Systemic administration of hemoglobin improves ischemic wound healing.

BACKGROUND: Oxygen plays multifaceted roles in wound healing, including effects on cell proliferation, collagen synthesis, angiogenesis, and bacterial killing. Oxygen deficit is a major factor in the pathogenesis of chronic wounds. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We present a novel mechanism for oxygen delivery to ischemic wounds by systemic administration of an oxygen carrier substitute derived from bovine hemoglobin (IKOR 2084) in our ischemic rabbit ear wound model. The wound healing indexes, including epithelial gap and neo-granulation tissue area, were histologically analyzed. In situ expression of endothelial cells (CD31+) and proliferative cells (Ki-67+) were examined by immunohistochemistry analysis. The messenger RNA expression of collagen I, III, and vascular endothelial growth factor was measured by quantitative RT-PCR. Sirius Red staining was implemented for detection of collagen deposition, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling analysis was performed to examine dermal cellular apoptosis. RESULTS: Systemic administration of IKOR 2084 significantly improved oxygen tension of ischemic tissue. When compared with saline controls, IKOR 2084 treatment enhanced wound repair as demonstrated by a reduced epithelial gap and increased granulation tissue area. The expression of Ki-67+, CD31+, vascular endothelial growth factor and collagen was also enhanced by IKOR 2084 administration. Moreover, apoptosis analysis in the wounds showed that cell survival in the dermis was increased by systemic IKOR 2084 administration. CONCLUSIONS: Our study suggests that systemic delivery of IKOR 2084 ameliorates hypoxic state, subsequently promotes angiogenesis, cellular proliferation, and collagen synthesis, attenuates hypoxia-induced apoptosis, and improved ischemic wound healing.

Dibenzotetraaza[14]annulene-adenine conjugate recognizes complementary poly dT among ss-DNA/ss-RNA sequences.

Among three novel DBTAA derivatives only the DBTAA-propyl-adenine conjugate showed recognition of the consecutive oligo dT sequence by increased affinity and specific induced chirooptical response in comparison to other single stranded RNA and DNA; whereby of particular importance is the up until now unique efficient differentiation between dT and rU. At variance, its close analogue DBTAA-hexyl-adenine did not reveal any selectivity between ss-DNA/RNA pointing out the important role of steric factors (linker length); moreover non-selectivity of the reference compound (, lacking adenine) stressed the importance of adenine interactions in the selectivity.

Guanidiniocarbonyl-pyrrole-aryl conjugates as nucleic acid sensors: switch of binding mode and spectroscopic responses by introducing additional binding sites into the linker.

Two novel guanidiniocarbonyl pyrrole-pyrene conjugates 3 and 4 as spectroscopic probes for ds-polynucleotides were synthesized and their interaction with different ds-DNAs/RNAs studied. Compared to a previously reported first set of conjugates (1 and 2) the significant extension and increased rigidity of the central part of the structure resulted in a switch of DNA binding mode from intercalative (previously studied derivatives 1 and 2 with a nonbinding and flexible linker) to minor groove binding of the two novel guanidiniocarbonyl-pyrrole-pyrene conjugates 3 and 4. These two compounds interact strongly with ds-DNAs, but only weakly with ds-RNA. The newly incorporated heterocyclic moieties within the central part of the structure of 3 and 4 were able to control by steric and hydrogen-bonding effects the alignment of the molecules within various, structurally different forms of DNA minor grooves, whereby even small differences in the position of the attached pyrene within the groove were reflected in different fluorimetric responses. In addition, 3 and 4 revealed intriguing in vitro selectivity among various human tumour cell lines.

Lipoprotein associated phospholipase A2 inhibition reduces generation of oxidized fatty acids: Lp-LPA2 reduces oxidized fatty acids.

PURPOSE: Lipoprotein associated phospholipase A(2) (Lp-PLA(2)) is an emerging cardiovascular risk marker. After low-density lipoprotein (LDL) oxidation, Lp-PLA(2) generates oxidized nonesterified fatty acids and lysophosphatidylcholine, both of which have demonstrated proinflammatory and proapoptotic activities. Through the use of a selective inhibitor of Lp-PLA(2) (SB-677116), we investigated whether Lp-PLA(2) participates in the ex vivo generation of oxidized fatty acids (ox-FA). METHODS: Due to the higher correlation between Lp-PLA(2) activity and small LDL particles, we investigated the effects of a selective Lp-PLA(2) inhibition on production of ox-FA in metabolic syndrome subjects with small LDL size <20.5 nm. Whole blood samples were incubated with vehicle (0 microM) or SB-677116 for 6 h at two different concentrations (0.3, 3.0 microM) to determine the effects of inhibitor on Lp-PLA(2) activity, the formation of oxidized esterified and nonesterified hydroxy-fatty acid (OH-FA) or ox-FA in 24 subjects. RESULTS: Whole blood incubation with Lp-PLA(2) inhibitor (0.3, 3.0 microM) reduced multiple C-18 OH-FA subclasses (p < 0.05 versus control). For the highly redox-sensitive 9-OH-FA, there was a concentration-dependent reduction in Lp-PLA(2) activity and 9-OH-FA (p (trend) = 0.0016) CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, selective inhibition of Lp-PLA(2) reduced levels of OH-FA generated in whole blood of metabolic syndrome patients. These novel findings suggest that Lp-PLA(2) inhibition may attenuate some noxious downstream effects of lipid peroxidation that potentially include inflammatory responses.

Creatine kinase is an alpha myosin heavy chain 3'UTR mRNA binding protein.

Altered cardiac workload regulates the translation and localization of the alpha myosin heavy chain (alphaMyHC) messenger RNA through the 3' untranslated region (UTR) by protein-RNA interactions. We used the alphaMyHC 3'UTR from neonatal rat heart tissue in a gel shift analysis to find RNA binding proteins. One was identified by microsequencing as creatine kinase, brain form B (CKBB). The affinity of its binding interaction was evaluated using sense and antisense alphaMyHC 3'UTR and 3'UTR probes from myosin isoforms of 2B and 2X skeletal muscle. Removal of calcium by the chelating agent EGTA had a potentiating effect on the formation of the CKBB/alphaMyHC 3'UTR complex in vitro . Varying the concentration of ATP (0.1-1 mM) also enhanced this interaction, suggesting that autophosphorylation of CKBB is taking place. Our novel finding that CKBB, an energy transduction enzyme, binds to the RNA of the 3'UTR of the faster ATP consuming alphaMyHC suggests a possible regulatory linkage between the metabolic state of the cell and myosin isoform expression.