HO-1在U2OS细胞DOX耐药中的作用及分子机制研究

目的:探讨血红素氧合酶-1(HO-1)在骨肉瘤U2OS细胞多柔比星(DOX)耐药中的作用及相关分子机制。方法:体外培养U2OS细胞,建立U2OS-DOX耐药株,分为U2OS-WT组和U2OS-DOX组。采用siRNA HO-1转染U2OS-DOX细胞,CCK-8法检测细胞活性;RT-PCR法检测缺氧诱导因子1(HIF-1α)及HO-1的mRNA表达;WB法检测HIF-1α及HO-1的蛋白表达水平;流式细胞仪检测罗丹明Rh123在细胞内的蓄积。结果:DOX可降低U2OS细胞活性并随剂量的增加愈加明显,这种诱导作用可以被抗氧化剂(NAC)所逆转(P<0.01)。U2OS-DOX组HIF-1α及HO-1的mRNA和蛋白表达以及P糖蛋白(P-gp)表达水平均显著增加(P<0.05)。转染可恢复U2OS-DOX细胞对DOX化疗敏感性并增加其对Rh123的蓄积(P<0.001)。结论:HO-1可能通过抗氧化应激、增加化疗药物的蓄积等机制发挥U2OS细胞对DOX的耐药性。     

血红素加氧酶-1在消化系统疾病中的作用

血红素加氧酶-1(heme oxygenase-1,HO-1)是血红素分解代谢过程中的限速酶。HO-1及其降解产物(CO、胆绿素及Fe~(2+))能够通过各种途径调节机体免疫功能、抑制炎症反应和细胞凋亡,在消化系统疾病中发挥潜在的保护作用。该文综述了HO-1基因的表达和调节及其在胃肠道和肝病中的作用。     

原儿茶酸对脂多糖诱导的急性肺损伤小鼠的保护作用

目的:探索原儿茶酸(protocatechuicacid,PCA)对脂多糖(lipopolysaccharide,LPS)诱导的急性肺损伤(acute lung injury,ALI)小鼠的保护作用,探讨其保护机制。方法:将40只昆明小鼠按随机数字表法均分为空白对照组(NC组)、LPS模型组、原儿茶酸预处理组(PCA+LPS组)、地塞米松阳性对照组(Dex+LPS组),每组10只,模型组以5mg·kg-1脂多糖腹腔内注射诱导急性肺损伤。6h后处死小鼠,HE染色观察肺组织病理学变化;BCA法检测肺泡灌洗液中总蛋白浓度;ELISA检测肺泡灌洗液炎症因子TNF-α、IL-1β含量;Western Blot检测肺组织中p38MAPK、p-p38MAPK、p-ATF2蛋白的表达水平。结果:与对照组相比,模型组小鼠肺损伤明显,肺泡内出血、水肿、炎细胞浸润,肺泡灌洗液中TNF-α、IL-1β的含量及总蛋白浓度增加,肺组织中p38MAPK/p-p38MAPK、p-ATF2表达均明显增加(均P0.01)。与模型组相比,原儿茶酸预处理组、地塞米松阳性对照组肺组织病理损伤程度明显减轻,肺泡灌洗液中TNF-α、IL-1β的含量及总蛋白浓度、肺组织中p38MAPK/p-p38MAPK、p-ATF2表达均明显降低(均P0.01)。结论:PCA对LPS诱导的急性肺损伤有保护作用,其作用机制可能与其抑制p38MAPK-p-ATF2信号通路的活化、降低肺组织炎症反应有关。     

莲心碱对LPS诱导小鼠急性肺损伤的保护作用

目的探讨莲心碱对脂多糖(lipopolysaccharide,LPS)诱导的小鼠急性肺损伤(ALI)的作用。方法BALB/c小鼠随机分为对照组、LPS组、LPS+莲心碱(2、4、8 mg/kg)组、地塞米松(5 mg/kg)组,鼻腔滴入法建立LPS诱导的急性肺损伤模型。12 h后,组织学观察肺组织的病理学变化;ELISA检测肺泡灌洗液(BALF)中TNF-α、IL-6和IL-1β的含量;Wright-Giemsa染色检测BALF中中性粒细胞数;BCA法检测总蛋白含量;Evans blue检测肺毛细血管通透性;分光光度法检测肺匀浆上清中MPO的活性、MDA的含量、SOD的活性、GSH的含量;流式细胞术检测肺组织中ROS的含量。结果 LPS组可见肺组织具有炎性细胞浸润、支气管肺泡壁增厚和肺充血现象,而莲心碱组可以改善肺损伤情况;LPS组BALF中TNF-α、IL-6、IL-1β的含量明显增加、中性粒细胞数和总蛋白量显著增多,肺毛细血管通透性、MPO活性和MDA含量增加,SOD活性和GSH含量降低,ROS含量增加,而莲心碱组能够降低BALF中TNF-α、IL-6、IL-1β的含量,减少中性粒细胞数和总蛋白量,降低肺毛细血管通透性,降低MPO活性和MDA含量,增加SOD活性和GSH含量,降低ROS的含量。结论莲心碱可通过抗炎抗氧化作用保护LPS诱导的小鼠急性肺损伤。     

间充质干细胞外泌体对海马星形胶质细胞活化的抑制作用研究

目的探讨间充质干细胞外泌体 (MSC-Exo)对海马星形胶质细胞活化的抑制作用。方法实验通过超速离心法提取脐带MSC-Exo,并使用PKH-26染料标记;MSC-Exo预处理原代海马星形胶质细胞后使用脂多糖 (LPS)诱导细胞活化,并分为对照组、LPS组和LPS+MSC-Exo组,进而行免疫细胞化学检测胶质纤维酸性蛋白(GFAP)、C3的表达、免疫印迹实验检测C3、GFAP的蛋白表达,以及酶联免疫吸附测定炎症因子白介素(IL)-1β、IL-6和肿瘤坏死因子(TNF)-α的水平,分别检测各组细胞的抗原表达、表型变化和炎症反应。统计采用单因素方差分析 (ANOVA)及最小显著性差异法 (LSD)检验。结果实验提取的MSC-Exo符合外泌体的一般生物学特性,且能迁移到星形胶质细胞胞体和突起。海马星形胶质细胞经LPS诱导后,其标记性抗原GFAP (1.47±0.15比0.95±0.17,P < 0.01)、A1型标记物C3 (1.32±0.23比0.87±0.16,P < 0.05)、IL-1β[(282.90±5.13)pg/ mL比 (252.53±5.51)pg/mL,P < 0.05]、TNF-α[(128.26±1.89) pg/ mL比(111.86±2.84)pg/mL,P < 0.01]和IL-6[(180.95±3.16) pg/ mL比(163.95±3.71)pg/mL,P < 0.05]的表达较正常组明显升高;MSC-Exo预处理后,GFAP(0.97±0.16 比1.47±0.15,P < 0.01)、C3 (0.83±0.12比1.32±0.23,P < 0.01)、IL-1β[(262.20±2.64)pg/mL比(282.90±5.13) pg/mL,P < 0.05]和TNF-α[(120.79±0.42)pg/mL比(128.26±1.89)pg/mL,P < 0.05]的表达较LPS组明显降低,IL-6[(187.25±0.64)pg/mL比(180.95±3.16)pg/mL,P > 0.05]的表达未见明显变化。结论 MSC-Exo对海马星形胶质细胞活化具有明显的抑制作用。     

甘草酸二铵脂质配位体抑制内毒素引起的急性肺损伤中炎性细胞浸润及细胞间连接蛋白的降解

目的探讨甘草有效成分甘草酸二铵脂质配位体(diammonium glycyrrhizinate lipid ligand,DGLL)对内毒素(lipopolysaccharide,LPS)诱发的肺损伤和肺水肿的改善作用及其机制。方法本研究利用腹腔给入LPS(10mg/kg)建立大鼠急性肺损伤(acute lung injury,ALI)模型,在LPS诱导前1小时灌胃给入DGLL(30、60、120mg/k g)。在LPS诱导6小时后,用HE组织学染色方法评价肺损伤,用肺湿干重比、肺泡灌洗液蛋白含量检测和肺组织伊文思蓝渗出法综合评价肺水肿,用ELISA方法检测肺组织中炎性因子和粘附分子含量,用免疫组织化学染色方法检测肺组织白细胞浸润标志物髓过氧化物酶(myeloperoxidase,MPO)的表达,用Western blot方法检测炎症相关蛋白以及肺微血管通透性相关蛋白水平。结果 DGLL前给药可以显著抑制LPS诱导的肺组织损伤,降低LPS诱导的MPO免疫反应性增强,降低肺组织中炎性因子TNF-α、IL-6和粘附分子ICAM-1的表达;同时,DGLL可以抑制LPS诱导的肺水肿、降低肺泡灌洗液中的蛋白含量以及肺组织伊文思蓝的渗出;抑制血管内皮钙黏蛋白(vascular endothelial cadherin,VE-cadherin)和ZO-1、Occludin、JAM-1等紧密连接蛋白的降解。结论 DGLL对LPS诱导的大鼠ALI具有明显的抑制作用,其作用机制与抑制炎性细胞的浸润以及细胞间连接蛋白的降解相关。该结果为D GLL在临床治疗ALI提供了新的理论依据。     

LPS诱导肝细胞L02释放HMGB1蛋白的研究

以人单核巨噬细胞系U937细胞为对照,探讨肝细胞L02分泌晚期炎症介质高迁移率族蛋白HMGB1过程的特点.400μg/L LPS作用于人U937细胞和L02细胞,MTT和荧光TUNEL结果显示0～24 h,两种细胞均未见明显坏死和凋亡.RT-PCR结果表明L02细胞HMGB1 mRNA表达水平高于相应对照组的时相(20 h)晚于U937细胞(16 h).Western blot显示L02细胞上清中检测到HMGB1蛋白的时相(16 h)晚于U937细胞(8h);两者上清HMGBl蛋白水平呈时间依赖性,但U937细胞分泌HMGB1蛋白的量占有绝对优势.细胞免疫荧光观察到两者均有HMGB1从细胞核向胞浆移位的现象,但L02细胞晚于U937细胞.由此可见,LPS诱导肝细胞分泌晚期炎症介质HMGB1具有时相晚、量少的特点,且其分泌HMGB1的过程与HMGB1蛋白移位有关,而并不依赖于细胞坏死与凋亡.     

LPS诱导肝细胞LO2释放HMGB1蛋白的研究

以人单核巨噬细胞系U937细胞为对照,探讨肝细胞LO2分泌晚期炎症介质高迁移率族蛋白HMGB1过程的特点.400 μg/L LPS作用于人U937细胞和LO2细胞,MTT和荧光TUNNEL结果显示0～24 h,两种细胞均未见明显坏死和凋亡.RT-PCR结果表明LO2细胞HMGb1 mRNA表达水平高于相应对照组的时相(20 h)晚于U937细胞(16 h).Western blOT显示LO2细胞上清中检测到HMGB1蛋白的时相(16 h)晚于U937细胞(8h);两者上清HMGB1蛋白水平呈时间依赖性,但U937细胞分泌HMGB1蛋白的量占有绝对优势.细胞免疫荧光观察到两者均有HMGB1从细胞核向胞浆移位的现象,但LO2细胞晚于U937细胞.由此可见,LPS诱导肝细胞分泌晚期炎症介质HMGB1具有时相晚、量少的特点,且其分泌HMGB1的过程与HMGB1蛋白移位有关,而并不依赖于细胞坏死与凋亡.     

性激素对血红素氧化酶在大鼠前列腺腹侧叶表达的影响

血红素氧化酶(heme oxygenase,HO)是产生内源性一氧化碳(carbon monoxide,CO)的限速酶,最近发现内源性CO在调节平滑肌张力方面起重要作用。而人的良性前列腺增生(benign prostates hyperplasia,BPH)所致的膀胱出口梗阻与前列腺平滑肌张力有密切关系,但还不清楚内源性HO/CO系统是否介导了前列腺平滑肌的活动。为了观察性激素对大鼠前列腺腹侧叶中血红素氧化酶-1(heme oxygenase-1,HO-1)和血红素氧化酶-2(heme oxygenase-2,HO-2)基因表达的影响,我们采用睾丸切除术建立雄性SD大鼠去势模型,用RT-PCR方法观察HO-1和HO-2的转录水平,应用免疫组织化学结合图像分析技术,观察去势、外源性雄激素和雌激素对前列腺腹侧叶中HO—1和HO-2蛋白水平的影响。结果表明,HO-1和HO-2在正常大鼠前列腺腹侧叶中都有表达,腺上皮细胞和纤维平滑肌间质呈现HO-1的免疫活性,HO-2的免疫染色仅在腺上皮细胞内检测到;去势组HO-1的mRNA和蛋白表达水平显著低于正常对照组(P<0.01):外源性给予雄激素组和雌激素组的HO-1表达水平明显增高(P<0.01),且雌激素主要增加前列腺纤维平滑肌间质的HO-1表达:HO-2在各组间的表达无明显差异(P>0.05)。这些结果提示,性激素对HO-1有诱导作用,但对HO-2无明显的影响,因此推测一氧化碳-血红素氧化酶(CO—HO)     

内、外源性硫化氢在脂多糖所致大鼠急性肺损伤中的作用

目的：探讨内、外源性硫化氢（H2S）在脂多糖（LPS）所致大鼠急性肺损伤（ALI）中的作用并初探其机制。方法：将120只SD大鼠随机分为对照组、IPS组（经气管内滴注LPS复制ALI模型）、NaHS＋LPS组和炔丙基甘氨酸（PPG）＋LPS组。给药后4h或8h处死动物,测定肺系数;光镜观察肺组织形态学改变;化学法检测血浆H2S、NO和CO含量、肺组织丙二醛（MDA）含量、胱硫醚-γ-裂解酶（CSE）、诱导型一氧化氮合酶（iNOS）和血红素加氧酶（HO）活性以及支气管肺泡灌洗液（BALF）中中性粒细胞（PMN）数目和蛋白含量的变化;用免疫组织化学法检测肺组织iNOS、HO-1蛋白表达。再将血浆H2S含量与上述指标进行相关性分析。结果：气管内滴注LPS可引起肺组织明显的形态学改变;肺系数和肺组织MDA含量增加;BALF中PMN数目和蛋白含量增加;血浆H2S含量和肺组织CSE活性下降;肺组织iNOS活性、HO活性和iNOS蛋白表达、HO-1蛋白表达增强,血浆NO含量、CO含量增加。预先给予NaHS可显著减轻LPS所致上述指标的改变;而预先给予PIG可加重LPS所致肺损伤,使BALF中PMN数目和蛋白含量、血浆NO含量、肺组织iNOS活性和iNOS蛋白表达进一步增加,但对血浆CO含量、肺组织HO活性和HO-1蛋白表达无明显影响。HS含量与CSE活性、血浆CO含量、肺组织HO-1活性呈正相关（r值=0．945—0．987,P均〈0．01）;与其他指标呈负相关（r值=-0．994～-0．943,P均〈0．01）。结论：H2S／CSE体系的下调在LPS所致大鼠Ⅲ的发病学中有一定作用,内、外源性H2S具有抗LPS所致Au的作用,该作用可能与其抗氧化效应、减轻PMN所致肺过度的炎症反应以及下调NO／iNOS体系、上调CO／HO—1体系有一定关系。     

Effect of sulfatide on acute lung injury during endotoxemia in rats

Experimental studies have shown that intrapulmonary leukocyte sequestration and activation is implicated in the pathogenesis of acute lung injury during endotoxemia. Selectins are involved in the adhesion of leukocyte to the endothelium. Sulfatide is recognized by P selectin and blocks this adhesion molecule. We studied the effects of sulfatide on endotoxin-induced lung damage in rats. Endotoxin shock was produced in male rats by a single intravenous (i.v.) injection of 20 mg/kg of Salmonella enteritidis lipopolysaccharide (LPS). LPS administration reduced survival rate (0%, 72 h after endotoxin challenge) decreased mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), produced leukopenia (Controls = 11,234+/-231 cells/mL, LPS = 4,567+/-123 cells/mL) and increased lung myeloperoxidase activity (MPO; a marker of leukocyte accumulation) in the lung (Controls = 0.35+/-0.1 U/g/tissue; LPS = 10+/-1.2 U/g/tissue). Furthermore LPS administration markedly impaired the concentration-response curves for acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside in isolated pulmonary arterial rings. There was also an increased staining for P-selectin in the pulmonary arteries. Sulfatide treatment (10 mg/kg, 30 min. after LPS challenge), significantly protected against LPS-induced lethality (90% survival rate and 70% survival rate 24 h and 72 h after LPS injection), reduced LPS induced hypotension, reverted leukopenia (8,895+/-234 cells/ml) and lowered lung MPO activity (1.7+/-0.9 U/g/tissue). Furthermore sulfatide restored to control values the LPS-induced impairment in arterial pulmonary vasorelaxation and reduced P-selectin immunostaining. Our data indicate that sulfatide attenuates LPS-induced lung injury and protects against endotoxin shock.     

一氧化碳减轻脂多糖诱导的大鼠小肠损伤与p38 MAPK磷酸化水平的关系

目的：观察低浓度一氧化碳（CO）吸入和腹腔给予对脂多糖（LPS）诱导大鼠小肠损伤的作用及作用过程中丝裂原活化蛋白激酶p38（p38 MAPK）磷酸化水平的变化。方法：6组SD大鼠静脉注入5mg／kg体质量IPS或等容量生理盐水;1h后,对照及LPS注入组吸入室内空气,CO吸入及LPS注入＋CO吸入组吸入体积分数为2．5×10^-4CO．CO腹腔及LPS注入＋CO腹腔组腹腔通入体积分数为2．5×10^-4CO。观察1、3、6h后放血处死,取回盲部上小肠,酶联免疫吸附法测定血小板活化因子（PAV）及细胞间黏附分子-1（ICAM-1）水平;光镜观察组织形态学变化;蛋白印迹法测定p38 MAPK磷酸化水平。结果：LPS注入组PAF、ICAM-1及p38 MAPK磷酸化水平显著高于相应时间点的对照、CO吸入及CO腹腔组（P均〈0．01）;组内各时间点比较,差异无统计学意义。与相应时间点的LPS注入组比较,LPS注入＋CO吸入及LPS注入＋CP腹腔组的PAF和ICAM-1明显降低（P均〈0．05）,但p38 MAPK磷酸化水平进一步增高（P均〈0．05）;此两组间及两组内各时间点比较,差异无统计学意义。结论：低浓度CO吸入和腹腔给予以非时间依赖方式下调LPS诱导的大鼠小肠PAF、ICAM-1表达而起相似的保护作用;p38 MAPK信号转导通路可能参与了这一过程。     

Anti-oxidative effect of triterpene acids of Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl. leaf in chronic bronchitis rats

The study was to evaluate the effect of triterpene acids of Eriobotrya japonica (Thunb.) Lindl. leaf (TAL) on expression of antioxidative mediators by alveolar macrophages (AM) in rats with chronic bronchitis (CB), CB was induced by endotracheal instillation of lipopolysaccharedes (LPS) followed by Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) injection through caudal vein 1 week later. Treatment groups received TAL at there different doses (50, 150, or 450 mg/kg daily, intragastrically (i.g.)) or dexamethasone (1.2 mg/kg daily i.g.) for 2 weeks, 7 days after LPS injection. AM were then isolated and incubated. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and methylene dianiline (MDA) levels in AM were measured by commercial kits; meanwhile, heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression and its mRNA expression in AM were detected by immunocytochemistry and RT-PCR, respectively. HO-1 activity of the lung was also detected by a specific biochemistry reaction. The levels of MDA and HO-1 expressed by cultured AM and the HO-1 activity in the lung of the TAL groups were significantly lower than those from the CB group without treatment (p < 0.01 and p < 0.05, respectively), while the SOD levels were increased in a dose-dependent manner by TAL treatment. These results suggest that TAL inhibits HO-1 expression and MDA production and up-regulates SOD expression in AM from CB rats, which might be one of molecular mechanisms of its anti-inflammatory effects in CB rats.     

Carbon monoxide blocks oxidative stress-induced hepatocyte apoptosis via inhibition of the p54 JNK isoform

Most chronic liver diseases are accompanied by oxidative stress, which may induce apoptosis in hepatocytes and liver injury. Oxidative stress induces heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) expression. This stress-responsive cytoprotective protein is responsible for heme degradation into carbon monoxide (CO), free iron, and biliverdin. CO is an important intracellular messenger; however, the exact mechanisms responsible for its cytoprotective effect are not yet elucidated. Thus, we investigated whether HO-1 and CO protect primary hepatocytes against oxidative-stress-induced apoptosis. In vivo, bile duct ligation was used as model of chronic liver disease. In vitro, primary hepatocytes were exposed to the superoxide anion donor menadione in a normal and in a CO-- containing atmosphere. Apoptosis was determined by measuring caspase-9, -6, -3 activity and poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase cleavage, and necrosis was determined by Sytox green staining. The results showed that (1) HO-1 is induced in chronic cholestatic liver disease, (2) superoxide anions time- and dose-dependently induce HO-1 activity, (3) HO-1 overexpression inhibits superoxide-anions-induced apoptosis, and (4) CO blocks superoxide-anions-induced JNK phosphorylation and caspase-9, -6, -3 activation and abolishes apoptosis but does not increase necrosis. We conclude that HO-1 and CO protect primary hepatocytes against superoxide-anions-induced apoptosis partially via inhibition of JNK activity. CO could represent an important candidate for the treatment of liver diseases.     

Central CO-heme oxygenase pathway raises body temperature by a prostaglandin-independent way.

Recently, the carbon monoxide (CO)-heme oxygenase pathway has been shown to play an important role in fever generation by acting on the central nervous system, but the mechanisms involved have not been assessed. Thus the present study was designed to determine whether prostagandins participate in the rise in body temperature (T(b)) observed after induction of the CO-heme oxygenase pathway in the central nervous system. Intracerebroventricular (ICV) injection of heme-lysinate (152 nmol/4 microl), which is known to induce the CO-heme oxygenase pathway, caused an increase in T(b) [thermal index (TI) = 5.3 +/- 0.5 degrees C. h], which was attenuated by ICV administration of the heme oxygenase inhibitor ZnDPBG (200 nmol/4 microl; TI = 2.5 +/- 1.7 degrees C. h; P < 0.05). No change in T(b) was observed after intraperitoneal injection of the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin (5 mg/kg), whereas indomethacin at the same dose attenuated the fever induced by ICV administration of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (10 ng/2 microl) (vehicle/LPS: TI = 4.5 +/- 0.5 degrees C. h; indomethacin/LPS: TI = 1.7 +/- 1.0 degrees C. h; P < 0.05). Interestingly, indomethacin did not affect the rise in T(b) induced by heme-lysinate (152 nmol/4 microl) ICV injection (vehicle/heme: TI = 4.5 +/- 1.4 degrees C. h; indomethacin/heme: TI = 4.2 +/- 1.0 degrees C. h). Finally, PGE(2) (200 ng/2 microl) injected ICV evoked a rise in T(b) that lasted 1.5 h. The heme oxygenase inhibitor ZnDPBG (200 nmol/4 microl) failed to alter PGE(2)-induced fever. Taken together, these results indicate that the central CO-heme oxygenase pathway increases T(b) independently of prostaglandins.     

Effects of caffeic acid phenethyl ester on endotoxin-induced cardiac stress in rats: a possible mechanism of protection

Endotoxins (lipopolysaccharides; LPS) are known to cause multiple organ failure, including myocardial dysfunction. The present study aimed to investigate the mechanism of caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) protection against LPS-induced cardiac stress. Rats were allocated into three groups; group 1 served as a normal control group, group 2 (LPS) received a single intraperitoneal injection of LPS (10 mg/kg), group 3 (LPS + CAPE) was injected intraperitoneally with CAPE (10 mg/kg/day; solubilized in saline containing 20% tween 20) throughout a period of 10 days prior to LPS injection. Rats were maintained 4 h before sacrifice. Caffeic acid phenethyl ester pretreatment normalized LPS-enhanced activities of serum creatine kinase (CK) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) as well as glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) in cardiac tissue. A significant reduction of the elevated levels of serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) as well as serum and cardiac nitrite/nitrate (NOx) ) was achieved after CAPE pretreatment. CAPE also restored malondialdelyde (MDA), reduced glutathione (GSH), and cytosolic calcium (Ca2+ ) levels in the heart. A marked induction of cardiac heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) protein level was detected in CAPE-pretreated group. Whereas, LPS-induced reduction of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and phosphocreatine (PCr) levels was insignificantly changed. Conclusively, the early treatment with CAPE maintained antioxidant defences, reduced oxidative injury, cytokine damage, and inflammation but did not markedly improve energy status in cardiac tissue. The beneficial effect of CAPE might be mediated, at least in part, by the superinduction of HO-1.     

HIF-1 activation attenuates postischemic myocardial injury: role for heme oxygenase-1 in modulating microvascular chemokine generation

The CXC chemokine IL-8, which promotes adhesion, activation, and transmigration of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN), has been associated with production of tissue injury in reperfused myocardium. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) is a heterodimeric peptide that is a key regulator of genes such as heme oxygenase (HO)-1 expressed under hypoxic conditions. We hypothesized that HO-1 plays an important role in regulating proinflammatory mediator production under conditions of ischemia-reperfusion. HIF-1 was activated in the human microvascular endothelial cell line (HMEC-1) with the prolyl hydroxylase inhibitor dimethyloxalylglycine (DMOG). DMOG significantly attenuated cytokine-induced IL-8 promoter activity and protein secretion and cytokine-induced PMN migration across human microvascular endothelial cell line HMEC-1 monolayers. In vivo studies in a rabbit model of myocardial ischemia-reperfusion showed that rabbits pretreated with a 20 mg/kg DMOG infusion (n = 6) 24 h before study exhibited a 21.58 +/- 1.76% infarct size compared with 35.25 +/- 2.06% in saline-treated ischemia-reperfusion animals (n = 6, change in reduction = 39%; P < 0.001). In DMOG-pretreated (20 mg/kg) animals, plasma IL-8 levels at 3 h after onset of reperfusion were 405 +/- 40 pg/ml vs. 790 +/- 40 pg/ml in saline-treated ischemia-reperfusion animals (P < 0.001). DMOG pretreatment reduced myocardial myeloperoxidase activity, expressed as number of PMN per gram of myocardium, to 1.43 +/- 0.59 vs. 4.86 +/- 1.1 (P = 0.012) in saline-treated ischemia-reperfused hearts. Both in vitro and in vivo DMOG-attenuated IL-8 production was associated with robust HO-1 expression. Thus our data show that HIF-1 activation induces substantial HO-1 expression that is associated with attenuated proinflammatory chemokine production by microvascular endothelium in vitro and in vivo.     

Regulation of CO production in cerebral microvessels of newborn pigs

Carbon monoxide (CO) is produced from heme by heme oxygenase-2 (HO-2) in cerebral blood vessels. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used on piglet cerebral microvessels to address the hypothesis that CO production is regulated by heme delivery and HO-2 catalytic activity. CO production appears to be substrate limited because heme and its precursor aminolevulinate increase CO production. Ionomycin also increases CO production. However, CO production from exogenous heme was the same in Ca-replete medium, Ca-free medium with ionomycin, and Ca-replete medium with ionomycin. Phorbol myristate acetate increases CO production but does not change the catalytic activity of HO-2. Also, the protein kinase C inhibitor 1-(5-isoquinolinylsulfonyl)-2-methylpiperazine has no effect on the HO-2 catalytic activity. Protein tyrosine kinase inhibition reduces HO-2 catalytic activity. Inhibition of protein tyrosine phosphatases increased HO-2 catalytic activity. Therefore, regulation of CO production by cerebral microvessels can include changing heme availability and HO-2 catalytic activity. HO-2 catalytic activity is stimulated by tyrosine phosphorylation.