Alampi MM, Kozlíková M, Mariangeli M, Civita S, Delcanale P, Mussini A, Diaspro A, Bianchini P, Weyergang A, Skarpen E, Berg K, Viappiani C, Abbruzzetti S, Selbo PK (2025) Light-enhanced cytotoxicity and intracellular trafficking of the PD-L1-targeting photoimmunoconjugate EITC-atezolizumab. Biomed Pharmacother 191:118550. doi: 10.1016/j.biopha.2025.118550 PMID: 40946581
Objective: To optimize the cytotoxic efficacy of a photoimmunoconjugate of eosin-5-isothiocyanate and atezolizumab (EITC-atezolizumab) in NSCLC cells; To study the uptake and intracellular transport of atezolizumab; and to evaluate EITC-atezolizumab as a candidate for photochemical internalization (PCI) of the ribosome-inactivating protein gelonin.
Summary: This is the first documentation demonstrating that atezolizumab is transported to CD63-positive organelles, thereby enhancing our understanding of its intracellular trafficking. The study also strengthens the concept of Photoimmunotherapy (PIT) and atezolizumab-based targeting of PD-L1+NSCLCs.
Usage: The cytotoxic efficacy of the PD-L1-targeting immunotoxin (Anti-PD-L1-SAP) was strongly enhanced in PD-L1-positive breast cancer cells by photochemical internalization (PCI),a low-dose, Photodynamictherapy (PDT)-based intracellular drug delivery method.
Hor CC (2025) The dual nature of cold: Unraveling the neural circuits for cool sensing and cold allodynia. Univ Michigan
Objective: To elucidate the neural mechanisms underlying innocuous cool sensation from the skin to the brain and the spinal circuitry changes that drive cold allodynia under pathological conditions.
Summary: The study identified distinct spinal interneuron populations mediating innocuous cool sensation (Trhr⁺ neurons) and cold allodynia (Tac1⁺/Calb1⁺ neurons). Ablation of these neurons demonstrated their modality-specific contributions, with Trhr⁺ interneurons responsible for cool detection and Tac1⁺/Calb1⁺ neurons for pathological cold hypersensitivity, revealing a spinal circuit basis for temperature discrimination and pain plasticity.
Usage: Bombesin-SAP (IT-40) or Blank-SAP (IT-21) was administered intrathecally at a single dose of 400 ng in 10 µL sterile saline to ablate spinal GRPR⁺ neurons involved in thermal and itch processing.
Lipari NR (2025) Investigating anxiety-like behaviors and basolateral amygdala dysfunction in a novel rat model of Parkinson’s disease. SUNY Binghamton Thesis.
Objective: To create a unique model of PD with improved face validity, and non-motor symptoms.
Summary: This work helped further characterize motor and non-motor symptoms while providing potential underlying physiological markers for early disease course in a unique animal model of Parkinson’s disease (PD).
Usage: It has been demonstrated that lesioning of the basolateral amygdala with the targeted toxin stable substance P (SSP) saporin, a toxin that selectively lesions neurons which express neurokinin1 receptors, increases anxiety-like behaviors in rats.
Handfield J (2025) Focal irradiation regulates distal neural stem and progenitor cell behaviour. Univ Toronto Thesis.
Objective: To investigate how focal irradiation (IR) impacts non-irradiated neural stem cell (NSC) niches along the neuraxis and whether microglia mediate these long-distance effects.
Summary: Focal cranial IR decreased spinal cord-derived NSCs, while spinal IR reduced neuroblasts and NSCs in the forebrain. Microglia ablation did not rescue these effects, suggesting IR alters NSC behavior along the neuraxis independently of microglia.
Usage: Mac-1-SAP (CD11b, Cat. #IT-06) was cited as a method previously used for microglia ablation.
Diamantoudis SC, Miliotou AN, Galatou E, Telliou S, Sideris K, Grigoriadis N, Vizirianakis IS (2025) Assessing the hematological cancer stem cell landscape to improve immunotherapy clinical decisions. Biocell doi: 10.32604/biocell.2025.067216
Objective: To combine existing information and clinical evidence to assess and bring to the spotlight targets related to Hematological cancer stem cells (HCSCs) that can be considered for the improvement of therapeutic interventions.
Summary: Targeting HCSCs represents one of the most promising advances toward achieving lasting remission and potential cure in hematologic malignancies. Next-generation immunotherapies—enabled by advances in molecular profiling, synthetic biology, and systems immunology—can shift the paradigm in blood cancers by overcoming current limitations.
Usage: CD117-ADC (carrying streptavidin–saporin) has shown dose-dependent results in mice, with a range from 0.3–1.5 mg/kg, as depletion of stem cells was noted with the subsequent successful engraftment of allogenic transplants.
Yuan M, Zhang L, Zhu H, Xie M (2025) Alteration of BDNF and noradrenergic markers in locus coeruleus in a mouse model of cancer-induced bone pain. PLoS One 20(8):e0330207. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0330207 PMID: 40811566
Objective: To examine the expression and localization of BDNF and NE neuron-specific proteins in the locus coeruleus (LC) of mice with cancer-induced bone pain (CIBP).
Summary: CIBP mice exhibited enhanced neuronal activity in the LC, upregulation of noradrenergic markers, and BDNF/TrkB-mediated modulation of noradrenergic neurons. Concurrently, inhibitory signalling was attenuated in the spinal dorsal horn (SDH).
Usage: Selective ablation of noradrenergic neurons via intracerebroventricular anti-DBH-SAP (IT-03) administration reduces mechanical and cold allodynia, suggesting that LC-spinal cord pathway activity is critical for pain modulation.
Noh M, Corrigan KA, Williams SG, Peirs C, Leone MJ, Headrick DJ, Guvercin M, Lee S, Phan BN, Yeramosu D, Babu S, Brown AR, Van De Weerd R, Zhao X, Dunn RP, Mathys H, Pfenning AR, Seal RP (2025) A molecular and spinal circuit basis for the functional segregation of itch and pain. bioRxiv 2025.07.31.667966. doi: 10.1101/2025.07.31.667966
Objective: To define how distinct subtypes of Grpr⁺ dorsal horn neurons contribute to itch and pain processing and to demonstrate the utility of genomic enhancer-based strategies for modality-specific targeting.
Summary: The study revealed two functionally distinct Grpr⁺ neuron subtypes: Tac1⁻ neurons mediate itch, while Tac1⁺ neurons mediate mechanical allodynia. Selective silencing or ablation of each subtype modulated only its respective sensory behavior, illustrating clear modality segregation within the dorsal horn circuitry.
Usage: Bombesin-SAP (IT-40) or Blank-SAP (IT-21) was administered intrathecally (300 ng) to selectively ablate Grpr⁺ neurons
Windhorst U, Dibaj P (2025) Nociception and acute pain: Neurotransmitters and neuromodulators. Preprints.org preprints202508.0487.v1. doi: 10.20944/preprints202508.0487.v1
Objective: To review the huge variety of additional neurotransmitters, neuromodulators and hormones in the nociceptive and pain system
Summary: Nociception and acute pain are governed by a dynamic interplay of structures and substances, modulated by internal and external factors, and vulnerable to pathological reorganization.
Usage: The injection of anti‐DBH‐SAP induced neurodegeneration restricted to the NA A5 cell group and confirmed by the decrease in the number of NA neurons only in the A5 group.
Nie AA, Taylor BK (2025) The pharmacotherapeutic potential of neuropeptide Y for chronic pain. J Intern Med doi: 10.1111/joim.20118 PMID: 40754889
Objective: To evaluate how neuropeptide Y (NPY) and its receptor subtypes (Y1 and Y2) regulate acute and chronic pain, and to explore the therapeutic potential of targeting these pathways for the treatment of neuropathic and inflammatory pain.
Summary: The review highlights that spinal Y1-interneurons contribute to both sensory and affective components of chronic pain and that Y1 receptor activation can inhibit pronociceptive signaling. Prior studies using NPY-SAP demonstrated that ablation of Y1-expressing neurons reduces hypersensitivity in models of nerve injury and inflammation, supporting Y1 modulation as a therapeutic avenue.
Usage: NPY-SAP (IT-28) was referenced in the context of earlier studies employing intrathecal administration to ablate spinal Y1-interneurons.
Pandala N, De Melo Haefeli L, Lang M, Stone EM, Mullins RF, Tucker BA, Han IC (2025) Development of a targeted choroidal injury model for the study of retinal degenerations and therapeutic cell replacement. bioRxiv 2025.07.29.667466. doi: 10.1101/2025.07.29.667466
Objective: To report a new targeted choroidal injury model using saporin conjugates and compare them to models of systemic sodium iodate administration.
Summary: Suprachoroidal administration of Anti-CD38-SAP or Anti-CD105-SAP resulted in severe choroidal vascular injury localized to the injection site, without damage to adjacent choroidal vasculature, progressive injury over time, or development of choroidal neovascularization. By contrast, sodium iodate treated animals had rapid, diffuse choroidal loss which progressed throughout the study time points, with fatal systemic side effects at the highest (75 mg/kg) dose.
Usage: Anti-CD38-SAP (IT-96) or Anti-CD105-SAP (IT-80) were diluted in sterile PBS at a concentration of 0.05 μg/μl. To induce selective choroidal cell injury, 10μl of saporin conjugate solution was delivered via suprachoroidal injection.
