Lithospermic acid B isolated from Salvia miltiorrhiza ameliorates ischemia/reperfusion-induced renal injury in rats

The present study was designed to examine whether lithospermic acid B (LSB) isolated from Salvia miltiorrhiza has an ameliorative effect on renal functional parameters in association with the expression of aquaporin 2 (AQP 2) and Na,K-ATPase in the ischemia-reperfusion induced acute renal failure (ARF) rats. LSB showed strong antioxidant activity against production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), ROS-induced hemolysis, and production of lipid peroxide in a dose-dependent manner. Polyuria caused by down-regulation of renal AQP 2 in the ischemia-reperfusion induced ARF rats was partially restored by administration of LSB (40 mg/kg, i.p.), restoring expression of AQP 2, in renal inner and outer medulla. The expression of Na,K-ATPase alpha1 subunit in outer medulla of the ARF rats was also restored in the ARF rats by administration of LSB, while beta1 subunit level was not altered. The renal functional parameters including creatinine clearance, urinary sodium excretion, urinary osmolality, and solute-free reabsorption were also partially restored in ischemia-ARF rats by administration of LSB. Histological study also showed that renal damages in the ARF rats were abrogated by administration of LSB. Taken together, these data indicate that LSB ameliorates renal defects in rats with ischemia-reperfusion induced ARF, most likely via scavenging of ROS.     

The von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor protein influences microtubule dynamics at the cell periphery

The von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) protein protects microtubules (MTs) from destabilization by nocodazole treatment. Based on this fixed-cell assay with static end points, VHL has been reported to directly stabilize the MT cytoskeleton. To investigate the dynamic changes in MTs induced by VHL in living cells, we measured the influence of VHL on tubulin turnover using fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP). To this end, we engineered VHL-deficient renal cell carcinoma cells to constitutively incorporate fluorescently labeled tubulin and to inducibly express VHL. Induction of VHL in these cells resulted in a decrease of tubulin turnover as measured by FRAP at the cell periphery, while minimally influencing MT dynamics around the centrosome. Our data indicates that VHL changes the behavior of MTs dependent on their subcellular localization implying a role for VHL in cellular processes such as migration, polarization, and cell-cell interactions. Here we propose a complementary method to directly measure VHL-induced subcellular changes in microtubule dynamics, which may serve as a tool to study the effect of MT binding proteins such as VHL.     

Detection of protein Z in a renal calculus composed of calcium oxalate monohydrate with the use of liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry following two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis separation

Protein Z, a vitamin K-dependent plasma protein, has been detected for the first time in a renal calculus along with osteopontin and prothrombin. The renal calculus was obtained from a hyperuricemic patient. Following two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, the calculus was analyzed with the use of liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The spectrometer was equipped with a nanoelectrospray interface and an ion trap. Four peptides were determined from a protein in the calculus through LC-MS/MS analysis. Tandem mass spectrum database matching tools were used to identify the protein as protein Z. Authentic protein Z was also analyzed using the same method, and all four peptides determined in the calculus were similarly identified. Whereas protein Z has been reported to be one of the vitamin K-dependent calcium-binding proteins, its role has not been well established. The fact that protein Z exists in a renal calculus composed of calcium oxalate will be beneficial in any future investigations into its role in the body.     

The origin of sympathetic outflow in heart failure: the roles of angiotensin II and nitric oxide

The regulation of sympathetic nerve activity in chronic heart failure (CHF) has been an area of renewed investigation. Understanding the central mechanisms that are responsible for sympatho-excitation in this disease state may help in reducing the deleterious effects of chronic sympatho-excitation. This review will summarize our understanding of abnormal reflex control of the circulation in CHF. The roles of the arterial baroreflex, the chemoreflex, the cardiac sympathetic afferent reflex and the cardiopulmonary reflex are discussed. New experimental techniques that allow genetic manipulation of substances such as nitric oxide synthase in discrete areas of the brain aid in clarifying the role of NO in the modulation of sympathetic tone in the CHF state. Lastly, clinical implications of this work are discussed.     

Leukocyte orchestration in blood and tumour tissue following interleukin-2 based immunotherapy in metastatic renal cell carcinoma

With the objective of evaluating leukocyte orchestration in situ, serial blood samples and tumour tissue core needle biopsies were obtained at baseline and repeated after 1 month of therapy, among 49 consecutive single-institution patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC). Patients were treated with outpatient low-dose subcutaneous interleukin 2 (IL-2) and interferon (IFN-) alone (n=23) or in combination with histamine dihydrochloride (n=26). Objective responses were achieved in ten of 49 patients (20%) with an overall median survival of 14 months and an estimated 1- to 4-year survival rate of 57, 35, 24 and 22%, respectively. Toxicity was mild to moderate with no treatment-related deaths. High numbers of blood monocytes and neutrophils were significantly correlated to short survival. By contrast, high numbers of intratumoural CD3⁺, CD4⁺, CD8⁺ and CD57⁺ lymphocytes were positively correlated to objective response and/or long-term survival. Intratumoural lymphocytes showed low expression, whereas blood lymphocytes showed almost normal levels of expression. Neutrophils, the most frequent peripheral blood leukocyte subset, were scarce within the tumour tissue. Intratumoural eosinophils were not observed. In progressing patients, both the absolute number and the relative composition of leukocyte subsets in blood and tumour tissue remained unaffected by cytokine therapy. However, in responding patients, cytokine therapy was followed by an absolute and relative increase in T cells in blood as well as tumour tissue, an absolute and relative reduction in neutrophils in peripheral blood and a relative reduction of intratumoural macrophages. Histamine did not influence levels of intratumoural or blood leukocyte numbers, -chain expression or cytotoxicity. In conclusion, the present regimen of outpatient low-dose subcutaneous IL-2 and IFN- in mRCC should attract interest based on response, survival and toxicity. In responding patients, cytokine therapy was followed by substantial changes in the blood and tumour tissue leukocyte composition, correlated to response and survival. No discernable differences in immunologic parameters studied could be detected between histamine- and nonhistamine-treated patients.     

他汀类药物对外周血内皮祖细胞的影响

本文旨在探讨他汀类药物氟伐他汀对外周血内皮祖细胞(endothelial progenitor cells,EPCs)数量和功能的影响.用密度梯度离心从外周血获取单个核细胞,将其接种在人纤维连接蛋白(human fibronectin)包被的培养板中,培养7 d后,收集贴壁细胞,加入不同浓度氟伐他汀(分别为0.01、0.1、1、10μmol/L)和辛伐他汀(1 μmol/L),培养一定的时间(6、12、24、48 h).用激光共聚焦显微镜鉴定FITC-UEA-I和DiI-acLDL双染色阳性细胞为正在分化的EPCs,用流式细胞仪检测其表面标志进一步鉴定EPCs,在倒置荧光显微镜下计数.采用MTT比色法、改良的Boyden小室、粘附能力测定实验和体外血管生成试剂盒观察EPCs的增殖能力、迁移能力、粘附能力和体外血管生成能力.结果显示,氟伐他汀可显著增加外周血EPCs的数量,并且EPCs数量随氟伐他汀浓度增加及作用时间延长而增加,1 μmol/L浓度氟伐他汀作用24h对EPCs的数量影响最为显著(较对照组增加15倍,P＜0.05).在动物实验中,喂养氟伐他汀3周后,大鼠的EPCs也较对照组增加2倍(P＜0.05),进一步支持了体外实验的结果.氟伐他汀和辛伐他汀也显著改善外周血EPCs的粘附能力、迁移能力、增殖能力和体外血管生成的能力,相同浓度的氟伐他汀和辛伐他汀(1 μmol/L)对EPCs数量和功能的影响并无显著差异.上述观察结果提示他汀类药物可增加EPCs的数量,改善EPCs功能.     

Apolipoprotein L-I is positively associated with hyperglycemia and plasma triglycerides in CAD patients with low HDL

Apolipoprotein L-I (apoL-I) is present on a subset of HDL particles and is positively correlated with plasma triglycerides (TGs). We measured plasma apoL-I levels in coronary artery disease (CAD) subjects with low HDL who were enrolled in an angiographic CAD prevention trial. At baseline, apoL-I levels (n = 136; range, 2.2-64.1 mug/ml) were right skewed with a large degree of variability. Multivariate analysis for biological determinants of apoL-I revealed that the log of VLDL-TG (+0.17; P < 0.05) and hyperglycemia (HG; +0.26; P < 0.005) independently predicted apoL-I level. Hyperglycemic patients (n = 24) had mean apoL-I levels >50% higher than normoglycemic subjects (n = 112; 13.2 vs. 8.3 mug/ml, respectively; P < 0.001). No relationship between apoL-I level and change in CAD was found (r = 0.06, P = 0.49). Simvastatin-niacin therapy did not alter apoL-I levels (n = 34; P = 0.27), whereas antioxidant vitamins alone increased apoL-I by >50% (n = 36; P < 0.01). Genotyping of a known apoL-I polymorphism (Lys166Glu) did not independently account for any of the variability in apoL-I levels. In conclusion, we found TG and HG to be the strongest predictors of apoL-I within a dyslipidemic CAD population. These data provide further characterization of the novel HDL-associated apoL-I.     

The correlation of paraoxonase (PON1) activity with lipid and lipoprotein levels differs with vascular disease status

Paraoxonase (PON1) is an HDL-associated enzyme. Low PON1 activity predicts vascular disease status and is a more reliable predictor of vascular disease than are functional PON1 genotypes. There is evidence that the relationship of PON1 to vascular disease is, in part, due to its antioxidant activity. However, the physical relationship of PON1 with HDL and the existence of cholesterol pathway regulatory elements at the PON1 locus suggest a further relationship of PON1 with lipoproteins, which may contribute to its role in vascular disease. We investigated the relationship of PON1 activity and genotype to lipid-related traits in 91 Caucasian men with severe carotid artery disease and 184 without vascular disease who were not on lipid-lowering medications. Prior studies of PON1 relationship to lipids have not stratified by disease status.. We found that PON1 activity was correlated with HDL traits in controls and with LDL- and VLDL-related traits in cases. We hypothesize differences in the joint regulation of PON1 and lipoproteins in cases and controls.     

Lessons to be learned from primary renal cell carcinomas: novel tumor antigens and HLA ligands for immunotherapy

The lack of sufficient well-defined tumor-associated antigens is still a drawback on the way to a cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-based immunotherapy of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). We are trying to define a larger number of such targets by a combined approach involving HLA ligand characterization by mass spectrometry and gene expression profiling by oligonucleotide microarrays. Here, we present the results of a large-scale analysis of 13 RCC specimens. We were able to identify more than 700 peptides, mostly from self-proteins without any evident tumor association. However, some HLA ligands derived from previously known tumor antigens in RCC. In addition, gene expression profiling of tumors and a set of healthy tissues revealed novel candidate RCC-associated antigens. For several of them, we were able to characterize HLA ligands after extraction from the tumor tissue. Apart from universal RCC antigens, some proteins seem to be appropriate candidates in individual patients only. This underlines the advantage of a personalized therapeutic approach. Further analyses will contribute additional HLA ligands to this repertoire of universal as well as patient-individual tumor antigens.Tobias Krüger and Oliver Schoor contributed equally to this work.     

A critical appraisal of the measurement of serum ‘cholesterol efflux capacity’ and its use as surrogate marker of risk of cardiovascular disease

The ‘cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC)’ assay is a simple in vitro measure of the capacities of individual sera to promote the first step of the reverse cholesterol transport pathway, the delivery of cellular cholesterol to plasma HDL.This review describes the cell biology of this model and critically assesses its application as a marker of cardiovascular risk. We describe the pathways for cell cholesterol export, current cell models used in the CEC assay with their limitations and consider the contribution that measurement of serum CEC provides to our understanding of HDL function in vivo.