An automated, fully-integrated nucleic acid analyzer based on microfluidic liquid handling robot technique.

On-site nucleic acid testing (NAT) plays an important role for disease monitoring and pathogen diagnosis. In this work, we developed an automated and fully-integrated nucleic acid analyzer by combining the automated liquid handling robot technique with the microfluidic droplet-based real-time PCR assay technique. The present analyzer could achieve multiple operations including sample introduction, nucleic acid extraction based on magnetic solid-phase extraction, reverse transcription and, sample droplet generation, PCR amplification, real-time and dual fluorescence detection of droplet array. A strategy of constructing an integrated compact and low-cost system was adopted to minimize the analyzer size to 50 × 45 × 45 cm (length × width × height), and reduce the instrument cost to ca. $900 with a single analysis cost less than $5. A simple chip was also designed to pre-load reagents and carry oil-covered PCR reaction droplets. We applied the analyzer to identify eight types of influenza pathogens in human throat swabs, and the results were consistent with the colloidal gold method.

Neutrophil extracellular traps as a unique target in the treatment of chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy.

BACKGROUND: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a severe dose-limiting side effect of chemotherapy and remains a huge clinical challenge. Here, we explore the role of microcirculation hypoxia induced by neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) in the development of CIPN and look for potential treatment. METHODS: The expression of NETs in plasma and dorsal root ganglion (DRG) are examined by ELISA, IHC, IF and Western blotting. IVIS Spectrum imaging and Laser Doppler Flow Metry are applied to explore the microcirculation hypoxia induced by NETs in the development of CIPN. Stroke Homing peptide (SHp)-guided deoxyribonuclease 1 (DNase1) is used to degrade NETs. FINDINGS: The level of NETs in patients received chemotherapy increases significantly. And NETs accumulate in the DRG and limbs in CIPN mice. It leads to disturbed microcirculation and ischemic status in limbs and sciatic nerves treated with oxaliplatin (L-OHP). Furthermore, targeting NETs with DNase1 significantly reduces the chemotherapy-induced mechanical hyperalgesia. The pharmacological or genetic inhibition on myeloperoxidase (MPO) or peptidyl arginine deiminase-4 (PAD4) dramatically improves microcirculation disturbance caused by L-OHP and prevents the development of CIPN in mice. INTERPRETATION: In addition to uncovering the role of NETs as a key element in the development of CIPN, our finding provides a potential therapeutic strategy that targeted degradation of NETs by SHp-guided DNase1 could be an effective treatment for CIPN. FUNDING: This study was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China81870870, 81971047, 81773798, 82271252; Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu ProvinceBK20191253; Major Project of "Science and Technology Innovation Fund" of Nanjing Medical University2017NJMUCX004; Key R&D Program (Social Development) Project of Jiangsu ProvinceBE2019732; Nanjing Special Fund for Health Science and Technology DevelopmentYKK19170.

Suppressing high mobility group box-1 release alleviates morphine tolerance via the adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase/heme oxygenase-1 pathway.

Opioids, such as morphine, are the most potent drugs used to treat pain. Long-term use results in high tolerance to morphine. High mobility group box-1 (HMGB1) has been shown to participate in neuropathic or inflammatory pain, but its role in morphine tolerance is unclear. In this study, we established rat and mouse models of morphine tolerance by intrathecal injection of morphine for 7 consecutive days. We found that morphine induced rat spinal cord neurons to release a large amount of HMGB1. HMGB1 regulated nuclear factor κB p65 phosphorylation and interleukin-1ß production by increasing Toll-like receptor 4 receptor expression in microglia, thereby inducing morphine tolerance. Glycyrrhizin, an HMGB1 inhibitor, markedly attenuated chronic morphine tolerance in the mouse model. Finally, compound C (adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase inhibitor) and zinc protoporphyrin (heme oxygenase-1 inhibitor) alleviated the morphine-induced release of HMGB1 and reduced nuclear factor κB p65 phosphorylation and interleukin-1ß production in a mouse model of morphine tolerance and an SH-SY5Y cell model of morphine tolerance, and alleviated morphine tolerance in the mouse model. These findings suggest that morphine induces HMGB1 release via the adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase/heme oxygenase-1 signaling pathway, and that inhibiting this signaling pathway can effectively reduce morphine tolerance.

Development and Preclinical Evaluation of a Near-Infrared Fluorescence Probe Based on Tailored Hepatitis B Core Particles for Imaging-Guided Surgery in Breast Cancer.

Purpose: Tumor-free surgical margin is crucial but challenging in breast-conserving surgery (BCS). Fluorescence imaging is a promising strategy for surgical navigation that can reliably assist the surgeon with visualization Of the tumor in real-time. Notably, finding an optimized fluorescent probe has been a challenging research topic. Herein, we developed a novel near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent probe based on tailored Hepatitis B Core virus-like protein (HBc VLP) and presented the preclinical imaging-guided surgery. Methods: The RGD-HBc160 VLP was synthesized by genetic engineering followed encapsulation of ICG via disassembly-reassembly. The applicability of the probe was tested for cell and tissue binding capacities through cell-based plate assays, xenograft mice model, and MMTV-PyVT mammary tumor transgenic mice. Subsequently, the efficacy of RGD-HBc160/ICG-guided surgery was evaluated in an infiltrative tumor-bearing mouse model. The protein-induced body's immune response was further assessed. Results: The prepared RGD-HBc160/ICG showed outstanding integrin αvß3 targeting ability in vitro and in vivo. After intravenous administration of probe, the fluorescence guidance facilitated more complete tumor resection and improved overall survival Of the infiltrative tumor-bearing mice. The probe also showed the excellent capability to differentiate between benign and malignant breast tissues in the mammary tumor transgenic mice. Interestingly, the ingenious tailoring of HBc VLP could not only endow its tumor-targeting ability towards integrin αvß3 but also significantly reduce the humoral and cellular immune response. Conclusion: The RGD-HBc160/ICG holds promise as an effective tool to delineate tumor margin. These results have translational potential to achieve margin-negative resection and improve the stratification of patients for a potentially curative.

Rescue of HSP70 in Spinal Neurons Alleviates Opioids-Induced Hyperalgesia via the Suppression of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress in Rodents.

A major unresolved issue in treating pain is the paradoxical hyperalgesia produced by the gold-standard analgesic morphine and other opioids. Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress has been shown to contribute to neuropathic or inflammatory pain, but its roles in opioids-induced hyperalgesia (OIH) are elusive. Here, we provide the first direct evidence that ER stress is a significant driver of OIH. GRP78, the ER stress marker, is markedly upregulated in neurons in the spinal cord after chronic morphine treatment. At the same time, morphine induces the activation of three arms of unfolded protein response (UPR): inositol-requiring enzyme 1α/X-box binding protein 1 (IRE1α/XBP1), protein kinase RNA-like ER kinase/eukaryotic initiation factor 2 subunit alpha (PERK/eIF2α), and activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6). Notably, we found that inhibition on either IRE1α/XBP1 or ATF6, but not on PERK/eIF2α could attenuate the development of OIH. Consequently, ER stress induced by morphine enhances PKA-mediated phosphorylation of NMDA receptor subunit 1(NR1) and leads to OIH. We further showed that heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), a molecular chaperone involved in protein folding in ER, is heavily released from spinal neurons after morphine treatment upon the control of KATP channel. Glibenclamide, a classic KATP channel blocker that inhibits the efflux of HSP70 from cytoplasm to extracellular environment, or HSP70 overexpression in neurons, could markedly suppress morphine-induced ER stress and hyperalgesia. Taken together, our findings uncover the induction process and the central role of ER stress in the development of OIH and support a novel strategy for anti-OIH treatment.