Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “Cell Line”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 235 records · Page 13

Effects of process intensification on homogeneity of an IgG1:κ monoclonal antibody during perfusion culture

The pharmaceutical industry employs various strategies to improve cell productivity. These strategies include process intensification, culture media improvement, clonal selection, media supplementation and genetic engineering of cells. However, improved cell productivity has inherent risk of impacting product quality attributes (PQA). PQAs may affect the products’ efficacy via stability, bioavailability, or in vivo bioactivity. Variations in manufacturing process may introduce heterogeneity in the products by altering the type and extent of N-glycosylation, which is a PQA of therapeutic proteins. We investigated the effect of different cell densities representing increasing process intensification in a perfusion cell culture on the production of an IgG1-κ monoclonal antibody from a CHO-K1 cell line. This antibody is glycosylated both on light chain and heavy chain. Our results showed that the contents of glycosylation of IgG1-κ mAb increased in G0F and fucosylated type glycans as a group, whereas sialylated type glycans decreased, for the mAb whole protein. Overall, significant differences were observed in amounts of G0F, G1F, G0, G2FS1, and G2FS2 type glycans across all process intensification levels. G2FS2 and G2 type N-glycans were predominantly quantifiable from light chain rather than heavy chain. It may be concluded that there is a potential impact to product quality attributes of therapeutic proteins during process intensification via perfusion cell culture that needs to be assessed. Since during perfusion cell culture the product is collected throughout the duration of the process, lot allocation needs careful attention to process parameters, as PQAs are affected by the critical process parameters (CPPs).

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Parathyroid hormone induces c-fos and c-jun messenger RNA in rat osteoblastic cells

PTH is a potent regulator of osteoblast gene expression, yet the nuclear events that mediate PTH action are poorly understood. We were interested in identifying immediate early genes which may regulate PTH-altered gene expression in the osteoblast. Therefore, we examined the effects of PTH on c-fos and c-jun gene expression in a rat osteoblastic cell line (UMR 106-01). Under control conditions, c-fos and c-jun mRNAs were present at low basal levels. After PTH treatment, c-fos mRNA abundance dramatically increased, with a maximal and transient response at 30 min. PTH also stimulated an increase in c-jun mRNA, but in a biphasic manner, with maximal levels at 30 min and 2 h. These responses were dose dependent, not altered by cotreatment with the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide, and preceded PTH-induced expression of matrix metallo-proteinase-1 mRNA. Nuclear run-on assays demonstrated an increased rate of c-fos and c-jun transcription after PTH exposure. To determine the signal transduction pathways involved, second messenger analogs were tested for their ability to mimic the effects of PTH. 8-Bromo-cAMP and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA) caused increases in the abundance of c-fos and c-jun transcripts. Ionomycin had no effect on the expression of these genes. Pretreatment of the cells with PMA resulted in a decrease in basal c-jun expression, but did not alter the PTH-mediated increase in c-fos, c-jun, or matrix metalloproteinase-1 mRNAs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS).

Non-NASA Center↗

Microsecond Pulsed Electric Fields: An Effective Way to Selectively Target and Radiosensitize Medulloblastoma Cancer Stem Cells

Cancer stem cells constitute an endless reserve for the maintenance and progression of tumors, and they could be the reason for conventional therapy failure. New therapeutic strategies are necessary to specifically target them. In this context, microsecond pulsed electric fields have been selected to expose D283Med cells, a human medulloblastoma cell line resulted to be rich in cancer stem cells, and normal human astrocytes.

62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE↗

Three-dimensional spheroid culture induces apical-basal polarity and the original characteristics of immortalized human renal proximal tubule epithelial cells

Highlights: • Immortalized proximal tubule cells (HK-2 cells) formed a tubule-like structure. • The 3D spheroid culture enhanced apical-basal polarity of HK-2 cells. • The 3D spheroid culture induced Na transport function of HK-2 cells. • The 3D spheroid culture promoted up-regulation of kidney development-related genes. The proximal tubules, which are part of the kidney, maintain blood homeostasis by absorbing amino acids, glucose, water, and ions such as sodium (Na), potassium, and bicarbonate. Proximal tubule dysfunction is associated with the pathogenesis of many kidney diseases. Renal proximal tubular epithelial cells (RPTECs) are responsible for the main functions of the proximal tubules. Therefore, in vitro experiments using RPTECs would greatly enhance our understanding of nephron physiology and pathobiology. It is preferable to use immortalized cell lines, such as human kidney-2 (HK-2) cells, because they are derived from humans and maintain growth indefinitely. However, tissue-specific RPTEC phenotypes, including apical-basal polarization, are frequently lost in conventional two-dimensional culture methods in part due to microenvironmental deficiencies. To overcome this limitation, we developed a three-dimensional (3D) spheroid culture method for HK-2 cells using an extracellular matrix. HK-2 spheroids in 3D culture formed a tubule-like architecture with cellular polarity and showed markedly restored Na transport function. 3D culture of HK-2 cells also increased expression of kidney development–related genes, including WNT9B. Models of human renal tubules using HK-2 spheroids will greatly improve our understanding of the physiology and pathobiology of the kidney.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Microarray analysis of genes differentially expressed in HepG2 cells cultured in simulated microgravity: preliminary report

Developed at NASA, the rotary cell culture system (RCCS) allows the creation of unique microgravity environment of low shear force, high-mass transfer, and enables three-dimensional (3D) cell culture of dissimilar cell types. Recently we demonstrated that a simulated microgravity is conducive for maintaining long-term cultures of functional hepatocytes and promote 3D cell assembly. Using deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) microarray technology, it is now possible to measure the levels of thousands of different messenger ribonucleic acids (mRNAs) in a single hybridization step. This technique is particularly powerful for comparing gene expression in the same tissue under different environmental conditions. The aim of this research was to analyze gene expression of hepatoblastoma cell line (HepG2) during early stage of 3D-cell assembly in simulated microgravity. For this, mRNA from HepG2 cultured in the RCCS was analyzed by deoxyribonucleic acid microarray. Analyses of HepG2 mRNA by using 6K glass DNA microarray revealed changes in expression of 95 genes (overexpression of 85 genes and downregulation of 10 genes). Our preliminary results indicated that simulated microgravity modifies the expression of several genes and that microarray technology may provide new understanding of the fundamental biological questions of how gravity affects the development and function of individual cells.

Non-NASA Center↗

The Campylobacter jejuni CiaD effector co-opts the host cell protein IQGAP1 to promote cell entry

Campylobacter jejuni is a foodborne pathogen that binds to and invades the epithelial cells lining the human intestinal tract. Maximal invasion of host cells by C. jejuni requires cell binding as well as delivery of the Cia proteins (Campylobacter invasion antigens) to the host cell cytosol via the flagellum. Here, we show that CiaD binds to the host cell protein IQGAP1 (a Ras GTPase-activating-like protein), thus displacing RacGAP1 from the IQGAP1 complex. This, in turn, leads to the unconstrained activity of the small GTPase Rac1, which is known to have roles in actin reorganization and internalization of C. jejuni. Our results represent the identification of a host cell protein targeted by a flagellar secreted effector protein and demonstrate that C. jejuni-stimulated Rac signaling is dependent on IQGAP1.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Transient histone deacetylase inhibition reveals cell type invariant and specific effects of chromatin decondensation on irradiation response

Radiation therapy plays a prominent role in breast cancer treatment, but the high doses of radiation damage both healthy and cancerous cells. Therefore, additional research is needed into combination therapies that could preferentially radiosensitize cancer cells compared to surrounding healthy tissue without causing deleterious side effects. Histone deacetylase inhibitor drugs (HDACis) have been tested as radiosensitizers in both basic research and clinical trials, but the long exposure time typically used in these treatments and the lack of matched healthy cell controls often leave aspects of their mechanism of action unclear. Here, we show that transient (2 h) trichostatin A (TSA) treatment of cancerous and non-tumorigenic breast epithelial cell lines increases immediate DNA damage and decreases long term cell viability in both cell types at high radiation doses. Transient TSA treatment also causes an increase in DNA damage signals after 5 Gy X-rays in other cancer and healthy cell types: A375 melanoma cells and BJ5-ta fibroblasts. This suggests that chromatin decompaction acts to increase cellular vulnerability to initial DNA damage from high doses of radiation in a cell type independent manner that does not rely on changes to DNA repair pathways caused by longer TSA treatment. However, responses to lower doses of radiation and long term survival are more cell type specific: only MCF7 cells experience an effect of TSA on DNA damage after 1 Gy X-ray radiation while MCF10a cells experience somewhat more evident cell viability effects of combined TSA and radiation treatment long term.

Li, Heng [Biochemistry & Cellular and Molecular Bi↗

X ray sensitivity of diploid skin fibroblasts from patients with Fanconi's anemia

Experiments were performed on Fanconi's anemia and normal human fibroblast cell lines growing in culture in an attempt to correlate cell cycle kinetics with genomic damage and determine their bearing on the mechanism of chromosome aberration induction. FA fibroblasts showed a significantly increased susceptibility to chromosomal breakage by x rays in the G2 phase of the cell cycle. No such response was observed in fibroblasts irradiated in the G0 phase. The observed increases in achromatic lesions and in chromatid deletions in FA cells as compared with normal cells appear to indicate that FA cells are deficient in strand break repair and also possibly in base damage excision repair. Experiments are now in progress to further elucidate the mechanisms involved.

Kale, Ranjini↗

Vimentin loss promotes cancer proliferation through up-regulating Rictor/AKT/β-catenin signaling pathway

Vimentin protein is one of the main cytoskeleton and plays an important role in cell motility and metastasis. Nowadays, vimentin is widely studied as an epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) marker of cancer cells while its involvement in cancer proliferation is poorly understood. In this study, we investigated the participation of vimentin in regulating cancer proliferation by silencing VIM gene in four cancer cell lines. Our results demonstrated that vimentin loss significantly induced cancer cell proliferation both in vitro and in vivo, which has not been reported so far. Mechanistically, knockdown of vimentin expression activated AKT phosphorylation and its downstream β-catenin signaling. Nuclear translocation and transcriptional activity of β-catenin was enhanced after silencing vimentin expression. Furthermore, vimentin loss could prevent Rictor from autophagy-dependent degradation via reducing AMPK-mediated autophagy signaling. AICAR, an AMPK activator, down-regulated Rictor and p-AKT levels while vimentin knockdown could rescue the effects. In vivo, it was also found that Ki67 expression and p-AKT/β-catenin signaling pathway were obviously up-regulated in the tumor tissues in which vimentin was silenced compared to control groups. Taken together, these data showed the novel function of vimentin in regulating cancer proliferation via Rictor/AKT/β-catenin signaling pathway, which suggested that it need more careful consideration before inhibiting metastatic cancers through targeting vimentin.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Anticancer effect of AZD2461 PARP inhibitor against colon cancer cells carrying wt or dysfunctional p53

Colon cancer is one of the most common cancers, currently treated with traditional chemotherapies or alternative therapies. However, these treatments are still not enough effective and induce several side effects, so that the search of new therapeutic strategies is needed. The use of Poly-(ADP-ribose)-polymerase (PARP) inhibitors, although originally approved against BRCA-1 or BRCA-2 mutated cancers, has been extended, particularly in combination with other treatments, to cure cancers that do not display defects in DNA repair signaling pathways. The role of p53 oncosuppressor in the regulating the outcome of PARP inhibitor treatment remains an open issue. In this study, we addressed this topic by using a well-tolerated PARP 1/2/3 inhibitor, namely AZD2461, against colon cancer cell lines with different p53 status. We found that AZD2461 reduced cell proliferation in wtp53 and p53−/− cancer cells by increasing ROS and DNA damage, while R273H mutant (mut) p53 counteracted these effects. Moreover, AZD2461 improved the reduction of cell proliferation by low dose radiation (IR) in wtp53 cancer cells, in which a down-regulation of BRCA-1 occurred. AZD2461 did not affect cell proliferation of mutp53 colon cancer cells also in combination with low dose radiation, suggesting that only wt p53 or p53 null colon cancer cells could benefit AZD2461 treatment.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

The nucleus is the target for radiation-induced chromosomal instability

We have previously described chromosomal instability in cells of a human-hamster hybrid cell line after exposure to X rays. Chromosomal instability in these cells is characterized by the appearance of novel chromosomal rearrangements multiple generations after exposure to ionizing radiation. To identify the cellular target(s) for radiation-induced chromosomal instability, cells were treated with 125I-labeled compounds and frozen. Radioactive decays from 125I cause damage to the cell primarily at the site of their decay, and freezing the cells allows damage to accumulate in the absence of other cellular processes. We found that the decay of 125I-iododeoxyuridine, which is incorporated into the DNA, caused chromosomal instability. While cell killing and first-division chromosomal rearrangements increased with increasing numbers of 125I decays, the frequency of chromosomal instability was independent of dose. Chromosomal instability could also be induced from incorporation of 125I-iododeoxyuridine without freezing the cells for accumulation of decays. This indicates that DNA double-strand breaks in frozen cells resulting from 125I decays failed to lead to instability. Incorporation of an 125I-labeled protein (125I-succinyl-concanavalin A), which was internalized into the cell and/or bound to the plasma membrane, neither caused chromosomal instability nor potentiated chromosomal instability induced by 125I-iododeoxyuridine. These results show that the target for radiation-induced chromosomal instability in these cells is the nucleus.

Non-NASA Center↗

Serum amyloid A1: Innocent bystander or active participant in cell migration in triple-negative breast cancer?

Highlights: • SAA1 knockdown reduced cell viability in triple-negative breast cancer cells. • SAA1 knockdown induced a S to G{sub 2}/M cell cycle shift in MDA-MB-231 cells. • SAA1 silencing inhibited cell migration in MDA-MB-231 and HCC70 cells. • SAA1 silencing altered epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition markers in MDA-MB-231 cells. The Serum Amyloid A (SAA) family of proteins is associated with various pathological conditions, including cancer. However, their role in cancer is incompletely understood. Here, we investigated the role of SAA1 in cell cycle regulation, apoptosis, survival signaling, metabolism, and metastasis in models of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), using RNAi. Our data show that in untransformed epithelial cells (MCF12A), the knockdown of SAA1 induces the expression of cell cycle regulators (MCM2, p53), the activation of DNA repair (PARP synthesis), and survival signaling (NFκB). In contrast, knockdown of SAA1 in the TNBC cell line (MDA-MB-231) induced the expression p16 and shifted cells in the cell cycle from the S to G{sub 2}/M phase, without the activation of DNA repair. Moreover, in SAA1-deficient MDA-MB-231 and HCC70 cells, metabolism (NADH oxidation) continually increased while cell migration (% wound closure and the rate of wound closure) decreased. However, silencing of SAA1 altered epithelial and mesenchymal markers in MCF12A (E-cadherin, Laminin 1β, Vimentin) and MDA-MB-231 (α-Smooth muscle actin) cells, associated with the metastatic program of epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Nonetheless, our data provide evidence that SAA1 could potentially serve as a therapeutic target in TNBC.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

The Gene Fitness Atlas: A Roadmap for Predicting Evolution

We developed a novel, high-throughput microfluidic device design containing “interaction zones” where progeny cell lines compete against each other allowing for accurate analysis of bacterial cell fitness. The goal of the project was to use the device for two applications: 1) gene knockout screening and 2) antibiotic resistance screening. The microfluidic platform was fabricated using photolithography and soft lithography in polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS). E.coli Keio mutants and fluorescent wildtype parent were chosen for the study. Cells were grown overnight and their loading into the devices and seeding in mother machines was optimized. For mutant screening, the least fit mutant and wildtype parent were cultured individually and then added to the microfluidic device. The mother machines which were seeded with mutant and wildtype were imaged through time lapse microscopy and the growth of cells was observed. For antibiotic screening, wildtype E.coli cells which were grown overnight were added to the device and washed with media containing the antibiotic ampicillin. The growth pattern in presence and absence of ampicillin was observed through time lapse microscopy. It was observed that over a period of four hours, both the mutant and the wildtype divided in the mother machine and pushed daughter cells out into the interaction zone. In case of the antibiotic screening experiment, the fluorescent wildtype divided both in the absence and presence of sublethal concentration of ampicillin. This study is a proof of concept demonstration of high- throughput single cell analysis of cells using a novel microfluidics device.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

A human cell type similar to murine central nervous system perivascular fibroblasts

Highlights: • Human diploid cell lines were established from tumor and non-tumor brain tissue. • Human cells share a common transcriptomic profile with murine perivascular fibroblasts. • Human cells resemble commercially available cell of presumed pericyte origin. The brain vasculature has several specific features, one of them being the blood-brain barrier (BBB), which supports and protects the brain by allowing for the passage of oxygen and nutrients, while at the same time preventing passage of pathogens and toxins. The BBB also prevents efficient delivery of drugs to the brain, e.g. for treatment of brain tumors. In the murine brain, perivascular fibroblasts were recently identified as a novel potential constituent of the BBB. Here we present the existence of human cells that could be the equivalent to the murine brain perivascular fibroblasts. Using RNA sequencing, we show a similar transcriptomic profile of cultured human brain cells and murine perivascular fibroblasts. These data open up a window for new hypotheses on cell types involved in human CNS diseases.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗

Gravity and animal embryos

Out of more than 4,500 rat hours in space there was only one experimental attempt (Cosmos 1129) at mating with an apparent absence of fertilization, implantation and subsequent development to term and partuition. Portions of this process were successfully flown, however, including the major portion of organogenesis in the rat (Cosmos 1524). These observations show that the cellular and molecular events underlying morphogenesis and differentiation in a small mammal can proceed normally in-utero under microgravity and other conditions encountered during short-duration flight. However, it is not known whether this situation will hold for larger mammals over several generations during extended missions that venture outside of near Earth. Furthermore, it is not understood why the previous attempt at obtaining copulation, fertilization and implantation in orbit failed but may be related to limitations of the rat habitat for meeting the preconditions for reproductive behavior. With respect to mammalian development it is important to appreciate that fertilization and development occur internally within the female and take a long time to complete and their success will, therefore, be contingent upon the maternal response to the space environment. One process central to development (the establishment of cell lines) is initiated prior to implantation by environmental asymmetries preceived by progenitor cells. These asymmetries appear to result from the formation of asymmetric cell-cell contacts and the concommitant development of an electrical axis across the progenitor cells. Other asymmetries were also documented. It is not known whether any of the known asymmetries perceived by progenitor cells are influenced by gravity vectors and/or by the maternal response to microgravity and other conditions encountered in space.

Wiley, Lynn M.↗

Chromosome Aberrations in Normal and Ataxia-Telangiectasia Cells Exposed to Heavy Ions

Although cells derived from Ataxia Telangiectasia (AT) patients are known to exhibit abnormal responses to ionizing radiations, its underlying mechanism still remains unclear. Previously, the authors reported that at the same gamma-irradiation dose AT cells show higher frequencies of misrepair and deletions compared to normal human fibroblast cells. In this study, we investigated the effects of heavy ions beams on chromosomal aberrations in normal and AT cells. Normal and AT fibroblast cells arrested at G0/G1 phase were irradiated with 2 Gy of X-rays, 490 MeV/u Silicon (LET 55 keV/m), 500 MeV/u Iron (LET 185 keV/m) and 200 MeV/u Iron (LET 440 keV/m) particles, and then cells were allowed to repair for 24 hours at 37 degrees before subculture. Calyculin-A induced PCC method was employed to collect G2/M chromosomes and whole DNA probes 1 and 3 were used to analyze chromosomal aberrations such as color-junctions, deletions, simple exchanges (incomplete and reciprocal exanges) and complex-type exchanges. The percentages of aberrant cells were higher when normal and AT cells were exposed to heavy ions compared to X-rays, and had a tendency to increase with increasing LET up to 185 keV/m and then decreased at 440 keV/m. When the frequency of color-junctions per cell was compared after X-ray exposure, AT cells had around three times higher frequency of color-junctions (mis-rejoining) than normal cells. However, at 185 keV/m there was no difference in the frequency of color-junctions between two cell lines. It was also found that the frequency of simple exchanges per cell was almost constant in AT cells regardless LET levels, but it was LET dependent for normal cells. Interestingly, the frequency of simple exchanges was higher for AT cells when it was compared at 185 keV/m but AT cells had more complex-type exchanges at the same LET levels. Heavy ions are more efficient in inducing chromosome aberrations in normal and AT cells compared to X-rays, and the aberration types between normal and AT fibroblast appeared different probably due to difference in the ATM gene function.

Kawata, T.↗

The Distribution of Chromosomal Aberrations in Human Cells Predicted by a Generalized Time-Dependent Model of Radiation-Induced Formation of Aberrations

New experimental data show how chromosomal aberrations for low- and high-LET radiation are dependent on DSB repair deficiencies in wild-type, AT and NBS cells. We simulated the development of chromosomal aberrations in these cells lines in a stochastic track-structure-dependent model, in which different cells have different kinetics of DSB repair. We updated a previously formulated model of chromosomal aberrations, which was based on a stochastic Monte Carlo approach, to consider the time-dependence of DSB rejoining. The previous version of the model had an assumption that all DSBs would rejoin, and therefore we called it a time-independent model. The chromosomal-aberrations model takes into account the DNA and track structure for low- and high-LET radiations, and provides an explanation and prediction of the statistics of rare and more complex aberrations. We compared the program-simulated kinetics of DSB rejoining to the experimentally-derived bimodal exponential curves of the DSB kinetics. We scored the formation of translocations, dicentrics, acentric and centric rings, deletions, and inversions. The fraction of DSBs participating in aberrations was studied in relation to the rejoining time. Comparisons of simulated dose dependence for simple aberrations to the experimental dose-dependence for HF19, AT and NBS cells will be made.

Ponomarev, Artem L.↗

EIF3H knockdown inhibits malignant melanoma through regulating cell proliferation, apoptosis and cell cycle

Highlights: • EIF3H is highly expressed in malignant melanoma and correlated with tumor stage and risk of lymphatic metastasis. • Knockdown of EIF3H inhibits cell proliferation, cell migration and promotes cell apoptosis of melanoma in vitro. • Knockdown of EIF3H suppresses tumor growth in vivo. Malignant melanoma (MM) causes 80% of skin cancer-related deaths and becomes the most lethal type of skin cancer. The molecular mechanism of MM is still not clear. This study aimed to reveal the relationship between MM and EIF3H. Clinical specimens were collected to preliminarily explore the role of EIF3H in MM. MM cell lines with EIF3H knockdown were constructed for investigating the effects of EIF3H on cell proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle and cell motility. Mice xenograft model was constructed for verification in vivo. We found that EIF3H was obviously upregulated in MM tissues compared with normal skin tissues, which was correlated with tumor stage and risk of lymphatic metastasis. The in vitro results indicated that silencing EIF3H in MM cells could significantly suppress cell proliferation, promote cell apoptosis and induce cell cycle arrest. Moreover, EIF3H knockdown significantly restrained cell motility through regulating EMT-related proteins. The effects of EIF3H knockdown were also verified in mice xenograft model, which were represented by slower growth rate, smaller volume and lighter weight of tumors. Therefore, EIF3H was identified as a critical factor in the development and progression of MM which may be used as a novel therapeutic target in the treatment of MM.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗