DHEA Antiviral Properties in Cell Cultures and Animal Models

ABSTRACTRift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is an emerging, mosquito-borne, zoonotic pathogen with recurrent outbreaks paying a considerable toll of human deaths in many African countries, for which no effective treatment is available. In cell culture studies and with laboratory animal models, the nucleoside analogue favipiravir (T-705) has demonstrated great potential for the treatment of several seasonal, chronic and emerging RNA virus infections of humans, suggesting applicability to control some viral outbreaks. Treatment with favipiravir was shown to reduce the infectivity of Rift Valley fever virus both in cell cultures and in experimental animal models, but the mechanism of this protective effect is not understood. In this work we show that favipiravir at concentrations well below the toxicity threshold estimated for cells is able to extinguish RVFV from infected cell cultures. Nucleotide sequence analysis has documented RVFV mutagenesis associated with virus extinction, with a significant increase in G to A and C to U transition frequencies, and a decrease of specific infectivity, hallmarks of lethal mutagenesis.

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A nanobody-based fluorescent reporter reveals human α-synuclein in the cell cytosol

10.1101/846014 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Christoph Gerdes ◽

Natalia Waal ◽

Thomas Offner ◽

Eugenio F. Fornasiero ◽

Nora Wender ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cerebrospinal Fluid ◽

Animal Models ◽

Clinical Research ◽

Cell Cultures ◽

Fluorescent Proteins ◽

Cross Reactivity ◽

Fluorescence Signal ◽

Fluorescent Reporter ◽

Human Cerebrospinal Fluid ◽

Cell Cytosol

ABSTRACTAggregation and spreading of α-Synuclein (αSyn) are hallmarks of several neurodegenerative diseases, thus monitoring human αSyn (hαSyn) in animal models or cell cultures is vital for the field. However, the detection of native hαSyn in such systems is challenging. We found that the nanobody NbSyn87, previously-described to bind hαSyn, also shows cross-reactivity for the proteasomal subunit Rpn10. As such, when the NbSyn87 is expressed in the absence of hαSyn, it is continuously degraded by the proteasome, while it is stabilized when it binds to hαSyn. Here, we exploited this feature to design a new Fluorescent Reporter for hαSyn (FluoReSyn) by coupling NbSyn87 to fluorescent proteins, which results in fluorescence signal fluctuations depending on the presence and amounts of intracellular hαSyn. We characterized this biosensor in cells and tissues, and finally, revealed the presence of transmittable αSyn in human cerebrospinal fluid demonstrating the potential of FluoReSyn for clinical research and diagnostics.

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Botanical Compounds: Effects on Major Eye Diseases

Evidence-based Complementary and Alternative Medicine ◽

10.1155/2013/549174 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 ◽

pp. 1-12 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

Tuan-Phat Huynh ◽

Shivani N. Mann ◽

Nawajes A. Mandal

Keyword(s):

Diabetic Retinopathy ◽

Animal Models ◽

Retinitis Pigmentosa ◽

Cell Cultures ◽

Clinical Studies ◽

Eye Diseases ◽

Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽

Ocular Diseases ◽

Beneficial Effects ◽

Age Related

Botanical compounds have been widely used throughout history as cures for various diseases and ailments. Many of these compounds exhibit strong antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and antiapoptotic properties. These are also common damaging mechanisms apparent in several ocular diseases, including age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, cataract, and retinitis pigmentosa. In recent years, there have been many epidemiological and clinical studies that have demonstrated the beneficial effects of plant-derived compounds, such as curcumin, lutein and zeaxanthin, danshen, ginseng, and many more, on these ocular pathologies. Studies in cell cultures and animal models showed promising results for their uses in eye diseases. While there are many apparent significant correlations, further investigation is needed to uncover the mechanistic pathways of these botanical compounds in order to reach widespread pharmaceutical use and provide noninvasive alternatives for prevention and treatments of the major eye diseases.

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The Involvement of Phospholipases A2in Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Mediators of Inflammation ◽

10.1155/2013/793505 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 ◽

pp. 1-12 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Ewa Pniewska ◽

Rafal Pawliczak

Keyword(s):

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽

Animal Models ◽

Pulmonary Disease ◽

Cell Cultures ◽

Inflammatory Diseases ◽

Chronic Obstructive ◽

Obstructive Pulmonary Disease ◽

Chronic Inflammatory Diseases

The increased morbidity, mortality, and ineffective treatment associated with the pathogenesis of chronic inflammatory diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have generated much research interest. The key role is played by phospholipases from the A2superfamily: enzymes which are involved in inflammation through participation in pro- and anti-inflammatory mediators production and have an impact on many immunocompetent cells. The 30 members of the A2superfamily are divided into 7 groups. Their role in asthma and COPD has been studiedin vitroandin vivo(animal models, cell cultures, and patients). This paper contains complete and updated information about the involvement of particular enzymes in the etiology and course of asthma and COPD.

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Housekeeping gene expression in myogenic cell cultures from neurodegeneration and denervation animal models

Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications ◽

10.1016/j.bbrc.2011.03.096 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 407 (4) ◽

pp. 758-763 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Raquel Manzano ◽

Janne M. Toivonen ◽

Ana C. Calvo ◽

Maria Jesús Muñoz ◽

Pilar Zaragoza ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Expression ◽

Animal Models ◽

Cell Cultures ◽

Housekeeping Gene ◽

Myogenic Cell

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Regulation of the Angiotensin Receptor Subtypes in Cell Cultures, Animal Models and Human Diseases

European Heart Journal ◽

10.1093/eurheartj/15.suppl_d.92 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 15 (suppl D) ◽

pp. 92-97 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

V. Regitz-Zagrosek ◽

W. Auch-Schwelk ◽

M. Neuss ◽

E. Fleck

Keyword(s):

Animal Models ◽

Cell Cultures ◽

Human Diseases ◽

Receptor Subtypes ◽

Angiotensin Receptor

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Retina in a dish: Cell cultures, retinal explants and animal models for common diseases of the retina

Progress in Retinal and Eye Research ◽

10.1016/j.preteyeres.2020.100880 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 100880 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Sven Schnichels ◽

François Paquet-Durand ◽

Marina Löscher ◽

Teresa Tsai ◽

José Hurst ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Animal Models ◽

Cell Cultures ◽

Common Diseases ◽

Retinal Explants

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Lethal Mutagenesis of Rift Valley Fever Virus Induced by Favipiravir

Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy ◽

10.1128/aac.00669-19 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 63 (8) ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Belén Borrego ◽

Ana I. de Ávila ◽

Esteban Domingo ◽

Alejandro Brun

Keyword(s):

Animal Models ◽

Cell Cultures ◽

Rift Valley ◽

Rift Valley Fever ◽

Rift Valley Fever Virus ◽

Fever Virus ◽

Nucleotide Sequence Analysis ◽

African Countries ◽

Valley Fever ◽

Lethal Mutagenesis

ABSTRACT Rift Valley fever virus (RVFV) is an emerging, mosquito-borne, zoonotic pathogen with recurrent outbreaks taking a considerable toll in human deaths in many African countries, for which no effective treatment is available. In cell culture studies and with laboratory animal models, the nucleoside analogue favipiravir (T-705) has demonstrated great potential for the treatment of several seasonal, chronic, and emerging RNA virus infections in humans, suggesting applicability to control some viral outbreaks. Treatment with favipiravir was shown to reduce the infectivity of Rift Valley fever virus both in cell cultures and in experimental animal models, but the mechanism of this protective effect is not understood. In this work, we show that favipiravir at concentrations well below the toxicity threshold estimated for cells is able to extinguish RVFV from infected cell cultures. Nucleotide sequence analysis has documented RVFV mutagenesis associated with virus extinction, with a significant increase in G to A and C to U transition frequencies and a decrease of specific infectivity, hallmarks of lethal mutagenesis.

Download Full-text