Stability of Smyd1 in endothelial cells is controlled by PML-dependent SUMOylation upon cytokine stimulation.

Smyd1 is an epigenetic modulator of gene expression that has been well-characterized in muscle cells. It was recently reported that Smyd1 levels are modulated by inflammatory processes. Since inflammation affects the vascular endothelium, this study aimed to characterize Smyd1 expression in endothelial cells. We detected Smyd1 in human endothelial cells (HUVEC and EA.hy926 cells), where the protein was largely localized in PML nuclear bodies (PML-NBs). By transfection of EA.hy926 cells with expression vectors encoding Smyd1, PML, SUMO1, active or mutant forms of the SUMO protease SuPr1 and/or the SUMO-conjugation enzyme UBC9, as well as Smyd1- or PML-specific siRNAs, in the presence or absence of the translation blocker cycloheximide or the proteasome-inhibitor MG132, and supported by computational modeling, we show that Smyd1 is SUMOylated in a PML-dependent manner and thereby addressed for degradation in proteasomes. Furthermore, transfection with Smyd1-encoding vectors led to PML up-regulation at the mRNA level, while PML transfection lowered Smyd1 protein stability. Incubation of EA.hy926 cells with the pro-inflammatory cytokine TNF-α resulted in a constant increase in Smyd1 mRNA and protein over 24 h, while incubation with IFN-γ induced a transient increase in Smyd1 expression, which peaked at 6 h and decreased to control values within 24 h. The IFN-γ-induced increase in Smyd1 was accompanied by more Smyd1 SUMOylation and more/larger PML-NBs. In conclusion, our data indicate that in endothelial cells, Smyd1 levels are regulated through a negative feedback mechanism based on SUMOylation and PML availability. This molecular control loop is stimulated by various cytokines.

Promyelocytic leukemia protein promotes the phenotypic switch of smooth muscle cells in atherosclerotic plaques of human coronary arteries.

Promyelocytic leukemia protein (PML) is a constitutive component of PML nuclear bodies (PML-NBs), which function as stress-regulated SUMOylation factories. Since PML can also act as a regulator of the inflammatory and fibroproliferative responses characteristic of atherosclerosis, we investigated whether PML is implicated in this disease. Immunoblotting, ELISA and immunohistochemistry showed a stronger expression of PML in segments of human atherosclerotic coronary arteries and sections compared with non-atherosclerotic ones. In particular, PML was concentrated in PML-NBs from α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA)-immunoreactive cells in plaque areas. To identify possible functional consequences of PML-accumulation in this cell type, differentiated human coronary artery smooth muscle cells (dHCASMCs) were transfected with a vector containing the intact PML-gene. These PML-transfected dHCASMCs showed higher levels of small ubiquitin-like modifier (SUMO)-1-dependent SUMOylated proteins, but lower levels of markers for smooth muscle cell (SMC) differentiation and revealed more proliferation and migration activities than dHCASMCs transfected with the vector lacking a specific gene insert or with the vector containing a mutated PML-gene coding for a PML-form without SUMOylation activity. When dHCASMCs were incubated with different cytokines, higher PML-levels were observed only after interferon γ (IFN-γ) stimulation, while the expression of differentiation markers was lower. However, these phenotypic changes were not observed in dHCASMCs treated with small interfering RNA (siRNA) suppressing PML-expression prior to IFN-γ stimulation. Taken together, our results imply that PML is a previously unknown functional factor in the molecular cascades associated with the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and is positioned in vascular SMCs (VSMCs) between upstream IFN-γ activation and downstream SUMOylation.

Relation of nNOS isoforms to mitochondrial density and PGC-1alpha expression in striated muscles of mice.

The expression of neuronal NO synthase (nNOS) alpha- and beta-isoforms in skeletal muscle is well documented but only little information is available about their regulation/functions. Using different mouse models, we now assessed whether the expression of nNOS-isoforms in muscle fibers is related to mitochondria content/activity and regulated by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator-1alpha (PGC-1alpha). Catalytic histochemistry revealed highest nNOS-concentrations to be present in type-2 oxidative muscle fibers. Differences in mitochondrial density between nNOS-KO-mice and WT-littermates established by morphometry after transmission electron microscopy were significant in the oxidative portion of the tibialis anterior muscle (TA) but not in rectus femoris muscle (RF) indicating an nNOS-dependent mitochondrial pool in TA. Quantitative immunoblotting displayed the nNOS alpha-isoform to preponderate in those striated muscles of C57BL/6-mice that comprise of many type-2 oxidative fibers, e.g. TA, while roughly even levels of the two nNOS-isoforms were expressed in those muscles that mainly consist of type-2 glycolytic fibers, e.g. RF. Differences in citrate synthase-activity in muscle homogenates between nNOS-KO-mice and WT-littermates were positively related to nNOS alpha-isoform levels. In transgenic-mice over-expressing muscular PGC-1alpha compared to WT-littermates, immunoblotting revealed a significant shift in nNOS-expression in favor of the alpha-isoform in six out of eight striated muscles (exceptions: soleus muscle and tongue) without consistent relationship to changes in the expression of mitochondrial markers. In summary, our study demonstrated the nNOS alpha-isoform expression to be related to mitochondrial content/activity and to be up-regulated by up-stream PGC-1alpha in striated muscles, particularly in those enriched with type-2 oxidative fibers implying a functional convergence of the two signaling systems in these fibers.

High glucose modifies transient receptor potential canonical type 6 channels via increased oxidative stress and syndecan-4 in human podocytes.

Transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC) channels type 6 play an important role in the function of human podocytes. Diabetic nephropathy is characterized by altered TRPC6 expression and functions of podocytes. Thus, we hypothesized that high glucose modifies TRPC6 channels via increased oxidative stress and syndecan-4 (SDC-4) in human podocytes. Human podocytes were exposed to control conditions (5.6 mmol/L D-glucose), high glucose (30 mmol/L D-glucose or L-glucose), 100 µmol/L peroxynitrite, or high glucose and the superoxide dismutase mimetic tempol (100 µmol/L). TRPC6 and SDC-4 transcripts and protein expression were measured using RT-PCR and in-cell Western assay. Intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and cytosolic calcium were measured using fluorescent dye techniques. High D-glucose increased TRPC6 transcripts to 8.66±4.08 (p<0.05) and TRPC6 protein expression to 1.44±0.07 (p<0.05) without altering SDC-4 transcripts or protein expression. The D-glucose induced increase of TRPC6 expression was blocked by tempol. Increased oxidative stress using peroxynitrite significantly increased TRPC6 transcripts to 4.29±1.26 (p<0.05) and TRPC6 protein expression to 1.28±0.05 (p<0.05) without altering SDC-4 transcripts or protein expression. In human podocytes transfected with scrambled siRNA, high D-glucose increased ROS after 90 min to 3.55±0.08 arbitrary units while 5.6 mmol/L D-glucose increased ROS to 2.49±0.09 (p<0.001) only. The increase in ROS was inhibited by tempol and by SDC-4 knockdown. High glucose modifies TRPC6 channels and ROS production via SDC-4 in human podocytes.

skNAC depletion stimulates myoblast migration and perturbs sarcomerogenesis by enhancing calpain 1 and 3 activity.

skNAC (skeletal and heart muscle specific variant of nascent polypeptide-associated complex α) is a skeletal and heart muscle-specific protein known to be involved in the regulation of sarcomerogenesis. The respective mechanism, however, is largely unknown. In the present paper, we demonstrate that skNAC regulates calpain activity. Specifically, we show that inhibition of skNAC gene expression leads to enhanced, and overexpression of the skNAC gene to repressed, activity of calpain 1 and, to a lesser extent, calpain 3 in myoblasts. In skNAC siRNA-treated cells, enhanced calpain activity is associated with increased migration rates, as well as with perturbed sarcomere architecture. Treatment of skNAC-knockdown cells with the calpain inhibitor ALLN (N-acetyl-leucyl-leucyl-norleucinal) reverts both the positive effect on myoblast migration and the negative effect on sarcomere architecture. Taken together, our data suggest that skNAC controls myoblast migration and sarcomere architecture in a calpain-dependent manner.

Regulation of endothelial connexin40 expression by shear stress.

Endothelial connexin (Cx)40 plays an important role in signal propagation along blood vessel walls, modulating vessel diameter and thereby blood flow. Blood flow, in turn, has been shown to alter endothelial Cx40 expression. However, the timing and shear stress dependence of this relationship have remained unclear, as have the signal transduction pathways involved and the functional implications. Therefore, the aim of this study was to quantify the effects of shear stress on endothelial Cx40 expression, to analyze the role of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling involved, and to assess the possible functional consequences for the adaptation of microvascular networks. First-passage human umbilical vein endothelial cells were exposed to defined shear stress conditions and analyzed for Cx40 using real-time RT-PCR and immunoblot analysis. Shear stress caused long-term induction of Cx40 protein expression, with two short-term mRNA peaks at 4 and 16 h, indicating the dynamic nature of the adaptation process. Maximum shear stress-dependent induction was observed at shear levels between 6 and 10 dyn/cm(2). Simulation of this pattern of shear-dependent Cx expression in a vascular adaptation model of a microvascular network led to an improved fit for the simulated results to experimental measurements. Cx40 expression was greatly reduced by inhibiting PI3K or Akt, with PI3K activity being required for basal Cx40 expression and Akt activity taking part in its shear stress-dependent induction.

VEGF regulates TRPC6 channels in podocytes.

BACKGROUND: Both, increased plasma concentrations of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and increased expression of transient receptor potential canonical type 6 (TRPC6) channels in podocytes have been associated with proteinuric kidney diseases. Now, we investigated the hypothesis that VEGF regulates TRPC6 in podocytes. METHODS: TRPC6 messenger RNA (mRNA) and TRPC6 protein expression were analyzed in cultured podocytes after administration of VEGF165 using quantitative real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and immunoblotting, respectively. YFP-tagged TRPC6 in podocytes was analyzed using confocal laser scanning microscopy. TRPC6-associated calcium influx was measured fluorometrically. Both, immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry were performed in renal tissue from patients with diabetes mellitus and controls. RESULTS: Administration of VEGF165 to podocytes significantly increased TRPC6 mRNA expression and TRPC6 protein levels. The effects of VEGF165 were dose dependent and could be blocked by phosphoinositide-3-kinase inhibitors. In the presence of cycloheximide, an inhibitor of protein biosynthesis, we did not observe an effect of VEGF on TRPC6 protein levels, indicating the requirement of de novo protein synthesis. VEGF165 significantly increased TRPC6-mediated calcium influx in podocytes. Calcium influx was significantly lower in podocytes after gene knockdown using siRNA against TRPC6. Immunohistochemistry showed both increased TRPC6 channel protein and VEGF receptor type 2 (VEGFR-2) protein in podocytes from patients with diabetic nephropathy compared to control subjects. There was a significant association between VEGFR-2 mRNA and TRPC6 mRNA (n = 48; r(2) = 0.585; P < 0.0001) in human renal cortex. CONCLUSION: VEGF regulates TRPC6 in podocytes.

Expression of ADAMTS1 in endothelial cells is induced by shear stress and suppressed in sprouting capillaries.

ADAMTS1 inhibits capillary sprouting, and since capillary sprouts do not experience the shear stress caused by blood flow, this study undertook to clarify the relationship between shear stress and ADAMTS1. It was found that endothelial cells exposed to shear stress displayed a strong upregulation of ADAMTS1, dependent upon both the magnitude and duration of their exposure. Investigation of the underlying pathways demonstrated involvement of phospholipase C, phosphoinositide 3-kinase, and nitric oxide. Forkhead box protein O1 was identified as a likely inhibitor of the system, as its knockdown was followed by a slight increase in ADAMTS1 expression. In silico prediction displayed a transcriptional binding site for Forkhead box protein O1 in the promotor region of the ADAMTS1 gene, as well as sites for nuclear factor 1, SP1, and AP-1. The anti-angiogenic effects of ADAMTS1 were attributed to its cleavage of thrombospondin 1 into a 70-kDa fragment, and a significant enhancement of this fragment was indeed demonstrated by immunoblotting shear stress-treated cells. Accordingly, scratch wound closure displayed a slowdown in conditioned medium from shear stress-treated endothelial cells, an effect that could be completely blocked by a knockdown of thrombospondin 1 and partially blocked by a knockdown of ADAMTS1. Non-perfused capillary sprouts in rat mesenteries stained negative for ADAMTS1, while vessels in the microcirculation that had already experienced blood flow yielded the opposite results. The shear stress-dependent expression of ADAMTS1 in vitro was therefore also demonstrated in vivo and thereby confirmed as a mechanism connecting blood flow with the regulation of angiogenesis.

Shear stress increases endothelial hyaluronan synthase 2 and hyaluronan synthesis especially in regard to an atheroprotective flow profile.

Recent studies revealed that in vivo the inner blood vessel surface is lined with an endothelial surface layer at least 0.5 µm thick, which serves as an aegis, protecting the vessel wall from arteriosclerosis. Hyaluronan seems to be a constitutive component in regard to the atheroprotective properties of this surface structure. It has been shown that arterial pulsatile laminar blood flow increases the thickness of this surface layer in vivo, while it is significantly reduced at atheroprone regions with disturbed flow. This study was undertaken to reveal whether endothelial hyaluronan synthesis via hyaluronan synthase 2 (HAS2) can be changed by different shear stress conditions in vitro, especially in regard to an undisturbed, arterial-like pulsatile flow profile. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells, exposed to constant or pulsatile shear stress in a cone-and-plate system, were analysed for HAS2 expression by real-time RT-PCR and immunoblotting, and for hyaluronan by ELISA. Hyaluronan synthase 2 mRNA and protein were found to be transiently increased in a shear stress-dependent manner via the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-Akt pathway. Especially pulsatile, arterial-like shear stress conditions induced enzyme and hyaluronan effectively, while lower shear stress that continuously changed its direction did not induce any differences in comparison with control cultures not exposed to shear stress. These experiments provide a link between the production of a constitutive component of the endothelial surface layer by endothelial cells and blood flow.

Cdc2-like kinases and DNA topoisomerase I regulate alternative splicing of tissue factor in human endothelial cells.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha-stimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells express 2 naturally occurring forms of tissue factor (TF), the primary initiator of blood coagulation: the soluble alternatively spliced isoform and the full-length TF isoform. The regulatory pathways enabling this phenomenon are completely unknown. Cdc2-like kinases and DNA topoisomerase I regulate alternative splicing via phosphorylation of serine/arginine-rich proteins. In this study, we examined effects of serine/arginine-rich protein kinases on TF splicing following stimulation with TNF-alpha. Human endothelial cells were pretreated with specific inhibitors or small interfering RNAs against Cdc2-like kinases and DNA topoisomerase I before stimulation with TNF-alpha. TF levels were determined by semiquantitative RT-PCR, real-time PCR, and Western blotting. Cellular procoagulant activity was analyzed in a chromogenic TF activity assay. All 4 known Cdc2-like kinases forms were expressed in human endothelial cells. Selective inhibition of Cdc2-like kinases and DNA topoisomerase I elicited distinct changes in TF biosynthesis in TNF-alpha-stimulated endothelial cells, which impacted endothelial procoagulant activity. This study is the first to demonstrate that serine/arginine-rich protein kinases modulate splicing of TF pre-mRNA in human endothelial cells and, consequently, endothelial procoagulant activity under inflammatory conditions.

The Methyltransferase Smyd1 Mediates LPS-Triggered Up-Regulation of IL-6 in Endothelial Cells.

The lysine methyltransferase Smyd1 with its characteristic catalytic SET-domain is highly enriched in the embryonic heart and skeletal muscles, participating in cardiomyogenesis, sarcomere assembly and chromatin remodeling. Recently, significant Smyd1 levels were discovered in endothelial cells (ECs) that responded to inflammatory cytokines. Based on these biochemical properties, we hypothesized that Smyd1 is involved in inflammation-triggered signaling in ECs and therefore, investigated its role within the LPS-induced signaling cascade. Human endothelial cells (HUVECs and EA.hy926 cells) responded to LPS stimulation with higher intrinsic Smyd1 expression. By transfection with expression vectors containing gene inserts encoding either intact Smyd1, a catalytically inactive Smyd1-mutant or Smyd1-specific siRNAs, we show that Smyd1 contributes to LPS-triggered expression and secretion of IL-6 in EA.hy926 cells. Further molecular analysis revealed this process to be based on two signaling pathways: Smyd1 increased the activity of NF-κB and promoted the trimethylation of lysine-4 of histone-3 (H3K4me3) within the IL-6 promoter, as shown by ChIP-RT-qPCR combined with IL-6-promoter-driven luciferase reporter gene assays. In summary, our experimental analysis revealed that LPS-binding to ECs leads to the up-regulation of Smyd1 expression to transduce the signal for IL-6 up-regulation via activation of the established NF-κB pathway as well as via epigenetic trimethylation of H3K4.

Structural Microangiopathies in Skeletal Muscle Related to Systemic Vascular Pathologies in Humans.

It is unclear how microangiopathic changes in skeletal muscle vary among systemic vascular pathologies. We therefore analyzed the capillary fine structure in skeletal muscle from patients with arterial hypertension (HYPT), diabetes mellitus type 2 (T2DM) or intermittent claudication - peripheral arterial disease (IC/PAD). Tablet-based image analysis (TBIA) was carried out to largely re-evaluate 5,000 transmission electron micrographs of capillaries from 126 vastus lateralis biopsies of 75 individuals (HYPT, T2DM or IC/PAD patients as well as healthy individuals before and after endurance exercise training) used in previous morphometric studies, but assessed using stereological counting grids of different sizes. Serial block-face scanning electron microscopy (SBFSEM) of mouse skeletal muscle was used for validation of the particular fine structural events observed in human biopsies. The peri-capillary basement membrane (BM) was 38.5 and 45.5% thicker (P < 0.05) in T2DM and IC/PAD patients than in the other groups. A 17.7-39.6% lower (P < 0.05) index for intraluminal endothelial cell (EC) surface enlargement by projections was exclusively found in T2DM patients by TBIA morphometry. The proportion of capillaries with disrupted BM between pericytes (PC) and EC was higher (P < 0.05) in HYPT (33.2%) and T2DM (38.7%) patients than in the control group. Empty EC-sockets were more frequent (P < 0.05) in the three patient groups (20.6% in HYPT, 27.1% in T2DM, 30.0% in IC/PAD) than in the healthy individuals. SBFSEM confirmed that EC-sockets may exhibit close proximity to the capillary lumen. Our comparative morphometric analysis demonstrated that structural arrangement of skeletal muscle capillaries is more affected in T2DM than in HYPT or IC/PAD, although some similar elements of remodeling were found. The increased frequency of empty EC-sockets in the three patient groups indicates that the PC-EC interaction is commonly disturbed in these systemic vascular pathologies.

Up-regulation of the peroxiredoxin-6 related metabolism of reactive oxygen species in skeletal muscle of mice lacking neuronal nitric oxide synthase.

Although neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) plays a substantial role in skeletal muscle physiology, nNOS-knockout mice manifest an only mild phenotypic malfunction in this tissue. To identify proteins that might be involved in adaptive responses in skeletal muscle of knockout mice lacking nNOS, 2D-PAGE with silver-staining and subsequent tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was performed using extracts of extensor digitorum longus muscle (EDL) derived from nNOS-knockout mice in comparison to C57Bl/6 control mice. Six proteins were significantly (P < or = 0.05) more highly expressed in EDL of nNOS-knockout mice than in that of C57 control mice, all of which are involved in the metabolism of reactive oxygen species (ROS). These included prohibitin (2.0-fold increase), peroxiredoxin-3 (1.9-fold increase), Cu(2+)/Zn(2+)-dependent superoxide dismutase (SOD; 1.9-fold increase), heat shock protein beta-1 (HSP25; 1.7-fold increase) and nucleoside diphosphate kinase B (2.6-fold increase). A significantly higher expression (4.1-fold increase) and a pI shift from 6.5 to 5.9 of peroxiredoxin-6 in the EDL of nNOS-knockout mice were confirmed by quantitative immunoblotting. The concentrations of the mRNA encoding five of these proteins (the exception being prohibitin) were likewise significantly (P < or = 0.05) higher in the EDL of nNOS-knockout mice. A higher intrinsic hydrogen peroxidase activity (P < or = 0.05) was demonstrated in EDL of nNOS-knockout mice than C57 control mice, which was related to the presence of peroxiredoxin-6. The treatment of mice with the chemical NOS inhibitor L-NAME for 3 days induced a significant 3.4-fold up-regulation of peroxiredoxin-6 in the EDL of C57 control mice (P < or = 0.05), but did not alter its expression in EDL of nNOS-knockout mice. ESR spectrometry demonstrated the levels of superoxide to be 2.5-times higher (P < or = 0.05) in EDL of nNOS-knockout mice than in C57 control mice while an in vitro assay based on the emission of 2,7-dichlorofluorescein fluorescence disclosed the concentration of ROS to be similar in both strains of mice. We suggest that the up-regulation of proteins that are implicated in the metabolism of ROS, particularly of peroxiredoxin-6, within skeletal muscles of nNOS-knockout mice functionally compensates for the absence of nNOS in scavenging of superoxide.

Angiopoietin-1, but not platelet-derived growth factor-AB, is a cooperative stimulator of vascular endothelial growth factor A-accelerated endothelial cell scratch closure.

Wound healing and the grow-in of free tissue grafts critically depend on blood vessel growth, i.e., on the angiogenic invasion of endothelial cells, which is critically reduced in smokers, in patients suffering from microangiopathies (e.g., in diabetes), or in those who are treated with immunosuppressives. Although several angiogenic factors have been tested to accelerate wound healing in such critically patients, their combinations have not yet been systematically investigated. This study was done to reveal which combination of proangiogenic with promaturating factors is the most effective in an endothelial wound closure assay. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were isolated, cultured to confluence, and subjected to a scratch wound assay with the addition of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-A(165), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-AB, angiopoietin-1 (ANG1), or ANG2 and all of their 16 possible combinations. VEGF-A(165) plus ANG1 was most effective at accelerating endothelial scratch closure. Moreover, VEGF-A(165) stimulated wound closure in all combinations tested, while it was attenuated by PDGF-AB. Thus, with respect to their effects on endothelial cells, a combination of VEGF-A with ANG1 is the most promising and is superior to combinations with PDGF-AB.

Inhibition of L-selectin binding by polyacrylamide-based conjugates under defined flow conditions.

Selectins mediate tethering and rolling of leukocytes along the endothelium in a shear force-dependent manner. This key step in the cellular immune response is a target for experimental anti-inflammatory therapies. In the present paper we have examined the inhibitory activity of the minimal selectin ligand sialyl Lewis x (SiaLe(x)), its isomer sialyl Lewis a (SiaLe(a)) and sulfated tyrosine (sTyr) residues under dynamic flow reflecting the rheological conditions in the blood stream. The monomeric ligands were compared to multivalent polyacrylamide (PAA)-based conjugates under defined flow conditions on the molecular level, using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) technology, and on the cellular level, using a parallel-plate flow chamber. SPR measurements showed that a spatial arrangement of binding epitopes mimicking the selectin binding motif of the natural ligand PSGL-1 inhibits L-selectin binding successfully with IC(50) values in the nanomolar range. Using a flow chamber adhesion assay it could be shown that the multivalent inhibitors efficiently blocked rolling and tethering of NALM-6 pre-B cells transfected with human L-selectin to activated endothelium and that the inhibitory activity increased with rising shear stress. While PAA-conjugates were almost not inhibitory at low shear stress, NALM-6 cell rolling was nearly completely inhibited at high shear stress. The results indicate that multimeric conjugates of SiaLe(x), SiaLe(a) and sTyr are highly effective inhibitors of L-selectin-mediated cell adhesion particularly under flow conditions. Consequently, SiaLe(x), SiaLe(a) and/or sTyr on macromolecular carriers may be promising candidates for anti-inflammatory therapy.

ZNF580 - a brake on Interleukin-6.

BACKGROUND: Zinc finger protein 580 (ZNF580) was reported to modulate angiogenesis, endothelial homeostasis and blood pressure control. ZNF580 regulated genes include VEGF-A and IL-8. However, it is unknown if ZNF580 could play a role during inflammation. The aim of this study was to find out if ZNF580 affects the expression of IL-6, if it occurs in monocytic cells and responds to inflammatory mediators. RESULTS: Overexpression of ZNF580 reduced LPS-induced promotor activity of IL-6. Consistently, overexpression of ZNF580 reduced by half the LPS-induced expression of IL-6. ZNF580 was strongly expressed in the nucleus of MonoMac6, a human monocytic cell line. LPS-stimulated IL-6 secretion increased when ZNF580 was suppressed with siRNA. After stimulation of MonoMac6 with LPS for 24 h, ZNF580 negatively correlated with the amount of secreted IL-6. In response to LPS, ZNF580 was increased within the first 8 h, followed by a marked decrease after 16 h. This decrease coincided with sustained IL-6 production. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated that ZNF580 inhibits LPS-induced expression of IL-6. ZNF580 was highly expressed in monocytic cells and therefore may contribute to the modulation of its IL-6 production, at least in response to LPS. This suggests cooperation between ZNF580 and NFκB, which could play a role during sepsis.

Regulation of Foxo-1 and the angiopoietin-2/Tie2 system by shear stress.

Transcription factor Foxo-1 can be inactivated via Akt-mediated phosphorylation. Since shear stress activates Akt, we determined whether Foxo-1 and the Foxo-1-dependent, angiogenesis-related Ang-2/Tie2-system are influenced by shear stress in endothelial cells. Expression of Foxo-1 and its target genes p27Kip1 and Ang-2 was decreased under shear stress (6dyn/cm(2), 24h), nuclear exclusion of Foxo-1 by phosphorylation increased. eNOS and Tie2 were upregulated. No effects on Ang-1 expression were detected. In conclusion, Foxo-1 and Ang-2/Tie2 are part of the molecular response to shear stress, which may regulate angiogenesis.

The endothelium as physiological source of properdin: role of wall shear stress.

Properdin is a positive regulator of the alternative pathway of complement activation. It can be released by peripheral blood cells but is not synthesized in the liver and the physiological source of properdin in plasma is unknown. The endothelium is an extra-hepatic source for several complement components and shear stress can modulate their expression. The aim of this study was to analyze shear stress-exposed endothelial cells (EC) as physiological source for plasma properdin. Human umbilical vein EC (HUVEC) and human cardiac microvascular EC (HCMEC) were exposed to shear stress using a cone-and-plate apparatus and properdin expression was analyzed by RT-PCR, Northern, and Western blot. mRNA for properdin is barely detectable in untreated EC but strongly induced by laminar shear stress exposure (6 dyn/cm(2); 24 h). Properdin is induced also at the protein level and is released in the extracellular compartment. Properdin up-regulation requires a shear stress of 2-3 dyn/cm(2), is not transient, and is reversible by restoration of static conditions. Turbulent flow exposure results in two times higher induction of properdin than laminar flow exposure. The ability of endothelial cells exposed to shear stress to synthesize properdin proposes the endothelium as physiological source for plasma properdin and suggests a link between flow conditions and the modulation of the alternative pathway. Furthermore, the stronger properdin induction by turbulent flow may suggest an involvement in the pathology of atherosclerosis.

Shear stress-induced up-regulation of the intermediate-conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channel in human endothelium.

OBJECTIVE: Wall shear stress associated with blood flow is a major stimuli for generation of endothelial vasodilating and antithrombotic factors and it also regulates endothelial gene expression. Activation of endothelial intermediate-conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channels (IK(Ca)) is important for the control of endothelial function by inducing cell hyperpolarization and thus generation of the endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor. In the present study we tested whether the IK(Ca) encoding IKCa1 gene is regulated by laminar shear stress (LSS). METHODS: Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were subjected to LSS with a magnitude of 0.5-15 dyn/cm(2) and time intervals of 2-24 h in a flow cone apparatus. Expression of the IKCa1 gene and IK(Ca)-functions were determined by using real time RT-PCR and patch-clamp techniques. RESULTS: A short 2-4 h-or long 24 h-exposure to a LSS with a low (venous) magnitude of 0.5 dyn/cm(2) had no effect on IKCa1 expression levels. An exposure for 2 and 4 h to LSS with an intermediate magnitude of 5 dyn/cm(2) was also ineffective, whereas an exposure for 24 h induced a significant threefold up-regulation of IKCa1 expression levels. An exposure to LSS with a higher (arterial) magnitude of 15 dyn/cm(2), resulted in an eightfold up-regulation of IKCa1 expression levels after a 4 h-exposure and a fourfold increase of IKCa1 expression levels at 24 h. The increased IKCa1 expression levels following exposure to high levels of LSS resulted in enhanced IK(Ca) whole-cell currents and in an increased hyperpolarization of the endothelium in response to ATP and the IK(Ca) opener 1-EBIO. Inhibition of the mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) kinase 1/2 (MEK/ERK) pathway by PD98059 prevented the LSS-induced up-regulation of IKCa1 expression levels and IK(Ca) whole-cell currents indicating that augmentation of IKCa1 expression levels is mediated by the LSS-induced activation of the MEK/ERK pathway. CONCLUSION: Long term exposure to LSS up-regulates expression and function of endothelial IK(Ca). This increase might represent a new important mechanism in endothelial adaptation to altered hemodynamics.

Does cellular sex matter? Dimorphic transcriptional differences between female and male endothelial cells.

OBJECTIVE: Significant sex differences exist in cardiovascular diseases. Although an impact of gonadal hormones is presumed, it is largely unknown whether sexually dimorphic gene expression also plays a role and whether cells themselves show intrinsic sex differences. METHODS: We performed whole genome expression analyses in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) from 20 male and 20 female donors and compared levels of gene transcription between the sexes. To further assess whether there is a sex-specific response to stress, we subjected male and female HUVEC to shear for 24 h and analysed changes in gene expression. RESULTS: Genes indicative for greater immune responsiveness were stronger expressed in female compared to male HUVEC. There was a significant enrichment of 77 immune-related genes in female HUVEC. These increased transcriptional levels in female cells were verified for 20 genes by real-time RT-PCR. 6.7% of all mRNAs were regulated by shear stress. Female HUVEC showed a more pronounced transcriptional response to shear than did their male counterparts. In addition to quantitative differences, a number of genes were regulated in the opposite direction between the two sexes by shear stress. Functionally, female HUVEC showed a higher cell viability after serum starvation and an increased tube formation capacity compared to male cells. CONCLUSION: These findings underscore the importance for differentiation between male and female cells in cell culture experiments. This may apply not only to endothelial cells but might be generalized to other cell types as well. The observed sexual dimorphisms in gene expression in endothelial cells may contribute to sex differences between males and females in endothelial function.