Dynamic nuclear polarization magnetic resonance imaging and the oxygen-sensitive paramagnetic agent OX63 provide a noninvasive quantitative evaluation of kidney hypoxia in diabetic mice.

Renal hypoxia may play an important role in the progression of diabetic nephropathy. However, tools that noninvasively and quantitatively measure oxygen tension in the kidney are lacking. Here, we evaluated the feasibility of a noninvasive and quantitative imaging technique using dynamic nuclear polarization magnetic resonance imaging (DNP-MRI) in combination with the oxygen-sensitive paramagnetic agent OX63 for measuring oxygen tension in the kidney. Our results demonstrate that the DNP-MRI technique can yield quantitative maps of oxygen tension in the mouse renal cortex. Using this procedure, we also showed that oxygen tension was less elevated in the renal cortex of both streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetic mice and db/db mice, a model of type 2 diabetes, than in the renal cortex of age-matched control mice of each respective model. Oxygen tension in streptozotocin-exposed mice was significantly improved by insulin treatment. Thus, the noninvasive and quantitative DNP-MRI technique appears to be useful for studying the pathophysiological role of hypoxia.

Nitric Oxide Is Involved in Activation of Toll-Like Receptor 4 Signaling through Tyrosine Nitration of Src Homology Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase 2 in Murine Dextran Sulfate-Induced Colitis.

Ulcerative colitis is characterized by colonic mucosal bleeding and ulceration, often with repeated active and remission stages. One factor in ulcerative colitis development is increased susceptibility to commensal bacteria and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). LPS activates macrophages to release nitric oxide (NO) through Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling. However, whether NO is beneficial or detrimental to colitis remains controversial. In this study, we investigated whether NO enhances the development of colitis in mice treated with dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) and inflammation in cells treated with low-dose LPS. An NO donor, NOC18, induced colitis and increased CD14 protein and nitrotyrosine levels in colonic macrophages from mice treated with DSS for 7 d (molecular weight: 5000). In the mouse peritoneal macrophage cell line RAW264.7 stimulated with 3 ng/mL LPS, NO activated the CD14-TLR4-nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) axis. Low-dose LPS stimulation did not change the levels of signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3 phosphorylation, CD14, inducible NO synthase, interleukin (IL)-6, or NF-κB. In addition, low-dose LPS increased phosphorylation of src homology protein tyrosine phosphatase 2 (SHP2), a negative regulator of STAT3 phosphorylation. However, NO decreased SHP2 phosphorylation and significantly activated the downstream signaling molecules. NO increased SHP2 nitration in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 cells and DSS-treated mice. These results indicate that SHP2 nitration in macrophages might be involved in activation of the CD14-TLR4-NF-κB axis through STAT3 signaling in mice with DSS-induced colitis.

Benefit of azilsartan on blood pressure elevation around rest-to-active phase in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Abnormal elevation of blood pressure in early morning (rest-to-active phase) is suggested to cause cardiovascular events. We investigated whether azilsartan (AZL), a novel potent angiotensin receptor blocker, suppresses blood pressure elevation from the light-rest to dark-active phase in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). AZL has a sustained depressor effect around the rest-to-active phase in SHRs to a greater extent than candesartan (CAN), despite their similar depressor effects for over 24 h. AZL did not cause sympathoexcitation. These results suggest that AZL has a more sustained depressor effect than CAN around the rest-to-active phase in SHRs, and might have advantages for early morning hypertension.

Simultaneous and spectroscopic redox molecular imaging of multiple free radical intermediates using dynamic nuclear polarization-magnetic resonance imaging.

Redox reactions that generate free radical intermediates are essential to metabolic processes. However, their intermediates can produce reactive oxygen species, which may promote diseases related to oxidative stress. We report here the use of dynamic nuclear polarization-magnetic resonance imaging (DNP-MRI) to conduct redox molecular imaging. Using DNP-MRI, we obtained simultaneous images of free radical intermediates generated from the coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), flavin mononucleotide (FMN), and flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD) involved in the mitochondrial electron transport chain as well as the radicals derived from vitamins E and K1. Each of these free radicals was imaged in real time in a phantom comprising a mixture of free radicals localized in either lipophilic or aqueous environments. Changing the frequency of electron spin resonance (ESR) irradiation also allowed each of the radical species to be distinguished in the spectroscopic images. This study is the first to report the spectroscopic DNP-MRI imaging of free radical intermediates that are derived from endogenous species involved in metabolic processes.

Combination therapy of olmesartan and azelnidipine inhibits sympathetic activity associated with reducing oxidative stress in the brain of hypertensive rats.

It has been demonstrated that the antihypertensive drugs with the antioxidant action on the brainstem inhibit the sympathetic activity and consequently decrease blood pressure and heart rate (HR) in hypertensive rats. Combination drugs of the angiotensin receptor blocker and calcium channel blocker, such as olmesartan (OLM)/azelnidipine (AZ) and candesartan (CAN)/amlodipine (AM), are widely used for treating hypertension in Japan. In this study, it was investigated whether there are differences in the antioxidant effect in the brain and the sympathoinhibitory effect between OLM/AZ and CAN/AM combination therapies in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP). OLM/AZ (10/8 mg kg(-1) day(-1)), CAN/AM (4/2.5 mg kg(-1) day(-1)), or vehicle was orally administered for 30 days to SHRSP. OLM/AZ and CAN/AM markedly decreased systolic blood pressure to the same extent. OLM/AZ decreased HR to a greater extent than CAN/AM. Urinary norepinephrine excretion as a marker of sympathetic activity was unchanged in the CAN/AM group, but reduced in the OLM/AZ group. Oxidative stress in the whole brain assessed using the in vivo electron spin resonance method was similarly decreased in both OLM/AZ and CAN/AM groups. Importantly, thiobarbituric acid reactive substance levels in the brainstem were significantly lower in the OLM/AZ group, but not in the CAN/AM group, than in the vehicle group. These results suggest that combination therapy of either OLM/AZ or CAN/AM does not induce reflex-mediated sympathetic activation despite the marked blood pressure reduction, which is associated with an antioxidant effect in the brain regions affecting the sympathetic activity. Furthermore, the antioxidant effect in the brainstem and the sympathoinhibitory effect of OLM/AZ combination may be greater than those of CAN/AM combination treatment.

Redox-Based Theranostics of Gastric Ulcers Using Nitroxyl Radicals.

Significance: Redox-based theranostics involves redox monitoring and therapeutics that normalize redox imbalance. It may be a promising approach to markedly improve a patient's quality of life through streamlined treatment. Nitroxyl radicals are useful for both redox monitoring and treating gastric ulcers in rodents. Recent Advances: Redox monitoring using in vivo electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy in a gastric ulcer rat model showed the production of reactive oxygen species in the whole stomach. A combination of Overhauser-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and nitroxyl radicals provided high-resolution images of redox imbalance in the stomach of rats with a gastric ulcer. Treatment with nitroxyl radicals was effective to treat ulcers that were formed using model experiments of Helicobacter pylori and mental stress as well as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Critical Issues: For redox monitoring using Overhauser-enhanced MRI, the EPR irradiation power that is delivered to subjects must be within the range of the specific absorption rate regulation to protect against microwave damage regardless of a decrease in image contrast. The effect of long-term treatment with a nitroxyl radical in patients with a gastric ulcer remains unclear. Future Directions: Further research on redox-based theranostics in redox-related diseases, including gastric ulcers, would be accelerated by improving the redox imager and by developing functional nitroxyl radicals that localize in the target organ, tissue, or cell and that have specific reactivity for the redox-related biomolecule.

[Free Radical Production and Production Mechanism in the Early and Advanced Stages of Gastrointestinal Lesions].

Disruption of redox balance due to the overproduction of free radicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) could cause protein denaturation, lipid peroxidation, and DNA mutation. These lead to an induction of gastrointestinal diseases such as gastric ulcers induced by long-term administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and ulcerative colitis. Magnetic resonance technique, which is non-invasive and free of radiation exposure, is a promising tool for evaluating redox status in the living body. This study investigated ROS production in rats with gastric ulcers induced by a typical NSAIDs indomethacin using in vivo ESR/spin probe technique. The ESR signal intensity of membrane-permeable nitroxyl probe in the indomethacin group showed enhanced decay compared with the vehicle group, but the enhancement was not observed in the presence of a membrane-permeable ROS scavenger, suggesting the intracellular ROS production. The imaging analysis using Overhauser-enhanced MRI (OMRI) with dual probes labeled with 14N and 15N enabled visualization of ROS production in the glandular stomach of rat with indomethacin-induced gastric ulcers. The intracellular ROS production in the distal and proximal colon in the initiation stage and intra- and extra-cellular ROS production of the advanced stage of colitis induced by dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) using the OMRI/dual-probe technique was observed. Furthermore, nitration of src homology protein tyrosine phosphatase 2 in macrophages might be involved in the activation of Toll-like receptor 4 and NF-κB, inducing infiltration of activated neutrophils into colonic mucosa to produce ROS in DSS-induced colitis mice.

Electricity use is associated with residents' vital data and lifestyles: observational study using an IT health support system in Japan.

Motivated by developments in information technology, recording personal parameters with health devices is effective in health promotion. Today's indoor individual lifestyles often involve using electrical appliances. We developed a health support system combined with wireless electricity monitoring and investigated whether electricity use is associated with residents' vital data and lifestyles. We recruited 116 participants in February 2013. Their vital and electricity use data were collected daily. They completed a self-administered questionnaire. Among participants living alone, electricity from 20 February to 11 March 2013 was negatively associated with high-density lipoprotein (HDL) (P = 0.008) and positively associated with low-density lipoprotein (LDL) (P = 0.007) and neutral fat (P = 0.020) levels. Among all participants, electricity use was negatively associated with vegetable intake (P = 0.044) and step count (P = 0.040). Temperature sensitivity in winter was negatively associated with the LDL/HDL ratio for both men and women. For men, temperature sensitivity in winter was negatively related with alcohol intake; for women, it was positively related to body fat percentage and abdominal circumference and negatively correlated to vegetable intake. Temperature sensitivity in summer was positively associated with vegetable intake for men and women. In conclusion, electricity use was related to vital data and lifestyles and influenced by temperature.

[Analysis of in vivo redox status with magnetic resonance technique].

In vivo redox reaction is involved in processes of oxidative diseases. The redox imaging technique is important to diagnose redox-induced diseases and to assess cure effects of pharmaceutical drugs. A group of nitroxyl radicals is sensitive to redox reactions and we have investigated mechanisms of oxidative diseases, including diabetes, ischemia reperfusion injuries and gastric ulcer. ESR technique has been utilized in analysis of free radicals, which is generated through imbalance of in vivo redox status. We have been developing magnetic resonance approaches for imaging free radicals/redox status in living animals. Overhauser enhanced MRI (OMRI) is a new technique for imaging in vivo redox status in animals via Overhauser effect. We have developed nanometer-scale imaging and simultaneous assessment of redox processes by using OMRI with (14)N- and (15)N- labeled nitroxyl probes with different distribution properties. We also developed a home-built OMRI imager based on an electromagnet for L-band ESRI. This OMRI technique with dual probes may become a powerful tool to clarify mechanisms of disease and to monitor pharmaceutical therapy.

In vivo redox imaging of dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis in mice using Overhauser-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging.

In ulcerative colitis, an inflammatory bowel disease of unknown cause, diagnosis of the degree and location of colitis at an early stage is required to control the symptoms. Changes in redox status, including the production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS), have been associated with ulcerative colitis in humans and dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis in rodents. In this study, the in vivo redox status of colons of DSS-induced colitis mice were monitored by Overhauser-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (OMRI), and the relationship between redox status and colitis development was investigated. Colitis was induced by administering 5% DSS in drinking water to male Slc:ICR mice, which are a strain classified as closed colony outbred mice (5-week-old, 25-30 g). On the 3rd day of the DSS challenge, when no symptoms of colitis were displayed, the contrast decays of 15N-CmP and 14N-CxP tended to show enhancement in the whole colon and were not altered by DMSO. On the 5th day of the DSS challenge, with histological damage of the rectum being displayed, the contrast decay of 15N-CmP was significantly enhanced not only in the rectum, but also in the proximal colon, and this was suppressed by DMSO. On the 7th day of the DSS challenge, with the mice displaying severe colitis symptoms, the image contrasts of 15N-labeled 3-carbamoyl-2,2,5,5-tetramethylpyrrolidine-1-oxyl (15N-CmP) and 14N-labeled 3-carboxyl-2,2,5,5-tetramethylpyrrolidine-1-oxyl (14N-CxP) showed much faster decay than those of healthy mice, while the increased decays of both probes were restored by the membrane-permeable reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenger dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Image differencing between the decay rate images of 15N-CmP and 14N-CxP showed the DSS-induced redox imbalance spreading over the whole colon, and a histogram of the difference image showed a smaller peak and broader distribution with the DSS treatment. These data indicate that ROS are produced intracellularly in the distal and proximal colon in the initiation stage of DSS-induced colitis, and that ROS are produced intracellularly and extracellularly in the advanced stage of DSS-induced colitis.

In Vivo Imaging of the Intra- and Extracellular Redox Status in Rat Stomach with Indomethacin-Induced Gastric Ulcers Using Overhauser-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging.

AIMS: Repeated use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can induce changes in the redox status, including production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), but the specific details of these changes remain unknown. Overhauser-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (OMRI) has been used in vivo to monitor the redox status in several diseases and map tissue oxygen concentrations. We monitored the intra- and extracellular redox status in the stomach of rats with indomethacin-induced gastric ulcers using OMRI and investigated the relationship with gastric mucosal damage. RESULTS: One hour after oral administration of indomethacin (30 mg/kg), OMRI measurements in the stomach were made following nitroxyl probe administration. OMRI with the membrane-permeable nitroxyl probe, 4-hydroxy-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-piperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPOL), demonstrated a redox change toward oxidation, which was reversed by a membrane-permeable antioxidant. Conversely, imaging with the impermeable probe, 4-trimethylammonium-2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-piperidine-1-oxyl (CAT-1), demonstrated little redox change. Redox imbalance imaging of a live rat stomach with indomethacin-induced gastric ulcers was produced by dual imaging of 15N-labeled TEMPOL and 14N-labeled CAT-1, in addition to imaging with another membrane-permeable 15N-labeled probe, 3-methoxycarbonyl-2,2,5,5-tetramethyl-pyrrolidine-1-oxyl (MC-PROXYL), and 14N-labeled CAT-1. Pretreatment with MC-PROXYL suppressed gastric mucosal damage, whereas pretreatment with CAT-1 did not suppress ulcer formation. INNOVATION: OMRI combined with a dual probe is a less invasive imaging technique for evaluation of intracellular ROS production contributing to the formation of gastric ulcers in the stomach of indomethacin-treated rats, which cannot be done with other methods. CONCLUSION: This method may be a very powerful tool for characterizing the pathogenesis of various diseases and may have medical applications.

In vivo redox metabolic imaging of mitochondria assesses disease progression in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis.

Given the rising incidence of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in both adults and children, the development of a non-invasive diagnostic method for assessing disease progression to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) has become an important research goal. Currently available non-invasive imaging technologies are only able to assess fat accumulation in the liver. Therefore, these methods are not suitable for a precise diagnosis of NASH. The standard diagnostic technique for NASH, liver biopsy, has several drawbacks, including the higher risk of complications that accompanies invasive procedures. Here, we demonstrated that in vivo mitochondrial redox metabolism was dramatically altered at an early stage, before histopathological changes, and NASH could be accurately diagnosed by in vivo dynamic nuclear polarization-magnetic resonance imaging, with carbamoyl-PROXYL as a molecular imaging probe. In addition, this technique was feasible for the diagnosis of NASH compared with histopathological findings from biopsies. Our data reveal a novel method for monitoring the dynamics of redox metabolic changes in NAFLD/NASH.

Development of Redox Metabolic Imaging Using Endogenous Molecules.

Redox metabolism plays a central role in maintaining homeostasis in living organisms. The electron transfer system in mitochondria produces ATP via endogenous redox molecules such as flavin mononucleotide (FMN), flavin adenine dinucleotide (FAD), and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), which have flavin or quinone moieties. One-electron transfer reactions convert FMN, FAD, and CoQ10 to the free radical intermediates FMNH and FADH, and CoQ10H, respectively. Dynamic nuclear polarization-magnetic resonance imaging (DNP-MRI) allows us to visualize free radicals in vitro and in vivo. We present a spectroscopic imaging technology with DNP-MRI, which enables the imaging of multiple free radical intermediates such as FADH and CoQH. DNP-MRI can also identify various endogenous free radical intermediates derived from redox transformations.

Redox imaging of skeletal muscle using in vivo DNP-MRI and its application to an animal model of local inflammation.

Disorders of skeletal muscle are often associated with inflammation and alterations in redox status. A non-invasive technique that could localize and evaluate the severity of skeletal muscle inflammation based on its redox environment would be useful for disease identification and monitoring, and for the development of treatments; however, no such technique currently exists. We describe a method for redox imaging of skeletal muscle using dynamic nuclear polarization magnetic resonance imaging (DNP-MRI), and apply this method to an animal model of local inflammation. Female C57/BL6 mice received injections of 0.5% bupivacaine into their gastrocnemius muscles. Plasma biomarkers, myeloperoxidase activity, and histological sections were assessed at 4 and 24h after bupivacaine injection to measure the inflammatory response. In vivo DNP-MRI was performed with the nitroxyl radicals carbamoyl-PROXYL (cell permeable) and carboxy-PROXYL (cell impermeable) as molecular imaging probes at 4 and 24h after bupivacaine administration. The images obtained after carbamoyl-PROXYL administration were confirmed with the results of L-band EPR spectroscopy. The plasma biomarkers, myeloperoxidase activity, and histological findings indicated that bupivacaine injection caused acute muscle damage and inflammation. DNP-MRI images of mice treated with carbamoyl-PROXYL or carboxy-PROXYL at 4 and 24h after bupivacaine injection showed similar increases in image intensity and decay rate was significantly increased at 24h. In addition, reduction rates in individual mice at 4h and 24h showed faster trends with bupivacaine injection than in their contralateral sides by image-based analysis. These findings indicate that in vivo DNP-MRI with nitroxyl radicals can non-invasively detect changes in the focal redox status of muscle resulting from locally-induced inflammation.

Non-invasive analysis of reactive oxygen species generated in rats with water immersion restraint-induced gastric lesions using in vivo electron spin resonance spectroscopy.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are reportedly associated with gastric ulcer. We previously reported the use of an in vivo 300-MHz electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy/nitroxyl probe technique to detect *OH generation in the stomachs of rats with gastric ulcers induced by NH4OH. However, this is an acute ulcer model, and the relationship between in vivo ROS generation and lesion formation remains to be clarified. To address this question, the same technique was applied to a sub-acute water immersion restraint (WIR) model. A nitroxyl probe that was less membrane-permeable was orally administered to WIR-treated rats, and the spectra in the gastric region were obtained by in vivo ESR spectroscopy. The signal intensity of the orally administered probe was clearly changed in the WIR group, but no change occurred in the control group. Both enhanced signal decay and neutrophil infiltration into mucosa were observed 2h after WIR with little formation of any mucosal lesions. The enhanced signal decay was caused by *OH generation, based on the finding that the decay was suppressed by mannitol, desferrioxamine and catalase. Intravenous treatment with either anti-neutrophil antibody or allopurinol also suppressed the enhanced signal decay, and allopurinol depressed neutrophil infiltration into the mucosa. In rats treated with WIR for 6 h, lesion formation was suppressed by 50% with all antioxidants used in this experiment except anti-neutrophil antibody. These findings suggest that *OH, which is generated in the stomach via the hypoxanthine/xanthine oxidase system upon neutrophil infiltrated into the mucosa, induces mucosal lesion formation, but that it accounts for only half the cause of lesion formation.

Non-invasive analysis of reactive oxygen species generated in NH4OH-induced gastric lesions of rats using a 300 MHz in vivo ESR technique.

Free radicals are reportedly involved in mucosal injury, including NH4OH-induced gastric lesions, but the kind, location and origin of radical generation have yet to be clarified. We developed the non-invasive measurement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in stomach, and applied to mucosal injury. NH4OH-induced gastric lesions were prepared in rats, which were then given a nitroxyl probe intragastrically or intravenously, and the spectra of the gastric region were obtained by in vivo 300 MHz electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy. The spectral change of the nitroxyl probe administered intragastrically was significantly enhanced 30 min after NH4OH administration, but no change occurred when the probe was given by intravenous injection. The enhanced change was confirmed to be due to *OH generation, because it was completely suppressed by mannitol, catalase and desferrioxamine (DFO), and was not observed in neutropenic rats. NH4OH-induced neutrophil infiltration of the gastric mucosa was suppressed by intravenous injection of superoxide dismutase (SOD) or catalase, or by administration of allopurinol. The present study provided the direct evidence in NH4OH-treated living rats that *OH produced from O2*- derived from neutrophils caused gastric lesion formation, while O2*- or H2O2 derived from the xanthine oxidase system in endothelial cells was involved in neutrophil infiltration.

Involvement of nitric oxide with activation of Toll-like receptor 4 signaling in mice with dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis.

Ulcerative colitis is an inflammatory bowel disease characterized by acute inflammation, ulceration, and bleeding of the colonic mucosa. Its cause remains unknown. Increases in adhesion molecules in vascular endothelium, and activated neutrophils releasing injurious molecules such as reactive oxygen species, are reportedly associated with the pathogenesis of dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis. Nitric oxide (NO) production derived from inducible NO synthase (iNOS) via activation of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) has been reported. It is also reported that stimulation of Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) by lipopolysaccharide can activate NF-κB. In this study, we investigated the involvement of NO production in activation of the TLR4/NF-κB signaling pathway in mice with DSS-induced colitis. The addition of 5% DSS to the drinking water of male ICR mice resulted in increases in TLR4 protein in colon tissue and NF-κB p65 subunit in the nuclear fraction on day 3, increases in colonic tumor necrosis factor-α on day 4, and increases in P-selectin, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, NO2(-)/NO3(-), and nitrotyrosine in colonic mucosa on day 5. These activated inflammatory mediators and pathology of colitis were completely suppressed by treatment with a NO scavenger, 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl-3-oxide, as well as an iNOS inhibitor, aminoguanidine. Conversely, a NO-releasing compound, NOC-18, increased TLR4 levels and nuclear translocation of NF-κB p65 and exacerbated mucosal damage induced by DSS challenge. These data suggest that increases in TLR4 expression induced by drinking DSS-treated water might be directly or indirectly associated with NO overproduction.

In vivo imaging of tumor physiological, metabolic, and redox changes in response to the anti-angiogenic agent sunitinib: longitudinal assessment to identify transient vascular renormalization.

AIMS: The tumor microenvironment is characterized by a highly reducing redox status, a low pH, and hypoxia. Anti-angiogenic therapies for solid tumors frequently function in two steps: the transient normalization of structurally and functionally aberrant tumor blood vessels with increased blood perfusion, followed by the pruning of tumor blood vessels and the resultant cessation of nutrients and oxygen delivery required for tumor growth. Conventional anatomic or vascular imaging is impractical or insufficient to distinguish between the two steps of tumor response to anti-angiogenic therapies. Here, we investigated whether the noninvasive imaging of the tumor redox state and energy metabolism could be used to characterize anti-angiogenic drug-induced transient vascular normalization. RESULTS: Daily treatment of squamous cell carcinoma (SCCVII) tumor-bearing mice with the multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitor sunitinib resulted in a rapid decrease in tumor microvessel density and the suppression of tumor growth. Tumor pO2 imaging by electron paramagnetic resonance imaging showed a transient increase in tumor oxygenation after 2-4 days of sunitinib treatment, implying improved tumor perfusion. During this window of vascular normalization, magnetic resonance imaging of the redox status using an exogenously administered nitroxide probe and hyperpolarized (13)C MRI of the metabolic flux of pyruvate/lactate couple revealed an oxidative shift in tumor redox status. INNOVATION: Redox-sensitive metabolic couples can serve as noninvasive surrogate markers to identify the vascular normalization window in tumors with imaging techniques. CONCLUSION: A multimodal imaging approach to characterize physiological, metabolic, and redox changes in tumors is useful to distinguish between the different stages of anti-angiogenic treatment.

Moxonidine-induced central sympathoinhibition improves prognosis in rats with hypertensive heart failure.

OBJECTIVES: Enhanced central sympathetic outflow is an indicator of the prognosis of heart failure. Although the central sympatholytic drug moxonidine is an established therapeutic strategy for hypertension, its benefits for hypertensive heart failure are poorly understood. In the present study, we investigated the effects of central sympathoinhibition by intracerebral infusion of moxonidine on survival in a rat model of hypertensive heart failure and the possible mechanisms involved. METHODS AND RESULTS: As a model of hypertensive heart failure, we fed Dahl salt-sensitive rats an 8% NaCl diet from 7 weeks of age. Intracerebroventricular (ICV) infusion of moxonidine (moxonidine-ICV-treated group [Mox-ICV]) or vehicle (vehicle-ICV-treated group [Veh-ICV]) was performed at 14-20 weeks of age, during the increased heart failure phase. Survival rates were examined, and sympathetic activity, left ventricular function and remodelling, and brain oxidative stress were measured. Hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy were established by 13 weeks of age. At around 20 weeks of age, Veh-ICV rats exhibited overt heart failure concomitant with increased urinary norepinephrine (uNE) excretion as an index of sympathetic activity, dilated left ventricle, decreased percentage fractional shortening, and myocardial fibrosis. Survival rates at 21 weeks of age (n = 28) were only 23% in Veh-ICV rats, and 76% (n = 17) in Mox-ICV rats with concomitant decreases in uNE, myocardial fibrosis, collagen type I/III ratio, brain oxidative stress, and suppressed left ventricular dysfunction. CONCLUSION: Moxonidine-induced central sympathoinhibition attenuated brain oxidative stress, prevented cardiac dysfunction and remodelling, and improved the prognosis in rats with hypertensive heart failure. Central sympathoinhibition can be effective for the treatment of hypertensive heart failure.

Imaging in vivo redox status in high spatial resolution with OMRI.

Redox-reactions are playing a significant role in regulation of homeostasis of organism. Disorder of the redox-status is related with the onset and/or propagation of oxidative diseases such as lifestyle-related diseases, including cancers and cardiac diseases, etc. In vivo imaging of redox-status is thereby important in the analysis of mechanisms of oxidative diseases and developments of new medicines for the diseases. Aminoxyl radicals are redox-sensitive reporter molecules, which lose their paramagnetic moiety by reactions of free radicals or reducing compounds. Electron spin resonance (ESR) technique has been used to measure the molecules in vivo. In vivo spatial resolution in ESR imaging is in the range of a few millimeters and is not sufficient for the detailed diagnosis of disease models. Overhauser enhanced MRI (OMRI) is an emerging free radical imaging technique, which utilised electron-proton coupling to image the distribution of free radicals. In vivo imaging of redox-status is applicable with OMRI/aminoxyl radical technique. The detailed imaging analysis was demonstrated in oxidative diseases, such as tumour-bearing, neurodegeneration or gastric ulcer models. The OMRI/aminoxyl radical technique has a large potential as a diagnostic system for biomedical applications in the future.