Impact of p53 knockdown on protein dataset of HaCaT cells.

The HaCaT line of immortalized non-tumor cells is a popular model of keratinocytes used for dermatological studies, in the practice of toxicological tests, and in the study of skin allergic reactions. These cells maintain a stable keratinocyte phenotype, do not require specific growth factors during cultivation, and respond to keratinocyte differentiation stimuli. HaCaT cells bear two mutant p53 alleles - R282Q and H179Y. At least two mechanisms of GOF (gain-of-function) of mutant p53 are known: it affects functions of p63/p73 by inhibiting their binding to DNA; or it binds to new DNA sites by interacting with other transcription factors (NF-Y, E2F1, NF-KB, VDR, p63). Proteins of the P53 family play an important role in the regulation of proliferation and differentiation processes of human keratinocytes. Proteomic study of HaCaT cells with TP53 gene knockdown provides new data for understanding the limitations of HaCaT cells when using them as an experimental model of normal human keratinocytes. In this article we present datasets obtained through the high-throughput shotgun proteomics analysis of human immortalized HaCaT keratinocytes and p53 knockdown HaCaT keratinocytes. As a protocol for proteomic profiling of cells, we used the approach of obtaining LC-MS/MS measurements followed by their processing with MaxQuant software (version 1.6.3.4). The "RAW" files were deposited to the ProteomeXchange with identifier PXD033538.

Proteome Profiling of PMJ2-R and Primary Peritoneal Macrophages.

In vitro models are often used for studying macrophage functions, including the process of phagocytosis. The application of primary macrophages has limitations associated with the individual characteristics of animals, which can lead to insufficient standardization and higher variability of the obtained results. Immortalized cell lines do not have these disadvantages, but their responses to various signals can differ from those of the living organism. In the present study, a comparative proteomic analysis of immortalized PMJ2-R cell line and primary peritoneal macrophages isolated from C57BL/6 mice was performed. A total of 4005 proteins were identified, of which 797 were quantified. Obtained results indicate significant differences in the abundances of many proteins, including essential proteins associated with the process of phagocytosis, such as Elmo1, Gsn, Hspa8, Itgb1, Ncf2, Rac2, Rack1, Sirpa, Sod1, C3, and Msr1. These findings indicate that outcomes of studies utilizing PMJ2-R cells as a model of peritoneal macrophages should be carefully validated. All MS data are deposited in ProteomeXchange with the identifier PXD022133.

Role of Microfluidics in Blood-Brain Barrier Permeability Cell Culture Modeling: Relevance to CNS Disorders.

In vitro modeling of the human blood-brain barrier (BBB) is critical for pre-clinical evaluation and predicting the permeability of newly developed potentially neurotoxic and neurotrophic drugs. Here we summarize the specific structural and functional features of endothelial cells as a key component of the BBB and compare analysis of different cell culture models in reflecting these features. Particular attention is paid to cellular models of the BBB in microfluidic devices capable of circulating nutrient media to simulate the blood flow of the brain. In these conditions, it is possible to reproduce a number of factors affecting endothelial cells under physiological conditions, including shear stress. In comparison with static cell models, concentration gradients, which determine the velocity of transport of substances, reproduce more accurately conditions of nutrient medium flow, since they eliminate the accumulation of substances near the basal membrane of cells, not typical for the situation in vivo. Co-cultivation of different types of cells forming the BBB, in separate cell chambers connected by microchannels, allows to evaluate the mutual influences of cells under normal conditions and when exposed to the test substance. New experimental possibilities that can be achieved through modeling of BBB in microfluidic devices determine the feasibility of their use in the practice for pre-clinical studies of novel drugs against neurodegenerative diseases.

Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of novel potent MDM2/p53 small-molecule inhibitors.

Regioselective synthesis, biological evaluation and 3D-molecular modeling for a series of novel diastereomeric 2-thioxo-5H-dispiro[imidazolidine-4,3-pyrrolidine-2,3-indole]-2,5(1H)-diones are described. The studied compounds have been tentatively identified as potent small molecule MDM2/p53 PPI inhibitors and can therefore be reasonably regarded as promising anticancer therapeutics.

Biodistribution of intact fluorescent CdSe/CdS/ZnS quantum dots coated by mercaptopropionic acid after intravenous injection into mice.

Semiconductor quantum dots (QD) have been widely used for fluorescent bioimaging. However their biosafety has attracted increasing attention, since the data about their in vivo behavior in biological systems are still limited. In this paper we have investigated the short- and long-term biodistribution of intact fluorescent CdSe/CdS/ZnS QD coated by 3-mercaptopropionic acid in mice. The results showed that intravenously injected QD accumulated mainly in the lungs, liver and spleen and were retained in these tissues for over 22 days. QD caused signs of acute toxicity in mice including death. The investigated QD possibly caused vascular thrombosis. The results of a toxicological assay indicated that some histopathological changes occurred in the lung tissue after the injection of QD. Our study highlights the need for careful evaluation of QD safety before their use in biological applications.

FLIM-FRET Imaging of Caspase-3 Activity in Live Cells Using Pair of Red Fluorescent Proteins.

We report a new technique to detect enzyme activity inside cells. The method based on Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging (FLIM) technology allows one to follow sensor cleavage by proteolytic enzyme caspase-3. Specifically, we use the FLIM FRET of living cells via the confocal fluorescence microscopy. A specially designed lentivector pLVT with the DNA fragment of TagRFP-23-KFP was applied for transduction of A549 cell lines. Computer simulations are carried out to estimate FRET efficiency and to analyze possible steric restrictions of the reaction between the substrate TagRFP-23-KFP and caspase-3 dimer. Successful use of the fuse protein TagRFP-23-KFP to register the caspase-3 activation based on average life-time measurements is demonstrated. We show that the average life-time distribution is dramatically changed for cells with the modified morphology that is typical for apoptosis. Namely, the short-lived component at 1.8-2.1 ns completely disappears and the long-lived component appears at 2.4-2.6 ns. The latter is a fingerprint of the TagRFP molecule released after cleavage of the TagRFP-23-KFP complex by caspase-3. Analysis of life-time distributions for population of cells allows us to discriminate apoptotic and surviving cells within single frame and to peform statistical analysis of drug efficiency. This system can be adjusted for HTS by using special readers oriented on measurements of fluorescence life-time.

Conformational partitioning in pH-induced fluorescence of the kindling fluorescent protein (KFP).

Kindling fluorescent protein (KFP) is considered as a prospective fluorophore for high-resolution nanoscopy. Analysis of pH dependence of the absorption and fluorescence spectra of KFP in aqueous solutions prompted us to assume that a shift in conformational equilibrium is responsible for substantial enhancement of red fluorescence in KFP at alkaline pH. Variations in pH also resulted in noticeable shifts in band maxima for absorption, fluorescence excitation, and fluorescence emission. These observations can be interpreted as an appearance of pH-induced fluorescent conformational states of the protein. On the basis of the available crystal structures of the protein and the results of molecular modeling, we suggest that appearance of these pH-induced fluorescent states is due to changes in the hydrogen bond network around the chromophore moiety (but not the cromophore itself), especially those associated with the side chains of Cys62 and Ser158. We hypothesize that conformational partitioning and fluctuations in protein ionization at alkali pH play an essential role in the appearance of fluorescent properties of KFP.

Lifetime imaging of FRET between red fluorescent proteins.

Numerous processes in cells can be traced by using fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between two fluorescent proteins. The novel FRET pair including the red fluorescent protein TagRFP and kindling fluorescent protein KFP for sensing caspase-3 activity is developed. The lifetime mode of FRET measurements with a nonfluorescent protein KFP as an acceptor is used to minimize crosstalk due to its direct excitation. The red fluorescence is characterized by a better penetrability through the tissues and minimizes the cell autofluorescence signal. The effective transfection and expression of the FRET sensor in eukaryotic cells is shown by FLIM. The induction of apoptosis by camptothecine increases the fluorescence lifetime, which means effective cleavage of the FRET sensor by caspase-3. The instruments for detecting whole-body fluorescent lifetime imaging are described. Experiments on animals show distinct fluorescence lifetimes for the red fluorescent proteins possessing similar spectral properties.