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Kammerer S, Nowak E, Mantke R, Jung F, Küpper JH. In vitro simulation of the liver first-pass effect with biotransformation-competent HepG2 cells to study effects of MG-132 on liver and cancer cells. Clin Hemorheol Microcirc 2024; 86:159-168. [PMID: 37638428 DOI: 10.3233/ch-238108] [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] [Indexed: 08/29/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Liver biotransformation is the major route for drug metabolism in humans, often catalysed by cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes. This first-pass effect can lead to hepatotoxicity and influences the bioavailability of drugs. OBJECTIVE We aimed to establish in vitro culture systems simulating the liver first-pass to study effects of the proteasome inhibitor MG-132 simultaneously on hepatocytes and cancer cells. METHODS The first-pass effect was simulated by conditioned medium transfer (CMT) from pre-treated HepG2 CYP3A4-overexpressing cells to either pancreatic cancer cell line PANC-1 or primary colon cancer cells, and by indirect co-culture (CC) of liver and cancer cells in a shared medium compartment. Experimental proteasome inhibitor MG-132 was used as test substance as it is detoxified by CYP3A4. RESULTS Cancer cells showed higher viabilities in the first-pass simulation by CMT and CC formats when compared to monocultures indicating effective detoxification of MG-132 by HepG2 CYP3A4-overexpressing cells. HepG2-CYP3A4 cells showed reduced viabilites after treatment with MG-132. CONCLUSIONS We successfully established two different culture systems to simulate the liver first-pass effect in vitro. Such systems easily allow to study drug effects simultaneously on liver and on target cancer cells. They are of great value in pre-clinical cancer research, pharmaceutical research and drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Kammerer
- Institute of Biotechnology, Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, Senftenberg, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Nowak
- Institute of Biotechnology, Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, Senftenberg, Germany
- MVZ Gemeinschaftslabor Cottbus, Cottbus, Germany
| | - René Mantke
- Department of General Surgery, University Hospital Brandenburg, Brandenburg Medical School Theodor Fontane, Brandenburg an der Havel, Germany
| | - Friedrich Jung
- Institute of Biotechnology, Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, Senftenberg, Germany
| | - Jan-Heiner Küpper
- Institute of Biotechnology, Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg, Senftenberg, Germany
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2
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Faria J, Calcat-I-Cervera S, Skovronova R, Broeksma BC, Berends AJ, Zaal EA, Bussolati B, O'Brien T, Mihăilă SM, Masereeuw R. Mesenchymal stromal cells secretome restores bioenergetic and redox homeostasis in human proximal tubule cells after ischemic injury. Stem Cell Res Ther 2023; 14:353. [PMID: 38072933 PMCID: PMC10712181 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-023-03563-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ischemia/reperfusion injury is the leading cause of acute kidney injury (AKI). The current standard of care focuses on supporting kidney function, stating the need for more efficient and targeted therapies to enhance repair. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) and their secretome, either as conditioned medium (CM) or extracellular vesicles (EVs), have emerged as promising options for regenerative therapy; however, their full potential in treating AKI remains unknown. METHODS In this study, we employed an in vitro model of chemically induced ischemia using antimycin A combined with 2-deoxy-D-glucose to induce ischemic injury in proximal tubule epithelial cells. Afterwards we evaluated the effects of MSC secretome, CM or EVs obtained from adipose tissue, bone marrow, and umbilical cord, on ameliorating the detrimental effects of ischemia. To assess the damage and treatment outcomes, we analyzed cell morphology, mitochondrial health parameters (mitochondrial activity, ATP production, mass and membrane potential), and overall cell metabolism by metabolomics. RESULTS Our findings show that ischemic injury caused cytoskeletal changes confirmed by disruption of the F-actin network, energetic imbalance as revealed by a 50% decrease in the oxygen consumption rate, increased oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and reduced cell metabolism. Upon treatment with MSC secretome, the morphological derangements were partly restored and ATP production increased by 40-50%, with umbilical cord-derived EVs being most effective. Furthermore, MSC treatment led to phenotype restoration as indicated by an increase in cell bioenergetics, including increased levels of glycolysis intermediates, as well as an accumulation of antioxidant metabolites. CONCLUSION Our in vitro model effectively replicated the in vivo-like morphological and molecular changes observed during ischemic injury. Additionally, treatment with MSC secretome ameliorated proximal tubule damage, highlighting its potential as a viable therapeutic option for targeting AKI.
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Affiliation(s)
- João Faria
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Sandra Calcat-I-Cervera
- College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Science, School of Medicine, Regenerative Medicine Institute (REMEDI), University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Renata Skovronova
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | | | - Alinda J Berends
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Esther A Zaal
- Division of Cell Biology, Metabolism and Cancer, Department of Biomolecular Health Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Benedetta Bussolati
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Timothy O'Brien
- College of Medicine, Nursing and Health Science, School of Medicine, Regenerative Medicine Institute (REMEDI), University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
- CÚRAM, SFI Research Centre for Medical Devices, University of Galway, Galway, Ireland
| | - Silvia M Mihăilă
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Rosalinde Masereeuw
- Division of Pharmacology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Universiteitsweg 99, 3584 CG, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
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Kardorff M, Mahler HC, Huwyler J, Sorret L. Comparison of cell viability methods for human mesenchymal/stromal stem cells and human A549 lung carcinoma cells after freeze-thaw stress. J Pharmacol Toxicol Methods 2023; 124:107474. [PMID: 37866798 DOI: 10.1016/j.vascn.2023.107474] [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: 06/25/2023] [Revised: 09/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
For the safety and efficacy of frozen cell therapy products, determination of cellular viability is key. However, results of cell viability measurements do not only depend on the cell line or on the inflicted stress, but also on the assay used, making inter-experimental comparisons difficult. The aim of this study was thus to assess commonly used viability assays in clinically relevant human mesenchymal/stromal stem cells and human A549 lung carcinoma cells. Post freeze-thaw stress viability and proliferation were evaluated under different conditions using trypan blue, acridine orange/DAPI stain, alamarBlue, ATP, and neutral red assays. Significant differences in cell viability between metabolic assays were observed, likely due to their distinct intrinsic detection mechanisms. Membrane-integrity based assays generally overestimated cell viabilities in this study. Furthermore, noticeable differences in inter-assay sensitivities were observed. These differences highlight that cell viability methods should be meticulously selected and their associated results carefully interpreted in a relevant context to ensure reliable conclusions. Indeed, although cell membrane integrity based assays are a popular choice to determine cellular quality attributes after freezing and thawing, we demonstrate that metabolic assays may be more suitable in this context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markus Kardorff
- Drug Product Services, Lonza AG, Hochbergerstrasse 60G, 4057 Basel, Switzerland; Division of Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 50, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | | | - Jörg Huwyler
- Division of Pharmaceutical Technology, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 50, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Léa Sorret
- Drug Product Services, Lonza AG, Hochbergerstrasse 60G, 4057 Basel, Switzerland.
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Thomas T, Govindharaj M, Unni HN, Kumari N, Rath SN. On-chip mixing of cancer cells and drug using LED enabled 2D opto-wetting droplet platforms. Biomed Phys Eng Express 2023; 9. [PMID: 37171088 DOI: 10.1088/2057-1976/acd009] [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: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Droplets of microliter size serve as miniaturized reaction chambers for practical lab on a chip (LoC) applications. The transportation and coalescence of droplets are indispensable for realizing microfluidic mixing. Light can be used as an effective tool for droplet manipulation. We report a novel platform for LED-based transport and mixing of cell-encapsulated microdroplets for evaluating dose response of cancer drugs. Microcontroller enabled LEDs (Light-emitting diodes) were used to actuate droplet movement on Azobenzene coated planar silicon substrates. Droplet transport was initiated by the spatial gradient in solid-liquid interfacial tension developed through LED triggered photoisomerization of Azobenzene substrate. Detailed UV-Visible characterization of Azobenzene molecule was performed for different LED light intensities and wavelengths. A complete standalone opto-wetting toolbox was developed by integrating various components such as a microcontroller, UV LED (385 nm), blue LED (465 nm), and Azobenzene coated photoresponsive substrate. 2D transport of DI water droplets (10-30μl) along simple trajectories was demonstrated using this device. Subsequently, the proposed opto-wetting platform was used for performing drug evaluation through on-chip mixing of droplets containing cancer cells (A549-Lung cancer cells) and cancer drug (paclitaxel). Separate cell viability analysis was performed using MTT assays, where the cytocompatibility of Azobenzene and UV light (385 nm) on A549 cells were studied. The dosage response of paclitaxel drug was studied using both MTT (3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazolyl-2)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) and live-dead cell assays. The results obtained indicate the potential use of our device as a cost-effective, reliable opto-wetting microfluidic platform for drug screening experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tony Thomas
- Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Department of Biomedical Engineering, IIT Hyderabad, IITH Main Road, Near NH-65, Sangareddy, Kandi, Telangana 502285, India
| | - Mano Govindharaj
- Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Department of Biomedical Engineering, IIT Hyderabad, IITH Main Road, Near NH-65, Sangareddy, Kandi, Telangana 502285, India
| | - Harikrishnan Narayanan Unni
- Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Department of Biomedical Engineering, IIT Hyderabad, IITH Main Road, Near NH-65, Sangareddy, Kandi, Telangana 502285, India
| | - Neema Kumari
- Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Department of Biomedical Engineering, IIT Hyderabad, IITH Main Road, Near NH-65, Sangareddy, Kandi, Telangana 502285, India
| | - Subha Narayan Rath
- Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, Department of Biomedical Engineering, IIT Hyderabad, IITH Main Road, Near NH-65, Sangareddy, Kandi, Telangana 502285, India
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5
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Tutty MA, Holmes S, Prina-Mello A. Cancer Cell Culture: The Basics and Two-Dimensional Cultures. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2645:3-40. [PMID: 37202610 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-3056-3_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Despite significant advances in investigative and therapeutic methodologies for cancer, 2D cell culture remains an essential and evolving competency in this fast-paced industry. From basic monolayer cultures and functional assays to more recent and ever-advancing cell-based cancer interventions, 2D cell culture plays a crucial role in cancer diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment. Research and development in this field call for a great deal of optimization, while the heterogenous nature of cancer itself demands personalized precision for its intervention. In this way, 2D cell culture is ideal, providing a highly adaptive and responsive platform, where skills can be honed and techniques modified. Furthermore, it is arguably the most efficient, economical, and sustainable methodology available to researchers and clinicians alike.In this chapter, we discuss the history of cell culture and the varying types of cell and cell lines used today, the techniques used to characterize and authenticate them, the applications of 2D cell culture in cancer diagnosis and prognosis, and more recent developments in the area of cell-based cancer interventions and vaccines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Anne Tutty
- Laboratory of Biological Characterization of Advanced Materials (LBCAM), Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Sarah Holmes
- Laboratory of Biological Characterization of Advanced Materials (LBCAM), Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland.
| | - Adriele Prina-Mello
- Laboratory of Biological Characterization of Advanced Materials (LBCAM), Trinity Translational Medicine Institute, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
- Nanomedicine and Molecular Imaging Group, Trinity Translational Medicine Institute (TTMI), School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Trinity St. James's Cancer Institute, St. James's Hospital, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Advanced Materials and Bioengineering Research (AMBER) Centre, CRANN Institute, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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Barak D, Engelberg S, Assaraf YG, Livney YD. Selective Targeting and Eradication of Various Human Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cell Lines Using Self-Assembled Aptamer-Decorated Nanoparticles. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14081650. [PMID: 36015276 PMCID: PMC9414336 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14081650] [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: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 07/31/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The leading cause of cancer mortality remains lung cancer (LC), of which non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the predominant type. Chemotherapy achieves only low response rates while inflicting serious untoward toxicity. Herein, we studied the binding and internalization of S15-aptamer (S15-APT)-decorated polyethylene glycol-polycaprolactone (PEG-PCL) nanoparticles (NPs) by various human NSCLC cell lines. All the NSCLC cell lines were targeted by S15-APT-decorated NPs. Confocal microscopy revealed variable levels of NP binding and uptake amongst these NSCLC cell lines, decreasing in the following order: Adenocarcinoma (AC) A549 cells > H2228 (AC) > H1299 (large cell carcinoma) > H522 (AC) > H1975 (AC). Flow cytometry analysis showed a consistent variation between these NSCLC cell lines in the internalization of S15-APT-decorated quantum dots. We obtained a temperature-dependent NP uptake, characteristic of active internalization. Furthermore, cytotoxicity assays with APT-NPs entrapping paclitaxel, revealed that A549 cells had the lowest IC50 value of 0.03 µM PTX (determined previously), whereas H2228, H1299, H522 and H1975 exhibited higher IC50 values of 0.38 µM, 0.92 µM, 2.31 µM and 2.59 µM, respectively (determined herein). Cytotoxicity was correlated with the binding and internalization of APT-NPs in the various NSCLC cells, suggesting variable expression of the putative S15 target receptor. These findings support the development of APT-targeted NPs in precision nanomedicine for individual NSCLC patient treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Barak
- Lab of Biopolymers for Food & Health, Department of Biotechnology & Food Engineering, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel
| | - Shira Engelberg
- Lab of Biopolymers for Food & Health, Department of Biotechnology & Food Engineering, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel
| | - Yehuda G. Assaraf
- The Fred Wyszkowski Cancer Research Lab, Department of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel
- Correspondence: (Y.G.A.); (Y.D.L.)
| | - Yoav D. Livney
- Lab of Biopolymers for Food & Health, Department of Biotechnology & Food Engineering, Technion, Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 3200003, Israel
- Correspondence: (Y.G.A.); (Y.D.L.)
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7
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Lu J, Mao Y, Feng S, Li X, Gao Y, Zhao Q, Wang S. Biomimetic smart mesoporous carbon nanozyme as a dual-GSH depletion agent and O 2 generator for enhanced photodynamic therapy. Acta Biomater 2022; 148:310-322. [PMID: 35675892 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2022.06.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 05/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been thriving in the theranostics of cancer in recent years. However, due to a series of problems such as high concentration of GSH and insufficient O2 partial pressure in the tumor micro-environment, it is difficult to achieve the desired therapeutic effects with single PDT. Mesoporous carbon (MC-COOH) has been widely used in photothermal therapy (PTT) due to its high photothermal conversion efficiency and drug loading. In addition, we have discovered that MC-COOH owned high-efficiency glutathione oxidase-like activity for intracellular lasting GSH consumption. Hence, a smart mesoporous carbon nanozyme (CCM) was designed as a dual-GSH depletion agent and O2 generator combined with PTT to overcome the dilemma of PDT. MnO2-doped carbon nanozyme (MC-Mn) was developed as the photothermal vehicles for the efficient loading of photosensitizer (Ce6). Subsequently, 4T1 membrane-coated nanozyme (Ce6/CCM) was constructed to achieve homologous targeting capability. The carbon nanozyme owned the sustained dual-GSH depletion function through MC-COOH and MnO2, which greatly destroyed the antioxidant system of the tumor. Meanwhile, MnO2 could produce affluent O2 in the presence of H2O2, thereby alleviating the hypoxic state of tumor tissues and further promoting the generation of ROS. In addition, the novel carbon nanozyme was designed as photoacoustic imaging (PAI) agent and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) contrast for real-time imaging during tumor therapy. In summary, this work showed that the biomimetic carbon nanozyme could be used as dual-GSH depletion agent and O2 generator for dual-mode imaging-guided PTT-PDT. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: - MC-COOH with highly efficient GSH-OXD activity was first discovered and applied in PDT. - MnO2 acted as an O2 generator and GSH depletion agent to enhance PDT. - The tumor-targeting ability of the nanozyme was improved by cell membrane camouflage. - CCM nanozyme possesses both PAI and MRI dual-mode imaging modalities to guide PDT/PTT.
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Hernández-Bule ML, Martínez MA, Trillo MÁ, Martínez L, Toledano-Macías E, Úbeda A. Response of human cancer cells to simultaneous treatment with sorafenib and radiofrequency current. Oncol Lett 2021; 22:807. [PMID: 34630714 PMCID: PMC8488331 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2021.13068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Due to their alleged analgesic, anti-inflammatory and tissue regenerative effects, capacitive-resistive electrothermal therapy (CRET), which is based on non-invasive exposure to radiofrequency (RF) currents, is often applied to chemotherapeutically treated patients with cancer. Our previous studies have demonstrated that subthermal CRET currents can elicit a number of cell responses, including anti-proliferative effects, in the human liver cancer cell line HepG2. Such effects involve significant changes in the regulation of proteins involved in MAPK signaling pathways, which are also implicated in the cancer cell response to standard anticancer drugs such as sorafenib. This overlap in response pathways may lead to competitive, neutralizing or blocking interactions between the electrical and chemical treatments, thus raising questions on the advisability of CRET treatment for their analgesic, anti-inflammatory or other purposes in patients undergoing chemotherapy. The present study analyzed the effects of simultaneous treatment with sorafenib and 448-kHz, subthermal CRET current on the proliferation and viability of HepG2 cell cultures. Cell viability was assessed through Trypan blue or XTT assays, while flow cytometry was applied for cell cycle and apoptosis analysis. The expression of proteins involved in cell proliferation were assessed by immunoblotting and immunofluorescence. The results revealed no evidence to suggest that the electrical treatment counteracted or neutralized the cellular response to sorafenib at the different conditions evaluated. Furthermore, at the standard pharmacological sorafenib concentration, 5 µM, the combined treatment elicited an anti-proliferative response significantly stronger than that induced by each of the treatments when applied separately in HepG2 cells. These data do not support the hypothesis that CRET exposure may inhibit or diminish the effects of a chemotherapeutic drug used in cancer treatment, and highlights the requirement for further investigation into the cell response to the combined action of electrical and chemical treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - María Antonia Martínez
- Bioelectromagnetism-Research Service, Ramón y Cajal University Hospital, IRYCIS, Madrid 28034, Spain
| | - María Ángeles Trillo
- Bioelectromagnetism-Research Service, Ramón y Cajal University Hospital, IRYCIS, Madrid 28034, Spain
| | - Lidia Martínez
- Bioelectromagnetism-Research Service, Ramón y Cajal University Hospital, IRYCIS, Madrid 28034, Spain
| | - Elena Toledano-Macías
- Bioelectromagnetism-Research Service, Ramón y Cajal University Hospital, IRYCIS, Madrid 28034, Spain
| | - Alejandro Úbeda
- Bioelectromagnetism-Research Service, Ramón y Cajal University Hospital, IRYCIS, Madrid 28034, Spain
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9
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Nounou MI, Eassa HA, Helal NA, AboulFotouh K, Mansoor I, Latz IK, Zheng C, Eassa HA, Mohamed D, Huynh DM, Wiss AR, Sweeney J, Oakes MT, Mikhail MM, Amine N, Kaur H, Echeverry N, Orzechowski K, Szollosi D. The safety, efficacy and pharmaceutical quality of male enhancement nutraceuticals bought online: Truth versus claim. JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE MEDICINE-JIM 2021; 19:232-242. [PMID: 33736960 DOI: 10.1016/j.joim.2021.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2020] [Accepted: 09/30/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Nutraceutical products are widely used for their claimed therapeutic benefits. However, falsified or adulterated nutraceuticals present a major health threat to consumers. This study investigates the pharmaceutical quality, safety and anti-inflammatory effects of six male enhancement nutraceuticals that claim to be 100% natural. METHODS Three batches of six male enhancement products were tested to detect the presence and levels of adulterants via high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The pharmaceutical quality of the selected nutraceuticals was tested with near infrared spectroscopy (NIR) and SeDeM. The cytotoxic effects of these products on HepG2 cells were determined through cell proliferation (XTT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) cytotoxicity assays. Lastly, the in vitro inflammatory effects of these products were investigated using murine J774 macrophages through cytokine release analysis. RESULTS HPLC analysis detected the presence of sildenafil citrate, a vasodilator, and the active ingredient in Viagra and Revatio, in all batches of the products we analyzed. Amount of sildenafil citrate ranged from 0.45 mg to 51.85 mg among different batches. NIR assessment showed inter- and intra-batch heterogeneity in product composition. Results of the XTT and LDH assays showed significant cytotoxic effects of the analyzed products. XTT analysis revealed that the viability of HepG2 treated with tested products varied from 27.57% to 41.43%. Interestingly, the male enhancement products also showed anti-inflammatory effects. CONCLUSION Despite their labeling as 100% natural, all products tested in this study contained levels of sildenafil citrate, which was not reported on the packaging. There was a lack of pharmaceutical uniformity among products of the same batch and across different batches. Additionally, the products we tested had cytotoxic effects. These study findings highlight the adulteration, poor quality and hazard of these nutraceuticals. Therefore, strict regulation of these products and standardization of the definition of nutraceuticals are urgently needed. Further, these falsely advertised products should be withdrawn from the market due to potential adverse effects on the health of their consumers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Ismail Nounou
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy & Physician Assistant Studies (SOPPAS), University of Saint Joseph (USJ), Hartford, Connecticut 06103, USA
| | - Heba A Eassa
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy & Physician Assistant Studies (SOPPAS), University of Saint Joseph (USJ), Hartford, Connecticut 06103, USA; Department of Pharmaceutics and Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, AL-Azhar University, Cairo 11651, Egypt.
| | - Nada A Helal
- Pharmaceutical Sciences Department, Irma Lerma Rangel College of Pharmacy, Texas A&M Health Science Center, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843, USA
| | - Khaled AboulFotouh
- Division of Molecular Pharmaceutics and Drug Delivery, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, USA; Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Assiut University, Assiut 71526, Egypt
| | - Ihab Mansoor
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21521, Egypt
| | - Isabel K Latz
- Department of Public Health Sciences, College of Health Sciences, The University of Texas at El Paso, TX 79968, USA
| | - Cindy Zheng
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy & Physician Assistant Studies (SOPPAS), University of Saint Joseph (USJ), Hartford, Connecticut 06103, USA
| | - Hadeer A Eassa
- Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, University of Sadat City, Sadat 32897, Egypt
| | - Dina Mohamed
- Department of Industrial Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria 21521, Egypt
| | - Diana M Huynh
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy & Physician Assistant Studies (SOPPAS), University of Saint Joseph (USJ), Hartford, Connecticut 06103, USA
| | - Abigail R Wiss
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy & Physician Assistant Studies (SOPPAS), University of Saint Joseph (USJ), Hartford, Connecticut 06103, USA
| | - Jessica Sweeney
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy & Physician Assistant Studies (SOPPAS), University of Saint Joseph (USJ), Hartford, Connecticut 06103, USA
| | - Monica T Oakes
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy & Physician Assistant Studies (SOPPAS), University of Saint Joseph (USJ), Hartford, Connecticut 06103, USA
| | - Mark M Mikhail
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy & Physician Assistant Studies (SOPPAS), University of Saint Joseph (USJ), Hartford, Connecticut 06103, USA
| | - Nadine Amine
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy & Physician Assistant Studies (SOPPAS), University of Saint Joseph (USJ), Hartford, Connecticut 06103, USA
| | - Harshvir Kaur
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy & Physician Assistant Studies (SOPPAS), University of Saint Joseph (USJ), Hartford, Connecticut 06103, USA
| | - Natalia Echeverry
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy & Physician Assistant Studies (SOPPAS), University of Saint Joseph (USJ), Hartford, Connecticut 06103, USA
| | - Kamila Orzechowski
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy & Physician Assistant Studies (SOPPAS), University of Saint Joseph (USJ), Hartford, Connecticut 06103, USA
| | - Doreen Szollosi
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy & Physician Assistant Studies (SOPPAS), University of Saint Joseph (USJ), Hartford, Connecticut 06103, USA
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Reynolds-Peterson C, Ehrbar DJ, McHale SM, LaRocca TJ, Mantis NJ. Sensitization of Airway Epithelial Cells to Toxin-Induced Death by TNF Superfamily Cytokines. Methods Mol Biol 2021; 2248:19-42. [PMID: 33185865 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1130-2_2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The TNF superfamily of proinflammatory and proapoptotic cytokines influence tissue-wide responses to molecular insults such as small molecules, toxins, and viral infections that perturb cellular homeostasis at the level of DNA replication, transcription, and translation. In the context of acute lung injury, for example, TNF superfamily members like TNF-α and TRAIL can severely exacerbate disease pathophysiology. This chapter describes a systematic approach to optimization of mammalian cell viability assays and transcriptional profiling through nCounter® Technology to permit a detailed examination of how TNF-α and TRAIL modulate programmed cell death pathways in concert with ricin toxin, a ribosome-inactivating protein (RIP) and a potent inducer of acute respiratory distress. We compare two widely used luciferase- and colorimetric-based cell viability assays and provide optimization protocols for adherent and non-adherent cell lines. We provide a computational workflow to facilitate downstream analysis of datasets generated from nCounter® gene expression panels. While combined treatment with ricin toxin and TRAIL serves as the exemplar, the methodologies are applicable to any TNF superfamily member in combination with any biological agent of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Reynolds-Peterson
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Dylan J Ehrbar
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Susanne M McHale
- Advanced Genomic Technologies Cluster, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Timothy J LaRocca
- Department of Basic and Clinical Sciences, Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, Albany, NY, USA
| | - Nicholas J Mantis
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY, USA.
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11
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The spliceosome inhibitors isoginkgetin and pladienolide B induce ATF3-dependent cell death. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0224953. [PMID: 33370278 PMCID: PMC7769279 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0224953] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2019] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The spliceosome assembles on pre-mRNA in a stepwise manner through five successive pre-spliceosome complexes. The spliceosome functions to remove introns from pre-mRNAs to generate mature mRNAs that encode functional proteins. Many small molecule inhibitors of the spliceosome have been identified and they are cytotoxic. However, little is known about genetic determinants of cell sensitivity. Activating transcription factor 3 (ATF3) is a transcription factor that can stimulate apoptotic cell death in response to a variety of cellular stresses. Here, we used a genetic approach to determine if ATF3 was important in determining the sensitivity of mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) to two splicing inhibitors: pladienolide B (PB) and isoginkgetin (IGG), that target different pre-spliceosome complexes. Both compounds led to increased ATF3 expression and apoptosis in control MEFs while ATF3 null cells were significantly protected from the cytotoxic effects of these drugs. Similarly, ATF3 was induced in response to IGG and PB in the two human tumour cell lines tested while knockdown of ATF3 protected cells from both drugs. Taken together, ATF3 appears to contribute to the cytotoxicity elicited by these spliceosome inhibitors in both murine and human cells.
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12
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Al-Sadik H, Sugathan S, Saseedharan P, Sulaiman S, Beegam S, Nemmar A, Attoub S, Karam SM. Effects of Diesel Exhaust Particles on Mouse Gastric Stem Cells. Life (Basel) 2020; 10:life10080149. [PMID: 32806566 PMCID: PMC7460091 DOI: 10.3390/life10080149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2020] [Revised: 07/31/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Stem cells have attracted many scientists because of their unique properties and therapeutic applications. However, very little is known on the environmental toxins that could affect their biological features. This study focuses on the consequences of the exposure of a cell line representative of the mouse gastric stem/progenitor (mGS) cells to diesel exhaust particles (DEPs). These immortal cells were cultured using routine protocols. The DEPs were added to the culture media at 1, 10, and 100 µg/mL for 1 to 72 h. The cells were assayed for their viability, migration, oxidative stress, and the expression of genes specific for cell proliferation, pluripotency, and death. DEPs induced a reduction in the metabolic activity of mGS cells, only at a high concentration of 100 µg/mL. However, no significant effects were detected on cell migration, oxidative stress markers (glutathione and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances), and cell death related proteins/genes. Interestingly, these findings were associated with down-regulation of Notch 2 and 3 and Bmi-1 proteins and activation of STAT3 involved in the regulation of the fate of stem cells. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that mGS cells have some resistance to oxidative stress and apoptosis when exposed to DEPs at the expense of their stemness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heba Al-Sadik
- Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 17666, Al-Ain, UAE; (H.A.-S); (S.S.); (P.S.)
| | - Subi Sugathan
- Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 17666, Al-Ain, UAE; (H.A.-S); (S.S.); (P.S.)
| | - Prashanth Saseedharan
- Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 17666, Al-Ain, UAE; (H.A.-S); (S.S.); (P.S.)
| | - Shahrazad Sulaiman
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 17666, Al-Ain, UAE; (S.S.); (S.A.)
| | - Sumaya Beegam
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 17666, Al-Ain, UAE; (S.B.); (A.N.)
| | - Abderrahim Nemmar
- Department of Physiology, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 17666, Al-Ain, UAE; (S.B.); (A.N.)
- Zayed Center for Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 17666, Al Ain, UAE
| | - Samir Attoub
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 17666, Al-Ain, UAE; (S.S.); (S.A.)
- Zayed Center for Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 17666, Al Ain, UAE
| | - Sherif M. Karam
- Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine & Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 17666, Al-Ain, UAE; (H.A.-S); (S.S.); (P.S.)
- Zayed Center for Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, P.O. Box 17666, Al Ain, UAE
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +971-3-713-7493
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13
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Maryamchik E, Gallagher KME, Preffer FI, Kadauke S, Maus MV. New directions in chimeric antigen receptor T cell [CAR-T] therapy and related flow cytometry. CYTOMETRY PART B-CLINICAL CYTOMETRY 2020; 98:299-327. [PMID: 32352629 DOI: 10.1002/cyto.b.21880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Revised: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells provide a promising approach to the treatment of hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. Flow cytometry is a powerful analytical modality, which plays an expanding role in all stages of CAR T therapy, from lymphocyte collection, to CAR T cell manufacturing, to in vivo monitoring of the infused cells and evaluation of their function in the tumor environment. Therefore, a thorough understanding of the new directions is important for designing and implementing CAR T-related flow cytometry assays in the clinical and investigational settings. However, the speed of new discoveries and the multitude of clinical and preclinical trials make it challenging to keep up to date in this complex field. In this review, we summarize the current state of CAR T therapy, highlight the areas of emergent research, discuss applications of flow cytometry in modern cell therapy, and touch upon several considerations particular to CAR detection and assessing the effectiveness of CAR T therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Maryamchik
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Frederic I Preffer
- Clinical Cytometry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Stephan Kadauke
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Cell and Gene Therapy Laboratory, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Marcela V Maus
- Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Harvard Medical School, Cellular Immunotherapy Program, Department of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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14
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Xu WT, Shen GN, Luo YH, Piao XJ, Wang JR, Wang H, Zhang Y, Li JQ, Feng YC, Zhang Y, Zhang T, Wang SN, Wang CY, Jin CH. New naphthalene derivatives induce human lung cancer A549 cell apoptosis via ROS-mediated MAPKs, Akt, and STAT3 signaling pathways. Chem Biol Interact 2019; 304:148-157. [PMID: 30871965 DOI: 10.1016/j.cbi.2019.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2019] [Revised: 02/28/2019] [Accepted: 03/07/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
1,4-Naphthoquinone compounds are a class of organic compounds derived from naphthalene. They exert a wide variety of biological effects, but when used as anticancer drugs, have varying levels of side effects. In the present study, in order to reduce toxicity and improve the antitumor activity, we synthesized two novel 1,4-naphthoquinone derivatives, 2-(butane-1-sulfinyl)-1,4-naphthoquinone (BSQ) and 2-(octane-1-sulfinyl)-1,4-naphthoquinone (OSQ). We investigated the antitumor effects of BSQ and OSQ in human lung cancer cells and the underlying molecular mechanisms of these effects, focusing on the relationship between these compounds and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. MTT assay and trypan blue exclusion assay results showed that BSQ and OSQ had significant cytotoxic effects in human lung cancer cells. Flow cytometry results indicated that the number of apoptotic cells and the intracellular ROS levels significantly increased after treatment with BSQ and OSQ. However, cell apoptosis was inhibited by pretreatment with the ROS scavenger N-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC). Western blotting results showed that BSQ and OSQ increased the expression levels of p-p38 kinase and p-c-Jun N-terminal kinase (p-JNK), and decreased the expression levels of p-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-ERK), p-protein kinase B (p-Akt), and p-signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 (p-STAT3). These phenomena were blocked by mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitors, Akt inhibitors and NAC. In conclusion, BSQ and OSQ induce human lung cancer A549 cell apoptosis by ROS-mediated MAPKs, Akt, and STAT3 signaling pathways. Therefore, BSQ and OSQ may be therapeutic potential agents for the treatment of human lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wan-Ting Xu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Science & Technology, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilongjiang, 163319, China
| | - Gui-Nan Shen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Science & Technology, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilongjiang, 163319, China
| | - Ying-Hua Luo
- College of Animal Science & Veterinary Medicine, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilongjiang, 163319, China
| | - Xian-Ji Piao
- Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Daqing, Heilongjiang, 163316, China
| | - Jia-Ru Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Science & Technology, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilongjiang, 163319, China
| | - Hao Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Science & Technology, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilongjiang, 163319, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Science & Technology, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilongjiang, 163319, China
| | - Jin-Qian Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Science & Technology, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilongjiang, 163319, China
| | - Yu-Chao Feng
- College of Food Science, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilongjiang, 163319, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Science & Technology, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilongjiang, 163319, China
| | - Tong Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Science & Technology, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilongjiang, 163319, China
| | - Shi-Nong Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Science & Technology, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilongjiang, 163319, China
| | - Chang-Yuan Wang
- College of Food Science, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilongjiang, 163319, China.
| | - Cheng-Hao Jin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Life Science & Technology, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilongjiang, 163319, China; College of Food Science, Heilongjiang Bayi Agricultural University, Daqing, Heilongjiang, 163319, China.
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15
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Metabolic activity testing can underestimate acute drug cytotoxicity as revealed by HepG2 cell clones overexpressing cytochrome P450 2C19 and 3A4. Toxicology 2019; 412:37-47. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tox.2018.11.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2018] [Revised: 11/23/2018] [Accepted: 11/26/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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