Aging is associated impaired endothelial function in the skeletal muscle vasculature which contributes to decreased ability to increase muscle blow during exercise. This endothelial dysfunction is mediated, primarily, by impairments in the nitric oxide (NO) pathway in the skeletal muscle vasculature. The major purpose of this dissertation is to determine the mechanisms that mediate age-related endothelial dysfunction in rat soleus feed artery (SFA) and determine whether exercise training ameliorates this impairment in endothelial function. Therefore in these series of studies we sought to test three major hypotheses: 1) That exercise training reverses age-related decrements in endothelium-dependent dilation in SFA and that this improved endothelium-dependent dilation is the result of increased NO bioavailability due to increased content and phosphorylation of eNOS and/or increased antioxidant enzyme content; 2) That age-related endothelial dysfunction in rat SFA is mediated in part, by NAD(P)H oxidase-derived reactive oxygen species (ROS); 3) and, that impaired endothelium-dependent dilation in senescent SFA is due to an impaired potential for p-eNOSser1177. To test these hypotheses, SFA from young (4 month) and old (24 month) Fischer 344 rats were isolated for either determination of endothelium-dependent and –independent dilations or biochemical analyses. Results from these investigations suggest that 1) exercise training reverses the detrimental effects of aging on endothelial function in skeletal muscle feed arteries by enhancing the capacity to scavenge superoxide, increasing the bioavailability of NO; 2) ROS contribute to impaired endothelium-dependent dilation in old SFA; whereas, ROS appear to play a role in ACh-mediated dilation in SFA from young rats; 3) and, that the PI3 kinase/protein kinase B (Akt)/eNOS pathway is preserved with age.

Oxisteróis (por exemplo, 7hidroxicolesterol) são gerados por modificações oxidativas que ocorrem na molécula de colesterol. Podem ser encontrados em elevados níveis plasmáticos em pacientes com aterosclerose e como componentes da placa aterosclerótica. Considerando que o colesterol é o principal componente da cavéola (domínios específicos da membrana plasmática que ancoram diversas proteínas de sinalização) formulamos a hipótese que os oxisteróis podem ser incorporados a estes domínios, interferindo com as vias de sinalização aí localizadas. Células endoteliais de veia umbilical humana (HUVECs) em cultura foram expostas a 7hidroxicolesterol (10g/mL) por diferentes tempos. Analisamos a incorporação desse oxisterol à cavéola utilizando espectrometria de massa e a atividade das proteínas de sinalização presentes neste domínio: óxido nítrico sintase endotelial (eNOS), CD40/CD40L, receptor do fator de crescimento de fibroblastos (rFGF), utilizando PCR quantitativo e imunoblots. Inicialmente mostramos que o 7hidroxycholesterol, em concentrações fisiológicas, foi incorporado às cavéolas mais acentuadamente que em outros domínios de membrana. Esse fenômeno impediu o desligamento entre eNOS e caveolina, prejudicando a função dessa enzima. Também mostramos que o receptor CD40 apresentou uma maior incorporação à cavéola e o rFGF manteve uma ativação mais longa quando células foram expostas ao 7hidroxicolesterol. Esses efeitos gerados pelo oxisterol não estavam relacionados à sua ação sobre mediadores inflamatórios ou receptores nucleares, desde que nenhuma diferença foi observada no perfil de citocinas ou na expressão de genes dependentes da ativação de LXR. Assim, concluímos que a incorporação de 7hidroxycholesterol nos domínios de cavéola pode interferir com vias de sinalização sabidamente envolvidas na aterogênese ou na ruptura da placa / Oxysterols (for example, 7hidroxycholesterol) are generated by oxidative modifications to cholesterol molecules. They have been described in high levels in patients with atherosclerosis and as components of the atherosclerotic plaque. Since cholesterol is the main component of caveolae (plasma membrane domains that anchor several signaling proteins), we hypothesized that oxysterol could be incorporated to these domains, interfering with the signaling networks that use this pathway. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in culture were exposed to 7hidroxycholesterol (10g/mL) for different times. We analyzed incorporation of this oxysterol to caveolae using mass spectroscopy and the activity of signaling pathways present in these domains: endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), CD40/CD40L, fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFr), using quantitative PCR and immunoblots. Initially we showed that 7hidroxycholesterol, in physiological concentrations, was incorporated to caveolae more prominently than to other plasma membrane domains. This phenomenon caused a difficulty in eNOS release from caveolin, impairing its function. We also showed that the receptor CD40 presented a stronger incorporation to caveolae and FGFr maintained a longer activation when cells were exposed to 7hidroxycholesterol. These oxysterol effects were not related to its action in inflammatory mediators or nuclear receptors, since no difference could be observed in cytokine profiles or in the expression of genes dependent on LXR activation. Therefore we conclude that 7hidroxycholesterol incorporation in caveolae domains may interfere with signaling pathways known to be involved in atherogenesis or in plaque rupture

Oxisteróis (por exemplo, 7hidroxicolesterol) são gerados por modificações oxidativas que ocorrem na molécula de colesterol. Podem ser encontrados em elevados níveis plasmáticos em pacientes com aterosclerose e como componentes da placa aterosclerótica. Considerando que o colesterol é o principal componente da cavéola (domínios específicos da membrana plasmática que ancoram diversas proteínas de sinalização) formulamos a hipótese que os oxisteróis podem ser incorporados a estes domínios, interferindo com as vias de sinalização aí localizadas. Células endoteliais de veia umbilical humana (HUVECs) em cultura foram expostas a 7hidroxicolesterol (10g/mL) por diferentes tempos. Analisamos a incorporação desse oxisterol à cavéola utilizando espectrometria de massa e a atividade das proteínas de sinalização presentes neste domínio: óxido nítrico sintase endotelial (eNOS), CD40/CD40L, receptor do fator de crescimento de fibroblastos (rFGF), utilizando PCR quantitativo e imunoblots. Inicialmente mostramos que o 7hidroxycholesterol, em concentrações fisiológicas, foi incorporado às cavéolas mais acentuadamente que em outros domínios de membrana. Esse fenômeno impediu o desligamento entre eNOS e caveolina, prejudicando a função dessa enzima. Também mostramos que o receptor CD40 apresentou uma maior incorporação à cavéola e o rFGF manteve uma ativação mais longa quando células foram expostas ao 7hidroxicolesterol. Esses efeitos gerados pelo oxisterol não estavam relacionados à sua ação sobre mediadores inflamatórios ou receptores nucleares, desde que nenhuma diferença foi observada no perfil de citocinas ou na expressão de genes dependentes da ativação de LXR. Assim, concluímos que a incorporação de 7hidroxycholesterol nos domínios de cavéola pode interferir com vias de sinalização sabidamente envolvidas na aterogênese ou na ruptura da placa / Oxysterols (for example, 7hidroxycholesterol) are generated by oxidative modifications to cholesterol molecules. They have been described in high levels in patients with atherosclerosis and as components of the atherosclerotic plaque. Since cholesterol is the main component of caveolae (plasma membrane domains that anchor several signaling proteins), we hypothesized that oxysterol could be incorporated to these domains, interfering with the signaling networks that use this pathway. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in culture were exposed to 7hidroxycholesterol (10g/mL) for different times. We analyzed incorporation of this oxysterol to caveolae using mass spectroscopy and the activity of signaling pathways present in these domains: endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), CD40/CD40L, fibroblast growth factor receptor (FGFr), using quantitative PCR and immunoblots. Initially we showed that 7hidroxycholesterol, in physiological concentrations, was incorporated to caveolae more prominently than to other plasma membrane domains. This phenomenon caused a difficulty in eNOS release from caveolin, impairing its function. We also showed that the receptor CD40 presented a stronger incorporation to caveolae and FGFr maintained a longer activation when cells were exposed to 7hidroxycholesterol. These oxysterol effects were not related to its action in inflammatory mediators or nuclear receptors, since no difference could be observed in cytokine profiles or in the expression of genes dependent on LXR activation. Therefore we conclude that 7hidroxycholesterol incorporation in caveolae domains may interfere with signaling pathways known to be involved in atherogenesis or in plaque rupture

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated during ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) enhance myocardial injury, but brief periods of myocardial ischemia followed by reperfusion [ischemic preconditioning (IP)] induce cardioprotection. Ischemia is reported to stimulate glucose uptake through the translocation of GLUT-4 from the intracellular vesicles to the sarcolemma. In the present study we demonstrated involvement of ROS in IP-mediated GLUT-4 translocation along with increased expression of caveolin (Cav)-3, phospho (p)-endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), p-Akt, and decreased expression of Cav-1. The rats were divided into the following groups: 1) control sham, 2) N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC, free radical scavenger) sham (NS), 3) I/R, 4) IP + I/R (IP), and 5) NAC + IP (IPN). IP was performed by four cycles of 4 min of ischemia and 4 min of reperfusion followed by 30 min of ischemia and 3, 24, 48 h of reperfusion, depending on the protocol. Increased mRNA expression of GLUT-4 and Cav-3 was observed after 3 h of reperfusion in the IP group compared with other groups. IP increased expression of GLUT-4, Cav-3, and p-AKT and p-eNOS compared with I/R. Coimmunoprecipitation demonstrated decreased association of Cav-1/eNOS in the IP group compared with the I/R group. Significant GLUT-4 and Cav-3 association was also observed in the IP group. This association was disrupted when NAC was used in conjunction with IP. It clearly documents a significant role of ROS signaling in Akt/eNOS/Cav-3-mediated GLUT-4 translocation and association in IP myocardium. In conclusion, we demonstrated a novel redox mechanism in IP-induced eNOS and GLUT-4 translocation and the role of caveolar paradox in making the heart euglycemic during the process of ischemia, leading to myocardial protection in a clinically relevant rat ischemic model.

京都大学 / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(医学) / 甲第18882号 / 医博第3993号 / 新制||医||1009(附属図書館) / 31833 / 京都大学大学院医学研究科医学専攻 / (主査)教授 宮本 享, 教授 小泉 昭夫, 教授 村井 俊哉 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Medical Science / Kyoto University / DFAM

Obesity is associated with chronic inflammation and increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease (CVD). Obesity is also associated with nitric oxide (NO)-mediated vascular endothelial dysfunction (VED), an independent predictor of increased CVD risk in humans. Pro-inflammatory cytokines secreted by the adipose tissue, such as TNF-Α, may contribute to VED through promotion of insulin resistance or directly through a reduction in endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) expression and/or phosphorylation. Sodium salicylate (Na-Sal) is a non-acetylated aspirin that inhibits the pro-inflammatory transcription factor nuclear factor-ΚB (NF-ΚB) and activates the cellular metabolism regulator AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). AMPK is a known activator of eNOS. We tested the hypothesis that Na-Sal increases eNOS expression/phosphorylation in TNFΑ-stimulated endothelial cells through an AMPK-dependent mechanism. Human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) incubated in vitro with TNF-Α (10 ng/ml, 2 hrs) demonstrated decreased (vs. control) expression (via Western blotting) of eNOSser1177 phosphorylation (n=8; PThr172 phosphorylation (n=8, Pser1177 phosphorylation (vs. control, n=7; P=0.14) and AMPKThr172 phosphorylation (vs. control, n=9; P=0.42). The AMPK activator AICAR prevented eNOSser1177 phosphorylation down-regulation by TNF-Α in a manner similar to Na-Sal (n=2, P=0.839). Co-treatment with the AMPK inhibitor compound C (10 μM, 30 min) abolished the ability of Na-Sal to prevent down-regulation of eNOSser1177 phosphorylation by TNF-Α (vs. control, n=3; Pser1177 in endothelial cells in part through AMPK.

In the past decades, tumors have progressively been perceived as highly integrated systems in which the genetically unstable tumor cells and the genetically stable host cells cooperate to promote tumor growth. This view suggests that, beside tumor cells (that are targeted by conventional anticancer treatments such as radio- and chemotherapy), host cells within the tumor microenvironment can be targeted by antitumor therapy. Such alternative strategies are strongly supported by the need to overcome several limitations of the conventional therapies targeting tumor cells, such as collateral toxicity due to lack of tumor selectivity, limited tumor accessibility, and the selection of treatment-resistant variants. By contrast to tumor cells, the genetically stable host cells should not develop resistance to treatments. In this context, the observation that tumor growth is fundamentally dependent on the onset of a private tumor neovasculature (tumor angiogenesis) has revolutionized the field of cancer research. Several treatments have been developed aimed to prevent tumor angiogenesis (anti-angiogenic strategies) or to erase the existent tumor vasculature (anti-vascular approaches) supporting the survival and growth of thousands of tumor cells. However, although such therapies achieved cancer cure in animal models, they turned out to be rather inefficient when tested in patients. This can be attributed to differences in the angiogenic status between fast-growing animal tumors and slow-growing human tumors at the time of clinical detection. Another reading of the above-mentioned observations is that anticancer treatments could benefit from interventions aimed at increasing their efficiency. For instance, radiotherapy could benefit from tumor reoxygenation while a decrease in tumor interstitial pressure could facilitate tumor accessibility to circulating agents. In this context, the mature vasculature is an attractive target since it controls tumor blood supply and is highly accessible for therapy. Therefore, strategies aimed at exploiting its functional reactivity by inducing vasorelaxation have the potential to improve tumor perfusion/drug delivery and oxygenation/radiosensitivity. To be exploited in the clinics, such pro-vascular approaches have to fulfill essential requirements. First, they need to achieve high selectivity for tumor vessels. It should prevent systemic toxicity as well as the stealing of the blood flow towards the peripheral vasculature. Second, vasodilation has to be transient, so that the tumor should not take advantage of an increased energetic supply to grow faster. Third, the therapeutic effects have to be achieved in several tumor types and in different host strains to gain a wide therapeutic range of applicability. Finally, vasomodulation has to be achieved with interventions relevant to the clinical situation, ensuring direct therapeutic significance. However, the therapeutic exploitation of agents modulating tumor perfusion was generally hampered by confounding effects on the systemic blood pressure. In our studies, we have documented that this lack of tumor selectivity can be overcome by identifying vasomodulatory pathways that are selectively altered within the tumor microenvironment, allowing selective vasomodulatory interventions. According to the criteria detailed above, to identify a differential tumor vascular reactivity, we had to work with mice models of mature tumor vascularization. We reasoned that preexisting host arterioles in mice, if coopted, should retain architectural characteristics (such as a muscular coat) necessary for functional reactivity but also be influenced by the tumor microenvironment at both molecular and functional levels. To gain in reproducibility, this model was developed by injecting syngeneic tumor cells in the vicinity of the saphenous arteriole (i.e., a collateral branch of the femoral artery) in the rear leg of mice. With tumor growth, this arteriole was progressively included in the tumor cortex (coopted), with side branches running deeply into tumors. This model was developed using several tumors and mice strains. It provides the unique advantage to allow the easy identification and isolation of mature tumor vessels from fast-growing animal tumors. To evaluate differential vasoreactivity in those tumor-coopted vessels, we adapted pressure myography, a device initially dedicated to the study of the reactivity of coronary arterioles (see annex 1). In our hands, the unprecedented application of pressure myography to the study of small tumor vessels proved to be very efficient. Indeed, this technique not only served us to confirm that arterioles remain sensitive to vasomodulation under tumor cooption, but also allowed us to evidence two major adaptations of host vessels to the tumor microenvironment: the acquisition of an ET-1-mediated basal constrictive tone and a defect in the vasodilatory NO pathway. Furthermore, we used pressure myography to identify and characterize vasomodulatory strategies exploiting these differential reactivities. More particularly, we showed that both BQ123 (an ETA inhibitor) and ionizing radiations (that restored a functional NO pathway) promoted the vasodilation of the tumor-coopted vessels. In vivo, we verified that these strategies fulfilled the essential requirements of pro-vascular approaches: tumor selectivity, transient effects, broad range of applicability, and therapeutic significance in clinically relevant regimens. This latter study led us to further explore the effects of radiotherapy on the status of the tumor vasculature. Hence, we showed that fractionated radiotherapy induced tumor angiogenesis, thereby providing a rationale to combine radiotherapy to anti-angiogenic therapies.

Until recently, the main mechanism of argininosuccinate synthase (AS) regulation was described to exist mainly at the level of transcription. Transcriptional regulation of AS has been shown to be coordinate with eNOS in response to shear stress, hypoxia, tumor necrosis factor á (TNF-á), and PPAR ã agonist troglitizone. However, it is now understood that one level of NO regulation is cellular control of arginine availability to eNOS via post-translational modifications of AS such as phosphorylation. The purpose of this investigation was to determine under what conditions AS is phosphorylated at S328, identify the pathway that AS phosphorylation at S328 plays a role, and how phosphorylation affects AS function in endothelial cells. We developed a phospho-specific antibody directed against pS328 AS and assayed for increases or decreases in phosphorylation relative to physiological factors. We found that AS phosphorylation at S328 occurred when endothelial cells were stimulated with physiological factors that stimulate nitric oxide production through calcium-dependent stimulation of eNOS. Furthermore, by utilizing kinase inhibitors and kinase knockdown experiments, we showed that phosphorylation at S328 significantly decreased when PKCá was knocked down, suggesting that S328 phosphorylation of AS is involved in PKCá signaling. In addition, by confocal microscopy, immunoprecipitation, and membrane fractionation, we showed that phosphorylation at S328 of AS promotes its co-localization with eNOS in the perinuclear region. These findings describe a novel pathway involving AS regulation of nitric oxide production, and may serve as a novel drug target in the restoration of vascular nitric oxide homeostasis.

De nombreuses études ont indiqué que la consommation régulière d’aliments riches en polyphénols comme le vin rouge, le thé, ou les fruits est associée à une réduction du risque de pathologies cardiovasculaires chez l’homme et les animaux. L’effet bénéfique des polyphénols sur le système cardiovasculaire est dû, au moins en partie, à leur action directe sur les vaisseaux sanguins en améliorant la fonction endothéliale. En effet, de nombreuses études indiquent que les polyphénols induisent des relaxations dépendantes de l’endothélium dans les artères isolées en stimulant la formation endothéliale de monoxyde d’azote (NO). La comparaison des relaxations induites par 13 jus et purées de fruits différents dans les artères coronaires de porc a permis de sélectionner l’Aronia melanocarpa en raison de sa grande activité et de sa forte teneur en polyphénols. L’Aronia melanocarpa est un puissant inducteur de relaxations dépendantes de l’endothélium en stimulant la formation endothéliale de NO. Cette formation accrue de NO implique l’activation rédox-sensible de la voie Src/PI3-kinase/Akt qui va phosphoryler la NO synthase sur son site activateur entraînant une formation rapide de NO. A plus long terme, l’Aronia melanocarpa stimule l’expression de la NO synthase via un mécanisme rédox-sensible impliquant les voies PI3-kinase/Akt, JNK, et p38 MAPK, et entraînant la phosphorylation inactivatrice des facteurs de transcription FoxO1 et Fox3a; cet effet prévient la régulation négative de l’expression de la NO synthase endothéliale. En conclusion,nos études révèlent le potentiel d’Aronia melanocarpa à améliorer la protection vasculaire par la stimulation soutenue de la formation de NO. / Many studies indicated that the regular consumption of drink or food rich in polyphenols like red wine, green tea, fruits, vegetables and chocolate is associated with a reduction of the risk of cardiovascular pathologies in human and animals. The beneficial effect of polyphenols, well known as antioxidants, on the cardiovascular system is due at least partly to their direct action on the blood-vessels by improving the endothelial function. Indeed, many studies indicate that the polyphenols induce the endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation in the isolated arteries by stimulating the formation of endothelial nitric oxide (NO). Comparing the endothelium-dependent relaxations induced by 13 different fruit juices and purees in the isolated porcine coronary arteries, Aronia melanocarpa was selected due to its high activity and the highest polyphenol content. Aronia melanocarpa is a potent inducer of endothelium-dependent relaxation in coronary artery by stimulating the formation of endothelial NO. This increased formation of NO involves the redox-sensitive activation of the Src/PI3-kinase/Akt pathway leading to the phosphorylation of eNOS at the activation site, Ser1177, during the rapid formation. Further for the long-term, Aronia melanocarpa stimulates the expression of eNOS via a redox-sensitive mechanism involving PI3-kinase/Akt, JNK, p38 MAPK pathways and the subsequent inactivation of transcription factors FoxO1 and FoxO3a by phosphorylation; this effect prevents their negative regulation of eNOS expression. In conclusion, our studies reveal the potential of Aronia melanocarpa to improve vascular protection by stimulating in a constant way the formation of endothelial NO.

Abstract Atherosclerosis is a multifactorial disease with numerous genes and environmental factors affecting its intiation and progression. During the past years many candidate genes for atherosclerosis have been suggested, and it has also become evident that the immune system plays a part in atherogenesis. Early atherosclerotic changes can be effectively detected by measuring carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT). In the present study the associations between IMT and polymorphisms of three candidate genes for atherosclerosis were studied: endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), apolipoprotein E (apoE) and paraoxonase-1 (PON1). To assess the role of immunological factors determining carotid atherosclerosis, CRP and circulating autoantibodies to oxidised LDL were studied in relation to IMT. The study population consisted of 519 hypertensive and 526 control subjects from a middle-aged population in Oulu, Finland. The results showed that the investigated polymorphisms of eNOS and PON1 genes were not associated with IMT, suggesting that these polymorphisms are not major risk factors for atherosclerosis in the general Caucasian population. A significant interaction between the apoE polymorphism and smoking in relation to IMT was observed among men, indicating that carriers of the ε4 allele may be particularly prone to the atherogenic effects of smoking. This interaction was especially clear in hypertensive subjects. CRP was strongly associated with IMT before adjusting for confounding factors. After the adjustment, this association diasppeared. The finding suggests that instead of early atherosclerosis CRP may be related to the later phases of the disease. This may partly explain the strong correlation between CRP and future cardiovascular events. IgM type of autoantibodies binding to oxidised LDL were inversely associated with IMT, and this finding remained after adjusting for previously known risk factors for atherosclerosis, implying a possible protective role for these antibodies in atherogenesis.