Proteoglycan 4 (PRG4) treatment improves skin wound healing in a porcine model.

Proteoglycan 4 (PRG4) is a boundary lubricant originally identified in articular cartilage and has been since shown to have immunomodulation and antifibrotic properties. Previously, we have demonstrated that recombinant human (rh)PRG4 treatment accelerates auricular cartilage injury closure through an inhibition of the fibrotic response, and promotion of tissue regeneration in mice. The purpose of the current study was to examine the effects of rhPRG4 treatment (vs. a DMSO carried control) on full-thickness skin wound healing in a preclinical porcine model. Our findings suggest that while rhPRG4 did not significantly accelerate nor impede full-thickness skin wound closure, it did improve repair quality by decreasing molecular markers of fibrosis and increasing re-vascularization. We also demonstrated that rhPRG4 treatment increased dermal adipose tissue during the healing process specifically by retaining adipocytes in the wound area but did not inhibit lipolysis. Overall, the results of the current study have demonstrated that rhPRG4 acts as antifibrotic agent and regulates dermal adipose tissue during the healing processes resulting in a tissue with a trajectory that more resembles the native skin vs. a fibrotic patch. This study provides strong rationale to examine if rhPRG4 can improve regeneration in human wounds.

Contrast-enhanced x-ray microscopy of articular cartilage.

Osteoarthritis is a common chronic disease of joints characterized by degenerative changes of articular cartilage. An early diagnosis of osteoarthritis may be possible when imaging excised tissue for research in situ at the cellular-molecular scale. Whereas cartilage histopathology is destructive, time-consuming, and limited to 2D views, contrast-enhanced x-ray microscopy (XRM) can image articular cartilage and subchondral bone in 3D. This study evaluates articular cartilage structure ex vivo using both techniques.Osteochondral plugs were excised from non-diseased bovine knees and stained in phosphotungstic acid for 0 to 32 h. XRM imaging revealed an optimal staining time of 16 h and a saturated staining time of 24 h. Histology sections were cut and analyzed by polarized light microscopy (PLM) and second-harmonic-generation dual-photon (SHG-DP) microscopy. Histology photomicrographs were aligned with matching XRM slices and evaluated for features relevant in histopathological scoring of osteoarthritis cartilage, including the tidemark, collagen architecture and chondrocyte morphology.The cartilage collagen network and chondrocytes from the 3D contrast-enhanced XRM were correlated with the 2D histology. This technique has two distinct advantages over routine histopathology: (1) the avoidance of dehydration, demineralization, and deformation of histological sectioning, thereby preserving the intact articular cartilage and subchondral bone plate ex vivo, and (2) the ability to evaluate the entire osteochondral volume in 3D. This work explores several diagnostic features of imaging cartilage, including: visualization of the tidemark in XRM and SHG-DP microscopy, validating the morphology of chondrocytes and nuclei with XRM, SHG-DP and PLM, and correlating collagen birefringence with XRM image intensity.

Effect of disulfide bonding and multimerization on proteoglycan 4's cartilage boundary lubricating ability and adsorption.

PURPOSE: The objectives of this study were to assess the cartilage boundary lubricating ability of (1) nonreduced (NR) disulfide-bonded proteoglycan 4 (PRG4) multimers versus PRG4 monomers and (2) NR versus reduced and alkylated (R/A) PRG4 monomers and to assess (3) the ability of NR PRG4 multimers versus monomers to adsorb to an articular cartilage surface. MATERIALS AND METHODS: PRG4 was separated into two preparations, PRG4 multimer enriched (PRG4Multi+) and PRG4 multimer deficient (PRG4Multi-), using size exclusion chromatography (SEC) and characterized by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The cartilage boundary lubricating ability of PRG4Multi+ and PRG4Multi- was compared at a physiological concentration (450 µg/mL) and assessed over a range of concentrations (45, 150, and 450 µg/mL). R/A and NR PRG4Multi- were evaluated at 450 µg/mL. Immunohistochemistry with anti-PRG4 antibody 4D6 was performed to visualize the adsorption of PRG4 preparations to the surface of articular cartilage explants. RESULTS: Separation into enriched populations of PRG4Multi+ and PRG4Multi- was achieved using SEC and was confirmed by SDS-PAGE. PRG4Multi+ and PRG4Multi- both functioned as effective friction-reducing cartilage boundary lubricants at 450 µg/mL, with PRG4Multi+ being more effective than PRG4Multi-. PRG4Multi+ lubricated in a dose-dependent manner, however, PRG4Multi- did not. R/A PRG4Multi- lubricated similar to NR PRG4Multi-. PRG4-containing solutions showed 4D6 immunoreactivity at the articular surface; the immunoreactive intensity of PRG4Multi+ appeared to be similar to SF, whereas PRG4Multi- appeared to have less intensity. CONCLUSIONS: These results demonstrate that the intermolecular disulfide-bonded multimeric structure of PRG4 is important for its ability to adsorb to a cartilage surface and function as a boundary lubricant. These findings contribute to a greater understanding of the molecular basis of cartilage boundary lubrication of PRG4. Elucidating the PRG4 structure-lubrication function relationship will further contribute to the understanding of PRG4's role in diarthrodial joint homeostasis and disease.

The innervation of the human acetabular labrum and hip joint: an anatomic study.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the current study was to evaluate the innervation of the acetabular labrum in the various zones and to understand its potential role in nociception and proprioception in hips with labral pathology. METHODS: A total of twenty hip labrums were tagged and excised intraoperatively from patients undergoing a total hip replacement. After preparation, the specimens were cut to a thickness of 10 µm and divided into four quadrants (zones) using a clock face pattern. Neurosensory structure distribution was then evaluated using Hematoxylin and Eosin (H and E), and immunoreactivity to S-100. RESULTS: All specimens had abundant free nerve endings (FNEs). These were seen predominantly superficially and on the chondral side of the labrum. In addition, predominantly three different types of nerve end organs (NEOs) were identified in all twenty specimens. FNEs and NEOs were more frequently seen in the antero-superior and postero-superior zones. Four specimens had abundant vascularity and disorganised architecture of FNEs in the deeper zones of the antero-superior quadrant suggestive of a healed tear. Myofibroblasts were present in abundance in all the labral specimens and were distributed uniformly throughout all labral zones and depth. CONCLUSIONS: The current study shows that the human acetabular labrum has abundant FNEs and NEOs. These are more abundant in the antero-superior and postero-superior zones. The labrum, by virtue of its neural innervation, can potentially mediate pain as well as proprioception of the hip joint, and be involved in neurosecretion that can influence connective tissue repair.

Collagen integrity of the annulus fibrosus in degenerative disc disease individuals quantified with collagen hybridizing peptide.

Introduction: Degenerative disc disease (DDD) is accompanied by structural changes in the intervertebral discs (IVD). Extra-cellular matrix degradation of the annulus fibrosus (AF) has been linked with degeneration of the IVD. Collagen is a vital component of the IVD. Collagen hybridizing peptide (CHP) is an engineered protein that binds to degraded collagen, which we used to quantify collagen damage in AF. This method was used to compare AF samples obtained from donors with no DDD to AF samples from patients undergoing surgery for symptomatic DDD. Methods: Fresh AF tissue was embedded in an optimal cutting temperature compound and cryosectioned at a thickness of 8 µm. Hematoxylin and Eosin staining was performed on sections for general histomorphological assessment. Serial sections were stained with Cy3-conjugated CHP and the mean fluorescence intensity and areal fraction of Cy3-positive staining were averaged for three regions of interest (ROI) on each CHP-stained section. Results: Increases in mean fluorescence intensity (p = 0.0004) and percentage of positively stained area (p = 0.00008) with CHP were detected in DDD samples compared to the non-DDD samples. Significant correlations were observed between mean fluorescence intensity and percentage of positively stained area for both non-DDD (R = 0.98, p = 5E-8) and DDD (R = 0.79, p = 0.0012) samples. No significant differences were detected between sex and the lumbar disc level subgroups of the non-DDD and DDD groups. Only tissue pathology (non-DDD versus DDD) influenced the measured parameters. No three-way interactions between tissue pathology, sex, and lumbar disc level were observed. Discussion and Conclusions: These findings suggest that AF collagen degradation is greater in DDD samples compared to non-DDD samples, as evidenced by the increased CHP staining. Strong positive correlations between the two measured parameters suggest that when collagen degradation occurs, it is detected by this technique and is widespread throughout the tissue. This study provides new insights into the structural alterations associated with collagen degradation in the AF that occur during DDD.

Assessment of the efficacy of MRI for detection of changes in bone morphology in a mouse model of bone injury.

PURPOSE: To determine whether magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) could be used to track changes in skeletal morphology during bone healing using high-resolution micro-computed tomography (µCT) as a standard. We used a mouse model of bone injury to compare µCT with MRI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Surgery was performed to induce a burr hole fracture in the mouse tibia. A selection of biomaterials was immediately implanted into the fractures. First we optimized the imaging sequences by testing different MRI pulse sequences. Then changes in bone morphology over the course of fracture repair were assessed using in vivo MRI and µCT. Histology was performed to validate the imaging outcomes. RESULTS: The rapid acquisition with relaxation enhancement (RARE) sequence provided sufficient contrast between bone and the surrounding tissues to clearly reveal the fracture. It allowed detection of the fracture clearly 1 and 14 days postsurgery and revealed soft tissue changes that were not clear on µCT. In MRI and µCT the fracture was seen at day 1 and partial healing was detected at day 14. CONCLUSION: The RARE sequence was the most suitable for MRI bone imaging. It enabled the detection of hard and even soft tissue changes. These findings suggest that MRI could be an effective imaging modality for assessing changes in bone morphology and pathobiology.

Comparison of T2 and T2*-weighted MR molecular imaging of a mouse model of glioma.

BACKGROUND: Standard MRI has been used for high-grade gliomas detection, albeit with limited success as it does not provide sufficient specificity and sensitivity to detect complex tumor structure. Therefore targeted contrast agents based on iron oxide, that shorten mostly T2 relaxation time, have been recently applied. However pulse sequences for molecular imaging in animal models of gliomas have not been yet fully studied. The aim of this study was therefore to compare contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) and explain its origin using spin-echo (SE), gradient echo (GE), GE with flow compensation (GEFC) as well as susceptibility weighted imaging (SWI) in T2 and T2* contrast-enhanced molecular MRI of glioma. METHODS: A mouse model was used. U87MGdEGFRvIII cells (U87MG), derived from a human tumor, were injected intracerebrally. A 9.4 T MRI system was used and MR imaging was performed on the 10 day after the inoculation of the tumor. The CNR was measured prior, 20 min, 2 hrs and 24 hrs post intravenous tail administration of glioma targeted paramagnetic nanoparticles (NPs) using SE, SWI, GE and GEFC pulse sequences. RESULTS: The results showed significant differences in CNR among all pulse sequences prior injection. GEFC provided higher CNR post contrast agent injection when compared to GE and SE. Post injection CNR was the highest with SWI and significantly different from any other pulse sequence. CONCLUSIONS: Molecular MR imaging using targeted contrast agents can enhance the detection of glioma cells at 9.4 T if the optimal pulse sequence is used. Hence, the use of flow compensated pulse sequences, beside SWI, should to be considered in the molecular imaging studies.

Repetitive in vivo manual loading of the spine elicits cellular responses in porcine annuli fibrosi.

Back pain and intervertebral disc degeneration are prevalent, costly, and widely treated by manual therapies, yet the underlying causes of these diseases are indeterminate as are the scientific bases for such treatments. The present studies characterize the effects of repetitive in vivo manual loads on porcine intervertebral disc cell metabolism using RNA deep sequencing. A single session of repetitive manual loading applied to the lumbar spine induced both up- and down-regulation of a variety of genes transcribed by cells in the ventral annuli fibrosi. The effect of manual therapy at the level of loading was greater than at a level distant to the applied load. Gene ontology and molecular pathway analyses categorized biological, molecular, and cellular functions influenced by repetitive manual loading, with over-representation of membrane, transmembrane, and pericellular activities. Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis discerned enrichment in genes in pathways of inflammation and skeletogenesis. The present studies support previous findings of intervertebral disc cell mechanotransduction, and are the first to report comprehensively on the repertoire of gene targets influenced by mechanical loads associated with manual therapy interventions. The present study defines the cellular response of repeated, low-amplitude loads on normal healthy annuli fibrosi and lays the foundation for future work defining how healthy and diseased intervertebral discs respond to single or low-frequency manual loads typical of those applied clinically.

Identification and characterization of demethylase JMJD1A as a gene upregulated in the human cellular response to hypoxia.

Hypoxia is commonly found in human solid cancers and serves as a selective environment for the survival of aggressive cancer cells and as protection from anti-cancer therapies. In addition to a shift to anaerobic metabolism, the cellular response to hypoxia includes cessation of cell division and/or cell death. These mechanisms have still not been defined. Identification of the members of hypoxia-induced growth arrest pathways remain incomplete. We have undertaken an expression microarray analysis of the cellular response to hypoxia in diverse cell lines. An identified cohort of genes is reliably upregulated in various cells in response to hypoxia, as validated by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). One of the upregulated targets corresponds to an expressed sequence tag encoded by JMJD1A (a gene also known as JHDM2A), which has been identified as a histone demethylase that regulates the transcription of androgen receptor targets. We confirm, by RT-PCR, the upregulation of JMJD1A after hypoxia and desferroxamine treatment in multiple cell lines. We also show that JMJD1A is predominantly, but not exclusively, a nuclear protein. Immunofluorescent staining of HeLa cells shows a shift of cytoplasmic JMJD1A into the nucleus on hypoxia treatment. Immunohistochemical staining has revealed that JMJD1A is widely expressed in tissues, even in cells that are not known to express the androgen receptor, and is significantly increased in smooth muscle cells upon hypoxia treatment.

Effects of monovalent cations on Ca2+ uptake by skeletal and cardiac muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum.

Ca(2+) transport by the sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) ATPase (SERCA) is sensitive to monovalent cations. Possible K(+) binding sites have been identified in both the cytoplasmic P-domain and the transmembrane transport-domain of the protein. We measured Ca(2+) transport into SR vesicles and SERCA ATPase activity in the presence of different monovalent cations. We found that the effects of monovalent cations on Ca(2+) transport correlated in most cases with their direct effects on SERCA. Choline(+), however, inhibited uptake to a greater extent than could be accounted for by its direct effect on SERCA suggesting a possible effect of choline on compensatory charge movement during Ca(2+) transport. Of the monovalent cations tested, only Cs(+) significantly affected the Hill coefficient of Ca(2+) transport (n(H)). An increase in n(H) from approximately 2 in K(+) to approximately 3 in Cs(+) was seen in all of the forms of SERCA examined. The effects of Cs(+) on the maximum velocity of Ca(2+) uptake were also different for different forms of SERCA but these differences could not be attributed to differences in the putative K(+) binding sites of the different forms of the protein.

Anatomic study on the blood supply to the femoral head following hip resurfacing using the posterior approach.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate femoral head perfusion following cadaveric hip resurfacing using the posterior approach. METHODS: This cadaveric study involved injecting Higgins India ink into the common iliac arteries and evaluating the distribution of ink in the resurfaced heads using the modified Spalteholz technique. The study consisted of 2 parts. The 1st part involved utilisation of 22 cadaveric hips for establishing the injection and histological technique. The 2nd part of the study included 4 control cadaveric hips and 12 cadaveric hips with posterior approach hip resurfacing. Each specimen was divided into 15 zones (12 head zones and 3 neck zones) to evaluate detailed geographic distribution of dye-containing blood vessels. RESULTS: All 4 controls had good flow of ink to all head zones and the neck region. In all the resurfaced heads, there was good flow to all the neck zones. 6 resurfaced specimens had no dye flow to any of the head zones. In the remaining 6, dye-stained vessels were seen variably in the anterior and middle zones but were consistently absent in the posterior zones of the head. Zones representing the antero-inferior parts of femoral head had the maximum flow of ink, followed by zones representing middle-inferior parts. CONCLUSIONS: Posterior approach for hip resurfacing arthroplasty results in vascular insult to the femoral head, with posterior zones more affected than the anterior zones. The persistence of the dye in the intraosseous blood vessels of the neck and in anteroinferior head may be a source of revascularisation of the femoral head after posterior approach hip resurfacing.

LyP-1 Conjugated Nanoparticles for Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Triple Negative Breast Cancer.

PURPOSE: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) does not express estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, or Her2/neu. Both diagnosis and treatment of TNBC remain a clinical challenge. LyP-1 is a cyclic 9 amino acid peptide that can bind to breast cancer cells. The goal of this study was to design and characterize LyP-1 conjugated to fluorescent iron oxide nanoparticles (LyP-1-Fe3O4-Cy5.5) as a contrast agent for improved and specific magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in a preclinical model of TNBC. PROCEDURES: The binding of LyP-1-Fe3O4-Cy5.5 to MDA-MB-231 TNBC cells was evaluated and compared to scrambled peptide bio-conjugated to iron oxide nanoparticles (Ctlpep-Fe3O4-Cy5.5) as a negative control. Following the in vitro study, the MDA-MB-231 cells were injected into mammary glands of nude mice. Mice were divided into two groups: control group received Ctlpep- Fe3O4-Cy5.5 and LyP-1 group received LyP-1-Fe3O4-Cy5.5 (tail vein injection at 2 mg/kg of Fe3O4). Mice were imaged with an in vivo fluorescence imager and a 9.4 T MRI system at various time points after contrast agent injection. The T2 relaxation time was measured to observe accumulation of the contrast agent in breast tumor and muscle for both targeted and non-targeted contrast agents. RESULTS: Immunofluorescence revealed dense binding of the LyP-1-Fe3O4-Cy5.5 contrast agent to MDA-MB-231 cells; while little appreciable binding was observed to the scrambled negative control (Ctlpep-Fe3O4-Cy5.5). Optical imaging performed in tumor-bearing mice showed increased fluorescent signal in mammary gland of animals injected by LyP-1-Fe3O4-Cy5.5 but not Ctlpep- Fe3O4-Cy5.5. The results were confirmed ex vivo by the 2.6-fold increase of fluorescent signal from LyP-1-Fe3O4-Cy5.5 in extracted tumors when compared to the negative control. In MR imaging studies, there was a statistically significant (P < 0.01) difference in normalized T2 between healthy breast and tumor tissue at 1, 2, and 24 h post injection of the LyP-1-Fe3O4-Cy5.5. In animals injected with LyP-1-Fe3O4, distinct ring-like structures were observed with clear contrast between the tumor core and rim. CONCLUSION: The results demonstrate that LyP-1-Fe3O4 significantly improves MRI contrast of TNBC, hence has the potential to be exploited for the specific delivery of cancer therapeutics.

Correction to: LyP-1 Conjugated Nanoparticles for Magnetic Resonance Imaging of Triple Negative Breast Cancer.

This article was updated to correct the spelling of B. Gino Fallone's name; it is correct as displayed above. Correction to: Mol Imaging Biol (2017). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11307-017-1140-4.

Full-Length Recombinant Human Proteoglycan 4 Interacts with Hyaluronan to Provide Cartilage Boundary Lubrication.

Proteoglycan 4 (PRG4) is a mucin-like glycoprotein present in synovial fluid and at the surface of articular cartilage. The objectives of this study were to (1) assess the articular cartilage surface adsorption and in vitro cartilage boundary lubricating ability of full-length recombinant human PRG4 (rhPRG4), and (2) cartilage boundary lubricating ability of purified rhPRG4, both alone and in combination with hyaluronan (HA). rhPRG4 adsorption onto articular cartilage explants was assessed by immunohistochemistry and dot blot. An in vitro cartilage-cartilage friction test was used to assess rhPRG4's cartilage boundary lubricating ability compared to bovine PRG4, and that of purified rhPRG4 both alone and in combination with HA. rhPRG4 was able to adsorb to the articular surface, as well as the cut surface, of cartilage explants. The kinetic coefficient of friction of rhPRG4 was similar to that of PRG4 (p = 0.16) and lower than phosphate-buffered saline (p < 0.05), while that of purified rhPRG4 + HA was significantly lower than rhPRG4 alone (p < 0.05). This study demonstrates that rhPRG4 can adsorb to an intact articular cartilage surface and functions as an effective boundary lubricant, both alone and with HA, and provides the foundation for in vivo evaluation of this clinically relevant full-length rhPRG4 for treatment of osteoarthritis.

Molecular susceptibility weighted imaging of the glioma rim in a mouse model.

BACKGROUND: Glioma is the most common and most difficult to treat brain cancer. Despite many efforts treatment, efficacy remains low. As neurosurgical removal is the standard procedure for glioma, a method, allowing for both early detection and exact determination of the location, size and extent of the tumor, could improve a patient's positive response to therapy. NEW METHOD: We propose application of susceptibility weighted molecular magnetic resonance imaging using, targeted contrast agents, based on superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, for imaging of the, glioma rim, namely brain-tumor interface. Iron oxide attached to the targeted cells increases, susceptibility differences at the boundary between tumor and normal tissue, providing the opportunity, to utilize susceptibility weighted imaging for improved tumor delineation. We investigated potential, enhancement of the tumor-brain contrast, including tumor core and rim when using susceptibility, weighted MRI for molecular imaging of glioma. RESULTS: There were significant differences in contrast-to-noise ratio before, 12 and 120min after contrast, agent injection between standard gradient echo pulse sequence and susceptibility weighted molecular, magnetic resonance imaging for the core-brain, tumor rim-core and tumor rim-brain areas. COMPARISON WITH EXISTING METHODS: Currently, the most common MRI contrast agent used for glioma diagnosis is a non-specific, gadolinium-based agent providing T1-weighted enhancement. Susceptibility-weighted magnetic, resonance imaging is much less efficient when no targeted superparamagnetic contrast agents are, used. CONCLUSION: The improved determination of glioma extent provided by SWI offers an important new tool for, diagnosis and surgical planning.

Embryonic stem cells incorporate into newly formed bone and do not form tumors in an immunocompetent mouse fracture model.

Embryonic stem (ES) cells are a uniquely self-renewing, pluripotent population of cells that must be differentiated before being useful for cell therapy. Since most studies utilize subcutaneous implantation to test the in vivo functionality of ES cell-derived cells, the objective of the current study was to develop an appropriate and clinically relevant in vivo implantation system in which the behavior and tumorigenicity of ES cell-derived cells could be effectively tested in a tissue-specific (orthotopic) site. Male ES cells were differentiated either into osteoblasts or chondrocytes using protocols that were previously developed and published by our laboratory. The differentiated cells were implanted into a burr-hole fracture created in the proximal tibiae of immunocompetent female mice, strain matched to the ES cell line. The ability of the differentiated ES cell-derived cells (bearing the Y chromosome) to incorporate into the newly formed bone was assessed by micro-computed tomography imaging and histochemistry. ES cells differentiated with either osteogenic or chondrogenic medium supplementation formed a soft tissue mass that disrupted the normal bone architecture by 4 weeks after implantation in some mice. In contrast, mice receiving osteoblastic cells that were differentiated in a three-dimensional type 1 collagen gel showed evidence of new bone formation at the defect site without evidence of tumor formation for up to 8 weeks after implantation. In this injury model, type 1 collagen is more effective than medium supplementation at driving more complete differentiation of ES cells, as evidenced by reducing their tumorigenicity. Overall, the current study emphasizes the importance of using an appropriate orthotopic implantation system to effectively test the behavior and tumorigenicity of the cells in vivo.

Evaluation of brain tumor vessels specific contrast agents for glioblastoma imaging.

A mouse model of glioblastoma multiforme was used to determine the accumulation of a targeted contrast agent in tumor vessels. The contrast agent, consisting of superparamagnetic iron oxide coated with dextran, was functionalized with an anti-insulin-like-growth-factor binding protein 7 (anti-IGFBP7) single domain antibody. The near infrared marker, Cy5.5, was also attached for an in vivo fluorescence study. A 9.4T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) system was used for in vivo studies on days 10 and 11 following tumor inoculation. T(2) relaxation time was used to measure the accumulation of the contrast agent in the tumor. Changes in tumor to brain contrast because of active targeting were compared with a nontargeted contrast agent. Effective targeting was confirmed with near infrared measurements and fluorescent microscopic analysis. The results showed that there was a statistically significant (P < .01) difference in normalized T(2) between healthy brain and tumor tissue 10 min, 1 h, and 2 h point postinjection of the anti-IGFBP7 single domain antibody targeted and nontargeted iron oxide nanoparticles. A statistical difference remained in animals treated with targeted nanoparticles 24 h postinjection only. The MRI, near infrared imaging, and fluorescent microscopy studies showed corresponding spatial and temporal changes. We concluded that the developed anti-IGFBP7-iron oxide single domain antibody-targeted MRI contrast agent selectively binds to abnormal vessels within a glioblastoma. T(2)-weighted MRI and near infrared imaging are able to detect the targeting effects in brain tumors.

Signaling and apoptosis differences between severe hypoxia and desferoxamine treatment of human epithelial cells.

The mechanisms by which cells undergo proliferation arrest or cell death in response to hypoxia are still not completely understood. Originally, we showed that HeLa and Hep3B carcinoma cells undergo different proliferation responses in hypoxia. We now show that these 2 cell lines also have different cell death responses to severe hypoxia, with HeLa showing both cell cycle arrest and apoptosis (as early as 12 h after hypoxia treatment), and Hep3B showing resistance to both. Hypoxia-induced apoptosis in Hela was associated with decreases of both phospho-S473- and -T308-AKT and loss of AKT function, whereas Hep3B cells were resistant to hypoxia-induced apoptosis and did not lose phospho-AKT or AKT function. We then decided to test if our observations were confirmed using a hypoxia mimic, desferoxamine. Desferoxamine treatment yielded cell cycle arrest in HeLa and moderate arrest in Hep3B but, surprisingly, did not induce notable apoptosis of either cell line with up to 24 h of treatment. Hypoxia-treated normal human mammary epithelial cells also showed hypoxia-induced apoptosis. Interestingly, in these cell lines, there was a complete correlation between loss of phospho-AKT and (or) total AKT, and susceptibility to hypoxia-induced apoptosis. Our data suggests a model in which regulated loss of active AKT at a precise time point in hypoxia may be associated with apoptosis in susceptible cells.