Inhibition of endogenous thioredoxin-1 in the heart of transgenic mice does not confer cardioprotection in ischemic postconditioning

Thioredoxin-1 maintains the cellular redox status and decreases the infarct size in ischemia/reperfusion injury. However, whether the increase of thioredoxin-1 expression or its lack of activity modifies the protection conferred by ischemic postconditioning has not been yet elucidated. The aim was to evaluate if the thioredoxin-1 overexpression enhances the posctconditioning protective effect, and whether the lack of the activity abolishes the reduction of the infarct size. Wild type mice hearts, transgenic mice hearts overexpressing thioredoxin-1, and a dominant negative mutant (C32S/C35S) of thioredoxin-1 were used. The hearts were subjected to 30 min of ischemia and 120 min of reperfusion (Langendorff) (I/R group) or to postconditioning protocol (PostC group). The infarct size in the Wt-PostC group decreased in comparison to the Wt-I/R group (54.6 ± 2.4 vs. 39.2 ± 2.1%, p < 0.05), but this protection was abolished in DN-Trx1-PostC group (49.7 ± 1.1%). The ischemia/reperfusion and postconditioning in mice overexpressing thioredoxin-1 reduced infarct size at the same magnitude (35.9 ± 2.1 and 38.4 ± 1.3%, p < 0.05 vs. Wt-I/R). In Wt-PostC, Trx1-I/R and Trx1- PostC, Akt and GSK3β phosphorylation increased compared to Wt-I/R, without changes in DN-Trx1 groups. In conclusion, given that the cardioprotection conferred by thioredoxin-1 overexpression and postconditioning, is accomplished through the activation of the Akt/GSK3β survival pathway, no synergic effect was evidenced. Thioredoxin-1 plays a key role in the postconditioning, given that when this protein is inactive the cardioprotective mechanism was abolished. Thus, diverse comorbidities or situations modifying the thioredoxin activity, could explain the absence of this strong mechanism of protection in different clinical situations.     

大鼠小脑缺血再灌注损伤的细胞凋亡及尼莫通的保护作用

采用四血管闭塞法制作全脑缺血再灌动物模型, 再灌后４８ 小时取小脑, 石蜡包埋切片。应用末端转移酶介导的缺口末端标记法原位检测到小脑皮质及小脑核有阳性反应的凋亡细胞, 表明细胞凋亡是迟发性神经元损伤的主要形式。缺血前３０ 分钟给以尼莫通能有效地减少细胞凋亡, 尼莫通对小脑缺血再灌注损伤有显著性保护作用     

MMP-9基因多态性与缺血性脑卒中发病及预后的相关性研究

目的:研究基质金属蛋白酶9(MMP-9)基因多态性与缺血性脑卒中(IS)发病及预后的相关性,为IS的防治提供新的理论依据。方法:选取治疗的IS患者100例,根据TOAST分型标准分为大动脉粥样硬化型(LAA)组41例,小动脉阻塞型(SAO)组59例,并选取健康体检者40例作为对照组,采用PCR-RFLP法检测各组MMP-9基因C1562T、R279Q多态性,并对IS患者进行3个月的随访,采用Logistic回归分析C1562T、R279Q多态性与IS患者预后的相关性。结果:LAA组、SAO组MMP-9基因C1562T位点T等位基因、C/T+T/T基因型频数均高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05),LAA组、SAO组C1562T位点C等位基因、C/C基因型频数及R279Q位点等位基因和基因型频数与对照组比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05);Logistic回归分析显示,MMP-9各型别基因与预后无明显相关性(P0.05)。结论:MMP-9基因C1562T的T等位基因是IS发病的穿易感基因之一,但MMP-9基因多态性与IS患者的预后并无明显相关性。     

Serum and Cerebrospinal Fluid Magnesium Levels, Glasgow Coma Scores, and In-Hospital Mortality in Patients with Acute Stroke

The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) magnesium (Mg⁺²) levels, Glasgow Coma Scores (GCS), and 7-day mortality in acute stroke patients. Patients with acute ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke arriving within the first 3 h of symptoms were included in the study. The control group consisted of healthy volunteers. GCS was determined, and blood and CSF samples were taken in order to establish serum and CSF glucose, Mg⁺², sodium, potassium, calcium, and chlorine levels. Mortality was recorded at 7 days after admission. CSF Mg⁺² in the ischemic infarct group was significantly lower than in the control group (p = 0.006). CSF Mg⁺² in the ischemic infarct patients with a GCS ≤ 8 were significantly lower (p = 0.002) than controls and in ischemic infarct patients with a GCS ≥9. In the ischemic stroke patients, CSF Mg⁺² and GCS were significantly correlated (r = 55, p = 0.031). CSF Mg⁺² levels in ischemic stroke patients who died within 7 days were significantly lower than controls, ischemic stroke patients who survived, and hemorrhagic stroke patients who died (p = 0.002, p = 0.042, and p = 0.005, respectively). Low CSF Mg⁺² levels in patients with acute ischemic stoke at admission predicted a higher 1-week mortality.     

Proteomic analysis of hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury and ischemic preconditioning in mice revealed the protective role of ATP5β

Hepatic ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is an inevitable consequence during liver surgery. Ischemic preconditioning (IPC) has been shown to protect the livers from I/R injury, partially mediated by preservation of hepatic ATP contents. However, the precise molecular mechanisms of these events remain poorly elucidated. In this study, liver proteomes of the mice subjected to I/R injury pretreated with or without IPC were analyzed using 2‐DE combined with MALDI‐TOF/TOF mass analysis. Twenty proteins showing more than 1.5‐fold difference were identified in the livers upon I/R injury. Among these proteins, four proteins were further regulated by IPC when compared with nonpretreated controls. One of these proteins, ATP synthase β subunit (ATP5β) catalyzes the rate‐limiting step of ATP formation. The expression level of ATP5β, which was further validated by Western blot analysis, was significantly decreased upon I/R injury while turned over by IPC pretreatment. Change pattern of hepatic ATP corresponded with that of ATP5β expression, indicating that increasing hepatic ATP5β expression might be a reason for ATP‐preserving effect of IPC. In summary, this study provided new clues for understanding the mechanisms of IPC against I/R injury. The protective role of ATP5β might give evidences for developing new therapeutic approaches against hepatic I/R injury.     

Effect of ischemic preconditioning on cerebral blood flow after subsequent lethal ischemia in gerbils

Ischemic tolerance, the phenomenon where a sublethal ischemic preconditioning protects the brain against a subsequent lethal ischemia, has been widely studied. Studies have been done on cerebral blood flow levels prior to the lethal ischemia, but the hemodynamic pattern after global ischemia with ischemic preconditioning has not been reported. Sequential changes in regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) in gerbil hippocampus after 5 min global ischemia with or without 2 min ischemic preconditioning were studied to determine if ischemic preconditioning affects rCBF. Four different treatments were given: (1) sham-operated, (2) 2 min ischemia, (3) non-preconditioned, and (4) preconditioned. Groups (1) and (2) (both groups n = 5) were given a 24-h recovery period and the rCBF was measured for baseline values. 24 h after sham-operation (3) and 2 min ischemia (4), gerbils were subjected to 5 min ischemia followed by 1 h, 6 h, 1-day or 7-day reperfusion periods (all groups n = 5). Although no regional difference was observed in the recovery pattern of rCBF, the values of rCBF were significantly higher in the preconditioned group throughout whole brain regions including hippocampus. These results indicate that ischemic preconditioning facilitated the recovery of rCBF after 5 min global ischemia. It needs further study to determine whether the protecting effects of preconditioning relate to the early recovery of rCBF or not. However, our results could be interpreted that the early recovery of rCBF may lead to benefits for cell survival in the CA1 neuron, probably facilitating other protecting mechanisms.     

三七皂苷R1对大鼠缺血心肌VEGF、bFGF的影响

目的:探讨三七皂苷R1对大鼠缺血心肌VEGF、bFGF的影响。方法:选择雄性Wistar大鼠39只,建立心肌梗死(AMI)模型,术后24h存活大鼠随机分为药物组(n=13)、对照组(n=13),另设假手术组(n=8)。药物组给予三七皂苷R1水溶液(2.5 mg·kg-1·d-1)腹腔注射、对照组及假手术组给予等体积生理盐水腹腔注射,用药4周。于实验终点处死大鼠,心肌组织取材,Ⅷ因子染色计数微血管数(MVC)及微血管密度(MVD),免疫组织化学法观察缺血心肌VEGF、bFGF蛋白的表达。结果:药物组及对照组MVC、MVD均高于假手术组,且药物组高于对照组(P0.05);大鼠缺血心肌药物组及对照组VEGF、bFGF蛋白表达均高于假手术组(P0.05),且药物组高于对照组(P0.05)。结论:三七皂苷R1促进大鼠缺血心肌血管再生同时可上调缺血心肌VEGF、bFGF蛋白水平。     

Insulin renders diabetic rats resistant to acute ischemic stroke by arresting nitric oxide reaction with superoxide to form peroxynitrite

Background

The functions of free radicals on the effects of insulin that result in protection against cerebral ischemic insult in diabetes remain undefined. This present study aims to explain the contradiction among nitric oxide (NO)/superoxide/peroxynitrite of insulin in amelioration of focal cerebral ischemia–reperfusion (FC I/R) injury in streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic rats and to delineate the underlying mechanisms. Long-Evans male rats were divided into three groups (age-matched controls, diabetic, and diabetic treated with insulin) with or without being subjected to FC I/R injury.

Results

Hyperglycemia exacerbated microvascular functions, increased cerebral NO production, and aggravated FC I/R-induced cerebral infarction and neurological deficits. Parallel with hypoglycemic effects, insulin improved microvascular functions and attenuated FC I/R injury in STZ-diabetic rats. Diabetes decreased the efficacy of NO and superoxide production, but NO and superoxide easily formed peroxynitrite in diabetic rats after FC I/R injury. Insulin treatment significantly rescued the phenomenon.

Conclusions

These results suggest that insulin renders diabetic rats resistant to acute ischemic stroke by arresting NO reaction with superoxide to form peroxynitrite.     

Can isolated annular dilatation cause significant ischemic mitral regurgitation? Another look at the causative mechanisms

This study was to investigate the mechanisms of ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR) by using a finite element (FE) approach. IMR is a common complication of coronary artery disease; and it usually occurs due to myocardial infarction. The pathophysiological mechanisms of IMR have not been fully understood, much debate remains about the exact contribution of each mechanism to IMR. Two patient-specific FE models of normal mitral valves (MV) were reconstructed from multi-slice computed tomography scans. Different grades of IMR during its pathogenesis were created by perturbation of the normal MV geometry. Effects of annular dilatation and papillary muscle (PM) displacement (both isolated and combined) on the severity of IMR were examined. We observed greater increase in IMR (in terms of regurgitant area and coaptation length) in response to isolated annular dilatation than that caused by isolated PM displacement, while a larger PM displacement resulted in higher PM forces. Annular dilation, combined with PM displacement, was able to significantly increase the severity of IMR and PM forces. Our simulations demonstrated that isolated annular dilatation might be a more important determinant of IMR than isolated PM displacement, which could help explain the clinical observation that annular size reduction by restrictive annuloplasty is generally effective in treating IMR.     

小型猪急性心肌梗死后心力衰竭模型的构建

目的应用选择性冠状动脉前降支(LAD)球囊闭塞结合微血栓微球混悬液灌注方法造成心肌缺血坏死,探索建立稳定存活的小型猪急性心肌梗死(AMI)后心力衰竭(HF)动物模型。方法选择中国五指山小型猪18头,行冠脉造影后沿血管送球囊至LAD中段,依次扩张球囊阻断前向血流1、2、5 min,每次间隔60 s,然后扩张球囊堵闭血流120 min。再以4F导管超选LAD,行微血栓微球混悬液分次注入,间隔10 min重复注射,TIMI心肌灌注分级(TMPG)2级和左室舒张末压(LVEDP)15 mm Hg时停止注射,同时监测心电图及应用漂浮导管监测有创血流动力学参数。并行pigtail导管测量(LVEDP)的变化,待LVEDP稳定在15~18 mm Hg之间后结扎血管,并加压包扎。监测心肌坏死标志物(cTnI和CK-MB)变化。分别于制模前,制模后第1天、7天、14天行心脏超声检查,制模第14天复查有创血流动力学检查,并行心脏病理检查,认定和评价模型的成功率、稳定性和可重复性。结果制模14 d后共有15头小型猪成活,心电图、心肌坏死标记物、病理检查均符合AMI病理生理过程。其中14头小型猪达到动物模型标准【肺毛细血管楔压(PCWP)18 mmHg和心输出量(CO)下降30%以上】,模型成功率为77.78%。制模后第14天PCWP明显升高(P0.01),CO平均下降50.76%;左室射血分数(LVEF)明显降低(P0.01)。病理检查显示心肌梗死面积占左心室面积的25.4%~34.9%。结论球囊闭塞结合微血栓微球混悬液灌注构建小型猪急性心肌梗死后心力衰竭模型具有闭胸、高成功率、稳定和重复性好等优点,较药物、冠状动脉结扎和起搏诱导的心力衰竭模型更接近临床病理生理学特点。