bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Postmenopausal Women with Obesity have Reduced Leg Endothelial Function and Exercise Vasodilatory Capacity
Authors: Martinez Mauricio , Fischer Stephen , Maharaj Arun , Kang Yejin , Dillon Katherine , Figueroa Arturo 
Published: May 2024

Background: Obesity (OB) is highly prevalent in postmenopausal women; particularly increased abdominal visceral adipose tissue contributes to endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular risk. The endothelium plays an important role on blood flow (BF) and pressure control at rest and during exercise. However, it is unknown how different body mass index (BMI) categories influence upper and lower limb endothelial function and BF responses to exercise in postmenopausal women. Purpose: The purpose was to examine upper and lower limb endothelial function at rest and BF regulation during low-intensity exercises in OB, overweight (OW), and lean (LN) postmenopausal women. We hypothesized that endothelial function and BF responses to submaximal exercise in both limbs will be attenuated in OB compared to the OW and LN groups. Methods: Women were classified as OB (30.0-39.9 kg/m2; n = 13), OW (25.0-29.9 kg/m2; n = 15), and LN (18.5-24.9 kg/m2; n = 11) by BMI. Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial (BA-FMD) and superficial femoral arteries (FA-FMD) were measured using ultrasound. BF and vascular conductance (VC) in the brachial (BA-BF and BA-VC) and femoral (FA-BF and FA-VC) arteries were measured during separate 3-stage incremental rhythmic handgrip and plantarflexion exercises (PFE) at 5, 15, and 30 % of maximal strength and calculated 1-repetition max (1RM), respectively. Results: No differences in BA-FMD were observed among the groups. FA-FMD was significantly lower in OB (2.6 ± 1.4%) compared to OW (4.3 ± 1.9%) and LN (4.2 ± 0.7%) groups (P < 0.05). Increases in FA-BF (OB: 462 ± 229 vs. OW: 616 ± 173 vs. LN: 640 ± 141 mL/min; P < 0.001) and FA-VC (OB: 410 ± 176 vs. OW: 585 ± 155 vs LN: 623 ± 153 mL/min*100mmHg; P < 0.001) were attenuated during PFE at 30% of 1RM in OB compared to OW and LN. Upper-body exercise vasodilation was not attenuated by OB. FA-BF and FA-VC during PFE at 30% of 1RM were correlated with FA-FMD (FA-BF: r = 0.423, P = 0.007, FA-VC: r = 0.367, P = 0.021) and BMI (FA-BF: r = -.386, P = 0.015, FA-VC: r = -.456, P = 0.004). Conclusion: Postmenopausal women with OB have blunted leg endothelial function and exercise vasodilator function during submaximal dynamic plantarflexion exercise compared to LN and OW. These findings suggest that OB may contribute to reduce leg endothelial function, and vasodilator function during exercise in postmenopausal women. No support of funding information to disclose. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.
Undergraduates have few science instructor role models with concealable stigmatized identities
Authors: Brownell Sara , Busch Carly , Cooper Katelyn 
Published: May 2024

Concealable stigmatized identities (CSIs) are identities that can be kept hidden and carry negative stereotypes depending on the culture of a particular context; common examples of CSIs in the U.S. are struggling with mental health and LGBTQ+ identities. In order to understand the potential influence instructors have as role models for their students based on CSIs, we must first explore the identities instructors have and whether they disclose those identities to their students. To address this gap in the literature, we conducted a study to examine (1) to what extent science instructors hold concealable identities, (2) whether they reveal those identities to undergraduates, and (3) how the prevalence of CSIs among science instructors compares to their prevalence among science undergraduates. We contacted every science instructor whose email we could find from very high research activity (R1) institutions and a subset completed the survey (N = 1,248); the survey began with a suite of demographic questions, including potential CSIs. For each CSI reported, instructors indicated the extent to which they revealed these identities to undergraduates. We surveyed a national sample of science undergraduate students from R1 institutions (N = 2,428) and asked whether they identified as having any of the CSIs included on the instructor survey. The most common CSIs among instructors were currently or previously having anxiety (35.4%) and being a first-generation college student (29.0%). Across all CSIs, relatively few instructors revealed their identities to students. When compared to the prevalence of the CSIs among undergraduates, we found the largest mismatches, calculated by subtracting the percent of undergraduates from the percent of instructors with each CSI, in reporting struggling academically in college (-30%), anxiety (-25%), and depression (-24%). For all identities, the mismatch between instructors and undergraduates grew when accounting for whether instructors revealed the CSI to their students. Given the potential for instructors to act as role models for students, understanding what identities instructors hold and the extent to which they share them with students is important to consider as we work toward creating a more diverse and inclusive scientific community. National Science Foundation. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.
Effect of the bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on vitamin B1 (thiamin) uptake along the intestinal tract: inhibition mediated via reduction in level of expression of thiamin transporter-1 & -2 proteins at the cell membrane
Authors: Anthonymuthu Selvaraj , Sabui Subrata , Manzon Kameron Isaiah , Said Hamid 
Published: May 2024

Background: LPS is a potent bacterial virulence factor and is a source of considerable clinical morbidity and mortality. This endotoxin is a predominant component of the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria. The gut is exposed to high levels of LPS in conditions like Inflammatory Bowel Diseases, necrotizing enterocolitis, sepsis, and following infection with enteric pathogens. Studies have shown that exposure of gut epithelial/other cells to LPS exerts profound and differential effects on membrane transport processes. Nothing, however, is known about the effect of LPS on uptake of free thiamin in the small intestine (where absorption of dietary thiamin occurs), and the large intestine (where absorption of the microbiota-generated thiamin occurs). Aim: To examine the effect of LPS on the small and large intestinal uptake of free thiamin and to determine the mechanism(s) involved. Methods: We used in vitro (human duodenum-derived HuTu 80 cells and colon-derived non-transformed NCM460 cells), ex vivo (human differentiated polarized enteroid and colonoid monolayers), and in vivo (mouse) models in our studies. Uptake studies were performed using 3H-thiamin as substrate. Results: Treating intestinal HuTu 80 and colonic NCM460 epithelial cells with LPS led to a significant inhibition in carrier-mediated 3H-thiamin uptake. Similar results were obtained when human differentiated enteroid and colonoid monolayers ex vivo, and mouse in vivo were treated with LPS. No changes in total cellular levels of thiamin transporter-1 & -2 (THTR-1 and THTR-2, respectively) proteins and mRNAs were observed upon LPS treatments; however, a significant decrease in the fraction of the THTR-1 & THTR-2 proteins that are expressed at the cell membrane were observed. These findings suggest that the LPS inhibitory effect on thiamin uptake in the small and large intestine is likely mediated via a decrease in the fraction of the thiamin transporters that are expressed at the cell membrane. Conclusion: This study shows that bacterial LPS inhibits thiamin uptake along the intestinal tract, and that this inhibition is likely mediated via reduction in level of the THTR-1 & THTR-2 proteins at the cell membrane. Supported by NIH grants DK-56061 and AA-018071, and VA grants 101BX001142 & IK6BX006189. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.
cAMP enriched EVs mediates hypoxic pulmonary hypertension
Authors: Bhadra Aritra , Hewes Jenny , Lee Ji Young , Zhou Chun , Bonnie Frederic , Bauer Natalie 
Published: May 2024

Our lab reported the novel finding that stimulation of pulmonary endothelial cells with a beta-agonist and a phosphodiesterase inhibitor induced enrichment of cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) in EVs. cAMP protects the pulmonary vasculature by regulation of permeability, vasoreactivity and proliferation. Extracellular vesicles provide a protected environment for circulating cAMP. Thus, we hypothesized that administration of cAMP, in the protected environment of an EV, could deliver cAMP to improve outcomes in pulmonary hypertension. Briefly, male Sprague Dawley rats, maintained in normoxic or hypoxic conditions for 3 weeks, received 50 ug of cAMP-enriched EVs (cAMP-EVs) per day over 3 days via tail vein injection. cAMP-EV injections improved the Fulton index (non-injected hypoxia rat 0.37 ± 0.039 versus injected hypoxia rat 0.32 ± 0.019, p value 0.032 n = 5) and echocardiography revealed PH rats that received cAMP-EVs had a significant increase in PAAT/PAET ratio compared to those that did not (non-injected hypoxia rat 0.27 ± 0.056 versus injected hypoxia rat 0.32 ± 0.04, p value 0.04, n = 6). Using IVIS analysis of isolated tissues to detect PKH-labeled EVs we found that cAMP-enriched EVs accumulated in the lung but were not detectable in the heart. To confirm this was not strictly a vasoreactivity effect, we also examined PCNA, a marker of proliferation, in histological sections and found it was decreased in the presence of cAMP-EVs. Pulmonary arterial thickness was also significantly improved in the presence of cAMP-EVs. To understand the underlying mechanism for cAMP-EV based signaling, we studied the phosphorylation status of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in isolated paraffn fixed lung slices. We found increased phosphorylation of eNOS in PH rats which received cAMP EVs compared to non-injected PH or control rats. Combined these data suggest that cAMP-EVs may decrease right ventricular hypertrophy, improve pulmonary arterial function, and repair hypoxic vascular injury. Future investigations will determine whether the observed response is cAMP dependent and further evaluate the specificity of pulmonary vascular uptake of cAMP-EVs. 1R01HL133066-01A1 (Bauer). This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.
Quantifying in vivo Mitochondrial Effciency at Rest and during Exercise in Human Skeletal Muscle
Authors: Erol Muhammet Enes , Bannon Sean T. , Matias Alexs A. , Siokas Triantafyllia , Nagarajan Rajakumar , Le fur Yann , Park Song-Young 
Published: May 2024

Introduction: Mitochondrial effciency provides an additional mechanism to fine-tune oxidative phosphorylation rate to match ATP demand in skeletal muscle with far-reaching consequences on exercise tolerance. However, the direct measurement of both oxygen consumption (VO2) and ATP production from the same region of the contracting muscle in vivo remains a technical challenge. Purpose: Using an innovative approach combining noninvasive phosphorus and proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (31P/1H-MRS), the present study aimed to characterize skeletal muscle ATP synthesis rate and muscle VO2 at rest and during a graded dynamic plantar flexion exercise to determine mitochondrial effciency in the gastrocnemius muscle. Method: We assessed mitochondrial effciency in the gastrocnemius muscles of 12 healthy adults (21± 1 yrs.). 31P and 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) was performed using a whole-body 3T MR system (Skyra, Siemens) at rest and during a series of constant workloads coupled to brief transient ischemia to quantify both oxidative ATP synthesis (ATPox) rate and myoglobin-derived oxygen consumption (Mb-derived VO2). The MRS data were acquired with a dual-tuned 31P/1H surface coil with linear polarization positioned over the gastrocnemius muscle. Results: As expected, the end-exercise PCr concentration decreased from 29 ± 2 mM of WRmax to 18 ± 1 mM with increasing workload. Likewise, the end-exercise Mb oxygenation level declined linearly with increasing workload. As the exercise workload increased, the ATPox synthesis rate increased linearly (r2 = 0.45), whereas there was no significant change in Mb-derived VO2. At rest, the estimated P/O ratio in the gastrocnemius muscle was 1.95 ± 0.68, whereas non-physiological values were obtained during exercise. Conclusion: During exercise, Mb-derived VO2 was likely limited by O2 availability with the methodology employed (30-sec occlusion, spectrum time resolution of 10 sec), which precluded the accurate quantification of mitochondrial effciency. However, mitochondrial effciency calculated at rest is in agreement with previously documented values ex vivo and thus provides an additional parameter to evaluate mitochondrial function in vivo. This work was funded in part by National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Grant R00HL125756. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.
5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide-1-β-D-ribofuranoside (AICAR) improves lipid utilization but not survival following prolonged hemorrhagic shock
Authors: Calderon Alfredo , Kennard Cianna , Klemke Harold , Marshall Stephanie , Meledeo Michael , Xiang Lusha 
Published: May 2024

Hemorrhagic shock induces insulin resistance and cellular ATP depletion, the initial step for cell death and organ injury. AMPK is a fuel-sensing enzyme that maintains ATP production by facilitating glucose and fatty acid uptake and oxidation. Using a previously developed rat model of AKI induced by prolonged hemorrhagic shock, we tested the hypothesis that AICAR, an AMPK activator, can enhance fuel consumption, delay onset of AKI, and increase survival following prolonged hemorrhagic shock. Additionally, we hypothesized that AICAR requires 7.5% polyethylene glycol-20k (PEG) to elicit the catabolism effect, as PEG enhances the capillary perfusion in the absence of resuscitation, and thus, in theory, facilitates AICAR delivery into ischemic tissues. Rats were randomized into 4 groups (n=8/group) based on treatment: saline (vehicle), AICAR, PEG, and AICAR+PEG. Trauma was induced in (Inactin) anesthetized rats with muscle injury and fibula fracture, followed by pressure-controlled hemorrhagic shock (MAP = 55 mmHg) for 45 minutes. Animals then received an intravenous injection of saline (vehicle), AICAR, PEG, or AICAR+PEG. MAP, blood gases, RBF, renal oxygen delivery, capillary perfusion and tissue oxygen levels in the skeletal muscle were monitored for another 2 hours. GFR and mortality were recorded at the end of the experiment. The saline group exhibited impaired tissue perfusion and GFR with 100% mortality. AICAR alone showed no effect on hemodynamics, renal function, or mortality (100%). PEG and AICAR+PEG similarly improved MAP, capillary perfusion in the skeletal muscle, renal blood flow, renal oxygen delivery, and GFR. Compared to PEG, free FA levels were further decreased in AICAR+PEG, which was concomitant with elevated lactate levels and blunted oxygen partial pressure in the skeletal muscle despite the improved capillary perfusion. The mortality was 12.5% in PEG and 50% in AICAR+PEG. Our results suggest that AICAR+PEG does enhance fuel utilization but fails to further improve the tolerance to hemorrhagic shock, possibly due to a shift of oxygen consumption from vital organs to peripheral tissue. Importantly, the catabolism effect of AICAR relies on suffcient tissue perfusion, suggesting that PEG might be potentially considered as a routine therapeutic tool to optimize drug delivery during hemorrhagic shock. DoD disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author(s) and do not reflect the offcial policy or position of the U.S. Army Medical Department, Department of the Army, DoD, or the U.S. Government. Funding: This study was funded by US Army Medical Research and Development Command. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.
Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Mechanical Stretch Modulates Tissue Transglutaminase Activity and Cytoskeletal Dynamics
Authors: Lateef Olubodun M. , Foote Christopher A. , Ramirez-Perez Francisco I. , Augenreich Marc A. , Power Gavin , Padilla Jaume , Martinez-Lemus Luis A. 
Published: May 2024

Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are exposed to a wide range of mechanical stimuli in both physiological and pathological conditions. These mechanical stimuli are converted into biochemical signals that regulate VSMC contractility and cytoskeletal structures in a process known as mechanotransduction. Thus, the ability of VSMCs to sense and respond to mechanical signals is essential for proper regulation of their structural characteristics and the modulation of vascular tone. We had previously shown that increased tissue transglutaminase 2 (TG2) activity modulates actin dynamics via alterations of the phosphorylation state of cofilin leading to VSMC stiffening and remodeling of the vascular wall. However, whether mechanical forces act through TG2 to modulate VSMC stiffness remains unknown. Herein, we tested the hypothesis that mechanical stretch increases VSMC stiffness by increasing TG2 activity, reducing cofilin activity, and increasing actin cytoskeletal stress fiber formation. To this end, immortalized human aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (HAoSMCs) were cultured and seeded on Uniflex culture plates. HAoSMCs were left unstretched or exposed to cyclic uniaxial stretch using a Flexcell tension system with 11% elongation at 1 Hz for 6 hrs. HAoSMCs were treated without or with the nitric oxide (NO) donor s-nitrosoglutathione (400μmol/L) or cystamine (200μmol/L) under stretched and unstretched conditions, as NO and cystamine are known inhibitors of TG2. All differences reported herein are significant at p<0.05. Our results show that cyclic uniaxial stretch for 6 hrs increases VSMC TG2 content and activity, actin stress fibers (polymerization), and phospho-cofilin/cofilin ratios (cofilin inactivation), relative to the unstretched condition. Notably, the increase in TG2 activity and F-actin content occurring in response to stretch was inhibited by the NO donor or cystamine. As it has been previously shown that cellular stiffness is associated with stress fiber formation, this work suggests that stretch-induced cellular stiffening is potentially mediated by TG2 activity in VSMC. National Institutes of Health grant: R01HL153264 to LM-L and JP. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.
Novel Role of Endothelial CD47 in the Regulation of Pathogenesis of Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Chen Hong 
Published: May 2024

Background: The anti-phagocytic molecule CD47 is upregulated in atherosclerotic plaques of patients with CVD. However, the role of endothelial cell-specific expression of CD47 in the pathogenesis and progression of atherosclerosis has not yet been fully defined. Kojima et.al. described atheroprotective effect of anti-CD47 antibody by enhancing efferocytosis in atherosclerosis. In this study, we determined whether endothelial cell-specific CD47 regulates efferocytosis in atherosclerosis. Methods: Endothelial cell-specific, tamoxifen-inducible CD47knockout (CD47iECKO) mice were injected with a single dose of AAV-mutant PCSK9 via the tail vein. Susceptibility to atherosclerosis was evaluated in cross sections of the aortic sinus in mice fed Western Diet for 12 weeks. Using single-cell RNA sequencing and in vitro efferocytosis assays, we investigated the role of CD47 in regulating efferocytosis in an atherosclerotic mouse model. Results: Endothelial cell-specific deletion of CD47 led to a significant plaque reduction in the aortic sinus of athero-CD47iECKO mice. Cluster analysis and gene expression profiles of 20,000 aortic endothelial cells from athero-control and athero-CD47iECKO mice identified 10 major cell types from the integrated data: endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, fibroblasts, immune cells (B cells, T cells, macrophage), erythrocytes, oligodendrocytes cells, Schwann cells, and pericytes. After Western Diet intake, in the CD47iECKO group, a subpopulation of endothelial cells as well as fibroblasts, T-cells, B-cells, resident aortic macrophages, erythrocytes, oligodendrocytes, and pericytes were increased, while vascular smooth muscle cell numbers decreased. Using an in vitro efferocytosis assay on isolated primary endothelial cells from control and CD47iECKO mice, we observed CD47 deletion induced engulfment of apoptotic Jurkat cells, which had been exposed to BAY11-7082 (NF-κB inhibitor) to stimulate the apoptotic attributes. Quantitative PCR analyses showed that CD47 deletion increases the expression of efferocytosis receptor FasL, CX3CL1, Gpr132, MerTK, Scarb1, Sirpa, TSP1, and HMGB1. Conclusion: Our study indicates that genetic deletion of CD47 in endothelial cells attenuates atheroma progression by enhancing efferocytosis. This study also reveals phenotypic heterogenicity of endothelial cells at the single cell level during atherogenesis and provides a deeper understanding of endothelial cell biology in atherosclerosis that may facilitate the development of novel therapeutic interventions for this cardiovascular disease. NIH, AHA. This is the full abstract presented at the American Physiology Summit 2024 meeting and is only available in HTML format. There are no additional versions or additional content available for this abstract. Physiology was not involved in the peer review process.