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This article describes in detail a method based on silver nanoparticles for ameliorating biliary atresia syndrome in an experimental biliary atresia mouse model. A solid understanding of the reagent preparation process and the neonatal mouse injection technique will help familiarize researchers with the method used in neonatal mouse model studies.
Biliary atresia (BA) is a severe type of cholangitis with high mortality in children of which the etiology is still not fully understood. Viral infections may be one possible cause. The typical animal model used for studying BA is established by inoculating a neonatal mouse with a rhesus rotavirus. Silver nanoparticles have been shown to exert antibacterial and antiviral effects; their function in the BA mouse model is evaluated in this study. Currently, in BA animal experiments, the methods used to improve the symptoms of BA mice are generally symptomatic treatments given via food or other drugs. The aim of this study is to demonstrate a new method for ameliorating BA syndrome in mice by the intraperitoneal injection of silver nanoparticles and to provide detailed methods for preparing the silver nanoparticle gel formulation. This method is simple and widely applicable and can be used to research the mechanism of BA, as well as in clinical treatments. Based on the BA mouse model, when the mice exhibit jaundice, the prepared silver nanoparticle gel is injected intraperitoneally to the surface of the lower liver. The survival status is observed, and biochemical indicators and liver histopathology are examined. This method allows a more intuitive understanding of both the establishment of the BA model and novel BA treatments.
BA is a form of cholestasis characterized by persistent jaundice and has high mortality in the absence of liver transplantation. Viral infections are closely associated with the pathogenesis of BA. The cytomegalovirus, reovirus, and rotavirus have all been suggested as pathogens in BA1,2,3. During the neonatal period, the response of the immature immune system to a viral infection results in immune dysregulation against extra- and intrahepatic bile ducts, leading to biliary epithelial cell apoptosis, inflammatory cell infiltration in the portal area, intrahepatic and extrahep....
All animal experimental protocols have been approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee of the Sun Yat-Sen University Laboratory Animal Center (#IACUC-DB-16-0602).
1. Establishing the Biliary Atresia Mouse Model
Based on the established BA mouse model, the infected neonatal mice were administered an i.p. injection of the prepared AgNP collagen mixture 2x after exhibiting jaundice. Mouse survival was checked for daily, and liver function testing, liver pathology, and flow cytometry were performed. Compared to the untreated control BA mice, the AgNP-treated mice showed reduced jaundice and maintained their normal body weight (Figure 3). The levels of bilirubin metaboli.......
AgNPs exhibit potent broad-spectrum antibacterial properties and a strong permeability22; additionally, they are used to produce a range of antibacterial medical products23. However, AgNPs can take a long time to clear once they accumulate in organs, and this persistence may lead to toxic effects24,25. A previous study examined the acute toxicity and genotoxicity of AgNPs after a single i.v. injection in a rat exper.......
The authors have nothing to disclose.
The AgNPs used here were a gift from C. M. Che in the Department of Chemistry, the University of Hong Kong. This work was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81600399) and the Science and Technology Project of Guangzhou (No.201707010014).
....Name | Company | Catalog Number | Comments |
BALB/c mouse | Guangdong Medical Experimental Animal Center | SYXK2017-0174 | Animal experiment |
Rhesus rotavirus (RRV) | ATCC | ATCC VR-1739 | Establish biliary atresia mouse model |
MA104 cells | ATCC | ATCC CRL-2378.1 | For laboratory use only |
DMEM | Thermo Fisher | 10569010 | Mammalian Cell Culture |
Fetal Bovine Serum | Thermo Fisher | 10099141 | Mammalian Cell Culture |
collagen Type I | CORNING | 354236 | For research use only |
PBS buffer | OXOID | BR0014G | For washing |
NaOH | Sigma | 1310-73-2 | Adjust the PH value |
AgNP | Antibacterial Note: The AgNps was a gift from Prof CM Che. in the Department of Chemistry, the University of Hong Kong. | ||
Insulin syringe with integrated needle | BD | 9161635S | For medical use |
15-mL Centrifuge Tube | Corning | 430791 | For laboratory use only |
1.5-mL Microcentrifuge Tube | GEB | CT0200-B-N | For laboratory use only |
Microscope | Nikon | ECLIPSE-Ci | For laboratory use |
Dissecting/Intravital microscope | Nikon | SMZ 1000 | For laboratory use |
anti-Mouse NKp46 FITC | eBioscience | 11-3351 | For research use only |
anti-Mouse CD4 PE-Cyanine5 | eBioscience | 15-0041 | For research use only |
Monoclonal Mouse Anti-Human CD4 | DAKO | 20001673 | For research use only |
anti-NKG2D | RD | MAB1547 | For research use only |
BD FACSCanto Flow Cytometer | BD Biosciences | FACS Canto Plus | For laboratory use only |
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