High-Dose Benzodiazepines Positively Modulate GABAA Receptors via a Flumazenil-Insensitive Mechanism

Benzodiazepines (BZDs) produce versatile pharmacological actions through positive modulation of GABAA receptors (GABAARs). A previous study has demonstrated that high concentrations of diazepam potentiate GABA currents on the α1β2γ2 and α1β2 GABAARs in a flumazenil-insensitive manner. In this study, the high-concentration effects of BZDs and their sensitivity to flumazenil were determined on synaptic (α1β2γ2, α2β2γ2, α5β2γ2) and extra-synaptic (α4β2δ) GABAARs using the voltage-clamp electrophysiology technique. The in vivo evaluation of flumazenil-insensitive BZD effects was conducted in mice via the loss of righting reflex (LORR) test. Diazepam induced biphasic potentiation on the α1β2γ2, α2β2γ2 and α5β2γ2 GABAARs, but did not affect the α4β2δ receptor. In contrast to the nanomolar component of potentiation, the second potentiation elicited by micromolar diazepam was insensitive to flumazenil. Midazolam, clonazepam, and lorazepam at 200 µM exhibited similar flumazenil-insensitive effects on the α1β2γ2, α2β2γ2 and α5β2γ2 receptors, whereas the potentiation induced by 200 µM zolpidem or triazolam was abolished by flumazenil. Both the GABAAR antagonist pentylenetetrazol and Fa173, a proposed transmembrane site antagonist, abolished the potentiation induced by 200 µM diazepam. Consistent with the in vitro results, flumazenil antagonized the zolpidem-induced LORR, but not that induced by diazepam or midazolam. Pentylenetetrazol and Fa173 antagonized the diazepam-induced LORR. These findings support the existence of non-classical BZD binding sites on certain GABAAR subtypes and indicate that the flumazenil-insensitive effects depend on the chemical structures of BZD ligands.

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The Swallowing Characteristics of Thickeners, Jellies and Yoghurt Observed Using an In Vitro Model

Dysphagia ◽

10.1007/s00455-019-10074-1 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 35 (4) ◽

pp. 685-695 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Simmi Patel ◽

William J. McAuley ◽

Michael T. Cook ◽

Yi Sun ◽

Shaheen Hamdy ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Transit Time ◽

Mechanical Model ◽

Xanthan Gum ◽

In Vitro Model ◽

High Concentration ◽

High Concentrations ◽

Vitro Model ◽

Thickening Agents

Abstract Drinks and foods may be thickened to improve swallowing safety for dysphagia patients, but the resultant consistencies are not always palatable. Characterising alternative appetising foods is an important task. The study aims to characterise the in vitro swallowing behaviour of specifically formulated thickened dysphagia fluids containing xanthan gum and/or starch with standard jellies and yoghurt using a validated mechanical model, the “Cambridge Throat”. Observing from the side, the model throat can follow an experimental oral transit time (in vitro-OTT) and a bolus length (BL) at the juncture of the pharynx and larynx, to assess the velocity and cohesion of bolus flow. Our results showed that higher thickener concentration produced longer in vitro-OTT and shorter BL. At high concentration (spoon-thick), fluids thickened with starch-based thickener showed significantly longer in vitro-OTT than when xanthan gum-based thickener was used (84.5 s ± 34.5 s and 5.5 s ± 1.6 s, respectively, p < 0.05). In contrast, at low concentration (nectar-like), fluids containing xanthan gum-based thickener demonstrated shorter BL than those of starch-based thickener (6.4 mm ± 0.5 mm and 8.2 mm ± 0.8 mm, respectively, p < 0.05). The jellies and yoghurt had comparable in vitro-OTT and BL to thickeners at high concentrations (honey-like and spoon-thick), indicating similar swallowing characteristics. The in vitro results showed correlation with published in vivo data though the limitations of applying the in vitro swallowing test for dysphagia studies were noted. These findings contribute useful information for designing new thickening agents and selecting alternative and palatable safe-to-swallow foods.

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Immunological investigations of oligoethylene glycols functionalized with desaminotyrosine and desaminotyrosyltyrosine

MRS Proceedings ◽

10.1557/opl.2013.831 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 1569 ◽

pp. 9-14 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Konstanze K. Julich-Gruner ◽

Toralf Roch ◽

Nan Ma ◽

Axel T. Neffe ◽

Andreas Lendlein

Keyword(s):

Human Blood ◽

High Concentration ◽

Inflammatory Conditions ◽

Tnf Α ◽

High Concentrations ◽

Pharmaceutical Agents ◽

Immunological Evaluation ◽

Necrosis Factor

ABSTRACTBiomaterials require thorough in vitro testing before being applied in vivo. Unwanted contaminations of biomaterials but also their intrinsic properties can cause uncontrolled immune response leading to severe consequences for the patient. Therefore, immunological evaluation of materials for biomedical applications is mandatory before entering clinical application. In order to introduce physical netpoints, the aromatic compounds desaminotyrosine (DAT) and desaminotyrosyl-tyrosine (DATT) were successfully used to functionalize linear and star-shaped oligoethylene glycol (lOEG and sOEG) as previously described. The materials showed properties of surfactants and have potential to be used for solubilization of lipophilic drugs in water. Furthermore, the materials are susceptible for H2O2 degradation as determined by MALDI-ToF MS analyses. This is important for potential in vivo applications, as macrophages can release reactive oxygen species (ROS) under inflammatory conditions. As it is known that surfactant solutions of high concentration can lead to cell lysis, the effects of OEG-DAT(T) solutions on murine RAW macrophages were investigated. Even at highest OEG-DAT(T) concentration of 1000 µg·mL-1 the viability of the RAW cells was not significantly impaired. Additionally, the polymers were incubated with whole human blood and the production of inflammatory cytokines such as the tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and interleukin (IL)-6 was determined. Only at high concentrations, the OEG-DAT(T) solution induced low levels of TNF-α and IL-6, indicating that a mild inflammatory reaction could be expected when such high OEG-DAT(T) concentrations are applied in vivo. Similarly, the OEG-DAT(T) solution did not induce ROS in monocytes and neutrophils after incubation with whole human blood. Conclusively, the data presented here demonstrate that OEG-DAT(T) do not lead to a substantial activation of the innate immune mechanisms and could therefore be investigated for solubilizing pharmaceutical agents.

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Rapid freezing of the mouse blastocyst: effects of cryoprotectants and of time and temperature of exposure to cryoprotectant before direct plunging into liquid nitrogen

Reproduction Fertility and Development ◽

10.1071/rd9910175 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

pp. 175 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

R Li ◽

A Trounson

Keyword(s):

Liquid Nitrogen ◽

Room Temperature ◽

Rapid Freezing ◽

High Concentration ◽

Freezing And Thawing ◽

Initial Exposure ◽

Survival And Development ◽

High Concentrations

This study investigates the effects of time and temperature of exposure to a high concentration (4.5 M) of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), glycerol, 1,2-propanediol (PROH), or a mixture of DMSO and glycerol (DG) in a solution containing 0.25 M sucrose, on the survival and development of rapidly frozen mouse blastocysts. Embryos had significantly (P less than 0.01) higher rates of survival and development when exposed to cryoprotectant at 0 degree C compared with room temperature. The time of exposure to cryoprotectant at either 0 degree C or room temperature before being plunged into liquid nitrogen significantly (P less than 0.01) affected the survival and development of frozen-thawed embryos. Survival and development of blastocysts in vitro and in vivo was significantly (P less than 0.05) higher when exposed at 0 degree C for 10 min to DG, DMSO and glycerol than to PROH. It is concluded that, unlike early-cleavage stage embryos, blastocysts need to be equilibrated at a low temperature (0 degree C) with high concentrations of cryoprotectant before rapid freezing. Exposure of blastocysts to 4.5 M cryoprotectant and 0.25 M sucrose at room temperature either was toxic or else markedly reduced their viability after freezing and thawing, depending on the duration of the initial exposure.

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Effect of mini-tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase on ischemic angiogenesis, leukocyte recruitment, and vascular permeability

AJP Regulatory Integrative and Comparative Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajpregu.90519.2008 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 295 (4) ◽

pp. R1138-R1146 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Gang Cheng ◽

Hua Zhang ◽

Xianglei Yang ◽

Eleni Tzima ◽

Karla L. Ewalt ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Vascular Permeability ◽

Low Dose ◽

Trna Synthetase ◽

Mustard Oil ◽

Blue Dye ◽

High Dose ◽

Mouse Ear ◽

High Concentrations

Mini-tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase (mini-TyrRS), the N-terminal domain of tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase, is a recently identified protein released by endothelial cells that exhibits angiogenic and leukocyte chemoattractant, ELR-motif (Glu-Leu-Arg)-dependent activities in vitro. We sought to determine whether exogenous mini-TyrRS exerts these and other cytokine-like actions in physiological and pathological settings in vivo. High-dose mini-TyrRS (600 μg·kg−1·day−1) augmented while low-dose mini-TyrRS (3 μg·kg−1·day−1), unexpectedly, inhibited angiogenesis in the ischemic mouse ear. Enhanced angiogenesis was associated with increased CD45- and CD4-positive leukocyte accumulation. Mini-TyrRS also had biphasic actions on both basal and mustard oil-evoked and VEGF-evoked leakage of Evan's blue dye-albumin in nonischemic ear and in endothelial cell monolayers, that is, low-dose inhibited and high-dose augmented leakage. Mutation of the ELR motif of mini-TyrRS abolished the above activities. Mini-TyrRS was reduced (immunoblot) in extracts of ischemic calf muscle and in thoracic aorta explants exposed to hypoxia or VEGF. Inhibition of VEGF with a soluble Flt1 “trap” protein abolished this hypoxic-induced reduction in mini-TyrRS in aorta explants. These data show that mini-TyrRS has dose-dependent biphasic effects on ischemic angiogenesis and vascular permeability in vivo, that is, antiangiogenic and antipermeability activities at low concentration and proangiogenic, propermeability activities at high concentrations.

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Formulation, Optimization and In Vivo Evaluation of Fucoidan-Based Cream with Anti-Inflammatory Properties

Marine Drugs ◽

10.3390/md19110643 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 19 (11) ◽

pp. 643

Author(s):

Ekaterina D. Obluchinskaya ◽

Olga N. Pozharitskaya ◽

Elena V. Flisyuk ◽

Alexander N. Shikov

Keyword(s):

Topical Application ◽

Colloidal Stability ◽

High Dose ◽

In Vivo Evaluation ◽

Release Studies ◽

Anti Inflammatory ◽

Kinetics Of ◽

Best Fit

Fucoidan is a polysaccharide found in brown alga with glorious potential for pharmacological activities, among which its anti-inflammatory properties have gained meaningful attention. Due to several advantages of formulations for topical application, this study aimed to develop and optimize a fucoidan-based cream formulation and to investigate its anti-inflammatory potential after topical application in vivo. Fucoidan from Fucus vesiculosus L. was used. The cream base consisting of olive oil and Kolliphor RH40 was optimized followed by in vitro agar diffusion and drug release studies. The fucoidan-based cream with 13% Kolliphor P 407, 1% Transcutol P, and 5% PEG400 showed good spreadability, washability, and colloidal stability, and it did not irritate the skin. The kinetics of fucoidan release from the optimized cream exhibited the best fit to the Korsmeyer–Peppas and Higuchi models with R2 > 0.99. Fucoidan release was controlled by drug diffusion and anomalous transport provided by the optimized cream base. The formulation was stable and provided high fucoidan release after storage for 1 year. Topical application of the fucoidan-based cream dose-dependently inhibited carrageenan-induced edema and ameliorated mechanical allodynia in rats. The efficacy of the fucoidan-based cream at a high dose was comparable with the efficacy of diclofenac gel. The fucoidan-based cream could be considered a promising anti-inflammatory formulation.

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High-Dose Calcitriol Modulates the Expression and Activity of Tissue Factor and Thrombomodulin in Tumor Cells.

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v110.11.921.921 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 110 (11) ◽

pp. 921-921

Author(s):

Enriqueta Coll-Sangrona ◽

Ali Amirkhosravi ◽

Alshad S. Lalani ◽

Liza Robles ◽

Hina Desai ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Prostate Cancer ◽

Endothelial Cells ◽

Tumor Cells ◽

High Dose ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

High Concentrations ◽

Dose Dependent ◽

A549 Lung

Abstract Calcitriol, the hormonally-active metabolite of Vitamin D3, plays critical roles in calcium homeostasis, cell growth and differentiation, and immunoregulation. The anti-tumor activities of high-dose calcitriol have been demonstrated in a variety of preclinical models of solid tumors, leukemias and lymphomas. Recently, a new dose-intense formulation of calcitriol, termed DN-101 (Asentar™), was developed specifically for cancer therapy which allows for supraphysiological concentrations of calcitriol to be safely delivered in vivo to patients with cancer. In a recent Phase 2 clinical trial, DN-101 significantly increased overall survival and also reduced the incidence of thromboembolic events in men with androgen-independent prostate cancer receiving docetaxel-based chemotherapy. Based on previous observations we hypothesized that calcitriol’s anti-thrombotic effects in vivo may be due to the downregulation of Tissue Factor (TF) antigen and activity and/or upregulation of Thrombomodulin (TM). To test this hypothesis, we incubated A549 lung carcinoma, A375-C15 metastatic melanoma, THP-1 monocytic leukemia, and Eahy926 endothelial cells with increasing concentrations of calcitriol for 24 hrs. For TF induction, tumor cells were stimulated with TNFα for 5 hrs and activity was measured by a clotting assay and a thrombin generation assay (TGA). TM activity was measured by a chromogenic assay. TF and TM surface antigen were assessed by flow cytometry. Calcitriol prevented the induction of TF in TNFα-stimulated THP-1 cells in a dose-dependent manner (from 33% at 1 nM to 94% at 100 nM) as evidenced by a prolongation of plasma clotting time, a decrease in endogenous thrombin potential (ETP), and a reduction of surface TF antigen. In addition, the activity and surface expression of TM on THP-1 cells was increased significantly (40% and 3-fold respectively, P < 0.01) following 100 nM calcitriol treatment. Similarly, in TNFα-stimulated melanoma cells, calcitriol prevented the induction of TF activity (from 26% at 1 nM to 60% at 1 μM) and expression in a dose-dependent manner. High-dose calcitriol treatment also increased melanoma cell TM activity between 8% and 62%. In contrast, constitutively expressed TF activity and antigen were less affected by calcitriol in A549 lung carcinoma cells (12 to 28% reduction at concentrations between 1–100 nM) whilst TM activity and antigen were unaffected. In comparison to the tumor cells, calcitriol had no significant effect on TM or TF activity or antigen in TNFα-stimulated EAhy926 endothelial cells. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that high concentrations of calcitriol inhibit the induction of surface TF expression and upregulates TM in multiple tumor cell lines in vitro. The degree of the inhibition is proportional to the extent of TF induction by TNF-α. These in vitro results provide further support for the anticoagulant properties associated with high concentrations of calcitriol and may provide a rationale for understanding the lower incidence of thromboembolic complications observed in patients with metastatic prostate cancer treated with DN-101.

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Evidence for early recruitment of granulocyte precursors during high- dose methotrexate infusions in mice

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v48.2.301.301 ◽

1976 ◽

Vol 48 (2) ◽

pp. 301-307 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

HM Pinedo ◽

BA Chabner ◽

DS Zaharko ◽

JM Bull

Keyword(s):

Bone Marrow ◽

Stem Cell ◽

Bone Marrow Cells ◽

Stem Cell Population ◽

High Dose ◽

Mouse Bone Marrow ◽

Drug Infusion ◽

High Concentrations

Abstract The effects of constant exposure to high concentrations of methotrexate in vivo on the committed stem cell (CFU-C) were studied by in vitro culture of mouse bone marrow. Bone marrow samples were obstained from animals receiving a continuous infusion, and were cultured in a methotrexate-free semisolid gel system. The effects of methotrexate infusion on the pluripotent stem cell population (CFU-S) were studied as well. Constant exposure to 10(-5) M methotrexate produced a rapid decrease in total nucleated cells per femur, reaching 35% of control at 12 hr and remaining at approximately this level throughout 48 hr of drug infusion. A decrease in the number of both CFU-C and CFU-S per femur was observed, which paralleled the drop in nucleated cells during the first 24 hr. However, in contrast to an additional drop in the number of CFU-S, an increase of CFU-C number per femur was observed from 24 to 48 hr. These data indicated a self-limited cell kill of nucleated bone marrow cells, and suggested recruitment of CFU-C from the CFU-S pool between 24 and 48 hr of infusion despite continued methotrexate infusion.

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Analysis of the size dependence of macromolecular crowding shows that smaller is better

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences ◽

10.1073/pnas.1505396112 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 112 (26) ◽

pp. 7990-7995 ◽

Cited By ~ 79

Author(s):

Kim A. Sharp

Keyword(s):

Small Molecules ◽

Size Dependence ◽

Reaction Rates ◽

Medium Size ◽

In Vitro Experiments ◽

High Concentration ◽

Concentration Effects ◽

Large Molecules

The aqueous milieu inside cells contains as much as 30–40% dissolved protein and RNA by volume. This large concentration of macromolecules is expected to cause significant deviations from solution ideality. In vivo biochemical reaction rates and equilibria might differ significantly from those measured in the majority of in vitro experiments that are performed at much lower macromolecule concentrations. Consequently crowding, a nonspecific phenomenon believed to arise from the large excluded volume of these macromolecules, has been studied extensively by experimental and theoretical methods. However, the relevant theory has not been applied consistently. When the steric effects of macromolecular crowders and small molecules like water and ions are treated on an equal footing, the effect of the macromolecules is opposite to that commonly believed. Large molecules are less effective at crowding than water and ions. There is also a surprisingly weak dependence on crowder size. Molecules of medium size, ∼5 Å radius, have the same effect as much larger macromolecules like proteins and RNA. These results require a reassessment of observed high-concentration effects and of strategies to mimic in vivo conditions with in vitro experiments.

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Evidence for early recruitment of granulocyte precursors during high- dose methotrexate infusions in mice

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v48.2.301.bloodjournal482301 ◽

1976 ◽

Vol 48 (2) ◽

pp. 301-307

Author(s):

HM Pinedo ◽

BA Chabner ◽

DS Zaharko ◽

JM Bull

Keyword(s):

Bone Marrow ◽

Stem Cell ◽

Bone Marrow Cells ◽

Stem Cell Population ◽

High Dose ◽

Mouse Bone Marrow ◽

Drug Infusion ◽

High Concentrations

The effects of constant exposure to high concentrations of methotrexate in vivo on the committed stem cell (CFU-C) were studied by in vitro culture of mouse bone marrow. Bone marrow samples were obstained from animals receiving a continuous infusion, and were cultured in a methotrexate-free semisolid gel system. The effects of methotrexate infusion on the pluripotent stem cell population (CFU-S) were studied as well. Constant exposure to 10(-5) M methotrexate produced a rapid decrease in total nucleated cells per femur, reaching 35% of control at 12 hr and remaining at approximately this level throughout 48 hr of drug infusion. A decrease in the number of both CFU-C and CFU-S per femur was observed, which paralleled the drop in nucleated cells during the first 24 hr. However, in contrast to an additional drop in the number of CFU-S, an increase of CFU-C number per femur was observed from 24 to 48 hr. These data indicated a self-limited cell kill of nucleated bone marrow cells, and suggested recruitment of CFU-C from the CFU-S pool between 24 and 48 hr of infusion despite continued methotrexate infusion.

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ATG5 is instrumental in the transition from autophagy to apoptosis during the degeneration of tick salivary glands

10.1101/2020.05.07.083303 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Yanan Wang ◽

Houshuang Zhang ◽

Li Luo ◽

Yongzhi Zhou ◽

Jie Cao ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Salivary Glands ◽

Calcium Concentration ◽

High Concentration ◽

Normal Feeding ◽

Feeding Process ◽

High Concentrations ◽

Caspase Gene ◽

Tick Salivary Glands

AbstractFemale tick salivary glands undergo rapid degeneration several days post engorgement. This degeneration may be caused by the increased concentration of ecdysone in the hemolymph during the fast feeding period and both autophagy and apoptosis occur. In this work, we first proved ATG and Caspase gene expression peaks during degeneration of the tick salivary glands. We explored the regulatory role of Rhipicephalus haemaphysaloides autophagy related 5 (RhATG5) in the degeneration of tick salivary glands. During the fast feeding phase, RhATG5 was cleaved and both calcium concentration and the transcription of RhCalpains increased in the salivary glands. Recombinant RhATG5 was cleaved by μ-Calpain only in the presence of calcium; the mutant RhATG5191-199Δ was not cleaved. Treatment with 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) led to programmed cell death in the salivary glands of unfed ticks in vitro, RhATG8-phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) was upregulated in ticks treated with low concentration of 20E. Conversely, RhATG8-PE decreased and RhCaspase-7 increased in ticks treated with a high concentration of 20E and transformed autophagy to apoptosis. High concentrations of 20E led to the cleavage of RhATG5. Calcium concentration and expression of RhCalpains were also upregulated in the tick salivary glands. RNA interference (RNAi) of RhATG5 in vitro inhibited both autophagy and apoptosis of the tick salivary glands. RNAi of RhATG5 in vivo significantly inhibited the normal feeding process. These results demonstrated that high concentrations of 20E led to the cleavage of RhATG5 by increasing the concentration of calcium and stimulated the transition from autophagy to apoptosis.

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