We examined the effect of cyclosporin A, tacrolimus, sirolimus and everolimus on the cell growth, viability, proliferation, expression of cellular adhesion molecules (CAM) and leukocyte (PBMC) binding of human macrovascular (coronary artery, saphenous vein) and microvascular endothelial cells (EC). Tacrolimus did not affect EC integrity, growth or expression of CAM. Exclusively, EC from the coronary arteries showed a reduced cellular growth (about 30%) under cyclosporin A and tacrolimus treatment. In contrast, treatment with mTOR inhibitors reduced EC proliferative activity by about 40%, independently of the EC origin. No induction of apoptosis (caspase-3/7 activity) or cytotoxicity (MTS test) was observed. Long-term treatment with high concentrations of sirolimus and everolimus did not enhance the expression of CAM. Stimulation with tumor necrosis factor significantly increased the expression of CAM, independently of the drugs used. None of the mTOR inhibitors influenced the tumor necrosis factor-induced expression of CAM, whereas adhesion of PBMC increased significantly, as described by other papers. In summary, neither calcineurin inhibitors nor mTOR inhibitors activate human micro- and macrovascular EC. Therefore, the investigated drugs are unlikely to contribute to EC activation during transplant-associated vasculopathy. / Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG-geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.

We examined the effect of cyclosporin A, tacrolimus, sirolimus and everolimus on the cell growth, viability, proliferation, expression of cellular adhesion molecules (CAM) and leukocyte (PBMC) binding of human macrovascular (coronary artery, saphenous vein) and microvascular endothelial cells (EC). Tacrolimus did not affect EC integrity, growth or expression of CAM. Exclusively, EC from the coronary arteries showed a reduced cellular growth (about 30%) under cyclosporin A and tacrolimus treatment. In contrast, treatment with mTOR inhibitors reduced EC proliferative activity by about 40%, independently of the EC origin. No induction of apoptosis (caspase-3/7 activity) or cytotoxicity (MTS test) was observed. Long-term treatment with high concentrations of sirolimus and everolimus did not enhance the expression of CAM. Stimulation with tumor necrosis factor significantly increased the expression of CAM, independently of the drugs used. None of the mTOR inhibitors influenced the tumor necrosis factor-induced expression of CAM, whereas adhesion of PBMC increased significantly, as described by other papers. In summary, neither calcineurin inhibitors nor mTOR inhibitors activate human micro- and macrovascular EC. Therefore, the investigated drugs are unlikely to contribute to EC activation during transplant-associated vasculopathy. / Dieser Beitrag ist mit Zustimmung des Rechteinhabers aufgrund einer (DFG-geförderten) Allianz- bzw. Nationallizenz frei zugänglich.

The chemokine, Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein (MCP-1), enhances integrin mediated monocyte adhesion to the vascular endothelium during inflammation. In this study, we demonstrate that MCP-1 promotes rapid sub-second adhesion of THP-1 cells to Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 (VCAM-1), but not to Intercellular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 (ICAM-1). MCP-1 activates membrane tethered Very Late Antigen 4 (VLA-4, α4β1), but not necessarily cytoskeleton anchored VLA-4. Activated tethered VLA-4 bonds tremendously increased the period of time monocytes remain bound from hundreds of milliseconds to several seconds and also increased the distance over which immunologic surveillance occurs from several microns up to 20 microns along the endothelium. Lastly at the single molecule level, MCP-1 stimulated tethered VLA-4 bonds exhibit increased resistance to pulling force. In conclusion MCP-1 increased tethered VLA-4 bond resistance to force providing a mechanism for monocyte recruitment to the endothelium.

No description available.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-12T15:51:29Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 arquivo2776_1.pdf: 6833514 bytes, checksum: de6f82bea549e57112eae403a110a117 (MD5) license.txt: 1748 bytes, checksum: 8a4605be74aa9ea9d79846c1fba20a33 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2010 / O estado nutricional tem influências importantes no desenvolvimento fetal e a alteração na qualidade e/ou quantidade da alimentação materna durante a gravidez tem consequências sobre a saúde posterior da prole, mudando suas respostas aos desafios ambientais e, portanto, sua predisposição a doenças. Ácidos graxos ômega-6 e ômega-9 são importantes nutrientes para o crescimento e desenvolvimento e parecem desempenhar um importante papel na modulação da doença inflamatória cardiovascular e hepática. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar o efeito de dietas hiperlipidêmicas sobre o endotélio e o fígado de matrizes, bem como, avaliar em matrizes hipercolesterolêmicas o efeito do consumo de ômega-6 e ômega-9 sobre o fígado e o endotélio aórtico da prole. Na primeira etapa, avaliamos, em camundongas Swiss, o efeito de uma dieta hiperlipidêmica, rica em ômega-6 e colesterol, sobre o endotélio e o fígado. Análises bioquímicas mostraram que as dietas experimentais causaram dislipidemia, inflamação e peroxidação lipídica; a análise ultraestrutural, por sua vez, evidenciou que as dietas hiperlipidêmicas promoveram patogênese endotelial e acúmulo de lipídeo hepático. Entretanto, a dieta se mostrou mais hepatotóxica quando suplementada com colesterol. Em uma segunda etapa deste trabalho, com o intuito de se caracterizar a influência da dieta de matrizes sobre o endotélio e o fígado da prole, camundongas da espécie C57BL/6J, deficientes de receptor LDL, foram submetidas a uma dieta rica em ômega-6 ou ômega-9 durante 45 dias antes do acasalamento até o nascimento da prole. Matrizes alimentadas com dieta rica em ômega-6 apresentaram aumento sérico de colesterol total (CT) e seus filhotes, por sua vez, apresentaram elevação sérica de CT, triglicérides (TG) e proteína quimiotática de monócito-1 (MCP-1) circulante e diminuição de lipoproteína de alta densidade (HDL). Por outro lado, filhotes de matrizes alimentadas com dieta rica em ômega-9 apresentaram diminuição de TG e aumento de lipoproteína de baixa densidade (LDL). A análise morfológica do fígado de filhotes de matrizes alimentadas com dieta rica em ômega-6 mostrou esteatose, infiltrado leucocitário e aumento da expressão de MCP-1, enquanto que na análise ultraestrutural foram observadas gotículas de lipídeos e miofibroblastos. Tais alterações não foram observadas nos filhotes de matrizes alimentadas com ômega-9. Em análises morfológicas da aorta ascendente, filhotes de matrizes alimentadas com dieta rica em ômega-6 apresentaram um aumento da expressão de VCAM-1 e MCP-1 e alterações ultraestruturais severas como lâmina elástica descontínua, desprendimento de células endoteliais e presença de mitocôndrias degeneradas. De forma semelhante, estas alterações não foram observadas nos filhotes de matrizes alimentadas com dieta rica em ômega-9. Nosso estudo sugere que dietas hiperlipidêmicas promovem dano endotelial e hepático em matrizes. E que matrizes hipercolesterolêmicas alimentadas com dieta rica em ômega-6 predispõem seus filhotes à disfunção endotelial e hepática. Por outro lado, uma dieta rica em ômega-9 tem um efeito não lesivo

Systemisk lupus erythematosus (SLE) är en kronisk autoimmun sjukdom där immunförsvaret angriper kroppens egen vävnad och förorsakar inflammation. Den drabbar främst kvinnor i fertil ålder och antalet nya fall av SLE är 2–8 per 100 000 invånare årligen i Sverige. Sjukdomens orsak är okänd men tros bero på ett samspel mellan genetiska faktorer, miljöfaktorer och hormonpåverkan. Ökad risk för hjärtinfarkt och stroke syns hos SLE patienter. Markörer som är förknippade med SLE och kardiovaskulär sjukdom och presenterades i detta arbete är IFN-α2a, vaskulär celladhesionsmolekylen (VCAM-1) och S100A8/A9. Sjukdomen kännetecknas av bildandet av stora mängder autoantikroppar mot proteiner med nukleärt ursprung och dubbelsträngat DNA. Anti-fosfolipidantikroppar (aPL) är autoantikroppar som binder till strukturer på fosfolipider eller till komplex av proteiner och fosfolipider. Antikroppar mot kardiolipin (aCL) och mot β2-glykoprotein (aβ2GP1) är exempel på aPL och förekommer hos 20–30 % av SLE patienterna. En ytterligare aPL är anti-fosfatidylserin/protrombin (aPS/PT). aPL förknippas med högre risk för kardiovaskulär sjukdom. Syftet med arbetet var att mäta koncentrationen av IFN-α2a, VCAM-1, S100A8/A9 och aPL, och därefter analysera hur de förhåller sig till varandra samt förekomst av kardiovaskulär sjukdom. Koncentrationer av nämnda markörer och aPL mättes med olika immunoassays i 199 prover som tagits vid olika tidpunkter från 66 patienter, och korrelation analyserades med icke-parametriska metoder. Resultatet visar förväntade signifikanta korrelationer mellan sjukdomsaktivitet och IFN-α2a, VCAM-1 samt S100A8/A9. Alla undersökta aPL korrelerade med varandra. IgG antikroppar korrelerade bättre än IgM med IFN-α2a, VCAM-1, S100A8/A9 och sjukdomsaktiviteten. IFN-α2a hade en signifikant korrelation med VCAM-1, aCL-IgG och aPS/PT-IgG. VCAM-1 korrelerade däremot med IFN-α2a, aCL-IgG, aβ2GP1-IgG och aPS/PT-IgG. Ingen association mellan kardiovaskulär sjukdom och de undersökta markörerna samt aPL i patienternas första prov kunde påvisas. / Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronical autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system attacks healthy tissue and causes inflammation. The disease affects mainly women of childbearing age with 2 to 8 new cases per 100 000 inhabitants yearly in Sweden. One main feature of SLE is the expression of autoantibodies specific to autoantigens with nuclear origin. The cause of SLE is unknown but it is thought to involve a combination of genetic factors, environmental factors, and hormonal influence. Risk of myocardial infarction and stroke is increased in SLE. Markers that are associated with SLE and cardiovascular disease and got presented in this paper are IFN-α2a, Vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and the complex S100A8/A9. Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPLs) are a type of antibodies which binds to structures on phospholipids or to complex of proteins and phospholipids. Antibodies against cardiolipin (aCL) and β2-glycoprotein (aβ2GP1) are two aPLs which can be found in 20-30 % of SLE patients. Another example of aPLs is antiphosphatidylserine/prothrombin (aPS/PT). aPLs are associated with higher risk for CVD. The aim of this study was to study mentioned markers and aPLs to acquire better understanding of how they relate to each other and to CVD. The concentrations of these markers and aPLs were measured in 199 different samples which were taken from 66 patients and correlations were analyzed with non-parametric statistical methods. Results have shown as expected significant correlations for the biomarkers IFN-α2a, VCAM-1 and S100A8/A9 with disease activity. All aPLs have shown strong correlation to each other. IgG correlated better than IgM with the different biomarkers and disease activity. IFN-α2a had strong correlation to VCAM-1, aCL-IgG, and aPS/PT-IgG. VCAM-1 on the other hand had significant correlation to IFN-α2a, aCL-IgG, aβ2GP1-IgG and aPS/PT-IgG. No association could be found in this study between CVD and the studied markers, and aPLs in the first sample of each patient.

No description available.

No description available.

Das 1817 erstmals schriftlich erwähnte Selen galt lange Zeit nur als toxisch und sogar als procancerogen, bis es 1957 von Schwarz und Foltz als essentielles Spurenelement erkannt wurde, dessen biologische Funktionen in Säugern durch Selenoproteine vermittelt werden. Die Familie der Glutathionperoxidasen nimmt hierbei eine wichtige Stellung ein. Für diese sind konkrete Funktionen und die dazugehörigen molekularen Mechanismen, welche über die von ihnen katalysierte Hydroperoxidreduktion und damit verbundene antioxidative Kapazität hinausgehen, bislang nur unzureichend beschrieben worden. <br><br> Die Funktion der gastrointestinalen Glutathionperoxidase (GI-GPx) wird als Barriere gegen eine Hydroperoxidabsorption im Gastrointestinaltrakt definiert. Neuen Erkenntnissen zufolge wird die GI-GPx aber auch in verschiedenen Tumoren verstärkt exprimiert, was weitere, bis dato unbekannte, Funktionen dieses Enzymes wahrscheinlich macht.<br> Um mögliche neue Funktionen der GI-GPx, vor allem während der Cancerogenese, abzuleiten, wurde hier die transkriptionale Regulation der GI-GPx detaillierter untersucht. Die Sequenzanalyse des humanen GI-GPx-Promotors ergab das Vorhandensein von zwei möglichen "antioxidant response elements" (ARE), bei welchen es sich um Erkennungssequenzen des Transkriptionsfaktors Nrf2 handelt. Die meisten der bekannten Nrf2-Zielgene gehören in die Gruppe der Phase-II-Enzyme und verfügen über antioxidative und/oder detoxifizierende Eigenschaften. Sowohl auf Promotorebene als auch auf mRNA- und Proteinebene konnte die Expression der GI-GPx durch typische, in der Nahrung enthaltene, Nrf2-Aktivatoren wie z.B. Sulforaphan oder Curcumin induziert werden. Eine direkte Beteiligung von Nrf2 wurde durch Cotransfektion von Nrf2 selbst bzw. von Keap1, das Nrf2 im Cytoplasma festhält, demonstriert. Somit konnte die GI-GPx eindeutig als Nrf2-Zielgen identifiziert werden. Ob sich die GI-GPx in die Gruppe der antiinflammatorischen und anticancerogenen Phase-II-Enzyme einordnen lässt, bleibt noch zu untersuchen. <br><br> Die Phospholipidhydroperoxid Glutathionperoxidase (PHGPx) nimmt aufgrund ihres breiten Substratspektrums, ihrer hohen Lipophilie und ihrer Fähigkeit, Thiole zu modifizieren, eine Sonderstellung innerhalb der Familie der Glutathionperoxidasen ein. Mit Hilfe eines PHGPx-überexprimierenden Zellmodells wurden deshalb Beeinflussungen des zellulären Redoxstatus und daraus resultierende Veränderungen in der Aktivität redoxsensitiver Transkriptionsfaktorsysteme und in der Expression atheroskleroserelevanter Adhäsionsmoleküle untersucht. Als Transkriptionsfaktoren wurden NF-kB und Nrf2 ausgewählt. Die Bindung von NF-kB an sein entsprechendes responsives Element in der DNA erfordert das Vorhandensein freier Thiole, wohingegen Nrf2 durch Thiolmodifikation von Keap1 freigesetzt wird und in den Kern transloziert. Eine erhöhte Aktivität der PHGPx resultierte in einer Erhöhung des Verhältnisses von GSH zu GSSG, andererseits aber in einer verminderten Markierbarkeit freier Proteinthiole. PHGPx-Überexpression reduzierte die IL-1-induzierte NF-kB-Aktivität, die sich in einer verminderten NF-kB-DNA-Bindefähigkeit und Transaktivierungsaktivität ausdrückte. Auch war die Proliferationsrate der Zellen vermindert. Die Expression des NF-kB-regulierten vaskulären Zelladhäsionsmoleküls, VCAM-1, war ebenfalls deutlich verringert. Umgekehrt war in PHGPx-überexprimierenden Zellen eine erhöhte Nrf2-Aktivität und Expression der Nrf2-abhängigen Hämoxygenase-1 zu verzeichnen. Letzte kann für die meisten der beobachteten Effekte verantwortlich gemacht werden.<br><br> Die hier dargestellten Ergebnisse verdeutlichen, dass eine Modifizierung von Proteinthiolen als wichtige Determinante für die Regulation der Expression und Funktion von Glutathionperoxidasen angesehen werden kann. Entgegen früheren Vermutungen, welche oxidative Vorgänge generell mit pathologischen Veränderungen assoziierten, scheint ein moderater oxidativer Stress, bedingt durch eine transiente Thiolmodifikation, durchaus günstige Auswirkungen zu haben, da, wie hier dargelegt, verschiedene, miteinander interagierende, cytoprotektive Mechanismen ausgelöst werden. Hieran wird deutlich, dass sich "antioxidative Wirkung" oder "oxidativer Stress" keineswegs nur auf "gute" oder "schlechte" Vorgänge beschränken lassen, sondern im Zusammenhang mit den beeinflussten (patho)physiologischen Prozessen und dem Ausmaß der "Störung" des physiologischen Redoxgleichgewichtes betrachtet werden müssen. / Selenium was discovered in 1817 by the Swedish chemist Berzelius and was for a long time considered as being toxic and even procarcinogenic. In 1957, however, Schwarz and Foltz realized that selenium is an essential trace element which elicits its biological functions in mammals as a structural component of selenoproteins among which the family of glutathione peroxidases plays a dominant role. Glutathione peroxidases reduce hydroperoxides to the corresponding alcohols and contribute to the antioxidative capacity of a cell. However, other functions of glutathione peroxidases and the according molecular mechanisms have hardly been described.>br><br> The gastrointestinal glutathione peroxidase (GI-GPx) is believed to build a barrier against the absorption of foodborne hydroperoxides. In addition, GI-GPx expression is increased in different tumors. This indicates further, still unknown, functions of this enzyme.<br> In order to elucidate new possible functions of GI-GPx, especially during carcinogenesis, the transcriptional regulation of GI-GPx was analyzed in more detail. An analysis of the GI-GPx promoter sequence revealed the presence of two putative "antioxidant response elements" (ARE) which are recognition sites for the transcription factor Nrf2. Most of the known Nrf2 target genes either belong to the group of phase-II detoxification enzymes or possess antioxidative and/or detoxifying properties. On promoter level as well as on mRNA- and protein level the expression of GI-GPx was induced by typical Nrf2-activating compounds such as sulforaphane or curcumin that are contained in the diet. A direct involvement of Nrf2 was demonstrated by cotransfection of Nrf2 itself or by cotransfection of Keap1 which retains Nrf2 in the cytosol. Thus, the GI-GPx gene was unequivocally identified as a new target for Nrf2. Whether GI-GPx also belongs in the category of antiinflammatory and anticarcinogenic enzymes remains to be elucidated.<br><br> The phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase (PHGPx) is exceptional among the glutathione peroxidases because of its broad range of substrates, its high lipophilicity, and its ability to modify protein thiols. With PHGPx-overexpressing cells, the influence of PHGPx on the cellular redox state and on resulting changes in the activity of redox-sensitive transcription factors and on the expression of proatherogenic adhesion molecules was analyzed. For this, the redox-sensitive transcription factors NF-kB and Nrf2 were chosen. NF-kB requires free thiols for being able to bind to its responsive element within the DNA, whereas Nrf2 is released from Keap1 and translocates to the nucleus upon a modification of protein thiols. PHGPx-overexpression resulted in an increase in the ratio of GSH to GSSG, in a reduced amount of intracellular protein thiols, and in a diminished proliferation rate. Furthermore, PHGPx-overexpressing cells displayed a reduced IL-1-dependent NF-kB activity as was assessed by a reduced NF-kB DNA-binding ability and activity of a NF-kB-driven reporter gene. In addition, the expression of the NF-kB-dependent vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM-1) was also inhibited by overexpression of PHGPx. On the other hand, PHGPx-overexpressing cells displayed an increased activity of Nrf2 that was accompanied by an increased expression of the Nrf2-dependent heme oxygenase-1. Heme oxygenase-1 most likely is responsible for most of the aforementioned effects.<br><br> The data presented here show that a modification of protein thiols can be regarded as an important determinant for the regulation and for the functions of glutathione peroxidases. In contrast to the previous assumption that oxidative processes are always linked to pathologic changes, a moderate oxidative stress seems to have beneficial effects, because it triggers different cytoprotective mechanisms. It can be concluded that the terms "antioxidative effect" or "oxidative stress" cannot simply be restricted to "good" or "bad" processes, but need to be seen in context with the modulated (patho)physiological processes and the degree of "disturbance" of the physiologic redox balance.

Ce travail de thèse s'inscrit dans le cadre d'une collaboration avec le groupe Guerbet. Il visait à caractériser la lésion qui fait suite à un accident vasculaire cérébral (AVC) ischémique en imagerie par résonance magnétique (IRM) grâce à des agents de contraste novateurs. Guerbet et leurs collaborateurs ont développés des USPIO ciblés (ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide), particules de fer couplées à des peptides reconnaissant spécifiquement un biomarqueur. Dans un modèle d’ischémie cérébrale avec reperfusion réalisé chez la souris, nous avons recherché la capacité de ces agents à caractériser la lésion d’une part en terme de type de mort cellulaire par le ciblage de la phosphatidylsérine (PS), marqueur cellulaire externalisé au cours de l’apoptose, et d’autre part en terme de déficit vasculaire par le ciblage de VCAM-1, molécule d’adhésion impliquée dans le processus inflammatoire. En ce qui concerne l’apoptose, nous avons tout d’abord montré par immunohistochimie l’expression de caspase-3 active, marqueur apoptotique, dès 6 heures et jusqu’à 72 heures après l’ischémie. Cependant, en IRM, l’utilisation d’USPIO ciblant la PS (le P03234 et le P03675) n’a pas permis la détection du phénomène apoptotique. Actuellement d’autres agents de contraste de ce type sont en cours de développement chez Guerbet. En ce qui concerne l’inflammation vasculaire, l’étude de l’expression de VCAM-1 par immunohistochimie a montré l’apparition d’un marquage dès 6 heures après l’ischémie avec un maximum à 24 heures. L’utilisation d’un USPIO-VCAM-1 (le P03011) a permis de mettre en évidence sur les images IRM des zones d’hypointensités dans la lésion, ce qui correspond à la présence de particules de fer. L'analyse histologique de ces cerveaux a montré une colocalisation de l’USPIO avec sa cible VCAM-1, ce qui établit la preuve de concept. Ces travaux ont permis mettre en évidence la capacité d’USPIO développés par Guerbet à cibler des marqueurs biologiques, notamment VCAM-1, à la suite d’une ischémie cérébrale. Ceci suggère que ce type d’agent de contraste pourrait être un bon outil clinique pour la caractérisation de la lésion ischémique chez les patients victimes d’AVC. / This work is a collaboration with Guerbet group. It aimed to characterize the lesion that follows an ischemic stroke with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) by innovative contrast agents. Guerbet developped targeted USPIO (ultrasmall superparamagnetic iron oxide), which are iron particles coupled to peptides which specifically bind a biomarker. In a mouse model of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion, we studied the capacity of these agents to characterize the lesion on the one hand in terms of cellular death by targeting phosphatidylserin (PS), a cellular marker externalized during apoptosis, and on the other hand in terms of vascular deficit by targeting VCAM-1, an adhesion molecule implied in the inflammatory process. Concerning apoptosis, we showed by immunohistochemistry the expression of active caspase-3, an apoptotic marker, between 6 and 72 hours after ischemia. Nevertheless on MRI, the use of USPIO targeting PS (both P03234 and P03675) did not allow us to detect the apoptotic phenomenon. Currently, other PS-targeted contrast agents are developed by Guerbet. Concerning vascular inflammation, the study of VCAM-1 by immunohistochemistry showed an up-regulated expression 6 hours after ischaemia which reached a maximum at 24 hours. VCAM-1-USPIO (P03011) induced a decrease of the MRI signal appearing as hypointense foci in the lesion, which correspond to iron particles. The histological analysis of these brains showed a colocalisation of the USPIO with its target VCAM-1, which establishes the proof of concept. This work showed the capacity of USPIO developed by Guerbet to target biological markers, particularly VCAM-1, following cerebral ischemia. This suggests that this kind of contrast agent could be a good clinical tool to characterize the ischemic lesion in patients suffering from stroke.