Biofluorescence Imaging Research Articles

Soluble Siglec-9 suppresses arthritis in a collagen-induced arthritis mouse model and inhibits M1 activation of RAW264.7 macrophages.

BackgroundThe aim of this study was to assess the effects of soluble sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-type lectin (sSiglec)-9 on joint inflammation and destruction in a murine collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) model and in monolayer cultures of murine macrophages (RAW264.7 cells and peritoneal macrophages) and fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS) derived from patients with rheumatoid arthritis.MethodsDBA/1J mice were immunized with type II collagen. Effects of sSiglec-9 were evaluated using a physiologic arthritis score, histological analysis, serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α concentration, and the proportion of forkhead box P3 (Foxp3)-positive regulatory T (Treg) cells. In vivo biofluorescence imaging was used to assess the distribution of sSiglec-9. Levels of M1 (TNF-α, interleukin [IL]-6, and inducible nitric oxide synthase) and M2 (CD206, Arginase-1, and IL-10) macrophage markers and phosphorylation of intracellular signaling molecules were examined in macrophages, and levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1, MMP-3, and MMP-13 were examined in FLS.ResultssSiglec-9 significantly suppressed the clinical and histological incidence and severity of arthritis. The proportion of Foxp3-positive Treg cells significantly improved and serum TNF-α concentration decreased in vivo. Although sSiglec-9 reduced the expression of M1 markers in macrophages, it did not affect the expression of M2 markers and MMPs in FLS. Nuclear factor (NF)-kB p65 phosphorylation was attenuated by sSiglec-9, and chemical blockade of the NF-kB pathway reduced M1 marker expression in RAW264.7 cells.ConclusionsIn this study, we have demonstrated the therapeutic effects of sSiglec-9 in a murine CIA model. The mechanism underlying these effects involves the suppression of M1 proinflammatory macrophages by inhibiting the NF-kB pathway. sSiglec-9 may provide a novel therapeutic option for patients with rheumatoid arthritis refractory to currently available drugs.

Multifunctional selenium nanoparticles: Chiral selectivity of delivering MDR-siRNA for reversal of multidrug resistance and real-time biofluorescence imaging

Herein, chiral selenium nanoparticles (L-SeNPs/D-SeNPs) modified with a dinuclear Ruthenium (II) complex were used to effectively deliver siRNA targeting the MDR1 gene. In this co-delivery system, the luminescent dinuclear Ruthenium (II) complex was developed to act as a gene carrier and anti-tumor drug, while offering luminescent imaging to follow the intracellular trafficking. Interestingly, Ru@L-SeNPs exhibited a stronger protein and pDNA affinity than Ru@D-SeNPs, indicating that chirality may have an effect on pDNA/siRNA binding and biocompatibility. Cisplatin-resistant A549R cells treated with Ru@L-SeNPs-siRNA demonstrated significant downregulation of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) expression, resulting in unprecedented enhanced cytotoxicity through the induction of apoptosis with the involvement of phosphorylation of p53, MAPK and PI3K/Akt signaling pathways. In vivo investigation confirmed that Ru@L-SeNPs-siRNA nanoparticles exhibited high tumor-targeted fluorescence, enhanced anti-tumor efficacy, and decreased systemic toxicity. These results suggest that Ru@L-SeNPs are promising vectors for the delivery of siRNA and for real-time tracking of treatment. From the Clinical EditorIn this study, the authors designed bi-functional selenium nanoparticles with specific chirality to deliver siRNA, for targeting tumor MDR1 gene. The underlying ruthenium (II) complex could also offer fluorescence for real-time imaging. This new system has been shown to have enhanced efficacy against drug resistant tumor cells in both in-vitro and in-vivo experiments.

Survival of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells and periodontal ligament stem cells in cell sheets

To evaluate the survival of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMMSC) and periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSC) in BMMSC/PDLSC cell sheets which transplanted ectopically into subcutaneous dorsum of nude mice. The canine BMMSC and PDLSC from primary culture were tranfected with lentiviral vectors carrying green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene (Lentivirus-GFP) or red fluorescent protein (RFP) gene (Lentivirus-RFP) respectively. The immunophenotypes of GFP-labeled BMMSC and RFP-labeled PDLSC were identified by flow cytometry. Adipogenic and osteogenic differentiation of them were detected by alizarin red or oil red O respectively. Then, both GFP-labeled BMMSC cell sheets and RFP-labeled PDLSC cell sheets were fabricated respectively using normal culture dish (6 cm) after stimulation of extracellular matrix formation. Each was enveloped by collagen membrane (Bio-Gide) and then transplanted into the subcutaneous dorsum of nude mice. In vivo non-invasive biofluorescence imaging(BFI) was performed at 1, 2, 4 and 8 w post-tranplantation to trace and quantify the survival and growth of RFP-labeled PDLSC and GFP-labeled BMMSC via the BFI system of the NightOWL. The fluorescence intensity change of GFP/RFP signal was monitored and compared. The mice were sacrificed 8 weeks after cell sheets transplantation and the survival of stem cells was verified by fluorescence immunohistochemistry. The flow cytometry showed that GFP-labeled BMMSC positively expressed CD29, CD44, CD34, STRO-1 were 93.07%, 92.84%, 3.23%, 67.67%, and RFP-labeled PDLSCs were 89.91%, 88.47%, 6.04%, 74.11%, respectively. Both of them had the potency of differentiating into osteoblasts and adipocytes. The stemness of both of them was almost same. After being transplanted into nude mice, the signal strength of GFP(BMMSC) was weaker and weaker in 1, 2, 4 and 8 w [(83.1±3.1)×10(6), (65.1±2.3)×10(6), (51.5 ± 2.3)×10(6), (33.8 ± 2.0)×10(6) ph/s, respectively.]. The signal strength of RFP(PDLSC) was weakenedin 1, 2 and 4 w [(53.8±3.0)×10(6), (42.2±2.6)×10(6), (34.5±2.1)×10(6) ph/s], then recovered in 8 w ([ 45.1±2.9)×10(6) ph/s]. The signal strength of RFP(PDLSC) was signifcantly stronger in 8 w than in 4 w(P < 0.01). The survival of RFP-labeled PDLSC was significant higher than that of GFP-labeled BMMSC. After 8 weeks, lots of RFP-labeled PDLSC were observed by microscope, but less GFP-labeled BMMSC were observed. Histometric analysis revealed that the survival of stem cells in the RFP-labeled PDLSC cell sheets was significantly higher than that of in the GFP-labeled BMMSCs cell sheets.

DNA Nanocarriers for Systemic Administration: Characterization and In Vivo Bioimaging in Healthy Mice

We hereby present different DNA nanocarriers consisting of new multimodular systems (MMS), containing the cationic lipid dioleylaminesuccinylparomomycin (DNA MMS DOSP), or bis (guanidinium)-tren-cholesterol (DNA MMS BGTC), and DNA lipid nanocapsules (DNA LNCs). Active targeting of the asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGP-R) using galactose as a ligand for DNA MMS (GAL DNA MMS) and passive targeting using a polyethylene glycol coating for DNA LNCs (PEG DNA LNCs) should improve the properties of these DNA nanocarriers. All systems were characterized via physicochemical methods and the DNA payload of DNA LNCs was quantified for the first time. Afterwards, their biodistribution in healthy mice was analyzed after encapsulation of a fluorescent dye via in vivo biofluorescence imaging (BFI), revealing various distribution profiles depending on the cationic lipid used and their surface characteristics. Furthermore, the two vectors with the best prolonged circulation profile were administered twice in healthy mice revealing that the new DNA MMS DOSP vectors showed no toxicity and the same distribution profile for both injections, contrary to PEG DNA LNCs which showed a rapid clearance after the second injection, certainly due to the accelerated blood clearance phenomenon.

Treatment efficacy of DNA lipid nanocapsules and DNA multimodular systems after systemic administration in a human glioma model

We previously developed different types of DNA nanocarriers for systemic administration. Recently, the biodistribution profiles of these intravenously administered nanocarriers, DNA lipid nanocapsules (LNCs) and different multimodular systems (MMS), were analysed in healthy mice using in vivo biofluorescence imaging. In the present study, the experiments were performed in an ectopic human U87MG glioma model in nude mice. First, the biodistribution profiles of intravenously administered multimodular systems delivering a plasmid DNA with a luciferase cassette were analysed using in vivo biofluorescence imaging. Afterwards, a systemic treatment with two long circulating DNA nanocarriers, poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) DNA LNCs and galactose (GAL) DNA MMS dioleylamin-succinyl paromomycin (DOSP) was performed on this glioma model using a plasmid encoding the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase (HSV-tk) and subsequent ganciclovir (GCV) treatment. The biodistribution profiles of the different DNA nanocarriers on this glioma model were similar to those observed on healthy animals and varied in function of their cationic lipid composition and their surface characteristics. Furthermore, PEG DNA LNCs and GAL DNA MMS DOSP showed a specific accumulation and some luciferase expression in the tumour tissue. The systemic treatment using the HSV-tk/GCV approach showed a tumour growth reduction compared to the nontreated mice cohort. These results are in good accordance with those obtained previously with PEG DNA LNCs in a human melanoma mouse model and highlight the potential use of GAL DNA MMS DOSP and PEG DNA LNCs as future therapeutics in glioma and other cancers.

Intraventricularly Injected Olig2-NSCs Attenuate Established Relapsing–Remitting EAE in Mice

In multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic inflammatory relapsing demyelinating disease, failure to control or repair damage leads to progressive neurological dysfunction and neurodegeneration. Implantation of neural stem cells (NSCs) has been shown to promote repair and functional recovery in the acute experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) animal model for MS; the major therapeutic mechanism of these NSCs appeared to be immune regulation. In the present study, we examined the efficacy of intraventricularly injected NSCs in chronic relapsing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (CREAE), the animal disease model that is widely accepted to mimic most closely recurrent inflammatory demyelination lesions as observed in relapsing-remitting MS. In addition, we assessed whether priming these NSCs to become oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) by transient overexpression of Olig2 would further promote functional recovery, for example, by contributing to actual remyelination. Upon injection at the onset of the acute phase or the relapse phase of CREAE, NSCs as well as Olig2-NSCs directly migrated toward active lesions in the spinal cord as visualized by in vivo bioluminescence and biofluorescence imaging, and once in the spinal cord, the majority of Olig2-NSCs, in contrast to NSCs, differentiated into OPCs. The survival of Olig2-NSCs was significantly higher than that of injected control NSCs, which remained undifferentiated. Nevertheless, both Olig2-NSCs and NSC significantly reduced the clinical signs of acute and relapsing disease and, in case of Olig2-NSCs, even completely abrogated relapsing disease when administered early after onset of acute disease. We provide the first evidence that NSCs and in particular NSC-derived OPCs (Olig2-NSCs) ameliorate established chronic relapsing EAE in mice. Our experimental data in established neurological disease in mice indicate that such therapy may be effective in relapsing-remitting MS preventing chronic progressive disease.

In vivo imaging of DNA lipid nanocapsules after systemic administration in a melanoma mouse model

The biodistribution of intravenously injected DNA lipid nanocapsules (DNA LNCs), encapsulating pHSV-tk, was analysed by in vivo imaging on an orthotopic melanoma mouse model and by a subsequent treatment with ganciclovir (GCV), using the gene-directed enzyme prodrug therapy (GDEPT) approach. Luminescent melanoma cells, implanted subcutaneously in the right flank of the mice, allowed us to follow tumour growth and tumour localisation with in vivo bioluminescence imaging (BLI). In parallel, DNA LNCs or PEG DNA LNCs (DNA LNCs recovered with PEG 2000) encapsulating a fluorescent probe, DiD, allowed us to follow their biodistribution with in vivo biofluorescence imaging (BFI). The BF-images confirmed a prolonged circulation-time for PEG DNA LNCs as was previously observed on an ectotopic model of glioma; comparison with BL-images evidenced the colocalisation of PEG DNA LNCs and melanoma cells. After these promising results, treatment with PEG DNA LNCs and GCV on a few animals was performed and the treatment efficacy measured by BLI. The first results showed tumour growth reduction tendency and, once optimised, this therapy strategy could become a new option for melanoma treatment.

Bioimaging for the monitoring of thein vivodistribution of infused mesenchymal stem cells in a mouse model of the graft-versus-host reaction

Cell therapy using MSCs (mesenchymal stem cells) might be effective treatment for refractory GVHD (graft-versus-host disease). However, the fate and distribution of MSCs after transplantation remains unclear. In this study, an animal model was developed to monitor the dynamic distribution of MSCs in mice with GVHD. A GVHD mouse model was established by transplanting C57BL/6 donor bone marrow cells and C57BL/6 EGFP (enhanced green fluorescent protein) splenocytes into lethally irradiated BALB/c nude recipient mice. Donor MSCs were obtained from MHC-identical C57BL/6 RFP (red fluorescent protein) mice and infused into the recipient mice on the same transplantation day. In vivo movement of the donor splenocytes (EGFP) and MSCs (RFP) were evaluated by measuring the biofluorescence (IVIS-Xenogen system). Donor splenocytes and MSCs reached the lungs first, and then the gastrointestinal tract, lymph nodes and skin, in that order; the transit time and localization site of these cells were very similar. In the recipient mouse with GVHD, the number of detectable cells declined with time, as assessed by biofluorescence imaging and confirmed by RT (real-time)-PCR. This bioimaging system might be useful for preclinical testing and the design of therapeutic strategies for monitoring the dynamic distribution of MSCs with GVHD.

Use of biofluorescence imaging to compare the distribution of certolizumab pegol, adalimumab, and infliximab in the inflamed paws of mice with collagen-induced arthritis

Exposure to a drug at the site of inflammation may be an important consideration for the effective treatment of inflammatory disorders such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The purpose of this in vivo study was to identify a methodology to enable effective quantification of antibody-type reagents in normal and inflamed tissue by investigating the distribution of the tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) inhibitors, certolizumab pegol, adalimumab, and infliximab, in healthy and inflamed murine tissue using a novel non-invasive biofluorescence method. Certolizumab pegol, adalimumab, and infliximab were labeled with the low molecular weight dye alexa680. The agents were administered intravenously at a dose of 2 mg/kg in naïve DBA/1 mice and in DBA/1 mice with ongoing collagen-induced arthritis. Concentrations of the TNF inhibitors in the hind paws were measured using a Xenogen IVIS200 biofluorescence imager at multiple time points up to 26 h post-administration. In 2 independent experiments, the distribution of certolizumab pegol was compared with that of adalimumab and infliximab. Certolizumab pegol, adalimumab, and infliximab all distributed more effectively into inflamed tissue than non-inflamed tissue in this animal model of arthritis. However, the ratio of penetration of certolizumab pegol into inflamed arthritic paws compared with normal tissue was greater than that observed with adalimumab and infliximab. Furthermore, the duration of exposure in the inflamed versus normal tissue was more prolonged for certolizumab pegol than for both adalimumab and infliximab, and the accumulation of certolizumab pegol in diseased tissue was more responsive to the severity of inflammation when compared with adalimumab and infliximab. It is probable that these features of certolizumab pegol are conferred on the molecule by PEGylation. It is important to assess exposure to drug at the site of inflammation, because distinct structural features of certain agents may affect efficacy, tolerability, rapidity and/or sustainability of effect. The novel non-invasive biofluorescence method used in this study is an effective tool for comparing tissue penetration of therapeutic agents.

Certolizumab Pegol and Adalimumab Accumulation in the Inflammed Paws of Mice with Collagen-induced Arthritis Compared to Noninflammed Tissue In Vivo Biofluorescence Imaging of Alexa 680-labeled Antibodies

A κ-light chain from a Fab expression system was truncated by the insertion of a stop codon in the gene sequence to produce a variable light (VL) single domain antibody (dAb). Here, we describe the expression of dAb in the periplasm of Escherichia coli through fermentation in a defined media. Immunoglobulin binding domains from peptostreptococcal protein L (PpL) have been shown to bind specifically to κ-light chains. We have produced recombinant PpL, at high yield, and this was used to custom-produce PpL–Sepharose affinity columns. Here, we show that the affinity purification of VL dAb by this method is simple and efficient with no apparent loss in protein at any stage. The truncated dAb protein product was confirmed by electrospray mass spectrometry and N-terminal sequencing. When analyzed by SDS–PAGE it was shown to be over 95% pure and produced at yields of 35–65 mg/L of culture medium. The dAb protein produced was shown by NMR and CD to be a folded β-sheet domain. This domain is bound by PpL with a Kd of ∼50 nM as determined by stopped-flow fluorimetry.

Real time in vivo imaging and measurement of serine protease activity in the mouse hippocampus using a dedicated complementary metal-oxide semiconductor imaging device

The aim of the present study is to demonstrate the application of complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) imaging technology for studying the mouse brain. By using a dedicated CMOS image sensor, we have successfully imaged and measured brain serine protease activity in vivo, in real-time, and for an extended period of time. We have developed a biofluorescence imaging device by packaging the CMOS image sensor which enabled on-chip imaging configuration. In this configuration, no optics are required whereby an excitation filter is applied onto the sensor to replace the filter cube block found in conventional fluorescence microscopes. The fully packaged device measures 350 μm thick × 2.7 mm wide, consists of an array of 176 × 144 pixels, and is small enough for measurement inside a single hemisphere of the mouse brain, while still providing sufficient imaging resolution. In the experiment, intraperitoneally injected kainic acid induced upregulation of serine protease activity in the brain. These events were captured in real time by imaging and measuring the fluorescence from a fluorogenic substrate that detected this activity. The entire device, which weighs less than 1% of the body weight of the mouse, holds promise for studying freely moving animals.

On-chip biofluorescence imaging inside a brain tissue phantom using a CMOS image sensor for in vivo brain imaging verification

We have developed an on-chip biofluorescence imaging device by packaging a dedicated CMOS image sensor using a simple technique. By using on-chip imaging configuration, we have verified in vivo fluorescence imaging inside a specially developed brain tissue phantom that closely resembles the mammalian brain. In order to implement on-chip imaging, an excitation light filter is applied onto the chip. A transmittance of −44 dB is achieved by multiple coating of the filter. On-chip measurement of the AMC fluorophore shows that detection of concentration of 1 μM is possible. The phantom medium has mechanical rigidity and optical property similar to the mouse brain. Feasibility of imaging the released fluorophore inside the phantom sample is demonstrated. It is shown that light scattering in the phantom medium does not reduce the image resolution considerably, if the imaging depth is kept below 500 μm. The fully packaged chip, specially designed with this technique is about 350 μm thick and 2.7 mm wide. The image sensor pixel size of 7.5 μm × 7.5 μm is close to the size of a single neuron cell. Although the device is designed specially for in vivo imaging of the mouse hippocampus to study its neuronal activity, a wide range of applications are foreseen in the biomedical and pharmaceutical field.