Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “patch”

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 1,117 records · Page 62
All sourcesNASA NTRSDOE OSTI
DOE OSTI2020

Genomic adaptations of the green alga Dunaliella salina to life under high salinity

Life in high salinity environments poses challenges to cells in a variety of ways: maintenance of ion homeostasis and nutrient acquisition, often while concomitantly enduring saturating irradiances. Dunaliella salina has an exceptional ability to thrive even in saturated brine solutions. This ability has made it a model organism for studying responses to abiotic stress factors. Here we describe the occurrence of unique gene families, expansion of gene families, or gene losses that might be linked to osmoadaptive strategies. We discovered multiple unique genes coding for several of the homologous superfamily of the Ser-Thr-rich glycosyl-phosphatidyl-inositol-anchored membrane family and of the glycolipid 2-alpha-mannosyltransferase family, suggesting that such components on the cell surface are essential to life in high salt. Gene expansion was found in families that participate in sensing of abiotic stress and signal transduction in plants. One example is the patched family of the Sonic Hedgehog receptor proteins, supporting a previous hypothesis that plasma membrane sterols are important for sensing changes in salinities in D. salina. We also investigated genome-based capabilities regarding glycerol metabolism and present an extensive map for core carbon metabolism. We postulate that a second broader glycerol cycle exists that also connects to photorespiration, thus extending the previously described glycerol cycle. Further genome-based analysis of isoprenoid and carotenoid metabolism revealed duplications of genes for 1-deoxy-D-xylulose-5-phosphate synthase (DXS) and phytoene synthase (PSY), with the second gene copy of each enzyme being clustered together. Moreover, we identified two genes predicted to code for a prokaryotic-type phytoene desaturase (CRTI), indicating that D. salina may have eukaryotic and prokaryotic elements comprising its carotenoid biosynthesis pathways. In brief, our genomic data provide the basis for further gene discoveries regarding sensing abiotic stress, the metabolism of this halophilic alga, and its potential in biotechnological applications.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2021

Complexity and near extremal charged black branes

Highlights: • Trying to explore a remedy to overcome the puzzle in holographic complexity by assuming a cutoff behind the horizon and the corresponding boundary term. • Holographic complexity growth obtained by the WDW patch on shell action is insensitive to the UV cutoff at the late time. Therefore one may conclude that either on shell action does not compute complexity, or the late time is not given by the physical charges, or in our computations we have missed something! • We find that one needs to carefully compute on shell action taking into account the behind the horizon and the corresponding boundary term. Doing so, one arrives at a consistent picture. • We check this consistency by evaluating the late time complexity growth for near horizon limit of the near extremal black hole using two different methods. We would have obtained non-consistent picture, if we had not considered the behind the horizon cutoff as well as the corresponding boundary term. We compute holographic complexity of charged black brane solutions in arbitrary dimensions for the near horizon limit of near extremal case using two different methods. The corresponding complexity may be obtained either by taking the limit from the complexity of the charged black brane, or by computing the complexity for near horizon limit of near extremal solution. One observes that these results coincide if one assumes to have a cutoff behind horizon whose value is fixed by UV cutoff and also taking into account a proper counterterm evaluated on this cutoff. We also consider the situation for Vaidya charged black branes too.

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSIC↗
DOE OSTI2023

Impacts of PTL coating gaps on cell performance for PEM water electrolyzer

The anode porous transport layer (PTL) is a critical component of polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) water electrolyzers, providing electrical conduction and water/oxygen transport to the anode catalyst layer. Platinum group metal (PGM) coatings are applied to titanium PTLs to prevent oxidation and preserve conductivity. To implement PEM water electrolysis on a large scale, it is essential to minimize the cost of mass-manufactured cell components while ensuring that defects in materials and components do not adversely affect the performance of the cell. In this study, we created gaps in the Pt coatings that are typically applied to PTLs to understand their effects on cell performance and inform on fabrication tolerances. The PTL coatings were fabricated by sputter deposition of Pt, intentionally leaving uncoated regions in either large patches or thin strips. For either geometry, the cell performance decreased with the increasing fraction of the uncoated regions. However, PTLs containing multiple thin uncoated strips caused a less severe performance effect than PTLs with continuous uncoated regions of the same relative total area. Through analysis of cell performance, impedance, and 3D charge transport modelling, here we demonstrate that both the anode catalyst layer and membrane play a role in distributing current to mitigate the impact of coating defects at a short length scale. These results allow to draw conclusions about the tolerance requirements with regards to PTL coating uniformity in terms of both the size and total area of defects.

08 HYDROGEN↗
DOE OSTI2013

TRESK potassium channel in human T lymphoblasts

Highlights: • TRESK (KCNK18) mRNA is present in different T lymphoblastic cell lines. • KCNK18 mRNA was not found in resting peripheral blood lymphocytes. • Clinical samples of T lymphoblastic leukemias and lymphomas were positive for TRESK. • TRESK in T lymphoblasts has dual localization, in plasma membrane and intracellular. -- Abstract: TRESK (TWIK-related spinal cord K{sup +}) channel, encoded by KCNK18 gene, belongs to the double-pore domain K{sup +} channel family and in normal conditions is expressed predominantly in the central nervous system. In our previous patch-clamp study on Jurkat T lymphoblasts we have characterized highly selective K{sup +} channel with pharmacological profile identical to TRESK. In the present work, the presence of KCNK18 mRNA was confirmed in T lymphoblastic cell lines (Jurkat, JCaM, H9) but not in resting peripheral blood lymphocytes of healthy donors. Positive immunostaining for TRESK was demonstrated in lymphoblastic cell lines, in germinal centers of non-tumoral lymph nodes, and in clinical samples of T acute lymphoblastic leukemias/lymphomas. Besides detection in the plasma membrane, intracellular TRESK localization was also revealed. Possible involvement of TRESK channel in lymphocyte proliferation and tumorigenesis is discussed.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2014

The cataract-associated V41M mutant of human γS-crystallin shows specific structural changes that directly enhance local surface hydrophobicity

Highlights: •We present NMR analysis of V41M, a cataract-causing mutant of human γS-crystallin. •Mutation alters strand–strand interactions throughout the N-terminal domain. •Mutation directly affects Trp46 due to key Met41-S–Trp46-pi interactions. •We identify the basis of the surface hydrophobicity increase and residues involved. -- Abstract: The major crystallins expressed in the human lens are γS-, γC- and γD-crystallins. Several mutations in γS-crystallin are associated with hereditary cataracts, one of which involves the substitution of a highly conserved Valine at position 41 to Methionine. According to a recent report, the mutant protein, V41M, shows lower stability and increased surface hydrophobicity compared to the wild-type, and a propensity for self-aggregation. Here we address the structural differences between the two proteins, with residue-level specificity using NMR spectroscopy. Based on the structural model of the mutant protein, our results clearly show that the mutation creates a major local perturbation almost at the junction of the first and second “Greek-key” motifs in the N-terminal domain. A larger section of the second motif (residues 44–86) appears to be mainly affected. Based on the sizeable chemical shift of the imino proton of the indole side-chain of Trp46 in V41M, we suggest that the sulphur atom of Met41 is involved in an S–π interaction with Trp46. This interaction would bring the last β-strand of the first “Greek-key” motif closer to the first β-strand of the second motif. This appears to lead to a domino effect, towards both the N- and C-terminal ends, even as it decays off substantially beyond the domain interface. During this process discreet hydrophobic surface patches are created, as revealed by ANS-binding. Such changes would not affect the secondary structure or cause a major change in the tertiary structure, but can lead to self-aggregation or aberrant binding interactions of the mutant protein in vivo, and lead to lens opacity or cataract.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2014

Rapamycin-binding FKBP25 associates with diverse proteins that form large intracellular entities

Highlights: • The hFKBP25 interacts with diverse components of macromolecular entities. • We show that the endogenous human FKBP25 is bound to polyribosomes. • The endogenous hFKBP25 co-immunoprecipitated with nucleosomal proteins. • FKBP25 could induce conformational switch in macromolecular complexes. - Abstract: In this paper, we show some evidence that a member of the FK506-binding proteins, FKBP25 is associated to diverse components that are part of several different intracellular large-molecular mass entities. The FKBP25 is a high-affinity rapamycin-binding immunophilin, which has nuclear translocation signals present in its PPIase domain but it was detected both in the cytoplasm compartment and in the nuclear proteome. Analyses of antiFKBP25-immunoprecipitated proteins have revealed that the endogenous FKBP25 is associated to the core histones of the nucleosome, and with several proteins forming spliceosomal complexes and ribosomal subunits. Using polyclonal antiFKBP25 we have detected FKBP25 associated with polyribosomes. Added RNAs or 0.5 M NaCl release FKBP25 that was associated with the polyribosomes indicating that the immunophilin has an intrinsic capacity to form complexes with polyribonucleotides via its charged surface patches. Rapamycin or FK506 treatments of the polyribosomes isolated from porcine brain, HeLa and K568 cells caused a residual release of the endogenous FKBP25, which suggests that the immunophilin also binds to some proteins via its PPIase cavity. Our proteomics study indicates that the nuclear pool of the FKBP25 targets various nuclear proteins that are crucial for packaging of DNA, chromatin remodeling and pre-mRNA splicing whereas the cytosolic pool of this immunophilin is bound to some components of the ribosome.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2014

Effect of TGFβ on Na{sup +}/K{sup +} ATPase activity in megakaryocytes

Highlights: • TGFß1 markedly up-regulates Na{sup +}/K{sup +} ATPase in megakaryocytes. • The effect is abrogated by p38-MAP kinase inhibitor skepinone. • The effect is abrogated by SGK inhibitor EMD638683. • The effect is abrogated by NF-κB inhibitor wogonin. - Abstract: The Na{sup +}/K{sup +} ATPase generates the Na{sup +} and K{sup +} concentration gradients across the plasma membrane and is thus essential for cellular electrolyte homeostasis, cell membrane potential and cell volume maintenance. A powerful regulator of Na{sup +}/K{sup +} ATPase is the serum- and glucocorticoid-inducible kinase 1 (SGK1). The most powerful known regulator of SGK1 expression is TGFß1, which is pivotal in the regulation of megakaryocyte maturation and platelet formation. Signaling involved in the upregulation of SGK1 by TGFß1 includes p38 mitogen activated protein (MAP) kinase. SGK1 in turn phosphorylates the IκB kinase (IKKα/β), which phosphorylates the inhibitor protein IκBα thus triggering nuclear translocation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB). The present study explored whether TGFβ influences Na{sup +}/K{sup +} ATPase activity in megakaryocytes, and if so, whether the effect of TGß1 requires p38 MAP kinase, SGK1 and/or NF-κB. To this end, murine megakaryocytes were treated with TGFß1 and Na{sup +}/K{sup +} ATPase activity determined from K{sup +} induced current utilizing whole cell patch clamp. The pump current (I{sub pump}) was determined in the absence and presence of Na{sup +}/K{sup +} ATPase inhibitor ouabain (100 μM). TGFß1 (60 ng/ml) was added in the absence or presence of p38 MAP kinase inhibitor skepinone-L (1 μM), SGK1 inhibitor EMD638683 (50 μM) or NF-κB inhibitor wogonin (50 nM). As a result, the I{sub pump} was significantly increased by pretreatment of the megakaryocytes with TGFß1, an effect reaching statistical significance within 16 and 24 h and virtually abrogated in the presence of skepinone-L, EMD638683 or wogonin. In conclusion, TGFß1 is a powerful regulator of megakaryocytic Na{sup +}/K{sup +} ATPase activity. Signaling mediating the effect of TGFß1 on Na{sup +}/K{sup +} ATPase activity involves p38 MAP kinase, SGK1 and NF-κB.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2016

Hypoxic stress up-regulates Kir2.1 expression and facilitates cell proliferation in brain capillary endothelial cells

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is mainly composed of brain capillary endothelial cells (BCECs), astrocytes and pericytes. Brain ischemia causes hypoxic encephalopathy and damages BBB. However, it remains still unclear how hypoxia affects BCECs. In the present study, t-BBEC117 cells, an immortalized bovine brain endothelial cell line, were cultured under hypoxic conditions at 4–5% oxygen for 72 h. This hypoxic stress caused hyperpolarization of resting membrane potential. Patch-clamp recordings revealed a marked increase in Ba{sup 2+}-sensitive inward rectifier K{sup +} current in t-BBEC117 cells after hypoxic culture. Western blot and real-time PCR analyses showed that Kir2.1 expression was significantly up-regulated at protein level but not at mRNA level after the hypoxic culture. Ca{sup 2+} imaging study revealed that the hypoxic stress enhanced store-operated Ca{sup 2+} (SOC) entry, which was significantly reduced in the presence of 100 μM Ba{sup 2+}. On the other hand, the expression of SOC channels such as Orai1, Orai2, and transient receptor potential channels was not affected by hypoxic stress. MTT assay showed that the hypoxic stress significantly enhanced t-BBEC117 cell proliferation, which was inhibited by approximately 60% in the presence of 100 μM Ba{sup 2+}. We first show here that moderate cellular stress by cultivation under hypoxic conditions hyperpolarizes membrane potential via the up-regulation of functional Kir2.1 expression and presumably enhances Ca{sup 2+} entry, resulting in the facilitation of BCEC proliferation. These findings suggest potential roles of Kir2.1 expression in functional changes of BCECs in BBB following ischemia. -- Highlights: •Hypoxic culture of brain endothelial cells (BEC) caused membrane hyperpolarization. •This hyperpolarization was due to the increased expression of Kir2.1 channels. •Hypoxia enhanced store-operated Ca{sup 2+} (SOC) entry via Kir2.1 up-regulation. •Expression levels of putative SOC channels were not affected by hypoxia. •Kir2.1 up-regulation is responsible for hypoxia-enhanced BEC proliferation.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2016

Human transbodies to VP40 inhibit cellular egress of Ebola virus-like particles

A direct acting anti-Ebola agent is needed. VP40, a conserved protein across Ebolavirus (EBOV) species has several pivotal roles in the virus life cycle. Inhibition of VP40 functions would lessen the virion integrity and interfere with the viral assembly, budding, and spread. In this study, cell penetrable human scFvs (HuscFvs) that bound to EBOV VP40 were produced by phage display technology. Gene sequences coding for VP40-bound-HuscFvs were subcloned from phagemids into protein expression plasmids downstream to a gene of cell penetrating peptide, i.e., nonaarginine (R9). By electron microscopy, transbodies from three clones effectively inhibited egress of the Ebola virus-like particles from human hepatic cells transduced with pseudo-typed-Lentivirus particles carrying EBOV VP40 and GP genes. Computerized simulation indicated that the effective HuscFvs bound to multiple basic residues in the cationic patch of VP40 C-terminal domain which are important in membrane-binding for viral matrix assembly and virus budding. The transbodies bound also to VP40 N-terminal domain and L domain peptide encompassed the PTAPPEY (WW binding) motif, suggesting that they might confer VP40 function inhibition through additional mechanism(s). The generated transbodies are worthwhile tested with authentic EBOV before developing to direct acting anti-Ebola agent for preclinical and clinical trials. - Highlights: • Cell penetrable human scFvs (transbodies) to Ebolavirus (EBOV) VP40 were produced. • The transbodies inhibited egress of EBOV-like particles (VLPs) from human hepatocytes. • They interacted with VP40 CTD basic residues important for plasma membrane binding. • And hence interfere with viral matrix assembly and viral progeny budding. • This is the first report on human antibodies that target intracellular EBOV VP40.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2017

Local calcium signalling is mediated by mechanosensitive ion channels in mesenchymal stem cells

Mechanical forces are implicated in key physiological processes in stem cells, including proliferation, differentiation and lineage switching. To date, there is an evident lack of understanding of how external mechanical cues are coupled with calcium signalling in stem cells. Mechanical reactions are of particular interest in adult mesenchymal stem cells because of their promising potential for use in tissue remodelling and clinical therapy. Here, single channel patch-clamp technique was employed to search for cation channels involved in mechanosensitivity in mesenchymal endometrial-derived stem cells (hMESCs). Functional expression of native mechanosensitive stretch-activated channels (SACs) and calcium-sensitive potassium channels of different conductances in hMESCs was shown. Single current analysis of stretch-induced channel activity revealed functional coupling of SACs and BK channels in plasma membrane. The combination of cell-attached and inside-out experiments have indicated that highly localized Ca{sup 2+} entry via SACs triggers BK channel activity. At the same time, SK channels are not coupled with SACs despite of high calcium sensitivity as compared to BK. Our data demonstrate novel mechanism controlling BK channel activity in native cells. We conclude that SACs and BK channels are clusterized in functional mechanosensitive domains in the plasma membrane of hMESCs. Co-clustering of ion channels may significantly contribute to mechano-dependent calcium signalling in stem cells. - Highlights: • Stretch-induced channel activity in human mesenchymal stem cells was analyzed. • Functional expression of SACs and Ca{sup 2+}-sensitive BK and SK channels was shown. • Local Ca{sup 2+} influx via stretch-activated channels triggers BK channel activity. • SK channels are not coupled with SACs despite higher sensitivity to [Ca{sup 2+}]{sub i}. • Functional clustering of SACs and BK channels in stem cell membrane is proposed.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2017

Structural study of the effects of mutations in proteins to identify the molecular basis of the loss of local structural fluidity leading to the onset of autoimmune diseases

Protein-Protein Interactions (PPIs) are crucial in most of the biological processes and PPI dysfunctions are known to be associated with the onsets of various diseases. One of such diseases is the auto-immune disease. Auto-immune diseases are one among the less studied group of diseases with very high mortality rates. Thus, we tried to correlate the appearances of mutations with their probable biochemical basis of the molecular mechanisms leading to the onset of the disease phenotypes. We compared the effects of the Single Amino Acid Variants (SAVs) in the wild type and mutated proteins to identify any structural deformities that might lead to altered PPIs leading ultimately to disease onset. For this we used Relative Solvent Accessibility (RSA) as a spatial parameter to compare the structural perturbation in mutated and wild type proteins. We observed that the mutations were capable to increase intra-chain PPIs whereas inter-chain PPIs would remain mostly unaltered. This might lead to more intra-molecular friction causing a deleterious alteration of protein's normal function. A Lyapunov exponent analysis, using the altered RSA values due to polymorphic and disease causing mutations, revealed polymorphic mutations have a positive mean value for the Lyapunov exponent while disease causing mutations have a negative mean value. Thus, local spatial stochasticity has been lost due to disease causing mutations, indicating a loss of structural fluidity. The amino acid conversion plot also showed a clear tendency of altered surface patch residue conversion propensity than polymorphic conversions. So far, this is the first report that compares the effects of different kinds of mutations (disease and non-disease causing polymorphic mutations) in the onset of autoimmune diseases. - Highlights: • Protein-Protein Interaction. • Changes in Relative Solvent Accessibility (RSA). • Amino acid conversion matrix. • Polymorphic mutations. • Disease causing mutations.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2017

Dual expression of constitutively active Gαs-protein-coupled receptors differentially establishes the resting activity of the cAMP-gated HCN2 channel in a single compartment

Highlights: • Constitutively active GPCRs were dually expressed in a single compartment. • HCN2 channels were differentially activated depending on the GPCR pairs. • Basal actions of GPCRs were abolished by an adenylate cyclase inhibitor. • Basal cAMP pools were specifically established by constitutively active GPCR pairs. The hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated 2 (HCN2) channel is a major subtype of the HCN channel family expressed in the nervous system that sets the membrane potential, regulates cell excitability and senses changes in the extracellular environment. Neurons express various Gα{sub s}-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), many of which show ligand-independent constitutive activity. These membrane-bound proteins are expressed in various subcellular compartments of neurons. Therefore, some proportion of HCN2 channels opens in response to the basal cAMP pool size produced by constitutively active GPCRs. Here, we employed an exogenous HEK293 expression system and voltage-clamp patch-clamp recordings to investigate basal HCN2 channel activity in the presence of two GPCRs with diverse basal activities in a single compartment. We utilized the β2-adrenoceptor (β2AR) together with odorant receptors (ORs), as both GPCR families are known to show strong basal activity. Consequently, β2AR alone strongly enhanced the activity of HCN2 channels, and co-expression of ORs further diversified the HCN2 channel activity, which was totally abolished by an adenylate cyclase inhibitor. Thus, we conclude that the dual expression of constitutively active GPCRs establishes the diverse range of the basal cAMP pool size in resting cells through mutual additive or suppressive interactions, even in the absence of external stimulation.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2018

Isolation and characterization of ventricular-like cells derived from NKX2-5 eGFP/w and MLC2v mCherry/w double knock-in human pluripotent stem cells

Highlights: • NKX2-5{sup eGFP/w} and MLC2v{sup mCherry/w} hPSC double knock-ins were established. • Culture conditions mimic in vivo cardiac developmental process. • Subtype-specific cardiac development and functional analysis were possible. Human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC)-derived cardiomyocytes (CMs) are a promising source for cell transplantation into the damaged heart, which has limited regenerative ability. Many methods have been developed to obtain large amounts of functional CMs from hPSCs for therapeutic applications. However, during the differentiation process, a mixed population of various cardiac cells, including ventricular, atrial, and pacemaker cells, is generated, which hampers the proper functional analysis and evaluation of cell properties. Here, we established NKX2-5{sup eGFP/w} and MLC2v{sup mCherry/w} hPSC double knock-ins that allow for labeling, tracing, purification, and analysis of the development of ventricular cells from early to late stages. As with the endogenous transcriptional activities of these genes, MLC2v-mCherry expression following NKX2-5-eGFP expression was observed under previously established culture conditions, which mimic the in vivo cardiac developmental process. Patch-clamp and microelectrode array electrophysiological analyses showed that the NKX2-5 and MLC2v double-positive cells possess ventricular-like properties. The results demonstrate that the NKX2-5{sup eGFP/w} and MLC2v{sup mCherry/w} hPSCs provide a powerful model system to capture region-specific cardiac differentiation from early to late stages. Our study would facilitate subtype-specific cardiac development and functional analysis using the hPSC-derived sources.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2018

A novel mouse model for tracking the fate of CXCR5-expressing T cells

Highlights: • Tfh cell fate-mapping mouse was developed. • Tfh cells could be tracked from the effector phase to the memory phase. • Tfh-derived memory cells were localized in the T-B border area and T cell zone. The germinal center (GC) reaction, a critical process in the humoral immune response, requires follicular helper T (Tfh) cells. Tfh cells express the master transcription factor Bcl6 and chemokine receptor CXCR5, which enable them to migrate from the T cell zone to B cell follicles and interact with GC B cells. However, CXCR5 is downregulated when Tfh cells become memory cells. Therefore, it is difficult to track Tfh cells continuously in vivo. In this study, we generated a mouse strain, Cxcr5{sup CreERT2}R26{sup Tomato}, in which the fluorescent protein tdTomato is inducibly expressed in CXCR5{sup +} cells by tamoxifen administration. After the oral administration of tamoxifen, most Tfh cells in Peyer's patches (PP) from Cxcr5{sup CreERT2}R26{sup Tomato} mice were tdTomato{sup +}. To track antigen-specific Tfh cells in vivo, OVA-specific OT-II T cells derived from Cxcr5{sup CreERT2}R26{sup Tomato} mice were transferred to wild-type mice, and the recipient mice were immunized with OVA followed by tamoxifen administration. CXCR5{sup +} T cells became tdTomato{sup +} and were mainly located in B cell follicles and GC areas 8 days after immunization. Four weeks after immunization, tdTomato{sup +} OT-II T cells migrated from B cell follicles to the T-B border area and T cell zone after CXCR5 downregulation and CCR7 upregulation. These results indicate that Cxcr5{sup CreERT2}R26{sup Tomato} mice are a useful tool for studying the cell fate of differentiated Tfh cells in vivo and therefore have implications for the development of therapeutic strategies for infectious and autoimmune diseases.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2018

Cephalosporin antibiotics are weak blockers of GABAa receptor-mediated synaptic transmission in rat brain slices

Highlights: • Millimolar concentrations of cephalosporins are required to block eIPSCs. • Cefepime and ceftriaxone have different mechanisms of GABAa receptor inhibition. • Cephalosporins alone fail to induce consistent epileptiform activity in brain slices. Cephalosporins are beta-lactam antibiotics that are extensively used in medical practice and are reported to cause epileptic seizures in some patients. The primary cause of cephalosporin-induced convulsions is believed to be their ability to block GABAa receptors. However, direct evidence for the involvement of this mechanism has not yet been provided. The present study aims to investigate the ability of two cephalosporins – cefepime and ceftriaxone – to block inhibitory synaptic transmission in entorhinal cortex slices of rats. Using the whole-cell patch-clamp method, we found that millimolar concentrations of cefepime (IC{sub 50} = 1.6 ± 0.1 mM) and ceftriaxone (2.0 ± 0.1 mM) were required to block the evoked inhibitory postsynaptic currents (IPSCs). These concentrations are almost two orders of magnitude higher than cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of antibiotics achieved during treatment. We also found that while ceftriaxone did not affect the IPSC decay kinetics, cefepime significantly slowed the decays of the evoked currents, which may be attributed to the diverse mechanisms of the GABAa receptor inhibition of cefepime and ceftriaxone. The experiments involving the fast application of GABA at various concentrations to isolated neurons suggests that cefepime blocks receptors competitively, while ceftriaxone does so noncompetitively. Cefepime, at a concentration of up to 4 mM, was unable to produce seizure-like events in brain slices. However, this antibiotic could induce epileptiform activity in combination with the altered ionic composition of the perfusing media, which may be the case for patients with renal insufficiency. Our results suggest that cefepime and ceftriaxone are weak GABAa receptor blockers and that it is unlikely that the inhibition of GABAa receptors by antibiotics is the primary cause of the seizures.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2018

Canstatin modulates L-type calcium channel activity in rat ventricular cardiomyocytes

Excessive increase of cytosolic Ca{sup 2+} through the activation of L-type Ca{sup 2+} channels (LTCCs) via β adrenergic receptor induces apoptosis of cardiomyocytes. Canstatin, a cleaved fragment of collagen type IV α2 chain, is abundantly expressed in normal heart tissue. We previously reported that canstatin inhibits β adrenergic receptor-stimulated apoptosis in cardiomyoblasts. Here, we tested the hypothesis that canstatin regulates LTCCs activity in ventricular cardiomyocytes. Collagen type IV α2 chain (COL4A2) small interfering (si) RNA (for canstatin suppression) or control siRNA was injected via jugular vein in Wistar rats. Two days after the injection, electrocardiogram (ECG) was recorded and the left ventricular tissue was isolated using Langendorff apparatus. Immunofluorescence staining was performed to clarify the distribution of canstatin in cardiomyocytes. The knockdown efficiency was confirmed by Western blotting. The L-type Ca{sup 2+} channel current (I{sub CaL}) of ventricular cardiomyocyte was measured by a whole-cell patch clamp technique. In immunofluorescence staining, colocalization of canstatin and α{sub v} integrin was observed in the isolated ventricular cardiomyocytes. The I{sub CaL} of ventricular cardiomyocyte isolated from COL4A2 siRNA-injected rats was significantly enhanced compared with control siRNA-injected rats. Recombinant canstatin (250 ng/ml) significantly reversed it. ECG analysis showed that QT interval tended to be shortened and amplitude of T wave was significantly increased in the COL4A2 siRNA-injected rats. In summary, we for the first time clarified that suppressing canstatin expression increases the basal I{sub CaL} in ventricular cardiomyocytes. It is proposed that canstatin might play a role in the stabilization of cardiac function through the modulation of LTCC activity in cardiomyocytes.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2018

Modulation by orexin A of spontaneous excitatory and inhibitory transmission in adult rat spinal substantia gelatinosa neurons

Highlights: • Orexin A produced membrane depolarization in substantia gelatinosa neurons. • Orexin A increased spontaneous l-glutamate release in substantia gelatinosa neurons. • Orexin A facilitated GABAergic transmission in substantia gelatinosa neurons. • Orexin A facilitated glycinergic transmission in substantia gelatinosa neurons. • All of orexin A activities were due to orexin-1 but not orexin-2 receptor activation. Hypothalamic neuropeptides, orexins A and B, differently inhibit nociceptive behavior. This difference is possibly due to a distinction between orexins A and B in modulating synaptic transmission in spinal substantia gelatinosa (SG) neurons that play a pivotal role in regulating nociceptive transmission. Although we previously reported a modulatory action of orexin B on synaptic transmission in adult rat SG neurons, it has not been fully examined how the transmission is affected by orexin A. The present study examined the effects of orexin A on spontaneous excitatory and inhibitory transmission in SG neurons of adult rat spinal cord slices by using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Like orexin B, orexin A produced an inward current at −70 mV and/or increased the frequency of spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic current without changing its amplitude. Half-maximal effective concentration values for their effects were 0.0045 and 0.030 μM, respectively; the former value was four-fold smaller than that of orexin B while the latter value was comparable to that of orexin B. Orexin A enhanced not only glycinergic but also GABAergic transmission, although only glycinergic transmission was facilitated by orexin B in the majority of neurons tested. Orexin A activities were inhibited by an orexin-1 receptor antagonist (SB334867) but not an orexin-2 receptor antagonist (JNJ10397049), as different from orexin B whose activation was depressed by JNJ10397049 but not SB334867. These results indicate that orexin A has a different action from orexin B in SG neurons in efficacy for inward current production and in GABAergic transmission enhancement, possibly owing to orexin-1 but not orexin-2 receptor activation. This difference could contribute to at least a part of the distinction between orexins A and B in antinociceptive effects.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗
DOE OSTI2018

The endogenous agonist, β-alanine, activates glycine receptors in rat spinal dorsal neurons

Highlights: • Activation of glycine receptors by β-alanine in substantia gelatinosa neurons. • β-alanine opens Cl{sup −} channels on postsynaptic substantia gelatinosa neurons. • β-alanine acts as a inhibitory neurotransmitter in sunstantia gelatinosa neurons. • β-alanine may be involved in antinociception. β-alanine is a structural analog of glycine and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and is thought to be involved in the modulation of nociceptive information at the spinal cord. However, it is not known whether β-alanine exerts its effect in substantia gelatinosa (SG) neurons of the spinal dorsal horn, where glycine and GABA play an important role in regulating nociceptive transmission from the periphery. Here, we investigated the effects of β-alanine on inhibitory synaptic transmission in adult rat SG neurons using whole-cell patch-clamp. β-alanine dose-dependently induced outward currents in SG neurons. Current-voltage plots revealed a reversal potential at approximately −70 mV, which was close to the equilibrium potential of Cl{sup −}. Pharmacological analysis revealed that β-alanine activates glycine receptors, but not GABA{sub A} receptors. These results suggest that β-alanine hyperpolarizes the membrane potential of SG neurons by activating Cl{sup −} channels through glycine receptors. Our findings raise the possibility that β-alanine may modulate pain sensation through glycine receptors.

60 APPLIED LIFE SCIENCES↗