targeted-toxins

Ammar AO (2024) Involvement of peptidergic Edinger-Westphal nucleus in the neurobiology of migraine and acute alcohol exposure. Univ Pecs Thesis.

Objective: To confirm the role of Edinger-Westphal nucleus/urocortin1 (EWcp/UCN1) neurons in migraine. They hypothesized that selective ablation of EWcp/UCN1 neurons will influence the migraine-related behaviors induced by CGRP.

Summary: Upon selective ablation of EWcp/UCN1 neurons, authors examined the migraine-related behaviors in response to calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) treatment. Leptin-SAP treatment significantly reduced the number of UCN1 immunoreactive neurons in the EWcp compared to naïve mice. Before ablation of EWcp/UCN1 neurons, CGRP treatment significantly reduced the periorbital withdrawal threshold compared to saline.

Usage: For selective UCN1 neuron ablation, 50 nl of Leptin-SAP was microinjected into the rostral and caudal parts of the EWcp area.

Related Products: Leptin-SAP (Cat. #IT-47)

Limonta P, Chiaramonte R, Casati L (2024) Unveiling the dynamic interplay between cancer stem cells and the tumor microenvironment in melanoma: Implications for novel therapeutic strategies. Cancers (Basel) 16(16):2861. doi: 10.3390/cancers16162861 PMID: 39199632

Objective: To review the bidirectional communication between melanoma cancer stem cells (CSCs) and the tumor microenvironment, highlighting its role in drug resistance and tumor relapse.

Summary: Melanoma CSCs evade immune surveillance and recruit immune cells with immunosuppressive and tumor-promoting properties, establishing a supportive microenvironment. They also transfer stemness and aggressive traits to neighboring non-CSCs, driving tumor progression and metastasis. Targeting these interactions may offer novel therapeutic strategies for combating melanoma.

Usage: This review publication highlights the usage of Anti-CD271-SAP and CD133-SAP in previous publications.

Related Products: ME20.4-SAP (Cat. #IT-15), Anti-CD133-SAP (Cat. #IT-82), Saporin (Cat. #PR-01)

See Also:

• Ngo M et al. Antibody therapy targeting CD47 and CD271 effectively suppresses melanoma metastasis in patient-derived xenografts. Cell Rep 16:1701-1716, 2016.
• Bostad M et al. Light-controlled endosomal escape of the novel CD133-targeting immunotoxin AC133-saporin by photochemical internalization – A minimally invasive cancer stem cell-targeting strategy. J Control Release 206:37-48, 2015.

Lusk S, Moushey AM, Li A, Ray R (2024) Exaggerated postnatal surge of orexin neurons and the effects of elimination of excess orexin on blood pressure and exaggerated chemoreflex in spontaneously hypertensive rats. Front Physiol 15:1341649. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2024.1341649 PMID: 39469444

Objective: To investigate whether an increase in postnatal neurogenesis of orexin (OX) neurons in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) precedes and contributes to elevated mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heightened responses to elevated CO2 (hypercapnia) during development.

Summary: Postnatal increase in OX neurons may be essential for the development of higher MAP and an exaggerated chemoreflex (the body’s response to CO2) in SHRs. Targeting the overactive OX system could provide a potential therapeutic strategy during the early stages of hypertension development.

Usage: Orexin-SAP (0.5 μL, 90 ng/μL) was injected into the hypothalamus to eliminate excess OX neurons and study their effect on elevated MAP and exaggerated chemoreflex responses in adult SHRs.

Related Products: Orexin-B-SAP (Cat. #IT-20)

Keilhoz A, Pathak I, Smith CL, Osman KL, Smith L, Oti G, Golzy M, Mz L, Lever TE, Nichols NL (2024) Tongue exercise ameliorates structural and functional upper airway deficits in a rodent model of hypoglossal motor neuron loss. Front Neurol 15:1441529. doi: 10.3389/fneur.2024.1441529 PMID: 39296960

Objective: To investigate the effects of a strength endurance tongue exercise program on upper airway structure and function.

Summary: Results showed that sham exercise-treated CTB-SAP rats have evidence of upper airway restriction (i.e., reduced airflow) and structural changes present in the upper airway (i.e., airway compression) when compared to rats treated with CTB-SAP and exercise and control rats with/without tongue exercise, which were ameliorated with tongue exercise. Additionally, CTB-SAP treated, sham exercise rats have evidence of increased lipid expression in the tongue consistent with previously observed tongue hypertrophy when compared to CTB-SAP treated exercise rats or control rats with/without tongue exercise.

Usage: Intralingual injection of either unconjugated CTB+SAP (20 μg CTB+25 μg SAP) or conjugated CTB-SAP (25 μg of CTB conjugated to SAP).

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

Guo SS, Gong Y, Zhang TT, Su XY, Wu YJ, Yan YX, Cao Y, Song XL, Xie JC, Wu D, Jiang Q, Li Y, Zhao X, Zhu MX, Xu TL, Liu MG (2024) A thalamic nucleus reuniens-lateral septum-lateral hypothalamus circuit for comorbid anxiety-like behaviors in chronic itch. Sci Adv 10(33):eadn6272. doi: 10.1126/sciadv.adn6272 PMID: 39150998

Objective: To investigate anxiety-like behaviors in mouse models of chronic itch and identify lateral septum (LS) GABAergic neurons as key mediators through thalamic and hypothalamic circuit interactions.

Summary: Chronic itch amplifies excitatory inputs from the thalamic nucleus reuniens to LS GABAergic neurons, promoting anxiety-like behaviors. Inhibiting the Re → LS circuit reduces anxiety related to chronic itch but not restraint stress, highlighting its specificity. LS GABAergic neurons suppress lateral hypothalamus activity to mediate chronic itch-induced anxiety, with Bombesin-SAP targeting spinal itch neurons to confirm this pathway’s role.

Usage: Mice were intrathecally injected with Bombesin-SAP (IT-40) (400 ng/5 μl). Blank-SAP (IT-21) (400 ng/5 μl) was administered similarly to a control.

Related Products: Bombesin-SAP (Cat. #IT-40), Blank-SAP (Cat. #IT-21)

Islam S, Gleber-Netto FO, Mulcahy CF, Glaun MDE, Srivastava S, Hunt PJ, Williams MD, Barbon CE, Spiotto M, Zhao W, Adebayo A, Akhter S, Xie T, Debnath KC, Sathishkumar HN, Myers B, Lothumalla S, Yama I, Burks JK, Gomez J, Rao X, Wang J, Woodman K, Mansour J, Arenkiel B, Osman KL, Haxton C, Lever TE, Hutcheson KA, Amit M (2024) Neural landscape is associated with functional outcomes in irradiated patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Sco Transl Med 16:eabq5585. doi: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abq558

Objective: To understand the correlation between neuronal changes and patient-reported and functional outcomes in patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC).

Summary: Tumor enrichment of adrenergic (TH+) and CGRP+ sensory–afferent nerves correlated with poorer swallowing outcomes. Functional electromyography recordings showed correlations between growing (GAP43+) and immature cholinergic (ChAT+DCX+) nerves and denervation patterns in survivors of OPSCC. A murine model of radiation-induced dysphagia further confirmed that immature cholinergic and CGRP+ nerves were correlated with impaired swallowing. The results suggest that CGRP+ and ChAT+ neuronal signaling play distinct roles in tumor- and radiation-induced dysphagia in OPSCC and offer a comprehensive dataset on the neural landscape of OPSCC.

Usage: 500 μg in 3 μl of alpha-CGRP-streptavidin-saporin (CGRP-SAP; #IT-94) and anti-ChAT-SAP (#IT-42) was stereotactically injected into the intraganglionic region over 3 min.

Related Products: CGRP-SAP (Cat. #IT-94), Anti-ChAT-SAP (Cat. #IT-42)

Kwok CHT, Harding EK, Burma NE, Markovic T, Massaly N, van den Hoogen NJ, Stokes-Heck S, Gambeta E, Komarek K, Yoon HJ, Navis KE, McAllister BB, Canet-Pons J, Fan C, Dalgarno R, Gorobets E, Papatzimas JW, Zhang Z, Kohro Y, Anderson CL, Thompson RJ, Derksen DJ, Morón JA, Zamponi GW, Trang T (2024) Pannexin-1 channel inhibition alleviates opioid withdrawal in rodents by modulating locus coeruleus to spinal cord circuitry. Nat Commun 15(1):6264. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-50657-7 PMID: 39048565

Objective: To show that pannexin-1 (Panx1) channels expressed on microglia critically modulate LC activity during opioid withdrawal.

Summary: The findings demonstrate that microglial Panx1 channels modulate LC noradrenergic circuitry during opioid withdrawal and reinstatement. Blocking Panx1 to dampen LC hyperexcitability may, therefore, provide a therapeutic strategy for alleviating the physical and aversive components of opioid withdrawal.

Usage: Mac-1-SAP (IT-06) was injected through the cannula (15 µg) for three consecutive days before systemic naloxone administration.

Related Products: Mac-1-SAP mouse/human (Cat. #IT-06)

Ciuro M, Sangiorgio M, Cacciato V, Cantone G, Fichera C, Salvatorelli L, Magro G, Leanza G, Vecchio M, Valle MS, Gulino R (2024) Mitigating the functional deficit after neurotoxic motoneuronal loss by an inhibitor of mitochondrial fission. Int J Mol Sci 25(13):7059. doi: 10.3390/ijms25137059 PMID: 39000168

Objective: To use the Cholera Toxin B-Saporin (CTB-SAP) mouse animal model of Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) to determine the efficacy of mitochondrial division inhibitor 1 (Mdivi-1) for its potential neuroprotective effect.

Summary: Mdivi-1 reduced motor deficits in the ALS model. It also showed neuroprotective effects on motoneurons and promoted plasticity. This could represent a translational approach for motoneuron disorders.

Usage: To establish the model, mice received two injections of the retrogradely transported, ribosome-inactivating toxin, CTB-SAP (Cat. #IT-14) into the medial and lateral right gastrocnemius muscles, respectively, with a toxin dose of 6 μg/2 μL in PBS per injection.

Related Products: CTB-SAP (Cat. #IT-14)

Meng XT, Song SY, Li Y, Peng S, Zhang LC (2024) Activation of alpha 2 adrenergic receptor of cerebrospinal fluid-contacting nucleus alleviates acute incision pain behavior in rats. Research Square doi: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4258857/v1

Objective: To study the effects of Dexmedetomidine (DEX) on pain modulation.

Summary: Dexmedetomidine is an alpha 2-adrenergic receptor agonist with sedative, analgesic, and anti-anxiety effects. DEX was analyzed for its effects using a pain neuron knockout model of rats created by ablation of cerebrospinal fluid contacting neurons in the lateral ventricles of rats. DEX inhibited the pain behavior of rats in a dose-dependent manner, and the analgesic effect of DEX was significantly attenuated in CSF-contacting nucleus “knockout” rats.

Usage: CTB-SAP [IT-14] (0.5 µg in 3 µL) was injected into the lateral ventricles (L.V.) of rats over 10 minutes.

Related Products: CTB-SAP (Cat. #IT-14)

Shivakumar AB, Mehak SF, Jijimon F, Gangadharan G (2024) Extra-hippocampal contributions to social memory: The role of septal nuclei. Biol Psychiatry 6:835-847. doi: 10.1016/j.biopsych.2024.04.018 PMID: 38718881

Objective: Review neural circuit mechanisms that underlie social memory, with a special emphasis on the septum.

Summary: Understanding the complexities of the septohippocampal axis will allow targeted therapies to be developed to improve social memory deficits and enhance overall cognitive function.

Usage: Medial septum lesions in rats with 192-IgG-SAP (IT-01).

Related Products: 192-IgG-SAP (Cat. #IT-01)

See Also:

• Vale-Martinez A et al. Selective lesions of basal forebrain cholinergic neurons produce anterograde and retrograde deficits in a social transmission of food preference task in rats. Eur J Neurosci 16(6):983-998, 2002.
• Berger-Sweeney J, Stearns NA, Frick KM, Beard B, Baxter MG (2000) Cholinergic basal forebrain is critical for social transmission of food preferences. Hippocampus 10(6):729-738. doi: 10.1002/1098-1063(2000)10:6<729::AID-HIPO1010>3.0.CO;2-M PMID: 11153718