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Lu M, Li S, Han Z, Ma B, Wang L, Wan F, Lei S, Nie Y, Wang J. Carrying both the heterozygous Myh6-R453C and Tnnt2-R92W mutations aggravate the hypertrophic cardiomyopathy phenotype in mice. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2024; 733:150582. [PMID: 39191188 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.150582] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2024] [Revised: 08/04/2024] [Accepted: 08/20/2024] [Indexed: 08/29/2024]
Abstract
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is an inherited disease of the heart muscle that is dominated by variations in eight genes encoding sarcomere proteins. Although there are clinical or basic research reports that carrying double mutations can lead to more severe HCM phenotypes, there are also research reports that after reanalyzing the reported mutations, the severity of clinical symptoms in patients with double mutations did not significantly increase compared to patients with only one mutation. To determine whether double pathogenic mutations can aggravate the phenotype of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in mice, we constructed mice carrying single pathogenic heterozygous mutation Myh6-R453C or Tnnt2-R92W and mice carrying both pathogenic heterozygous mutations. Our results showed that mice with double heterozygous mutations exhibited significant hypertrophic cardiomyopathy phenotypes at 4 weeks of age, and the degree of hypertrophy was significantly higher than that of single heterozygous mutant mice of the same age. Our study suggests that carrying the two pathogenic heterozygous mutations simultaneously can aggravate the phenotype of HCM in mice, which provides experimental evidence for the genotype-phenotype relationship of double pathogenic mutations and provides reference significance for clinical risk stratification of HCM patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minjie Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Shuai Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Ziqiang Han
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Bingxuan Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Leqi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Fangfang Wan
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Song Lei
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China; Cardiomyopathy Ward, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China; National Clinical Research Center of Cardiovascular Diseases, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
| | - Yu Nie
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
| | - Jizheng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
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Wimer LA, Davis-Castillo A, Galkina S, Ciotlos S, Patterson C, Prado L, Munoz MC, Martin N, Epstein S, Schaum N, Melov S. Characterizing phenotypic data of Peromyscus leucopus compared to C57BL/6J Mus musculus and diversity outbred (DO) Mus musculus. GeroScience 2024; 46:4647-4656. [PMID: 38871964 PMCID: PMC11335981 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-024-01175-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Translational research is commonly performed in the C57B6/J mouse strain, chosen for its genetic homogeneity and phenotypic uniformity. Here, we evaluate the suitability of the white-footed deer mouse (Peromyscus leucopus) as a model organism for aging research, offering a comparative analysis against C57B6/J and diversity outbred (DO) Mus musculus strains. Our study includes comparisons of body composition, skeletal muscle function, and cardiovascular parameters, shedding light on potential applications and limitations of P. leucopus in aging studies. Notably, P. leucopus exhibits distinct body composition characteristics, emphasizing reduced muscle force exertion and a unique metabolism, particularly in fat mass. Cardiovascular assessments showed changes in arterial stiffness, challenging conventional assumptions and highlighting the need for a nuanced interpretation of aging-related phenotypes. Our study also highlights inherent challenges associated with maintaining and phenotyping P. leucopus cohorts. Behavioral considerations, including anxiety-induced responses during handling and phenotyping assessment, pose obstacles in acquiring meaningful data. Moreover, the unique anatomy of P. leucopus necessitates careful adaptation of protocols designed for Mus musculus. While showcasing potential benefits, further extensive analyses across broader age ranges and larger cohorts are necessary to establish the reliability of P. leucopus as a robust and translatable model for aging studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren A Wimer
- Buck Institute for Research On Aging, 8001 Redwood Blvd, Novato, CA, 94949, USA
| | - Asia Davis-Castillo
- Buck Institute for Research On Aging, 8001 Redwood Blvd, Novato, CA, 94949, USA
| | - Sofiya Galkina
- Buck Institute for Research On Aging, 8001 Redwood Blvd, Novato, CA, 94949, USA
| | - Serban Ciotlos
- Buck Institute for Research On Aging, 8001 Redwood Blvd, Novato, CA, 94949, USA
| | - Cavan Patterson
- Buck Institute for Research On Aging, 8001 Redwood Blvd, Novato, CA, 94949, USA
| | - Leandro Prado
- Buck Institute for Research On Aging, 8001 Redwood Blvd, Novato, CA, 94949, USA
| | - Maria Castro Munoz
- Buck Institute for Research On Aging, 8001 Redwood Blvd, Novato, CA, 94949, USA
| | - Nicolas Martin
- Buck Institute for Research On Aging, 8001 Redwood Blvd, Novato, CA, 94949, USA
| | - Sharon Epstein
- Buck Institute for Research On Aging, 8001 Redwood Blvd, Novato, CA, 94949, USA
| | | | - Simon Melov
- Buck Institute for Research On Aging, 8001 Redwood Blvd, Novato, CA, 94949, USA.
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Marquardt AE, Basu M, VanRyzin JW, Ament SA, McCarthy MM. The transcriptome of playfulness is sex-biased in the juvenile rat medial amygdala: a role for inhibitory neurons. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.09.11.612456. [PMID: 39314276 PMCID: PMC11419002 DOI: 10.1101/2024.09.11.612456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/25/2024]
Abstract
Social play is a dynamic behavior known to be sexually differentiated; in most species, males play more than females, a sex difference driven in large part by the medial amygdala (MeA). Despite the well-conserved nature of this sex difference and the importance of social play for appropriate maturation of brain and behavior, the full mechanism establishing the sex bias in play is unknown. Here, we explore "the transcriptome of playfulness" in the juvenile rat MeA, assessing differences in gene expression between high- and low-playing animals of both sexes via bulk RNA-sequencing. Using weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to identify gene modules combined with analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs), we demonstrate that the transcriptomic profile in the juvenile rat MeA associated with playfulness is largely distinct in males compared to females. Of the 13 play-associated WGCNA networks identified, only two were associated with play in both sexes, and very few DEGs associated with playfulness were shared between males and females. Data from our parallel single-cell RNA-sequencing experiments using amygdala samples from newborn male and female rats suggests that inhibitory neurons drive this sex difference, as the majority of sex-biased DEGs in the neonatal amygdala are enriched within this population. Supporting this notion, we demonstrate that inhibitory neurons comprise the majority of play-active cells in the juvenile MeA, with males having a greater number of play-active cells than females, of which a larger proportion are GABAergic. Through integrative bioinformatic analyses, we further explore the expression, function, and cell-type specificity of key play-associated modules and the regulator "hub genes" predicted to drive them, providing valuable insight into the sex-biased mechanisms underlying this fundamental social behavior.
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4
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Williamson ED, Kilgore PB, Hendrix EK, Neil BH, Sha J, Chopra AK. Progress on the research and development of plague vaccines with a call to action. NPJ Vaccines 2024; 9:162. [PMID: 39242587 PMCID: PMC11379892 DOI: 10.1038/s41541-024-00958-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2024] [Accepted: 08/21/2024] [Indexed: 09/09/2024] Open
Abstract
There is a compelling demand for approved plague vaccines due to the endemicity of Yersinia pestis and its potential for pandemic spread. Whilst substantial progress has been made, we recommend that the global funding and health security systems should work urgently to translate some of the efficacious vaccines reviewed herein to expedite clinical development and to prevent future disastrous plague outbreaks, particularly caused by antimicrobial resistant Y. pestis strains.Content includes material subject to Crown Copyright © 2024.This is an open access article under the Open Government License ( http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/ ).
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Affiliation(s)
- E Diane Williamson
- Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Porton Down, Salisbury, SP4 0JQ, UK.
| | - Paul B Kilgore
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, UTMB, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
| | - Emily K Hendrix
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, UTMB, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
| | - Blake H Neil
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, UTMB, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
| | - Jian Sha
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, UTMB, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
| | - Ashok K Chopra
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, UTMB, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA.
- Sealy Institute for Vaccine Sciences, UTMB, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA.
- Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, UTMB, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA.
- Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, UTMB, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA.
- Galveston National Laboratory, UTMB, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA.
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Wang D, Wang J, Yan D, Wang M, Yang L, Demin KA, de Abreu MS, Kalueff AV. Minocycline reduces neurobehavioral deficits evoked by chronic unpredictable stress in adult zebrafish. Brain Res 2024; 1845:149209. [PMID: 39233136 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2024.149209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2024] [Revised: 08/11/2024] [Accepted: 08/28/2024] [Indexed: 09/06/2024]
Abstract
Chronic stress-related brain disorders are widespread and debilitating, and often cause lasting neurobehavioral deficits. Minocycline, a common antibiotic and an established inhibitor of microglia, emerges as potential treatment of these disorders. The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is an important emerging model organism in translational neuroscience and stress research. Here, we evaluated the potential of minocycline to correct microglia-mediated behavioral, genomic and neuroimmune responses induced by chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) in adult zebrafish. We demonstrated that CUS evoked overt behavioral deficits in the novel tank, light-dark box and shoaling tests, paralleled by elevated stress hormones (CRH, ACTH and cortisol), and upregulated brain expression of the 'neurotoxic M1' microglia-specific biomarker gene (MHC-2) and pro-inflammatory cytokine genes (IL-1β, IL-6 and IFN-γ). CUS also elevated peripheral (whole-body) pro-inflammatory (IL-1β, IFN-γ) and lowered anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4 and IL-10), as well as reduced whole-brain serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine levels, and increased brain dopamine and serotonin turnover. In contrast, minocycline attenuated most of these effects, also reducing CUS-elevated peripheral levels of IL-6 and IFN-γ. Collectively, this implicates microglia in zebrafish responses to chronic stress, and suggests glial pathways as potential evolutionarily conserved drug targets for treating stress-evoked neuropathogenesis. Our findings also support the growing translational value of zebrafish models for understanding complex molecular mechanisms of brain pathogenesis and its therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongmei Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jingtao Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Dongni Yan
- School of Pharmacy, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Mengyao Wang
- School of Pharmacy, Southwest University, Chongqing, China
| | - Longen Yang
- School of Pharmacy, Southwest University, Chongqing, China; Suzhou Municipal Key Laboratory of Neurobiology and Cell Signaling, School of Science, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU), Suzhou, China; Department of Biological Sciences, School of Science, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU), Suzhou, China
| | - Konstantin A Demin
- Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia
| | - Murilo S de Abreu
- Graduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, Brazil; Western Caspian University, Baku, Azerbaijan; Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Russia.
| | - Allan V Kalueff
- Institute of Translational Biomedicine, St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia; Institute of Experimental Medicine, Almazov National Medical Research Center, St. Petersburg, Russia; Suzhou Municipal Key Laboratory of Neurobiology and Cell Signaling, School of Science, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU), Suzhou, China; Department of Biological Sciences, School of Science, Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU), Suzhou, China; Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Russia.
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6
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De Jesus R, Britton GB, Herrera L, Madrid A, Lleonart R, Fernández PL. Lethality associated with snake venom exposure can be predicted by temperature drop in Swiss mice. Toxicon 2024; 247:107831. [PMID: 38936670 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2024.107831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2024] [Revised: 06/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
Establishing humane endpoints to minimize animal suffering in studies on snake venom toxicity and antivenom potency tests is crucial. Our findings reveal that Swiss mice exhibit early temperature drop following exposure to different snake venoms and combinations of venoms and antivenoms, predicting later mortality. Evaluating temperature we can identify within 3 h post-inoculation, the animals that will not survive in a period of 48 h. Implementing temperature as a criterion would significantly reduce animal suffering in these studies without compromising the outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa De Jesus
- Bioterio, Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT AIP), City of Knowledge, Panama City, 0843-01103, Panama.
| | - Gabrielle B Britton
- Centro de Neurociencias, INDICASAT AIP, City of Knowledge, Panama City, 0843-01103, Panama; Sistema Nacional de Investigación (SNI), SENACYT, Panama City, 0816-02852, Panama.
| | - Lizzi Herrera
- Bioterio, Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT AIP), City of Knowledge, Panama City, 0843-01103, Panama.
| | - Alanna Madrid
- Bioterio, Instituto de Investigaciones Científicas y Servicios de Alta Tecnología (INDICASAT AIP), City of Knowledge, Panama City, 0843-01103, Panama.
| | - Ricardo Lleonart
- Sistema Nacional de Investigación (SNI), SENACYT, Panama City, 0816-02852, Panama; Centro de Biología Celular y Molecular de Enfermedades, INDICASAT AIP, City of Knowledge, Panama City, 0843-01103, Panama.
| | - Patricia L Fernández
- Sistema Nacional de Investigación (SNI), SENACYT, Panama City, 0816-02852, Panama; Centro de Biología Celular y Molecular de Enfermedades, INDICASAT AIP, City of Knowledge, Panama City, 0843-01103, Panama.
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7
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Hood MN, Ayompe E, Holmes-Hampton GP, Korotcov A, Wuddie K, Aschenake Z, Ahmed AE, Creavalle M, Knollmann-Ritschel B. Preliminary Promising Findings for Manganese Chloride as a Novel Radiation Countermeasure Against Acute Radiation Syndrome. Mil Med 2024; 189:598-607. [PMID: 39160887 DOI: 10.1093/milmed/usae198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2023] [Revised: 02/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/21/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Military members and first responders may, at moment's notice, be asked to assist in incidents that may result in radiation exposure such as Operation Tomadachi in which the U.S. Navy provided significant relief for the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Reactor accident in Japan after an earthquake and tsunami in 2011. We are also currently facing potential threats from nuclear power plants in the Ukraine should a power disruption to a nuclear plant interfere with cooling or other safety measures. Exposure to high doses of radiation results in acute radiation syndrome (ARS) characterized by symptoms arising from hematopoietic, gastrointestinal, and neurovascular injuries. Although there are mitigators FDA approved to treat ARS, there are currently no FDA-approved prophylactic medical interventions to help protect persons who may need to respond to radiation emergencies. There is strong evidence that manganese (Mn) has radiation protective efficacy as a promising prophylactic countermeasure. MATERIALS AND METHODS All animal procedures were approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee. Male and female B6D2F1J mice, 10 to 11 weeks old, were used for neurotoxicity studies and temporal effects of Mn. Four groups were evaluated: (1) vehicle injection, (2) dose of 4.5 mg/kg for 3 days, (3) dose of 13.5 mg/kg, and (4) sham. Irradiated mice were exposed to 9.5 Gy whole body Co60 γ-radiation. MRI was performed with a high dose of manganese chloride (MnCl2) (150 mg/kg) to assess the distribution of the MnCl2. RESULTS The mice have promising survival curves (highest survival-13.5 mg/kg dose over 3 days of MnCl2 at 80% [87% female, 73% male] P = 0.0004). The complete blood count (CBC) results demonstrated a typical hematopoietic response in all of the irradiated groups, followed by mildly accelerated recovery by day 28 in the treated groups. No difference between groups was measured by Rota Rod, DigiGait, and Y-maze. Histologic evaluation of the bone marrow sections in the group given 13.5 mg/kg dose over 3 days had the best return to cellularity at 80%. MRI showed a systemic distribution of MnCl2. DISCUSSION The preliminary data suggest that a dose of 13.5 mg/kg of MnCl2 given over 3 days prior to exposure of radiation may have a protective benefit while not exhibiting the neurobehavioral problems. A countermeasure that can prophylactically protect emergency personnel entering an area contaminated with high levels of radiation is needed, especially in light that nuclear accidents are a continued global threat. There is a need for a protective agent with easy long-term storage, easy to transport, easy to administer, and low cost. Histologic evaluation supports the promising effect of MnCl2 in protecting tissue, especially the bone marrow using the dose given over 3 days (4.5 mg/kg per day) of MnCl2. CONCLUSIONS Initial experiments show that MnCl2 is a promising safe and effective prophylactic countermeasure against ARS. MRI data support the systemic distribution of MnCl2 which is needed in order to protect multiple tissues in the body. The pathology data in bone marrow and the brain support faster recovery from radiation exposure in the treated animals and decreased organ damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maureen N Hood
- Department of Radiology & Radiological Sciences, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Emmanuel Ayompe
- Department of Pathology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Gregory P Holmes-Hampton
- Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Alexandru Korotcov
- Department of Radiology & Radiological Sciences, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Kefale Wuddie
- Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Zemenu Aschenake
- Armed Forces Radiobiology Research Institute, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Anwar E Ahmed
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Marqus Creavalle
- Department of Pathology, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
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8
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Hilmer SN, Johnell K, Mach J. Pre-clinical Models for Geriatric Pharmacotherapy. Drugs Aging 2024; 41:633-640. [PMID: 38982010 PMCID: PMC11322264 DOI: 10.1007/s40266-024-01129-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/16/2024] [Indexed: 07/11/2024]
Abstract
With ageing of the population worldwide and discovery of new medications for prevention and management of age-related conditions, there is increasing use of medications by older adults. There are international efforts to increase the representativeness of participants in clinical trials to match the intended real-world users of the medications across a range of characteristics including age, multimorbidity, polypharmacy and frailty. Currently, much of the data on medication-related harm in older adults are from pharmacovigilance studies. New methods in pre-clinical models have allowed for measurement of exposures (such as chronic exposure, polypharmacy and deprescribing) and outcomes (such as health span functional measures and frailty) that are highly relevant to geriatric pharmacotherapy. Here we describe opportunities for design and implementation of pre-clinical models that can better predict drug effects in geriatric patients. This could improve the translation of new drugs from bench to bedside and improve outcomes of pharmacotherapy in older adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah N Hilmer
- Kolling Institute, The University of Sydney and Northern Sydney Local Health District, St Leonards, NSW, Australia.
| | - Kristina Johnell
- Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - John Mach
- Kolling Institute, The University of Sydney and Northern Sydney Local Health District, St Leonards, NSW, Australia
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Kiaris H. Nontraditional models as research tools: the road not taken. Trends Mol Med 2024:S1471-4914(24)00191-6. [PMID: 39069395 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2024.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2024] [Revised: 07/07/2024] [Accepted: 07/10/2024] [Indexed: 07/30/2024]
Abstract
Historical reasons resulted in the almost exclusive use of a few species, most prominently Mus musculus, as the mainstream models in biomedical research. This selection was not based on Mus's distinctive relevance to human disease but rather to the pre-existing availability of resources and tools for the species that were used as models, which has enabled their adoption for research in health sciences. Unless the utilization and range of nontraditional research models expand considerably, progress in biomedical research will remain restricted within the trajectory that has been set by the existing models and their ability to provide clinically relevant information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hippokratis Kiaris
- Department of Drug Discovery and Biomedical Sciences, College of Pharmacy and Peromyscus Genetic Stock Center, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC, USA.
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10
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Zumbusch AS, McEachern ELF, Morgan OB, Nickner E, Mogil JS. Normative Preclinical Algesiometry Data on the von Frey and Radiant Heat Paw-Withdrawal Tests: An Analysis of Data from More Than 8,000 Mice Over 20 Years. THE JOURNAL OF PAIN 2024; 25:104468. [PMID: 38219851 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2024.01.333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2023] [Revised: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/16/2024]
Abstract
The measurement of withdrawal to experimenter-delivered mechanical stimuli (von Frey test) and to heat stimuli (radiant heat paw-withdrawal or Hargreaves' test) applied to the hind paws is ubiquitous in preclinical pain research, but no normative values for the most-common applications of these tests have ever been published. We analyzed a retrospective data set of withdrawal thresholds or latencies in 8,150 mice in which these measures were taken using replicate determinations, before and after injection of inflammatory substances or experimental nerve damage producing pain hypersensitivity, totaling 97,332 measurements. All mice were tested in the same physical laboratory over a 20-year period using similar equipment and procedures. We nonetheless find evidence of large interindividual variability, affected by tester, genotype, mouse sex, tester sex, replicate order, and injury. These factors are discussed, and we believe that these normative data will serve as a useful reference for expected values in preclinical pain testing. PERSPECTIVE: This article presents a retrospective analysis of a large data set of mouse von Frey and radiant heat paw-withdrawal (Hargreaves' test) measurements collected in a single laboratory over 20 years. In addition to serving as a normative guide, sources of variability are identified including genotype, tester, and sex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia S Zumbusch
- Departments of Psychology and Anesthesia, Faculties of Science, Medicine, and Dentistry, Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Eleri L F McEachern
- Departments of Psychology and Anesthesia, Faculties of Science, Medicine, and Dentistry, Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Oakley B Morgan
- Departments of Psychology and Anesthesia, Faculties of Science, Medicine, and Dentistry, Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Elodie Nickner
- Departments of Psychology and Anesthesia, Faculties of Science, Medicine, and Dentistry, Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Jeffrey S Mogil
- Departments of Psychology and Anesthesia, Faculties of Science, Medicine, and Dentistry, Alan Edwards Centre for Research on Pain, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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11
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Winkler GA, Grahame NJ. Home cage voluntary alcohol consumption increases binge drinking without affecting abstinence-related depressive-like behaviors or operant responding in crossed high alcohol-preferring mice (cHAPs). Alcohol 2024; 116:9-19. [PMID: 37838352 PMCID: PMC10947980 DOI: 10.1016/j.alcohol.2023.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2023] [Revised: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2023]
Abstract
Chronic alcohol consumption can lead to tolerance and escalation of drinking in humans and animals, but mechanisms underlying these changes are not fully characterized. Preclinical models can delineate which mechanisms are involved. The chronic intermittent ethanol exposure (CIE) procedure uses forced exposure to vaporized alcohol that elicits withdrawal and increased responding for alcohol in operant tasks in C57BL/6J inbred mice. Chronic two-bottle choice (2BC) drinking in the same strain elicits abstinent-related depression-like behavior, suggestive of allostatic changes. Selected lines such as crossed High Alcohol Preferring (cHAP) mice voluntarily drink to blood alcohol concentrations comparable to those attained in CIE and could be used to assess how alcohol affects these same endpoints without the confounds of involuntary vapor inhalation. In three experiments, we assess how 2BC drinking in cHAP mice affects abstinence-related depressive- and anxiety-like behavior, operant responding for alcohol, and binge consumption using drinking-in-the-dark (DID). We hypothesized that cHAPs with home-cage drinking experience would exhibit more depressive behavior after abstinence, increased responding for alcohol in the operant box, and increased DID intake. Of these, a drinking history increased DID intake in female cHAPs only and increased sucrose preference and intake following abstinence, but had no effects on operant responding or NSFT latency and FST immobility following forced abstinence. These results are consistent with recent findings using slice electrophysiology showing tolerance to alcohol's actions on the dorsolateral striatum following 2BC drinking in female, but not male cHAP mice. Overall, these data suggest that cHAPs may require procedures allowing rapid intoxication, such as DID, to demonstrate changes in alcohol's rewarding effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Garrett A Winkler
- Addiction Neuroscience, Department of Psychology and Indiana Alcohol Research Center, Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States
| | - Nicholas J Grahame
- Addiction Neuroscience, Department of Psychology and Indiana Alcohol Research Center, Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis, Indianapolis, IN 46202, United States.
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12
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Nakhleh-Francis Y, Awad-Igbaria Y, Sakas R, Bang S, Abu-Ata S, Palzur E, Lowenstein L, Bornstein J. Exploring Localized Provoked Vulvodynia: Insights from Animal Model Research. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4261. [PMID: 38673846 PMCID: PMC11050705 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25084261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2024] [Revised: 04/07/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Provoked vulvodynia represents a challenging chronic pain condition, characterized by its multifactorial origins. The inherent complexities of human-based studies have necessitated the use of animal models to enrich our understanding of vulvodynia's pathophysiology. This review aims to provide an exhaustive examination of the various animal models employed in this research domain. A comprehensive search was conducted on PubMed, utilizing keywords such as "vulvodynia", "chronic vulvar pain", "vulvodynia induction", and "animal models of vulvodynia" to identify pertinent studies. The search yielded three primary animal models for vulvodynia: inflammation-induced, allergy-induced, and hormone-induced. Additionally, six agents capable of triggering the condition through diverse pathways were identified, including factors contributing to hyperinnervation, mast cell proliferation, involvement of other immune cells, inflammatory cytokines, and neurotransmitters. This review systematically outlines the various animal models developed to study the pathogenesis of provoked vulvodynia. Understanding these models is crucial for the exploration of preventative measures, the development of novel treatments, and the overall advancement of research within the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yara Nakhleh-Francis
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Galilee Medical Center, Nahariya 2210001, Israel; (S.B.); (L.L.); (J.B.)
- Research Institute of Galilee Medical Center, Nahariya 2210001, Israel; (Y.A.-I.); (R.S.); (S.A.-A.); (E.P.)
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed 1311502, Israel
| | - Yaseen Awad-Igbaria
- Research Institute of Galilee Medical Center, Nahariya 2210001, Israel; (Y.A.-I.); (R.S.); (S.A.-A.); (E.P.)
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed 1311502, Israel
| | - Reem Sakas
- Research Institute of Galilee Medical Center, Nahariya 2210001, Israel; (Y.A.-I.); (R.S.); (S.A.-A.); (E.P.)
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed 1311502, Israel
| | - Sarina Bang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Galilee Medical Center, Nahariya 2210001, Israel; (S.B.); (L.L.); (J.B.)
- Research Institute of Galilee Medical Center, Nahariya 2210001, Israel; (Y.A.-I.); (R.S.); (S.A.-A.); (E.P.)
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed 1311502, Israel
| | - Saher Abu-Ata
- Research Institute of Galilee Medical Center, Nahariya 2210001, Israel; (Y.A.-I.); (R.S.); (S.A.-A.); (E.P.)
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed 1311502, Israel
| | - Eilam Palzur
- Research Institute of Galilee Medical Center, Nahariya 2210001, Israel; (Y.A.-I.); (R.S.); (S.A.-A.); (E.P.)
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed 1311502, Israel
| | - Lior Lowenstein
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Galilee Medical Center, Nahariya 2210001, Israel; (S.B.); (L.L.); (J.B.)
- Research Institute of Galilee Medical Center, Nahariya 2210001, Israel; (Y.A.-I.); (R.S.); (S.A.-A.); (E.P.)
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed 1311502, Israel
| | - Jacob Bornstein
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Galilee Medical Center, Nahariya 2210001, Israel; (S.B.); (L.L.); (J.B.)
- Research Institute of Galilee Medical Center, Nahariya 2210001, Israel; (Y.A.-I.); (R.S.); (S.A.-A.); (E.P.)
- Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed 1311502, Israel
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13
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Xhonneux I, Marei WFA, Meulders B, Andries S, Leroy JLMR. The interplay of maternal and offspring obesogenic diets: the impact on offspring metabolism and muscle mitochondria in an outbred mouse model. Front Physiol 2024; 15:1354327. [PMID: 38585221 PMCID: PMC10995298 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2024.1354327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Accepted: 03/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Consumption of obesogenic (OB) diets increases the prevalence of maternal obesity worldwide, causing major psychological and social burdens in women. Obesity not only impacts the mother's health and fertility but also elevates the risk of obesity and metabolic disorders in the offspring. Family lifestyle is mostly persistent through generations, possibly contributing to the growing prevalence of obesity. We hypothesized that offspring metabolic health is dependent on both maternal and offspring diet and their interaction. We also hypothesized that the sensitivity of the offspring to the diet may be influenced by the match or mismatch between offspring and maternal diets. To test these hypotheses, outbred Swiss mice were fed a control (C, 10% fat, 7% sugar, and n = 14) or OB diet (60% fat, 20% sugar, and n = 15) for 7 weeks and then mated with the same control males. Mice were maintained on the same corresponding diet during pregnancy and lactation, and the offspring were kept with their mothers until weaning. The study focused only on female offspring, which were equally distributed at weaning and fed C or OB diets for 7 weeks, resulting in four treatment groups: C-born offspring fed C or OB diets (C » C and C » OB) and OB-born offspring fed C or OB diets (OB » C and OB » OB). Adult offspring's systemic blood profile (lipid and glucose metabolism) and muscle mitochondrial features were assessed. We confirmed that the offspring's OB diet majorly impacted the offspring's health by impairing the offspring's serum glucose and lipid profiles, which are associated with abnormal muscle mitochondrial ultrastructure. Contrarily, maternal OB diet was associated with increased expression of mitochondrial complex markers and mitochondrial morphology in offspring muscle, but no additive effects of (increased sensitivity to) an offspring OB diet were observed in pups born to obese mothers. In contrast, their metabolic profile appeared to be healthier compared to those born to lean mothers and fed an OB diet. These results are in line with the thrifty phenotype hypothesis, suggesting that OB-born offspring are better adapted to an environment with high energy availability later in life. Thus, using a murine outbred model, we could not confirm that maternal obesogenic diets contribute to female familial obesity in the following generations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inne Xhonneux
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Gamete Research Centre, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Waleed F. A. Marei
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Gamete Research Centre, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
- Department of Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
| | - Ben Meulders
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Gamete Research Centre, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Silke Andries
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Gamete Research Centre, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
| | - Jo L. M. R. Leroy
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology and Biochemistry, Gamete Research Centre, University of Antwerp, Wilrijk, Belgium
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14
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Xie P, Li P, Zhu X, Chen D, Ommati MM, Wang H, Han L, Xu S, Sun P. Hepatotoxic of polystyrene microplastics in aged mice: Focus on the role of gastrointestinal transformation and AMPK/FoxO pathway. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 917:170471. [PMID: 38296072 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 01/23/2024] [Accepted: 01/24/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
Microplastic (MP) toxicity has attracted widespread attention, whereas before triggering hepatotoxicity, ingested MPs first undergo transportation and digestion processes in the gastrointestinal tract, possibly interacting with the gastrointestinal contents (GIC). More alarming is the need for more understanding of how this process may impact the liver health of aged animals. This study selected old mice. Firstly, we incubated polystyrene microplastics (PS-MPs, 1 μm) with GIC extract. The results of SEM/EDS indicated a structural alteration in PS-MPs. Additionally, impurities resembling corona, rich in heteroatoms (O, N, and S), were observed. This resulted in an enhanced aggregating phenomenon of MPs. We conducted a 10-day experiment exposing aged mice to four concentrations of PS-MPs, ranging from 1 × 103 to 1 × 1012 particles/L. Subsequent measurements of tissue pathology and body and organ weights were conducted, revealing alterations in liver structure. In the liver, 12 crucial metabolites were found by LC-MS technology, including purines, lipids, and amino acids. The AMPK/FoxO pathway was enriched, activated, and validated in western blotting results. We also comprehensively examined the innate immune system, inflammatory factors, and oxidative stress indicators. The results indicated decreased C3 levels, stable C4 levels, inflammatory factors (IL-6 and IL-8), and antioxidant enzymes were increased to varying degrees. PS-MPs also caused DNA oxidative damage. These toxic effects exhibited a specific dose dependence. Overall, after the formation of the gastrointestinal corona, PS-MPs subsequently impact various cellular processes, such as cycle arrest (p21), leading to hepatic and health crises in the elderly. The presence of gastrointestinal coronas also underscores the MPs' morphology and characteristics, which should be distinguished after ingestion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengfei Xie
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, Henan 471003, China
| | - Pengcheng Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, Henan 471003, China
| | - Xiaoshan Zhu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, Henan 471003, China
| | - Deshan Chen
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, Henan 471003, China
| | - Mohammad Mehdi Ommati
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, Henan 471003, China
| | - Hongwei Wang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, Henan 471003, China
| | - Lei Han
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, Henan 471003, China
| | - Shixiao Xu
- Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xining, Qinghai 810008, China
| | - Ping Sun
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Henan University of Science and Technology, Luoyang, Henan 471003, China.
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15
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Eugenín J, Beltrán-Castillo S, Irribarra E, Pulgar-Sepúlveda R, Abarca N, von Bernhardi R. Microglial reactivity in brainstem chemosensory nuclei in response to hypercapnia. Front Physiol 2024; 15:1332355. [PMID: 38476146 PMCID: PMC10927973 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2024.1332355] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Microglia, the resident immune cells of the CNS, surveil, detect, and respond to various extracellular signals. Depending on the nature of these signals, an integrative microglial response can be triggered, resulting in a phenotypic transformation. Here, we evaluate whether hypercapnia modifies microglia phenotype in brainstem respiratory-related nuclei. Adult C57BL/6 inbred mice were exposed to 10% CO2 enriched air (hypercapnia), or pure air (control), for 10 or 30 min and immediately processed for immunohistochemistry to detect the ubiquitous microglia marker, ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba1). Hypercapnia for thirty, but not 10 min reduced the Iba1 labeling percent coverage in the ventral respiratory column (VRC), raphe nucleus (RN), and nucleus tractus solitarius (NTS) and the number of primary branches in VRC. The morphological changes persisted, at least, for 60 min breathing air after the hypercapnic challenge. No significant changes were observed in Iba1+ cells in the spinal trigeminal nucleus (Sp5) and the hippocampus. In CF-1 outbred mice, 10% CO2 followed by 60 min of breathing air, resulted in the reduction of Iba1 labeling percent coverage and the number and length of primary branches in VRC, RN, and NTS. No morphological change was observed in Iba1+ cells in Sp5 and hippocampus. Double immunofluorescence revealed that prolonged hypercapnia increased the expression of CD86, an inflammatory marker for reactive state microglia, in Iba1+ cells in VRC, RN, and NTS, but not in Sp5 and hippocampus in CF-1 mice. By contrast, the expression of CD206, a marker of regulatory state microglia, persisted unmodified. In brainstem, but not in hippocampal microglia cultures, hypercapnia increased the level of IL1β, but not that of TGFβ measured by ELISA. Our results show that microglia from respiratory-related chemosensory nuclei, are reactive to prolonged hypercapnia acquiring an inflammatory-like phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaime Eugenín
- Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Sebastián Beltrán-Castillo
- Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Centro Integrativo de Biología y Química Aplicada (CIBQA), Universidad Bernardo O’Higgins, Santiago, Chile
| | - Estefanía Irribarra
- Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Nicolás Abarca
- Facultad de Química y Biología, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Rommy von Bernhardi
- Facultad de Odontología y Ciencias de la Rehabilitación, Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile
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16
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Vogt CC, Zipple MN, Sprockett DD, Miller CH, Hardy SX, Arthur MK, Greenstein AM, Colvin MS, Michel LM, Moeller AH, Sheehan MJ. Female behavior drives the formation of distinct social structures in C57BL/6J versus wild-derived outbred mice in field enclosures. BMC Biol 2024; 22:35. [PMID: 38355587 PMCID: PMC10865716 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-024-01809-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Social behavior and social organization have major influences on individual health and fitness. Yet, biomedical research focuses on studying a few genotypes under impoverished social conditions. Understanding how lab conditions have modified social organizations of model organisms, such as lab mice, relative to natural populations is a missing link between socioecology and biomedical science. RESULTS Using a common garden design, we describe the formation of social structure in the well-studied laboratory mouse strain, C57BL/6J, in replicated mixed-sex populations over 10-day trials compared to control trials with wild-derived outbred house mice in outdoor field enclosures. We focus on three key features of mouse social systems: (i) territory establishment in males, (ii) female social relationships, and (iii) the social networks formed by the populations. Male territorial behaviors were similar but muted in C57 compared to wild-derived mice. Female C57 sharply differed from wild-derived females, showing little social bias toward cage mates and exploring substantially more of the enclosures compared to all other groups. Female behavior consistently generated denser social networks in C57 than in wild-derived mice. CONCLUSIONS C57 and wild-derived mice individually vary in their social and spatial behaviors which scale to shape overall social organization. The repeatable societies formed under field conditions highlights opportunities to experimentally study the interplay between society and individual biology using model organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caleb C Vogt
- Laboratory for Animal Social Evolution and Recognition, Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA.
| | - Matthew N Zipple
- Laboratory for Animal Social Evolution and Recognition, Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Daniel D Sprockett
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Caitlin H Miller
- Laboratory for Animal Social Evolution and Recognition, Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Summer X Hardy
- Laboratory for Animal Social Evolution and Recognition, Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Matthew K Arthur
- Laboratory for Animal Social Evolution and Recognition, Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Adam M Greenstein
- Laboratory for Animal Social Evolution and Recognition, Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Melanie S Colvin
- Laboratory for Animal Social Evolution and Recognition, Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Lucie M Michel
- Laboratory for Animal Social Evolution and Recognition, Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Andrew H Moeller
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA
| | - Michael J Sheehan
- Laboratory for Animal Social Evolution and Recognition, Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, 14853, USA.
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17
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Robertson CD, Davis P, Richardson RR, Iffland PH, Vieira DCO, Steyert M, McKeon PN, Romanowski AJ, Crutcher G, Jašarević E, Wolff SBE, Mathur BN, Crino PB, Bale TL, Dick IE, Poulopoulos A. Rapid modeling of an ultra-rare epilepsy variant in wild-type mice by in utero prime editing. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.06.570164. [PMID: 38106154 PMCID: PMC10723435 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.06.570164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Generating animal models for individual patients within clinically-useful timeframes holds great potential toward enabling personalized medicine approaches for genetic epilepsies. The ability to rapidly incorporate patient-specific genomic variants into model animals recapitulating elements of the patient's clinical manifestations would enable applications ranging from validation and characterization of pathogenic variants to personalized models for tailoring pharmacotherapy to individual patients. Here, we demonstrate generation of an animal model of an individual epilepsy patient with an ultra-rare variant of the NMDA receptor subunit GRIN2A, without the need for germline transmission and breeding. Using in utero prime editing in the brain of wild-type mice, our approach yielded high in vivo editing precision and induced frequent, spontaneous seizures which mirrored specific elements of the patient's clinical presentation. Leveraging the speed and versatility of this approach, we introduce PegAssist, a generalizable workflow to generate bedside-to-bench animal models of individual patients within weeks. The capability to produce individualized animal models rapidly and cost-effectively will reduce barriers to access for precision medicine, and will accelerate drug development by offering versatile in vivo platforms to identify compounds with efficacy against rare neurological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin D Robertson
- Department of Pharmacology and UM-MIND, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Patrick Davis
- Department of Neurology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ryan R Richardson
- Department of Pharmacology and UM-MIND, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Philip H Iffland
- Department of Neurology, and UM-MIND, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Daiana C O Vieira
- Department of Physiology and UM-MIND, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Marilyn Steyert
- Department of Pharmacology and UM-MIND, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Paige N McKeon
- Department of Pharmacology and UM-MIND, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Andrea J Romanowski
- Department of Pharmacology and UM-MIND, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Garrett Crutcher
- Department of Pharmacology and UM-MIND, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Eldin Jašarević
- Department of Pharmacology and UM-MIND, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Current affiliations: MS: Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco; EJ: Department Computational and Systems Biology, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine; TB: Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine
| | - Steffen B E Wolff
- Department of Pharmacology and UM-MIND, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Brian N Mathur
- Department of Pharmacology and UM-MIND, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Peter B Crino
- Department of Neurology, and UM-MIND, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Tracy L Bale
- Department of Pharmacology and UM-MIND, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
- Current affiliations: MS: Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California San Francisco; EJ: Department Computational and Systems Biology, Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine; TB: Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado School of Medicine
| | - Ivy E Dick
- Department of Physiology and UM-MIND, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Alexandros Poulopoulos
- Department of Pharmacology and UM-MIND, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
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18
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Ling B, Ko JH, Stordy B, Zhang Y, Didden TF, Malounda D, Swift MB, Chan WCW, Shapiro MG. Gas Vesicle-Blood Interactions Enhance Ultrasound Imaging Contrast. NANO LETTERS 2023; 23:10748-10757. [PMID: 37983479 PMCID: PMC10722532 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c02780] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Gas vesicles (GVs) are genetically encoded, air-filled protein nanostructures of broad interest for biomedical research and clinical applications, acting as imaging and therapeutic agents for ultrasound, magnetic resonance, and optical techniques. However, the biomedical applications of GVs as systemically injectable nanomaterials have been hindered by a lack of understanding of GVs' interactions with blood components, which can significantly impact in vivo behavior. Here, we investigate the dynamics of GVs in the bloodstream using a combination of ultrasound and optical imaging, surface functionalization, flow cytometry, and mass spectrometry. We find that erythrocytes and serum proteins bind to GVs and shape their acoustic response, circulation time, and immunogenicity. We show that by modifying the GV surface we can alter these interactions and thereby modify GVs' in vivo performance. These results provide critical insights for the development of GVs as agents for nanomedicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bill Ling
- Division
of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California
Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
| | - Jeong Hoon Ko
- Division
of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California
Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
| | - Benjamin Stordy
- Institute
of Biomedical Engineering, University of
Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G9, Canada
- Terrence
Donnelly Centre for Cellular & Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S
3E1, Canada
| | - Yuwei Zhang
- Institute
of Biomedical Engineering, University of
Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G9, Canada
- Terrence
Donnelly Centre for Cellular & Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S
3E1, Canada
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Tighe F. Didden
- Division
of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California
Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
| | - Dina Malounda
- Division
of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California
Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
| | - Margaret B. Swift
- Division
of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California
Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
| | - Warren C. W. Chan
- Institute
of Biomedical Engineering, University of
Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G9, Canada
- Terrence
Donnelly Centre for Cellular & Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S
3E1, Canada
- Department
of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Mikhail G. Shapiro
- Division
of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California
Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
- Division
of Engineering and Applied Science, California
Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
- Howard Hughes
Medical Institute, California Institute
of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, United States
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19
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Rosa-Caldwell ME, Mortreux M, Wadhwa A, Kaiser UB, Sung DM, Bouxsein ML, Rutkove SB. Sex differences in muscle health in simulated micro- and partial-gravity environments in rats. SPORTS MEDICINE AND HEALTH SCIENCE 2023; 5:319-328. [PMID: 38314043 PMCID: PMC10831389 DOI: 10.1016/j.smhs.2023.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Skeletal muscle size and strength are important for overall health for astronauts. However, how male and female muscle may respond differently to micro- and partial-gravity environments is not fully understood. The purpose of this study was to determine how biological sex and sex steroid hormones influence the progression of muscle atrophy after long term exposure to micro and partial gravity environments in male and female rats. Male and female Fisher rats (n = 120) underwent either castration/ovariectomy or sham surgeries. After two weeks recovery, animals were divided into microgravity (0g), partial-gravity (40% of weight bearing, 0.4g), or full weight bearing (1g) interventions for 28 days. Measurements of muscle size and strength were evaluated prior to and after interventions. At 0g, females lost more dorsiflexion strength, plantar flexion strength, and other metrics of muscle size compared to males; castration/ovariectomy did not influence these differences. Additionally, at 0.4g, females lost more dorsiflexion strength, plantar flexion strength, and other metrics of muscle strength compared to males; castration/ovariectomy did not influence these differences. Females have greater musculoskeletal aberrations during exposure to both microgravity and partial-gravity environments; these differences are not dependent on the presence of sex steroid hormones. Correspondingly, additional interventions may be necessary to mitigate musculoskeletal loss in female astronauts to protect occupational and overall health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan E. Rosa-Caldwell
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Marie Mortreux
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
- Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 02881, USA
| | - Anna Wadhwa
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Ursula B. Kaiser
- Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Hypertension, Brigham and Womenʼs Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Dong-Min Sung
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Mary L. Bouxsein
- Center for Advanced Orthopedic Studies, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
| | - Seward B. Rutkove
- Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Avenue, Boston, MA, 02215, USA
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20
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Wang F, Ko CW, Qu J, Wu D, Zhu Q, Liu M, Tso P. Apolipoprotein A-IV-Deficient Mice in 129/SvJ Background Are Susceptible to Obesity and Glucose Intolerance. Nutrients 2023; 15:4840. [PMID: 38004234 PMCID: PMC10674380 DOI: 10.3390/nu15224840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 11/06/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Apolipoprotein A-IV (apoA-IV), synthesized by enterocytes, is potentially involved in regulating lipid absorption and metabolism, food intake, and glucose metabolism. In this study, we backcrossed apoA-IV knockout (apoA-IV-/-) mice onto the 129/SvJ background for eight generations. Compared to the wild-type (WT) mice, the 129/SvJ apoA-IV-/- mice gained more weight and exhibited delayed glucose clearance even on the chow diet. During a 16-week high-fat diet (20% by weight of fat) study, apoA-IV-/- mice were more obese than the WT mice, which was associated with their increased food intake as well as reduced energy expenditure and physical activity. In addition, apoA-IV-/- mice developed significant insulin resistance (indicated by HOMA-IR) with severe glucose intolerance even though their insulin levels were drastically higher than the WT mice. In conclusion, we have established a model of apoA-IV-/- mice onto the 129/SvJ background. Unlike in the C57BL/6J strain, apoA-IV-/- 129/SvJ mice become significantly more obese and insulin-resistant than WT mice. Our current investigations of apoA-IV in the 129/SvJ strain and our previous studies in the C57BL/6J strain underline the impact of genetic background on apoA-IV metabolic effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Wang
- Norton Healthcare, 4910 Chamberlain Lane, Louisville, KY 40202, USA;
| | - Chih-Wei Ko
- Chroma Medicine, 201 Brookine Ave, Suite 1101, Boston, MA 02215, USA;
| | - Jie Qu
- Medpace Reference Laboratories, LLC., 5365 Medpace Way, Cincinnati, OH 45227, USA;
| | - Dong Wu
- Department of General Surgery, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan 250012, China;
| | - Qi Zhu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Metabolic Diseases Institute, University of Cincinnati, 2180 E Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45237, USA; (Q.Z.); (M.L.)
| | - Min Liu
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Metabolic Diseases Institute, University of Cincinnati, 2180 E Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45237, USA; (Q.Z.); (M.L.)
| | - Patrick Tso
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Metabolic Diseases Institute, University of Cincinnati, 2180 E Galbraith Road, Cincinnati, OH 45237, USA; (Q.Z.); (M.L.)
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21
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Jouenne A, Hamici K, Varlet I, Sourdon J, Daudé P, Lan C, Kober F, Landrier JF, Bernard M, Desrois M. Relationship of cardiac remodeling and perfusion alteration with hepatic lipid metabolism in a prediabetic high fat high sucrose diet female rat model. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2023; 682:207-215. [PMID: 37826944 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2023.09.089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is known to be linked with metabolic associated fatty liver disease and type 2 diabetes, but few studies assessed this relationship in prediabetes, especially among women, who are at greater risk of CVD. We aimed to evaluate cardiac alterations and its relationship with hepatic lipid metabolism in prediabetic female rats submitted to high-fat-high-sucrose diet (HFS). METHODS AND RESULTS Wistar female rats were divided into 2 groups fed for 5 months with standard or HFS diet. We analyzed cardiac morphology, function, perfusion and fibrosis by Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Hepatic lipid contents along with inflammation and lipid metabolism gene expression were assessed. Five months of HFS diet induced glucose intolerance (p < 0.05), cardiac remodeling characterized by increased left-ventricular volume, wall thickness and mass (p < 0.05). No significant differences were found in left-ventricular ejection fraction and cardiac fibrosis but increased myocardial perfusion (p < 0.01) and reduced cardiac index (p < 0.05) were shown. HFS diet induced hepatic lipid accumulation with increased total lipid mass (p < 0.001) and triglyceride contents (p < 0.05), but also increased mitochondrial (CPT1a, MCAD; (p < 0.001; p < 0.05) and peroxisomal (ACO, LCAD; (p < 0.05; p < 0.001) β-oxidation gene expression. Myocardial wall thickness and perfusion were correlated with hepatic β-oxidation genes expression. Furthermore, myocardial perfusion was also correlated with hepatic lipid content and glucose intolerance. CONCLUSION This study brings new insights on the relationship between cardiac sub-clinical alterations and hepatic metabolism in female prediabetic rats. Further studies are warranted to explore its involvement in the higher CVD risk observed among prediabetic women.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Jouenne
- Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, CRMBM, Marseille, France.
| | - K Hamici
- Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, CRMBM, Marseille, France.
| | - I Varlet
- Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, CRMBM, Marseille, France.
| | - J Sourdon
- Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, CRMBM, Marseille, France.
| | - P Daudé
- Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, CRMBM, Marseille, France.
| | - C Lan
- Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, CRMBM, Marseille, France.
| | - F Kober
- Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, CRMBM, Marseille, France.
| | - J F Landrier
- Aix-Marseille Univ, INSERM, INRAE, C2VN, Marseille, France.
| | - M Bernard
- Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, CRMBM, Marseille, France.
| | - M Desrois
- Aix-Marseille Univ, CNRS, CRMBM, Marseille, France.
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22
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Shattock RJ, Andrianaivoarimanana V, McKay PF, Randriantseheno LN, Murugaiah V, Samnuan K, Rogers P, Tregoning JS, Rajerison M, Moore KM, Laws TR, Williamson ED. A self-amplifying RNA vaccine provides protection in a murine model of bubonic plague. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1247041. [PMID: 38029221 PMCID: PMC10652872 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1247041] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Mice were immunized with a combination of self-amplifying (sa) RNA constructs for the F1 and V antigens of Yersinia pestis at a dose level of 1 μg or 5 μg or with the respective protein sub-units as a reference vaccine. The immunization of outbred OF1 mice on day 0 and day 28 with the lowest dose used (1 μg) of each of the saRNA constructs in lipid nanoparticles protected 5/7 mice against subsequent sub-cutaneous challenge on day 56 with 180 cfu (2.8 MLD) of a 2021 clinical isolate of Y. pestis termed 10-21/S whilst 5/7 mice were protected against 1800cfu (28MLD) of the same bacteria on day 56. By comparison, only 1/8 or 1/7 negative control mice immunized with 10 μg of irrelevant haemagglutin RNA in lipid nanoparticles (LNP) survived the challenge with 2.8 MLD or 28 MLD Y. pestis 10-21/S, respectively. BALB/c mice were also immunized with the same saRNA constructs and responded with the secretion of specific IgG to F1 and V, neutralizing antibodies for the V antigen and developed a recall response to both F1 and V. These data represent the first report of an RNA vaccine approach using self-amplifying technology and encoding both of the essential virulence antigens, providing efficacy against Y. pestis. This saRNA vaccine for plague has the potential for further development, particularly since its amplifying nature can induce immunity with less boosting. It is also amenable to rapid manufacture with simpler downstream processing than protein sub-units, enabling rapid deployment and surge manufacture during disease outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin John Shattock
- Dept. of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Paul F. McKay
- Dept. of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | | | - K. Samnuan
- Dept. of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Paul Rogers
- Dept. of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - John S. Tregoning
- Dept. of Infectious Disease, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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23
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Safaie M, Chang JC, Park J, Miller LE, Dudman JT, Perich MG, Gallego JA. Preserved neural dynamics across animals performing similar behaviour. Nature 2023; 623:765-771. [PMID: 37938772 PMCID: PMC10665198 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06714-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/04/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023]
Abstract
Animals of the same species exhibit similar behaviours that are advantageously adapted to their body and environment. These behaviours are shaped at the species level by selection pressures over evolutionary timescales. Yet, it remains unclear how these common behavioural adaptations emerge from the idiosyncratic neural circuitry of each individual. The overall organization of neural circuits is preserved across individuals1 because of their common evolutionarily specified developmental programme2-4. Such organization at the circuit level may constrain neural activity5-8, leading to low-dimensional latent dynamics across the neural population9-11. Accordingly, here we suggested that the shared circuit-level constraints within a species would lead to suitably preserved latent dynamics across individuals. We analysed recordings of neural populations from monkey and mouse motor cortex to demonstrate that neural dynamics in individuals from the same species are surprisingly preserved when they perform similar behaviour. Neural population dynamics were also preserved when animals consciously planned future movements without overt behaviour12 and enabled the decoding of planned and ongoing movement across different individuals. Furthermore, we found that preserved neural dynamics extend beyond cortical regions to the dorsal striatum, an evolutionarily older structure13,14. Finally, we used neural network models to demonstrate that behavioural similarity is necessary but not sufficient for this preservation. We posit that these emergent dynamics result from evolutionary constraints on brain development and thus reflect fundamental properties of the neural basis of behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mostafa Safaie
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Joanna C Chang
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Junchol Park
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, TX, USA
| | - Lee E Miller
- Departments of Physiology, Biomedical Engineering and Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Northwestern University and Shirley Ryan Ability Lab, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Joshua T Dudman
- Janelia Research Campus, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Ashburn, TX, USA
| | - Matthew G Perich
- Département de Neurosciences, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
- Mila, Quebec Artificial Intelligence Institute, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
| | - Juan A Gallego
- Department of Bioengineering, Imperial College London, London, UK.
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24
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Anaya-Martínez V, Anacleto-Santos J, Mondragón-Flores R, Zepeda-Rodríguez A, Casarrubias-Tabarez B, de Jesús López-Pérez T, de Alba-Alvarado MC, Martínez-Ortiz-de-Montellano C, Carrasco-Ramírez E, Rivera-Fernández N. Changes in the Proliferation of the Neural Progenitor Cells of Adult Mice Chronically Infected with Toxoplasma gondii. Microorganisms 2023; 11:2671. [PMID: 38004683 PMCID: PMC10673519 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11112671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 10/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/29/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023] Open
Abstract
During Toxoplasma gondii chronic infection, certain internal factors that trigger the proliferation of neural progenitor cells (NPCs), such as brain inflammation, cell death, and changes in cytokine levels, are observed. NPCs give rise to neuronal cell types in the adult brain of some mammals. NPCs are capable of dividing and differentiating into a restricted repertoire of neuronal and glial cell types. In this study, the proliferation of NPCs was evaluated in CD-1 adult male mice chronically infected with the T. gondii ME49 strain. Histological brain sections from the infected mice were evaluated in order to observe T. gondii tissue cysts. Sagittal and coronal sections from the subventricular zone of the lateral ventricles and from the subgranular zone of the hippocampal dentate gyrus, as well as sagittal sections from the rostral migratory stream, were obtained from infected and non-infected mice previously injected with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU). A flotation immunofluorescence technique was used to identify BrdU+ NPC. The scanning of BrdU+ cells was conducted using a confocal microscope, and the counting was performed with ImageJ® software (version 1.48q). In all the evaluated zones from the infected mice, a significant proliferation of the NPCs was observed when compared with that of the control group. We concluded that chronic infection with T. gondii increased the proliferation of NPCs in the three evaluated zones. Regardless of the role these cells are playing, our results could be useful to better understand the pathogenesis of chronic toxoplasmosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verónica Anaya-Martínez
- Centro de Investigación en Ciencias de la Salud, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Anáhuac, Lomas Anáhuac, Naucalpan de Juárez 52786, Estado de México, Mexico;
| | - Jhony Anacleto-Santos
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Coyoacán, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico; (J.A.-S.); (T.d.J.L.-P.); (M.C.d.A.-A.); (E.C.-R.)
| | | | - Armando Zepeda-Rodríguez
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Tisular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Coyoacán, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico; (A.Z.-R.); (B.C.-T.)
| | - Brenda Casarrubias-Tabarez
- Departamento de Biología Celular y Tisular, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Coyoacán, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico; (A.Z.-R.); (B.C.-T.)
| | - Teresa de Jesús López-Pérez
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Coyoacán, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico; (J.A.-S.); (T.d.J.L.-P.); (M.C.d.A.-A.); (E.C.-R.)
| | - Mariana Citlalli de Alba-Alvarado
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Coyoacán, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico; (J.A.-S.); (T.d.J.L.-P.); (M.C.d.A.-A.); (E.C.-R.)
| | - Cintli Martínez-Ortiz-de-Montellano
- Departamento de Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico;
| | - Elba Carrasco-Ramírez
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Coyoacán, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico; (J.A.-S.); (T.d.J.L.-P.); (M.C.d.A.-A.); (E.C.-R.)
| | - Norma Rivera-Fernández
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Coyoacán, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico; (J.A.-S.); (T.d.J.L.-P.); (M.C.d.A.-A.); (E.C.-R.)
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25
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Paula TDMDE, Cardoso LC, Felicioni F, Caldeira-Brant AL, Santos TG, Castro-Oliveira H, Menezes GB, Bloise E, Chiarini-Garcia H, de Almeida FRCL. Maternal chronic caffeine intake impairs fertility, placental vascularization and fetal development in mice. Reprod Toxicol 2023; 121:108471. [PMID: 37717671 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2023.108471] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2023] [Revised: 09/08/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
Caffeine is commonly consumed by pregnant women to avoid fatigue or as a habit. However, it is not clearly determined its side effects to the conceptuses. This study evaluated placental morphofunctional alterations after maternal chronic caffeine intake and the effects on fetal growth. Female Swiss mice received, via gavage, caffeine doses (either 60, 120 or 240 mg/kg/day) seven days before mating until gestational days-(GD) 11.5 or 17.5. Fetal biometrical parameters were assessed, and placentae were either submitted to histomorphometrical or molecular evaluation of angiogenesis (placental growth factor-1[PlGF-1]), apoptosis (Caspase-3) and proliferation (Ki-67) markers (evaluated in Swiss dams) and to intravital microscopy (evaluated in C57BL/6 dams). Caffeine exposed fetuses exhibited intrauterine growth restriction in a sex-dependent manner, with greater commitment of female fetuses (P < 0.05). In addition, placentae from dams that received 120 mg/kg/day showed less irrigation by maternal blood and greater development of fetal vasculature, characterized by higher number of larger vessels (P < 0.05). Although no effects on apoptosis (Caspase-3) and angiogenesis (PlGF-1) were observed, dams treated with 60 mg/kg/day showed greater placental cell proliferation (Ki-67 staining) at GD 11.5 (P < 0.05). The group treated with 240 mg/kg/day exhibited only one pregnant dam for each gestational age, suggesting that this high caffeine consumption may compromise fertility. Taken together, even in the doses currently ingested by many pregnant women, caffeine has detrimental effects on placental vasculature and fetal development in mice. Therefore, our results strongly suggest that caffeine consumption in human pregnancies greater than the recommended doses should be avoided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thais de Merici Domingues E Paula
- Laboratory of Structural Biology and Reproduction, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Lucas Carvalho Cardoso
- Laboratory of Structural Biology and Reproduction, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Fernando Felicioni
- Laboratory of Structural Biology and Reproduction, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Andre Lucas Caldeira-Brant
- Laboratory of Structural Biology and Reproduction, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil; Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, Magee-Womens Research Institute, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Thais Garcia Santos
- Laboratory of Structural Biology and Reproduction, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Hortencia Castro-Oliveira
- Center of Gastrointestinal Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Gustavo Batista Menezes
- Center of Gastrointestinal Biology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Enrrico Bloise
- Laboratory of Molecular Pathogenesis, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
| | - Helio Chiarini-Garcia
- Laboratory of Structural Biology and Reproduction, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
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26
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Dubois‐Chevalier J, Gheeraert C, Berthier A, Boulet C, Dubois V, Guille L, Fourcot M, Marot G, Gauthier K, Dubuquoy L, Staels B, Lefebvre P, Eeckhoute J. An extended transcription factor regulatory network controls hepatocyte identity. EMBO Rep 2023; 24:e57020. [PMID: 37424431 PMCID: PMC10481658 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202357020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Revised: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell identity is specified by a core transcriptional regulatory circuitry (CoRC), typically limited to a small set of interconnected cell-specific transcription factors (TFs). By mining global hepatic TF regulons, we reveal a more complex organization of the transcriptional regulatory network controlling hepatocyte identity. We show that tight functional interconnections controlling hepatocyte identity extend to non-cell-specific TFs beyond the CoRC, which we call hepatocyte identity (Hep-ID)CONNECT TFs. Besides controlling identity effector genes, Hep-IDCONNECT TFs also engage in reciprocal transcriptional regulation with TFs of the CoRC. In homeostatic basal conditions, this translates into Hep-IDCONNECT TFs being involved in fine tuning CoRC TF expression including their rhythmic expression patterns. Moreover, a role for Hep-IDCONNECT TFs in the control of hepatocyte identity is revealed in dedifferentiated hepatocytes where Hep-IDCONNECT TFs are able to reset CoRC TF expression. This is observed upon activation of NR1H3 or THRB in hepatocarcinoma or in hepatocytes subjected to inflammation-induced loss of identity. Our study establishes that hepatocyte identity is controlled by an extended array of TFs beyond the CoRC.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Céline Gheeraert
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1011‐EGIDLilleFrance
| | - Alexandre Berthier
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1011‐EGIDLilleFrance
| | - Clémence Boulet
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1011‐EGIDLilleFrance
| | - Vanessa Dubois
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1011‐EGIDLilleFrance
- Basic and Translational Endocrinology (BaTE), Department of Basic and Applied Medical SciencesGhent UniversityGhentBelgium
| | - Loïc Guille
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1011‐EGIDLilleFrance
| | - Marie Fourcot
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, US 41 – UAR 2014 – PLBSLilleFrance
| | - Guillemette Marot
- Univ. Lille, Inria, CHU Lille, ULR 2694 – METRICS: Évaluation des technologies de santé et des pratiques médicalesLilleFrance
| | - Karine Gauthier
- Institut de Génomique Fonctionnelle de Lyon (IGFL), CNRS UMR 5242, INRAE USC 1370, École Normale Supérieure de LyonLyonFrance
| | - Laurent Dubuquoy
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, U1286 – INFINITE – Institute for Translational Research in InflammationLilleFrance
| | - Bart Staels
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1011‐EGIDLilleFrance
| | - Philippe Lefebvre
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1011‐EGIDLilleFrance
| | - Jérôme Eeckhoute
- Univ. Lille, Inserm, CHU Lille, Institut Pasteur de Lille, U1011‐EGIDLilleFrance
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27
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Dias FCR, Sarandy MM, Lopes-Ferreira JV, de Melo FCSA, Gonçalves RV, da Matta SLP, de Lucca Moreira Gomes M. The relevance of the use of plant extracts on testicular cells: A systematic review. Fitoterapia 2023; 169:105571. [PMID: 37321418 DOI: 10.1016/j.fitote.2023.105571] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Revised: 06/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/11/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
This review aims to establish an association between traditional and scientific knowledge to allow the evaluation of the effectiveness of medicinal plants, as well as their risks based on the testicular microenvironment. A systematic search was performed using PRISMA guidelines. The descriptors were structured based on search filters built for three domains: Animals, Plants, and Testis. The filters on the PubMed/Medline platform were constructed using a hierarchical distribution of the MeSH Terms. Methodological quality assessments were performed using the SYRCLE risk bias tool. Data on testicular cells, hormones and biochemistry, sperm, and sexual behavior were evaluated and compared. The search came out with 2644 articles, and 36 articles met the inclusion criteria and were used in this review. The included studies analyzed testicular cells from murine models treated with crude plant extracts. Plant extracts act directly on the hypothalamic-pituitary axis and/or directly on testicular cells, inhibiting and stimulating the reproductive process, thus causing alterations in fertility rates. Apiaceae and the Cucurbitaceae families are the most used in male reproductive biology experiments, being Apiaceae described as sexual stimulants, while Cucurbitaceae are the main sources of deleterious effects on the male reproductive system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fernanda Carolina Ribeiro Dias
- Department of Structural Biology, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, MG, Brazil; Department of Veterinary, Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil.
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28
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van Walstijn C, Verweij S, Care R, Rigsby P, Clapper EB, Markey K, Vandebriel RJ, Stickings P, Hoefnagel MHN. Variability of in vivo potency assays of whole-cell pertussis, inactivated polio, and meningococcal B vaccines. Vaccine 2023; 41:5603-5613. [PMID: 37527955 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2023.07.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2023] [Revised: 05/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023]
Abstract
For the batch release of vaccines, potency release assays are required. Non-animal in vitro tests have numerous advantages and are preferred; however, several vaccines are still released using in vivo assays. Their major drawback is the inherent variability with its practical implications. We quantified the variability of in vivo potency release assays for whole-cell pertussis, inactivated polio and meningococcal B (MenB) vaccines which showed large CV (Coefficient of Variation) ranging from 34% to 125%. As inherent variability might potentially be attributed to the highly variable immune system between individual animals, we evaluated the antibody titres to four MenB antigens in 344 individual outbred mice. These varied strongly, with more than 100-fold differences in antibody titres in responsive mice. Furthermore, within individual mice there was generally no correlation between the strengths of the responses to the four antigens. A mouse with a very low or no response to one antigen in many cases exhibited a strong response to another antigen. The large differences between individual animals is likely a considerable contributor to the inherent variability of in vivo potency assays. Our data again support the notion that it is preferred to move away from in vivo potency assays for monitoring batch to batch consistency as part of vaccine batch release testing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cerissa van Walstijn
- CBG-MEB (Medicines Evaluation Board), Graadt van Roggens weg 500, 3531 AH Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Stefan Verweij
- CBG-MEB (Medicines Evaluation Board), Graadt van Roggens weg 500, 3531 AH Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Rory Care
- Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, South Mimms, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire EN6 3QG, United Kingdom
| | - Peter Rigsby
- Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, South Mimms, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire EN6 3QG, United Kingdom
| | - Eli-Boaz Clapper
- Dept. Methodology & Statistics, Utrecht University, the Netherlands
| | - Kevin Markey
- Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, South Mimms, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire EN6 3QG, United Kingdom
| | - Rob J Vandebriel
- Centre for Health Protection, National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Bilthoven, the Netherlands
| | - Paul Stickings
- Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, South Mimms, Potters Bar, Hertfordshire EN6 3QG, United Kingdom
| | - Marcel H N Hoefnagel
- CBG-MEB (Medicines Evaluation Board), Graadt van Roggens weg 500, 3531 AH Utrecht, the Netherlands.
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Ayebare S, Doser JW, Plumptre AJ, Owiunji I, Mugabe H, Zipkin EF. An environmental habitat gradient and within-habitat segregation enable co-existence of ecologically similar bird species. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20230467. [PMID: 37583324 PMCID: PMC10427832 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2023.0467] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Niche theory predicts that ecologically similar species can coexist through multidimensional niche partitioning. However, owing to the challenges of accounting for both abiotic and biotic processes in ecological niche modelling, the underlying mechanisms that facilitate coexistence of competing species are poorly understood. In this study, we evaluated potential mechanisms underlying the coexistence of ecologically similar bird species in a biodiversity-rich transboundary montane forest in east-central Africa by computing niche overlap indices along an environmental elevation gradient, diet, forest strata, activity patterns and within-habitat segregation across horizontal space. We found strong support for abiotic environmental habitat niche partitioning, with 55% of species pairs having separate elevation niches. For the remaining species pairs that exhibited similar elevation niches, we found that within-habitat segregation across horizontal space and to a lesser extent vertical forest strata provided the most likely mechanisms of species coexistence. Coexistence of ecologically similar species within a highly diverse montane forest was determined primarily by abiotic factors (e.g. environmental elevation gradient) that characterize the Grinnellian niche and secondarily by biotic factors (e.g. vertical and horizontal segregation within habitats) that describe the Eltonian niche. Thus, partitioning across multiple levels of spatial organization is a key mechanism of coexistence in diverse communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samuel Ayebare
- Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
- Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
- Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), Uganda Programme, PO Box 7487, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Jeffrey W. Doser
- Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
- Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
| | - Andrew J. Plumptre
- KBA Secretariat, c/o BirdLife International, David Attenborough Building, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QZ, UK
- Conservation Science Group, Zoology Department, Cambridge University, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QZ, UK
| | | | - Hamlet Mugabe
- Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), Uganda Programme, PO Box 7487, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Elise F. Zipkin
- Department of Integrative Biology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
- Ecology, Evolution, and Behavior Program, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, USA
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Ling B, Ko JH, Stordy B, Zhang Y, Didden TF, Malounda D, Swift MB, Chan WC, Shapiro MG. Gas vesicle-blood interactions enhance ultrasound imaging contrast. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.24.550434. [PMID: 37546852 PMCID: PMC10402017 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.24.550434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Gas vesicles (GVs) are genetically encoded, air-filled protein nanostructures of broad interest for biomedical research and clinical applications, acting as imaging and therapeutic agents for ultrasound, magnetic resonance, and optical techniques. However, the biomedical applications of GVs as a systemically injectable nanomaterial have been hindered by a lack of understanding of GVs' interactions with blood components, which can significantly impact in vivo performance. Here, we investigate the dynamics of GVs in the bloodstream using a combination of ultrasound and optical imaging, surface functionalization, flow cytometry, and mass spectrometry. We find that erythrocytes and serum proteins bind to GVs and shape their acoustic response, circulation time, and immunogenicity. We show that by modifying the GV surface, we can alter these interactions and thereby modify GVs' in vivo performance. These results provide critical insights for the development of GVs as agents for nanomedicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bill Ling
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology; Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Jeong Hoon Ko
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology; Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
- These authors contributed equally to this work
| | - Benjamin Stordy
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto; Toronto, ON M5S 3G9, Canada
- Terence Donnelly Centre for Cellular & Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto; Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Yuwei Zhang
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto; Toronto, ON M5S 3G9, Canada
- Terence Donnelly Centre for Cellular & Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto; Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto; Toronto, ON M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Tighe F. Didden
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology; Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Dina Malounda
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology; Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Margaret B. Swift
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology; Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Warren C.W. Chan
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto; Toronto, ON M5S 3G9, Canada
- Terence Donnelly Centre for Cellular & Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto; Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
- Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto; Toronto, ON M5S 3H6, Canada
| | - Mikhail G. Shapiro
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology; Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
- Division of Engineering and Applied Science, California Institute of Technology; Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute; Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
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Carneiro CFD, Drude N, Hülsemann M, Collazo A, Toelch U. Mapping strategies towards improved external validity in preclinical translational research. Expert Opin Drug Discov 2023; 18:1273-1285. [PMID: 37691294 DOI: 10.1080/17460441.2023.2251886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Translation is about successfully bringing findings from preclinical contexts into the clinic. This transfer is challenging as clinical trials frequently fail despite positive preclinical results. Limited robustness of preclinical research has been marked as one of the drivers of such failures. One suggested solution is to improve the external validity of in vitro and in vivo experiments via a suite of complementary strategies. AREAS COVERED In this review, the authors summarize the literature available on different strategies to improve external validity in in vivo, in vitro, or ex vivo experiments; systematic heterogenization; generalizability tests; and multi-batch and multicenter experiments. Articles that tested or discussed sources of variability in systematically heterogenized experiments were identified, and the most prevalent sources of variability are reviewed further. Special considerations in sample size planning, analysis options, and practical feasibility associated with each strategy are also reviewed. EXPERT OPINION The strategies reviewed differentially influence variation in experiments. Different research projects, with their unique goals, can leverage the strengths and limitations of each strategy. Applying a combination of these approaches in confirmatory stages of preclinical research putatively increases the chances of success in clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clarissa F D Carneiro
- QUEST Center for Responsible Research, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité, Berlin, Germany
| | - Natascha Drude
- QUEST Center for Responsible Research, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité, Berlin, Germany
| | - Maren Hülsemann
- QUEST Center for Responsible Research, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité, Berlin, Germany
| | - Anja Collazo
- QUEST Center for Responsible Research, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité, Berlin, Germany
| | - Ulf Toelch
- QUEST Center for Responsible Research, Berlin Institute of Health at Charité, Berlin, Germany
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Glassbrook JE, Hackett JB, Muñiz MC, Bross M, Dyson G, Movahhedin N, Ullrich A, Gibson HM. Host genetic background regulates the capacity for anti-tumor antibody-dependent phagocytosis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.09.540046. [PMID: 37214876 PMCID: PMC10197614 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.09.540046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Background Antitumor antibody, or targeted immunotherapy, has revolutionized cancer treatment and markedly improved patient outcomes. A prime example is the monoclonal antibody (mAb) trastuzumab, which targets human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). However, like many targeted immunotherapies, only a subset of patients benefit from trastuzumab long-term. In addition to tumor-intrinsic factors, we hypothesize that host genetics may influence subsequent immune activation. Methods To model the human population, we produced F1 crosses of genetically heterogeneous Diversity Outbred (DO) mice with BALB/c mice (DOCF1). Distinct DOCF1 mice were orthotopically implanted with the BALB/c-syngeneic TUBO mammary tumor line, which expresses the HER2 ortholog rat neu. Treatment with anti-neu mAb clone 7.16.4 began once tumors reached ∼200 mm 3 . Genetic linkage and quantitative trait locus (QTL) effects analyses in R/qtl2 identified loci associated with tumor growth rates. Locus validation was performed with BALB/c F1 crosses with recombinant-inbred Collaborative Cross (CC) strains selected for therapy-associated driver genetics (CCxCF1). The respective roles of natural killer (NK) cells and macrophages were investigated by selective depletion in vivo. Ex vivo macrophage antibody-dependent phagocytosis (ADCP) assays were evaluated by confocal microscopy using 7.16.4-opsonized E2Crimson-expressing TUBO tumor cells. Results We observed a divergent response to anti-tumor antibody therapy in DOCF1 mice. Genetic linkage analysis detected a locus on chromosome 10 that correlates to a robust response to therapy, which was validated in CCxCF1 models. Single-cell RNA sequencing of tumors from responder and non-responder models identified key differences in tumor immune infiltrate composition, particularly within macrophage (Mφ) subsets. This is further supported by ex vivo analysis showing Mφ ADCP capacity correlates to in vivo treatment outcomes in both DOCF1 and CCxCF1 models. Conclusions Host genetics play a key regulatory role in targeted immunotherapy outcomes, and putative causal genes are identified in murine chromosome 10 which may govern Mφ function during ADCP.
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Santos EJ, Giddings AN, Kandil FA, Negus SS. Climbing behavior by mice as an endpoint for preclinical assessment of drug effects in the absence and presence of pain. FRONTIERS IN PAIN RESEARCH 2023; 4:1150236. [PMID: 37139343 PMCID: PMC10149664 DOI: 10.3389/fpain.2023.1150236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/05/2023] Open
Abstract
This study evaluated climbing in mice as a tool to assess the expression and treatment of pain-related behavioral depression in male and female ICR mice. Mice were videotaped during 10-min sessions in a vertical plexiglass cylinder with wire mesh walls, and "Time Climbing" was scored by observers blind to treatments. Initial validation studies demonstrated that baseline climbing was stable across repeated days of testing and depressed by intraperitoneal injection of dilute lactic acid (IP acid) as an acute pain stimulus. Additionally, IP acid-induced depression of climbing was blocked by the positive-control non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) ketoprofen but not by the negative control kappa opioid receptor agonist U69593. Subsequent studies examined effects of single-molecule opioids (fentanyl, buprenorphine, naltrexone) and of fixed-proportion fentanyl/naltrexone mixtures (10:1, 3.2:1, and 1:1) that vary in their efficacy at the mu opioid receptor (MOR). Opioids administered alone produced a dose- and efficacy-dependent decrease in climbing, and fentanyl/naltrexone-mixture data indicated that climbing in mice is especially sensitive to disruption by even low-efficacy MOR activation. Opioids administered as a pretreatment to IP acid failed to block IP acid-induced depression of climbing. Taken together, these findings support the utility of climbing in mice as an endpoint to evaluate candidate-analgesic effectiveness both to (a) produce undesirable behavioral disruption when the test drug is administered alone, and (b) produce a therapeutic blockade of pain-related behavioral depression. The failure of MOR agonists to block IP acid-induced depression of climbing likely reflects the high sensitivity of climbing to disruption by MOR agonists.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - S. Stevens Negus
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, School of Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, United States
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Grupe K, Scherneck S. Mouse Models of Gestational Diabetes Mellitus and Its Subtypes: Recent Insights and Pitfalls. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24065982. [PMID: 36983056 PMCID: PMC10058162 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is currently the most common complication of pregnancy and is defined as a glucose intolerance disorder with recognition during pregnancy. GDM is considered a uniform group of patients in conventional guidelines. In recent years, evidence of the disease's heterogeneity has led to a growing understanding of the value of dividing patients into different subpopulations. Furthermore, in view of the increasing incidence of hyperglycemia outside pregnancy, it is likely that many cases diagnosed as GDM are in fact patients with undiagnosed pre-pregnancy impaired glucose tolerance (IGT). Experimental models contribute significantly to the understanding of the pathogenesis of GDM and numerous animal models have been described in the literature. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the existing mouse models of GDM, in particular those that have been obtained by genetic manipulation. However, these commonly used models have certain limitations in the study of the pathogenesis of GDM and cannot fully describe the heterogeneous spectrum of this polygenic disease. The polygenic New Zealand obese (NZO) mouse is introduced as a recently emerged model of a subpopulation of GDM. Although this strain lacks conventional GDM, it exhibits prediabetes and an IGT both preconceptionally and during gestation. In addition, it should be emphasized that the choice of an appropriate control strain is of great importance in metabolic studies. The commonly used control strain C57BL/6N, which exhibits IGT during gestation, is discussed in this review as a potential model of GDM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Grupe
- Institute of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacy, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Mendelssohnstraße 1, D-38106 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Stephan Scherneck
- Institute of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacy, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Mendelssohnstraße 1, D-38106 Braunschweig, Germany
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Miller CH, Hillock MF, Yang J, Carlson-Clarke B, Haxhillari K, Lee AY, Warden MR, Sheehan MJ. Dynamic changes to signal allocation rules in response to variable social environments in house mice. Commun Biol 2023; 6:297. [PMID: 36941412 PMCID: PMC10027867 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04672-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Urine marking is central to mouse social behavior. Males use depletable and costly urine marks in intrasexual competition and mate attraction. We investigate how males alter signaling decisions across variable social landscapes using thermal imaging to capture spatiotemporal marking data. Thermal recording reveals fine-scale adjustments in urinary motor patterns in response to competition and social odors. Males demonstrate striking winner-loser effects in scent mark allocation effort and timing. Competitive experience primes temporal features of marking and modulates responses to scent familiarity. Males adjust signaling effort, mark latency, and marking rhythm, depending on the scent identities in the environment. Notably, recent contest outcome affects how males respond to familiar and unfamiliar urine. Winners increase marking effort toward unfamiliar relative to familiar male scents, whereas losers reduce marking effort to unfamiliar but increase to familiar rival scents. All males adjust their scent mark timing after a contest regardless of fight outcome, and deposit marks in more rapid bursts during marking bouts. In contrast to this dynamism, initial signal investment predicts aspects of scent marking days later, revealing the possibility of alternative marking strategies among competitive males. These data show that mice flexibly update their signaling decisions in response to changing social landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin H Miller
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
| | - Matthew F Hillock
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Jay Yang
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | | | - Klaudio Haxhillari
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Annie Y Lee
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Melissa R Warden
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Michael J Sheehan
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
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Kim B, Park ES, Lee JS, Suh JG. Outbred Mice with Streptozotocin-Induced Diabetes Show Sex Differences in Glucose Metabolism. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24065210. [PMID: 36982285 PMCID: PMC10049093 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065210] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Outbred mice (ICR) with different genotypes and phenotypes have been reported to be more suitable for scientific testing than inbred mice because they are more similar to humans. To investigate whether the sex and genetic background of the mice are important factors in the development of hyperglycemia, we used ICR mice and divided them into male, female, and ovariectomized female (FOVX) groups and treated them with streptozotocin (STZ) for five consecutive days to induce diabetes. Our results show that fasting blood glucose and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels were significantly higher in diabetes-induced males (M-DM) and ovariectomized diabetes-induced females (FOVX-DM) than in diabetes-induced females (F-DM) at 3 and 6 weeks after STZ treatment. Furthermore, the M-DM group showed the most severe glucose tolerance, followed by the FOVX-DM and F-DM groups, suggesting that ovariectomy affects glucose tolerance in female mice. The size of pancreatic islets in the M-DM and FOVX-DM groups was significantly different from that of the F-DM group. The M-DM and FOVX-DM groups had pancreatic beta-cell dysfunction 6 weeks after STZ treatment. Urocortin 3 and somatostatin inhibited insulin secretion in the M-DM and FOVX-DM groups. Overall, our results suggest that glucose metabolism in mice is dependent on sex and/or genetic background.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boyoung Kim
- Institute of Medical Science, College of Medicine, Hallym University, 1, Hallymdaehak-gil, Chuncheon 24252, Republic of Korea;
| | - Eun-Sun Park
- Department of Medical Genetics, College of Medicine, Hallym University, 1, Hallymdaehak-gil, Chuncheon 24252, Republic of Korea; (E.-S.P.); (J.-S.L.)
| | - Jong-Sun Lee
- Department of Medical Genetics, College of Medicine, Hallym University, 1, Hallymdaehak-gil, Chuncheon 24252, Republic of Korea; (E.-S.P.); (J.-S.L.)
| | - Jun-Gyo Suh
- Institute of Medical Science, College of Medicine, Hallym University, 1, Hallymdaehak-gil, Chuncheon 24252, Republic of Korea;
- Department of Medical Genetics, College of Medicine, Hallym University, 1, Hallymdaehak-gil, Chuncheon 24252, Republic of Korea; (E.-S.P.); (J.-S.L.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +82-33-248-2692
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Jovita-Farias C, Follett ME, Dias-Junior BC, Serra YA, Kisaki ND, Barros-Santos T, de Jesus NMS, Rodrigues IRS, Macedo LEL, Malpezzi-Marinho ELA, Oliveira-Lima AJ, Marinho EAV, Rowlett JK, Berro LF. Individual differences in the effects of midazolam on anxiety-like behavior, learning, reward, and choice behavior in male mice. Front Psychiatry 2023; 14:1122568. [PMID: 36937711 PMCID: PMC10021295 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1122568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction The aim of the present study was to investigate the behavioral effects of the benzodiazepine midazolam in male mice, in models of anxiolysis, learning, and abuse-related effects. Methods In a first set of experiments, male Swiss mice were submitted to the training session of a discriminative avoidance (DA) task on the elevated plus maze to evaluate anxiety-like behavior and learning after vehicle or midazolam (1, 2 or 5 mg/kg, i.g.) administration. The same animals were submitted to a conditioned place preference (CPP) protocol with midazolam (1, 2 or 5 mg/kg, i.g.). In a second experiment, outbred (Swiss) and inbred (C57BL/6) male mice were submitted to a two-bottle choice (TBC) oral midazolam drinking procedure. Animals were exposed to one sucrose bottle and one midazolam (0.008, 0.016 or 0.032 mg/ml) plus sucrose bottle. Results Midazolam (1 and 2 mg/kg) induced anxiolytic-like effects, and all doses of midazolam prevented animals from learning to avoid the aversive closed arm during the DA training session. Assessment of midazolam reward via the CPP procedure and choice via the TBC procedure showed notable variability. A 2-step cluster analysis for the CPP data showed that midazolam data were well-fitted to 2 separate clusters (preference vs. aversion), albeit with the majority of mice showing preference (75%). Correlational and regression analyses showed no relationship between midazolam reward and anxiolytic-like effects (time spent in the open arms in the DA test) or learning/memory. Two-step cluster analysis of the TBC data also demonstrated that, regardless of strain, mice overall fell into two clusters identified as midazolam-preferring or midazolam-avoiding groups. Both midazolam preference and avoidance were concentration-dependent in a subset of mice. Discussion Our findings show that midazolam preference is a multifactorial behavior, and is not dependent solely on the emergence of therapeutic (anxiolytic-like) effects, learning impairments, or on genetic factors (inbred vs. outbred animals).
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Affiliation(s)
- Caio Jovita-Farias
- Department of Health Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, BA, Brazil
| | - Meagan E. Follett
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States
| | - Behaim C. Dias-Junior
- Department of Health Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, BA, Brazil
| | - Yasmim A. Serra
- Department of Health Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, BA, Brazil
| | - Natali D. Kisaki
- Department of Health Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, BA, Brazil
| | - Thaísa Barros-Santos
- Department of Health Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, BA, Brazil
| | | | - Isa R. S. Rodrigues
- Department of Health Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, BA, Brazil
| | - Larissa E. L. Macedo
- Department of Health Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, BA, Brazil
| | | | | | | | - James K. Rowlett
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States
| | - Lais F. Berro
- Department of Health Sciences, Universidade Estadual de Santa Cruz, Ilhéus, BA, Brazil
- Department of Psychiatry and Human Behavior, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States
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Miller CH, Haxhillari K, Hillock MF, Reichard TM, Sheehan MJ. Scent mark signal investment predicts fight dynamics in house mice. Proc Biol Sci 2023; 290:20222489. [PMID: 36787797 PMCID: PMC9928526 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2022.2489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Signals mediate competitive interactions by allowing rival assessment, yet are often energetically expensive to produce. One of the key mechanisms maintaining signal reliability is social costs. While the social costs of over-signalling are well known, the social costs of under-signalling are underexplored, particularly for dynamic signals. In this study, we investigate a dynamic and olfactory-mediated signalling system that is ubiquitous among mammals: scent marking. Male house mice territorially scent mark their environment with metabolically costly urine marks. Competitive male mice are thought to deposit abundant scent marks in the environment. However, we recently identified a cohort of low-marking males that win fights. We hypothesized that there may be social costs imposed on individuals who under-invest in signalling. Here we find that scent mark investment predicts fight dynamics. Winning males that produce fewer scent marks prior to a fight engage in more intense fights that take longer to resolve. This effect appears to be driven by an unwillingness among losers to acquiesce to weakly signalling winners. We, therefore, find evidence for rival assessment of scent marks as well as social costs to under-signalling. This supports existing hypotheses for the importance of social punishment in maintaining optimal signalling equilibria. Our results further highlight the possibility of diverse signalling strategies in house mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlin H. Miller
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Klaudio Haxhillari
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Matthew F. Hillock
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Tess M. Reichard
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Michael J. Sheehan
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
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Guma E, Beauchamp A, Liu S, Levitis E, Clasen LS, Torres E, Blumenthal J, Lalonde F, Qiu LR, Hrncir H, MacKenzie-Graham A, Yang X, Arnold AP, Lerch JP, Raznahan A. A Cross-Species Neuroimaging Study of Sex Chromosome Dosage Effects on Human and Mouse Brain Anatomy. J Neurosci 2023; 43:1321-1333. [PMID: 36631267 PMCID: PMC9987571 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1761-22.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
All eutherian mammals show chromosomal sex determination with contrasting sex chromosome dosages (SCDs) between males (XY) and females (XX). Studies in transgenic mice and humans with sex chromosome trisomy (SCT) have revealed direct SCD effects on regional mammalian brain anatomy, but we lack a formal test for cross-species conservation of these effects. Here, we develop a harmonized framework for comparative structural neuroimaging and apply this to systematically profile SCD effects on regional brain anatomy in both humans and mice by contrasting groups with SCT (XXY and XYY) versus XY controls. Total brain size was substantially altered by SCT in humans (significantly decreased by XXY and increased by XYY), but not in mice. Robust and spatially convergent effects of XXY and XYY on regional brain volume were observed in humans, but not mice, when controlling for global volume differences. However, mice do show subtle effects of XXY and XYY on regional volume, although there is not a general spatial convergence in these effects within mice or between species. Notwithstanding this general lack of conservation in SCT effects, we detect several brain regions that show overlapping effects of XXY and XYY both within and between species (cerebellar, parietal, and orbitofrontal cortex), thereby nominating high priority targets for future translational dissection of SCD effects on the mammalian brain. Our study introduces a generalizable framework for comparative neuroimaging in humans and mice and applies this to achieve a cross-species comparison of SCD effects on the mammalian brain through the lens of SCT.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Sex chromosome dosage (SCD) affects neuroanatomy and risk for psychopathology in humans. Performing mechanistic studies in the human brain is challenging but possible in mouse models. Here, we develop a framework for cross-species neuroimaging analysis and use this to show that an added X- or Y-chromosome significantly alters human brain anatomy but has muted effects in the mouse brain. However, we do find evidence for conserved cross-species impact of an added chromosome in the fronto-parietal cortices and cerebellum, which point to regions for future mechanistic dissection of sex chromosome dosage effects on brain development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Guma
- Section on Developmental Neurogenomics, Human Genetics Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, 20892, Maryland
| | - Antoine Beauchamp
- Mouse Imaging Centre, Toronto, Ontario M5T 3H7, Canada
- The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Siyuan Liu
- Section on Developmental Neurogenomics, Human Genetics Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, 20892, Maryland
| | - Elizabeth Levitis
- Section on Developmental Neurogenomics, Human Genetics Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, 20892, Maryland
| | - Liv S. Clasen
- Section on Developmental Neurogenomics, Human Genetics Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, 20892, Maryland
| | - Erin Torres
- Section on Developmental Neurogenomics, Human Genetics Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, 20892, Maryland
| | - Jonathan Blumenthal
- Section on Developmental Neurogenomics, Human Genetics Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, 20892, Maryland
| | - Francois Lalonde
- Section on Developmental Neurogenomics, Human Genetics Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, 20892, Maryland
| | - Lily R. Qiu
- Mouse Imaging Centre, Toronto, Ontario M5T 3H7, Canada
- The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8, Canada
| | - Haley Hrncir
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095
| | - Allan MacKenzie-Graham
- Department of Neurology, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095
| | - Xia Yang
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095
| | - Arthur P. Arnold
- Department of Integrative Biology and Physiology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90095
| | - Jason P. Lerch
- Mouse Imaging Centre, Toronto, Ontario M5T 3H7, Canada
- The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1L7, Canada
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 9DU, United Kingdom
| | - Armin Raznahan
- Section on Developmental Neurogenomics, Human Genetics Branch, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, 20892, Maryland
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Experimenter familiarization is a crucial prerequisite for assessing behavioral outcomes and reduces stress in mice not only under chronic pain conditions. Sci Rep 2023; 13:2289. [PMID: 36759654 PMCID: PMC9911644 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-29052-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/30/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Rodent behavior is affected by different environmental conditions. These do not only comprise experimental and housing conditions but also familiarization with the experimenter. However, specific effects on pain-related behavior and chronic pain conditions have not been examined. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the impact of different housing conditions, using individually ventilated and standard open top cages, inverted day-night cycles, and experimenter familiarization on male mice following peripheral neuropathy using the spared nerve injury (SNI) model. Using a multimodal approach, we evaluated evoked pain-related- using von Frey hair filaments, measured gait pattern with the CatWalk system, assessed anxiety- and depression-like behavior with the Elevated plus maze and tail suspension test, measured corticosterone metabolite levels in feces and utilized an integrative approach for relative-severity-assessment. Mechanical sensitivity differed between the cage systems and experimenter familiarization and was affected in both sham and SNI mice. Experimenter familiarization and an inverted day-night cycle reduced mechanical hypersensitivity in SNI and sham mice. SNI mice of the inverted day-night group displayed the slightest pronounced alterations in gait pattern in the Catwalk test. Anxiety-related behavior was only found in SNI mice of experimenter-familiarized mice compared to the sham controls. In addition, familiarization reduced the stress level measured by fecal corticosteroid metabolites caused by the pain and the behavioral tests. Although no environmental condition significantly modulated the severity in SNI mice, it influenced pain-affected phenotypes and is, therefore, crucial for designing and interpreting preclinical pain studies. Moreover, environmental conditions should be considered more in the reporting guidelines, described in more detail, and discussed as a potential influence on pain phenotypes.
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41
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Shuken SR, McNerney MW. Costs and Benefits of Popular P-Value Correction Methods in Three Models of Quantitative Omic Experiments. Anal Chem 2023; 95:2732-2740. [PMID: 36693222 PMCID: PMC10653731 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c03719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
The multiple hypothesis testing problem is inherent in large-scale quantitative "omic" experiments such as mass spectrometry-based proteomics. Yet, tools for comparing the costs and benefits of different p-value correction methods under different experimental conditions are lacking. We performed thousands of simulations of omic experiments under a range of experimental conditions and applied correction using the Benjamini-Hochberg (BH), Bonferroni, and permutation-based false discovery proportion (FDP) estimation methods. The tremendous false discovery rate (FDR) benefit of correction was confirmed in a range of different contexts. No correction method can guarantee a low FDP in a single experiment, but the probability of a high FDP is small when a high number and proportion of corrected p-values are significant. On average, correction decreased sensitivity, but the sensitivity costs of BH and permutation were generally modest compared to the FDR benefits. In a given experiment, observed sensitivity was always maintained or decreased by BH and Bonferroni, whereas it was often increased by permutation. Overall, permutation had better FDR and sensitivity than BH. We show how increasing sample size, decreasing variability, or increasing effect size can enable the detection of all true changes while still correcting p-values, and we present basic guidelines for omic experimental design. Analysis of an experimental proteomic data set with defined changes corroborated these trends. We developed an R Shiny web application for further exploration and visualization of these models, which we call the Simulator of P-value Multiple Hypothesis Correction (SIMPLYCORRECT) and a high-performance R package, permFDP, for easy use of the permutation-based FDP estimation method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven R Shuken
- Department of Chemistry, Stanford University, 364 Lomita Dr., Stanford, California94305, United States
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, 291 Campus Dr., Stanford, California94305, United States
- Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, Stanford University, 290 Jane Stanford Way, Stanford, California94305, United States
| | - M Windy McNerney
- Mental Illness Research Education and Clinical Center (MIRECC), Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System, 3801 Miranda Avenue, Palo Alto, California94304, United States
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, 291 Campus Dr., Stanford, California94305, United States
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Rivi V, Benatti C, Rigillo G, Blom JMC. Invertebrates as models of learning and memory: investigating neural and molecular mechanisms. J Exp Biol 2023; 226:jeb244844. [PMID: 36719249 DOI: 10.1242/jeb.244844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
In this Commentary, we shed light on the use of invertebrates as model organisms for understanding the causal and conserved mechanisms of learning and memory. We provide a condensed chronicle of the contribution offered by mollusks to the studies on how and where the nervous system encodes and stores memory and describe the rich cognitive capabilities of some insect species, including attention and concept learning. We also discuss the use of planarians for investigating the dynamics of memory during brain regeneration and highlight the role of stressful stimuli in forming memories. Furthermore, we focus on the increasing evidence that invertebrates display some forms of emotions, which provides new opportunities for unveiling the neural and molecular mechanisms underlying the complex interaction between stress, emotions and cognition. In doing so, we highlight experimental challenges and suggest future directions that we expect the field to take in the coming years, particularly regarding what we, as humans, need to know for preventing and/or delaying memory loss. This article has an associated ECR Spotlight interview with Veronica Rivi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Rivi
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Cristina Benatti
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
- Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Giovanna Rigillo
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
| | - Joan M C Blom
- Centre of Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, 41125 Modena, Italy
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Hepatoprotective Efficacy of Cycloastragenol Alleviated the Progression of Liver Fibrosis in Carbon-Tetrachloride-Treated Mice. Biomedicines 2023; 11:biomedicines11010231. [PMID: 36672739 PMCID: PMC9855659 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11010231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The continuous death of hepatocytes induced by various etiologies leads to an aberrant tissue healing process and promotes the progression of liver fibrosis and ultimately chronic liver diseases. To date, effective treatments to delay this harmful process remain an unmet clinical need. Cycloastragenol is an active phytochemical substance isolated from Astragalus membranaceus, a plant used in traditional Chinese medicine to protect the liver. Therefore, our study aimed to elucidate the efficacy of cycloastragenol on carbon-tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced liver fibrosis in mice. We found that cycloastragenol at 200 mg/kg dosage exhibited anti-fibrotic efficacy as demonstrated by a decrease in collagen deposition, downregulation of mRNA expression of collagen type 1, and a reduction in the content of total collagens. In addition, cycloastragenol further augmented the levels of anti-fibrotic matrix metalloproteinases (Mmps), that is, Mmp8, proMmp9, and Mmp12, which play a pivotal role in fibrosis resolution. According to histological analysis and serum markers of hepatotoxicity, cycloastragenol protected the livers from damage and mitigated the increment of serum alanine aminotransferase and bilirubin implicating hepatoprotective efficacy against CCl4. Moreover, cycloastragenol upregulated the mRNA expression of interleukin 6, a pleiotropic cytokine plays a vital role in the promotion of hepatocyte regeneration. In conclusion, cycloastragenol alleviated the progression of liver fibrosis in CCl4-treated mice and its anti-fibrotic efficacy was mainly due to the hepatoprotective efficacy.
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Zheng X, Li Z, Berg Sen J, Samarah L, Deacon CS, Bernardo J, Machin DR. Western diet augments metabolic and arterial dysfunction in a sex-specific manner in outbred, genetically diverse mice. Front Nutr 2023; 9:1090023. [PMID: 36687716 PMCID: PMC9853899 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2022.1090023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Western diet (WD), characterized by excess saturated fat and sugar intake, is a major contributor to obesity and metabolic and arterial dysfunction in humans. However, these phenotypes are not consistently observed in traditional inbred, genetically identical mice. Therefore, we sought to determine the effects of WD on visceral adiposity and metabolic/arterial function in UM-HET3 mice, an outbred, genetically diverse strain of mice. Male and female UM-HET3 mice underwent normal chow (NC) or WD for 12 weeks. Body mass and visceral adiposity were higher in WD compared to NC (P < 0.05). Female WD mice had greater visceral adiposity than male WD mice (P < 0.05). The results of glucose and insulin tolerance tests demonstrated that metabolic function was lower in WD compared to NC mice (P < 0.05). Metabolic dysfunction in WD as was driven by male mice, as metabolic function in female WD mice was unchanged (P > 0.05). Systolic blood pressure (BP) and aortic stiffness were increased in WD after 2 weeks compared to baseline and continued to increase through week 12 (P < 0.05). Systolic BP and aortic stiffness were higher from weeks 2-12 in WD compared to NC (P < 0.05). Aortic collagen content was higher in WD compared to NC (P < 0.05). Carotid artery endothelium-dependent dilation was lower in WD compared to NC (P < 0.05). These data suggest sex-related differences in visceral adiposity and metabolic dysfunction in response to WD. Despite this, arterial dysfunction was similar in male and female WD mice, indicating this model may provide unique translational insight into similar sex-related observations in humans that consume WD.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Daniel R. Machin
- Department of Nutrition and Integrative Physiology, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, United States
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Begasse de Dhaem O, Wattiez AS, de Boer I, Pavitt S, Powers SW, Pradhan A, Gelfand AA, Nahman-Averbuch H. Bridging the gap between preclinical scientists, clinical researchers, and clinicians: From animal research to clinical practice. Headache 2023; 63:25-39. [PMID: 36633108 DOI: 10.1111/head.14441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2021] [Revised: 07/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Collaborations amongst researchers and clinicians with complementary areas of expertise enhance knowledge for everyone and can lead to new discoveries. To facilitate these interactions, shared language and a general understanding of how colleagues in different subfields of headache and headache research approach their work are needed. METHODS This narrative review focuses on research methods applied in animal studies, human studies including clinical trials, and provides an overview of clinical practice. RESULTS For animal studies, we describe concepts needed to evaluate the quality and relevance of preclinical studies. For human research, fundamental concepts of neuroimaging, quantitative sensory testing, genetic and epidemiological research methods, and clinical research methodology that are commonly used in headache research are summarized. In addition, we provide an understanding of what guides headache clinicians, and summarize the practical approach to migraine management in adults and children. CONCLUSIONS It is hoped that this review facilitates further dialogue between clinicians and researchers that will help guide future research efforts and implementation of research findings into clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anne-Sophie Wattiez
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, USA.,Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Visual Loss, Veterans Administration Health Center, Iowa City, Iowa, USA
| | - Irene de Boer
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, Netherlands
| | - Sara Pavitt
- Child & Adolescent Headache Program, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Scott W Powers
- Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.,Center for Understanding Pediatric Pain, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Amynah Pradhan
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Amy A Gelfand
- Child & Adolescent Headache Program, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Hadas Nahman-Averbuch
- Department of Anesthesiology, Washington University Pain Center, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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Souza JS, Farani PSG, Ferreira BIS, Barbosa HS, Menna-Barreto RFS, Moreira OC, Mariante RM. Establishment of a murine model of congenital toxoplasmosis and validation of a qPCR assay to assess the parasite load in maternal and fetal tissues. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1124378. [PMID: 36922978 PMCID: PMC10009190 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1124378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii is the causative agent of toxoplasmosis, a disease that affects warm-blooded animals and one third of the human population worldwide. Pregnant women who have never been exposed to the parasite constitute an important risk group, as infection during pregnancy often leads to congenital toxoplasmosis, the most severe form of the disease. Current therapy for toxoplasmosis is the same as it was 50 years ago and has little or no effect when vertical transmission occurs. Therefore, it is urgent to develop new strategies to prevent mother-to-fetus transmission. The implementation of experimental animal models of congenital toxoplasmosis that reproduces the transmission rates and clinical signs in humans opens an avenue of possibilities to interfere in the progression of the disease. In addition, knowing the parasite load in maternal and fetal tissues after infection, which may be related to organ abnormalities and disease outcome, is another important step in designing a promising intervention strategy. Therefore, we implemented here a murine model of congenital toxoplasmosis with outbred Swiss Webster mice infected intravenously with tachyzoites of the ME49 strain of T. gondii that mimics the frequency of transmission of the parasite, as well as important clinical signs of human congenital toxoplasmosis, such as macrocephaly, in addition to providing a highly sensitive quantitative real-time PCR assay to assess parasite load in mouse tissues. As the disease is not restricted to humans, also affecting several domestic animals, including companion animals and livestock, they can also benefit from the model presented in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jéssica S Souza
- Laboratório de Biologia Estrutural, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Priscila S G Farani
- Plataforma de PCR em Tempo Real RPT09A, Laboratório de Virologia Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.,Department of Biological Science, Border Biomedical Research Center, The University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, United States
| | - Beatriz I S Ferreira
- Plataforma de PCR em Tempo Real RPT09A, Laboratório de Virologia Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Helene S Barbosa
- Laboratório de Biologia Estrutural, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | | | - Otacilio C Moreira
- Plataforma de PCR em Tempo Real RPT09A, Laboratório de Virologia Molecular, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Rafael M Mariante
- Laboratório de Biologia Estrutural, Instituto Oswaldo Cruz, Fiocruz, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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Klazas M, Naamneh MS, Zheng W, Lazarovici P. Gabapentin Increases Intra-Epidermal and Peptidergic Nerve Fibers Density and Alleviates Allodynia and Thermal Hyperalgesia in a Mouse Model of Acute Taxol-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10123190. [PMID: 36551946 PMCID: PMC9775678 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10123190] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The clinical pathology of Taxol-induced peripheral neuropathy (TIPN), characterized by loss of sensory sensitivity and pain, is mirrored in a preclinical pharmacological mice model in which Gabapentin, produced anti-thermal hyperalgesia and anti-allodynia effects. The study aimed to investigate the hypothesis that gabapentin may protect against Taxol-induced neuropathic pain in association with an effect on intra-epidermal nerve fibers density in the TIPN mice model. A TIPN study schedule was induced in mice by daily injection of Taxol during the first week of the experiment. Gabapentin therapy was performed during the 2nd and 3rd weeks. The neuropathic pain was evaluated during the whole experiment by the Von Frey, tail flick, and hot plate tests. Intra-epidermal nerve fibers (IENF) density in skin biopsies was measured at the end of the experiment by immunohistochemistry of ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase PGP9.5 pan-neuronal and calcitonin gene-related (CGRP) peptides-I/II- peptidergic markers. Taxol-induced neuropathy was expressed by 80% and 73% reduction in the paw density of IENFs and CGPR, and gabapentin treatment corrected by 83% and 46% this reduction, respectively. Gabapentin-induced increase in the IENF and CGRP nerve fibers density, thus proposing these evaluations as an additional objective end-point tool in TIPN model studies using gabapentin as a reference compound.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal Klazas
- Pharmacy Unit, School of Pharmacy Institute for Drug Research, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112002, Israel
| | - Majdi Saleem Naamneh
- Pharmacology Unit, School of Pharmacy Institute for Drug Research, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112002, Israel
| | - Wenhua Zheng
- Center of Reproduction, Development and Aging and Institute of Translation Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau 999078, China
| | - Philip Lazarovici
- Pharmacology Unit, School of Pharmacy Institute for Drug Research, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem 9112002, Israel
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +972-2-6758729; Fax: +972-2-6757490
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Lorusso JM, Woods RM, McEwan F, Glazier JD, Neill JC, Harte M, Hager R. Clustering of cognitive phenotypes identifies susceptible and resilient offspring in a rat model of maternal immune activation and early-life stress. Brain Behav Immun Health 2022; 25:100514. [PMID: 36177307 PMCID: PMC9513103 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbih.2022.100514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Schizophrenia and other neurodevelopmental disorders often have very heterogeneous symptoms, especially regarding cognition: while some individuals may exhibit deficient cognition, others are relatively unaffected. Studies using developmental animal models often ignore phenotypic heterogeneity in favour of traditional treatment/control comparisons. This may result in resilient or unaffected individuals masking the effects of susceptible individuals if grouped together. Here, we used maternal immune activation and limited bedding and nesting, respectively, as a two-hit neurodevelopmental model for schizophrenia. Both factors reduced cognitive function in a novel object recognition (NOR) task. While we found treatment group effects on cognitive phenotypes, behavioural clustering identified three subpopulations exposed to either insult: those exhibiting ‘typical’ cognitive performance on the NOR, an intermediate phenotype, or a marked deficit. These clusters included offspring from each treatment group, although both intermediate and marked deficit clusters were composed primarily of offspring from treated groups. Clustering allowed stratification within treatment groups into ‘susceptible’ and ‘resilient’ individuals, while also identifying conserved phenotypes across treatment groups. Using unbiased cluster analyses in preclinical models can better characterize phenotypes and enables a better understanding of both face and construct validity of phenotypic heterogeneity. The use of unbiased clustering techniques may help identify potential markers associated with individual susceptibility and resilience in neurodevelopmental disorder models. Maternal immune activation and early life stress affect recognition memory. New groups were identified using unbiased clustering based on task performance. These clusters reflected high-, low-, and intermediary recognition memory. Treatment offspring were distributed across all three unbiased clusters. These findings suggest some offspring will be resilient to developmental insults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jarred M. Lorusso
- Division of Evolution, Infection, and Genomics, School of Biological Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, United Kingdom
- Corresponding author.
| | - Rebecca M. Woods
- Division of Evolution, Infection, and Genomics, School of Biological Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, United Kingdom
| | - Francesca McEwan
- Division of Evolution, Infection, and Genomics, School of Biological Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, United Kingdom
| | - Jocelyn D. Glazier
- Division of Evolution, Infection, and Genomics, School of Biological Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, United Kingdom
| | - Joanna C. Neill
- Division of Pharmacy & Optometry, School of Health Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, United Kingdom
| | - Michael Harte
- Division of Pharmacy & Optometry, School of Health Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, United Kingdom
| | - Reinmar Hager
- Division of Evolution, Infection, and Genomics, School of Biological Sciences, Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Faculty of Biology, Medicine & Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, United Kingdom
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Dupont V, Berg AH, Yamashita M, Huang C, Covarrubias AE, Ali S, Stotland A, Van Eyk JE, Jim B, Thadhani R, Karumanchi SA. Impaired renal reserve contributes to preeclampsia via the kynurenine and soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 pathway. J Clin Invest 2022; 132:158346. [PMID: 35943814 PMCID: PMC9566901 DOI: 10.1172/jci158346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
To understand how kidney donation leads to an increased risk of preeclampsia, we studied pregnant outbred mice with prior uninephrectomy and compared them with sham-operated littermates carrying both kidneys. During pregnancy, uninephrectomized (UNx) mice failed to achieve a physiological increase in the glomerular filtration rate and during late gestation developed hypertension, albuminuria, glomerular endothelial damage, and excess placental production of soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase 1 (sFLT1), an antiangiogenic protein implicated in the pathogenesis of preeclampsia. Maternal hypertension in UNx mice was associated with low plasma volumes, an increased rate of fetal resorption, impaired spiral artery remodeling, and placental ischemia. To evaluate potential mechanisms, we studied plasma metabolite changes using mass spectrometry and noted that l-kynurenine, a metabolite of l-tryptophan, was upregulated approximately 3-fold during pregnancy when compared with prepregnant concentrations in the same animals, consistent with prior reports suggesting a protective role for l-kynurenine in placental health. However, UNx mice failed to show upregulation of l-kynurenine during pregnancy; furthermore, when UNx mice were fed l-kynurenine in drinking water throughout pregnancy, their preeclampsia-like state was rescued, including a reversal of placental ischemia and normalization of sFLT1 levels. In aggregate, we provide a mechanistic basis for how impaired renal reserve and the resulting failure to upregulate l-kynurenine during pregnancy can lead to impaired placentation, placental hypoperfusion, an antiangiogenic state, and subsequent preeclampsia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincent Dupont
- Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA.,EA-3801, Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, Reims, France
| | | | | | | | | | - Shafat Ali
- Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Aleksandr Stotland
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Jennifer E. Van Eyk
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Smidt Heart Institute, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Belinda Jim
- Department of Medicine, Jacobi Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, USA
| | - Ravi Thadhani
- Department of Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - S. Ananth Karumanchi
- Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, California, USA
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Liebmann M, Grupe K, Asuaje Pfeifer M, Rustenbeck I, Scherneck S. Differences in lipid metabolism in acquired versus preexisting glucose intolerance during gestation: role of free fatty acids and sphingosine-1-phosphate. Lipids Health Dis 2022; 21:99. [PMID: 36209101 PMCID: PMC9547403 DOI: 10.1186/s12944-022-01706-x] [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: 06/30/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The prevalence of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is increasing worldwide. There is increasing evidence that GDM is a heterogeneous disease with different subtypes. An important question in this context is whether impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), which is a typical feature of the disease, may already be present before pregnancy and manifestation of the disease. The latter type resembles in its clinical manifestation prediabetes that has not yet manifested as type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Altered lipid metabolism plays a crucial role in the disorder's pathophysiology. The aim was to investigate the role of lipids which are relevant in diabetes-like phenotypes in these both models with different time of initial onset of IGT. METHODS Two rodent models reflecting different characteristics of human GDM were used to characterize changes in lipid metabolism occurring during gestation. Since the New Zealand obese (NZO)-mice already exhibit IGT before and during gestation, they served as a subtype model for GDM with preexisting IGT (preIGT) and were compared with C57BL/6 N mice with transient IGT acquired during gestation (aqIGT). While the latter model does not develop manifest diabetes even under metabolic stress conditions, the NZO mouse is prone to severe disease progression later in life. Metabolically healthy Naval Medical Research Institute (NMRI) mice served as controls. RESULTS In contrast to the aqIGT model, preIGT mice showed hyperlipidemia during gestation with elevated free fatty acids (FFA), triglycerides (TG), and increased atherogenic index. Interestingly, sphingomyelin (SM) concentrations in the liver decreased during gestation concomitantly with an increase in the sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) concentration in plasma. Further, preIGT mice showed impaired hepatic weight adjustment and alterations in hepatic FFA metabolism during gestation. This was accompanied by decreased expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) and lack of translocation of fatty acid translocase (FAT/CD36) to the hepatocellular plasma membrane. CONCLUSION The preIGT model showed impaired lipid metabolism both in plasma and liver, as well as features of insulin resistance consistent with increased S1P concentrations, and in these characteristics, the preIGT model differs from the common GDM subtype with aqIGT. Thus, concomitantly elevated plasma FFA and S1P concentrations, in addition to general shifts in sphingolipid fractions, could be an interesting signal that the metabolic disorder existed before gestation and that future pregnancies require more intensive monitoring to avoid complications. This graphical abstract was created with BioRender.com .
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Affiliation(s)
- Moritz Liebmann
- Institute of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacy, Technische Universität Braunschweig, D-38106, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Katharina Grupe
- Institute of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacy, Technische Universität Braunschweig, D-38106, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Melissa Asuaje Pfeifer
- Institute of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacy, Technische Universität Braunschweig, D-38106, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Ingo Rustenbeck
- Institute of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacy, Technische Universität Braunschweig, D-38106, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Stephan Scherneck
- Institute of Pharmacology, Toxicology and Clinical Pharmacy, Technische Universität Braunschweig, D-38106, Braunschweig, Germany.
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