scholarly journals Optimising experimental research in respiratory diseases: an ERS statement

2018 ◽  
Vol 51 (5) ◽  
pp. 1702133 ◽  
Author(s):  
Philippe Bonniaud ◽  
Aurélie Fabre ◽  
Nelly Frossard ◽  
Christophe Guignabert ◽  
Mark Inman ◽  
...  

Experimental models are critical for the understanding of lung health and disease and are indispensable for drug development. However, the pathogenetic and clinical relevance of the models is often unclear. Further, the use of animals in biomedical research is controversial from an ethical perspective.The objective of this task force was to issue a statement with research recommendations about lung disease models by facilitating in-depth discussions between respiratory scientists, and to provide an overview of the literature on the available models. Focus was put on their specific benefits and limitations. This will result in more efficient use of resources and greater reduction in the numbers of animals employed, thereby enhancing the ethical standards and translational capacity of experimental research.The task force statement addresses general issues of experimental research (ethics, species, sex, age,ex vivoandin vitromodels, gene editing). The statement also includes research recommendations on modelling asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary fibrosis, lung infections, acute lung injury and pulmonary hypertension.The task force stressed the importance of using multiple models to strengthen validity of results, the need to increase the availability of human tissues and the importance of standard operating procedures and data quality.

Parasitologia ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 50-60
Author(s):  
Veronica Rodriguez Fernandez ◽  
Giovanni Casini ◽  
Fabrizio Bruschi

Ocular toxoplasmosis (OT) is caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii and affects many individuals throughout the world. Infection may occur through congenital or acquired routes. The parasites enter the blood circulation and reach both the retina and the retinal pigment epithelium, where they may cause cell damage and cell death. Different routes of access are used by T. gondii to reach the retina through the retinal endothelium: by transmission inside leukocytes, as free parasites through a paracellular route, or after endothelial cell infection. A main feature of OT is the induction of an important inflammatory state, and the course of infection has been shown to be influenced by the host immunogenetics. On the other hand, there is evidence that the T. gondii phenotype also has an impact on the distribution of the pathology in different areas. Although considerable knowledge has been acquired on OT, a deeper knowledge of its mechanisms is necessary to provide new, more targeted treatment strategies. In particular, in addition to in vitro and in vivo experimental models, organotypic, ex vivo retinal explants may be useful in this direction.


Blood ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 91 (11) ◽  
pp. 4197-4205 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.M. Herbert ◽  
J.P. Hérault ◽  
A. Bernat ◽  
R.G.M. van Amsterdam ◽  
J.C. Lormeau ◽  
...  

Abstract SANORG 34006 is a new sulfated pentasaccharide obtained by chemical synthesis. It is an analog of the “synthetic pentasaccharide” (SR 90107/ ORG 31540) which represents the antithrombin (AT) binding site of heparin. SANORG 34006 showed a higher affinity to human AT than SR 90107/ORG 31540 (kd = 1.4 ± 0.3 v 48 ± 11 nmol/L), and it is a potent and selective catalyst of the inhibitory effect of AT on factor Xa (1,240 ± 15 anti–factor Xa U/mg v850 ± 27 anti-factor Xa U/mg for SR 90107/ORG 31540). In vitro, SANORG 34006 inhibited thrombin generation occurring via both the extrinsic and intrinsic pathway. After intravenous (IV) or subcutaneous (SC) administration to rabbits, SANORG 34006 displayed a long-lasting anti–factor Xa activity and inhibition of thrombin generation (TG) ex vivo. SANORG 34006 was slowly eliminated after IV or SC administration to rats, rabbits, and baboons, showed exceptionally long half-lives (between 9.2 hours in rats and 61.9 hours in baboons), and revealed an SC bioavailability near 100%. SANORG 34006 displayed antithrombotic activity by virtue of its potentiation of the anti–factor Xa activity of AT. It strongly inhibited thrombus formation in experimental models of thromboplastin/stasis-induced venous thrombosis in rats (IV) and rabbits (SC) (ED50values = 40.0 ± 3.4 and 105.0 ± 9.4 nmol/kg, respectively). The duration of its antithrombotic effects closely paralleled the ex vivo anti–factor Xa activity. SANORG 34006 enhanced rt-PA–induced thrombolysis and inhibited accretion of125I-fibrinogen onto a preformed thrombus in the rabbit jugular vein suggesting that concomitant use of SANORG 34006 during rt-PA therapy might be helpful in facilitating thrombolysis and preventing fibrin accretion onto the thrombus under lysis. Contrary to standard heparin, SANORG 34006 did not enhance bleeding in a rabbit ear incision model at a dose that equals 10 times the antithrombotic ED50 in this species and, therefore, exhibited a favorable therapeutic index. We suggest that SANORG 34006 is a promising compound in the treatment and prevention of various thrombotic diseases.


Author(s):  
Adnan Al Dalaty ◽  
Benedetta Gualeni ◽  
Sion A. Coulman ◽  
James C. Birchall

AbstractMicroneedle (MN)-based technologies have been proposed as a means to facilitate minimally invasive sustained delivery of long-acting hormonal contraceptives into the skin. Intradermal administration is a new route of delivery for these contraceptives and therefore no established laboratory methods or experimental models are available to predict dermal drug release and pharmacokinetics from candidate MN formulations. This study evaluates an in vitro release (IVR) medium and a medium supplemented with ex vivo human skin homogenate (SH) as potential laboratory models to investigate the dermal release characteristics of one such hormonal contraceptive that is being tested for MN delivery, levonorgestrel (LNG), and provides details of an accompanying novel two-step liquid–liquid drug extraction procedure and sensitive reversed-phase HPLC–UV assay. The extraction efficiency of LNG was 91.7 ± 3.06% from IVR medium and 84.6 ± 1.6% from the medium supplemented with SH. The HPLC–UV methodology had a limit of quantification of 0.005 µg/mL and linearity between 0.005 and 25 µg/mL. Extraction and detection methods for LNG were exemplified in both models using the well-characterised, commercially available sustained-release implant (Jadelle®). Sustained LNG release from the implant was detected in both media over 28 days. This study reports for the first time the use of biologically relevant release models and a rapid, reliable and sensitive methodology to determine release characteristics of LNG from intradermally administered long-acting drug delivery systems. Graphical abstract


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (10) ◽  
pp. 3575 ◽  
Author(s):  
Viviana di Giacomo ◽  
Annalisa Chiavaroli ◽  
Lucia Recinella ◽  
Giustino Orlando ◽  
Amelia Cataldi ◽  
...  

Cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabigerol (CBG) are Cannabis sativa terpenophenols. Although CBD’s effectiveness against neurological diseases has already been demonstrated, nothing is known about CBG. Therefore, a comparison of the effects of these compounds was performed in two experimental models mimicking the oxidative stress and neurotoxicity occurring in neurological diseases. Rat astrocytes were exposed to hydrogen peroxide and cell viability, reactive oxygen species production and apoptosis occurrence were investigated. Cortexes were exposed to K+ 60 mM depolarizing stimulus and serotonin (5-HT) turnover, 3-hydroxykinurenine and kynurenic acid levels were measured. A proteomic analysis and bioinformatics and docking studies were performed. Both compounds exerted antioxidant effects in astrocytes and restored the cortex level of 5-HT depleted by neurotoxic stimuli, whereas sole CBD restored the basal levels of 3-hydroxykinurenine and kynurenic acid. CBG was less effective than CBD in restoring the levels of proteins involved in neurotransmitter exocytosis. Docking analyses predicted the inhibitory effects of these compounds towards the neurokinin B receptor. Conclusion: The results in the in vitro system suggest brain non-neuronal cells as a target in the treatment of oxidative conditions, whereas findings in the ex vivo system and docking analyses imply the potential roles of CBD and CBG as neuroprotective agents.


2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fernanda Paula R. Santana ◽  
Nathalia M. Pinheiro ◽  
Márcia Isabel B. Mernak ◽  
Renato F. Righetti ◽  
Mílton A. Martins ◽  
...  

Pulmonary inflammation is a hallmark of many respiratory diseases such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and acute respiratory syndrome distress (ARDS). Most of these diseases are treated with anti-inflammatory therapy in order to prevent or to reduce the pulmonary inflammation. Herbal medicine-derived natural products have been used in folk medicine and scientific studies to evaluate the value of these compounds have grown in recent years. Many substances derived from plants have the biological effectsin vitroandin vivo, such as flavonoids, alkaloids, and terpenoids. Among the biological activities of natural products derived from plants can be pointed out the anti-inflammatory, antiviral, antiplatelet, antitumor anti-allergic activities, and antioxidant. Although many reports have evaluated the effects of these compounds in experimental models, studies evaluating clinical trials are scarce in the literature. This review aims to emphasize the effects of these different natural products in pulmonary diseases in experimental models and in humans and pointing out some possible mechanisms of action.


2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 506-517 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suado M. Abdillahi ◽  
Marta Bober ◽  
Sara Nordin ◽  
Oskar Hallgren ◽  
Maria Baumgarten ◽  
...  

Moraxella catarrhalis is a Gram-negative human mucosal commensal and pathogen. It is a common cause of exacerbation in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). During the process of infection, host colonization correlates with recognition of host molecular patterns. Importantly, in COPD patients with compromised epithelial integrity the underlying extracellular matrix is exposed and provides potential adhesive targets. Collagen VI is a ubiquitous fibrillar component in the airway mucosa and has been attributed both adhesive and killing properties against Gram-positive bacteria. However, less is known regarding Gram-negative microorganisms. Therefore, in the present study, the interaction of M. catarrhalis with collagen VI was characterized. We found that collagen VI is upregulated in the airways of COPD patients and exposed upon epithelial desquamation. Ex vivo, we inoculated airway biopsies and fibroblasts from COPD patients with M. catarrhalis. The bacteria specifically adhered to collagen VI-containing matrix fibrils. In vitro, purified collagen VI microfibrils bound to bacterial surface structures. The primary adhesion target was mapped to the collagen VI α2-chain. Upon exposure to collagen VI, bacteria were killed by membrane destabilization in physiological conditions. These previously unknown properties of collagen VI provide novel insights into the extracellular matrix innate immunity by quickly entrapping and killing pathogen intruders.


2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (157) ◽  
pp. 190123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Punnam Chander Veerati ◽  
Jennifer A. Mitchel ◽  
Andrew T. Reid ◽  
Darryl A. Knight ◽  
Nathan W. Bartlett ◽  
...  

The lung is a mechanically active organ, but uncontrolled or excessive mechanical forces disrupt normal lung function and can contribute to the development of disease. In asthma, bronchoconstriction leads to airway narrowing and airway wall buckling. A growing body of evidence suggests that pathological mechanical forces induced by airway buckling alone can perpetuate disease processes in asthma. Here, we review the data obtained from a variety of experimental models, including in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo approaches, which have been used to study the impact of mechanical forces in asthma pathogenesis. We review the evidence showing that mechanical compression alters the biological and biophysical properties of the airway epithelium, including activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor pathway, overproduction of asthma-associated mediators, goblet cell hyperplasia, and a phase transition of epithelium from a static jammed phase to a mobile unjammed phase. We also define questions regarding the impact of mechanical forces on the pathology of asthma, with a focus on known triggers of asthma exacerbations such as viral infection.


2006 ◽  
Vol 8 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 1171-1182 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriele Lucantoni ◽  
Donatella Pietraforte ◽  
Paola Matarrese ◽  
Lucrezia Gambardella ◽  
Alessio Metere ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (22) ◽  
pp. 12102
Author(s):  
Md. Mahbubur Rahman ◽  
Dong Hyun Kim ◽  
Chul-Kyu Park ◽  
Yong Ho Kim

Dry eye disease (DED) is one of the major ophthalmological healthcare challenges worldwide. DED is a multifactorial disease characterized by a loss of homeostasis of the tear film, and its main pathogenesis is chronic ocular surface inflammation related with various cellular and molecular signaling cascades. The animal model is a reliable and effective tool for understanding the various pathological mechanisms and molecular cascades in DED. Considerable experimental research has focused on developing new strategies for the prevention and treatment of DED. Several experimental models of DED have been developed, and different animal species such as rats, mice, rabbits, dogs, and primates have been used for these models. Although the basic mechanisms of DED in animals are nearly identical to those in humans, proper knowledge about the induction of animal models is necessary to obtain better and more reliable results. Various experimental models (in vitro and in vivo DED models) were briefly discussed in this review, along with pathologic features, analytical approaches, and common measurements, which will help investigators to use the appropriate cell lines, animal, methods, and evaluation parameters depending on their study design.


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