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Gal Y, Sapoznikov A, Lazar S, Shoseyov D, Aftalion M, Gutman H, Evgy Y, Gez R, Nevo R, Falach R. Long-Term Pulmonary Damage in Surviving Antitoxin-Treated Mice following a Lethal Ricin Intoxication. Toxins (Basel) 2024; 16:103. [PMID: 38393180 PMCID: PMC10892648 DOI: 10.3390/toxins16020103] [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: 12/13/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Ricin, a highly potent plant-derived toxin, is considered a potential bioterrorism weapon due to its pronounced toxicity, high availability, and ease of preparation. Acute damage following pulmonary ricinosis is characterized by local cytokine storm, massive neutrophil infiltration, and edema formation, resulting in respiratory insufficiency and death. A designated equine polyclonal antibody-based (antitoxin) treatment was developed in our laboratory and proved efficacious in alleviating lung injury and increasing survival rates. Although short-term pathogenesis was thoroughly characterized in antitoxin-treated mice, the long-term damage in surviving mice was never determined. In this study, long-term consequences of ricin intoxication were evaluated 30 days post-exposure in mice that survived antitoxin treatment. Significant pulmonary sequelae were demonstrated in surviving antitoxin-treated mice, as reflected by prominent histopathological changes, moderate fibrosis, increased lung hyperpermeability, and decreased lung compliance. The presented data highlight, for the first time to our knowledge, the possibility of long-term damage development in mice that survived lethal-dose pulmonary exposure to ricin due to antitoxin treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoav Gal
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness-Ziona 74100, Israel; (A.S.); (M.A.); (Y.E.)
| | - Anita Sapoznikov
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness-Ziona 74100, Israel; (A.S.); (M.A.); (Y.E.)
| | - Shlomi Lazar
- Department of Pharmacology, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness-Ziona 74100, Israel; (S.L.); (H.G.); (R.G.)
| | - David Shoseyov
- Pediatric Pulmonology Unit, Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem P.O. Box 12000, Israel;
| | - Moshe Aftalion
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness-Ziona 74100, Israel; (A.S.); (M.A.); (Y.E.)
| | - Hila Gutman
- Department of Pharmacology, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness-Ziona 74100, Israel; (S.L.); (H.G.); (R.G.)
| | - Yentl Evgy
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness-Ziona 74100, Israel; (A.S.); (M.A.); (Y.E.)
| | - Rellie Gez
- Department of Pharmacology, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness-Ziona 74100, Israel; (S.L.); (H.G.); (R.G.)
| | - Reinat Nevo
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Weizmann Institute of Science, Herzel 234, Rehovot P.O. Box 26, Israel;
| | - Reut Falach
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness-Ziona 74100, Israel; (A.S.); (M.A.); (Y.E.)
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2
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Stoll A, Shenton DP, Green AC, Holley JL. Comparative Aspects of Ricin Toxicity by Inhalation. Toxins (Basel) 2023; 15:toxins15040281. [PMID: 37104219 PMCID: PMC10145923 DOI: 10.3390/toxins15040281] [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: 03/20/2023] [Revised: 03/30/2023] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 04/28/2023] Open
Abstract
The pathogenesis of ricin toxicity following inhalation has been investigated in many animal models, including the non-human primate (predominantly the rhesus macaque), pig, rabbit and rodent. The toxicity and associated pathology described in animal models are broadly similar, but variation appears to exist. This paper reviews the published literature and some of our own unpublished data and describes some of the possible reasons for this variation. Methodological variation is evident, including method of exposure, breathing parameters during exposure, aerosol characteristics, sampling protocols, ricin cultivar, purity and challenge dose and study duration. The model species and strain used represent other significant sources of variation, including differences in macro- and microscopic anatomy, cell biology and function, and immunology. Chronic pathology of ricin toxicity by inhalation, associated with sublethal challenge or lethal challenge and treatment with medical countermeasures, has received less attention in the literature. Fibrosis may follow acute lung injury in survivors. There are advantages and disadvantages to the different models of pulmonary fibrosis. To understand their potential clinical significance, these factors need to be considered when choosing a model for chronic ricin toxicity by inhalation, including species and strain susceptibility to fibrosis, time it takes for fibrosis to develop, the nature of the fibrosis (e.g., self-limiting, progressive, persistent or resolving) and ensuring that the analysis truly represents fibrosis. Understanding the variables and comparative aspects of acute and chronic ricin toxicity by inhalation is important to enable meaningful comparison of results from different studies, and for the investigation of medical countermeasures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Stoll
- Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Salisbury SP4 0JQ, UK
| | - Daniel P Shenton
- Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Salisbury SP4 0JQ, UK
| | | | - Jane L Holley
- Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, Salisbury SP4 0JQ, UK
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3
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Feldberg L, Elhanany E, Laskar O, Schuster O. Rapid, Sensitive and Reliable Ricin Identification in Serum Samples Using LC-MS/MS. Toxins (Basel) 2021; 13:79. [PMID: 33499033 PMCID: PMC7911523 DOI: 10.3390/toxins13020079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2020] [Revised: 01/11/2021] [Accepted: 01/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Ricin, a protein derived from the seeds of the castor bean plant (Ricinus communis), is a highly lethal toxin that inhibits protein synthesis, resulting in cell death. The widespread availability of ricin, its ease of extraction and its extreme toxicity make it an ideal agent for bioterrorism and self-poisoning. Thus, a rapid, sensitive and reliable method for ricin identification in clinical samples is required for applying appropriate and timely medical intervention. However, this goal is challenging due to the low predicted toxin concentrations in bio-fluids, accompanied by significantly high matrix interferences. Here we report the applicability of a sensitive, selective, rapid, simple and antibody-independent assay for the identification of ricin in body fluids using mass spectrometry (MS). The assay involves lectin affinity capturing of ricin by easy-to-use commercial lactose-agarose (LA) beads, following by tryptic digestion and selected marker identification using targeted LC-MS/MS (Multiple Reaction Monitoring) analysis. This enables ricin identification down to 5 ng/mL in serum samples in 2.5 h. To validate the assay, twenty-four diverse naive- or ricin-spiked serum samples were evaluated, and both precision and accuracy were determined. A real-life test of the assay was successfully executed in a challenging clinical scenario, where the toxin was identified in an abdominal fluid sample taken 72 h post self-injection of castor beans extraction in an eventual suicide case. This demonstrates both the high sensitivity of this assay and the extended identification time window, compared to similar events that were previously documented. This method developed for ricin identification in clinical samples has the potential to be applied to the identification of other lectin toxins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liron Feldberg
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness Ziona 74100, Israel
| | - Eytan Elhanany
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness Ziona 74100, Israel;
| | - Orly Laskar
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness Ziona 74100, Israel;
| | - Ofir Schuster
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness Ziona 74100, Israel;
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Falach R, Sapoznikov A, Evgy Y, Aftalion M, Makovitzki A, Agami A, Mimran A, Lerer E, Ben David A, Zichel R, Katalan S, Rosner A, Sabo T, Kronman C, Gal Y. Post-Exposure Anti-Ricin Treatment Protects Swine Against Lethal Systemic and Pulmonary Exposures. Toxins (Basel) 2020; 12:toxins12060354. [PMID: 32481526 PMCID: PMC7354453 DOI: 10.3390/toxins12060354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2020] [Revised: 05/21/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Ricin, a plant-derived toxin originating from the seeds of Ricinus communis (castor bean plant), is one of the most lethal toxins known. To date, there is no approved post-exposure therapy for ricin exposures. This work demonstrates for the first time the therapeutic efficacy of equine-derived anti-ricin F(ab’)2 antibodies against lethal pulmonary and systemic ricin exposures in swine. While administration of the antitoxin at 18 h post-exposure protected more than 80% of both intratracheally and intramuscularly ricin-intoxicated swine, treatment at 24 h post-exposure protected 58% of the intramuscular-exposed swine, as opposed to 26% of the intratracheally exposed animals. Quantitation of the anti-ricin neutralizing units in the anti-toxin preparations confirmed that the disparate protection conferred to swine subjected to the two routes of exposure stems from variance between the two models. Furthermore, dose response experiments showed that approximately 3 times lesser amounts of antibody are needed for high-level protection of the intramuscularly compared to the intratracheally intoxicated swine. This study, which demonstrates the high-level post-exposure efficacy of anti-ricin antitoxin at clinically relevant time-points in a large animal model, can serve as the basis for the formulation of post-exposure countermeasures against ricin poisoning in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reut Falach
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness-Ziona 76100, Israel; (R.F.); (A.S.); (Y.E.); (M.A.); (T.S.)
| | - Anita Sapoznikov
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness-Ziona 76100, Israel; (R.F.); (A.S.); (Y.E.); (M.A.); (T.S.)
| | - Yentl Evgy
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness-Ziona 76100, Israel; (R.F.); (A.S.); (Y.E.); (M.A.); (T.S.)
| | - Moshe Aftalion
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness-Ziona 76100, Israel; (R.F.); (A.S.); (Y.E.); (M.A.); (T.S.)
| | - Arik Makovitzki
- Department of Biotechnology, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness-Ziona 76100, Israel; (A.M.); (A.A.); (A.M.); (E.L.); (A.B.D.); (R.Z.)
| | - Avi Agami
- Department of Biotechnology, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness-Ziona 76100, Israel; (A.M.); (A.A.); (A.M.); (E.L.); (A.B.D.); (R.Z.)
| | - Avishai Mimran
- Department of Biotechnology, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness-Ziona 76100, Israel; (A.M.); (A.A.); (A.M.); (E.L.); (A.B.D.); (R.Z.)
| | - Elad Lerer
- Department of Biotechnology, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness-Ziona 76100, Israel; (A.M.); (A.A.); (A.M.); (E.L.); (A.B.D.); (R.Z.)
| | - Alon Ben David
- Department of Biotechnology, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness-Ziona 76100, Israel; (A.M.); (A.A.); (A.M.); (E.L.); (A.B.D.); (R.Z.)
| | - Ran Zichel
- Department of Biotechnology, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness-Ziona 76100, Israel; (A.M.); (A.A.); (A.M.); (E.L.); (A.B.D.); (R.Z.)
| | - Shahaf Katalan
- Department of Pharmacology, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness-Ziona 76100, Israel;
| | - Amir Rosner
- Veterinary Center for Preclinical Research, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness-Ziona 76100, Israel;
| | - Tamar Sabo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness-Ziona 76100, Israel; (R.F.); (A.S.); (Y.E.); (M.A.); (T.S.)
| | - Chanoch Kronman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness-Ziona 76100, Israel; (R.F.); (A.S.); (Y.E.); (M.A.); (T.S.)
- Correspondence: (C.K.); (Y.G.); Tel.: +972–8–9381522 (C.K.); +972–8–9381479 (Y.G.)
| | - Yoav Gal
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness-Ziona 76100, Israel; (R.F.); (A.S.); (Y.E.); (M.A.); (T.S.)
- Correspondence: (C.K.); (Y.G.); Tel.: +972–8–9381522 (C.K.); +972–8–9381479 (Y.G.)
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Feldberg L, Schuster O, Elhanany E, Laskar O, Yitzhaki S, Gura S. Rapid and sensitive identification of ricin in environmental samples based on lactamyl agarose beads using LC-MS/MS (MRM). JOURNAL OF MASS SPECTROMETRY : JMS 2020; 55:e4482. [PMID: 31782217 DOI: 10.1002/jms.4482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2019] [Revised: 11/16/2019] [Accepted: 11/22/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Ricin, a plant-derived toxin extracted from the seeds of Ricinus communis (castor bean plant), is one of the most toxic proteins known. Ricin's high toxicity, widespread availability, and ease of its extraction make it a potential agent for bioterrorist attacks. Most ricin detection methods are based on immunoassays. These methods may suffer from low efficiency in matrices containing interfering substances, or from false positive results due to antibody cross reactivity, with highly homologous proteins. In this study, we have developed a simple, rapid, sensitive, and selective mass spectrometry assay, for the identification of ricin in complex environmental samples. This assay involves three main stages: (a) Ricin affinity capture by commercial lactamyl-agarose (LA) beads. (b) Tryptic digestion. (c) LC-MS/MS (MRM) analysis of tryptic fragments. The assay was validated using 60 diverse environmental samples such as soil, asphalt, and vegetation, taken from various geographic regions. The assay's selectivity was established in the presence of high concentrations of competing lectin interferences. Based on our findings, we have defined strict criteria for unambiguous identification of ricin. Our novel method, which combines affinity capture beads followed by MRM-based analysis, enabled the identification of 1 ppb ricin spiked into complex environmental matrices. This methodology has the potential to be extended for the identification of ricin in body fluids from individuals exposed (deliberately or accidentally) to the toxin, contaminated food or for the detection of the entire family of RIP-II toxins, by applying multiplex format.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liron Feldberg
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness Ziona, Israel
| | - Ofir Schuster
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness Ziona, Israel
| | - Eytan Elhanany
- Department of Biochemistry, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness Ziona, Israel
| | - Orly Laskar
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness Ziona, Israel
| | - Shmuel Yitzhaki
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness Ziona, Israel
| | - Sigalit Gura
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness Ziona, Israel
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Tumer NE. Introduction to the Toxins Special Issue "Ricin Toxins". Toxins (Basel) 2019; 12:E13. [PMID: 31892170 PMCID: PMC7020407 DOI: 10.3390/toxins12010013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 12/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Ricin toxin isolated from the castor bean (Ricinus communis) is one of the most potent and lethal molecules known [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Nilgun E Tumer
- Department of Plant Biology, School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ 08901-8520, USA
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Sapoznikov A, Gal Y, Falach R, Sagi I, Ehrlich S, Lerer E, Makovitzki A, Aloshin A, Kronman C, Sabo T. Early disruption of the alveolar-capillary barrier in a ricin-induced ARDS mouse model: neutrophil-dependent and -independent impairment of junction proteins. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2019; 316:L255-L268. [DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00300.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Irrespective of its diverse etiologies, acute lung injury (ALI)/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) leads to increased permeability of the alveolar-capillary barrier, which in turn promotes edema formation and respiratory failure. We investigated the mechanism of ALI/ARDS lung hyperpermeability triggered by pulmonary exposure of mice to the highly toxic plant-derived toxin ricin. One prominent hallmark of ricin-mediated pulmonary intoxication is the rapid and massive influx of neutrophils to the lungs, where they contribute to the developing inflammation yet may also cause tissue damage, thereby promoting ricin-mediated morbidity. Here we show that pulmonary exposure of mice to ricin results in the rapid diminution of the junction proteins VE-cadherin, claudin 5, and connexin 43, belonging, respectively, to the adherens, tight, and gap junction protein families. Depletion of neutrophils in ricin-intoxicated mice attenuated the damage caused to these junction proteins, alleviated pulmonary edema, and significantly postponed the time to death of the intoxicated mice. Inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity recapitulated the response to neutrophil depletion observed in ricin-intoxicated mice and was associated with decreased insult to the junction proteins and alveolar-capillary barrier. However, neutrophil-mediated MMP activity was not the sole mechanism responsible for pulmonary hyperpermeability, as exemplified by the ricin-mediated disruption of claudin 18, via a neutrophil-independent mechanism involving tyrosine phosphorylation. This in-depth study of the early stage mechanisms governing pulmonary tissue integrity during ALI/ARDS is expected to facilitate the tailoring of novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment of these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anita Sapoznikov
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness-Ziona, Israel
| | - Yoav Gal
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness-Ziona, Israel
| | - Reut Falach
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness-Ziona, Israel
| | - Irit Sagi
- Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Sharon Ehrlich
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness-Ziona, Israel
| | - Elad Lerer
- Department of Biotechnology, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness-Ziona, Israel
| | - Arik Makovitzki
- Department of Biotechnology, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness-Ziona, Israel
| | - Anna Aloshin
- Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Chanoch Kronman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness-Ziona, Israel
| | - Tamar Sabo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness-Ziona, Israel
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