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Jazbec K, Jež M, Švajger U, Smrekar B, Miceska S, Rajčevič U, Justin M, Završnik J, Malovrh T, Švara T, Gombač M, Ramšak Ž, Rožman P. The Influence of Heterochronic Non-Myeloablative Bone Marrow Transplantation on the Immune System, Frailty, General Health, and Longevity of Aged Murine Recipients. Biomolecules 2022; 12:biom12040595. [PMID: 35454183 PMCID: PMC9028083 DOI: 10.3390/biom12040595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/10/2022] Open
Abstract
The stem cell theory of aging postulates that stem cells become inefficient at maintaining the original functions of the tissues. We, therefore, hypothesized that transplanting young bone marrow (BM) to old recipients would lead to rejuvenating effects on immunity, followed by improved general health, decreased frailty, and possibly life span extension. We developed a murine model of non-myeloablative heterochronic BM transplantation in which old female BALB/c mice at 14, 16, and 18(19) months of age received altogether 125.1 ± 15.6 million nucleated BM cells from young male donors aged 7–13 weeks. At 21 months, donor chimerism was determined, and the immune system’s innate and adaptive arms were analyzed. Mice were then observed for general health and frailty until spontaneous death, when their lifespan, post-mortem examinations, and histopathological changes were recorded. The results showed that the old mice developed on average 18.7 ± 9.6% donor chimerism in the BM and showed certain improvements in their innate and adaptive arms of the immune system, such as favorable counts of neutrophils in the spleen and BM, central memory Th cells, effector/effector memory Th and Tc cells in the spleen, and B1a and B1b cells in the peritoneal cavity. Borderline enhanced lymphocyte proliferation capacity was also seen. The frailty parameters, pathomorphological results, and life spans did not differ significantly in the transplanted vs. control group of mice. In conclusion, although several favorable effects are obtained in our heterochronic non-myeloablative transplantation model, additional optimization is needed for better rejuvenation effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katerina Jazbec
- Diagnostic Services, Blood Transfusion Centre of Slovenia, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (M.J.); (U.Š.); (B.S.); (S.M.); (U.R.); (M.J.); (P.R.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Mojca Jež
- Diagnostic Services, Blood Transfusion Centre of Slovenia, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (M.J.); (U.Š.); (B.S.); (S.M.); (U.R.); (M.J.); (P.R.)
| | - Urban Švajger
- Diagnostic Services, Blood Transfusion Centre of Slovenia, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (M.J.); (U.Š.); (B.S.); (S.M.); (U.R.); (M.J.); (P.R.)
- Chair of Clinical Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva 7, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Boštjan Smrekar
- Diagnostic Services, Blood Transfusion Centre of Slovenia, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (M.J.); (U.Š.); (B.S.); (S.M.); (U.R.); (M.J.); (P.R.)
| | - Simona Miceska
- Diagnostic Services, Blood Transfusion Centre of Slovenia, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (M.J.); (U.Š.); (B.S.); (S.M.); (U.R.); (M.J.); (P.R.)
| | - Uroš Rajčevič
- Diagnostic Services, Blood Transfusion Centre of Slovenia, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (M.J.); (U.Š.); (B.S.); (S.M.); (U.R.); (M.J.); (P.R.)
| | - Mojca Justin
- Diagnostic Services, Blood Transfusion Centre of Slovenia, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (M.J.); (U.Š.); (B.S.); (S.M.); (U.R.); (M.J.); (P.R.)
| | - Janja Završnik
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology, Jožef Stefan Institute, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
| | - Tadej Malovrh
- Institute of Microbiology and Parasitology, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
| | - Tanja Švara
- Institute of Pathology, Wild Animals, Fish and Bees, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (T.Š.); (M.G.)
| | - Mitja Gombač
- Institute of Pathology, Wild Animals, Fish and Bees, Veterinary Faculty, University of Ljubljana, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (T.Š.); (M.G.)
| | - Živa Ramšak
- National Institute of Biology, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia;
| | - Primož Rožman
- Diagnostic Services, Blood Transfusion Centre of Slovenia, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia; (M.J.); (U.Š.); (B.S.); (S.M.); (U.R.); (M.J.); (P.R.)
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Mitrović A, Završnik J, Mikhaylov G, Knez D, Pečar Fonović U, Matjan Štefin P, Butinar M, Gobec S, Turk B, Kos J. Evaluation of novel cathepsin-X inhibitors in vitro and in vivo and their ability to improve cathepsin-B-directed antitumor therapy. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:34. [PMID: 34989869 PMCID: PMC8738504 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-04117-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Revised: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
New therapeutic targets that could improve current antitumor therapy and overcome cancer resistance are urgently needed. Promising candidates are lysosomal cysteine cathepsins, proteolytical enzymes involved in various critical steps during cancer progression. Among them, cathepsin X, which acts solely as a carboxypeptidase, has received much attention. Our results indicate that the triazole-based selective reversible inhibitor of cathepsin X named Z9 (1-(2,3-dihydrobenzo[b][1,4]dioxin-6-yl)-2-((4-isopropyl-4H-1,2,4-triazol-3-yl)thio)ethan-1-one) significantly reduces tumor progression, both in vitro in cell-based functional assays and in vivo in two independent tumor mouse models: the FVB/PyMT transgenic and MMTV-PyMT orthotopic breast cancer mouse models. One of the mechanisms by which cathepsin X contributes to cancer progression is the compensation of cathepsin-B activity loss. Our results confirm that cathepsin-B inhibition is compensated by an increase in cathepsin X activity and protein levels. Furthermore, the simultaneous inhibition of both cathepsins B and X with potent, selective, reversible inhibitors exerted a synergistic effect in impairing processes of tumor progression in in vitro cell-based assays of tumor cell migration and spheroid growth. Taken together, our data demonstrate that Z9 impairs tumor progression both in vitro and in vivo and can be used in combination with other peptidase inhibitors as an innovative approach to overcome resistance to antipeptidase therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Mitrović
- Department of Biotechnology, Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000, Ljubljana,, Slovenia.
| | - Janja Završnik
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Georgy Mikhaylov
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Damijan Knez
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | | | - Petra Matjan Štefin
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Miha Butinar
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Stanislav Gobec
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Boris Turk
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia.,Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Janko Kos
- Department of Biotechnology, Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000, Ljubljana,, Slovenia.,Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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Jazbec K, Jež M, Smrekar B, Miceska S, Rožman JŽ, Švajger U, Završnik J, Malovrh T, Rožman P. Chimerism and gene therapy - Lessons learned from non-conditioned murine bone marrow transplantation models. Eur J Haematol 2018; 100:372-382. [DOI: 10.1111/ejh.13024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/04/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Mojca Jež
- Blood Transfusion Centre of Slovenia; Ljubljana Slovenia
| | | | - Simona Miceska
- Blood Transfusion Centre of Slovenia; Ljubljana Slovenia
| | | | - Urban Švajger
- Blood Transfusion Centre of Slovenia; Ljubljana Slovenia
| | | | - Tadej Malovrh
- Institute of Microbiology and Parasitology; Veterinary Faculty; University of Ljubljana; Ljubljana Slovenia
| | - Primož Rožman
- Blood Transfusion Centre of Slovenia; Ljubljana Slovenia
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Kramer L, Renko M, Završnik J, Turk D, Seeger MA, Vasiljeva O, Grütter MG, Turk V, Turk B. Non-invasive in vivo imaging of tumour-associated cathepsin B by a highly selective inhibitory DARPin. Am J Cancer Res 2017; 7:2806-2821. [PMID: 28824717 PMCID: PMC5562217 DOI: 10.7150/thno.19081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2017] [Accepted: 04/15/2017] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Cysteine cathepsins often contribute to cancer progression due to their overexpression in the tumour microenvironment and therefore present attractive targets for non-invasive diagnostic imaging. However, the development of highly selective and versatile small molecule probes for cathepsins has been challenging. Here, we targeted tumour-associated cathepsin B using designed ankyrin repeat proteins (DARPins). The selective DARPin 8h6 inhibited cathepsin B with picomolar affinity (Ki = 35 pM) by binding to a site with low structural conservation in cathepsins, as revealed by the X-ray structure of the complex. DARPin 8h6 blocked cathepsin B activity in tumours ex vivo and was successfully applied in in vivo optical imaging in two mouse breast cancer models, in which cathepsin B was bound to the cell membrane or secreted to the extracellular milieu by tumour and stromal cells. Our approach validates cathepsin B as a promising diagnostic and theranostic target in cancer and other inflammation-associated diseases.
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Potočar U, Hudoklin S, Kreft ME, Završnik J, Božikov K, Fröhlich M. Adipose-Derived Stem Cells Respond to Increased Osmolarities. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0163870. [PMID: 27706209 PMCID: PMC5051864 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0163870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2016] [Accepted: 09/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell therapies present a feasible option for the treatment of degenerated cartilaginous and intervertebral disc (IVD) tissues. Microenvironments of these tissues are specific and often differ from the microenvironment of cells that, could be potentially used for therapy, e.g. human adipose-derived stem cells (hASC). To ensure safe and efficient implantation of hASC, it is important to evaluate how microenvironmental conditions at the site of implantation affect the implanted cells. This study has demonstrated that cartilaginous tissue-specific osmolarities ranging from 400-600 mOsm/L affected hASC in a dose- and time-dependent fashion in comparison to 300 mOsm/L. Increased osmolarities resulted in transient (nuclear DNA and actin reorganisation) and non-transient, long-term morphological changes (vesicle formation, increase in cell area, and culture morphology), as well as reduced proliferation in monolayer cultures. Increased osmolarities diminished acid proteoglycan production and compactness of chondrogenically induced pellet cultures, indicating decreased chondrogenic potential. Viability of hASC was strongly dependent on the type of culture, with hASC in monolayer culture being more tolerant to increased osmolarity compared to hASC in suspension, alginate-agarose hydrogel, and pellet cultures, thus emphasizing the importance of choosing relevant in vitro conditions according to the specifics of clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Samo Hudoklin
- Institute of Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Mateja Erdani Kreft
- Institute of Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Janja Završnik
- Department of biochemistry and molecular biology, Jozef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Krešimir Božikov
- Department of Plastic Surgery and Burns, Division of Surgery, University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
| | - Mirjam Fröhlich
- Educell Ltd., Trzin, Slovenia
- Institute of Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Department of biochemistry and molecular biology, Jozef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- * E-mail:
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Berlec A, Završnik J, Butinar M, Turk B, Štrukelj B. In vivo imaging of Lactococcus lactis, Lactobacillus plantarum and Escherichia coli expressing infrared fluorescent protein in mice. Microb Cell Fact 2015; 14:181. [PMID: 26577444 PMCID: PMC4650289 DOI: 10.1186/s12934-015-0376-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2015] [Accepted: 11/05/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In vivo imaging of orally administered lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and commensal bacteria in mice is shown to provide information on the spatial and temporal distribution of bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract. The bacteria can be detected and monitored using bioluminescence or near-infrared fluorescence. RESULTS Fluorescence imaging of bacteria was established by expressing the infrared fluorescent protein IRFP713 in Lactococcus lactis, Lactobacillus plantarum and Escherichia coli. All three bacterial species were monitored in live mice and no major differences in transit time were observed. Bacteria passed through the stomach and small intestine in 1 h and the majority were secreted from the large intestine after 6-8 h. Intestinal localization of bacteria was confirmed by imaging the isolated intestines and culturing the intestinal content. The use of fluorescence tomography for spatial localization of fluorescent bacteria has been established. The expression of an additional infrared fluorescent protein IRFP682 enabled concomitant detection of two bacterial populations in live mice. CONCLUSIONS The present work provides a methodological basis for future studies of probiotic and theranostic actions of LAB in mouse disease models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aleš Berlec
- Department of Biotechnology, Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Janja Završnik
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology, Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Miha Butinar
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology, Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Boris Turk
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular and Structural Biology, Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
- Centre of Excellence for Integrated Approaches in Chemistry and Biology of Proteins, Jamova 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology, University of Ljubljana, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Borut Štrukelj
- Department of Biotechnology, Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
- Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva 7, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
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Maher K, Završnik J, Jerič-Kokelj B, Vasiljeva O, Turk B, Kopitar-Jerala N. Decreased IL-10 expression in stefin B-deficient macrophages is regulated by the MAP kinase and STAT-3 signaling pathways. FEBS Lett 2014; 588:720-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.febslet.2014.01.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2013] [Revised: 01/07/2014] [Accepted: 01/08/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Kuhar U, Završnik J, Toplak I, Malovrh T. Detection and molecular characterisation of equine infectious anaemia virus from field outbreaks in Slovenia. Equine Vet J 2013; 46:386-91. [DOI: 10.1111/evj.12138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- U. Kuhar
- Veterinary Faculty; Institute for Microbiology and Parasitology; Virology Unit; University of Ljubljana; Slovenia
| | - J. Završnik
- Veterinary Faculty; Institute for Microbiology and Parasitology; Virology Unit; University of Ljubljana; Slovenia
| | - I. Toplak
- Veterinary Faculty; Institute for Microbiology and Parasitology; Virology Unit; University of Ljubljana; Slovenia
| | - T. Malovrh
- Veterinary Faculty; Institute for Microbiology and Parasitology; Virology Unit; University of Ljubljana; Slovenia
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Prosen G, Križmarić M, Završnik J, Grmec Š. Impact of Modified Treatment in Echocardiographically Confirmed Pseudo-Pulseless Electrical Activity in Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Patients with Constant End-Tidal Carbon Dioxide Pressure during Compression Pauses. J Int Med Res 2010; 38:1458-67. [DOI: 10.1177/147323001003800428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
This study evaluated the ability of focused echocardiography (FE) and capnography to differentiate between pulseless electrical activity (PEA) and pseudo-PEA in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, and the potential survival benefits with modified treatment. In PEA patients with stable end-tidal carbon dioxide pressure ( PetCO2) during the compression pause and concomitant FE showing cardiac kinetic activity, the compression pause was prolonged for 15 s and an additional 20 IU vasopressin was administered. If pulselessness persisted, compressions were continued. Fifteen of the 16 patients studied (94%) achieved restoration of spontaneous circulation (ROSC); eight patients (50%) attained a good neurological outcome (Cerebral Performance Category 1–2). In an historical PEA group with stable PetCO2 values ( n = 48), ROSC was achieved in 26 patients (54%); four patients (8%) attained Cerebral Performance Category 1–2. Echocardiographical verification of the pseudo-PEA state enabled additional vasopressor treatment and cessation of chest compressions, and was associated with significantly higher rates of ROSC, survival to discharge and good neurological outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Prosen
- Centre for Emergency Medicine Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
| | - M Križmarić
- Faculty for Health Sciences, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
| | - J Završnik
- Centre for Emergency Medicine Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
- Faculty for Health Sciences, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
| | - Š Grmec
- Centre for Emergency Medicine Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
- Faculty for Health Sciences, University of Maribor, Maribor, Slovenia
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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Prosen G, Grmec Š, Kupnik D, Krizmaric M, Završnik J, Gazmuri R. Focused echocardiography and capnography during resuscitation from pulseless electrical activity after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Crit Care 2009. [PMCID: PMC4083947 DOI: 10.1186/cc7225] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
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