It has been long noted that cardiac cell apoptosis provoked by excessive production of nitric oxide (NO) plays important roles in the pathogenesis of variant cardiac diseases. Attenuation of NO-induced injury would be an alternative therapeutic approach for the development of cardiac disorders. This study investigated the effects of α-lipoic acid (LA) on the injury induced by sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a widely used NO donor, in rat cardiomyoblast H9c2 cells. SNP challenge significantly decreased cell viability and increased apoptosis, as evidenced by morphological abnormalities, nuclear condensation and decline of mitochondrial potential (δ. Ψm). These changes induced by SNP were significantly attenuated by LA pretreatment. Furthermore, LA pretreatment prevented the SNP-triggered suppression of Akt and Gsk-3β activation. Blockade of Akt activation with triciribin (API) completely abolished the cytoprotection of LA against SNP challenge. In addition, LA moderately increased intracellular ROS production. Interestingly, inhibition of ROS with N-acetylcysteine abrogated Akt/Gsk-3β activation and the LA-induced cytoprotection following SNP stimulation. Taken together, the results indicate that LA protected the SNP-induced injury in cardiac H9c2 cells through, at least in part, the activation of Akt/Gsk-3β signaling in a ROS-dependent mechanism.

Aims: β-Adrenergic receptor (β-AR) stimulation induces apoptosis in adult rat ventricular myocytes (ARVMs) via the activation of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) and mitochondrial pathways. However, β-AR stimulation induces apoptosis only in a fraction (∼15-20%) of ARVMs. We hypothesized that ARVMs may secrete/release a survival factor(s) which protects 80-85% of cells from apoptosis. Methods and results: Using two-dimensional gel electrophoresis followed by MALDI TOF and MS/MS, we identified ubiquitin (Ub) in the conditioned media of ARVMs treated with β-AR agonist (isoproterenol). Western blot analysis confirmed increased Ub levels in the conditioned media 3 and 6 h after β-AR stimulation. Inhibition of β1-AR and β2-AR subtypes inhibited β-AR-stimulated increases in extracellular levels of Ub, whereas activation of adenylyl cyclase using forskolin mimicked the effects of β-AR stimulation. Incubation of cells with exogenous biotinylated Ub followed by western blot analysis of the cell lysates showed uptake of extracellular Ub into cells, which was found to be higher after β-AR stimulation (1.9 ± 0.4-fold; P < 0.05 vs. control, n = 6). Pre-treatment with Ub inhibited β-AR-stimulated increases in apoptosis. Inhibition of phosphoinositide 3-kinase using wortmannin and LY-294002 prevented anti-apoptotic effects of extracellular Ub. Ub pre-treatment inhibited β-AR-stimulated activation of GSK-3β and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and increases in the levels of cytosolic cytochrome c. The use of methylated Ub suggested that the anti-apoptotic effects of extracellular Ub are mediated via monoubiquitination. Conclusion: β-AR stimulation increases levels of Ub in the conditioned media. Extracellular Ub plays a protective role in β-AR-stimulated apoptosis, possibly via the inactivation of GSK-3β/JNK and mitochondrial pathways.

La reperfusion coronaire précoce et complète est le moyen le plus efficace pour limiter l'étendue de l'infarctus myocardique. Revers de la médaille, cette reperfusion est à l'origine des lésions nommées lésions de reperfusion. La recherche d'un moyen protecteur qui limite la survenue de ces lésions a un intérêt clinique majeur. Le postconditionnement ischémique (IPost) qui désigne l'application de plusieurs séquences d'ischémie/reperfusion au moment de la reperfusion coronaire peut prévenir la survenue des lésions de reperfusion mais il n'est applicable qu'aux patients reperfusés par angioplastie. Le mécanisme d'action du IPost passe en partie par l'activation de la voie RISK (composée de la voie PI3K/Akt et ERK1/2) et le sous-effecteur en commun la GSK-3β. 1) Dans la première partie du travail nous avons comparé l'effet cardioprotecteur d'un agent pharmacologique activateur de la voie RISK (l'érythropoïétine ; EPO) à celui du IPost dans un même modèle expérimental. Une meilleure cardioprotection a été observée avec l'EPO, résultante d'une meilleure phosphorylation d'ERK1/2 et de la GSK-3β. 2) Après avoir apprécié la cardioprotection induite par EPO chez des rats sains, nous avons testé son effet chez des rats ayant un diabète type I ou une insulino-résistance. Une inhibition de l'effet cardioprotecteur de l'EPO a été observée chez les rats diabétiques avec une altération de la voie RISK et par conséquence une absence de la phosphorylation de la GSK-3β. Par contre, son effet a été maintenu en présence d'une insulino-résistance. Une dose plus élevée d'EPO n'a pas restauré la cardioprotection. Alors que l'effet protecteur de l'EPO est altéré en présence du diabète, les inhibiteurs de la GSK-3β semble être une alternative efficace, puisque l'injection de SB216763 (un inhibiteur de la GSK-3β) a induit un effet protecteur dans notre modèle de rat diabétique. 3) Dans la troisième partie du travail nous nous sommes attachés à mieux comprendre le mécanisme cardioprotecteur du postconditionnement à distance (RIPost). Cette application non invasive de brefs séquences d'ischémie/reperfusion au niveau d'un organe à distance du coeur permet d'atténuer les lésions de reperfusion myocardique. L'effet cardioprotecteur du RIPost a été comparable à celui d'un IPost local avec une activation des mêmes voies de signalisation (RISK/GSK-3β).

Charles University, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové Department of Pharmaceutical Botany Candidate: Mgr. Kateřina Breiterová Supervisor: Assoc. prof. Ing. Lucie Cahlíková PhD. Title of Doctoral Thesis: Alkaloids of the Amaryllidaceae family as potential drugs in therapy of diseases of affluence Key words: alkaloids, Amaryllidaceae, analogues, AChE, BuChE, POP, GSK-3β, cell cycle progression, apoptosis Narcissus cv. Professor Einstein was chosen based on results of previous screening studies for detailed phytochemical work for the purpose of isolation of the widest range of AmA. From 34,3 kg of fresh bulbs was obtained 31,7 g of purified alkaloidal extract, which was processed using column chromatography with stepwise elution by light petrol, chloroform and ethanol in different ratios to almost 500 fractions. These fractions were fused into 27 subfractions, which were processed by preparative TLC, vacuum column chromatography and crystallization. Finally, 25 pure alkaloids were isolated. All compounds were identified by GC-MS, ESI-MS, NMR, optical rotation and literature. One compound was identified as a new unpublished alkaloid of lycorine structure type. All alkaloids isolated in sufficient amount were tested for their biological activities associated with Alzheimer's disease (inhibition of...

JAK/STAT signaling pathway is one of the most studied intracellular cascades transmitting signals from the extracellular environment to the cell nucleus in order to affect expression of target genes. Circadian clocks localized in the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) of the hypothalamus are sensitive especially to light but they can respond to non-photic stimuli such as growth factors, opioids, leptin and cytokines that have been demonstrated to perform its function via the JAK/STAT signaling pathway. The recent findings of our laboratory demonstrated that STAT3 protein is highly produced by SCN of rat. Primary aim of our experiments was to test the circadian regulation of STAT3 production in SCN and describe the effect of exogenously administered leptin on STAT3 phosphorylation in the SCN, pineal gland and hypothalamic structures responsible for regulated feeding behavior and energy metabolism. Because activation of leptin receptors may stimulate a number of other signaling cascades, we chose phosphorylated forms of kinase ERK1/2 and GSK-3β as other markers of intracellular changes after administration of leptin in the studied structures. Our results proved rhythmic production of STAT3 protein in SCN of rat and indicated circadian regulation of sensitivity to leptin in hypothalamic structures. The data...

In this thesis study we examined glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) and its effects over Nrf2 and Pin 1 as it relates to Alzheimer’s disease (AD). AD is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by a prolonged high oxidative environment. Transcription factor Nrf2 is vital in the brain’s defense against oxidative insults through its up-regulation of over 100 antioxidants. Depletion of the brain’s antioxidant defense system results in intolerance to an oxidative environment, contributing to the progression of AD. The regulatory Pin 1 protein promotes cellular homeostasis, and when down-regulated results in increased deposits of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) and amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques, the two pathological hallmarks of AD. Using aged SAMP8 mice treated with antisense oligonucleotide (AO) directed at GSK-3β and random AO, the data presented here demonstrate decreased oxidative stress and increased Nrf2 transcriptional activity and Pin 1 levels as a result of the down-regulation of GSK-3β. Collectively, these results implicate GSK-3β activity in the increased oxidative stress of AD and support its inhibition as a possible therapeutic treatment for the disease. Further, we elucidate a possible mechanism connecting GSK-3β to the loss of tolerance to an oxidative environment and increased deposits of NFTs and Aβ plaques observed in AD.

Acute and chronic morphine administration can significantly reduce ischemia- reperfusion injury of the rat heart. However, the molecular mechanisms mediating the protective effect of morphine are not yet fully elucidated. Concurrently, there is a lack of information about the effects of the long-term action of morphine on heart tissue. Therefore, in the first part of the project, we studied the effect of long-term administration of high doses of morphine (10 mg/kg/day, 10 days) on rat heart tissue. In the second part of the project, we investigated the effect of 1 mM morphine on viability and redox state of rat cardiomyoblast cell line H9c2 that was influenced by oxidative stress elicited by exposure to 300 μM tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BHP). Our experiments have shown that long-term morphine administration affected neither the amount nor the affinity of myocardial β-adrenergic receptors (β-AR), but almost doubled the number of the dominant isoforms of myocardial adenylyl cyclase (AC) V/VI and led to supersensitization of AC. At the same time, proteomic analyses revealed that long-term morphine administration was associated with significant changes in the left ventricular proteome. In particular, there was an increase in the expression of heat shock proteins (HSP). Increased expression of HSP27...