MicroRNA-17-3p suppresses NF-κB-mediated endothelial inflammation by targeting NIK and IKKß binding protein.

Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) activation contributes to many vascular inflammatory diseases. The present study tested the hypothesis that microRNA-17-3p (miR-17-3p) suppresses the pro-inflammatory responses via NF-κB signaling in vascular endothelium. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), transfected with or without miR-17-3p agomir/antagomir, were exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and the inflammatory responses were determined. The cellular target of miR-17-3p was examined with dual-luciferase reporter assay. Mice were treated with miR-17-3p agomir and the degree of LPS-induced inflammation was determined. In HUVECs, LPS caused upregulation of miR-17-3p. Overexpression of miR-17-3p in HUVECs inhibited NIK and IKKß binding protein (NIBP) protein expression and suppressed LPS-induced phosphorylation of inhibitor of kappa Bα (IκBα) and NF-κB-p65. The reduced NF-κB activity was paralleled by decreased protein levels of NF-κB-target gene products including pro-inflammatory cytokine [interleukin 6], chemokines [interleukin 8 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1] and adhesion molecules [vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, intercellular adhesion molecule-1 and E-selectin]. Immunostaining revealed that overexpression of miR-17-3p reduced monocyte adhesion to LPS-stimulated endothelial cells. Inhibition of miR-17-3p with antagomir has the opposite effect on LPS-induced inflammatory responses in HUVECs. The anti-inflammatory effect of miR-17-3p was mimicked by NIBP knockdown. In mice treated with LPS, miR-17-3p expression was significantly increased. Systemic administration of miR-17-3p for 3 days suppressed LPS-induced NF-κB activation and monocyte adhesion to endothelium in lung tissues of the mice. In conclusion, miR-17-3p inhibits LPS-induced NF-κB activation in HUVECs by targeting NIBP. The findings therefore suggest that miR-17-3p is a potential therapeutic target/agent in the management of vascular inflammatory diseases.

Endothelium-derived nitric oxide inhibits the relaxation of the porcine coronary artery to natriuretic peptides by desensitizing big conductance calcium-activated potassium channels of vascular smooth muscle.

The present experiments investigated whether endothelium-derived mediators modulate the effect of natriuretic peptides in porcine coronary arteries. Rings with and without endothelium were suspended in organ chambers for isometric tension recording. Concentration-relaxation curves to C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) were obtained during contractions to endothelin-1. Removal of the endothelium potentiated relaxations to both CNP and ANP. N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester potentiated relaxations to natriuretic peptides only in arteries with endothelium. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP) inhibited the response to the natriuretic peptides only in the absence of the endothelium. In rings with endothelium, 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo [4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ) and 4H-8-bromo-1,2,4-oxadiazolo[3,4-d]benz[b][1,4]oxazin-1-one (NS2028) potentiated CNP-mediated relaxations. Iberiotoxin (IBTX) reduced the response only in rings without endothelium. Glybenclamide inhibited the relaxations in both the presence and absence of endothelium. CNP-induced relaxations were reduced by 8-bromoguanosine 3',5'-cGMP (8-bromo-cGMP) to the same extent in rings with and without endothelium. There was no significant difference between the increased cGMP content caused by CNP in porcine coronary arteries with or without endothelium. In patch-clamp studies in porcine coronary arterial smooth muscle cells, the natriuretic peptide-mediated enhancement of the IBTX-sensitive big conductance calcium-activated potassium channel (BK(Ca)) amplitude was reversed by SNP and 8-bromo-cGMP. These findings demonstrate that, in the porcine coronary artery, the opening of BK(Ca) and ATP-dependent potassium channels of the vascular smooth muscle contributes to CNP-mediated relaxations. Endothelium-derived and exogenous NO inhibit the direct relaxing effect of natriuretic peptides by desensitizing the response of the BK(Ca)s of the vascular smooth muscle to the generation of cGMP.

Endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor mediated relaxations in pig coronary arteries do not involve Gi/o proteins.

AIM: Endothelium-dependent relaxations to certain neurohumoral substances are mediated by pertussis toxin-sensitive Gi/o protein. Our experiments were designed to determine the role, if any, of pertussis toxin-sensitive G-proteins in relaxations attributed to endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF). METHODS: Pig coronary arterial rings with endothelia were suspended in organ chambers filled with Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate solution maintained at 37 degrees and continuously aerated with 95%O2 and 5% CO2. Isometric tension was measured during contractions to prostaglandin F2alpha in the presence of indomethacin and N(omega)- nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME). RESULTS: Thrombin, the thrombin receptor- activating peptide SFLLRN, bradykinin, substance P, and calcimycin produced dose-dependent relaxations. These relaxations were not inhibited by prior incubation with pertussis toxin, but were abolished upon the addition of charybdotoxin plus apamin. Relaxations to the alpha2-adrenergic agonist UK14304 and those to serotonin were abolished in the presence of indomethacin and L-NAME. CONCLUSION: Unlike nitric oxide-mediated relaxations, EDHF-mediated relaxations of pig coronary arteries do not involve pertussis toxin-sensitive pathways and are Gi/o protein independent.

Inhibitory effect of Chinese green tea on cigarette smoke-induced up-regulation of airway neutrophil elastase and matrix metalloproteinase-12 via antioxidant activity.

Our recent study has indicated that Chinese green tea (Lung Chen), in which epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) accounts for 60% of catechins, protected cigarette smoke-induced lung injury. We now hypothesized that Lung Chen tea may also have potential effect on lung oxidative stress and proteases/anti-proteases in a smoking rat model. Sprague-Dawley rats were exposed to either sham air (SA) or 4% cigarette smoke (CS) plus 2% Lung Chen tea or water by oral gavage. Serine proteases, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their respective endogenous inhibitors were determined in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and lung tissues by gelatin/casein zymography and biochemical assays. Green tea consumption significantly decreased CS-induced elevation of lung lipid peroxidation marker, malondialdehyde (MDA), and CS-induced up-regulation of neutrophil elastase (NE) concentration and activity along with that of α(1)-antitrypsin (α(1)-AT) and secretory leukoproteinase inhibitor (SLPI) in BAL and lung. In parallel, significant elevation of MMP-12 activity was found in BAL and lung of the CS-exposed group, which returned to the levels of SA-exposed group after green tea consumption but not CS-induced reduction of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 activity, which was not reversed by green tea consumption. Taken together, our data supported the presence of local oxidative stress and protease/anti-protease imbalance in the airways after CS exposure, which might be alleviated by green tea consumption through its biological antioxidant activity.

Use of A-192621 and IRL-2500 to unmask the mesenteric and renal vasodilator role of endothelin ET(B) receptors.

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is known to cause a transient (<1 min) depressor followed by a sustained (>1 h) pressor response. The former through the activation of ET(B) receptors, and the latter through the activation of ET(A) and ET(B) receptors. This study examines if ET(B) receptors mediate sustained mesenteric and renal dilation in anesthetized rats. Intravenous bolus ET-1 (0.8, 1.4, and 2 nmol/kg) and IRL-1620 (ET(B) agonist, 2, 5, and 10 nmol/kg) caused transient decrease followed by sustained increases in mean arterial pressure (MAP) that were accompanied by increases in total peripheral resistance (TPR), reductions in cardiac output (CO), and mesenteric and renal vasoconstriction. Pretreatment with FR-139317 (ET(A) antagonist, 1 mg/kg) attenuated the pressor and constrictor effects of ET-1 but did not alter responses to IRL-1620. IRL-2500 (ET(B) antagonist, 5 mg/kg) slightly inhibited the renal constrictor effect of IRL-1620, whereas A-192621 (ET(B) antagonist, 5 mg/kg) abolished all hemodynamic responses to IRL-1620. Both IRL-2500 and A-192621 markedly enhanced MAP, TPR, and mesenteric, and the renal constrictor effects of ET-1. Therefore, A-192621 was more effective than IRL-2500 in blocking IRL-1620-induced vasoconstriction, but both augmented constrictor responses to ET-1. The potentiation of ET-1-induced vasoconstriction by ET(B) receptor antagonists revealed a sustained vasodilator role of ET(B) receptors.

Contents of four active components in different commercial crude drugs and preparations of danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza).

AIM: To detect the contents of four active components of Salvia miltiorrhiza in various commercially available danshen crude drugs and preparations. METHODS: Commercially available danshen crude drugs from different sources, as well as danshen pills and intravenous injection preparations containing danshen alone or in combination with other herbs were collected. The composition of these danshen samples was analyzed using HPLC. Specifically, the amounts of magnesium tanshinoate B (MTB), danshensu, isotanshinone HA, and cryptotanshinone were determined. In some of these samples, the content of MTB was further confirmed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometer (LC-MS)/MS method. RESULTS: There were great variations in the amount of the four active ingredients in the commercially available danshen crude drugs and drug preparations in this study. The amount of MTB was the highest among the four components measured in the crude drugs. However, the amounts of MTB in all danshen preparations were much lower than those in crude drugs. The 2 lipophilic components, isotanshinone HA and cryptotanshinone, were very low or not detectable in both injection and oral preparations. CONCLUSION: MTB can be used to standardize the various forms of danshen crude drugs and drug preparations from different sources. In view of the variation in the amounts of MTB and other components, improvement in the production methods of danshen preparations is essential to ensure consistent amount of its active ingredients and reproducible pharmacological actions.