Expression of HLA-DR by mesenchymal stromal cells in the platelet lysate era: an obsolete release criterion for MSCs?

Background: According to the definition of the International Society for Cell and Gene Therapy (ISCT), mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) do not express HLA-DR. This phenotypic marker as a release criterion for clinical use was established at a time when MSCs were expanded in fetal bovine serum (FBS)-containing media. Replacement of FBS with platelet lysate (PLs) as a medium supplement induced a significantly higher fraction of MSCs to express MHC class II antigens.

Validation of an ICH Q2 Compliant Flow Cytometry-Based Assay for the Assessment of the Inhibitory Potential of Mesenchymal Stromal Cells on T Cell Proliferation.

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have the potential to suppress pathological activation of immune cells and have therefore been considered for the treatment of Graft-versus-Host-Disease. The clinical application of MSCs requires a process validation to ensure consistent quality. A flow cytometry-based mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) was developed to analyse the inhibitory effect of MSCs on T cell proliferation.

Cell penetrating peptides are versatile tools for enhancing multimodal uptake into cells from pest insects.

Cell penetrating peptides (CPPs) are small peptides defined by their ability to deliver molecular cargo into cells. While the subject of frequent investigation for pharmaceutical drug delivery, little consideration has been given to the possibility of CPPs for use as insecticides or insecticide enhancers. Here, we characterize the entry of four fluorescently tagged CPPs into two insect cell lines and dissected midgut tissues in terms of both total quantity and mode of penetration.

Characterization of a novel pesticide transporter and P-glycoprotein orthologues in .

Pesticides remain one of the most effective ways of controlling agricultural and public health insects, but much is still unknown regarding how these compounds reach their targets. Specifically, the role of ABC transporters in pesticide absorption and excretion is poorly understood, especially compared to the detailed knowledge about mammalian systems. Here, we present a comprehensive characterization of pesticide transporters in the model insect .

Functional characterization and transcriptomic profiling of a spheroid-forming midgut cell line from Helicoverpa zea (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae).

Insect cell lines have been frequently used in insect science research in recent years. Establishment of cell lines from specialized tissues like the lepidopteran midgut is expected to facilitate research efforts towards the understanding of uptake and metabolic properties, as well as the design of assays for use in pesticide discovery. However, the number of available lines from specialized tissues of insects and the level of understanding of the biological processes taking place in insect cells is far behind mammalian systems.

Can the mammalian organoid technology be applied to the insect gut?

Mammalian intestinal organoids are multicellular structures that closely resemble the structure of the intestinal epithelium and can be generated in vitro from intestinal stem cells under appropriate culture conditions. This technology has transformed pharmaceutical research and drug development in human medicine. For the insect gut, no biotechnological platform equivalent to organoid cultures has been described yet.

Receptor assay guided structure-activity studies of helicokinin insect neuropeptides and peptidomimetic analogues.

Neuropeptides control numerous physiological processes in insects. The regulation of water balance is a crucial aspect of homeostasis in terrestrial insects and has been shown to be under endocrine control, primarily by corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF)-related peptides and kinins. For helicokinin I, a diuretic neuropeptide from the economically important insect pest Heliothis virescens, detailed structure-activity relationships have been established based on truncated structures, diverse amino acid scans and peptidomimetic analogues.

Insecticidal heterolignans--tubuline polymerization inhibitors with activity against chewing pests.

Starting from natural product podophyllotoxin 1 substituted heterolignans were identified with promising insecticidal in vivo activity. The impact of substitution in each segment of the core structure was investigated in a detailed SAR study, and variation of substituents in both aromatic moieties afforded derivatives 5 and 43 with broad insecticidal activity against lepidopteran and coleopteran species. In vitro measurements supported by modeling studies indicate that heterolignans 3-134 act as tubuline polymerization inhibitors interacting with the colchicine-binding site.