Endothelial glycocalyx integrity is preserved in young, healthy men during a single bout of strenuous physical exercise.

In the present study we aimed to evaluate whether oxidative stress and inflammation induced by strenuous exercise affect glycocalyx integrity and endothelial function. Twenty one young, untrained healthy men performed a maximal incremental cycling exercise - until exhaustion. Markers of glycocalyx shedding (syndecan-1, heparan sulfate and hyaluronic acid), endothelial status (nitric oxide and prostacyclin metabolites - nitrate, nitrite, 6-keto-prostaglandin F(1alpha)), oxidative stress (8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine) and antioxidant capacity (uric acid, non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity) as well as markers of inflammation (sVCAM-1 and sICAM-1) were analyzed in venous blood samples taken at rest and at the end of exercise. The applied strenuous exercise caused a 5-fold increase in plasma lactate and hypoxanthine concentrations (p<0.001), a fall in plasma uric acid concentration and non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity (p<10(-4)), accompanied by an increase (p=0.003) in sVCAM-1 concentration. Plasma 6-keto-prostaglandin F(1alpha) concentration increased (p=0.006) at exhaustion, while nitrate and nitrite concentrations were not affected. Surprisingly, no significant changes in serum syndecan-1 and heparan sulfate concentrations were observed. We have concluded, that a single bout of severe-intensity exercise is well accommodated by endothelium in young, healthy men as it neither results in evident glycocalyx disruption nor in the impairment of nitric oxide and prostacyclin production.

Biological properties of different type carbon particles in vitro study on primary culture of endothelial cells.

Carbon powders have extended surface of carbon layers, which is of significant biomedical importance since the powders are employed to cover implants material. Carbon Powder Particles are produced by different methods: by a detonation method, by RF PACVD (Radio Frequency Plasma Activated Chemical Vapour Deposition) or MW/RF PCVD (Microwave/Radio Frequency Plasma Activated Chemical Vapour Deposition) and others. Our previous data showed that Carbon Powder Particles may act as antioxidant and/or anti-inflammatory factor. However the mechanism of such behavior has been not fully understood. The aim of the work was tested influence carbon powders manufactured by Radio Frequency Plasma Activated Chemical Vapour Deposition RFPACVD method and detonation method on selected parameters of human endothelial cells, which play a crucial role in the regulation of the circulation and vascular wall homeostasis. Graphite powder was used as a control substance. Endothelial cells are actively involved in a wide variety of processes e.g., inflammatory responses to a different type of stimuli (ILs, TNF-alpha) or regulating vasomotor tone via production of vasorelaxants and vasocontrictors. Biological activation is dependent on the type and quantity of chemical bonds on the surface of the powders. The effect of powders on the proliferation of HUVECs (Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells) was determined by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) reduction assay. We found decreased cell proliferation after 72 h treatment with graphite as well as Carbon Powder Particles.

Modulation of inflammatory response by pentoxifylline is independent of heme oxygenase-1 pathway.

OBJECTIVE: It was reported that some effects of pentoxifylline (PTX) are mediated by heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) induction. We investigated the role of HO-1 in anti-inflammatory activity of PTX. METHODS: Experiments were performed in human and murine monocytes and endothelial cells and in HO-1 deficient mice. RESULTS: PTX dose-dependently decreased expression of HO-1 in cell lines studied. As expected, PTX reduced also production of TNF. This effect was independent of HO-1 activity, as demonstrated in cells treated with HO-1 activators and inhibitors or in cells overexpressing HO-1. Moreover, inhibition of TNF was the same in human endothelial cells of different HO-1 genotypes, showing that PTX is similarly efficient in carriers of more and less active HO-1 promoter variants. In mice, PTX did not influence HO-1 expression, as measured in liver, kidney, spleen, heart, and skin. Accordingly, the response of PTX treated animals to LPS was the same in wild type and HO-1 deficient mice. PTX to a similar extent increased influx of leukocyte into peritoneal cavity, decreased production of TNF and reduced expression of VCAM-1 in vascular intima. CONCLUSION: PTX inhibits production of TNF and may decrease inflammatory reaction both in vitro and in vivo, but these effects are independent of HO-1.

The role of multidrug resistance protein 1 (MRP1) in transport of fluorescent anions across the human erythrocyte membrane.

We employed human red blood cells as a model system to check the affinity of MRP1 (Multidrug Resistance-associated Protein 1) towards fluorescein and a set of its carboxyl derivatives: 5/6-carboxyfluorescein (CF), 2',7'-bis-(2-carboxyethyl)-5/6-carboxyfluorescein (BCECF) and calcein (CAL). We found significant differences in the characteristics of transport of the dyes tested across the erythrocyte membrane. Fluorescein is transported mainly in a passive way, while active efflux systems at least partially contribute to the transport of the other compounds. Inside-out vesicle studies revealed that active transport of calcein is masked by another, ATP-independent, transport activity. Inhibitor profiles of CF and BCECF transport are typical for substrates of organic anion transporters. BCECF is transported mainly via MRP1, as proven by the use of QCRL3, a monoclonal antibody known to specifically inhibit MRP1-mediated transport. Lack of effect of QCRL3 on CF uptake excludes the possibility of MRP1 being a transporter of this dye. No inhibition of CF accumulation by cGMP, thioguanine and 6-mercaptopurine suggests also that this fluorescent marker is not a substrate for MRP5, another ABC transporter identified in the human erythrocyte membrane.

Hemoglobin can nitrate itself and other proteins.

Incubation of human hemoglobin with nitrite and hydrogen peroxide was found to induce autonitration and nitration of another protein (bovine serum albumin), as demonstrated by detection of nitrotyrosine residues in Western blots of separated membrane proteins. Inhibition of nitration by conversion of hemoglobin into the cyanmet form demonstrates that nitration is due to the pseudoperoxidase activity of hemoglobin. Incubation of whole erythrocytes with nitrite and hydrogen peroxide induces nitration of erythrocyte membrane proteins, much stronger when cellular catalase was inhibited with azide. These results suggest that hemoglobin and other hemoproteins may contribute to the tyrosine nitration in vivo.