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Wang Y, Leaker B, Qiao G, Sojoodi M, Eissa IR, Epstein ET, Eddy J, Dimowo O, Lauer GM, Chung RT, Qadan M, Lanuti M, Fuchs BC, Tanabe KK. Precision-Cut Liver Slices as an ex vivo model to evaluate antifibrotic therapies for liver fibrosis and cirrhosis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.30.564772. [PMID: 37961334 PMCID: PMC10635008 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.30.564772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2023]
Abstract
Background Precision-Cut Liver Slices (PCLS) are an ex vivo culture model developed to study hepatic drug metabolism. One of the main benefits of this model is that it retains the structure and cellular composition of the native liver. PCLS also represents a potential model system to study liver fibrosis in a setting that more closely approximates in vivo pathology than in vitro methods. The aim of this study was to assess whether responses to antifibrotic interventions can be detected and quantified with PCLS. Methods PCLS of 250 μm thickness were prepared from four different murine fibrotic liver models: choline-deficient, L-amino acid-defined, high-fat diet (CDAHFD), thioacetamide (TAA), diethylnitrosamine (DEN), and carbon tetrachloride (CCl4). PCLS were treated with 5 μM Erlotinib for 72 hours. Histology and gene expression were then compared with in vivo murine experiments and TGF-β1 activated hepatic stellate cells (HSCs). These types of PCLS characterization were also evaluated in PCLS from human cirrhotic liver. Results PCLS viability in culture was stable for 72 hours. Treatment of erlotinib, an EGFR inhibitor significantly inhibited the expression of profibrogenic genes Il6, Col1a1 and Timp1 in PCLS from CDAHFD-induced cirrhotic mice, and Il6, Col1a1 and Tgfb1 in PCLS from TAA-induced cirrhotic rats. Erlotinib treatment of PCLS from DEN-induced cirrhotic rats inhibited the expression of Col1a1, Timp1, Tgfb1 and Il6, which was consistent with the impact of erlotinib on Col1a1 and Tgfb1 expression in in vivo DEN-induced cirrhosis. Erlotinib treatment of PCLS from CCl4-induced cirrhosis caused reduced expression of Timp1, Col1a1 and Tgfb1, which was consistent with the effect of erlotinib in in vivo CCl4-induced cirrhosis. In addition, in HSCs at PCLS from normal mice, TGF-β1 treatment upregulated Acta2 (αSMA), while treatment with erlotinib inhibited the expression of Acta2. Similar expression results were observed in TGF-β1 treated in vitro HSCs. Expression of MMPs and TIMPs, key regulators of fibrosis progression and regression, were also significantly altered under erlotinib treatment in PCLS. Expression changes under erlotinib treatment were also corroborated with PCLS from human cirrhosis samples. Conclusion The responses to antifibrotic interventions can be detected and quantified with PCLS at the gene expression level. The antifibrotic effects of erlotinib are consistent between PCLS models of murine cirrhosis and those observed in vivo and in vitro. Similar effects were also reproduced in PCLS derived from patients with cirrhosis. PCLS is an excellent model to assess antifibrotic therapies that is aligned with the principles of Replacement, Reduction and Refinement (3Rs).
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongtao Wang
- Division of Gastrointestinal and Oncologic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Liver Center, Division of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Ben Leaker
- Wellman Center for Photomedicine, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
- Harvard-MIT program in Health Sciences and Technology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Guoliang Qiao
- Division of Gastrointestinal and Oncologic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Mozhdeh Sojoodi
- Division of Gastrointestinal and Oncologic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Ibrahim Ragab Eissa
- Division of Gastrointestinal and Oncologic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Eliana T. Epstein
- Liver Center, Division of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Jonathan Eddy
- Liver Center, Division of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Oizoshimoshiofu Dimowo
- Liver Center, Division of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Georg M. Lauer
- Liver Center, Division of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Raymond T. Chung
- Liver Center, Division of Gastroenterology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Motaz Qadan
- Division of Gastrointestinal and Oncologic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Michael Lanuti
- Division of Thoracic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Bryan C. Fuchs
- Division of Gastrointestinal and Oncologic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Kenneth K. Tanabe
- Division of Gastrointestinal and Oncologic Surgery, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
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Krylov D, Rodimova S, Karabut M, Kuznetsova D. Experimental Models for Studying Structural and Functional State of the Pathological Liver (Review). Sovrem Tekhnologii Med 2023; 15:65-82. [PMID: 38434194 PMCID: PMC10902899 DOI: 10.17691/stm2023.15.4.06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Liver pathologies remain one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. Despite a high prevalence of liver diseases, the possibilities of diagnosing, prognosing, and treating non-alcoholic and alcoholic liver diseases still have a number of limitations and require the development of new methods and approaches. In laboratory studies, various models are used to reconstitute the pathological conditions of the liver, including cell cultures, spheroids, organoids, microfluidic systems, tissue slices. We reviewed the most commonly used in vivo, in vitro, and ex vivo models for studying non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and alcoholic liver disease, toxic liver injury, and fibrosis, described their advantages, limitations, and prospects for use. Great emphasis was placed on the mechanisms of development of pathological conditions in each model, as well as the assessment of the possibility of reconstructing various key aspects of pathogenesis for all these pathologies. There is currently no consensus on the choice of the most adequate model for studying liver pathology. The choice of a certain effective research model is determined by the specific purpose and objectives of the experiment.
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Affiliation(s)
- D.P. Krylov
- Laboratory Assistant, Scientific Laboratory of Molecular Biotechnologies, Research Institute of Experimental Oncology and Biomedical Technologies; Privolzhsky Research Medical University, 10/1 Minin and Pozharsky Square, Nizhny Novgorod, 603005, Russia; Student, Institute of Biology and Biomedicine; National Research Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, 23 Prospekt Gagarina, Nizhny Novgorod, 603022, Russia
| | - S.A. Rodimova
- Junior Researcher, Laboratory of Regenerative Medicine, Scientific Laboratory of Molecular Biotechnologies, Research Institute of Experimental Oncology and Biomedical Technologies; Privolzhsky Research Medical University, 10/1 Minin and Pozharsky Square, Nizhny Novgorod, 603005, Russia
| | - M.M. Karabut
- Researcher, Laboratory of Genomics of Adaptive Antitumor Immunity, Research Institute of Experimental Oncology and Biomedical Technologies; Privolzhsky Research Medical University, 10/1 Minin and Pozharsky Square, Nizhny Novgorod, 603005, Russia
| | - D.S. Kuznetsova
- Head of Laboratory of Molecular Biotechnologies, Research Institute of Experimental Oncology and Biomedical Technologies; Privolzhsky Research Medical University, 10/1 Minin and Pozharsky Square, Nizhny Novgorod, 603005, Russia; Head of the Research Laboratory for Molecular Genetic Researches, Institute of Clinical Medicine; National Research Lobachevsky State University of Nizhny Novgorod, 23 Prospekt Gagarina, Nizhny Novgorod, 603022, Russia
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Dewyse L, De Smet V, Verhulst S, Eysackers N, Kunda R, Messaoudi N, Reynaert H, van Grunsven LA. Improved Precision-Cut Liver Slice Cultures for Testing Drug-Induced Liver Fibrosis. Front Med (Lausanne) 2022; 9:862185. [PMID: 35433753 PMCID: PMC9007724 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2022.862185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
In vitro models of human liver disease often fail to mimic the complex 3D structures and cellular organizations found in vivo. Precision cut liver slices (PCLS) retain the complex physiological architecture of the native liver and therefore could be an exceptional in vitro liver model. However, the production of PCLS induces a spontaneous culture-induced fibrogenic reaction, limiting the application of PCLS to anti-fibrotic compounds. Our aim was to improve PCLS cultures to allow compound-induced fibrosis induction. Hepatotoxicity in PCLS cultures was analyzed by lactate dehydrogenase leakage and albumin secretion, while fibrogenesis was analyzed by qRT-PCR and western blot for hepatic stellate cell (HSC) activation markers and collagen 6 secretion by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). We demonstrate that supplementation of 3 mm mouse PCLS cultures with valproate strongly reduces fibrosis and improves cell viability in our PCLS cultures for up to 5 days. Fibrogenesis can still be induced both directly and indirectly through exposure to TGFβ and the hepatotoxin acetaminophen, respectively. Finally, human PCLS cultures showed similar but less robust results. In conclusion, we optimized PCLS cultures to allow for drug-induced liver fibrosis modeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liza Dewyse
- Department of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Vincent De Smet
- Department of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.,Department of Internal Medicine, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Stefaan Verhulst
- Department of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Nathalie Eysackers
- Department of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Rastislav Kunda
- Department of Surgery, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Nouredin Messaoudi
- Department of Surgery, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Hendrik Reynaert
- Department of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium.,Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Universitair Ziekenhuis Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Leo A van Grunsven
- Department of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Liver Cell Biology Research Group, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
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Meumann N, Schmithals C, Elenschneider L, Hansen T, Balakrishnan A, Hu Q, Hook S, Schmitz J, Bräsen JH, Franke AC, Olarewaju O, Brandenberger C, Talbot SR, Fangmann J, Hacker UT, Odenthal M, Ott M, Piiper A, Büning H. Hepatocellular Carcinoma Is a Natural Target for Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) 2 Vectors. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14020427. [PMID: 35053588 PMCID: PMC8774135 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14020427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Gene therapy is a novel approach to treat diseases by introducing corrective genetic information into target cells. Adeno-associated virus vectors are the most frequently applied gene delivery tools for in vivo gene therapy and are also studied as part of innovative anticancer strategies. Here, we report on the natural preference of AAV2 vectors for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) compared to nonmalignant liver cells in mice and human tissue. This preference in transduction is due to the improved intracellular processing of AAV2 vectors in HCC, resulting in significantly more vector genomes serving as templates for transcription in the cell nucleus. Based on this natural tropism for HCC, novel therapeutic strategies can be designed or existing therapeutic approaches can be strengthened as they currently result in only a minor improvement of the poor prognosis for most liver cancer patients. Abstract Although therapeutic options are gradually improving, the overall prognosis for patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still poor. Gene therapy-based strategies are developed to complement the therapeutic armamentarium, both in early and late-stage disease. For efficient delivery of transgenes with antitumor activity, vectors demonstrating preferred tumor tropism are required. Here, we report on the natural tropism of adeno-associated virus (AAV) serotype 2 vectors for HCC. When applied intravenously in transgenic HCC mouse models, similar amounts of vectors were detected in the liver and liver tumor tissue. In contrast, transduction efficiency, as indicated by the level of transgene product, was moderate in the liver but was elevated up to 19-fold in mouse tumor tissue. Preferred transduction of HCC compared to hepatocytes was confirmed in precision-cut liver slices from human patient samples. Our mechanistic studies revealed that this preference is due to the improved intracellular processing of AAV2 vectors in HCC, resulting, for example, in nearly 4-fold more AAV vector episomes that serve as templates for gene transcription. Given this background, AAV2 vectors ought to be considered to strengthen current—or develop novel—strategies for treating HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nadja Meumann
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (N.M.); (A.-C.F.); (O.O.); (U.T.H.)
- REBIRTH Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany;
| | - Christian Schmithals
- Department of Medicine 1, University Hospital, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany; (C.S.); (A.P.)
| | - Leroy Elenschneider
- Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine Preclinical Pharmacology and In-Vitro Toxicology, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (L.E.); (T.H.)
| | - Tanja Hansen
- Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine Preclinical Pharmacology and In-Vitro Toxicology, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (L.E.); (T.H.)
| | - Asha Balakrishnan
- Clinic for Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (A.B.); (Q.H.); (S.H.); (M.O.)
- Twincore Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Qingluan Hu
- Clinic for Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (A.B.); (Q.H.); (S.H.); (M.O.)
- Twincore Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Sebastian Hook
- Clinic for Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (A.B.); (Q.H.); (S.H.); (M.O.)
- Twincore Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Jessica Schmitz
- Nephropathology Unit, Institute of Pathology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (J.S.); (J.H.B.)
| | - Jan Hinrich Bräsen
- Nephropathology Unit, Institute of Pathology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (J.S.); (J.H.B.)
| | - Ann-Christin Franke
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (N.M.); (A.-C.F.); (O.O.); (U.T.H.)
| | - Olaniyi Olarewaju
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (N.M.); (A.-C.F.); (O.O.); (U.T.H.)
- REBIRTH Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Christina Brandenberger
- Institute of Functional and Applied Anatomy, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany;
- Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Research (BREATH), German Center for Lung Research (DZL), 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Steven R. Talbot
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany;
| | - Josef Fangmann
- KRH Klinikum Siloah, Liver Center Hannover (LCH), 30459 Hannover, Germany;
| | - Ulrich T. Hacker
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (N.M.); (A.-C.F.); (O.O.); (U.T.H.)
- Department of Oncology, Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Pulmonology, and Infectious Diseases, University Cancer Center Leipzig (UCCL), Leipzig University Medical Center, 04103 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Margarete Odenthal
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany;
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany
| | - Michael Ott
- Clinic for Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (A.B.); (Q.H.); (S.H.); (M.O.)
- Twincore Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Albrecht Piiper
- Department of Medicine 1, University Hospital, Goethe University Frankfurt, 60590 Frankfurt, Germany; (C.S.); (A.P.)
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Hildegard Büning
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany; (N.M.); (A.-C.F.); (O.O.); (U.T.H.)
- REBIRTH Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
- Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne, University of Cologne, 50931 Cologne, Germany;
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hannover-Braunschweig, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-511-532-5106
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YOSHIDA T, KOBAYASHI M, UOMOTO S, OHSHIMA K, HARA E, KATOH Y, TAKAHASHI N, HARADA T, USUI T, ELBADAWY M, SHIBUTANI M. The Potential of Organoids in Toxicologic Pathology: Role of toxicologic pathologists in <i>in vitro</i> chemical hepatotoxicity assessment. J Toxicol Pathol 2022; 35:225-235. [PMID: 35832897 PMCID: PMC9256002 DOI: 10.1293/tox.2022-0017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Toshinori YOSHIDA
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Cooperative Department of Veterinary Medicine, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan
| | - Mio KOBAYASHI
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Cooperative Department of Veterinary Medicine, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan
| | - Suzuka UOMOTO
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Cooperative Department of Veterinary Medicine, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan
| | - Kanami OHSHIMA
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Cooperative Department of Veterinary Medicine, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan
| | - Emika HARA
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Cooperative Department of Veterinary Medicine, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan
| | - Yoshitaka KATOH
- Laboratory of Pathology, Toxicology Division, The Institute of Environmental Toxicology, 4321 Uchimoriya-machi, Joso-shi, Ibaraki 303-0043, Japan
| | - Naofumi TAKAHASHI
- Laboratory of Pathology, Toxicology Division, The Institute of Environmental Toxicology, 4321 Uchimoriya-machi, Joso-shi, Ibaraki 303-0043, Japan
| | - Takanori HARADA
- Laboratory of Pathology, Toxicology Division, The Institute of Environmental Toxicology, 4321 Uchimoriya-machi, Joso-shi, Ibaraki 303-0043, Japan
| | - Tatsuya USUI
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmacology, Cooperative Department of Veterinary Medicine, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan
| | - Mohamed ELBADAWY
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pharmacology, Cooperative Department of Veterinary Medicine, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan
| | - Makoto SHIBUTANI
- Laboratory of Veterinary Pathology, Cooperative Department of Veterinary Medicine, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, 3-5-8 Saiwai-cho, Fuchu-shi, Tokyo 183-8509, Japan
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Piña-Olmos S, Dolores-Hernández M, Diaz-Torres R, Ramírez-Bribiesca JE, López-Arellano R, López Barrera LD, Ramírez-Noguera P. Precision-cut liver slices as a model for assess hepatic cellular response of chitosan-glutathione nanoparticles on cultures treated with zilpaterol and clenbuterol. Toxicol Mech Methods 2021; 32:313-324. [PMID: 34747310 DOI: 10.1080/15376516.2021.2002992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Zilpaterol and clenbuterol are two β-adrenergic agonist drugs used in animal production. Both drugs have anabolic effects with advantages on carcass yield. Meanwhile, zilpaterol is approved for animal feed in authorized countries. Clenbuterol is a banned substance due to the risk of toxicity; however, it is still being used in unknown dose levels in many farm species. Therefore, the use and abuse of these substances should be closely monitored, considering the clenbuterol ability and the not proved yet of zilpaterol to produce reactive oxygen and nitrogen species. Regarding glutathione which is the main intracellular antioxidant plays detoxification functions on liver metabolism; in this work, it is our interest to know the capacity of chitosan-glutathione nanoparticles (CS/GSH-NP) as a complementary source of exogenous GSH to modify the oxide-reduction status on bovine precision-cut liver slice cultures (PCLS) exposed to clenbuterol and zilpaterol. A single drug assay was performed in first instance by adding clenbuterol, zilpaterol, chitosan nanoparticles (CS-NP), and CS/GSH-NP. Then combinate drug assay was carried out by testing clenbuterol and zilpaterol combined with CS-NP or CS/GSH-NP. The results showed that both β-adrenergic agonists modify in a dose-dependent manner in oxide-reduction response through ROS generation. The activity or content of glutathione peroxidase activity, intracellular GSH, gamma glutamyl-transpeptidase, aspartate aminotrasnferase and alanine aminotrasnferase were modified. The exogenous GSH delivered by nanoparticles could be used to modulate these markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Piña-Olmos
- Laboratorio de Toxicología Celular L-9, Unidad de Investigación Multidisciplinaria, FES-Cuautitlán, Campo 4, Carretera México-Teoloyucan Km 2.5, San Sebastián Xhala, Cuautitlán Izcalli Estado de México, México
| | - Mariana Dolores-Hernández
- Laboratorio de Desarrollo Farmacéutico (LEDEFAR), Unidad de Investigación Multidisciplinaria, FES-Cuautitlán, Campo 4, Carretera México-Teoloyucan Km 2.5, San Sebastián Xhala, Cuautitlán Izcalli Estado de México, México
| | - Roberto Diaz-Torres
- Laboratorio de Toxicología Celular L-9, Unidad de Investigación Multidisciplinaria, FES-Cuautitlán, Campo 4, Carretera México-Teoloyucan Km 2.5, San Sebastián Xhala, Cuautitlán Izcalli Estado de México, México
| | - J Efrén Ramírez-Bribiesca
- Programa de Ganadería, Colegio de Posgraduados, Montecillo, Carretera México-Texcoco Km 36.5, Montecillo, Estado de México, México
| | - Raquel López-Arellano
- Laboratorio de Desarrollo Farmacéutico (LEDEFAR), Unidad de Investigación Multidisciplinaria, FES-Cuautitlán, Campo 4, Carretera México-Teoloyucan Km 2.5, San Sebastián Xhala, Cuautitlán Izcalli Estado de México, México
| | - Laura Denise López Barrera
- Laboratorio de Toxicología Celular L-9, Unidad de Investigación Multidisciplinaria, FES-Cuautitlán, Campo 4, Carretera México-Teoloyucan Km 2.5, San Sebastián Xhala, Cuautitlán Izcalli Estado de México, México
| | - Patricia Ramírez-Noguera
- Laboratorio de Toxicología Celular L-9, Unidad de Investigación Multidisciplinaria, FES-Cuautitlán, Campo 4, Carretera México-Teoloyucan Km 2.5, San Sebastián Xhala, Cuautitlán Izcalli Estado de México, México
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7
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Romualdo GR, Leroy K, Costa CJS, Prata GB, Vanderborght B, da Silva TC, Barbisan LF, Andraus W, Devisscher L, Câmara NOS, Vinken M, Cogliati B. In Vivo and In Vitro Models of Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Current Strategies for Translational Modeling. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:5583. [PMID: 34771745 PMCID: PMC8582701 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13215583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Revised: 11/02/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the sixth most common cancer worldwide and the third leading cause of cancer-related death globally. HCC is a complex multistep disease and usually emerges in the setting of chronic liver diseases. The molecular pathogenesis of HCC varies according to the etiology, mainly caused by chronic hepatitis B and C virus infections, chronic alcohol consumption, aflatoxin-contaminated food, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease associated with metabolic syndrome or diabetes mellitus. The establishment of HCC models has become essential for both basic and translational research to improve our understanding of the pathophysiology and unravel new molecular drivers of this disease. The ideal model should recapitulate key events observed during hepatocarcinogenesis and HCC progression in view of establishing effective diagnostic and therapeutic strategies to be translated into clinical practice. Despite considerable efforts currently devoted to liver cancer research, only a few anti-HCC drugs are available, and patient prognosis and survival are still poor. The present paper provides a state-of-the-art overview of in vivo and in vitro models used for translational modeling of HCC with a specific focus on their key molecular hallmarks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guilherme Ribeiro Romualdo
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo 05508-270, Brazil; (G.R.R.); (C.J.S.C.); (T.C.d.S.)
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Biosciences Institute, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu 18618-689, Brazil; (G.B.P.); (L.F.B.)
- Department of Pathology, Botucatu Medical School, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu 18618-687, Brazil
| | - Kaat Leroy
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1090 Brussels, Belgium; (K.L.); (M.V.)
| | - Cícero Júlio Silva Costa
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo 05508-270, Brazil; (G.R.R.); (C.J.S.C.); (T.C.d.S.)
| | - Gabriel Bacil Prata
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Biosciences Institute, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu 18618-689, Brazil; (G.B.P.); (L.F.B.)
- Department of Pathology, Botucatu Medical School, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu 18618-687, Brazil
| | - Bart Vanderborght
- Gut-Liver Immunopharmacology Unit, Basic and Applied Medical Sciences, Liver Research Center Ghent, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium;
- Hepatology Research Unit, Internal Medicine and Paediatrics, Liver Research Center Ghent, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium;
| | - Tereza Cristina da Silva
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo 05508-270, Brazil; (G.R.R.); (C.J.S.C.); (T.C.d.S.)
| | - Luís Fernando Barbisan
- Department of Structural and Functional Biology, Biosciences Institute, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Botucatu 18618-689, Brazil; (G.B.P.); (L.F.B.)
| | - Wellington Andraus
- Department of Gastroenterology, Clinics Hospital, School of Medicine, University of São Paulo (HC-FMUSP), São Paulo 05403-000, Brazil;
| | - Lindsey Devisscher
- Hepatology Research Unit, Internal Medicine and Paediatrics, Liver Research Center Ghent, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium;
| | - Niels Olsen Saraiva Câmara
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Biomedical Sciences IV, University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo 05508-000, Brazil;
| | - Mathieu Vinken
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Pharmacological Sciences, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1090 Brussels, Belgium; (K.L.); (M.V.)
| | - Bruno Cogliati
- Department of Pathology, School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, University of São Paulo (USP), São Paulo 05508-270, Brazil; (G.R.R.); (C.J.S.C.); (T.C.d.S.)
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8
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Rodimova S, Elagin V, Karabut M, Koryakina I, Timin A, Zagainov V, Zyuzin M, Zagaynova E, Kuznetsova D. Toxicological Analysis of Hepatocytes Using FLIM Technique: In Vitro versus Ex Vivo Models. Cells 2021; 10:2894. [PMID: 34831114 PMCID: PMC8616382 DOI: 10.3390/cells10112894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2021] [Revised: 10/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The search for new criteria indicating acute or chronic pathological processes resulting from exposure to toxic agents, testing of drugs for potential hepatotoxicity, and fundamental study of the mechanisms of hepatotoxicity at a molecular level still represents a challenging issue that requires the selection of adequate research models and tools. Microfluidic chips (MFCs) offer a promising in vitro model for express analysis and are easy to implement. However, to obtain comprehensive information, more complex models are needed. A fundamentally new label-free approach for studying liver pathology is fluorescence-lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM). We obtained FLIM data on both the free and bound forms of NAD(P)H, which is associated with different metabolic pathways. In clinical cases, liver pathology resulting from overdoses is most often as a result of acetaminophen (APAP) or alcohol (ethanol). Therefore, we have studied and compared the metabolic state of hepatocytes in various experimental models of APAP and ethanol hepatotoxicity. We have determined the potential diagnostic criteria including the pathologically altered metabolism of the hepatocytes in the early stages of toxic damage, including pronounced changes in the contribution from the bound form of NAD(P)H. In contrast to the MFCs, the changes in the metabolic state of hepatocytes in the ex vivo models are, to a greater extent, associated with compensatory processes. Thus, MFCs in combination with FLIM can be applied as an effective tool set for the express modeling and diagnosis of hepatotoxicity in clinics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svetlana Rodimova
- Institute of Experimental Oncology and Biomedical Technologies, Privolzhsky Research Medical University, 10/1 Minin and Pozharsky Sq., 603000 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia; (V.E.); (M.K.); (V.Z.); (E.Z.); (D.K.)
- Department of Biophysics, N.I. Lobachevsky Nizhny Novgorod National Research State University, 23 Gagarina Ave., 603022 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
| | - Vadim Elagin
- Institute of Experimental Oncology and Biomedical Technologies, Privolzhsky Research Medical University, 10/1 Minin and Pozharsky Sq., 603000 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia; (V.E.); (M.K.); (V.Z.); (E.Z.); (D.K.)
| | - Maria Karabut
- Institute of Experimental Oncology and Biomedical Technologies, Privolzhsky Research Medical University, 10/1 Minin and Pozharsky Sq., 603000 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia; (V.E.); (M.K.); (V.Z.); (E.Z.); (D.K.)
| | - Irina Koryakina
- School of Physics and Engineering, ITMO University, 9 Lomonosova St., 191002 St. Petersburg, Russia; (I.K.); (M.Z.)
| | - Alexander Timin
- Research School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, National Research Tomsk Polytechnic University, 30 Lenin Ave., 634034 Tomsk, Russia;
- Institute of Biomedical Systems and Biotechnology, Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University, 29 Polytechnicheskaya St., 194064 St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Vladimir Zagainov
- Institute of Experimental Oncology and Biomedical Technologies, Privolzhsky Research Medical University, 10/1 Minin and Pozharsky Sq., 603000 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia; (V.E.); (M.K.); (V.Z.); (E.Z.); (D.K.)
- The Volga District Medical Centre of Federal Medical and Biological Agency, 14 Ilinskaya St., 603000 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
| | - Mikhail Zyuzin
- School of Physics and Engineering, ITMO University, 9 Lomonosova St., 191002 St. Petersburg, Russia; (I.K.); (M.Z.)
| | - Elena Zagaynova
- Institute of Experimental Oncology and Biomedical Technologies, Privolzhsky Research Medical University, 10/1 Minin and Pozharsky Sq., 603000 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia; (V.E.); (M.K.); (V.Z.); (E.Z.); (D.K.)
- Department of Biophysics, N.I. Lobachevsky Nizhny Novgorod National Research State University, 23 Gagarina Ave., 603022 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
| | - Daria Kuznetsova
- Institute of Experimental Oncology and Biomedical Technologies, Privolzhsky Research Medical University, 10/1 Minin and Pozharsky Sq., 603000 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia; (V.E.); (M.K.); (V.Z.); (E.Z.); (D.K.)
- Department of Biophysics, N.I. Lobachevsky Nizhny Novgorod National Research State University, 23 Gagarina Ave., 603022 Nizhny Novgorod, Russia
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9
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Best Practices and Progress in Precision-Cut Liver Slice Cultures. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22137137. [PMID: 34281187 PMCID: PMC8267882 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22137137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Thirty-five years ago, precision-cut liver slices (PCLS) were described as a promising tool and were expected to become the standard in vitro model to study liver disease as they tick off all characteristics of a good in vitro model. In contrast to most in vitro models, PCLS retain the complex 3D liver structures found in vivo, including cell–cell and cell–matrix interactions, and therefore should constitute the most reliable tool to model and to investigate pathways underlying chronic liver disease in vitro. Nevertheless, the biggest disadvantage of the model is the initiation of a procedure-induced fibrotic response. In this review, we describe the parameters and potential of PCLS cultures and discuss whether the initially described limitations and pitfalls have been overcome. We summarize the latest advances in PCLS research and critically evaluate PCLS use and progress since its invention in 1985.
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10
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Spennati G, Horowitz LF, McGarry DJ, Rudzka DA, Armstrong G, Olson MF, Folch A, Yin H. Organotypic platform for studying cancer cell metastasis. Exp Cell Res 2021; 401:112527. [PMID: 33675807 PMCID: PMC8806469 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2021.112527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Revised: 02/14/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Metastasis is the leading cause of mortality in cancer patients. To migrate to distant sites, cancer cells would need to adapt their behaviour in response to different tissue environments. Thus, it is essential to study this process in models that can closely replicate the tumour microenvironment. Here, we evaluate the use of organotypic liver and brain slices to study cancer metastasis. Morphological and viability parameters of the slices were monitored daily over 3 days in culture to assess their stability as a realistic 3D tissue platform for in vitro metastatic assays. Using these slices, we evaluated the invasion of MDA-MB-231 breast cancer cells and of a subpopulation that was selected for increased motility. We show that the more aggressive invasion of the selected cells likely resulted not only from their lower stiffness, but also from their lower adhesion to the surrounding tissue. Different invasion patterns in the brain and liver slices were observed for both subpopulations. Cells migrated faster in the brain slices (with an amoeboid-like mode) compared to in the liver slices (where they migrated with mesenchymal or collective migration-like modes). Inhibition of the Ras/MAPK/ERK pathway increased cell stiffness and adhesion forces, which resulted in reduced invasiveness. These results illustrate the potential for organotypic tissue slices to more closely mimic in vivo conditions during cancer cell metastasis than most in vitro models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Spennati
- School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK; Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Lisa F Horowitz
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
| | - David J McGarry
- Department of Chemistry and Biology, Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Garett Armstrong
- Department of Chemistry and Biology, Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michael F Olson
- Department of Chemistry and Biology, Ryerson University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Albert Folch
- Department of Bioengineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Huabing Yin
- School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
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11
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Kreutzer FP, Meinecke A, Schmidt K, Fiedler J, Thum T. Alternative strategies in cardiac preclinical research and new clinical trial formats. Cardiovasc Res 2021; 118:746-762. [PMID: 33693475 PMCID: PMC7989574 DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvab075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
An efficient and safe drug development process is crucial for the establishment of new drugs on the market aiming to increase quality of life and life-span of our patients. Despite technological advances in the past decade, successful launches of drug candidates per year remain low. We here give an overview about some of these advances and suggest improvements for implementation to boost preclinical and clinical drug development with a focus on the cardiovascular field. We highlight advantages and disadvantages of animal experimentation and thoroughly review alternatives in the field of three-dimensional cell culture as well as preclinical use of spheroids and organoids. Microfluidic devices and their potential as organ-on-a-chip systems, as well as the use of living animal and human cardiac tissues are additionally introduced. In the second part, we examine recent gold standard randomized clinical trials and present possible modifications to increase lead candidate throughput: adaptive designs, master protocols, and drug repurposing. In silico and N-of-1 trials have the potential to redefine clinical drug candidate evaluation. Finally, we briefly discuss clinical trial designs during pandemic times.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabian Philipp Kreutzer
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Therapeutic Strategies (IMTTS), Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Anna Meinecke
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Therapeutic Strategies (IMTTS), Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Kevin Schmidt
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Therapeutic Strategies (IMTTS), Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Jan Fiedler
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Therapeutic Strategies (IMTTS), Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,REBIRTH Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine (ITEM), Hannover, Germany
| | - Thomas Thum
- Institute of Molecular and Translational Therapeutic Strategies (IMTTS), Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,REBIRTH Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine (ITEM), Hannover, Germany
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12
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Simon V, K V S, Sasikumar R, Kanthlal SK. In Vitro Protective Effect of Ascorbic Acid Against Antibiotic-Induced Hepatotoxicity. Curr Drug Discov Technol 2020; 17:357-364. [PMID: 30714529 DOI: 10.2174/1570163816666190204122007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2018] [Revised: 12/06/2018] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although antibiotic-induced hepatotoxicity is recoverable with mild impairment, and some cases were reported to cause morbidity. However, an adjuvant is essential in reducing such incidences. OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to evaluate the protective effect of ascorbic acid on antibiotic induced liver toxicity using liver slices. METHOD Fresh liver slices were incubated with different concentrations of sulfamethoxazole tetracycline and clavulanic acid along with ascorbic acid (200μg/ml) for 2 hours. The liver homogenate was assessed for markers like ALT, AST, MDA and CAT levels. Cytotoxicity assessment was performed using MTT assay. RESULTS Incubating liver slices with all three antibiotics shows elevated levels of aminotransferases, MDA and CAT enzyme when compared to the control groups which indicates the level of hepatotoxicity. In the presence of ascorbic acid, the elevated levels of TBARS, ALT and AST were significantly reduced which showcases the protective effect of ascorbic acid. The percentage survival of cell was also shown to have improved while accessed using cell viability assay. CONCLUSION Obtained data suggests that consuming vitamin C or vitamin C containing food like citrus fruits or green leafy vegetables equivalent to 3g/day during antibiotic treatment, perhaps put down the risk of liver toxicity to a greater extent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veneta Simon
- Department of Pharmacology, Amrita School of Pharmacy, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, AIMS Health Science Campus, Kochi, Kerala, India
| | - Sreerag K V
- Department of Pharmacology, Amrita School of Pharmacy, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, AIMS Health Science Campus, Kochi, Kerala, India
| | - R Sasikumar
- Department of Pharmacology, Amrita School of Pharmacy, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, AIMS Health Science Campus, Kochi, Kerala, India
| | - S K Kanthlal
- Department of Pharmacology, Amrita School of Pharmacy, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, AIMS Health Science Campus, Kochi, Kerala, India
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13
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Managing the challenge of drug-induced liver injury: a roadmap for the development and deployment of preclinical predictive models. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2019; 19:131-148. [DOI: 10.1038/s41573-019-0048-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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14
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Paish HL, Reed LH, Brown H, Bryan MC, Govaere O, Leslie J, Barksby BS, Garcia Macia M, Watson A, Xu X, Zaki MY, Greaves L, Whitehall J, French J, White SA, Manas DM, Robinson SM, Spoletini G, Griffiths C, Mann DA, Borthwick LA, Drinnan MJ, Mann J, Oakley F. A Bioreactor Technology for Modeling Fibrosis in Human and Rodent Precision-Cut Liver Slices. Hepatology 2019; 70:1377-1391. [PMID: 30963615 PMCID: PMC6852483 DOI: 10.1002/hep.30651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 04/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Precision cut liver slices (PCLSs) retain the structure and cellular composition of the native liver and represent an improved system to study liver fibrosis compared to two-dimensional mono- or co-cultures. The aim of this study was to develop a bioreactor system to increase the healthy life span of PCLSs and model fibrogenesis. PCLSs were generated from normal rat or human liver, or fibrotic rat liver, and cultured in our bioreactor. PCLS function was quantified by albumin enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Fibrosis was induced in PCLSs by transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFβ1) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGFββ) stimulation ± therapy. Fibrosis was assessed by gene expression, picrosirius red, and α-smooth muscle actin staining, hydroxyproline assay, and soluble ELISAs. Bioreactor-cultured PCLSs are viable, maintaining tissue structure, metabolic activity, and stable albumin secretion for up to 6 days under normoxic culture conditions. Conversely, standard static transwell-cultured PCLSs rapidly deteriorate, and albumin secretion is significantly impaired by 48 hours. TGFβ1/PDGFββ stimulation of rat or human PCLSs induced fibrogenic gene expression, release of extracellular matrix proteins, activation of hepatic myofibroblasts, and histological fibrosis. Fibrogenesis slowly progresses over 6 days in cultured fibrotic rat PCLSs without exogenous challenge. Activin receptor-like kinase 5 (Alk5) inhibitor (Alk5i), nintedanib, and obeticholic acid therapy limited fibrogenesis in TGFβ1/PDGFββ-stimulated PCLSs, and Alk5i blunted progression of fibrosis in fibrotic PCLS. Conclusion: We describe a bioreactor technology that maintains functional PCLS cultures for 6 days. Bioreactor-cultured PCLSs can be successfully used to model fibrogenesis and demonstrate efficacy of antifibrotic therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah L. Paish
- Newcastle Fibrosis Research Group, Institute of Cellular Medicine, Faculty of Medical SciencesNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUnited Kingdom
| | - Lee H. Reed
- Newcastle Fibrosis Research Group, Institute of Cellular Medicine, Faculty of Medical SciencesNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUnited Kingdom
| | - Helen Brown
- Newcastle Fibrosis Research Group, Institute of Cellular Medicine, Faculty of Medical SciencesNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUnited Kingdom
| | - Mark C. Bryan
- Newcastle Fibrosis Research Group, Institute of Cellular Medicine, Faculty of Medical SciencesNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUnited Kingdom
| | - Olivier Govaere
- Liver Research Group, Institute of Cellular Medicine, Faculty of Medical SciencesNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUnited Kingdom
| | - Jack Leslie
- Newcastle Fibrosis Research Group, Institute of Cellular Medicine, Faculty of Medical SciencesNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUnited Kingdom
| | - Ben S. Barksby
- Newcastle Fibrosis Research Group, Institute of Cellular Medicine, Faculty of Medical SciencesNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUnited Kingdom
| | - Marina Garcia Macia
- Newcastle Fibrosis Research Group, Institute of Cellular Medicine, Faculty of Medical SciencesNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUnited Kingdom
| | - Abigail Watson
- Newcastle Fibrosis Research Group, Institute of Cellular Medicine, Faculty of Medical SciencesNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUnited Kingdom
| | - Xin Xu
- Newcastle Fibrosis Research Group, Institute of Cellular Medicine, Faculty of Medical SciencesNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUnited Kingdom
| | - Marco Y.W. Zaki
- Newcastle Fibrosis Research Group, Institute of Cellular Medicine, Faculty of Medical SciencesNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUnited Kingdom
| | - Laura Greaves
- Newcastle University LLHW Centre for Ageing and VitalityNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUnited Kingdom
- Wellcome Centre for Mitochondrial Research, Institute of NeuroscienceNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUnited Kingdom
| | - Julia Whitehall
- Newcastle University LLHW Centre for Ageing and VitalityNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUnited Kingdom
| | - Jeremy French
- Department of Hepatobiliary SurgeryNewcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustNewcastle upon TyneUnited Kingdom
| | - Steven A. White
- Department of Hepatobiliary SurgeryNewcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustNewcastle upon TyneUnited Kingdom
| | - Derek M. Manas
- Department of Hepatobiliary SurgeryNewcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustNewcastle upon TyneUnited Kingdom
| | - Stuart M. Robinson
- Department of Hepatobiliary SurgeryNewcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustNewcastle upon TyneUnited Kingdom
| | - Gabriele Spoletini
- Department of Hepatobiliary SurgeryNewcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation TrustNewcastle upon TyneUnited Kingdom
| | - Clive Griffiths
- Newcastle Fibrosis Research Group, Institute of Cellular Medicine, Faculty of Medical SciencesNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUnited Kingdom
| | - Derek A. Mann
- Newcastle Fibrosis Research Group, Institute of Cellular Medicine, Faculty of Medical SciencesNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUnited Kingdom
| | - Lee A. Borthwick
- Newcastle Fibrosis Research Group, Institute of Cellular Medicine, Faculty of Medical SciencesNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUnited Kingdom
| | - Michael J. Drinnan
- Newcastle Fibrosis Research Group, Institute of Cellular Medicine, Faculty of Medical SciencesNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUnited Kingdom
| | - Jelena Mann
- Newcastle Fibrosis Research Group, Institute of Cellular Medicine, Faculty of Medical SciencesNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUnited Kingdom
| | - Fiona Oakley
- Newcastle Fibrosis Research Group, Institute of Cellular Medicine, Faculty of Medical SciencesNewcastle UniversityNewcastle upon TyneUnited Kingdom
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15
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Zárybnický T, Matoušková P, Ambrož M, Šubrt Z, Skálová L, Boušová I. The Selection and Validation of Reference Genes for mRNA and microRNA Expression Studies in Human Liver Slices Using RT-qPCR. Genes (Basel) 2019; 10:genes10100763. [PMID: 31569378 PMCID: PMC6826422 DOI: 10.3390/genes10100763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Revised: 09/25/2019] [Accepted: 09/27/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The selection of a suitable combination of reference genes (RGs) for data normalization is a crucial step for obtaining reliable and reproducible results from transcriptional response analysis using a reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. This is especially so if a three-dimensional multicellular model prepared from liver tissues originating from biologically diverse human individuals is used. The mRNA and miRNA RGs stability were studied in thirty-five human liver tissue samples and twelve precision-cut human liver slices (PCLS) treated for 24 h with dimethyl sulfoxide (controls) and PCLS treated with β-naphthoflavone (10 µM) or rifampicin (10 µM) as cytochrome P450 (CYP) inducers. Validation of RGs was performed by an expression analysis of CYP3A4 and CYP1A2 on rifampicin and β-naphthoflavone induction, respectively. Regarding mRNA, the best combination of RGs for the controls was YWHAZ and B2M, while YWHAZ and ACTB were selected for the liver samples and treated PCLS. Stability of all candidate miRNA RGs was comparable or better than that of generally used short non-coding RNA U6. The best combination for the control PCLS was miR-16-5p and miR-152-3p, in contrast to the miR-16-5b and miR-23b-3p selected for the treated PCLS. Our results showed that the candidate RGs were rather stable, especially for miRNA in human PCLS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomáš Zárybnický
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Charles University, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, 500 05 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic.
| | - Petra Matoušková
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Charles University, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, 500 05 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic.
| | - Martin Ambrož
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Charles University, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, 500 05 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic.
| | - Zdeněk Šubrt
- Department of General Surgery, Third Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Královské Vinohrady, Charles University, 100 34 Prague, Czech Republic.
- Department of Surgery, University Hospital Hradec Králové, 500 05 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic.
| | - Lenka Skálová
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Charles University, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, 500 05 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic.
| | - Iva Boušová
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Charles University, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, 500 05 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic.
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16
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Giuliani ME, Sparaventi E, Lanzoni I, Pittura L, Regoli F, Gorbi S. Precision-Cut Tissue Slices (PCTS) from the digestive gland of the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis: An ex vivo approach for molecular and cellular responses in marine invertebrates. Toxicol In Vitro 2019; 61:104603. [PMID: 31330176 DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2019.104603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2019] [Revised: 07/05/2019] [Accepted: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The precision-cut tissue slices (PCTS) represent a largely used biological model in mammalian research. This ex vivo approach offers the main advantages of in vitro systems, while maintaining the natural architecture of the tissue. The use of PCTS in toxicological research has been proposed for investigating the cellular effects of xenobiotics or bioactive compounds mostly in mammalian models. Their application is increasing also in marine organisms, but still limited to fish. This work validates the use of PCTS in an invertebrate species, the Mediterranean mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis. Intact tissue slices of different thicknesses (300, 350 and 400 μm) were successfully obtained from the digestive gland. The slices maintained the histological integrity and the viability after 6 h and 24 h incubation in culture medium, with some differences depending on the thickness. The enzymatic activities and mRNA levels of catalase and glutathione S-transferase, chosen as model biological endpoints, were measured until 24 h incubation, revealing the functionality of such systems. This work demonstrates the suitability of mussel PCTS for investigating molecular and cellular responses in ecotoxicological research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Elisa Giuliani
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Erica Sparaventi
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Ilaria Lanzoni
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Lucia Pittura
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Francesco Regoli
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Stefania Gorbi
- Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, Polytechnic University of Marche, Ancona, Italy.
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17
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Zárybnický T, Matoušková P, Lancošová B, Šubrt Z, Skálová L, Boušová I. Inter-Individual Variability in Acute Toxicity of R-Pulegone and R-Menthofuran in Human Liver Slices and Their Influence on miRNA Expression Changes in Comparison to Acetaminophen. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19061805. [PMID: 29921785 PMCID: PMC6032148 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19061805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2018] [Revised: 06/14/2018] [Accepted: 06/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Monoterpenes R-pulegone (PUL) and R-menthofuran (MF), abundant in the Lamiaceae family, are frequently used in herb and food products. Although their hepatotoxicity was shown in rodent species, information about their effects in human liver has been limited. The aim of our study was to test the effects of PUL, MF and acetaminophen (APAP, as a reference compound) on cell viability and microRNA (miRNA) expression in human precision-cut liver slices. Slices from five patients were used to follow up on the inter-individual variability. PUL was toxic in all liver samples (the half-maximal effective concentration was 4.0 µg/mg of tissue), while MF and surprisingly APAP only in two and three liver samples, respectively. PUL also changed miRNA expression more significantly than MF and APAP. The most pronounced effect was a marked decrease of miR-155-5p expression caused by PUL even in non-toxic concentrations in all five liver samples. Our results showed that PUL is much more toxic than MF and APAP in human liver and that miR-155-5p could be a good marker of PUL early hepatotoxicity. Marked inter-individual variabilities in all our results demonstrate the high probability of significant differences in the hepatotoxicity of tested compounds among people.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomáš Zárybnický
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Charles University, 500 05 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic.
| | - Petra Matoušková
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Charles University, 500 05 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic.
| | - Bibiána Lancošová
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Charles University, 500 05 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic.
| | - Zdeněk Šubrt
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine in Hradec Králové, Charles University, 500 05 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic.
- Department of Surgery, University Hospital Hradec Králové, 500 05 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic.
| | - Lenka Skálová
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Charles University, 500 05 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic.
| | - Iva Boušová
- Department of Biochemical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Charles University, 500 05 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic.
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Mansouri W, Fordyce SB, Wu M, Jones D, Cohn D, Lin Q, Feustel P, Sharma T, Bennett JA, Andersen TT. Efficacy and tolerability of AFPep, a cyclic peptide with anti-breast cancer properties. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2018. [PMID: 29518411 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2018.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE The purpose of this study is to assess the efficacy and safety profile of AFPep, a 9-amino acid cyclic peptide prior to its entry into pre-clinical toxicology analyses en route to clinical trials. METHODS AFPep was assessed for anti-estrogenic activity in a mouse uterine growth assay and for breast cancer therapeutic efficacy in a human tumor xenograft model in mice. AFPep was assessed for tolerability in a variety of in vivo models, notably including assessment for effects on rat liver and human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines and xenografts. RESULTS AFPep arrests the growth of human MCF-7 breast cancer xenografts, inhibits the estrogen-induced growth of mouse uteri, and does not affect liver growth nor stimulate growth of human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines when growing in vitro or as xenografts in vivo. AFPep is well tolerated in mice, rats, dogs, and primates. CONCLUSIONS AFPep is effective for the treatment of ER-positive breast cancer and exhibits a therapeutic index that is substantially wider than that for drugs currently in clinical use. The data emphasize the importance of pursuing pre-clinical toxicology studies with the intent to enter clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wasila Mansouri
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, United States
| | - Samuel B Fordyce
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, United States; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Rensselaer, NY, United States
| | - Matthew Wu
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, United States; Union College, Schenectady, NY, United States
| | - David Jones
- Department of Pathology, Albany Medical Center Hospital, Albany, NY, United States
| | - Douglas Cohn
- Animal Resource Facility, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, United States
| | - Qishan Lin
- Center for Functional Genomics, University at Albany, Rensselaer, NY, United States
| | - Paul Feustel
- Deparment of Neuroscience and Experimental Therapeutics, Albany Medical College, United States
| | - Tanuj Sharma
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, United States; Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Rensselaer, NY, United States
| | - James A Bennett
- Department of Immunology and Microbial Disease, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, United States
| | - Thomas T Andersen
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY, United States.
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