Angiopoietin-1-induced angiogenesis is modulated by endothelial NADPH oxidase

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play a central role in the pathogenesis of many cardiovascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis and hypertension. Endothelial NADPH oxidase is the major source of intracellular ROS. The present study investigated the role of endothelial NADPH oxidase-derived ROS in angiopoietin-1 (Ang-1)-induced angiogenesis. Exposure of porcine coronary artery endothelial cells (PCAECs) to Ang-1 (250 ng/ml) for periods up to 30 min led to a transient and dose-dependent increase in intracellular ROS. Thirty minutes of pretreatment with the NADPH oxidase inhibitors diphenylene iodinium (DPI, 10 microM) and apocynin (200 microM) suppressed Ang-1-stimulated ROS. Pretreatment with either DPI or apocynin also significantly attenuated Ang-1-induced Akt and p44/42 MAPK phosphorylation. In addition, inhibition of NADPH oxidase significantly suppressed Ang-1-induced endothelial cell migration and sprouting from endothelial spheroids. Using mouse heart microvascular endothelial cells from wild-type (WT) mice and mice deficient in the p47(phox) component of NADPH oxidase (p47(phox-/-)), we found that although Ang-1 stimulated intracellular ROS, Akt and p42/44 MAPK phosphorylation, and cell migration in WT cells, the responses were strikingly suppressed in cells from the p47(phox-/-) mice. Furthermore, exposure of aortic rings from p47(phox-/-) mice to Ang-1 demonstrated fewer vessel sprouts than WT mice. Inhibition of the Tie-2 receptor inhibited Ang-1-induced endothelial migration and vessel sprouting. Together, our data strongly suggest that endothelial NADPH oxidase-derived ROS play a critical role in Ang-1-induced angiogenesis.     

Urotensin II increases foam cell formation by repressing ABCA1 expression through the ERK/NF-κB pathway in THP-1 macrophages

Objective

Foam cell formation in the arterial wall plays a key role in the development of atherosclerosis. Recent studies showed that Urotensin II (U II) is involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Here we examined the effects of human U II on ATP-binding cassette transporter A1 (ABCA1) expression and the underlying mechanism in THP-1 macrophages.

Methods and results

Cultured THP-1 macrophages were treated with U II, followed by measuring the intracellular lipid contents, cholesterol efflux and ABCA1 levels. The results showed that U II dramatically decreased ABCA1 levels and impaired cholesterol efflux. However, the effects of U II on ABCA1 protein expression and cellular cholesterol efflux were partially reversed by inhibition of extracellular signal regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) activity, suggesting the potential roles of ERK1/2 and NF-κB in ABCA1 expression, respectively.

Conclusion

Our current data indicate that U II may have promoting effects on the progression of atherosclerosis, likely through suppressing ABCA1 expression via activation of the ERK/NF-κB pathway and reducing cholesterol efflux to promote macrophage foam cell formation.     

Endostatin binds biglycan and LDL and interferes with LDL retention to the subendothelial matrix during atherosclerosis

Retention of lipoproteins to proteoglycans in the subendothelial matrix (SEM) is an early event in atherosclerosis. We recently reported that collagen XVIII and its proteolytically released fragment endostatin (ES) are differentially depleted in blood vessels affected by atherosclerosis. Loss of collagen XVIII/ES in atherosclerosis-prone mice enhanced plaque neovascularization and increased the vascular permeability to lipids by distinct mechanisms. Impaired endothelial barrier function increased the influx of lipoproteins across the endothelium; however, we hypothesized that enhanced retention might be a second mechanism leading to the increased lipid content in atheromas lacking collagen XVIII. We now demonstrate a novel property of ES that binds both the matrix proteoglycan biglycan and LDL and interferes with LDL retention to biglycan and to SEM. A peptide encompassing the alpha coil in the ES crystal structure mediates the major blocking effect of ES on LDL retention. ES inhibits the macrophage uptake of biglycan-associated LDL indirectly by interfering with LDL retention to biglycan, but it has no direct effect on the macrophage uptake of native or modified lipoproteins. Thus, loss of ES in advanced atheromas enhances lipoprotein retention in SEM. Our data reveal a third protective role of this vascular basement membrane component during atherosclerosis.     

Neuroprotective effect of the endogenous neural peptide apelin in cultured mouse cortical neurons

The adipocytokine apelin and its G protein-coupled APJ receptor were initially isolated from a bovine stomach and have been detected in the brain and cardiovascular system. Recent studies suggest that apelin can protect cardiomyocytes from ischemic injury. Here, we investigated the effect of apelin on apoptosis in mouse primary cultures of cortical neurons. Exposure of the cortical cultures to a serum-free medium for 24 h induced nuclear fragmentation and apoptotic death; apelin-13 (1.0-5.0 nM) markedly prevented the neuronal apoptosis. Apelin neuroprotective effects were mediated by multiple mechanisms. Apelin-13 reduced serum deprivation (SD)-induced ROS generation, mitochondria depolarization, cytochrome c release and activation of caspase-3. Apelin-13 prevented SD-induced changes in phosphorylation status of Akt and ERK1/2. In addition, apelin-13 attenuated NMDA-induced intracellular Ca²⁺ accumulation. These results indicate that apelin is an endogenous neuroprotective adipocytokine that may block apoptosis and excitotoxic death via cellular and molecular mechanisms. It is suggested that apelins may be further explored as a potential neuroprotective reagent for ischemia-induced brain damage.     

Utilization of the tricarboxylic acid cycle, a reactor design criterion for the microaerobic production of 2,3-butanediol

A new parameter, the relative utilization of tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle beta, is introduced to quantitatively account for the involvement of fermentation pathways and TCA cycle in the utilization of oxygen under oxygen-limiting (microaerobic) conditions. With the facultative anaerobe Enterobacter aerogenes, which produces 2,3-butanediol, a method is proposed to calculate beta from measurement of metabolites and exhaust gas. In continuous culture beta was found to be small under oxygen limitation, indicating that the fermentation pathways were preferred over the TCA cycle and oxygen was almost entirely consumed through oxidation of reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH(2)) released by fermentation under these conditions. The increase of beta at high oxygen supply revealed a saturation of oxygen utilization through fermentation pathways. It could be concluded that, for the optimal performance of a microaerobic culture, oxygen uptake rate must be kept at such a level that as much NADH(2) as possible from fermentation pathways is oxidized by oxygen, and at the same time the utilization of TCA cycle is kept at a minimum. As the dynamics of the microaerobic culture can be fast, a significant effect of reactor hydrodynamics, i.e., mixing, on the overall performance can be expected. This was confirmed experimentally, and the parameter beta proved to be a useful reactor design criterium for the microaerobic cultivation. (c) 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Evaluation of garlic intercropping for enhancing the biological control of Ralstonia solanacearum in flue-cured tobacco fields

Tobacco bacterial wilt, Ralstonia solanacearum, is an important disease affecting the root and stem. The disease causes extensive damage to flue-cured tobacco all over the word. Field trials were conducted in 2008 and 2009 at Longyan, Fujian Province, China, to evaluate garlic intercropping for enhancing the biological control of R. solanacearum in flue-cured tobacco fields. The results of the study demonstrate that tobacco bacterial wilt was clearly inhibited by intercropping garlic in 2008 and 2009. The appearance of the disease in intercropped fields was delayed for about 15 days. The total number of R. solanacearum in root system soils was significantly lower in intercropped fields than in monocultured fields in 2008. These numbers were between 138×10⁴ and 161×10⁴ cfu g^–1 dry soil in intercropped fields. The corresponding values in monocultured fields were 357×10⁴ cfu g^–1 dry soil. The monetary value of tobacco leaves was obviously higher in intercropped fields than in monocultured ones. The per cent increase in monetary values in the intercropped fields was between 14 and 34%. Consequently, intercropping tobacco with garlic might be very useful for enhancing biological control of R. solanacearum in flue-cured tobacco fields.     

Microtubule and microfilament distribution and tubulin content in the cell cycle of Indian muntjac cells

Using DAPI, rabbit antitubulin antibody, FITC-labeled goat anti-rabbit IgG, and TRITC-phalloidin to stain individual cells, the microspectrophotometric analysis showed that three markers that represent the nucleus, microtubules (MT), and microfilaments (MF), respectively, could be recognized in individual cells without interference. The phase of the cell cycle was determined by DNA content. We found that in Indian muntjac (IM) cells, the amount of tubulin in G2 and M phases was about twice as much as that in G1 phase. In G2 cells, the cytoplasmic microtubule complex (CMTC) became denser than in G1 cells. The cytoplasmic MT extent in basically the same orientation as MF bundles in interphase. The regions where the MT is denser also have a denser MF distribution.     

Nitro as a novel zinc-binding group in the inhibition of carboxypeptidase A

2-Substituted 3-nitropropanoic acids were designed and synthesized as inhibitors against carboxypeptidase A (CPA). (R)-2-Benzyl- 3-nitropropanoic acid showed a potent inhibition against CPA (K(i)=0.15 microM). X-ray crystallography discloses that the nitro group well mimics the transition state occurred in the hydrolysis catalyzed by CPA, that is, an O,O'-bidentate coordination to the zinc ion and the two respective hydrogen bonds with Glu-270 and Arg-127. Because the nitro group is a planar species, we proposed (R)-2-benzyl-3-nitropropanoic acid as a pseudo-transition-state analog inhibitor against CPA.     

ATP25, a new nuclear gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae required for expression and assembly of the Atp9p subunit of mitochondrial ATPase

We report a new nuclear gene, designated ATP25 (reading frame YMR098C on chromosome XIII), required for expression of Atp9p (subunit 9) of the Saccharomyces cerevisiae mitochondrial proton translocating ATPase. Mutations in ATP25 elicit a deficit of ATP9 mRNA and of its translation product, thereby preventing assembly of functional F(0). Unlike Atp9p, the other mitochondrial gene products, including ATPase subunits Atp6p and Atp8p, are synthesized normally in atp25 mutants. Northern analysis of mitochondrial RNAs in an atp25 temperature-sensitive mutant confirmed that Atp25p is required for stability of the ATP9 mRNA. Atp25p is a mitochondrial inner membrane protein with a predicted mass of 70 kDa. The primary translation product of ATP25 is cleaved in vivo after residue 292 to yield a 35-kDa C-terminal polypeptide. The C-terminal half of Atp25p is sufficient to stabilize the ATP9 mRNA and restore synthesis of Atp9p. Growth on respiratory substrates, however, depends on both halves of Atp25p, indicating that the N-terminal half has another function, which we propose to be oligomerization of Atp9p into a proper size ring structure.     

应用气-质联用仪测定三种螺旋藻中的甾醇成分

应用GLC/MS联用仪对室内培养的钝顶螺旋藻(Spirulina platensis (Nordstedt) Geitler)、极大螺旋藻(S.maxima (Stechell & Gardiner) Geitler)和盐泽螺旋藻(S.subsalsa Oerst)的甾醇成分进行了测定。从钝顶螺旋藻和盐泽螺旋藻中共分出11个相同的甾醇组分:胆甾醇、胆甾烷醇、芸苔甾醇、麦角甾醇、海绵甾醇、菜子甾醇、豆甾醇、24-乙基-Δ~(5,7,22)-胆甾醇、β-谷甾醇、异岩藻甾醇和4α,23,24-三甲基Δ~(5,22)-胆甾醇;从极大螺旋藻中只分离出8个甾醇组分。其中胆甾醇含量最高。4α,23,24-三甲基-Δ~(5,22)-胆甾醇为蓝藻中首次报导。