Publications by authors named "Steven Haenen"

Introduction And Aim: The role of B-lymphocytes in chemical-induced asthma is largely unknown. Recent work demonstrated that transferring B lymphocytes from toluene diisocyanate (TDI)-sensitized mice into naïve mice, B cell KO mice and SCID mice, triggered an asthma-like response in these mice after a subsequent TDI-challenge. We applied two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) to describe the "sensitized signature" of B lymphocytes comparing TDI-sensitized mice with control mice.

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Tenofovir-disoproxil-fumarate (TDF) is a double ester prodrug which enables intestinal uptake of tenofovir (TFV) after oral administration in humans. In this study, prodrug stability was monitored in situ in the human intestine and in vitro using biorelevant media. In fasted state human intestinal fluids, the prodrug was completely degraded within 90 min, resulting in the formation of the mono-ester intermediate and TFV; in fed state intestinal fluids, the degradation rate of TDF was slightly reduced and no TFV was formed.

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In order to reach sufficiently high tissue concentrations and thus be effective, vaginally applied anti-HIV microbicides that are active at the level of the immune cells must permeate across the cervicovaginal mucosal layer. Cellular efflux transporters, such as Pgp, BCRP, and MRP-2, have been demonstrated to greatly affect drug disposition at different sites in the body including the intestine and the blood-brain barrier; their possible role on drug uptake from the female genital tract, however, has not been elucidated yet. In the present study, the protein expression of Pgp, BCRP, and MRP-2 in endocervical and vaginal tissue of premenopausal women was confirmed by Western blot analysis.

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T-lymphocytes and B-lymphocytes are key players in allergic asthma, with B-lymphocytes producing antigen-specific immunoglobulins E (IgE). We used a mouse model of chemical-induced asthma and transferred B-lymphocytes from sensitized animals into naïve wild type mice, B-lymphocyte knock-out (B-KO) mice or severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) mice. On days 1 and 8, BALB/c mice were dermally sensitized with 0.

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Diaryltriazines (DATAs) constitute a class of non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs) that are being investigated for use as anti-HIV microbicides. The aim of the present study was (1) to assess the biopharmaceutical properties of the DATA series, (2) to select the lead candidate as vaginal microbicide and (3) to develop and evaluate gel formulations of the lead candidate. First, the vaginal tissue permeation potential of the different DATAs was screened by performing permeability and solubility measurements.

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Introduction: Gold- (Au-) based nanomaterials have shown promising potential in nanomedicine. The individual health status is an important determinant of the response to injury/exposure. It is, therefore, critical to evaluate exposure to Au-nanomaterials with varied preexisting health status.

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Diisocyanates are an important cause of chemical-induced occupational asthma. This type of immunologically mediated asthma is often characterized by a predominant granulocytic inflammation in the airways, rather than an infiltration by lymphocytes. We sought to determine the contribution of granulocytes in the outcome of chemical-induced asthma using general and specific leukocyte depletion strategies in an established mouse model of isocyanate asthma.

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Some reactive chemicals, such as diisocyanates, are capable of initiating an allergic response, which can lead to occupational asthma after a latency period. Clinical symptoms such as cough, wheezing, and dyspnea occur only late, making it difficult to intervene at an early stage. So far, most studies using proteomics in lung research have focused on comparisons of healthy versus diseased subjects.

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A total proteome map of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 proteome is presented, generated by a combination of two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and protein identification by mass spectrometry. In total, 1128 spots were visualized, and 181 protein spots were characterized, corresponding to 159 different protein entries. In particular, protein chaperones and enzymes important in energy conversion and amino acid biosynthesis were identified.

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Epidemiological studies indicate that elderly persons are particularly susceptible to the cardiovascular health complications of air pollution, but pathophysiological mechanisms behind the increased susceptibility remain unclear. Therefore, we investigated how continuous traffic-related air pollution exposure affects haemostasis parameters in young and old mice. Young (10 weeks) and old (20 months) mice were placed in an urban roadside tunnel or in a clean environment for 25 or 26 days and markers of inflammation and endothelial cells or blood platelet activation were measured, respectively.

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Background: Small colony variants (SCVs) are slow-growing bacteria, which often show increased resistance to antibiotics and cause latent or recurrent infections. It is therefore important to understand the mechanisms at the basis of this phenotypic switch.

Methodology/principal Findings: One SCV (termed PAO-SCV) was isolated, showing high resistance to gentamicin and to the cephalosporine cefotaxime.

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Background: We optimized an adoptive transfer protocol in our mouse model of TDI-induced asthma in order to investigate the mechanisms of this type of occupational asthma.

Methods: On days 1 and 8, BALB/c mice were dermally sensitized with 0.3% TDI or vehicle (acetone/olive oil), and on day 15, they were sacrificed and a cell suspension was made from auricular lymph nodes.

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Occupational asthma is the principal cause of work-related respiratory disease in the industrial world. Toluene-2,4-diisocyanate (TDI) is one of the most common respiratory sensitizers leading to occupational asthma. Using a mouse model of chemical-induced asthma, we explored proteome changes in multiple compartments of mice sensitized and challenged with TDI or acetone-olive oil (AOO; vehicle).

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Background: The development of occupational asthma is the result of interactions between environmental factors and individual susceptibility. We assessed how our model of chemical-induced asthma is influenced by using different mouse strains.

Methodology/principal Findings: On days 1 and 8, male mice of 7 different strains (BALB/c, BP/2, A/J, C57Bl/6, DBA/2, CBA and AKR) were dermally treated with toluene-2,4-diisocyanate (TDI) (0.

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Background: Persulfate salts are the main cause of occupational asthma (OA) in hairdressers. The aim of this study was to verify whether ammonium persulfate ((NH(4))(2)S(2)O(8), AP) is capable of triggering an asthma-like response in mice.

Methods: BALB/c mice were dermally treated on days 1 and 8, with dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), 1% AP or 5% AP (20 microl/ear).

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Background: To assess the importance of the route of challenge in an existing mouse model of chemical-induced asthma, we replaced intranasal instillation by oropharyngeal aspiration. To our knowledge, oropharyngeal aspiration as a challenge route has not yet been investigated in a mouse model of chemical-induced asthma.

Methods: On days 1 and 8, mice were dermally sensitized with toluene diisocyanate (TDI) (0.

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Pulmonary function analysis is an important tool in the evaluation of mouse respiratory disease models, but much controversy still exists on the validity of some tests. Most commonly used pulmonary function variables of humans are not routinely applied in mice, and the question of which pulmonary function is optimal for the monitoring of a particular disease model remains largely unanswered. Our study aimed to delineate the potential and restrictions of existing pulmonary function techniques in different respiratory disease models, and to determine some common variables between humans and mice.

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