缺氧复氧时肥大心肌细胞凋亡及其与能量代谢途径转换的关系

心肌细胞凋亡是心肌肥大向心力衰竭转化的重要机制,因此,抑制肥大心肌细胞凋亡可能是防治心力衰竭的有 效药物靶点之一。本研究以0．1μmol／L血管紧张素Ⅱ和1 μmol／L去甲肾上腺素刺激培养心肌细胞,复制心肌细胞肥大模 型,用三气孵箱培养。缺氧条件是95％N2和5％CO2,控制氧分压低于5 mmHg以下,8 h后常氧培养,液闪计数法测 定丙酮酸脱氢酶(pyruvate dehydrogenase,PDH)和肉碱脂酰转移酶-1(carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1,CPT-1)活性,糖氧化、 糖酵解、脂肪酸氧化率,以及细胞凋亡百分率,分析肥大心肌细胞能量代谢变化与细胞凋亡间的关系。结果如下:(1)与 常氧培养比较,缺氧8 h后,活化型丙酮酸脱氢酶(PDHa)和CPT-1活性均有显著下降,但复氧早期肥大心肌细胞PDHa活 性有轻度进一步降低(P>0．05),而CPT-1活性却较快恢复。(2)缺氧时,正常和肥大心肌细胞葡萄糖氧化代谢率均有降低[分 别下降(16±0．9)％、(48±1．1)％];复氧时,正常心肌细胞糖氧化代谢较快恢复,而肥大心肌细胞在复氧早期,糖氧化 率进一步降低,此后才逐渐恢复。(3)在缺氧时,肥大心肌细胞糖酵解率仅轻度下降,但在复氧后糖酵解率迅速升高,呈 爆发样达峰值后又逐渐恢复到缺氧前水平。(4)肥大心肌细胞在缺氧后脂肪酸代谢明显降低,但复氧后脂肪酸代谢呈爆发式 上升,并大大高于缺血前的代谢水平。(5)缺氧时肥大心肌细胞凋亡率即显著增加,在复氧早期细胞凋亡率继续大幅度上 升,此后逐渐减少。(6)预先用二氯乙酸处理肥大心肌细胞,可显著逆转缺氧复氧导致的细胞糖氧化受抑、糖酵解和脂肪 酸代谢活化,同时,抑制细胞凋亡的发生。上述结果提示,缺氧复氧后的肥大心肌细胞能量代谢途径转换是导致细胞凋 亡的重要原因。     

Nur77 在缺氧/ 复氧诱导的心肌细胞凋亡中的作用及其机制的研究

目的:观察Nur77通过线粒体转位对缺氧/复氧(H/R)诱导的心肌细胞凋亡的影响。方法:原代培养l-2天SD大鼠心肌细胞,建立H/R模型。随机分为正常对照组、H/R组、Nur77组,采用免疫荧光检测横纹肌肌动蛋白(α-actin)鉴定心肌细胞;采用TUNEL染色法及Caspase-3酶活性检测心肌细胞凋亡情况;采用Western blot检测细胞核及线粒体Nur77蛋白表达、线粒体及胞浆Omi/HtrA2蛋白表达。结果:H/R组细胞核中Nur77蛋白表达明显低于正常对照组;而在线粒体中则相反。Nur77组线粒体中的Omi/HtrA2蛋白表达明显低于正常对照组;而在胞浆中则相反。结论:在心肌细胞H/R损伤时,Nur77线粒体转位促使Omi/HtrA2蛋白从线粒体释放入胞浆,从而导致心肌细胞凋亡。     

靶向PUMA的siRNA对缺氧/复氧诱导大鼠心肌细胞凋亡的保护作用

为探讨p53上调凋亡调制物(p53 up-regulated modulator of apoptosis,PUMA)在大鼠心肌细胞缺氧/复氧(hypoxia/reoxygenatio,H/R)损伤中的作用,本研究将靶向PUMA的siRNA(si-PUMA)转染大鼠心肌细胞以建立PUMA沉默表达模型,观察其对心肌细胞H/R损伤的影响.RT-PCR和Western印迹结果表明,最适转染浓度50 nmol/L si-PUMA能靶向抑制H/R损伤心肌细胞的PUMA表达;MTT法检测心肌细胞存活率及培养基乳酸脱氢酶(lactate dehydrogenase,LDH)活性测定结果发现,si-PUMA组细胞存活率较H/R 6 h模型组明显提高,培养液中LDH活性显著降低(P<0.01);分光光度法及Annexin V-FITC/PI联合染色流式细胞凋亡检测结果显示,si-PUMA组caspase-3活性较H/R 6h组明显下调,细胞凋亡率明显降低(P<0.01);RT-PCR结果提示,与H/R6 h组相比,si-PUMA组Bax及Bcl-2表达分别出现显著下调及上调(P<0.05).以上结果表明,靶向PUMA的siRN...     

缺氧复氧诱导脐静脉内皮细胞凋亡的机制

目的探讨缺氧复氧诱导人脐静脉内皮细胞凋亡发生的机制.方法体外培养人脐静脉内皮细胞,随机分为5组:缺氧0h(对照组)、3h、6h、12h、24h复氧组.向培养瓶内通入95%N2和5%CO2按不同时间孵育,随后通入5%CO2和95%空气复氧2h,建立内皮细胞缺氧复氧模型.采用台盼蓝染色、TUNEL技术对凋亡和死亡细胞进行定量分析,DNA电泳观察内皮细胞凋亡的形态学.Western blot检测细胞凋亡调节蛋白Bcl-2和Bax表达强度,同时检测丝裂原活化蛋白激酶(MAPK)中磷酸化ERK1/2的表达.采用凝胶成像分析系统灰度扫描检测蛋白质表达相对量.结果缺氧复氧后内皮细胞凋亡明显,而且内皮细胞凋亡数随缺氧时间延长而增多(P<0.05).Western blot表明缺氧复氧增强内皮细胞Bax的表达,对Bcl-2的表达量和磷酸化ERK1/2没有明显影响,使Bcl-2/Bax比值减小.结论缺氧复氧可以诱导内皮细胞凋亡,证实缺氧复氧上调促凋亡蛋白Bax的表达,对抑制凋亡蛋白Bcl-2的表达无显著影响.首次证实缺氧复氧诱导内皮细胞凋亡是取决于Bcl-2/Bax比值,而不是通过MAPK磷酸化途径.     

三七皂苷对缺氧复氧心肌细胞损伤保护作用的研究

目的：研究三七皂苷对纯化培养大鼠乳鼠心肌细胞缺氧/复氧损伤的保护作用及机制。方法：采用纯化培养的心肌细胞建立缺氧/复氧损伤模型,测定细胞凋亡率、caspase-3、乳酸脱氢酶（LDH）、丙二醛（MDA）、超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）含量。结果：与正常组比较,模型组LDH、MDA含量、caspase-3活性及细胞凋亡率明显升高（P＆lt;0.01）,SOD活性明显降低（P＆lt;0.01）;三七皂苷组降低LDH、MDA含量、caspase-3活性和细胞凋亡率,提高SOD活性,与缺氧/复氧组比较各实验指标差异均具有显著性（P＆lt;0.05）。结论：三七皂苷对缺氧/复氧心肌细胞损伤有保护作用,作用机制与清除氧自由基,抗脂质过氧化及降低细胞凋亡率有关。     

DCA干预对缺氧复氧肥大心肌细胞能量代谢及细胞凋亡的影响

目的:探讨缺氧复氧损伤诱导体外培养的新生大鼠肥大心肌细胞凋亡及能量代谢途径变化及药物干预的作用.方法:取体外培养的新生大鼠心肌细胞,以血管紧张素Ⅱ诱导其肥大,分4组:一组于3%O2、5%CO2、92%N2三气培养箱中培养12 h,再恢复正常条件培养4h,建立缺氧复氧损伤的肥大心肌细胞模型;另三组加入二氯乙酸盐(DCA)使其终浓度分别为10-3mmol/L、10-4mmol/L和10-5mmol/L,再缺氧复氧相同时间.电镜观察肥大心肌细胞及凋亡细胞的超微结构变化,Hochest33342/PI荧光染色识别凋亡细胞;TUNEL法观察心肌细胞凋亡形态学特征,并记数凋亡心肌细胞数,检测心肌细胞凋亡率;以同位素液闪计数法测定丙酮酸脱氢酶(PDH)内碱脂酰转移酶-1(CPT-1)活性,以及葡萄糖有氧氧化率,葡萄糖酵解率和脂肪酸有氧氧化率.结果:肥大心肌细胞在缺氧12h复氧4h,TUNEL法可检测到阳性的凋亡细胞,凋亡率为(19.99±4.88)%,肥大心肌细胞缺氧培养12h后加入DCA10-3 mmol/L、10-4 mmol/L和10-5 mmol/L再复氧4h检测其凋亡率分别为(16.5±3.24)%、(17.4±3.72)%和(18.4±3.44)%;与正常心肌细胞比较,肥大心肌细胞总的PDH活性没有明显改变.但活化型PDH活性和葡萄糖氧化代谢率(GOR)显著增强,CPT-1活性和脂肪酸有氧氧化代谢率(FOR)显著降低;与对照肥大心肌细胞比较,二氯乙酸(DCA 10-3 mmol/L-DCA 110-3mmol/L)呈剂量依赖性的升高PDH活性和GOR,抑制CPT21活性,FOR和葡萄糖酵解率(glucolysis rate,GLR).结论:DCA对缺氧复氧损伤引起的肥大心肌细胞凋亡有抑制作用.肥大心肌细胞能量代谢向糖代谢转化,DCA可进一步增强糖有氧氧化代谢抑制脂肪酸代谢.     

腺苷对缺氧/复氧心肌细胞的保护作用

本研究旨在探讨腺苷 (adenosine ,ADO)对缺氧 /复氧 (hypoxia/reoxygenation ,H/R)心肌细胞的保护作用及其分子机制。将原代培养的新生大鼠心肌细胞分成H/R对照组和ADO (1 0 μmol/L)保护组。用倒置相差显微镜观察心肌细胞的生长状态。检测两组培养基质乳酸脱氢酶 (LDH)活性和心肌细胞Ca2 + 和丙二醛 (MDA)浓度。用ELISA法检测肿瘤坏死因子 (TNF α)的表达 ,并用凝胶电泳迁移率改变法 (EMSA)测定核因子 (NF κB)结合活性。所得结果如下 :(1)心肌细胞H/R培养后皱缩、变圆 ,伪足减少 ,ADO组心肌细胞的形态变化小于对照组 ;(2 )ADO减少缺氧和复氧期间心肌细胞LDH的漏出 (bothP <0 0 1) ;(3 )ADO降低缺氧和复氧期间心肌细胞内的Ca2 +浓度 (bothP <0 0 1) ;(4)ADO降低缺氧和复氧期间心肌细胞MDA浓度 (bothP <0 0 1) ;(5 )ADO抑制缺氧和复氧期间TNF α的表达 (bothP <0 0 1) ;(6)ADO抑制缺氧和复氧期间心肌细胞NF κB结合活性 (bothP <0 0 1)。以上结果提示 :(1)外源性ADO可减轻心肌细胞的H/R损伤 ;(2 )外源性ADO抑制H/R期间心肌细胞TNF α的表达 ;(3 )外源性ADO可能通过抑制心肌细胞NF κB结合活性下调TNF α的表达     

细胞粘附分子在中性粒细胞介导的缺氧／复氧心肌细胞损伤中的作用

目的观察缺氧/复氧对心肌细胞与中性粒细胞粘附效应的影响及细胞间粘附分子-1(intercellularadhensionmolecule-1,ICAM-1)和淋巴细胞功能相关抗原-1(lymphocytefunctionassociatedantigen-1,LFA-1)在中性粒细胞介导的心肌细胞损伤的作用。方法计数不同实验条件下与心肌细胞粘附的中性粒细胞;以及抗ICAM-1单抗和抗LFA-1单抗阻断后中性粒细胞粘附数的改变,检测心肌细胞乳酸脱氢酶释放量。结果中性粒细胞与缺氧/复氧心肌细胞粘附数较缺氧组和正常对照组显著增加(P＜0.01);心肌细胞释放LDH明显增高(P＜0．01),单纯缺氧组与正常对照组相比无显著差异(P＞0．05)。加入抗ICAM-1单抗和抗LFA-1单抗后,缺氧/复氧组与心肌细胞粘附的中性粒细胞数较正常对照组显著降低(P<0．01),心肌细胞释放LDH也明显下降(P＜0．01)。缺氧组与正常对照组相比则无显著差异(P＞0.05)。结论缺氧/复氧使心肌细胞与中性粒细胞粘附效应增加,心肌细胞损伤加重,ICAM-1和LFA-1参与这一过程。抗ICAM-1和抗LFA-1单抗可减轻中性粒细胞对缺氧/复氧心肌细胞的损伤。     

金属硫蛋白对缺氧／复氧心肌细胞的保护作用

金属硫蛋白 (ＭＴ)是普遍存在各种生物体内、富含硫基的小分子蛋白 ,在缺血 /再灌注 (Ｉ/Ｒ)损伤中通过清除自由基减轻心肌细胞损伤 ,同时ＭＴ参与预缺血保护 (ＩＰＣ)。目前对ＭＴ在ＩＰＣ中的保护作用机制及功效仍无明确研究 ,本实验以培养的乳鼠心肌细胞缺氧 /复氧模拟缺血 /再灌注损伤 ,检测心肌细胞在ＩＰＣ处理后 2 4ｈＭＴ的含量、脂质过氧化程度及Ｎａ Ｋ ＡＴＰ酶、Ｃａ2 Ｍｇ2 ＡＴＰ酶的活力变化 ,锌诱导产生的ＭＴ作用 ,并比较ＭＴ与抗氧化剂谷胱甘肽 (ＧＳＨ)的保护作用 ,初步探讨ＭＴ的心肌保护作用机制及应用价值。1　…     

缺氧诱导因子-1α在缺氧预处理预防心肌细胞损伤中的作用

本工作旨在研究缺氧预处理(hypoxic preconditioning,HPC)对于心肌细胞外信号调节激酶(extracellular signal-regulated proteinkinases,ERK)活性、缺氧诱导因子-1α(hypoxia-inducible factor-1α,HIF-1α)表达的影响,及其在缺氧复氧诱导心肌细胞损伤中的作用。通过在培养的SD乳鼠心肌细胞缺氧／复氧(H／R)模型上,观察HPC对于24h后H／R诱导心肌细胞损伤的影响,以台盼蓝排斥实验检测心肌细胞存活率、以TUNEL法检测细胞凋亡、并用荧光素染料Hoechst33258测定心肌细胞凋亡率：制备心肌细胞蛋白提取物,以磷酸化的ERK1／2抗体测定ERK1／2活性,以抗HIF-1α抗体检测HIF-1α的表达,并观察ERKs的上游激酶(MEK1／2)抑制剂PD98059对于HPC诱导的ERKs磷酸化、HIF-1α表达以及心肌细胞保护作用的影响,并分析细胞损伤与ERK1／2活性、HIF-1α表达量之间的相互关系。结果 显示缺氧复氧造成心肌细胞损伤,HPC可以增加心肌细胞H／R后存活率,降低凋亡率,并激活ERKll2,诱导HIF-1α表达：细胞凋亡与ERKs活性、HIF-1α表达量之间存在负相关,即ERKs活化、HIF-1α表达与预防细胞损伤有关：而ERKs活性与HIF-1α表达量之间存在正相关,ERKs的上游激酶MEK抑制剂PD98059可以消除HPC诱导的ERKs磷酸化、HIF-1α表达和心肌细胞保护作用。由此得出的结论是HPC可以提高乳鼠心肌细胞对于H／R的耐受性,其机制涉及ERKs介导的HIF-1α表达。     

凋亡诱导因子是线粒体内介导核凋亡的最主要蛋白质之一

凋亡诱导因子（apoptosis-inducing factor, AIF）基因定位于X染色体上,其编码产物是一种可直接介导细胞核凋亡的效应分子. 鼠AIF前体蛋白在胞浆中合成后,通过其N端的线粒体定位信号（MLS）有效地穿入线粒体膜间隙,然后在102位甘氨酸处水解掉MLS,其余部分再与黄素腺嘌呤二核苷酸（FAD）结合,并重新折叠成为具有促凋亡潜能的成熟AIF分子,分子质量为57 ku.当凋亡信号刺激时,AIF分子从线粒体释放到胞浆,然后转位到细胞核内,引起染色体核周边凝集和DNA呈大片段断裂（～50 kb）. 该作用不受广谱caspases抑制剂z-VAD.fmk的抑制,也不受Bcl-2过量表达的影响.基因剔除实验表明,AIF蛋白的促凋亡活性是胚胎小鼠形态发生过程中类胚体成腔所必需的,而且是AIF独立作用的结果,可以不依赖caspase-3的活性.因此AIF介导的细胞凋亡可能代表了独立于caspase通路之外的另一条更原始、更保守的凋亡途径.     

Time-dependent changes of the susceptibility of cardiac contractile function to hypoxia-reoxygenation after myocardial infarction in rats

In this study we analyzed the susceptibility of contractile function of the myocardium to hypoxia-reoxygenation after infarction. For this purpose, the contractility of isolated papillary muscles from rats was studied at high oxygen tension (pO₂ 80 kPa) and during hypoxia (pO₂ 3 kPa) with subsequent reoxygenation at variable intervals between 15 h and 9 weeks after permanent ligation of the left coronary artery. Hypoxic exposure reduced the contractile performance of the preparations to a similar extent in both groups. Notably, the contractility and, in particular, the relaxation rates recovered more completely from hypoxia in the hypertrophied myocardium of rats with coronary artery ligation than in sham-operated (SO) animals. The recovery of contractile function was improved maximally between 6 and 9 weeks after myocardial infarction (MI). The lower sensitivity of the (post)ischemic myocardium to hypoxia-reoxygenation correlated with enhanced left ventricular glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activity (15 h to 9 weeks post-MI) and 2–3-fold increased expression levels (15 h to 6 weeks post-MI) of the 72 kDa heat shock protein (HSP72) in the papillary muscles. These findings suggest that the greater antioxidant potential and, possibly, stimulation of HSPs contribute to the sustained tolerance of the myocardium to hypoxia-reoxygenation injury after infarction.     

Inhibition of apoptosis-inducing factor translocation is involved in protective effects of hepatocyte growth factor against excitotoxic cell death in cultured hippocampal neurons

Although hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and its receptor are expressed in various regions of the brain, their effects and mechanism of action under pathological conditions remain to be determined. Over-activation of the N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptor, an ionotropic glutamate receptor, has been implicated in a variety of neurological and neurodegenerative disorders. We investigated the effects of HGF on the NMDA-induced cell death in cultured hippocampal neurons and sought to explore their mechanisms. NMDA-induced cell death and increase in the number of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL)-positive cells were prevented by HGF treatment. Although neither the total amounts nor the mitochondrial localization of Bax, Bcl-2 and Bcl-xL were affected, caspase 3 activity was increased after NMDA exposure. Treatment with HGF partially prevented this NMDA-induced activation of caspase 3. Although the amount of apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) was not altered, translocation of AIF into the nucleus was detected after NMDA exposure. This NMDA-induced AIF translocation was reduced by treatment with HGF. In addition, increased poly(ADP-ribose) polymer formation after NMDA exposure was attenuated by treatment with HGF. These results suggest that the protective effects of HGF against NMDA-induced neurotoxicity are mediated via the partial prevention of caspase 3 activity and the inhibition of AIF translocation to the nucleus.     

蛋白激酶C对自发性高血压大鼠肥大心肌细胞无负荷收缩功能的调节

在慢性压力超负荷引起心肌肥大过程中,蛋白激酶C(protein kinase C,PKC)的激活起关键性作用,激活的PKC也能调节心肌收缩性能.本文旨在研究自发性高血压大(spontaneously hypertensive rat,SHR)心肌肥大的不同阶段PKC调节心肌收缩性能的特征.采用胶原酶法分离4月龄与10月龄Wistar-Kyoto(WKY)、SHR大鼠的心肌细胞,观测单个心肌细胞无负荷缩短幅值以及在PKC激动剂与抑制剂作用下心肌收缩性能的变化.结果表明:刺激频率从1 Hz增至3 Hz,WKY大鼠心肌细胞无负荷缩短幅值逐渐增加,呈正阶梯效应;4月龄SHR大鼠心肌细胞的缩短幅值较WKY大鼠增强,但在各刺激频率下其缩短幅值基本保持不变;10月龄SHR大鼠心肌细胞的缩短幅值在1 Hz刺激条件下与WKY大鼠无差别,随刺激频率增加,缩短幅值降低,呈负阶梯效应.在PKC激动剂PMA灌流条件下,50、100与200 nmol/L的PMA分别降低WKY大鼠心肌细胞缩短幅值至(69.8±1.9)%、(58.2 2.2)%与(22.7±2.5)%(均P<0.01),呈浓度依赖关系;PMA对4月龄SHR大鼠心肌细胞缩短幅值的降低更明显,分别降至(6.1±0.7)%、(2.4±0.2)%与(12.5±2.6)%(均P<0.01);PMA降低10月龄SHR大鼠心肌细胞缩短幅值至(65.7±1.6)%、(53.9±4.0)%与(16.3±2.0)%(均P<0.01),小于对4月龄SHR大鼠心肌细胞缩短幅值的作用.PKC抑制剂staurosporine增加WKY大鼠心肌细胞缩短幅值,在200 nmol/L的staurosporine灌流条件下,WKY大鼠、4月龄SHR大鼠、10月龄SHR大鼠心肌细胞缩短幅值分别增JJH(63.63±4.53)%、(80.82±4.61)%、(80.97±4.59)%(均P<0.05).结果提示,在SHR大鼠心肌肥大初期,具有负性肌力作用的PKC异构体可能被激活,并参与对心肌收缩性能的调节;而心肌肥大稳定阶段,这些PKC活性可能恢复至正常水平.     

重组人凋亡诱导因子基因的构建、表达及其对HeLa细胞的促凋亡作用

凋亡诱导因子（apoptosis-inducing factor, AIF）定位于细胞的线粒体膜间隙.当凋亡信号刺激时,AIF分子从线粒体释放到胞浆,然后转位到细胞核内,引起染色体核周边凝集和DNA呈大片段断裂（～50 kb）.用RT-PCR法分段克隆得到人全长AIF基因,经改造截去其N端线粒体定位信号编码序列,代之以不同长度的绿脓杆菌外毒素(PE)转膜结构域序列.把这些重组基因克隆入pIRES2-EGFP真核表达载体,脂质体法转染HeLa细胞,通过荧光显微镜观察、共聚焦显微镜观察、电镜观察等方法检测了多种重组人AIF基因的表达及其对细胞生长的影响.证明了重组人AIF基因的表达可引起HeLa细胞死亡,为肿瘤的杀伤提供了新的策略.     

Differential signaling and hypertrophic responses in cyclically stretched vs endothelin-1 stimulated neonatal rat cardiomyocytes

Numerous neurohumoral factors such as endothelin (ET)-1 and angiotensin (Ang) II as well as the stretch stimulus act concertedly in the in vivo overloaded heart in inducing hypertrophy and failure. The primary culture of rat neonatal cardiomyocytes is the only in vitro model that allows the comparative analysis of growth responses and signaling events in response to different stimuli. In the present study, we examined stretched rat cardiomyocytes grown on flexible bottomed cultured plates for hypertrophic growth responses (protein synthesis, protein/DNA ratio, and cell volume), F-actin filaments rearrangement (by confocal, laser scanning microscopy), and for signaling events (activation of phospholipase C [PLC-β, protein kinase C [PKC], mitogenactivated protein [MAP] kinases] and compared these responses with ET-1 (10⁻⁸ M)-stimulated cells. Cyclic stretch for 48 h induced hypertrophic growth in cardiomyocytes indicated by increases in the rate of protein synthesis, cell volume, and diameter, which were less pronounced in comparison to stimulation by ET-1. During cyclic stretch, we observed disoriented F-actin, particularly stress-fibers whereas during ET-1 stimulation, F-actins rearranged clearly in alignment with sarcomeres and fibers. The upstream part of signaling by cyclic stretch did not follow the PLCβ-PKC cascade, which, in contrast, was strongly activated during ET-1 stimulation. Cyclic stretch and, to greater extent, ET-1 stimulated downstream signaling through ERK, p38 MAP kinase, and JNK pathways, but the, involvement of tyrosine kinase and PI3 kinase-Akt signaling during cyclic stretch could not be proven. Taken together, our results demonstrate that both cyclic stretch and ET-1 induce hypertrophic responses in cardiomyocytes with different effects on organization of F-actin stress fibers in case of stretch. Furthermore, on the short-term basis, cyclical stretch, unlike ET-1, mediates its hypertrophic response not through activation of PLC-β and PKC but more likely through integrin-linked pathways, which both lead to downstream activation of the MAP kinase family.     

Outer mitochondrial membrane localization of apoptosis-inducing factor: mechanistic implications for release

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1-dependent cell death (known as parthanatos) plays a pivotal role in many clinically important events including ischaemia/reperfusion injury and glutamate excitotoxicity. A recent study by us has shown that uncleaved AIF (apoptosis-inducing factor), but not calpain-hydrolysed truncated-AIF, was rapidly released from the mitochondria during parthanatos, implicating a second pool of AIF that might be present in brain mitochondria contributing to the rapid release. In the present study, a novel AIF pool is revealed in brain mitochondria by multiple biochemical analyses. Approx. 30% of AIF loosely associates with the outer mitochondrial membrane on the cytosolic side, in addition to its main localization in the mitochondrial intermembrane space attached to the inner membrane. Immunogold electron microscopic analysis of mouse brain further supports AIF association with the outer, as well as the inner, mitochondrial membrane in vivo. In line with these observations, approx. 20% of uncleaved AIF rapidly translocates to the nucleus and functionally causes neuronal death upon NMDA (N-methyl-d-aspartate) treatment. In the present study we show for the first time a second pool of AIF in brain mitochondria and demonstrate that this pool does not require cleavage and that it contributes to the rapid release of AIF. Moreover, these results suggest that this outer mitochondrial pool of AIF is sufficient to cause cell death during parthanatos. Interfering with the release of this outer mitochondrial pool of AIF during cell injury paradigms that use parthanatos hold particular promise for novel therapies to treat neurological disorders.     

Apoptosis induced by gamma irradiation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells is not mediated by cytochrome-c release and only partially involves caspase-3-like proteases

Caspase 3 has been shown to be actively involved in the apoptotic process in thymocytes after gamma-irradiation. We examined caspase 3 activation in mature peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) after gamma irradiation. Since the activation of caspase 3 is generally prceded by a decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential (delta psi m) and cytochrome c release, these two parameters were also examined. Apoptosis in PBL after a 5-Gy gamma irradiation, is characterized by a decrease in delta psi m, but surprisingly no release of cytochrome-c and only a weak caspase 3 activation was noticed. In contrast, staurosporin treated PBL showed a decrease in delta psi m with cytochrome-c release and a clear caspase 3 activation. We were unable to block the decrease in delta psi m with the caspase-inhibitors zVAD-fmk or zDEVD-fmk after gamma irradiation, but DNA fragmentation as measured by the TUNEL assay was partially inhibited. Therefore, in gamma irradiated mature PBL, caspase-dependent and -independent pathways, but not cytochrome c, seem to be involved in the apoptotic process.     

Angiogenesis is stimulated by a tumor-derived endothelial cell growth factor

A growth factor mitogenic for BALB/C 3T3 cells and capillary endothelial cells was isolated from a rat chondrosarcoma and purified to homogeneity. Purification was accomplished by a combination of BioRex 70 cation exchange chromatography and heparin affinity chromatography. The pure chondrosarcoma-derived growth factor (ChDGF) had a molecular weight of about 18,000. The angiogenesis activity of pure ChDGF was tested by measuring its ability to vascularize the chorioallantoic membrane (CAM) and yolk sac membrane of the developing chick. The ability of ChDGF to induce the growth of limbal vessels in the rat cornea was also measured. To quantitate the angiogenesis response, a unit system based on the growth factor activity of ChDGF for 3T3 cells was adopted. ChDGF was found to have a specific activity of about 5 units/ng when applied to 3T3 cells. About 300-600 units of ChDGF in the two types of developing chick membrane and 30-5 units of ChDGF in the rat cornea were found to stimulate noninflammatory angiogenesis.