Edilson Torres-Gonzalez

Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA

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Publications (5)7.13 Total impact

  • Article: A senescence accelerated mouse model to study aging in the larynx.
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    ABSTRACT: Age-related changes in the larynx lead to significant voice impairment and reduced quality of life. There is a need for aged animal models that have practical generation times to study the fundamental changes and new therapeutics for the aging voice. The senescence accelerated prone mouse strain (SAMP) animals experience rapid aging without any experimental manipulation. The main objective of this study was to demonstrate the use of senescence accelerated mice to study aging in the larynx. Murine model. Department of Animal Resources, Emory University. Larynges from five senescence accelerated prone mice, five normal aging senescence resistant mice, and five C57BL/6 mice were harvested and processed for paraffin sections. Histomorphometry was performed for assessment of collagen and hyaluronic acid distribution. In addition, frozen laryngeal tissue was harvested for transcriptional and translational assessment of collagen-1, using real-time polymerase chain reaction with specific primers and Western blots. Myofibroblast assessment was performed by immunostaining for the presence of alpha-smooth muscle actin. The deposition of collagen increased at six months of age in the SAMP vocal fold, and the level of collagen-1 mRNA increased with age. The myofibroblast protein alpha-smooth muscle actin was also found at a higher concentration in the SAMP vocal tissue. In contrast, the levels of hyaluronic acid in the vocal folds of SAMP mice decreased with age when compared to age-matched C57BL/6 mice. SAMP mice show accelerated, age-related changes in the vocal fold that were evident at as early as six months of age. The use of senescence accelerated mice offers promise as a model to study age-related laryngeal changes.
    Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery 06/2010; 142(6):879-85. · 1.72 Impact Factor
  • Article: Slow-release nanoparticle-encapsulated delivery system for laryngeal injection.
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    ABSTRACT: There is a need for a slow-release system for local delivery of therapeutics to the larynx. Most therapeutic substances, such as steroids or chemotherapeutic agents that are injected into the larynx are cleared rapidly. Repeated laryngeal injection of these substances at short intervals is impractical. Injectable encapsulated poly(lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) nanoparticles offer a potential slow-release delivery system for biologically active substances in the larynx. Controlled animal study. PLGA nanoparticles were fabricated using a double emulsion method and were loaded with Texas Red-dextran (NPTR), hepatocyte growth factor (NPHGF), and bovine serum albumin (NPBSA). In vitro release of NPTR, NPBSA, and NPHGF was determined over approximately 2 weeks to assess potential duration of PLGA nanoparticle delivery. In vivo release of NPTR was assessed in a murine vocal fold injection model. The transcriptional effect of NPHGF on procollagen was measured in vitro to assess whether released growth factor retained functionality. In vitro release kinetics demonstrated slow release of NPTR, NPBSA, and NPHGF over 12 to 14 days. In vitro NPTR release correlated with in vivo results. In vivo presence of NPTR occurred up to 7 days compared to 1 day for Texas Red control. In addition, NPHGF ameliorated transforming growth factor-beta induced procollagen in vitro in 3T3 fibroblast cells. The results demonstrate the potential utility of nanoparticle encapsulation as an effective method for long-term delivery of specific drugs and biologically active substances to the larynx.
    The Laryngoscope 05/2010; 120(5):988-94. · 1.75 Impact Factor
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    Article: Effect of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells on endotoxin-induced oxidation of plasma cysteine and glutathione in mice.
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    ABSTRACT: Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMDMSC) are emerging as a therapeutic modality in various inflammatory disease states, including acute lung injury (ALI). A hallmark of inflammation, and a consistent observation in patients with ALI, is a perturbation in the systemic redox environment. However, little is known about the effects of BMDMSC on the systemic redox status. The objective of the present study was to determine whether exogenously infused BMDMSC protect against endotoxin-induced oxidation of plasma cysteine (Cys) and glutathione (GSH) redox states. To determine the effect on the redox state if BMDMSC, mice received endotoxin intraperitoneally (1 mg/kg), followed by intravenous infusion of either 5 × 10(5) BMDMSC or an equal volume of saline solution. Control mice received intraperitoneal endotoxin followed by 5 × 10(5) lung fibroblasts given intravenously. Cys, cystine (CySS), GSH, and glutathione disulfide (GSSG) concentrations were determined by HPLC. Results showed sequential preservation of plasma Cys and GSH levels in response to BMDMSC infusion. The data show that BMDMSC infusion leads to a more reducing Cys and GSH redox state. The findings are the first to demonstrate that BMDMSC have antioxidant effects in vivo, and add to our understanding of the systemic effects of BMDMSC in lung injury.
    Stem cells international. 01/2010; 2010:868076.
  • Article: Direct tracheal instillation of solutes into mouse lung.
    My N Helms, Edilson Torres-Gonzalez, Preston Goodson, Mauricio Rojas
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    ABSTRACT: Intratracheal instillations deliver solutes directly into the lungs. This procedure targets the delivery of the instillate into the distal regions of the lung, and is therefore often incorporated in studies aimed at studying alveoli. We provide a detailed survival protocol for performing intratracheal instillations in mice. Using this approach, one can target delivery of test solutes or solids (such as lung therapeutics, surfactants, viruses, and small oligonucleotides) into the distal lung. Tracheal instillations may be the preferred methodology, over inhalation protocols that may primarily target the upper respiratory tract and possibly expose the investigator to potentially hazardous substances. Additionally, in using the tracheal instillation protocol, animals can fully recover from the non-invasive procedure. This allows for making subsequent physiological measurements on test animals, or reinstallation using the same animal. The amount of instillate introduced into the lung must be carefully determined and osmotically balanced to ensure animal recovery. Typically, 30-75 μL instillate volume can be introduced into mouse lung.
    Journal of Visualized Experiments 01/2010;
  • Article: Oxidation of extracellular cysteine/cystine redox state in bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis.
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    ABSTRACT: Several lines of evidence indicate that depletion of glutathione (GSH), a critical thiol antioxidant, is associated with the pathogenesis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). However, GSH synthesis depends on the amino acid cysteine (Cys), and relatively little is known about the regulation of Cys in fibrosis. Cys and its disulfide, cystine (CySS), constitute the most abundant low-molecular weight thiol/disulfide redox couple in the plasma, and the Cys/CySS redox state (E(h) Cys/CySS) is oxidized in association with age and smoking, known risk factors for IPF. Furthermore, oxidized E(h) Cys/CySS in the culture media of lung fibroblasts stimulates proliferation and expression of transitional matrix components. The present study was undertaken to determine whether bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis is associated with a decrease in Cys and/or an oxidation of the Cys/CySS redox state and to determine whether these changes were associated with changes in E(h) GSH/glutathione disulfide (GSSG). We observed distinct effects on plasma GSH and Cys redox systems during the progression of bleomycin-induced lung injury. Plasma E(h) GSH/GSSG was selectively oxidized during the proinflammatory phase, whereas oxidation of E(h) Cys/CySS occurred at the fibrotic phase. In the epithelial lining fluid, oxidation of E(h) Cys/CySS was due to decreased food intake. Thus the data show that decreased precursor availability and enhanced oxidation of Cys each contribute to the oxidation of extracellular Cys/CySS redox state in bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis.
    AJP Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology 11/2008; 296(1):L37-45. · 3.66 Impact Factor