Humanized mouse model: a review on preclinical applications for cancer immunotherapy

Due to the refractory and partial sensitive treatments to malignant cancers, immunotherapy has increasingly become a hotspot in effective anti-tumor research. However, at present, existing animal models could not accurately describe the interaction between human tissue and tumor cells for preclinical trials. Furthermore, it is a tough obstacle to reconstitute the immune system and microenvironment in a mouse model identical to humans due to species differences. In the establishment of the humanized mouse model, the co-transplantation of human immunocytes with/without tissues and tumor cells is the key breakthrough to solve this problem. The compelling progress has been investigated in the preclinical drug test for diverse tumor types. This review mainly summarized the development of immunodeficient mice, and the construction and practicability of the humanized mouse model. Furthermore, the investigators also highlight the pros and cons, and recent progress in immunotherapy research for advanced utility of human cancer diseases.     

Lycium barbarum polysaccharide-glycoprotein preventative treatment ameliorates aversive stimuli-induced depression

Previous studies have shown that Lycium barbarum polysaccharide,the main active component of Lycium barbarum,exhibits antiinflammatory and antioxidant effects in treating neurological diseases.However,the therapeutic action of Lycium barbarum polysaccharide on depression has not been studied.In this investigation,we established mouse models of depression using aversive stimuli including exposure to fox urine,air puff and foot shock and physical restraint.Concurrently,we administered 5 mg/kg per day Lycium barbarum polysaccharide-glycoprotein to each mouse intragastrically for the 28 days.Our results showed that long-term exposure to aversive stimuli significantly enhanced depressive-like behavior evaluated by the sucrose preference test and the forced swimming test and increased anxietylike behaviors evaluated using the open field test.In addition,aversive stimuli-induced depressed mice exhibited aberrant neuronal activity in the lateral habenula.Importantly,concurrent Lycium barbarum polysaccharide-glycoprotein treatment significantly reduced these changes.These findings suggest that Lycium barbarum polysaccharide-glycoprotein is a potential preventative intervention for depression and may act by preventing aberrant neuronal activity and microglial activation in the lateral habenula.The study was approved by the Jinan University Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee(approval No.20170301003) on March 1,2017.     

眼表铁过载小鼠干眼模型的构建和机制研究

目的：通过给小鼠腹腔注射右旋糖酐铁，建立小鼠铁过载干眼模型并初步探索其可能的机制。

方法：将40只雄性C57BL/6小鼠(取右眼为实验眼)用随机数字表法将小鼠分为4组：对照组10只，每次腹腔注射生理盐水0.2mL； 低剂量组、中剂量组、高剂量组各10只为模型组，每次分别腹腔注射浓度为12.5、25、50mg/mL的右旋糖酐铁溶液0.2mL。每3d注射1次，共注射28d。注药后第7、14、28d观察各组小鼠眼表炎症指数、角膜荧光素染色、泪膜破裂时间(BUT)及泪液分泌量(SⅠt)，评估干眼及眼表炎症程度。28d后处死小鼠，取角膜、结膜及泪腺组织，进行HE染色、普鲁士蓝染色以及组织铁检测，评估小鼠炎症反应及铁过载情况； 采用酶联免疫吸附试验(ELISA)检测炎症因子白细胞介素-1β(IL-1β)、肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)、基质金属蛋白酶-9(MMP-9)的表达情况。

结果：与对照组相比，模型组小鼠出现一系列干眼症状，小鼠眼表炎症指数增高，角膜荧光素染色评分增加，BUT缩短，泪液分泌量减少(均P<0.05)； 模型组小鼠角膜、结膜及泪腺组织均受到不同程度的损伤，各组织眼表铁沉积情况较对照组加重，组织铁含量明显增加(均P<0.01)； 模型组小鼠角膜、结膜及泪腺组织中炎症因子(IL-1β、TNF-α、MMP-9)的含量均高于对照组(均P<0.01)，随着右旋糖酐铁注药时间及浓度增加，小鼠干眼及眼表炎症程度逐渐加重。

结论：腹腔注射右旋糖酐铁可成功建立小鼠铁过载干眼模型，其机制可能与铁过载加重眼表炎症反应有关。     

In vivo antimalarial activity and toxicological effects of methanolic extract of Cocos nucifera (Dwarf red variety) husk fibre

OBJECTIVE: Phytochemical constituents as well as antimalarial and toxicity potentials of the methanolic extract of the husk fi bre of Dwarf Red variety of Cocos nucifera were evaluated in this study.METHODS: The dried powdered husk fi bre was exhaustively extracted with hexane, ethyl acetate and methanol successively and the methanolic extract was screened for fl avonoids, phenolics, tannins, alkaloids, steroids, triterpenes, phlobatannins, anthraquinones and glycosides. A 4-day suppressive antimalarial test was carried out using Plasmodium berghei NK65-infected mice, to which the extract was administered at doses of 31.25, 62.5, 125, 250 and 500 mg/kg body weight(BW). Toxicity of the extract was evaluated in rats using selected hematological parameters and organ function indices after orally administering doses of 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg BW for 14 d.RESULTS: Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, phenolics, saponins, glycosides, steroids and anthraquinones in the extract. Moreover, the extract reduced parasitemia by 39.2% and 45.8% at doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg BW respectively on day 8 post-inoculation. Various hematological parameters evaluated were not significantly altered(P0.05) at all doses of the extract, except red blood cell count which was signifi cantly elevated(P0.05) at 100 mg/kg BW. The extract significantly increased(P0.05) urea, creatinine, cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol and bilirubin concentrations in the serum as well as atherogenic index, while it reduced albumin concentration significantly(P0.05) at higher doses compared to the controls. Alanine aminotransferase activity was reduced in the liver and heart signifi cantly(P0.05) but was increased in the serum signifi cantly(P0.05) at higher doses of the extract compared to the controls.CONCLUSION: The results suggest that methanolic extract of the Dwarf red variety has partial antimalarial activity at higher doses, but is capable of impairing normal kidney and liver function as well as predisposing subjects to cardiovascular diseases.     

山药提取物联合替加氟对结肠癌HT-29细胞株体内外杀伤作用的研究

目的 观察山药提取物联合替加氟对结肠癌 HT-29 细胞的体内外杀伤作用。方法 采用 2×2 析因设计的方法,用含二甲基亚砜的生理盐水（空白对照）、替加氟（36 mg/L）、山药提取物（125 mg/L）、山药提取物（125 mg/L）联合替加氟（36 mg/L）作用于结肠癌 HT-29 细胞后,观察细胞形态的变化,用 MTT 法检测对结肠癌 HT-29 细胞增殖抑制的情况,用流式细胞仪检测肿瘤干细胞（CD133+细胞）表达的情况。建立荷结肠癌 HT-29 细胞裸鼠模型,按上述方法给予治疗,计算抑瘤率。用免疫组化法检测瘤体组织的血管内皮生长因子（VEGF）阳性率。结果 联合治疗组（山药提取物联合替加氟治疗组）对结肠癌 HT-29 增殖的抑制明显高于单独使用山药提取物组及替加氟组,3 个给药组均 高于空白对照组;联合治疗组作用于 HT-29 细胞后,细胞中 CD133+细胞的比例明显低于山药提取物组及替加氟组,3 个给药组均低于空白对照组。3 个给药组治疗结束后,荷瘤鼠的瘤质量及 VEGF 阳性率明显低于空白对照组,联合治疗组低于山药提取物组及替加氟组。结论 山药提取物联合替加氟对结肠癌体内外均有杀伤作用。     

Human plasma metabolic profiles of benzydamine,a flavin-containing monooxygenase probe substrate,simulated with pharmacokinetic data from control and humanized-liver mice

1.?Benzydamine is used clinically as a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug in oral rinses and is employed in preclinical research as a flavin-containing monooxygenase (FMO) probe substrate. In this study, plasma concentrations of benzydamine and its primary N-oxide and N-demethylated metabolites were investigated in control TK-NOG mice, in humanized-liver mice, and in mice whose liver cells had been ablated with ganciclovir.

2.?Following oral administration of benzydamine (10?mg/kg) in humanized-liver TK-NOG mice, plasma concentrations of benzydamine N-oxide were slightly higher than those of demethyl benzydamine. In contrast, in control and ganciclovir-treated TK-NOG mice, concentrations of demethyl benzydamine were slightly higher than those of benzydamine N-oxide.

3.?Simulations of human plasma concentrations of benzydamine and its N-oxide were achieved using simplified physiologically based pharmacokinetic models based on data from control TK-NOG mice and from reported benzydamine concentrations after low-dose administration in humans. Estimated clearance rates based on data from humanized-liver and ganciclovir-treated TK-NOG mice were two orders magnitude high.

4.?The pharmacokinetic profiles of benzydamine were different for control and humanized-liver TK-NOG mice. Humanized-liver mice are generally accepted human models; however, drug oxidation in mouse kidney might need to be considered when probe substrates undergo FMO-dependent drug oxidation in mouse liver and kidney.     

雷公藤多苷片对高脂小鼠血脂的影响

目的 研究雷公藤多苷片对高脂小鼠血脂的影响。方法 采用高血脂小鼠模型,通过小鼠尾静脉注射不同剂量（0.5,1.0,1.5 mg·kg^-1·d^-1）雷公藤多苷,测定不同时间段小鼠体质量和血清总胆固醇（total cholesterol,TC）、甘油三酯（totaltriglyceride,TG）、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇（high density lipoprotein cholesterol,HDL-C）、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（low densitylipoprotein cholesterol,LDL-C）的含量及卵磷脂胆固醇酰基转移酶（lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase,LCAT）、肝脂酶（hepatic lipase,HL）和脂蛋白脂酶（lipoprotein lipase,LPL）的活性,研究雷公藤多苷对小鼠体质量、血脂代谢、动脉粥样硬化指数、肝脏LCAT水平等的影响。结果 给予高脂饲料后小鼠体质量和血脂显著升高（P<0.01）,动脉粥样硬化指数显著升高（P<0.01）,抗动脉粥样硬化指数显著下降（P<0.01）。注射雷公藤多苷能显著降低高血脂模型小鼠血清TC、TG和LDL-C,同时显著降低高脂饮食所导致的动脉粥样硬化指数升高。此外,雷公藤多苷片能显著提高血清LCAT水平和HL、LPL的活性。结论 雷公藤多苷片具有一定的降血脂功能,并能有效降低动脉粥样硬化的发生几率。     

Chimeric mice with humanized liver: Application in drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics studies for drug discovery

Predicting human drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics (PK) is key to drug discovery. In particular, it is important to predict human PK, metabolite profiles and drug-drug interactions (DDIs). Various methods have been used for such predictions, including in vitro metabolic studies using human biological samples, such as hepatic microsomes and hepatocytes, and in vivo studies using experimental animals. However, prediction studies using these methods are often inconclusive due to discrepancies between in vitro and in vivo results, and interspecies differences in drug metabolism. Further, the prediction methods have changed from qualitative to quantitative to solve these issues. Chimeric mice with humanized liver have been developed, in which mouse liver cells are mostly replaced with human hepatocytes. Since human drug metabolizing enzymes are expressed in the liver of these mice, they are regarded as suitable models for mimicking the drug metabolism and PK observed in humans; therefore, these mice are useful for predicting human drug metabolism and PK. In this review, we discuss the current state, issues, and future directions of predicting human drug metabolism and PK using chimeric mice with humanized liver in drug discovery.     

Development and validation of a sensitive LC/MS-MS method for the determination of letrozole in nude mice plasma and its application to a pharmacokinetic study

A sensitive, rapid and simple liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) method was developed and validated for the determination of letrozole (LTZ) in nude mouse plasma in the current study, which was successfully applied to a pharmacokinetic study. Using anastrozole as internal standard (IS), plasma samples went through a one-step protein precipitation with acetonitrile before determination. The analyte and IS were analyzed on a reversed-phase ZORBAX-SB-C₁₈column (4.6 mm×250 mm, 5 μm) with an isocratic mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile and water containing 0.1% formic acid (v/v) at a flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. The analyte and IS were detected by a triple-quadrupole tandem mass spectrometer, and electrospray and multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) were employed to select LTZ at m/z 286.4/217.1 and IS at m/z 294.1/225.3 simultaneously in the positive ion mode. The calibration curve showed good linearity ranging from 0.8–2000.0 ng/mL (r>0.99). The intra-day and inter-day precisions of LTZ were 4.0%–8.4%, with an accuracy of 98.6%–104.9%. Using this method, we successfully characterized the pharmacokinetics (PK) of LTZ by a one-compartment model with first-order absorption in female BALB/c nude mice.