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Leung NY, Xu C, Li JSS, Ganguly A, Meyerhof GT, Regimbald-Dumas Y, Lane EA, Breault DT, He X, Perrimon N, Montell C. Gut tumors in flies alter the taste valence of an anti-tumorigenic bitter compound. Curr Biol 2024; 34:2623-2632.e5. [PMID: 38823383 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2024.04.082] [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: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
The sense of taste is essential for survival, as it allows animals to distinguish between foods that are nutritious from those that are toxic. However, innate responses to different tastants can be modulated or even reversed under pathological conditions. Here, we examined whether and how the internal status of an animal impacts taste valence by using Drosophila models of hyperproliferation in the gut. In all three models where we expressed proliferation-inducing transgenes in intestinal stem cells (ISCs), hyperproliferation of ISCs caused a tumor-like phenotype in the gut. While tumor-bearing flies had no deficiency in overall food intake, strikingly, they exhibited an increased gustatory preference for aristolochic acid (ARI), which is a bitter and normally aversive plant-derived chemical. ARI had anti-tumor effects in all three of our gut hyperproliferation models. For other aversive chemicals we tested that are bitter but do not have anti-tumor effects, gut tumors did not affect avoidance behaviors. We demonstrated that bitter-sensing gustatory receptor neurons (GRNs) in tumor-bearing flies respond normally to ARI. Therefore, the internal pathology of gut hyperproliferation affects neural circuits that determine taste valence postsynaptic to GRNs rather than altering taste identity by GRNs. Overall, our data suggest that increased consumption of ARI may represent an attempt at self-medication. Finally, although ARI's potential use as a chemotherapeutic agent is limited by its known toxicity in the liver and kidney, our findings suggest that tumor-bearing flies might be a useful animal model to screen for novel anti-tumor drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole Y Leung
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA; Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Chiwei Xu
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Joshua Shing Shun Li
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Anindya Ganguly
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA; Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Geoff T Meyerhof
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA; Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA
| | - Yannik Regimbald-Dumas
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Lane
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - David T Breault
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Xi He
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Norbert Perrimon
- Department of Genetics, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Harvard Medical School, 77 Avenue Louis Pasteur, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
| | - Craig Montell
- Neuroscience Research Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA; Department of Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA.
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Lu N, Wang X, Wang Y, Du Y, Gao Q, Zhang H. Establishment of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for aristolochic acid. Toxicon 2024; 244:107771. [PMID: 38795849 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxicon.2024.107771] [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: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024]
Abstract
In recent years, the nephrotoxicity and carcinogenicity of aristolochic acid have attracted worldwide attention, and the traditional Chinese medicine containing this ingredient has been banned in many places, affecting the TCM industry. To meet this challenge, researchers have developed various detection methods, such as high-performance liquid chromatography, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and thin-layer chromatography. A rapid detection method must therefore be developed to ensure safety. A polyclonal antibody capable of recognizing aristolochic acid was prepared, and an indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ic-ELISA) was established to detect the amount of aristolochic acid in the sample to be measured. Methods Using 1-(4-chlorophenyl) cyclobutylamine as a hapten, immunogens and coating antigens were obtained by coupling with bovine serum albumin (BSA) and chicken ovalbumin (OVA) using the active ester method. UV scanning confirmed the successful coupling of the conjugate, and New Zealand white rabbits were immunized. The obtained antibody serum was screened for the best antibody by ic-ELISA detection. Use the chessboard method to determine three optimal combinations of original coating concentration and antibody dilution ratio, establish a standard curve for each combination to obtain the best combination, and establish a rapid detection method. Finally, the standard aristolochic acid A was added to the purchased apple vinegar and canned coffee for recycling experiments to verify the detection method.By changing the antigen antibody concentration, the antibody showed the highest sensitivity to aristolochic acid standard at the original coating, 1000-fold dilution, IC50 of 24.88 ng/mL, limit of detection IC10 of 3.19 ng/mL, and detection range IC20-IC80 of 6.81-90.91 ng/mL. The recovery experiments under this conditions yielded a recovery rate of 92%-105%, within reasonable limits, indicating the success of the ELISA rapid detection method. Conclusion The enzyme-linked immunoassay method established in this paper can quickly detect the content of aristolochic acid in the sample to be tested, and the antibody prepared by this method has good broad-spectrum and can detect other aristolochic acid, such as aristolochic acid A, aristolochic acid B, aristolochic acid C, and aristolochic acid D.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ning Lu
- Department of Biology and Food Engineering, Bozhou University, China; Anhui Engineering Research Center for Development and Application of Functional Blended Liquor(prepare), China
| | - Xiaolu Wang
- Department of Biology and Food Engineering, Bozhou University, China; Anhui Engineering Research Center for Development and Application of Functional Blended Liquor(prepare), China
| | - Yu Wang
- Department of Biology and Food Engineering, Bozhou University, China
| | - Yue Du
- Department of Biology and Food Engineering, Bozhou University, China
| | - Qianni Gao
- Department of Biology and Food Engineering, Bozhou University, China; Anhui Engineering Research Center for Development and Application of Functional Blended Liquor(prepare), China
| | - Huimin Zhang
- Department of Biology and Food Engineering, Bozhou University, China; Anhui Engineering Research Center for Development and Application of Functional Blended Liquor(prepare), China.
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Dang M, Wu L, Jin G, Yang C, Isah MB, Zhang X. Quantum Dot-Based Immunoassays: Unraveling Sensitivity Discrepancies and Charting Future Frontiers. Anal Chem 2024; 96:980-984. [PMID: 38194441 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.3c04791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
The 2023 Nobel Prize in Chemistry honors the groundbreaking contributions of Alexei Ekimov, Louis Brus, and Moungi Bawendi to the field of quantum dots (QDs). In this spirit, we developed a direct competitive QD fluorescence immunoassay (dc-QD-FLISA) to detect aristolochic acid type I (AAI), a potent carcinogen found in herbal remedies. Unexpectedly, the dc-QD-FLISA exhibited lower sensitivity than that of an indirect competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ic-ELISA), contrary to our initial expectations. This discrepancy in the sensitivity prompted a comprehensive analysis of the entire experimental process. We propose that steric hindrance between QDs and antigen-binding sites on antibodies may significantly diminish the binding efficiency, reducing sensitivity within the dc-QD-FLISA method. Furthermore, issues such as buffer conditions, antibody handling, and separation methods are also contributing factors. We recommend site-directed QD modification and stringent consideration of the experimental conditions. This study not only provides insights into QD-based immunoassays but also highlights the need for future advancements in immunoassay technology in terms of augmenting sensitivity and specificity, potentially revolutionizing disease diagnosis, biomarker discovery, and biomedical research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Dang
- College of Biological Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Technology, Hanzhong 723000, Shaanxi, China
- Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, National University of Singapore, 10 Keng Ridge Crescent, 119260 Singapore
| | - Longjiang Wu
- College of Biological Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Technology, Hanzhong 723000, Shaanxi, China
| | - Gelin Jin
- College of Biological Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Technology, Hanzhong 723000, Shaanxi, China
| | - Chenxuan Yang
- College of Biological Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Technology, Hanzhong 723000, Shaanxi, China
| | - Murtala Bindawa Isah
- College of Biological Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Technology, Hanzhong 723000, Shaanxi, China
| | - Xiaoying Zhang
- College of Biological Science and Engineering, Shaanxi University of Technology, Hanzhong 723000, Shaanxi, China
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, N1G 2W1 Guelph, Ontario, Canada
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Wu YF, Tang ZY, Deng YX, Liu K, Gu XR, Zhou GL, Huang YJ, Lin XQ, Zhou LY, Zuo XC. Identification and analysis of differently expressed transcription factors in aristolochic acid nephropathy. Environ Health Prev Med 2024; 29:30. [PMID: 38777778 PMCID: PMC11157247 DOI: 10.1265/ehpm.23-00245] [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: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Aristolochic acid nephropathy (AAN) is a rapidly progressive interstitial nephropathy caused by Aristolochic acid (AA). AAN is associated with the development of nephropathy and urothelial carcinoma. It is estimated that more than 100 million people worldwide are at risk of developing AAN. However, the underlying mechanisms driving renal deterioration in AAN remain poorly understood, and the treatment options are limited. METHODS We obtained GSE27168 and GSE136276 series matrix data from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) related to AAN. Using the R Studio environment, we applied the limma package and WGCNA package to identify co-differently expressed genes (co-DEGs). By GO/KEGG/GSVA analysis, we revealed common biological pathways. Subsequently, co-DEGs were subjected to the String database to construct a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network. The MCC algorithms implemented in the Cytohubba plugin were employed to identify hub genes. The hub genes were cross-referenced with the transcription factor (TF) database to identify hub TFs. Immune infiltration analysis was performed to identify key immune cell groups by utilizing CIBERSORT. The expressions of AAN-associated hub TFs were verified in vivo and in vitro. Finally, siRNA intervention was performed on the two TFs to verify their regulatory effect in AAN. RESULTS Our analysis identified 88 co-DEGs through the "limma" and "WGCNA" R packages. A PPI network comprising 53 nodes and 34 edges was constructed with a confidence level >0.4. ATF3 and c-JUN were identified as hub TFs potentially linked to AAN. Additionally, expressions of ATF3 and c-JUN positively correlated with monocytes, basophils, and vessels, and negatively correlated with eosinophils and endothelial cells. We observed a significant increase in protein and mRNA levels of these two hub TFs. Furthermore, it was found that siRNA intervention targeting ATF3, but not c-JUN, alleviated cell damage induced by AA. The knockdown of ATF3 protects against oxidative stress and inflammation in the AAN cell model. CONCLUSION This study provides novel insights into the role of ATF3 in AAN. The comprehensive analysis sheds light on the molecular mechanisms and identifies potential biomarkers and drug targets for AAN treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi-Feng Wu
- Department of Pharmacy, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China
| | - Zhi-Yao Tang
- Department of Pharmacy, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China
| | - Yi-Xuan Deng
- Department of Pharmacy, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China
| | - Kun Liu
- Department of Pharmacy, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China
| | - Xu-Rui Gu
- Department of Pharmacy, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China
| | - Guang-Liang Zhou
- Department of Pharmacy, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China
| | - Yu-Jie Huang
- Department of Pharmacy, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China
| | - Xiao-Qing Lin
- Department of Pharmacy, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China
| | - Lin-Yun Zhou
- Department of Pharmacy, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China
| | - Xiao-Cong Zuo
- Department of Pharmacy, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha 410000, China
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