In vitro neuronal cell injury model: characterization and treatment strategies

Objective This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of Pycnogenol (PYC) and its antioxidant and antiapoptotic effect in an experimental hypoxic-ischemic (HI) rat model. Study Design A total of 24 Wistar albino rats who were on the seventh postnatal day were divided into three groups with developed HI brain injury model under the sevoflurane anesthesia: 40 mg/kg PYC was given to Group A, saline was given to Group B, and the sham group was Group C. Neuronal apoptosis was investigated by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling and immunohistochemically stained manually with primer antibodies of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β. Results The neuronal cell injury was statistically lower in the PYC treatment group. Conclusion This is the first study that investigates the role of PYC in the HI brain injury model. PYC reduces apoptosis and neuronal injury in the cerebral tissue of the rats. PYC may be a protective agent against hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy. Key Points

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Mechanical Model of Neuronal Function Loss

Volume 2: Biomedical and Biotechnology Engineering ◽

10.1115/imece2010-39447 ◽

2010 ◽

Author(s):

Guoxin Cao ◽

You Zhou ◽

Jeong Soon Lee ◽

Jung Yul Lim ◽

Namas Chandra

Keyword(s):

Mechanical Response ◽

Cell Injury ◽

Mechanical Load ◽

Neuronal Cell ◽

Biological Response ◽

Mechanical Deformation ◽

Elastic Membrane ◽

Neuronal Function ◽

Function Loss

The mechanism of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) is directly related to the relationship between the mechanical response of neurons and their biological/chemical functions since the neuron is the main functional component of brain.1 The hypotheses is that the external mechanical load will firstly cause the mechanical deformation of neurons, and then, when the mechanical deformation of neurons reaches to a critical point (the mechanical deformation threshold), it will initiate the chemical/biological response (e.g. neuronal function loss). Therefore, defining and measuring the mechanical deformation threshold for the neuronal cell injury is an important first step to understand the mechanism of mTBI. Typically, the mechanical response of neurons is investigated based on the deformation of in vitro model, in which the neurons are cultured on the elastic substrate (e.g. PDMS membranes). The elastic membrane is deformed by the external load, e.g. equibiaxial stretching. The substrate deformation is considered to be the deformation of neurons since the substrate is several orders stiffer than the neurons and the neurons are perfectly bonded with the substrate. The fluoresce method is typically used to test the cell injury, e.g. the cell vitality and the neuron internal ROS level.1, 2

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Activation of p47phox as a Mechanism of Bupivacaine-Induced Burst Production of Reactive Oxygen Species and Neural Toxicity

Oxidative Medicine and Cellular Longevity ◽

10.1155/2017/8539026 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 2017 ◽

pp. 1-14 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Yu-jie Li ◽

Wei Zhao ◽

Xu-jiao Yu ◽

Feng-xian Li ◽

Zi-ting Liu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Reactive Oxygen Species ◽

Cell Injury ◽

Neuroblastoma Cells ◽

Neuronal Cell ◽

Reactive Oxygen ◽

In Vitro Study ◽

Oxygen Species ◽

Membrane Translocation

Bupivacaine has been shown to induce neurotoxicity through inducing excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS), but the underlying mechanism remains unclear. NOX2 is one of the most important sources of ROS in the nervous system, and its activation requires the membrane translocation of subunit p47phox. However, the role of p47phox in bupivacaine-induced neurotoxicity has not been explored. In our in vitro study, cultured human SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells were treated with 1.5 mM bupivacaine to induce neurotoxicity. Membrane translocation of p47phox was assessed by measuring the cytosol/membrane ratio of p47phox. The effects of the NOX inhibitor VAS2870 and p47phox-siRNA on bupivacaine-induced neurotoxicity were investigated. Furthermore, the effect of VAS2870 on bupivacaine-induced neurotoxicity was assessed in vivo in rats. All these changes were reversed by pretreatment with VAS2870 or transfection with p47phox-siRNA in SH-SY5Y cells. Similarly, pretreatment with VAS2870 attenuated bupivacaine-induced neuronal toxicity in rats. It is concluded that enhancing p47phox membrane translocation is a major mechanism whereby bupivacaine induced neurotoxicity and that pretreatment with VAS2870 or local p47phox gene knockdown attenuated bupivacaine-induced neuronal cell injury.

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Upregulation of miR-376c-3p alleviates oxygen–glucose deprivation-induced cell injury by targeting ING5

Cellular & Molecular Biology Letters ◽

10.1186/s11658-019-0189-2 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 24 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Heng Zhang ◽

Jie Zhou ◽

Mingxia Zhang ◽

Yanjie Yi ◽

Bing He

Keyword(s):

Cell Injury ◽

Glucose Deprivation ◽

Luciferase Reporter ◽

Oxygen Glucose Deprivation ◽

Protective Effects ◽

Reverse Transcription Pcr ◽

Healthy Infants ◽

Injury Model ◽

G1 Phase Arrest

Abstract Background The expression level of miR-376c-3p is significantly lower in infants with neonatal hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) than in healthy infants. However, the biological function of this microRNA remains largely elusive. Methods We used PC-12 and SH-SY5Y cells to establish an oxygen–glucose deprivation (OGD) cell injury model to mimic HIE in vitro. The miR-376c-3p expression levels were measured using quantitative reverse transcription PCR. The CCK-8 assay and flow cytometry were utilized to evaluate OGD-induced cell injury. The association between miR-376c-3p and inhibitor of growth 5 (ING5) was validated using the luciferase reporter assay. Western blotting was conducted to determine the protein expression of CDK4, cyclin D1, Bcl-2 and Bax. Results MiR-376c-3p was significantly downregulated in the OGD-induced cell injury model. Its overexpression elevated cell viability and impaired cell cycle G0/G1 phase arrest and apoptosis in PC-12 and SH-SY5Y cells after OGD. Downregulation of miR-376c-3p gave the opposite results. We further demonstrated that ING5 was a negatively regulated target gene of miR-376c-3p. Importantly, ING5 knockdown had a similar effect to miR-376c-3p-mediated protective effects against cell injury induced by OGD. Its overexpression abolished these protective effects. Conclusion Our data suggest that miR-376c-3p downregulated ING5 to exert protective effects against OGD-induced cell injury in PC-12 and SH-SY5Y cells. This might represent a novel therapeutic approach for neonatal HIE treatment.

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TNF-α Suppresses Autophagic Flux in Acinar Cells in IgG4-Related Sialadenitis

Journal of Dental Research ◽

10.1177/0022034519871890 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 98 (12) ◽

pp. 1386-1396 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

X. Hong ◽

S.N. Min ◽

Y.Y. Zhang ◽

Y.T. Lin ◽

F. Wang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Acinar Cell ◽

Cell Injury ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

Secretory Granules ◽

Acinar Cells ◽

Autophagic Flux ◽

C6 Cells ◽

Tnf Α ◽

Α Level

IgG4-related sialadenitis (IgG4-RS) is a newly recognized immune-mediated systemic fibroinflammatory disease that affects salivary glands and leads to hyposalivation. Tumor necrosis factor–α (TNF-α) is a critical proinflammatory cytokine involved in several salivary gland disorders, but its role and mechanism regarding acinar cell injury in IgG4-RS are unknown. Here, we found that TNF-α level was significantly increased in serum and submandibular gland (SMG) of patients and that serum TNF-α level was negatively correlated with saliva flow rate. Ultrastructural observations of IgG4-RS SMGs revealed accumulation of large autophagic vacuoles, as well as dense fibrous bundles, decreased secretory granules, widened intercellular spaces, swollen mitochondria, and expanded endoplasmic reticulum. Expression levels of LC3 and p62 were both increased in patients’ SMGs. TNF-α treatment led to elevated levels of LC3II and p62 in both SMG-C6 cells and cultured human SMG tissues but did not further increase their levels when combined with bafilomycin A1 treatment. Moreover, transfection of Ad-mCherry-GFP-LC3B in SMG-C6 cells confirmed the suppression of autophagic flux after TNF-α treatment. Immunofluorescence imaging revealed that costaining of LC3 and the lysosomal marker LAMP2 was significantly decreased in patients, TNF-α–treated SMG-C6 cells, and cultured human SMGs, indicating a reduction in autophagosome-lysosome fusion. Furthermore, the ratio of pro/mature cathepsin D was elevated in vivo, ex vivo, and in vitro. TNF-α also appeared to induce abnormal acidification of lysosomes in acinar cells, as assessed by lysosomal pH and LysoTracker DND-26 fluorescence intensity. In addition, TNF-α treatment induced transcription factor EB (TFEB) redistribution in SMG-C6 cells, which was consistent with the changes observed in IgG4-RS patients. TNF-α increased the phosphorylation of extracellular signal–regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2, and inhibition of ERK1/2 by U0126 reversed TNF-α–induced TFEB redistribution, lysosomal dysfunction, and autophagic flux suppression. These findings suggest that TNF-α is a key cytokine related to acinar cell injury in IgG4-RS through ERK1/2-mediated autophagic flux suppression.

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Hepatitis D virus in 2021: virology, immunology and new treatment approaches for a difficult-to-treat disease

Gut ◽

10.1136/gutjnl-2020-323888 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. gutjnl-2020-323888

Author(s):

Stephan Urban ◽

Christoph Neumann-Haefelin ◽

Pietro Lampertico

Keyword(s):

Hepatitis B ◽

Hepatitis B Surface Antigen ◽

Treatment Strategies ◽

Phase Iii ◽

Interferon Α ◽

T Cell Epitopes ◽

The European Union ◽

Hepatitis D ◽

Hepatitis D Virus

Approximately 5% of individuals infected with hepatitis B virus (HBV) are coinfected with hepatitis D virus (HDV). Chronic HBV/HDV coinfection is associated with an unfavourable outcome, with many patients developing liver cirrhosis, liver failure and eventually hepatocellular carcinoma within 5–10 years. The identification of the HBV/HDV receptor and the development of novel in vitro and animal infection models allowed a more detailed study of the HDV life cycle in recent years, facilitating the development of specific antiviral drugs. The characterisation of HDV-specific CD4+ and CD8+T cell epitopes in untreated and treated patients also permitted a more precise understanding of HDV immunobiology and possibly paves the way for immunotherapeutic strategies to support upcoming specific therapies targeting viral or host factors. Pegylated interferon-α has been used for treating HDV patients for the last 30 years with only limited sustained responses. Here we describe novel treatment options with regard to their mode of action and their clinical effectiveness. Of those, the entry-inhibitor bulevirtide (formerly known as myrcludex B) received conditional marketing authorisation in the European Union (EU) in 2020 (Hepcludex). One additional drug, the prenylation inhibitor lonafarnib, is currently under investigation in phase III clinical trials. Other treatment strategies aim at targeting hepatitis B surface antigen, including the nucleic acid polymer REP2139Ca. These recent advances in HDV virology, immunology and treatment are important steps to make HDV a less difficult-to-treat virus and will be discussed.

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Biological Effects of β-Glucans on Osteoclastogenesis

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules26071982 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 26 (7) ◽

pp. 1982

Author(s):

Wataru Ariyoshi ◽

Shiika Hara ◽

Ayaka Koga ◽

Yoshie Nagai-Yoshioka ◽

Ryota Yamasaki

Keyword(s):

Bone Resorption ◽

Bone Marrow Cells ◽

Biological Effects ◽

Osteoclast Differentiation ◽

Treatment Strategies ◽

Alcaligenes Faecalis ◽

Osteoclast Formation ◽

Osteoclast Precursors

Although the anti-tumor and anti-infective properties of β-glucans have been well-discussed, their role in bone metabolism has not been reviewed so far. This review discusses the biological effects of β-glucans on bone metabolisms, especially on bone-resorbing osteoclasts, which are differentiated from hematopoietic precursors. Multiple immunoreceptors that can recognize β-glucans were reported to be expressed in osteoclast precursors. Coordinated co-stimulatory signals mediated by these immunoreceptors are important for the regulation of osteoclastogenesis and bone remodeling. Curdlan from the bacterium Alcaligenes faecalis negatively regulates osteoclast differentiation in vitro by affecting both the osteoclast precursors and osteoclast-supporting cells. We also showed that laminarin, lichenan, and glucan from baker’s yeast, as well as β-1,3-glucan from Euglema gracilisas, inhibit the osteoclast formation in bone marrow cells. Consistent with these findings, systemic and local administration of β-glucan derived from Aureobasidium pullulans and Saccharomyces cerevisiae suppressed bone resorption in vivo. However, zymosan derived from S. cerevisiae stimulated the bone resorption activity and is widely used to induce arthritis in animal models. Additional research concerning the relationship between the molecular structure of β-glucan and its effect on osteoclastic bone resorption will be beneficial for the development of novel treatment strategies for bone-related diseases.

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Human Neuronal Cell Lines as An In Vitro Toxicological Tool for the Evaluation of Novel Psychoactive Substances

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22136785 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (13) ◽

pp. 6785

Author(s):

Valeria Sogos ◽

Paola Caria ◽

Clara Porcedda ◽

Rafaela Mostallino ◽

Franca Piras ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Death ◽

Neuronal Cell ◽

In Vitro Study ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Novel Psychoactive Substances ◽

Psychoactive Substances ◽

Concentration Dependent Manner ◽

Mechanisms Of Toxicity ◽

Neuronal Cell Lines

Novel psychoactive substances (NPS) are synthetic substances belonging to diverse groups, designed to mimic the effects of scheduled drugs, resulting in altered toxicity and potency. Up to now, information available on the pharmacology and toxicology of these new substances is very limited, posing a considerable challenge for prevention and treatment. The present in vitro study investigated the possible mechanisms of toxicity of two emerging NPS (i) 4′-methyl-alpha-pyrrolidinoexanophenone (3,4-MDPHP), a synthetic cathinone, and (ii) 2-chloro-4,5-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (2-Cl-4,5-MDMA), a phenethylamine. In addition, to apply our model to the class of synthetic opioids, we evaluated the toxicity of fentanyl, as a reference compound for this group of frequently abused substances. To this aim, the in vitro toxic effects of these three compounds were evaluated in dopaminergic-differentiated SH-SY5Y cells. Following 24 h of exposure, all compounds induced a loss of viability, and oxidative stress in a concentration-dependent manner. 2-Cl-4,5-MDMA activates apoptotic processes, while 3,4-MDPHP elicits cell death by necrosis. Fentanyl triggers cell death through both mechanisms. Increased expression levels of pro-apoptotic Bax and caspase 3 activity were observed following 2-Cl-4,5-MDMA and fentanyl, but not 3,4-MDPHP exposure, confirming the different modes of cell death.

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Neurotrophic Properties of Silexan, an Essential Oil from the Flowers of Lavender-Preclinical Evidence for Antidepressant-Like Properties

Pharmacopsychiatry ◽

10.1055/a-1293-8585 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 54 (01) ◽

pp. 37-46

Author(s):

Kristina Friedland ◽

Giacomo Silani ◽

Anita Schuwald ◽

Carola Stockburger ◽

Egon Koch ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Essential Oil ◽

Hippocampal Neurons ◽

Day Treatment ◽

Neuronal Cell ◽

Antidepressant Activity ◽

In Vivo Models ◽

Antidepressant Effects ◽

Primary Hippocampal Neurons

Abstract Background Silexan, a special essential oil from flowering tops of lavandula angustifolia, is used to treat subsyndromal anxiety disorders. In a recent clinical trial, Silexan also showed antidepressant effects in patients suffering from mixed anxiety-depression (ICD-10 F41.2). Since preclinical data explaining antidepressant properties of Silexan are missing, we decided to investigate if Silexan also shows antidepressant-like effects in vitro as well as in vivo models. Methods We used the forced swimming test (FST) in rats as a simple behavioral test indicative of antidepressant activity in vivo. As environmental events and other risk factors contribute to depression through converging molecular and cellular mechanisms that disrupt neuronal function and morphology—resulting in dysfunction of the circuitry that is essential for mood regulation and cognitive function—we investigated the neurotrophic properties of Silexan in neuronal cell lines and primary hippocampal neurons. Results The antidepressant activity of Silexan (30 mg/kg BW) in the FST was comparable to the tricyclic antidepressant imipramine (20 mg/kg BW) after 9-day treatment. Silexan triggered neurite outgrowth and synaptogenesis in 2 different neuronal cell models and led to a significant increase in synaptogenesis in primary hippocampal neurons. Silexan led to a significant phosphorylation of protein kinase A and subsequent CREB phosphorylation. Conclusion Taken together, Silexan demonstrates antidepressant-like effects in cellular as well as animal models for antidepressant activity. Therefore, our data provides preclinical evidence for the clinical antidepressant effects of Silexan in patients with mixed depression and anxiety.

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Regulation of sarcomagenesis by the empty spiracles homeobox genes EMX1 and EMX2

Cell Death and Disease ◽

10.1038/s41419-021-03801-w ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (6) ◽

Author(s):

Manuel Pedro Jimenez-García ◽

Antonio Lucena-Cacace ◽

Daniel Otero-Albiol ◽

Amancio Carnero

Keyword(s):

Stem Cells ◽

Stem Cell ◽

Transcription Factors ◽

Neural Crest ◽

Tumor Suppressors ◽

Homeobox Genes ◽

Neuronal Cell ◽

Cell Gene Expression

AbstractThe EMX (Empty Spiracles Homeobox) genes EMX1 and EMX2 are two homeodomain gene members of the EMX family of transcription factors involved in the regulation of various biological processes, such as cell proliferation, migration, and differentiation, during brain development and neural crest migration. They play a role in the specification of positional identity, the proliferation of neural stem cells, and the differentiation of certain neuronal cell phenotypes. In general, they act as transcription factors in early embryogenesis and neuroembryogenesis from metazoans to higher vertebrates. The EMX1 and EMX2’s potential as tumor suppressor genes has been suggested in some cancers. Our work showed that EMX1/EMX2 act as tumor suppressors in sarcomas by repressing the activity of stem cell regulatory genes (OCT4, SOX2, KLF4, MYC, NANOG, NES, and PROM1). EMX protein downregulation, therefore, induced the malignance and stemness of cells both in vitro and in vivo. In murine knockout (KO) models lacking Emx genes, 3MC-induced sarcomas were more aggressive and infiltrative, had a greater capacity for tumor self-renewal, and had higher stem cell gene expression and nestin expression than those in wild-type models. These results showing that EMX genes acted as stemness regulators were reproduced in different subtypes of sarcoma. Therefore, it is possible that the EMX genes could have a generalized behavior regulating proliferation of neural crest-derived progenitors. Together, these results indicate that the EMX1 and EMX2 genes negatively regulate these tumor-altering populations or cancer stem cells, acting as tumor suppressors in sarcoma.

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