scholarly journals Hormone-Like Effects of 4-Vinylcyclohexene Diepoxide on Follicular Development

Author(s):  
Lian Bao Cao ◽  
Hong Bin Liu ◽  
Gang Lu ◽  
Yue Lv ◽  
Chi Kwan Leung ◽  
...  

Background4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD) has long been considered a hazardous occupational chemical that promotes ovarian failure. However, VCD is also used as a research compound to chemically induce animal models of premature ovarian insufficiency (POI), and in related work we unexpectedly found that VCD apparently exhibits both dose- and duration-dependent opposing, hormone-like effects on the maintenance of the primordial follicle pool, follicle development, and ovulation induction.ResultsWe conducted experiments with cultured murine ovaries and performed transplantation experiments using postnatal day (PD) 2 and PD12 mice and found that low-dose, short-term exposure to VCD (VCDlow) actually protects the primordial/primary follicle pool and improves the functional ovarian reserve (FOR) by disrupting follicular atresia. VCDlow inhibits follicular apoptosis and regulates the Pten-PI3K-Foxo3a pathway. Short-term VCD exposure in vivo (80 mg/kg, 5 days) significantly increases the number of superovulated metaphase II oocytes, preovulatory follicles, and corpus luteum in middle-aged mice with diminished ovarian reserve (DOR). We demonstrate that low-dose but not high-dose VCD promotes aromatase levels in granulosa cells (GCs), thereby enhancing the levels of estradiol secretion.ConclusionOur study illustrates a previously unappreciated, hormone-like action for the occupational “ovotoxin” molecule VCD and strongly suggests that VCDlow should be explored for its potential utility for treating human ovarian follicular development disorders, including subfertility in perimenopausal women.

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
Fangui Zhao ◽  
Wenjun Wang

Diminished ovarian reserve (DOR) refers to a decrease in the number and quality of oocytes. Western treatment of DOR does not improve the ovarian reserve fundamentally, and the effect is limited. Gengnianchun recipe (GNC) is a traditional Chinese medicine formula originally applied to treat menopausal syndrome but is also found to be effective in treating clinical DOR patients. Here we aim to examine the effect of GNC in a DOR rat model induced by 4-vinylcyclohexene diepoxide (VCD), a chemical that selectively destroys ovarian small preantral follicles, and further investigate the possible mechanisms. Female SD rats were randomly divided into four groups: control group (C), model group (M), high-dose GNC group (H), and low-dose GNC group (L). Rats in M, H, and L were administered with VCD and normal saline, high-dose GNC, and low-dose GNC separately. Rat ovaries were harvested either to conduct HE staining for follicle count, immunohistochemistry, or western blot. We found that high dose of GNC significantly increased the ovarian index and sustained the number of primordial follicles and primary follicles in VCD treated rats. Moreover, high dose of GNC significantly increased the ovarian protein expression of mouse vasa homologue (MVH), anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH), follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR), and estrogen receptor β (ERβ) compared with that in the model group. Besides, high-dose GNC significantly increased ovarian AKT phosphorylation and the expression of downstream forkhead box O3 (FOXO3a). Proapoptosis proteins of Bax, cleaved caspase-3, and poly ADP-ribose polymerase (PARP) were significantly decreased after high-dose GNC treatment compared with those in the model group. Taken together, these findings suggest that high-dose GNC could protect ovarian reserve against VCD-induced toxicity via the activation of the AKT signaling pathway and reduced cell apoptosis in SD Rats. This effect could either be induced by the increased FSHR signaling or by the nontranscriptional activation of ERβ, which requires further investigation.


1997 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hector G. Ortega ◽  
Manuel Lopez ◽  
Atsushi Takaki ◽  
Qin-Heng Huang ◽  
Akira Arimura ◽  
...  

The effects of different methylmercury (MeHg) forms on the immune system and the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal (HPA) axis were assessed. The lymphocyte response to Concanavalin A (Con A) stimulation, blood levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), adrenocorticotrophin hormone (ACTH), and corticosterone in the presence of different MeHg compounds was measured. Rats were exposed to methylmercury sulfide [(MeHg)2S] and methylmercury chloride (MeHgCl) at concentrations of 5 and 500 μg per liter in the drinking water for 8 or 16 weeks. Short-term exposure (8 weeks) at both, low- and high-doses of (MeHg)2S significantly enhanced lymphocyte responsiveness. MeHgCl only induced increased lymphocyte responsiveness at the low-dose exposure. Circulating levels of IL-6 after short-term exposure were increased in the MeHgCl-exposed group. The HPA axis activation was demonstrated by increased levels of ACTH and corticosterone levels. This response was predominant in low-dose exposed animals. Long-term (16 weeks) exposure resulted in a reduction in lymphocyte proliferation after both low- and high-dose MeHgCl exposures. The (MeHg)2S exposure resulted in a 3-fold increase in the proliferative response. Levels of ACTH were elevated 3-fold in the (MeHg)2S-exposed group, and no increase of corticosterone was observed in the high-dose exposed group at 8 weeks, no effect of(MeHg)2S was observed at 16 weeks. The MeHgCl exposed group showed an increase in ACTH and corticosterone levels at 8 weeks; this response was not observed at 16 weeks. These data indicate that exposure to MeHg compounds enhances T-cell proliferation in most of the cases, in a dose- and time-dependent fashion. Release of IL-6 also depends on the length of exposure. Early increases in circulating ACTH at 8 weeks also suggest activation of the HPA axis. This may contribute to the production of IL-6 and surveillance of regulatory homeostatic responses against environmental agents that mimic stress-like responses.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Naomi S. Sta Maria ◽  
Leslie A. Khawli ◽  
Vyshnavi Pachipulusu ◽  
Sharon W. Lin ◽  
Long Zheng ◽  
...  

AbstractQuantitative in vivo monitoring of cell biodistribution offers assessment of treatment efficacy in real-time and can provide guidance for further optimization of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) modified cell therapy. We evaluated the utility of a non-invasive, serial 89Zr-oxine PET imaging to assess optimal dosing for huLym-1-A-BB3z-CAR T-cell directed to Lym-1-positive Raji lymphoma xenograft in NOD Scid-IL2Rgammanull (NSG) mice. In vitro experiments showed no detrimental effects in cell health and function following 89Zr-oxine labeling. In vivo experiments employed simultaneous PET/MRI of Raji-bearing NSG mice on day 0 (3 h), 1, 2, and 5 after intravenous administration of low (1.87 ± 0.04 × 106 cells), middle (7.14 ± 0.45 × 106 cells), or high (16.83 ± 0.41 × 106 cells) cell dose. Biodistribution (%ID/g) in regions of interests defined over T1-weighted MRI, such as blood, bone, brain, liver, lungs, spleen, and tumor, were analyzed from PET images. Escalating doses of CAR T-cells resulted in dose-dependent %ID/g biodistributions in all regions. Middle and High dose groups showed significantly higher tumor %ID/g compared to Low dose group on day 2. Tumor-to-blood ratios showed the enhanced extravascular tumor uptake by day 2 in the Low dose group, while the Middle dose showed significant tumor accumulation starting on day 1 up to day 5. From these data obtained over time, it is apparent that intravenously administered CAR T-cells become trapped in the lung for 3–5 h and then migrate to the liver and spleen for up to 2–3 days. This surprising biodistribution data may be responsible for the inactivation of these cells before targeting solid tumors. Ex vivo biodistributions confirmed in vivo PET-derived biodistributions. According to these studies, we conclude that in vivo serial PET imaging with 89Zr-oxine labeled CAR T-cells provides real-time monitoring of biodistributions crucial for interpreting efficacy and guiding treatment in patient care.


1985 ◽  
Vol 249 (1) ◽  
pp. G137-G144 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. A. Miller ◽  
D. Li ◽  
Y. J. Kuo ◽  
K. L. Schmidt ◽  
L. L. Shanbour

By use of an in vivo canine chambered stomach preparation in which the gastric mucosa was partitioned into two equal halves, the effect of topical 16,16-dimethyl PGE2 (DMPGE2) (1 microgram/ml of perfusate) and 8% and 40% ethanol on tissue levels of nonprotein sulfhydryl compounds was assessed. Both DMPGE2 and 8% ethanol significantly increased (P less than 0.005) mucosal levels of nonprotein sulfhydryls when compared with corresponding mucosa bathed with saline alone. In contrast, mucosa bathed with 40% ethanol showed significantly decreased levels. If mucosa was bathed with DMPGE2 or 8% ethanol prior to exposing the stomach to 40% ethanol, this depletion in sulfhydryl compounds was not observed. Since other experimental observations have shown that exogenously administered prostaglandins and mild irritants (such as low-dose alcohol) can prevent gastric mucosal damage by necrotizing agents (such as high-dose alcohol), our findings are consistent with the hypothesis that nonprotein sulfhydryls may play a role in mediating gastric mucosal protection.


2014 ◽  
Vol 128 (3) ◽  
pp. 236-241 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y Fan ◽  
R Xu ◽  
H Hong ◽  
Q Luo ◽  
W Xia ◽  
...  

AbstractBackground:Low-dose clarithromycin has been recommended for the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis without nasal polyps. However, it is uncertain whether a high dose of clarithromycin is more effective than a low dose.Methods:Forty-three chronic rhinosinusitis patients were randomised to low-dose or high-dose clarithromycin groups, and clinical efficacy was evaluated. Pre- and post-treatment measures included: nasal symptom assessment, endoscopic inspection (Lund–Kennedy system), a quality of life questionnaire (the Sino-Nasal Outcome Test 20) and examination of cytokine levels (interleukin-5 and -8) in nasal secretions.Results:The high dose of clarithromycin was significantly better in terms of clinical efficacy than the low dose for the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis (p < 0.025). Significant differences in nasal cytokine levels (interleukin-5 and -8) were also observed between the low-dose and high-dose groups after short-term clarithromycin treatment (p < 0.025).Conclusion:Short-term, high-dose clarithromycin appears to be more effective for the treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis than low-dose clarithromycin.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (Suppl 3) ◽  
pp. A766-A766
Author(s):  
Isabelle Le Mercier ◽  
Sunny Sun ◽  
Dongmei Xiao ◽  
Laura Isacco ◽  
Daniel Treacy ◽  
...  

BackgroundT cell responses are tightly regulated and require a constant balance of signals during the different stages of their activation, expansion, and differentiation. As a result of chronic antigen exposure, T cells become exhausted in solid tumors, preventing them from controlling tumor growth.MethodsWe identified a transcriptional signature associated with T cell exhaustion in patients with melanoma and used our proprietary machine learning algorithms to predict molecules that would prevent T cell exhaustion and improve T cell function. Among the predictions, an orally available small molecule, Compound A, was highly predicted.ResultsCompound A was tested in an in vitro T cell Exhaustion assay and shown to prevent loss of proliferation and expression of immune checkpoint receptors. Transcriptionally, Compound A-treated cells looked indistinguishable from conventionally expanded, non-exhausted T cells. However, when assessed in a classical T cell activation assay, Compound A demonstrated dose dependent activity. At low dose, Compound A was immuno-stimulatory, allowing cells to divide further by preventing activation induced cell death. At higher doses, Compound A demonstrated immuno-suppressive activity preventing early CD69 upregulation and T cell proliferation. All together, these observations suggest that Compound A prevented exhaustion with a mechanism of action involving TCR signaling inhibition. While cessation of TCR signaling or rest has been recently associated with improved CAR-T efficacy by preventing or reversing exhaustion during the in vitro manufacturing phase, it is unclear if that mechanism would translate in vivo.Compound A was evaluated in the CT26 and MC38 syngeneic mouse models alongside anti-PD1. At low dose Compound A closely recapitulated anti-PD1 mediated cell behavior changes by scRNA-seq and flow cytometry in CT26 mice. At high dose, Compound A led to the accumulation of naive cells in the tumor microenvironment (TME) confirming the proposed mechanism of action. Low dose treatment was ineffective in MC38 mouse model but a pulsed treatment at high dose also recapitulated anti-PD1 activity in most animals. Importantly, we identified a new T cell population responding to anti-PD1 that was particularly increased in the MC38 mouse model; Compound A treatment also impacted this population.ConclusionsThese data confirm that mild TCR inhibition either suboptimal or fractionated can prevent exhaustion in vivo. However, this approach has a very limited window of activity between immuno-modulatory and immuno-suppressive effects, thereby limiting potential clinical benefit. Finally, these results demonstrate that our approach and platform was able to predict molecules that would prevent T cell exhaustion in vivo.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhen-feng ZHOU ◽  
Wen Zhai ◽  
Li-na YU ◽  
Kai SUN ◽  
Li-hong SUN ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: The blood saving efficacy of TXA in cardiac surgery has been proved in several studies, but TXA dosing regimens were varied in those studies. Therefore, we performed this study to investigate if there is a dose dependent in-vivo effect of TXA on fibrinolysis parameters by measurement of fibrinolysis markers in adults undergoing cardiac surgery with CPB, which has not been systematically elucidated.Methods: A double-blind, randomized, controlled prospective trial was conducted from February 11, 2017 to May 05, 2017. Thirty patients undergoing cardiac valve surgery were identified and randomly divided into a placebo group, low-dose group and high-dose group by 1: 1: 1. Fibrinolysis parameters were measured by plasma levels of D-Dimers, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), thrombin activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor (TAFI), plasmin-antiplasmin complex (PAP), tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and thrombomodulin (TM). Those proteins were measured at five different sample times: preoperatively before the TXA injection (T1), 5 min after the TXA bolus (T2), 5 min after the initiation of CPB (T3), 5 min before the end of CPB (T4) and 5 min after the protamine administration (T5). A Thrombelastography (TEG) and standard coagulation test were also performed.Results: Compared with the control group, the level of the D-Dimers decreased in the low-dose and high-dose groups when the patients arrived at the ICU and on the first postoperative morning. Over time, the concentrations of PAI-1, TAFI, and TM, but not PAP and tPA, showed significant differences between the three groups (p <0.05). Compared with the placebo group, the plasma concentrations of PAI-1 and TAFI decreased significantly at the T3 and T4 (p <0.05); TAFI concentrations also decreased at the T5 in low-dose group (p <0.05). Compared with the low-dose group, the concentration of TM increased significantly at the T4 in high-dose group. No significant differences were observed in the levels of the coagulation proteins at any points between the groups.Conclusions: The vivo effect of low dose TXA is equivalent to high dose TXA on fibrinolysis parameters in adults undergoing valvular cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass, and we recommend a low dose TXA regimen for those patients.Clinical trial number and registry URL: ChiCTR-IPR-17010303; http://www.chictr.org.cn, Principal investigator: Zhen-feng ZHOU, Date of registration: January 1, 2017.


2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Δημήτριος Λυσίτσας

Εισαγωγή: Η υπερπλασία του έσω χιτώνα παίζει μείζων ρόλο στην επαναστένωση (in-stentrestenosis). Στην παρούσα μελέτη αξιολογήσαμε in vitro την επίδραση της D-24851(κυτταροτοξική ουσία που σταματά τον κυτταρικό κύκλο στο στάδιο G2-M) στονπολλαπλασιασμό των λείων μυϊκών κυττάρων και μελετήσαμε την ασφάλεια και τηνδραστικότητα μίας ενδαγγειακής πρόθεσης (stent) επικαλυμμένης με πολυμερή ουσία πουαπελευθερώνει την D-24851, στην αναστολή της υπερπλασίας του έσω χιτώνα χωρίς ναεμποδίζει την αναγεννητική ικανότητα του ενδοθηλίου σε in vivo πειραματικό μοντέλο.Υλικό και Μέθοδοι: Γυμνά μεταλλικά stent (n=6), stent επικαλυμμένα μόνο με πολυμερήουσία (polymer-coated, n=7) και stent επικαλυμμένα με πολυμερή ουσία πουαπελευθερώνουν 31±1μg (low-dose, n=7), 216±8 μg (high-dose, n=6) ή 1774±39 μg(extreme-dose, n=5) της D-24851 εμφυτεύτηκαν στις μηριαίες αρτηρίες λευκών New Zealandκουνελιών. Τα πειραματόζωα θυσιάστηκαν στις 28 ημέρες για ιστομορφομετρική ανάλυση.Για την αξιολόγηση της ενδοθηλιακής αναγέννησης στις 90 ημέρες, 12 πειραματόζωαχρησιμοποιήθηκαν για την τοποθέτηση polymer-coated (n=3), low dose (n=3), high dose(n=3) or extreme dose (n=3) ενδαγγειακών προθέσεων.Αποτελέσματα: In vitro η D-24851 αναστέλλει την υπερπλασία των λείων μυϊκών κυττάρωνκαι επάγει την απόπτωση τους χωρίς να αυξάνει την επαγωγή της heat shock protein 70(HSP-70), μία κυτταροπροστατευτική και αντι-αποπτωτική πρωτεΐνη. Η θεραπεία με lowdoseD-24851 stents συνδυάστηκε με 38% (P=0.029) μείωση της υπερπλαστικής περιοχήςτου έσω χιτώνα και 35% (P=0.003) μείωση της επι τοις εκατό στένωσης του αυλού σεσύγκριση με τα γυμνά μεταλλικά stents. Ο τραυματισμός και η φλεγμονή του αρτηριακού τοιχώματος δεν παρουσίασαν σημαντικές διαφορές μεταξύ των ομάδων. Τα επικαλυμμέναμόνο με πολυμερή ουσία stents εμφάνισαν παρόμοια ανάπτυξη νεοιστού σε σύγκριση με ταγυμνά μεταλλικά stents. Ωστόσο, όλες οι ομάδες των stents με D-24851 παρουσίασαν ατελήενδοθηλιοποίηση συγκρινόμενα με τα polymer-coated stents.Συμπεράσματα: Οι επικεκαλυμμένες ενδαγγειακές προσθέσεις με πολυμερή ουσία καιχαμηλη δόση D-24851 μειώνουν σημαντικά την υπερπλασιά του έσω χιτώνα. Λόγω τηςατελούς ενδοθηλιοποίησης, μακράς διάρκειας μελέτες είναι απαραίτητες για ναπιστοποιήσουν ότι η αναστολή του νεοιστού παραμένει και μετά τις 28 ημέρες.


2009 ◽  
Vol 77 (12) ◽  
pp. 5612-5622 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. Eoin West ◽  
Thomas R. Hawn ◽  
Shawn J. Skerrett

ABSTRACT Melioidosis is a tropical disease endemic in southeast Asia and northern Australia caused by the gram-negative soil saprophyte Burkholderia pseudomallei. Although infection is often systemic, the lung is frequently involved. B. thailandensis is a closely related organism that at high doses causes lethal pneumonia in mice. We examined the role of Toll-like receptors (TLRs), essential components of innate immunity, in vitro and in vivo during murine B. thailandensis pneumonia. TLR2, TLR4, and TLR5 mediate NF-κB activation by B. thailandensis in transfected HEK293 or CHO cells. In macrophages, TLR4 and the adaptor molecule MyD88, but not TLR2 or TLR5, are required for tumor necrosis factor alpha production induced by B. thailandensis. In low-dose airborne infection, TLR4 is needed for early, but not late, bacterial containment, and MyD88 is essential for control of infection and host survival. TLR2 and TLR5 are not necessary to contain low-dose infection. In high-dose airborne infection, TLR2 deficiency confers a slight survival advantage. Lung and systemic inflammatory responses are induced by low-dose inhaled B. thailandensis independently of individual TLRs or MyD88. These findings suggest that redundancy in TLR signaling or other MyD88-dependent pathways may be important in pneumonic B. thailandensis infection but that MyD88-independent mechanisms of inflammation are also activated. TLR signaling in B. thailandensis infection is substantially comparable to signaling induced by virulent B. pseudomallei. These studies provide additional insights into the host-pathogen interaction in pneumonic Burkholderia infection.


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