The in vivo cutaneous nerve regeneration model using capsaicin is applied extensively to study the regenerative mechanisms and therapeutic efficacy of disease modifying molecules for small fiber neuropathy (SFN). Since mismatches between functional and morphological nerve fiber recovery are described for this model, we aimed at determining the capability of the capsaicin model to truly mimic the morphological manifestations of SFN in diabetes. As nerve and blood vessel growth and regenerative capacities are defective in diabetes, we focused on studying the key regulator of these processes, the neuropilin-1 (NRP-1)/semaphorin pathway.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDespite all efforts made to develop predictive biomarkers for antiangiogenic therapies, no unambiguous markers have been identified so far. This is due to among others the lack of standardized tests. This study presents an improved microvessel density quantification method in tumor tissue based on stereological principles and using whole-slide images.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAims: Tumour cell and/or immune cell programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression is considered as a potential biomarker for anti-PD1 and anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy. Currently, different PD-L1 assays are used. This study aims to compare the staining patterns of two PD-L1 antibody clones in melanoma metastases and correlate them with PD-L1 mRNA expression.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: In this study we explored the possibility of automating the PGP9.5 immunofluorescence staining assay for the diagnosis of small fiber neuropathy using skin punch biopsies. The laboratory developed test (LDT) was subjected to a validation strategy as required by good laboratory practice guidelines and compared to the well-established gold standard method approved by the European Federation of Neurological Societies (EFNS).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTumor angiogenesis is measured by counting microvessels in tissue sections at high power magnification as a potential prognostic or predictive biomarker. Until now, regions of interest (ROIs) were selected by manual operations within a tumor by using a systematic uniform random sampling (SURS) approach. Although SURS is the most reliable sampling method, it implies a high workload.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAlthough the kidney generally has been regarded as an excellent source of carboxypeptidase M (CPM), little is known about its renal-specific expression level and distribution. This study provides a detailed localization of CPM in healthy and diseased human kidneys. The results indicate a broad distribution of CPM along the renal tubular structures in the healthy kidney.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFRO5068760, a substituted hydantoin, represents a new class of potent, highly selective, non-adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-competitive MEK1/2 inhibitors. The study aimed to determine the safety/tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics of single ascending doses of RO5068760 in human healthy volunteers. All participants received a single dose followed by 48 hours of pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and safety/tolerability assessments.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: CH4987655 (RO4987655) is an orally active and highly selective small-molecule MEK inhibitor. It potently inhibits mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathway activation and tumor cell growth, with an in vitro IC(50) of 5.2 nmol/L for inhibition of MEK1/2.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMastitis is one of the most costly production diseases in the dairy industry that is caused by a wide array of microorganisms. In this review, we focus on the Gram-negative Escherichia coli infections that often occur at periods when the innate immune defence mechanisms are impaired (i.e.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFReal-time analysis of gene expression in experimental tumor models represents a major tool to document disease biology and evaluate disease treatment. However, monitoring gene regulation in vivo still is an emerging field, and thus far it has not been linked to long-term tumor growth and disease outcome. In this report, we describe the development and validation of a fluorescence-based gene expression model driven by the promoter of the cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor p21waf1,cip1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHistone deacetylases (HDACs) are key enzymes in the regulation of gene expression. By maintaining the dynamic equilibrium of the acetylation status of highly conserved lysine residues on histones, they regulate chromatin remodeling and gene expression. A link between aberrant HDAC activity and cancer has been widely reported and HDAC inhibitors have been shown to inhibit the proliferation of human tumor cell lines in vitro.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe naturally occurring cyclic tetrapeptide chlamydocin is a very potent inhibitor of cell proliferation. Here we show that chlamydocin is a highly potent histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor, inhibiting HDAC activity in vitro with an IC(50) of 1.3 nM.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF