Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Iowa, 2008. / Thesis supervisor: Robert B. Wallace. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 300-320).

published_or_final_version / Medical Sciences / Master / Master of Medical Sciences

Thesis (M. Med. Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 30-35).

Thesis (M.Med.Sc.)--University of Hong Kong, 2000. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 30-35). Also available in print.

Thesis (M.S.)--Ball State University, 2009. / Title from PDF t.p. (viewed on Nov. 30, 2009). Includes bibliographical references (p. 61-67).

Phosphoinositide 3-kinases (PI3Ks) are a family of proteins involved in many different aspects of cell signaling. To date, eight different human PI3K isoforms have been identified, and distinct roles are beginning to emerge for each family member. Statins, HMG co-A reductase inhibitors used clinically to lower LDL cholesterol levels, also act through the PI3K signaling pathway to regulate cholesterol independent of their lipid-lowering effects. In an effort to discover the role of pl 10f3 in mediating non-lipid lowering effects of pravastatin, a mutant of p110(3 was overexpressed in human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAEC) to form a dominant negative model (p110(3 DN). Silence si-RNA as an alterative tool was also optimized to diminish p110(3 protein expression successfully. HepG2 3: RE was used to monitor statins function by assaying luciferase expression. Results from these studies will determine the contribution of p110f3 in mediating selective cellular responses to statin. / Department of Biology

Thesis (M.S.)--University of Toledo, 2010. / Typescript. "Submitted to the Graduate Faculty as partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Masters of Science Degree in Pharmaceutical Sciences, Administrative Pharmacy Option." "A thesis entitled"--at head of title. Title from title page of PDF document. Bibliography: p. 61-69.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2006. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Wong, Mei Fung. / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 207-251). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / ABSTRACT --- p.i / 摘要 --- p.iv / ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS --- p.vi / PUBLICATIONS BASED ON WORK IN THIS THESIS --- p.vii / ABBREVIATIONS --- p.viii / TABLE OF CONTENTS --- p.x / Chapter CHAPTER 1 --- INTRODUCTION --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Diabetes Mellitus --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Structure and Functions of the Pancreas --- p.2 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Size of Pancreatic β-Cells --- p.4 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Signaling Pathways of Insulin Secretion from Pancreatic β-Cells --- p.4 / Chapter 1.3 --- Classification of Diabetes --- p.6 / Chapter 1.3.1 --- Type 1 Diabetes --- p.6 / Chapter 1.3.2 --- Type 2 Diabetes --- p.8 / Chapter 1.4 --- Pathologies of Type 2 Diabetes --- p.9 / Chapter 1.4.1 --- Hyperglycemia --- p.9 / Chapter 1.4.1.1 --- A dvanced Glycosylation End Products --- p.11 / Chapter 1.4.1.2 --- Protein Kinase C Activation --- p.13 / Chapter 1.4.1.3 --- The Glucosamine Pathway --- p.14 / Chapter 1.4.1.4 --- Oxidative Stress --- p.15 / Chapter 1.4.2 --- Insulin Resistance --- p.15 / Chapter 1.4.3 --- Loss of β-Cell Mass and β-Cell Dysfunction --- p.18 / Chapter 1.5 --- Complications of Diabetes Mellitus --- p.21 / Chapter 1.5.1 --- Cardiovascular Diseases --- p.21 / Chapter 1.5.2 --- Diabetic Retinopathy --- p.22 / Chapter 1.5.3 --- Diabetic Nephropathy --- p.23 / Chapter 1.5.4 --- Neuropathy --- p.24 / Chapter 1.6 --- Anti-Diabetic Drugs for Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus --- p.25 / Chapter 1.6.1 --- Secretagogues --- p.25 / Chapter 1.6.2 --- Sensitizers --- p.26 / Chapter 1.6.3 --- Alpha-Glucosidase Inhibitors --- p.27 / Chapter 1.6.4 --- Peptide Analogs --- p.27 / Chapter 1.6.4.1 --- Incretin Mimetics --- p.27 / Chapter 1.6.4.2 --- Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitors --- p.28 / Chapter 1.7 --- Insights of Porcine Islets in Treatment of Diabetics --- p.28 / Chapter 1.8 3 --- -Hydroxy-3-Methylglutaryl Coenzyme A Reductase (HMG CoA Reductase) --- p.31 / Chapter 1.8.1 --- Statins --- p.32 / Chapter 1.8.2 --- Pleiotropic Effects of Statins --- p.36 / Chapter 1.8.2.1 --- Statins and Isoprenylated Proteins --- p.36 / Chapter 1.8.2.2 --- Statins and Endothelial Functions --- p.38 / Chapter 1.8.2.3 --- Statins and Platelet Functions --- p.39 / Chapter 1.8.2.4 --- Statins and Plaque Stability --- p.39 / Chapter 1.8.2.5 --- Statins and Vascular Inflammation --- p.40 / Chapter 1.9 --- Clinical Studies of Statins on Diabetics --- p.41 / Chapter 1.10 --- Possible Factors Involved in Simvastatin-Regulated Insulin Secretion --- p.44 / Chapter 1.10.1 --- AMP-Activated Protein Kinase --- p.44 / Chapter 1.10.2 --- Caveolin-1 --- p.46 / Chapter 1.10.3 --- Sterol-Regulatory Elementary Binding Protein --- p.50 / Chapter 1.10.4 --- Protein Phosphatase 2A --- p.52 / Chapter 1.10.5 --- Calcium Sensing Receptor --- p.55 / Chapter 1.11 --- Objectives of Study --- p.59 / Chapter CHAPTER 2 --- MATERIALS AND METHODS --- p.60 / Chapter 2.1 --- Materials --- p.60 / Chapter 2.1.1 --- Solutions --- p.60 / Chapter 2.1.2 --- Antibodies --- p.63 / Chapter 2.2 --- Methods --- p.64 / Chapter 2.2.1 --- Maintenance of Pancreas Function --- p.64 / Chapter 2.2.2 --- Islet Isolation --- p.65 / Chapter 2.2.3 --- Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) Staining --- p.65 / Chapter 2.2.4 --- Simvastatin and Simvastatin-Na+ --- p.66 / Chapter 2.2.5 --- AICAR --- p.67 / Chapter 2.2.6 --- Compound C --- p.67 / Chapter 2.2.7 --- Incubation of Islets --- p.67 / Chapter 2.2.8 --- Western Blot --- p.68 / Chapter 2.2.9 --- Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) --- p.69 / Chapter 2.2.10 --- Statistical Analysis --- p.71 / Chapter CHAPTER 3 --- HISTOLOGY OF PORCINE PANCREATIC ISLETS OF LANGERHANS --- p.72 / Chapter 3.1 --- Comparison of Sizes of Porcine Pancreatic Islets in Histological Sections of Pancreas --- p.72 / Chapter CHAPTER 4 --- PROTEIN EXPRESSION OF HMG COA REDUCTASE --- p.75 / Chapter 4.1 --- Effect of Incubation Time on HMG CoA Reductase Expression --- p.75 / Chapter 4.2 --- Short-Term Effect of Simvastatin on HMG CoA Reductase Expression --- p.78 / Chapter 4.3 --- Long-Term Effect of Simvastatin on HMG CoA Reductase Expression --- p.81 / Chapter 4.4 --- Effect of Osmolality on HMG CoA Reductase Expression --- p.83 / Chapter 4.5 --- Effect of Simvastatin on Ser871 p-HMG CoA Reductase Expression --- p.87 / Chapter CHAPTER 5 --- EVALUATION OF THE ROLE OF SIMVASTATIN IN INSULIN SECRETION VIA HMG CO A REDUCTASE REGULATION --- p.90 / Chapter 5.1 --- Effect of Simvastatin on Insulin Secretion --- p.90 / Chapter 5.2 --- Effect of Different Concentrations of Simvastatin on Insulin Secretion --- p.94 / Chapter 5.3 --- Effect of Simvastatin on Insulin Content --- p.96 / Chapter CHAPTER 6 --- ROLE OF AMPK EXPRESSION IN INSULIN SECRETION PATHWAY --- p.100 / Chapter 6.1 --- Effect of Simvastatin on Thr172 p-AMPK α and AMPK α1 Expressions --- p.100 / Chapter 6.2 --- Evaluation of the Role of Simvastatin in AMPK Regulation --- p.104 / Chapter 6.3 --- Evaluation of the Role of PP2A in AMPK Regulation --- p.108 / Chapter 6.4 --- Evaluation of the Role of Simvastatin on Insulin Secretion via AMPK Regulation --- p.111 / Chapter 6.4.1 --- AMPK Regulation on Releasable Insulin Secretion --- p.111 / Chapter 6.4.2 --- AMPK Regulation on Non-Releasable Insulin Content and Total Insulin Content --- p.112 / Chapter CHAPTER 7 --- EFFECT OF SIMVASTATIN ON THE EXPRESSION OF REGULATORY PROTEINS INVOLVED IN INSULIN SECRETION --- p.119 / Chapter 7.1 --- Effect of Simvastatin on SREBP-2 Expression --- p.119 / Chapter 7.2 --- Effect of Simvastatin on Caveolin-1 Expression --- p.121 / Chapter 7.3 --- Effect of Simvastatin on Calcium Sensing Receptor Expression --- p.123 / Chapter CHAPTER 8 --- EFFECT OF SIMVASTATIN-NA+ ON INSULIN SECRETION --- p.126 / Chapter 8.1 --- Effect of Simvastatin-Na+ on HMG CoA Reductase Expression --- p.126 / Chapter 8.2 --- Effect of Simvastatin-Na+ on Insulin Secretion --- p.128 / Chapter 8.3 --- Effect of Different Concentrations of Simvastatin-Na+ on Insulin Secretion --- p.130 / Chapter 8.4 --- Effect of Simvastatin-Na+ on Insulin Content --- p.132 / Chapter CHAPTER 9 --- EFFECT OF PRAVASTATIN ON INSULIN SECRETION --- p.136 / Chapter 9.1 --- Effect of Pravastatin on Insulin Secretion --- p.136 / Chapter 9.2 --- Effect of Pravastatin on Insulin Content --- p.138 / Chapter CHAPTER 10 --- EFFECT OF METHYL-B-CYCLODEXTRIN ON INSULIN SECRETION --- p.142 / Chapter 10.1 --- Effect of Methyl-β-cyclodextrin on Insulin Secretion --- p.142 / Chapter 10.2 --- Effect of Methyl-β-cyclodextrin on Insulin Content --- p.144 / Chapter CHAPTER 11 --- DISCUSSION --- p.149 / Chapter 11.1 --- Importance of Studying Porcine Pancreatic Islets and Islet Distribution --- p.150 / Chapter 11.2 --- Screening of Concentration and Incubation Time of Simvastatin on Porcine Pancreatic Islets --- p.152 / Chapter 11.3 --- Glucose-Independent Effect of Simvastatin on Protein Expression of HMG CoA Reductase --- p.154 / Chapter 11.4 --- Role of AMPK in HMG CoA Reductase-Modulated Insulin Secretion --- p.159 / Chapter 11.5 --- Role of SREBP-2 in Simvastatin-Modulated Regulation --- p.174 / Chapter 11.6 --- Role of Calcium Sensing Receptor in Simvastatin-Modulated Regulation --- p.175 / Chapter 11.7 --- Role of Caveolin-1 in Simvastatin-Modulated Regulation --- p.179 / Chapter 11.8 --- "Effects of Simvastatin-Na+， Pravastatin and Methyl-β-cyclodextrin, and Importance of Endoplasmic Reticulum in Insulin Secretion" --- p.183 / Chapter CHAPTER 12 --- CONCLUSIONS AND FURTHER STUDIES --- p.197 / Chapter 12.1 --- Conclusions --- p.197 / Chapter 12.2 --- Further Studies --- p.203 / REFERENCES --- p.207

Statins are 3-hydroxy, 3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors, which block the cholesterol biosynthetic pathway to lower total serum levels and LDL-cholesterol. The cholesterol pathway also provides a supply of isoprenoids (farnesyl and geranylgeranyl) for the prenylation of signaling molecules, which include the families of Ras and Rho small GTPases. Prenyl groups provide a membrane anchor that is essential for the correct membrane localisation and function of these proteins. Statins deplete cells of lipid geranylgeranyl diphosphate (GGPP) thereby inhibiting progression of the mevalonate pathway and prenylation of proteins. Two such proteins are Rab27b and Rap1, small GTPase proteins that are involved in the secretion of platelet granule and integrin activation. We hypothesise that statins can impair prenylation of Rab27b and Rap1a in platelets and thereby attenuate platelet function. The specific aims of the project were to analyse the impact of statins on the prenylation status of Rab27b and Rap1a in platelets. As Rab27b and Rap1a are known to be involved in secretion of platelet granules a secondary aim was to analyse the downstream effects of statins on this process following activation. Finally, we assessed the impact of treatment of platelets with statins on thrombus formation, stability and resistance to fibrinolysis. Platelets incubated with statins overnight were separated into cytosolic (aqueous) and membrane (detergent) components and visualised by Western blot. An accumulation of Rab27b and Rap1a was observed in the cytosolic compartments of statins treated platelets compared to untreated platelets, thus indicating indirect evidence that statins attenuate prenylation of Rab27b and Rap1a in platelets. The most effective statin in attenuating prenylation of Rab27b and Rap1a was atorvastatin (ATV). The inhibitory effect of statins on prenylation was recovered by GGPP, indicating that the mechanism of inhibition involved the mevalonate pathway. Release of ADP from platelet dense granules was significantly impeded following overnight treatment with ATV. In line with the inhibition of prenylation of Rab27b and Rap1a by ATV, addition of GGPP rescued the release of ADP from platelet dense granules. This suggests that attenuation of dense granules release by ATV occurs via interference in the mevalonate pathway and the inhibition of Rab27b prenylation. Furthermore, ATV significantly attenuates α-granules release in thrombin stimulated platelets, which was visualised as impaired accumulation of endogenous P-selectin, PAI-1 and fibrinogen on the activated membrane. Changes in the activation of α₁₁bβ₃ integrin on the stimulated platelet surface, observed as defective binding of exogenous fibrinogen and PAC-1, were also evident following treatment of platelets with ATV. In addition, ATV treatment of platelets reduced binding of CD41a, indicating that the copy number and activation of α₁₁bβ₃ integrin on stimulated platelets was significantly reduced. Statins were also found to significantly inhibit thrombin-induced platelet aggregation following incubation of platelets overnight with therapeutic concentrations of statins. Surprisingly GGPP did not rescue platelet aggregation indicating that different mechanisms are involved in inhibition of platelet responses by statins. Incubation of whole blood with ATV overnight significantly altered several haemostatic parameters. Using thromboelastography we demonstrated a delay in the coagulation time and clot formation time. Maximum clot firmness was also significantly reduced in the presence of statins compared to the control. The effect on clot firmness generally arises from platelet dysfunction and/or a change in fibrinogen concentration and function; the latter was ruled out using a Fibtem test, which shows no difference between treated and untreated whole blood. Similarly, formation of platelet-rich plasma clots was significantly delayed following pre-treatment with ATV overnight. These clots also exhibited lower maximal absorbances, which could represent differences in the fibrin network structure. In line with the reduction in fibrinogen binding defective clot retraction was also observed in platelet-rich plasma pre-treated with ATV overnight. Similar clot retraction results were observed with tirofiban and CytoD, suggesting that the inhibitory effect of ATV may involve modulation of α₁₁bβ₃ integrin activation. Platelet-rich plasma clots formed post-treatment with statins were visualised by confocal microscopy and revealed significant alterations in clot structure; observed as thinner fibrin fibres and fewer platelet aggregates. Additionally, we demonstrated that statins modulate clot stability and shorten time to lysis. Clots formed from platelet rich plasma that was subjected to incubation with ATV overnight revealed faster lysis by tPA compared to the absence of statin. These findings are also in agreement with the lysis of Chandler model thrombi formed from overnight incubated whole blood with ATV, which demonstrated faster lysis rate mediated by tPA. Furthermore, statins were shown to change the clot thrombodynamics as assessed by HemaCore analyser, which shows that stains implicate both clot growth in response to TF-coated comb and spontaneous clot lysis by tPA. In conclusion, statins directly inhibit Rab27b and Rap1a prenylation in platelets and down-regulated dense granules release. Inhibition of Rab27b and Rap1a prenylation, and dense granules release was recovered by GGPP, indicating that these effects are mediated through the mevalonate pathway. Impairment of platelet aggregation by statins resulted via multiple mechanisms as GGPP did not recovered the inhibition of aggregation by ATV. Statins also modulate fibrinogen binding, α-granules release, clot retraction and clot formation and stability in vitro. Together these results suggest that statins may directly attenuate the platelet response in vivo. The pleotropic effect of statins on platelets may contribute to the protective function of these class of drugs in cardiovascular diseases.