Therapeutic ultrasound attenuates DSS-induced colitis through the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway.

BACKGROUND: Ulcerative Colitis (UC) is an Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) characterized by uncontrolled immune response, diarrhoea, weight loss and bloody stools, where sustained remission is not currently achievable. Dextran Sulphate Sodium (DSS)-induced colitis is an animal model that closely mimics human UC. Ultrasound (US) has been shown to prevent experimental acute kidney injury through vagus nerve (VN) stimulation and activation of the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway (CAIP). Since IBD patients may present dysfunctional VN activity, our aim was to determine the effects of therapeutic ultrasound (TUS) in DSS-induced colitis. METHODS: Acute colitis was induced by 2% DSS in drinking water for 7 days and TUS was administered to the abdominal area for 7 min/day from days 4-10. Clinical symptoms were analysed, and biological samples were collected for proteomics, macroscopic and microscopic analysis, flow cytometry and immunohistochemistry. FINDINGS: TUS attenuated colitis by reducing clinical scores, colon shortening and histological damage, inducing proteomic tolerogenic response in the gut during the injury phase and early recovery of experimental colitis. TUS did not improve clinical and pathological outcomes in splenectomised mice, while α7nAChR (α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor - indicator of CAIP involvement) knockout animals presented with disease worsening. Increased levels of colonic F4/80+α7nAChR+ macrophages in wild type mice suggest CAIP activation. INTERPRETATION: These results indicate TUS improved DSS-induced colitis through stimulation of the splenic nerve along with possible contribution by VN with CAIP activation. FUND: Intramural Research Programs of the Clinical Centre, the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering at the NIH and CAPES/Brazil.

Comparison of transfection agents in forming complexes with ferumoxides, cell labeling efficiency, and cellular viability.

By complexing ferumoxides or superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) to transfection agents (TAs), it is possible to magnetically label mammalian cells. There has been no systematic study comparing TAs complexed to SPIO as far as cell labeling efficiency and viability. This study investigates the toxicity and labeling efficiency at various doses of FEs complexed to different TAs in mammalian cells. Different classes of TAs were used, such as polycationic amines, dendrimers, and lipid-based agents. Cellular toxicity was measured using doses of TAs from 1 to 50 microg/mL in incubation media. Iron incorporation efficiency was measured by combining various amounts of FEs and different doses of TAs. Lipofectamine2000 showed toxicity at lowest dose (1 microg/mL), whereas FuGENE6 and low molecular weight poly-L-lysine (PLL) showed the least toxicity. SPIO labeling efficiency was similar with high-molecular-weight PLL (388.1 kDa) and superfect, whereas FuGENE6 and low-molecular-weight PLL were inefficient in labeling cells. Concentrations of 25 to 50 microg/mL of FEs complexed to TAs in media resulted in sufficient endocytosis of the SPIO into endosomes to detect cells on cellular magnetic resonance imaging.