VEGF guides angiogenic sprouting utilizing endothelial tip cell filopodia

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A) is a major regulator of blood vessel formation and function. It controls several processes in endothelial cells, such as proliferation, survival, and migration, but it is not known how these are coordinately regulated to result in more complex morphogenetic events, such as tubular sprouting, fusion, and network formation. We show here that VEGF-A controls angiogenic sprouting in the early postnatal retina by guiding filopodial extension from specialized endothelial cells situated at the tips of the vascular sprouts. The tip cells respond to VEGF-A only by guided migration; the proliferative response to VEGF-A occurs in the sprout stalks. These two cellular responses are both mediated by agonistic activity of VEGF-A on VEGF receptor 2. Whereas tip cell migration depends on a gradient of VEGF-A, proliferation is regulated by its concentration. Thus, vessel patterning during retinal angiogenesis depends on the balance between two different qualities of the extracellular VEGF-A distribution, which regulate distinct cellular responses in defined populations of endothelial cells.     

Caveolin-1 null mice develop cardiac hypertrophy with hyperactivation of p42/44 MAP kinase in cardiac fibroblasts

Recently, development ofa caveolin-1-deficient (Cav-1 null) mouse model has allowed thedetailed analysis of caveolin-1's function in the context of awhole animal. Interestingly, we now report that the hearts ofCav-1 null mice are markedly abnormal, despite the fact that caveolin-1is not expressed in cardiac myocytes. However, caveolin-1 is abundantlyexpressed in the nonmyocytic cells of the heart, i.e., cardiacfibroblasts and endothelia. Quantitative imaging studies of Cav-1 nullhearts demonstrate a significantly enlarged right ventricular cavityand a thickened left ventricular wall with decreased systolic function.Histological analysis reveals myocyte hypertrophy withinterstitial/perivascular fibrosis. Because caveolin-1 is thought toact as a negative regulator of the p42/44 MAP kinase cascade, weperformed Western blot analysis with phospho-specific antibodies thatonly recognize activated ERK1/2. As predicted, the p42/44 MAP kinasecascade is hyperactivated in Cav-1 null heart tissue (i.e.,interstitial fibrotic lesions) and isolated cardiac fibroblasts. Inaddition, endothelial and inducible nitric oxide synthase levels aredramatically upregulated. Thus loss of caveolin-1 expression drivesp42/44 MAP kinase activation and cardiac hypertrophy.

     

B-Type Natriuretic Peptide-Induced Delayed Modulation of TRPV1 and P2X3 Receptors of Mouse Trigeminal Sensory Neurons

Important pain transducers of noxious stimuli are small- and medium-diameter sensory neurons that express transient receptor vanilloid-1 (TRPV1) channels and/or adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-gated P2X3 receptors whose activity is upregulated by endogenous neuropeptides in acute and chronic pain models. Little is known about the role of endogenous modulators in restraining the expression and function of TRPV1 and P2X3 receptors. In dorsal root ganglia, evidence supports the involvement of the natriuretic peptide system in the modulation of nociceptive transmission especially via the B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) that activates the natriuretic peptide receptor-A (NPR-A) to downregulate sensory neuron excitability. Since the role of BNP in trigeminal ganglia (TG) is unclear, we investigated the expression of BNP in mouse TG in situ or in primary cultures and its effect on P2X3 and TRPV1 receptors of patch-clamped cultured neurons. Against scant expression of BNP, almost all neurons expressed NPR-A at membrane level. While BNP rapidly increased cGMP production and Akt kinase phosphorylation, there was no early change in passive neuronal properties or responses to capsaicin, α,β-meATP or GABA. Nonetheless, 24 h application of BNP depressed TRPV1 mediated currents (an effect blocked by the NPR-A antagonist anantin) without changing responses to α,β-meATP or GABA. Anantin alone decreased basal cGMP production and enhanced control α,β-meATP-evoked responses, implying constitutive regulation of P2X3 receptors by ambient BNP. These data suggest a slow modulatory action by BNP on TRPV1 and P2X3 receptors outlining the role of this peptide as a negative regulator of trigeminal sensory neuron excitability to nociceptive stimuli.     

Conspecific plant–soil feedback scales with population size in Lobelia siphilitica (Lobeliaceae)

Plant–soil interactions directly affect plant success in terms of establishment, survival, growth and reproduction. Negative plant–soil feedback on such traits may therefore reduce the density and abundance of plants of a given species at a given site. Furthermore, if conspecific feedback varies among population sites, it could help explain geographic variation in plant population size. We tested for among-site variation in conspecific plant–soil feedback in a greenhouse experiment using seeds and soils from 8 natural populations of Lobelia siphilitica hosting 30–330 plants. The first cohort of seeds was grown on soil collected from each native site, while the second cohort was grown on the soil conditioned by the first. Our goal was to distinguish site-specific effects mediated by biotic and/or abiotic soil properties from those inherent in seed sources. Cohort 1 plants grown from seeds produced in small populations performed better in terms of germination, growth, and survival compared to plants produced in large populations. Plant performance decreased substantially between cohorts, indicating strong negative feedback. Most importantly, the strength of negative feedback scaled linearly (i.e., was less negative) with increasing size of the native plant population, particularly for germination and survival, and was better explained by soil- rather than seed-source effects. Even with a small number of sites, our results suggest that the potential for negative plant–soil feedback varies among populations of L. siphilitica, and that small populations were more susceptible to negative feedback. Conspecific plant–soil feedback may contribute to plant population size variation within a species’ native range.     

8-[2-(4-Aryl-1-piperazinyl)ethyl]-2H-1,4-benzoxazin-3(4H)-ones: Dual-acting 5-HT1 receptor antagonists and serotonin reuptake inhibitors—Part II

8-[2-(4-Aryl-1-piperazinyl)ethyl]-2H-1,4-benzoxazin-3(4H)-ones have been identified as highly potent 5-HT_1A/B/D receptor antagonists with and without additional SerT activity and a high degree of selectivity over hERG potassium channels. Modulation of the different target activities gave compounds with a range of profiles suitable for further in vivo characterization.     

6-Amino-4-oxo-1,3-diphenyl-2-thioxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimidine-5-carbonyl derivatives as a new class of potent inhibitors of Interleukin-8-induced neutrophil chemotaxis

A series of 6-amino-4-oxo-1,3-diphenyl-2-thioxo-1,2,3,4-tetrahydropyrimidine-5-carbonyl derivatives was synthesized. The compounds demonstrated to be novel, potent and selective inhibitors of Interleukin-8-induced human neutrophil chemotaxis. A SAR study was performed by varying the carbonyl function at position 5 and the chain linked to the amino group at position 6 of the scaffold. All the compounds of the series displayed inhibitory activity at nano- or picomolar concentrations against Interleukin-8-driven migration and no activity against fMLP- and C5a-induced chemotaxis. The binding tests of selected compounds on CXCR1 and CXCR2 receptors were negative. The most potent derivative showed in vivo efficacy in a mouse model of Zymosan-induced peritonitis.     

Structure-function relationship studies of PTH(1-11) analogues containing sterically hindered dipeptide mimetics.

The N-terminal 1-34 fragment of parathyroid hormone (PTH) is fully active in vitro and in vivo and reproduces all biological responses characteristic of the native intact PTH. In order to develop safer and non-parenteral PTH-like bone anabolic agents, we have studied the effect of introducing conformationally constrained dipeptide mimetics into the N-terminal portion of PTH in an effort to generate miniaturized PTH-mimetics. To this end, we have synthesized and conformationally and biologically characterized PTH(1-11) analogues containing 3R-carboxy-6S-amino-7,5-bicyclic thiazolidinlactam (7,5-bTL), a rigidified dipeptide mimetic unit. The wild type sequence of PTH(1-11) is H-Ser-Val-Ser-Glu-Ile-Gln-Leu-Met-His-Asn-Leu-NH(2). The following pseudo-undecapeptides were prepared: [Ala(1), 7,5-bTL(3, 4), Nle(8), Arg(11)]hPTH(1-11)NH(2) (I); [Ala(1), 7,5-bTL(6, 7), Nle(8), Arg(11)]hPTH(1-11)NH(2) (II); [Ala(1), Nle(8), 7,5-bTL(9, 10), Arg(11)]hPTH(1-11)NH(2) (III). In aqueous solution containing 20% TFE, only analogue I exhibited the typical CD pattern of the alpha-helical conformation. NMR experiments and molecular dynamics calculations located the alpha-helical stretch in the sequence Ile(5)-His(9). The dipeptide mimetic unit 7,5-bTL induces a type III beta-turn, occupying the positions i - 1 and i of the turn. Analogue II exhibited an equilibrium between a type I beta-turn and an alpha-helix, and analogue III did not show any ordered structure. Biological tests revealed poor activity for all analogues (EC(50) > 0.1 mM). Apparently, the relative side-chain orientation of Val(2), Ile(5) and Met(8) can be critical for effective analogue-receptor interaction. Considering helicity as an essential property to obtain active PTH agonists, one must decorate the correctly positioned dipeptide mimetic azabicycloalkane scaffold with substitutions corresponding to the displaced amino acids.     

Manganese activates the mitochondrial apoptotic pathway in rat astrocytes by modulating the expression of proteins of the Bcl-2 family

Manganese induces the central nervous system injury leading to manganism, by mechanisms not completely understood. Chronic exposure to manganese generates oxidative stress and induces the mitochondrial permeability transition. In the present study, we characterized apoptotic cell death mechanisms associated with manganese toxicity in rat cortical astrocytes and demonstrated that (i) Mn treatment targets the mitochondria and induces mitochondrial membrane depolarization followed by cytochrome c release to the cytoplasm, (ii) Mn induces both effector caspases 3/7 and 6 as well as PARP-1 cleavage and (iii) Mn shifts the balance of cell death/survival of Bcl-2 family proteins to favor the apoptotic demise of astrocytes. Our model system using cortical rat astrocytes treated with Mn would emerge as a good tool for investigations aimed to elucidate the role of apoptosis in manganism.     

Monoamine oxidases (MAO) in the pathogenesis of heart failure and ischemia/reperfusion injury

Recent evidence highlights monoamine oxidases (MAO) as another prominent source of oxidative stress. MAO are a class of enzymes located in the outer mitochondrial membrane, deputed to the oxidative breakdown of key neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine, epinephrine and dopamine, and in the process generate H₂O₂. All these monoamines are endowed with potent modulatory effects on myocardial function. Thus, when the heart is subjected to chronic neuro-hormonal and/or peripheral hemodynamic stress, the abundance of circulating/tissue monoamines can make MAO-derived H₂O₂ production particularly prominent. This is the case of acute cardiac damage due to ischemia/reperfusion injury or, on a more chronic stand, of the transition from compensated hypertrophy to overt ventricular dilation/pump failure. Here, we will first briefly discuss mitochondrial status and contribution to acute and chronic cardiac disorders. We will illustrate possible mechanisms by which MAO activity affects cardiac biology and function, along with a discussion as to their role as a prominent source of reactive oxygen species. Finally, we will speculate on why MAO inhibition might have a therapeutic value for treating cardiac affections of ischemic and non-ischemic origin. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Mitochondria and Cardioprotection.