Journal: The Journal of Immunology Author Choice

Article Title: A Conformational Change of Complement C5 Is Required for Thrombin-Mediated Cleavage, Revealed by a Novel Ex Vivo Human Whole Blood Model Preserving Full Thrombin Activity

doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.2001471

Figure Lengend Snippet: Cleavage of purified C5 by thrombin, as detected by protein staining and Western blot. (A) SDS-PAGE on purified C5 (500 nM) from Comptech, Quidel, and our MgCl2 affinity-purified C5 eluted under mild conditions using a 2 M MgCl2 solution, incubated with thrombin (100 nM) for 0, 15, and 60 min at 37°C before the addition of lepirudin (1 μM). At 0 min, lepirudin was added before thrombin. Intact and cleaved α-chain is indicated by α and α′ respectively, β-chain is indicated with β. The gel was stained with Coomassie brilliant blue. (B) Purified C5 (500 nM) from Comptech was incubated with thrombin (100 nM) for different time intervals (7.5 min to 20 h), as indicated on top of a representative SDS-PAGE stained with Coomassie brilliant blue. Reference proteins are shown in separate lanes; thrombin (Thr), lepirudin (Lep), and C5 (C5), and an m.w. reference (M). C5 α-chain (α) and β-chain (β) are indicated in the label on the right-hand side of the figure, so are the primary (α′) and secondary (α′′ cleavage fragments, together with thrombin and C5a. (C) Purified Comptech C5 (500 nM) was incubated for 1 h at 37°C with PBS, thrombin (100 nM), thrombin (100 nM) in the presence of lepirudin (1 μM), or cobra venom factor (CVF). C5a-containing fragments were detected by Western blot using a polyclonal antibody against C5a. (D) GPRP-plasma was incubated with thrombin (400 nM) alone or in the presence of lepirudin (7 μM), purified Comptech C5 (60 μg/ml) alone or in the presence of thrombin, or the combination of purified C5 (60 μg/ml), thrombin (400 nM), and lepirudin (7 μM), for 16 h at 37°C. C5a-containing fragments were immunoprecipitated using a monoclonal antibody against C5a (clone 137-26) and detected by Western blot as described for (B). (E) Identical conditions as described for (C), but incubations were performed in serum from a C5-deficient individual instead of in GPRP-plasma. All samples were run under reducing conditions (A–E). M, m.w. markers with size indicated in kDa.

Article Snippet: Proteins were transferred onto an immunoblot polyvinylidene fluoride membrane (Bio-Rad) and blotted using rabbit polyclonal IgG anti-prothrombin (Molecular innovations; Novi, MI) followed by an HRP-linked goat anti-rabbit-IgG (Southern Biotech, Birmingham, AL).

Techniques: Purification, Staining, Western Blot, SDS Page, Affinity Purification, Incubation, Combined Bisulfite Restriction Analysis Assay, Immunoprecipitation

Journal: The Journal of Immunology Author Choice

Article Title: A Conformational Change of Complement C5 Is Required for Thrombin-Mediated Cleavage, Revealed by a Novel Ex Vivo Human Whole Blood Model Preserving Full Thrombin Activity

doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.2001471

Figure Lengend Snippet: C5a Ag exposure and C5 cleavage in hydrochloric acid–acidified GPRP-plasma and serum. (A) Conformationally selective ELISA for detecting a C5a neoepitope of C5 in GPRP-plasma and C5-deficient serum including reconstitution with purified C5 (60 μg/ml) from Comptech. The plasma pH was adjusted with hydrochloric acid to 6.4, 6.8, or kept at 7.4, and incubated for 15 min at 37°C. Exposure of the C5a neoepitope in C5 was detected by ELISA, combining capturing and detecting Abs specific for the C5a neoepitope and C5b, respectively. Data are shown as the optical density mean values ± SD (n = 4), *p < 0.001. (B) GPRP-plasma was pH-adjusted to 6.4 and 6.8 with hydrochloric acid or kept at 7.4, and incubated with 0.9% NaCl, lepirudin (Lep) and/or thrombin (Thr, 400 nM) for 1 h at 37°C. C5a-containing fragments were specifically enriched by immunoprecipitation using a mAb against C5a (clone 137-26) and detected by Western blot, under reduced conditions, using a polyclonal Ab against C5a. Intact and cleaved C5 α-chain are indicated by α and α′, respectively, on the representative Western blot from two replicates. M, m.w. markers with size indicated in kDa.

Article Snippet: Proteins were transferred onto an immunoblot polyvinylidene fluoride membrane (Bio-Rad) and blotted using rabbit polyclonal IgG anti-prothrombin (Molecular innovations; Novi, MI) followed by an HRP-linked goat anti-rabbit-IgG (Southern Biotech, Birmingham, AL).

Techniques: Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay, Purification, Incubation, Immunoprecipitation, Western Blot

Journal: The Journal of Immunology Author Choice

Article Title: A Conformational Change of Complement C5 Is Required for Thrombin-Mediated Cleavage, Revealed by a Novel Ex Vivo Human Whole Blood Model Preserving Full Thrombin Activity

doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.2001471

Figure Lengend Snippet: C5a Ag exposure and C5 cleavage in hydrochloric acid– and lactic acid–acidified GPRP-plasma. (A and B) Conformationally selective ELISA for the detection of C5a neoepitope of C5 in normal GPRP-plasma (pH 7.4) and plasma acidified to pH 6.8 with hydrochloric acid (HCl) (A) or lactic acid (B), with or without neutralization to pH 7.4 with NaOH 1 min after acidification. Exposure of the C5a neoepitope in C5 was detected by ELISA, combining capturing and detecting Abs specific for the C5a neoepitope and C5b, respectively. Purified C5 (Comptech) at 60 μg/ml was included as a control. Data are shown as the optical density mean values ± SD (n = 3), *p < 0.001. (C) GPRP-plasma with and without lepirudin was pH-adjusted to 6.8 with hydrochloric acid (HCl) or lactic acid, with or without neutralization to pH 7.4 with NaOH 1 min after acidification. All samples, including GPRP-plasma, were kept at 7.4, and purified C5 with thrombin (400 nM) +/− lepirudin were incubated for 1 h at 37°C. C5a-containing fragments were specifically enriched by immunoprecipitation using a mAb against C5a (clone 137-26) and detected by Western blot, under reduced conditions, using a polyclonal Ab against C5a. Samples, as indicated on top of the membrane, are GPRP-plasma pH 7.4 (lanes 1 and 2), GPRP-plasma acidified to pH 6.8 with either hydrochloric acid (HCl) (lanes 3–6) or with lactic acid (lanes 7–10). Samples in lanes 4, 6, 8, and 10 are neutralized to pH 7.4 with NaOH after acidification. It is indicated which samples contain lepirudin. Intact and cleaved C5 α-chain are indicated by α and α′, respectively, on the representative Western blot from three replicates. M, m.w. markers with size indicated in kDa.

Article Snippet: Proteins were transferred onto an immunoblot polyvinylidene fluoride membrane (Bio-Rad) and blotted using rabbit polyclonal IgG anti-prothrombin (Molecular innovations; Novi, MI) followed by an HRP-linked goat anti-rabbit-IgG (Southern Biotech, Birmingham, AL).

Techniques: Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay, Neutralization, Purification, Incubation, Immunoprecipitation, Western Blot

Journal: The Journal of Immunology Author Choice

Article Title: A Conformational Change of Complement C5 Is Required for Thrombin-Mediated Cleavage, Revealed by a Novel Ex Vivo Human Whole Blood Model Preserving Full Thrombin Activity

doi: 10.4049/jimmunol.2001471

Figure Lengend Snippet: Cleavage of C5 in clotting blood and thrombin-mediated cleavage of C5b in the C5b6 complex. (A) Human whole blood was collected in additive-free glass serum tubes. The blood was immediately acidified with 5% (v/v) lactic acid (0.165, 0.330, 0.500 M) or hydrochloric acid (HCl) (0.165, 0.330, 0.500 M) or added physiologic NaCl for volume control. The blood was let to clot for 60 min at 37°C and then centrifuged to serum. C5a-containing fragments were specifically enriched by immunoprecipitation using a mAb against C5a (clone 137-26) and detected by Western blot, under reduced conditions, using a polyclonal Ab against C5a. Intact and cleaved C5 α-chain are indicated by α and α′, respectively, on the representative Western blot from two replicates. (B) SDS-PAGE on purified C5b6 (50 μg/ml) from Comptech incubated with and without thrombin (400 nM) in PBS at pH 7.4, 6.8, and 6.4 for 60 min at 37°C. The samples were run on an SDS-PAGE under reduced conditions and stained with SYPRO Ruby Protein Gel Stain. Intact and cleaved α-chain is indicated by α and α′, respectively, β-chain is indicated with β, and C6 with C6. M, m.w. markers with size indicated in kDa.

Article Snippet: Proteins were transferred onto an immunoblot polyvinylidene fluoride membrane (Bio-Rad) and blotted using rabbit polyclonal IgG anti-prothrombin (Molecular innovations; Novi, MI) followed by an HRP-linked goat anti-rabbit-IgG (Southern Biotech, Birmingham, AL).

Techniques: Coagulation, Immunoprecipitation, Western Blot, SDS Page, Purification, Incubation, Staining

Journal: Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research : CR

Article Title: Therapeutic efficacy of a novel βIII/βIV-tubulin inhibitor (VERU-111) in pancreatic cancer

doi: 10.1186/s13046-018-1009-7

Figure Lengend Snippet: Effect of VERU-111 on the expression of β-tubulin isotypes in PanCa cells. ( A ) Effect of VERU-111 on mRNA expression of βI, βIIa, βIIb, βIII, βIVa, βIVb, βV and βVI-tubulins in Panc-1 (i) and AsPC-1 (ii) cells. Briefly, cells were treated with the indicated concentrations of VERU-111 for 24 h. RNAs were isolated and transcribed for cDNA preparation. qPCR was performed to determine the mRNA expression of indicated tubulin isotypes. GAPDH was used as an internal control. Bar graphs represent relative fold expression of various tubulins mRNA. (Values mean ± SEM; n = 3). Asterisk (*) denotes the significant value p < 0.05. ( B ) Effect of VERU-111 on protein levels of various β-tubulin isotypes in Panc-1 (i) and AsPC-1(ii) cells. Cells were treated with vehicle or indicated concentrations of VERU-111 for 24 h and cell lysates were subjected for Western blot analysis. Equal loading of protein in each well was confirmed by stripping and re-probing of the blots with GAPD for all isoform were provided in Additional file : Figure S2

Article Snippet: Antibody βIIa - tubulin (cat. # TA345669) and βIVa-tubulin (cat. # TA-340088) were obtained from OriGene.

Techniques: Expressing, Isolation, Western Blot, Stripping Membranes

Journal: Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research : CR

Article Title: Therapeutic efficacy of a novel βIII/βIV-tubulin inhibitor (VERU-111) in pancreatic cancer

doi: 10.1186/s13046-018-1009-7

Figure Lengend Snippet: VERU-111 repressed the expression of βIII-tubulin and restored miR-200c expression in PanCa cells. ( A ) Effect of VERU-111 (i), colchicine (ii), vinorelbine (iii) and paclitaxel (iv) treatment on the mRNA expression of βIII-tubulin in PanCa cells as determined by qPCR analysis. Bar graphs represent fold change mRNA expression of βIII-tubulin compared to control group. (Values means ±SEM; n = 3). p < 0.05. ( B ) Western blot analysis results indicating the effect of VERU-111, colchicine and vinorelbine on β-tubulin III in Panc-1 cells at 24 h post-treatment. (C) PanCa cells (Panc-1) were treated with control (vehicle) or VERU-111, colchicine, vinorelbine and paclitaxel at 5–10 nM for 18 h. These cells were processed for immunofluorescence analysis using anti- βIII-tubulin antibody (green) and DAPI (blue). The images were captured with a Zeiss 710 Confocal microscope and Zen imaging software (Zeiss) at × 63 magnifications. (D) Effect of VERU-111 on the expression of miR-200c in Panc-1 (i), AsPC-1 (ii) and HPAF-II (iii) cells as determined by qPCR analysis. RNU6B was used as an internal control. ( E ) Effect of VERU-111 on the expression of βIII-tubulin in miR-200c mimic or inhibitor transfected Panc-1 cells as determined by qPCR (i) and WB analysis (ii). Cells were transfected with 100 nM of miR-200c mimic (pre-200c) or miR-200c inhibitor or scrambled miRNA (negative control) for 48 h followed by VERU-111 (20 nM) treatment for 24 h. RNA was isolated and transcribed for cDNA and mRNA expression of βIII-tubulin was determined by qPCR (i). Data in bar graph indicate fold change mRNA expression of βIII-tubulin. (Values mean ± SEM; n = 3). Asterisk (*) denote the significant value p < 0.05. In a same parallel experiment, protein lysates were prepared and subjected for Western blot analysis to determine the protein levels of βIII-tubulin. Equal loading of protein was determined by stripping and probing the blot with GAPDH antibody. (F) Comparative effect of VERU-111, colchicine and vinorelbine, on cell viability of Panc-1 (i), AsPC-1 (ii), and HPAF-II (iii) cells as determined by MTT assay. Line bar graphs indicate percent cell viability compared to control group in response to VERU-111, colchicine, vinorelbine, and paclitaxel treatment after 48 h treatment. Values in graph represent mean ± SEM of three independent experiments. Asterisk (*) denotes the significant value p < 0.05

Article Snippet: Antibody βIIa - tubulin (cat. # TA345669) and βIVa-tubulin (cat. # TA-340088) were obtained from OriGene.

Techniques: Expressing, Western Blot, Immunofluorescence, Microscopy, Imaging, Software, Transfection, Negative Control, Isolation, Stripping Membranes, MTT Assay

Journal: Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research : CR

Article Title: Therapeutic efficacy of a novel βIII/βIV-tubulin inhibitor (VERU-111) in pancreatic cancer

doi: 10.1186/s13046-018-1009-7

Figure Lengend Snippet: VERU-111 inhibits pancreatic tumor growth. (A) Effect of VERU-111 on AsPC-1 cells derived xenograft tumors in athymic nude mice. Representative images of AsPC-1 cells derived xenograft tumor bearing mice of control and VERU-111 treated group. ( B ) Line graph showing average tumor volume of control and VERU-111 treatment group different time points. Data shown in the graph represent mean ± SEM of six tumors of each group. ( C ) Average tumor weight of control and VERU-111 treatment group. ( D ) Net tumor growth of control and VERU-111 treatment group. Data in bar graph represent mean ± SEM of six tumors in each group. Asterisk (*) denotes the significant value p < 0.05. ( E ) Representative images of H&E staining of excised xenograft tumors of control (i) and VERU-111 treatment (ii) group. Effect of VERU-111 on the expression of PCNA, βI, βIII, βIVb and βIVb in excised tumor tissues of control (i) and VERU-111 treated (ii) mice as determined by Immunohistochemistry. ( F) Effect of VERU-111 on mRNA expression of βI, βIII, βIVb and βIVb in excised xenograft tumors of control and VERU-111 treated mice as determined by qPCR. Bar graph represents fold mRNA expression of βI, βIII, βIVb and βIVb (mean ± SEM; n = 4). Asterisk (*) denotes the significant value p < 0.05. ( G ) Effect of VERU-111 on the expression of miR-200c in excised xenograft tumors of control and VERU-111 treated mice as determined by qPCR ( H ) and representative images of in situ hybridization. ( I ) Proposed model illustrating possible molecular mechanisms of VERU-111 for the inhibition of pancreatic tumor growth. VERU-111 destabilizes microtubule fiber integrality (de-polymerization) via inhibitions of βIII/βIV isotypes, cell cycle arrest and induction of apoptosis. Moreover, VERU-111 also induces miR-200c expression, which negatively regulates β-tubulin III, leading to apoptosis induction and inhibition of invasion/migration of PanCa cells

Article Snippet: Antibody βIIa - tubulin (cat. # TA345669) and βIVa-tubulin (cat. # TA-340088) were obtained from OriGene.

Techniques: Derivative Assay, Staining, Expressing, Immunohistochemistry, In Situ Hybridization, Inhibition, Migration