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The NBOMe (N-2-methoxybenzyl-phenethylamines) family of compounds are synthetic hallucinogens derived from the 2C series. Although this family of compounds has been responsible for multiple cases of acute toxicity and several deaths around the world, to date there are few studies. These compounds act as potent 5-HT2A receptor agonists, including the hallucinogen 25C-NBOMe (2-(4-chloro-2,5-dimethoxyphenyl)-N-[(2-methoxyphenyl)methyl]ethanamine). In this study, we first evaluated the toxicity of 25C-NBOMe in two animal models: Artemia salina and zebrafish using the lethality test of Meyer et al. (1982) modified for Artemia salina and the Fish Embryo Toxicity test (FET) for zebrafish (Danio rerio). Subsequently, we determined the behavioral and morphological effects using different concentrations of the 25C-NBOMe. As a result, we found that this substance is highly toxic according to lethality tests in both animal models. We also observe that this hallucinogen induces alterations in swimming and motility patterns in Artemia salina. Similarly, there were alterations in the motor response to a stimulus, as well as abnormal development in the zebrafish. The developmental effects of zebrafish suggest a teratogenic potential for 25C-NBOMe. Therefore, these findings are correlated with side effects, such as motor response abnormalities and muscle deterioration, clinically reported for consumers of this recreational drug. Finally, although recent studies are addressing the neurotoxicity and cardiotoxicity of 25C-NBOMe in cell cultures, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first in vivo report for 25C-NBOMe related to toxicological parameters and their global effects on development. Therefore, it could represent an advance in the study of the substance that contributes to the understanding of the effects on behavior and development in humans.
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Acute leukemia is a heterogeneous set of diseases affecting children and adults. Current prognostic factors are not accurate predictors of the clinical outcome of adult patients and the stratification of risk groups remains insufficient. For that reason, this study proposes a multifactorial analysis which integrates clinical parameters, ex vivo tumor characterization and behavioral in vivo analysis in zebrafish. This model represents a new approach to understand leukemic primary cells behavior and features associated with aggressiveness and metastatic potential. Xenotransplantation of primary samples from patients newly diagnosed with acute leukemia in zebrafish embryos at 48 hpf was used to asses survival rate, dissemination pattern, and metastatic potential. Seven samples from young adults classified in adverse, favorable or intermediate risk group were characterized. Tumor heterogeneity defined by Leukemic stem cell (LSC) proportion, was performed by metabolic and cell membrane biomarkers characterization. Thus, our work combines all these parameters with a robust quantification strategy that provides important information about leukemia biology, their relationship with specific niches and the existent inter and intra-tumor heterogeneity in acute leukemia. In regard to prognostic factors, leukemic stem cell proportion and Patient-derived xenografts (PDX) migration into zebrafish were the variables with highest weights for the prediction analysis. Higher ALDH activity, less differentiated cells and a broader and random migration pattern are related with worse clinical outcome after induction chemotherapy. This model also recapitulates multiple aspects of human acute leukemia and therefore is a promising tool to be employed not only for preclinical studies but also supposes a new tool with a higher resolution compared to traditional methods for an accurate stratification of patients into worse or favorable clinical outcome.
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ABSTRACT Objective. The present study aimed to describe in detail the expression patterns of the gene Hey1, an effector of the Notch pathway, during the development of branchial arches and facial prominences. Materials and methods. Fertilized chicken (Gallus gallus) eggs obtained from a local egg farm were incubated at 37.5 -38.5ºC with 70% relative humidity until the embryos reached Hamilton-Hamburger stages HH14 through HH25. Digoxigenin-UTP labeled probes Hey1 were generated from linearized plasmids with either T3 polimerase for in vitro transcription. Whole-mount in situ hybridization was then performed. At least 3 replicates (n=3) were obtained for each stage. To confirm the results observed in whole embryos, sagittal and coronal cryosectioning was performed using a thickness of 10 µm. Results. During developmental stages HH14 and HH18, Hey1 gene expression was localized to the endoderm of branchial pouches. Hey1 gene expression was also observed in the epithelium that covers the maxillary and mandibular prominences during developmental stages HH19 and HH21, as well as in the nasal epithelium between HH19 and HH25. Transcripts were also detected in the epithelium that covers the frontonasal prominence during stage HH21. Conclusions. These expression patterns suggest the participation of this component of the Notch signaling pathway in craniofacial morphogenesis, possibly establishing pharyngeal segmentation patterns during early stages and/or regulating cell proliferation and differentiation during the late stages of facial development.
RESUMEN Objetivo. El presente estudio tuvo como objetivo describir detalladamente los patrones de expresión del gen Hey1, un efector de la vía Notch durante el desarrollo de arcos branquiales y prominencias faciales. Materiales y métodos. Se incubaron huevos fertilizados de pollo (Gallus gallus) obtenidos de una granja local entre 37.5-38.5ºC con humedad relativa del 70% hasta que los embriones alcanzaron los estadios HH14 hasta HH25 de Hamilton-Hamburger. Las sondas Hey1 marcadas con digoxigenina-UTP se generaron a partir de plásmidos linearizados con T3 polimerasa por transcripción in vitro. Luego se realizó hibridación in situ sobre embriones completos. Se obtuvieron al menos 3 repeticiones (n=3) para cada estadio. Para confirmar los resultados observados en embriones completos, se realizaron cortes sagitales y coronales de 10 µm. Resultados. Durante los estadios de desarrollo HH14 y HH18, la expresión del gen Hey1 se localizó en el endodermo de las bolsas branquiales. La expresión génica de Hey1 también se observó en el epitelio que cubre las prominencias maxilares y mandibulares durante las etapas de desarrollo HH19 y HH21, así como en el epitelio nasal entre HH19 y HH25. También se detectaron transcritos de Hey1 en el epitelio que cubre la prominencia frontonasal durante la etapa HH21. Conclusiones. Estos patrones de expresión sugieren la participación de este componente de la vía de señalización Notch en la morfogénesis craneofacial, posiblemente estableciendo patrones de segmentación faríngea durante las primeras etapas y / o regulando la proliferación y diferenciación celular durante las últimas etapas del desarrollo facial.
Assuntos
Região Branquial , Embrião de Galinha , GalinhasRESUMO
Resumen El pez cebra es un modelo establecido para el estudio del desarrollo en vertebrados y es especialmente útil para la investigación del proceso de hematopoyesis y las enfermedades asociadas a esta. Los linajes principales, los genes y los procesos de desarrollo con los seres humanos son conservados. En los últimos años, el pez cebra se ha utilizado cada vez más como un modelo para estudiar enfermedades hematopoyéticas humanas, incluyendo la leucemia linfoblástica aguda. Esta revisión evidencia la importancia del estudio de esta enfermedad en Colombia debido a las diferencias de la etiología que presenta este tipo de leucemia en comparación con otros países. Además, describe la aplicación del pez cebra como una herramienta alternativa para investigaciones preclínicas de la leucemia linfoblástica aguda. Este modelo es asequible, facilita la experimentación, su manipulación es relativamente simple y tiene gran versatilidad para estudios moleculares y genéticos del cáncer y está disponible en Colombia.
Abstract The zebrafish is an established model for the study of vertebrate development, and it is specially useful for the research into haematopoiesis and diseases associated with this process. Major lineages, genes, and developmental processes are conserved between zebrafish and humans. Thus it has been increasingly used as a model for a number of haematopoietic human diseases, such as acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. This review highlights the importance of the study of this disease in Colombia, because of the differences in its aetiology compared to other countries. It also describes the application of the zebrafish as an alternative tool for pre-clinical research of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. This model is affordable, facilitates experimentation and handling, and is extremely versatile for molecular and genetic studies into cancer, and it is now available in Colombia.