| 1. |
- Atis, Muge, et al.
(author)
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Effects of methyl-beta-cyclodextrin on blood-brain barrier permeability in angiotensin II-induced hypertensive rats
- 2019
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In: Brain Research. - : ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV. - 0006-8993 .- 1872-6240. ; 1715, s. 148-155
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability primarily increases in cerebral venules during acute hypertension. Methyl-beta-cyclodextrin (M beta CD), a cholesterol-depleting agent, decreases the expression of caveolins disrupting caveolar structures. We aimed to determine the effects of M beta CD on the BBB permeability of angiotensin (ANG) II-induced hypertensive rats. Three minutes after M beta CD administration (5 mg/kg), acute hypertension was induced by ANG II (60 mu g/kg). Evans blue (EB) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) tracers were used to assess BBB permeability. Immunohistochemistry for caveolin (Cav)-1 and tight junction protein claudin-5 was performed. EB dye content significantly increased in both cerebral cortices and left hippocampus in M beta CD (P < 0.05), right cerebral cortex and both hippocampi in ANG II (P < 0.05; P < 0.01), and both cerebral cortices and hippocampi in M beta CD plus ANG II groups compared with controls (P < 0.05; P < 0.01). A significant decrease in claudin-5 immunostaining intensity was observed in animals treated with M beta CD compared with controls (P < 0.05). Cav-1 immunostaining intensity increased in ANG II group (P < 0.05). Ultrastructurally, HRP reaction products were observed in endothelial cells of the microvessels in the hippocampus region in M beta CD group while the tracer was mainly localized in astrocytes and neurons in ANG II, and M beta CD plus ANG II groups. The endothelial cells of the venules in the cerebral cortex of the animals in the latter experimental groups also showed an abundance of caveolar vesicles devoid of HRP reaction products. Our results revealed that M beta CD did not provide overall protective effects on BBB integrity in acute hypertension and even led to BBB disruption in normotensive animals.
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| 2. |
- Atis, Muge, et al.
(author)
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Targeting the blood-brain barrier disruption in hypertension by ALK5/ TGF-? : type I receptor inhibitor SB-431542 and dynamin inhibitor dynasore
- 2022
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In: Brain Research. - : Elsevier. - 0006-8993 .- 1872-6240. ; 1794
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Introduction: In this study, we aimed to target two molecules, transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) and dynamin to explore their roles in blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption in hypertension. Methods: For this purpose, angiotensin (ANG) II-induced hypertensive mice were treated with SB-431542, an inhibitor of the ALK5/TGF-beta type I receptor, and dynasore, an inhibitor of dynamin. Albumin-Alexa fluor 594 was used to assess BBB permeability. The alterations in the expression of claudin-5, caveolin (Cav)-1, glucose transporter (Glut)-1, and SMAD4 in the cerebral cortex and the hippocampus were evaluated by quantification of immunofluorescence staining intensity.Results: ANG II infusion increased BBB permeability to albumin-Alexa fluor 594 which was reduced by SB431542 (P < 0.01), but not by dynasore. In hypertensive animals treated with dynasore, claudin-5 immunofluorescence intensity increased in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus while it decreased in the cerebral cortex of SB-431542 treated hypertensive mice (P < 0.01). Both dynasore and SB-431542 prevented the increased Cav-1 immunofluorescence intensity in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of hypertensive animals (P < 0.01). SB431542 and dynasore decreased Glut-1 immunofluorescence intensity in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of mice receiving ANG II (P < 0.01). SB-431542 increased SMAD4 immunofluorescence intensity in the cerebral cortex of hypertensive animals, while in the hippocampus a significant decrease was noted by both SB-431542 and dynasore (P < 0.01).Conclusion: Our data suggest that inhibition of the TGF beta type I receptor prevents BBB disruption under hypertensive conditions. These results emphasize the therapeutic potential of targeting TGF beta signaling as a novel treatment modality to protect the brain of hypertensive patients.
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| 3. |
- Temizyürek, Arzu, et al.
(author)
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Blood-brain barrier targeted delivery of lacosamide-conjugated gold nanoparticles : Improving outcomes in absence seizures
- 2022
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In: Epilepsy Research. - : Elsevier. - 0920-1211 .- 1872-6844. ; 184
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: Most currently available antiepileptics are not fully effective in the prevention of seizures in absence epilepsy owing to the presence of blood-brain barrier (BBB). We aimed to test whether binding an antiepileptic drug, lacosamide (LCM), to glucose-coated gold nanoparticles (GNPs) enables efficient brain drug delivery to suppress the epileptic activity in WAG/Rij rats with absence epilepsy.Methods: In these animals, intracranial-EEG recording, behavioral test, in vivo imaging of LCM and LCM-GNP conjugate distribution in the brain, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry analysis, immunofluorescence staining of glucose transporter (Glut)- 1, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and p-glycoprotein (P-gp) and electron microscopy were performed.Results: Lacosamide-GNP conjugates decreased the amplitude and frequency of spike-wave-like discharges (SWDs) and alleviated the anxiety-like behavior as assessed by EEG and elevated plus-maze test, respectively (p < 0.01). The in vivo imaging system results showed higher levels of fluorescein dye tagged to LCM-GNP in the brain during the 5-day injection period (p < 0.01). Immunofluorescence staining displayed decreased P-gp, Glut1, and GFAP expression by LCM-GNP conjugate treatment predominantly in the cerebral cortex suggesting a potential functionality of this brain region in the modulation of neuronal activity in our experimental setting (p < 0.01).Significance: We suggest that the conjugation of LCM to GNPs may provide a novel approach for efficient brain drug delivery in light of the effectiveness of our strategy not only in suppressing the seizure activity but also in decreasing the need to use high dosages of the antiepileptics to reduce the frequently encountered side effects in drug-resistant epilepsy.
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| 4. |
- Yilmaz, Canan Ugur, et al.
(author)
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Targeted delivery of lacosamide-conjugated gold nanoparticles into the brain in temporal lobe epilepsy in rats
- 2020
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In: Life Sciences. - : PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD. - 0024-3205 .- 1879-0631. ; 257
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) is the most common form of epilepsy with focal seizures, and currently available drugs may fail to provide a thorough treatment of the patients. The present study demonstrates the utility of glucose-coated gold nanoparticles (GNPs) as selective carriers of an antiepileptic drug, lacosamide (LCM), in developing a strategy to cross the blood-brain barrier to overcome drug resistance. Intravenous administration of LCM-loaded GNPs to epileptic animals yielded significantly higher nanoparticle levels in the hippocampus compared to the nanoparticle administration to intact animals. The amplitude and frequency of EEG-waves in both ictal and interictal stages decreased significantly after LCM-GNP administration to animals with TLE, while a decrease in the number of seizures was also observed though statistically insignificant. In these animals, malondialdehyde was unaffected, and glutathione levels were lower in the hippocampus compared to sham. Ultrastructurally, LCM-GNPs were observed in the brain parenchyma after intravenous injection to animals with TLE. We conclude that glucose-coated GNPs can be efficient in transferring effective doses of LCM into the brain enabling elimination of the need to administer high doses of the drug, and hence, may represent a new approach in the treatment of drug-resistant TLE.
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| 5. |
- Kucuk, Mutlu, et al.
(author)
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The Effects of Lipopolysaccharide on the Disrupted Blood-Brain Barrier in a Rat Model of Preeclampsia
- 2018
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In: Journal of Stroke & Cerebrovascular Diseases. - : ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV. - 1052-3057 .- 1532-8511. ; 27:12, s. 3411-3418
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Preeclampsia is a disorder characterized by high blood pressure and often proteinuria during pregnancy. It is known that a subseptic dose of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) induces production of proinflammatory cytokines, and possibly increasing the risk for developing preeclampsia. We investigated the effects of LPS on the blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity in pregnant rats with N (omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) induced preeclampsia.Methods: Starting from the 10th day of gestation, pregnant rats were given L-NAME for 10 days to produce hypertension and proteinuria. Animals were then treated with a single injection of LPS on the 19th day of pregnancy. Arterial blood pressure and proteinuria were measured on the day of the experiment, which was 24 hours after the LPS injection. The BBB integrity was assessed by using Evans blue (EB) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) tracers.Results: Proteinuria was observed in varying degrees, and the arterial blood pressure increased in L-NAME-treated pregnant rats (P < .01). The overall brain EB content did not increase in these preeclamptic rats when compared to pregnant animals, and LPS treatment also did not change EB content. Ultrastructurally, frequent vesicles containing HRP reaction products were observed in the capillary endothelial cells in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of pregnant rats treated with L-NAME (P < .01). However, LPS did not change the amounts of HRP that mainly accumulated in brain capillary endothelial cells of these animals.Conclusion: Our results suggest that, in this experimental setting, LPS does not change the severity of BBB disruption observed in preeclamptic animals.
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| 6. |
- Morrison, Jamie, et al.
(author)
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Standardized Preclinical In Vitro Blood-Brain Barrier Mouse Assay Validates Endocytosis-Dependent Antibody Transcytosis Using Transferrin-Receptor-Mediated Pathways
- 2023
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In: Molecular Pharmaceutics. - : American Chemical Society (ACS). - 1543-8384 .- 1543-8392. ; 20:3, s. 1564-1576
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The presence of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) creates a nigh-on impenetrable obstacle for large macromolecular therapeutics that need to be delivered to the brain milieu to treat neurological disorders. To overcome this, one of the strategies used is to bypass the barrier with what is referred to as a "Trojan Horse" strategy, where therapeutics are designed to use endogenous receptor-mediated pathways to piggyback their way through the BBB. Even though in vivo methodologies are commonly used to test the efficacy of BBB-penetrating biologics, comparable in vitro BBB models are in high demand, as they benefit from being an isolated cellular system devoid of physiological factors that can on occasion mask the processes behind BBB transport via transcytosis. We have developed an in vitro BBB model (In-Cell BBB-Trans assay) based on the murine cEND cells that help delineate the ability of modified large bivalent IgG antibodies conjugated to the transferrin receptor binder scFv8D3 to cross an endothelial monolayer grown on porous cell culture inserts (PCIs). Following the administration of bivalent antibodies into the endothelial monolayer, a highly sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is used to determine the concentration in the apical (blood) and basolateral (brain) chambers of the PCI system, allowing for the evaluation of apical recycling and basolateral transcytosis, respectively. Our results show that antibodies conjugated to scFv8D3 transcytose at considerably higher levels compared to unconjugated antibodies in the In-Cell BBB-Trans assay. Interestingly, we are able to show that these results mimic in vivo brain uptake studies using identical antibodies. In addition, we are able to transversely section PCI cultured cells, allowing for the identification of receptors and proteins that are likely involved in the transcytosis of the antibodies. Furthermore, studies using the In-Cell BBB-Trans assay revealed that transcytosis of the transferrin-receptor-targeting antibodies is dependent on endocytosis. In conclusion, we have designed a simple, reproducible In-Cell BBB-Trans assay based on murine cells that can be used to rapidly determine the BBB-penetrating capabilities of transferrin-receptor-targeting antibodies. We believe that the In-Cell BBB-Trans assay can be used as a powerful, preclinical screening platform for therapeutic neurological pathologies.
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| 7. |
- Rofo, Fadi, et al.
(author)
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Enhanced neprilysin-mediated degradation of hippocampal A beta 42 with a somatostatin peptide that enters the brain
- 2021
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In: Theranostics. - : IVYSPRING INT PUBL. - 1838-7640. ; 11:2, s. 789-804
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Aggregation of the amyloid-beta (A beta) peptide is one of the main neuropathological events in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Neprilysin is the major enzyme degrading A beta, with its activity enhanced by the neuropeptide somatostatin (SST). SST levels are decreased in the brains of AD patients. The poor delivery of SST over the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and its extremely short half-life of only 3 min limit its therapeutic significance.Methods: We recombinantly fused SST to a BBB transporter binding to the transferrin receptor. Using primary neuronal cultures and neuroblastoma cell lines, the ability of the formed fusion protein to activate neprilysin was studied. SST-scFv8D3 was administered to mice overexpressing the A beta-precursor protein (A beta PP) with the Swedish mutation (APPswe) as a single injection or as a course of three injections over a 72 h period. Levels of neprilysin and A beta were quantified using an Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Distribution of SST-scFv8D3 in the brain, blood and peripheral organs was studied by radiolabeling with iodine-125.Results: The construct, SST-scFv8D3, exhibited 120 times longer half-life than SST alone, reached the brain in high amounts when injected intravenously and significantly increased the brain concentration of neprilysin in APPswe mice. A significant decrease in the levels of membrane-bound A beta 42 was detected in the hippocampus and the adjacent cortical area after only three injections.Conclusion: With intravenous injections of our BBB permeable SST peptide, we were able to significantly increase the levels neprilysin, an effect that was followed by a significant and selective degradation of membrane-bound A beta 42 in the hippocampus. Being that membrane-bound A beta triggers neuronal toxicity and the hippocampus is the central brain area in the progression of AD, the study has illuminated a new potential treatment paradigm with a promising safety profile targeting only the disease affected areas.
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| 8. |
- Stenler, Sofia, 1980-, et al.
(author)
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Over the BBB and into the cell : Pursuing intracellular targets for immunotherapy of Parkinson’s disease
- 2019
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Conference paper (other academic/artistic)abstract
- The aim of our research is to modify therapeutic antibodies so that they can reach their dementia target inside cells located on the other side of the blood brain barrier. While the aggregates associated with Alzheimer’s are located extracellularly and thus readily available for antibodies that have crossed the BBB barrier, this is not the case for Parkinson’s disease. In this study, we focus on developing a peptide shuttle that can deliver antibodies not only over the BBB but also into neuronal cells where the Tau and a-synuclein aggregates can be found.For this purpose, we have investigated the use of a peptide which binds to a receptor that co- localizes with the aggregates. Our in-house experience suggests that the peptide is not an efficient BBB transporter despite the fact that some groups have used it as such, but that it might be more suitable as a transporter for intracellular delivery.We have successfully expressed recombinant antibodies with the peptide on the N-terminal of an antibody targeting the aggregates associated with Parkinson’s disease. Our initial studies indicate that the tyrosine on the N-terminal of the peptide needs to be free and unmodified to be able to enhance uptake into neuronal cells. This hinders the use of the normal labelling method which attaches radiolabelled iodine to tyrosines where the affinity for peptide target would be destroyed. We have been pursuing alternative methods, such as using click chemistry to attach the peptide which will leave the antibody free to be radiolabelled, as well as methods to detect unlabelled antibodies in vivo and in vitro.We have assessed the peptide-assisted increase in uptake in appropriate neuronal cell line models. Furthermore, we have studied uptake and retention in brain in mouse models for Parkinson’s disease.
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| 9. |
- Taskiran, Emine, et al.
(author)
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Changes in the Expression of c-fos and AQP4 in the Hippocampus and Amygdala Regions of Rats with Kainic Acid-Induced Temporal Lobe Epilepsy and Their Role in the Pathogenesis of Disease
- 2022
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In: ARCHIVES OF EPILEPSY. - : AVES Publishing Co.. - 2792-0550. ; 28:2, s. 59-64
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objective: Aquaporin4 is the main water channel in the brain that is associated with neurological disorders. The role and the expressive changes of aquaporin4 in epilepsy are still limited and controversial. The study aims to evaluate the expression of c-fos and aquaporin4 during epileptogenesis after systemic kainic acid-induced status epilepticus in the temporal lobe epilepsy animal model and to investigate their alterations in both hippocampus and amygdala.Methods: Intraperitoneal injections of kainic acid (5-15 mg/kg) by repeated low kainic acid protocol were given to young adult 32 Wistar albino rats for status epilepticus. Aquaporin4 and c-fos were investigated in the hippocampus and amygdala on days 1 and 60 after status epilepticus by immunostaining methods in brain slices.Results: The intensity of c-fos immunostaining rose considerably in the hippocampus CA1 area of rats during the acute period (P < 0.05) and in the amygdala during the chronic period. The immunostaining intensity of aquaporin4in the hippocampus of rats with acute kainic acid increased significantly (P <.05). It was also raised in the hippocampal region of the rats in the acute sham and chronic kainic acid groups.Discussion: The results of this study support a link between aquaporin4 and epilepsy. It can be speculated that aquaporin4 change is primarily a defense mechanism immediately after status epilepticus, and then, it can evolve into a causal factor with exhaustion as a result of overuse.
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| 10. |
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