| 1. |
- Becker, K., et al.
(författare)
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Antibacterial activity of apramycin at acidic pH warrants wide therapeutic window in the treatment of complicated urinary tract infections and acute pyelonephritis
- 2021
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Ingår i: EBioMedicine. - : Elsevier B.V.. - 2352-3964. ; 73
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Background: The clinical-stage drug candidate EBL-1003 (apramycin) represents a distinct new subclass of aminoglycoside antibiotics for the treatment of drug-resistant infections. It has demonstrated best-in-class coverage of resistant isolates, and preclinical efficacy in lung infection models. However, preclinical evidence for its utility in other disease indications has yet to be provided. Here we studied the therapeutic potential of EBL-1003 in the treatment of complicated urinary tract infection and acute pyelonephritis (cUTI/AP). Methods: A combination of data-base mining, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, time-kill experiments, and four murine infection models was used in a comprehensive assessment of the microbiological coverage and efficacy of EBL-1003 against Gram-negative uropathogens. The pharmacokinetics and renal toxicology of EBL-1003 in rats was studied to assess the therapeutic window of EBL-1003 in the treatment of cUTI/AP. Findings: EBL-1003 demonstrated broad-spectrum activity and rapid multi-log CFU reduction against a phenotypic variety of bacterial uropathogens including aminoglycoside-resistant clinical isolates. The basicity of amines in the apramycin molecule suggested a higher increase in positive charge at urinary pH when compared to gentamicin or amikacin, resulting in sustained drug uptake and bactericidal activity, and consequently in potent efficacy in mouse infection models. Renal pharmacokinetics, biomarkers for toxicity, and kidney histopathology in adult rats all indicated a significantly lower nephrotoxicity of EBL-1003 than of gentamicin. Interpretation: This study provides preclinical proof-of-concept for the efficacy of EBL-1003 in cUTI/AP. Similar efficacy but lower nephrotoxicity of EBL-1003 in comparison to gentamicin may thus translate into a higher safety margin and a wider therapeutic window in the treatment of cUTI/API. Funding: A full list of funding bodies that contributed to this study can be found in the Acknowledgements section. © 2021 The Author(s)
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| 2. |
- Becker, K., et al.
(författare)
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Efficacy of EBL-1003 (apramycin) against Acinetobacter baumannii lung infections in mice
- 2021
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Ingår i: Clinical Microbiology and Infection. - : Elsevier B.V.. - 1198-743X .- 1469-0691. ; 27:9, s. 1315-
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Objectives: Novel therapeutics are urgently required for the treatment of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) causing critical infections with high mortality. Here we assessed the therapeutic potential of the clinical-stage drug candidate EBL-1003 (crystalline free base of apramycin) in the treatment of CRAB lung infections. Methods: The genotypic and phenotypic susceptibility of CRAB clinical isolates to aminoglycosides and colistin was assessed by database mining and broth microdilution. The therapeutic potential was assessed by target attainment simulations on the basis of time–kill kinetics, a murine lung infection model, comparative pharmacokinetic analysis in plasma, epithelial lining fluid (ELF) and lung tissue, and pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic (PKPD) modelling. Results: Resistance gene annotations of 5451 CRAB genomes deposited in the National Database of Antibiotic Resistant Organisms (NDARO) suggested >99.9% of genotypic susceptibility to apramycin. Low susceptibility to standard-of-care aminoglycosides and high susceptibility to EBL-1003 were confirmed by antimicrobial susceptibility testing of 100 A. baumannii isolates. Time–kill experiments and a mouse lung infection model with the extremely drug-resistant CRAB strain AR Bank #0282 resulted in rapid 4-log CFU reduction both in vitro and in vivo. A single dose of 125 mg/kg EBL-1003 in CRAB-infected mice resulted in an AUC of 339 h × μg/mL in plasma and 299 h × μg/mL in ELF, suggesting a lung penetration of 88%. PKPD simulations suggested a previously predicted dose of 30 mg/kg in patients (creatinine clearance (CLCr) = 80 mL/min) to result in >99% probability of –2 log target attainment for MICs up to 16 μg/mL. Conclusions: This study provides proof of concept for the efficacy of EBL-1003 in the treatment of CRAB lung infections. Broad in vitro coverage, rapid killing, potent in vivo efficacy, and a high probability of target attainment render EBL-1003 a strong therapeutic candidate for a priority pathogen for which treatment options are very limited. © 2020 The Author(s)
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| 3. |
- Fridjonsdottir, Elva
(författare)
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Imaging neurochemical changes associated with Parkinson´s disease and L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia using mass spectrometry
- 2021
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Parkinson’s disease (PD), caused by a loss of midbrain dopamine neurons, is the second most common neurodegenerative disease worldwide after Alzheimer’s disease. The primary treatment choice for PD is L-DOPA, the precursor for dopamine, which only affects symptoms and does not inhibit disease progression. Most patients develop motor complications during long-term L-DOPA treatment called L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia (LID), which are abnormal involuntary movements. LID has been associated with biochemical alterations in a number of signalling systems in the basal ganglia, including the dopaminergic, serotonergic, cholinergic and opioidergic systems, among others. Defining region-specific alterations of these signalling molecules and comprehensive metabolic pathways in the brain will help to improve our understanding of their involvement in LID. In the work upon which this thesis is based, we exploited the advantages of mass spectrometry imaging (MSI) to perform on-tissue mapping of a large number of molecules in a single experiment for investigating biochemical changes associated with LID. A novel matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionisation (MALDI) MSI on-tissue chemical derivatisation approach was developed that enabled imaging of primary amine and phenolic hydroxyl group containing neurotransmitters and their comprehensive metabolic pathways. In addition, a tissue clean-up protocol which improved the limit of detection of multiple neuropeptides involved in basal ganglia signalling was established. These methods were applied to neurotoxin-based animal models of PD and LID, including the gold-standard model, namely the 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) administered non-human primate model. LID was found to be associated with extremely high levels of L-DOPA throughout the brain, but no significant increase in striatal dopamine was observed, contradicting the widely accepted hypothesis that LID is induced by elevated striatal dopamine levels. Furthermore, LID was associated with increased levels of signalling neuropeptides throughout the basal ganglia, where abnormally processed neuropeptides correlated with LID severity. Untargeted multivariate analysis revealed that LID was associated with increased abundance of the vasculature marker heme B in the striatum, suggesting angiogenesis and increased blood flow to this region. Moreover, important methyl donors, including S-adenosylmethionine, betaine and α-glycerophosphocholine were affected by MPTP exposure and LID. In conclusion, the studies included in this thesis provide methods for investigating multiple signalling molecules in single tissue sections and novel and comprehensive insights into the biochemical changes that occur in LID.
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| 4. |
- Fridjonsdottir, Elva, et al.
(författare)
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Mass spectrometry imaging identifies abnormally elevated brain L-DOPA levels and extrastriatal monoaminergic dysregulation in L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia
- 2021
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Ingår i: Science Advances. - : American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). - 2375-2548. ; 7:2
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- L-DOPA treatment for Parkinson's disease frequently leads to dyskinesias, the pathophysiology of which is poorly understood. We used MALDI-MSI to map the distribution of L-DOPA and monoaminergic pathways in brains of dyskinetic and nondyskinetic primates. We report elevated levels of L-DOPA, and its metabolite 3-O-methyldopa, in all measured brain regions of dyskinetic animals and increases in dopamine and metabolites in all regions analyzed except the striatum. In dyskinesia, dopamine levels correlated well with L-DOPA levels in extrastriatal regions, such as hippocampus, amygdala, bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, and cortical areas, but not in the striatum. Our results demonstrate that L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia is linked to a dysregulation of L-DOPA metabolism throughout the brain. The inability of extrastriatal brain areas to regulate the formation of dopamine during L-DOPA treatment introduces the potential of dopamine or even L-DOPA itself to modulate neuronal signaling widely across the brain, resulting in unwanted side effects.
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| 5. |
- Luptáková, Dominika, et al.
(författare)
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Neuropharmacokinetic visualization of regional and subregional unbound antipsychotic drug transport across the blood-brain barrier.
- 2021
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Ingår i: Molecular Psychiatry. - : Springer Nature. - 1359-4184 .- 1476-5578. ; 26, s. 7732-7745
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Comprehensive determination of the extent of drug transport across the region-specific blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a major challenge in preclinical studies. Multiple approaches are needed to determine the regional free (unbound) drug concentration at which a drug engages with its therapeutic target. We present an approach that merges in vivo and in vitro neuropharmacokinetic investigations with mass spectrometry imaging to quantify and visualize both the extent of unbound drug BBB transport and the post-BBB cerebral distribution of drugs at regional and subregional levels. Direct imaging of the antipsychotic drugs risperidone, clozapine, and olanzapine using this approach enabled differentiation of regional and subregional BBB transport characteristics at 20-µm resolution in small brain regions, which could not be achieved by other means. Our approach allows investigation of heterogeneity in BBB transport and presents new possibilities for molecular psychiatrists by facilitating interpretation of regional target-site exposure results and decision-making.
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| 6. |
- Mantas, Ioannis, et al.
(författare)
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TAAR1-Dependent and-Independent Actions of Tyramine in Interaction With Glutamate Underlie Central Effects of Monoamine Oxidase Inhibition
- 2021
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Ingår i: Biological Psychiatry. - : Elsevier. - 0006-3223 .- 1873-2402. ; 90:1, s. 16-27
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- BACKGROUND: Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) exert therapeutic actions by elevating extracellular levels of monoamines in the brain. Irreversible MAOIs cause serious hypertensive crises owing to peripheral accumulation of tyramine, but the role of tyramine in the central effects of MAOIs remains elusive, an issue addressed herein. To achieve robust inhibition of MAOA/B, the clinically used antidepressant tranylcypromine (TCP) was employed. METHODS: Behavioral, histological, mass spectrometry imaging, and biosensor-mediated measures of glutamate were conducted with MAOIs in wild-type and TAAR1-knockout (KO) mice. RESULTS: Both antidepressant and locomotion responses to TCP were enhanced in TAAR1-KO mice. A recently developed fluoromethylpyridinium-based mass spectrometry imaging method revealed robust accumulation of striatal tyramine on TCP administration. Furthermore, tyramine accumulation was higher in TAAR1-KO versus wild type mice, suggesting a negative feedback mechanism for TAAR1 in sensing tyramine levels. Combined histoenzymological and immunohistological studies revealed hitherto unknown TAAR1 localization in brain areas projecting to the substantia nigra/ventral tegmental area. Using an enzyme-based biosensor technology, we found that both TCP and tyramine reduced glutamate release in the substantia nigra in wild-type but not in TAAR1-KO mice. Moreover, glutamate measures in freely moving animals treated with TCP demonstrated that TAAR1 prevents glutamate accumulation in the substantia nigra during hyperlocomotive states. CONCLUSIONS: These observations suggest that tyramine, in interaction with glutamate, is involved in centrally mediated behavioral, transcriptional, and neurochemical effects of MAOIs.
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| 7. |
- Shariatgorji, Reza, et al.
(författare)
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Spatial visualization of comprehensive brain neurotransmitter systems and neuroactive substances by selective in situ chemical derivatization mass spectrometry imaging
- 2021
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Ingår i: Nature Protocols. - : Springer Nature. - 1754-2189 .- 1750-2799. ; 16:7, s. 3298-3321
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Molecule-specific techniques such as MALDI and desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry imaging enable direct and simultaneous mapping of biomolecules in tissue sections in a single experiment. However, neurotransmitter imaging in the complex environment of biological samples remains challenging. Our covalent charge-tagging approach using on-tissue chemical derivatization of primary and secondary amines and phenolic hydroxyls enables comprehensive mapping of neurotransmitter networks. Here, we present robust and easy-to-use chemical derivatization protocols that facilitate quantitative and simultaneous molecular imaging of complete neurotransmitter systems and drugs in diverse biological tissue sections with high lateral resolution. This is currently not possible with any other imaging technique. The protocol, using fluoromethylpyridinium and pyrylium reagents, describes all steps from tissue preparation (-1 h), chemical derivatization (1-2 h), data collection (timing depends on the number of samples and lateral resolution) and data analysis and interpretation. The specificity of the chemical reaction can also help users identify unknown chemical identities. Our protocol can reveal the cellular locations in which signaling molecules act and thus shed light on the complex responses that occur after the administration of drugs or during the course of a disease.
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| 8. |
- Vallianatou, Theodosia, et al.
(författare)
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Integration of Mass Spectrometry Imaging and Machine Learning Visualizes Region-Specific Age-Induced and Drug-Target Metabolic Perturbations in the Brain
- 2021
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Ingår i: ACS Chemical Neuroscience. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1948-7193. ; 12:10, s. 1811-1823
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Detailed metabolic imaging of specific brain regions in early aging may expose pathophysiological mechanisms and indicate effective neuropharmacological targets in the onset of cognitive decline. Comprehensive imaging of brain aging and drug-target effects is restricted using conventional methodology. We simultaneously visualized multiple metabolic alterations induced by normal aging in specific regions of mouse brains by integrating Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry imaging and combined supervised and unsupervised machine learning models. We examined the interplay between aging and the response to tacrine-induced acetylcholinesterase inhibition, a well-characterized therapeutic treatment against dementia. The dipeptide carnosine (β-alanyl-l-histidine) and the vitamin α-tocopherol were significantly elevated by aging in different brain regions. l-Carnitine and acetylcholine metabolism were found to be major pathways affected by aging and tacrine administration in a brain region-specific manner, indicating altered mitochondrial function and neurotransmission. The highly interconnected hippocampus and retrosplenial cortex displayed different age-induced alterations in lipids and acylcarnitines, reflecting diverse region-specific metabolic effects. The subregional differences observed in the hippocampal formation of several lipid metabolites demonstrate the unique potential of the technique compared to standard mass spectrometry approaches. An age-induced increase of endogenous antioxidants, such as α-tocopherol, in the hippocampus was detected, suggesting an augmentation of neuroprotective mechanisms in early aging. Our comprehensive imaging approach visualized heterogeneous age-induced metabolic perturbations in mitochondrial function, neurotransmission, and lipid signaling, not always attenuated by acetylcholinesterase inhibition.
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| 9. |
- Rofo, Fadi, et al.
(författare)
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Wide-Ranging Effects on the Brain Proteome in a Transgenic Mouse Model of Alzheimer's Disease Following Treatment with a Brain-Targeting Somatostatin Peptide
- 2021
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Ingår i: ACS Chemical Neuroscience. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1948-7193. ; 12:13, s. 2529-2541
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Alzheimer’s disease is the most common neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the pathological aggregation of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide. A potential therapeutic intervention in Alzheimer’s disease is to enhance Aβ degradation by increasing the activity of Aβ-degrading enzymes, including neprilysin. The somatostatin (SST) peptide has been identified as an activator of neprilysin. Recently, we demonstrated the ability of a brain-penetrating SST peptide (SST-scFv8D3) to increase neprilysin activity and membrane-bound Aβ42 degradation in the hippocampus of mice overexpressing the Aβ-precursor protein with the Swedish mutation (APPswe). Using LC–MS, we further evaluated the anti-Alzheimer’s disease effects of SST-scFv8D3. Following a triple intravenous injection of SST-scFv8D3, the LC–MS analysis of the brain proteome revealed that the majority of downregulated proteins consisted of mitochondrial proteins regulating fatty acid oxidation, which are otherwise upregulated in APPswe mice compared to wild-type mice. Moreover, treatment with SST-scFv8D3 significantly increased hippocampal levels of synaptic proteins regulating cell membrane trafficking and neuronal development. Finally, hippocampal concentrations of growth-regulated α (KC/GRO) chemokine and degradation of neuropeptide-Y were elevated after SST-scFv8D3 treatment. In summary, our results demonstrate a multifaceted effect profile in regulating mitochondrial function and neurogenesis following treatment with SST-scFv8D3, further suggesting the development of Alzheimer’s disease therapies based on SST peptides.
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| 10. |
- Slazak, Blazej, et al.
(författare)
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Cyclotide host-defense tailored for species and environments in violets from the Canary Islands
- 2021
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Ingår i: Scientific Reports. - : Springer Nature. - 2045-2322. ; 11:1
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Cyclotides are cyclic peptides produced by plants. Due to their insecticidal properties, they are thought to be involved in host defense. Violets produce complex mixtures of cyclotides, that are characteristic for each species and variable in different environments. Herein, we utilized mass spectrometry (LC–MS, MALDI-MS), transcriptomics and biological assays to investigate the diversity, differences in cyclotide expression based on species and different environment, and antimicrobial activity of cyclotides found in violets from the Canary Islands. A wide range of different habitats can be found on these islands, from subtropical forests to dry volcano peaks at high altitudes. The islands are inhabited by the endemic Viola palmensis, V. cheiranthifolia, V. anagae and the common V. odorata. The number of cyclotides produced by a given species varied in plants from different environments. The highest diversity was noted in V. anagae which resides in subtropical forest and the lowest in V. cheiranthifolia from the Teide volcano. Transcriptome sequencing and LC–MS were used to identify 23 cyclotide sequences from V. anagae. Cyclotide extracts exhibited antifungal activities with the lowest minimal inhibitory concentrations noted for V. anagae (15.62 μg/ml against Fusarium culmorum). The analysis of the relative abundance of 30 selected cyclotides revealed patterns characteristic to both species and populations, which can be the result of genetic variability or environmental conditions in different habitats. The current study exemplifies how plants tailor their host defense peptides for various habitats, and the usefulness of cyclotides as markers for chemosystematics.
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