Terbium-Rose Bengal Coordination Nanocrystals-Induced ROS Production under Low-Dose X-rays in Cultured Cancer Cells for Photodynamic Therapy.

X-ray-triggered scintillators (Sc) and photosensitizers (Ps) have been developed for X-ray-induced photodynamic therapy (X-PDT) to selectively destruct deep tissue tumors with a low X-ray dose. This study designed terbium (Tb)-rose bengal (RB) coordination nanocrystals (T-RBNs) by a solvothermal treatment, aiming to reduce photon energy dissipation between Tb3+ and RB and thus increase the reactive oxygen species (ROS) production efficiency. T-RBNs synthesized at a molar ratio of [RB]/[Tb] = 3 exhibited a size of 6.8 ± 1.2 nm with a crystalline property. Fourier transform infrared analyses of T-RBNs indicated successful coordination between RB and Tb3+. T-RBNs generated singlet oxygen (1O2) and hydroxyl radicals (•OH) under low-dose X-ray irradiation (0.5 Gy) via scintillating and radiosensitizing pathways. T-RBNs produced ∼8-fold higher ROS amounts than bare RB and ∼3.6-fold higher ROS amounts than inorganic nanoparticle-based controls. T-RBNs did not exhibit severe cytotoxicity up to 2 mg/mL concentration in cultured luciferase-expressing murine epithelial breast cancer (4T1-luc) cells. Furthermore, T-RBNs were efficiently internalized into cultured 4T1-luc cells and induced DNA double strand damage, as evidenced by an immunofluorescence staining assay with phosphorylated γ-H2AX. Ultimately, under 0.5 Gy X-ray irradiation, T-RBNs induced >70% 4T1-luc cell death via simultaneous apoptosis/necrosis pathways. Overall, T-RBNs provided a promising Sc/Ps platform under low-dose X-PDT for advanced cancer therapy.

CRMP2 mediates GSK3ß actions in the striatum on regulating neuronal structure and mania-like behavior.

BACKGROUND: Genetic and physiological studies have implicated the striatum in bipolar disorder (BD). Although Glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK3ß) has been suggested to play a role in the pathophysiology of BD since it is inhibited by lithium, it remains unknown how GSK3ß activity might be involved. Therefore we examined the functional roles of GSK3ß and one of its substrates, CRMP2, within the striatum. METHODS: Using CRISPR-Cas9 system, we specifically ablated GSK3ß in the striatal neurons in vivo and in vitro. Sholl analysis was performed for the structural studies of medium spiny neurons (MSNs) and amphetamine-induced hyperlocomotion was measured to investigate the effects of gene ablations on the mania-like symptom of BD. RESULTS: GSK3ß deficiency in cultured neurons and in neurons of adult mouse brain caused opposite patterns of neurite changes. Furthermore, specific knockout of GSK3ß in the MSNs of the indirect pathway significantly suppressed amphetamine-induced hyperlocomotion. We demonstrated that these phenotypes of GSK3ß ablation were mediated by CRMP2, a major substrate of GSK3ß. LIMITATIONS: Amphetamine-induced hyperlocomotion only partially recapitulate the symptoms of BD. It requires further study to examine whether abnormality in GSK3ß or CRMP2 is also involved in depression phase of BD. Additionally, we could not confirm whether the behavioral changes observed in GSK3ß-ablated mice were indeed caused by the cellular structural changes observed in the striatal neurons. CONCLUSION: Our results demonstrate that GSK3ß and its substrate CRMP2 critically regulate the neurite structure of MSNs and their functions specifically within the indirect pathway of the basal ganglia network play a critical role in manifesting mania-like behavior of BD. Moreover, our data also suggest lithium may exert its effect on BD through a GSK3ß-independent mechanism, in addition to the GSK3ß inhibition-mediated mechanism.