scholarly journals Effects of Axotomy on Cultured Sensory Neurons of Aplysia: Long-Term Injury-Induced Changes in Excitability and Morphology Are Mediated by Different Signaling Pathways

2008 ◽  
Vol 100 (6) ◽  
pp. 3209-3224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Supinder S. Bedi ◽  
Diancai Cai ◽  
David L. Glanzman

To facilitate an understanding of injury-induced changes within the nervous system, we used a single-cell, in vitro model of axonal injury. Sensory neurons were individually dissociated from the CNS of Aplysia and placed into cell culture. The major neurite of some neurons was then transected (axotomized neurons). Axotomy in hemolymph-containing culture medium produced long-term hyperexcitability (LTH-E) and enhanced neuritic sprouting (long-term hypermorphogenesis [LTH-M]). Axotomy in the absence of hemolymph induced LTH-E, but not LTH-M. Hemolymph-derived growth factors may activate tyrosine receptor kinase (Trk) receptors in sensory neurons. To examine this possibility, we treated uninjured (control) and axotomized sensory neurons with K252a, an inhibitor of Trk receptor activity. K252a depressed the excitability of both axotomized and control neurons. K252a also produced a distinct pattern of arborizing outgrowth of neurites in both axotomized and control neurons. Protein kinase C (PKC) is an intracellular signal downstream of Trk; accordingly, we tested the effects of bisindolylmaleimide I (Bis-I), a specific inhibitor of PKC, on the axotomy-induced cellular changes. Bis-I blocked LTH-E, but did not disrupt LTH-M. Finally, because Trk activates the extracellular signal regulated kinase pathway in Aplysia sensory neurons, we examined whether this pathway mediates the injury-induced changes. Sensory neurons were axotomized in the presence of U0126, an inhibitor of mitogen-activated/extracellular receptor-regulated kinase. U0126 blocked the LTH-M due to axotomy, but did not impair LTH-E. Therefore distinct cellular signaling pathways mediate the induction of LTH-E and LTH-M in the sensory neurons.

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lingyu Yang ◽  
Dehai Xian ◽  
Xia Xiong ◽  
Rui Lai ◽  
Jing Song ◽  
...  

Proanthocyanidins (PCs) are naturally occurring polyphenolic compounds abundant in many vegetables, plant skins (rind/bark), seeds, flowers, fruits, and nuts. Numerousin vitroandin vivostudies have demonstrated myriad effects potentially beneficial to human health, such as antioxidation, anti-inflammation, immunomodulation, DNA repair, and antitumor activity. Accumulation of prooxidants such as reactive oxygen species (ROS) exceeding cellular antioxidant capacity results in oxidative stress (OS), which can damage macromolecules (DNA, lipids, and proteins), organelles (membranes and mitochondria), and whole tissues. OS is implicated in the pathogenesis and exacerbation of many cardiovascular, neurodegenerative, dermatological, and metabolic diseases, both through direct molecular damage and secondary activation of stress-associated signaling pathways. PCs are promising natural agents to safely prevent acute damage and control chronic diseases at relatively low cost. In this review, we summarize the molecules and signaling pathways involved in OS and the corresponding therapeutic mechanisms of PCs.


2007 ◽  
Vol 27 (2_suppl) ◽  
pp. 110-115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Yung ◽  
Chan Tak Mao

♦ Background The introduction of peritoneal dialysis (PD) as a modality of renal replacement therapy has provoked much interest in the biology of the peritoneal mesothelial cell. Mesothelial cells isolated from omental tissue have immunohistochemical markers that are identical to those of mesothelial stem cells, and omental mesothelial cells can be cultivated in vitro to study changes to their biologic functions in the setting of PD. ♦ Method The present article describes the structure and function of mesothelial cells in the normal peritoneum and details the morphologic changes that occur after the introduction of PD. Furthermore, this article reviews the literature of mesothelial cell culture and the limitations of in vitro studies. ♦ Results The mesothelium is now considered to be a dynamic membrane that plays a pivotal role in the homeostasis of the peritoneal cavity, contributing to the control of fluid and solute transport, inflammation, and wound healing. These functional properties of the mesothelium are compromised in the setting of PD. Cultures of peritoneal mesothelial cells from omental tissue provide a relevant in vitro model that allows researchers to assess specific molecular pathways of disease in a distinct population of cells. Structural and functional attributes of mesothelial cells are discussed in relation to long-term culture, proliferation potential, age of tissue donor, use of human or animal in vitro models, and how the foregoing factors may influence in vitro data. ♦ Conclusions The ability to propagate mesothelial cells in culture has resulted, over the past two decades, in an explosion of mesothelial cell research pertaining to PD and peritoneal disorders. Independent researchers have highlighted the potential use of mesothelial cells as targets for gene therapy or transplantation in the search to provide therapeutic strategies for the preservation of the mesothelium during chemical or bacterial injury.


2019 ◽  
Vol 202 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Zdeněk Knejzlík ◽  
Klára Herkommerová ◽  
Dana Hocková ◽  
Iva Pichová

ABSTRACT Purine metabolism plays a ubiquitous role in the physiology of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and other mycobacteria. The purine salvage enzyme hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRT) is essential for M. tuberculosis growth in vitro; however, its precise role in M. tuberculosis physiology is unclear. Membrane-permeable prodrugs of specifically designed HGPRT inhibitors arrest the growth of M. tuberculosis and represent potential new antituberculosis compounds. Here, we investigated the purine salvage pathway in the model organism Mycobacterium smegmatis. Using genomic deletion analysis, we confirmed that HGPRT is the only guanine and hypoxanthine salvage enzyme in M. smegmatis but is not required for in vitro growth of this mycobacterium or survival under long-term stationary-phase conditions. We also found that prodrugs of M. tuberculosis HGPRT inhibitors displayed an unexpected antimicrobial activity against M. smegmatis that is independent of HGPRT. Our data point to a different mode of mechanism of action for these inhibitors than was originally proposed. IMPORTANCE Purine bases, released by the hydrolytic and phosphorolytic degradation of nucleic acids and nucleotides, can be salvaged and recycled. The hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRT), which catalyzes the formation of guanosine-5′-monophosphate from guanine and inosine-5′-monophosphate from hypoxanthine, represents a potential target for specific inhibitor development. Deletion of the HGPRT gene (Δhgprt) in the model organism Mycobacterium smegmatis confirmed that this enzyme is not essential for M. smegmatis growth. Prodrugs of acyclic nucleoside phosphonates (ANPs), originally designed against HGPRT from Mycobacterium tuberculosis, displayed anti-M. smegmatis activities comparable to those obtained for M. tuberculosis but also inhibited the Δhgprt M. smegmatis strain. These results confirmed that ANPs act in M. smegmatis by a mechanism independent of HGPRT.


2005 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 310-315 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joaquin J Jimenez ◽  
Wenche Jy ◽  
Lucia M Mauro ◽  
Lawrence L Horstman ◽  
Eugene R Ahn ◽  
...  

Monocyte migration through the disrupted cerebral endothelial cell (EC) junctions plays an essential role in formation of multiple sclerosis (MS) demyelinating lesions. During pathogenesis of MS, activated ECs release endothelial microparticles (EMP), which possibly facilitate transendothelial migration (TEMIG) of monocytes. To assess functional roles of EMP in MS, specifically, their (i) interaction with monocytes, (ii) effect on monocyte TEMIG in an in vitro model of the brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMVEC), (iii) phenotypic profiles of EMP elicited by MS plasma and (iv) the effects of IFN-b1b on release of EMP and on TEMIG of monocytes (mono) and monocytes:EMP complexes (mono:EMP) through the BMVEC. The effect of IFN-b1b on the release of EMP and the TEMIG of mono and mono:EMP was assessed by preincubating BMVEC cultures of IFN-b1b prior to addition of plasma. Three EMP phenotypes, CD54, CD62E and CD31 were assayed. Plasma specimens from 20 patients with relapsing—remitting MS (11 in exacerbation, MS-E, and 9 in remission, ME-R) and 10 healthy controls were studied. Incubation of BMVEC with MS-E plasma yielded elevated levels of EMPCD54, EMP62E and EMPCD31 relative to MS-R and control plasmas. MS-E but not MS-R or control plasma also augmented TEMIG of monocytes, respectively. Mono:EMP complexes further augmented TEMIG relative to mono alone, but only in the presence of MS-E plasma; there was no significant effect with MS-R or control plasmas. The presence of IFN-b1b inhibited TEMIG of mono and mono:EMP by 20% and 30%, respectively. MS-E but not MS-R plasma elicited release of activation-derived EMP and enhanced TEMIG of mono and mono:EMP. IFN-b1b inhibited TEMIG and release of EMP, suggesting a role of EMP and a novel therapeutic mechanism for IFN-β1b in MS.


2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (10) ◽  
pp. eaay7513 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mehmet S. Ozturk ◽  
Vivian K. Lee ◽  
Hongyan Zou ◽  
Roland H. Friedel ◽  
Xavier Intes ◽  
...  

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is a lethal type of brain tumor that often develop therapeutic resistance over months of chemotherapy cycles. Recently, 3D GBM models were developed to facilitate evaluation of drug treatment before undergoing expensive animal studies. However, for long-term evaluation of therapeutic efficacy, novel approaches for GBM tissue construction are still needed. Moreover, there is still a need to develop fast and sensitive imaging methods for the noninvasive assessment of this 3D constructs and their response to drug treatment. Here, we report on the development of an integrated platform that enable generating (i) an in vitro 3D GBM model with perfused vascular channels that allows long-term culture and drug delivery and (ii) a 3D imaging modality that enables researchers to noninvasively assess longitudinal fluorescent signals over the whole in vitro model.


1971 ◽  
Vol 133 (6) ◽  
pp. 1377-1389 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harvey B. Simon ◽  
John N. Sheagren

An in vitro model of cellular immunity in the guinea pig was established. Animals were immunized with tubercle bacilli, bovine gamma globulin, or picrylated human serum albumin in complete Freund's adjuvant. Oil-induced peritoneal exudates from immune and control animals were cultured overnight with and without specific antigen. The cultures were washed and the macrophage monolayers were infected with Listeria monocytogenes. At intervals the monolayers were lysed and the numbers of viable intracellular bacteria were quantitated by pour plate cultures. Random monolayers were also evaluated in sequence by visually counting the intracellular bacteria on Gram-stained plates. Both methods demonstrated that the macrophages from immune animals had markedly enhanced listericidal activity when the peritoneal exudates were cultured with antigen before infection. Macrophage migration inhibition was also demonstrated under these conditions. The experiments reported here describe an in vitro model of cellular immunity which will allow separation and recombination of cell types and direct assay of cell products in efforts to elucidate further the mechanisms of the immunologically mediated enhancement of macrophage bactericidal capacity.


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