Rapid and ultra-sensitive detection of AMP using a fluorescent and magnetic nano-silica sandwich complex.

We report here a novel AMP biosensor based on the aptamer-induced disassembly of fluorescent and magnetic nano-silica sandwich complexes with a direct detection limit of 0.1 microM.

Assessment of purine metabolism in human renal transplantation.

Cortical levels of nucleotides and their degradation products from 42 transplanted human kidneys have been studied. Biopsies were performed during renal harvesting just before cooling, at the end of cold storage, and following reinstallment of renal blood circulation. ATP levels fell, and AMP and degradation products (inosine monophosphate [IMP], inosine, adenosine, and hypoxanthine) increased during cold storage and returned to near-normal values 30 min after recirculation. The major degradation product found was hypoxanthine, indicating very poor xanthine oxidase activity in human kidneys. The sum of adenine nucleotides (ATP+ADP+AMP) did not significantly decrease after cold storage, but adenylate energy charge (ATP+1/2ADP/ATP+ADP+AMP) was reduced to half, being recovered in implanted kidneys. The sum of adenine nucleotides was significantly reduced after implantation. The rate of acute tubular necrosis was higher in kidneys preserved for more than 30 hr. Kidneys with acute tubular necrosis had significantly lower levels of the total pool of adenine nucleotides at reperfusion, but there was no correlation between incidence of acute tubular necrosis and ATP or other metabolite levels in the kidneys before or during cold preservation. The success of human kidney transplantation does not seem to depend only on the pool of residual nucleotides at the end of cold storage but on other factors that determine the ability of the cell to recover a normal energy state after reperfusion.

Prolonged hypothermic cardiac storage with University of Wisconsin solution. An assessment with human cell cultures.

Hypothermic storage of cardiac allografts is routinely used for transplantation but is associated with an increased mortality when ischemic times are greater than 4 hours. The ideal storage conditions (solution and temperature) could extend the current limits of cold ischemia. Human endothelial cells and ventricular myocytes were studied to screen various solutions and temperatures for organ preservation. Four solutions (modified Euro-Collins, phosphate-buffered saline, Stanford cardioplegia, and University of Wisconsin) were evaluated. Endothelial cells were evaluated after prolonged hypothermic storage consisting of 0 degree, 4 degrees, and 8 degrees C for 36 hours, and ventricular myocytes were stored at 0 degree and 8 degrees C for 24 hours. Cell viability was determined by morphology (10 dishes per group), and trypan blue exclusion (5 dishes per group) in addition to a cell adhesion assay (endothelial cells 5 dishes per group) and adenine nucleotide analysis with high-performance liquid chromatography techniques (ventricular myocytes 5 dishes per group). Endothelial cell morphology was best preserved by University of Wisconsin solution (p less than 0.001, chi 2) and at 0 degree C (p less than 0.01, chi 2). Endothelial cells stored with University of Wisconsin solution excluded trypan blue better (1.0% +/- 0.5% cells stained, p less than 0.001. Analysis of variance [ANOVA]). Cell adhesion was poorly protected with Stanford cardioplegia (p less than 0.001, ANOVA). Myocyte morphology was preserved best with University of Wisconsin solution at 0 degree C (p less than 0.001, chi 2). According to trypan blue staining, Euro-Collins and University of Wisconsin solutions were superior to Stanford cardioplegia or phosphate-buffered solutions (p less than 0.001, ANOVA). Temperature did not influence the trypan blue results. Adenosine triphosphate was maintained best with University of Wisconsin solution at 0 degree C (p less than 0.01, ANOVA). Myocytes were more sensitive to the effects of prolonged storage compared with endothelial cells by morphologic criteria and trypan blue staining characteristics, irrespective of the shorter preservation times. University of Wisconsin solution was the most effective solution tested. Colder temperatures (0 degree to 4 degrees C) provided better protection than 8 degrees C. Myocytes were more sensitive to prolonged preservation than endothelial cells. Furthermore, the technique used appears helpful as a model of prolonged hypothermic storage and could be expanded to assess other interventions.