AOP1, a New Live Cell Assay for the Direct and Quantitative Measure of Intracellular Antioxidant Effects

Taking advantage of Light Up Cell System (LUCS) technology, which allows for fine monitoring of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production inside live cells, a new assay called Anti Oxidant Power 1 (AOP1) was developed to specifically measure ROS and/or free-radical scavenging effects inside living cells. This method is quantitative and EC50s obtained from AOP1 dose-response experiments were determined in order to classify the intracellular antioxidant efficacy of 15 well known antioxidant compounds with different hydrophilic properties. Six of them (epigallocatechin gallate, quercetin, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), ethoxyquin, resveratrol) gave EC50s in the range of 7–64 μM, four (Trolox, catechin, epicatechin, EUK134) in the range of 0.14 to 1 mM, and 5 (sulforaphane, astaxanthin, α- and γ-tocopherols, vitamin E acetate) showed only partial or no effect. Interestingly, effects with measurable EC50s were observed for compounds with hydrophilic properties (LogP ≤ 5.3), while all antioxidants known to act at the plasma membrane level (LogP ≥ 10.3) had partial or no effect. Sulforaphane, a hydrophilic but strict Keap1/Nrf2 pathway enhancer, did not show any effect either. Importantly, AOP1 assay captures both antioxidant and prooxidant effects. Taken together, these results led us to the conclusion that AOP1 assay measures antioxidant effect of compounds that selectively enter the cell, and act as free radical scavengers in the cytosol and/or nucleus level

Cell-Based Antioxidant Properties and Synergistic Effects of Natural Plant and Algal Extracts Pre and Post Intestinal Barrier Transport

In this work, both direct and indirect cell-based antioxidant profiles were established for 27 plant extracts and 1 algal extract. To evaluate the direct antioxidant effects, fluorescent AOP1 cell assay was utilized, which measures the ability of different samples to neutralize intracellular free radicals produced by a cell-based photo-induction process. As the intestinal barrier is the first cell line crossed by the product, dose response curves obtained from Caco-2 cells were used to establish EC50 values for 26 out of the 28 natural extracts. Among them, 11 extracts from Vitis, Hamamelis, Syzygium, Helichrysum, Ilex and Ribes genera showed remarkable EC50s in the range of 10 µg/mL. In addition to this, a synergistic effect was found when combinations of the most potent extracts (S. aromaticum, H. italicum, H. virginiana, V. vinifera) were utilized compared to extracts alone. Indirect antioxidant activities (i.e., the ability of cells to trigger antioxidant defenses) were studied using the ARE/Nrf2 luminescence reporter-gene assay in HepG2 cells, as liver is the first organ crossed by an edible ingredient once it enters in the bloodstream. Twelve extracts were subjected to an intestinal epithelial barrier passage in order to partially mimic intestinal absorption and show whether basolateral compartments could maintain direct or indirect antioxidant properties. Using postepithelial barrier samples and HepG2 cells as a target model, we demonstrate that indirect antioxidant activities are maintained for three extracts, S. aromaticum, H. virginiana and H. italicum. Our experimental work also confirms the synergistic effects of combinations of post-intestinal barrier compartments issued from apical treatment with these three extracts. By combining cell-based assays together with an intestinal absorption process, this study demonstrates the power of cell systems to address the issue of antioxidant effects in humans

Dosimetry Performances of a MultiWell-Plate-Based Near-Field RF Applicator for the Investigation of EM Impact on Biological Cells

International audienceWhile electromagnetic fields are now quasiubiquitous on earth and are constantly growing in use, RF radiation impact on living beings still continues to question. Within this context, a near-field RF applicator compatible with routine in vitro microplates for cellular investigations is proposed. This paper specifically focuses on its dosimetry performances, which are evaluated through simulation and measurements at 225 MHz, and its facility in biological postanalysis enabled by the use of standard bio-microplates

Entomophagie et risque allergique

International audienceThough traditionally confined to some Asian, African and South American countries, consumption of edible insects, known as entomophagy, is gradually spreading to the USA and European countries. Although it remains rather limited, essentially for psychological reasons, in some European countries entomophagy is developing with the emergence of companies dedicated to the mass production of edible insects, together with the opening of restaurants specialized in menus featuring such insects. In spite of the nutritional interest and apparent safety of eating edible insects, it is advisable that we be aware of the allergic risk, which this may represent for people allergic to shellfish, mollusks or house dust mites. Various panallergens such as tropomyosin and arginine kinase, which are common to insects, crustaceans, mollusks, dust mites and nematodes, can be responsible for the cross-reactivity between these organisms of different origins. In addition to these panallergens, other allergens more specifically associated with insects could likewise trigger allergic reactions. However, these allergens are still not well known and remain to be identified and characterized. In the meantime and because of the existence of cross-reactive allergens in insects, it seems wise to advise individuals known to be allergic to shellfish or mollusks to avoid eating edible insects.Traditionnellement confinée à différents pays d’Asie, d’Afrique et d’Amérique du Sud, la consommation d’insectes ou entomophagie commence à s’étendre à l’Europe et aux États-Unis. Bien que très limitée, surtout pour des raisons psychologiques, l’entomophagie tend à se développer avec l’émergence, dans différents pays d’Europe, d’une production industrielle d’insectes comestibles, associée à l’ouverture de restaurants spécialisés dans des menus à base d’insectes. Malgré l’intérêt nutritionnel et l’apparente innocuité des insectes comestibles, il convient d’apprécier le risque allergénique qu’ils peuvent représenter pour des sujets allergiques aux crustacés, aux acariens ou aux mollusques. Divers pan-allergènes tels que la tropomyosine ou l’arginine-kinase, communs aux insectes, aux crustacés, aux acariens, aux mollusques et aux nématodes, pourraient être responsables de réactions croisées entre ces organismes d’origine différente. D’autres allergènes, plus spécifiques des insectes, pourraient également déclencher des réactions allergiques. Ces allergènes restent encore très mal connus et demandent à être identifiés et caractérisés. Dans cette attente et en raison de l’existence d’allergènes croisants chez les insectes, il paraît prudent de conseiller aux personnes allergiques aux crustacés ou aux mollusques, d’éviter de consommer ce genre de nourriture

LUCS (Light-Up Cell System), a novel toxicity assay based on ROS and ABC transport status in live cell

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Allergénicité des protéines édulcorantes: What about the allergenicity of sweet-tasting proteins?

International audiencePlant proteins with sweet-tasting properties are increasingly used as substitutes for low-calorie sweeteners in the food industry. Thaumatin, the sweet protein isolated from the aril of the katemfe fruit (Thaumatococcus daniellii), is widely used as a natural sweetener. Two other low-calorie sweeteners with enhanced sweet-tasting properties, brazzein and monellin, which are isolated from the fruits of Pentadiplandra brazzeana and Dioscoreophyllum cumminsii, respectively, are still waiting to be produced on a large scale as recombinant sweet proteins for food industry. Although these sweet-tasting proteins are constitutively expressed in fruits, most of them consist of PR-proteins whose synthesis is strongly enhanced as a result of infection of the plant by phytopathogenic micro-organisms, fungi or molds. Both the sequence and structural similarities which the sweet proteins share with allergens, e.g., Art v 1 for brazzein, Mus a 4 and Ole a 13 for thaumatin, Ana o 3 and Pis v 1 for mabinlin, and Gly m Kunitz trypsin-inhibitor for monellin, suggest some possible allergenic propensity for these plant proteins. However, their allergenic potential following ingestion still remains to be demonstrated unambiguously.Des protéines végétales à propriétés édulcorantes sont utilisées dans différents secteurs de l’alimentation humaine où elles remplacent les édulcorants de synthèse. C’est le cas de la thaumatine, protéine édulcorante extraite de l’arille des fruits du katemfe (Thaumatococcus daniellii). Deux autres protéines édulcorantes à pouvoir sucrant élevé, la brazzéine des fruits de Pentadiplandra brazzeana et la monelline des fruits de Dioscoreophyllum cumminsii, sont également disponibles, mais leur production industrielle n’est pas encore programmée. Bien qu’elles soient exprimées de façon constitutive dans les fruits, la plupart de ces protéines correspondent à des protéines de défense de la plante ou protéines PR, dont la synthèse est exacerbée lorsque la plante est en conditions de stress, lors d’une attaque fongique, par exemple. Les homologies de séquence, et surtout de structure, que ces protéines édulcorantes partagent avec des allergènes avérés, avec Art v 1 pour la brazzéine, avec Mus a 4 ou Ole e 13 pour la thaumatine, avec Ana o 3 ou Pis v 1 pour la mabinline, avec l’inhibiteur de Kunitz du soja pour la monelline, suggèrent une possible allergénicité de ces protéines végétales. Néanmoins, leur potentiel allergénique reste à démontrer lors de leur consommation alimentaire

New strategies in the fight against Ciguatera

International audienceCiguatera is the major cause of food poisonings by seafood worldwide, with an estimated 50 000 to 500 000 victims per year. It is caused by very potent neurotoxins, Ciguatoxins which are lipid-soluble polyether compounds produced by dinoflagellates from the genus Gambierdiscus spp.. Ciguatoxins are mostly found in tropical and subtropical zones, including notably the Caribbean’s, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Indian Ocean and Southern Asia. Within the last decade, they have been also identified in fishes caught in European waters (ex.: in Madeira and Canary Islands), while Gambierdiscus spp. have also been found both in the NE Atlantic Ocean and in the Mediterranean Sea. Ciguatoxins bind to Voltage Gated Sodium Channels at the surface of human sensory neurons where they remain, causing Ciguatera Fish Poisoning or CFP. This severe disease is characterized by with a variety of gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and neurological symptoms (paresthesia, ataxia, cold allodynia), including persistent neurological effects. Despite the importance and prevalence of CFP, there is so far no simple and quick way of detecting these toxins in contaminated samples. Currently, only heavy and expensive laboratory methods are available to detect them: LC-MS/MS, receptor-binding assays by competition with radiolabeled compounds, and neuroblastoma cell-based assays performed on mammalian neurons. We have started to engineer biosensors based on the detection of a transcriptional signal in the yeast model Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This unicellular eukaryotic model is well-known and easy to genetically modify, grows fast and presents a very good conservation of signaling pathways with higher eukaryotes. Moreover, in an attempt to use developing Nanobiotechnology approaches, we will present our current strategy to study and characterize the binding of Ciguatoxins on mammalian neuronal cells by Single Molecule Force Spectroscopy using AFM

Ciguatoxins activate the Calcineurin signalling pathway in Yeasts: Potential for development of an alternative detection tool?

International audienceCiguatoxins (CTXs) are lipid-soluble polyether compounds produced by dinoflagellates from the genus Gambierdiscus spp. typically found in tropical and subtropical zones. This endemic area is however rapidly expanding due to environmental perturbations, and both toxic Gambierdiscus spp. and ciguatoxic fishes have been recently identified in the North Atlantic Ocean (Madeira and Canary islands) and Mediterranean Sea. Ciguatoxins bind to Voltage Gated Sodium Channels on the membranes of sensory neurons, causing Ciguatera Fish Poisoning (CFP) in humans, a disease characterized by a complex array of gastrointestinal, neurological, neuropsychological, and cardiovascular symptoms. Although CFP is the most frequently reported non bacterial food-borne poisoning worldwide, there is still no simple and quick way of detecting CTXs in contaminated samples. In the prospect to engineer rapid and easy-to-use CTXs live cells-based tests, we have studied the effects of CTXs on the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a unicellular model which displays a remarkable conservation of cellular signalling pathways with higher eukaryotes. Taking advantage of this high level of conservation, yeast strains have been genetically modified to encode specific transcriptional reporters responding to CTXs exposure. These yeast strains were further exposed to different concentrations of either purified CTX or micro-algal extracts containing CTXs. Our data establish that CTXs are not cytotoxic to yeast cells even at concentrations as high as 1μM, and cause an increase in the level of free intracellular calcium in yeast cells. Concomitantly, a dose-dependent activation of the calcineurin signalling pathway is observed, as assessed by measuring the activity of specific transcriptional reporters in the engineered yeast strains. These findings offer promising prospects regarding the potential development of a yeast cells-based test that could supplement or, in some instances, replace current methods for the routine detection of CTXs in seafood products

Development of new biosensors to detect ciguatoxins

Le poster a été présenté à l'oralInternational audienceCiguatoxins are lipid-soluble polyether compounds produced by dinoflagellates from the genus Gambierdiscus spp.. Ciguatoxins are mostly found in tropical and subtropical zones; however, within the last decade, they have been identified in fishes caught in European waters, notably in Madeira (1) and Canary Islands (2), while Gambierdiscus spp. have also been found both in the NE Atlantic Ocean (3) and in the Mediterranean Sea (4). These toxins bind to Voltage Gated Sodium Channels at the surface of human sensory neurons where they remain, causing Ciguatera Fish Poisoning with a variety of gastrointestinal, cardiovascular and neurological symptoms (paresthesia, ataxia, cold allodynia), including persistent neurological effects. Ciguatera is the major cause of food poisonings by seafood worldwide, with an estimated 50 000 to 500 000 victims per year. However, there is so far no simple and quick way of detecting these toxins in contaminated samples. Currently, only heavy and expensive laboratory methods are available to detect them: LC-MS/MS, receptor-binding assays by competition with radiolabeled compounds, and neuroblastoma cell-based assays performed on mammalian neurons (5). We have started to engineer biosensors based on the detection of a transcriptional signal in the yeast model Saccharomyces cerevisiae. This unicellular eukaryotic model is well-known and easy to genetically modify, grows fast and presents a very good conservation of signaling pathways with higher eukaryotes. We present a series of genetically modified yeast strains which allow us to follow the activation of specific signaling pathways responding linearly to ciguatoxin exposure