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Montero P, Roger I, Estornut C, Milara J, Cortijo J. Influence of dose and exposition time in the effectiveness of N-Acetyl-l-cysteine treatment in A549 human epithelial cells. Heliyon 2023; 9:e15613. [PMID: 37144195 PMCID: PMC10151372 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e15613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 04/12/2023] [Accepted: 04/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023] Open
Abstract
N-Acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) acts as a precursor of the tripeptide glutathione (GSH), one of the principal cell mechanisms for reactive oxygen species (ROS) detoxification. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with enhanced inflammatory response and oxidative stress and NAC has been used to suppress various pathogenic processes in this disease. Studies show that the effects of NAC are dose-dependent, and it appears that the efficient doses in vitro are usually higher than the achieved in vivo plasma concentrations. However, to date, the inconsistencies between the in vitro NAC antioxidant and anti-inflammatory in vitro effects, by reproducing the in vivo NAC plasma concentrations as well as high NAC concentrations. To do so, A549 were transfected with polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (Poly (I:C)) and treated with NAC at different treatment periods. Oxidative stress, release of proinflammatory mediators and NFkB activation were analyzed. Results suggest that NAC at low doses in chronic administration has sustained antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, while acute treatment with high dose NAC exerts a strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paula Montero
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, 46010, Valencia, Spain
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Europea de Valencia, 46010, Valencia, Spain
- Corresponding author. Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, 46010, Valencia, Spain.
| | - Inés Roger
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, 46010, Valencia, Spain
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Europea de Valencia, 46010, Valencia, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Centre on Respiratory Diseases (CIBERES), Health Institute Carlos III, 28029, Madrid, Spain
| | - Cristina Estornut
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Universidad Europea de Valencia, 46010, Valencia, Spain
| | - Javier Milara
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, 46010, Valencia, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Centre on Respiratory Diseases (CIBERES), Health Institute Carlos III, 28029, Madrid, Spain
- Pharmacy Unit, University General Hospital Consortium, 46014, Valencia, Spain
| | - Julio Cortijo
- Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, 46010, Valencia, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Centre on Respiratory Diseases (CIBERES), Health Institute Carlos III, 28029, Madrid, Spain
- Research and Teaching Unit, University General Hospital Consortium, 46014, Valencia, Spain
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Herianto S, Chien PJ, Ho JAA, Tu HL. Liposome-based artificial cells: From gene expression to reconstitution of cellular functions and phenotypes. BIOMATERIALS ADVANCES 2022; 142:213156. [PMID: 36302330 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioadv.2022.213156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Bottom-up approaches in creating artificial cells that can mimic natural cells have significant implications for both basic research and translational application. Among various artificial cell models, liposome is one of the most sophisticated systems. By encapsulating proteins and associated biomolecules, they can functionally reconstitute foundational features of biological cells, such as the ability to divide, communicate, and undergo shape deformation. Yet constructing liposome artificial cells from the genetic level, which is central to generate self-sustained systems remains highly challenging. Indeed, many studies have successfully established the expression of gene-coded proteins inside liposomes. Further, recent endeavors to build a direct integration of gene-expressed proteins for reconstituting molecular functions and phenotypes in liposomes have also significantly increased. Thus, this review presents the development of liposome-based artificial cells to demonstrate the process of gene-expressed proteins and their reconstitution to perform desired molecular and cell-like functions. The molecular and cellular phenotypes discussed here include the self-production of membrane phospholipids, division, shape deformation, self-DNA/RNA replication, fusion, and intercellular communication. Together, this review gives a comprehensive overview of gene-expressing liposomes that can stimulate further research of this technology and achieve artificial cells with superior properties in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Herianto
- Institute of Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan; Chemical Biology and Molecular Biophysics, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan; Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
| | - Po-Jen Chien
- Institute of Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan
| | - Ja-An Annie Ho
- Department of Chemistry, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan; BioAnalytical Chemistry and Nanobiomedicine Laboratory, Department of Biochemical Science and Technology, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10617, Taiwan
| | - Hsiung-Lin Tu
- Institute of Chemistry, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan; Chemical Biology and Molecular Biophysics, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan.
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Officioso A, Alzoubi K, Lang F, Manna C. Hydroxytyrosol inhibits phosphatidylserine exposure and suicidal death induced by mercury in human erythrocytes: Possible involvement of the glutathione pathway. Food Chem Toxicol 2016; 89:47-53. [PMID: 26774912 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2016.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2015] [Revised: 12/17/2015] [Accepted: 01/05/2016] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Hydroxytyrosol (HT) is a phenolic antioxidant naturally occurring in virgin olive oil. In this study, we investigated the possible protective effects of HT on programmed suicidal death (eryptosis) induced by mercury (Hg) treatment in intact human erythrocytes (RBC). Our study confirms that the Hg-eryptosis is characterized by phosphatidylserine (PS) exposure at the cell surface, with cell shrinkage and ATP and glutathione depletion; calcium influx is also a key event that triggers eryptosis. Here we report that cell preconditioning with an optimal dose (1-5 μM) of HT prior to exposure to 2.5 μM HgCl2 causes a noteworthy decrease in PS-exposing RBC, almost restoring ATP and GSH content. Conversely, HT shows no effect against decrease in cell volume nor against influx of extracellular calcium. Taken together our data provide the first experimental evidence of the efficacy of HT in modulating the programmed suicidal death in non nucleated cells; the reported findings also confirm that the prevention of Hg toxicity should be regarded as an additional mechanism responsible for the health-promoting potential of this dietary phenol. Finally, virgin olive oil would appear to be a promising healthy food to reduce the adverse effects of chronic mercury exposure in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arbace Officioso
- Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and General Pathology, School of Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy; Department of Physiology, University of Tübingen, Germany
| | - Kousi Alzoubi
- Department of Physiology, University of Tübingen, Germany
| | - Florian Lang
- Department of Physiology, University of Tübingen, Germany
| | - Caterina Manna
- Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and General Pathology, School of Medicine, Second University of Naples, Naples, Italy.
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Kern JK, Haley BE, Geier DA, Sykes LK, King PG, Geier MR. Thimerosal exposure and the role of sulfation chemistry and thiol availability in autism. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2013; 10:3771-800. [PMID: 23965928 PMCID: PMC3774468 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph10083771] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2013] [Revised: 07/10/2013] [Accepted: 07/11/2013] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurological disorder in which a significant number of the children experience a developmental regression characterized by a loss of previously acquired skills and abilities. Typically reported are losses of verbal, nonverbal, and social abilities. Several recent studies suggest that children diagnosed with an ASD have abnormal sulfation chemistry, limited thiol availability, and decreased glutathione (GSH) reserve capacity, resulting in a compromised oxidation/reduction (redox) and detoxification capacity. Research indicates that the availability of thiols, particularly GSH, can influence the effects of thimerosal (TM) and other mercury (Hg) compounds. TM is an organomercurial compound (49.55% Hg by weight) that has been, and continues to be, used as a preservative in many childhood vaccines, particularly in developing countries. Thiol-modulating mechanisms affecting the cytotoxicity of TM have been identified. Importantly, the emergence of ASD symptoms post-6 months of age temporally follows the administration of many childhood vaccines. The purpose of the present critical review is provide mechanistic insight regarding how limited thiol availability, abnormal sulfation chemistry, and decreased GSH reserve capacity in children with an ASD could make them more susceptible to the toxic effects of TM routinely administered as part of mandated childhood immunization schedules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janet K. Kern
- Institute of Chronic Illnesses, Inc., Silver Spring, MD 20905, USA; E-Mails: (D.A.G.); (M.R.G.)
| | - Boyd E. Haley
- Department of Chemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY 40506, USA; E-Mail:
| | - David A. Geier
- Institute of Chronic Illnesses, Inc., Silver Spring, MD 20905, USA; E-Mails: (D.A.G.); (M.R.G.)
| | - Lisa K. Sykes
- CoMeD, Inc., Silver Spring, MD 20905, USA; E-Mails: (L.K.S.); (P.G.K.)
| | - Paul G. King
- CoMeD, Inc., Silver Spring, MD 20905, USA; E-Mails: (L.K.S.); (P.G.K.)
| | - Mark R. Geier
- Institute of Chronic Illnesses, Inc., Silver Spring, MD 20905, USA; E-Mails: (D.A.G.); (M.R.G.)
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Trejo-Chávez H, García-Vilchis D, Reynoso-Ducoing O, Ambrosio JR. In vitro evaluation of the effects of cysticidal drugs in the Taenia crassiceps cysticerci ORF strain using the fluorescent CellTracker CMFDA. Exp Parasitol 2010; 127:294-9. [PMID: 20599436 DOI: 10.1016/j.exppara.2010.06.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2009] [Revised: 06/18/2010] [Accepted: 06/28/2010] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Using a murine model of cysticercosis caused by the Taenia crassiceps ORF strain, we developed a fluorescent quantitative evaluation of the action of two well known anti-helminthic drugs: albendazole sulfoxide and praziquantel. The fluorescence emitted by a biotransformed CellTracker Probe known as CellTracker Green CMFDA in the vesicular fluids of cysticerci was estimated, and the results were compared with macroscopic observations of the parasites. The pharmacological EC(50) value of each drug and changes in the level of biotransformation of the fluorescent tracker caused by the drugs could be easily calculated. These drug-induced changes in biotransformation could be related to changes in the GSH/GSSG ratio of parasites. Both the cysticercosis murine model and the CMFDA biotransformation assay could be used as an in vitro screening method to evaluate potential or well known cysticidal drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hector Trejo-Chávez
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Edif A, 2do Piso, Ciudad Universitaria, CP 04510, Ciudad de México, Mexico
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Hashimoto E, Oyama TB, Oyama K, Nishimura Y, Oyama TM, Ueha-Ishibashi T, Okano Y, Oyama Y. Increase in intracellular Zn2+ concentration by thimerosal in rat thymocytes: Intracellular Zn2+ release induced by oxidative stress. Toxicol In Vitro 2009; 23:1092-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2009.05.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2009] [Revised: 05/17/2009] [Accepted: 05/26/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Eke D, Çelik A. Genotoxicity of thimerosal in cultured human lymphocytes with and without metabolic activation sister chromatid exchange analysis proliferation index and mitotic index. Toxicol In Vitro 2008; 22:927-34. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2008.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2007] [Revised: 12/03/2007] [Accepted: 01/20/2008] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Oyama TM, Oyama TB, Oyama K, Matsui H, Horimoto K, Nishimura Y, Oyama Y. Clotrimazole, an antifungal drug possessing diverse actions, increases the vulnerability to cadmium in lymphocytes dissociated from rat thymus. Toxicology 2006; 228:269-79. [PMID: 17055140 DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2006.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2006] [Accepted: 09/20/2006] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Since clotrimazole, known as an antifungal drug, exerts diverse actions on cellular functions, it is expected that clotrimazole can be used for other purposes. This antifungal drug protects the cells overloaded with Ca(2+) by A23187, a calcium ionophore. Therefore, the agent may prevent the cells from death induced by heavy metals such as CdCl(2), PbCl(2), or HgCl(2) that are respectively proposed to increase intracellular Ca(2+) concentration. To test this possibility, we have examined the effect of clotrimazole on the cells simultaneously treated with CdCl(2), PbCl(2), or HgCl(2) using rat thymocytes and a flow cytometer with fluorescent probes. The simultaneous application of clotrimazole and CdCl(2) significantly decreased cell viability, even though the concentrations of both were ineffective at affecting the viability. The significant decrease in cell viability was not due to the inhibition of Ca(2+)-ATPase and Ca(2+)-dependent K(+) channels that were induced by clotrimazole. The simultaneous application increased the population of cells with phosphatidylserine exposed on membrane surface, indicating the change in asymmetrical distribution of membrane phospholipids. Furthermore, the cytotoxicity induced by the combination of clotrimazole and CdCl(2) under nominally Ca(2+)-free condition was more profound than that under normal Ca(2+) condition. Therefore, the membrane may be a target for the cytotoxic action of clotrimazole and CdCl(2) that were simultaneously applied. It is also the case for PbCl(2), but not the case for HgCl(2). It is concluded that clotrimazole can modulate the cytotoxicity of some heavy metals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomohiro M Oyama
- Laboratory of Cell Signaling, Faculty of Integrated Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokushima, Tokushima 770-8502, Japan
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Herdman ML, Marcelo A, Huang Y, Niles RM, Dhar S, Kiningham KK. Thimerosal Induces Apoptosis in a Neuroblastoma Model via the cJun N-Terminal Kinase Pathway. Toxicol Sci 2006; 92:246-53. [PMID: 16624850 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfj205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The cJun N-terminal kinase (JNK)-signaling pathway is activated in response to a variety of stimuli, including environmental insults, and has been implicated in neuronal apoptosis. In this study, we investigated the role that the JNK pathway plays in neurotoxicity caused by thimerosal, an ethylmercury-containing preservative. SK-N-SH cells treated with thimerosal (0-10 microM) showed an increase in the phosphorylated (active) form of JNK and cJun with 5 and 10 microM thimerosal treatment at 2 and 4 h. To examine activator protein-1 (AP-1) transcription, cells were transfected with a pGL2 vector containing four AP-1 consensus sequences and then treated with thimerosal (0-2.5 microM) for 24 h. Luciferase studies showed an increase in AP-1 transcriptional activity upon thimerosal administration. To determine the components of the AP-1 complex, cells were transfected with a dominant negative to either cFos (A-Fos) or cJun (TAM67). Reporter analysis showed that TAM67, but not A-Fos, decreased AP-1 transcriptional activity, indicating a role for cJun in this pathway. To assess which components are essential to apoptosis, cells were treated with a cell-permeable JNK inhibitor II (SP600125) or transfected with TAM67, and the downstream effectors of apoptosis were analyzed. Cells pretreated with SP600125 showed decreases in activation of caspases 9 and 3, decreases in degradation of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), and decreased levels of proapoptotic Bim, in comparison to cells treated with thimerosal alone. However, cells transfected with TAM67 showed no changes in those same components. Taken together, these results indicate that thimerosal-induced neurotoxicity occurs through the JNK-signaling pathway, independent of cJun activation, leading ultimately to apoptotic cell death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michelle L Herdman
- Department of Pharmacology, Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, 1542 Spring Valley Drive, Huntington, WV 25704, USA
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Ueha-Ishibashi T, Oyama Y, Nakao H, Umebayashi C, Hirama S, Sakai Y, Ishida S, Okano Y. Flow-cytometric analysis on cytotoxic effect of thimerosal, a preservative in vaccines, on lymphocytes dissociated from rat thymic glands. Toxicol In Vitro 2005; 19:191-8. [PMID: 15649632 DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2004.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2004] [Accepted: 07/08/2004] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
There is a concern on the part of public health community that adverse health consequence by thimerosal, a preservative in vaccines for infants, may occur among infants during immunization schedule. Therefore, the cytotoxic action of thimerosal was examined on lymphocytes dissociated from thymic glands of young rats using a flow cytometer and respective fluorescent probes for monitoring changes in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) and membrane potential, and for discriminating intact living cells, apoptotic living cells and dead cells. Incubation with thimerosal at 3 microM or more (up to 30 microM) for 60 min depolarized the membranes, associated with increasing the [Ca2+]i. Thimerosal at 30 microM induced an apoptotic change in membranes of almost all living cells. Furthermore, the prolonged incubation with 30 microM thimerosal induced a loss of membrane integrity, leading to cell death. Since the blood concentration of thimerosal after receiving vaccines is theoretically submicromolar, it may be unlikely that thimerosal affects lymphocytes of infants.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Ueha-Ishibashi
- Laboratory of Cellular Signaling, Faculty of Integrated Arts and Sciences, The University of Tokushima, Minami-Jyosanjima 1-1, Tokushima 770-8502, Japan
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Parran DK, Barker A, Ehrich M. Effects of Thimerosal on NGF Signal Transduction and Cell Death in Neuroblastoma Cells. Toxicol Sci 2005; 86:132-40. [PMID: 15843506 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfi175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Signaling through neurotrophic receptors is necessary for differentiation and survival of the developing nervous system. The present study examined the effects of the organic mercury compound thimerosal on nerve growth factor signal transduction and cell death in a human neuroblastoma cell line (SH-SY5Y cells). Following exposure to 100 ng/ml NGF and increasing concentrations of thimerosal (1 nM-10 microM), we measured the activation of TrkA, MAPK, and PKC-delta. In controls, the activation of TrkA MAPK and PKC-delta peaked after 5 min of exposure to NGF and then decreased but was still detectable at 60 min. Concurrent exposure to increasing concentrations of thimerosal and NGF for 5 min resulted in a concentration-dependent decrease in TrkA and MAPK phosphorylation, which was evident at 50 nM for TrkA and 100 nM for MAPK. Cell viability was assessed by the LDH assay. Following 24-h exposure to increasing concentrations of thimerosal, the EC50 for cell death in the presence or absence of NGF was 596 nM and 38.7 nM, respectively. Following 48-h exposure to increasing concentrations of thimerosal, the EC50 for cell death in the presence and absence of NGF was 105 nM and 4.35 nM, respectively. This suggests that NGF provides protection against thimerosal cytotoxicity. To determine if apoptotic versus necrotic cell death was occurring, oligonucleosomal fragmented DNA was quantified by ELISA. Control levels of fragmented DNA were similar in both the presence and absence of NGF. With and without NGF, thimerosal caused elevated levels of fragmented DNA appearing at 0.01 microM (apoptosis) to decrease at concentrations >1 microM (necrosis). These data demonstrate that thimerosal could alter NGF-induced signaling in neurotrophin-treated cells at concentrations lower than those responsible for cell death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damani K Parran
- Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Laboratory for Neurotoxicity Studies, Virginia Tech, 1 Duckpond Drive, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061-0442, USA
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