A simple and biosafe method for isolation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells

Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC_S) are used as an irreplaceable tool for the study of vascular diseases. However, the technicians who isolate HUVECs are largely exposed to potential infectious threats. Here we report the development of a specialized instrument to protect researchers from known or unknown infectious agents when they operate on human umbilical cords. This instrument can be assembled by common laboratory supplies and adapted to accommodate umbilical cords of different lengths. When the cord is enclosed within the instrument, the risk of sample contamination and operator infection is greatly reduced. Using our instrument, endothelial cells were successfully isolated from human umbilical veins without contamination. The cells were verified by their cobblestone-like morphology and by immunofluorescence staining (Factor VIII and CD31 positivity and α-SMA negativity). Our instrument simplifies and optimizes the cell extraction process, and most importantly elevates the biosafety to a higher level during the isolation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells.     

丹参酮ⅡA 磺酸钠注射液对原发性高血压患者血脂水平及内皮功能的影响

目的:研究丹参酮ⅡA磺酸钠注射液对原发性高血压患者血脂水平及内皮功能的影响。方法:选择2013年5月-2015年10月在我院首次诊断为原发性高血压的80例患者作为研究对象,根据治疗方法不同将入组患者随机分为实验组和对照组。实验组患者接受丹参酮ⅡA磺酸钠注射液联合口服降压药物治疗,对照组患者仅接受口服降压药物治疗,比较两者患者治疗前后的血压、肝肾功能、血脂水平以及内皮功能指标的变化。结果:治疗后,两组患者的收缩压、舒张压水平均低于治疗前,且实验组患者的收缩压、舒张压水平与对照组比较均无统计学差异。治疗后,两组患者的ALT、AST、Scr水平均与治疗前比较均无显著差异,且实验组患者的ALT、AST、Scr水平与对照组比较无统计学差异。治疗后,实验组患者的TC、TG、LDL水平明显低于治疗前(P0.05),对照组患者的TC、TG、LDL与治疗前比较无统计学差异(P0.05),实验组患者的TC、TG、LDL水平显著低于对照组(P0.05)。结论:丹参酮ⅡA磺酸钠注射液有助于改善原发性高血压患者的血脂代谢以及内皮功能,且对患者的肝肾功能无明显影响。     

三维联合培养牙髓细胞和血管内皮祖细胞促进成牙本质向/成骨向分化

目的:探讨三维联合培养牙髓细胞(dental pulp cells, DPCs)和血管内皮祖细胞(endothelial progenitor cells, EPCs)对成牙本质向/成骨向分化的影响。方法:取单独培养DPCs及联合培养的DPCs和EPCs进行三维培养后成牙本质向/成骨向诱导,使用茜素红染色及半定量分析、RT-PCR和细胞免疫荧光检测成牙本质向/成骨向分化能力。采用SPSS 23.0统计软件对数据进行统计学分析。结果:茜素红染色显示联合培养组和单独培养组之间未见显著差异。RT-PCR和细胞免疫荧光显示成牙本质向/成骨向相关基因m RNAs和蛋白表达水平联合培养组显著高于单独培养组。结论:三维联合培养的DPCs和EPCs促进成牙本质向/成骨向分化,为牙髓再生提供可能实验依据。     

Neurturin-GFRalpha2 signaling controls liver bud migration along the ductus venosus in the chick embryo

During chick liver development, the liver bud arises from the foregut, invaginates into the septum transversum, and elongates along and envelops the ductus venosus. However, the mechanism of liver bud migration is only poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that a GDNF family ligand involved in neuronal outgrowth and migration, neurturin (NRTN), and its receptor, GFRalpha2, are essential for liver bud migration. In the chick embryo, we found that GFRalpha2 was expressed in the liver bud and that NRTN was expressed in the endothelial cells of the ductus venosus. Inhibition of GFRalpha2 signaling suppressed liver bud elongation along the ductus venous without affecting cell proliferation and apoptosis. Moreover, ectopic expression of NRTN perturbed the directional migration along the ductus venosus, leading to splitting or ectopic branching of the liver. We showed that liver buds selectively migrated toward an NRTN-soaked bead in vitro. These data represent a new model for liver bud migration: NRTN secreted from endothelial cells functions as a chemoattractant to direct the migration of the GFRalpha2-expressing liver bud in early liver development.     

Identification and characterization of cells with high angiogenic potential and transitional phenotype in calcific aortic valve

Recent data suggest that angiogenesis plays an important role in the pathogenesis of valvular disease. However, the cellular mechanisms underlying this process remain unknown. This study aimed at identifying and characterizing the cellular components responsible for pathological neovascularization in calcific aortic valves (CAV). Immunohistochemical analysis of uncultured CAV tissues revealed that smooth muscle alpha-actin (alpha-SMA)-positive cells, which coexpressed Tie-2 and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR-2), can be identified prior to the initiation of capillary-like tube formation. In a second step, leaflets of CAV and non-calcific aortic valves (NCAV) were cultured and the cells involved in capillary-like tube formation were isolated. The majority of these cells displayed the same phenotype as non-cultured cells identified in CAV tissues, i.e., expression of alpha-SMA, Tie-2, and VEGFR-2. In comparison to cells isolated from cultures of NCAV leaflets, these cells showed enhanced angiogenic activity as demonstrated by migration and tube assays. The coexpression of VEGFR-2 and Tie-2 together with alpha-SMA suggests both endothelial and mesenchymal properties of the angiogenically activated cells involved in valvular neovascularization. Hence, our findings might provide new insights into the process of pathological angiogenesis in cardiac valves.     

头针对局灶性脑缺血脑微血管内皮细胞ICAM-1影响的动态观察

目的:在分子水平探讨并阐明脑缺血再灌注脑损伤的炎性机理和针刺对局灶性脑缺血模型脑微血管内皮细胞功能的动态影响。方法:采用大脑中动脉线栓阻塞法建立大鼠局灶性脑缺血模型;用免疫组化SABC法检测脑缺血后治疗1d、3d、5d、10d细胞间粘附分子-1的表达。结果:针刺不同疗程治疗各组大鼠在治疗前后的神经症状行为评定分析有显著性差异(p＜0．05);模型组ICAM-1脑缺血后ID即出现表达,5D达到表达高峰,各个时间点相比具有显著的统计学意义(P＜0．01)。结论:头针对脑缺血状态下微血管内皮细胞功能的全方位和多层面良性调节机制,并且这种良性机制随着干预时间的选择(早期/6 d)和疗程的适度延长(5天以上),具有明显的累加蓄积效应。     

内皮特异性miR-342-5p敲除致小鼠内皮损伤和心血管功能紊乱

摘要 目的：我们前期研究发现有氧运动促进内皮细胞等分泌miR-342-5p,miR-342-5p通过外泌体富集至心肌细胞后发挥心脏保护作用。本研究的主要目的是明确内皮来源的miR-342-5p在心血管功能调控中的作用。方法：我们构建了内皮特异性miR-342-5p敲除小鼠,通过心脏超声检测和血管收缩舒张功能检测观察了该小鼠心血管功能的变化;培养血管内皮细胞,通过对细胞存活率检测、相关蛋白的表达检测等方法对miR-342-5p发挥心血管保护作用的机制进行探究。结果：内皮miR-342-5p敲除致小鼠运动能力降低、心脏收缩功能不变,但舒张功能紊乱。且内皮miR-342-5p敲除致小鼠血管口径变小、微血管密度降低和血管内皮功能紊乱。内皮miR-342-5p敲除致小鼠心血管功能紊乱的机制与其引起的内皮细胞损伤有关。敲低miR-342-5p致内皮细胞中caspase 9水平增加,引起内皮细胞活性降低和凋亡增加。结论：这些结果进一步证实了内皮细胞来源的miR-342-5p在心血管功能中的重要作用,提示miR-342-5p在防治心血管疾病中的潜在应用。     

阿替普酶联合阿加曲班对急性缺血性脑卒中患者内皮损伤、血液流变学和神经功能损伤因子的影响

摘要 目的：探讨阿替普酶联合阿加曲班治疗急性缺血性脑卒中（AIS）对患者内皮损伤、血液流变学和神经功能损伤因子的影响。方法：采用随机数字表法,将南方医科大学珠江医院神经内科2019年8月~2021年7月期间收治的94例AIS患者分为对照组（n=47）和研究组（n=47）。对照组患者接受阿替普酶治疗,研究组患者接受阿替普酶联合阿加曲班治疗,对比两组疗效、内皮损伤指标、血液流变学指标、神经功能损伤因子、美国国立卫生研究所卒中量表（NIHSS）评分、Barthel指数（BI）评分和不良反应。结果：与对照组治疗后相比,研究组治疗后的临床总有效率更高（P<0.05）。与对照组治疗后相比,研究组治疗后内皮素-1（ET-1）水平更低,降钙素基因相关肽（CGRP）、一氧化氮（NO）水平更高（P<0.05）。与对照组治疗后相比,研究组治疗后血浆黏度（PV）、全血黏度（WBV）、红细胞压积（HCT）、纤维蛋白原（FIB）水平更低（P<0.05）。与对照组治疗后相比,研究组治疗后神经元特异性烯醇化酶（NSE）、S100β蛋白水平更低（P<0.05）。与对照组治疗后相比,研究组治疗后NIHSS评分更低,BI评分更高（P<0.05）。两组不良反应发生率组间对比无差异（P>0.05）。结论：阿替普酶联合阿加曲班应用于AIS患者,可改善机体血液流变学,减轻内皮功能损伤和神经功能损害。     

Methylglyoxal evokes acute Ca2+ transients in distinct cell types and increases agonist-evoked Ca2+ entry in endothelial cells via CRAC channels

Methylglyoxal (MG) is a by-product of glucose metabolism and its accumulation has been linked to the development of diabetic complications such as retinopathy and nephropathy by affecting multiple signalling pathways. However, its influence on the intracellular Ca²⁺ homeostasis and particularly Ca²⁺ entry, which has been reported to be mediated via TRPA1 channels in DRG neurons, has not been studied in much detail in other cell types. In this study, we report the consequences of acute and long-term MG application on intracellular Ca²⁺ levels in endothelial cells. We showed that acute MG application doesn’t evoke any instantaneous changes in the intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration in immortalized mouse cardiac endothelial cells (MCECs) and murine microvascular endothelial cells (muMECs). In contrast, an MG-induced rise in intracellular Ca²⁺ level was observed in primary mouse mesangial cells within 30 s, indicating that the modulation of Ca²⁺ homeostasis by MG is strictly cell type specific. The formation of the MG-derived advanced glycation end product (AGE) MG-H1 was found to be time and concentration-dependent in MCECs. Likewise, MG pre-incubation for 6 h increased the angiotensin II-evoked Ca²⁺ entry in MCECs and muMECs which was abrogated by inhibition of Calcium release activated calcium (CRAC) channels with GSK-7975A, but unaffected by an inhibitor specific to TRPA1 channels. Quantitative PCR analysis revealed that MG pre-treatment did not affect expression of the genes encoding the angiotensin receptors AT1R (Agtr 1a & Agtr 1b), Trpa1 nor Orai1, Orai2, Orai3, Stim1, Stim2 and Saraf which operate as constituents or regulators of CRAC channels and store-operated Ca²⁺ entry (SOCE) in other cell types. Together, our results show that long-term MG stimulation leads to the formation of glycation end products, which facilitates the agonist-evoked Ca²⁺ entry in endothelial cells, and this could be a new pathway that might lead to MG-evoked vasoregression observed in diabetic vasculopathies.     

Methylglyoxal accumulation de-regulates HoxA5 expression,thereby impairing angiogenesis in glyoxalase 1 knock-down mouse aortic endothelial cells

Impaired angiogenesis leads to long-term complications and is a major contributor of the high morbidity in patients with Diabetes Mellitus (DM). Methylglyoxal (MGO) is a glycolysis byproduct that accumulates in DM and is detoxified by the Glyoxalase 1 (Glo1). Several studies suggest that MGO contributes to vascular complications through mechanisms that remain to be elucidated. In this study we have clarified for the first time the molecular mechanism involved in the impairment of angiogenesis induced by MGO accumulation.Angiogenesis was evaluated in mouse aortic endothelial cells isolated from Glo1-knockdown mice (Glo1KD MAECs) and their wild-type littermates (WT MAECs). Reduction in Glo1 expression led to an accumulation of MGO and MGO-modified proteins and impaired angiogenesis of Glo1KD MAECs. Both mRNA and protein levels of the anti-angiogenic HoxA5 gene were increased in Glo1KD MAECs and its silencing improved both their migration and invasion. Nuclear NF-?B-p65 was increased 2.5-fold in the Glo1KD as compared to WT MAECs. Interestingly, NF-?B-p65 binding to HoxA5 promoter was also 2-fold higher in Glo1KD MAECs and positively regulated HoxA5 expression in MAECs. Consistent with these data, both the exposure to a chemical inhibitor of Glo1 “SpBrBzGSHCp2” (GI) and to exogenous MGO led to the impairment of migration and the increase of HoxA5 mRNA and NF-?B-p65 protein levels in microvascular mouse coronary endothelial cells (MCECs).This study demonstrates, for the first time, that MGO accumulation increases the antiangiogenic factor HoxA5 via NF-?B-p65, thereby impairing the angiogenic ability of endothelial cells.