2013 Targeting Trends Review

Mishra SK, Hoon MA (2013) The cells and circuitry for itch responses in mice. Science 340(6135):968-971. doi: 10.1126/science.1233765

Summary: Although previous work implicated neurons expressing the GRP (gastrin-releasing peptide) receptor were in the pruritic, or itch pathway, transgenic mice lacking natriuretic polypeptide b (Nppb) were almost completely insensitive to itch. Using the custom conjugate Nppb-SAP (Cat. #IT-69), the authors eliminated itch in response to a wide range of pruritic substances in normal mice through the administration of 5 μg of conjugate into the intrathecal space. Even after this lesion, the scratching response to intrathecal GRP was not changed, indicating that the role of GRP is at a later stage than previously hypothesized.

Related Products: Nppb-SAP (Cat. #IT-69)

Montandon G, Horner RL (2013) State-dependent contribution of the hyperpolarization-activated na+/k+ and persistent na+ currents to respiratory rhythmogenesis in vivo. J Neurosci 33(20):8716-8728. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5066-12.2013 PMID: 23678115

Summary: The hyperpolarization-activated cation current in the preBötzinger complex (preBötC) was identified as a critical component of respiratory rhythm. An anti-neurokinin 1 receptor antibody (Cat. #AB-N04 replaced by Cat. #AB-N33AP) at a 1:1000 dilution was used to identify preBötC neurons in the brainstem.

Related Products: NK-1 Receptor Rabbit Polyclonal, affinity-purified (Cat. #AB-N33AP)

Stratford EW, Bostad M, Castro R, Skarpen E, Berg K, Hogset A, Myklebost O, Selbo PK (2013) Photochemical internalization of CD133-targeting immunotoxins efficiently depletes sarcoma cells with stem-like properties and reduces tumorigenicity. Biochim Biophys Acta 1830(8):4235-4243. doi: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2013.04.033

Summary: In this work the authors used photochemical internalization (PCI) to facilitate local cytosolic toxin release from various biotinylated-anti-CD133 antibodies coupled with Streptavidin-ZAP (Cat. #IT-27) in SW872 cells. This technique demonstrates potential for non-invasive sarcoma therapy.

Related Products: Streptavidin-ZAP (Cat. #IT-27)

Gratz IK, Truong HA, Yang SH, Maurano MM, Lee K, Abbas AK, Rosenblum MD (2013) Cutting Edge: memory regulatory t cells require IL-7 and not IL-2 for their maintenance in peripheral tissues. J Immunol 190(9):4483-4487. doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.1300212

Summary: Recently a new class of regulatory T cells (mTregs) were found that persist in non-lymphoid tissues and are involved in suppressing autoimmune responses. In order to examine the roles that IL-2 and IL-7 play in the development and regulation of mTregs, the authors used genetic deletion, adoptive T-cell transfer, and in vivo neutralization techniques. 5 μg of intravenous OX7-SAP (Cat. #IT-02) per mouse was used to deplete CD90.1-positive cells during the adoptive transfer experiment. It was found that IL-7 is essential for the steady-state maintenance of mTregs in skin.

Related Products: OX7-SAP (Cat. #IT-02)

Murray RC, Gilbert YE, Logan AS, Hebbard JC, Horner KA (2014) Striatal patch compartment lesions alter methamphetamine-induced behavior and immediate early gene expression in the striatum, substantia nigra and frontal cortex. Brain Struct Funct 219:1213-1229. doi: 10.1007/s00429-013-0559-x

Summary: In this work, the authors investigated the function of the patch compartment in abnormally repetitive motor actions (stereotypy) in response to a psychostimulant such as methampheta-mine (meth). Rats received bilateral injections of Dermorphin-SAP (Cat. #IT-12; 17 ng) into the rostral striatum. When treated with meth, lesioned animals displayed reduced stereotypy, increased motor activity, and enhanced c-Fos expression.

Related Products: Dermorphin-SAP / MOR-SAP (Cat. #IT-12)

Neace CJ, Alderete JF (2013) Epitopes of the highly immunogenic trichomonas vaginalis alpha-actinin are serodiagnostic targets for both women and men. J Clin Microbiol 51(8):2483-2490. doi: 10.1128/JCM.00582-13 PMID: 23616456

Summary: Trichomonas vaginalis is an anaerobic protozoan that is the most common nonviral causative agent for sexually-transmitted infections. The presence of T. vaginalis in men is usually asymptomatic, making it difficult to assess exposure to the organism. The authors examined sera from exposed individuals for reactivity to specific epitopes of trichomonad α-actinin. A recombinant version of trichonomad α-actinin was constructed and detected using Anti-6His (Cat. #AB-213). Some epitopes were reactive with sera from both men and women, making them potential diagnostic targets.

Related Products: 6His Mouse Monoclonal (Cat. #AB-213)

Liu Y, Weick JP, Liu H, Krencik R, Zhang X, Ma L, Zhou GM, Ayala M, Zhang SC (2013) Medial ganglionic eminence-like cells derived from human embryonic stem cells correct learning and memory deficits. Nat Biotechnol 31(5):440-447. doi: 10.1038/nbt.2565

Summary: Progenitor cells were transplanted into mice that had received 1.5 μg of mu p75-SAP (Cat. #IT-16) into the medial septum.

Related Products: mu p75-SAP (Cat. #IT-16)

Read the featured article in Targeting Trends.

Fricks-Gleason AN, Keefe KA (2013) Evaluating the role of neuronal nitric oxide synthase-containing striatal interneurons in methamphetamine-induced dopamine neurotoxicity. Neurotox Res 24(2):288-297. doi: 10.1007/s12640-013-9391-6

Summary: Using the fact that neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS)-containing neurons in the striatum express the substance P receptor, the authors injected four locations in the striatum with 3 ng each of SSP-SAP (Cat. #IT-11). Blank-SAP (Cat. #IT-21) was used as a control. Although there was a significant loss of nNOS-containing neurons, the lesions did not attenuate NO production.

Related Products: SSP-SAP (Cat. #IT-11), Blank-SAP (Cat. #IT-21)

Leach ND, Nodal FR, Cordery PM, King AJ, Bajo VM (2013) Cortical cholinergic input is required for normal auditory perception and experience-dependent plasticity in adult ferrets. J Neurosci 33(15):6659-6671. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5039-12.2013

Summary: In order to study how cholinergic input from the nucleus basalis affects auditory perception and learning, the authors injected a total of 35.2 ng of ME20.4-SAP (Cat. #IT-15) into the nucleus basalis in each hemisphere of ferrets. Based on several learning tasks, the data suggest that these cholinergic inputs aid in the perception of sound source location and aid in the adaptation of the auditory system to changes in spatial cues.

Related Products: ME20.4-SAP (Cat. #IT-15)

Talman WT, Lin LH (2013) Sudden death following selective neuronal lesions in the rat nucleus tractus solitarii. Auton Neurosci 175(1-2):9-16. doi: 10.1016/j.autneu.2012.11.008

Summary: The nucleus tracts solitarii (NTS) is the terminus of cardiovascular reflex nerves. Early work in this area sought to identify transmitters involved in the control of this region. The authors used SSP-SAP (Cat. #IT-11) and anti-DBH-SAP (Cat. #IT-03) to examine the role of NK-1r-expressing neurons and catecholaminergic neurons in baroreflex control in the NTS. Either 3 ng of SSP-SAP or 42 ng of anti-DBH-SAP was injected into the NTS of rats and baroreflex function was compared 7 days later. Although each toxin had a specific effect in terms of the types of cells eliminated, both toxins initiated a disturbance of the central baroreflex control that led to the death of some animals.

Related Products: SSP-SAP (Cat. #IT-11), Anti-DBH-SAP (Cat. #IT-03)