University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University

4 ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN JoVE

Medicine

Development of Recombinant Proteins to Treat Chronic Pain

Judith Prado¹, Jelena Popov-Celeketic², Cristine Steen-Louws¹, Ramin Raoof¹, Eric Hack¹, Niels Eijkelkamp^1,3

¹Laboratory of Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, ²Department of Rheumatology & Clinical Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, ³Laboratory of Neuroimmunology and Developmental Origins of Disease, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University

In this paper we provide details for the methods of production and quality control of an IL4-10 recombinant fusion protein. We also show how to test the effectiveness of this protein to resolve pain in a mouse model of inflammatory pain.

JoVE Core

A Fluorescence-based Assay for Characterization and Quantification of Lipid Droplet Formation in Human Intestinal Organoids

Jorik M. van Rijn^1,2,3, Marliek van Hoesel^1,2, Sabine Middendorp^1,2

¹Division of Pediatrics, Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Wilhelmina Children's Hospital, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, ²Regenerative Medicine Center, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, ³Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Uppsala University

This protocol describes an assay for the characterization of lipid droplet (LD) formation in human intestinal organoids upon stimulation with fatty acids. We discuss how this assay is used for quantification of LD formation, and how it can be used for high throughput screening for drugs that affect LD formation.

Biology

Isolation of Cardiac and Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells from Adult, Juvenile, Larval and Embryonic Zebrafish for Electrophysiological Studies

Soma S. Singareddy¹, Conor McClenaghan¹, Helen I. Roessler², Robert Tryon¹, Colin G. Nichols¹

¹Department of Cell Biology and Physiology and Center for the Investigation of Membrane Excitability Diseases, Washington University in St. Louis, ²Department of Genetics, Center for Molecular Medicine, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University

The present protocol describes the acute isolation of viable cardiac and vascular smooth muscle cells from adult, juvenile, larval, and embryonic zebrafish (Danio rerio), suitable for electrophysiological studies.

Neuroscience

Surgery and Behavioral Testing in the Tibial Neuroma Transposition Model in Rats

Elisabeth Maria Brakkee¹, Erick DeVinney², Niels Eijkelkamp³, J. Henk Coert¹

¹Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University, ²Axogen, ³Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht University

This protocol describes the tibial neuroma transposition model, which entails a lesion of the tibial nerve with subsequent transposition of the proximal nerve end toward a subcutaneous pretibial or lateral position. Behavioral testing of neuroma pain and plantar hyperalgesia is quantified using Von Frey monofilaments.