Opioid Receptor Antibodies Trifecta

This publication proposes a role for opioid receptors in treating cancers. It also references use of our μ, δ, and κ opioid receptor antibodies.

Kohei Yamamizu1, Sadayoshi Furuta, Shiori Katayama, Michiko Narita, Naoko Kuzumaki, Satoshi Imai, Hiroshi Nagase, Tsutomu Suzuki, Minoru Narita, and Jun K. Yamashita. The κ opioid system regulates endothelial cell differentiation and pathfinding in vascular development. Blood July 21, 2011 vol. 118 no. 3 775-785.

Highlights: The opioid system is, thus, a new regulator of vascular development that simultaneously modifies 2 distinct vascular properties, EC differentiation and vascular pathfinding. We confirmed that KOR, but not MOR, was highly expressed in various ECs such as HUVECs (data not shown), suggesting that KOR agonists could directly act on tumor ECs to suppress VEGF receptor expression, similar to the effects observed in embryonic ECs. If so, a combination therapy including an MOR agonist, morphine, and a KOR agonist (such as TRK820, a clinically approved drug in Japan for uremic pruritus) may prove useful for cancer therapy through the suppression of tumor angiogenesis by dual inhibition of VEGF ligands and receptors, extending the therapeutic benefits beyond pain relief.

Images: KOR was highly expressed in Flk1⁺ vascular progenitors. (A) RT-PCR showing mRNA expression of MOR, DOR, and KOR in ES cells, Flk1⁺ cells, cells after 1 or 3 days of Flk1⁺ cell culture (Flk-d1 or Flk-d3), CD31-positive cells (ECs) and CD31-negative cells (MCs) at Flk-d3. (B) Fluorescent staining for MOR, DOR, and KOR at Flk-d1. Nuclei are stained with DAPI (blue). Left, MOR; middle, DOR; right, KOR. Scale bars, 100 μm. (C) Double fluorescent staining for MOR, DOR, and KOR with CD31 (red) at Flk-d3. Nuclei are stained with DAPI (blue). Top, opioid (green) receptors (green); middle, CD31 (red); bottom, merged. Scale bars, 100 μm.

Is Neuropathy Really Gliopathy?

I found this excellent website from posting by Dr. Jan M. Keppel Hesselink, Professor molecular pharmacology, director Institute neuropathic pain: http://www.neuropathie.nu/. It represents a new way of understanding root causes and potential therapies for Neuropathic Pain. Here're highlights:

Gliopathic pain: is a brand new term for what we always thought to be neuropathic pain. It refers to pain related to neuropathic pain, however, the primary driver of this pain is most probably more linked to glia and asterocytes. The mechanism of gliopathic pain is the hyperactivation of glia cells, which results in neuropathic pain.

The role of Glia and Astrocytes:Glia and astrocytes play a central role in neuropathic pain, and gliopathic pain, or asteropathic pain will become new synonyms for neuropathic pain. In a recent hallmark paper the term 'Gliopathic pain' was coined.

This is a reason to put our magnifying glass on glia. Gliamodulating drugs will become a new class of neuropathic drugs, the so called gliopathic modulating drugs, and the first prototype, the endogenous fatty acid palmitoylethanolamide, has already been explored in positive proof of principle studies.

For more than a century doctors are aware of the special properties of glia in response to injury. In Germany in 1894 professor Franz Nissl decribed the reaction of glial cells in relation to the nerve fibers in the spinal cord and highlighted their morphological changes after injury. Microglia becomes mores bigger and more abundant after injury and these glial responses can be seen as a biological reponse to promote nerve repair after injury. However, this response can go berzerk and might be one of the most important mechanisms leading to neuropathic pain.

This is a short synopsis. There is a wealth of more information on the website. That said, I will be posting more on Gliopathic Pain.

Primary Neurons and Cell Based Assays

The feedback I receive from Neuroscientists is consistent. To paraphrase, "gives us healthy, consistent and potent primary cells. I understand the hard work it takes to generate meaningful and publishable results from cell based assays. Our Primary Neurons and Astrocytes are merely inputs for these assays. The real cost is the time invested in culturing and time lost if they don't work.

I have numerous postings on success: Primary Neurons Postings. I wanted to share more data and feedback.

Primary DRGs-Culturing these can be tricky. I make it a point to work with labs to make sure the protocol options best match the desired outcome for assays. This includes replacing cells to make sure we can accurately troubleshoot. This approach insures I can pin point the issues and make sure they are all resolved in round two. Here's a representative testimonial: "Thanks for following up, the DRGs worked great and we were able to get excellent data from them. Thanks so much for working with us." Adam Ross, Dr. Chengji Zhou Lab, UC Davis

Image: DRGs cultured on Calf Skin Collagen.

Primary Hippocampal Neurons-I would like to thank Vimal Swarup, University of Utah for this excellent image.

The cells have been fixed after 48 hrs, they were grown over poly-lysine coated coverslips in the media supplied by Neuromics. Cells were imaged in phase contrast mode with 40x objective.

Put our primary cells to the test!

MOR and NMDAR Interplay-Implications in Pain Control

Our Opioid Receptor Antibodies continue to be referenced in publications by Pain Researchers. Many of these studies provide a greater understanding of how opioids alleviate pain and what modulates this ability.

For example, the capacity of opioids to alleviate inflammatory pain is negatively regulated by the glutamate-binding N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR). This study drills down into the specifics of this regulation and references use of Neuromics' MOR1C Antibody: María Rodríguez-Muñoz, Pilar Sánchez-Blázquez, Ana Vicente-Sánchez, Esther Berrocoso and Javier Garzón. María Rodríguez-Muñoz, Pilar Sánchez-Blázquez, Ana Vicente-Sánchez, Esther Berrocoso and Javier Garzón. The Mu-Opioid Receptor and the NMDA Receptor Associate in PAG Neurons: Implications in Pain Control. Neuropsychopharmacology , (3 August 2011) | doi:10.1038/npp.2011.155.

Abstract: The capacity of opioids to alleviate inflammatory pain is negatively regulated by the glutamate-binding N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR). Increased activity of this receptor complicates the clinical use of opioids to treat persistent neuropathic pain. Immunohistochemical and ultrastructural studies have demonstrated the coexistence of both receptors within single neurons of the CNS, including those in the mesencephalic periaqueductal gray (PAG), a region that is implicated in the opioid control of nociception. We now report that mu-opioid receptors (MOR) and NMDAR NR1 subunits associate in the postsynaptic structures of PAG neurons. Morphine disrupts this complex by protein kinase-C (PKC)-mediated phosphorylation of the NR1 C1 segment and potentiates the NMDAR–CaMKII, pathway that is implicated in morphine tolerance. Inhibition of PKC, but not PKA or GRK2, restored the MOR–NR1 association and rescued the analgesic effect of morphine as well. The administration of N-methyl-D-aspartic acid separated the MOR–NR1 complex, increased MOR Ser phosphorylation, reduced the association of the MOR with G-proteins, and diminished the antinociceptive capacity of morphine. Inhibition of PKA, but not PKC, CaMKII, or GRK2, blocked these effects and preserved morphine antinociception. Thus, the opposing activities of the MOR and NMDAR in pain control affect their relation within neurons of structures such as the PAG. This finding could be exploited in developing bifunctional drugs that would act exclusively on those NMDARs associated with MORs.

I will continue to post these studies. They give hope for pain sufferers as many propose potential new druggable targets.

Plasma netrin-1 is a diagnostic biomarker of human cancers

I am pleased to report broadening application for our Stem Cell Markers as a diagnostic for cancers. This publication references use of our Netrin-1 antibody.

Ganesan Ramesh, Arthur Berg, and Calpurnia Jayakumar. Plasma netrin-1 is a diagnostic biomarker of human cancers. Biomarkers. Author manuscript; available in PMC 2011 July 26. Published in final edited form as: Biomarkers. 2011 March; 16(2): 172–180. Published online 2011 February 8. doi: 10.3109/1354750X.2010.541564.
Objectives: To determine whether plasma netrin-1 can be used as a diagnostic biomarker of human cancer.

Materials and Methods: A total of 300 cancer plasma samples from breast, renal, prostate, liver, meningioma, pituitary adenoma, glioblastoma, lung, pancreatic and colon cancer patients were compared against 138 control plasma samples. Netrin-1 levels were quantified by ELISA and immunohistochemistry.

Results: Plasma netrin-1 levels were significantly increased in breast, renal, prostate, liver, meningioma, pituitary adenoma, and glioblastoma cancers as compared to control samples.

Discussion and Conclusion: Our results suggest that plasma netrin-1 can be used as a diagnostic biomarker for many human cancers.

Image: Immunohistochemical localization of netrin-1 in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) tissues. A. Secondary antibody control showing no staining. B. Normal adjacent tissues do not show any staining for netrin-1. C. Stage I RCC shows staining for netrin-1. D. Stage II RCC shows staining for netrin-1. E-F.


Netrin-1 Immunohistochemistry: Stage I–III renal cell carcinoma and normal tissue section (Tissue Array) was obtained from Biomax to immunolocalize netrin-1, as described previously (29). Briefly, tissue sections were dewaxed and rehydrated with graded ethanol (100%, 90%, 70% and 30%) and then washed with PBS. Antigen retrieval was carried out using citrate buffer and steamer. The tissue section was permeabilized with 0.2% Triton X-100 in PBS, and washed and blocked with PBS containing 5% donkey serum and 1% BSA. Primary antibodies included a chicken anti-netrin-1 polyclonal antibody (Neuromics cat # CH23002). Primary antibodies were detected using secondary antibodies conjugated with biotin, which was followed by incubation with streptavidin-horseradish peroxidase (Pierce). Slides were mounted in permount and photographed using an Olympus microscope attached to a CCD camera.
Potent diagnostic tools for cancers save lives. This is especially true of markers that can diagnose them in early stages. I will post these important studies as the cross my radar scope.

SOX2 and Initiation of Breast Tumors

I consider it a feather in Neuromics' cap when our reagent(s) are referenced in a Nature Journal. More importantly it enables me to keep the pulse on novel and important discovery.

This pub references use of one of our SOX2 Antibody and comes from Dr. Angel García Martín and his Team at INBIOMED: O Leis, A Eguiara, E Lopez-Arribillaga, M J Alberdi, S Hernandez-Garcia, K Elorriaga, A Pandiella, R Rezola and A G Martin. Sox2 expression in breast tumours and activation in breast cancer stem cells. Oncogene , (8 August 2011) | doi:10.1038/onc.2011.338.

The important insight from this study is: "Over-expression of Sox2 increased mammosphere formation, effect dependent on continuous Sox2 expression; furthermore, Sox2 knockdown prevented mammosphere formation and delayed tumour formation in xenograft tumour initiation models. Induction of Sox2 expression was achieved through activation of the distal enhancer of Sox2 promoter upon sphere formation, the same element that controls Sox2 transcription in pluripotent stem cells. These findings suggest that reactivation of Sox2 represents an early step in breast tumour initiation, explaining tumour heterogeneity by placing the tumour-initiating event in any cell along the axis of mammary differentiation."

Could these findings ultimately lead to a better diagnostic for Breast Cancer? I'll keep you posted.

Lab Highlights: Breast cancer is the most frequent cancer in women making up to 20% of all tumours diagnosed in women, with 1 million new cases diagnosed every year worldwide (16,000 new cases only in Spain). Worlwide it causes over 350,000 deaths with an increasing tendency. Breast cancer stem cells show the phenotype CD44+/CD24low/-Lin- though only a fraction of this population has the capacity to initiate tumours. Therefore a complete and precise description of the breast cancer stem cells is lacking.

The focus of this laboratory is to identify, isolate and culture breast cancer stem cells from natural breast tumours and compare at the molecular level with normal mammary stem cells. This research involves the stablishment of both in vitro and in vivo functional assays and the molecular characterization (both genomic and proteomic) of breast cancer stem cells to define the mechanisms responsible for its transformed phenotype.

High Content and High Throughput Toxicity Screening

Kits designed for Drug Discovery and Development

Our customers have been impressed with the capablities of our in vivo and in vitro apoptosis and toxicity kits. Here's a recent pub referencing use of one of our FLICA™ in vitro Caspase Kits: Giovanna Grandinetti, Nilesh P. Ingle, and Theresa M. Reineke. Interaction of Poly(ethylenimine)–DNA Polyplexes with Mitochondria: Implications for a Mechanism of Cytotoxicity. Mol. Pharmaceutics, Article ASAP Publication Date (Web): June 23, 2011 Copyright © 2011 American Chemical Society...inhibitor of caspases (FLICA) specific for caspase-9 (Neuromics, Inc)...
Images: Jurkat cells were treated with 1 µM staurosporine for 3 hours to induce caspase 9 activity (top), or were treated with a control (bottom). Both populations were incubated with ICT’s green FAM-LEHD-FMK FLICA™ caspase 9 reagent. DIC images were taken of both samples. Almost all cells in the induced sample (top) fluoresce green therefore they have activated caspase 9. None of the control cells (bottom) fluoresce green, therefore they do not have activated caspase 9 Courtesy of Dr. Brian Lee, ICT

Neuromics is pleased to announce the addition of HemoGenix® Predictive in vitro Toxicity and Apoptosis Kits:

Solutions for predictive in vitro toxicity and apoptosis are now important than ever. These kits enable you to do high throughput and high content screening of stem cells, progenitors and primary cells.
Kit options include:

•LumiSTEM™-96 iPS and LumiSTEM™-iPS HT Assays to Study Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells (iPS) and Toxicity to iPS Cells and Cells Derived from iPS Cells.

•LUMENESC™-Tox HT (LUMENESC™-96 Tox and LUMENESC™-384 HT). A Toxicity Screening and Testing Platform for Cells of the Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cell System.

•HALO®-Tox HT Predictive Hemotoxicity Platform using HALO®-96 Tox and HALO®-384 HT. A Highly Predictive, In Vitro Stem and Progenitor Cell Hemotoxicity Screening and Testing Platform for all Stages of Drug Development and Xenobiotic.

I will continue to post regarding progress.

TRPV1 and Diabetic Neuropathy

Thermal hyperalgesia is a common sympton of Diabetic Periperal Neuropathy (DPN). It is one of most difficult types of pain to treat. The development of tolerance, inadequate relief and potential toxicity of classical antinociceptives warrant the investigation of the newer agents to relieve this pain.

The elevated expression of Transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) suspected as a transmitter of this pain. Dr. Louis Premkumar and his team at SIU have recently published results that further demonstrate the role of TRPV1: Mahendra Bishnoi, Christine A Bosgraaf, Mruvil Abooj, Linlin Zhong, Louis S Premkumar. Streptozotocin-Induced Early Thermal Hyperalgesia is independent of Glycemic State of Rats: Role of Transient Receptor Potential Vanilloid 1(TRPV1) and inflammatory mediators. Molecular Pain 2011, 7:52 doi:10.1186/1744-8069-7-52. Published: 27 July 2011.

Figure 4. Altered TRPV1 staining in spinal cord dorsal horn of STZ-treated rats. A. Representative images of TRPV1 staining from a vehicle-treated, STZ-HG and STZNG rats. An enlarged segment has also been shown. B. Average gray values/10,000 μm² area of TRPV1 staining in dorsal horn was significantly increased (p<0.05) in both STZ-HG and STZ-NG rats as compared to vehicle-treated rats. Asterisk (*) represents p < 0.05. Scale bar is 200 μm and 50 μm for upper and lower panels, respectively.

Conclusions: From these results, it is concluded that TRPV1 is an integral component of initiating and maintaining inflammatory thermal hyperalgesia, which can be alleviated by intrathecal administration of RTX. Further, the results suggest that enhanced expression and inflammation-induced sensitization of TRPV1 at the spinal cord may play a role in central sensitization in STZ-induced neuropathy.

Therapies that downregulate or silence TRPV1 expression could be the key to better treatments for the Thermal Algesia cause by diabetes. I will keep you posted.

hNP1 Neural Progenitors Thawing+ Plating Protocol

This is a great video that shows thawing + plating protocol for our eSC Derived Human NP1 Neural Progenitors.

Potent and Cost Effective Cell Based Assays

I have had many conversations with basic and drug discovery researchers on improving cell based assays. Here's the wish list:

• More potent cells/media
• More accurate analytic tools-quatititative and reproducible results
• Ability to use cells and tools in high throughput/high content screening.
• Cost effectiveness

This wish list is front and center in determining the cells/media and related tools we add to Neuromics' offerings. We are pleased to announce the addition of our Hemogenix's Bioluminomics™ In-Vitro Cell Assays, MSCGro™ Mesenchymal Stem Cell Media and Umbilical Cord Blood derived hMesenchymal Stem Cells.

These provide quantitation, not subjectivity. It includes assay calibration and standardization. It means assay validation. It produces results you can trust and rely on. It means innovation and flexibility. It is advanced technology that is fast to learn, easy to use and above all, cost effective.

Assays options:

• LumiSTEM™ for Primary Stem and Explanted Cells, Stem and Other Cell Lines-Selecting LumiSTEM™ Assays(pdf - 418Kb)
• LUMENESC™ for Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cell System-Selecting LUMENESC™ Assays(pdf - 984Kb)
• HALO® for for Human Lympho-Hematopoietic Stem and Progenitor Cell Research.-Selecting HALO™ Assays(pdf - 1.7M)
• Biolumonics Basic Procedures(pdf - 323Kb) 

Available Cells:

Primary Neurons and Astrocytes-Primary human, rat and mouse neurons and astrocytes
STEMEZ^TM Human Neural Progenitor Neuron Discovery Kits-Derived from H9 (WA09) ECSs-Consistent, Easy to Use & Cost Effective
Human Mesenchymal Stem Cells (hMSCs-hMSCs derived from pancreas and umbilical cord blood
Mammalian Cell Lines

Media:
STEMEZ(TM) hN2 Human Neurons Culture Media
MSCGro™ Mesenchymal Stem Cell Media
NbActiv4

I will continue to post customer input and related data on Neuromics' Cell Based Assay Tools.

Differential healing properties of human ACL and MCL Stem Cells

Autologous Stem Cell therapies for human injury and disease are gaining momentum. Understanding the properties of Stem Cell Colonies that have potential for these therapies is key to optimizing treatments. This study provides knowledge on the properties and their impact on future therapies for anterior cruciate ligament (hACL) and medial collateral ligament (hMCL) of the knee joint.
Jianying Zhang, Tiffany Pan, Hee-Jeong Im, Freddie H Fu and James HC Wang. Differential properties of human ACL and MCL stem cells may be responsible for their differential healing capacity. Differential properties of human ACL and MCL stem cells may be responsible for their differential healing capacity. BMC Medicine 2011, 9:68doi:10.1186/1741-7015-9-68.

Background: The (hACL) and medial collateral ligament (hMCL) of the knee joint are frequently injured, especially in athletic settings. It has been known that, while injuries to the MCL typically heal with conservative treatment, ACL injuries usually do not heal. As adult stem cells repair injured tissues through proliferation and differentiation, we hypothesized that the hACL and hMCL contain stem cells exhibiting unique properties that could be responsible for the differential healing capacity of the two ligaments.

Methods: To test the above hypothesis, we derived ligament stem cells from normal hACL and hMCL samples from the same adult donors using tissue culture techniques and characterized their properties using immunocytochemistry, RT-PCR, and flow cytometry.

Images:The expression of stem cell markers in hACL-SCs and hMCL-SCs. At passage 5, hACL-SCs had already become highly elongated in confluent culture, a typical fibroblast phenotype (A). In contrast, even at passage 13, confluent hMCL-SCs remained cobblestone-like (B). Moreover, hACL-SCs no longer expressed nucleostemin (C) or SSEA-4 (E) at passages > 5, whereas hMCL-SCs expressed both stem cell markers at passage 13 (D, F). Note, however, that hMCL-SCs at this high passage exhibited a lesser degree of nucleostemin expression compared to the cells at passage 1 (see Figure 3). The results shown here were obtained from a male donor of 27 years oldTo test the above hypothesis, we derived ligament stem cells from normal hACL and hMCL samples from the same adult donors using tissue culture techniques and characterized their properties using immunocytochemistry, RT-PCR, and flow cytometry.

Results: We found that both hACL stem cells (hACL-SCs) and hMCL stem cells (hMCL-SCs) formed colonies in culture and expressed stem cell markers nucleostemin and stage-specific embryonic antigen-4 (SSEA-4). Moreover, both hACL-SCs and hMCL-SCs expressed CD surface markers for mesenchymal stem cells, including CD44 and CD90, but not those markers for vascular cells, CD31, CD34, CD45, and CD146. However, hACL-SCs differed from hMCL-SCs in that the size and number of hACL-SC colonies in culture were much smaller and grew more slowly than hMCL-SC colonies. Moreover, fewer hACL-SCs in cell colonies expressed stem cell markers STRO-1 and octamer-binding transcription factor-4 (Oct-4) than hMCL-SCs. Finally, hACL-SCs had less multi-differentiation potential than hMCL-SCs, evidenced by differing extents of adipogenesis, chondrogenesis, and osteogenesis in the respective induction media.
Conclusions: This study shows for the first time that hACL-SCs are intrinsically different from hMCL-SCs. We suggest that the differences in their properties contribute to the known disparity in healing capabilities between the two ligaments.
I will be posting more on autologous stem cell therapies research.

Understanding Rett Syndrome Pathologies

Dr Jeffrey Neul and his team at Baylor Medical College have been studying the root causes of pathologies associated with Rett Syndrome.

This disease is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by mutations in methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2), a transcriptional regulator. In addition to cognitive, communication, and motor problems, affected individuals have abnormalities in autonomic function and respiratory control. Sufferers often die young due to these abnormalities.

They found that MeCP2 is necessary within the brainstem and spinal cord for normal lifespan, normal control of heart rate, and respiratory response to hypoxia. Here's the exciting news: restoration of MeCP2 in a subset of the cells in this same region is sufficient to rescue abnormal heart rate and abnormal respiratory response to hypoxia. Furthermore, restoring MeCP2 function in neural centers critical for autonomic and respiratory function alleviates the lethality associated with loss of MeCP2: Christopher S. Ward, E. Melissa Arvidel, Teng-Wei Huang, Jong Yoo, Jeffrey L. Noebels, and Jeffrey L. Neul. MeCP2 Is Critical within HoxB1-Derived Tissues of Mice for Normal Lifespan. The Journal of Neuroscience, 13 July 2011, 31(28): 10359-10370; doi: 10.1523/​JNEUROSCI.0057-11.2011

I will be keeping my finger of the pulse of Dr. Neul and team's research. It could be one of the keys that unlocks the door to creating theapies for Rhett Syndrome. This would be good news for sufferers and their loved ones. There is hope.

We would also like to thank the authors for referencing use of our goat polyclonal Islet-1 antibody.

Guinea Pig P2X3 Update-Good News

I have had to say to many customers, "our guinea pig P2x3 is on backorder". The increasing number of pubs referencing this antibody only amped demand.

We tried and tried to re-make it. The result was none of the bleeds we tested had a signal strong enough to release the antibody. We had a customer suggest re-testing several of the more promising bleeds. Thank you! We have good news on results and we are offering for 50% off. This is to acknowledge the investment required for TSA and Guinea Pig Biotinylated Antibody.



Here're the recent pubs I referenced:

Gabriela Castañeda-Corral, Héctor I. Rocha-González, Beatriz Godínez-Chaparro, Juan Miguel Jiménez-Andrade and Vinicio Granados-Soto. Role of the spinal Na+/H+ exchanger in formalin-induced nociception. Neuroscience Letters. doi:10.1016/j.neulet.2011.06.048....SP (guinea pig; 1:500; Cat# GP14110; Neuromics), CGRP (goat, 1:500; Cat# Ab36001; Abcam) and P2X3 receptor (guinea pig: 1:10,000; Cat# GP10108; Neuromics)...
Anna M.W. Taylora and Alfredo Ribeiro-da-Silva. GDNF levels in the lower lip skin in a rat model of trigeminal neuropathic pain: Implications for nonpeptidergic fiber reinnervation and parasympathetic sprouting. PAIN Volume 152, Issue 7, July 2011, Pages 1502-1510. doi:10.1016/j.pain.2011.02.035.
...Sections were then incubated for 48h at 4°C with a guinea pig polyclonal anti-P2X3 (1:25,000; Neuromics, Edina, MN)...

Transfection/Infection of Primary Neurons

Gene Expression Analysis of Neurons is an important tools in basic research and the study of neuropathologies. At the Neuromics' blog: "siRNA, DsiRNA and Plasmid Transfection Efficiency", I have posted many examples of successful tarnsfection of primary neurons and related cells using both our Transfection Kits/Reagents and others.

The other puzzle piece for these studies is having a fresh, pure and easy to use source of cells. Here, Neuromics has many options. These primary neurons and neural progenitors are widely referenced in key publications. Applications referenced include: transfection, pharmacology, electrophysiology, immunocytochemistry, and neuronal development studies.

This posting features infection of our e18 Primary Rat Combined Hippocampus, Cortex, and Ventricular Neurons using Nipah virus related components and HeV pseudotyped virions

Aparna Talekar, Antonello Pessi, and Matteo Porotto. Infection of primary neurons mediated by Nipah virus envelope proteins: Role of host target cells in antiviral action. J. Virol. doi:10.1128/JVI.00452-11.

Abstract: We have previously described heterotypic peptides from parainfluenza virus that potently inhibit Nipah virus in vitro, but are not efficacious in vivo. By contrast, our second-generation inhibitors, featuring a cholesterol moiety, are also efficacious in vivo. The difference between in vitro and in vivo results led us to investigate the basis for this discrepancy. Here we compare the activity of the compounds in standard laboratory cells and in cells relevant to the natural tropism of Nipah virus, i.e. primary neurons, and show that while our first generation inhibitors are poorly active in primary neurons, the cholesterol-conjugated compounds are highly potent. These results highlight the advantage of evaluating antiviral potency in cells relevant to natural host target tissue.

Customer Data: Transfection of functional HeV glycoproteins and infection with HeV pseudotyped virions.In order to establish the feasibility of carrying out the proposed experiments in primary neurons, we show (figure ) that our assays are amenable to use in primary neurons. In the experiment, Combined Hippocampus, Cortex, and Ventricular -E18 (Neuromics) were plated, and at 3 days were transfected with plasmids encoding HeV G/F as well as YFP. On the following day, these cells were infected with HeV or VSV pseudotyped viruses bearing RFP. In the figure, (A) the phase contrast photos show the differentiated neurons; (B) upon excitation for RFP, the red fluorescence indicates neurons infected by HeV pseudotyped virions; (C) upon excitation for YFP, and the green fluorescence shows the efficiency of transfection in neurons. This experiment indicates that the proposed experiments can be carried out in primary neurons, which are transfectable and infectable in our systems, and thus supports all the proposed aims. Data Courtesy of Dr. Matteo Porotto, Weill Cornell Medical College. Larger Image

We will continue to keep you updated.

Chronic Type II Diabetes Mellitus and Cardiovascular Disease

Our Neuropeptide and Neuropeptide Receptors and Leptin and Leptin Receptor Antibdodies are frequently used to study pathologies and biology specific to Obesity and Diabetes.

Here's a new publication studying the relationship between diabetic neuropathy and altered neuropeptide Y and its receptor expression levels in myocardium and plasma.

Robina Matyal, Feroze Mahmood, Michael Robich, Hiliary Glazera, Kamal Khabbaza, Philip Hessa, Cesario Bianchia, Robert Hagberga, Shu-Xu Hua, and Frank W. Sellkea. Chronic type II diabetes mellitus leads to changes in neuropeptide Y receptor expression and distribution in human myocardial tissue. European Journal of Pharmacology. Volume 665, Issues 1-3, 31 August 2011, Pages 19-28.

Abstract: Neuropeptide Y is one of the most abundant neurotransmitters in the myocardium, and is known to influence cardiovascular remodeling. We hypothesized that diabetic neuropathy could possibly be associated with altered neuropeptide Y and its receptor expression levels in myocardium and plasma. Plasma neuropeptide Y levels in diabetic (n = 24, HgbA1c 7.9 ± 1.1%) and non-diabetic (n = 27, HgbA1c 5.8 ± 0.5%) patients undergoing cardiac surgery utilizing cardiopulmonary bypass were analyzed. Right atrial tissue of these patients was used to determine the expression of neuropeptide Y, the receptors 1–5, and leptin by immunoblotting, real-time PCR and immunofluorescence. Apoptosis signaling and endostatin and angiostatin were measured to determine the effects of leptin.


Plasma neuropeptide Y levels were significantly increased in patients with Type II diabetes mellitus as compared to non-diabetic patients (P = 0.026). Atrial tissue neuropeptide Y mRNA levels were lower in diabetic patients (P = 0.036). There was a significant up-regulation of myocardial Y2 and Y5 receptors (P = 0.009, P = 0.01 respectively) in the diabetic patients. Leptin, involved with apoptosis and angiogenesis, was down regulated in diabetic patients (P = 0.05). The levels of caspase-3, endostatin and angiostatin were significantly elevated in diabetic patients (P = 0.003, P = 0.008, P = 0.01 respectively). Y1 receptors were more likely to be localized within the nuclei of cardiomyocytes and vascular smooth muscle cells.


Neuropeptide expression is altered differentially in the serum and myocardium by diabetes. Altered regulation of this system in diabetics may be in part responsible for the decreased angiogenesis, increased apoptosis, and increased vascular smooth muscle proliferation leading to coronary artery disease and heart failure in this patient population.

SOX2 as a Marker for Melanoma

I would like to post a new application for our SOX2 neural progenitor marker.

Alvaro C. Laga, Qian Zhan,Carsten Weishaupt, Jie Ma, Markus H. Frank, George F. Murphy. SOX2 and nestin expression in human melanoma: an immunohistochemical and experimental study. Experimental Dermatology. Volume 20, Issue 4, pages 339–345, April 2011. DOI: 10.1111/j.1600-0625.2011.01247.x.

SOX2 is an embryonic neural crest stem-cell transcription factor recently shown to be expressed in human melanoma and to correlate with experimental tumor growth. SOX2 binds to an enhancer region of the gene that encodes for nestin, also a neural progenitor cell biomarker. To define further the potential relationship between SOX2 and nestin, we examined co-expression patterns in 135 melanomas and 37 melanocytic nevi. Immunohistochemical staining in 27 melanoma tissue sections showed an association between SOX2 positivity, spindle cell shape and a peripheral nestin distribution pattern. In contrast, SOX2-negative cells were predominantly epithelioid, and exhibited a cytoplasmic pattern for nestin. In tissue microarrays, co-expression correlated with tumor progression, with only 11% of nevi co-expressing SOX2 and nestin in contrast to 65% of metastatic melanomas, and preliminarily, with clinical outcome. Human melanoma lines that differentially expressed constitutive SOX2 revealed a positive correlation between SOX2 and nestin expression. Experimental melanomas grown from these respective cell lines in murine subcutis and dermis of xenografted human skin maintained the association between SOX2-positivity, spindle cell shape, and peripheral nestin distribution. Moreover, the cytoplasmic pattern of nestin distribution was observed in xenografts generated from SOX2-knockdown A2058 melanoma cells, in contrast to the periperhal nestin pattern seen in tumors grown from A2058 control cells transfected with non-target shRNA. In aggregate, these data further support a biologically significant linkage between SOX2 and nestin expression in human melanoma.

Assembly and Maintenance of GABAergic Synapses

Understanding the mechanisms underlying Axon Growth and Guidance is key to finding the root cause of neurological diseases and discovering potential therapies.

In this important study, researchers TrkB is required for the localization of an Ig superfamily cell adhesion molecule, Contactin-1, in Golgi and granule cells and the absence of Contactin-1 also results in deficits in inhibitory synaptic development. This demonstrates that TrkB controls the assembly and maintenance of GABAergic synapses and suggest that TrkB functions, in part, through promoting synaptic adhesion: TrkB (Tropomyosin-Related Kinase B) Controls the Assembly and Maintenance of GABAergic Synapses in the Cerebellar Cortex. The Journal of Neuroscience, February 23, 2011 • 31(8):2769 –2780 • 276

Contactin-1 IHC and WB

Images: Inactivation of TrkB kinase activity disrupts the localization of GABAergic synaptic proteins. A–I, Homozygous mice carrying TrkB F616A allele were treated with water or 1NMPP1 from P0 to P28 and analyzed at P28. The localization of GAD65 (green; B), GAD67 (green; E) and gephyrin (red; H ) in the IGL is reduced in TrkB F616A mice treated with 1NMPP1 compared with TrkB F616A mice treated with water (A, D, G). C, F, I, Quantification of the area ratio of GAD65:vGluT1 (C), GAD67:vGluT1 (F ) and gephyrin:vGluT1 expression (I) in control and 1NMPP1-treated mice. J–R, Homozygousmice carrying TrkB F616A allele were treated with water or 1NMPP1 from P30 to P50 and analyzed at P50. The localization of GAD65 (green; K ), GAD67 (green; N ) and gephyrin (red; Q) is reduced in TrkB F616A mice treated with 1NMPP1 compared with control (J, M, P). L, O, R, Quantification of the area ratio of GAD65:vGluT1 (L), GAD67:vGluT1 (O) and gephyrin:vGluT1 expression (R) in control and 1NMPP1-treated mice. Scale bar, 10 um.

LepRb-STAT3 Pathway and Obesity Research

Neuromics' Hypothalumus Neurons, Leptin Antibodies and Recombinant Proteins are being increasingly used by researchers studying root causes of diabetes and obesity. I am pleased to update you on an important study from our friends at Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine. This publication references use of our LepRb/OBRb Antibody.

Pei Wang, Feng-Jiao Yang, Hui Du, Yun-Feng Guan, Tian-Ying Xu, Xue-Wen Xu, Ding-Feng Su, and Chao-Yu Miao. Involvement of Leptin Receptor Long Isoform (LepRb)-STAT3 Signaling Pathway in Brain Fat Mass– and Obesity-Associated(FTO) Downregulation during Energy Restriction. © 2011 The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, www.feinsteininstitute.org.Online address: http://www.molmed.org. doi: 10.2119/molmed.2010.00013.
Abstract: Obesity is an important risk factor for cardiovascular disease, diabetes and certain cancers. The fat mass– and obesity associated (FTO) gene is tightly associated with the pathophysiology of obesity, whereas the exact role of FTO remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated the alternations of FTO mRNA and protein expression in the peripheral metabolic tissues and the brain upon energy restriction (ER) and explored the involvement of the leptin signaling pathway in FTO regulation under ER status. ER decreased the FTO mRNA and protein expression in hypothalamus and brainstem but not in periphery. Using doubleimmunofluorescence staining, FTO was found to be colocalized with the leptin receptor long isoform (LepRb) in arcuate nucleus of hypothalamus and the nucleus of the solitary tract. In LepRb mutant db/db mice, the FTO downregulation in brain and body weight reduction induced by ER were completely abolished. The enhanced phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) induced by ER was also impaired in db/db mice. Moreover, leptin directly activated the STAT3 signaling pathway and downregulated FTO in in vitro arcuate nucleus of hypothalamus cultures and in vivo wild-type mice but not db/db mice. Thus, our results provide the first evidence that the LepRb-STAT3 signaling pathway is involved in the brain FTO downregulation during ER.

LepRB (CH14104) staining of rat brain sections

Images: Frozen brain sections were incubated with LepRb (clone number CH14014; chicken antirat) and FTO (rabbit antirat) antibodies and then incubated with Cy3-conjugated secondary antibody (goat antichicken, red) or FITC-conjugated secondary (goat antirabbit, red). Nuclei were stained by 4′,6-diamidino-2-phenylindole dihydrochloride (DAPI). NTS, nucleus of the solitary tract.

I will continue to track these kind of studies closely. They build the foundation for potential Obesity resduction therapies. This would have a major impact on growing burden of world wide Health Costs.

bradykinin B2 or purinergic P2Y receptors and SNs

Our Neurotransmission Research Antibodies are proving to be important tools in studying excitability and firing properties of sympathetic neurons (SNs).

In this study the authors probe the role of a particular nerve cell potassium current, called the M-current, in the control of neurotransmitter release, using the contraction rate of the co-cultured heart cells as a functional read-out of noradrenaline release. Using several drugs and receptor agonists, we manipulated the activity of M-current in the nerve cells, which were stimulated by nicotine, and monitored its effect on heart cell beating. We find that the M-type potassium current has a robust role in the control of noradrenaline release from the nerve cells, and in the response of the heart cells to increased beating frequency as a result:

Oleg Zaika, Jie Zhang, and Mark S. Shapiro. Functional role of M-type (KCNQ) K+ channels in adrenergic control of cardiomyocyte contraction rate by sympathetic neurons. J. Physiol., May 2011; 589: 2559 - 2568.
Abstract: M-type (KCNQ) K+ channels are known to regulate excitability and firing properties of sympathetic neurons (SNs), but their role in regulating neurotransmitter release is unclear, requiring further study. We sought to use a physiological preparation in which SNs innervate primary cardiomyocytes to evaluate the direct role of M-channels in the release of noradrenaline (NA) from SNs. Co-cultures of rat SNs and mouse cardiomyocytes were prepared, and the contraction rate (CR) of the cardiomyocyte syncytium monitored by video microscopy. We excited the SNs with nicotine, acting on nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, and monitored the increase in CR in the presence or absence of the specific M-channel opener retigabine, or agonists of bradykinin B2 or purinergic P2Y receptors on the SNs. The maximal adrenergic effect on the CR was determined by application of isoproterenol (isoprenaline). To isolate the actions of B2 or P2Y receptor stimulation to the neurons, we prepared cardiomyocytes from B2 receptor or P2Y2 receptor knock-out mice, respectively. We found that co-application of retigabine strongly decreased the nicotine-induced increase in CR. Conversely, co-application of bradykinin or the P2Y-receptor agonist UTP augmented the nicotine-induced increase in CR to about half of the level produced by isoproterenol. All effects on the CR were wholly blocked by propranolol. Our data support the role of M-type K+ channels in the control of NA release by SNs at functional adrenergic synapses on cardiomyocytes. We conclude that physiological receptor agonists control the heart rate via the regulation of M-current in SNs.


This research has implications for forwarding the understanding of heart pacing.

MCP-1 promotes lung inflammation

Providing reaserchers Immune/Inflammatory Response Markers is a growing business for us. Publications referencing their use is a key validation that they can do the job.

Here's a recent pub that references use of our goat anti-mouse RAGE polyclonal antibody. More importantly, it studies the role of Monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) in modulating inflammatory response in the lungs: Marieke A.D. van Zoelen, Marleen I. Verstege, Christian Draing, Regina de Beer, Cornelis van’t Veera, Sandrine Florquin, Paul Bresser, Jaring S. van der Zee, Anje A. te Velde, Sonja von Aulock and Tom van der Poll. Endogenous MCP-1 promotes lung inflammation induced by LPS and LTA. doi:10.1016/j.molimm.2011.04.001.