bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Adrenomedullin augments the angiogenic potential of late outgrowth endothelial progenitor cells
Authors: Hermansen Stig Eggen , Lund Trine , Kalstad Trine , Ytrehus Kirsti , Myrmel Truls
Published: January 2011

The therapeutic utility of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in cardiovascular disease is potentially hampered by their low numbers in the circulation, impaired functional activity, and inhibitory factors in the recipient. These obstacles can possibly be circumvented by the use of proangiogenic cytokines and peptides. We sought to examine the effect of the endogenous vasoactive peptide adrenomedullin (AM) on the angiogenic potential of late outgrowth EPCs and their release of proangiogenic and proinflammatory cytokines/chemokines. Human peripheral blood mononuclear cells were cultured until the appearance of typical late outgrowth EPC colonies. The effect of AM on EPC proliferation was assessed using a colorimetric MTS proliferation assay while differentiation and formation of tubular structures in an EPC/fibroblast coculture or matrigel assay was used to assess the angiogenic potential of the cells. Finally, the release and mRNA transcripts of cytokines/chemokines were quantified in stimulated vs. nonstimulated EPCs using real-time PCR and a bead-based multiplex assay. The cultured EPCs possessed an endothelial phenotype and expressed the AM receptor (calcitonin receptor-like receptor/receptor activity modifying protein-2). AM stimulation induced proliferation of EPCs compared with controls ( P < 0.05). Furthermore, AM produced a 36% and 80% increase in the formation of tubular networks in the EPC/fibroblast coculture and matrigel assay, respectively ( P < 0.05). These effects seemed to be mediated through the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt signaling pathway. AM did not seem to significantly influence the release or production of IL-6, IL-8, VEGF, stromal cell-derived factor 1, or the expression of CXCR-4 or VEGF receptor 2. In conclusion, adrenomedullin augmented the growth and angiogenic properties of late outgrowth EPCs, but did not influence their paracrine properties.
Vascular-dependent effects of elevated glucose on postganglionic sympathetic neurons
Authors: Damon Deborah H.
Published: January 2011

Perivascular sympathetic nerves are important determinants of vascular function that are likely to contribute to vascular complications associated with hyperglycemia and diabetes. The present study tested the hypothesis that glucose modulates perivascular sympathetic nerves by studying the effects of 7 days of hyperglycemia on norepinephrine (NE) synthesis [tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)], release, and uptake. Direct and vascular-dependent effects were studied in vitro in neuronal and neurovascular cultures. Effects were also studied in vivo in rats made hyperglycemic (blood glucose >296 mg/dl) with streptozotocin (50 mg/kg). In neuronal cultures, TH and NE uptake measured in neurons grown in high glucose (HG; 25 mM) were less than that in neurons grown in low glucose (LG; 5 mM) ( P < 0.05; n = 4 and 6, respectively). In neurovascular cultures, elevated glucose did not affect TH or NE uptake, but it increased NE release. Release from neurovascular cultures grown in HG (1.8 ± 0.2%; n = 5) was greater than that from cultures grown in LG (0.37 ± 0.28%; n = 5; P < 0.05; unpaired t-test). In vivo, elevated glucose did not affect TH or NE uptake, but it increased NE release. Release in hyperglycemic animals (9.4 + 1.1%; n = 6) was greater than that in control animals (5.39 + 1.1%; n = 6; P < 0.05; unpaired t-test). These data identify a novel vascular-dependent effect of elevated glucose on postganglionic sympathetic neurons that is likely to affect the function of perivascular sympathetic nerves and thereby affect vascular function.
B-type natriuretic peptide, vascular endothelial growth factor, endothelin-1, and nitric oxide synthase in chronic mountain sickness
Authors: Ge Ri-Li , Mo Vivian Y. , Januzzi James L. , Jin Guan , Yang Yinzhong , Han Shufen , Wood Malissa J. , Levine Benjamin D.
Published: January 2011

The pathogenesis of chronic mountain sickness (CMS) may involve vasoactive peptides. The aim of this study was to investigate associations between CMS and levels of B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), endothelin-1 (ET-1), and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). A total of 24 patients with CMS and 50 control subjects residing at 4,300 m participated in this study. Mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) was measured by echocardiography. Serum BNP, VEGF, ET-1, and eNOS were measured. Receiver operator characteristic curves to assess the balance of sensitivity and specificity for CMS were constructed. As a result, patients with CMS had significantly greater mPAP compared with controls and had lower arterial O2 saturation (SaO2). Both BNP and ET-1 correlated positively with mPAP and negatively with SaO2, whereas serum VEGF levels were inversely correlated with SaO2; eNOS correlated negatively with mPAP and positively with SaO2. Median concentrations of BNP were greater in patients with CMS compared with those without CMS: 369 pg/ml [interquartile range (IQR) = 336–431] vs. 243 pg/ml (IQR = 216–279); P < 0.001. Similarly, concentrations of VEGF [543 pg/ml (IQR = 446–546) vs. 243 pg/ml (IQR = 216–279); P < 0.001] and ET-1 [14.7 pg/ml (IQR = 12.5–17.9) vs. 11.1 pg/ml (IQR = 8.7–13.9); P = 0.05] were higher in those with CMS compared with those without, whereas eNOS levels were lower in those with CMS [8.90 pg/ml (IQR 7.59–10.8) vs. 11.2 pg/ml (9.13–13.1); P < 0.001]. The areas under the receiver operator characteristic curves for diagnosis of CMS were 0.91, 0.93, 0.77, and 0.74 for BNP, VEGF, ET-1, and eNOS, respectively. In age- and biomarker-adjusted logistic regression, BNP and VEGF were positively predictive of CMS, whereas eNOS was inversely predictive. In conclusion, severe chronic hypoxemia and consequent pulmonary hypertension in patients with CMS may stimulate release of natriuretic peptides and angiogenic cytokines. These vasoactive peptides may play an important role in the pathogenesis and clinical expression of CMS and may indicate potential prognostic factors in CMS that could serve as targets for therapeutic trials or clinical decision making.
Effects of low-level α-myosin heavy chain expression on contractile kinetics in porcine myocardium
Authors: Locher Matthew R. , Razumova Maria V. , Stelzer Julian E. , Norman Holly S. , Moss Richard L.
Published: January 2011

Myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoforms are principal determinants of work capacity in mammalian ventricular myocardium. The ventricles of large mammals including humans normally express ∼10% α-MHC on a predominantly β-MHC background, while in failing human ventricles α-MHC is virtually eliminated, suggesting that low-level α-MHC expression in normal myocardium can accelerate the kinetics of contraction and augment systolic function. To test this hypothesis in a model similar to human myocardium we determined composite rate constants of cross-bridge attachment ( fapp) and detachment ( gapp) in porcine myocardium expressing either 100% α-MHC or 100% β-MHC in order to predict the MHC isoform-specific effect on twitch kinetics. Right atrial (∼100% α-MHC) and left ventricular (∼100% β-MHC) tissue was used to measure myosin ATPase activity, isometric force, and the rate constant of force redevelopment ( ktr) in solutions of varying Ca2+concentration. The rate of ATP utilization and ktrwere approximately ninefold higher in atrial compared with ventricular myocardium, while tension cost was approximately eightfold greater in atrial myocardium. From these values, we calculated fappto be ∼10-fold higher in α- compared with β-MHC, while gappwas 8-fold higher in α-MHC. Mathematical modeling of an isometric twitch using these rate constants predicts that the expression of 10% α-MHC increases the maximal rate of rise of force (dF/d tmax) by 92% compared with 0% α-MHC. These results suggest that low-level expression of α-MHC significantly accelerates myocardial twitch kinetics, thereby enhancing systolic function in large mammalian myocardium.
Decreased cardiac SERCA2 expression, SR Ca uptake, and contractile function in hypothyroidism are attenuated in SERCA2 overexpressing transgenic rats
Authors: Vetter Roland , Rehfeld Uwe , Reissfelder Christoph , Fechner Henry , Seppet Enn , Kreutz Reinhold
Published: January 2011

The sarco/endoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+-ATPase SERCA2a has a key role in controlling cardiac contraction and relaxation. In hypothyroidism, decreased expression of the thyroid hormone (TH)-responsive SERCA2 gene contributes to slowed SR Ca2+reuptake and relaxation. We investigated whether cardiac expression of a TH-insensitive SERCA2a cDNA minigene can rescue SR Ca2+handling and contractile function in female SERCA2a-transgenic rats (TG) with experimental hypothyroidism. Wild-type rats (WT) and TG were rendered hypothyroid by 6- N-propyl-2-thiouracil treatment for 6 wk; control rats received no treatment. In vivo measured left ventricular (LV) hemodynamic parameters were compared with SERCA2a expression and function in LV tissue. Hypothyroidism decreased LV peak systolic pressure, dP/d tmax, and dP/d tminin both WT and TG. However, loss of function was less in TG. Thus slowed relaxation in hypothyroidism was found to be 1.5-fold faster in TG compared with WT ( P < 0.05). In parallel, a 1.4-fold higher Vmaxvalue of homogenate SR Ca2+uptake was observed in hypothyroid TG ( P < 0.05 vs. hypothyroid WT), and the hypothyroidism-caused decline of LV SERCA2a mRNA expression in TG by −24% was markedly less than the decrease of −49% in WT ( P < 0.05). A linear relationship was observed between the SERCA2a/PLB mRNA ratio values and the Vmaxvalues of SR Ca2+uptake when the respective data of all experimental groups were plotted together ( r = 0.90). The data show that expression of the TH-insensitive SERCA2a minigene compensates for loss of expressional activity of the TH-responsive native SERCA2a gene in the female hypothyroid rat heart. However, SR Ca2+uptake and in vivo heart function were only partially rescued.
Myocardial transfection with naked DNA plasmid encoding hepatocyte growth factor prevents the progression of heart failure in dogs
Authors: Rastogi Sharad , Guerrero Mayra , Wang Mengjun , Ilsar Itamar , Sabbah Michael S. , Gupta Ramesh C. , Sabbah Hani N.
Published: January 2011

This study examined the effects of localized intramyocardial injections of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) naked DNA plasmid on the progression of left ventricular (LV) dysfunction and remodeling in dogs with moderate heart failure (HF). Twenty-one dogs with intracoronary microembolization-induced HF [LV ejection fraction (EF) = 35–40%] were randomized into three treatment groups, namely, high-dose HGF plasmid (4.0 mg, n = 7), low-dose HGF plasmid (0.4 mg, n = 7), and sham-operated controls treated with normal saline ( n = 7). A total of 10–15 injections of HGF plasmid or saline were made directly into the anterior wall of LV. LV EF and end-systolic volume (ESV) were measured before randomization (pretreatment) and at the end of 3 mo of follow-up (posttreatment). Treatment effect (Δ) was calculated as the change from pre- to posttreatment. Protein expression of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca2+-cycling proteins was determined in LV tissue obtained from the sites of HGF injection and remote areas. Low-dose HGF attenuated the decline in EF (ΔEF: −3 ± 1 vs. −8 ± 1%, P < 0.05) and the increase in ESV (ΔESV: 6 ± 2 vs. 10 ± 1 ml, P < 0.05) seen in control sham-operated dogs, whereas high-dose HGF significantly increased EF (ΔEF: 4 ± 1 vs. −8 ± 1%, P < 0.05) and prevented the increase in ΔESV (ESV: −1 ± 1 vs. 10 ± 1 ml, P < 0.05) compared with control dogs. Treatment with high- and low-dose HGF improved the expression of the SR Ca2+-cycling proteins compared with controls. In conclusion, regional intramyocardial injections of HGF naked DNA plasmid improve regional and global LV function and prevent progressive LV remodeling.
Dependence of Golgi apparatus integrity on nitric oxide in vascular cells: implications in pulmonary arterial hypertension
Authors: Lee Jason E. , Patel Kirit , Almodóvar Sharilyn , Tuder Rubin M. , Flores Sonia C. , Sehgal Pravin B.
Published: January 2011

Although reduced bioavailability of nitric oxide (NO) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), its consequences on organellar structure and function within vascular cells is largely unexplored. We investigated the effect of reduced NO on the structure of the Golgi apparatus as assayed by giantin or GM130 immunofluorescence in human pulmonary arterial endothelial (HPAECs) and smooth muscle (HPASMCs) cells, bovine PAECs, and human EA.hy926 endothelial cells. Golgi structure was also investigated in cells in tissue sections of pulmonary vascular lesions in idiopathic PAH (IPAH) and in macaques infected with a chimeric simian immunodeficiency virus containing the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)- nef gene (SHIV- nef) with subcellular three-dimensional (3D) immunoimaging. Compounds with NO scavenging activity including 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide (c-PTIO), methylene blue, N-acetylcysteine, and hemoglobin markedly fragmented the Golgi in all cell types evaluated as did monocrotaline pyrrole, while LY-83583, sildenafil, fasudil, Y-27632, Tiron, Tempol, or H2O2did not. Golgi fragmentation by NO scavengers was inhibited by diethylamine NONOate, was evident in HPAECs after selective knockdown of endothelial nitric oxide synthase using small interfering RNA (siRNA), was independent of microtubule organization, required the GTPase dynamin 2, and was accompanied by depletion of α-soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor (NSF) acceptor protein (α-SNAP) from Golgi membranes and codispersal of the SNAP receptor (SNARE) Vti1a with giantin. Golgi fragmentation was confirmed in endothelial and smooth muscle cells in pulmonary arterial lesions in IPAH and the SHIV- nef-infected macaque with subcellular 3D immunoimaging. In SHIV- nef-infected macaques Golgi fragmentation was observed in cells containing HIV-nef-bearing endosomes. The observed Golgi fragmentation suggests that NO plays a significant role in modulating global protein trafficking patterns that contribute to changes in the cell surface landscape and functional signaling in vascular cells.
Arginase 1 contributes to diminished coronary arteriolar dilation in patients with diabetes
Authors: Beleznai Timea , Feher Attila , Spielvogel David , Lansman Steven L. , Bagi Zsolt
Published: January 2011

Arginase 1, via competing with nitric oxide (NO) synthase for the substrate l-arginine, may interfere with NO-mediated vascular responses. We tested the hypothesis that arginase 1 contributes to coronary vasomotor dysfunction in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). Coronary arterioles were dissected from the right atrial appendages of 41 consecutive patients with or without DM (the 2 groups suffered from similar comorbidities), and agonist-induced changes in diameter were measured with videomicroscopy. We found that the endothelium-dependent agonist ACh elicited a diminished vasodilation and caused constriction to the highest ACh concentration (0.1 μM) with a similar magnitude in patients with (18 ± 8%) and without (17 ± 9%) DM. Responses to ACh were not significantly affected by the inhibition of NO synthesis with NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester in either group. The NO donor sodium nitroprusside-dependent dilations were not different in patients with or without DM. Interestingly, we found that the presence of NG-hydroxy-l-arginine (10 μM), a selective inhibitor of arginase or application of l-arginine (3 mM), restored ACh-induced coronary dilations only in patients with DM (to 47 ± 6% and to 40 ± 19%, respectively) but not in subjects without DM. Correspondingly, the protein expression of arginase 1 was increased in coronary arterioles of patients with DM compared with subjects without diabetes. Moreover, using immunocytochemistry, we detected an abundant immunostaining of arginase 1 in coronary endothelial cells of patients with DM, which was colocalized with NO synthase. Collectively, we provided evidence for a distinct upregulation of arginase 1 in coronary arterioles of patients with DM, which contributes to a reduced NO production and consequently diminished vasodilation.
Cardioprotection of the aged rat heart by GSK-3β inhibitor is attenuated: age-related changes in mitochondrial permeability transition pore modulation
Authors: Zhu Jiang , Rebecchi Mario J. , Glass Peter S. A. , Brink Peter R. , Liu Lixin
Published: January 2011

It is well established that inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3β in the young adult myocardium protects against ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury through inhibition of mitochondrial permeability transition pore (mPTP) opening. Here, we investigated age-associated differences in the ability of GSK-3β inhibitor [SB-216763 (SB)] to protect the heart and to modulate mPTP opening during I/R injury. Fischer 344 male rats were assigned from their respective young or old age groups. Animals were subjected to 30 min ischemia following 120 min reperfusion to determine myocardial infarction (MI) size in vivo. Ischemic tissues were collected 10 min after reperfusion for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) measurements and immunoblotting. In parallel experiments, ventricular myocytes isolated from young or old rats were exposed to oxidative stress through generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and mPTP opening times were measured by using confocal microscopy. Our results showed that SB decreased MI in young SB-treated rats compared with young untreated I/R animals, whereas SB failed to significantly affect MI in the old animals. SB also significantly increased GSK-3β phosphorylation in young rats, but phosphorylation levels were already highly elevated in old control groups. There were no significant differences observed between SB-treated and untreated old animals. NAD+levels were better maintained in young SB-treated animals compared with the young untreated group during I/R, but this relative improvement was not observed in old animals. SB also significantly prolonged the time to mPTP opening induced by ROS in young cardiomyocytes, but not in aged cardiomyocytes. These results demonstrate that this GSK-3β inhibitor fails to protect the aged myocardium in response to I/R injury or prevent mPTP opening following a rise in ROS and suggest that healthy aging alters mPTP regulation by GSK-3β.
Progressive handgrip exercise: evidence of nitric oxide-dependent vasodilation and blood flow regulation in humans
Authors: Wray D. Walter , Witman Melissa A. H. , Ives Stephen J. , McDaniel John , Fjeldstad Anette S. , Trinity Joel D. , Conklin Jamie D. , Supiano Mark A. , Richardson Russell S.
Published: January 2011

In the peripheral circulation, nitric oxide (NO) is released in response to shear stress across vascular endothelial cells. We sought to assess the degree to which NO contributes to exercise-induced vasodilation in the brachial artery (BA) and to determine the potential of this approach to noninvasively evaluate NO bioavailability. In eight young (25 ± 1 yr) healthy volunteers, we used ultrasound Doppler to examine BA vasodilation in response to handgrip exercise (4, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24 kg) with and without endothelial NO synthase blockade [intra-arterial NG-monomethyl-l-arginine (l-NMMA), 0.48 mg·dl−1·min−1]. Higher exercise intensities evoked significant BA vasodilation (4–12%) that was positively correlated with the hyperemic stimulus ( r = 0.98 ± 0.003, slope = 0.005 ± 0.001). During NO blockade, BA vasodilation at the highest exercise intensity was reduced by ∼70% despite similar exercise-induced increases in shear rate (control, +224 ± 30 s−1; l-NMMA, +259 ± 46 s−1). The relationship and slope of BA vasodilation with increasing shear rate was likewise reduced ( r = 0.48 ± 0.1, slope = 0.0007 ± 0.0005). We conclude that endothelial NO synthase inhibition with l-NMMA abolishes the relationship between shear stress and BA vasodilation during handgrip exercise, providing clear evidence of NO-dependent vasodilation in this experimental model. These results support this paradigm as a novel and valid approach for a noninvasive assessment of NO-dependent vasodilation in humans.
Anthrax edema toxin has cAMP-mediated stimulatory effects and high-dose lethal toxin has depressant effects in an isolated perfused rat heart model
Authors: Hicks Caitlin W. , Li Yan , Okugawa Shu , Solomon Steven B. , Moayeri Mahtab , Leppla Stephen H. , Mohanty Ajana , Subramanian G. Mani , Mignone Thi S. , Fitz Yvonne , Cui Xizhong , Eichacker Peter Q.
Published: January 2011

While anthrax edema toxin produces pronounced tachycardia and lethal toxin depresses left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction in in vivo models, whether these changes reflect direct cardiac effects as opposed to indirect ones related to preload or afterload alterations is unclear. In the present study, the effects of edema toxin and lethal toxin were investigated in a constant pressure isolated perfused rat heart model. Compared with control hearts, edema toxin at doses comparable to or less than a dose that produced an 80% lethality rate (LD80) in vivo in rats (200, 100, and 50 ng/ml) produced rapid increases in heart rate (HR), coronary flow (CF), LV developed pressure (LVDP), dP/d tmax, and rate-pressure product (RPP) that were most pronounced and persisted with the lowest dose ( P ≤ 0.003). Edema toxin (50 ng/ml) increased effluent and myocardial cAMP levels ( P ≤ 0.002). Compared with dobutamine, edema toxin produced similar myocardial changes, but these occurred more slowly and persisted longer. Increases in HR, CF, and cAMP with edema toxin were inhibited by a monoclonal antibody blocking toxin uptake and by adefovir, which inhibits the toxin's intracellular adenyl cyclase activity ( P ≤ 0.05). Lethal toxin at an LD80 dose (50 ng/ml) had no significant effect on heart function but a much higher dose (500 ng/ml) reduced all parameters ( P ≤ 0.05). In conclusion, edema toxin produced cAMP-mediated myocardial chronotropic, inotropic, and vasodilatory effects. Vasodilation systemically with edema toxin could contribute to shock during anthrax while masking potential inotropic effects. Although lethal toxin produced myocardial depression, this only occurred at high doses, and its relevance to in vivo findings is unclear.
Central and peripheral mechanisms underlying gastric distention inhibitory reflex responses in hypercapnic-acidotic rats
Authors: Tjen-A-Looi Stephanie C. , Hsiao An-Fu , Longhurst John C.
Published: January 2011

We have observed that in chloralose-anesthetized animals, gastric distension (GD) typically increases blood pressure (BP) under normoxic normocapnic conditions. However, we recently noted repeatable decreases in BP and heart rate (HR) in hypercapnic-acidotic rats in response to GD. The neural pathways, central processing, and autonomic effector mechanisms involved in this cardiovascular reflex response are unknown. We hypothesized that GD-induced decrease in BP and HR reflex responses are mediated during both withdrawal of sympathetic tone and increased parasympathetic activity, involving the rostral (rVLM) and caudal ventrolateral medulla (cVLM) and the nucleus ambiguus (NA). Rats anesthetized with ketamine and xylazine or α-chloralose were ventilated and monitored for HR and BP changes. The extent of cardiovascular inhibition was related to the extent of hypercapnia and acidosis. Repeated GD with both anesthetics induced consistent falls in BP and HR. The hemodynamic inhibitory response was reduced after blockade of the celiac ganglia or the intraabdominal vagal nerves with lidocaine, suggesting that the decreased BP and HR responses were mediated by both sympathetic and parasympathetic afferents. Blockade of the NA decreased the bradycardia response. Microinjection of kainic acid into the cVLM reduced the inhibitory BP response, whereas depolarization blockade of the rVLM decreased both BP and HR inhibitory responses. Blockade of GABAAreceptors in the rVLM also reduced the BP and HR reflex responses. Atropine methyl bromide completely blocked the reflex bradycardia, and atenolol blocked the negative chronotropic response. Finally, α1-adrenergic blockade with prazosin reversed the depressor. Thus, in the setting of hypercapnic-acidosis, a sympathoinhibitory cardiovascular response is mediated, in part, by splanchnic nerves and is processed through the rVLM and cVLM. Additionally, a vagal excitatory reflex, which involves the NA, facilitates the GD-induced decreases in BP and HR responses. Efferent chronotropic responses involve both increased parasympathetic and reduced sympathetic activity, whereas the decrease in BP is mediated by reduced α-adrenergic tone.
Skeletal muscle reflex-mediated changes in sympathetic nerve activity are abnormal in spontaneously hypertensive rats
Authors: Mizuno Masaki , Murphy Megan N. , Mitchell Jere H. , Smith Scott A.
Published: January 2011

In hypertension, the blood pressure response to exercise is exaggerated. We demonstrated previously that this heightened pressor response to physical activity is mediated by an overactive skeletal muscle exercise pressor reflex (EPR), with important contributions from its metaboreflex and mechanoreflex components. However, the mechanisms driving the abnormal blood pressure response to EPR activation are largely unknown. Recent evidence in humans suggests that the muscle metaboreflex partially mediates the enhanced EPR-induced pressor response via abnormally large changes in sympathetic nerve activity (SNA). Whether the muscle mechanoreflex induces similarly exaggerated alterations in SNA in hypertension remains unknown, as does the role of the mechanoreceptors mediating muscle reflex activity. To address these issues, the EPR was selectively activated by electrically inducing hindlimb muscle contraction in decerebrate normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) rats. Stimulation of the EPR evoked significantly larger increases in mean arterial pressure (MAP) and renal SNA (RSNA) in SHR compared with WKY (ΔRSNA from baseline: 140 ± 11 vs. 48 ± 8%). The mechanoreflex was stimulated by stretching hindlimb muscle which likewise elicited significantly greater elevations in MAP and RSNA in SHR than WKY (ΔRSNA from baseline: 105 ± 11 vs. 35 ± 7%). Blockade of mechanoreceptors in muscle with gadolinium significantly attenuated the MAP and RSNA responses to contraction and stretch in SHR. These data suggest that 1) the exaggerated pressor response to activation of the EPR and muscle mechanoreflex in hypertension is mediated by abnormally large reflex-induced augmentations in SNA and 2) this accentuated sympathetic responsiveness is evoked, in part, by stimulation of muscle mechanoreceptors.
Radius-dependent decline of performance in isolated cardiac muscle does not reflect inadequacy of diffusive oxygen supply
Authors: Han June-Chiew , Taberner Andrew J. , Kirton Robert S. , Nielsen Poul M. F. , Archer Rosalind , Kim Nari , Loiselle Denis S.
Published: January 2011

The study of cardiac energetics commonly involves the use of isolated muscle preparations (papillary muscles or trabeculae carneae). Their contractile performance has been observed to vary inversely with thickness. This inverse dependence has been attributed, almost without exception, to inadequate diffusion of oxygen into the centers of muscles of large diameter. It is thus commonly hypothesized that the radius-dependent diminution of performance reflects the development of an anoxic core. We tested this hypothesis theoretically by solving a modification of the diffusion equation, in which the rate of oxygen consumption is a sigmoidal function of the partial pressure of oxygen. The model demonstrates that sufficiently thick muscles, operating at sufficiently high rates of oxygen demand or sufficiently low ambient partial pressures of oxygen, will indeed show diminished energetic performance, whether indirectly indexed as stress (force per cross-sectional area) development or as the rate of heat production. However, such simulated behavior requires the adoption of extreme parameter values, often differing by an order of magnitude from their experimental equivalents. We thus conclude that the radius-dependent diminution of muscle performance in vitro cannot be attributed entirely to an insufficient supply of oxygen via diffusion.
Heterogeneous activation of p19Arfin pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells
Authors: Solodushko Victor , Alvarez Diego F. , Viator Ryan , Messerall Tiffany , Fouty Brian
Published: January 2011

p19ARFis a tumor suppressor that leads to cell cycle arrest or apoptosis by stabilizing p53. p19ARFis not critical for cell cycle regulation under normal conditions, but loss of p19ARFis seen in many human cancers, and a murine p19Arfknockout model leads to malignant proliferation and tumor formation; its role in controlling nonmalignant proliferation is less defined. To examine this question, pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMC) were expanded in culture from a transgenic mouse in which the coding sequence of the p19Arfgene was replaced with a cDNA encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP), leaving the promoter intact. During the first 10 days in culture, wild-type, heterozygous, and knockout PASMC grew similarly, but, by day 14, p19Arf-deficient PASMC proliferated faster than p19Arfheterozygous or wild-type cells; reexpression of p19Arfprevented the increased proliferation. This time course correlated with activation of the p19Arfpromoter, as indicated by the appearance of GFP positivity in p19Arf-deficient PASMC. By day 42, ∼80% of p19Arf-deficient cells were GFP-positive. When GFP-positive, p19Arf-deficient cells were sorted and subcultured separately, they remained GFP-positive, indicating that once cells had activated the p19Arfpromoter, the promoter remained active in those and all subsequent daughter cells. In contrast, GFP-negative p19Arf-deficient cells gave rise to a combination of GFP-positive and -negative daughter cells over time. These results suggest that a subpopulation of PASMC are resistant to the signals that activate the p19Arfpromoter, an event that would normally target these cells for arrest or cell death.
Spatiotemporal dynamics of actin remodeling and endomembrane trafficking in alveolar epithelial type I cell wound healing
Authors: Godin Lindsay M. , Vergen Jorge , Prakash Y. S. , Pagano Richard E. , Hubmayr Rolf D.
Published: January 2011

Alveolar epithelial type I cell (ATI) wounding is prevalent in ventilator-injured lungs and likely contributes to pathogenesis of “barotrauma” and “biotrauma.” In experimental models most wounded alveolar cells repair plasma membrane (PM) defects and survive insults. Considering the force balance between edge energy at the PM wound margins and adhesive interactions of the lipid bilayer with the underlying cytoskeleton (CSK), we tested the hypothesis that subcortical actin depolymerization is a key facilitator of PM repair. Using real-time fluorescence imaging of primary rat ATI transfected with a live cell actin-green fluorescent protein construct (Lifeact-GFP) and loaded with N-rhodamine phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), we examined the spatial and temporal coordination between cytoskeletal remodeling and PM repair following micropuncture. Membrane integrity was inferred from the fluorescence intensity profiles of the cytosolic label calcein AM. Wounding led to rapid depolymerization of the actin CSK near the wound site, concurrent with accumulation of endomembrane-derived N-rhodamine PE. Both responses were sustained until PM integrity was reestablished, which typically occurs between ∼10 and 40 s after micropuncture. Only thereafter did the actin CSK near the wound begin to repolymerize, while the rate of endomembrane lipid accumulation decreased. Between 60 and 90 s after successful PM repair, after translocation of the actin nucleation factor cortactin, a dense actin fiber network formed. In cells that did not survive micropuncture injury, actin remodeling did not occur. These novel results highlight the importance of actin remodeling in ATI cell repair and suggest molecular targets for modulating the repair process.
Leptin does not influence surfactant synthesis in fetal sheep and mice lungs
Authors: Sato Atsuyasu , Schehr Angelica , Ikegami Machiko
Published: January 2011

In the fetus, leptin in the circulation increases at late gestation and likely influences fetal organ development. Increased surfactant by leptin was previously demonstrated in vitro using fetal lung explant. We hypothesized that leptin treatment given to fetal sheep and pregnant mice might increase surfactant synthesis in the fetal lung in vivo. At 122–124 days gestational age (term: 150 days), fetal sheep were injected with 5 mg of leptin or vehicle using ultrasound guidance. Three and a half days after injection, preterm lambs were delivered, and lung function was studied during 30-min ventilation, followed by pulmonary surfactant components analyses. Pregnant A/J mice were given 30 or 300 mg of leptin or vehicle by intraperitoneal injection according to five study protocols with different doses, number of treatments, and gestational ages to treat. Surfactant components were analyzed in fetal lung 24 h after the last maternal treatment. Leptin injection given to fetal sheep increased fetal body weight. Control and leptin-treated groups were similar in lung function (preterm newborn lamb), surfactant components pool sizes (lamb and fetal mice), and expression of genes related to surfactant synthesis in the lung (fetal mice). Likewise, saturated phosphatidylcholine and phospholipid were normal in mice lungs with absence of circulating leptin (ob/ob mice) at all ages. These studies coincided in findings that neither exogenously given leptin nor deficiency of leptin influenced fetal lung maturation or surfactant pool sizes in vivo. Furthermore, the key genes critically required for surfactant synthesis were not affected by leptin treatment.
Dietary carbohydrate-to-protein ratio affects TOR signaling and metabolism-related gene expression in the liver and muscle of rainbow trout after a single meal
Authors: Seiliez Iban , Panserat Stéphane , Lansard Marine , Polakof Sergio , Plagnes-Juan Elisabeth , Surget Anne , Dias Karine , Larquier Mélanie , Kaushik Sadasivam , Skiba-Cassy Sandrine
Published: January 2011

Most teleost fish are known to require high levels of dietary proteins. Such high-protein intake could have significant effects, particularly on insulin-regulated gene expression. We therefore analyzed the effects of an increase in the ratio of dietary carbohydrates/proteins on the refeeding activation of the Akt-target of rapamycin (TOR) signaling pathways in rainbow trout and the effects on the expression of several genes related to hepatic and muscle metabolism and known to be regulated by insulin, amino acids, and/or glucose. Fish were fed once one of three experimental diets containing high (H), medium (M), or low (L) protein (P) or carbohydrate (C) levels after 48 h of feed deprivation. Activation of the Akt/TOR signaling pathway by refeeding was severely impaired by decreasing the proteins-to-carbohydrates ratio. Similarly, postprandial regulation of several genes related to glucose (Glut4, glucose-6-phosphatase isoform 1), lipid (fatty acid synthase, ATP-citrate lyase, sterol responsive element binding protein, carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1, and 3-hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase), and amino acid metabolism (serine dehydratase and branched-chain α-keto acid dehydrogenase E2 subunit) only occurred when fish were fed the high-protein diet. On the other hand, diet composition had a low impact on the expression of genes related to muscle protein degradation. Interestingly, glucokinase was the only gene of those monitored whose expression was significantly upregulated by increased carbohydrate intake. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that macro-nutrient composition of the diet strongly affected the insulin/amino acids signaling pathway and expression pattern of genes related to metabolism.
Stimulation of A2a adenosine receptor abolishes the inhibitory effect of arachidonic acid on the basolateral 50-pS K channel in the thick ascending limb
Authors: Wang Mingxiao , Sui Hongyu , Li Wennan , Wang Jing , Liu Yujie , Gu Li , Wang Wen-Hui , Gu Ruimin
Published: January 2011

The basolateral 50-pS K channels are stimulated by a cAMP-dependent pathway and inhibited by cytochrome P-450-omega-hydroxylase-dependent metabolism of arachidonic acid (AA) in the rat thick ascending limb (TAL). We now used the patch-clamp technique to examine whether stimulation of adenosine A2a receptor modulates the inhibitory effect of AA on the basolateral 50-pS K channels in the medullary TAL. Stimulation of adenosine A2a receptor with CGS-21680 or inhibition of phospholipase A2 (PLA2) with AACOCF3 increased the 50-pS K channel activity in the TAL. Western blot demonstrated that application of CGS-21680 decreased the phosphorylation of PLA2 at serine residue 505, an indication of inhibiting PLA2 activity. In the presence of CGS-21680, inhibition of PLA2 had no further effect on the basolateral 50-pS K channels. The possibility that CGS-21680-induced stimulation of the basolateral 50-pS K channels was partially achieved by inhibition of PLA2 in the TAL was also supported by the observation that CGS-21680 had no additional effect in the presence of AACOCF3. Moreover, stimulation of adenosine A2a receptor with CGS-21680 also abolished the inhibitory effect of AA and 20-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (20-HETE) on the 50-pS K channels. The effect of CGS-21680 on AA and 20-HETE-mediated inhibition of the 50-pS K channels was mediated by cAMP because application of membrane-permeable cAMP analog, dibutyryl-cAMP, not only increased the 50-pS K channel activity but also abolished the inhibitory effect of AA and 20-HETE. We conclude that stimulation of adenosine A2a receptor increased the 50-pS K channel activity in the TAL, an effect that is achieved by suppression of PLA2 activity and 20-HETE-induced inhibition.
Mast Cell 5-Lipoxygenase Activity Promotes Intestinal Polyposis in APCΔ468 Mice
Authors: Cheon Eric C. , Khazaie Khashayarsha , Khan Mohammad W. , Strouch Matthew J. , Krantz Seth B. , Phillips Joseph , Blatner Nichole R. , Hix Laura M. , Zhang Ming , Dennis Kristen L. , Salabat Mohammed R. , Heiferman Michael , Grippo Paul J. , Munshi Hidayatullah G. , Gounaris Elias , Bentrem David J.
Published: January 2011

Arachidonic acid metabolism has been implicated in colon carcinogenesis, but the role of hematopoietic 5-lipoxygenase (5LO) that may impact tumor immunity in development of colon cancer has not been explored. Here we show that tissue-specific deletion of the 5LO gene in hematopoietic cells profoundly attenuates polyp development in the APCΔ468 murine model of colon polyposis. In vitro analyses indicated that mast cells in particular utilized 5LO to limit proliferation of intestinal epithelial cells and to mobilize myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). Mice lacking hemapoietic expression of 5LO exhibited reduced recruitment of MDSCs to the spleen, mesenteric lymph nodes, and primary tumor site. 5LO deficiency also reduced the activity in MDSCs of arginase-1, which is thought to be critical for MDSC function. Together, our results establish a pro-tumorigenic role of hematopoietic 5LO in the immune microenvironment and suggest 5LO inhibition as an avenue for future investigation in treatment of colorectal polyposis and cancer. Cancer Res; 71(5); 1627–36. ©2011 AACR.
Antagonism of VEGF by Genetically Engineered Dendritic Cells Is Essential to Induce Antitumor Immunity against Malignant Ascites
Authors: Sugiyama Masahiko , Kakeji Yoshihiro , Tsujitani Shunichi , Harada Yui , Onimaru Mitsuho , Yoshida Kumi , Tanaka Sakura , Emi Yasunori , Morita Masaru , Morodomi Yosuke , Hasegawa Mamoru , Maehara Yoshihiko , Yonemitsu Yoshikazu
Published: January 2011

Malignant ascitis (MA) is a highly intractable and immunotherapy-resistant state of advanced gastrointestinal and ovarian cancers. Using a murine model of MA with CT26 colon cancer cells, we here determined that the imbalance between the VEGF-A/vascular permeability factor and its decoy receptor, soluble fms-like tryrosine kinase receptor-1 (sFLT-1), was a major cause of MA resistance to dendritic cell (DC)-based immunotherapy. We found that the ratio of VEGF-A/sFLT-1 was increased not only in murine but also in human MA, and F-gene–deleted recombinant Sendai virus (rSeV/dF)-mediated secretion of human sFLT-1 by DCs augmented not only the activity of DCs themselves, but also dramatically improved the survival of tumor-bearing animals associated with enhanced CTL activity and its infiltration to peritoneal tumors. These findings were not seen in immunodeficient mice, indicating that a VEGF-A/sFLT-1 imbalance is critical for determining the antitumor immune response by DC-vaccination therapy against MA. Mol Cancer Ther; 10(3); 540–9. ©2011 AACR.
Anticancer Activity of a Combination of Cisplatin and Fisetin in Embryonal Carcinoma Cells and Xenograft Tumors
Authors: Tripathi Rakshamani , Samadder Tanmoy , Gupta Sarika , Surolia Avadhesha , Shaha Chandrima
Published: January 2011

Use of chemotherapeutic drug cisplatin is limited because of its toxicity. Therefore, efforts continue for the discovery of novel combination therapies with cisplatin to reduce its effective treatment dose. This study evaluates the potential of fisetin, a flavonoid, to increase cisplatin cytotoxicity in human embryonal carcinoma NT2/D1 cells. Addition of fisetin to cisplatin enhanced cisplatin cytoxicity in vitro at four times lower dose than that required by cisplatin monotherapy for similar cytotoxic effects. Cisplatin, fisetin monotherapy, and addition of fisetin to cisplatin in a combination increased FasL expression. Cisplatin and fisetin as single agents activated caspases-8 and -3 and caspases-9 and -7, respectively, whereas combination treatment activated all 4 caspases. Increases in p53 and p21 and decreases in cyclin B1 and survivin occurred, all effects being more exaggerated with the combination. Fisetin, with or without cisplatin, increased expression of proapoptotic protein Bak and induced its mitochondrial oligomerization. Bid truncation and mitochondrial translocation of Bid and p53 was induced by fisetin in the presence or absence of cisplatin. Downregulation of p53 by short hairpin RNA during drug treatment decreased p21 levels but caused survivin increase, thus reducing cell death. Upstream to p53, inhibition of p38 phosphorylation reduced p53 phosphorylation and cell death. In a NT2/D1 mouse xenograft model, combination therapy was most effective in reducing tumor size. In summary, findings of this study suggest that addition of fisetin to cisplatin activates both the mitochondrial and the cell death receptor pathway and could be a promising regimen for the elimination of embryonal carcinoma cells. Mol Cancer Ther; 10(2); 255–68. ©2011 AACR.
Low-Dose Fractionated Radiation Potentiates the Effects of Cisplatin Independent of the Hyper-Radiation Sensitivity in Human Lung Cancer Cells
Authors: Gupta Seema , Koru-Sengul Tulay , Arnold Susanne M. , Devi Gayathri R. , Mohiuddin Mohammed , Ahmed Mansoor M.
Published: January 2011

In this study, the role of hyper-radiation sensitivity (HRS) in potentiating the effects of cisplatin by low-dose fractionated radiation (LDFRT) was evaluated in four human non–small cell lung cancer cell lines. Presence of HRS and cisplatin enhancement ratio (CER) by LDFRT/2 Gy was assessed using colony-forming and apoptotic assays. Cell-cycle disturbances were studied by flow cytometry. Expression of genes involved in apoptosis was assessed using real-time reverse transcriptase PCR arrays. H-157 cells showed a distinct HRS region, followed by UKY-29 and A549 cells, whereas it was absent in H460 cells, which when lack HRS showed maximum CER with LDFRT (4 × 0.5 Gy) both by clonogenic inhibition and by apoptosis compared with single fraction of 2 Gy whereas the most radioresistant A549 cells had the least CER, with no significant differences between LDFRT or 2 Gy. Interestingly, in H-157 cells, a more pronounced CER was observed with LDFRT when assessed by apoptosis but clonogenic inhibition-CER was higher with 2 Gy than with LDFRT. Excluding H-157 cells, the CER by LDFRT was inversely proportional to radioresistance [(determined by D0, the dose to reduce survival by 67% from any point on the linear portion of the survival curve or surviving fraction (SF) at 2 Gy (SF2)] of the cells. LDFRT alone or in combination with cisplatin induced larger number of proapoptotic genes than 2 Gy or cisplatin + 2 Gy in cells showing HRS when compared to H460 cells that lack HRS. These findings indicate that chemopotentiation by LDFRT is correlated more with the intrinsic radiation sensitivity of the non–small lung cancer cells than the HRS phenomenon whereas the mode of cell killing is both through apoptosis and clonogenic inhibition. Mol Cancer Ther; 10(2); 292–302. ©2011 AACR.
A Robust High-Content Imaging Approach for Probing the Mechanism of Action and Phenotypic Outcomes of Cell-Cycle Modulators
Authors: Sutherland Jeffrey J. , Low Jonathan , Blosser Wayne , Dowless Michele , Engler Thomas A. , Stancato Louis F.
Published: January 2011

High-content screening is increasingly used to elucidate changes in cellular biology arising from treatment with small molecules and biological probes. We describe a cell classifier for automated analysis of multiparametric data from immunofluorescence microscopy and characterize the phenotypes of 41 cell-cycle modulators, including several protein kinase inhibitors in preclinical and clinical development. This method produces a consistent assessment of treatment-induced phenotypes across experiments done by different biologists and highlights the prevalence of nonuniform and concentration-dependent cellular response to treatment. Contrasting cell phenotypes from high-content screening to kinase selectivity profiles from cell-free assays highlights the limited utility of enzyme potency ratios in understanding the mechanism of action for cell-cycle kinase inhibitors. Our cell-level approach for assessing phenotypic outcomes is reliable, reproducible and capable of supporting medium throughput analyses of a wide range of cellular perturbations. Mol Cancer Ther; 10(2); 242–54. ©2011 AACR.
Chromatin Structure Predicts Epigenetic Therapy Responsiveness in Sarcoma
Authors: Mills Joslyn , Hricik Todd , Siddiqi Sara , Matushansky Igor
Published: January 2011

To formally explore the potential therapeutic effect of histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACI) and DNA-methyltransferase inhibitors (DNA-MI) on sarcomas, we treated a large sarcoma cell line panel with five different HDACIs in the absence and presence of the DNA-MI decitabine. We observed that the IC50 value of each HDACI was consistent for all cell lines whereas decitabine as a single agent showed no growth inhibition at standard doses. Combination HDACI/DNA-MI therapy showed a preferential synergism for specific sarcoma cell lines. Subsequently, we identified and validated (in vitro and in vivo) a two-gene set signature (high CUGBP2; low RHOJ) that associated with the synergistic phenotype. We further uncover that the epigenetic synergism leading to specific upregulation of CDKI p21 in specific cell lines is a function of the differences in the degree of baseline chromatin modification. Finally, we show that these chromatin and gene expression patterns are similarly present in the majority of high-grade primary sarcomas. Our results provide the first demonstration of a gene set that can predict responsiveness to HDACI/DNA-MI and links this responsiveness mechanistically to the baseline chromatin structure. Mol Cancer Ther; 10(2); 313–24. ©2011 AACR.