Construction of 3D-rendering imaging of an ischemic rat brain model using the planar FMMD technique

Identification of ANXA3 as a biomarker associated with pyroptosis in ischemic stroke

BACKGROUND

Pyroptosis plays an important role in the pathological process of ischemic stroke (IS). However, the exact mechanism of pyroptosis remains unclear. This paper aims to reveal the key molecular markers associated with pyroptosis in IS.

METHODS

We used random forest learning, gene set variation analysis, and Pearson correlation analysis to screen for biomarkers associated with pyroptosis in IS. Middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R) and oxygen and glucose deprivation/reoxygenation (OGD/R) models were constructed in vitro and in vivo. Cells were transfected with an Annexin A3 silencing (si-ANXA3) plasmid to observe the effects of ANXA3 on OGD/R + lipopolysaccharides (LPS)-induced pyroptosis. qRT‒PCR and western blotting were used to detect the expression of potential biomarkers and pyroptotic pathways.

RESULTS

Samples from a total of 170 IS patients and 109 healthy individuals were obtained from 5 gene expression omnibus databases. Thirty important genes were analyzed by random forest learning from the differentially expressed genes. Then, we investigated the relationship between the above genes and the pyroptosis score, obtaining three potential biomarkers (ANXA3, ANKRD22, ADM). ANXA3 and ADM were upregulated in the MCAO/R model, and the fold difference in ANXA3 expression was greater. Pyroptosis-related factors (NLRP3, NLRC4, AIM2, GSDMD-N, caspase-8, pro-caspase-1, cleaved caspase-1, IL-1β, and IL-18) were upregulated in the MCAO/R model. Silencing ANXA3 alleviated the expression of pyroptosis-related factors (NLRC4, AIM2, GSDMD-N, caspase-8, pro-caspase-1, cleaved caspase-1, and IL-18) induced by OGD/R + LPS or MCAO/R.

CONCLUSION

This study identified ANXA3 as a possible pyroptosis-related gene marker in IS through bioinformatics and experiments. ANXA3 could inhibit pyroptosis through the NLRC4/AIM2 axis.

In vivo Preclinical Tumor-Specific Imaging of Superparamagnetic Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Using Magnetic Particle Imaging for Cancer Diagnosis

Purpose

Magnetic particle imaging (MPI) is an emerging radiation-free, non-invasive three-dimensional tomographic technology that can visualize the concentrations of superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (SPIONs). To verify the applicability of the previously proposed point-of-care testing MPI (PoCT-MPI) in medical diagnosis and therapeutics, we imaged SPIONs in animal tumor models.

Methods

CT26 or MC38 mouse colon carcinoma cells (2 × 10⁶ cells) were subcutaneously injected into the right flank of BALB/c mice. SPIONs were either injected directly into the tumor lesions in the intratumoral group or through tail veins in the intravenous group. CT26 and MC38 tumor models were examined both intratumorally and intravenously to confirm the biological availability of SPIONs using PoCT-MPI.

Results

Signals were observed in the tumor lesions from day 1 to day 7. This is the first study to successfully image the pathological region and show the biodistribution of SPIONs in CT26 tumor models using the recently developed PoCT-MPI technology. Furthermore, MC38 tumor models were examined, resulting in similar images to those of the CT26 tumor model in both intratumoral and intravenous groups.

Conclusion

The present study demonstrates the biological applicability of PoCT-MPI, which promises to be a powerful diagnostic and therapeutic technique in biomedical imaging.

Magnetic frequency mixing technological advances for the practical improvement of point-of-care testing

Nanomaterials, especially superparamagnetic nanomaterials, have recently played essential roles in point-of-care testing due to their intrinsic magnetic, electrochemical, and optical properties. The inherent superparamagnetism of magnetic nanoparticles makes them highly sensitive for quantitative detection. Among the various magnetic detection technologies, frequency mixing technology (FMT) technology is an emerging detection technique in the nanomedical field. FMT sensors have high potential for development in the field of biomedical quantitative detection due to their simple structure, and they are not limited to the materials used. In particular, they can be applied for large-scale disease screening, early tumor marker detection, and low-dose drug detection. This review summarizes the principles of FMT and recent advances in the fields of immunoadsorption, lateral flow assay detection, magnetic imaging, and magnetic nanoparticles recognition. The advantages and limitations of FMT sensors for robust, ultrasensitive biosensing are highlighted. Finally, the future requirements and challenges in the development of this technology are described. This review provides further insights for researchers to inspire the future development of FMT by integration into biosensing and devices with a broad field of applications in analytical sensing and clinical usage.

The Cytoskeletal Elements MAP2 and NF-L Show Substantial Alterations in Different Stroke Models While Elevated Serum Levels Highlight Especially MAP2 as a Sensitive Biomarker in Stroke Patients

In the setting of ischemic stroke, the neurofilament subunit NF-L and the microtubule-associated protein MAP2 have proven to be exceptionally ischemia-sensitive elements of the neuronal cytoskeleton. Since alterations of the cytoskeleton have been linked to the transition from reversible to irreversible tissue damage, the present study investigates underlying time- and region-specific alterations of NF-L and MAP2 in different animal models of focal cerebral ischemia. Although NF-L is increasingly established as a clinical stroke biomarker, MAP2 serum measurements after stroke are still lacking. Therefore, the present study further compares serum levels of MAP2 with NF-L in stroke patients. In the applied animal models, MAP2-related immunofluorescence intensities were decreased in ischemic areas, whereas the abundance of NF-L degradation products accounted for an increase of NF-L-related immunofluorescence intensity. Accordingly, Western blot analyses of ischemic areas revealed decreased protein levels of both MAP2 and NF-L. The cytoskeletal alterations are further reflected at an ultrastructural level as indicated by a significant reduction of detectable neurofilaments in cortical axons of ischemia-affected areas. Moreover, atomic force microscopy measurements confirmed altered mechanical properties as indicated by a decreased elastic strength in ischemia-affected tissue. In addition to the results from the animal models, stroke patients exhibited significantly elevated serum levels of MAP2, which increased with infarct size, whereas serum levels of NF-L did not differ significantly. Thus, MAP2 appears to be a more sensitive stroke biomarker than NF-L, especially for early neuronal damage. This perspective is strengthened by the results from the animal models, showing MAP2-related alterations at earlier time points compared to NF-L. The profound ischemia-induced alterations further qualify both cytoskeletal elements as promising targets for neuroprotective therapies.

Multiscale imaging of the rat brain using an integrated diceCT and histology workflow

Advancements in tissue visualization techniques have spurred significant gains in the biomedical sciences by enabling researchers to integrate their datasets across anatomical scales. Of particular import are techniques that enable the interpolation of multiple hierarchical scales in samples taken from the same individuals. In this study, we demonstrate that two-dimensional histology techniques can be employed on neural tissues following three-dimensional diffusible iodine-based contrast-enhanced computed tomography (diceCT) without causing tissue degradation. This represents the first step toward a multiscale pipeline for brain visualization. We studied brains from adolescent male Sprague-Dawley rats, comparing experimental (diceCT-stained then de-stained) to control (without diceCT) brains to examine neural tissues for immunolabeling integrity, compare somata sizes, and distinguish neurons from glial cells within the telencephalon and diencephalon. We hypothesized that if experimental and control samples do not differ significantly in morphological cell analysis, then brain tissues are robust to the chemical, temperature, and radiation environments required for these multiple, successive imaging protocols. Visualizations for experimental brains were first captured via micro-computed tomography scanning of isolated, iodine-infused specimens. Samples were then cleared of iodine, serially sectioned, and prepared again using immunofluorescent, fluorescent, and cresyl violet labeling, followed by imaging with confocal and light microscopy, respectively. Our results show that many neural targets are resilient to diceCT imaging and compatible with downstream histological staining as part of a low-cost, multiscale brain imaging pipeline.

Development of long circulating magnetic particle imaging tracers: use of novel magnetic nanoparticles and entrapment into human erythrocytes

Aim: Magnetic particle imaging (MPI) is highly promising for biomedical applications, but optimal tracers for MPI, namely superparamagnetic iron oxide-based contrast agents, are still lacking. Materials & methods: The encapsulation of commercially available nanoparticles, specifically synomag^®-D and perimag^®, into human red blood cells (RBCs) was performed by a hypotonic dialysis and isotonic resealing procedure. The amounts of superparamagnetic iron oxide incorporated into RBCs were determined by Fe quantification using nuclear magnetic resonance and magnetic particle spectroscopy. Results: Perimag-COOH nanoparticles were identified as the best nanomaterial for encapsulation in RBCs. Perimag-COOH-loaded RBCs proved to be viable cells showing a good magnetic particle spectroscopy performance, while the magnetic signal of synomag-D-COOH-loaded RBCs dropped sharply. Conclusion: Perimag-COOH-loaded RBCs could be a potential tool for MPI diagnostic applications.