Physiological level of norepinephrine increases adenine nucleotides hydrolysis in rat blood serum

Extracellular adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP) and its breakdown products, adenosine 5′-diphosphate (ADP) and adenosine, have significant effects on a variety of biological processes. NTPDase enzymes, responsible for adenine nucleotides hydrolysis, are considered the major regulators of purinergic signaling in the blood. Previous work by our group demonstrated that ATP and ADP hydrolysis in rat blood serum are higher during the dark (activity) phase compared to the light (rest) phase. In nocturnal animals (e.g., rats), important physiological changes occur during the dark phase, such as increased circulating levels of melatonin, corticosterone, and norepinephrine (NE). This study investigated the physiological effects, in vivo and in vitro, of melatonin, dexamethasone, and NE upon nucleotides hydrolysis in rat blood serum. For in vivo experiments, the animals received a single injection of saline (control), melatonin (0.05 mg/kg), dexamethasone (0.1 mg/kg), or NE (0.03 mg/kg). For in vitro experiments, melatonin (1.0 nM), dexamethasone (1.0 μM), or NE (1.0 nM) was added directly to the reaction medium with blood serum before starting the enzyme assay. The results demonstrated that ATP and ADP hydrolysis in both in vitro and in vivo experiments were significantly higher with NE treatment compared to control (in vitro: ATP = 36.63%, ADP = 22.43%, P < 0.05; in vivo: ATP = 44.1%, ADP = 37.28%, P < 0.001). No significant differences in adenine nucleotides hydrolysis were observed with melatonin and dexamethasone treatments. This study suggests a modulatory role of NE in the nucleotidases pathway, decreasing extracellular ATP and ADP, and suggests that NE might modulate its own release by increasing the activities of soluble nucleotidases.     

Chocolate: (un)healthy source of polyphenols?

There is recent epidemiological evidence that chocolate consumption may improve vascular health. Furthermore, several small-scale human intervention studies indicate that habitual chocolate intake enhances the production of vasodilative nitric oxide and may lower blood pressure. It is hypothesized that potential beneficial effects of chocolate on vascular health are at least partly mediated by cocoa polyphenols including procyanidins. Based on cell culture studies, molecular targets of chocolate polyphenols are endothelial nitric oxide synthetase as well as arginase. However, human bioavailability studies suggest that the plasma concentrations of cocoa polyphenols are manifold lower than those concentrations used in cultured cells in vitro. The experimental evidence for beneficial vascular effects of chocolate in human interventions studies is yet not fully convincing. Some human intervention studies on chocolate and its polyphenols lack a stringent study design. They are sometimes underpowered and not always placebo controlled. Dietary chocolate intake in many of these human studies was up to 100 g per day. Since chocolate is a rich source of sugar and saturated fat, it is questionable whether chocolate could be recommended as part of a nutrition strategy to promote vascular health.     

14-3-3 proteins in neurodegeneration

Among the first reported functions of 14-3-3 proteins was the regulation of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) activity suggesting a possible involvement of 14-3-3 proteins in Parkinson's disease. Since then the relevance of 14-3-3 proteins in the pathogenesis of chronic as well as acute neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, polyglutamine diseases, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and stroke has been recognized. The reported function of 14-3-3 proteins in this context are as diverse as the mechanism involved in neurodegeneration, reaching from basal cellular processes like apoptosis, over involvement in features common to many neurodegenerative diseases, like protein stabilization and aggregation, to very specific processes responsible for the selective vulnerability of cellular populations in single neurodegenerative diseases.Here, we review what is currently known of the function of 14-3-3 proteins in nervous tissue focussing on the properties of 14-3-3 proteins important in neurodegenerative disease pathogenesis.     

VIP and endothelin receptor antagonist: An effective combination against experimental pulmonary arterial hypertension

Background

Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension (PAH) remains a therapeutic challenge, and the search continues for more effective drugs and drug combinations. We recently reported that deletion of the vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) gene caused the spontaneous expression of a PH phenotype that was fully corrected by VIP. The objectives of this investigation were to answer the questions: 1) Can VIP protect against PH in other experimental models? and 2) Does combining VIP with an endothelin (ET) receptor antagonist bosentan enhance its efficacy?

Methods

Within 3 weeks of a single injection of monocrotaline (MCT, s.c.) in Sprague Dawley rats, PAH developed, manifested by pulmonary vascular remodeling, lung inflammation, RV hypertrophy, and death within the next 2 weeks. MCT-injected animals were either untreated, treated with bosentan (p.o.) alone, with VIP (i.p.) alone, or with both together. We selected this particular combination upon finding that VIP down-regulates endothelin receptor expression which is further suppressed by bosentan. Therapeutic outcomes were compared as to hemodynamics, pulmonary vascular pathology, and survival.

Results

Treatment with VIP, every other day for 3 weeks, begun on the same day as MCT, almost totally prevented PAH pathology, and eliminated mortality for 45 days. Begun 3 weeks after MCT, however, VIP only partially reversed PAH pathology, though more effectively than bosentan. Combined therapy with both drugs fully reversed the pathology, while preventing mortality for at least 45 days.

Conclusions

1) VIP completely prevented and significantly reversed MCT-induced PAH; 2) VIP was more effective than bosentan, probably because it targets a wider range of pro-remodeling pathways; and 3) combination therapy with VIP plus bosentan was more effective than either drug alone, probably because both drugs synergistically suppressed ET-ET receptor pathway.     

CD105shRNA对激光诱导的脉络膜新生血管的干预作用及其机制

目的：观察CD105shRNA对激光诱导的大鼠脉络膜新生血管的抑制作用,并初步探讨其作用机制。方法：40只BN大鼠单眼采用半导体激光建立CNV模型。随机取20只大鼠于建模后1天使用Pgenesil-eng2转染大鼠视网膜和脉络膜作为实验组。在建模后第14天行FFA检查,观察实验组与对照组视网膜激光斑的渗漏情况。各取5只实验组和5只对照组大鼠,行脉络膜铺片,检测并比较脉络膜新生血管渗漏面积。另32只BN大鼠任取一眼建立CNV模型,其中任取20只大鼠于建模后次日进行Pgen-esil—eag2转染,作为实验组。12只建模眼作为对照组,未建模眼作为空白对照组。于基因转染后1w,2w,3w和4w各取5只实验组大鼠和3只对照组大鼠眼球,获取每个时间点实验组、对照组和空白对照组的脉络膜组织。检测各组每个时间点CDl05和VEGF在mRNA水平的表达。结果：FFA显示光凝后第14天时,对照组的渗漏率为63．2％,实验组为24．6％。实验组的BN大鼠眼底渗漏点数较对照组少,渗漏强度较弱。两组间比较有显著性差异。脉络膜铺片结果显示：2周时对照组大鼠的CNV面积为（31．22±1．46）×10^3μm2,实验组大鼠的CNV渗漏面积为（14．46±0．82）×10^3μm2,两组间比较有显著性差异。RT—PCR结果显示：实验组VEGFmRNA及CDl05mRNA的表达变化规律与对照组相似,但各个时间点的表达量较对照组均明显下降,其中实验组VEGFmRNA于2w时的表达约为对照组的36．7％;实验组CD105mRNA在第2w时约为对照组的21．68％。结论：通过沉默CD105基因的表达可以抑制大鼠CNV的生成,下调VEGF的表达可能是其作用机制之一。CD105基因有望成为CNV的基础研究热点和临床治疗的新靶点。     

比较MoCA和MMSE在卒中后认知功能筛查中的应用

目的：比较蒙特利尔认知评估量表（Montreal Cognitive Assessment,MoCA）和简易智能量表（mini-mental state examination,MMSE）在急性缺血性脑卒中后认知损害筛查中的应用。方法：对65例缺血性脑卒中患者在发病14天内应用简易精神状态检查量表（Mini-mental State Examination,MMSE）和MoCA进行神经心理评估。其中12例患者在发病3-6个月后应用MMSE、MoCA和神经心理成套测验进行神经心理评估。以MMSE〈23分、MoCA〈21为分界值,受教育年限小于12年加1分,文盲加2分。结果：MMSE的平均分值为25.2±4.3,MoCA的平均分值为18.6±5.7。37例患者MoCA评分显示有认知损害,但其中19例患者（29%）MMSE评分显示正常。28例MoCA评估显示认知正常的患者的MMSE评分均显示认知正常。视空间与执行功能、注意和语言重复测试受损最常见,定向和命名受损较少。在3-6个月的随访期内,12例患者中1例诊断为血管性痴呆患者的MoCA的分值上升1分,MMSE分值无变化;5例认知正常患者、3例轻度认知损害无痴呆的患者和3例中度认知损害无痴呆的患者MMSE和MoCA平均分值均有不同程度的上升,视空间与执行功能平均得分值在2次检测中无明显变化。结论：MoCA较MMSE检出血管性认知功能障碍患者敏感性更高,对认知变化更为敏感。     

Ad-Ang1-IRES-VEGF165腺病毒载体的构建及其促血管形成作用

目的:构建人血管生成素1(Ang1)和血管内皮生长因子VEGF165 (VEGF165)的共表达腺病毒载体Ad-Ang1-IRES-VEGF165(简称Ad-AV),为研究Ad-AV转基因细胞表达产物血管诱生活性提供实验依据。方法:采用IRES介导的Ang1和VEGF165双基因腺病毒共表达模式,通过常规的基因克隆和重组技术,构建Ad-AV双基因共表达腺病毒载体,经感染人胚肾QBI-293A细胞(293A)进行扩增和效价测定后,再感染WI-38人胚肺成纤维细胞,均用ELISA法检测VEGF、Ang1目的基因的表达,并采用鸡胚尿囊膜血管形成实验(CAM)法分析其对血管形成的影响。结果: 扩增的Ad-AV腺病毒效价可达4×10¹⁰pfu/ml;Ad-AV不仅能在293A细胞中成功表达目的基因Ang1、VEGF,而且在WI-38成纤维细胞也能成功表达,其表达产物具有显著的促进CAM上血管生成的活性。结论:成功构建并获得了Ad-Ang1-IRES-VEGF165重组病毒子, 目的基因均能在人胚肾和人胚肺成纤维细胞中表达,其表达产物具有诱导血管形成的功能。     

阿托伐他汀改善冠心病患者血管内皮功能的临床研究

目的:观察短期阿托伐他汀治疗对高胆固醇血症的冠心病患者血管内皮功能的影响。方法:78例高胆固醇血症患者每日口服阿托伐他汀共8周,服药前后测量患者血清的总胆固醇(TC)、甘油三酯(TG)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)和氧化低密度脂蛋白(ox-LDL)以及NO值,并用彩色多普勒超声测定反应性充血时肱动脉内径的变化。结果:高胆固醇血症患者经阿托伐他汀8周治疗后,血清的TC、TG、LDL-C和ox-LDL明显下降,血清的HDL-C以及NO值明显增加,反应性充血时肱动脉内径扩张程度明显增加,这些与治疗前相比有明显差异。结论:阿托伐他汀治疗能使高胆固醇血症的冠心病患者血脂改变,NO值增加,血管内皮功能改善。     

Transmission of Chlamydia pneumoniae infection from blood monocytes to vascular cells in a novel transendothelial migration model

Chlamydia pneumoniae uses blood monocytes (PBMC) for systemic dissemination, persists in atherosclerotic lesions, and has been implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. During transmigration in a newly developed transendothelial migration model (TEM) C. pneumoniae-infected PBMC spread their infection to endothelial cells. Transmigrated PBMC retained their infectivity and transmitted the pathogen to smooth muscle cells in the lower chamber of the TEM. Detection of chlamydial HSP60 mRNA proved pathogen viability and virulence. We conclude that PBMC can spread chlamydial infection to vascular wall cells and we suggest the TEM as a novel tool to analyze host-pathogen interactions in vascular chlamydial infections.     

Self-organization of the vascular system in plant leaves: inter-dependent dynamics of auxin flux and carrier proteins

The vegetative hormone Auxin is involved in vascular tissues formation throughout the plant. Trans-membrane carrier proteins transporting auxin from cell to cell and distributed asymmetrically around each cell give to auxin a polarized movement in tissues, creating streams of auxin that presume future vascular bundles. According to the canalization hypothesis, auxin transport ability of cells is thought to increase with auxin flux, resulting in the self-enhancement of this flux along auxin paths. In this study we evaluate a series of models based on canalization hypothesis using carrier proteins, under different assumptions concerning auxin flux formation and carrier protein dynamics. Simulations are run on a hexagonal lattice with uniform auxin production. A single cell located in the margin of the lattice indicates the petiole, and acts as an auxin sink. The main results are: (1) We obtain branching auxin distribution patterns. (2) The type of self-enhancement described by the functional form of the carrier proteins regulation responding to the auxin flux intensity in different parts of a cell, has a strong effect on the possibility of generating the branching patterns. For response functions with acceleration in the increase of carrier protein numbers compared to the auxin flux, branching patterns are likely to be generated. For linear or decelerating response functions, no branching patterns are formed. (3) When branching patterns are formed, auxin distribution greatly differs between the case in which the number of carrier proteins in different parts of a cell are regulated independently, and the case in which different parts of a cell compete for a limited number of carrier proteins. In the former case, the auxin level is lower in veins than in the surrounding tissue, while in the latter, the auxin is present in greater abundance in veins. These results suggest that canalization is a good candidate for describing plant vein pattern formation.