Sox7-positive endothelial progenitors establish coronary arteries and govern ventricular compaction.

The cardiac endothelium influences ventricular chamber development by coordinating trabeculation and compaction. However, the endothelial-specific molecular mechanisms mediating this coordination are not fully understood. Here, we identify the Sox7 transcription factor as a critical cue instructing cardiac endothelium identity during ventricular chamber development. Endothelial-specific loss of Sox7 function in mice results in cardiac ventricular defects similar to non-compaction cardiomyopathy, with a change in the proportions of trabecular and compact cardiomyocytes in the mutant hearts. This phenotype is paralleled by abnormal coronary artery formation. Loss of Sox7 function disrupts the transcriptional regulation of the Notch pathway and connexins 37 and 40, which govern coronary arterial specification. Upon Sox7 endothelial-specific deletion, single-nuclei transcriptomics analysis identifies the depletion of a subset of Sox9/Gpc3-positive endocardial progenitor cells and an increase in erythro-myeloid cell lineages. Fate mapping analysis reveals that a subset of Sox7-null endothelial cells transdifferentiate into hematopoietic but not cardiomyocyte lineages. Our findings determine that Sox7 maintains cardiac endothelial cell identity, which is crucial to the cellular cross-talk that drives ventricular compaction and coronary artery development.

Efficacy of a Bioresorbable Matrix in Healing Complex Chronic Wounds: An Open-Label Prospective Pilot Study

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this prospective clinical study was to assess the effectiveness of a novel bioresorbable polymeric matrix impregnated with ionic and metallic silver as a primary wound contact dressing in healing stagnant or deteriorating chronic wounds. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-two patients with a total of 35 chronic wounds undergoing treatment at the Wound Healing and Hyperbaric Center at Mission Hospital were recruited under a protocol approved by the institutional review board. The wounds included venous stasis ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers, postoperative surgical wounds, burn wounds, and chronic, nonpressure lower extremity ulcers. At baseline, all wounds were nonhealing (ie, stagnant or deteriorating) for a median of 39 weeks (range, 3-137 weeks) and suspected of persistent microbial colonization that had not responded to traditional antimicrobial products and/or antibiotics. The aforementioned matrix was applied to wounds once every 3 days and covered with a secondary dressing. Previously prescribed protocols of care, such as debridement or compression wraps, were continued, but prior antimicrobial dressings or antibiotics were replaced with the matrix. Wound assessments at 3 weeks and 12 weeks post intervention are reported. RESULTS: Three patients were excluded due to patients lost to follow-up after initial application. At 3 weeks, 72% of wounds (22/32) had significantly improved healing with an average wound area reduction of 66%. By 12 weeks, 91% of wounds (29/32) either healed completely (ie, fully reepithelialized) or improved significantly with an average wound area reduction of 73%. The matrix was well tolerated; no patient reported discomfort with the application of the matrix. CONCLUSIONS: The micrometer-thick bioresorbable matrix presents a new form factor to wound management, conforming intimately to the underlying wound bed to exert localized and sustained antimicrobial action of noncytotoxic levels of silver. The application of the matrix on the wound surface in protocols of care was safe and well tolerated, and it facilitated improvements in healing of a majority of the stagnant or deteriorating complex chronic wounds.

Inhibition of chlorine-induced airway fibrosis by budesonide.

Chlorine is a chemical threat agent that can be harmful to humans. Acute inhalation of high levels of chlorine results in the death of airway epithelial cells and can lead to persistent adverse effects on respiratory health, including airway remodeling and hyperreactivity. We previously developed a mouse chlorine exposure model in which animals developed inflammation and fibrosis in large airways. In the present study, examination by laser capture microdissection of developing fibroproliferative lesions in FVB/NJ mice exposed to 240 ppm-h chlorine revealed upregulation of genes related to macrophage function. Treatment of chlorine-exposed mice with the corticosteroid drug budesonide daily for 7 days (30-90 µg/mouse i.m.) starting 1 h after exposure prevented the influx of M2 macrophages and the development of airway fibrosis and hyperreactivity. In chlorine-exposed, budesonide-treated mice 7 days after exposure, large airways lacking fibrosis contained extensive denuded areas indicative of a poorly repaired epithelium. Damaged or poorly repaired epithelium has been considered a trigger for fibrogenesis, but the results of this study suggest that inflammation is the ultimate driver of fibrosis in our model. Examination at later times following 7-day budesonide treatment showed continued absence of fibrosis after cessation of treatment and regrowth of a poorly differentiated airway epithelium by 14 days after exposure. Delay in the start of budesonide treatment for up to 2 days still resulted in inhibition of airway fibrosis. Our results show the therapeutic potential of budesonide as a countermeasure for inhibiting persistent effects of chlorine inhalation and shed light on mechanisms underlying the initial development of fibrosis following airway injury.

Electron induced nanoscale engineering of rutile TiO2 surfaces.

Electron stimulated modifications of the rutile TiO2(110) surface have been investigated using scanning tunnelling microscopy tip pulses and electron beam irradiation. Tip pulses on the 'as-prepared' surface induce local surface reconstruction and removal of surface hydroxyls in a region around the reconstruction. A defocused beam from an electron gun as well as tip pulses have been used to generate a number of oxygen deficient surfaces. All tip pulse features display an oval profile, which can be attributed to the anisotropic conductivity of the TiO2(110) surface. A novel oxygen deficient phase with well-ordered defective 'nano-cracks' has been identified, which can be produced by either electron beam irradiation or low flash anneal temperatures (∼570 K). Annealing such surfaces to moderate temperatures (∼850 K) leads to mixed 1 × 1 and 1 × 2 surfaces, until now only achievable by annealing in oxygen or ageing by repeated sputter/anneal cycles. Heating to normal preparation temperatures (1000 K) reforms the clean, well-ordered 1 × 1 surface termination. Our results demonstrate the potential of electron induced processes to modify the oxygen composition and structure of the TiO2(110) surface in a controllable and reversible way for selective surface patterning and surface reactivity modification.

Direct Visualization of Au Atoms Bound to TiO2(110) O-Vacancies.

Au nanoparticles supported on reducible metal oxide surfaces are known to be active catalysts for a number of reactions including CO oxidation and hydrogen production. The exact choice of a metal oxide support has been shown to have a marked impact on activity, suggesting that interactions between Au and the support play a key role in catalysis. For TiO2, a model substrate for Au catalysis, it had been thought that bridging oxygen vacancies are involved in binding Au atoms to the (110) surface based on indirect evidence. However, a recent scanning transmission electron microscopy study of single Pt atoms on TiO2(110) suggests that subsurface vacancies are more important. To clarify the role of bridging or subsurface vacancies we employ scanning tunneling microscopy to determine the bonding site of single Au atoms on TiO2(110). Using in situ deposition as well as a manipulation method, we provide definitive evidence that the bonding site is atop surface oxygen vacancies.

Acute lung injury and persistent small airway disease in a rabbit model of chlorine inhalation.

Chlorine is a pulmonary toxicant to which humans can be exposed through accidents or intentional releases. Acute effects of chlorine inhalation in humans and animal models have been well characterized, but less is known about persistent effects of acute, high-level chlorine exposures. In particular, animal models that reproduce the long-term effects suggested to occur in humans are lacking. Here, we report the development of a rabbit model in which both acute and persistent effects of chlorine inhalation can be assessed. Male New Zealand White rabbits were exposed to chlorine while the lungs were mechanically ventilated. After chlorine exposure, the rabbits were extubated and were allowed to survive for up to 24h after exposure to 800ppm chlorine for 4min to study acute effects or up to 7days after exposure to 400ppm for 8min to study longer term effects. Acute effects observed 6 or 24h after inhalation of 800ppm chlorine for 4min included hypoxemia, pulmonary edema, airway epithelial injury, inflammation, altered baseline lung mechanics, and airway hyperreactivity to inhaled methacholine. Seven days after recovery from inhalation of 400ppm chlorine for 8min, rabbits exhibited mild hypoxemia, increased area of pressure-volume loops, and airway hyperreactivity. Lung histology 7days after chlorine exposure revealed abnormalities in the small airways, including inflammation and sporadic bronchiolitis obliterans lesions. Immunostaining showed a paucity of club and ciliated cells in the epithelium at these sites. These results suggest that small airway disease may be an important component of persistent respiratory abnormalities that occur following acute chlorine exposure. This non-rodent chlorine exposure model should prove useful for studying persistent effects of acute chlorine exposure and for assessing efficacy of countermeasures for chlorine-induced lung injury.

Development and assessment of countermeasure formulations for treatment of lung injury induced by chlorine inhalation.

Chlorine is a commonly used, reactive compound to which humans can be exposed via accidental or intentional release resulting in acute lung injury. Formulations of rolipram (a phosphodiesterase inhibitor), triptolide (a natural plant product with anti-inflammatory properties), and budesonide (a corticosteroid), either neat or in conjunction with poly(lactic:glycolic acid) (PLGA), were developed for treatment of chlorine-induced acute lung injury by intramuscular injection. Formulations were produced by spray-drying, which generated generally spherical microparticles that were suitable for intramuscular injection. Multiple parameters were varied to produce formulations with a wide range of in vitro release kinetics. Testing of selected formulations in chlorine-exposed mice demonstrated efficacy against key aspects of acute lung injury. The results show the feasibility of developing microencapsulated formulations that could be used to treat chlorine-induced acute lung injury by intramuscular injection, which represents a preferred route of administration in a mass casualty situation.

Stress Fracture of the Sacrum.

A physical therapist evaluated a 25-year-old male military trainee, who reported 1 week of left hip pain exacerbated by running and sitting cross-legged. At follow-up, the patient reported unchanged hip pain and new left knee pain. Due to potential for multifocal stress injuries outside the visual field of a single MRI, bone scan and single-photon emission computerized tomography were chosen as imaging modalities. Imaging revealed a nondisplaced lateral left-sided sacral stress fracture and left calcaneal stress fracture. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther 2015;45(11):965. doi:10.2519/jospt.2015.0411.

Abnormal epithelial structure and chronic lung inflammation after repair of chlorine-induced airway injury.

Chlorine is a toxic gas used in a variety of industrial processes and is considered a chemical threat agent. High-level chlorine exposure causes acute lung injury, but the long-term effects of acute chlorine exposure are unclear. Here we characterized chronic pulmonary changes following acute chlorine exposure in mice. A/J mice were exposed to 240 parts per million-hour chlorine or sham-exposed to air. Chlorine inhalation caused sloughing of bronchial epithelium 1 day after chlorine exposure, which was repaired with restoration of a pseudostratified epithelium by day 7. The repaired epithelium contained an abnormal distribution of epithelial cells containing clusters of club or ciliated cells rather than the uniformly interspersed pattern of these cells in unexposed mice. Although the damaged epithelium in A/J mice was repaired rapidly, and minimal airway fibrosis was observed, chlorine-exposed mice developed pneumonitis characterized by infiltration of alveoli with neutrophils and prominent, large, foamy macrophages. Levels of CXCL1/KC, CXCL5/LPS-induced CXC chemokine, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, and VEGF in bronchoalveolar (BAL) fluid from chlorine-exposed mice showed steadily increasing trends over time. BAL protein levels were increased on day 4 and remained elevated out to day 28. The number of bacteria cultured from lungs of chlorine-exposed mice 4 wk after exposure was not increased compared with sham-exposed mice, indicating that the observed pneumonitis was not driven by bacterial infection of the lung. The results indicate that acute chlorine exposure may cause chronic abnormalities in the lungs despite rapid repair of injured epithelium.

CO and O overlayers on Pd nanocrystals supported on TiO2(110).

We have prepared a model catalytic system by depositing Pd onto a TiO2(110) surface held at approximately 720 K. Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) reveals well-defined Pd nanocrystals consisting of (111) top facets with {111} and {100} side facets. The Pd nanocrystals go down to about 10 nm in width and 1.3 nm in height. Top facets can be imaged with atomic resolution, indicating the absence of TiOx encapsulation. The model catalyst was probed by exposure to CO and O2. By varying the CO exposure, different CO overlayers were formed on the (111) top facets, with coverages ranging from 0.33 to 0.75 of a monolayer. Near edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) measurements at 300 K reveal that at around 0.5 ML coverage, CO is oriented with the molecular axis more or less normal to TiO2(110). Dosing small amounts of 02 separately on a Pd/ TiO2(110) surface led to an overlayer of p(2 x 2)-O formed on the (111) top facet of the Pd nanocrystals at 190 K.

Analysis of SNARE-mediated membrane fusion using an enzymatic cell fusion assay.

The interactions of SNARE (soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor) proteins on vesicles (v-SNAREs) and on target membranes (t-SNAREs) catalyze intracellular vesicle fusion(1-4). Reconstitution assays are essential for dissecting the mechanism and regulation of SNARE-mediated membrane fusion(5). In a cell fusion assay(6,7), SNARE proteins are expressed ectopically at the cell surface. These "flipped" SNARE proteins drive cell-cell fusion, demonstrating that SNAREs are sufficient to fuse cellular membranes. Because the cell fusion assay is based on microscopic analysis, it is less efficient when used to analyze multiple v- and t-SNARE interactions quantitatively. Here we describe a new assay(8) that quantifies SNARE-mediated cell fusion events by activated expression of ß-galactosidase. Two components of the Tet-Off gene expression system(9) are used as a readout system: the tetracycline-controlled transactivator (tTA) and a reporter plasmid that encodes the LacZ gene under control of the tetracycline-response element (TRE-LacZ). We transfect tTA into COS-7 cells that express flipped v-SNARE proteins at the cell surface (v-cells) and transfect TRE-LacZ into COS-7 cells that express flipped t-SNARE proteins at the cell surface (t-cells). SNARE-dependent fusion of the v- and t-cells results in the binding of tTA to TRE, the transcriptional activation of LacZ and expression of ß-galactosidase. The activity of ß-galactosidase is quantified using a colorimetric method by absorbance at 420 nm. The vesicle-associated membrane proteins (VAMPs) are v-SNAREs that reside in various post-Golgi vesicular compartments(10-15). By expressing VAMPs 1, 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8 at the same level, we compare their membrane fusion activities using the enzymatic cell fusion assay. Based on spectrometric measurement, this assay offers a quantitative approach for analyzing SNARE-mediated membrane fusion and for high-throughput studies.

Regulation of integrin endocytic recycling and chemotactic cell migration by syntaxin 6 and VAMP3 interaction.

Integrins are the primary receptors of cells adhering to the extracellular matrix, and play key roles in various cellular processes including migration, proliferation and survival. The expression and distribution of integrins at the cell surface is controlled by endocytosis and recycling. The present study examines the function of syntaxin 6 (STX6), a t-SNARE located in the trans-Golgi network, in integrin trafficking. STX6 is overexpressed in many types of human cancer. We show that depletion of STX6 inhibits chemotactic cell migration and the delivery of the laminin receptor α3ß1 integrin to the cell surface, whereas STX6 overexpression stimulates chemotactic cell migration, integrin delivery, and integrin-initiated activation of focal adhesion kinase. These data indicate that STX6 plays a rate-limiting role in cell migration and integrin trafficking. In STX6-depleted cells, α3ß1 integrin is accumulated in recycling endosomes that contain the v-SNARE VAMP3. Importantly, we show that STX6 and VAMP3 form a v-/t-SNARE complex, VAMP3 is required in α3ß1 integrin delivery to the cell surface, and endocytosed α3ß1 integrin traffics to both VAMP3 and STX6 compartments. Collectively, our data suggest a new integrin trafficking pathway in which endocytosed integrins are transported from VAMP3-containing recycling endosomes to STX6-containing trans-Golgi network before being recycled to the plasma membrane.

Syntaxins 3 and 4 mediate vesicular trafficking of α5ß1 and α3ß1 integrins and cancer cell migration.

Integrins, a family of heterodimeric receptors for cell adhesion to the extracellular matrix (ECM), play key roles in cell migration, cancer progression and metastasis. As transmembrane proteins, integrins are transported in vesicles and delivered to the cell surface by vesicular trafficking. The final step for integrin delivery, i.e., fusion of integrin-containing vesicles with the plasma membrane, is poorly understood at the molecular level. The SNARE (soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptor) proteins syntaxins 1, 2, 3 and 4 are present at the plasma membrane to drive vesicle fusion. In this study, we examined the roles of syntaxins 1, 2, 3 and 4 in vesicular trafficking of α5ß1 and α3ß1 integrins. We showed that syntaxins 2, 3 and 4 were expressed in HeLa cervical adenocarcinoma cells and PANC-1 pancreatic adenocarcinoma cells. In migrating HeLa and PANC-1 cells, syntaxins 2, 3 and 4 co-localized with the lipid raft constituent GM1 ganglioside at the leading edge. siRNA knockdown (KD) of syntaxins 3 and 4, but not of syntaxin 2, in HeLa cells reduced cell surface expression of α5ß1 and α3ß1 integrins and accumulated the integrins in cytoplasmic vesicles, indicating that syntaxins 3 and 4 mediate vesicular trafficking of α5ß1 and α3ß1 integrins to the cell surface. In addition, KD of syntaxins 3 and 4 inhibited cell adhesion to fibronectin, suppressed chemotactic cell migration and triggered apoptosis. Collectively, these data suggest that syntaxins 3- and 4-dependent integrin trafficking is important in cancer cell migration and survival, and may be a valuable target for cancer therapy.

A filtering approach to edge preserving MAP estimation of images.

The authors present a computationally efficient technique for maximum a posteriori (MAP) estimation of images in the presence of both blur and noise. The image is divided into statistically independent regions. Each region is modelled with a WSS Gaussian prior. Classical Wiener filter theory is used to generate a set of convex sets in the solution space, with the solution to the MAP estimation problem lying at the intersection of these sets. The proposed algorithm uses an underlying segmentation of the image, and a means of determining the segmentation and refining it are described. The algorithm is suitable for a range of image restoration problems, as it provides a computationally efficient means to deal with the shortcomings of Wiener filtering without sacrificing the computational simplicity of the filtering approach. The algorithm is also of interest from a theoretical viewpoint as it provides a continuum of solutions between Wiener filtering and Inverse filtering depending upon the segmentation used. We do not attempt to show here that the proposed method is the best general approach to the image reconstruction problem. However, related work referenced herein shows excellent performance in the specific problem of demosaicing.

Mechanism of chromophore assisted laser inactivation employing fluorescent proteins.

Chromophore assisted laser inactivation (CALI) is a technique that uses irradiation of chromophores proximate to a target protein to inactivate function. Previously, enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) mediated CALI has been used to inactivate EGFP-fusion proteins in a spatio-temporally defined manner within cells, but the mechanism of inactivation is unknown. To help elucidate the mechanism of protein inactivation mediated by fluorescent protein CALI ([FP]-CALI), the activities of purified glutathione-S-transferase-FP (GST-EXFP) fusions were measured after laser irradiation in vitro. Singlet oxygen and free radical quenchers as well as the removal of oxygen inhibited CALI, indicating the involvement of a reactive oxygen species (ROS). At higher concentrations of protein, turbidity after CALI increased significantly indicating cross-linking of proximate fusion proteins suggesting that damage of residues on the surface of the protein, distant from the active site, results in inactivation. Control experiments removed sample heating as a possible cause of these effects. Different FP mutants fused to GST vary in their CALI efficiency in the order enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) > enhanced yellow fluorescent protein (EYFP) > enhanced cyan fluorescent protein (ECFP), while a GST construct that binds fluorescein-based arsenical hairpin binder (FlAsH) results in significantly higher CALI efficiency than any of the fluorescent proteins (XFPs) tested. It is likely that the hierarchy of XFP effectiveness reflects the balance between ROS that are trapped within the XFP structure and cause fluorophore and chromophore bleaching and those that escape to effect CALI of proximate proteins.

Self-assembled metallic nanowires on a dielectric support: Pd on rutile TiO2(110).

Palladium nanoparticles supported on rutile TiO(2)(110)-1 x 1 have been studied using the complementary techniques of scanning tunneling microscopy and X-ray photoemission electron microscopy. Two distinct types of palladium nanoparticles are observed, namely long nanowires up to 1000 nm long, and smaller dotlike features with diameters ranging from 80-160 nm. X-ray photoemission electron microscopy reveals that the nanoparticles are composed of metallic palladium, separated by the bare TiO(2)(110) surface.

Introduction of caged peptide/protein into cells using bead loading.

INTRODUCTIONActivation and inactivation of proteins using photoactivation of caged peptides or proteins offers insights into cellular dynamics not achievable using genetic means. The ability to selectively alter the activity of a specific protein at a defined time and location inside a cell allows the correlation of changes in protein activity and cellular behavior. A caged compound, peptide, or protein is prepared by covalently linking it to a photolabile, protecting group via a limited number of critical functional groups in the biomolecules. Under carefully defined conditions, a brief irradiation with UV light (320-400 nm) can lead to an intramolecular photoisomerization reaction that induces the cleavage of the chemical bond between the cage group and the unmodified, biologically active species. Three strategies can be used to introduce caged compounds into cells: cell-permeant peptide vectors, bead loading, and microinjection. In bead loading, cells are bathed in a medium containing the peptide/protein of interest. Glass beads are then sprinkled onto the cells. The beads create temporary holes in the cell membranes, allowing some of the peptide molecules to enter cells at random. Due to the low efficiency of this technique, a large amount of protein or peptide is needed to label a relatively small number of cells. If the peptides or proteins are not fluorescent, it is useful to co-load the cells with an inert fluorescent marker, such as rhodamine dextran, to indicate successful loading. A representative bead-loading protocol using fish keratocytes is given here.

Introduction of caged peptide/protein into cells using microinjection.

INTRODUCTIONActivation and inactivation of proteins using photoactivation of caged peptides or proteins offer insights into cellular dynamics not achievable using genetic means. The ability to selectively alter the activity of a specific protein at a defined time and location inside a cell allows the correlation of changes in protein activity and cellular behavior. A caged compound, peptide, or protein is prepared by covalently linking it to a photolabile, protecting group via a limited number of critical functional groups in the biomolecules. Under carefully defined conditions, a brief irradiation with UV light (320-400 nm) can lead to an intramolecular photoisomerization reaction that induces the cleavage of the chemical bond between the cage group and the unmodified, biologically active species. The following protocol uses a semiautomated microinjection system (Eppendorf FemtoJet Microinjector along with the Eppendorf InjectMan) for the introduction of caged compounds into cells. Unlike the bead-loading approach, this technique allows the investigator to choose which cells are targeted.

In situ photoactivation of a caged phosphotyrosine peptide derived from focal adhesion kinase temporarily halts lamellar extension of single migrating tumor cells.

Focal adhesion kinase (FAK), a non-receptor tyrosine kinase, mediates integrin-based cell signaling by transferring signals regulating cell migration, adhesion, and survival from the extracellular matrix to the cytoplasm. Following autophosphorylation at tyrosine 397, FAK binds the Src homology 2 domains of Src and phosphoinositide 3-kinase, among several other possible binding partners. To further investigate the role of phosphorylated FAK in cell migration in situ, peptides comprising residues 391-406 of human FAK with caged phosphotyrosine 397 were synthesized. Although the caged phosphopeptides were stable to phosphatase activity, the free phosphopeptides showed a half-life of approximately 10-15 min in cell lysates. Migrating NBT-II cells (a rat bladder tumor cell line) were microinjected with the caged FAK peptide and locally photoactivated using a focused laser beam. The photoactivation of caged FAK peptide in 8-microm diameter spots over the cell body led to the temporary arrest of the leading edge migration within approximately 1 min of irradiation. In contrast, cell body migration was not inhibited. Microinjection of a non-caged phosphorylated tyrosine 397 FAK peptide into migrating NBT-II cells also led to lamellar arrest; however, this approach lacks the temporal control afforded by the caged phosphopeptides. Photoactivation of related phosphotyrosine peptides with altered sequences did not result in transient lamellar arrest. We hypothesize that the phosphorylated FAK peptide competes with the endogenous FAK for binding to FAK effectors including, but not limited to, Src and phosphoinositide 3-kinase, causing spatiotemporal misregulation and subsequent lamellar arrest.