Free Cy5.5 dye and Cy5.5-labeled thermally cross-linked superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (TCL-SPION) have been routinely used for in vivo optical imaging. However, there is little information about the distribution and accumulation of free Cy5.5 dye and Cy5.5-labeled TCL-SPION in the tissues of mice. Free Cy5.5 dye (0.1 mg/kg body weight) and Cy5.5-labeled TCL-SPION (15 mg/kg body weight) were intravenously injected into the tail vein of ICR mice. The biodistribution and accumulation of the TCL-SPION and Cy5.5 were observed by ex vivo optical imaging and fluorescence signal generation at various time points over 28 days. Cy5.5 dye fluorescence in various organs was rapidly eliminated from 0.5 to 24 h post-injection. Fluorescence intensity of Cy5.5 dye in the liver, lung, kidney, and stomach was fairly strong at the early time points within 1 day post-injection. Cy5.5-labeled TCL-SPION had the highest fluorescence density in the lung at 0.5 h post-injection and decreased rapidly over time. Fluorescence density in liver and spleen was maintained over 28 days. These results suggest that TCL-SPION can be useful as a carrier of therapeutic reagents to treat diseases by persisting for long periods of time in the body.
Animals ; Carbocyanines/*pharmacology ; Ferric Compounds/*pharmacology ; Fluorescent Dyes/*pharmacology ; Kinetics ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Nanoparticles/*metabolism ; Time Factors ; Tissue Distribution

To investigate kinetics of free 177Lu and 177Lu-labeled thermally cross-linked superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (TCL-SPION), suspensions were intravenously injected into the tail vein of mice at a dose of 5 microCi/mouse or 15 mg/kg body weight, respectively. Free 177Lu radioactivity levels were highest in kidney followed by liver and lung 1 day post-injection. 177Lu-labeled TCL-SPION radioactivity in liver and spleen was significantly higher compared to that of other organs throughout the experimental period (p < 0.05). Radioactivity in blood, brain, and epididymis rapidly declined until 28 days. Based on these results, TCL-SPION could be a safe carrier of therapeutics.
Animals ; Body Weight ; Brain ; Epididymis ; Iron* ; Kidney ; Kinetics ; Liver ; Lung ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR* ; Nanoparticles* ; Radioactivity ; Spleen ; Suspensions ; Veins

BACKGROUND: Bronchial asthma is a chronic airway inflammatory disorder involving lymphocyte activation. Lymphocytes express various surface markers upon activation, including CD25 (IL-2 receptor alpha) on T cells and CD23 on B cells. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether the surface markers of activated lymphocytes are useful indicators of the disease activity in bronchial asthma. METHOD: We measured serum sCD25 and sCD23 in 42 patients with mild bronchial asthma, and in 26 normal control, volunteers. They were compared with other markers in asthma (methacholine PC20, pulmonary function, total IgE, blood eosinophil counts). RESULTS: Levels of sCD25 were higher among patients than among normal controls and they correlated significantly with sCD23, and FEV1 %, but, not with methacholine PC20. Levels of sCD23 were not higher among patients than among normal controls and did not correlate with methacholine PC20, pulmonry function and total IgE level. CONCLUSION: It appears that sCD25 is related to airway obstruction in bronchial asthma. But, the clinical implications of these markers should be further examined.
Airway Obstruction ; Asthma* ; B-Lymphocytes ; Eosinophils ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Lymphocytes ; Methacholine Chloride ; T-Lymphocytes ; Volunteers

This study was investigated the change of concentration and toxicity of thermally cross-linked superparamagnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (TCL-SPION) on tissues of Sprague-Dawley rats. TCL-SPION at the dose of 15 mg/kg body weight was intravenously injected into the tail vein of the male Sprague-Dawley rats. The fate of TCL-SPION in serum, urine and tissues was observed during 28 days. Serum iron level was maximal at 0.25 h post-injection and gradually declined thereafter. In addition, the sinusoids of liver and the red pulp area of spleen were mainly accumulated iron from 0.5 h to 28-day post-injection. In kidney, iron deposition was detected in the tubular area until 0.5 h after injection. Malondialdehyde concentration in the liver slightly increased with time and was not different with that at zero time. In the liver and spleen, TNF-alpha and IL-6 levels of TS treated with TCL-SPION were not different with those of the control during the experimental period. From the results, TCL-SPION could stay fairly long-time in certain tissues after intravenous injection without toxicity. The results indicated that TCL-SPION might be useful and safe as a contrast for the diagnosis of cancer or a carrier of therapeutic reagents to treat diseases.
Animals ; Body Weight ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Indicators and Reagents ; Injections, Intravenous ; Interleukin-6 ; Iron* ; Kidney ; Liver ; Male ; Malondialdehyde ; Nanoparticles* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley* ; Spleen ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Veins

A promoting effect of Na2SiO3 on hair regrowth was investigated using an animal model of C57BL/6 mice. There were four experimental groups including distilled water (DW, a negative control), 5% minoxidil (MXD, a positive control), 50% Na2SiO3, and 100% Na2SiO3 solution. The animals were shaved with an electric clipper and then test solutions applied daily with a volume of 0.2 ml per to the dorsal skin of mice for 3 weeks. Body weight and food and water consumption were measured weekly. Photographs of hair regrowth were taken at experimental day 0, 4, 7, 10, 14, 17, and 21. Activities of alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase as well as expressions of growth factors were also determined in the dorsal skin of mice. The animal body weight were not significantly changed among the experimental groups. The MXD and Na2SiO3 accelerated hair regrowth compared with DW. The elongation of hair follicles were evidently observed in MXD and 50 or 100% Na2SiO3 groups. MXD significantly increased gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase at day 14, compared with DW (P<0.05). But the activities of alkaline phosphatase and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase were not significantly increased in Na2SiO3 groups, compared with DW. The expression of epidermal growth factor was significantly increased in MXD and Na2SiO3 groups, compared with DW (P<0.05). The expression of vascular endothelial growth factor was not significantly changed by MXD or Na2SiO3 treatments. The expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 was clearly decreased in MXD and Na2SiO3 groups, compared with DW. These results indicate that Na2SiO3 may have a hair growth-promoting activity and it can be used for treatment of alopecia or boldness in humans.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Alopecia ; Animals ; Body Weight ; Drinking ; Epidermal Growth Factor ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase ; Hair ; Hair Follicle ; Humans ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Mice ; Minoxidil ; Models, Animal ; Silicates ; Skin ; Sodium ; Transforming Growth Factors ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; Water

This study was to investigate the anti-obesity effects of diglyceride (DG)-conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) containing 22% CLA as fatty acids in C57BL/6J ob/ob male mice. There were four experimental groups including vehicle control, DG, CLA, and DG-CLA. The test solutions of 750 mg/kg dose were orally administered to the mice everyday for 5 weeks. CLA treatments significantly decreased mean body weight in the obese mice throughout the experimental period compared to the control (p < 0.01). All test solutions significantly decreased the levels of triglyceride, glucose and free fatty acids in the serum compared with control (p < 0.05). The levels of total cholesterol were also significantly reduced in DG and DG-CLA groups compared with the control group (p < 0.05). CLA significantly decreased weights of renal and epididymal fats compared with the control (p < 0.05). DG and DG-CLA also significantly decreased the epididymal fat weights compared with the control (p < 0.05). A remarkable decrease in the number of lipid droplets and fat globules was observed in the livers of mice treated with DG, CLA, and DG-CLA compared to control. Treatments of DG and CLA actually increased the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma. These results suggest that DG-CLA containing 22% CLA have a respectable anti-obesity effect by controlling serum lipids and fat metabolism.
Adipose Tissue/*drug effects ; Animals ; Anti-Obesity Agents/*pharmacology ; Blood Chemical Analysis ; Body Weight/*drug effects ; Diglycerides/*pharmacology ; Disease Models, Animal ; Eating/drug effects ; Gene Expression Regulation/drug effects ; Linoleic Acids, Conjugated/*pharmacology ; Lipids/blood ; Liver/drug effects/pathology ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Mice, Obese ; Obesity/*metabolism/pathology ; PPAR gamma/metabolism ; Time Factors

The role of selenium (Se) in modulating colon carcinogenesis induced by azoxymethane (AOM) followed by dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) was investigated in mice. Five-week old ICR mice were fed on diets containing different concentrations (0.02, 0.1 or 0.5 ppm) of Se for 24 weeks. Animals received three (0-2nd weeks) intraperitoneal injections of AOM (10 mg/kg body weight), followed by 2% DSS with drinking water for additional 1 week. There were 4 experimental groups including vehicle control group, positive control group given AOM/DSS with AIN-93G normal diet containing 0.1% Se (NSe), a low (0.02 ppm)-Se diet group (LSe) and a high (0.5 ppm)-Se diet group (HSe). Hematology was analyzed with a blood cell differential counter. Liver Se was analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were determined by using proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) for proliferative activity and apoptotic index by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL), respectively. HSe group showed a low incidence of colonic tumor (64.7%), compared with the NSe positive control (75%) and LSe (77.8%) groups. In contrast, HSe group exhibited lower rate of PCNA-positive cells (39.3+/-6.9%) than positive control (64.3+/-0.3%) and LSe (57.3+/-2.9%) groups. In addition, apoptotic index of HSe group was higher than those of positive control and LSe groups. These results indicate that Se is a chemopreventive agent for colon carcinogenesis induced by AOM+DSS in male ICR mice.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Azoxymethane ; Blood Cells ; Cell Proliferation ; Colon ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Dextrans ; Diet ; Drinking Water ; Hematology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Liver ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Organothiophosphorus Compounds ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; Selenium ; Sodium ; Spectrum Analysis ; Sulfates

The role of selenium (Se) in modulating colon carcinogenesis induced by azoxymethane (AOM) followed by dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) was investigated in mice. Five-week old ICR mice were fed on diets containing different concentrations (0.02, 0.1 or 0.5 ppm) of Se for 24 weeks. Animals received three (0-2nd weeks) intraperitoneal injections of AOM (10 mg/kg body weight), followed by 2% DSS with drinking water for additional 1 week. There were 4 experimental groups including vehicle control group, positive control group given AOM/DSS with AIN-93G normal diet containing 0.1% Se (NSe), a low (0.02 ppm)-Se diet group (LSe) and a high (0.5 ppm)-Se diet group (HSe). Hematology was analyzed with a blood cell differential counter. Liver Se was analyzed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were determined by using proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) for proliferative activity and apoptotic index by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL), respectively. HSe group showed a low incidence of colonic tumor (64.7%), compared with the NSe positive control (75%) and LSe (77.8%) groups. In contrast, HSe group exhibited lower rate of PCNA-positive cells (39.3+/-6.9%) than positive control (64.3+/-0.3%) and LSe (57.3+/-2.9%) groups. In addition, apoptotic index of HSe group was higher than those of positive control and LSe groups. These results indicate that Se is a chemopreventive agent for colon carcinogenesis induced by AOM+DSS in male ICR mice.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Azoxymethane ; Blood Cells ; Cell Proliferation ; Colon ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Dextrans ; Diet ; Drinking Water ; Hematology ; Humans ; Incidence ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Liver ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred ICR ; Organothiophosphorus Compounds ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; Selenium ; Sodium ; Spectrum Analysis ; Sulfates

Selenium (Se) is known to prevent several cancers while the relationship between high iron and the risk of colorectal cancer is controversial. To investigate the effects of Se in colon carcinogenesis, we subjected three different levels of Se and high-iron diet to a mouse model of colon cancer in which animals were treated with three azoxymethane (AOM) injections followed by dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) administration. There were five experimental groups including vehicle group [normal-Fe (NFe, 45 ppm)+medium-Se (MSe, 0.1 ppm)], positive control group (AOM/DSS+NFe+MSe), AOM/DSS+high-Fe (HFe, 450 ppm)+low-Se (LSe, 0.02 ppm), AOM/DSS+HFe+MSe, and AOM/DSS+HFe+high-Se (HSe, 0.5 ppm). The animals were fed on the three different Se diets for 24 weeks. The incidence of colon tumor in the high-Se diet group (AOM/DSS+HFe+HSe) showed 19.4% lower than positive control group, 5.9% lower than AOM/DSS+HFe+MSe diet group, and 11.1% lower than AOM/DSS+HFe+LSe group. The tumor multiplicity was significantly higher in the low-Se diet group (AOM/DSS+HFe+LSe) compare to all other AOM/DSS treated groups. In the high-Se diet group, the activity of hepatic GPx was comparable to that of positive control group, and significantly higher than those of low-Se or medium-Se diet groups. Expression level of hepatic GPx-1 showed similar results. Hepatic malondialdehyde (MDA) level (indicator of oxidative stress) in the low-Se diet group showed the highest compared to the other groups, and it was significantly higher than positive control group. In the high-Se diet group the level of MDA in the liver was significantly lower than all other AOM/DSS treated groups. High-Se diet group showed significantly lower proliferative index than low-Se and medium-Se groups. The apoptotic indices in low-Se group and medium-Se group were significantly lower than positive control group. However, apoptotic index of high-Se diet group was significantly higher than all other AOM/DSS treated groups. These findings suggest that dietary Se supplement may have protective effect against colon cancer by decreasing proliferation, increasing apoptosis of tumor cells, and reducing oxidative stress in mice with high iron diet.
Animals ; Apoptosis ; Azoxymethane ; Colon ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Colorectal Neoplasms ; Dextrans ; Diet ; Incidence ; Iron ; Liver ; Malondialdehyde ; Mice ; Oxidative Stress ; Selenium ; Sodium ; Sulfates