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In JoVE (1)
Other Publications (26)
- Bioelectrochemistry (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
- Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences : Official Journal of the European Photochemistry Association and the European Society for Photobiology
- Bioelectrochemistry (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
- Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences : Official Journal of the European Photochemistry Association and the European Society for Photobiology
- Thrombosis and Haemostasis
- Cell Calcium
- Cell Calcium
- Circulation Research
- The Journal of Biological Chemistry
- Cell Calcium
- Biochimica Et Biophysica Acta
- International Journal of Cancer. Journal International Du Cancer
- International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics
- Cell Calcium
- Cell Calcium
- Cardiovascular Research
- American Journal of Physiology. Cell Physiology
- Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology
- Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry : International Journal of Experimental Cellular Physiology, Biochemistry, and Pharmacology
- Journal of Neuro-oncology
- Cell Calcium
- Frontiers in Pharmacology
- Bioelectrochemistry (Amsterdam, Netherlands)
- BMC Research Notes
- Cellular Physiology and Biochemistry : International Journal of Experimental Cellular Physiology, Biochemistry, and Pharmacology
- Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology
Articles by Lars Kaestner in JoVE
JoVE General
Isolation and Genetic Manipulation of Adult Cardiac Myocytes for Confocal Imaging
Institute for Molecular Cell Biology, Universty of Saarland
Adult cardiac myocytes are primary cells that can be isolated from animal hearts and cultured for several days. Within this culture period adenoviral gene transfer can be used to express genetically encoded biosensors (GEBs) or fluorescent fusion proteins. Both approaches allow cellular investigations by means of confocal microscopy.
Other articles by Lars Kaestner on PubMed
Ion Channels in the Human Red Blood Cell Membrane: Their Further Investigation and Physiological Relevance
Using the patch-clamp technique, two different ion channels have been characterized further in the human red blood cell (RBC) membrane. We demonstrate that the non-selective cation channel (NSC) is permeable to Ca(2+) and can be activated by prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)). Therefore, the physiological role of this channel could be, together with the Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channel, the participation in the process of blood clot formation. We give also evidence that another channel in the RBC membrane, so far assumed to be a small conductance anion channel, is more likely to be a proton or a hydroxyl ion channel.
Zinc Octa-n-alkyl Phthalocyanines in Photodynamic Therapy: Photophysical Properties, Accumulation and Apoptosis in Cell Cultures, Studies in Erythrocytes and Topical Application to Balb/c Mice Skin
Two octa-substituted phthalocyanines, namely 1,4,8,11,15,18,22,25-octakis(decyl)phthalocyaninato zinc(II) (ZnODPc) and 1,4,8,11,15,18,22,25-octakis(pentyl)phthalocyaninato zinc(II) (ZnOPPc), were investigated for their use in photodynamic therapy (PDT) after topical application. Both substances exhibited favourable properties as photosensitisers in vitro: absorption maxima around 700 nm with absorption coefficients of about 190000 (M(-1) cm(-1)), a singlet oxygen quantum yield of 0.47 +/- 0.02 (ZnODPc), and good accumulation in keratinocytes and fibroblasts. Cell death after phthalocyanine-photosensitisation appeared to occur mainly via apoptosis. The in vivo experiments demonstrated a good accumulation of the phthalocyanines after topical application in a tetrahydrofuran-azone formulation onto the dorsal skin of Balb/c mice: [(4.6-4.7) +/- 1.0]% of deposited dye could be recovered after 3 h from deposition. ZnODPc showed significantly better skin-photosensitising properties than ZnOPPc and is therefore a potential candidate for the treatment of psoriasis.
Red Blood Cell Ghosts and Intact Red Blood Cells As Complementary Models in Photodynamic Cell Research
Recent research on erythrocytes as model cells for photodynamic therapy showed differing behaviour of certain photosensitisers in erythrocytes compared to other cells. Differences of dye accumulation in the cell membrane were proposed to be the reason for the distinct photodynamic effects. Using pheophorbide a as an example, the combination of erythrocyte ghosts as models to follow the dye accumulation in the cell membrane and intact erythrocytes as model cells to show the photodynamic damage is provided. Evidence for the correctness of the combination of erythrocyte ghosts and intact erythrocytes as a functioning model system in photodynamic cell research is provided using the confocal laser scanning microscopy on intact, pheophorbide a loaded erythrocytes.
Erythrocytes-the 'house Elves' of Photodynamic Therapy
Photodynamic therapy (PDT) and fluorescence diagnosis (FD) are being developed for a number of clinical applications. Since fluorophores and photosensitising drugs are usually given systemically their effect on blood elements are of significant importance. Photodynamic effects on erythrocytes occur naturally in patients with erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP). Exposure to small fluences, as obtained by the erythrocytes when they pass capillaries in the skin, leads to transfer of the photosensitiser protoporphyrin IX (PP IX), from EPP erythrocytes to endothelial cells. Thus, the erythrocytes are partly protected while the endothelial cells suffer photodamage. During photodynamic therapy in vivo erythrocytes are regularly photosensitised. This side effect is partly intended but mostly unwanted, and a summary of this topic is given. Furthermore, the effect of UV-A on erythrocytes that is accompanied with the formation of bilirubin is reviewed. Erythrocytes serve as convenient model cells for experimental research. Such use of erythrocytes to screen new photosensitisers may be of limited value. A combination of photohaemolysis and haemoglobin oxygenation may become the basis for an assay for in vitro phototoxicity. Erythrocytes from birds are good model cells for exploration of physiological and molecular mechanisms involved in PDT. A potential mechanism of PDT induced behaviour resembling apoptosis in erythrocytes is provided.PDT for sterilisation of erythrocyte concentrates has a potential for medical use. Photodynamic effects on the erythrocytes themselves should be avoided. This is realised by choosing a virus-selective photosensitiser, low fluences and treatment of the concentrates with agents like dipyridamole and antioxidants. Future aspects of applications of photosensitisation of red blood cells are discussed.
Prostaglandin E2 Activates Channel-mediated Calcium Entry in Human Erythrocytes: an Indication for a Blood Clot Formation Supporting Process
Prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) is released from platelets when they are activated. Using fluorescence imaging and the patch-clamp technique, we provide evidence that PGE(2) at physiological concentrations (10(-10) M) activates calcium rises mediated by calcium influx through a non-selective cation-channel in human red blood cells. The extent of calcium increase varied between cells with a total of 45% of the cells responding. It is well known that calcium increases elicited the calcium-activated potassium channel (Gardos channel) in the red cell membrane. Previously, it was shown that the Gardos channel activation results in potassium efflux and shrinkage of the cells. Therefore, we conclude that the PGE(2) responses of red blood cells described here reveal a direct and active participation of erythrocytes in blood clot formation.
Calcium Imaging of Individual Erythrocytes: Problems and Approaches
Although in erythrocytes calcium is thought to be important in homeostasis, measurements of this ion concentration are generally seen as rather problematic because of the auto-fluorescence or absorption properties of the intracellular milieu. Here, we describe experiments to assess the usability of popular calcium indicators such as Fura-2, Indo-1 and Fluo-4. In our experiments, Fluo-4 turned out to be the preferable indicator because (i) its excitation and emission properties were least influenced by haemoglobin and (ii) it was the only dye for which excitation light did not lead to significant auto-fluorescence of the erythrocytes. From these results, we conclude that the use of indicators such as Fura-2 together with red blood cells has to be revisited critically. We thus utilized Fluo-4 in erythrocytes to demonstrate a robust but heterogeneous calcium increase in these cells upon stimulation by prostaglandin E(2) and lysophosphatidic acid. For the latter stimulus, we recorded emission spectra of individual erythrocytes to confirm largely unaltered Fluo-4 emission. Our results emphasize that in erythrocytes measurements of intracellular calcium are reliably possible with Fluo-4 and that other indicators, especially those requiring UV-excitation, appear less favourable.
Overexpression of Junctin Causes Adaptive Changes in Cardiac Myocyte Ca(2+) Signaling
In cardiac muscle, junctin forms a quaternary protein complex with the ryanodine receptor (RyR), calsequestrin, and triadin 1 at the luminal face of the junctional sarcoplasmic reticulum (jSR). By binding directly the RyR and calsequestrin, junctin may mediate the Ca(2+)-dependent regulatory interactions between both proteins. To gain more insight into the underlying mechanisms of impaired contractile relaxation in transgenic mice with cardiac-specific overexpression of junctin (TG), we studied cellular Ca(2+) handling in these mice. We found that the SR Ca(2+) load was reduced by 22% in cardiomyocytes from TG mice. Consistent with this, the frequency of Ca(2+) sparks was diminished by 32%. The decay of spontaneous Ca(2+) sparks was prolonged by 117% in TG. This finding was associated with a lower Na(+)-Ca(2+) exchanger (NCX) protein expression (by 67%) and a higher basal RyR phosphorylation at Ser(2809) (by 64%) in TG. The shortening- and Delta[Ca](i)-frequency relationships (0.5-4 Hz) were flat in TG compared to wild-type (WT) which exhibited a positive staircase for both parameters. Furthermore, increasing stimulation frequencies hastened the time of relaxation and the decay of [Ca](i) by a higher percentage in TG. We conclude that the impaired relaxation in TG may result from a reduced NCX expression and/or a higher SR Ca(2+) leak. The altered shortening-frequency relationship in TG seems to be a consequence of an impaired excitation-contraction coupling with depressed SR Ca(2+) release at higher rates of stimulation. Our data suggest that the more prominent frequency-dependent hastening of relaxation in TG results from a stimulation of SR Ca(2+) transport reflected by corresponding changes of [Ca](i).
Reduced Cardiac L-type Ca2+ Current in Ca(V)beta2-/- Embryos Impairs Cardiac Development and Contraction with Secondary Defects in Vascular Maturation
Cardiac myocyte contraction depends on transmembrane L-type Ca2+ currents and the ensuing release of Ca2+ from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Here we show that these L-type Ca2+ currents are essential for cardiac pump function in the mouse at developmental stages where the functional significance of the heart becomes imperative to blood flow and to the continuing growth and survival of the embryo. Disruption of the Ca(V)beta2 gene, which encodes for the predominant ancillary beta subunit of cardiac Ca2+ channels, resulted in diminished L-type Ca2+ currents in cardiomyocytes of embryonic day 9.5 (E9.5). This led to a functionally compromised heart, causing defective remodeling of intra- and extraembryonic blood vessels and embryonic death following E10.5. The defects in vascular remodeling were also observed when the Ca(V)beta2 gene was selectively targeted in cardiomyocytes, demonstrating that they are secondary to cardiac failure rather than a result of the lack of Ca(V)beta2 proteins in the vasculature. Partial rescue of the Ca2+ channel currents by a Ca2+ channel agonist significantly postponed embryonic death in Ca(V)beta2-/- mice. Taken together, these data strongly support the essential role of L-type Ca2+ channel activity in cardiomyocytes for normal heart development and function and that this is a prerequisite for proper maturation of the vasculature.
Sustained Activity of Calcium Release-activated Calcium Channels Requires Translocation of Mitochondria to the Plasma Membrane
A rise of the intracellular Ca(2+) concentration has multiple signaling functions. Sustained Ca(2+) influx across plasma membrane through calcium release-activated calcium (CRAC) channels is required for T-cell development in the thymus, gene transcription, and proliferation and differentiation of naïve T-cells into armed effectors cells. Intracellular Ca(2+) signals are shaped by mitochondria, which function as a highly dynamic Ca(2+) buffer. However, the precise role of mitochondria for Ca(2+)-dependent T-cell activation is unknown. Here we have shown that mitochondria are translocated to the plasma membrane as a consequence of Ca(2+) influx and that this directed movement is essential to sustain Ca(2+) influx through CRAC channels. The decreased distance between mitochondria and the plasma membrane enabled mitochondria to take up large amounts of inflowing Ca(2+) at the plasma membrane, thereby preventing Ca(2+)-dependent inactivation of CRAC channels and sustaining Ca(2+) signals. Inhibition of kinesin-dependent mitochondrial movement along microtubules abolished mitochondrial translocation and reduced sustained Ca(2+) signals. Our results show how a directed movement of mitochondria is used to control important cellular functions such as Ca(2+)-dependent T-cell activation.
Ca2+ Channel Currents and Contraction in CaVbeta3-deficient Ileum Smooth Muscle from Mouse
Voltage activated L-type Ca(2+) channels are the principal Ca(2+) channels in intestinal smooth muscle cells. They comprise the ion conducting Ca(V)1 pore and the ancillary subunits alpha(2)delta and beta. Of the four Ca(V)beta subunits Ca(V)beta(3) is assumed to be the relevant Ca(V)beta protein in smooth muscle. In protein lysates isolated from mouse ileum longitudinal smooth muscle we could identify the Ca(V)1.2, Ca(V)alpha(2), Ca(V)beta(2) and Ca(V)beta(3) proteins, but not the Ca(V)beta(1) and Ca(V)beta(4) proteins. Protein levels of Ca(V)1.2, Ca(V)alpha(2) and Ca(V)beta(2) are not altered in ileum smooth muscle obtained from Ca(V)beta(3)-deficient mice indicating that there is no compensatory increase of the expression of these channel proteins. Neither the Ca(V)beta(2) nor the other Ca(V)beta proteins appear to substitute for the lacking Ca(V)beta(3). L-type Ca(2+) channel properties including current density, inactivation kinetics as well as Cd(2+)- and dihydropyridine sensitivity were identical in cells of both genotypes suggesting that they do not require the presence of a Ca(V)beta(3) protein. However, a key hallmark of the Ca(V)beta modulation of Ca(2+) current, the hyperpolarisation of channel activation is slightly but significantly reduced by 4 mV. In addition to L-type Ca(2+) currents T-type Ca(2+) currents could be recorded in the murine ileum smooth muscle cells, but T-type currents were not affected by the lack of Ca(V)beta(3). Both proteins, Ca(V)beta(2) and Ca(V)beta(3) are localized near the plasma membrane and the localization of Ca(V)beta(2) is not altered in Ca(V)beta(3) deficient cells. Spontaneous contractions and potassium and carbachol induced contractions are not significantly different between ileum longitudinal smooth muscle strips from mice of both genotypes. In summary the data show that in ileum smooth muscle cells, Ca(V)beta(3) has only subtle effects on L-type Ca(2+) currents, appears not to be required for spontaneous and potassium induced contraction but might have a function beyond being a Ca(2+) channel subunit.
Identification of PatL1, a Human Homolog to Yeast P Body Component Pat1
In yeast, the activators of mRNA decapping, Pat1, Lsm1 and Dhh1, accumulate in processing bodies (P bodies) together with other proteins of the 5'-3'-deadenylation-dependent mRNA decay pathway. The Pat1 protein is of particular interest because it functions in the opposing processes of mRNA translation and mRNA degradation, thus suggesting an important regulatory role. In contrast to other components of this mRNA decay pathway, the human homolog of the yeast Pat1 protein was unknown. Here we describe the identification of two human PAT1 genes and show that one of them, PATL1, codes for an ORF with similar features as the yeast PAT1. As expected for a protein with a fundamental role in translation control, PATL1 mRNA was ubiquitously expressed in all human tissues as were the mRNAs of LSM1 and RCK, the human homologs of yeast LSM1 and DHH1, respectively. Furthermore, fluorescence-tagged PatL1 protein accumulated in distinct foci that correspond to P bodies, as they co-localized with the P body components Lsm1, Rck/p54 and the decapping enzyme Dcp1. In addition, as for its yeast counterpart, PatL1 expression was required for P body formation. Taken together, these data emphasize the conservation of important P body components from yeast to human cells.
Differential Presentation of Tumor Antigen-derived Epitopes by MHC-class I and Antigen-positive Tumor Cells
SSX2 is a member of the family of cancer/testis antigens. The SSX2 derived peptide SSX2(103-111) has been shown to be presented to cytotoxic T-lymphocytes (CTL) by Major-Histocompatibility (MHC) Class-I complexes after endogenous processing, more precisely by the allele HLA-A*0201. The HLA-A*0201- and SSX2-positive melanoma cell line SK-Mel-37 but not Me275 had been shown to elicit reactivity in SSX2(103-111) specific cytotoxic T-lymphocytes. To analyze the correlation between SSX2(103-111) presentation and T-cell stimulation, we intended to visualize presentation of SSX2(103-111) in these melanoma cell lines. Fab-antibodies were established from a human phage library with specificity for SSX2(103-111)/HLA-A*0201 complexes (but non-reactive with HLA-A*0201 or SSX2(103-111) alone) and used to visualize the presentation of SSX2(103-111) in the context of HLA-A*0201 by fluorescence microscopy. Presentation of SSX2(103-111) the context of HLA-A*0201 was demonstrated for the majority of SK-Mel-37, but for only a small fraction (<1%) of Me275 as indicated by a clear membrane-staining pattern in fluorescence microscopy. The presentation of SSX2(103-111) on SK-Mel37 and Me275, but not the expression of the SSX2 protein correlated with the capability of these cells to stimulate cells of an SSX2(103-111)-specific T-cell clone. MHC-peptide specific antibodies are a valuable tool for the analysis of antigenic peptides in the context of MHC-I molecules and for the structural definition of immunodominant epitopes.
DNA Double-strand Break Rejoining in Complex Normal Tissues
The clinical radiation responses of different organs vary widely and likely depend on the intrinsic radiosensitivities of their different cell populations. Double-strand breaks (DSBs) are the most deleterious form of DNA damage induced by ionizing radiation, and the cells' capacity to rejoin radiation-induced DSBs is known to affect their intrinsic radiosensitivity. To date, only little is known about the induction and processing of radiation-induced DSBs in complex normal tissues. Using an in vivo model with repair-proficient mice, the highly sensitive gammaH2AX immunofluorescence was established to investigate whether differences in DSB rejoining could account for the substantial differences in clinical radiosensitivity observed among normal tissues.
A Primary Culture System for Sustained Expression of a Calcium Sensor in Preserved Adult Rat Ventricular Myocytes
For studying heart pathologies on the cellular level, cultured adult cardiac myocytes represent an important approach. We aimed to explore a novel adult rat ventricular myocyte culture system with minimised dedifferentiation allowing extended experimental manipulation of the cells such as expression of exogenous proteins. Various culture conditions were investigated including medium supplement, substrate coating and electrical pacing for one week. Adult myocytes were probed for (i) viability, (ii) morphology, (iii) frequency dependence of contractions, (iv) Ca(2+) transients, and (v) their tolerance towards adenovirus-mediated expression of the Ca(2+) sensor "inverse pericam". Conventionally, in either serum supplemented or serum-free medium, myocytes dedifferentiated into flat cells within 3 days or cell physiology and morphology were impaired, respectively. In contrast, myocytes cultured in medium supplemented with an insulin-transferrin-selenite mixture on substrates coated with extracellular matrix proteins showed an increased cell attachment and a conserved cross-striation. Moreover, these myocytes displayed optimised preservation of their contractile behaviour and Ca(2+) signalling even under conditions of continuous electrical pacing. Sustained expression of inverse pericam did not alter myocyte function and allowed long lasting high speed Ca(2+) imaging of electrically driven adult myocytes. Our single-cell model thus provides a new advance for high-content screening of these highly specialised cells.
A System for Optical High Resolution Screening of Electrical Excitable Cells
The application of primary excitable cells for high content screening (HCS) requires a multitude of novel developments including cell culture and multi-well plates. Here we introduce a novel system combining optimised culture conditions of primary adult cardiomyocytes with the particular needs of excitable cells for arbitrary field stimulation of individual wells. The major advancements of our design were tested in calcium imaging experiments and comprise (i) each well of the plate can be subjected to individual pulse protocols, (ii) the software driving electrical stimulation can run as a stand-alone application but also as a plug-in in HCS software packages, (iii) the optical properties of the plastic substrate (foil) resemble those of glass coverslips fostering high resolution immersion-based microscopy, (iv) the bottom of the foil is coated with an oleophobic layer that prevents immersion oil from sticking, (v) the top of the foil is coated with an elastic film. The latter enables cardiomyocytes to display loaded contractions by mimicking the physiologically occurring local elastic network (e.g. extracellular matrix) and results in significantly increased contractions (with identical calcium transients) when compared to non-elastic substrates. Thus, our novel design and culture conditions represent an essential further step towards the application of primary cultured adult cardiomyocytes for HCS applications.
Cardiac Rac1 Overexpression in Mice Creates a Substrate for Atrial Arrhythmias Characterized by Structural Remodelling
The small GTPase Rac1 seems to play a role in the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation (AF). The aim of the present study was to characterize the effects of Rac1 overexpression on atrial electrophysiology.
Functional NMDA Receptors in Rat Erythrocytes
N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are ligand-gated nonselective cation channels mediating fast neuronal transmission and long-term potentiation in the central nervous system. These channels have a 10-fold higher permeability for Ca(2+) compared with Na(+) or K(+) and binding of the agonists (glutamate, homocysteine, homocysteic acid, NMDA) triggers Ca(2+) uptake. The present study demonstrates the presence of NMDA receptors in rat erythrocytes. The receptors are most abundant in both erythroid precursor cells and immature red blood cells, reticulocytes. Treatment of erythrocytes with NMDA receptor agonists leads to a rapid increase in intracellular Ca(2+) resulting in a transient shrinkage via Gardos channel activation. Additionally, the exposure of erythrocytes to NMDA receptor agonists causes activation of the nitric oxide (NO) synthase facilitating either NO production in l-arginine-containing medium or superoxide anion (O(2)(.-)) generation in the absence of l-arginine. Conversely, treatment with an NMDA receptor antagonist MK-80, or the removal of Ca(2+) from the incubation medium causes suppression of Ca(2+) accumulation and prevents attendant changes in cell volume and NO/O(2)(.-) production. These results suggest that the NMDA receptor activity in circulating erythrocytes is regulated by the plasma concentrations of homocysteine and homocysteic acid. Moreover, receptor hyperactivation may contribute to an increased incidence of thrombosis during hyperhomocysteinemia.
Remodelling of Ca2+ Handling Organelles in Adult Rat Ventricular Myocytes During Long Term Culture
It is well known that for cardiomyocytes, isolation and culturing induce largely unknown remodelling processes. We analysed changes in the structure of cell compartments with optical techniques such as confocal microscopy and fluorescence redistribution after photobleaching employing adenoviral-mediated transduction of targeted fluorescent proteins and small molecule dyes. We identified characteristic remodelling processes: the T-tubular membrane system was gradually lost by a process referred to as "sequential pinching off", in an outward direction. Mitochondria fell in one of three classes, very small (0.9 microm length), medium long (1.8 microm) or extended shape (3.6 microm) organelles. Over the culturing time mitochondria gradually fused. Bleaching of individual mitochondria revealed association between apparently separated mitochondria by "tunnelling" via sub-resolution organelle-tubes. This tunnelling process was increasing over the culturing time. A gradual loss of the cross-striation arrangement in the endoplasmic/sarcoplasmic reticulum was visualised. Analysis of large populations of Ca(2+) sparks by video-rate confocal 2D-scanning revealed significant albeit small changes of these elementary SR-Ca(2+) release events in adult cardiomyocytes that could be related to changes in SR-Ca(2+) content rather than resting Ca(2+) concentration. In conclusion, primary isolated cardiomyocytes from adult hearts undergo a well-defined, but reproducible subcellular remodelling during optimised long term culture.
Optical Action Potential Screening on Adult Ventricular Myocytes As an Alternative QT-screen
QT-interval screens are increasingly important for cardiac safety on all new medications. So far, investigations rely on animal experiments or cell-based screens solely probing for conductance alterations in heterologously expressed hERG-channels in cell lines allowing for a high degree of automation. Adult cardiomyocytes can not be handled by automated patch-clamp setups. Therefore optical screening of primary isolated ventricular myocytes is regarded as an alternative. Several optical voltage sensors have been reported for ratiometric measurements, but they all influenced the naïve action potential. The aim of the present study was to explore the recording conditions and define settings that allow optical QT-interval screens.
The Combined Effects of Oncolytic Reovirus Plus Newcastle Disease Virus and Reovirus Plus Parvovirus on U87 and U373 Cells In Vitro and In Vivo
Previous results had documented oncolytic capacity of reovirus, parvovirus and Newcastle disease virus (NDV) on several tumor cell types. To test whether combinations of these viruses may increase this capacity, human U87- and U373-glioblastoma cells, in vitro or xenografted into immuno-compromised mice, were subjected to simultaneous double infections and analyzed. Our results show that reovirus (serotype-3) plus NDV (Hitcher-B1) and reovirus plus parvovirus-H1 lead to a significant increase in tumor cell killing in vitro in both cell lines (Kruskal-Wallis test, P < 0.01) and in vivo. Immunofluorescence and flow cytometry analyses demonstrated the simultaneous replication of the viruses in nearly all cells (>95%) after combined infection. These data thus indicate that a synergistic anti-tumor effect can be achieved by the combined infection with oncolytic viruses.
Stimulation of Human Red Blood Cells Leads to Ca2+-mediated Intercellular Adhesion
Red blood cells (RBCs) are a major component of blood clots, which form physiologically as a response to injury or pathologically in thrombosis. The active participation of RBCs in thrombus solidification has been previously proposed but not yet experimentally proven. Holographic optical tweezers and single-cell force spectroscopy were used to study potential cell-cell adhesion between RBCs. Irreversible intercellular adhesion of RBCs could be induced by stimulation with lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), a compound known to be released by activated platelets. We identified Ca(2+) as an essential player in the signaling cascade by directly inducing Ca(2+) influx using A23187. Elevation of the internal Ca(2+) concentration leads to an intercellular adhesion of RBCs similar to that induced by LPA stimulation. Using single-cell force spectroscopy, the adhesion of the RBCs was identified to be approximately 100 pN, a value large enough to be of significance inside a blood clot or in pathological situations like the vasco-occlusive crisis in sickle cell disease patients.
Screening Action Potentials: the Power of Light
Action potentials reflect the concerted activity of all electrogenic constituents in the plasma membrane during the excitation of a cell. Therefore, the action potential is an integrated read out and a promising parameter to detect electrophysiological failures or modifications thereof in diagnosis as well as in drug screens. Cellular action potentials can be recorded by optical approaches. To fulfill the pre-requirements to scale up for, e.g., pharmacological screens the following preparatory work has to be provided: (i) model cells under investigation need to represent target cells in the best possible manner; (ii) optical sensors that can be either small molecule dyes or genetically encoded potential probes need to provide a reliable read out with minimal interaction with the naive behavior of the cells and (iii) devices need to be capable to stimulate the cells, read out the signals with the appropriate speed as well as provide the capacity for a sufficient throughput. Here we discuss several scenarios for all three categories in the field of cardiac physiology and pharmacology and provide a perspective to use the power of light in screening cardiac action potentials.
Lysophosphatidic Acid Induced Red Blood Cell Aggregation in Vitro
Under physiological conditions healthy RBCs do not adhere to each other. There are indications that RBCs display an intercellular adhesion under certain (pathophysiological) conditions. Therefore we investigated signaling steps starting with transmembrane calcium transport by means of calcium imaging. We found a lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) concentration dependent calcium influx with an EC(50) of 5μM LPA. Downstream signaling was investigated by flow cytometry as well as by video-imaging comparing LPA induced with "pure" calcium mediated phosphatidylserine exposure and concluded the coexistence of two branches of the signaling pathway. Finally we performed force measurements with holographic optical tweezers (HOT): The intercellular adhesion of RBCs (aggregation) exceeds a force of 25pN. These results support (i) earlier data of a RBC associated component in thrombotic events under certain pathophysiological conditions and (ii) the concept to use RBCs in studies of cellular adhesion behavior, especially in combination with HOT. The latter paves the way to use RBCs as model cells to investigate molecular regulation of cellular adhesion processes.
Regulation of Phosphatidylserine Exposure in Red Blood Cells
The exposure of phosphatidylserine (PS) on the outer membrane leaflet of red blood cells (RBCs) serves as a signal for eryptosis, a mechanism for the RBC clearance from blood circulation. The process of PS exposure was investigated as function of the intracellular Ca(2+) content and the activation of PKCα in human and sheep RBCs. Cells were treated with lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), 4-bromo-A23187, or phorbol-12 myristate-13 acetate (PMA) and analysed by flow cytometry, single cell fluorescence video imaging, or confocal microscopy. For human RBCs, no clear correlation existed between the number of cells with an elevated Ca(2+) content and PS exposure. Results are explained by three different mechanisms responsible for the PS exposure in human RBCs: (i) Ca(2+)-stimulated scramblase activation (and flippase inhibition) by LPA, 4-bromo-A23187, and PMA; (ii) PKC activation by LPA and PMA; and (iii) enhanced lipid flop caused by LPA. In sheep RBCs, only the latter mechanism occurs suggesting absence of scramblase activity.
Functional and Morphological Preservation of Adult Ventricular Myocytes in Culture by Sub-micromolar Cytochalasin D Supplement
In cardiac myocytes, cytochalasin D (CytoD) was reported to act as an actin disruptor and mechanical uncoupler. Using confocal and super-resolution STED microscopy, we show that CytoD preserves the actin filament architecture of adult rat ventricular myocytes in culture. Five hundred nanomolar CytoD was the optimal concentration to achieve both preservation of the T-tubular structure during culture periods of 3 days and conservation of major functional characteristics such as action potentials, calcium transients and, importantly, the contractile properties of single myocytes. Therefore, we conclude that the addition of CytoD to the culture of adult cardiac myocytes can indeed be used to generate a solid single-cell model that preserves both morphology and function of freshly isolated cells. Moreover, we reveal a putative link between cytoskeletal and T-tubular remodeling. In the absence of CytoD, we observed a loss of T-tubules that led to significant dyssynchronous Ca(2+)-induced Ca(2+) release (CICR), while in the presence of 0.5 μM CytoD, T-tubules and homogeneous CICR were majorly preserved. Such data suggested a possible link between the actin cytoskeleton, T-tubules and synchronous, reliable excitation-contraction-coupling. Thus, T-tubular re-organization in cell culture sheds some additional light onto similar processes found during many cardiac diseases and might link cytoskeletal alterations to changes in subcellular Ca(2+) signaling revealed under such pathophysiological conditions.
