1
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Kuijlaars J, Oyelami T, Diels A, Rohrbacher J, Versweyveld S, Meneghello G, Tuefferd M, Verstraelen P, Detrez JR, Verschuuren M, De Vos WH, Meert T, Peeters PJ, Cik M, Nuydens R, Brône B, Verheyen A. Sustained synchronized neuronal network activity in a human astrocyte co-culture system. Sci Rep 2016; 6:36529. [PMID: 27819315 PMCID: PMC5098163 DOI: 10.1038/srep36529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2016] [Accepted: 10/17/2016] [Indexed: 02/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Impaired neuronal network function is a hallmark of neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disorders such as autism, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer's disease and is typically studied using genetically modified cellular and animal models. Weak predictive capacity and poor translational value of these models urge for better human derived in vitro models. The implementation of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) allows studying pathologies in differentiated disease-relevant and patient-derived neuronal cells. However, the differentiation process and growth conditions of hiPSC-derived neurons are non-trivial. In order to study neuronal network formation and (mal)function in a fully humanized system, we have established an in vitro co-culture model of hiPSC-derived cortical neurons and human primary astrocytes that recapitulates neuronal network synchronization and connectivity within three to four weeks after final plating. Live cell calcium imaging, electrophysiology and high content image analyses revealed an increased maturation of network functionality and synchronicity over time for co-cultures compared to neuronal monocultures. The cells express GABAergic and glutamatergic markers and respond to inhibitors of both neurotransmitter pathways in a functional assay. The combination of this co-culture model with quantitative imaging of network morphofunction is amenable to high throughput screening for lead discovery and drug optimization for neurological diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacobine Kuijlaars
- Hasselt University, Biomedical Research Institute, Diepenbeek, B-3590, Belgium
| | - Tutu Oyelami
- Janssen Research & Development, a division of Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V, Beerse, B-2340, Belgium
| | - Annick Diels
- Janssen Research & Development, a division of Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V, Beerse, B-2340, Belgium
| | - Jutta Rohrbacher
- Janssen Research & Development, a division of Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V, Beerse, B-2340, Belgium
| | - Sofie Versweyveld
- Janssen Research & Development, a division of Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V, Beerse, B-2340, Belgium
| | - Giulia Meneghello
- Janssen Research & Development, a division of Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V, Beerse, B-2340, Belgium
| | - Marianne Tuefferd
- Janssen Research & Development, a division of Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V, Beerse, B-2340, Belgium
| | - Peter Verstraelen
- Antwerp University, Department of Veterinary Science, Antwerp, B-2020, Belgium
| | - Jan R. Detrez
- Antwerp University, Department of Veterinary Science, Antwerp, B-2020, Belgium
| | - Marlies Verschuuren
- Antwerp University, Department of Veterinary Science, Antwerp, B-2020, Belgium
| | - Winnok H. De Vos
- Antwerp University, Department of Veterinary Science, Antwerp, B-2020, Belgium
- Ghent University, Department of Molecular Biotechnology, Ghent, B-9000, Belgium
| | - Theo Meert
- Hasselt University, Biomedical Research Institute, Diepenbeek, B-3590, Belgium
- Janssen Research & Development, a division of Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V, Beerse, B-2340, Belgium
| | - Pieter J. Peeters
- Janssen Research & Development, a division of Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V, Beerse, B-2340, Belgium
| | - Miroslav Cik
- Janssen Research & Development, a division of Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V, Beerse, B-2340, Belgium
| | - Rony Nuydens
- Janssen Research & Development, a division of Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V, Beerse, B-2340, Belgium
| | - Bert Brône
- Hasselt University, Biomedical Research Institute, Diepenbeek, B-3590, Belgium
| | - An Verheyen
- Janssen Research & Development, a division of Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V, Beerse, B-2340, Belgium
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2
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Auffray C, Balling R, Barroso I, Bencze L, Benson M, Bergeron J, Bernal-Delgado E, Blomberg N, Bock C, Conesa A, Del Signore S, Delogne C, Devilee P, Di Meglio A, Eijkemans M, Flicek P, Graf N, Grimm V, Guchelaar HJ, Guo YK, Gut IG, Hanbury A, Hanif S, Hilgers RD, Honrado Á, Hose DR, Houwing-Duistermaat J, Hubbard T, Janacek SH, Karanikas H, Kievits T, Kohler M, Kremer A, Lanfear J, Lengauer T, Maes E, Meert T, Müller W, Nickel D, Oledzki P, Pedersen B, Petkovic M, Pliakos K, Rattray M, I Màs JR, Schneider R, Sengstag T, Serra-Picamal X, Spek W, Vaas LAI, van Batenburg O, Vandelaer M, Varnai P, Villoslada P, Vizcaíno JA, Wubbe JPM, Zanetti G. Erratum to: Making sense of big data in health research: towards an EU action plan. Genome Med 2016; 8:118. [PMID: 27821178 PMCID: PMC5100330 DOI: 10.1186/s13073-016-0376-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2016] [Accepted: 10/26/2016] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Charles Auffray
- European Institute for Systems Biology and Medicine, 1 avenue Claude Vellefaux, 75010, Paris, France. .,CIRI-UMR5308, CNRS-ENS-INSERM-UCBL, Université de Lyon, 50 avenue Tony Garnier, 69007, Lyon, France.
| | - Rudi Balling
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, 7 Avenue des Hauts Fourneaux, 4362, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg.
| | - Inês Barroso
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - László Bencze
- Health Services Management Training Centre, Faculty of Health and Public Services, Semmelweis University, Kútvölgyi út 2, 1125, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Mikael Benson
- Centre for Personalised Medicine, Linköping University, 581 85, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Jay Bergeron
- Translational & Bioinformatics, Pfizer Inc., 300 Technology Square, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Enrique Bernal-Delgado
- Institute for Health Sciences, IACS - IIS Aragon, San Juan Bosco 13, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Niklas Blomberg
- ELIXIR, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SD, UK
| | - Christoph Bock
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Lazarettgasse 14, AKH BT25.2, 1090, Vienna, Austria.,Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Lazarettgasse 14, AKH BT25.2, 1090, Vienna, Austria.,Max Planck Institute for Informatics, Campus E1 4, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Ana Conesa
- Príncipe Felipe Research Center, C/Eduardo Primo Yúfera 3, 46012, Valencia, Spain.,University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), 2033 Mowry Road, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | | | - Christophe Delogne
- Technology, Data & Analytics, KPMG Luxembourg, Société Coopérative, 39 Avenue John F. Kennedy, 1855, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Peter Devilee
- Department of Human Genetics, Department of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Einthovenweg 20, 2333 ZC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Alberto Di Meglio
- Information Technology Department, European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), 385 Route de Meyrin, 1211, Geneva 23, Switzerland
| | - Marinus Eijkemans
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3508 GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Paul Flicek
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SD, UK
| | - Norbert Graf
- Department of Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, Saarland University, Campus Homburg, Building 9, 66421, Homburg, Germany
| | - Vera Grimm
- Project Management Jülich, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Wilhelm-Johnen-Straße, 52428, Jülich, Germany
| | - Henk-Jan Guchelaar
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy & Toxicology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Yi-Ke Guo
- Data Science Institute, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Ivo Glynne Gut
- CNAG-CRG, Center for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology (BIST), C/Baldiri Reixac 4, 08029, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Allan Hanbury
- Institute of Software Technology and Interactive Systems, TU Wien, Favoritenstrasse 9-11/188, 1040, Vienna, Austria
| | - Shahid Hanif
- The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, 7th Floor, Southside, 105 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6QT, UK
| | - Ralf-Dieter Hilgers
- Department of Medical Statistics, RWTH-Aachen University, Universitätsklinikum Aachen, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Ángel Honrado
- SYNAPSE Research Management Partners, Diputació 237, Àtic 3ª, 08007, Barcelona, Spain
| | - D Rod Hose
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease and Insigneo Institute for In-Silico Medicine, Medical School, University of Sheffield, Beech Hill Road, Sheffield, S10 2RX, UK
| | | | - Tim Hubbard
- Department of Medical & Molecular Genetics, King's College London, London, SE1 9RT, UK.,Genomics England, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Sophie Helen Janacek
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SD, UK
| | - Haralampos Karanikas
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Xristou Lada 6, 10561, Athens, Greece
| | - Tim Kievits
- Vitromics Healthcare Holding B.V., Onderwijsboulevard 225, 5223 DE, 's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands
| | - Manfred Kohler
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology ScreeningPort, Schnackenburgallee 114, 22525, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Andreas Kremer
- ITTM S.A., 9 avenue des Hauts Fourneaux, 4362, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Jerry Lanfear
- Research Business Technology, Pfizer Ltd, GP4 Building, Granta Park, Cambridge, CB21 6GP, UK
| | - Thomas Lengauer
- Max Planck Institute for Informatics, Campus E1 4, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Edith Maes
- Health Economics & Outcomes Research, Deloitte Belgium, Berkenlaan 8A, 1831, Diegem, Belgium
| | - Theo Meert
- Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., R&D G3O, Turnhoutseweg 30, 2340, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Werner Müller
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, AV Hill Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
| | - Dörthe Nickel
- UMR3664 IC/CNRS, Institut Curie, Section Recherche, Pavillon Pasteur, 26 rue d'Ulm, 75248, Paris cedex 05, France
| | - Peter Oledzki
- Linguamatics Ltd, 324 Cambridge Science Park Milton Rd, Cambridge, CB4 0WG, UK
| | - Bertrand Pedersen
- PwC Luxembourg, 2 rue Gerhard Mercator, 2182, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Milan Petkovic
- Philips, HighTechCampus 36, 5656AE, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Konstantinos Pliakos
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven Kulak, Etienne Sabbelaan 53, 8500, Kortrijk, Belgium
| | - Magnus Rattray
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, AV Hill Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
| | - Josep Redón I Màs
- INCLIVA Health Research Institute, University of Valencia, CIBERobn ISCIII, Avenida Menéndez Pelayo 4 accesorio, 46010, Valencia, Spain
| | - Reinhard Schneider
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, 7 Avenue des Hauts Fourneaux, 4362, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Thierry Sengstag
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics (SIB) and University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 50/ 70, 4056, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Xavier Serra-Picamal
- Agency for Health Quality and Assessment of Catalonia (AQuAS), Carrer de Roc Boronat 81-95, 08005, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Wouter Spek
- EuroBioForum Foundation, Chrysantstraat 10, 3135 HG, Vlaardingen, The Netherlands
| | - Lea A I Vaas
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology ScreeningPort, Schnackenburgallee 114, 22525, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Okker van Batenburg
- EuroBioForum Foundation, Chrysantstraat 10, 3135 HG, Vlaardingen, The Netherlands
| | - Marc Vandelaer
- Integrated BioBank of Luxembourg, 6 rue Nicolas-Ernest Barblé, 1210, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Peter Varnai
- Technopolis Group, 3 Pavilion Buildings, Brighton, BN1 1EE, UK
| | - Pablo Villoslada
- Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Institute d'Investigacions Biomediques August Pi Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Rosello 149, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Juan Antonio Vizcaíno
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SD, UK
| | - John Peter Mary Wubbe
- European Platform for Patients' Organisations, Science and Industry (Epposi), De Meeûs Square 38-40, 1000, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Gianluigi Zanetti
- CRS4, Ed.1 POLARIS, 09129, Pula, Italy.,BBMRI-ERIC, Neue Stiftingtalstrasse 2/B/6, 8010, Graz, Austria
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3
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Van Acker N, Ragé M, Vermeirsch H, Schrijvers D, Nuydens R, Byttebier G, Timmers M, De Schepper S, Streffer J, Andries L, Plaghki L, Cras P, Meert T. NRP-1 Receptor Expression Mismatch in Skin of Subjects with Experimental and Diabetic Small Fiber Neuropathy. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0161441. [PMID: 27598321 PMCID: PMC5012683 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0161441] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2016] [Accepted: 08/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The in vivo cutaneous nerve regeneration model using capsaicin is applied extensively to study the regenerative mechanisms and therapeutic efficacy of disease modifying molecules for small fiber neuropathy (SFN). Since mismatches between functional and morphological nerve fiber recovery are described for this model, we aimed at determining the capability of the capsaicin model to truly mimic the morphological manifestations of SFN in diabetes. As nerve and blood vessel growth and regenerative capacities are defective in diabetes, we focused on studying the key regulator of these processes, the neuropilin-1 (NRP-1)/semaphorin pathway. This led us to the evaluation of NRP-1 receptor expression in epidermis and dermis of subjects presenting experimentally induced small fiber neuropathy, diabetic polyneuropathy and of diabetic subjects without clinical signs of small fiber neuropathy. The NRP-1 receptor was co-stained with CD31 vessel-marker using immunofluorescence and analyzed with Definiens® technology. This study indicates that capsaicin application results in significant loss of epidermal NRP-1 receptor expression, whereas diabetic subjects presenting small fiber neuropathy show full epidermal NRP-1 expression in contrast to the basal expression pattern seen in healthy controls. Capsaicin induced a decrease in dermal non-vascular NRP-1 receptor expression which did not appear in diabetic polyneuropathy. We can conclude that the capsaicin model does not mimic diabetic neuropathy related changes for cutaneous NRP-1 receptor expression. In addition, our data suggest that NRP-1 might play an important role in epidermal nerve fiber loss and/or defective regeneration and that NRP-1 receptor could change the epidermal environment to a nerve fiber repellant bed possibly through Sem3A in diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Van Acker
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- HistoGeneX NV, Antwerp, Belgium
- * E-mail:
| | - Michael Ragé
- Institute of Neuroscience, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | | | | | - Rony Nuydens
- Janssen Research and Development, Janssen Pharmaceutics NV, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Geert Byttebier
- Janssen Research and Development, Janssen Pharmaceutics NV, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Maarten Timmers
- Janssen Research and Development, Janssen Pharmaceutics NV, Beerse, Belgium
- Reference Center for Biological Markers of Dementia (BIODEM), Institute Born-Bunge, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | - Johannes Streffer
- Janssen Research and Development, Janssen Pharmaceutics NV, Beerse, Belgium
- Reference Center for Biological Markers of Dementia (BIODEM), Institute Born-Bunge, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | - Léon Plaghki
- Institute of Neuroscience, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Patrick Cras
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
- Department of Neurology, Antwerp University Hospital, Born Bunge Institute, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Theo Meert
- Janssen Research and Development, Janssen Pharmaceutics NV, Beerse, Belgium
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4
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Auffray C, Balling R, Barroso I, Bencze L, Benson M, Bergeron J, Bernal-Delgado E, Blomberg N, Bock C, Conesa A, Del Signore S, Delogne C, Devilee P, Di Meglio A, Eijkemans M, Flicek P, Graf N, Grimm V, Guchelaar HJ, Guo YK, Gut IG, Hanbury A, Hanif S, Hilgers RD, Honrado Á, Hose DR, Houwing-Duistermaat J, Hubbard T, Janacek SH, Karanikas H, Kievits T, Kohler M, Kremer A, Lanfear J, Lengauer T, Maes E, Meert T, Müller W, Nickel D, Oledzki P, Pedersen B, Petkovic M, Pliakos K, Rattray M, I Màs JR, Schneider R, Sengstag T, Serra-Picamal X, Spek W, Vaas LAI, van Batenburg O, Vandelaer M, Varnai P, Villoslada P, Vizcaíno JA, Wubbe JPM, Zanetti G. Making sense of big data in health research: Towards an EU action plan. Genome Med 2016; 8:71. [PMID: 27338147 PMCID: PMC4919856 DOI: 10.1186/s13073-016-0323-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Medicine and healthcare are undergoing profound changes. Whole-genome sequencing and high-resolution imaging technologies are key drivers of this rapid and crucial transformation. Technological innovation combined with automation and miniaturization has triggered an explosion in data production that will soon reach exabyte proportions. How are we going to deal with this exponential increase in data production? The potential of "big data" for improving health is enormous but, at the same time, we face a wide range of challenges to overcome urgently. Europe is very proud of its cultural diversity; however, exploitation of the data made available through advances in genomic medicine, imaging, and a wide range of mobile health applications or connected devices is hampered by numerous historical, technical, legal, and political barriers. European health systems and databases are diverse and fragmented. There is a lack of harmonization of data formats, processing, analysis, and data transfer, which leads to incompatibilities and lost opportunities. Legal frameworks for data sharing are evolving. Clinicians, researchers, and citizens need improved methods, tools, and training to generate, analyze, and query data effectively. Addressing these barriers will contribute to creating the European Single Market for health, which will improve health and healthcare for all Europeans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Auffray
- European Institute for Systems Biology and Medicine, 1 avenue Claude Vellefaux, 75010, Paris, France.
- CIRI-UMR5308, CNRS-ENS-INSERM-UCBL, Université de Lyon, 50 avenue Tony Garnier, 69007, Lyon, France.
| | - Rudi Balling
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, 7 Avenue des Hauts Fourneaux, 4362, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg.
| | - Inês Barroso
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK
| | - László Bencze
- Health Services Management Training Centre, Faculty of Health and Public Services, Semmelweis University, Kútvölgyi út 2, 1125, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Mikael Benson
- Centre for Personalised Medicine, Linköping University, 581 85, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Jay Bergeron
- Translational & Bioinformatics, Pfizer Inc., 300 Technology Square, Cambridge, MA, 02139, USA
| | - Enrique Bernal-Delgado
- Institute for Health Sciences, IACS - IIS Aragon, San Juan Bosco 13, 50009, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Niklas Blomberg
- ELIXIR, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SD, UK
| | - Christoph Bock
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Lazarettgasse 14, AKH BT25.2, 1090, Vienna, Austria
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, Lazarettgasse 14, AKH BT25.2, 1090, Vienna, Austria
- Max Planck Institute for Informatics, Campus E1 4, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Ana Conesa
- Príncipe Felipe Research Center, C/ Eduardo Primo Yúfera 3, 46012, Valencia, Spain
- University of Florida, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), 2033 Mowry Road, Gainesville, FL, 32610, USA
| | | | - Christophe Delogne
- Technology, Data & Analytics, KPMG Luxembourg, Société Coopérative, 39 Avenue John F. Kennedy, 1855, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Peter Devilee
- Department of Human Genetics, Department of Pathology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Einthovenweg 20, 2333 ZC, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Alberto Di Meglio
- Information Technology Department, European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN), 385 Route de Meyrin, 1211, Geneva 23, Switzerland
| | - Marinus Eijkemans
- Julius Center for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Center Utrecht, Heidelberglaan 100, 3508 GA, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Paul Flicek
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SD, UK
| | - Norbert Graf
- Department of Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, Saarland University, Campus Homburg, Building 9, 66421, Homburg, Germany
| | - Vera Grimm
- Project Management Jülich, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, Wilhelm-Johnen-Straße, 52428, Jülich, Germany
| | - Henk-Jan Guchelaar
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy & Toxicology, Leiden University Medical Center, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Yi-Ke Guo
- Data Science Institute, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London, SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Ivo Glynne Gut
- CNAG-CRG, Center for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology (BIST), C/Baldiri Reixac 4, 08029, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Allan Hanbury
- Institute of Software Technology and Interactive Systems, TU Wien, Favoritenstrasse 9-11/188, 1040, Vienna, Austria
| | - Shahid Hanif
- The Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, 7th Floor, Southside, 105 Victoria Street, London, SW1E 6QT, UK
| | - Ralf-Dieter Hilgers
- Department of Medical Statistics, RWTH-Aachen University, Universitätsklinikum Aachen, Pauwelsstraße 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany
| | - Ángel Honrado
- SYNAPSE Research Management Partners, Diputació 237, Àtic 3ª, 08007, Barcelona, Spain
| | - D Rod Hose
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease and Insigneo Institute for In-Silico Medicine, Medical School, University of Sheffield, Beech Hill Road, Sheffield, S10 2RX, UK
| | | | - Tim Hubbard
- Department of Medical & Molecular Genetics, King's College London, London, SE1 9RT, UK
- Genomics England, London, EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Sophie Helen Janacek
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SD, UK
| | - Haralampos Karanikas
- National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Medical School, Xristou Lada 6, 10561, Athens, Greece
| | - Tim Kievits
- Vitromics Healthcare Holding B.V., Onderwijsboulevard 225, 5223 DE, 's-Hertogenbosch, The Netherlands
| | - Manfred Kohler
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology ScreeningPort, Schnackenburgallee 114, 22525, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Andreas Kremer
- ITTM S.A., 9 avenue des Hauts Fourneaux, 4362, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Jerry Lanfear
- Research Business Technology, Pfizer Ltd, GP4 Building, Granta Park, Cambridge, CB21 6GP, UK
| | - Thomas Lengauer
- Max Planck Institute for Informatics, Campus E1 4, 66123, Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Edith Maes
- Health Economics & Outcomes Research, Deloitte Belgium, Berkenlaan 8A, 1831, Diegem, Belgium
| | - Theo Meert
- Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., R&D G3O, Turnhoutseweg 30, 2340, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Werner Müller
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, AV Hill Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
| | - Dörthe Nickel
- UMR3664 IC/CNRS, Institut Curie, Section Recherche, Pavillon Pasteur, 26 rue d'Ulm, 75248, Paris cedex 05, France
| | - Peter Oledzki
- Linguamatics Ltd, 324 Cambridge Science Park Milton Rd, Cambridge, CB4 0WG, UK
| | - Bertrand Pedersen
- PwC Luxembourg, 2 rue Gerhard Mercator, 2182, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Milan Petkovic
- Philips, HighTechCampus 36, 5656AE, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Konstantinos Pliakos
- Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven Kulak, Etienne Sabbelaan 53, 8500, Kortrijk, Belgium
| | - Magnus Rattray
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, AV Hill Building, Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9PT, UK
| | - Josep Redón I Màs
- INCLIVA Health Research Institute, University of Valencia, CIBERobn ISCIII, Avenida Menéndez Pelayo 4 accesorio, 46010, Valencia, Spain
| | - Reinhard Schneider
- Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine, University of Luxembourg, 7 Avenue des Hauts Fourneaux, 4362, Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Thierry Sengstag
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics (SIB) and University of Basel, Klingelbergstrasse 50/70, 4056, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Xavier Serra-Picamal
- Agency for Health Quality and Assessment of Catalonia (AQuAS), Carrer de Roc Boronat 81-95, 08005, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Wouter Spek
- EuroBioForum Foundation, Chrysantstraat 10, 3135 HG, Vlaardingen, The Netherlands
| | - Lea A I Vaas
- Fraunhofer Institute for Molecular Biology and Applied Ecology ScreeningPort, Schnackenburgallee 114, 22525, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Okker van Batenburg
- EuroBioForum Foundation, Chrysantstraat 10, 3135 HG, Vlaardingen, The Netherlands
| | - Marc Vandelaer
- Integrated BioBank of Luxembourg, 6 rue Nicolas-Ernest Barblé, 1210, Luxembourg, Luxembourg
| | - Peter Varnai
- Technopolis Group, 3 Pavilion Buildings, Brighton, BN1 1EE, UK
| | - Pablo Villoslada
- Hospital Clinic of Barcelona, Institute d'Investigacions Biomediques August Pi Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Rosello 149, 08036, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Juan Antonio Vizcaíno
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute (EMBL-EBI), Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SD, UK
| | - John Peter Mary Wubbe
- European Platform for Patients' Organisations, Science and Industry (Epposi), De Meeûs Square 38-40, 1000, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Gianluigi Zanetti
- CRS4, Ed.1 POLARIS, 09129, Pula, Italy
- BBMRI-ERIC, Neue Stiftingtalstrasse 2/B/6, 8010, Graz, Austria
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5
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Van Acker N, Ragé M, Sluydts E, Knaapen MWM, De Bie M, Timmers M, Fransen E, Duymelinck C, De Schepper S, Anand P, Meert T, Plaghki L, Cras P. Automated PGP9.5 immunofluorescence staining: a valuable tool in the assessment of small fiber neuropathy? BMC Res Notes 2016; 9:280. [PMID: 27215701 PMCID: PMC4878004 DOI: 10.1186/s13104-016-2085-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2016] [Accepted: 05/11/2016] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Background In this study we explored the possibility of automating the PGP9.5 immunofluorescence staining assay for the diagnosis of small fiber neuropathy using skin punch biopsies. The laboratory developed test (LDT) was subjected to a validation strategy as required by good laboratory practice guidelines and compared to the well-established gold standard method approved by the European Federation of Neurological Societies (EFNS). To facilitate automation, the use of thinner sections. (16 µm) was evaluated. Biopsies from previously published studies were used. The aim was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the LDT compared to the gold standard. We focused on technical aspects to reach high-quality standardization of the PGP9.5 assay and finally evaluate its potential for use in large scale batch testing. Results We first studied linear nerve fiber densities in skin of healthy volunteers to establish reference ranges, and compared our LDT using the modifications to the EFNS counting rule to the gold standard in visualizing and quantifying the epidermal nerve fiber network. As the LDT requires the use of 16 µm tissue sections, a higher incidence of intra-epidermal nerve fiber fragments and a lower incidence of secondary branches were detected. Nevertheless, the LDT showed excellent concordance with the gold standard method. Next, the diagnostic performance and yield of the LDT were explored and challenged to the gold standard using skin punch biopsies of capsaicin treated subjects, and patients with diabetic polyneuropathy. The LDT reached good agreement with the gold standard in identifying small fiber neuropathy. The reduction of section thickness from 50 to 16 µm resulted in a significantly lower visualization of the three-dimensional epidermal nerve fiber network, as expected. However, the diagnostic performance of the LDT was adequate as characterized by a sensitivity and specificity of 80 and 64 %, respectively. Conclusions This study, designed as a proof of principle, indicated that the LDT is an accurate, robust and automated assay, which adequately and reliably identifies patients presenting with small fiber neuropathy, and therefore has potential for use in large scale clinical studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathalie Van Acker
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium. .,HistoGeneX NV, Pr J Charlottelaan 10, Berchem, 2600, Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Michael Ragé
- Institute of Neuroscience, Université Catholique de Louvain, Avenue Mounier 53, B1.53.04, 1200, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Ellen Sluydts
- HistoGeneX NV, Pr J Charlottelaan 10, Berchem, 2600, Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | - Martine De Bie
- HistoGeneX NV, Pr J Charlottelaan 10, Berchem, 2600, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Maarten Timmers
- Janssen Research and Development, Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Turnhoutseweg 30, 2340, Beerse, Belgium.,Reference Center for Biological Markers of Dementia (BIODEM), Institute Born-Bunge, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Erik Fransen
- StatUa Center for Statistics, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Carla Duymelinck
- HistoGeneX NV, Pr J Charlottelaan 10, Berchem, 2600, Antwerp, Belgium
| | | | - Praveen Anand
- Peripheral Neuropathy Unit, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London, W12 0HS, UK
| | - Theo Meert
- Janssen Research and Development, Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Turnhoutseweg 30, 2340, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Léon Plaghki
- Institute of Neuroscience, Université Catholique de Louvain, Avenue Mounier 53, B1.53.04, 1200, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Patrick Cras
- Department of Neurology, Antwerp University Hospital, Born Bunge Institute, University of Antwerp, Wilrijkstraat 10, 2650, Edegem, Belgium
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6
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Betti C, Starnowska J, Mika J, Dyniewicz J, Frankiewicz L, Novoa A, Bochynska M, Keresztes A, Kosson P, Makuch W, Van Duppen J, Chung NN, Vanden Broeck J, Lipkowski AW, Schiller PW, Janssens F, Ceusters M, Sommen F, Meert T, Przewlocka B, Tourwé D, Ballet S. Dual Alleviation of Acute and Neuropathic Pain by Fused Opioid Agonist-Neurokinin 1 Antagonist Peptidomimetics. ACS Med Chem Lett 2015; 6:1209-14. [PMID: 26713106 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.5b00359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2015] [Accepted: 10/31/2015] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Herein, the synthesis and biological evaluation of dual opioid agonists-neurokinin 1 receptor (NK1R) antagonists is described. In these multitarget ligands, the two pharmacophores do not overlap, and this allowed maintaining high NK1R affinity and antagonist potency in compounds 12 and 13. Although the fusion of the two ligands resulted in slightly diminished opioid agonism at the μ- and δ-opioid receptors (MOR and DOR, respectively), as compared to the opioid parent peptide, balanced MOR/DOR activities were obtained. Compared to morphine, compounds 12 and 13 produced more potent antinociceptive effects in both acute (tail-flick) and neuropathic pain models (von Frey and cold plate). Similarly to morphine, analgesic tolerance developed after repetitive administration of these compounds. To our delight, compound 12 did not produce cross-tolerance with morphine and high antihyperalgesic and antiallodynic effects could be reinstated after chronic administration of each of the two compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cecilia Betti
- Department
of Organic Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Joanna Starnowska
- Institute
of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland
| | - Joanna Mika
- Institute
of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland
| | - Jolanta Dyniewicz
- Neuropeptide
Laboratory, Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Lukasz Frankiewicz
- Department
of Organic Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Alexandre Novoa
- Department
of Organic Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Marta Bochynska
- Neuropeptide
Laboratory, Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Attila Keresztes
- Department
of Pharmacology, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, United States
| | - Piotr Kosson
- Neuropeptide
Laboratory, Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Wioletta Makuch
- Institute
of Pharmacology, Polish Academy of Sciences, Kraków, Poland
| | - Joost Van Duppen
- Animal
Physiology and Neurobiology Department, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Nga. N. Chung
- Department
of Chemical Biology and Peptide Research, Clinical Research Institute of Montreal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Jozef Vanden Broeck
- Animal
Physiology and Neurobiology Department, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium
| | - Andrzej W. Lipkowski
- Neuropeptide
Laboratory, Medical Research Centre, Polish Academy of Sciences, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Peter W. Schiller
- Department
of Chemical Biology and Peptide Research, Clinical Research Institute of Montreal, Montreal, Canada
| | - Frans Janssens
- Janssen Research & Development, a division of Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Marc Ceusters
- Janssen Research & Development, a division of Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Beerse, Belgium
| | - François Sommen
- Janssen Research & Development, a division of Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Theo Meert
- Janssen Research & Development, a division of Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Beerse, Belgium
| | | | - Dirk Tourwé
- Department
of Organic Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Steven Ballet
- Department
of Organic Chemistry, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
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7
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Teuns G, Geys H, Geuens S, Meert T. Predictability of preclinical drug abuse liability testing procedures: Four validation studies with methylphenidate. J Pharmacol Toxicol Methods 2014. [DOI: 10.1016/j.vascn.2014.03.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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8
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Heugebaert TSA, Van Overtveldt M, De Blieck A, Wuyts B, Augustijns P, Ponce-Gámez E, Rivera A, De Groote D, Lefebvre RA, Wouters P, Meert T, Devulder J, Stevens CV. Synthesis of 1-substituted epibatidine analogues and their in vitro and in vivo evaluation as α4β2nicotinic acetylcholine receptor ligands. RSC Adv 2014. [DOI: 10.1039/c3ra44379e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
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9
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Verheyen A, Peeraer E, Lambrechts D, Poesen K, Carmeliet P, Shibuya M, Pintelon I, Timmermans JP, Nuydens R, Meert T. Therapeutic potential of VEGF and VEGF-derived peptide in peripheral neuropathies. Neuroscience 2013; 244:77-89. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2013.03.050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2012] [Revised: 03/04/2013] [Accepted: 03/19/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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10
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Cornelissen F, Verstraelen P, Verbeke T, Pintelon I, Timmermans JP, Nuydens R, Meert T. Quantitation of chronic and acute treatment effects on neuronal network activity using image and signal analysis: toward a high-content assay. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013; 18:807-19. [PMID: 23606652 DOI: 10.1177/1087057113486518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Upon maturation, primary neuronal cultures form an interconnected network based on neurite outgrowth and synaptogenesis in which spontaneous electrical activity arises. Measurement of network activity allows quantification of neuronal health and maturation. A fluorescent indicator was used to monitor secondary calcium influxes after the occurrence of action potentials, allowing us to examine activity of hippocampal cultures via confocal live cell imaging. Subsequently, nuclear staining with DAPI allows accurate cell segmentation. To analyze the calcium recording in a robust, observer-independent manner, we implemented an automated image- and signal-processing algorithm and validated it against a visual, interactive procedure. Both methods yielded similar results on the emergence of synchronized activity and allowed robust quantitative measurement of acute and chronic modulation of drugs on network activity. Both the number of days in vitro (DIV) and neutralization of nerve growth factor (NGF) have a significant effect on synchronous burst frequency and correlation. Acute effects are demonstrated using 5-HT (serotonin) and ethylene glycol tetra-acetic acid. Automated analysis allowed measuring additional features, such as peak decay times and bursting frequency of individual neurons. Based on neuronal cell cultures in 96-well plates and accurate calcium recordings, the analysis method allows development of an integrated high-content screening assay. Because molecular biological techniques can be applied to assess the influence of genes on network activity, it is applicable for neurotoxicity or neurotrophics screening as well as development of in vitro disease models via, for example, pharmacologic manipulation or RNAi.
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Affiliation(s)
- Frans Cornelissen
- Janssen Research & Development, a Division of Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Beerse, Belgium.
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11
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Callaerts-Vegh Z, Moechars D, Van Acker N, Daneels G, Goris I, Leo S, Naert A, Meert T, Balschun D, D'Hooge R. Haploinsufficiency of VGluT1 but not VGluT2 impairs extinction of spatial preference and response suppression. Behav Brain Res 2013; 245:13-21. [PMID: 23396167 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2013.01.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2011] [Revised: 01/08/2013] [Accepted: 01/15/2013] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The excitatory neurotransmitter l-glutamate is transported into synaptic vesicles by vesicular glutamate transporters (VGluTs) to transmit glutamatergic signals. Changes in their expression have been linked to various brain disorders including schizophrenia, Parkinson's, and Alzheimer's disease. Deleting either the VGluT1 or VGluT2 gene leads to profound developmental and neurological complications and early death, but mice heterozygous for VGluT1 or VGluT2 are viable and thrive. Acquisition, retention and extinction of conditioned visuospatial and emotional responses were compared between VGluT1(+/-) and VGluT2(+/-) mice, and their wildtype littermates, using different water maze procedures, appetitive scheduled conditioning, and conditioned fear protocols. The distinct brain expression profiles of the VGluT1 and -2 isoforms particularly in telencephalic structures, such as neocortex, hippocampus and striatum, are reflected in very specific behavioral changes. VGluT2(+/-) mice were unimpaired in spatial learning tasks and fear extinction. Conversely, VGluT1(+/-) mice displayed spatial extinction learning deficits and markedly impaired fear extinction. These data indicate that VGluT1, but not VGluT2, plays a role in the neural processes underlying inhibitory learning.
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12
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Callaerts-Vegh Z, Leo S, Vermaercke B, Meert T, D'Hooge R. LPA5 receptor plays a role in pain sensitivity, emotional exploration and reversal learning. Genes Brain Behav 2012; 11:1009-19. [PMID: 23039190 DOI: 10.1111/j.1601-183x.2012.00840.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2012] [Revised: 07/27/2012] [Accepted: 08/22/2012] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a bioactive lipid acting on the nervous system through at least 6 different G protein-coupled receptors. In this study, we examined mice lacking the LPA5 receptor using an extensive battery of behavioral tests. LPA5-deficient mice showed decreased pain sensitivity in tail withdrawal, faster recovery in one inflammatory pain procedure (complete Freund's adjuvant-induced inflammation) and attenuated responses under specific neuropathic pain conditions. Notably, deletion of LPA5 also induced nocturnal hyperactivity and reduced anxiety in the mutant mice. Several exploratory tasks revealed signs of reduced anxiety in LPA5 knockout mice including increased visits to the arena center and reduced thigmotaxis in the open field, and more open arm entries in the elevated plus maze. Finally, LPA5 knockout mice also displayed marked reduction in social exploration, although several other tests indicated that these mice were able to respond normally to environmental stimuli. While learning and memory performance was not impaired in LPA5-deficient mice, we found differences, e.g., targeted swim strategy and reversal learning, as well as scheduled appetitive conditioning that might indicate differential motivational behavior. These results imply that LPA5 might be involved in both nociception and mechanisms of pain hypersensitivity, as well as in anxiety-related and motivational behaviors. These observations further support the proposed involvement of LPA signaling in psychopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Z Callaerts-Vegh
- Laboratory of Biological Psychology, Leuven Institute for Neuroscience and Disease (LIND), University of Leuven, Leuven
| | - S Leo
- Laboratory of Biological Psychology, Leuven Institute for Neuroscience and Disease (LIND), University of Leuven, Leuven.,Department of Neuroscience, Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Janssen Pharmaceutica, Beerse, Belgium
| | - B Vermaercke
- Laboratory of Biological Psychology, Leuven Institute for Neuroscience and Disease (LIND), University of Leuven, Leuven
| | - T Meert
- Laboratory of Biological Psychology, Leuven Institute for Neuroscience and Disease (LIND), University of Leuven, Leuven.,Department of Neuroscience, Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Janssen Pharmaceutica, Beerse, Belgium
| | - Rudi D'Hooge
- Laboratory of Biological Psychology, Leuven Institute for Neuroscience and Disease (LIND), University of Leuven, Leuven
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13
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Verheyen A, Peeraer E, Nuydens R, Dhondt J, Poesen K, Pintelon I, Daniels A, Timmermans JP, Meert T, Carmeliet P, Lambrechts D. Systemic anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapies induce a painful sensory neuropathy. Brain 2012; 135:2629-41. [DOI: 10.1093/brain/aws145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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14
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Pincedé I, Pollin B, Meert T, Plaghki L, Le Bars D. Psychophysics of a nociceptive test in the mouse: ambient temperature as a key factor for variation. PLoS One 2012; 7:e36699. [PMID: 22629325 PMCID: PMC3356344 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0036699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2011] [Accepted: 04/12/2012] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The mouse is increasingly used in biomedical research, notably in behavioral neurosciences for the development of tests or models of pain. Our goal was to provide the scientific community with an outstanding tool that allows the determination of psychophysical descriptors of a nociceptive reaction, which are inaccessible with conventional methods: namely the true threshold, true latency, conduction velocity of the peripheral fibers that trigger the response and latency of the central decision-making process. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Basically, the procedures involved heating of the tail with a CO(2) laser, recording of tail temperature with an infrared camera and stopping the heating when the animal reacted. The method is based mainly on the measurement of three observable variables, namely the initial temperature, the heating rate and the temperature reached at the actual moment of the reaction following random variations in noxious radiant heat. The initial temperature of the tail, which itself depends on the ambient temperature, very markedly influenced the behavioral threshold, the behavioral latency and the conduction velocity of the peripheral fibers but not the latency of the central decision-making. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE We have validated a psychophysical approach to nociceptive reactions for the mouse, which has already been described for rats and Humans. It enables the determination of four variables, which contribute to the overall latency of the response. The usefulness of such an approach was demonstrated by providing new fundamental findings regarding the influence of ambient temperature on nociceptive processes. We conclude by challenging the validity of using as "pain index" the reaction time of a behavioral response to an increasing heat stimulus and emphasize the need for a very careful control of the ambient temperature, as a prevailing environmental source of variation, during any behavioral testing of mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivanne Pincedé
- Team “Pain", INSERM UMRS 975, CNRS UMR 7225, Paris, France
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Faculté de Médecine UPMC, Paris, France
| | - Bernard Pollin
- Team “Pain", INSERM UMRS 975, CNRS UMR 7225, Paris, France
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Faculté de Médecine UPMC, Paris, France
| | - Theo Meert
- Department of Psychology, University of Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Léon Plaghki
- Unité READ, Université Catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Daniel Le Bars
- Team “Pain", INSERM UMRS 975, CNRS UMR 7225, Paris, France
- Université Pierre et Marie Curie, Faculté de Médecine UPMC, Paris, France
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15
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Leo S, Moechars D, Callaerts-Vegh Z, D'Hooge R, Meert T. Impairment of VGLUT2 but not VGLUT1 signaling reduces neuropathy-induced hypersensitivity. Eur J Pain 2012; 13:1008-17. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpain.2008.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2008] [Revised: 11/19/2008] [Accepted: 12/01/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
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16
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17
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Gijsen HJM, De Cleyn MAJ, Surkyn M, Van Lommen GRE, Verbist BMP, Nijsen MJMA, Meert T, Wauwe JV, Aerssens J. 5-sulfonyl-benzimidazoles as selective CB2 agonists-part 2. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2011; 22:547-52. [PMID: 22130134 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2011.10.091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2011] [Revised: 10/24/2011] [Accepted: 10/26/2011] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
In a previous communication, the SAR of a series of potent and selective 5-sulfonyl-benzimidazole CB2-receptor agonists was described. The lack of in vivo activity of compounds from this series was attributed to their poor solubility and metabolic stability. In this Letter, we report on the further optimization of this series, leading to the relatively polar and peripherically acting CB2 agonists 41 and 49. Although both compounds were not active in acute pain models, the less selective compound 41 displayed good, sustained activity in a chronic model of neuropathic pain without the tolerance observed with morphine. In addition, both 41 and 49 delayed the onset of clinical symptoms in an experimental model for Multiple sclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Harrie J M Gijsen
- Janssen Research & Development, Turnhoutseweg 30, 2340 Beerse, Belgium.
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18
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Shenoy R, Roberts K, Papadaki A, McRobbie D, Timmers M, Meert T, Anand P. Functional MRI brain imaging studies using the Contact Heat Evoked Potential Stimulator (CHEPS) in a human volunteer topical capsaicin pain model. J Pain Res 2011; 4:365-71. [PMID: 22090805 PMCID: PMC3215516 DOI: 10.2147/jpr.s24810] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute application of topical capsaicin produces spontaneous burning and stinging pain similar to that seen in some neuropathic states, with local hyperalgesia. Use of capsaicin applied topically or injected intradermally has been described as a model for neuropathic pain, with patterns of activation in brain regions assessed using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and positron emission tomography. The Contact Heat Evoked Potential Stimulator (CHEPS) is a noninvasive clinically practical method of stimulating cutaneous A-delta nociceptors. In this study, topical capsaicin (1%) was applied to the left volar forearm for 15 minutes of twelve adult healthy human volunteers. fMRI scans and a visual analog pain score were recorded during CHEPS stimulation precapsaicin and postcapsaicin application. Following capsaicin application there was a significant increase in visual analog scale (mean ± standard error of the mean; precapsaicin 26.4 ± 5.3; postcapsaicin 48.9 ± 6.0; P < 0.0001). fMRI demonstrated an overall increase in areas of activation, with a significant increase in the contralateral insular signal (mean ± standard error of the mean; precapsaicin 0.434 ± 0.03; postcapsaicin 0.561 ± 0.07; P = 0.047). The authors of this paper recently published a study in which CHEPS-evoked A-delta cerebral potential amplitudes were found to be decreased postcapsaicin application. In patients with neuropathic pain, evoked pain and fMRI brain responses are typically increased, while A-delta evoked potential amplitudes are decreased. The protocol of recording fMRI following CHEPS stimulation after topical application of capsaicin could be combined with recording of evoked potentials to provide a simple, rapid, and robust volunteer model to develop novel drugs for neuropathic pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ravikiran Shenoy
- Peripheral Neuropathy Unit, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London
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19
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Naert A, Callaerts-Vegh Z, Moechars D, Meert T, D'Hooge R. Vglut2 haploinsufficiency enhances behavioral sensitivity to MK-801 and amphetamine in mice. Prog Neuropsychopharmacol Biol Psychiatry 2011; 35:1316-21. [PMID: 21514350 DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2011.03.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2011] [Revised: 03/14/2011] [Accepted: 03/30/2011] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Recently developed mouse models have implicated the vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (VGLUT2) in psychostimulant-induced hyperactivity, a behavioral assay that is often applied to evaluate mouse behavior related to positive schizophrenia (SCZ) symptomatology. In present research, we wanted to evaluate further the role of subtle VGLUT2 impairment as a factor underlying SCZ symptomatology. To this end, we evaluated Vglut2 haploinsufficient (Vglut2⁺/⁻) mice and their wildtype littermates in a test battery assessing behaviors related to positive, negative and cognitive SCZ symptom domains. We found in Vglut2⁺/⁻ mice an increased locomotor response to amphetamine and an increased sensitivity to the startle-disrupting effects of MK-801, but no impairment in sensorimotor gating. Further on, minor alterations in tests assessing cognitive and negative symptom-related behavior were observed. Possible neurobiological mechanisms of these observations are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arne Naert
- Laboratory of Biological Psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Leuven, Tiensestraat 102, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
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20
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Dhondt J, Peeraer E, Verheyen A, Nuydens R, Buysschaert I, Poesen K, Van Geyte K, Beerens M, Shibuya M, Haigh JJ, Meert T, Carmeliet P, Lambrechts D. Neuronal FLT1 receptor and its selective ligand VEGF-B protect against retrograde degeneration of sensory neurons. FASEB J 2011; 25:1461-73. [PMID: 21248239 DOI: 10.1096/fj.10-170944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Even though VEGF-B is a homologue of the potent angiogenic factor VEGF, its angiogenic activities have been controversial. Intrigued by findings that VEGF-B may also affect neuronal cells, we assessed the neuroprotective and vasculoprotective effects of VEGF-B in the skin, in which vessels and nerves are functionally intertwined. Although VEGF-B and its FLT1 receptor were prominently expressed in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons innervating the hindlimb skin, they were not essential for nerve function or vascularization of the skin. However, primary DRG cultures lacking VEGF-B or FLT1 exhibited increased neuronal stress and were more susceptible to paclitaxel-induced cell death. Concomitantly, mice lacking VEGF-B or a functional FLT1 developed more retrograde degeneration of sensory neurons in a model of distal neuropathy. On the other hand, the addition of the VEGF-B isoform, VEGF-B(186), to DRG cultures antagonized neuronal stress, maintained the mitochondrial membrane potential and stimulated neuronal survival. Mice overexpressing VEGF-B(186) or FLT1 selectively in neurons were protected against the distal neuropathy, whereas exogenous VEGF-B(186), either delivered by gene transfer or as a recombinant factor, was protective by directly affecting sensory neurons and not the surrounding vasculature. Overall, this indicates that VEGF-B, instead of acting as an angiogenic factor, exerts direct neuroprotective effects through FLT1. These findings also suggest a clinically relevant role for VEGF-B in preventing distal neuropathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joke Dhondt
- Vesalius Research Center, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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Piccart E, Gantois I, Laeremans A, de Hoogt R, Meert T, Vanhoof G, Arckens L, D'Hooge R. Impaired appetitively as well as aversively motivated behaviors and learning in PDE10A-deficient mice suggest a role for striatal signaling in evaluative salience attribution. Neurobiol Learn Mem 2010; 95:260-9. [PMID: 21130175 DOI: 10.1016/j.nlm.2010.11.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2010] [Revised: 11/07/2010] [Accepted: 11/28/2010] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Phosphodiesterase 10A (PDE10A) hydrolyzes both cAMP and cGMP, and is a key element in the regulation of medium spiny neuron (MSN) activity in the striatum. In the present report, we investigated the effects of targeted disruption of PDE10A on spatial learning and memory as well as aversive and appetitive conditioning in C57BL/6J mice. Because of its putative role in motivational processes and reward learning, we also determined the expression of the immediate early gene zif268 in striatum and anterior cingulate cortex. Animals showed decreased response rates in scheduled appetitive operant conditioning, as well as impaired aversive conditioning in a passive avoidance task. Morris water maze performance revealed not-motor related spatial learning and memory deficits. Anxiety and social explorative behavior was not affected in PDE10A-deficient mice. Expression of zif268 was increased in striatum and anterior cingulate cortex, which suggests alterations in the neural connections between striatum and anterior cingulate cortex in PDE10A-deficient mice. The changes in behavior and plasticity in these PDE10A-deficient mice were in accordance with the proposed role of striatal MSNs and corticostriatal connections in evaluative salience attribution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabeth Piccart
- Laboratory of Biological Psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Leuven, Tiensestraat 102, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
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22
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Ragé M, Van Acker N, Facer P, Shenoy R, Knaapen MWM, Timmers M, Streffer J, Anand P, Meert T, Plaghki L. The time course of CO2 laser-evoked responses and of skin nerve fibre markers after topical capsaicin in human volunteers. Clin Neurophysiol 2010; 121:1256-66. [PMID: 20347388 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2010.02.159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2009] [Revised: 01/28/2010] [Accepted: 02/28/2010] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To assess the temporal relationship between skin nerve denervation and regeneration (dermal and intra-epidermal fibres, IENF) and functional changes (CO(2) laser-evoked potentials, LEPs, and quantitative sensory tests, QST) after topical cutaneous application of capsaicin. METHODS Capsaicin (0.075%) was applied to the lateral calf for three consecutive days. QST, LEPs and skin biopsies were performed at baseline and time intervals up to 54days post-capsaicin treatment. Biopsies were immunostained with antibodies for PGP9.5, TRPV1, and GAP-43 (marker of regenerating nerve fibres), and analyzed for IENFs and dermal innervation (for GAP-43). RESULTS At 1day post-capsaicin, cutaneous thermal sensitivity was reduced, as were LEPs. PGP9.5, TRPV1, and GAP-43 immunoreactive-nerve fibres were almost completely absent. By Day 12, LEPs had fully recovered, but PGP9.5 and TRPV1 IENF continued to be significantly decreased 54days post-capsaicin. In contrast, dermal GAP-43 immunoreactivity closely matched recovery of LEPs. CONCLUSIONS A good correlation was observed between LEPs and GAP-43 staining, in contrast to PGP9.5 and TRPV1. Laser stimulation is a non-invasive and sensitive method for assessing the initial IENF loss, and regenerating nerve fibres. SIGNIFICANCE Assessing skin biopsies by PGP9.5 immunostaining alone may miss significant diagnostic and prognostic information regarding regenerating nerve fibres, if other approaches are neglected, e.g. LEPs or GAP-43 immunostaining.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Ragé
- Unité READ, Faculty of Medicine, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
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23
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Van Poucke S, Haeghen YV, Vissers K, Meert T, Jorens P. Automatic colorimetric calibration of human wounds. BMC Med Imaging 2010; 10:7. [PMID: 20298541 PMCID: PMC2850874 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2342-10-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2009] [Accepted: 03/18/2010] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Recently, digital photography in medicine is considered an acceptable tool in many clinical domains, e.g. wound care. Although ever higher resolutions are available, reproducibility is still poor and visual comparison of images remains difficult. This is even more the case for measurements performed on such images (colour, area, etc.). This problem is often neglected and images are freely compared and exchanged without further thought. Methods The first experiment checked whether camera settings or lighting conditions could negatively affect the quality of colorimetric calibration. Digital images plus a calibration chart were exposed to a variety of conditions. Precision and accuracy of colours after calibration were quantitatively assessed with a probability distribution for perceptual colour differences (dE_ab). The second experiment was designed to assess the impact of the automatic calibration procedure (i.e. chart detection) on real-world measurements. 40 Different images of real wounds were acquired and a region of interest was selected in each image. 3 Rotated versions of each image were automatically calibrated and colour differences were calculated. Results 1st Experiment: Colour differences between the measurements and real spectrophotometric measurements reveal median dE_ab values respectively 6.40 for the proper patches of calibrated normal images and 17.75 for uncalibrated images demonstrating an important improvement in accuracy after calibration. The reproducibility, visualized by the probability distribution of the dE_ab errors between 2 measurements of the patches of the images has a median of 3.43 dE* for all calibrated images, 23.26 dE_ab for all uncalibrated images. If we restrict ourselves to the proper patches of normal calibrated images the median is only 2.58 dE_ab! Wilcoxon sum-rank testing (p < 0.05) between uncalibrated normal images and calibrated normal images with proper squares were equal to 0 demonstrating a highly significant improvement of reproducibility. In the second experiment, the reproducibility of the chart detection during automatic calibration is presented using a probability distribution of dE_ab errors between 2 measurements of the same ROI. Conclusion The investigators proposed an automatic colour calibration algorithm that ensures reproducible colour content of digital images. Evidence was provided that images taken with commercially available digital cameras can be calibrated independently of any camera settings and illumination features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sven Van Poucke
- Department of Anaesthesia, Critical Care, Emergency Care, Genk, Belgium.
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Roberts K, Papadaki A, McRobbie D, Meert T, Timmers M, Anand P. P56 A novel topical capsaicin model of “neuropathic pain” in human volunteers using cerebral evoked potentials and fMRI. Neuromuscul Disord 2010. [DOI: 10.1016/s0960-8966(10)70071-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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Leo S, D'Hooge R, Meert T. Exploring the role of nociceptor-specific sodium channels in pain transmission using Nav1.8 and Nav1.9 knockout mice. Behav Brain Res 2009; 208:149-57. [PMID: 19931571 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2009.11.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2009] [Revised: 11/06/2009] [Accepted: 11/15/2009] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Two voltage gated sodium channels, Na(v)1.8 and Na(v)1.9, are exclusively expressed in primary sensory neurons and are suggested to play a role in different pain conditions, including chronic inflammatory and neuropathic pain states. Since no selective pharmacological tools are available, we investigated the involvement of Na(v)1.8 and Na(v)1.9 in pain transmission by the phenotypic characterization of Na(v)1.8 and Na(v)1.9 knockout mice and their wild-type littermates in models of acute nociception, peripheral inflammation and neuropathic pain. The present study provides evidence for a modulatory role of Na(v)1.9, and to a lesser extent Na(v)1.8 in the development of cold, but not mechanical allodynia in neuropathic pain conditions. Moreover, our results also indicate that Na(v)1.9 signaling might be involved in visceral pain. In contrast, the presumed critical role of these two sodium channel subtypes to inflammatory pain hypersensitivity seem, according to our results, to be limited and temporarily.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Leo
- Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Janssen Pharmaceutica, Turnhoutseweg 30, B- 2340 Beerse, Belgium.
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26
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Ragé M, Acker N, Timmers M, Meert T, Plaghki L. 424 FUNCTIONAL RECOVERY PRECEDES STRUCTURAL RECOVERY IN AN EXPERIMENTAL MODEL OF REVERSIBLE SMALL‐FIBER NEUROPATHY USING LASER‐EVOKED POTENTIALS AND SKIN BIOPSY. Eur J Pain 2009. [DOI: 10.1016/s1090-3801(09)60427-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- M. Ragé
- Unité READ, Faculté de Médecine, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
| | | | - M. Timmers
- Johnson & Johnson, Pharmaceutical Research & Development, Beerse, Belgium
| | - T. Meert
- Johnson & Johnson, Pharmaceutical Research & Development, Beerse, Belgium
| | - L. Plaghki
- Unité READ, Faculté de Médecine, Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium
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27
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Brône B, Peeters PJ, Marrannes R, Mercken M, Nuydens R, Meert T, Gijsen HJM. Tear gasses CN, CR, and CS are potent activators of the human TRPA1 receptor. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 2008; 231:150-6. [PMID: 18501939 DOI: 10.1016/j.taap.2008.04.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2008] [Revised: 04/09/2008] [Accepted: 04/10/2008] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The TRPA1 channel is activated by a number of pungent chemicals, such as allylisothiocyanate, present in mustard oil and thiosulfinates present in garlic. Most of the known activating compounds contain reactive, electrophilic chemical groups, reacting with cysteine residues in the active site of the TRPA1 channel. This covalent modification results in activation of the channel and has been shown to be reversible for several ligands. Commonly used tear gasses CN, CR and CS are also pungent chemicals, and in this study we show that they are extremely potent and selective activators of the human TRPA1 receptor. To our knowledge, these are the most potent TRPA1 agonists known to date. The identification of the molecular target for these tear gasses may open up possibilities to alleviate the effects of tear gasses via treatment with TRPA1 antagonists. In addition these results may contribute to the basic knowledge of the TRPA1 channel that is gaining importance as a pharmacological target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bert Brône
- Department of Neuroscience, Johnson and Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Division of Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., Turnhoutseweg 30, B2340 Beerse, Belgium
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28
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Leo S, Straetemans R, D'Hooge R, Meert T. Differences in nociceptive behavioral performance between C57BL/6J, 129S6/SvEv, B6 129 F1 and NMRI mice. Behav Brain Res 2008; 190:233-42. [PMID: 18420287 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2008.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2007] [Revised: 02/26/2008] [Accepted: 03/03/2008] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The interpretation of knockout and transgenic mouse studies in pain research critically depends on detailed knowledge of the performance profile of the background strains. Pain-related behavior was compared between four relevant mouse strains (C57BL/6J, 129S6/SvEv, B6 129 F1 and NMRI mice of both sexes) using an extended test battery that included an unusual variety of assays for thermal and mechanical acute nociception, and inflammatory and neuropathic pain. Strain- and gender-dependent differences were demonstrated in many of these nociceptive assays. Particularly, C57BL and 129 mice, which serve as the default genetic backgrounds for experiments in genetically altered mice, display quite different patterns of nociceptive performance. Compared to C57BL/6J mice, 129S6/SvEv animals are less sensitive to inflammatory pain conditions (thermal sensitivity after carrageenan subplantar injection; flinch behavior after formalin injection), while the opposite is observed in the neuropathic pain condition and the visceral pain model. These data may be of special interest for genetic studies, where issues related to the background phenotype may confound their interpretation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Leo
- Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Janssen Pharmaceutica, Turnhoutseweg 30, B-2340 Beerse, Belgium.
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29
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Brône B, Moechars D, Marrannes R, Mercken M, Meert T. P2X currents in peritoneal macrophages of wild type and P2X4 -/- mice. Immunol Lett 2007; 113:83-9. [PMID: 17825926 DOI: 10.1016/j.imlet.2007.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2007] [Revised: 07/19/2007] [Accepted: 07/27/2007] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
In this study the ATP-induced (P2X) currents in isolated peritoneal macrophages of wild type (WT) and P2X(4) knockout (P2X(4)(-/-)) mice were studied by means of whole-cell patch clamp in order to (1) survey the P2X currents of native macrophages and (2) to investigate the expression of P2X(4)-like currents in the WT versus P2X(4)(-/-) mice. Three types of currents were observed in the isolated macrophages: (1) in approximately 10% of both WT and P2X(4)(-/-) macrophages a fast activating and inactivating P2X1-like current was recorded with low concentrations (0.1-1 microM) of ATP; (2) 85% of wild type and 100% of P2X(4)(-/-) macrophages exhibited a non-desensitizing P2X(7)-like current activated at high concentrations of ATP (10mM). The identity of the P2X(7) current was confirmed using the specific blocker A-740003; (3) 88.6% of the WT but none of the P2X(4)(-/-) macrophages showed a small P2X(4)-like current that desensitized slowly upon ATP application at intermediate concentrations (3-300 microM). Several observations indicated that the slowly desensitizing current in WT macrophages was P2X(4). The EC50 value of 5.3 microM ATP was as expected for P2X(4) and the current induced by 3-300 microM ATP was absent in P2X(4)(-/-) mice. Upon application of 3 microM ivermectin, a P2X(4)-selective modulator, the amplitude of this current was increased and the desensitization was inhibited in WT cells. In addition, this current was facilitated by 10 microM Zn(2+) but inhibited by Cu(2+) (in contrast to P2X(2)). We conclude that the P2X(4) and P2X(7) currents are functionally expressed in recruited peritoneal macrophages of WT mice and that the P2X(4)-like current is absent in P2X(4)(-/-) mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bert Brône
- Gobal Preclinical Development, Johnson and Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Turnhoutseweg 30, B2340 Beerse, Belgium.
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30
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Moechars D, Weston MC, Leo S, Callaerts-Vegh Z, Goris I, Daneels G, Buist A, Cik M, van der Spek P, Kass S, Meert T, D'Hooge R, Rosenmund C, Hampson RM. Vesicular glutamate transporter VGLUT2 expression levels control quantal size and neuropathic pain. J Neurosci 2006; 26:12055-66. [PMID: 17108179 PMCID: PMC6674853 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2556-06.2006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 165] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Uptake of L-glutamate into synaptic vesicles is mediated by vesicular glutamate transporters (VGLUTs). Three transporters (VGLUT1-VGLUT3) are expressed in the mammalian CNS, with partial overlapping expression patterns, and VGLUT2 is the most abundantly expressed paralog in the thalamus, midbrain, and brainstem. Previous studies have shown that VGLUT1 is necessary for glutamatergic transmission in the hippocampus, but the role of VGLUT2 in excitatory transmission is unexplored in glutamatergic neurons and in vivo. We examined the electrophysiological and behavioral consequences of loss of either one or both alleles of VGLUT2. We show that targeted deletion of VGLUT2 in mice causes perinatal lethality and a 95% reduction in evoked glutamatergic responses in thalamic neurons, although hippocampal synapses function normally. Behavioral analysis of heterozygous VGLUT2 mice showed unchanged motor function, learning and memory, acute nociception, and inflammatory pain, but acquisition of neuropathic pain, maintenance of conditioned taste aversion, and defensive marble burying were all impaired. Reduction or loss of VGLUT2 in heterozygous and homozygous VGLUT2 knock-outs led to a graded reduction in the amplitude of the postsynaptic response to single-vesicle fusion in thalamic neurons, indicating that the vesicular VGLUT content is critically important for quantal size and demonstrating that VGLUT2-mediated reduction of excitatory drive affects specific forms of sensory processing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diederik Moechars
- Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development, B-2340 Beerse, Belgium
| | - Matthew C. Weston
- Departments of Neuroscience and Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - Sandra Leo
- Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development, B-2340 Beerse, Belgium
- Laboratory of Biological Psychology, University of Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium, and
| | | | - Ilse Goris
- Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development, B-2340 Beerse, Belgium
| | - Guy Daneels
- Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development, B-2340 Beerse, Belgium
| | - A. Buist
- Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development, B-2340 Beerse, Belgium
| | - M. Cik
- Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development, B-2340 Beerse, Belgium
| | - P. van der Spek
- Department of Bioinformatics, Erasmus Medical Center, 3015GE Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Stefan Kass
- Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development, B-2340 Beerse, Belgium
| | - Theo Meert
- Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development, B-2340 Beerse, Belgium
- Laboratory of Biological Psychology, University of Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium, and
| | - Rudi D'Hooge
- Laboratory of Biological Psychology, University of Leuven, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium, and
| | - Christian Rosenmund
- Departments of Neuroscience and Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030
| | - R. Mark Hampson
- Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development, B-2340 Beerse, Belgium
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Van Sanden S, Wouters L, Burzykowski T, Molenberghs G, Van Remoortere M, Meert T, Bijnens L. A modeling approach to the analysis of nerve regenerative experiments. J Biopharm Stat 2006; 16:843-59. [PMID: 17146983 DOI: 10.1080/10543400600795384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022]
Abstract
Many experiments aiming at the investigation of nerve repair involve elaborate testing over a certain time period. Data arising from such experiments are often analyzed by time-point. Such a cross-sectional approach is often very inefficient. In this paper, we consider a case study in which repeated measurements of two response variables assumed to be Poisson distributed are obtained. We show how a repeated measures modeling approach, based on generalized linear models, can handle both responses in one model and improve the inference in the nerve repair experiments. The benefits of the model as well as problems that can occur are illustrated and discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suzy Van Sanden
- Center for Statistics, Hasselt University, Center for Statistics, Diepenbeek, Belgium.
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Goddyn H, Leo S, Meert T, D'Hooge R. Differences in behavioural test battery performance between mice with hippocampal and cerebellar lesions. Behav Brain Res 2006; 173:138-47. [PMID: 16860407 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2006.06.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2006] [Revised: 06/12/2006] [Accepted: 06/14/2006] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Effects of hippocampal or cerebellar lesions have been described extensively, but the ability of behavioural tests for laboratory mice to distinguish between such lesions has not been studied in detail. We compared the behavioural consequences of large bilateral hippocampal and hemispheric cerebellar lesions with eight commonly used tests that included elements of neuromotor performance, exploratory behaviour, and learning and memory ability. Dissociation between the effects of the different lesions was most obviously demonstrated by neuromotor impairment in cerebellum-lesioned mice (typically in the rotarod task) and hyperactivity in hippocampus-lesioned mice (typically in cage activity recordings). Several of the behavioural variables derived from the test battery correlated differently with the size of the hippocampal and cerebellar lesions. In contrast, no absolute dissociation between the effects of these lesions was found in the Morris maze, a reportedly hippocampus-dependent learning and memory task. The contextual fear conditioning task, on the other hand, did reveal a selective decrease of context-dependent freezing in hippocampus-lesioned mice, whereas cerebellum-lesioned animals displayed an increase in freezing responses. By and large, the present battery of tests does allow differentiation between the effects of cerebellar and hippocampal lesions in laboratory mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannelore Goddyn
- Laboratory of Biological Psychology, Department of Psychology, University of Leuven, Tiensestraat 102, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium
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33
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El Mouedden M, Vandermeeren M, Meert T, Mercken M. Reduction of Abeta levels in the Sprague Dawley rat after oral administration of the functional gamma-secretase inhibitor, DAPT: a novel non-transgenic model for Abeta production inhibitors. Curr Pharm Des 2006; 12:671-6. [PMID: 16472156 DOI: 10.2174/138161206775474233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Considerable effort has been made to develop drugs that delay or prevent neurodegeneration. These include inhibitors of Abeta-generating proteases for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Testing the amyloid hypothesis in vivo requires molecules that are capable of entering the CNS and that produce a substantial reduction in brain Abeta levels. Plaque-developing APP transgenic mice are currently widely used as an in vivo model of choice as these animals produce readily measurable amounts of human Abeta. They are very useful in the testing of a variety of amyloid-lowering approaches but their use for compound screening is often limited by their cost. Transgenic animals also require extensive, time-consuming breeding programs and can show high inter-animal differences in the expression level of the transgene. Hence, we considered it important to develop and characterize a new and simple non-transgenic animal model for testing Abeta modulation. For this purpose, Wild-type adult Sprague Dawley rats were treated with DAPT, a functional gamma-secretase inhibitor, and the Abeta40 and Abeta42 levels in brain-tissue and body fluids were assessed. We showed that DAPT, given orally, significantly lowered Abeta40 and Abeta42 peptide levels in brain extract, CSF, and the plasma dose- and time-dependently. We can conclude that our data establish the usefulness of the wild-type rat model for testing small-molecule inhibitors of Abeta production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed El Mouedden
- Johnson & Johnson Pharma-ceutical Research & Development, Division of Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Beerse, Belgium.
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34
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Cochet K, Meeus K, Nuydens R, De Jongh R, Meert T. Crit Care 2006; 10:P249. [DOI: 10.1186/cc4596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
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35
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Trabanco AA, Pullan S, Alonso JM, Alvarez RM, Andrés JI, Boeckx I, Fernández J, Gómez A, Iturrino L, Janssens FE, Leenaerts JE, De Lucas AI, Matesanz E, Meert T, Steckler T. 4-Phenyl-4-[1H-imidazol-2-yl]-piperidine derivatives, a novel class of selective δ-opioid agonists. Bioorg Med Chem Lett 2006; 16:146-9. [PMID: 16236510 DOI: 10.1016/j.bmcl.2005.09.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2005] [Revised: 09/06/2005] [Accepted: 09/12/2005] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
A novel series of 4-phenyl-4-[1H-imidazol-2-yl]-piperidine derivatives has been prepared and their synthesis described herein. In vitro affinities for delta-, mu-, and kappa-opioid receptors, as well as the functional activity in the [(35)S]GTPgammaS assay are reported. The most potent and selective delta-opioid agonist 18a exhibited a K(i) of 18 nM, and was >258-fold and 28-fold selective over mu- and kappa-receptors, respectively; the compound is a full agonist with an EC(50) value of 14 nM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrés A Trabanco
- Division of Psychiatry, Research and Early Development Europe, Johnson and Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Jarama 75, 47007 Toledo, Spain.
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36
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Jeurissen G, Nuydens R, De Jongh R, Vanderlaenen M, Meert T. Crit Care 2006; 10:P445. [DOI: 10.1186/cc4792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
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37
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Abstract
We introduce an assay for the semi-automated quantification of nerve regeneration by image analysis. Digital images of histological sections of regenerated nerves are recorded using an automated inverted microscope and merged into high-resolution mosaic images representing the entire nerve. These are analysed by a dedicated image-processing package that computes nerve-specific features (e.g. nerve area, fibre count, myelinated area) and fibre-specific features (area, perimeter, myelin sheet thickness). The assay's performance and correlation of the automatically computed data with visually obtained data are determined on a set of 140 semithin sections from the distal part of a rat tibial nerve from four different experimental treatment groups (control, sham, sutured, cut) taken at seven different time points after surgery. Results show a high correlation between the manually and automatically derived data, and a high discriminative power towards treatment. Extra value is added by the large feature set. In conclusion, the assay is fast and offers data that currently can be obtained only by a combination of laborious and time-consuming tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Weyn
- Visielab, Department of Physics, University of Antwerp, Belgium.
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38
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El Mouedden M, Haseldonckx M, Mackie C, Meert T, Mercken M. Method for the determination of the levels of β-amyloid peptide in the CSF sampled from freely moving rats. J Pharmacol Toxicol Methods 2005; 52:229-33. [PMID: 16125620 DOI: 10.1016/j.vascn.2005.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2004] [Accepted: 02/11/2005] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION In the present study, a model was developed to determine the effect of secretase inhibition on beta-amyloid peptide (Abeta) levels in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of freely moving adult rats. METHODS Rats were chronically implanted with a cannula into the cisterna magna and CSF samples were collected at different time points from the same animal without anaesthesia. The levels of CSF Abeta were measured by a sandwich ELISA assay. RESULTS Administration of DAPT, a functional gamma-secretase inhibitor, resulted in a substantial reduction of Abeta40 and Abeta42, confirming the in vivo functionality of the CSF as a biomarker source for endogenous APP processing modulation by secretase inhibitors. DISCUSSION Thus, the present work provides clear evidence for the usefulness of CSF sampling from the freely moving rat model for testing the effectiveness of small molecule inhibitors of Abeta production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed El Mouedden
- Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research & Development, a Division of Janssen Pharmaceutica, Turnhoutseweg 30, B-2340 Beerse, Belgium.
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39
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Abstract
UNLABELLED Cold and mechanical allodynia are important symptoms in patients with neuropathic pain. The study of cold allodynia in animals can help us to understand the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms of neuropathic pain and to validate drugs. The evaluation of cold allodynia in gerbils with a chronic constriction injury of the sciatic nerve on the cold plate is not always stable. We developed a new application method of acetone using a specific spray technique with an Eppendorf multistepper pipette. The chronic constriction injury of the sciatic nerve in gerbils resulted in a long-lasting mechanical and acetone spray-induced hyperreactivity throughout the testing period, which is clearly different from what was seen in sham-operated animals. The acetone spray test incorporates a multimodal stimulus different from direct cold stimulation. The reactivity to the acetone spray coincides in time and strength with the reactivity observed in mechanical allodynia in gerbils and with mechanical and thermal allodynia in other species. Furthermore, a pharmacological validation of the acetone spray test by different reference compounds was performed. Different compounds effective in neuropathic pain models in rodents influence the hyperreactivity to the acetone spray after acute and chronic administration. This study indicates that the multimodal acetone spray test is a valuable tool in the study of neuropathic pain in rodents. IMPLICATIONS The acetone spray test is a multimodal and valuable tool in the evaluation of neuropathic pain behavior in gerbils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kris Vissers
- *Multidisciplinary Pain Center, Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, Genk, Belgium; †J&J PRD, a division of Janssen Pharmaceutica, Beerse, Belgium
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40
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El Mouedden M, Vandermeeren M, Meert T, Mercken M. Development of a specific ELISA for the quantitative study of amino-terminally truncated beta-amyloid peptides. J Neurosci Methods 2005; 145:97-105. [PMID: 15922029 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2004.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2004] [Revised: 11/25/2004] [Accepted: 12/01/2004] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Clinical studies for disease modifying drugs in Alzheimer's disease are in real need for a sensitive biochemical diagnostic and therapeutic marker. Encouraging results have been obtained by measuring levels of pathology related proteins such as amyloid beta (Abeta) peptides and tau proteins in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma of patients. We and other research groups have shown that truncated Abeta11-40 and Abeta11-42 is also a potential marker and that it is produced and deposited in the brains of patients and transgenic mouse models. Because of a lack of quantitative methods for specific measurement of the truncated Abeta it has not been possible to evaluate the true value of this potential biomarker. To overcome these limitations we developed a novel monoclonal antibody-based sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to measure Abeta11-40 and Abeta11-42 levels in biological materials. For this purpose monoclonal antibodies were produced that react specifically with amyloid precursor protein (APP) products generated by cleavage at position 11 of the Abeta sequence. The assay has the sensitivity, selectivity and dynamic range to allow specific, direct quantitation of truncated Abeta11 peptides in cell culture medium, cerebrospinal fluid and brain tissue extracts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammed El Mouedden
- Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Division of Janssen Pharmaceutica N.V., Turnhoutseweg 30, B-2340 Beerse, Belgium
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41
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Verreck G, Chun I, Li Y, Kataria R, Zhang Q, Rosenblatt J, Decorte A, Heymans K, Adriaensen J, Bruining M, Van Remoortere M, Borghys H, Meert T, Peeters J, Brewster ME. Preparation and physicochemical characterization of biodegradable nerve guides containing the nerve growth agent sabeluzole. Biomaterials 2005; 26:1307-15. [PMID: 15475061 DOI: 10.1016/j.biomaterials.2004.04.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2004] [Accepted: 04/23/2004] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The objective of this study was to develop and characterize a biodegradable drug-loaded nerve guide for peripheral nerve regeneration. Sabeluzole, a nerve growth agent, was selected as model compound. Four biodegradable polymers were selected for this study: a copolymer of polylactic acid and polycaprolactone (PCL); a copolymer of polyglycolic acid and polycaprolactone PCL; a copolymer of PCL/polydioxanone (PDO) and PDO. Placebo and drug loaded nerve guides were obtained by melt compression and melt extrusion. It was observed that melt compression and melt extrusion are feasible techniques to prepare the nerve guides. Based on the physicochemical characterization, all samples show absence of crystalline sabeluzole, indicating the formation of an amorphous dispersion. The in vitro release measurements show that the release of sabeluzole is complete, reproducible and can be controlled by the proper selection of the polymer. The release mechanism for all samples follows Fickian release behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
- Geert Verreck
- Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical Research and Development, Drug Evaluation, Turnhoutseweg 30 2340 Beerse, Belgium.
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42
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Vissers K, Hoffmann V, Geenen F, Biermans R, Meert T. Is the Second Phase of the Formalin Test Useful to Predict Activity in Chronic Constriction Injury Models? A Pharmacological Comparison in Different Species. Pain Pract 2003; 3:298-309. [PMID: 17166125 DOI: 10.1111/j.1530-7085.2003.03033.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
This study presents data of several reference drugs in rats and gerbils for both the second phase of the formalin test and the cold allodynia in animals with a constriction injury of the sciatic nerve. A pharmacological validation of the formalin test and the CCI model in gerbils was performed. It was evaluated whether the second phase of the formalin test could be used as a pharmacological screening to predict outcome in the cold plate test in CCI animals. Male Sprague Dawley and Wistar rats and male gerbils were used for both tests. For the formalin test, animals were injected in the right hind paw (5% formalin rat: 0.05 microl; gerbil: 0.01 microl) and flinching and licking or biting were recorded. For CCI testing, a Bennett operation was performed on the left hind paw 7 days before testing. Cold plate allodynia was evaluated before and after drug treatment. In rats, a good correlation between both test conditions for morphine, fentanyl, MK-801 and flunarizine was found. Clonidine tends to have more activity in the second phase of the formalin test, whereas baclofen, tramadol, amitryptiline, ketamine and topiramate demonstrate to be more active in the cold plate. In gerbils, a good correlation between both test conditions for fentanyl and ketoprofen was found. Tramadol and CP-96345 tend to have more activity in the second phase of the formalin test, whereas morphine, SR-48968, SR-142801 and R116301 demonstrates to be more active in the cold plate test. In the present acute test conditions, there is a correlation in the pharmacological activity in rats and gerbils for the tested compounds a correlation between the second phase of the formalin test and the cold allodynia in CCI animals is found. Comparing to human data the screening drugs tested in this study show a correlation between animal and human studies in these specific circumstances. Further validation studies are needed to make these correlations clinical applicable.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Vissers
- Multidisciplinary Pain Center, Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, Genk, Belgium.
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Vissers K, De Jongh R, Hoffmann V, Heylen R, Crul B, Meert T. Internal and External Factors Affecting the Development of Neuropathic Pain in Rodents. Is It All About Pain? Pain Pract 2003; 3:326-42. [PMID: 17166129 DOI: 10.1111/j.1530-7085.2003.03037.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
It is important to know the factors that will influence animal models of neuropathic pain. A good reproducibility and predictability in different strains of animals for a given test increases the clinical relevance and possible targeting. An obligatory requirement for enabling comparisons of results of different origin is a meticulous definition of the specific sensitivities of a model for neuropathic pain and a description of the test conditions. Factors influencing neuropathic pain behavior can be subdivided in external and internal factors. The most important external factors are; timing of the measurement of pain after induction of neuropathy, circadian rhythms, seasonal influences, air humidity, influence of order of testing, diet, social variables, housing and manipulation, cage density, sexual activity, external stress factors, and influences of the experimenter. The internal factors are related to the type of animal, its genetic background, gender, age, and the presence of homeostatic adaptation mechanisms to specific situations or stress. In practice, the behavioral presentations to pain depend on the combination of genetic and environmental factors such as accepted social behavior. It also depends on the use of genetic manipulation of the animals such as in transgenic animals. These make the interpretation of data even more difficult. Differences of pain behavior between in- and outbred animals will be better understood by using modern analysis techniques. Substrains of animals with a high likelihood for developing neuropathic pain make the unraveling of specific pathophysiological mechanisms possible. Concerning the effect of stress on pain, it is important to differentiate between external and internal stress such as social coping behavior. The individual dealing with this stress is species sensitive, and depends on the genotype and the social learning. In the future, histo-immunological and genetic analysis will highlight similarities of the different pathophysiological mechanisms of pain between different species and human subjects. The final objective for the study of pain is to describe the genetics of the eliciting pain mechanisms in humans and to look for correlations with the knowledge from basic research. Therefore, it is necessary to know the genetic evolution of the different mechanisms in chronic pain. In order to be able to control the clinical predictability of a putative treatment the evolutionary pharmacogenomic structure of specific transmitters and receptors must be clarified.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Vissers
- Multidisciplinary Pain Center, Ziekenhuis Oost-Limburg, Genk, Belgium.
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Adriaensen H, Vissers K, Noorduin H, Meert T. Opioid tolerance and dependence: an inevitable consequence of chronic treatment? Acta Anaesthesiol Belg 2003; 54:37-47. [PMID: 12703345] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
Although opioids provide effective analgesia, largely unsubstantiated concerns about opioid-induced tolerance, physical dependence and addiction have limited their appropriate use. As a consequence, many patients receive inadequate treatment for both malignant and non-malignant pain. However, it has been shown that analgesic tolerance develops less frequently during chronic opioid administration in a clinical context than in animal experiments, and that instituting an appropriate dosing regimen can minimise withdrawal symptoms. Early studies had suggested that addiction might result from chronic opioid therapy, though more recent data indicate a low risk in patients with no history of drug abuse. New treatment regimens may also reduce the risk of tolerance, physical dependence and addiction. Long-acting preparations, such as transdermal fentanyl and possibly some forms of other slow release opioids, which maintain constant opioid concentrations in the plasma, minimise the occurrence of the 'between-dose' symptoms such as withdrawal and opioid-induced euphoria. This review discusses the development of tolerance, physical dependence and addiction during opioid therapy, and the influence of these factors on the choice of treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Adriaensen
- Department of Anesthesiology, University Hospital Antwerp, Wilrijkstraat 10, B-2650 Edegem, Belgium.
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45
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Abstract
We studied the effects in rats of a 6-day intracerebroventricular (i.c.v) infusion of four different end-capped phosphorothioate-modified antisense oligonucleotides (AOs), specifically targeting different regions of the 5-hydroxytryptamine2A (5-HT2A) receptor mRNA, on central 5-HT2A receptor expression and 5-HT2A receptor-mediated behaviours. Only one of the AOs (sequence 4), directed against the 5'-untranslated region (from + 557 to + 577), specifically affected central 5-HT2A receptor expression and receptor-mediated behaviour. This AO (sequence 4) reduced binding of the 5-HT2A agonist 1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-[125I]iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane ([125I]DOI) up to 25% in cortical areas, as measured by quantitative autoradiography. Cortical binding of the antagonist [3H]ketanserin was not affected. As the specific AO treatment presumably affects the synthesis of new receptor, we hypothesize that this newly synthesized receptor represents the major part of the functionally active, G protein coupled receptor. A 5-day infusion of AO (sequence 4) resulted in profound inhibition of the head-twitch response (HTR) to 1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylphenyl)-2-aminopropane (DOM). In contrast, treatment with vehicle, sense oligonucleotides (SOs) and other AOs (sequences 1, 2 and 3) caused an increased DOM-induced HTR as well as a spontaneous HTR. The latter was abolished by treatment with the 5-HT2 receptor antagonist, ritanserin. Systematic investigation of the surgical and infusion procedures revealed that the enhanced HTR already appeared following drilling of the skull. This wounding can probably damage the blood-brain barrier and cause a stress-induced increase in serotonergic transmission. AO (sequence 4) treatment also abolished the spontaneous HTR. AO (sequence 4) treatment allowed the identification of specific central 5-HT2A receptor-mediated behaviours in the complex serotonergic syndrome induced by tryptamine in rats. Only bilateral convulsions and body tremors were significantly inhibited. The backward locomotion, hunched back and Straub tail were not affected, nor was cyanosis, an index of vasoconstriction induced by peripheral 5-HT2A receptor activation. Labelling of central 5-HT2C receptors by [3H]mesulergine, and 5-HT2C receptor-mediated anxiety were not attenuated by AO or SO treatment. Rats treated with AO (sequence 4) showed increased locomotor activity and a strong reactivity towards touching. We hypothesize that the down-regulation of functional 5-HT2A receptors may shift the balance between various 5-HT receptor subtypes. Our analysis of the behavioural consequences of AO treatment and the use of different AOs and SOs has shown that specific receptor-mediated behaviour can be identified.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Autoradiography
- Behavior, Animal/drug effects
- Brain/drug effects
- Brain/metabolism
- Coloring Agents/pharmacology
- Drug Antagonism
- Evans Blue/pharmacology
- Injections, Intraventricular
- Male
- Maze Learning/drug effects
- Motor Activity/drug effects
- Oligonucleotides, Antisense/administration & dosage
- RNA, Messenger/antagonists & inhibitors
- Rats
- Rats, Wistar
- Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A
- Receptors, Serotonin/drug effects
- Receptors, Serotonin/genetics
- Receptors, Serotonin/metabolism
- Seizures/chemically induced
- Seizures/drug therapy
- Seizures/prevention & control
- Serotonin Antagonists/pharmacology
- Serotonin Syndrome/chemically induced
- Serotonin Syndrome/drug therapy
- Serotonin Syndrome/physiopathology
- Sulfur Radioisotopes
- Tryptamines
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Affiliation(s)
- Dirk Van Oekelen
- Department of Biochemical Pharmacology, Janssen Research Foundation, Beerse, Belgium
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46
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Abstract
We have examined the effects of the psychostimulant d-amphetamine and the neuroleptic haloperidol on hypothermia induced by intraperitoneal injection of the centrally penetrating opioids morphine, fentanyl and sufentanil and the peripherally acting opioid loperamide. Measuring rectal body temperatures, dose-response relationships were established for all compounds. Morphine and sufentanil produced hyperthermia at low doses and dose-related hypothermia at higher doses. Fentanyl and loperamide produced dose-related hypothermia. Fixed doses of each opioid producing significant hypothermia were selected for interaction studies. The psychostimulant d-amphetamine was found t o produce biphasic effects with low doses inducing hypothermia and higher doses inducing hyperthemia. Haloperidol produced dose-related hypothermia. The selected doses of the opioids were then injected followed after 15 min. by injection of hypothermia producing doses of d-amphetamine or haloperidol. Hypothermia induced by morphine, fentanyl and sufentanil was reversed by d-amphetamine whereas loperamide-induced hypothermia was unaffected. Rebound hyperthermia was also measured with fentanyl and sufentanil. Haloperidol increased the hypothermic effects of morphine, fentanyl and sufentanil but not of loperamide. In conclusion, the central stimulating effects of opioids and amphetamine may combine resulting in thermogenesis and reversal of hypothermia. Central mechanisms of opioid-induced hypothermia in mice are influenced by drugs which alter the dopamine system, whereas peripheral mechanisms are unaffected. A possible clinical implication for this dopaminergic interaction may be toxicity associated with hyperpyrexia caused by psychostimulant misuse, which is increasingly occurring concomitantly with abuse of opioids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis Baker
- CNS Discovery Research, Janssen Research Foundation, Turnhoutseweg, B-2340 Beerse, Belgium.
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47
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Abstract
We distinguished the functions of the different 5-hydroxytryptamine-2 (5-HT(2)) receptor (5-HT(2)R) subtypes in the tryptamine-induced 5-HT syndrome in rats using (1) the 5-HT(2A)R antagonist R93274 (N-[(3-p-fluorophenyl-1-propyl)-4-methyl-4-piperidinyl]-4-amino-5-iodo-2-methoxybenzamide), the 5-HT(2A/C)R antagonist R99647 (2-(dimethylaminomethyl)2,3,3a,8-tetrahydrodibenzo[c,f]isoxazolo[2,3-a]azepine), the 5-HT(2B/C)R antagonist SB-242084 (6-chloro-5-methyl-1-[[2-[(2-methyl-3-pyridyl)oxy]-5-pyridyl]carbamoyl]-indoline), and several 5-HT(2)R antagonists (ketanserin, risperidone, pipamperone and mianserin); and (2) chronic 5-HT(2)R activation by 1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylphenyl)-2-aminopropane (DOM). In contrast to SB-242084, the selective 5-HT(2A)R antagonist R93274 as well as the non-selective 5-HT(2A)R antagonists (R99647, ketanserin, risperidone, pipamperone and mianserin) significantly inhibited tryptamine-induced forepaw treading and tremors, and reversed peripherally mediated cyanosis into hyperaemia; only the 5-HT(2A/C)R antagonists R99647 and mianserin inhibited the tryptamine-induced hunched back. Intermittent DOM administration (intravenously every 48 h for 12 days) did not change the centrally mediated tryptamine-induced forepaw treading, tremors and hunched back at 1, 4 or 7 days after the last DOM pretreatment. The DOM-induced head twitch response, measured immediately after every DOM injection, was not affected. In contrast, peripherally mediated cyanosis was reversed into hyperaemia in 75, 11 and 20% of all pretreated rats at 1, 4 and 7 days, respectively, after the last DOM administration. Taken together, these finding suggest that central 5-HT(2A)Rs mediate tryptamine-induced forepaw treading and tremors, that peripheral 5-HT Rs mediate tryptamine-induced cyanosis, and that 5-HT(2A)Rs mediate tryptamine-induced hunched back. Peripheral 5-HT(2C)Rs are more sensitive to desensitization after intermittent treatment with an agonist than central 5-HT(2A)Rs.
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MESH Headings
- DOM 2,5-Dimethoxy-4-Methylamphetamine/pharmacology
- Animals
- Behavior, Animal/drug effects
- Behavior, Animal/physiology
- Brain/drug effects
- Brain/metabolism
- Male
- Rats
- Rats, Wistar
- Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2A
- Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2B
- Receptor, Serotonin, 5-HT2C
- Receptors, Serotonin/drug effects
- Receptors, Serotonin/metabolism
- Serotonin Antagonists/administration & dosage
- Serotonin Antagonists/pharmacology
- Serotonin Receptor Agonists/pharmacology
- Serotonin Syndrome/chemically induced
- Serotonin Syndrome/metabolism
- Tryptamines
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Affiliation(s)
- D Van Oekelen
- Discovery Research, Janssen Research Foundation, Beerse, Belgium
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Gosselin F, Tourwé D, Ceusters M, Meert T, Heylen L, Jurzak M, Lubell WD. Probing opioid receptor-ligand interactions by employment of indolizidin-9-one amino acid as a constrained Gly(2)-Gly(3) surrogate in a leucine-enkephalin mimic. J Pept Res 2001; 57:337-44. [PMID: 11328491 DOI: 10.1046/j.1397-002x.2000.00812.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The relationship between the conformation and biological activity of Leu-enkephalin was studied using (2S,6R,8S)-9-oxo-8-N-(Boc)amino-1-azabicyclo[4.3.0]nonane-2-carboxylic acid [(2S,6R,8S)-1, I(9)AA] as a constrained Gly(2)-Gly(3) dipeptide surrogate. [I(9)AA](2,3)-Leu-enkephalin 12 was assembled using solid-phase peptide synthesis on Merrifield resin with TBTU as the coupling reagent. The in vitro assays indicated that [I(9)AA](2,3)-Leu-enkephalin 12 exhibited affinities for the mu- and delta-opioid receptors that were three orders of magnitude lower than that of Leu-enkephalin, as well as partial agonist character for both receptors. In in vivo assays for spinal analgesia, the indolizidinone analog 12 showed significantly enhanced duration of action, indicating an increased metabolic stability. Conformational analysis was performed using NMR and CD spectroscopy. The amide temperature coefficients and 3J(NH-CalphaH) coupling constants for 12 could not support a hydrogen-bonded beta-turn structure; however, its CD spectrum indicated a turn conformation. Incorporation of indolizidinone amino acid 1 into Leu-enkephalin thus provided additional support for the importance of a turn conformation for the biological activity of the native peptide.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Gosselin
- Département de chimie, Université de Montréal, C. P. 6128, Succursale Center Ville, Montréal, Québec, Canada
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Abstract
Clinical studies report a low incidence of intestinal side effects with transdermally administered fentanyl (TTS-fentanyl) in comparison with oral morphine. To support these clinical data, analgesic and intestinal effects of both opioids were compared in rats. After subcutaneous injection, analgesia in the tail withdrawal reaction test was obtained at a peak effect dose of 0.032 mg/kg with fentanyl and 8.0 mg/kg with morphine. This analgesic dose exceeded the ED50 for inhibition of castor oil-induced diarrhea only slightly (1.1 x) in the case of fentanyl (0.028 mg/kg) but markedly (36 x) in the case of morphine (0.22 mg/kg). To reverse completely the antidiarrheal effect of equivalent analgesic doses of the opioids (their ED50S for analgesia lasting 2 hours), much more naloxone was required in the case of morphine (5.4 mg/kg) than in the case of fentanyl (0.19 mg/kg). After oral administration, the difference between both opioids was less pronounced. Analgesia was obtained at 0.85 mg/kg with fentanyl and 32 mg/kg with morphine. This analgesic dose only slightly (1.7 x) exceeded the antidiarrheal dose in the case of fentanyl (0.49 mg/kg) but significantly (6.2 x) in the case of morphine (5.2 mg/ kg). To reverse completely the antidiarrheal effect of equivalent analgesic oral doses of the opioids (their ED50S for analgesia lasting 2 hours), more naloxone was required in the case of morphine (11 mg/kg) than in the case of fentanyl (2.0 mg/kg). Rapid penetration of fentanyl into the brain is thought to be responsible for small dissociation between the analgesic and intestinal effect of this lipophilic opioid. The present data provide preclinical evidence to support the relatively low incidence of intestinal side effects observed clinically with the use of TTS-fentanyl in comparison with orally administered morphine.
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Affiliation(s)
- A A Megens
- Department of Pharmacology, Janssen Research Foundation, Beerse, Belgium
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50
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Affiliation(s)
- T Meert
- Janssen Research Foundation, Department of Neuropsychopharmacology, Beerse, Belgium
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