Confirming the direct link between neural circuit activity and animal behavior has been a principal aim of neuroscience. The genetically encoded calcium indicator (GECI), which binds to calcium ions and emits fluorescence visualizing intracellular calcium concentration, enables detection of in vivo neuronal firing activity. Various GECIs have been developed and can be chosen for diverse purposes. These GECI-based signals can be acquired by several tools including two-photon microscopy and microendoscopy for precise or wide imaging at cellular to synaptic levels. In addition, the images from GECI signals can be analyzed with open source codes including constrained non-negative matrix factorization for endoscopy data (CNMF_E) and miniscope 1-photon-based calcium imaging signal extraction pipeline (MIN1PIPE), and considering parameters of the imaged brain regions (e.g., diameter or shape of soma or the resolution of recorded images), the real-time activity of each cell can be acquired and linked with animal behaviors. As a result, GECI signal analysis can be a powerful tool for revealing the functions of neuronal circuits related to specific behaviors.
Animals ; Behavior, Animal ; Brain ; Calcium Channels ; Calcium ; Carisoprodol ; Endoscopy ; Fires ; Fluorescence ; Ions ; Microscopy ; Neuronal Calcium-Sensor Proteins ; Neurons ; Neurosciences ; Statistics as Topic

Hippocalcin participates in the maintenance of neuronal calcium homeostasis. In the present study, we examined the time-course changes of neuronal degeneration and hippocalcin protein level in the mouse hippocampus following pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus (SE). Marked neuronal degeneration was observed in the hippocampus after SE in a time-dependent manner, although neuronal degeneration differed according to the hippocampal subregions. Almost no hippocalcin immunoreactivity was detected in the pyramidal neurons of the cornu ammonis 1 (CA1) region from 6 h after SE. However, many pyramidal neurons in the CA2 region showed hippocalcin immunoreactivity until 24 h after SE. In the CA3 region, only a few hippocalcin immunoreactive cells were observed at 12 h after SE, and almost no hippocalcin immunoreactivity was observed in the pyramidal neurons from 24 h after SE. Hippocalcin immunoreactivity in the polymorphic cells of the dentate gyrus was markedly decreased from 6 h after SE. In addition, hippocalcin protein level in the hippocampus began to decrease from 6 h after SE, and was significantly decreased at 24 h and 48 h after pilocarpine-induced SE. These results indicate that marked reduction of hippocalcin level may be closely related to neuronal degeneration in the hippocampus following pilocarpine-induced SE.
Animals ; Calcium ; Dentate Gyrus ; Hippocalcin* ; Hippocampus* ; Homeostasis ; Mice* ; Neurons ; Pyramidal Cells ; Status Epilepticus*

Kainic acid (KA)-induced neuronal cell death is associated with intracellular Ca²⁺ influx. However, it is unknown whether Lyn/Btk pathway is involved in the Ca²⁺-mediated neurotoxicity and neuronal death induced by KA. In the present study, we investigated the altered expression of Ca²⁺-controlled proteins in KA-treated hippocampus. Mice were sacrificed at 24 h after KA (20 mg/kg) systemic injection. We conducted Electroencephalographic (EEG) recording and examined hippocampal alterations by Western blotting and immunostaining in control mice or KA-treated mice. EEG tests showed that KA-treated mice increased seizure frequency and severity compared with control mice during KA-induced seizures. We found that KA decreases hippocalcin and calpain-mediated proteolysis in the hippocampus. In particular, the phosphorylation of Lyn and Btk was increased in KA-treated hippocampus compared to those of control mice. Our findings identify tyrosine kinases such as Lyn/Btk as a critical regulator of Ca²⁺-mediated neurotoxicity in KA-induced seizures.
Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Calcium ; Cell Death ; Electroencephalography ; Hippocalcin ; Hippocampus* ; Kainic Acid* ; Mice* ; Neurons ; Phosphorylation ; Phosphotransferases ; Proteolysis ; Seizures ; Tyrosine

Gingko biloba extract 761 (EGb 761) protects neuronal cells from ischemic brain injury via a number of neuroprotective mechanisms. Hippocalcin is a calcium sensor protein that regulates intracellular calcium concentrations and apoptotic cell death. We investigated whether EGb 761 regulates hippocalcin expression in cerebral ischemia. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with vehicle or EGb 761 (100 mg/kg) prior to middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO), and cerebral cortex tissues were collected 24 h after MCAO. A proteomic approach demonstrated reduction in hippocalcin expression in vehicle-treated animals during MCAO, whereas EGb 761 treatment prevented injury-induced decreases in hippocalcin expression. RT-PCR and Western blot analyses indicated that EGb 761 attenuates injury-induced decrease in hippocalcin. These results suggest that the maintenance of hippocalcin during cerebral ischemia contributes to the neuroprotective role of EGb 761.
Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Brain ; Brain Injuries ; Brain Ischemia ; Calcium ; Cell Death ; Cerebral Cortex ; Ginkgo biloba ; Hippocalcin ; Humans ; Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery ; Male ; Neurons ; Plant Extracts ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo improve the MigR1-CD19-CAR (chimeric antigen receptor) that contains a single chain variable region (scFv) which targeted to CD19 through a retroviral vector transduction efficiency of T-lymphocytes.

METHODSInsert the CD19-CAR fragment into the retroviral vector (MigR1) through recombinant DNA technology, after transfecting plat-A packaging cell lines, viral supernatant was collected to transduce K562 cell line and activated human T-lymphocytes. We used flow cytometry to determine the transduction efficiency and RT-PCR to confirm the transcription of CD19-CAR gene. The ability of the transduced T cells to produce IFN-γ and TNF-α in a CD19-specific manner was measured in an enzyme-linked immunosorbent (ELISA) assay.

RESULTS(1)Using MigR1-CD19-CAR retroviral vector to produce the high titer retrovirus. (2)MigR1-CD19-CAR transduction efficiency of K562 cell line was significantly higher than human T-lymphocytes (P<0.01). (3)120 min centrifugation could significantly improve transduction efficiency of T-lymphocytes to (54.5±14.6)%. (4)Transduction efficiency could be improved by deciding transduce time according to T-lymphocytes proliferation fold in vitro individually, and the highest transduction efficiency in the study was 69.3%. The CD19-CAR gene sequence was transcripted specificly with high efficiency. (5) IFN-γ and TNF-α released by CD19-CAR transduced T-lymphocytes significantly increased to (13 230±1 543) pg/ml and (4 217±211) pg/ml when coculture with CD19-K562 cells.

CONCLUSIONWe have successfully constructed a second generation CAR which targeted to CD19 through a retroviral vector called MigR1 (MigR1-CD19-CAR). Deciding transduce time according to T-lymphocytes proliferation fold in vitro individually and 120 min centrifugation could improve the CAR transduction efficiency of T-lymphocytes. RT-PCR confirmed that the CD19-CAR gene was specificly transcripted with high efficiency. IFN-γ and TNF-α released by CD19-CAR transduced T-lymphocytes significantly increased when activated by target cells.

Antigens, CD19 ; Cell Proliferation ; Flow Cytometry ; Genetic Vectors ; Humans ; K562 Cells ; Recoverin ; Retroviridae ; T-Lymphocytes ; Transfection

OBJECTIVETo observe the cytotoxity of CD138-CAR-T cells on human multiple myeloma cell RPMI8226 and U266 cells and explore the impact of pomalidomide on the cytotoxity of CD138-CAR-T on RPMI8226 and U266 cells.

METHODSThe cytotoxity of CD138-CAR-T and CD138-CAR-T combined pomalidomide on RPMI8226 and U266 was detected by CFSE/7AAD. The effctor cells were co-cultured with target cells at 5:1 for 18 h, and then the supernatant were collected and used for ELISA assays.

RESULTSAfter 18 h co-culture, the cytotoxity of CD138-CAR-T on RPMI8226 and U266 was significantiy higher than control (P<0.01). There was no significant change on the cytotoxity of pomalidoide combined with CD138-CAR-T on RPMI8226 and U266. The results showed that co-cultured system contribted to a markedly increased production of IFN-γ, after adding pomalidomide to the co-cultured system. It can significantly enhance the production of IFN-γ, compared with CD138-CAR-T alone.

CONCLUSIONCD138-CAR-T had significantly cytotoxity on U266 and RPMI8226. Pomalidomide could promote CD138-CAR-T cells IFN-γ production.

Cell Line, Tumor ; Coculture Techniques ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Multiple Myeloma ; Recoverin ; T-Lymphocytes ; Thalidomide ; analogs & derivatives

Objective: To improve the knowledge and experience of ibrutinib combined with CAR-T cells in the treatment of high-risk chronic lymphoblastic leukemia (CLL) patients or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) with TP53 gene aberration. Methods: One case of del (17p) CLL patients with BCL-2 inhibitor resistance was treated with ibrutinib combined with CAR-T cells, successfully bridged to allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) , and the relative literatures were reviewed. Results: The patient was a young female with superficial lymph node enlarging at the beginning of the onset. Lymph node biopsy was confirmed as small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) without del (17p) . The disease progressed rapidly to CLL/SLL with del (17p) and bone marrow hematopoietic failure 2 years later. Firstly, the patient was treated with BCL-2 inhibitor (Venetoclax) , and the enlarged lymph nodes shrank significantly 2 months later. After 3 months, the disease progressed rapidly. The spleen was enlarged to 16 cm below the ribs, the neck lymph nodes was rapidly enlarged, and the superior vena cava syndrome appeared, which were mainly attributed to venetoclax resistance; so BTK inhibitor (ibrutinib) was used continuously after venetoclax discontinuation. Partial remission (PR) was achieved without lymphocytosis after 2 months, then ibrutinib was combined with CAR-T cells targeting CD19 antigen. Grade 1 of cytokine release syndrome (CRS) appeared after CAR-T cells infusion, and the complete remission (CR) was achieved after 1 month both in bone marrow and peripheral blood, with minimal residual disease (MRD) negative, then bridging allo-HSCT after 2 months of combined therapy. Conclusion: CLL/SLL patients with TP53 aberration have poor prognosis because of rapid progression, drug resistance, etc. Ibrutinib combined with CAR-T cell therapy can quickly achieved complete remission.
Adenine/analogs & derivatives* ; Female ; Humans ; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell/therapy* ; Piperidines ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2 ; Pyrazoles/therapeutic use* ; Pyrimidines/therapeutic use* ; Recoverin ; T-Lymphocytes

Recoverin is a member of the large family of EF-hand calcium binding proteins (Baimbridge et al., 1992), and it is thought to be involved in the regulation of phosphodiesterase in photoreceptors and in the phosphorylation of activated rhodopsin (Polans et al., 1996). Although the functional significance of recoverin in cone bipolar cells is not fully understood, the antiserum against recoverin has been widely used to identify a certain population of cone bipolar cells (Milam et al., 1993; Sasso's Pognetto et al., 1994; Euler & W sle, 1995). GABA is well known to act as major neurotransmitters in the mammalian central nervous system including retina. This study was conducted to identify the development process of recoverin-labeled cone bipolar cells, and the timing points of synaptic formation of the labeled bipolar cells and GABAergic amacrine cells in the rat retina. The results were as follows; In the adult rat retina, recoverin-labeled cone bipolar cells were subdivided into twotypes; type 2 cells with axon terminal stratified in sublamina a of the inner plexiform layer (IPL), and type 8 cells with axon terminals stratified in sublamina b of the IPL. Recoverin-labeled cone bipolar cells began to appear from postnatal day 5. The axon terminals of recoverin-labeled type 2 cone bipolar cells stratified at postnatal day 10, while those of type 8 cone bipolar cells stratified at postnatal day 13. The axon terminals of type 2 cone bipolar cells made ribbon synapses onto GABAergic amacrine cells in the IPL at postnatal day 10. These results demonstrate that recoverin-labeled type 2 cone bipolar cells differentiate earlier than recoverin-labeled type 8 cone bipolar cells, and suggest that GABAergic amacrine cells may play important roles in visual processing of recoverin-labeled type 2 cone bipolar cells by making synapse onto these cells at early stage. Synapses between type 2 cone bipolar cells and GABAergic amacrine cells are formed about the time of postnatal day 10 for visual processing.
Adult ; Amacrine Cells* ; Animals ; Calcium-Binding Proteins ; Central Nervous System ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid ; Humans ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Phosphorylation ; Presynaptic Terminals ; Rats* ; Recoverin* ; Retina* ; Rhodopsin ; Synapses

A hippocalcin cDNA from rat brain cDNA library was amplified by polymerase chain reation(PCR) and cloned using TA Cloning technique. For this PCR cloning, 29mer and 28mer oligonucleotide primers containing BamHl and EcoRl sites at the 5' end and 3' end, respectively were used. The nucleotide sequence of hippocalcin cDNA c1one was determined, and the complete amino acid sequence was deduced. Recombinant clone contained a cDNA insert of 610 base pairs with 582 nucleotides of open reading frame including the temination codon, 23 nucleotide of 5'-untranslated region, and 5nucleotides of 3'-nutran,slated region. The open reading frame encoded a polypepetid comprising 193 amino acids with molecular weight of 22kDa. The cDNA insert was subcloned into pVLI393 Baculovirus transfer vector. The recombinant hippocalcin was expressed in insect cell(Sf9 cell) using expression vector pVL1393. The hippocalcin expressed was purified as a single band on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis following hydrophobic phenyl HPLC and TSKgel G3000SW gel filtration HPLC. Molecular size of rat brain hippocalcin protein expressed in this system was estimated to be 22kDa. Myristoylated hippocalcin migrated faster than nonmyristoyated form on SDS-polyacrylamide gel. Less than 10% of total hippocalcin expressed was myristoylated in this baculovirus expression system.
Amino Acid Sequence ; Amino Acids ; Animals ; Baculoviridae ; Base Pairing ; Base Sequence ; Brain* ; Chromatography, Gel ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Clone Cells ; Cloning, Organism ; Codon ; DNA Primers ; DNA, Complementary* ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Gene Library ; Hippocalcin* ; Insects ; Molecular Weight ; Nucleotides ; Open Reading Frames ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rats*

PURPOSE: Cancer-associated retinopathy is a paraneoplastic retinal degeneration which may primarily result from auto-immune mediated apoptosis. It has been hypothesized that high titer of auto-antibodies are able to cross the blood-retinal barrier (BRB) and to enter retinal cells to activate apoptotic pathway which has been already well-established. However, it still remains to be elucidated whether auto-antibodies could cross BRB in the retina. Herein, we demonstrated that intravenously administrated anti-recoverin antibodies could not pass through BRB and not lead to retinal cell death. METHODS: Anti-recoverin antibody was intravenously injected to C57BL/6 mice, which were sacrificed 1 and 7 days to obtain eye. Vascular endothelial growth factor was intravitreally injected to induce BRB breakdown, which was confirmed by fluorescein angiography and western blotting for zonula occludens (ZO)-1, ZO-2 and occludin. To investigate the location of anti-recoverin antibody in the retina, immunofluorescein was performed. The retinal toxicity of intravenous anti-recoverin antibody was evaluated by histological examination and transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling. Immunofluorescein staining for glial fibrillary acidic protein was done to address glial activation as well. RESULTS: Intravenously administrated anti-recoverin antibodies were exclusively distributed on retinal vessels which were co-localized with CD31, and led to neither increase of glial fibrillary acidic protein expression, as an indicator of retinal stress, nor apoptotic retinal cell death. Moreover, even in the condition of vascular endothelial growth factor-induced BRB breakdown, anti-recoverin antibodies could not migrate across BRB and still remained on retinal vessels without retinal cytotoxicity. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that high titer of intravascular anti-recoverin antibodies could not penetrate into the retina by themselves, and BRB breakdown mediated by dysregulation of tight junction might not be sufficient to allow anti-recoverin antibodies to pass through BRB.
Animals ; Antibodies/*administration & dosage/*metabolism ; Blood-Retinal Barrier/*metabolism ; Cell Death/drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Female ; Injections, Intravenous ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred C57BL ; Recoverin/*immunology ; Retina/cytology/drug effects ; Retinal Vessels/metabolism