlorquine and Picroliv on Plasmodium Berghei Induced Alterations in the Activity of Adenosine Triphosphatase, Aryl Hyrocarbon Hydroxylase Enzymes and Malondialdehyde in spleen Explant Culture

2020 ◽  
Vol 20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anchal Trivedi ◽  
Aparna Misra ◽  
Esha Sarkar ◽  
Anil K. Balapure
Keyword(s):  
Drug Resistance ◽  
Plasmodium Berghei ◽  
Adenosine Triphosphatase ◽  
Explant Culture ◽  
Need To Evaluate ◽  
Mda Content ◽  
High Level ◽  
Vitro Effect ◽  
Positive Effect

Background: In recent years, great progress has been made in reducing the high level of malaria suffering worldwide. There is a great need to evaluate drug resistance reversers and consider new medicines against malaria. There are many approaches to the development of antimalarial drugs. Specific concerns must be taken in to account in these approaches, in particular there requirement for very in expensive and simple use of new therapies and the need to limit drug discovery expenses. Important ongoing efforts are the optimisation of treatment with available medications, including the use of combination therapy. The production of analogs of known agents and the identification of natural products, the use of compounds originally developed against other diseases, the assessment of overcoming drug resistance and the consideration of new therapeutic targets. Liver and spleen are the important organs which are directly associated with malarial complications. Aim: An analysis the Activity of Adenosine Triphosphatase, Aryl Hyrocarbon Hydroxylase Enzymes and Malondialdehyde in spleen Explant Culture. Objective: To determine in-Vitro Effect of Chlorquine and Picroliv on Plasmodium Berghei Induced Alterations in the Activity of Adenosine Triphosphatase, Aryl Hyrocarbon Hydroxylase Enzymes and Malondialdehyde in spleen Explant Culture. Material and method: 1-Histological preparation of spleen explants for paraplast embedding 2-Biochemicalstudies (Enzymes (Atpase, ALP&GST) and the level of protein, Malondialdehyde (MDA). Result: Splenomegalyis one of the three main diagnostic parameters of malaria infection besides fever and anaemia. Many enzymes present in the liver and spleen may also be altered or liberated under different pathological conditions. Enzymes (ATPase, ALP&GST) and the level of protein, Malondialdehyde (MDA) content was found to increase in the liver and spleen explants during malarial infection. In the liver and spleen derived from parasitized CQ treated animals, the activity of all the above enzymes (ATPase, ALP&GST) and the level of protein & MDA of liver/spleen reversed towards the normal for all the 4or3 days of incubations. Picroliv efficacy decreased with the increment of parasitaemia and at 60%parasitaemia. Conclusion: Alkalinephosphatase (ALP) was found to increase with increasing parasitaemia. After the addition of Picroliv to the medium, a decrement in the activity was observed up to day 4 of culture.A similar positive effect of Picroliv was observed on the ATPase and ALP activity of spleen explants.DNA and protein contents also increased in the parasitized liver cultured in the presence of picroliv.On the contrary, in the spleen explants DNA, protein and MDA content were found to decrease after Picroliv supplementation to the culture medium.

Language and Aging

2019 ◽  
pp. 294-316
Author(s):  
Jonathan E. Peelle
Keyword(s):  
Language Processing ◽  
Brain Function ◽  
Neural Systems ◽  
Language Abilities ◽  
Physiological Mechanisms ◽  
Cognitive Changes ◽  
Older Adulthood ◽  
Neural Organization ◽  
Age Related ◽  
High Level

Language processing in older adulthood is a model of balance between preservation and decline. Despite widespread changes to physiological mechanisms supporting perception and cognition, older adults’ language abilities are frequently well preserved. At the same time, the neural systems engaged to achieve this high level of success change, and individual differences in neural organization appear to differentiate between more and less successful performers. This chapter reviews anatomical and cognitive changes that occur in aging and popular frameworks for age-related changes in brain function, followed by an examination of how these principles play out in the context of language comprehension and production.

scholarly journals Mutations in fbiD (Rv2983) as a Novel Determinant of Resistance to Pretomanid and Delamanid in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

2020 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. e01948-20
Author(s):  
Dalin Rifat ◽  
Si-Yang Li ◽  
Thomas Ioerger ◽  
Keshav Shah ◽  
Jean-Philippe Lanoix ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mycobacterium Tuberculosis ◽  
Clinical Evidence ◽  
Clinical Samples ◽  
Loss Of Function ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Solid Media ◽  
High Level ◽  
Level Resistance

ABSTRACTThe nitroimidazole prodrugs delamanid and pretomanid comprise one of only two new antimicrobial classes approved to treat tuberculosis (TB) in 50 years. Prior in vitro studies suggest a relatively low barrier to nitroimidazole resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis, but clinical evidence is limited to date. We selected pretomanid-resistant M. tuberculosis mutants in two mouse models of TB using a range of pretomanid doses. The frequency of spontaneous resistance was approximately 10−5 CFU. Whole-genome sequencing of 161 resistant isolates from 47 mice revealed 99 unique mutations, of which 91% occurred in 1 of 5 genes previously associated with nitroimidazole activation and resistance, namely, fbiC (56%), fbiA (15%), ddn (12%), fgd (4%), and fbiB (4%). Nearly all mutations were unique to a single mouse and not previously identified. The remaining 9% of resistant mutants harbored mutations in Rv2983 (fbiD), a gene not previously associated with nitroimidazole resistance but recently shown to be a guanylyltransferase necessary for cofactor F420 synthesis. Most mutants exhibited high-level resistance to pretomanid and delamanid, although Rv2983 and fbiB mutants exhibited high-level pretomanid resistance but relatively small changes in delamanid susceptibility. Complementing an Rv2983 mutant with wild-type Rv2983 restored susceptibility to pretomanid and delamanid. By quantifying intracellular F420 and its precursor Fo in overexpressing and loss-of-function mutants, we provide further evidence that Rv2983 is necessary for F420 biosynthesis. Finally, Rv2983 mutants and other F420H2-deficient mutants displayed hypersusceptibility to some antibiotics and to concentrations of malachite green found in solid media used to isolate and propagate mycobacteria from clinical samples.

scholarly journals Allelic Exchange and Mutant Selection Demonstrate that Common Clinical embCAB Gene Mutations Only Modestly Increase Resistance to Ethambutol in Mycobacterium tuberculosis

2009 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 103-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hassan Safi ◽  
Robert D. Fleischmann ◽  
Scott N. Peterson ◽  
Marcus B. Jones ◽  
Behnam Jarrahi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mycobacterium Tuberculosis ◽  
In Vitro Selection ◽  
Gene Mutations ◽  
Wild Type ◽  
Mutant Selection ◽  
Preferential Growth ◽  
Allelic Exchange ◽  
High Level ◽  
Isogenic Mutants

ABSTRACT Mutations within codon 306 of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis embB gene modestly increase ethambutol (EMB) MICs. To identify other causes of EMB resistance and to identify causes of high-level resistance, we generated EMB-resistant M. tuberculosis isolates in vitro and performed allelic exchange studies of embB codon 406 (embB406) and embB497 mutations. In vitro selection produced mutations already identified clinically in embB306, embB397, embB497, embB1024, and embC13, which result in EMB MICs of 8 or 14 μg/ml, 5 μg/ml, 12 μg/ml, 3 μg/ml, and 4 μg/ml, respectively, and mutations at embB320, embB324, and embB445, which have not been identified in clinical M. tuberculosis isolates and which result in EMB MICs of 8 μg/ml, 8 μg/ml, and 2 to 8 μg/ml, respectively. To definitively identify the effect of the common clinical embB497 and embB406 mutations on EMB susceptibility, we created a series of isogenic mutants, exchanging the wild-type embB497 CAG codon in EMB-susceptible M. tuberculosis strain 210 for the embB497 CGG codon and the wild-type embB406 GGC codon for either the embB406 GCC, embB406 TGC, embB406 TCC, or embB406 GAC codon. These new mutants showed 6-fold and 3- to 3.5-fold increases in the EMB MICs, respectively. In contrast to the embB306 mutants, the isogenic embB497 and embB406 mutants did not have preferential growth in the presence of isoniazid or rifampin (rifampicin) at their MICs. These results demonstrate that individual embCAB mutations confer low to moderate increases in EMB MICs. Discrepancies between the EMB MICs of laboratory mutants and clinical M. tuberculosis strains with identical mutations suggest that clinical EMB resistance is multigenic and that high-level EMB resistance requires mutations in currently unknown loci.

scholarly journals Aberrantly high activation of a FoxM1–STMN1 axis contributes to progression and tumorigenesis in FoxM1-driven cancers

2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Liu ◽  
Jipeng Li ◽  
Ke Wang ◽  
Haiming Liu ◽  
Jianyong Sun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Proliferation ◽  
Poor Prognosis ◽  
Soft Agar ◽  
Transcriptional Level ◽  
Regulation Mechanism ◽  
Strong Positive Correlation ◽  
Cell Viability Assay ◽  
High Level

AbstractFork-head box protein M1 (FoxM1) is a transcriptional factor which plays critical roles in cancer development and progression. However, the general regulatory mechanism of FoxM1 is still limited. STMN1 is a microtubule-binding protein which can inhibit the assembly of microtubule dimer or promote depolymerization of microtubules. It was reported as a major responsive factor of paclitaxel resistance for clinical chemotherapy of tumor patients. But the function of abnormally high level of STMN1 and its regulation mechanism in cancer cells remain unclear. In this study, we used public database and tissue microarrays to analyze the expression pattern of FoxM1 and STMN1 and found a strong positive correlation between FoxM1 and STMN1 in multiple types of cancer. Lentivirus-mediated FoxM1/STMN1-knockdown cell lines were established to study the function of FoxM1/STMN1 by performing cell viability assay, plate clone formation assay, soft agar assay in vitro and xenograft mouse model in vivo. Our results showed that FoxM1 promotes cell proliferation by upregulating STMN1. Further ChIP assay showed that FoxM1 upregulates STMN1 in a transcriptional level. Prognostic analysis showed that a high level of FoxM1 and STMN1 is related to poor prognosis in solid tumors. Moreover, a high co-expression of FoxM1 and STMN1 has a more significant correlation with poor prognosis. Our findings suggest that a general FoxM1-STMN1 axis contributes to cell proliferation and tumorigenesis in hepatocellular carcinoma, gastric cancer and colorectal cancer. The combination of FoxM1 and STMN1 can be a more precise biomarker for prognostic prediction.

scholarly journals Radiofrequency Irradiation Modulates TRPV1-Related Burning Sensation in Rosacea

Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (5) ◽  
pp. 1424
Author(s):  
Seyeon Oh ◽  
Myeongjoo Son ◽  
Joonhong Park ◽  
Donghwan Kang ◽  
Kyunghee Byun
Keyword(s):  
Burning Sensation ◽  
In Vivo Model ◽  
Molecular Evidence ◽  
Exposed Skin ◽  
Heat Treated ◽  
Vitro Model ◽  
Effective Use ◽  
Inflammatory Molecules

Rosacea is a skin inflammatory condition that is accompanied by not only redness and flushing but also unseen symptoms, such as burning, stinging, and itching. TRPV1 expression in UVB-exposed skin can lead to a painful burning sensation. Upregulated TRPV1 expression helps release neuropeptides, including calcitonin gene-related peptide, pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide, and vasoactive intestinal peptide, which can activate macrophage and inflammatory molecules. In this study, we found that radiofrequency (RF) irradiation reduced TRPV1 activation and neuropeptide expression in a UVB-exposed in vivo model and UVB- or heat-treated in an in vitro model. RF irradiation attenuated neuropeptide-induced macrophage activation and inflammatory molecule expression. Interestingly, the burning sensation in the skin of UVB-exposed mice and patients with rosacea was significantly decreased by RF irradiation. These results can provide experimental and molecular evidence on the effective use of RF irradiation for the burning sensation in patients with rosacea.

scholarly journals H2S protects hippocampal neurons against hypoxia-reoxygenation injury by promoting RhoA phosphorylation at Ser188

2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ye Chen ◽  
Jiyue Wen ◽  
Zhiwu Chen
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Hippocampal Neurons ◽  
Glucose Deprivation ◽  
Rhoa Activity ◽  
Mercaptopyruvate Sulfurtransferase ◽  
Dependent Protein ◽  
Cerebral Vasodilatation ◽  
Reoxygenation Injury ◽  
Hypoxia Reoxygenation

AbstractInhibition of RhoA-ROCK pathway is involved in the H2S-induced cerebral vasodilatation and H2S-mediated protection on endothelial cells against oxygen-glucose deprivation/reoxygenation injury. However, the inhibitory mechanism of H2S on RhoA-ROCK pathway is still unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the target and mechanism of H2S in inhibition of RhoA/ROCK. GST-RhoAwild and GST-RhoAS188A proteins were constructed and expressed, and were used for phosphorylation assay in vitro. Recombinant RhoAwild-pEGFP-N1 and RhoAS188A-pEGFP-N1 plasmids were constructed and transfected into primary hippocampal nerve cells (HNCs) to evaluate the neuroprotective mechanism of endothelial H2S by using transwell co-culture system with endothelial cells from cystathionine-γ-lyase knockout (CSE−/−) mice and 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase knockout (3-MST−/−) rats, respectively. We found that NaHS, exogenous H2S donor, promoted RhoA phosphorylation at Ser188 in the presence of cGMP-dependent protein kinase 1 (PKG1) in vitro. Besides, both exogenous and endothelial H2S facilitated the RhoA phosphorylation at Ser188 in HNCs, which induced the reduction of RhoA activity and membrane transposition, as well as ROCK2 activity and expression. To further investigate the role of endothelial H2S on RhoA phosphorylation, we detected H2S release from ECs of CSE+/+ and CSE−/− mice, and 3-MST+/+ and 3-MST−/− rats, respectively, and found that H2S produced by ECs in the culture medium is mainly catalyzed by CSE synthase. Moreover, we revealed that both endothelial H2S, mainly catalyzed by CSE, and exogenous H2S protected the HNCs against hypoxia-reoxygenation injury via phosphorylating RhoA at Ser188.

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