Mechanism of baricitinib supports artificial intelligence-predicted testing in COVID-19 patients

Abstract Baricitinib, is an oral Janus kinase (JAK)1/JAK2 inhibitor approved for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) that was independently hypothesized, using artificial intelligence (AI)-algorithms, to be useful for the treatment of COVID-19 infection via a proposed anti-cytokine effects and as an inhibitor of host cell viral propagation1,2. We validated the AI-predicted biochemical inhibitory effects of baricitinib on human numb-associated kinase (hNAK) members measuring nanomolar affinities for AAK1, BIKE, and GAK. Inhibition of NAKs led to reduced viral infectivity with baricitinib using human primary liver spheroids, which express hAAK1 and hGAK. We evaluated the in vitro pharmacology of baricitinib across relevant leukocyte subpopulations coupled to its in vivo pharmacokinetics and showed it inhibited signaling of cytokines implicated in COVID-19 infection. In a case series of patients with bilateral COVID-19 pneumonia, baricitinib treatment was associated with clinical and radiologic recovery, a rapid decline in SARS-CoV-2 viral load, inflammatory markers, and IL-6 levels. This represents an important example of an AI-predicted treatment showing scientific and clinical promise during a global health crisis. Collectively, these data support further evaluation of the AI-derived hypothesis on anti-cytokine and anti-viral activity and supports its assessment in randomized trials in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

Download Full-text

The PI3K Specific Inhibitor BKM120 Results Effective and Synergizes With Ruxolitinib In Preclinical Models Of Myeloproliferative Neoplasms

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v122.21.1599.1599 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 122 (21) ◽

pp. 1599-1599 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Niccolò Bartalucci ◽

Costanza Bogani ◽

Serena Martinelli ◽

Carmela Mannarelli ◽

Jean-Luc Villeval ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cell Cycle ◽

Colony Formation ◽

Myeloproliferative Neoplasms ◽

Janus Kinase ◽

Preclinical Models ◽

Mtor Inhibition ◽

Jak2 Inhibitor ◽

Cd34 Cells

Abstract Background and Aims A gain-of-function mutation in Janus kinase 2 (JAK2V617F) is at the basis of the majority of chronic myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN). The dual JAK1/JAK2 inhibitor ruxolitinib (ruxo) determined rapid and sustained responses in splenomegaly and symptomatic improvement in patients with myelofibrosis (MF), supporting the central role of dysregulated JAK2 signaling. Enhanced activation of other downstream pathways including the PI3K/mTOR pathway has been documented as well. We previously reported (Bogani et al, PlosOne 2013;8:54828) that targeting mTOR by the allosteric inhibitor RAD001 resulted in inhibition of JAK2VF mutated cells and produced clinical benefits in a phase I/II trial (Guglielmelli et al, Blood 2011;118:2069). In this study we evaluated the effects of BKM120, a specific PI3K inhibitor, alone and in combination with ruxolitinib, in in-vitro and in-vivo MPN models. Methods To evaluate cell proliferation, colony formation, apoptosis, cell cycle and protein phosphorylation status we used mouse BaF3 and BaF3-EPOR cells expressing wild type (WT) or VF mutated JAK2, the human VF-mutated HEL and SET2 cell lines, and primary MPN CD34+ cells from patients with MF or polycythemia vera (PV). Effect of drug combination was analyzed according to Chou and Talalay calculating the combination index (CI); a CI <1 indicates synergistic activity. For in vivo studies we used two mouse models: (1) SCID mice receiving iv BaF3-EPOR VF-luciferase (luc) cells (gift of T. Radimerski) were randomized on day 6 to different treatment groups based on baseline luminescence. (2) C57Bl6/J JAK2 VF Knock-in mice were generated by insertion of the reversed JAK2V617F exon 13 sequence; mating with Vav-Cre transgenic mice activates the VF allele producing a MPN phenotype in progenies with VF heterozygous expression (Hasan et al, Blood 2013;Epub). Mice were treated for 15 days, then blood, spleen and bone marrow cells were analyzed. Results We found that BKM120 preferential inhibited BAF3 VF and BaF3-EpoR VF cells (IC50: 364±200nM and 1100±207nM, respectively) compared to their respective WT counterpart (5300±800nM and 3122±1000nM: p<.05). HEL and SET2 cells resulted also sensitive to BKM120 (2000±500nM and 1000±300nM). Interestingly we found that BKM120 significantly increased G2/M phase and decreased S phase of cell cycle (p<.01) and induced apoptosis (IC50, SET2=10µM, BaF3-EPOR VF=1.8 µM). Western blot analysis showed marked reduction of phospho-mTOR and its target phospho-4EBP1 as well as downregulation of phospho-STAT5 at 6 and 24h of treatment. BKM120 impaired colony formation from MF and PV CD34+ cells at doses 2 to 8-fold lower than healthy controls (p<.01). BKM120 strongly inhibited EEC colony growth from PV pts (IC50, 9±4nM). Co-treatment of BKM120+ruxo resulted in synergistic inhibition of proliferation of SET2 (median CI=0.45) and BaF3-EPOR VF (median CI=0.8) cells. Triple combinations including BKM120/ruxo plus either RAD001 (Torc1 inhibitor) or PP242 (Torc1/2 inhibitor) resulted highly synergistic (median CI=0.27 and 0.52) to indicate the importance of complete mTOR inhibition. BKM120 at 45mpk and 60mpk increased mean lifespan of BaF3 VF luc mouse model from 21d in control mice to 27.2d and 28d in BMK120 treated mice. In KI mice, co-treatment with 60mpk BKM120 + 60mpk ruxo resulted in improvement of splenomegaly (median spleen weight: 1.4, 0.82, 0.8 and 0.6 g respectively for controls, 60mpk BKM120, 60mpk ruxo and 60mpk BKM120+60mpk ruxo) and reduction of leukocytosis and reticulocyte count. The level of phosho-STAT5 and -4EBP1 in the spleen was significantly reduced in mice receiving BKM120+ruxo as compared to single drug treatment. We finally analyzed the effects of BKM120+/-ruxo on the in-vitro clonogenic growth of BM cells from VF and WT KI mice mixed in a 1:1 ratio. The proportion of VF-positive colonies resulted reduced in a dose dependent manner by 19%, 33% and 44% (p<.03) compared to controls with 50nM, 100nM and 300nM BKM120 respectively. A 25% and 39% of VF-positive colonies reduction was achieved with 50nM and 100nM ruxolitinib. The combined treatment with 100nM BKM120 + 50nM ruxo resulted in a 50% decrease of the number of mutated colonies (p<.02). Conclusions Inhibition of PI3K by BKM120 alone and combined with JAK2 inhibitor ruxolitinib resulted in enhanced activity in preclinical models of MPN, providing a rationale for the ongoing combination clinical trial. Disclosures: Vannucchi: Novartis: Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees.

Download Full-text

Effect of postoperative corticosteroids on surgical outcome and aqueous autotaxin following combined cataract and microhook ab interno trabeculotomy

Scientific Reports ◽

10.1038/s41598-020-80736-w ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Megumi Honjo ◽

Reiko Yamagishi ◽

Nozomi Igarashi ◽

Chui Yong Ku ◽

Makoto Kurano ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Surgical Outcome ◽

Primary Open Angle Glaucoma ◽

Open Angle Glaucoma ◽

Case Series ◽

Iop Elevation ◽

Immunoenzymatic Assay ◽

Postoperative Fibrosis ◽

Ab Interno

AbstractTo evaluate the effect of postoperative corticosteroids on surgical outcome and autotaxin (ATX) levels after microhook ab interno trabeculotomy combined with cataract surgery (μLOT-CS), prospective, consecutive non-randomized case series comparing outcomes of 30 eyes with primary open angle glaucoma was performed. The aqueous ATX, intraocular pressure (IOP) and glaucoma medications were monitored for 3 months postoperatively. An in-vivo mouse μLOT model was generated. In vitro, ATX and fibrotic changes induced by dexamethasone (Dex) treatment following scratch (S) in cultured human trabecular meshwork (hTM) cells were assessed by immunofluorescence, immunoenzymatic assay, and RT-qPCR. Postoperative ATX at 1 week and the number of antiglaucoma medications at 3 months were significantly lower in non-steroid group, and steroid use was the only variable significantly associated with postoperative medications at 3 months in multiregression analyses. In vitro, ATX activity was significantly upregulated in the Dex + S group, and αSMA was significantly upregulated in the Dex and Dex + S groups. Fibronectin and COL1A1 were significantly upregulated in the S group. μLOT-CS decreased IOP and medications in the overall cohort, and non-use of postoperative steroids resulted in a smaller number of postoperative medications. Limiting postoperative steroids in μLOT may minimize IOP elevation and postoperative fibrosis.

Download Full-text

EXTH-46. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE-BASED IDENTIFICATION OF COMBINED VANDETANIB AND EVEROLIMUS IN THE TREATMENT OF ACVR1-MUTANT DIFFUSE INTRINSIC PONTINE GLIOMA

Neuro-Oncology ◽

10.1093/neuonc/noaa215.400 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 22 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. ii97-ii97

Author(s):

Diana Carvalho ◽

Peter Richardson ◽

Nagore Gene Olaciregui ◽

Reda Stankunaite ◽

Cinzia Emilia Lavarino ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Artificial Intelligence ◽

Cell Viability ◽

Xenograft Model ◽

Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma ◽

Pontine Glioma ◽

Serine Threonine Kinase ◽

Orthotopic Xenografts ◽

Extended Survival

Abstract Somatic mutations in ACVR1, encoding the serine/threonine kinase ALK2 receptor, are found in a quarter of children with the currently incurable brain tumour diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG). Treatment of ACVR1-mutant DIPG patient-derived models with multiple inhibitor chemotypes leads to a reduction in cell viability in vitro and extended survival in orthotopic xenografts in vivo, though there are currently no specific ACVR1 inhibitors licensed for DIPG. Using an Artificial Intelligence-based platform to search for approved compounds which could be used to treat ACVR1-mutant DIPG, the combination of vandetanib and everolimus was identified as a possible therapeutic approach. Vandetanib, an approved inhibitor of VEGFR/RET/EGFR, was found to target ACVR1 (Kd=150nM) and reduce DIPG cell viability in vitro, but has been trialed in DIPG patients with limited success, in part due to an inability to cross the blood-brain-barrier. In addition to mTOR, everolimus inhibits both ABCG2 (BCRP) and ABCB1 (P-gp) transporter, and was synergistic in DIPG cells when combined with vandetanib in vitro. This combination is well-tolerated in vivo, and significantly extended survival and reduced tumour burden in an orthotopic ACVR1-mutant patient-derived DIPG xenograft model. Based on these preclinical data, three patients with ACVR1-mutant DIPG were treated with vandetanib and everolimus. These cases may inform on the dosing and the toxicity profile of this combination for future clinical studies. This bench-to-bedside approach represents a rapidly translatable therapeutic strategy in children with ACVR1 mutant DIPG.

Download Full-text

Slow viral propagation during initial phase of infection leads to viral persistence in mice

Communications Biology ◽

10.1038/s42003-021-02028-x ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Haifeng C. Xu ◽

Ruifeng Wang ◽

Prashant V. Shinde ◽

Lara Walotka ◽

Anfei Huang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

T Cell ◽

Immune Evasion ◽

Protein Transport ◽

Adaptive Immune System ◽

Viral Persistence ◽

Lymphocytic Choriomeningitis ◽

Type I ◽

Viral Propagation

AbstractImmune evasion of pathogens can modify the course of infection and impact viral persistence and pathology. Here, using different strains of the lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (LCMV) model system, we show that slower propagation results in limited type I interferon (IFN-I) production and viral persistence. Specifically, cells infected with LCMV-Docile exhibited reduced viral replication when compared to LCMV-WE and as a consequence, infection with LCMV-Docile resulted in reduced activation of bone marrow derived dendritic cells (BMDCs) and IFN-I production in vitro in comparison with LCMV-WE. In vivo, we observed a reduction of IFN-I, T cell exhaustion and viral persistence following infection of LCMV-Docile but not LCMV-WE. Mechanistically, block of intracellular protein transport uncovered reduced propagation of LCMV-Docile when compared to LCMV-WE. This reduced propagation was critical in blunting the activation of the innate and adaptive immune system. When mice were simultaneously infected with LCMV-Docile and LCMV-WE, immune function was restored and IFN-I production, T cell effector functions as well as viral loads were similar to that of mice infected with LCMV-WE alone. Taken together, this study suggests that reduced viral propagation can result in immune evasion and viral persistence.

Download Full-text

Gender and Sex Are Key Determinants in Osteoarthritis Not Only Confounding Variables. A Systematic Review of Clinical Data

Journal of Clinical Medicine ◽

10.3390/jcm10143178 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (14) ◽

pp. 3178

Author(s):

Matilde Tschon ◽

Deyanira Contartese ◽

Stefania Pagani ◽

Veronica Borsari ◽

Milena Fini

Keyword(s):

Health Care ◽

Sex Differences ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

Case Series ◽

Cartilage Volume ◽

Review Literature ◽

Care Needs ◽

Clinical Pain

Many risk factors for osteoarthritis (OA) have been noted, while gender/sex differences have been understated. The work aimed to systematically review literature investigating as primary aim the relationship between gender/sex related discriminants and OA. The search was performed in PubMed, Science Direct and Web of Knowledge in the last 10 years. Inclusion criteria were limited to clinical studies of patients affected by OA in any joints, analyzing as primary aim gender/sex differences. Exclusion criteria were review articles, in vitro, in vivo and ex vivo studies, case series studies and papers in which gender/sex differences were adjusted as confounding variable. Of the 120 records screened, 42 studies were included. Different clinical outcomes were analyzed: morphometric differences, followed by kinematics, pain, functional outcomes after arthroplasty and health care needs of patients. Women appear to use more health care, have higher OA prevalence, clinical pain and inflammation, decreased cartilage volume, physical difficulty, and smaller joint parameters and dimensions, as compared to men. No in-depth studies or mechanistic studies analyzing biomarker differential expressions, molecular pathways and omic profiles were found that might drive preclinical and clinical research towards sex-/gender-oriented protocols.

Download Full-text

AB0095 PRECLINICAL CHARACTERIZATION OF CJ-15314, A HIGHLY SELECTIVE JAK1 INHIBITOR, FOR THE TREATMENT OF AUTOIMMUNE DISEASES

Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases ◽

10.1136/annrheumdis-2020-eular.650 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 79 (Suppl 1) ◽

pp. 1347.2-1347

Author(s):

S. Y. Ki ◽

H. Shin ◽

Y. Lee ◽

H. R. Bak ◽

H. Yu ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Autoimmune Disease ◽

Autoimmune Diseases ◽

Whole Blood ◽

Inflammatory Diseases ◽

Selective Inhibition ◽

Janus Kinase ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Human Whole Blood

Background:Janus kinases (JAK1, JAK2, JAK3, and TYK2) play critical roles in mediating various cytokine signaling, and has been developed as a target for autoimmune diseases such as RA. Tofacitinib, oral Pan-JAK inhibitor, demonstrated efficacy in RA patients, but its widespread use is limited by safety issues. Baricitinib, JAK1/2 inhibitor, is also known to interfere with the hematopoiesis system, such as anemia and thrombocytopenia associated with suppression of JAK2 signals. Therefore, it is necessary to develop a new potent compound that selectively inhibits JAK1 over JAK2, 3Objectives:To identify the pharmacological characteristic based on efficacy of CJ-15314 as potent and selective JAK1 inhibitor for treatment of autoimmune disease.Methods:In vitro, cell-based, kinase panel, Kd value and human whole blood assay were performed to determine the inhibition potency and selectivity for JAK subfamily kinases. In vivo therapeutic potential was evaluated by RA model including rat Adjuvant-Induced Arthritis (AIA) and collagen-induced arthritic (CIA). To confirm the possibility of further expansion into the autoimmune disease, BioMAP® Diversity PLUS® Panel was performed by discoverX.Results:In vitro assay, CJ-15314 inhibited JAK kinase family in a concentration-dependent manner with IC50 values of 3.8 nM against JAK1, Selectivity for JAK1 over JAK2, 3 was approximately 18, 83 fold greater for CJ-15314. In 1mM ATP condition, CJ-15314 has been confirmed to have the highest JAK1 selectivity over competing drugs, under 1 mM ATP condition that reflects the physiological environment in the body. Similarly, Kd values has also confirmed the selectivity of JAK1, which is 10 fold higher than JAK2, 3. Accordingly, in human whole blood assays, CJ-15314 is 11 fold more potent against IL-6 induced pSTAT1 inhibition through JAK1 (IC50 value: 70 nM) than GM-CSF-induced pSTAT5 inhibition (JAK2) whereas baricitinib and filgotinib exhibited only 2 fold and 7 fold respectively.In vivo efficacy model, CJ-15314 inhibited disease severity scores in a dose dependent manner. In the rat AIA model, CJ-15314 at 30 mg/kg dose showed 95.3% decrease in arthritis activity score, 51.2% in figotinib at 30 mg/kg, 97.7% showed baricitinib at 10 mg/kg. CJ-15314 showed superior anti-arthritic efficacy than filgotinib. CJ-15314 also minimally affected anemia-related parameters but not bricitinib end of the 2-week treatment. In the rat CIA model, like 10 mg/kg of bricitinib, 30 mg/kg of CJ-15314 also has a similar effect, with a significant reduction in histopathological scores.In biomap diversity panel, CJ-15314 inhibited the expression of genes such as MCP-1, VCAM-1, IP-10, IL-8, IL-1, sTNF-α and HLA-DR confirming the possibility of expansion into other diseases beyond arthritis.Conclusion:CJ-15314 is a highly selective JAK1 inhibitor, demonstrates robust efficacy in RA animal model and is good candidate for further development for inflammatory diseases.* CJ-15314 is currently conducting a phase I trial in south Korea.References:[1]Clark JD et al. Discovery and development of Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors for inflammatory diseases. J Med Chem. 2014; 57(12):5023-38.[2]Burmester GR et al. Emerging cell and cytokine targets in rheumatoid arthritis. Nat Rev Rheumatol. 2014; 10(2):77-88[3]Jean-Baptiste Telliez et al. Discovery of a JAK3-selective inhibitor: functional differentiation of JAK3-selective inhibition over pan-JAK or JAK1-selective inhibition. ACS Chem. Biol., 2016; 11 (12):3442-3451Disclosure of Interests:so young Ki Employee of: CJ healthcare, hyunwoo shin Employee of: CJ healthcare, yelim lee Employee of: CJ healthcare, Hyoung rok Bak Employee of: CJ healthcare, hana yu Employee of: CJ healthcare, Seung Chan Kim Employee of: CJ healthcare, juhyun lee Employee of: CJ healthcare, donghyun kim Employee of: CJ healthcare, Dong-hyun Ko Employee of: CJ Healthcare, dongkyu kim Employee of: CJ healthcare

Download Full-text

Adhesion G Protein–Coupled Receptors: From In Vitro Pharmacology to In Vivo Mechanisms

Molecular Pharmacology ◽

10.1124/mol.115.098749 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 88 (3) ◽

pp. 617-623 ◽

Cited By ~ 30

Author(s):

Kelly R. Monk ◽

Jörg Hamann ◽

Tobias Langenhan ◽

Saskia Nijmeijer ◽

Torsten Schöneberg ◽

...

Keyword(s):

G Protein ◽

G Protein Coupled Receptors ◽

In Vitro Pharmacology ◽

G Protein Coupled

Download Full-text

Rifampin Combination Therapy for Nonmycobacterial Infections

Clinical Microbiology Reviews ◽

10.1128/cmr.00034-09 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 23 (1) ◽

pp. 14-34 ◽

Cited By ~ 137

Author(s):

Graeme N. Forrest ◽

Kimberly Tamura

Keyword(s):

Combination Therapy ◽

Prosthetic Heart Valve ◽

Case Series ◽

Source Control ◽

Retrospective Case ◽

Coagulase Negative Staphylococci ◽

Joint Infections ◽

Prosthetic Joint Infections

SUMMARY The increasing emergence of antimicrobial-resistant organisms, especially methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), has resulted in the increased use of rifampin combination therapy. The data supporting rifampin combination therapy in nonmycobacterial infections are limited by a lack of significantly controlled clinical studies. Therefore, its current use is based upon in vitro or in vivo data or retrospective case series, all with major limitations. A prominent observation from this review is that rifampin combination therapy appears to have improved treatment outcomes in cases in which there is a low organism burden, such as biofilm infections, but is less effective when effective surgery to obtain source control is not performed. The clinical data support rifampin combination therapy for the treatment of prosthetic joint infections due to methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) after extensive debridement and for the treatment of prosthetic heart valve infections due to coagulase-negative staphylococci. Importantly, rifampin-vancomycin combination therapy has not shown any benefit over vancomycin monotherapy against MRSA infections either clinically or experimentally. Rifampin combination therapy with daptomycin, fusidic acid, and linezolid needs further exploration for these severe MRSA infections. Lastly, an assessment of the risk-benefits is needed before the addition of rifampin to other antimicrobials is considered to avoid drug interactions or other drug toxicities.

Download Full-text

Administration of a live attenuated Salmonella vaccine using an inactivated oil-emulsion vaccine as a vehicle for commercial chicken flocks

Animal Production Science ◽

10.1071/an16521 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 58 (7) ◽

pp. 1316

Author(s):

P. J. Groves ◽

T. Harris ◽

S. M. Sharpe

Keyword(s):

Serum Antibody ◽

In Vivo Studies ◽

Rapid Decline ◽

Inactivated Vaccine ◽

Serological Response ◽

Oil Emulsion ◽

Commercial Chicken ◽

Viral Vaccine

Since the finding that inoculating an aroA- deletion live Salmonella Typhimurium vaccine parenterally provides improved and longer-lasting protection against Salmonella colonisation of the laying-hen intestine, this administration route has been adopted by the industry. To make this method practicable and economical, mixing the live bacterial vaccine with an inactivated viral vaccine has become popular. In vitro and in vivo studies were performed designed to assess the effect on the survival of the live salmonellae and the ability to stimulate serum antibody when mixed into oil-emulsion vaccines, compared with more traditional diluents. A rapid decline in viable salmonellae was observed when mixing with an inactivated Riemerella/Pasteurella bacterin. Mixing with an inactivated viral vaccine produced a less severe and more gradual decline in viable salmonellae over time; however, there was a surprising resuscitation of the bacteria 60 min after mixing. Serum antibody 14 days after inoculation of vaccine diluted in a universal diluent rose significantly, compared with sham vaccinated birds. Birds receiving the vaccine diluted in an inactivated vaccine at the time of preparation did not show a significant serological response; however, when given 60 min post-preparation, serum antibody was significantly increased. There appeared to be a correlation of the magnitude of serum antibody produced with the number of viable salmonellae inoculated. The use of the live vaccine incorporated into an inactivated vaccine may give variable results and needs assessment before adoption.

Download Full-text

A MICROCALORIMETRIC STUDY OF TURTLE CORTICAL SLICES: INSIGHTS INTO BRAIN METABOLIC DEPRESSION

Journal of Experimental Biology ◽

10.1242/jeb.191.1.141 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 191 (1) ◽

pp. 141-153 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

C Doll ◽

P Hochachka ◽

S Hand

Keyword(s):

Cortical Neurons ◽

Heat Dissipation ◽

Energy Charge ◽

Utilization Rate ◽

Rapid Decline ◽

Metabolic Depression ◽

Slice Preparation ◽

Cortical Slices

In previous papers, we have examined turtle cortical neurons in vitro for mechanisms of anoxic metabolic depression ('channel arrest' and changes in electrical parameters). Negative results prompted the current study with the aim of examining more closely the energy profile and metabolism of turtle cortical slices. Calorimetry is used to measure heat dissipation during normoxia and nitrogen perfusion (120 min) and the results are converted into an ATP utilization rate. These indicate that the control rate of ATP utilization (1.72 µmol ATP g-1 min-1) agrees closely with in vivo whole-brain metabolic measurements. Both nitrogen perfusion and pharmacologically induced anoxic (cyanide+N2) groups depressed heat dissipation considerably compared with the control value (nitrogen 37 %; pharmacological anoxia 49 %). The resulting ATP utilization estimates indicate metabolic depressions of 30 % (nitrogen) and 42 % (pharmacological anoxia). The slice preparation did not exhibit a change in any measured adenylate parameter for up to 120 min of anoxia or pharmacological anoxia. Significant changes did occur in [ADP], ATP/ADP ratio and energy charge after 240 min of exposure to anoxic conditions. These results support the idea that the turtle cortical slice preparation has a profound resistance to anoxia, with both nitrogen perfusion and pharmacological anoxia causing a rapid decline in heat dissipation and metabolism.

Download Full-text