scholarly journals A Novel Apilic Antivenom to Treat Massive, Africanized Honeybee Attacks: A Preclinical Study from the Lethality to Some Biochemical and Pharmacological Activities Neutralization

Toxins ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 30
Author(s):  
Jhonatha Mota Teixeira-Cruz ◽  
Marcelo Abrahão Strauch ◽  
Marcos Monteiro-Machado ◽  
Matheus Silva Tavares-Henriques ◽  
João Alfredo de Moraes ◽  
...  

Massive, Africanized honeybee attacks have increased in Brazil over the years. Humans and animals present local and systemic effects after envenomation, and there is no specific treatment for this potentially lethal event. This study evaluated the ability of a new Apilic antivenom, which is composed of F(ab’)2 fraction of specific immunoglobulins in heterologous and hyperimmune equine serum, to neutralize A. mellifera venom and melittin, in vitro and in vivo, in mice. Animal experiments were performed in according with local ethics committee license (UFRJ protocol no. DFBCICB072-04/16). Venom dose-dependent lethality was diminished with 0.25–0.5 μL of intravenous Apilic antivenom/μg honeybee venom. In vivo injection of 0.1–1 μg/g bee venom induced myotoxicity, hemoconcentration, paw edema, and increase of vascular permeability which were antagonized by Apilic antivenom. Cytotoxicity, assessed in renal LLC-PK1 cells and challenged with 10 μg/mL honeybee venom or melittin, was neutralized by preincubation with Apilic antivenom, as well the hemolytic activity. Apilic antivenom inhibited phospholipase and hyaluronidase enzymatic activities. In flow cytometry experiments, Apilic antivenom neutralized reduction of cell viability due to necrosis by honeybee venom or melittin. These results showed that this antivenom is effective inhibitor of honeybee venom actions. Thus, this next generation of Apilic antivenom emerges as a new promising immunobiological product for the treatment of massive, Africanized honeybee attacks.

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (Suppl 3) ◽  
pp. A792-A792
Author(s):  
Chunxiao Xu ◽  
Brain Rabinovich ◽  
Amit Deshpande ◽  
Xueyuan Zhou ◽  
Frederic Christian Pipp ◽  
...  

BackgroundThe costimulatory receptor CD137 (also known as 4-1BB and TNFRSF9) plays an important role in sustaining effective cytotoxic T cell immune responses and its agonism has been investigated as a cancer immunotherapy. In clinical trials, the systemic administration of the 1st generation CD137 agonist monotherapies, utomilumab and urelumab, were suspended due to either low anti-tumor efficacy or hepatotoxicity mediated by recognized epitope on CD137 and FcγR ligand-dependent clustering.MethodsM9657, a bispecific antibody was engineered a tetravalent bispecific antibody (mAb2) format with the Fab portion binding to the tumor antigen Mesothelin (MSLN) and a modified CH2-CH3 domain as Fc antigen binding (Fcab) portion binding to CD137. M9657 has a human IgG1 backbone with LALA mutations to abrogate the binding to Fcγ receptor. The biological characteristics and activities of M9657 were investigated in a series of in vitro assays and the in vivo efficacy was investigated in syngeneic tumor models with FS122m, a murine-reactive surrogate with the same protein structure of M9657.ResultsM9657 binds efficiently to both human and Cynomolgus CD137 as well as MSLN. In the cellular functional assay, M9657 displayed MSLN- and TCR/CD3 interaction (signal 1)-dependent cytokine release and tumor cell cytotoxicity associated with Bcl-XL activation and immune memory formation. FS122m demonstrated potent MSLN- and dose- dependent in vivo anti-tumor efficacy (figure 1). Comparing with 3H3, a Urelumab surrogate Ab, FS122m displayed an improved therapeutic window with significantly lower for on-target /off-tumor toxicity.ConclusionsTaken together, M9657 exhibits a promising developability profile as a tumor-targeted immune agonist with potent anti-cancer activity, but without systemic immune activation.Ethics ApprovalAll animal experiments were performed in accordance with EMD Serono Research & Development Institute (protocol 17-008, 20-005) and Wuxi AppTec Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) guidelines.Abstract 757 Figure 1FS122m displayed dose-dependent anti-tumor efficacy


2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 ◽  
pp. 1-18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bee Ling Tan ◽  
Mohd Esa Norhaizan

Cancer is a significant global health concern affecting men and women worldwide. Although current chemopreventive drugs could inhibit the growth of cancer cells, they exert many adverse side effects. Dietary factor plays a crucial role in the management of cancers and has drawn the attention of researchers to be used as an option to combat this disease. Bothin vitroandin vivostudies showed that rice and its by-products display encouraging results in the prevention of this disease. The mechanism of anticancer effect is suggested partly through potentiation of bioactive compounds like vitamin E, phytic acid,γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA),γ-oryzanol, and phenolics. Nevertheless, the bioactivity of rice and its by-products is still incompletely understood. In this review, we present the findings from a preclinical study both inin vitroand in animal experiments on the promising role of rice by-products with focus on cancer prevention.


1974 ◽  
Vol 31 (03) ◽  
pp. 420-428 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Fainaru ◽  
S Eisenberg ◽  
N Manny ◽  
C Hershko

SummaryThe natural course of defibrination syndrome caused by Echis colorata venom (ECV) in five patients is reported. All patients developed afibrinogenemia within six hours after the bite. Concomitantly a depression in factor V was recorded. Factor VIII and thrombocyte count in blood were normal in most patients. In the light of the known effects of ECV on blood coagulation in vivo and in vitro it is concluded that the afibrinogenemia is due to intravascular clotting.Four patients had transient renal damage, manifested by oliguria, azotemia, albuminuria and cylindruria, ascribed to microthrombi in the renal glomeruli.After the bite, the natural course was benign, no major bleeding was observed, and all signs of coagulopathy reverted to normal within 7 days. Therefore we recommend no specific treatment for this condition. In the case of heavily bleeding patients, administration of antiserum against ECV and/or heparin should be considered.


1995 ◽  
Vol 73 (05) ◽  
pp. 805-811 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yasuo Takahashi ◽  
Yoshitaka Hosaka ◽  
Hiromi Niina ◽  
Katsuaki Nagasawa ◽  
Masaaki Naotsuka ◽  
...  

SummaryWe examined the anticoagulant activity of two major molecules of soluble thrombomodulin purified from human urine. The apparent molecular weights of these urinary thrombomodulins (UTMs) were 72,000 and 79,000, respectively. Both UTMs showed more potent cofactor activity for protein C activation [specific activity >5,000 thrombomodulin units (TMU)/mg] than human placental thrombomodulin (2,180 TMU/mg) and rabbit lung thrombomodulin (1,980 TMU/mg). The UTMs prolonged thrombin-induced fibrinogen clotting time (>1 TMU/ml), APTT (>5 TMU/ml), TT (>5 TMU/ml) and PT (>40 TMU/ml) in a dose-dependent fashion. These effects appeared in the concentration range of soluble thrombomodulins present in human plasma and urine. In the rat DIC model induced by thromboplastin, administration of UTMs by infusion (300-3,000 TMU/kg) restored the hematological abnormalities derived from DIC in a dose-dependent fashion. These results demonstrate that UTMs exhibit potent anticoagulant and antithrombotic activities, and could play a physiologically important role in microcirculation.


2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 193-206
Author(s):  
Brognara Lorenzo ◽  
Salmaso Luca ◽  
Mazzotti Antonio ◽  
Di M. Alberto ◽  
Faldini Cesare ◽  
...  

Background: Chronic wounds are commonly associated with polymicrobial biofilm infections. In the last years, the extensive use of antibiotics has generated several antibiotic-resistant variants. To overcome this issue, alternative natural treatments have been proposed, including the use of microorganisms like probiotics. The aim of this manuscript was to review current literature concerning the application of probiotics for the treatment of infected chronic wounds. Methods: Relevant articles were searched in the Medline database using PubMed and Scholar, using the keywords “probiotics” and “wound” and “injuries”, “probiotics” and “wound” and “ulcer”, “biofilm” and “probiotics” and “wound”, “biofilm” and “ulcer” and “probiotics”, “biofilm” and “ulcer” and “probiotics”, “probiotics” and “wound”. Results: The research initially included 253 articles. After removal of duplicate studies, and selection according to specific inclusion and exclusion criteria, 19 research articles were included and reviewed, accounting for 12 in vitro, 8 in vivo studies and 2 human studies (three articles dealing with animal experiments included also in vitro testing). Most of the published studies about the effects of probiotics for the treatment of infected chronic wounds reported a partial inhibition of microbial growth, biofilm formation and quorum sensing. Discussion: The application of probiotics represents an intriguing option in the treatment of infected chronic wounds with multidrug-resistant bacteria; however, current results are difficult to compare due to the heterogeneity in methodology, laboratory techniques, and applied clinical protocols. Lactobacillus plantarum currently represents the most studied strain, showing a positive application in burns compared to guideline treatments, and an additional mean in chronic wound infections. Conclusions: Although preliminary evidence supports the use of specific strains of probiotics in certain clinical settings such as infected chronic wounds, large, long-term clinical trials are still lacking, and further research is needed.


Author(s):  
Mohammed Ajebli ◽  
Mohamed Eddouks

Aims and objective: The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of aqueous aerial part extract of Mentha pulegium L. (Pennyrile) (MPAE) on arterial pressure parameters in rats. Background: Mentha pulegium is a medicinal plant used to treat hypertension in Morocco. Material and methods: In the current study, MPAE was prepared and its antihypertensive activity was pharmacologically investigated. L-NAME-hypertensive and normotensive rats have received orally MPAE (180 and 300 mg/kg) during six hours for the acute experiment and during seven days for the sub-chronic treatment. Thereafter, systolic, diastolic, mean arterial blood pressure and heart rate were evaluated. While, in the in vitro experiment, isolated denuded and intact thoracic aortic rings were suspended in a tissue bath system and the tension changes were recorded. Results: A fall in blood pressure was observed in L-NAME-induced hypertensive treated with MPAE. The extract also produced a dose-dependent relaxation of aorta pre-contracted with NE and KCl. The study showed that the vasorelaxant ability of MPAE seems to be exerted through the blockage of extracellular Ca2+ entry. Conclusion: The results demonstrate that the extract of pennyrile exhibits antihypertensive activity. In addition, the effect may be, at least in part, due to dilation of blood vessels via blockage of Ca2+ channels.


Foods ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 315
Author(s):  
Zhenxing Wang ◽  
Zongcai Tu ◽  
Xing Xie ◽  
Hao Cui ◽  
Kin Weng Kong ◽  
...  

This study aims to evaluate the bioactive components, in vitro bioactivities, and in vivo hypoglycemic effect of P. frutescens leaf, which is a traditional medicine-food homology plant. P. frutescens methanol crude extract and its fractions (petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, n-butanol fractions, and aqueous phase residue) were prepared by ultrasound-enzyme assisted extraction and liquid–liquid extraction. Among the samples, the ethyl acetate fraction possessed the high total phenolic (440.48 μg GAE/mg DE) and flavonoid content (455.22 μg RE/mg DE), the best antioxidant activity (the DPPH radical, ABTS radical, and superoxide anion scavenging activity, and ferric reducing antioxidant power were 1.71, 1.14, 2.40, 1.29, and 2.4 times higher than that of control Vc, respectively), the most powerful α-glucosidase inhibitory ability with the IC50 value of 190.03 μg/mL which was 2.2-folds higher than control acarbose, the strongest proliferative inhibitory ability against MCF-7 and HepG2 cell with the IC50 values of 37.92 and 13.43 μg/mL, which were considerable with control cisplatin, as well as certain inhibition abilities on acetylcholinesterase and tyrosinase. HPLC analysis showed that the luteolin, rosmarinic acid, rutin, and catechin were the dominant components of the ethyl acetate fraction. Animal experiments further demonstrated that the ethyl acetate fraction could significantly decrease the serum glucose level, food, and water intake of streptozotocin-induced diabetic SD rats, increase the body weight, modulate their serum levels of TC, TG, HDL-C, and LDL-C, improve the histopathology and glycogen accumulation in liver and intestinal tissue. Taken together, P. frutescens leaf exhibits excellent hypoglycemic activity in vitro and in vivo, and could be exploited as a source of natural antidiabetic agent.


Author(s):  
Yu-bo Zhou ◽  
Yang-ming Zhang ◽  
Hong-hui Huang ◽  
Li-jing Shen ◽  
Xiao-feng Han ◽  
...  

AbstractHDAC inhibitors (HDACis) have been intensively studied for their roles and potential as drug targets in T-cell lymphomas and other hematologic malignancies. Bisthianostat is a novel bisthiazole-based pan-HDACi evolved from natural HDACi largazole. Here, we report the preclinical study of bisthianostat alone and in combination with bortezomib in the treatment of multiple myeloma (MM), as well as preliminary first-in-human findings from an ongoing phase 1a study. Bisthianostat dose dependently induced acetylation of tubulin and H3 and increased PARP cleavage and apoptosis in RPMI-8226 cells. In RPMI-8226 and MM.1S cell xenograft mouse models, oral administration of bisthianostat (50, 75, 100 mg·kg-1·d-1, bid) for 18 days dose dependently inhibited tumor growth. Furthermore, bisthianostat in combination with bortezomib displayed synergistic antitumor effect against RPMI-8226 and MM.1S cell in vitro and in vivo. Preclinical pharmacokinetic study showed bisthianostat was quickly absorbed with moderate oral bioavailability (F% = 16.9%–35.5%). Bisthianostat tended to distribute in blood with Vss value of 0.31 L/kg. This distribution parameter might be beneficial to treat hematologic neoplasms such as MM with few side effects. In an ongoing phase 1a study, bisthianostat treatment was well tolerated and no grade 3/4 nonhematological adverse events (AEs) had occurred together with good pharmacokinetics profiles in eight patients with relapsed or refractory MM (R/R MM). The overall single-agent efficacy was modest, stable disease (SD) was identified in four (50%) patients at the end of first dosing cycle (day 28). These preliminary in-patient results suggest that bisthianostat is a promising HDACi drug with a comparable safety window in R/R MM, supporting for its further phase 1b clinical trial in combination with traditional MM therapies.


Author(s):  
Zhibin Liao ◽  
Hongwei Zhang ◽  
Chen Su ◽  
Furong Liu ◽  
Yachong Liu ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Aberrant expressions of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been demonstrated to be related to the progress of HCC. The mechanisms that SNHG14 has participated in the development of HCC are obscure. Methods Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) was used to measure the lncRNA, microRNA and mRNA expression level. Cell migration, invasion and proliferation ability were evaluated by transwell and CCK8 assays. The ceRNA regulatory mechanism of SNHG14 was evaluated by RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) and dual luciferase reporter assay. Tumorigenesis mouse model was used to explore the roles of miR-876-5p in vivo. The protein levels of SSR2 were measured by western blot assay. Results In this study, we demonstrated that SNHG14 was highly expressed in HCC tissues, meanwhile, the elevated expression of SNHG14 predicted poor prognosis in patients with HCC. SNHG14 promoted proliferation and metastasis of HCC cells. We further revealed that SNHG14 functioned as a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) for miR-876-5p and that SSR2 was a downstream target of miR-876-5p in HCC. Transwell, CCK8 and animal experiments exhibited miR-876-5p inhibited HCC progression in vitro and in vivo. By conducting rescue experiments, we found the overexpression of SSR2 or knocking down the level of miR-876-5p could reverse the suppressive roles of SNHG14 depletion in HCC. Conclusion SNHG14 promotes HCC progress by acting as a sponge of miR-876-5p to regulate the expression of SSR2 in HCC.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document