Pre-Treatment with Either L-Carnitine or Piracetam Increases Ultrasound-Mediated Gene Transfection by Reducing Sonoporation-Associated Apoptosis.

Ultrasound Med Biol

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Division of Medical Engineering Research, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan.

Published: June 2018

Sonoporation, the use of ultrasound to alter the permeability of cell membranes, is a non-viral technique used to facilitate gene delivery, possibly by opening transient pores in the cell membrane. However, sonoporation may have negative bio-effects on cells, such as causing apoptosis, which limits its efficacy in gene delivery. In this study, we investigated whether pre-treatment with either L-carnitine or piracetam could protect cells from undergoing apoptosis after sonoporation and the possible mechanisms. We found that either L-carnitine or piracetam can promote gene transfection without reducing cell viability, possibly by reducing cavitation-induced reactive oxygen species generation, reversing alterations of mitochondrial membrane potential, preventing caspase-3/7 activity and facilitating mitochondrial ATP production. In conclusion, pre-treatment with either L-carnitine or piracetam could protect cells from sonoporation-associated apoptosis by preserving mitochondrial function.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ultrasmedbio.2018.02.003DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

l-carnitine piracetam
16
pre-treatment l-carnitine
12
gene transfection
8
transfection reducing
8
sonoporation-associated apoptosis
8
apoptosis sonoporation
8
gene delivery
8
piracetam protect
8
protect cells
8
piracetam
4

Similar Publications

Objectives: To evaluate the effect of L-carnitine and piracetam on the muscle injury induced by simvastatin in healthy male subjects during the therapy with oral doses of 10 mL of a solution containing L-carnitine 100 mg/mL + piracetam 80 mg/mL (test group) or placebo (control group) and 40 mg simvastatin once a day during 35 consecutive days. The effect of L-carnitine and piracetam in the reduction of myopathic symptomatology caused by exercise, as well as safety and tolerability were also evaluated.

Materials And Methods: This study was performed on two different occasions, of which 42 subjects were investigated on occasion 1 and 19 on occasion 2.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Pre-Treatment with Either L-Carnitine or Piracetam Increases Ultrasound-Mediated Gene Transfection by Reducing Sonoporation-Associated Apoptosis.

Ultrasound Med Biol

June 2018

Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, National Taiwan University Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Division of Medical Engineering Research, National Health Research Institutes, Miaoli, Taiwan.

Sonoporation, the use of ultrasound to alter the permeability of cell membranes, is a non-viral technique used to facilitate gene delivery, possibly by opening transient pores in the cell membrane. However, sonoporation may have negative bio-effects on cells, such as causing apoptosis, which limits its efficacy in gene delivery. In this study, we investigated whether pre-treatment with either L-carnitine or piracetam could protect cells from undergoing apoptosis after sonoporation and the possible mechanisms.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

A rapid, sensitive and specific method for quantifying piracetam in human plasma using Piracetam d-8 as the internal standard (IS) is described. The analyte and the IS were extracted from plasma by one-step precipitation of protein using an acetonitrile (100%). The extracts were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS).

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

We report the case of an aborted awake craniotomy for a left frontotemporoinsular glioma due to ammonia encephalopathy on a patient taking Levetiracetam, valproic acid and clobazam. This awake mapping surgery was scheduled as a second-stage procedure following partial resection eight days earlier under general anesthesia. We planned to perform the surgery with local anesthesia and sedation with remifentanil and propofol.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Mitochondrial oxidative stress followed by membrane permeability transition (MPT) has been considered as a possible mechanism for statins cytotoxicity. Statins use has been associated with reduced risk of cancer incidence, especially prostate cancer. Here we investigated the pathways leading to simvastatin-induced prostate cancer cell death as well as the mechanisms of cell death protection by l-carnitine or piracetam.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!