Enhanced photocatalytic and electrochemical performance of hydrothermally prepared NiO-doped Co nanocomposites

In this study, we synthesize nanostructured nickel oxide (NiO) and doped cobalt (Co) by combining nickel(II) chloride hexahydrate (NiCl₂.6H₂O) and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) as initial substances. We analyzed the characteristics of the product nanostructures, including their structure, optical properties, and magnetic properties, using various techniques such as x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), ultraviolet absorption spectroscopy (UV–Vis), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometers (VSM). The NiO nanoparticles doped with Co showed photocatalytic activity in degrading methylene blue (MB) dye in aqueous solutions. We calculated the degradation efficiencies by analyzing the UV–Vis absorption spectra at the dye's absorption wavelength of 664 nm. It was observed that the NiO-doped Co nanoparticles facilitated enhanced recombination and migration of active elements, which led to more effective degradation of organic dyes during photocatalysis. We also assessed the electrochemical properties of the materials using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and impedance spectroscopy in a 1 mol% NaOH solution. The NiO-modified electrode exhibited poor voltammogram performance due to insufficient contact between nanoparticles and the electrolyte solution. In contrast, the uncapped NiO's oxidation and reduction cyclic voltammograms displayed redox peaks at 0.36 and 0.30 V, respectively.     

Role of NF-kappaB-dependent caveolin-1 expression in the mechanism of increased endothelial permeability induced by lipopolysaccharide

We investigated the role of NF-kappaB activation by the bacterial product lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in inducing caveolin-1 (Cav-1) expression and its consequence in contributing to the leakiness of the endothelial barrier. We observed that LPS challenge of human lung microvascular endothelial cells induced concentration- and time-dependent increases in expression of Cav-1 mRNA and protein. The NEMO (NF-kappaB essential modifier binding domain)-binding domain peptide (IkB kinase (IKK)-NEMO-binding domain (NBD) peptide), which prevents NF-kappaB activation by inhibiting the interaction of IKKgamma with the IKK complex, blocked LPS-induced Cav-1 mRNA and protein expression. Knockdown of NF-kappaB subunit p65/RelA expression with small interfering RNA also prevented LPS-induced Cav-1 expression. Caveolae open to the apical and basal plasmalemma of endothelial cells increased 2-4-fold within 4 h of LPS exposure. IKK-NBD peptide markedly reduced the LPS-induced increase in the number of caveolae as well as transendothelial albumin permeability. These observations were recapitulated in mouse studies in which IKK-NBD peptide prevented Cav-1 expression and interfered with the increase in lung microvessel permeability induced by LPS. Thus, LPS mediates NF-kappaB-dependent Cav-1 expression that results in increased caveolae number and thereby contributes to the mechanism of increased transendothelial albumin permeability.     

Thrombin receptors activate G(o) proteins in endothelial cells to regulate intracellular calcium and cell shape changes

Thrombin receptors couple to G(i/o), G(q), and G(12/13) proteins to regulate a variety of signal transduction pathways that underlie the physiological role of endothelial cells in wound healing or inflammation. Whereas the involvement of G(i), G(q), G(12), or G(13) proteins in thrombin signaling has been investigated extensively, the role of G(o) proteins has largely been ignored. To determine whether G(o) proteins could contribute to thrombin-mediated signaling in endothelial cells, we have developed minigenes that encode an 11-amino acid C-terminal peptide of G(o1) proteins. Previously, we have shown that use of the C-terminal minigenes can specifically block receptor activation of G protein families (). In this study, we demonstrate that G(o) proteins are present in human microvascular endothelial cells (HMECs). Moreover, we show that thrombin receptors can stimulate [(35)S]guanosine-5'-O-(3-thio)triphosphate binding to G(o) proteins when co-expressed in Sf9 membranes. The potential coupling of thrombin receptors to G(o) proteins was substantiated by transfection of the G(o1) minigene into HMECs, which led to a blockade of thrombin-stimulated release of [Ca(2+)](i) from intracellular stores. Transfection of the beta-adrenergic kinase C terminus blocked the [Ca(2+)](i) response to the same extent as with G(o1) minigene peptide, suggesting that this G(o)-mediated [Ca(2+)](i) transient was caused by Gbetagamma stimulation of PLCbeta. Transfection of a G(i1/2) minigene had no effect on thrombin-stimulated [Ca(2+)](i) signaling in HMEC, suggesting that Gbetagamma derived from G(o) but not G(i) could activate PLCbeta. The involvement of G(o) proteins on events downstream from calcium signaling was further evidenced by investigating the effect of G(o1) minigenes on thrombin-stimulated stress fiber formation and endothelial barrier permeability. Both of these effects were sensitive to pertussis toxin treatment and could be blocked by transfection of G(o1) minigenes but not G(i1/2) minigenes. We conclude that the G(o) proteins play a role in thrombin signaling distinct from G(i1/2) proteins, which are mediated through their Gbetagamma subunits and involve coupling to calcium signaling and cytoskeletal rearrangements.     

Effect of reduced arginine decarboxylase activity on salt tolerance and on polyamine formation during salt stress in Arabidopsis thaliana

Polyamines have been suggested to play an important role in stress protection. However, attempts to determine the function of polyamines have been complicated by the fact that, dependent on the conditions, polyamine contents increase or decrease during stress. To determine the importance of polyamine formation during salt stress, we analysed polyamine contents and salt tolerance in two Arabidopsis thaliana mutants, spe1-1 and spe2-1 (Watson et al. Plant J 13: 231–239, 1998), with reduced activity of arginine decarboxylase (EC 4.1.1.19), an important enzyme in polyamine synthesis. Polyamines accumulated in wild-type plants (Col-0 and Ler-0) that were pre-treated with 100 m M NaCl before transfer to 125 m M NaCl, but not in plants that were directly transferred to 125 m M NaCl without prior treatment with 100 m M NaCl. This shows that polyamine accumulation depends on acclimation to salinity. The salt treatment that induced polyamine accumulation in wild-type plants did not lead to polyamine accumulation in the spe1-1 and spe2-1 mutants. Decreased fresh weight, chlorophyll content and photosynthetic efficiency indicated that the spe1-1 mutant was more severely affected by salt stress than its wild type, Col-0. In the spe2-1 mutant decreased salt tolerance compared to its wild type, Ler-0, became apparent as bleaching under severe salt stress. The present results demonstrate that decreased polyamine formation due to lower arginine decarboxylase activity leads to reduced salt tolerance.     

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced TRPC1 expression amplifies store-operated Ca2+ influx and endothelial permeability

We determined the effects of TNF-alpha on the expression of transient receptor potential channel (TRPC) homologues in human vascular endothelial cells and the consequences of TRPC expression on the endothelial permeability response. We observed that TNF-alpha exposure increased TRPC1 expression without significantly altering expression of other TRPC isoforms in human pulmonary artery endothelial cells (HPAEC). Because TRPC1 belongs to the store-operated cation channel family, we measured the Ca(2+) store depletion-mediated Ca(2+) influx in response to thrombin exposure. We observed that thrombin-induced Ca(2+) influx in TNF-alpha-stimulated HPAEC was twofold greater than in control cells. To address the relationship between store-operated Ca(2+) influx and TRPC1 expression, we overexpressed TRPC1 by three- to fourfold in the human dermal microvascular endothelial cell line (HMEC) using the TRPC1 cDNA. Thrombin-induced store Ca(2+) depletion in these cells caused approximately twofold greater increase in Ca(2+) influx than in control cells. Furthermore, the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate-sensitive store-operated cationic current was increased greater than twofold in TRPC1-transfected cells compared with control. To address the role of Ca(2+) influx via TRPC1 in signaling endothelial permeability, we measured actin-stress fiber formation and transendothelial monolayer electrical resistance (TER) in the TRPC1 cDNA-transfected HMEC and TNF-alpha-challenged HPAEC. Both thrombin-induced actin-stress fiber formation and a decrease in TER were augmented in TRPC1-overexpressing HMEC compared with control cells. TNF-alpha-induced increased TRPC1 expression in HPAEC also resulted in marked endothelial barrier dysfunction in response to thrombin. These findings indicate the expression level of TRPC1 in endothelial cells is a critical determinant of Ca(2+) influx and signaling of the increase in endothelial permeability.     

Novel Detox Gel Depot Sequesters β-Amyloid Peptides in a Mouse Model of Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a debilitating neurodegenerative disease is caused by aggregation and accumulation of a 39–43 amino acid peptide (amyloid β or Aβ) in brain parenchyma and cerebrovasculature. The rational approach would be to use drugs that interfere with Aβ–Aβ interaction and disrupt polymerization. Peptide ligands capable of binding to the KLVFF (amino acids 16–20) region in the Aβ molecule have been investigated as possible drug candidates. Retro-inverso (RI) peptide of this pentapeptide, ffvlk, has been shown to bind artificial fibrils made from Aβ with moderate affinity. We hypothesized that a ‘detox gel’, which is synthesized by covalently linking a tetrameric version of RI peptide ffvlk to poly(ethylene glycol) polymer chains will act like a ‘sink’ to capture Aβ peptides from the surrounding environment. We previously demonstrated that this hypothesis works in an in vitro system. The present study extended this hypothesis to an in vivo mouse model of AD and determined the therapeutic effect of our detox gel. We injected detox gel subcutaneously to AD model mice and analyzed brain levels of Aβ-42 and improvement in memory parameters. The results showed a reduction of brain amyloid burden in detox gel treated mice. Memory parameters in the treated mice improved. No undesirable immune response was observed. The data strongly suggest that our detox gel can be used as an effective therapy to deplete brain Aβ levels. Considering recent abandonment of failed antibody based therapies, our detox gel appears to have the advantage of being a non-immune based therapy.     

Targeted gene inactivation of calpain-1 suppresses cortical degeneration due to traumatic brain injury and neuronal apoptosis induced by oxidative stress

Calpains are calcium-regulated cysteine proteases that have been implicated in the regulation of cell death pathways. Here, we used our calpain-1 null mouse model to evaluate the function of calpain-1 in neural degeneration following a rodent model of traumatic brain injury. In vivo, calpain-1 null mice show significantly less neural degeneration and apoptosis and a smaller contusion 3 days post-injury than wild type littermates. Protection from traumatic brain injury corroborated with the resistance of calpain-1 neurons to apoptosis induced by oxidative stress. Biochemical analysis revealed that caspase-3 activation, extracellular calcium entry, mitochondrial membrane permeability, and release of apoptosis-inducing factor from mitochondria are partially blocked in the calpain-1 null neurons. These findings suggest that the calpain-1 knock-out mice may serve as a useful model system for neuronal protection and apoptosis in traumatic brain injury and other neurodegenerative disorders in which oxidative stress plays a role.