The Mast Cell Degranulator Compound 48/80 Directly Activates Neurons

Background Compound 48/80 is widely used in animal and tissue models as a “selective” mast cell activator. With this study we demonstrate that compound 48/80 also directly activates enteric neurons and visceral afferents. Methodology/Principal Findings We used in vivo recordings from extrinsic intestinal afferents together with Ca++ imaging from primary cultures of DRG and nodose neurons. Enteric neuronal activation was examined by Ca++ and voltage sensitive dye imaging in isolated gut preparations and primary cultures of enteric neurons. Intraluminal application of compound 48/80 evoked marked afferent firing which desensitized on subsequent administration. In egg albumen-sensitized animals, intraluminal antigen evoked a similar pattern of afferent activation which also desensitized on subsequent exposure to antigen. In cross-desensitization experiments prior administration of compound 48/80 failed to influence the mast cell mediated response. Application of 1 and 10 µg/ml compound 48/80 evoked spike discharge and Ca++ transients in enteric neurons. The same nerve activating effect was observed in primary cultures of DRG and nodose ganglion cells. Enteric neuron cultures were devoid of mast cells confirmed by negative staining for c-kit or toluidine blue. In addition, in cultured enteric neurons the excitatory action of compound 48/80 was preserved in the presence of histamine H1 and H2 antagonists. The mast cell stabilizer cromolyn attenuated compound 48/80 and nicotine evoked Ca++ transients in mast cell-free enteric neuron cultures. Conclusions/Significance The results showed direct excitatory action of compound 48/80 on enteric neurons and visceral afferents. Therefore, functional changes measured in tissue or animal models may involve a mast cell independent effect of compound 48/80 and cromolyn

Phase I dose escalation study of BI 836826 (CD37 antibody) in patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma

BI 836826 is a chimeric immunoglobulin G1 antibody targeting CD37, a tetraspanin transmembrane protein predominantly expressed on normal and malignant B cells. This phase I, open-label study used a modified 3 + 3 design to evaluate the safety, maximum tolerated dose (MTD), pharmacokinetics, and preliminary activity of BI 836826 in patients with relapsed/refractory B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL; NCT01403948). Eligible patients received up to three courses comprising an intravenous infusion (starting dose: 1 mg) once weekly for 4 weeks followed by an observation period of 27 (Course 1, 2) or 55 days (Course 3). Patients had to demonstrate clinical benefit before commencing treatment beyond course 2. Forty-eight patients were treated. In the dose escalation phase (1-200 mg) involving 37 Caucasian patients, the MTD was 100 mg. Dose-limiting toxicities occurred in four patients during the MTD evaluation period, and included stomatitis, febrile neutropenia, hypocalcemia, hypokalemia, and hypophosphatemia. The most common adverse events were neutropenia (57%), leukopenia (57%), and thrombocytopenia (41%), and were commonly of grade 3 or 4. Overall, 18 (38%) patients experienced infusion-related reactions, which were mostly grade 1 or 2. Preliminary evidence of anti-tumor activity was seen; three patients responded to treatment, including one complete remission in a Korean patient with diffuse large B cell lymphoma. BI 836826 plasma exposure increased more than proportionally with increasing doses. BI 836826 demonstrated preliminary activity; the most frequent adverse events were hematotoxicity and infusion-related reactions which were manageable after amending the infusion schedule. Although BI 856826 will not undergo further clinical development, these results confirm CD37 as a valid therapeutic target in B cell NHL

Neuronal Conduction of Excitation without Action Potentials Based on Ceramide Production

International audienceBACKGROUND: Action potentials are the classic mechanism by which neurons convey a state of excitation throughout their length, leading, after synaptic transmission, to the activation of other neurons and consequently to network functioning. Using an in vitro integrated model, we found previously that peripheral networks in the autonomic nervous system can organise an unconventional regulatory reflex of the digestive tract motility without action potentials. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In this report, we used combined neuropharmacological and biochemical approaches to elucidate some steps of the mechanism that conveys excitation along the nerves fibres without action potentials. This mechanism requires the production of ceramide in membrane lipid rafts, which triggers in the cytoplasm an increase in intracellular calcium concentration, followed by activation of a neuronal nitric oxide synthase leading to local production of nitric oxide, and then to guanosine cyclic monophosphate. This sequence of second messengers is activated in cascade from rafts to rafts to ensure conduction of the excitation along the nerve fibres. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Our results indicate that second messengers are involved in neuronal conduction of excitation without action potentials. This mechanism represents the first evidence-to our knowledge-that excitation is carried along nerves independently of electrical signals. This unexpected ceramide-based conduction of excitation without action potentials along the autonomic nerve fibres opens up new prospects in our understanding of neuronal functioning

Janus structured multiwalled carbon nanotube forests for simple asymmetric surface functionalization and patterning at the nanoscale

The asymmetric functionalization of nanomaterials is desired to develop nanostructures with increasingly exotic properties. Nevertheless, it remains a general challenge and a difficult task. Janus structured multiwalled carbon nanotubes with intratubular junctions between undoped and nitrogen-doped sections have been exclusively considered to date for electronic applications in studies typically requiring only few individual nanotubes. Such structures are here shown to be suitable scaffolds to simply achieve a spontaneous, asymmetric and localized functionalization and patterning at the nanoscale. First, a method to produce large quantities (>100 mg per experiment) and long (>100 μm) vertically aligned multiwalled carbon nanotube forests by a hybrid aerosol assisted and traditional chemical vapor deposition is presented. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy, electron energy loss spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy characterizations confirm a continuous intratubular transition between nitrogen-doped and undoped sections. Second, and for the first time, the described Janus structures are shown to be suitable scaffolds to achieve an asymmetric, spontaneous and yet spatially controlled reactivity along nanotubes. This is illustrated with the examples of asymmetric oxidation properties and asymmetric immobilization of platinum nanoparticles. Asymmetric functionalization is simply achieved by carefully controlling and exploiting the different surface properties along the Janus structured carbon nanotubes

Comparison of carbon materials as electrodes for enzyme electrocatalysis: hydrogenase as a case study.

We present a study of electrocatalysis by an enzyme adsorbed on a range of carbon materials, with different size, surface area, morphology and graphitic structure, which are either commercially available or prepared via simple, established protocols. We choose as our model enzyme the hydrogenase I from E. coli (Hyd-1), which is an active catalyst for H2 oxidation, is relatively robust and has been demonstrated in H2 fuel cells and H2-driven chemical synthesis. The carbon materials were characterised according to their surface area, surface morphology and graphitic character, and we use the electrocatalytic H2 oxidation current for Hyd-1 adsorbed on these materials to evaluate their effectiveness as enzyme electrodes. Here, we show that a variety of carbon materials are suitable for adsorbing hydrogenases in an electroactive configuration. This unified study provides insight into selection and design of carbon materials for study of redox enzymes and different applications of enzyme electrocatalysis

H2-driven Biocatalytic Hydrogenation in Continuous Flow using Enzyme-Modified Carbon Nanotube Columns

We describe implementation of a system of immobilised enzymes for H2-driven NADH recycling coupled to a selective biotransformation to enable H2-driven biocatalysis in flow. This approach represents a platform that can be optimised for a wide range of hydrogenation steps and is shown here for enantioselective ketone reduction and reductive amination

H2-driven Biocatalytic Hydrogenation in Continuous Flow using Enzyme-Modified Carbon Nanotube Columns

We describe implementation of a system of immobilised enzymes for H2-driven NADH recycling coupled to a selective biotransformation to enable H2-driven biocatalysis in flow. This approach represents a platform that can be optimised for a wide range of hydrogenation steps and is shown here for enantioselective ketone reduction and reductive amination