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Cell therapy using encapsulated cells producing endostatin.

Despite aggressive surgery and post-operative radiation and chemotherapy, the prognosis is poor for glioblastoma patients. Anti-angiogenic therapy with compounds such as endostatin could delay the onset of relapse. However, the short systemic half-life of this proteins as well as the blood-brain barrier makes the use of this therapy difficult for brain cancer patients. The aim of this project is to develop and implant genetically engineered producer cells secreting endostatin that are encapsulated in calcium cross-linked alginate gel beads. Encapsulation of cells within alginate gels has a potential as a sustained release system in addition to the fact that the encapsulation technology protects the cells from rejection by the immune system. Human embryonal kidney 293 cells have been transfected with the gene for endostatin. These cells have been encapsulated in calcium cross-linked alginate gels and optimized for the secretion of endostatin. Alginate gel beads implanted into rat brain have shown only a moderate loss in cell viability but extended endostatin release for periods of up to 12 months. Visualization of the anti-angiogenic effect on C6 rat glioma growth, tumor vasculature and microhemodynamics has been demonstrated by using intravital video microscopy. The data indicates that endostatin greatly affects tumor-associated microcirculation but does not appear to affect normal microcirculation. The local delivery of endostatin seems to specifically affect tumor-associated microvessels by reduction of the vessel density, diameter and functionality. Tumor cell migration and invasion was greatly reduced in the endostatin treated animals.

Alginates↗

Polymorphonuclear leukocyte-generated oxygen metabolites decrease beat frequency of human respiratory cilia.

We investigated the effect of polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN)-generated oxygen metabolites on the ciliary beat frequency. PMNs were incubated with human respiratory cilia obtained by nasal brushing. The oxidative metabolism was stimulated by opsonized zymosan, and ciliary beat frequency was evaluated before and after activation of PMNs. Ciliary beat frequency was studied using video microscopy. Our results demonstrate a significant decrease in ciliary beat frequency after activation of PMNs. This effect was reduced by catalase. These data suggest that the PMN-generated oxygen metabolites, particularly H2O2, decrease beat frequency of human respiratory cilia.

Ascorbic Acid↗

Midbody sealing after cytokinesis in embryos of the sea urchin Arabacia punctulata.

Cytokinesis consists of a contractile phase followed by sealing of the connecting midbody to form two separated cells. To determine how soon the midbody sealed after cleavage furrow contraction, the fluorescent dye Lucifer Yellow CH(457.3 M.W.) was microinjected into cells at various intervals after cleavage had begun. Mitotic PtK2 cells were recorded with video-microscopy so that daughter cells in the epithelial sheet could be identified for several hours after cell division. One daughter cell of each pair followed was microinjected to determine whether the dye diffused into the other daughter cell. For intervals up to four hours after the beginning of cytokinesis, diffusion took place between daughter cells. After this time the dye did not spread between daughter cells. In sea urchin blastomeres of the first, second and third divisions, Lucifer Yellow passed between daughter blastomeres only during the first 15 min after cytokinesis. If one cell of a two-cell, four-cell or eight-cell embryo was microinjected more than 15 min after the last cleavage, the dye remained in the injected cell and was distributed to all progeny of that cell, resulting in blastulae that were eigher one-half, one-quarter or one-eighth fluorescent, respectively. Thus, although cleavage furrow contraction takes approximately the same amount of time in sea urchin blastomeres and PtK2 cells, the time of midbody sealing differs dramatically in the two cell types. Our results also indicate the importance of knowing the mitotic history of cells when injecting dyes into interphase cells for the purpose of detecting gap junctions.

Animals↗

Mechanical effects of ET-1 in cardiomyocytes isolated from normal and heart-failed rabbits.

Endothelin (ET-1) is found at elevated concentrations in the plasma of patients with heart failure and in animal models of cardiomyopathy. The peptide is a potent positive inotropic agent, the effects of which are mediated by increases in cytosolic Ca2+ in cardiomyocytes. The object of this study was to investigate at the cellular level, the actions of ET-1 on contractile function and on Ca2+ currents in heart-failed ventricular myocardium. Male New Zealand White rabbits (8 wks) were treated with twice weekly injections of epirubicin (4 mg/kg/wk, n = 7) or with saline (n = 7) for 6 wks, followed by a washout period of 2 wks. Ventricular cardiomyocytes were isolated from rabbit hearts using Langendorff perfusion with collagenase; contractile function was examined using a video microscopy method, and L-type Ca2+ currents were recorded using a whole-cell patch-clamp technique. ET-1 produced a concentration-dependent increase in contractile response (% increase from basal value) to a maximum at 1 nM ET-1 of 69 +/- 11% (mean +/- S.D.) in control cardiomyocytes and 33 +/- 6% in heart-failed cells. However, there was no significant change in the EC50 obtained with ET-1 for healthy (0.31 +/- 0.1 nM) and for failed cardiomyocytes (0.24 +/- 0.1 nM). The effects of ET-1 on L-type Ca2+ channels were similar with a peak amplitude at 1 nM ET-1 of -3.26 +/- 0.8 nA in control cardiomyocytes and -3.32 +/- 0.9 nA in heart-failed cells. The attenuation of the contractile response to ET-1 in heart-failed cells may reflect a desensitization of ET receptors as a consequence of elevated circulating levels of ET and was not reflected by alteration of transmembrane Ca2+ conductance. It is probable, therefore, that multiple signalling pathways are involved in the actions of ET on ventricular myocardium.

Animals↗

Effect of calcitonin on the regulation of intracellular pH in primary cultures of rabbit early distal tubule.

To examine the intracellular pH (pHi) regulation in primary cultures of rabbit distal convoluted tubules (DCTb) we used the pH-sensitive dye 2,7-bis-carboxyethyl-5(6)-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF/AM) and a video-microscopy technique. DCTb segments were microdissected from rabbit kidney cortex and cultured in a hormonally defined medium. The culture epithelia were grown on semi-transparent permeable supports. Before pHi measurement, DCTb primary cultures were maintained for 48-96 h in growth-factor-free medium to obtain quiescent cells. We had previously shown that two mechanisms are involved in the regulation of intracellular pH: a basolateral Na+/H+ exchanger and an apical Cl-/HCO3- exchanger. The pHi of DCTb cells was significantly decreased by the addition of 60 nM human calcitonin (from 7.30 +/- 0.04 to 7.08 +/- 0.04). This response to calcitonin was dose-dependent and mimicked by both forskolin and permeant cyclic AMP derivatives. An initial acidification (of 0.25 pH unit in 7-8 min) was observed after the addition of basolateral amiloride (1 mM). The persistence of the effect induced by human calcitonin in these conditions, suggests that the Na+/H+ exchanger is not involved in the response. However, the acidification response was blocked in both the absence of chloride at the apical side and by the apical addition of 0.1 mM 4,4'-diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-disulphonic acid (DIDS). These experiments suggest that the target for the human calcitonin effect on pHi is the Cl-/HCO3- exchanger. This study confirms the importance of this transporter in pHi regulation within the physiological pHi range and the influence of calcitonin in the regulation of DCTb cell function.

4,4'-Diisothiocyanostilbene-2,2'-Disulfonic Acid↗

Preferential distribution of leukocytes in rat mesentery microvessel networks.

Distribution of leukocytes in rat mesenteric microvessel networks was studied using intravital fluorescence video microscopy. A digital image analysis system was used to measure vessel diameters, flow velocities and leukocyte fluxes in 306 capillaries of 8 networks. Capillaries were defined as vessel segments connecting divergent to convergent branch points. Their topological position within the network was quantified by a generation number defined as the number of bifurcations between the capillary and the arteriole feeding the network. Proximal capillaries (generation numbers 4 and 5) were slightly but significantly smaller in diameter (8.9 +/- 0.4 micron, mean +/- SEM) than distal ones (generation numbers 20 and 21, 10.1 +/- 0.4 micron). Average capillary flow velocity decreased markedly from 2.0 +/- 1.0 mm.s-1 in proximal to 0.41 +/- 0.06 mm.s-1 in distal capillaries. Average leukocyte concentration was 3.4 +/- 0.5.10(9) 1(-1) and thus significantly below systemic values (6.0.10(9) 1(-1] in proximal capillaries, and above in distal ones (11.7 +/- 2.6.10(9) 1(-1). The analysis of flow and leukocyte flux partition at 138 bifurcations showed preferential distribution of leukocytes to the daughter capillary with higher flow rate. This suggests a tentative explanation for the observed leukocyte accumulation along the microvascular tree: due to their low fractional flow, proximal capillaries draw relatively leukocyte-poor blood from the arteriole feeding the network; this leads to an increased leukocyte concentration in distal capillaries. As a consequence of the concomitant increase of capillary diameter with increasing generation number, leukocytes are preferentially flowing through larger capillaries and are excluded from small ones.

Animals↗

Effect of blood gases and pH on thromboembolic reactions in rabbit mesenteric microvessels.

The influence of changes in systemic blood gas and pH values on the thromboembolic reaction following wall puncture was studied in rabbit mesenteric arterioles and venules (diameter 20-40 microns), using intravital video-microscopy. Under normal circumstances the number of emboli produced was higher in arterioles than in venules (6 and 1, respectively). The initial thrombus growth, the number of emboli produced per vessel and the total duration of the embolisation period were not significantly influenced by changes in blood gas and pH values in both arterioles and venules. Therefore, the observed difference in thromboembolic reaction between arterioles and venules cannot be explained by differences in blood gas and pH values in these microvessels. Since reduced velocity, as a measure of wall shear rate, did not correlate with the thromboembolic reaction in arterioles or venules, fluid dynamics can also not explain the difference, indicating that the thrombogenic or antithrombogenic activity of arteriolar and venular walls differs following injury. A combination of hypercapnia and hypoxia was found to result in a prolongation of the average time period needed to produce a new embolus in both vessel types. This prolongation in embolus production time was largely due to the occurrence of periods, in which the thrombus did not grow, reflecting hampering of the adhesion and aggregation of blood platelets to a growing thrombus under hypercapnic/hypoxic conditions.

Animals↗

Electrophysiological control of ciliary motor responses in the ctenophore Pleurobrachia.

Prey capture by a tentacle of the ctenophore Pleurobrachia elicits a reversal of beat direction and increase in beat frequency of comb plates in rows adjacent to the catching tentacle (Tamm and Moss 1985). These ciliary motor responses were elicited in intact animals by repetitive electrical stimulation of a tentacle or the midsubtentacular body surface with a suction electrode. An isolated split-comb row preparation allowed stable intracellular recording from comb plate cells during electrically stimulated motor responses of the comb plates, which were imaged by high-speed video microscopy. During normal beating in the absence of electrical stimulation, comb plate cells showed no changes in the resting membrane potential, which was typically about -60 mV. Trains of electrical impulses (5/s, 5 ms duration, at 5-15 V) delivered by an extracellular suction electrode elicited summing facilitating synaptic potentials which gave rise to graded regenerative responses. High K+ artificial seawater caused progressive depolarization of the polster cells which led to volleys of action potentials. Current injection (depolarizing or release from hyperpolarizing current) also elicited regenerative responses; the rate of rise and the peak amplitude were graded with intensity of stimulus current beyond a threshold value of about -40 mV. Increasing levels of subthreshold depolarization were correlated with increasing rates of beating in the normal direction. Action potentials were accompanied by laydown (upward curvature of nonbeating plates), reversed beating at high frequency, and intermediate beat patterns. TEA increased the summed depolarization elicited by pulse train stimulation, as well as the size and duration of the action potentials. TEA-enhanced single action potentials evoked a sudden arrest, laydown and brief bout of reversed beating. Dual electrode impalements showed that cells in the same comb plate ridge experienced similar but not identical electrical activity, even though all of their cilia beat synchronously. The large number of cells making up a comb plate, their highly asymmetric shape, and their complex innervation and electrical characteristics present interesting features of bioelectric control not found in other cilia.

Action Potentials↗

The relation between changes in myocyte orientation and contractile function with electrical field stimulation.

The cardiac myocyte is the fundamental contractile unit of the heart, and therefore recent studies have examined myocyte function through electrical field stimulation. However, the relation between changes in electrical field orientation and myocyte contractile function remains unclear. Accordingly, the goal of the present study was to measure myocyte contractile function with known changes in myocyte orientation with respect to the electrodes. Isolated left ventricular porcine myocytes (n = 32) were field stimulated (0.5 - 1.5 Hz, 5 ms, double contraction threshold) in a thermostatically controlled chamber. Myocyte velocity of shortening was measured by high speed video microscopy. Myocyte position was altered and quantified with respect to the electrodes. When myocyte position approached alignment with the electrodes, contractile activity ceased. Contractile activity resumed when the myocyte moved greater than 25 degrees from the parallel position. When contractions could be successfully elicited, the velocity of shortening was 48+/-15 microm/s and did not differ at any orientation. These results suggest that angular orientation should be carefully considered when evaluating the contractile performance of electrically stimulated myocytes.

Animals↗

Volume regulation in the early proximal tubule of the Necturus kidney.

The ability of early proximal tubule cells of the Necturus kidney to regulate volume was evaluated using light microscopy, video analysis and conventional microelectrodes. Necturus proximal tubule cells regulate volume in both hyper- and hyposmotic solutions. Volume regulation in hyperosmotic fluids is HCO3- dependent and is associated with a decrease in the relative K+ conductance of the basolateral cell membrane and a decrease in the resistance ratio, Ra/Rbl. Volume regulation in hyposmotic solutions is also dependent upon the presence of HCO3- but is also inhibited by 2 mM Ba2+ in the basolateral solution. Hyposmotic regulation is accompanied by an increase in the relative K+ conductance of the basolateral cell membrane and an increase in Ra/Rbl. Neither hypo- nor hyposmotic regulation have any affect on the depolarization of the basolateral cell membrane potential induced by HCO3- removal. We conclude that volume regulation in the early proximal tubule of the kidney involves both HCO3(-)-dependent transport systems and the baso-lateral K+ conductance.

Animals↗

Differential effect of nicotinic acid derivatives on smooth muscle and endothelial cell proliferation.

The pathogenesis of atherosclerosis is a multifactorial process. A possible anti-atherosclerotic drug should therefore interfere with different targets that are important during the development of an atherosclerotic lesion. Two of the early events are the activated migration and proliferation of arterial smooth muscle cells. Here we investigated in several in vivo and in vitro experiments the effect of two nicotinic acid derivatives L44 and L44-0, on smooth muscle cell migration and proliferation. Balloon catheter de-endothelialization was used as an animal model for intimal lesion formation. Migration was subsequently quantified in vitro using the explant outgrowth technique. Subcultured smooth muscle and endothelial cells were used to test the effect of the drugs on proliferation. Time-lapse video microscopy was applied to differentiate between smooth muscle cell migration and proliferation on the level of individual cells. We showed that L44 and L44-0 are very effective in decreasing smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration. Endothelial cell proliferation, important to re-establish endothelial integrity was, however, not affected.

Animals↗

Quantitative characterization of cell invasion in vitro: formulation and validation of a mathematical model of the collagen gel invasion assay.

An in vitro assay proposed to systematically characterize and compare cell invasion under different conditions is the collagen gel invasion assay where cells, initially seeded onto the surface of a type I collagen gel, penetrate the surface and migrate within the gel over time. Using simplifying assumptions about cell transport across the gel surface and migration within the gel, we formulate and solve a mathematical model of this assay which predicts the resulting cell distribution based on three phenomenological parameters characterizing the ability of cells to penetrate the gel surface interface, migrate randomly within the gel, and return to the gel surface. An index of cell invasiveness is defined based on these parameters that reflects the overall ability of cells to transport across the gel surface interface, that is, invade the gel. Cell concentration profiles predicted by the model correspond well to measured profiles for murine melanoma cells invading gels supplemented with extracellular matrix proteins fibronectin and type IV collagen as well as unsupplemented gels, allowing these parameters to be estimated by a nonlinear regression fit of the model solution to the measured profiles. Our analysis suggests that type IV collagen and fibronectin primarily modulate cell transport across the gel surface interface rather than migration within the gel. Further, we validate the key model assumptions and obtain independent, direct estimates of model parameters by time-lapse video microscopy and digital image analysis of cell penetration of the gel surface and migration within the gel during the assay.

Algorithms↗

Recruitment of individually (all-or-none) responding cells, rather than amplitude enhancement, is the single-cell mechanism subserving the dose-responsive activation of intracellular calcium second messenger signaling by the human luteinizing-hormone receptor.

We have investigated at the single-cell level how the human LH receptor mediates a dose-responsive increase in intracellular free calcium-ion concentrations ([Ca2+]i). In human embryonic kidney cells (293 cells) stably transfected with the full-length human LH receptor cDNA. Intact dimeric LH, but not LH beta- or alpha-subunits, evoked specific [Ca2+]i signals. High-resolution fluorescence (fura-2) video-microscopy demonstrated cell-to-cell variability in [Ca2+]i signaling responses in individual cells, viz., an all-or-none spike (9%), spike-and-plateau (25%), or plateau (52%) types of temporal signal. Oscillatory [Ca2+]i responses were observed in 12-14% of LH-stimulated cells unrelated to LH concentration. The LH dose-response originated by higher concentrations of LH recruiting more individually responding cells (rather than altering [Ca2+]i signal amplitude), and eliciting a [Ca2+]i rise more rapidly, i.e., at reduced latency. Cobalt did not abolish the LH-stimulated [Ca2+]i spike-and-plateau response, but decreased the percentage of cells with a plateau pattern. Quench experiments demonstrated influx of Mn2+ following the [Ca2+]i spike, thus directly documenting divalent cation inflow during the plateau phase. Adenylyl-cyclase activation with forskolin or treatment with a cAMP analog failed to elicit the biphasic [Ca2+]i response, and pertussis toxin (PTX) did not alter LH-stimulated [Ca2+]i signaling. However, overnight preincubation with LH reduced the percentage of [Ca2+]i-responding cells following re-exposure to LH to 5.7% (vs 72% in control), suggesting LH-induced desensitization of the LH-receptor directed [Ca2+]i signal. In summary, the present studies of human LH receptor signal transduction at the single-cell level show that increasing concentrations of LH achieve a dose-dependent intracellular Ca2+ signaling response by recruiting an increasing number of [Ca2+]i-responding cells, while concomitantly decreasing the temporal latency of the biphasic [Ca2+]i signal without altering the amplitude of its spike phase. Prolonged exposure to LH appears to desensitize the LH receptor-driven [Ca2+]i signal.

Adenylate Cyclase Toxin↗

Structure and motility of primary cilia in the follicular epithelium of the human thyroid.

In order to clarify contradictory reports concerning ciliary structure and function, follicular epithelium from macroscopically normal portions of 37 surgical specimens of human thyroid were processed for video-microscopy and/or transmission electron microscopy. The cilia of living cells were immotile. In transverse sections the cilia revealed a 9 + 0 pattern at the base of the shaft, whereas towards the distal end the number of microtubular doublets diminished. Dynein arms, radial spokes and central microtubules were absent. The immotility and structure of these primary cilia implies that their function is not related to motility. The phylogenetic and ontogenetic development of the thyroid suggests that tumor cells of follicular origin displaying abnormal secondary cilia may represent a pathological variant of differentiation.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Cytoadherence of the malaria-infected erythrocyte membrane to C32 melanoma cells after merozoites are released from parasitized infected cells.

Infections with the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum are characterized by cytoadherence of infected erythrocytes to the venular endothelium of several organs. Video microscopy studies have shown that at the end of the asexual life of P. falciparum, the residual body containing haemozoin is released to the extracellular environment along with merozoites, leaving behind an infected erythrocyte "ghost". It is possible that these infected erythrocyte "ghosts" could remain sequestered within the blood vessels of patients infected with P. falciparum even after merozoites have been released from infected erythrocytes. In this study an in vitro cytoadherence assay was developed to show that infected erythrocyte "ghosts" can interact with C32 melanoma cells. Adherent infected erythrocyte "ghosts" contain some of the subcellular compartments of the malaria-infected red blood cell such as the tubo-vesicular membrane network and remnants of the parasitophorous vacuolar membrane, but lack haemozoin.

Animals↗

[Microcirculation research in experimental surgery].

The microcirculation is the organ that provides the direct link between blood and tissue, and thereby between the whole organism and the single cell. Modern microcirculation research in experimental surgery is characterized by the use of high-resolution video fluorescence microscopy and quantitative computer-assisted image analysis coupled with the techniques of molecular biology and transgenic or knockout gene technology. These advances should improve knowledge about surgically relevant physiologic and pathophysiologic phenomena at the interface between blood and tissues and help us to understand the initial molecular mechanisms leading to organ dysfunction following inflammation, ischemia-reperfusion, and transplantation.

Animals↗

Cannibalistic feeding of larval Trichogramma carverae parasitoids in moth eggs.

Wasps of the genus Trichogramma parasitise the eggs of Lepidoptera. They may deposit one or many eggs in each host. Survival is high at low density but reaches a plateau as density increases. To reveal the mechanism by which excess larvae die we chose a lepidopteran host that has flattened, transparent eggs and used video microscopy to record novel feeding behaviours and interactions of larval Trichogramma carverae (Oatman and Pinto) at different densities. Single larvae show a rapid food ingestion phase, followed by a period of extensive saliva release. Ultimately the host egg is completely consumed. The larva then extracts excess moisture from the egg, providing a dry environment for pupation. When multiple larvae are present, the initial scramble for food results in the larvae consuming all of the egg contents early in development. All larvae survive if there is sufficient food for all to reach a threshold developmental stage. If not, physical proximity results in attack and consumption of others, continuing until the surviving larvae reach the threshold stage beyond which attacks seem to be no longer effective. The number of larvae remaining at the end of rapid ingestion dictates how many will survive to emerge as adults.

Animals↗