Neuroprotective effect of resveratrol prophylaxis on experimental retinal ischemic injury.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether systemically administered resveratrol can protect against acute retinal ischemic reperfusion injury. Two groups of adult male Sprague Dawley rats (n = 6 per group) were used for this study. Resveratrol (30 mg/kg) or an equal volume of vehicle (30% Solutol HS 15 in 0.9% saline) was administered daily for 5 days via intraperitoneal injection. On the third day of treatment, retinal ischemic injury was induced by elevation of intraocular pressure for 45 min. Prior to resveratrol administration and one-week following ischemic insult, retinal function was measured by scotopic electroretinography (ERG). Retinas were harvested and morphologically analyzed one week after ischemic insult. ERG a- and b-wave amplitudes were significantly reduced following ischemic reperfusion injury. Resveratrol treatment attenuated ischemic-induced loss of retinal function. In control vehicle-treated rats, ischemic reperfusion injury elicited marked thinning of inner retinal layers. Resveratrol prophylactic treatment reduced ischemia-mediated thinning of the whole retina and in particular the inner retinal layers. Therefore, resveratrol may have therapeutic value for the management of retinal ischemic disorders.

Luteolin Attenuates Hypertension via Inhibiting NF-κB-Mediated Inflammation and PI3K/Akt Signaling Pathway in the Hypothalamic Paraventricular Nucleus.

BACKGROUND: Luteolin is widely distributed among a number of vegetal species worldwide. The pharmacological effects of luteolin are diverse and amongst antioxidant, free radical scavenging, and anti-inflammatory activities. Preliminary study showed that luteolin can ameliorate hypertension. However, the precise mechanism needs further investigation. There is no evidence that luteolin affects the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN), a brain nucleus associated with a critical neural regulator of blood pressure. Our main aim was to explore the effect of luteolin on the PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway within the PVN of hypertensive rats. METHODS: spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and corresponding normotensive control rats, the Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats were divided into four groups and subsequently treated for 4 weeks with bilateral PVN injections of either luteolin (20 µg/0.11 µL, volume: 0.11 µL/h) or vehicle (artificial cerebrospinal fluid). RESULTS: luteolin infusion to the PVN significantly decreased some hemodynamic parameters including the mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR), circulating plasma norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (EPI). Additionally, there was a decrease in the expressions of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (p-PI3K) and phosphorylated protein kinase-B (p-AKT), levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), NAD(P)H oxidase subunit (NOX2, NOX4) in the PVN of SHRs. Meanwhile, the expression of inflammatory cytokines and the activity of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) p65 in the PVN of SHRs were lowered. Furthermore, immunofluorescence results showed that injection of luteolin in the PVN reduced the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), and increased that of superoxide dismutase (SOD1) and the 67-kDa isoform of glutamate decarboxylase (GAD67) in the PVN of SHRs. CONCLUSION: Our novel findings revealed that luteolin lowered hypertension via inhibiting NF-κB-mediated inflammation and PI3K/Akt signaling pathway in the PVN.

Hypoxia-induced endothelial CX3CL1 triggers lung smooth muscle cell phenotypic switching and proliferative expansion.

Distal arterioles with limited smooth muscles help maintain the high blood flow and low pressure in the lung circulation. Chronic hypoxia induces lung distal vessel muscularization. However, the molecular events that trigger alveolar hypoxia-induced peripheral endothelium modulation of vessel wall smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation and filling of nonmuscular areas are unclear. Here, we investigated the role of CX3CL1/CX3CR1 system in endothelial-SMC cross talk in response to hypoxia. Human lung microvascular endothelial cells responded to alveolar oxygen deficiency by overproduction of the chemokine CX3CL1. The CX3CL1 receptor CX3CR1 is expressed by SMCs that are adjacent to the distal endothelium. Hypoxic release of endothelial CX3CL1 induced SMC phenotypic switching from the contractile to the proliferative state. Inhibition of CX3CR1 prevented CX3CL1 stimulation of SMC proliferation and monolayer expansion. Furthermore, CX3CR1 deficiency attenuated spiral muscle expansion, distal vessel muscularization, and pressure elevation in response to hypoxia. Our findings indicate that the capillary endothelium relies on the CX3CL1-CX3CR1 axis to sense alveolar hypoxia and promote peripheral vessel muscularization. These results have clinical significance in the development of novel therapeutics that target mechanisms of distal arterial remodeling associated with pulmonary hypertension induced by oxygen deficiency that is present in people living at high altitudes and patients with obstructive lung diseases.

Administration of recombinant human thioredoxin-1 significantly delays and prevents autoimmune diabetes in nonobese diabetic mice through modulation of autoimmunity.

BACKGROUND: Thioredoxin as a biological antioxidant plays an important role in regulating the redox system. The administration of recombinant thioredoxin has been demonstrated to be anti-inflammatory. In this study, the effect of recombinant human thioredoxin-1 (rhTrx-1) in preventing type 1 diabetes (T1D) in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice was evaluated. METHODS: Eight-week-old NOD mice were treated with intravenous injection of rhTrx-1 (5 µg/mouse/day) for 5 weeks (5 days a week), followed by every other day for additional 5 weeks. Diabetes onset was monitored twice a week. Pancreatic histology and ß-cell mass were examined by hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) and insulin immunohistochemistry staining, respectively. Adoptive transfer experiments were executed to assess autoimmune T cells modulated by rhTrx treatment. RESULTS: The intravenous administration of rhTrx-1 significantly delayed and prevented T1D in NOD mice. The histology data showed that rhTrx-1 treatment markedly reduced insulitic lesions and significantly preserved insulin-producing ß cells. Adoptive transfer of spleen cells from rhTrx-1-treated mice into nonobese diabetic-severe combined immunodeficiency (NOD-SCID) mice significantly reduced the diabetes onset than transfer of those from phosphate-buffered saline-treated mice. Adoptive co-transfer experiments demonstrated that spleen cells from rhTrx-1-treated mice significantly delayed diabetes induced by the co-transferred diabetogenic spleen cells from the new-onset diabetic mice. CONCLUSIONS: Antioxidant rhTrx-1 effectively prevents T1D which may be attributed to its activity to modulate autoimmunity.

Apigenin Improves Hypertension and Cardiac Hypertrophy Through Modulating NADPH Oxidase-Dependent ROS Generation and Cytokines in Hypothalamic Paraventricular Nucleus.

Apigenin, identified as 4', 5, 7-trihydroxyflavone, is a natural flavonoid compound that has many interesting pharmacological activities and nutraceutical potential including anti-inflammatory and antioxidant functions. Chronic, low-grade inflammation and oxidative stress are involved in both the initiation and progression of hypertension and hypertension-induced cardiac hypertrophy. However, whether or not apigenin improves hypertension and cardiac hypertrophy through modulating NADPH oxidase-dependent reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and inflammation in hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) has not been reported. This study aimed to investigate the effects of apigenin on hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and its possible central mechanism of action. SHRs and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats were randomly assigned and treated with bilateral PVN infusion of apigenin or vehicle (artificial cerebrospinal fluid) via osmotic minipumps (20 µg/h) for 4 weeks. The results showed that after PVN infusion of apigenin, the mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate, plasma norepinephrine (NE), Beta 1 receptor in kidneys, level of phosphorylation of PKA in the ventricular tissue and cardiac hypertrophy, perivascular fibrosis, heart level of oxidative stress, PVN levels of oxidative stress, interleukin 1ß (IL-1ß), interleukin 6 (IL-6), iNOS, monocyte chemotactic protein 1 (MCP-1), tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), NOX2 and NOX4 were attenuated and PVN levels of interleukin 10 (IL-10), superoxide dismutase 1 (Cu/Zn-SOD) and the 67-kDa isoform of glutamate decarboxylase (GAD67) were increased. These results revealed that apigenin improves hypertension and cardiac hypertrophy in SHRs which are associated with the down-regulation of NADPH oxidase-dependent ROS generation and inflammation in the PVN.

Oversized composite braided biodegradable stents with post-dilatation for pediatric applications: mid-term results of a porcine study.

Our aim was to apply a composite braided biodegradable stent (CBBS) made from poly p-dioxanone (PPDO) and polycaprolactone (PCL) as an alternative to metallic stents for the treatment of pediatric endovascular disease. CBBS properties after adjunctive post-dilatation were assessed using radial force testing. CBBS degradation was assessed using in vitro measurements. Self-expandable CBBSs (8 × 20 mm) were implanted in abdominal aortas with an oversizing ratio of 1.1-1.4 (group A, n = 12) and in common iliac arteries with an oversizing ratio >1.4 (group B, n = 12). Self-expandable metal WALLSTENTs (8 × 21 mm) were implanted in common iliac arteries with an oversizing ratio >1.4 and served as controls (group C, n = 12). Artery evaluations including angiography and histological examinations were performed at 1, 4, 6 and 12 months after stent implantation. Eight millimeter CBBSs delivered in 8Fr sheaths with adjunctive post-dilatation had properties similar to those of metallic benchmark stents and were degraded in 12 months, with mild to moderate inflammation-induced neointimal hyperplasia and vessel restenosis. Post-dilatation and oversizing are suggested when using CBBSs for polymeric strut tissue embedding and optimal wall apposition, but an overextended ratio should be avoided because of the induction of less-desirable neointimal hyperplasia. Mid-term outcomes of CBBSs with adjunctive post-dilatation were better than those of WALLSTENTs in a swine endovascular disease model.

Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Attenuates Acute Lung Allograft Injury in a Rat Lung Transplant Model.

Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) after lung transplantation triggers a cascade of inflammatory changes that can contribute to acute allograft injury. This influences both the short- and long-term survival of the lung allograft. Alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) is a protease inhibitor with known anti-inflammatory and immune-regulatory properties that mitigate tissue damage. This study explores the protective effects of AAT in the setting of IRI utilizing a rat lung transplant model. METHODS: Orthotopic left single lung transplantation was performed from Lewis to Sprague-Dawley rats; recipients did not receive systemic immunosuppression. Before transplantation, the donor lungs were primed with either albumin (control) or AAT. Starting the day of transplantation, recipient rats also received either albumin (control) or AAT with subsequent doses administered over the next 7 days. On the eighth postoperative day, lung allografts were recovered and analyzed. RESULTS: Degree of inflammatory infiltrate, as quantified by the allograft weight (g)/body weight (kg) ratio, was significantly reduced in the AAT-treated group compared with controls (3.5 vs 7.7, respectively, P < 0.05). Treatment with AAT also significantly decreased allograft necrosis in treated animals, as measured by a semiquantitative score that ranged from 0 to 4 (1.25 vs 4, P < 0.05). In addition, lymphocytes isolated from recipients treatment group showed significant proliferative inhibition via a mixed lymphocyte response assay in response to donor antigens. CONCLUSIONS: AAT attenuates acute allograft injury and necrosis in a rat model of lung transplantation, suggesting that AAT may play a role in reducing IRI-induced inflammation.

A novel braided biodegradable stent for use in congenital heart disease: Short-term results in porcine iliac artery.

To evaluate the properties and efficacy of a novel braided biodegradable stent (BBS) consisting of poly (p-dioxanone) (PPDO) and polycaprolactone (PCL) for usage in children with congenital cardiovascular diseases. PCL/PPDO composite filaments were fabricated by coating PCL layers onto PPDO filaments, which were fused with PPDO monofilaments to form the BBS. Physical properties of BBSs including elastic recovery rate, deformation rate, and mechanical characteristics with adjunctive post-dilation were evaluated by radial force-tests. Ten BBS stents and 10 metallic wall stents (WS) as controls were implanted into the common carotid arteries of 10 pigs and angiography as well as histological examinations were performed 4 and 8 weeks after implantation. An 8 mm BBS with adjunctive post-dilation had the best morphological retention and dimension stability being similar to an 8 mm WS. Luminal gain percentages of BBS and WS immediately, 4 weeks and 8 weeks after implantation were 20.44 ± 2.82% and 27.08 ± 0.88%, 12.34 ± 0.18% and 17.32 ± 8.24%, as well as -1.76 ± 2.45% and - 0.98 ± 3.23%. Luminal areas, internal elastic laminas, neointimal areas, neointimal thicknesses, and area stenosis were not significantly different at 4 weeks and 8 weeks after implantation. Injury and inflammation were similar in both groups and no malposition, thrombosis or dissection occurred. BBS with adjunctive post-dilation showed good physical properties and mechanical stability noninferior to WS. In vivo evaluations showed that a BBS with post-ballooning had similar short-term outcomes as a WS. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res Part A: 107A: 1667-1677, 2019.

Phomopsols A and B from the Mangrove Endophytic Fungus Phomopsis sp. xy21: Structures, Neuroprotective Effects, and Biogenetic Relationships.

A polyketide-derived alkaloid featuring a unique 3,4-dihydro-2H-indeno[1,2-b]pyridine 1-oxide motif, named phomopsol A (1), and a highly oxidized polyketide containing a new 3,5-dihydro-2H-2,5-methanobenzo[e][1,4]dioxepine moiety, named phomopsol B (2), were isolated from the Thai mangrove endophytic fungus Phomopsis sp. xy21, together with the related biosynthetic polyketide 3. The structures of 1-3 were unambiguously established by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis (Cu Kα), and their neuroprotective effects in PC12 cells were evaluated. The biosynthetic origins of 1-3 are proposed.

Self-expanding apical closure device for full-percutaneous closed-chest transapical valve procedures with large-sized introducer sheaths: first study in an animal model.

OBJECTIVES: Available apical occluders do not fulfil requirements for full-percutaneous transapical valve procedures with large-sized introducer sheaths. A self-expanding closure device designed for closed-chest transapical valve procedures was tested in an animal model to verify safety, efficacy and thrombogenicity. METHODS: Large-sized 21-Fr introducer sheaths (Certitude™ system for Sapien™ valves) were percutaneously placed in the ventricles of nine 3-month old minipigs. To seal the apical access, delivery catheters carrying folded self-expanding plugs were inserted. Then, the plugs were deployed while sheaths were removed. Echocardiograms verified tamponade and cardiac function, drains were not placed and a 3-month long aspirin therapy was administered. After 6 and 9 months, animals were euthanized and organs were analysed for macroembolic lesions search. Histological analysis was also performed. RESULTS: Nine minipigs (weight: 28±3 kg) were used for this study. Eight plugs were successfully deployed in 8 ventricles without cardiac tamponade or ventricular dysfunction (success rate: 88.9%). In a failed procedure (the animal died after 1 month of cardiac tamponade), the outer disc of the apical plug got stuck in the intercostal space and did not correctly deploy. Post-mortem analysis in 8 minipigs at 6 (n = 4) and 9 months (n = 4) confirmed full deployment and good fixation of all plugs with internal surfaces covered by new endocardium. Macroscopic analysis of myocardium and vital organs showed absence of embolic lesions. Histological analysis showed absence of significant inflammatory infiltration and thrombosis. CONCLUSIONS: In this animal model, self-expanding closure devices sealed 21-Fr large percutaneous apical accesses without acute tamponade, thrombosis or embolization. Further tests to evaluate full-percutaneous closed-chest apical procedures are required.

Xanthone-derived polyketides from the Thai mangrove endophytic fungus Phomopsis sp. xy21.

Six new xanthone-derived polyketides, named phomoxanthones F-K (1-6), along with three known ones, were isolated from Phomopsis sp. xy21, which was isolated as an endophytic fungus from the Thai mangrove Xylocarpus granatum. Phomoxanthone F (1) represents the first xanthone-derived polyketide containing a 10a-decarboxylated benzopyranone nucleus that was substituted by a 4-methyldihydrofuran-2(3H)-one moiety at C10a. Phomoxanthones G (2) and H (3) are highly oxidized xanthone-derived polyketides containing a novel 5-methyl-6-oxabicyclo[3.2.1]octane motif. This is the first report of a C6-O-C12 bridge in xanthone-derived polyketides. Additionally, a plausible biogenetic pathway for these xanthone-derived polyketides is proposed.

Peptides modified by myristoylation activate eNOS in endothelial cells through Akt phosphorylation.

1. Myristoylated pseudosubstrate of PKCzeta (mPS) - a synthetic myristoylated peptide with a sequence (13 amino acids) mimicking the endogenous PKCzeta pseudosubstrate region -- is considered a selective cell-permeable inhibitor of PKCzeta. We present strong evidence that in endothelial cells the action of mPS is not limited to inhibition of PKC activity and that myristoylation of certain peptides can activate eNOS (endothelial nitric oxide synthase) through Akt phosphorylation. 2. mPS at micromolar concentrations (1-10 microM) induced profound phosphorylation of eNOS, Akt, ERK 1/2, and p38 MAPK in cultured pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAEC). The same changes were observed after treatment of PAEC with a myristoylated scrambled version of mPS (mScr), whereas a cell-permeable version of PKCzeta pseudosubstrate fused to the HIV-TAT membrane-translocating peptide did not induce analogous changes, suggesting that myristoylation confers new properties on the peptides consisting of activation of different signaling pathways in endothelial cells. 3. In addition to mPS and mScr, a number of other myristoylated peptides induced phosphorylation of eNOS suggesting that myristoylation of peptides can activate eNOS by mechanisms unrelated to inhibition of PKC. All active myristoylated peptides contained basic amino acids motif and were longer than six amino acids. 4. Activation of eNOS by myristoylated peptides was dependent on the PI3K/Akt pathway and the rise of intracellular calcium and was associated with an elevation of cGMP levels in PAEC and with relaxation of precontracted isolated pulmonary artery segments. 5. Myristoylated peptides can be considered a new class of activators of NO production in endothelial cells and that using mPS as a specific inhibitor of PKC should be done with caution, especially in endothelial cells.

Cell Penetrating Peptide-Mediated Caveolae-Dependent Activation of Lung Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase.

Cell penetrating peptides can be used as therapeutic agents via modulation of selective cell functions. Nitric oxide (NO) generated by vascular endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) plays a critical role in the NO/ cyclic guanosine 5'-monophosphate (cGMP)-mediated pulmonary vascular function. Here we examined whether internalization of a fifteen amino acid (KRFNSISCSSWRRKR) synthetic peptide (P3) enhances the catalytic activity of eNOS via caveolae/eNOS dissociation leading to NO release and increased cGMP production in pulmonary artery endothelial cells (EC). ECs were treated with varying concentrations of P3 and used to monitor internalization, isolation of caveolae-enriched fraction, the catalytic activity of eNOS, NO/cGMP production, and intracellular Ca(2+) release. Confocal images show timedependent internalization of P3 in EC. Treatment of EC with P3, but not scrambled P3, increased the catalytic activity of eNOS in a dose-dependent manner without change in eNOS expression or phosphorylation. Treatment of EC with P3 stimulated intracellular Ca(2+) release, increased the catalytic activity of phospatidylinsositide 3 kinase (PI3K) and resulted in eNOS/caveolae-1 (Cav-1) dissociation leading to translocation of eNOS to intracellular compartment in EC. P3- mediated activation of eNOS was abolished by intracellular Ca(2+) chelator 1,2-bis(2-aminophenooxy)ethane-N,N,N',N'- tertraacetic acid-AM (BAPTA-AM), PI3K inhibition, or by siRNA-mediated Cav-1 suppression. These results demonstrate that exogenous peptide consisting of cationic amino acids can internalize and enhance the catalytic activity of eNOS via modulation of caveolar signaling and intracellular Ca(2+) release in EC.

Thioredoxin priming prolongs lung allograft survival by promoting immune tolerance.

Tolerance to allograft antigen is the major challenge and final goal of transplant medicine. Our previous study demonstrated that thioredoxin-1 (Trx) priming of donor lung significantly protected allogeneic lung graft. To determine whether Trx priming of donor lung inhibits allograft rejection, extends allograft survival and induces immune tolerance, orthotopic left lung transplantation was performed from Lewis to Sprague-Dawley rats without immunosuppression. Donor lungs were primed with Trx at 4°C for 4 hr prior to transplantation. After up to 37 days post-transplantation, allograft lung morphology, recipient T cell and humoral alloantigen-specific immune responses were examined. We found that Trx-primed lungs exhibited much reduced acute rejection and associated lung injuries resulting in loss of graft functional area at 5-37 days post-transplant in contrast to the control groups. CD4+ T cells from the recipients with Trx-primed grafts responded to the stimulation of dendritic cells (DCs) of donor origin, in contrast to DCs from the third party, with significantly reduced proliferation. Consistent with above findings, we observed that CD4+Foxp3+ regulatory T cells in spleen cells from the recipients with Trx-primed grafts were significantly increased compared to controls, and CD4+ T cells from the recipients with Trx-primed grafts produced much higher levels of immunosuppressive cytokine, IL-10 when stimulated with allogeneic donor DCs. In addition, humoral immune tolerance was also induced as there was no significant increase levels of serum antibodies against donor antigens in Trx-lung recipients when re-challenged with allogeneic donor antigens. Our results demonstrate that one-time Trx-priming of donor lung grafts prior to transplantation significantly prolongs the survival of the grafts through inducing or promoting cellular and humoral alloantigen-specific immune tolerance, which might be associated with the induction of immunosuppressive regulatory T cells.

Novel peptide for attenuation of hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension via modulation of nitric oxide release and phosphodiesterase -5 activity.

Pulmonary vascular endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase (eNOS)-derived NO is the major stimulant of cyclic guanosine 5'-monophosphate (cGMP) production and NO/cGMP-dependent vasorelaxation in the pulmonary circulation. We recently synthesized multiple peptides and reported that an eleven amino acid (SSWRRKRKESS) peptide (P1) but not scrambled P1 stimulated the catalytic activity but not expression of eNOS and causes NO/cGMP-dependent sustained vasorelaxation in isolated pulmonary artery (PA) segments and in lung perfusion models. Since cGMP levels can also be elevated by inhibition of phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE-5), this study was designed to test the hypothesis that P1-mediated vesorelaxation is due to its unique dual action as NO-releasing PDE-5 inhibitor in the pulmonary circulation. Treatment of porcine PA endothelial cells (PAEC) with P1 caused time-dependent increase in intracellular NO release and inhibition of the catalytic activity of cGMP-specific PDE-5 but not PDE-5 protein expression leading to increased levels of cGMP. Acute hypoxia-induced PA vasoconstriction ex vivo and continuous telemetry monitoring of hypoxia (10% oxygen)-induced elevated PA pressure in freely moving rats were significantly restored by administration of P1. Chronic hypoxia (10% oxygen for 4 weeks)-induced alterations in PA perfusion pressure, right ventricular hypertrophy, and vascular remodeling were attenuated by P1 treatment. These results demonstrate the potential therapeutic effects of P1 to prevent and/or arrest the progression of hypoxia-induced PAH via NO/cGMP-dependent modulation of hemodynamic and vascular remodeling in the pulmonary circulation.

Priming donor lungs with thioredoxin-1 attenuates acute allograft injury in a rat model of lung transplantation.

BACKGROUND: Lung graft dysfunction and rejection are significant causes of morbidity and mortality in transplant recipients. Thioredoxin-1, a redox-regulatory protein, functions as an antioxidant in multiple organs, including lungs. We examined whether priming of the donor lungs with thioredoxin-1 before transplantation attenuates acute lung injury. METHODS: Orthotopic left lung transplantation was performed from Lewis (donor) to Sprague-Dawley (recipient) rats. Donor lungs were perfused and stored in Perfadex solution (Vitrolife, Uppsala, Sweden), with or without purified thioredoxin-1. Changes in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) analysis, allograft oxygen exchange function, nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB)/DNA binding, myeloperoxidase activities, and immunohistologic evaluation of neutrophils, macrophages, and cytotoxic T-cells (CD8(+)) infiltration were examined in post-transplant allograft (left) and native (right) lungs at Days 1 and 5. RESULTS: BAL cell differential analysis showed significant increases in macrophages and neutrophils in allografts at Day 1 post-transplant. At Days 1 and 5, lymphocyte infiltration was significantly increased and myeloperoxidase and NF-kappaB/DNA binding activities were increased vs basal activities. Immunohistology staining revealed increased infiltration of macrophages, neutrophils, and CD8(+) T cell sub-sets. Pre-transplant priming of donor lungs with thioredoxin-1 improved oxygen exchange and attenuated NF-kappaB/DNA binding activity, and infiltration of macrophages, neutrophils, and CD8(+) T cell sub-sets in allografts at Days 1 and 5 post-transplant. CONCLUSIONS: Priming of donor lungs with thioredoxin-1 before transplant attenuates acute allograft injury in a rat model of lung transplantation, and appears to be associated with the antioxidant function of thioredoxin-1 that limits early ischemia-reperfusion injury, NF-kappaB activation, and progressive infiltration of inflammatory and immune cells in allografts.

Uric acid decreases NO production and increases arginase activity in cultured pulmonary artery endothelial cells.

Elevated levels of serum uric acid (UA) are commonly associated with primary pulmonary hypertension but have generally not been thought to have any causal role. Recent experimental studies, however, have suggested that UA may affect various vasoactive mediators. We therefore tested the hypothesis that UA might alter nitric oxide (NO) levels in pulmonary arterial endothelial cells (PAEC). In isolated porcine pulmonary artery segments (PAS), UA (7.5 mg/dl) inhibits acetylcholine-induced vasodilation. The incubation of PAEC with UA caused a dose-dependent decrease in NO and cGMP production stimulated by bradykinin or Ca(2+)-ionophore A23187. We explored cellular mechanisms by which UA might cause reduced NO production focusing on the effects of UA on the l-arginine-endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) and l-arginine-arginase pathways. Incubation of PAEC with different concentrations of UA (2.5-15 mg/dl) for 24 h did not affect l-[(3)H]arginine uptake or activity/expression of eNOS. However, PAEC incubated with UA (7.5 mg/dl; 24 h) released more urea in culture media than control PAEC, suggesting that arginase activation might be involved in the UA effect. Kinetic analysis of arginase activity in PAEC lysates and rat liver and kidney homogenates demonstrated that UA activated arginase by increasing its affinity for l-arginine. An inhibitor of arginase (S)-(2-boronoethyl)-l-cysteine prevented UA-induced reduction of A23187-stimulated cGMP production by PAEC and abolished UA-induced inhibition of acetylcholine-stimulated vasodilation in PAS. We conclude that UA-induced arginase activation is a potential mechanism for reduction of NO production in PAEC.

Thioredoxin as a biomarker for graft rejection in lung transplant recipients.

Primary graft dysfunction and rejection are common complications in lung transplant recipients. Increased expression of thioredoxin-1 (Trx), a 12-kDa redox-regulatory protein, has been reported in multiple lung pathophysiological conditions involving oxidative and inflammatory mediated injury including graft rejection in canine and rat models of lung transplantation. Our objective was to determine whether increased Trx expression is associated with progression of rejection pathophysiology in human lung transplant recipients. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and transbronchial biopsy samples were collected as a routine part of post-transplant clinical care from 18 lung transplant patients from our adult lung transplant programme. Lung transplant recipient profile included age/sex, ethnic background, days on ventilator, total ischaemic time, and cytomegalovirus (CMV) status. Based on histopathological grading criteria, patients were divided into two groups, rejecting (A1/A2 or B1) and non-rejecting (A0/B0). Rejecting and non-rejecting group total BAL cell counts and differential cell counts for neutrophils, macrophages, lymphocytes and eosinophils as well as total BAL cell Trx levels were analysed. Total BAL cell counts were significantly (p <0.05) elevated in graft rejecting versus non-rejecting patients. Differential BAL macrophage counts were comparable in rejection and non-rejection groups, whereas there were significant increases in neutrophils and lymphocytes but not eosinophils in patients with rejection versus non-rejection pathology (p <0.05). Total ischaemic time and days on ventilator in rejection and non-rejection groups were comparable. However, Trx levels were significantly elevated in BAL cells from graft-rejecting patients compared with non-rejecting patients (p <0.05). These data suggest that surveillance monitoring of BAL Trx levels after lung transplantation can serve as a biomarker to assess severity of graft rejection.

Effect of DPC 333 [(2R)-2-{(3R)-3-amino-3-[4-(2-methylquinolin-4-ylmethoxy)phenyl]-2-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl}-N-hydroxy-4-methylpentanamide], a human tumor necrosis factor alpha-converting enzyme inhibitor, on the disposition of methotrexate: a transporter-based drug-drug interaction case study.

DPC 333 [(2R)-2-{(3R)-3-amino-3-[4-(2-methylquinolin-4-ylmethoxy)phenyl]-2-oxopyrrolidin-1-yl}-N-hydroxy-4-methylpentanamide] is a potent human tumor necrosis factor alpha-converting enzyme inhibitor with potential therapeutic implications for rheumatoid arthritis. Methotrexate (MTX), a drug for the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis, is eliminated primarily unchanged via renal and biliary excretion in humans as well as in rats and dogs. The objective of the present study was to investigate the potential effect of DPC 333 on the disposition of MTX. In dogs, DPC 333 administered orally at 1.7 mg/kg 15 min before the intravenous administration of [14C]MTX (0.5 mg/kg) did not alter the plasma concentration-time profile of MTX; however, the total amount of radioactivity excreted in urine increased from 58.7% to 92.2% of the dose, and the renal clearance increased from 1.8 ml/min/kg to 2.9 ml/min/kg, suggesting a decrease in MTX disposition via biliary excretion. The biliary excretion of MTX was investigated in isolated perfused livers prepared from wild-type and TR(-) [multidrug resistance-associated protein 2 (Mrp2)-deficient] Wistar rats in the absence and presence of DPC 333. Mrp2-mediated biliary excretion of MTX was confirmed with 95.8% and 5.1% of MTX recovered in the bile of wild-type and TR(-) Wistar rats, respectively. DPC 333 at an initial perfusate concentration of 50 microM completely blocked the biliary excretion of MTX, but not the clearance from perfusate, in both wild-type and TR(-) rats. These results suggest that the enhanced renal elimination of MTX may be due to the potent inhibition of biliary excretion and active renal reabsorption by DPC 333 and/or its metabolites.