Vascular PTPs: Current developments and challenges for exploitation in Type 2 diabetes-associated vascular dysfunction

Protein Tyrosine Phosphatases (PTPs) are important contributors to vascular cells normal function, by balancing signaling proteins activation exerted by phosphorylating kinases. Type 2 diabetes related insults, such as hyperglycemia, oxidative stress, and insulin resistance disturb the phosphorylation/dephosphorylation equilibrium towards an abnormal augmented phosphorylation of signaling proteins associated with changes in PTPs expression, enzymatic activity and interaction with cellular substrates. We briefly review here: (i) the new findings on receptor and non-receptor PTPs and their role in vascular cells, (ii) several data on oxidation and phosphorylation of these molecules in endothelial and smooth muscle cells, (iii) vascular PTPs intrinsic activity and dysregulation under the insults of diabetic milieu, and (iv) the potential use of PTPs and their inhibitors as therapeutic targets in Type 2 diabetes-associated vascular dysfunction.     

Trichinella: Differential expression of angiogenic factors in macrophages stimulated with antigens from encapsulated and non-encapsulated species

The newborn larval stage of Trichinella spiralis enters the host striated skeletal muscle cell resulting in the formation of the nurse cell. Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) was detected in cells in the area immediately surrounding the nurse cells. However, no data are available on the antigens involved, the role of other angiogenic factors or the relationship of angiogenesis with Nitric Oxide (NO) production.Using macrophage cell culture we study the effect of different Trichinella L1 antigens from one encapsulated (T. spiralis) and one non-encapsulated (Trichinellapseudospiralis) on the expression of VEGF and basic Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF2). Also, we investigate the relationship between the production of NO and angiogenic mediators. The results show that encapsulated and non-encapsulated Trichinella species are different in their capacity to stimulate the expression of VEGF and FGF2 from host macrophages. Finally, there is no relationship between angiogenic factors and NO production by T. spiralis antigen.     

Neuromedin B induces angiogenesis via activation of ERK and Akt in endothelial cells

Neuromedin B (NMB) is one of the bombesin-like peptides in mammals. Recently, bombesin-like peptides have been characterized as growth factors in highly vascularized tumors. In this study, we report that NMB potently stimulates in vivo neovascularization in a mouse Matrigel plug and the sprouting of endothelial cells ex vivo in rat aortic rings. In addition, NMB increases the migration and tube formation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Moreover, treatment of HUVECs with NMB activates the extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK_1/2), Akt, and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and increases the level of NO production in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Furthermore, ERK activation and angiogenic sprouting in response to NMB are significantly blocked by the MEK inhibitor. Inhibition of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) suppresses the NMB-stimulated tubular formation of HUVECs, along with reduction in the phosphorylation of Akt and eNOS. Taken together, these results indicate that NMB is a novel angiogenic peptide, and its angiogenic activity is mediated by activating the MEK/ERK- and PI3K/Akt/eNOS-dependent pathways. This study suggests that NMB may play important roles in mediating a variety of pathophysiological angiogenesis.     

Both actin and polyproline interactions of profilin-1 are required for migration, invasion and capillary morphogenesis of vascular endothelial cells

The objective of the present study was to evaluate how different ligand interactions of profilin-1 (Pfn1), an actin-binding protein that is upregulated during capillary morphogenesis of vascular endothelial cells (VEC), contribute to migration and capillary forming ability of VEC. We adopted a knockdown-knockin experimental system to stably express either fully functional form or mutants of Pfn1 that are impaired in binding to two of its major ligands, actin (H119E mutant) and proteins containing polyproline domains (H133S mutant), in a human dermal microvascular cell line (HmVEC) against near-null endogenous Pfn1 background. We found that silencing endogenous Pfn1 expression in HmVEC leads to slower random migration, reduced velocity of membrane protrusion and a significant impairment in matrigel-induced cord formation. Only re-expression of fully functional but not any of the two ligand-binding deficient mutants of Pfn1 rescues the above defects. We further show that loss of Pfn1 expression in VEC inhibits three-dimensional capillary morphogenesis, MMP2 secretion and ECM invasion. VEC invasion through ECM is also inhibited when actin and polyproline interactions of Pfn1 are disrupted. Together, these experimental data demonstrate that Pfn1 regulates VEC migration, invasion and capillary morphogenesis through its interaction with both actin and proline-rich ligands.     

Ankrd17, an ubiquitously expressed ankyrin factor, is essential for the vascular integrity during embryogenesis

Ankyrin repeat domain 17 (Ankrd17) encodes an ubiquitously expressed protein with two clusters of ankyrin repeats. We have used gene targeting strategy to ablate the Ankrd17 gene in mouse. The Ankrd17-deficient mice died between embryonic day (E) 10.5 and E11.5 due to cardiovascular defects. Serious hemorrhages were detected and the vascular smooth muscle cells (vSMCs) surrounding the vessels were drastically reduced in the Ankrd17-deficient embryos, suggesting that the vascular maturation was not completed. Interestingly, vSMC differentiation marker genes were up-regulated in the mutant embryos. Our data have demonstrated the indispensability of Ankrd17 functioning for vascular maturation during early development. The Ankrd17-deficient mice also provide a new animal model for the analysis of the regulatory pathways of the differentiation of vSMC precursor cells.     

Foliar characteristics,cambial activity and wood formation in Azadirachta indica A. Juss. as affected by coal–smoke pollution

This study, aimed at elucidating changes in the foliar and cambial behavior in Azadirachta indica (Neem tree) due to coal-smoke pollution, has revealed inhibitory effects of pollution stress on leaf pigments concentrations, nitrate reductase activity and the contents of reducing sugars and total N content, whereas stimulatory effects were given on stomatal index and nitrate and sulphur contents. Under smoke effects, stomatal conductance was low, leading to a drop in the net photosynthetic rate and a rise in the internal CO₂ concentration of leaf. Cambial reactivation in the stem was delayed at the polluted site. Although the total span of the cambial activity was reduced, greater amount of wood was observed to accumulate in the stem axis under heavy pollution stress. Vessel proportion in the wood increased, whereas size of vessel elements and xylem fibers decreased. “Vulnerability factor” (ratio between mean vessel diameter and mean vessel abundance) and “mesomorphic ratio” (multiplication product of vulnerability factor and mean length of vessel element) of the stem–wood, both declined with increase in the pollution stress, thus indicating a tendency of the species for shifting towards xeromorphy when grown under stress. Given the opposite trends of photosynthetic rate and wood increment, the carbon-partitioning pattern rather than the photosynthetic rate seems to have influenced the accumulation of new wood. The Neem tree proves to be suitable for growing in the polluted areas.     

反义CD151基因转染对大鼠血管平滑肌细胞迁移的影响

目的观察pcDNA3.1真核表达载体介导的反义CD151基因转染对培养的大鼠动脉平滑肌细胞(VSMCs)迁移的影响。方法构建携带全长正义和反义CD151的真核表达载体pcDNA3.1-CD151和pcDNA3.1-anti-CD151重组质粒,转染体外培养的VSMCs,以RT-PCR和Western blot方法检测CD151的表达,用Boyden趋化小室方法观察细胞迁移。结果与载体对照组、脂质体对照组和空白对照组3组均值比较,转染48h后,反义CD151组mRNA表达降低58%,蛋白表达降低51%,正义CD151组的VSMCs CD151mRNA表达增加171%,蛋白表达增加133%;趋化迁移的细胞数,反义CD151组为37.9±6.3,正义CD151组为86.5±12.4;载体对照组、脂质体对照组和空白对照组分别为60.3±7.1、61.8±7.6和67.3±9.6。反义CD151组显著低于其余各组(P<0.01),正义CD151组显著高于其余各组(P<0.01)。结论pcDNA3.1真核表达载体介导的反义CD151转染,通过抑制CD151的表达,能够显著抑制大鼠VSMCs的迁移。     

颈内动脉支架置入术对颈动脉狭窄患者认知功能影响的研究

目的：研究颈动脉狭窄对认知功能的影响,探讨颈动脉支架置入术（CAS）患者术后不同时期认知功能的变化及其可能的机制。方法：选取2010年1月至2012年12月我院神经内科收住的急性脑梗死（前循环）患者75例,按颈内动脉狭窄程度,分成无狭窄组,轻度狭窄组（狭窄程度〈30％）,中度狭窄组（30-69％）和治疗组（70．99％）,前三组给予药物治疗,治疗组同时给予颈内动脉支架置入术,应用蒙特利尔认知评估量表（MoCA）、简易精神状态检查表（MMSE）、搭火柴测验（stickTest）,对患者进行认知功能评估,比较术前、术后不同时期认知功能的变化,同时利用SPECT／CT对治疗组20例患者术后局部脑血流改善状况进行评价。结果：治疗组和对照组在术前比较MoCA总分、MMSE评分、StickTest评分,发现治疗组评分低于对照组,且随着颈动脉狭窄程度的加重,认知功能受损越明显;治疗组在术后1周与术前比较,评分反而降低,差异有统计学意义;术后3个月、术后6个月与术前比较,评分均有所提高,差异有统计学意义;通过SPECT／CT对治疗组术前感兴趣区血流量与同侧小脑平均脑血流量比较,术后再与同侧小脑比较,结果显示术后脑灌注明显改善。结论：颈动脉狭窄与血管性认知功能障碍有关,而且认知功能障碍的程度与颈动脉狭窄程度呈正相关,颈内动脉支架置入术可最终改善认知功能,尤其表现在视空间／执行能力,延迟回忆能力,注意力等方面。     

化疗联合冷循环射频消融术治疗原发性肝癌的效果分析

目的：探讨化疗联合冷循环射频消融术治疗原发性肝癌的疗效及安全性。方法：108例原发性肝癌患者随机分为两组,均给予灌注化疗,每4周进行一次灌注化疗,对照组（n=54）进行3次,治疗组（n=54）只进行一次。治疗组给予冷循环射频消融术。评价生活质量Kamofsky评分,治疗前后检查患者的血、尿、便常规,肝肾功能（包括天冬氨酸转氨酶、丙氨酸转氨酶（AVr）、白蛋白（ALB）、总胆红素、肌酐及尿素氮等指标）,甲胎蛋白（AFP）,T细胞亚群和加强肝脏CT扫描。随访1年,经CT确定肝癌复发。结果：治疗组Kamofsky评分有效率为59．26％,对照组Kamofsky评分有效率为37．03％,两组Kamofsky评分有效率相比较,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。两组治疗后症状变化相比较,除腹胀外其余各项指标差异均有统计学意义（P〈O．05）。治疗后两组相比较,ALT和AFP差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。治疗后两组T细胞亚群变化相比较,治疗组各项指标均变化显著（P〈0．05）。治疗后随访一年,治疗组复发率为22．22％;对照组复发率为53．70％。两组治疗一年后复发率相比较,差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论：化疗结合冷循环射频消融术治疗原发性肝癌疗效肯定,并发症及副作用小,复发率低。     

Stem cells: Insights into the secretome

Stem cells have been considered as possible therapeutic vehicles for different health related problems such as cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. Secreted molecules are key mediators in cell–cell interactions and influence the cross talk with the surrounding tissues. There is strong evidence supporting that crucial cellular functions such as proliferation, differentiation, communication and migration are strictly regulated from the cell secretome. The investigation of stem cell secretome is accumulating continuously increasing interest given the potential use of these cells in regenerative medicine. The scope of the review is to report the main findings from the investigation of stem cell secretome by the use of contemporary proteomics methods and discuss the current status of research in the field. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: An Updated Secretome.