Mutation of the circadian clock gene Per2 alters vascular endothelial function.

BACKGROUND: The circadian clock regulates biological processes including cardiovascular function and metabolism. In the present study, we investigated the role of the circadian clock gene Period2 (Per2) in endothelial function in a mouse model. METHODS AND RESULTS: Compared with the wild-type littermates, mice with Per2 mutation exhibited impaired endothelium-dependent relaxations to acetylcholine in aortic rings suspended in organ chambers. During transition from the inactive to active phase, this response was further increased in the wild-type mice but further decreased in the Per2 mutants. The endothelial dysfunction in the Per2 mutants was also observed with ionomycin, which was improved by the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin. No changes in the expression of endothelial acetylcholine-M3 receptor or endothelial nitric oxide synthase protein but increased cyclooxygenase-1 (not cyclooxygenase-2) protein levels were observed in the aortas of the Per2 mutants. Compared with Per2 mutants, a greater endothelium-dependent relaxation to ATP was observed in the wild-type mice, which was reduced by indomethacin. In quiescent aortic rings, ATP caused greater endothelium-dependent contractions in the Per2 mutants than in the wild-type mice, contractions that were abolished by indomethacin. The endothelial dysfunction in the Per2 mutant mice is not associated with hypertension or dyslipidemia. CONCLUSIONS: Mutation in the Per2 gene in mice is associated with aortic endothelial dysfunction involving decreased production of NO and vasodilatory prostaglandin(s) and increased release of cyclooxygenase-1-derived vasoconstrictor(s). The results suggest an important role of the Per2 gene in maintenance of normal cardiovascular functions.

Period2 gene mutant mice show compromised insulin-mediated endothelial nitric oxide release and altered glucose homeostasis.

Period2 (Per2) is an important component of the circadian clock. Mutation of this gene is associated with vascular endothelial dysfunction and altered glucose metabolism. The aim of this study is to further characterize whole body glucose homeostasis and endothelial nitric oxide (NO) production in response to insulin in the mPer2(Brdm1) mice. We show that mPer2(Brdm1) mice exhibit compromised insulin receptor activation and Akt signaling in various tissues including liver, fat, heart, and aortas with a tissue-specific heterogeneous diurnal pattern, and decreased insulin-stimulated NO release in the aortas in both active and inactive phases of the animals. As compared to wild type (WT) mice, the mPer2(Brdm1) mice reveal hyperinsulinemia, hypoglycemia with lower fasting hepatic glycogen content and glycogen synthase level, no difference in glucose tolerance and insulin tolerance. The mPer2(Brdm1) mice do not show increased predisposition to obesity either on normal chow or high fat diet compared to WT controls. Thus, mice with Per2 gene mutation show altered glucose homeostasis and compromised insulin-stimulated NO release, independently of obesity.

Arginase II Promotes Macrophage Inflammatory Responses Through Mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen Species, Contributing to Insulin Resistance and Atherogenesis.

BACKGROUND: Macrophage-mediated chronic inflammation is mechanistically linked to insulin resistance and atherosclerosis. Although arginase I is considered antiinflammatory, the role of arginase II (Arg-II) in macrophage function remains elusive. This study characterizes the role of Arg-II in macrophage inflammatory responses and its impact on obesity-linked type II diabetes mellitus and atherosclerosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: In human monocytes, silencing Arg-II decreases the monocytes' adhesion to endothelial cells and their production of proinflammatory mediators stimulated by oxidized low-density lipoprotein or lipopolysaccharides, as evaluated by real-time quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Macrophages differentiated from bone marrow cells of Arg-II-deficient (Arg-II(-/-)) mice express lower levels of lipopolysaccharide-induced proinflammatory mediators than do macrophages of wild-type mice. Importantly, reintroducing Arg-II cDNA into Arg-II(-/-) macrophages restores the inflammatory responses, with concomitant enhancement of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species. Scavenging of reactive oxygen species by N-acetylcysteine prevents the Arg-II-mediated inflammatory responses. Moreover, high-fat diet-induced infiltration of macrophages in various organs and expression of proinflammatory cytokines in adipose tissue are blunted in Arg-II(-/-) mice. Accordingly, Arg-II(-/-) mice reveal lower fasting blood glucose and improved glucose tolerance and insulin sensitivity. Furthermore, apolipoprotein E (ApoE)-deficient mice with Arg-II deficiency (ApoE(-/-)Arg-II(-/-)) display reduced lesion size with characteristics of stable plaques, such as decreased macrophage inflammation and necrotic core. In vivo adoptive transfer experiments reveal that fewer donor ApoE(-/-)Arg-II(-/-) than ApoE(-/-)Arg-II(+/+) monocytes infiltrate into the plaque of ApoE(-/-)Arg-II(+/+) mice. Conversely, recipient ApoE(-/-)Arg-II(-/-) mice accumulate fewer donor monocytes than do recipient ApoE(-/-)Arg-II(+/+) animals. CONCLUSIONS: Arg-II promotes macrophage proinflammatory responses through mitochondrial reactive oxygen species, contributing to insulin resistance and atherogenesis. Targeting Arg-II represents a potential therapeutic strategy in type II diabetes mellitus and atherosclerosis. (J Am Heart Assoc. 2012;1:e000992 doi: 10.1161/JAHA.112.000992.).

Hyperactive S6K1 mediates oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction in aging: inhibition by resveratrol.

Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)/S6K1 signalling emerges as a critical regulator of aging. Yet, a role of mTOR/S6K1 in aging-associated vascular endothelial dysfunction remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the role of S6K1 in aging-associated endothelial dysfunction and effects of the polyphenol resveratrol on S6K1 in aging endothelial cells. We show here that senescent endothelial cells displayed higher S6K1 activity, increased superoxide production and decreased bioactive nitric oxide (NO) levels than young endothelial cells, which is contributed by eNOS uncoupling. Silencing S6K1 in senescent cells reduced superoxide generation and enhanced NO production. Conversely, over-expression of a constitutively active S6K1 mutant in young endothelial cells mimicked endothelial dysfunction of the senescent cells through eNOS uncoupling and induced premature cellular senescence. Like the mTOR/S6K1 inhibitor rapamycin, resveratrol inhibited S6K1 signalling, resulting in decreased superoxide generation and enhanced NO levels in the senescent cells. Consistent with the data from cultured cells, an enhanced S6K1 activity, increased superoxide generation, and decreased bioactive NO levels associated with eNOS uncoupling were also detected in aortas of old WKY rats (aged 20-24 months) as compared to the young animals (1-3 months). Treatment of aortas of old rats with resveratrol or rapamycin inhibited S6K1 activity, oxidative stress, and improved endothelial NO production. Our data demonstrate a causal role of the hyperactive S6K1 in eNOS uncoupling leading to endothelial dysfunction and vascular aging. Resveratrol improves endothelial function in aging, at least in part, through inhibition of S6K1. Targeting S6K1 may thus represent a novel therapeutic approach for aging-associated vascular disease.

The hexosamine biosynthesis inhibitor azaserine prevents endothelial inflammation and dysfunction under hyperglycemic condition through antioxidant effects.

Hexosamine biosynthetic pathway (HBP) accounts for some cardiovascular adverse effects of hyperglycemia. We investigated whether the HBP inhibitor azaserine protects against hyperglycemia-induced endothelial damage dependently of HBP. Human endothelial cells isolated from umbilical veins were exposed either to a high (30.5 mmol/l) or low concentration of glucose (5.5 mmol/l) for 4 days, followed by a stimulation with TNF-alpha (1 ng/ml, 24 h). The blockade of the rate-limiting enzyme glutamine:fructose-6-phosphate amidotransferase inhibited HBP flux and oxidative stress (generation of superoxide and peroxynitrite) under the hyperglycemic condition and prevented the synergistic stimulation of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 expression by hyperglycemia and TNF-alpha. In the cells cultured under a low-glucose condition when no increased HBP flux occurred, azaserine enhanced the manganese-superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) protein level and also inhibited the oxidative stress and the expression of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 in response to TNF-alpha. Moreover, the polyphenol resveratrol inhibited the oxidative stress and adhesion molecule expression and did not decrease the HBP flux under the hyperglycemia condition. In addition, in isolated rat aortas exposed to hyperglycemic buffer for 5 h when no significant HBP flux occurred, azaserine upregulated the MnSOD protein level and prevented decreased endothelium-dependent relaxations to acetylcholine. In conclusion, hyperglycemia independently increases oxidative stress and HBP flux, amplifies endothelial inflammation, and impairs endothelial function mainly through oxidative stress and not the HBP pathway. Azaserine protects against hyperglycemic endothelial damage through its antioxidant effect independently of inhibiting HBP pathway.

O-linked beta-N-acetylglucosamine during hyperglycemia exerts both anti-inflammatory and pro-oxidative properties in the endothelial system.

Elevated cellular levels of protein O-linked beta-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) through hexosamine biosynthesis pathway (HBP) are suggested to contribute to cardiovascular adverse effects under chronic hyperglycemic condition associated with oxidative stress and inflammation. Conversely, enhancing O-GlcNAc levels have also been demonstrated being protective against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury. We recently demonstrated that hyperglycemia increases oxidative stress and HBP flux in endothelial cells and enhances endothelial expression of vascular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in response to tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFalpha) through oxidative stress rather than HBP pathway. Here we present further complementary data showing that enhancing O-GlcNAc levels by glucosamine does not mimic hyperglycemia's effect on TNFalpha-induced endothelial VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 expression. Glucosamine however inhibits ICAM-1 (not VCAM-1) expression and induces superoxide generation in the cells. The results further suggest that increased O-GlcNAc levels do not mediate the enhancing effect of hyperglycemia on the endothelial inflammatory responses to TNFalpha. In contrast, it exerts certain anti-inflammatory effects accompanied by pro-oxidative properties. Further work should delineate the exact role of HPB pathway in different aspects of cardiovascular functions, especially those of diabetic cardiovascular complications.