Delivery of Bone Marrow-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Improves Tear Production in a Mouse Model of Sjögren's Syndrome.

The purpose of the present study was to test the potential of mouse bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BD-MSCs) in improving tear production in a mouse model of Sjögren's syndrome dry eye and to investigate the underlying mechanisms involved. NOD mice ( = 20) were randomized to receive i.p.

Colorectal delivery and retention of PEG-Amprenavir-Bac7 nanoconjugates--proof of concept for HIV mucosal pre-exposure prophylaxis.

Local delivery of anti-HIV drugs to the colorectal mucosa, a major site of HIV replication, and their retention within mucosal tissue would allow for a reduction in dose administered, reduced dosing frequency and minimal systemic exposure. The current report describes a mucosal pre-exposure prophylaxis (mPrEP) strategy that utilizes nanocarrier conjugates (NC) consisting of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG), amprenavir (APV), and a cell-penetrating peptide (CPP; namely Bac7, a fragment derived from bactenecin 7). APV-PEG NCs with linear PEGs (2, 5, 10, and 30 kDa) exhibited reduced (52-21%) anti-HIV-1 protease (PR) activity as compared to free APV in an enzyme-based FRET assay.

Role of Matrix Metalloproteinases 2 and 9 in Lacrimal Gland Disease in Animal Models of Sjögren's Syndrome.

Purpose: Chronic inflammation of the lacrimal gland results in changes in the composition of the extracellular matrix (ECM), which is believed to compromise tissue repair. We hypothesized that increased production/activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), especially MMP-2 and -9, in inflamed lacrimal glands modifies the ECM environment, therefore disrupting tissue repair.

Methods: The lacrimal glands from female MRL/lpr and male NOD mice along with their respective control strains were harvested and divided into three pieces and processed for histology, immunohistochemistry, zymography, Western blotting, and RNA analyses.

Multimeric peptide-based PEG nanocarriers with programmable elimination properties.

In the current study, the design, synthetic feasibility and biochemical characterization of biodegradable peptidic PEG-based nanocarriers are described. The components were selected to influence the body elimination pathway upon nanocarrier biodegradation. Two prototypical nanocarriers were prepared using non-PEGylated and PEGylated peptidic cores [CH(3)CO-(Lys-betaAla-betaAla)(X)-Cys-CONH(2) (X=2, 4)].