Pro-oxidant Role of Heme Oxygenase in Mediating Glucose-induced Endothelial Cell Damage

Oxidative damage to the vascular endothelial cells may play a crucial role in mediating glucose-induced cellular dysfunction in chronic diabetic complications. The present study was aimed at elucidating the role of glucose-induced alteration of highly inducible heme oxygenase (HO) in mediating oxidative stress in the vascular endothelial cells. We have also investigated the interaction between HO and the nitric oxide (NO) system, and its possible role in alteration of other vasoactive factors.

Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were exposed to low (5?mmol/l) and high (25?mmol/l) glucose levels. In order to determine the role of HO in endothelial dysfunction and to elucidate a possible interaction between the HO and NO systems, cells were exposed to HO inducer (hemin, 10?μmol/l), HO antagonist (SnPPIX, 10?μmol/l), and NO synthase blocker (l-NAME, 200?μmol/l) with or without NO donor (arginine, 1?mmol/l). mRNA expression of HO and NO isoforms was measured by real time RT-PCR. HO activity was measured by bilirubin production and cellular oxidative stress was assessed by 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and nitrotyrosine staining. We also determined the expression of vasoactive factors, endothelin-1 (ET-1) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).

In the endothelial cells, glucose caused upregulation of HO-1 expression and increased HO activity. A co-stimulatory relationship between HO and NO was observed. Increased HO activity also associated with oxidative DNA and protein damage in the endothelial cells. Furthermore, increased HO activity augmented mRNA expression of vasoactive factors, ET-1 and VEGF. These data suggest that HO by itself and via elaboration of other vasoactive factors may cause endothelial injury and functional alteration. These findings are of importance in the context of chronic diabetic complications.     

Time Course of Current of Injury Is Related to Acute Stability of Active-Fixation Pacing Leads in Rabbits

Background

Magnitude of current of injury (COI) consequent to pacemaker lead fixation is recognized as a predictor of acute lead stability. It is unclear whether dynamic monitoring of COI after lead fixation provides additional information beyond a single assessment performed at the time of fixation.

Objectives

This study was aimed to test the hypothesis that the time course of COI is related to acute lead stability.

Methods and Results

Active fixation leads with fixed screw were anchored to either Langendorff-perfused rabbit hearts endocardially or in vivo hearts epicardially in manners of contact the helix with no rotation, half rotation and full rotation, respectively. Intracardiac electrogram (EGM) was monitored dynamically from onset to resolution of COI, and magnitudes of intrinsic R wave and COI, including ST-segment elevation, ST/R and intracardiac EGM duration (IED), were measured. A digital force gauge was applied to assess lead stability. In vitro, COI in contacted leads was significantly smaller than those in half rotated (p<0.05) and fully rotated leads (p<0.05), and presented most precipitous recovery to baseline (1.5±1.1 min, p<0.05). Half-rotated and fully rotated leads manifested the same magnitude of COI right after placement. However, the time course of COI was significantly longer in fully rotated leads than that in half rotated leads (26.5±2.8 min vs. 5.6±2.0 min, p<0.05). Similar findings were observed in vivo. The time course of COI was significantly correlated with the force needed to detach the lead from myocardium (r = 0. 72, n = 48, p<0.001).

Conclusions

Time course of COI is related to acute lead stability in rabbits. One might be misled by a single assessment of COI magnitude right after lead placement, whereas persistence of COI is likely to be a useful indicator of adequate lead stability.     

Akt activation and augmented fibronectin production in hyperhexosemia

Dysmetabolic state in diabetes may lead to augmented synthesis of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. In the endothelial cells, we have previously demonstrated that glucose-induced fibronectin (FN) production and that of its splice variant, EDB(+)FN, is regulated by protein kinase B (PKB, also known as Akt). In this study, we investigated the role of Akt1 in ECM protein production in the organs affected by chronic diabetic complications. We studied Akt1/PKBalpha knockout mice and wild-type control littermates. To avoid confounding effects of systemic insulin, we used 30% galactose feeding to induce hyperhexosemia for 8 wk starting at 6 wk of age. We investigated FN mRNA, EDB(+)FN mRNA, and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta mRNA expression, Akt phosphorylation, Akt kinase activity, and NF-kappaB and AP-1 activation in the retina, heart, and kidney. Renal and cardiac tissues were histologically examined. Galactose feeding caused significant upregulation of FN, EDB(+)FN, and TGF-beta in all tissues. FN protein levels paralleled mRNA. Such upregulation were prevented in Akt1-deficient galactose-fed mice. Galactose feeding caused ECM protein deposition in the glomeruli and in the myocardium, which was prevented in the Akt knockout mice. NF-kappaB and AP-1 activation was pronounced in galactose-fed wild-type mice and prevented in the galactose-fed Akt1/PKBalpha-deficient group. In the retina and kidney, Ser473 was the predominant site for Akt phosphorylation, whereas in the heart it was Thr308. Parallel experiment in streptozotocin-induced diabetic animals showed similar results. The data from this study indicate that hyperhexosemia-induced Akt/PKB activation may be an important mechanism leading to NF-kappaB and AP-1 activation and increased ECM protein synthesis in the organs affected by chronic diabetic complications.     

基于单基因和联合基因的新疆黑条小车蝗种群遗传多样性分析

黑条小车蝗〔Oedaleus decorus decorus （Germar）〕是新疆温性荒漠草原最为重要的蝗害之一,目前关于新疆该蝗种群的遗传多样性和亲缘关系尚不明确。测定了新疆黑条小车蝗14个地理种群194条序列的线粒体COI和ND5基因,通过单基因和联合基因分析比较新疆该蝗的遗传多样性和遗传分化情况,并基于可信度高的联合基因探讨新疆该蝗种群可能的扩散路径。黑条小车蝗14个地理种群的COI和ND5联合基因均表现出高遗传多样性（Hd为0.904 8~1.000 0,Pi为0.010 0~0.341 5）,且各种群间遗传分化较大,基因交流不充分（Fst为0.385 1,Nm为0.40）。种群间的遗传差异来源于种群内部（80.03%）,并且地理距离可能不是影响种群间遗传距离的主要因素。综合遗传多样性分析,单倍型网络图和系统发育树结果显示联合基因较于单基因可信度更高。新疆黑条小车蝗遗传分化较高的种群可能主要由地形地貌所致,遗传分化较低的种群可能受西北季风影响;新疆黑条小车蝗种群的早期建立种可能来源于伊犁地区,一支经天山山脉扩散至博乐、乌市及哈密地区,另一支由塔城地区经准噶尔盆地扩散至富蕴县。     

三种几丁质合成抑制剂对意大利蝗的防治研究

本文用3种几丁质合成抑制剂卡死克、噻嗪酮和灭幼脲对意大利蝗Calliptatmnus italicus(L.)卵和3龄蝗蝻进行药剂试验.实验结果显示卡死克对意大利蝗药效最高:LC50、LC90分别为1.34、14.17 mg/L.灭幼脲次之LC50、LC90分别为2.09、45.22 mg/L.灭幼脲和卡死克在50 m...