Shear Stress and the AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Independently Protect the Vascular Endothelium from Palmitate Lipotoxicity.

Saturated free fatty acids are thought to play a critical role in metabolic disorders associated with obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes (T2D), and their vascular complications via effects on the vascular endothelium. The most abundant saturated free fatty acid, palmitate, exerts lipotoxic effects on the vascular endothelium, eventually leading to cell death. Shear stress activates the endothelial AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a cellular energy sensor, and protects endothelial cells from lipotoxicity, however their relationship is uncertain. Here, we used isoform-specific shRNA-mediated silencing of AMPK to explore its involvement in the long-term protection of macrovascular human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) against palmitate lipotoxicity and to relate it to the effects of shear stress. We demonstrated that it is the α1 catalytic subunit of AMPK that is critical for HUVEC protection under static conditions, whereas AMPK-α2 autocompensated a substantial loss of AMPK-α1, but failed to protect the cells from palmitate. Shear stress equally protected the wild type HUVECs and those lacking either α1, or α2, or both AMPK-α isoforms; however, the protective effect of AMPK reappeared after returning to static conditions. Moreover, in human adipose microvascular endothelial cells isolated from obese diabetic individuals, shear stress was a strong protector from palmitate lipotoxicity, thus highlighting the importance of circulation that is often obstructed in obesity/T2D. Altogether, these results indicate that AMPK is important for vascular endothelial cell protection against lipotoxicity in the static environment, however it may be dispensable for persistent and more effective protection exerted by shear stress.

Long-Term Experimental Hyperglycemia Does Not Impair Macrovascular Endothelial Barrier Integrity and Function in vitro.

Hyperglycemia is a hallmark of type 2 diabetes implicated in vascular endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular complications. Many in vitro studies identified endothelial apoptosis as an early outcome of experimentally modeled hyperglycemia emphasizing cell demise as a significant factor of vascular injury. However, endothelial apoptosis has not been observed in vivo until the late stages of type 2 diabetes. Here, we studied the long-term (up to 4 weeks) effects of high glucose (HG, 30 mM) on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) in vitro. HG did not alter HUVEC monolayer morphology, ROS levels, NO production, and exerted minor effects on the HUVEC apoptosis markers. The barrier responses to various clues were indistinguishable from those by cells cultured in physiological glucose (5 mM). Tackling the key regulators of cytoskeletal contractility and endothelial barrier revealed no differences in the histamine-induced intracellular Ca2+ responses, nor in phosphorylation of myosin regulatory light chain or myosin light chain phosphatase. Altogether, these findings suggest that vascular endothelial cells may well tolerate HG for relatively long exposures and warrant further studies to explore mechanisms involved in vascular damage in advanced type 2 diabetes.

Effects of Antiplatelet Drugs on Platelet-Dependent Coagulation Reactions.

Activated platelets are involved in blood coagulation by exposing phosphatidylserine (PS), which serves as a substrate for assembling coagulation complexes. Platelets accelerate fibrin formation and thrombin generation, two final reactions of the coagulation cascade. We investigated the effects of antiplatelet drugs on platelet impact in these reactions and platelet ability to expose PS. Washed human platelets were incubated with acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), ticagrelor, ASA in combination with ticagrelor, ruciromab (glycoprotein IIb-IIIa antagonist), or prostaglandin E1 (PGE1). Platelets were not activated or activated by collagen and sedimented in multiwell plates, and plasma was added after supernatant removal. Fibrin formation (clotting) was monitored in a recalcification assay by light absorbance and thrombin generation in a fluorogenic test. PS exposure was assessed by annexin V staining using flow cytometry. Ticagrelor (alone and in combination with ASA), ruciromab, and PGE1, but not ASA, prolonged the lag phase and decreased the maximum rate of plasma clotting and decreased the peak and maximum rate of thrombin generation. Inhibition was observed when platelets were not treated with exogenous agonists (activation by endogenous thrombin) and pretreated with collagen. Ticagrelor (alone and in combination with ASA), ruciromab, and PGE1, but not ASA, decreased PS exposure on washed platelets activated by thrombin and by thrombin + collagen. PS exposure on activated platelets in whole blood was lower in patients with acute coronary syndrome receiving ticagrelor + ASA in comparison with donors free of medications. These results indicate that antiplatelet drugs are able to suppress platelet coagulation activity not only in vitro but also after administration to patients.

Effects of platelets activated by different agonists on fibrin formation and thrombin generation.

Activated platelets possess procoagulant activity expressing on their surface phosphatidylserine (PS), a substrate for assembling coagulation complexes. We examined the effects of platelets activated by different agonists on fibrin formation and thrombin generation and compared these effects with each other and with PS expression. Modified plasma recalcification assay was developed to assess platelet effects on fibrin formation. Washed human platelets were left intact or activated by A23187 ionophore, collagen, arachidonic acid, ADP or TRAP (Thrombin Receptor Activating Peptide) and spun down in 96-well plates. Plasma was then added, recalcified, and fibrin formation was monitored by light absorbance. Platelets prepared in the same way were tested for their effect on thrombin generation. PS expression was evaluated by flow cytometry using annexin V staining. Platelets significantly accelerated fibrin formation and thrombin generation. They shortened lag phase and increased maximum rate of plasma clotting, and increased peak and maximum rate of thrombin generation. In both tests platelets were presumably activated by endogenous thrombin formed in plasma after triggering coagulation reactions. However, pretreatment with exogenous agonists additionally increased platelet procoagulant activity. It reached the maximum after incubation with A23187, being lower with collagen and arachidonic acid and minimum with ADP and TRAP (the latter might be ineffective due to competition with endogenous thrombin). The effects of platelets activated by different agonists on fibrin formation and thrombin generation correlate with each other and correspond to PS expression on their surface.

Why was the study done? Platelets and blood coagulation system interact with each other in hemostasis and intravascular thrombosis.Direct platelet effects on fibrin formation (plasma clotting), the final stage of blood coagulation cascade, have been insufficiently studied.The work is aimed at developing a method for studying platelet participation in fibrin formation in blood plasma and investigating the influence of platelet agonists on this reaction.What is new? Platelets significantly accelerate fibrin formation and their activation with various agonists (thrombin, collagen, arachidonic acid) enhances these effects.Effects of platelets on fibrin formation correlated with their ability to stimulate thrombin generation in blood plasmaEffects of platelets on fibrin formation and thrombin generation correlated with the level of phosphatidylserine exposure on their surfaceWhat is the impact? This study provides further evidence that platelet procоagulant effects on fibrin formation should be considered in investigations of platelet involvement in hemostatic and thrombotic reactions and in the evaluation of the efficacy of antiplatelet drugs.

Dicarbonyl-Modified Low-Density Lipoproteins Are Key Inducers of LOX-1 and NOX1 Gene Expression in the Cultured Human Umbilical Vein Endotheliocytes.

Expression of LOX-1 and NOX1 genes in the human umbilical vein endotheliocytes (HUVECs) cultured in the presence of low-density lipoproteins (LDL) modified with various natural dicarbonyls was investigated for the first time. It was found that among the investigated dicarbonyl-modified LDLs (malondialdehyde (MDA)-modified LDLs, glyoxal-modified LDLs, and methylglyoxal-modified LDLs), the MDA-modified LDLs caused the greatest induction of the LOX-1 and NOX1 genes, as well as of the genes of antioxidant enzymes and genes of proapoptotic factors in HUVECs. Key role of the dicarbonyl-modified LDLs in the molecular mechanisms of vascular wall damage and endothelial dysfunction is discussed.

Single-Cell Gene Expression Analysis Revealed Immune Cell Signatures of Delta COVID-19.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is accompanied by a cytokine storm with the release of many proinflammatory factors and development of respiratory syndrome. Several SARS-CoV-2 lineages have been identified, and the Delta variant (B.1.617), linked with high mortality risk, has become dominant in many countries. Understanding the immune responses associated with COVID-19 lineages may therefore aid the development of therapeutic and diagnostic strategies. Multiple single-cell gene expression studies revealed innate and adaptive immunological factors and pathways correlated with COVID-19 severity. Additional investigations covering host-pathogen response characteristics for infection caused by different lineages are required. Here, we performed single-cell transcriptome profiling of blood mononuclear cells from the individuals with different severity of the COVID-19 and virus lineages to uncover variant specific molecular factors associated with immunity. We identified significant changes in lymphoid and myeloid cells. Our study highlights that an abundant population of monocytes with specific gene expression signatures accompanies Delta lineage of SARS-CoV-2 and contributes to COVID-19 pathogenesis inferring immune components for targeted therapy.

Differential procoagulant activity of microparticles derived from monocytes, granulocytes, platelets and endothelial cells: impact of active tissue factor.

: Microparticles released by activated/apoptotic cells exhibit coagulation activity as they express phosphatidylserine and some of them - tissue factor. We compared procoagulant properties of microparticles from monocytes, granulocytes, platelets and endothelial cells and assessed the impact of tissue factor in observed differences. Microparticles were sedimented (20 000g, 30 min) from the supernatants of activated monocytes, monocytic THP-1 cells, granulocytes, platelets and endothelial cells. Coagulation activity of microparticles was examined using plasma recalcification assay. The size of microparticles was evaluated by dynamic light scattering. Tissue factor activity was measured by its ability to activate factor X. All microparticles significantly accelerated plasma coagulation with the shortest lag times for microparticles derived from monocytes, intermediate - for microparticles from THP-1 cells and endothelial cells, and the longest - for microparticles from granulocytes and platelets. Average diameters of microparticles ranged within 400-600 nm. The largest microparticles were produced by endothelial cells and granulocytes, smaller - by monocytes, and the smallest - by THP-1 cells and platelets. The highest tissue factor activity was detected in microparticles from monocytes, lower activity - in microparticles from endothelial cells and THP-1 cells, and no activity - in microparticles from platelets and granulocytes. Anti-tissue factor antibodies extended coagulation lag times for microparticles from monocytes, endothelial cells and THP-1 cells and equalized them with those for microparticles from platelets and granulocytes. Higher coagulation activity of microparticles from monocytes, THP-1 cells and endothelial cells in comparison with microparticles from platelets and granulocytes is determined mainly by the presence of active tissue factor.

Malonyldialdehyde and glyoxal act differently on low-density lipoproteins and endotheliocytes.

Under some pathological conditions, the natural dicarbonyl compounds can accumulate in the blood. The examples are malonyldialdehyde (MDA) formed as a secondary product of lipid peroxidation of unsaturated fatty acids during atherosclerosis, and glyoxal (GOX), a homolog of MDA, which accumulates during glucose autoxidation in patients with diabetes mellitus. This study compared the influence of both dicarbonyl compounds on low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and the membrane of endotheliocytes. In comparison with GOX, MDA induced more pronounced changes in physical and chemical properties of LDL particles. On the other hand, GOX-modified LDL particles were more prone to oxidation and aggregation than MDA-modified LDL. Incubation of endotheliocytes with MDA increased cell mechanical stiffness in contrast to incubation with GOX, which decreased it.

Participation of the urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) in neutrophil transendothelial migration.

The mechanisms underlying migration of neutrophils across endothelium are not completely understood. The urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) plays a key role in neutrophil adhesion and migration. In the present study, we addressed whether uPAR regulates neutrophil transendothelial migration. We first showed that siRNA-mediated knockdown of uPAR in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) did not affect neutrophil migration across HUVEC monolayers indicating that endothelial uPAR does not regulate neutrophil transmigration. In contrast, the transmigration was significantly inhibited by Fab' fragment of anti-uPAR monoclonal antibody and proteolytically inactive urokinase (uPA), whereas inhibition of proteolytical activity of endogenous uPA (with amiloride or plasminogen activator inhibitor-1) did not affect the transmigration. Both the anti-uPAR Fab' fragment and proteolytically inactive uPA did not exert significant effects upon the transmigration conducted in the presence of F(ab')(2) fragment of blocking antibody to integrin Mac-1 indicating that uPAR regulates Mac-1-dependent transmigration. Mac-1-dependent, but not Mac-1-independent, transmigration was significantly reduced in the presence of N-acetyl-d-glucosamine and d-mannose, the saccharides that disrupt uPAR/Mac-1 association, but was unaffected in the presence of control saccharides (d-sorbitol and sucrose). We conclude that physical association of uPAR with Mac-1 mediates the regulatory effect of uPAR over the transmigration. Finally, we provide evidence that the functional cooperation between uPAR and Mac-1 is essential at both adhesion and diapedesis steps of neutrophil migration across endothelium. Thus, uPAR expressed on neutrophil plasma membrane regulates transendothelial migration independently of uPA proteolytical activity and acting as a cofactor for integrin Mac-1.

MCP-1-stimulated chemotaxis of monocytic and endothelial cells is dependent on activation of different signaling cascades.

Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) is important in attracting monocytes to sites of inflammation. Besides induction of monocyte recruitment, MCP-1 can also affect chemotactic response of endothelial cells. The molecular mechanisms involved in MCP-1-induced cell migration are poorly understood. In the current investigation, we demonstrate activation of p42/44(ERK1/2) and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), phosphatydilinositol-3-kinase (PI3K) and Src-kinases in both monocytes and endothelial cells stimulated with MCP-1 in vitro. The response was rapid and time-dependent, detectable within 3 min of MCP-1 stimulation. MCP-1-induced phosphorylation of p42/44(ERK1/2) MAPKs was partially blocked by inhibitor of PI3K LY294002, while phosphorylation of p38 MAPK was diminished to a greater extent in presence of Src-kinase inhibitor PP2. There was a substantial inhibition of monocyte migration upon treatment with inhibitors of p38 MAPK, at the same time inhibition of p42/44(ERK1/2) MAPK activation had no effect. On the contrary, the MCP-1-stimulated chemotaxis of endothelial cells was completely abolished by inhibitors of PI3K and p42/44(ERK1/2), but not by p38 MAPK inhibitors. These results suggest that parallel signal transduction pathways are activated by MCP-1, and that depending on the cell type these pathways differentially contribute to cell chemotactic activity.