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The combinational use of CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing and targeted toxin technology enables efficient biallelic knockout of the α-1,3-galactosyltransferase gene in porcine embryonic fibroblasts.
Sato M, Miyoshi K, Nagao Y, Nishi Y, Ohtsuka M, Nakamura S, Sakurai T, Watanabe S (2014) The combinational use of CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing and targeted toxin technology enables efficient biallelic knockout of the α-1,3-galactosyltransferase gene in porcine embryonic fibroblasts. Xenotransplantation 21:291-300. doi: 10.1111/xen.12089
Summary: Results indicate that a combination of the CRISPR/Cas9 system and targeted toxin technology using IB4-SAP allows efficient enrichment of genome-edited clones, particularly bi-allelic KO clones.
Usage: Cells were trypsinized 3 days after transfection and approximately 80% were incubated for 30 min at 37°C in a solution (25 mcL) containing 0.5–1.0 mcg IB4-SAP.
Related Products: IB4-SAP (Cat. #IT-10)
IB4(+) and TRPV1(+) sensory neurons mediate pain but not proliferation in a mouse model of squamous cell carcinoma.
Ye Y, Bae S, Viet CT, Troob S, Bernabe D, Schmidt BL (2014) IB4(+) and TRPV1(+) sensory neurons mediate pain but not proliferation in a mouse model of squamous cell carcinoma. Behav Brain Funct 10(1):5. doi: 10.1186/1744-9081-10-5
Objective: To evaluate subtypes of sensory neurons involved in cancer pain and proliferation.
Summary: IB4(+) neurons play an important role in cancer-induced mechanical allodynia, while TRPV1 mediates cancer-induced thermal hyperalgesia. Characterization of the sensory fiber subtypes responsible for cancer pain could lead to the development of targeted therapeutics.
Usage: IB4(+) neurons play an important role in cancer-induced mechanical allodynia, while TRPV1 mediates cancer-induced thermal hyperalgesia. Characterization of the sensory fiber subtypes responsible for cancer pain could lead to the development of targeted therapeutics.
Related Products: IB4-SAP (Cat. #IT-10), Saporin (Cat. #PR-01)
Role of nonpeptidergic subset of primary afferent neurons in inflammatory hypernociception in mice.
Pinto LG, Souza GR, Lopes AHP, Talbot J, Cunha FQ, Cunha TM, Ferreira SH (2013) Role of nonpeptidergic subset of primary afferent neurons in inflammatory hypernociception in mice. Neuroscience 2013 Abstracts 256.15. Society for Neuroscience, San Diego, CA.
Summary: Sensory information is transmitted from the periphery to the spinal cord by distinct subsets of primary afferent neurons, including small diameter unmyelinated C-fibers, which plays an important role in detecting noxious stimuli. C-fiber nociceptors have been divided into two classes, the peptidergic and nonpeptidergic. While many of the differences between peptidergic and nonpeptidergic neurons are now appreciated, a possible functional difference between these two classes of C fibers in the genesis of acute nociception as well as inflammatory pain is still unclear. Thus, this study aims to clarify the role of nonpeptidergic C fibers in acute nociception induced by mechanical, thermal and chemical stimuli as well as in inflammatory hypernociception. In order to elucidate differences between these two classes of C fibers, a neurotoxin was used to selectively eliminate the nonpeptidergic C fibers: a saporin conjugated to isolectin B4 (IB4). Nociceptive threshold was evaluated through thermal (Hargreaves) and mechanical (filaments and electronic von Frey) tests in C57BL/6 mice. Nociception models were induced by intraplantar (i.pl.) injection of capsaicin and formalin (acute nociception) or by i.pl. administration of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), epinephrine, endothelin, NGF, GDNF and carrageenan (inflammatory hypernociception). P2X3 and TRPV1 expression were analyzed by Western blot of dorsal root ganglion (DRG). The expression of IB4-labeled in spinal cord was determined by immunofluorescense using confocal microcopy. Firstly, it was observed that the intrathecal administration of IB4-saporin did not change baseline thermal and mechanical nociceptive threshold of the mice paw when compared to saline and saporin-control groups. The intrathecal administration of IB4-saporin reduced mechanical inflammatory hypernociception induced by carrageenan, epinephrine, endothelin, PGE2 or GDNF, but not NGF, in mice. Similarly, the treatment with IB4-saporin inhibited the nociception caused by intraplantar injection of the capsaicin. By contrast, the acute nociception induced by formalin did not change by administration of IB4-saporin. In addition, the expression of TRPV1 and P2X3 in DRG were reduced after treatment with IB4-saporin. Consistent with these findings, we found that IB4-saporin injection decreased the expression of IB4-labeled in spinal cord. These results suggest that absence the nonpeptidergic C fibers does not affect basal nociceptive threshold. However, these fibers are essential for the development of nociception in the paw of mice induced by inflammatory stimuli like PGE2, epinephrine, endothelin, carrageenan and capsaicin.
Related Products: IB4-SAP (Cat. #IT-10)
Targeted toxin-based selectable drug-free enrichment of Mammalian cells with high transgene expression.
Sato M, Akasaka E, Saitoh I, Ohtsuka M, Nakamura S, Sakurai T, Watanabe S (2013) Targeted toxin-based selectable drug-free enrichment of Mammalian cells with high transgene expression. Biology (Basel) 2:341-355. doi: 10.3390/biology2010341
Summary: Cell transfection is a powerful tool for evaluation of function and expression of newly discovered genes as well as for both small and large scale eukaryotic expression of proteins. Most transfection strategies require a selection agent to eliminate cells that do not internalize the plasmid containing the gene of interest. Subsequent maintenance of the tranfected cells requires the presence of the selection agent, and the expression levels of the gene of interest have to be evaluated on a cell by cell basis. In this work the authors designed a system utilizing 50 μg/ml rIB4-SAP (Cat. #IT-10) to eliminate non-transfected cells and select for strong expression of the gene of interest. The data demonstrate that this technique will generate stable transfected cells that express the gene of interest at high levels.
Related Products: IB4-SAP (Cat. #IT-10)
IB4 (+) neurons contribute to force-induced cancer pain but not cancer proliferation
Ye Y, Viet CT, Dang D, Schmidt BL (2012) IB4 (+) neurons contribute to force-induced cancer pain but not cancer proliferation. Neuroscience 2012 Abstracts 67.10. Society for Neuroscience, New Orleans, LA.
Summary: The primary treatment for cancer pain is μ-opiates; however, often μ-opiates are not effective and they produce multiple debilitating side effects. Recent studies show that μ- and δ-opioid receptors are separately expressed on IB4 (-) and IB4 (+) neurons, which mediate thermal and mechanical pain, respectively. We investigated the contribution of IB4 (+) and IB4 (-) neurons to cancer-induced mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity and investigated the role of these fibers to cancer proliferation. We used two separate mouse cancer pain models: 1) a cancer supernatant injection model, and 2) an orthotopic cancer model. The former model isolated the effect of the cancer secretome while the latter examined the effect of the following constituents within the cancer microenvironment: the cancer, the cancer secretome and the host tissue. Using the cancer supernatant model, along with injection of a selective δ-opioid receptor agonist and a P2X3 antagonist to target IB4 (+) neurons, we showed that IB4 (+) neurons played arole in cancer-supernatant-induced mechanical allodynia, but not thermal hyperalgesia. Selective ablation of IB4 (+) neurons in the spinal cord using IB4-saporin affected cancer-supernatant-induced mechanical but not thermal hypersensitivity. In the orthotopic cancer model, mice with paw cancer exhibited both mechanical and thermal hypersensitivity. Selective ablation of IB4(+) neurons decreased mechanical hypersensitivity; however thermal hypersensitivity was increased. We hypothesized that increased thermal hyperalgesia was associated with a compensatory elevation of TRPV1 expression in the spinal cord. Thermal latency in the mouse cancer paw was increased by intrathecal TRPV1 antagonist and selective removal of TRPV1 terminals by capsaicin in the IB4-saporin treated mice compared to saporin treated mice. Mechanical threshold was not affected by either the TRPV1 antagonist or capsaicin treatment. In the spinal cord, TRPV1 protein levels were increased in cancer mice compared to naïve mice, and TRPV1 was likely to be increased in the IB4-saporin treated cancer mice compared to saporin treated cancer mice. We investigated cancer proliferation by measuring tumor volume. Tumor volume was not affected by selective ablation of IB4 (+) neurons. Our findings suggest that peripherally administered pharmacological agents targeting IB4 (+) neurons, such as a selective δ-opioid receptor agonist or P2X3 antagonist, might be effective for treating cancer pain in patients. Acknowledgements: Supported by NIH/NIDCR R21 DE018561
Related Products: IB4-SAP (Cat. #IT-10)
IB4(+) nociceptors mediate persistent muscle pain induced by GDNF.
Alvarez P, Chen X, Bogen O, Green PG, Levine JD (2012) IB4(+) nociceptors mediate persistent muscle pain induced by GDNF. J Neurophysiol 108(9):2545-2553. doi: 10.1152/jn.00576.2012
Summary: GDNF is found in skeletal muscle and can trigger mechanical hyperalgesia. The authors administered a 3.2-μg intrathecal dose of IB4-SAP (Cat. #IT-10) to rats. Loss of the IB4(+) nociceptors led to decreased hyperalgesic priming as well as a reduction in GDNF-induced hyperalgesia. These data indicate that GDNF plays a role in mediating induction of pain.
Related Products: IB4-SAP (Cat. #IT-10)
Consequences of the ablation of nonpeptidergic afferents in an animal model of trigeminal neuropathic pain.
Taylor AM, Osikowicz M, Ribeiro-da-Silva A (2012) Consequences of the ablation of nonpeptidergic afferents in an animal model of trigeminal neuropathic pain. Pain 153(6):1311-1319. doi: 10.1016/j.pain.2012.03.023
Summary: The authors used IB4-SAP (Cat. #IT-10; 3.2 μg injected into the mental nerve) to eliminate C-fibers in the lower lip of rats to see if this was enough to induce the sprouting of autonomic fibers. Saporin alone (Cat. #PR-01) was used as a control. Only parasympathetic fibers sprouted in these animals, but after nerve ligation surgery both sympathetic and parasympathetic fibers sprouted.
Related Products: IB4-SAP (Cat. #IT-10), Saporin (Cat. #PR-01)
Analgesia targeting IB4-positive neurons in cancer-induced mechanical hypersensitivity.
Ye Y, Dang D, Viet CT, Dolan JC, Schmidt BL (2012) Analgesia targeting IB4-positive neurons in cancer-induced mechanical hypersensitivity. J Pain 13(6):524-531. doi: 10.1016/j.jpain.2012.01.006
Summary: DOR (δ opioid receptor) agonists produce minimal side effects and do not lead to tolerance, making them potential alternatives to the widely used μ opioid receptor agonists. Utilizing the fact that DOR’s are expressed by IB4-positive neurons, the authors injected the subarachnoid space between the L4 and L5 vertebrae of rats with 2.4 μg of IB4-SAP (Cat. #IT-10). 3 μg of saporin (Cat. #PR-01) was used as a control. The results indicate that pharmacological agents targeting IB4-positive neurons may have use in cancer pain treatment.
Related Products: IB4-SAP (Cat. #IT-10), Saporin (Cat. #PR-01)
IB4-saporin attenuates acute and eliminates chronic muscle pain in the rat.
Alvarez P, Gear RW, Green PG, Levine JD (2012) IB4-saporin attenuates acute and eliminates chronic muscle pain in the rat. Exp Neurol 233(2):859-865. doi: 10.1016/j.expneurol.2011.12.019
Summary: In order to clarify the roles of isolectin B4-positive and IB4-negative nociceptors in inflammatory and ergonomic muscle pain, the authors administered 3.2 µg of IB4-SAP (Cat. #IT-10) into the intrathecal space of rats. Although the baseline mechanical nociceptive threshold was not affected in the lesioned animals, mechanical hyperalgesia had a shorter duration. In the ergonomic models peak hyperalgesia was attenuated, and prolongation of PGE2-induced mechanical hyperalgesia was completely prevented.
Related Products: IB4-SAP (Cat. #IT-10)
Consequences of the ablation of non-peptidergic nociceptive fibers on neurokinin-1 receptor expression by spinal lamina I neurons
Saeed AW, Ribeiro-Da-Silva A (2011) Consequences of the ablation of non-peptidergic nociceptive fibers on neurokinin-1 receptor expression by spinal lamina I neurons. Neuroscience 2011 Abstracts 804.21. Society for Neuroscience, Washington, DC.
Summary: Spinal dorsal horn lamina I projection neurons expressing the neurokinin-1 receptor (NK-1r) are important in relaying pain-related information from the periphery to the brain. These lamina I neurons have been classified, based on their morphological and physiological properties, into three types: fusiform, multipolar and pyramidal. Of these cell types, pyramidal neurons seldom express the NK-1r and are non-nociceptive. Previously, our laboratory has demonstrated in a cuff model of chronic constriction injury a de novo expression of NK-1r by pyramidal neurons, starting at the same time as the mechanical allodynia. We have also observed a similar de novo expression of NK-1r by pyramidal neurons in an animal model of arthritis. In the current study, we investigated whether the cytotoxic ablation of the non-peptidergic, isolectin B4 (IB4)-binding subpopulation of nociceptive primary afferents led to changes in NK-1r expression by the different lamina I cell types. We injected IB4 conjugated to saporin (SAP) into the left sciatic nerve of anesthetized male Sprague Dawley rats to specifically lesion IB4-positive non-peptidergic nociceptive C-fibers. Cholera toxin subunit B (CTB) was injected into the parabrachial nucleus to label lamina I projection neurons. Animals were tested for thermal and mechanical sensitivity and sacrificed from 2 weeks to 2 months post-lesion. We cut horizontal sections of spinal segments L4 and L5 and processed the tissue for IB4 binding and NK-1r and CTB immunoreactivities using immunofluorescence. IB4-SAP treated animals showed no behavioral changes compared to sham animals when tested for thermal (Hargreaves test), mechanical allodynia (von Frey test) or mechanical hyperalgesia (pin prick test) at any of the time points studied. Compared to the contralateral side and the sham group, lamina I projection neurons in the IB4-SAP treated group revealed an ipsilateral increase in the expression of NK-1r by the fusiform and multipolar neuronal populations. Nonetheless, there was no significant change in the percentage of pyramidal neurons which expressed NK-1r, which remained very low on the ipsilateral side of the IB4-SAP treated group. From these results, we infer that a loss of non-peptidergic afferents does not induce a phenotypic switch in the pyramidal neurons. However, the increase in NK-1r immunoreactivity in lamina I fusiform and multipolar neurons suggests that these cell populations may be important in maintaining the nociceptive responses in the absence of the IB4-positive non-peptidergic afferents. Finally, we suggest that a chronic pain state may be required for the de novo expression of NK-1r by pyramidal neurons.
Related Products: IB4-SAP (Cat. #IT-10)