Hemostatic properties of a venomic protein in rat organ trauma.

Previous in vitro work characterized the protease Q8009 isolated from the venom of the Australian brown snake Pseudonaja textilis textilis with Factor Xa-like activity and hemostatic properties. The purpose of the work described here characterizes the in vivo hemostatic properties in a rat model of parenchymatous organ injury. The key parameters of activity included reduction in time-to-hemostasis and total volume of blood loss in spleen, liver and kidney wound models in rats. The surgical protocols involved exposure of the organs via a midline abdominal laparotomy. Using a clean metal template with 6, 6.5, 9 mm holes for spleen, liver and kidney, respectively, a predetermined volume of the organ was gently extruded through the template hole and excised with a razor blade. About 50 to 75 microL of collagen matrix with the different test solutions was applied to the wounds. Blood was collected and at the end of the procedure animals were humanely sacrificed with an anesthetic overdose. Determination of blood was performed using the hematin assay using a standard curve. Blood loss per minute and total blood loss were calculated. Results from the studies demonstrated that the application of Q8009 and collagen matrix to surgical wounds significantly reduced the total amount of blood loss and the time-to-hemostasis. In the spleen wound model, Q8009 at 100, 250 and 1000 microg/ml significantly reduced (p<0.001) the total volume of blood lost relative to thrombin and reduced the time-to-hemostasis by 25-50%, as compared to 7% by thrombin. In the liver wound model, Q8009 at 250 and 1000 microg/ml significantly reduced (p<0.001) the total volume of blood lost relative to thrombin and reduced the time-to-hemostasis from 10.5 min by thrombin to 5.6 min with Q8009. In the kidney wound model, Q8009 at 250 microg/ml significantly reduced (p<0.05) the total volume of blood lost and reduced the time-to-hemostasis by 25% when compared to thrombin. The hemostasis levels were consistent with previous findings in skin wound rat models where Q8009 consistently reduced the total volume of blood lost and shortened time-to-hemostasis. Application of Q8009 plus collagen matrix significantly reduced the volume of total blood loss and time-to-hemostasis in rat surgical organ wound models induced bleeding, as compared to a commercially available hemostat device. The protein Q8009 has greater capacity to reduce blood loss and shorten time-to-hemostasis; highly desirable properties where rapid hemostasis is needed in surgical wounds in parenchymatous organs.

Inhibition of retinoic acid-induced skin irritation in calorie-restricted mice.

Mice on a calorie-restricted (CR) diet (total calories restricted to 70% of ad libitum; AL) for periods of time ranging from 3 to 18 months were examined for response to topical treatment with all-trans retinoic acid (RA). Daily application of a 0.1% solution of RA to the shaved skin of UM-HET3 mice on an AL diet produced a severe irritation that was evident by day 4, maximal at day 7-8 and still detectable at day 14. Skin irritation was characterized by redness, dryness, flaking and failure of the hair to grow at the treated site. In CR mice, the same treatment produced little detectable irritation. Animals were sacrificed at the end of the retinoid-treatment period (day 7 or day 14) and skin from these animals was examined histologically. In both AL and CR mice, a similar degree of epidermal hyperplasia was observed. Numerous inflammatory cells (mononuclear cells and granulocytes) were present in the skin of both groups. Occasional S100-positive cells (presumably Langerhans cells) were also observed in the epidermis of skin from both groups. S100-positive cells were also observed in the dermis. When skin from CR and AL mice was incubated in organ culture for 3 days (on day 7 after initiation of RA treatment), similar levels of four different pro-inflammatory cytokines were found in the conditioned medium. Soluble type I collagen levels were also similar. In contrast, the level of matrix metalloproteinase-9 was lower in the conditioned medium of skin from CR mice than in conditioned medium from skin cultures of AL mice. Taken together, these studies suggest that CR may provide a way to mitigate the irritation that normally accompanies RA treatment without compromising the beneficial effects of retinoid use. CR appears to exert a protective effect at the target tissue level rather than by a reduction in pro-inflammatory events, per se.

Role of interleukin-6 in immune complex induced models of vascular injury.

Previous studies have suggested that Interleukin-6 (IL-6) acts as a marker of vasculitis. To determine the role of IL-6 in vasculitis we utilized two models of immune complex induced vascular injury (dermal Arthus and acute pulmonary alveolitis) in IL-6 deficient (IL-6(-/-)) and IL-6 sufficient (IL-6(+/+)) mice. Plasma and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) levels of IL-6 were elevated in the injured IL-6(+/+) mice with acute alveolitis and in the plasma of IL-6(+/+) mice with dermal Arthus vasculitis. While, IL-6 levels in IL-6(-/-) mice were near or below the levels of detection. Histological examination of the intensity of vascular injury response demonstrated no significant differences between IL-6(-/-) and IL6(+/+) mice. More specifically, lung permeability (total protein in the BAL) in the lung injury model in IL-6(-/-) mice was the same as injured IL-6(+/+) mice. As a corollary, assessment of vascular permeability in both models was the same in the IL-6(-/-) as the IL-6(+/+) mice. Quantification of leukocyte influx into the injured tissues in both models also revealed no differences between the IL-6(-/-) and IL-6(+/+) mice. These data demonstrate that while IL-6 is upregulated in acute vascular injury it does not appear to be critical in the development of the vascular inflammatory response.

Effects of gadolinium-based magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents on human skin in organ culture and human skin fibroblasts.

OBJECTIVE: Nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF) is a clinical syndrome linked with exposure in renal failure patients to gadolinium-based magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents (GBCAs). The pathogenesis of the disease is largely unknown. The present study addresses potential pathophysiological mechanisms. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Here, we have examined human skin in organ culture and human dermal fibroblasts in monolayer culture for responses to GBCA stimulation. RESULTS: Treatment of normal human skin in organ culture with Omniscan had no significant effect on type I procollagen but increased both matrix metalloproteinase-1 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1. At the histologic level, many interstitial cells demonstrated cytologic features characteristic of activation (ie, light staining, oblong, plump nuclei). Omniscan, as well as 3 other magnetic resonance imaging contrast agents (Magnevist, Multihance, and Prohance), increased proliferation of human dermal fibroblasts in monolayer culture. Increased proliferation was accompanied by an increase in production of both matrix metalloproteinase-1 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases-1 but no increase in type I procollagen. Concentrations required for effects differed among the 4 agents (Omniscan < Magnevist and Multihance < Prohance). In contrast to its effects on fibroblast function, Omniscan did not stimulate human epidermal keratinocyte proliferation when examined over a wide range of concentrations. CONCLUSION: These data provide evidence that GBCA exposure in ex vivo skin from healthy individuals increases fibroblast proliferation and has effects on the enzyme/inhibitor system that regulates collagen turnover in the skin.

Hemostatic properties of a venomic protein in rodent dermal injuries.

Hemostatic properties of a factor Xa-like protease (Q8009) from the Australian snake Pseudonaja textilis textilis were determined. In tail-tip transection and dermal incision (hind limb) models, reagents were applied with collagen matrix. Blood was collected on filter paper chads for 12 one-minute intervals or until hemostasis. Determination of blood loss was performed using the hematin content and reported as blood loss per minute and total blood lost. Results from the studies demonstrated that the addition of the protease Q8009 and collagen matrix significantly reduced the volume of blood loss and shortened the time-to-hemostasis. In the dermal incision model, Q8009 (100, 250 and 1000 microg/ml) plus collagen matrix significantly reduced (p<0.001) the volume of blood lost relative to Thrombin and shortened the time-to-hemostasis to 2.0 min compared to 4.77 min with Thrombin. In the tail-tip transection model when Q8009 was mixed with a collagen matrix there was no significant reduction in blood loss, when compared to Thrombin plus collagen matrix. However, when injured tail-tips were held in Q8009 (1000 microg/ml) solution, there was a significant reduction (p<0.001) in blood loss (5.88 microl) versus that of Thrombin at 58.0 mul, and time-to-hemostasis was reduced from 11 min with Thrombin to 3 min when the Q8009 solution was used. In these studies, topical application of the venomic protease Q8009 significantly reduced total blood loss with a shorter time-to-hemostasis relative to Thrombin.

Role of interleukin-6 in a glucan-induced model of granulomatous vasculitis.

The role of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in granulomatous vasculitis is not well understood. To investigate its involvement in this type of vasculitis a model of glucan-induced pulmonary vasculitis employed interleukin-6 deficient (IL-6-/-) mice. Briefly, IL-6-/- mice and C57B/J6 wild type (IL-6+/+) mice were injected intravenously with a suspension of glucan isolated from the cell wall of bakers yeast which results in a granulomatous vasculitis primarily in the pulmonary vasculature. Histological examination demonstrated no significant difference in the number of infiltrating leukocytes between the IL-6+/+ and IL-6-/- glucan-injured mice. Similar numbers of granulomas were noted in both the IL-6+/+ and IL-6-/- injured animals, while no granulomas were seen in saline injected control mice. Cells recovered from the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid were differentially stained and counted. While there was a significant increase in infiltrating leukocytes recovered from the BAL following glucan-induced injury, there was no significant difference between the IL-6+/+ and IL-6-/- mice. In addition, no difference was demonstrated in total protein content in the BAL fluid between IL-6+/+ and IL-6-/- mice. However, myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity in the lungs of the IL-6-/- mice was less than in their IL-6+/+ counterparts suggesting that these animals have a partial defect in their ability to recruit neutrophils in this model. Studies done to look for levels of other cytokines/chemokines in these animals to compensate for the loss of IL-6 revealed that only IL-10 in the sera (p<0.016) and BAL fluid (p<0.05) of IL-6-/- mice was significantly higher then their IL-6+/+-injured counterparts. These studies suggest that IL-6, while possibly involved in early neutrophil accumulation in this model does not appear critical to the development of the TH-2 mediated granulomatous vasculitis.

Screening of serum samples from Wegener's granulomatosis patients using antibody microarrays.

Wegener's Granulomatosis (WG) is an idiopathic granulomatosis autoimmune vasculitis that primarily affects small vessels and is associated with glomerulonephritis and pulmonary granulomatous vasculitis. Anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic auto-antibodies (cANCA) against proteinase-3 are used to identify WG, but ANCA titers are not present in some patients with the localized disease. The objective of this study was to develop an antibody array to help identify protein expression patterns in serum from patients with WG as compared to normals. The arrays were tested for limits of detection, background, and cross reactivity using standard proteins. The arrays were hybridized with either normal patient serum (n = 30) or with serum samples from a population of WG patients (n = 26) that were age and sex matched. Data analysis and curve fitting of the standard dilution series calculated r(2) values and determined a sensitivity of <50 pg/mL for the majority of proteins. A total of 24 proteins were assessed. Several statistically significant increases (p<0.05) were seen in the expression of: angiotensin converting enzyme-I, IFN-γ, IL-8, s-ICAM-1 and s-VCAM in WG patients as compared to controls. Utilizing the antibody microarray technology has led to the identification of potential biomarkers of vascular injury in the serum of WG patients.