Citation Details

Journal Article

MDA-MB-231-D3H1, MDA-MB-231-luc-D3H1, IVIS, Bioware, Breast Cancer

The present study was undertaken to determine the anticancer efficacy of zerumbone (ZER), a sesquiterpene from subtropical ginger, against human breast cancer cells in vitro and in vivo. ZER treatment caused a dose-dependent decrease in viability of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 human breast cancer cells in association with G(2)/M phase cell cycle arrest and apoptosis induction. ZER-mediated cell cycle arrest was associated with downregulation of cyclin B1, cyclin-dependent kinase 1, Cdc25C, and Cdc25B. Even though ZER treatment caused stabilization of p53 and induction of PUMA, these proteins were dispensable for ZER-induced cell cycle arrest and/or apoptosis. Exposure of MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells to ZER resulted in downregulation of Bcl-2 but its ectopic expression failed to confer protection against ZER-induced apoptosis. On the other hand, the SV40 immortalized mouse embryonic fibroblasts derived from Bax and Bak double knockout mice were significantly more resistant to ZER-induced apoptosis. ZER-treated MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 cells exhibited a robust activation of both Bax and Bak. In vivo growth of orthotopic MDA-MB-231 xenografts was significantly retarded by ZER administration in association with apoptosis induction and suppression of cell proliferation (Ki-67 expression). These results indicate that ZER causes G(2)/M phase cell cycle arrest and Bax/Bak-mediated apoptosis in human breast cancer cells, and retards growth of MDA-MB-231 xenografts in vivo.

Journal Article

molecular imaging; cancer; reporter genes; animal models; clinical applications; noninvasive imaging in animal models; animal models of cancer

Different optical-based imaging models were used to investigate tumor progression and metastasis with particular emphasis on metastasis to bone and bone marrow. We describe how optical imaging can be used to follow important processes in tumor development and treatment response, including angiogenesis, apoptosis, and proteolysis. Finally, we discuss the translation of one optical imaging modality, near-IR fluorescence, from animal validation studies to applications in the clinic related to cancer management.

Journal Article

OsteoSense

Cardiovascular calcification is currently viewed as an active disease process similar to embryonic bone formation. Cardiovascular calcification mainly affects the aortic valve and arteries and is associated with increased mortality risk. Aortic valve and arterial calcification share similar risk factors, including age, gender, diabetes, chronic renal disease, and smoking. However, the exact cellular and molecular mechanism of cardiovascular calcification is unknown. Late-stage cardiovascular calcification can be visualized with conventional imaging modalities such as echocardiography and computed tomography. However, these modalities are limited in their ability to detect the development of early calcification and the progression of calcification until advanced tissue mineralization is apparent. Due to the subsequent late diagnosis of cardiovascular calcification, treatment is usually comprised of invasive interventions such as surgery. The need to understand the process of calcification is therefore warranted and requires new imaging modalities which are able to visualize early cardiovascular calcification. This review focuses on the use of new imaging techniques to visualize novel concepts of cardiovascular calcification.

Journal Article

IVIS, Xen29, Xen 29, Staphylococcus aureus Xen29, Animals; Female; Magnetic Resonance Imaging/*methods; Mice; Mice, Inbred BALB C; Staphylococcal Infections/*pathology; Staphylococcus aureus/*pathogenicity; Thigh/*microbiology/*pathology

BACKGROUND: During the last years, (19)F-MRI and perfluorocarbon nanoemulsion (PFC) emerged as a powerful contrast agent based MRI methodology to track cells and to visualize inflammation. We applied this new modality to visualize deep tissue abscesses during acute and chronic phase of inflammation caused by Staphylococcus aureus infection. METHODOLOGY AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: In this study, a murine thigh infection model was used to induce abscess formation and PFC or CLIO (cross linked ironoxides) was administered during acute or chronic phase of inflammation. 24 h after inoculation, the contrast agent accumulation was imaged at the site of infection by MRI. Measurements revealed a strong accumulation of PFC at the abscess rim at acute and chronic phase of infection. The pattern was similar to CLIO accumulation at chronic phase and formed a hollow sphere around the edema area. Histology revealed strong influx of neutrophils at the site of infection and to a smaller extend macrophages during acute phase and strong influx of macrophages at chronic phase of inflammation. CONCLUSION AND SIGNIFICANCE: We introduce (19)F-MRI in combination with PFC nanoemulsions as a new platform to visualize abscess formation in a murine thigh infection model of S. aureus. The possibility to track immune cells in vivo by this modality offers new opportunities to investigate host immune response, the efficacy of antibacterial therapies and the influence of virulence factors for pathogenesis.

Journal Article

Bioware; PC-3M-luc; hVEGF-luc-PC3M

Background: Preclinical cancer studies increasingly utilize non-invasive imaging modalities. In the current study we have monitored tumor growth and vascular changes using two in vivo imaging tools: surface bioluminescence (BLI) and ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM). BLI permits visualization of tumor location in the context of the whole body, including metastases localization. UBM imaging then permits high resolution 3D volumetric tumor measurements as well as blood flow estimates down to 200 microns/s. Measurements obtained from these complementary modalities were analyzed and compared to conventional, biochemical markers. Methods: Human prostate cancer cells expressing Firefly Luciferase constitutively (PC-3M-luc-C6) or under the control of hVEGF promoter (hVEGF-luc/PC3M) were implanted into male nude mice via an intradermal or subcutaneous injection. Tumor-bearing mice were subsequently imaged every week for nine weeks starting at week 2, by UBM to measure tumor burden using 3D volumetric analysis, or to estimate blood flow using speckle-variance flow processing. Surface bioluminescence was also acquired 10 minutes post i.p. injection of D-luciferin. In a longitudinal drug intervention study anti-hVEGF antibody (Bevacizumab, 200 ug) was injected i.p. into nude mice with subcutaneous xenografts of PC-3M-luc-C6 or hVEGF-luc/PC-3M twice per week for three weeks, starting at 14 days post-xenograft. UBM and surface BLI imaging were conducted every week. In order to study the correlation between VEGF expression in hVEGF-luc/PC3M xenografts (estimated by BLI) to tumor hypoxia level, mice were injected with pimonidazole hydrochloride (60 mg/kg i.v.) after three weeks of treatment and tumors were harvested for immunostaining analysis. Results: Surface BLI outputs (photons/s) from subcutaneous PC-3M-luc-C6 xenografts were highly correlated to tumor volumes measured using 3D UBM for small tumors (<100 mm3, r=0.92, n=8), yet poorly correlated to tumors of large size (>100 mm3, r=0.079, n=8). BLI signals in subcutaneous hVEGF-luc/PC3M xenografts showed an inverse trend to tumor blood flow. PC-3M-luc-C6 tumors treated with Bevacizumab showed growth inhibition by day 28 as demonstrated by 3D UBM (control vs treated = 67.27 vs 48.54 mm3). Moreover, control xenografts showed increased average BLI output over time, whereas treated tumors showed variation in BLI output. Necrosis, hypoxia and blood flow estimates were also investigated. Conclusions: Surface bioluminescence imaging demonstrated high correlations to accurate 3D UBM volumetric measurements of small tumor volumes, suggesting its usefulness in tracking early tumor growth quantitatively in drug intervention studies. A complementary imaging modality, like ultrasound biomicroscopy, is recommended to monitor tumor burden in advanced stages.