Association of Patient Reported Global Health Measures with Frailty Scores in Acutely Injured Older Adults.

PURPOSE: The older population is particularly vulnerable to traumatic injury. Frailty scores, used to estimate the physiologic status of an individual, are key to identifying those most at risk for injury. Global health measures such as the Veterans RAND 12 Item Health Survey (VR-12) are quality of life measures that assess older adults' overall perception of their health and may serve as a useful adjunct when predicting frailty. Herein, we evaluated whether components of the VR-12 correlated with worse frailty scores over time. METHODS: Older adults (≥65) admitted to burn, trauma, or emergency general surgery services were prospectively enrolled. Demographics, frailty determined using the Trauma Specific Frailty Index (TSFI), and VR-12 surveys were collected at enrollment and 3, 6, 9, and 12-month follow-ups. A physical component score (PCS) and mental component score (MCS) was produced by VR-12 surveys for comparison purposes. RESULTS: Fifty-eight patients were enrolled, of which 8 died. No significant changes in PCS (p = 0.25) and MCS (p = 0.56) were observed over time. PCS (p = 0.97) and MCS (p = 0.78) at enrollment did not predict mortality. PCS (OR = 0.894 [0.84-0.95], p = 0.0004) and age (OR = 1.113 [1.012-1.223], p = 0.03) independently predicted enrollment frailty. CONCLUSION: These global measures of health could be utilized in lieu or in addition to frailty scores when assessing patients in the setting of acute injury. Studies are warranted to confirm this association.

The putative mechanistic basis for the modulatory role of endothelin-1 in the altered vascular tone induced by Trypanosoma cruzi.

Chagas' disease, caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, is an important cause of heart disease in Latin America. T. cruzi-induced microvascular compromise, in turn, is thought to play a major role in chagasic heart disease. Previous in vitro studies have implicated endothelin-1 (ET-1) as a potentially important vasomodulator present in increased levels in the supernatant of T. cruzi infected cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Thus, the goal of the present investigation was to further evaluate the potentially important contribution of ET-1 to T. cruzi-induced alterations in vascular tone in vitro. Bioassay studies once again documented that exposure of isolated rat aortic rings to infected HUVEC supernatants elicited contractile responses whose steady-state magnitude was significantly greater than contractile responses elicited by exposure of aortic rings to uninfected HUVEC supernatants. Furthermore, the increased aortic contractility was significantly attenuated by the presence of the ET(A) subtype selective antagonists BMS-182,874 or BQ-123. Additionally, incubation of HUVEC with either verapamil or phosphoramidon prior to infection was also associated with reduced aortic contractility, upon exposure to the supernatant. Phosphoramidon, but not verapamil, produced a significant decrease in the measured ET-1 levels in the HUVEC supernatant. Consistent with the bioassay results, preincubation of Fura-2-loaded cultured rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells with verapamil resulted in a near complete ablation of ET-1-induced transmembrane Ca2+ flux. Taken together, these data are consistent with the hypothesis that ET-1-induced vasoconstriction may play an important modulatory role in the vascular compromise characteristic of T. cruzi infection.

Cloning of the cDNA and nucleotide sequence of a skeletal muscle protease from myopathic hamsters.

A neutral protease with an estimated Mr of about 26 kD and responsible for cleavage ofmyosin LC2 was isolated from hamster skeletal muscle. Complementary DNAs were generated by RT-PCR using total hamster muscle RNA and degenerate oligonucleotide primers based on the sequences of two internal peptides. The nucleotide sequences of the resultant cDNAs were subsequently determined and the complete amino acid sequence of the protease deduced. Although the hamster protein shared 63-85% identity in nucleotide and amino acid sequences with rat and mouse mast cell proteases, it had a higher degree of specificity for myosin LC2 than mast cell proteases which also digested myosin LC1 and myosin heavy chains. As a result, the hamster protease was designated mekratin because of its unique enzymatic specificities to distinguish it from other mast cell proteases. A polyclonal antibody was raised specific to the hamster muscle and human cardiac muscle mekratins without apparent cross-reaction with rat mast cell proteases. We have earlier demonstrated the presence in excess of a neutral protease that specifically cleaves LC2 in human hearts obtained at end stage idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (IDC). Western analyses revealed that heart tissue from patients with IDC contained 5-10 fold more mekratin than control samples. Furthermore, the level of the protease in human IDC tissues was similar to that seen in myopathic hamster skeletal muscle. No bands were recognized by the antibody when IDC myofibrils were probed due to the removal of soluble proteins during sample preparation. Thus, these results strongly suggest that the anti-mekratin antibody will provide positive identification of IDC in many cases and diagnosis by exclusion may be replaced.

Growth and morphological transformations of Helicobacter pylori in broth media.

Helicobacter pylori, a cause of peptic ulcer disease and certain types of gastric cancers, has usually been cultured on diverse agar-based media, resulting in a requirement for 2 to 4 days of growth at 37 degrees C. We have developed a novel broth medium consisting of a base medium supplemented with 2% newborn calf serum, Mg2+, Cu2+, Fe2+, Zn2+, Mn2+, and 1 mg of lysed human erythrocytes per ml. This medium supports rapid growth of H. pylori, with a doubling time of about 50 min. Optimal growth was obtained in a pH range higher than that supporting most other gram-negative bacteria (at pH 8.5). H. pylori cultured in this supplemented broth retains the spiral morphology seen in both histological sections and cultures from agar-based media and also retains a high urease activity. After 18 h in this broth, H. pylori transforms to a coccal form with a complete loss of urease activity. Previously these cocci have been reported to be senescent, since they could not be subcultured on agar medium. Our experiments suggest that some of the cocci can revert back to the spiral morphology with full recovery of urease activity when subcultured in fresh microaerobic broth medium.

Extracellular matrix heparan sulfate modulates endothelial cell susceptibility to Staphylococcus aureus.

The ability of extracellular matrix heparan sulfate to alter the susceptibility of human endothelial cells to S. aureus was investigated. Endothelial cells grown on extracellular matrix synthesized by S. aureus-infected endothelial cells were more susceptible to subsequent staphylococcal infection than endothelial cells grown on the extracellular matrix synthesized by untreated endothelial cells. Endothelial cells were more susceptible to S. aureus infection when 1) grown on heparitinase-treated extracellular matrix that removed heparan sulfate chains, 2) grown on extracellular matrix produced by chlorate-treated endothelial cells that reduced sulfation in the matrix heparan sulfate proteoglycans, 3) grown on heparan sulfate purified from extracellular matrix elaborated by infected endothelial cells, and 4) endothelial cells were chlorate-treated and therefore expressed desulfated cellular heparan sulfate proteoglycans. Extracellular matrix produced by S. aureus-infected endothelial cells contained heparan sulfate proteoglycans with reduced sulfation. The altered extracellular matrix with reduced sulfated heparan sulfate proteoglycans signalled the uninfected endothelial cells to produce under sulfated cellular heparan sulfate proteoglycans that increased S. aureus adherence to the endothelial cells.

Staphylococcus aureus binding to human nasal mucin.

Colonization of human nasal mucosa with Staphylococcus aureus sets the stage for subsequent systemic infection. This study characterizes S. aureus adhesion to nasal mucosa in vitro and investigates the interaction of S. aureus with human nasal mucin. S. aureus binding to cell-associated and cell-free mucus was greater than to nonmucin-coated epithelial cells. Scanning electron microscopy of S. aureus incubated with human nasal mucosal tissue showed minimal binding to ciliated respiratory epithelium. In a solid-phase assay, S. aureus bound to purified human nasal mucin-coated wells significantly more than to bovine serum albumin-coated microtiter wells. Binding to mucin was saturable in a dose- and time-dependent fashion. Staphylococcal adherence to human nasal mucin was inhibited by bovine submaxillary mucin but not by fibrinogen. Pretreatment of mucin with periodate but not with pronase reduced adherence. Trypsin treatment of the bacteria significantly reduced adherence to mucin. 125I-labelled nasal mucin bound to two surface proteins (138 and 127 kDa) of lysostaphin-solubilized S. aureus. Binding to human nasal mucin occurs in part via specific adhesin-receptor interactions involving bacterial proteins and the carbohydrate moiety in mucin. These experiments suggest that S. aureus binding to mucin may be critical for colonization of the nasopharyngeal mucosa.

Internalization of Staphylococcus aureus by endothelial cells induces cytokine gene expression.

The ability of the vascular endothelium to elaborate cytokines in response to gram-positive sepsis has received limited attention. This study examined cytokine expression by human umbilical vein endothelial cells (EC) following infection with a gram-positive bacterial pathogen, Staphylococcus aureus. S. aureus infection of EC resulted in the production of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-1 beta. For IL-6, message was detected at 3 h after infection, protein was present at 24 h, and both message and protein persisted for 72 h. IL-1 beta message was detected at 12 h, IL-1 beta protein was detected at 24 h, and both persisted for 72 h. Message for colony-stimulating factor 1 remained unaltered. UV-killed S. aureus also elicited IL-1 beta and IL-6 message and protein expression at 24 and 48 h. Twenty-one clinical isolates of S. aureus were tested, and all induced IL-6 release by 48 h. However, the laboratory strain 8325-4 did not induce cytokine expression at any time point and was internalized by EC 1,000-fold less than other strains were. Internalization of latex beads by EC did not induce IL-6 gene expression. Furthermore, cytochalasin D treatment of the EC prevented IL-1 and IL-6 induction by S. aureus but not by tumor necrosis factor alpha or lipopolysaccharide. These results indicate that S. aureus is a potent inducer of IL-1 and IL-6 in EC and that internalization of S. aureus by EC is necessary for their cytokine expression. Thus, our data suggest that the vascular endothelium may play an important role in the pathogenesis of septicemia caused by gram-positive organisms.

Trypanosoma cruzi induces endothelin release from endothelial cells.

The potential role of endothelin-1 (ET-1) in the pathogenesis of focal microvascular spasm, previously implicated in the etiology of Chagas' cardiomyopathy, was investigated. There was an increase in ET-1 in the supernatants of Trypanosoma cruzi--infected human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Infection of HUVEC and vascular smooth muscle cells had no effect on the synthesis of transforming growth factor-beta, which induces ET-1 synthesis. Bioassay studies of isolated rat aortic rings revealed that the increases in ET-1 production were associated with augmented contractile responses, which were significantly attenuated by preincubation with the ETA receptor antagonist, BQ-123. When big ET was incubated with the parasite, there was no conversion of the precursor to the active hormone (ET-1), demonstrating that the parasite did not possess the necessary converting enzyme. These observations suggest the potential importance of ET-1 in the etiology of the microvascular spasm associated with Chagas' disease.

A novel ligand in lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity: expression of the beta subunit of H+ transporting ATP synthase on the surface of tumor cell lines.

Extracellular adenosine triphosphate (eATP) has been suggested to play a role in lymphocyte-induced tumor destruction. We now provide evidence that a protein responsible for ATP synthesis in mitochondria may also play a physiologic role in major histocompatibility complex-independent, lymphocyte-mediated cytotoxicity. A 51.5-kD protein (p51.5) bearing structural and immunologic characteristics of the beta subunit of H+ transporting ATP synthase (E.C. 3.6.1.34, beta-H+ATPase, published molecular mass of 51.6 kD) was detected on the plasma membrane of three different human tumor cell lines studied. NH2-terminal amino acid sequence analysis of purified p51.5 from K562 tumor cells revealed 100% homology of 16 residues identified in the first 21 positions to the known sequence of human mitochondrial beta-H+ ATPase. Antibody directed against a 21-mer peptide in the ATP binding region of beta-H+ ATPase (anti-beta) reacted with only one band on Western blots of whole tumor extracts and tumor membrane extracts suggesting that the antiserum reacts with a single species of protein. Anti-beta reacted with the cell membranes of tumor cells as determined by fluorescence-activated flow cytometry and immunoprecipitated a 51.5-kD protein from surface-labeled neoplastic cells (but not human erythrocytes and lymphocytes). Purified p51.5 bound to human lymphocytes and inhibited natural killer (NK) cell-mediated cytotoxicity. Furthermore, anti-beta treatment of the K562 and A549 tumor cell lines inhibited NK (by > 95%) and interleukin 2-activated killer (LAK) cell (by 75%) cytotoxicity, respectively. Soluble p51.5 upon binding to lymphocytes retained its reactivity to anti-beta suggesting that the ATP binding domain and the lymphocyte-receptor binding domain reside in distinct regions of the ligand. These results suggest that beta-H+ ATPase or a nearly identical molecule is an important ligand in the effector phase (rather than the recognition phase) of a cytolytic pathway used by naive NK and LAK cells.

An endothelial cell adhesion protein for monocytes recognized by monoclonal antibody IG9. Expression in vivo in inflamed human vessels and atherosclerotic human and Watanabe rabbit vessels.

BACKGROUND: Monocyte adhesion to the vascular endothelium, an important component of an inflammatory response, is one of the earliest detected events in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. We have identified a monocyte adhesion molecule, recognized by monoclonal antibody (mAb) IG9, on the cell surface of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) treated with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-1, or lipopolysaccharide. Endothelial cell expression in vitro and in vivo of the protein recognized by mAb IG9 (IG9 protein) was further characterized. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: The kinetics of cytokine-induced IG9 protein expression on HUVEC were evaluated by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. TNF-alpha-treated HUVEC surface proteins, labeled with [125I]Na, were solubilized in NP-40 detergent and immunoprecipitated with mAb IG9 to determine the molecular weight of the IG9 protein. The functional role of the IG9 protein in monocyte binding in vitro to cytokine-activated endothelial cells was established in adhesion assays utilizing U937 cells (human promyelomonocytic cell line) and human peripheral blood monocytes. Minimally oxidized or modified low density lipoproteins (MM-LDL) have previously been shown to induce monocyte adhesion to endothelial cells for up to 48 hours after exposure. In order to characterize the adhesion molecule(s) contributing to this increase in monocyte binding, MM-LDL-treated HUVEC and human aortic endothelial cells were assayed for monocyte adhesion molecule expression by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In addition, mAb IG9-mediated alterations in MM-LDL-induced monocyte binding were studied in endothelial-monocyte adhesion assays. To assess IG9 protein expression in vivo, formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections of inflamed human tissues obtained from lung and healing myocardial infarctions, in addition to sections of human atherosclerotic coronary arteries, were analyzed by immunohistochemistry. Tissue sections from atherosclerotic Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic rabbit aortas were also included in these studies. RESULTS: The IG9 protein, undetected on untreated HUVEC, was expressed on their cell surface within 3 hours of treatment with TNF-alpha, peaked at 4 to 9 hours, and persisted for up to 48 hours as determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A similar kinetic profile was elicited by interleukin-1 and lipopolysaccharide, whereas interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) had minimal effect on IG9 expression. The IG9 protein has a molecular weight of 105,000 as determined by immunoprecipitation studies with TNF-alpha-treated HUVEC protein lysates. mAb IG9 significantly inhibited the binding of U937 cells and human peripheral blood monocytes to TNF-alpha-treated HUVEC and had no effect on peripheral blood lymphocyte or granulocyte adhesion. Treatment of human aortic endothelial cells or HUVEC with MM-LDL for 24 hours induced IG9 protein expression 3-fold above background with no concomitant increase in binding of antibodies to intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), E-selectin, or vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), endothelial cell adhesion proteins involved in monocyte binding. mAb IG9 F(ab')2 inhibited MM-LDL-induced monocyte adhesion to HAEC by 23%. Immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that the endothelial cell lining of vessels in human lung and heart with evidence of inflammation characterized by an extensive mononuclear cell infiltration exhibited reactivity with mAb IG9, whereas vessels with no evidence of inflammation in the same sections as well as in sections from normal lung and heart were nonreactive.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Longitudinal changes in myocardial basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF-2) activity following coronary artery ligation in the dog.

Although fibroblast growth factor has been identified in normal and ischemic myocardium, temporal changes in mitogenic activity due to fibroblast growth factors in ischemic tissue have not been well established, nor has correlation been made with the known early increases in coronary collateral flow. This study sought to measure fibroblast growth factor activity in myocardium after coronary ligation. Accordingly the left anterior descending coronary artery of dogs was ligated and coronary collateral flow measured with radioactive microspheres. The heart was arrested after 2 h (four dogs), 1 week (four dogs), 2 weeks (three dogs), or 8 weeks (four dogs). Just before arrest collateral flow was again measured with radioactive microspheres, and the perfusion territory of the ligated vessel was demarcated with an intracoronary injection of Evans blue. The stained ischemic region was separated into central and peripheral portions. A transmural sample was removed from each portion for quantitation of tissue radioactivity and the rest was used for isolation of fibroblast growth factor and the measurement of mitogenic activity with vascular endothelial cells. To determine which fibroblast growth factor (FGF-1 or FGF-2) was being produced by the myocardium, aliquots of the isolated protein were first treated with specific antibodies to FGF-1 or FGF-2 before being assayed for mitogenicity. Coronary collateral flow did not change between 5 min and 2 h following coronary ligation, but was significantly increased at later time points. The ischemic/normal myocardial basic fibroblast growth factor mitogenic activity ratio in the peripheral ischemic tissue was increased after 2 h of ischemia (1.41 +/- 0.34), but the increase was not significant.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Induction of chondrogenesis: requirement for synergistic interaction of basic fibroblast growth factor and transforming growth factor-beta.

Interactions between the epithelial anlage of the developing mouse inner ear and its associated periotic mesenchyme control the differentiation of the cartilaginous otic capsule. Transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) is a naturally occurring signal peptide that is present in these tissues at times of active differentiation and morphogenesis. Previous studies have shown that TGF-beta 1 alone is not a sufficient stimulus to initiate chondrogenesis in cultured periotic mesenchyme. In this study, we provide evidence that basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) can elicit a specific but limited chondrogenic response in cultured periotic mesenchymal cells. We also demonstrate that simultaneous addition of bFGF and TGF-beta 1 to cultured periotic mesenchyme results in a full chondrogenic response comparable to that which occurs when periotic mesenchyme is grown in the presence of its natural inductor tissue (i.e. otic epithelium). Utilizing antibodies directed against bFGF, we show localization of endogenous bFGF in the otic epithelium in vivo and in mixed epithelial-mesenchymal cultures. Additionally, we demonstrate the presence of FGF-like activity in medium conditioned by otic epithelium. Blocking of epithelial elicited chondrogenesis by a combination of both alpha bFGF and alpha TGF-beta 1 antibodies provides further evidence of the necessity for these growth factors in the chondrogenic differentiation of periotic mesenchyme in vitro. Our results suggest a role for both bFGF and TGF-beta 1 in the regulation of chondrogenesis during otic capsule formation in situ.

Inhibition of platelet aggregation and the stimulation of prostacyclin synthesis by insulin in humans.

An intravenous bolus injection of insulin (35.5 microM) followed by an infusion of insulin (0.53 microM.kg-1.h-1) for 2.5 h (which maintained plasma levels between 0.71 nM to 1.4 nM) in normal fasting volunteers (n = 16), increased [3H]prostaglandin E1 (a probe for prostacyclin) binding to platelets by two- to threefold over the control. Scatchard analyses showed that the increased binding was due to the increase of both high and low affinity receptor numbers with little change in the receptor affinities. Similar results were obtained by using [3H]prostacyclin as the radioligand. The increased binding was associated with more than a twofold decrease of the minimum concentration of prostanoid needed to inhibit aggregation of platelets through the increased formation of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate. Furthermore, the infusion increased the mean plasma prostacyclin level from 12.10 +/- 4.5 pM to 23.9 +/- 6.7 pM (n = 16; P < 0.001). These effects of insulin were at least partially direct, since the treatment of endothelial cells with insulin in tissue culture stimulated the production of the autacoid. Bolus injection of insulin (0.71 microM/kg) showed that the above effects of insulin could be demonstrated within 20 min after the injection, attained maximal ranges in approximately 60 min, and disappeared by 2-4 h.

The effect of glucose on proteoglycans produced by cultured mesangial cells.

Altered proteoglycan metabolism may play a role in the development of diabetic glomerulopathy. This study was conducted to examine the effects of glucose on the production and physical characteristics of proteoglycans generated by rat mesangial cells in culture. Rat mesangial cells were exposed to elevated glucose media (500 mg/dl) or standard glucose media (200 mg/dl) for 8-10 days, and proteoglycan synthesis was determined using 35S-labeling in conjunction with anion exchange and sizing chromatography. Rat mesangial cells generated predominantly chondroitin/dermatan sulfate proteoglycans, with small amounts of heparan sulfate proteoglycans. High glucose did not alter the number of rat mesangial cells after 24 h or after 8-10 days, compared with cells grown under standard glucose conditions. The total amount of glycosaminoglycan generated and the sizes of the major proteoglycans were not different between cultures grown in standard and elevated glucose medium. Levels of mRNA for the proteoglycan, biglycan (as assessed by Northern blot analysis), also were comparable between the standard and elevated glucose conditions. Exposure to media high in glucose did not change the rate of secretion of proteoglycans from the cell layer to the medium, but did result in a greater quantity of radiolabeled proteoglycan deposited in the extracellular matrix. The cell, extracellular matrix and medium proteoglycans isolated from the elevated glucose cultures, consistently eluted from the anion exchange column at a lower [NaCl] compared with those generated under standard glucose conditions, indicating a loss of anionic charges.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Kinetics of hydrolysis of cardiac S1 heavy chain isoforms and identification of light chain and actin binding sites.

OBJECTIVE: A comparative study of the kinetics of proteolysis of myosin S1 heavy chain was performed using dog ventricular and atrial S1 to distinguish between protease sensitive sites in S1 isotypes and to determine the binding sites on S1 heavy chain for LC1, LC2, and actin. METHODS: Digestion of S1 as a function of actin was performed at 25 degrees C at a trypsin to S1 ratio (w/w) of 1:1500. Myofibrils were digested (trypsin/myofibrils w/w ratio = 1:300) in the presence of ATP, ADP, and under rigor conditions. Light chain and actin binding sites were identified by the gel overlay method. RESULTS: Ventricular and atrial S1 were proteolysed at 0.13 min-1 and 0.04 min-1 respectively. Actin significantly reduced the cleavage rate of both S1 heavy chains by blocking hydrolysis at the 50/20 kD site. Myofibrillar myosin heavy chains from ventricles were also hydrolysed faster than those of the atria in the presence of 4 mM MgATP. The calculated rates were 0.42-0.50 and 0.17-0.19 min-1 for ventricular and atrial myofibrils respectively. MgADP 2 mM or absence of nucleotides reduced the cleavage rates to 0.04-0.07 (ventricular myofibrils) and 0.02-0.03 min-1 (atrial myofibrils) respectively. Gel overlay experiments showed that 125I labelled LC1 and LC2 bound to the 20 kD fragment and actin mainly to the 50 and 20 kD peptides. CONCLUSIONS: The 50/20 kD site in either ventricular or atrial S1 was blocked when actin was present, while proteolysis at the 25/50 site proceeded regardless of the presence of actin. However, the 25/50 site was less accessible to trypsin in the alpha myosin heavy chain, since the roughly threefold reduction in the rates of hydrolysis of atrial S1 heavy chain was also maintained in the myofibrils in rigor or in the presence of ADP. Although actin made contact with the 70 kD and the 25 kD fragments, the 50 kD and 20 kD fragments appeared to be the central "anchor" for binding of both light chains and actin.

Cytokine gene expression of endothelial cells infected with Trypanosoma cruzi.

Coronary microvascular spasm and platelet hyperreactivity have been implicated in the pathogenesis of Chagas' cardiomyopathy. To clarify further the role of the microvasculature in this disease, alterations in cytokine gene expression due to Trypanosoma cruzi infection of human umbilical vein endothelial cells were examined. Northern blot analysis of total RNA from endothelial cells demonstrated that interleukin (IL)-1 beta, IL-6, and colony-stimulating factor 1 (CSF-1) mRNA expression was absent or minimal in uninfected cells but significantly increased in infected cells. c-sis mRNA levels diminished with increased time of infection. In situ hybridization studies also demonstrated high levels of IL-6 mRNA in individual infected cells. Significant levels of IL-6 and IL-1 beta protein were detected in the supernatants of infected endothelial cells. The serum of an acutely infected individual contained high levels of IL-6 protein, suggesting the potential importance of cytokines secreted by the vascular endothelium in the pathogenesis of Chagas' cardiomyopathy.

Interleukin 6 modulates c-sis gene expression in cultured human endothelial cells.

Human vascular endothelial cells secrete platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-like polypeptides which may mediate some of the vascular effects in the inflammatory process. We have demonstrated that IL-6 caused a significant increase in the mRNA level of the c-sis gene (PDGF B chain) in cultured human endothelial cells. IL-1 alpha and IL-1 beta also increased c-sis mRNA transcripts after an extended incubation period and both cytokines acted synergistically with IL-6 in increasing c-sis expression. Tumor necrosis factor enhanced the accumulation of c-sis mRNA and interferon-gamma decreased its level. In the inflammatory process specific cytokines can modulate c-sis expression in human endothelial cells. Their subsequent production of PDGF-like polypeptides could stimulate cell migration and proliferation, and cause the release of vascular inflammatory mediators.

Staphylococcus aureus proteins that bind to human endothelial cells.

The adherence of Staphylococcus aureus to human endothelial cells is saturable in both dose- and time-dependent assays. Staphylococcal surface components which bound to endothelial cells in vitro were identified by using biotin-labeled, solubilized staphylococcal proteins. Four trypsin-sensitive components with molecular sizes of 30, 55 to 57, 70, and 85 kDa were recognized. These proteins did not label with the glycan detection system. When staphylococci were harvested during the exponential phase of growth, staphylococcal adherence to endothelial cells was significantly increased and increased expression of the S. aureus binding proteins was observed. Preincubation of endothelial cells with protein A did not reduce S. aureus adherence in an in vitro infection assay. Four S. aureus surface components whose expression is growth phase dependent adhere to human endothelial cells in vitro.

Trypanosoma cruzi: alteration of cAMP metabolism following infection of human endothelial cells.

We have previously reported that Trypanosoma cruzi infection of endothelial cells results in alterations in the metabolism of Ca2+, inositol triphosphate (IP3), and prostacycline (PGI2). In this report, we demonstrate that infection also alters the metabolism of cAMP. Infection of endothelial cells does not significantly alter beta-adrenergic receptor density or affinity, adenylate cyclase activity, and whole-cell cAMP levels. However, incubation of infected endothelial cells with the phosphodiesterase inhibitor isobutylmethylxanthine (IBMX) resulted in less than a 60% increase in cell cAMP in contrast to the greater than a 100% increase observed in uninfected endothelial cells under otherwise identical reaction conditions. Infected endothelial cells demonstrated a twofold increase in phosphodiesterase activity when measured directly. Moreover, homogenates prepared from infected endothelial cells previously incubated with isoproterenol for 20 min showed little or no change in PDE activity. In contrast, homogenates prepared from uninfected endothelial cells treated under otherwise identical reaction conditions showed a 5.7-fold increase in PDE activity. In the presence of IBMX, isoproterenol-dependent stimulation of cAMP levels in infected endothelial cells reached a maximum level at 5 min of incubation, and thereafter rapidly declined. In contrast, cAMP levels in uninfected endothelial cells reached a maximum at 2 min of incubation, and thereafter remained elevated throughout the duration of the incubation. Infection-associated changes in isoproterenol dependent stimulation of cAMP accumulation appear to relate, in part, to changes in PDE activity.

The high molecular weight form of endothelial cell von Willebrand factor is released by the regulated pathway.

We have previously reported that two forms of von Willebrand factor (vWf) exist in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells: a high molecular weight (HMW) form that is released and can be proteolytically cleaved into a series of plasma-like multimers, and a non-secreted low molecular weight (LMW) form. In this study, the mode of vWf release and the relationship between the two forms were examined. As determined by two-dimensional analysis as well as by immunoreactivity with an antibody to the propolypeptide, the LMW form of endothelial cell vWf consisted of a 260 kD pro-vWf polypeptide, while the HMW form consisted of a 225 kD mature polypeptide. Only the 260 kD polypeptide was susceptible to digestion with endoglycosidase H. Release of the HMW form into the culture media was accompanied by a decrease in cellular vWf. Treatment of endothelial cells with cycloheximide or tunicamycin caused a decrease in the LMW form but did not affect the secretion of the HMW form. These results suggest that two pools of vWf exist in endothelial cells--a LMW form of pro-vWf in the endoplasmic reticulum and a HMW form of mature vWf in the storage compartment. Released vWf derives only from the storage pool.