References

Keilholz AN, Lopez S, Attari M, Nguyen NP, Henry J, Smith CL, Feldberg A, Osman KL, Golzy M, Bunyak F, Lever TE, Nichols NL (2026) Impact of tongue exercise on hypoglossal axis survival, structure, and output in a rodent model of hypoglossal motor neuron degeneration. J Neurophysiol doi: 10.1152/jn.00631.2024 PMID: 42012472

Objective: To investigate the effects of a high-repetition/low-resistance tongue exercise paradigm on XII axis survival, structure, and output in adult male Sprague Dawley rats.

Summary: Intralingual injections of CTB-SAP result in decreased XII motor neuron survival and degenerative changes in the XII nerve consistent with what is seen in many motor neuron diseases. While these deficits are not mitigated by tongue exercise, the authors observed increased microglial fractional area/density in the XII nucleus of CTB-SAP + exercise rats.

Usage: Rats received intralingual injection of either CTB-SAP (IT-14) or unconjugated CTB + SAP (PR-01).

Related Products: CTB-SAP (Cat. #IT-14), Saporin (Cat. #PR-01)

Yao Z, Shi Z, Hu P, Wang C, Wang H (2026) Visualization of endosomal escape of intracellularly delivered protein with unexpected photochemical internalization of trypan blue. Adv Sci (Weinh) e16456. doi: 10.1002/advs.202516456 PMID: 41961480

Objective: To demonstrate trypan blue as a simple yet powerful tool for advancing intracellular protein delivery and tracking.

Summary: Upon 590 nm light irradiation, trypan blue (TB) acts as a photosensitizer, triggering photochemical internalization (PCI) that promotes endosomal escape and protein release into the cytosol, accompanied by recovery of GFP fluorescence. This TB-mediated PCI not only enhances delivery efficiency but also allows real-time visualization of protein binding and release.

Usage: 143B cells were treated with Saporin, M2/Saporin, and M2/TB/Saporin at different Saporin concentrations, with or without light irradiation.

Related Products: Saporin (Cat. #PR-01)

Babatunde OO, Bibby MG, Atala A, Almeida-Porada G, Porada CD (2026) In utero HSC transplantation for sickle cell disease: A potential therapeutic approach that overcomes complications of current therapies. Prenat Diagn doi: 10.1002/pd.70142 PMID: 41936060

Objective: To examine current evidence and recent advances for treatment of sickle cell disease (SCD).

Summary: Biotinylated anti‐c‐kit/CD117 mAb coupled to a streptavidin‐conjugated saporin has been used to selectively deplete host HSC while preserving the host’s immune system. A single intravenous dose of the anti‐CD45‐saporin ADC enabled > 90% donor (congenic) hematopoietic engraftment and full correction of the SCD phenotype.

Related Products: Anti-CD117-SAP (Cat. #IT-83), Streptavidin-ZAP (Cat. #IT-27), Anti-CD45.2-SAP (Cat. #IT-91)

Serambeque B, Dias I, Mestre C, Marto CM, Botelho MF, Carvalho MJ, Laranjo M (2026) Photodynamic therapy-based strategies targeted at cancer stem cells: A scoping review. Cancers (Basel) 18(7):1162. doi: 10.3390/cancers18071162 PMID: 41976384

Objective: To examine strategies for targeting cancer stem cells using photodynamic therapy.

Summary: Photochemical internalization (PCI) is a widely adopted approach for targeting surface markers on cancer stem cells. Anti-CD133-SAP was evaluated in colorectal cancer, breast cancer, and melanoma. In CD133high colorectal cancer cells (WiDr), PCI with picomolar concentrations of AC133–saporin completely inhibited viability and colony formation, with no toxicity observed in the absence of light activation. Similar efficacy was observed in CD133+ breast (MDa-MB-231) and CD133high melanoma cells (FMEX-1) but not in CD133− breast cancer cells (MCF7), confirming target specificity. A similar strategy was employed to target CD44 in human cancer cell lines.

Related Products: Anti-CD133-SAP (Cat. #IT-82), Anti-CD44-SAP (Cat. #IT-72), Streptavidin-ZAP (Cat. #IT-27)

Cox TO, Devason AS, de Araujo A, Mason S, Subramanian M, Salvador AFM, Descamps HC, Kim J, Zhu Y, Litichevskiy L, Jung S, Song WS, Cortés-Martín A, Henderson NT, Huang KP, Nguyen T, Sae-Lee W, Umana IC, Sacta M, Rahman RJ, Wisser S, Nelson JAD, Golynker I, McSween AM, Hohmann EF, Patel S, Bub AL, Soekler C, Blank N, Hoxha K, Boccia L, Wong AC, Bahnsen K, Kim J, Biderman N, Abbasian D, Shoffler C, Petucci C, McAllister FE, Alhadeff AL, Fuccillo MV, Hill C, Jang C, Betley JN, de Lartigue G, Lee VY, Levy M, Thaiss CA (2026) Intestinal interoceptive dysfunction drives age-associated cognitive decline. Nature 652(8109):442-450. doi: 10.1038/s41586-026-10191-6 PMID: 41813891

Objective: To identify a mechanism by which inhibition of gut–brain signalling during ageing results in impaired neuronal activation in the hippocampus and loss of memory encoding.

Summary: The gastrointestinal microbiome has recently emerged as an important factor in the regulation of cognition and has been implicated as a modifiable peripheral signal that may contribute to age-associated memory loss. However, the circuits by which gut microbial signals are transmitted to the brain to modulate memory remain largely unclear. The authors evaluated CCKAR+ neurons to determine their role in cognitive decline.

Usage: CCK–SAP (IT-31) or Blank-SAP (IT-21) was injected (125 ng in 0.5 μl per ganglion).

Related Products: CCK-SAP (Cat. #IT-31), Blank-SAP (Cat. #IT-21)

Cardani S, Janes TA, Asif R, Pagliardini S (2026) Sex differences in the effects of etonogestrel on respiratory recovery in an in vivo rat model of central chemoreflex impairment. Acta Physiol (Oxf) 242(4):e70194. doi: 10.1111/apha.70194 PMID: 41823358

Objective: Chronic etonogestrel (ETO) treatment improved the CO2 chemoreflex in female rats in which <80% of chemoreceptor neurons comprising the retrotrapezoid nucleus (RTN) were eliminated. Since the progesterone receptor is widely expressed in both the male and female brain, authors investigated the effects of ETO on respiratory recovery.

Summary: Authors used SSP-SAP to partially eliminate RTN neurons. Dose-dependent impairment of the CO2 chemoreflex in both sexes following chemoreceptor lesion corroborates the findings that ETO treatment restores ventilation in female rats with moderate-sized lesions.

Usage: Four microinjections (150 nL per injection) were made with Substance P-conjugated saporin toxin (SSP-SAP, IT-11) and fluorescent carboxylate-modified Fluospheres TM to label injection sites.

Related Products: SSP-SAP (Cat. #IT-11)

Kozlíková M, Aukrust IKF, Rohlíčková M, Macháček M, Berg K, Weyergang A, Selbo PK (2026) Photochemical enhancement of PD-L1-SAP immunotoxin efficacy in non-small cell lung cancer cell lines. Front Immunol 17:1750003. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2026.1750003 PMID: 41909645

Objective: To investigate photochemical internalization (PCI), a light–controlled endosomal escape technology, as a strategy to enhance intracellular delivery and efficacy of a PD–L1–targeted immunotoxin (anti–PD–L1–SAP).

Summary: Non–small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines with high (NCI–H1975) and low (A549) PD–L1 expression were subjected to PCI, resulting in a pronounced increase in cytotoxicity with picomolar potency (30 pM), while A549 cells required a higher dose (1000 pM) for a similar effect. PCI enhances delivery and activity of PD–L1–targeted biologics and may help overcome resistance mechanisms. Overall, PCI expands the therapeutic window of PD–L1–targeted immunotoxins and may complement current immunotherapies, supporting further preclinical evaluation in NSCLC.

Usage: Cells were then incubated with TPCS2a and anti-PD-L1-SAP (IT-45) for 18 h. The concentration of anti-PD-L1-SAP was 30, 100 and 1000 pM for NCI-H1975 cell line and 1000 pM for A549 cell line. BIgG-SAP (IT-74) was used as control.

Related Products: Anti-PD-L1-SAP (Cat. #IT-45), BIgG-SAP Mouse (Cat. #IT-74)

Lim-Paik C, Zeng Q, Beyea R, Boohaker R, Wang P (2026) Improving cytotoxicity of saporin with saponin SO1406 isolated from the roots of saponaria officinalis. Biomedicines 14(3):626. doi: 10.3390/biomedicines14030626

Objective: To identify structurally defined novel natural saponins and evaluate their ability to enhance anticancer cytotoxicity.

Summary: Saponins have recently emerged as promising natural products that enhance toxin-based anticancer therapeutics by improving cytosol uptake. Among the isolated compounds, SO1684 is a known saponin and SO1406 exhibited the most pronounced biological activity, significantly enhancing the cytotoxicity of the ribosome-inactivating protein saporin in the MDA-MB231 (triple-negative breast cancer) cell line.

Usage: Cells were treated with 50 mL of saporin

Related Products: Saporin (Cat. #PR-01)

Chen J, Xu T, Zhang C, Li L, He Y, Sun Z, He J, Yao Z, Cai P, Huang Y, Ye F, Guo W, Jia M, Qu J, Chen JF, Zhang Y (2026) 40 Hz light flickering alleviates chronic pain via adenosine signaling in the retina-amygdala pathway. Cell Res doi: 10.1038/s41422-026-01227-7 PMID: 41781500

Objective: To demonstrate the multifaceted therapeutic benefits of 40 Hz light flickering as a novel non-invasive approach for pain management and reveal a distinct retina-central amygdala circuit and adenosine signaling mechanism for control of chronic pain and pain memory

Summary: The authors examined the role of intrinsically photosensitive RGCs (ipRGCs). To selectively ablate ipRGCs, melanopsin-SAP was bilaterally injected into the vitreous humor. Treated mice displayed no significant change in baseline paw withdrawal threshold. Importantly, the antinociceptive effects of 40 Hz light flickering remained intact in both CFA and SNI models, despite ablation of ipRGCs. These results indicate that ipRGCs are not essential for the analgesia induced by 40 Hz light flickering.

Usage: Melanopsin-SAP (IT-44)) was bilaterally injected into the vitreous humor.

Related Products: Melanopsin-SAP (Cat. #IT-44)

Xiang H, Mortenson GP, Lang SB, Jakkaraju S, Chirala A, Zhu Y, Jia M, Wen J, Chen Y, Baghela A, Chen YC, Sze MA, Hegde LG, Zhang-Hoover J, Willingham A, Handa M, Chi A, Baltus GA, Kamath RV, Levesque M, Vollmann EH (2026) uPAR-targeting cytotoxic antibody–drug conjugates selectively deplete proinflammatory myeloid cells for autoimmune indications. Cells 15(9):803. doi: 10.3390/cells15090803

Objective: To explore uPAR as a cell-surface marker to target and eliminate proinflammatory monocytes and macrophages using antibody–drug conjugates (ADCs).

Summary: Using recent scRNA-seq findings from RA patients, the authors identified the urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR), encoded by PLAUR, as a highly expressed cell surface marker on an inflammation-associated IL1B+ proinflammatory myeloid subset. an anti-uPAR mAb conjugated with monomethyl auristatin F (MMAF) was employed to demonstrate selective depletion of uPARhigh-expressing macrophages in a myeloid-rich rodent model.

Usage: Fab-ZAP rat (IT-55) was used to test the internalization capacity of anti-mouse uPAR mAbs. Saporin and Fab-IgG-ZAP were used as control.

Related Products: Fab-ZAP rat (Cat. #IT-55), Fab IgG-SAP (Cat. #IT-67), Saporin (Cat. #PR-01)