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MRI stem cell tracking for therapy in experimental cerebral ischemia. Transl Stroke Res 2011; 3:22-35. [PMID: 24323753 DOI: 10.1007/s12975-011-0111-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2011] [Revised: 09/20/2011] [Accepted: 09/28/2011] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Magnetic resonance has an established role in investigations on the evolution of stroke and the assessment of therapeutic strategies in experimental animals. Here we show that the technique has also an important place for the study of stem cell-mediated regenerative therapies after stroke. We review the literature by bridging from the methodological aspects of stem cell labeling via grafting and monitoring of cell dynamics after implantation into the brain all the way to MRI's role in analyzing the stem cell-mediated functional improvement. Thus, we have aimed at a view combining the focus on the monitoring of the cell activities with the aspect of lesion evolution while including also the essence of a potential functional improvement by the implantation of stem cells following stroke.
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Giuliani D, Zaffe D, Ottani A, Spaccapelo L, Galantucci M, Minutoli L, Bitto A, Irrera N, Contri M, Altavilla D, Botticelli AR, Squadrito F, Guarini S. Treatment of cerebral ischemia with melanocortins acting at MC4 receptors induces marked neurogenesis and long-lasting functional recovery. Acta Neuropathol 2011; 122:443-53. [PMID: 21927944 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-011-0873-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2011] [Revised: 09/08/2011] [Accepted: 09/08/2011] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Melanocortins produce neuroprotection against ischemic stroke with subsequent long-lasting functional recovery, through melanocortin MC(4) receptor activation. Here we investigated whether the long-lasting beneficial effect of melanocortins in stroke conditions is associated with a stimulation of neurogenesis. Gerbils were subjected to transient global cerebral ischemia by occluding both common carotid arteries for 10 min; then, they were prepared for 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) labeling of proliferating cells. Delayed treatment (up to 9 h after the ischemic injury) for 11 days with the melanocortin analog [Nle(4),D-Phe(7)]α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (NDP-α-MSH) improved learning and memory throughout the 50-day observation period. Immunohistochemical examination of the hippocampus on day 50 showed, in the dentate gyrus, an elevated number of BrdU immunoreactive cells colocalized with NeuN (used as indicator of mature neurons) and Zif268 (used as indicator of functionally integrated neurons). Retrospective analysis during the early stage of neural stem/progenitor cell development (days 3 and 4 after stroke) showed, in NDP-α-MSH-treated gerbils, a high degree of daily cell proliferation and revealed that NDP-α-MSH favorably affects Wnt-3A signaling pathways and doublecortin expression. Pharmacologic blockade of MC(4) receptors prevented all effects of NDP-α-MSH. These data indicate that treatment of cerebral ischemia with MC(4) receptor agonists induces, with a broad window of therapeutic opportunity, long-lasting functional recovery associated with a large number of mature and likely functional newborn neurons in brain injured areas. Our findings reveal previously undescribed effects of melanocortins which might have major clinical implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Giuliani
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via G. Campi 287, 41125, Modena, Italy
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53
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Felfly H, Xue J, Zambon AC, Muotri A, Zhou D, Haddad GG. Identification of a neuronal gene expression signature: role of cell cycle arrest in murine neuronal differentiation in vitro. Am J Physiol Regul Integr Comp Physiol 2011; 301:R727-45. [PMID: 21677276 PMCID: PMC3174756 DOI: 10.1152/ajpregu.00217.2011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2011] [Accepted: 06/08/2011] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Stem cells are a potential key strategy for treating neurodegenerative diseases in which the generation of new neurons is critical. A better understanding of the characteristics and molecular properties of neural stem cells (NSCs) and differentiated neurons can help with assessing neuronal maturity and, possibly, in devising better therapeutic strategies. We have performed an in-depth gene expression profiling study of murine NSCs and primary neurons derived from embryonic mouse brains. Microarray analysis revealed a neuron-specific gene expression signature that distinguishes primary neurons from NSCs, with elevated levels of transcripts involved in neuronal functions, such as neurite development and axon guidance in primary neurons and decreased levels of multiple cytokine transcripts. Among the differentially expressed genes, we found a statistically significant enrichment of genes in the ephrin, neurotrophin, CDK5, and actin pathways, which control multiple neuronal-specific functions. We then artificially blocked the cell cycle of NSCs with mitomycin C (MMC) and examined cellular morphology and gene expression signatures. Although these MMC-treated NSCs displayed a neuronal morphology and expressed some neuronal differentiation marker genes, their gene expression patterns were very different from primary neurons. We conclude that 1) fully differentiated mouse primary neurons display a specific neuronal gene expression signature; 2) cell cycle block at the S phase in NSCs with MMC does not induce the formation of fully differentiated neurons; 3) cytokines change their expression pattern during differentiation of NSCs into neurons; and 4) signaling pathways of ephrin, neurotrophin, CDK5, and actin, related to major neuronal features, are dynamically enriched in genes showing changes in expression level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hady Felfly
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, CA, USA
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Bao X, Feng M, Wei J, Han Q, Zhao H, Li G, Zhu Z, Xing H, An Y, Qin C, Zhao RC, Wang R. Transplantation of Flk-1+ human bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells promotes angiogenesis and neurogenesis after cerebral ischemia in rats. Eur J Neurosci 2011; 34:87-98. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1460-9568.2011.07733.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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55
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Wang F, Kameda M, Yasuhara T, Tajiri N, Kikuchi Y, Liang HB, Tayra JT, Shinko A, Wakamori T, Agari T, Date I. GDNF-pretreatment enhances the survival of neural stem cells following transplantation in a rat model of Parkinson's disease. Neurosci Res 2011; 71:92-8. [PMID: 21699926 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2011.05.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2011] [Revised: 05/25/2011] [Accepted: 05/26/2011] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Cell transplantation has been shown to be an effective therapy for central nervous system disorders in animal models. Improving the efficacy of cell transplantation depends critically on improving grafted cell survival. We investigated whether glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF)-pretreatment of neural stem cells (NSCs) enhanced grafted cell survival in a rat model of Parkinson's disease (PD). We first examined the neuroprotective effects of GDNF on oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) in NSCs. Cells were pretreated with GDNF for 3 days before subjecting them to OGD. After 12h of OGD, GDNF-pretreated NSCs showed significant increases in survival rates compared with PBS-pretreated NSCs. An apoptosis assay showed that the number of apoptotic cells was significantly decreased in GDNF-pretreated NSCs at 1h and 6h after OGD. A PD rat model was then established by unilateral injection of 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA, 9μg) into the medial forebrain bundle. Two weeks after 6-OHDA injection, GDNF-pretreated NSCs, PBS-pretreated NSCs, or PBS were injected into PD rat striatum. The survival of grafted cells in the striatum was significantly increased in the GDNF-pretreated NSC group compared with the control groups. GDNF pretreatment increased survival of NSCs following transplantation, at least partly through suppression of cell apoptosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Wang
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Japan.
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56
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Recent progress in cell therapy for basal ganglia disorders with emphasis on menstrual blood transplantation in stroke. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2011; 36:177-90. [PMID: 21645544 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2011.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2011] [Revised: 04/25/2011] [Accepted: 05/20/2011] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Cerebrovascular diseases are the third leading cause of death and the primary cause of long-term disability in the United States. The only approved therapy for stroke is tPA, strongly limited by the short therapeutic window and hemorrhagic complications, therefore excluding most patients from its benefits. Parkinson's and Huntington's disease are the other two most studied basal ganglia diseases and, as stroke, have very limited treatment options. Inflammation is a key feature in central nervous system disorders and it plays a dual role, either improving injury in early phases or impairing neural survival at later stages. Stem cells can be opportunely used to modulate inflammation, abrogate cell death and, therefore, preserve neural function. We here discuss the role of stem cells as restorative treatments for basal ganglia disorders, including Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease and stroke, with special emphasis to the recently investigated menstrual blood stem cells. We highlight the availability, proliferative capacity, pluripotentiality and angiogenic features of these cells and explore their present and future experimental and clinical applications.
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Filous AR, Miller JH, Coulson-Thomas YM, Horn KP, Alilain WJ, Silver J. Immature astrocytes promote CNS axonal regeneration when combined with chondroitinase ABC. Dev Neurobiol 2011; 70:826-41. [PMID: 20629049 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.20820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Regeneration of injured adult CNS axons is inhibited by formation of a glial scar. Immature astrocytes are able to support robust neurite outgrowth and reduce scarring, therefore, we tested whether these cells would have this effect if transplanted into brain injuries. Utilizing an in vitro spot gradient model that recreates the strongly inhibitory proteoglycan environment of the glial scar we found that, alone, immature, but not mature, astrocytes had a limited ability to form bridges across the most inhibitory outer rim. In turn, the astrocyte bridges could promote adult sensory axon re-growth across the gradient. The use of selective enzyme inhibitors revealed that MMP-2 enables immature astrocytes to cross the proteoglycan rim. The bridge-building process and axon regeneration across the immature glial bridges were greatly enhanced by chondroitinase ABC pretreatment of the spots. We used microlesions in the cingulum of the adult rat brains to test the ability of matrix modification and immature astrocytes to form a bridge for axon regeneration in vivo. Injured axons were visualized via p75 immunolabeling and the extent to which these axons regenerated was quantified. Immature astrocytes coinjected with chondroitinase ABC-induced axonal regeneration beyond the distal edge of the lesion. However, when used alone, neither treatment was capable of promoting axonal regeneration. Our findings indicate that when faced with a minimal lesion, neurons of the basal forebrain can regenerate in the presence of a proper bridge across the lesion and when levels of chondroitin sulfate proteoglycans (CSPGs) in the glial scar are reduced.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela R Filous
- Department of Neurosciences, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio 44106, USA.
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Döbrössy M, Busse M, Piroth T, Rosser A, Dunnett S, Nikkhah G. Neurorehabilitation with neural transplantation. Neurorehabil Neural Repair 2010; 24:692-701. [PMID: 20647502 DOI: 10.1177/1545968310363586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Cell replacement therapy has been tested clinically in Parkinson's disease (PD) and Huntington's disease (HD), epilepsy, spinal cord injury, and stroke. The clinical outcomes have been variable, perhaps partly because of the differing levels of preclinical, basic experimental evidence that was available prior to the trials. The most promising results have been seen in PD trials, with encouraging ones in HD. A common feature of most trials is that they have concentrated on the biological and technical aspects of transplantation without presupposing that the outcomes might be influenced by events after the surgery. The growing evidence of plasticity demonstrated by the brain and grafts in response to environmental and training stimuli such as rehabilitation interventions has been mostly neglected throughout the clinical application of cell therapy. This review suggests that a different approach may be required to maximize recovery: postoperative experiences, including rehabilitation with explicit behavioral retraining, could have marked direct as well as positive secondary effects on the integration and function of grafted cells in the host neural system. The knowledge gained about brain plasticity following brain damage needs to be linked with what we know about promoting intrinsic recovery processes and how this can boost neurobiological and surgical strategies for repair at the clinical level. With proof of principle now established, a rich area for innovative research with profound therapeutic application is open for investigation.
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Adult neurogenesis occurs in primate sensorimotor cortex following cervical dorsal rhizotomy. J Neurosci 2010; 30:8613-23. [PMID: 20573907 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.5272-09.2010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Adult neurogenesis remains controversial in the cerebral cortex. We have previously shown in monkeys and rats that reactive neurogenesis occurs in the spinal dorsal horn 6-8 weeks after a cervical dorsal rhizotomy. Here, in three monkeys with the same lesion, we asked whether it also occurs coincidentally in the corresponding primary somatosensory and motor cortex, where significant topographic and neuronal reorganization is known to occur. Monkeys (male Macaca fascicularis) were given 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdU) injections 2-3 weeks after the rhizotomy, and were perfused 4-6 weeks later. Cells colabeled for BrdU and five different neuronal markers were observed within the primary somatosensory and motor cortex, and their distributions were compared bilaterally. Cells colabeled with BrdU and the astrocytic marker glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were also quantified for comparison. A significant number of BrdU/NeuN- and BrdU/calbindin-colabeled cells were observed in topographically reorganized cortex. Small numbers of BrdU/GFAP-colabeled cells were also consistently observed bilaterally, but these cells were never colabeled with any of the neuronal markers. Of the cells colabeled with BrdU and a neuronal marker, at least half had an inhibitory phenotype. However, excitatory pyramidal neurons were also identified with classic pyramidal morphology. Cortical neurogenesis was not observed in other cortical regions. It was also not observed in the primary sensorimotor, prefrontal, or posterior parietal cortex in an additional control monkey (male Macaca fascicularis) that had no surgical intervention. Our findings provide evidence for reactive endogenous cortical neurogenesis after a dorsal rhizotomy, which may play a role in functional recovery.
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Dubois-Dauphin M, Julien S. Stem cell-derived neurons grafted in the striatum are expelled out of the brain after chronic cortical stroke. Stroke 2010; 41:1807-14. [PMID: 20576956 DOI: 10.1161/strokeaha.110.578427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE In humans and rodents, cortical stroke can lead to cortex atrophy in long-term survivors. In the rodent, fetal brain neural precursors or stem cell-derived neurons grafted in the stroke-lesioned brain integrate successfully and reduce infarct in the short term. We have examined the fate, in the long term, of mouse embryonic stem cell-derived neural precursors grafted after permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion in mice. METHODS Green fluorescent protein-labeled neural precursors were grafted in the striatum of control and lesioned mice and their fate examined 9 months later. RESULTS In control mice, the neuronal progeny of mouse embryonic stem cells innervated distant brain structures, in a way remarkably similar between animals, displayed a laterality preference and remained polysialated neural cell adhesion molecule-immunoreactive. In lesioned mice, grafted cells were expelled out of the brain. CONCLUSIONS Stroke-related brain atrophy and reshaping were not prevented by cell grafting and, eventually, led to the expulsion of the graft.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michel Dubois-Dauphin
- Department of Pathology and Immunology, CMU-University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland.
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61
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Janowski M, Walczak P, Date I. Intravenous Route of Cell Delivery for Treatment of Neurological Disorders: A Meta-Analysis of Preclinical Results. Stem Cells Dev 2010; 19:5-16. [DOI: 10.1089/scd.2009.0271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Miroslaw Janowski
- Department of NeuroRepair, Medical Research Center, Polish Academy of Science, Warsaw, Poland
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Piotr Walczak
- The Russell H. Morgan Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Division of MR Research, Institute for Cell Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Isao Date
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry, and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
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Biological Horizons for Targeting Brain Malignancy. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2010; 671:93-104. [DOI: 10.1007/978-1-4419-5819-8_8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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63
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Hung AC, Porter AG. p53 mediates nitric oxide-induced apoptosis in murine neural progenitor cells. Neurosci Lett 2009; 467:241-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2009.10.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2009] [Revised: 09/25/2009] [Accepted: 10/15/2009] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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van Delden ALEQ, Peper CLE, Harlaar J, Daffertshofer A, Zijp NI, Nienhuys K, Koppe P, Kwakkel G, Beek PJ. Comparing unilateral and bilateral upper limb training: the ULTRA-stroke program design. BMC Neurol 2009; 9:57. [PMID: 19895679 PMCID: PMC2780376 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2377-9-57] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2009] [Accepted: 11/06/2009] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Background About 80% of all stroke survivors have an upper limb paresis immediately after stroke, only about a third of whom (30 to 40%) regain some dexterity within six months following conventional treatment programs. Of late, however, two recently developed interventions - constraint-induced movement therapy (CIMT) and bilateral arm training with rhythmic auditory cueing (BATRAC) - have shown promising results in the treatment of upper limb paresis in chronic stroke patients. The ULTRA-stroke (acronym for Upper Limb TRaining After stroke) program was conceived to assess the effectiveness of these interventions in subacute stroke patients and to examine how the observed changes in sensori-motor functioning relate to changes in stroke recovery mechanisms associated with peripheral stiffness, interlimb interactions, and cortical inter- and intrahemispheric networks. The present paper describes the design of this single-blinded randomized clinical trial (RCT), which has recently started and will take several years to complete. Methods/Design Sixty patients with a first ever stroke will be recruited. Patients will be stratified in terms of their remaining motor ability at the distal part of the arm (i.e., wrist and finger movements) and randomized over three intervention groups receiving modified CIMT, modified BATRAC, or an equally intensive (i.e., dose-matched) conventional treatment program for 6 weeks. Primary outcome variable is the score on the Action Research Arm test (ARAT), which will be assessed before, directly after, and 6 weeks after the intervention. During those test sessions all patients will also undergo measurements aimed at investigating the associated recovery mechanisms using haptic robots and magneto-encephalography (MEG). Discussion ULTRA-stroke is a 3-year translational research program which aims (1) to assess the relative effectiveness of the three interventions, on a group level but also as a function of patient characteristics, and (2) to delineate the functional and neurophysiological changes that are induced by those interventions. The outcome on the ARAT together with information about changes in the associated mechanisms will provide a better understanding of how specific therapies influence neurobiological changes, and which post-stroke conditions lend themselves to specific treatments. Trial Registration The ULTRA-stroke program is registered at the Netherlands Trial Register (NTR, http://www.trialregister.nl, number NTR1665).
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Affiliation(s)
- A Lex E Q van Delden
- Research Institute MOVE, Faculty of Human Movement Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, Van der Boechorststraat 9, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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