Mouse organoids as an in vitro tool to study the in vivo intestinal response to cytotoxicants.

Cross-species comparison of drug responses at the organoid level could help to determine the human relevance of findings from animal studies. To this end, we first need to evaluate the in vitro to in vivo translatability of preclinical organoids. Here, we used 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) as an exemplar drug to test whether the in vivo gut response to this cytotoxicant was preserved in murine intestinal organoids. Mice treated with 5-FU at 20 or 50 mg/kg IV (low and high dose, respectively) displayed diarrhea at clinically relevant exposures. 5-FU also induced intestinal lesions, increased epithelial apoptosis, and decreased proliferation in a dose-dependent manner. To enable comparison between the in vitro and in vivo response, top nominal in vitro drug concentrations that caused significant cytotoxicity were chosen (dose range 1-1000 µM). The inferred intracellular concentration in organoids at 1000 µM was within the tissue exposure range related to intestinal toxicity in vivo. 5-FU at ≥ 100 µM decreased ATP levels and increased Caspase-3 activity in intestinal organoids. In keeping with the in vivo findings, 5-FU increased the percentage of Caspase-3-positive cells and reduced Ki67 staining. At the transcriptome level, there was an overlap in the activity of pathways related to 5-FU's mode of action, lipid and cholesterol metabolism and integrin signaling across in vivo gut and organoids. The predicted activity state of upstream regulators was generally well preserved between setups. Collectively, our results suggest that despite their inherent limitations, organoids represent an adequate tool to explore the intestinal response to cytotoxicants.

Methods to evaluate and improve the injection site tolerability of intravenous formulations prior to first-in-human testing.

INTRODUCTION: Evaluation of infusion site tolerability is required for the development of intravenous formulations of New Molecular Entities and is of particular importance for investigational drugs that have the potential to precipitate on contact with the blood stream. Based on a comprehensive set of in vitro and in vivo studies conducted with JNJ-X, a development stage small molecule investigational drug, with a pH-dependent solubility that showed potential to cause infusion site irritation at high concentrations, we have developed a systematic approach for evaluating and selecting suitable intravenous formulations for compounds that show potential to precipitate at the infusion site. METHODS: Aqueous formulations containing a range of concentrations of JNJ-X with different excipients, and buffering agents at different pHs (3.9-7.4) were evaluated in an in vitro solubility assay, a modified hen's egg test-chorioallantoic membrane assay (HET-CAM(VT)) and in vivo in rabbit, rat, and dog intravenous infusion toxicity studies. RESULTS: The data obtained with JNJ-X in the different in vitro and in vivo studies were compared and used to support the development of an in silico model and to create a systematic approach to screen and identify candidate intravenous formulations with improved tolerability. DISCUSSION/CONCLUSION: This approach provides a framework that can be used to assess the risk for infusion site irritation and identify better tolerated formulations with a reduced need for in vivo testing.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of ceramide analogues with substituted aromatic rings or an allylic fluoride in the sphingoid moiety.

The biological activity of synthetic ceramide analogues, having modified sphingoid and N-acyl chains, as well as fluorine substituents in the allylic position, was investigated in hippocampal neurons. Their influence on axonal growth was compared to that of C(6)-N-acyl analogues of natural ceramides. D-erythro-Ceramides with a phenyl group in the sphingoid moiety and a short N-acyl chain were able to reverse the inhibitory effect of fumonisin B(1) (FB(1)), but not of D-threo-1-phenyl-2-decanoylamino-3-morpholino-1-propanol (PDMP), on accelerated axonal growth in hippocampal neurons. Moreover, we demonstrated that a ceramide analogue with an aromatic ring in the sphingoid moiety is recognized as a substrate by glucosylceramide synthase, which suggests that the observed biological effects are mediated by activation of the ceramide analogue via glucosylation. Introduction of a methyl, pentyl, fluoro, or methoxy substituent in the para position of the phenyl ring in the sphingoid moiety yielded partly active compounds. Likewise, substitution of the benzene ring for a thienyl group did not abolish the ability to reverse the inhibition of accelerated axonal growth by FB(1). Both D-erythro- and L-threo-ceramide analogues, having an allylic fluorine substituent, partly reversed the FB(1) inhibition.

Synthesis and apoptogenic activity of fluorinated ceramide and dihydroceramide analogues.

Short-chain 3-fluoro-(dihydro)ceramide analogues are synthesized from L-serine using diethylaminosulfur trifluoride (DAST) as fluorinating agent. The apoptogenic activity of these compounds was measured in three different cell lines and compared with their hydroxylated counterparts.

Structure-activity relationship of short-chain sphingoid bases as inhibitors of sphingosine kinase.

Short-chain sphinganine analogues 8, 9, 18, and 19, as well as 3-fluoro-sphingosine analogues 25 and 26 were synthesized. Their potential as sphingosine kinase inhibitors was investigated, in combination with previously synthesized sphingosine and fluorinated sphinganine analogues.

Comparative pathogenesis of a subtype A with a subtype B avian pneumovirus in turkeys.

This paper describes a study in which the pathogenesis of avian pneumovirus strains, isolated in Belgium, and belonging to the two subtypes A and B, were compared in 2-week-old turkeys. After oculonasal inoculation, animals were either observed for clinical signs or killed for pathological and virological examination. Virus titration and immunofluorescence were performed on the conjunctivae, turbinates, sinuses, upper and lower part of the trachea, lungs and air sacs. No differences were seen between the two subtypes concerning respiratory signs, or macroscopic and microscopic lesions in the respiratory tract. Slight variations were found in site and extent of virus replication. First, only subtype A was able to invade the lower parts of the respiratory tract (bronchi), whereas viral antigens were not detected in the lungs with subtype B. Secondly, the subtype A strain infected two times more epithelial cells at all levels of the upper respiratory tract compared to subtype B. Thirdly, the amount of virus produced at different sites along the respiratory tract was lower in subtype B-inoculated turkeys than in subtype A-inoculated ones.

Verrucous endocarditis due to Escherichia coli in a Persian cat.

Verrucous endocarditis of the aortic valves was diagnosed postmortem in a Persian cat that died after showing clinical signs of dyspnoea, hypothermia and anorexia. Bacterial colonies were evident on Giemsa-stained sections of the valves and Escherichia coli was isolated from the endocarditis lesions.

Six years experience with an emergency department based mobile emergency care delivery system.

The purpose of mobile emergency care is to provide on a basis of 24 hours out of 24, the necessary material (ambulances wiwth resuscitation equipment) and personnel (ambulance-drivers, nurses and doctors), in order to care for the victim of accident or sudden illness on the spot and during transport to the hospital. The experience gained with a mobile emergency care delivery system, organized within the Emergency Department of the University Hospital Sint-Rafaël Leuven, Belgium, is analyzed and discussed. The conclusions of the study stress the advantages, as far as economics and efficiency are concerned, of the integration of the mobile emergency care delivery system in the emergency department of the highly specialized university hospital.