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Siwczak F, Hiller C, Pfannkuche H, Schneider MR. Culture of vibrating microtome tissue slices as a 3D model in biomedical research. J Biol Eng 2023; 17:36. [PMID: 37264444 DOI: 10.1186/s13036-023-00357-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 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: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The basic idea behind the use of 3-dimensional (3D) tools in biomedical research is the assumption that the structures under study will perform at the best in vitro if cultivated in an environment that is as similar as possible to their natural in vivo embedding. Tissue slicing fulfills this premise optimally: it is an accessible, unexpensive, imaging-friendly, and technically rather simple procedure which largely preserves the extracellular matrix and includes all or at least most supportive cell types in the correct tissue architecture with little cellular damage. Vibrating microtomes (vibratomes) can further improve the quality of the generated slices because of the lateral, saw-like movement of the blade, which significantly reduces tissue pulling or tearing compared to a straight cut. In spite of its obvious advantages, vibrating microtome slices are rather underrepresented in the current discussion on 3D tools, which is dominated by methods as organoids, organ-on-chip and bioprinting. Here, we review the development of vibrating microtome tissue slices, the major technical features underlying its application, as well as its current use and potential advances, such as a combination with novel microfluidic culture chambers. Once fully integrated into the 3D toolbox, tissue slices may significantly contribute to decrease the use of laboratory animals and is likely to have a strong impact on basic and translational research as well as drug screening.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatina Siwczak
- Institute of Veterinary Physiology, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 7, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Charlotte Hiller
- Institute of Veterinary Physiology, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 7, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Helga Pfannkuche
- Institute of Veterinary Physiology, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 7, 04103, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Marlon R Schneider
- Institute of Veterinary Physiology, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 7, 04103, Leipzig, Germany.
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2
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Bartucci R, Paramanandana A, Boersma YL, Olinga P, Salvati A. Comparative study of nanoparticle uptake and impact in murine lung, liver and kidney tissue slices. Nanotoxicology 2020; 14:847-865. [PMID: 32536243 DOI: 10.1080/17435390.2020.1771785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [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] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
To determine responses to nanoparticles in a more comprehensive way, current efforts in nanosafety aim at combining the analysis of multiple endpoints and comparing outcomes in different models. To this end, here we used tissue slices from mice as 3D ex vivo models and performed for the first time a comparative study of uptake and impact in liver, lung, and kidney slices exposed under the same conditions to silica, carboxylated and amino-modified polystyrene. In all organs, only exposure to amino-modified polystyrene induced toxicity, with stronger effects in kidneys and lungs. Uptake and distribution studies by confocal microscopy confirmed nanoparticle uptake in all slices, and, in line with what observed in vivo, preferential accumulation in the macrophages. However, uptake levels in kidneys were minimal, despite the strong impact observed when exposed to the amino-modified polystyrene. On the contrary, nanoparticle uptake and accumulation in macrophages were particularly evident in lung slices. Thus, tissue digestion was used to recover all cells from lung slices at different exposure times and to determine by flow cytometry detailed uptake kinetics in lung macrophages and all other cells, confirming higher uptake by the macrophages. Finally, the expression levels of a panel of targets involved in inflammation and macrophage polarization were measured to determine potential effects induced in lung and liver tissue. Overall, this comparative study allowed us to determine uptake and impact of nanoparticles in real tissue and identify important differences in outcomes in the organs in which nanoparticles distribute.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Bartucci
- Department of Pharmacokinetics, Toxicology and Targeting, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.,Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Biology, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.,Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Abhimata Paramanandana
- Department of Pharmacokinetics, Toxicology and Targeting, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Ykelien L Boersma
- Department of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Biology, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Peter Olinga
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Anna Salvati
- Department of Pharmacokinetics, Toxicology and Targeting, Groningen Research Institute of Pharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
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Abstract
Studies on islet of Langerhans physiology are crucial to understand the role of the endocrine pancreas in diabetes pathogenesis and the development of new therapeutic approaches. However, so far most research addressing islet of Langerhans biology relies on islets obtained via enzymatic isolation from the pancreas, which is known to cause mechanical and chemical stress, thus having a major impact on islet cell physiology. To circumvent the limitations of islet isolation, we have pioneered a platform for the study of islet physiology using the pancreas tissue slice technique. This approach allows to explore the detailed three-dimensional morphology of intact pancreatic tissue at a cellular level and to investigate islet cell function under near-physiological conditions. The described procedure is less damaging and faster than alternative approaches and particularly advantageous for studying infiltrated and structurally damaged islets. Furthermore, pancreas tissue slices have proven valuable for acute studies of endocrine as well as exocrine cell physiology in their conserved natural environment. We here provide a detailed protocol for the preparation of mouse pancreas tissue slices, the assessment of slice viability, and the study of pancreas cell physiology by hormone secretion and immunofluorescence staining.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia K Panzer
- Paul Langerhans Institute Dresden (PLID) of the Helmholtz Zentrum München at the University Clinic Carl Gustav Carus of Technische Universität Dresden, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany.,Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), München-Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Christian M Cohrs
- Paul Langerhans Institute Dresden (PLID) of the Helmholtz Zentrum München at the University Clinic Carl Gustav Carus of Technische Universität Dresden, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany.,Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.,German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), München-Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Stephan Speier
- Paul Langerhans Institute Dresden (PLID) of the Helmholtz Zentrum München at the University Clinic Carl Gustav Carus of Technische Universität Dresden, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Neuherberg, Germany. .,Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany. .,German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), München-Neuherberg, Germany.
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Mendes ND, Fernandes A, Almeida GM, Santos LE, Selles MC, Lyra E Silva NM, Machado CM, Horta-Júnior JAC, Louzada PR, De Felice FG, Alves-Leon S, Marcondes J, Assirati JA, Matias CM, Klein WL, Garcia-Cairasco N, Ferreira ST, Neder L, Sebollela A. Free-floating adult human brain-derived slice cultures as a model to study the neuronal impact of Alzheimer's disease-associated Aβ oligomers. J Neurosci Methods 2018; 307:203-209. [PMID: 29859877 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2018.05.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [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: 03/16/2018] [Revised: 05/25/2018] [Accepted: 05/28/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Slice cultures have been prepared from several organs. With respect to the brain, advantages of slice cultures over dissociated cell cultures include maintenance of the cytoarchitecture and neuronal connectivity. Slice cultures from adult human brain have been reported and constitute a promising method to study neurological diseases. Despite this potential, few studies have characterized in detail cell survival and function along time in short-term, free-floating cultures. NEW METHOD We used tissue from adult human brain cortex from patients undergoing temporal lobectomy to prepare 200 μm-thick slices. Along the period in culture, we evaluated neuronal survival, histological modifications, and neurotransmitter release. The toxicity of Alzheimer's-associated Aβ oligomers (AβOs) to cultured slices was also analyzed. RESULTS Neurons in human brain slices remain viable and neurochemically active for at least four days in vitro, which allowed detection of binding of AβOs. We further found that slices exposed to AβOs presented elevated levels of hyperphosphorylated Tau, a hallmark of Alzheimer's disease. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHOD(S) Although slice cultures from adult human brain have been previously prepared, this is the first report to analyze cell viability and neuronal activity in short-term free-floating cultures as a function of days in vitro. CONCLUSIONS Once surgical tissue is available, the current protocol is easy to perform and produces functional slices from adult human brain. These slice cultures may represent a preferred model for translational studies of neurodegenerative disorders when long term culturing in not required, as in investigations on AβO neurotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niele D Mendes
- Dept. Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil; Dept. Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Artur Fernandes
- Dept. Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil; Dept. Physiology, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Glaucia M Almeida
- Dept. Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Luis E Santos
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Maria Clara Selles
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - N M Lyra E Silva
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Carla M Machado
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University, SP, Brazil
| | - José A C Horta-Júnior
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University, SP, Brazil
| | - Paulo R Louzada
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Fernanda G De Felice
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Centre for Neuroscience Studies, Department of Biomedical and Molecular Sciences, Queen's University, Kingston, ON, Canada
| | - Soniza Alves-Leon
- Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Jorge Marcondes
- Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - João Alberto Assirati
- Ribeirão Preto Medical School Clinical Hospital, University of São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Caio M Matias
- Ribeirão Preto Medical School Clinical Hospital, University of São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - William L Klein
- Department of Neurobiology, Northwestern University, IL, USA
| | | | - Sergio T Ferreira
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil; Institute of Biophysics Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
| | - Luciano Neder
- Dept. Pathology and Forensic Medicine, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil; Barretos Cancer Hospital, Barretos, SP, Brazil
| | - Adriano Sebollela
- Dept. Biochemistry and Immunology, Ribeirao Preto Medical School, University of Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.
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Ewe A, Höbel S, Heine C, Merz L, Kallendrusch S, Bechmann I, Merz F, Franke H, Aigner A. Optimized polyethylenimine (PEI)-based nanoparticles for siRNA delivery, analyzed in vitro and in an ex vivo tumor tissue slice culture model. Drug Deliv Transl Res 2017; 7:206-216. [PMID: 27334279 DOI: 10.1007/s13346-016-0306-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/20/2023]
Abstract
The non-viral delivery of small RNA molecules like siRNAs still poses a major bottleneck for their successful application in vivo. This is particularly true with regard to crossing physiological barriers upon systemic administration. We have previously established polyethylenimine (PEI)-based complexes for therapeutic RNA formulation. These nanoplexes mediate full RNA protection against nucleolytic degradation, delivery to target tissues as well as cellular uptake, intracellular release and therapeutic efficacy in preclinical in vivo models. We herein present data on different polyplex modifications for the defined improvement of physicochemical and biological nanoparticle properties and for targeted delivery. (i) By non-covalent modifications of PEI polyplexes with phospholipid liposomes, ternary complexes ("lipopolyplexes") are obtained that combine the favorable features of PEI and lipid systems. Decreased cytotoxicity and highly efficient delivery of siRNA is achieved. Some lipopolyplexes also allow prolonged storage, thus providing formulations with higher stability. (ii) Novel tyrosine modifications of low molecular weight PEI offer further improvement of stability, biocompatibility, and knockdown efficacy of resulting nanoparticles. (iii) For ligand-mediated uptake, the shielding of surface charges is a critical requirement. This is achieved by PEI grafting with polyethylene glycol (PEG), prior to covalent coupling of anti-HER1 antibodies (Erbitux®) as ligand for targeted delivery and uptake. Beyond tumor cell culture, analyses are extended towards tumor slice cultures from tumor xenograft tissues which reflect more realistically the in vivo situation. The determination of siRNA-mediated knockdown of endogenous target genes, i.e., the oncogenic survival factor survivin and the oncogenic receptor tyrosine kinase HER2, reveals nanoparticle penetration and biological efficacy also under intact tissue and stroma conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Ewe
- Rudolf-Boehm-Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Clinical Pharmacology, Leipzig University, Haertelstrasse 16 - 18, D-04107, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Sabrina Höbel
- Rudolf-Boehm-Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Clinical Pharmacology, Leipzig University, Haertelstrasse 16 - 18, D-04107, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Claudia Heine
- Rudolf-Boehm-Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Lea Merz
- Institute of Anatomy, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Sonja Kallendrusch
- Institute of Anatomy, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ingo Bechmann
- Institute of Anatomy, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Felicitas Merz
- Institute of Anatomy, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany.,Department of Biophysics, GSI Helmholtz Center for Heavy Ion Research, Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Heike Franke
- Rudolf-Boehm-Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Leipzig University, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Achim Aigner
- Rudolf-Boehm-Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Clinical Pharmacology, Leipzig University, Haertelstrasse 16 - 18, D-04107, Leipzig, Germany.
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Carranza-Rosales P, Carranza-Torres IE, Guzmán-Delgado NE, Lozano-Garza G, Villarreal-Treviño L, Molina-Torres C, Villarreal JV, Vera-Cabrera L, Castro-Garza J. Modeling tuberculosis pathogenesis through ex vivo lung tissue infection. Tuberculosis (Edinb) 2017; 107:126-132. [PMID: 29050759 PMCID: PMC7106348 DOI: 10.1016/j.tube.2017.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2017] [Revised: 09/06/2017] [Accepted: 09/10/2017] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the top 10 causes of death worldwide. Several in vitro and in vivo experimental models have been used to study TB pathogenesis and induction of immune response during Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Precision cut lung tissue slices (PCLTS) is an experimental model, in which all the usual cell types of the organ are found, the tissue architecture and the interactions amongst the different cells are maintained. PCLTS in good physiological conditions, monitored by MTT assay and histology, were infected with either virulent Mycobacterium tuberculosis strain H37Rv or the TB vaccine strain Mycobacterium bovis BCG. Histological analysis showed that bacilli infecting lung tissue slices were observed in the alveolar septa, alveolar light spaces, near to type II pneumocytes, and inside macrophages. Mycobacterial infection of PCLTS induced TNF-α production, which is consistent with previous M. tuberculosis in vitro and in vivo studies. This is the first report of using PCLTS as a system to study M. tuberculosis infection. The PCLTS model provides a useful tool to evaluate the innate immune responses and other aspects during the early stages of mycobacterial infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pilar Carranza-Rosales
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica del Noreste, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, 2 de Abril 501 ote, Col. Independencia, 64720, Monterrey, N.L., Mexico.
| | - Irma Edith Carranza-Torres
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica del Noreste, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, 2 de Abril 501 ote, Col. Independencia, 64720, Monterrey, N.L., Mexico; Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Avenida Pedro de Alba y Manuel L, Barragán s/n, Cd. Universitaria, 66450, San Nicolás de los Garza, N.L., Mexico.
| | - Nancy Elena Guzmán-Delgado
- Departamento de Patología, Unidad Médica de Alta Especialidad # 34, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, Monterrey, N.L. 64730, Mexico.
| | - Gerardo Lozano-Garza
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica del Noreste, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, 2 de Abril 501 ote, Col. Independencia, 64720, Monterrey, N.L., Mexico.
| | - Licet Villarreal-Treviño
- Departamento de Microbiología, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Avenida Pedro de Alba y Manuel L, Barragán s/n, Cd. Universitaria, 66450, San Nicolás de los Garza, N.L., Mexico.
| | - Carmen Molina-Torres
- Servicio de Dermatología, Hospital Universitario "José E. González", Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Madero y Gonzalitos, Col. Mitras Centro, Monterrey, N.L., Mexico.
| | - Javier Vargas Villarreal
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica del Noreste, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, 2 de Abril 501 ote, Col. Independencia, 64720, Monterrey, N.L., Mexico.
| | - Lucio Vera-Cabrera
- Servicio de Dermatología, Hospital Universitario "José E. González", Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León, Madero y Gonzalitos, Col. Mitras Centro, Monterrey, N.L., Mexico.
| | - Jorge Castro-Garza
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica del Noreste, Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social, 2 de Abril 501 ote, Col. Independencia, 64720, Monterrey, N.L., Mexico.
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Merz L, Höbel S, Kallendrusch S, Ewe A, Bechmann I, Franke H, Merz F, Aigner A. Tumor tissue slice cultures as a platform for analyzing tissue-penetration and biological activities of nanoparticles. Eur J Pharm Biopharm 2016; 112:45-50. [PMID: 27864052 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpb.2016.11.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 02/25/2016] [Revised: 09/26/2016] [Accepted: 11/13/2016] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
The success of therapeutic nanoparticles depends, among others, on their ability to penetrate a tissue for actually reaching the target cells, and their efficient cellular uptake in the context of intact tissue and stroma. Various nanoparticle modifications have been implemented for altering physicochemical and biological properties. Their analysis, however, so far mainly relies on cell culture experiments which only poorly reflect the in vivo situation, or is based on in vivo experiments that are often complicated by whole-body pharmacokinetics and are rather tedious especially when analyzing larger nanoparticle sets. For the more precise analysis of nanoparticle properties at their desired site of action, efficient ex vivo systems closely mimicking in vivo tissue properties are needed. In this paper, we describe the setup of organotypic tumor tissue slice cultures for the analysis of tissue-penetrating properties and biological activities of nanoparticles. As a model system, we employ 350μm thick slice cultures from different tumor xenograft tissues, and analyze modified or non-modified polyethylenimine (PEI) complexes as well as their lipopolyplex derivatives for siRNA delivery. The described conditions for tissue slice preparation and culture ensure excellent tissue preservation for at least 14days, thus allowing for prolonged experimentation and analysis. When using fluorescently labeled siRNA for complex visualization, fluorescence microscopy of cryo-sectioned tissue slices reveals different degrees of nanoparticle tissue penetration, dependent on their surface charge. More importantly, the determination of siRNA-mediated knockdown efficacies of an endogenous target gene, the oncogenic survival factor Survivin, reveals the possibility to accurately assess biological nanoparticle activities in situ, i.e. in living cells in their original environment. Taken together, we establish tumor (xenograft) tissue slices for the accurate and facile ex vivo assessment of important biological nanoparticle properties. Beyond the quantitative analysis of nanoparticle tissue-penetration, the excellent tissue preservation and cell viability also allows for the evaluation of biological activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lea Merz
- Institute of Anatomy, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Germany
| | - Sabrina Höbel
- Rudolf-Boehm-Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Clinical Pharmacology, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Germany
| | | | - Alexander Ewe
- Rudolf-Boehm-Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Clinical Pharmacology, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ingo Bechmann
- Institute of Anatomy, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Germany
| | - Heike Franke
- Rudolf-Boehm-Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Germany
| | - Felicitas Merz
- Institute of Anatomy, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Germany
| | - Achim Aigner
- Rudolf-Boehm-Institute for Pharmacology and Toxicology, Clinical Pharmacology, Medical Faculty, University of Leipzig, Germany.
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Poosti F, Pham BT, Oosterhuis D, Poelstra K, van Goor H, Olinga P, Hillebrands JL. Precision-cut kidney slices (PCKS) to study development of renal fibrosis and efficacy of drug targeting ex vivo. Dis Model Mech 2015; 8:1227-36. [PMID: 26112172 PMCID: PMC4610232 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.020172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2015] [Accepted: 06/24/2015] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Renal fibrosis is a serious clinical problem resulting in the greatest need for renal replacement therapy. No adequate preventive or curative therapy is available that could be clinically used to target renal fibrosis specifically. The search for new efficacious treatment strategies is therefore warranted. Although in vitro models using homogeneous cell populations have contributed to the understanding of the pathogenetic mechanisms involved in renal fibrosis, these models poorly mimic the complex in vivo milieu. Therefore, we here evaluated a precision-cut kidney slice (PCKS) model as a new, multicellular ex vivo model to study the development of fibrosis and its prevention using anti-fibrotic compounds. Precision-cut slices (200-300 μm thickness) were prepared from healthy C57BL/6 mouse kidneys using a Krumdieck tissue slicer. To induce changes mimicking the fibrotic process, slices were incubated with TGFβ1 (5 ng/ml) for 48 h in the presence or absence of the anti-fibrotic cytokine IFNγ (1 µg/ml) or an IFNγ conjugate targeted to PDGFRβ (PPB-PEG-IFNγ). Following culture, tissue viability (ATP-content) and expression of α-SMA, fibronectin, collagen I and collagen III were determined using real-time PCR and immunohistochemistry. Slices remained viable up to 72 h of incubation, and no significant effects of TGFβ1 and IFNγ on viability were observed. TGFβ1 markedly increased α-SMA, fibronectin and collagen I mRNA and protein expression levels. IFNγ and PPB-PEG-IFNγ significantly reduced TGFβ1-induced fibronectin, collagen I and collagen III mRNA expression, which was confirmed by immunohistochemistry. The PKCS model is a novel tool to test the pathophysiology of fibrosis and to screen the efficacy of anti-fibrotic drugs ex vivo in a multicellular and pro-fibrotic milieu. A major advantage of the slice model is that it can be used not only for animal but also for (fibrotic) human kidney tissue. Drug Discovery Collection: TGFβ induces renal fibrosis in ex vivo cultured precision-cut kidney slices, which can be attenuated by IFNγ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fariba Poosti
- Departments of Pathology and Medical Biology, Division of Pathology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, 9713 GZ, The Netherlands
| | - Bao Tung Pham
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen, 9713 AV, The Netherlands
| | - Dorenda Oosterhuis
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen, 9713 AV, The Netherlands
| | - Klaas Poelstra
- Department of Pharmacokinetics, Toxicology and Targeting, University of Groningen, Groningen, 9713 AV, The Netherlands
| | - Harry van Goor
- Departments of Pathology and Medical Biology, Division of Pathology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, 9713 GZ, The Netherlands
| | - Peter Olinga
- Department of Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmacy, University of Groningen, Groningen, 9713 AV, The Netherlands
| | - Jan-Luuk Hillebrands
- Departments of Pathology and Medical Biology, Division of Pathology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, 9713 GZ, The Netherlands
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9
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Hickman JA, Graeser R, de Hoogt R, Vidic S, Brito C, Gutekunst M, van der Kuip H. Three-dimensional models of cancer for pharmacology and cancer cell biology: capturing tumor complexity in vitro/ex vivo. Biotechnol J 2015; 9:1115-28. [PMID: 25174503 DOI: 10.1002/biot.201300492] [Citation(s) in RCA: 247] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.4] [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: 03/11/2014] [Revised: 07/11/2014] [Accepted: 08/05/2014] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Cancers are complex and heterogeneous pathological "organs" in a dynamic interplay with their host. Models of human cancer in vitro, used in cancer biology and drug discovery, are generally highly reductionist. These cancer models do not incorporate complexity or heterogeneity. This raises the question as to whether the cancer models' biochemical circuitry (not their genome) represents, with sufficient fidelity, a tumor in situ. Around 95% of new anticancer drugs eventually fail in clinical trial, despite robust indications of activity in existing in vitro pre-clinical models. Innovative models are required that better capture tumor biology. An important feature of all tissues, and tumors, is that cells grow in three dimensions. Advances in generating and characterizing simple and complex (with added stromal components) three-dimensional in vitro models (3D models) are reviewed in this article. The application of stirred bioreactors to permit both scale-up/scale-down of these cancer models and, importantly, methods to permit controlled changes in environment (pH, nutrients, and oxygen) are also described. The challenges of generating thin tumor slices, their utility, and potential advantages and disadvantages are discussed. These in vitro/ex vivo models represent a distinct move to capture the realities of tumor biology in situ, but significant characterization work still remains to be done in order to show that their biochemical circuitry accurately reflects that of a tumor.
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