Angiotensin (1-7)-attenuated vasoconstriction is associated with the Interleukin-10 signaling pathway.

AIMS: Angiotensin-1-7 [Ang-(1-7)] is an essential peptide of the renin-angiotensin system that promotes benefits modulating effects in different tissues. Similarly, interleukin-10 (IL-10) exhibits an immunomodulatory action on the vasculature. This study aimed to evaluate whether Ang-(1-7) levels attenuates vascular contractile response, mediated by IL-10-pathway (JAK1/STAT3/IL-10). MAIN METHODS: Aortas from male mice C57BL/6J and knockout for IL-10 (IL-10-/-) were incubated with Ang-(1-7) [10 µM] or vehicle, during 5 min, 1 h, 6 h, 12 h, and 24 h. Concentration-response curves to phenylephrine, western blotting, and flow cytometry analysis was performed to evaluate the contractile response, protein expression, and IL-10 levels, respectively. KEY FINDINGS: Incubation with Ang-(1-7) produced a time-dependent increase in Janus kinases 1 (JAK1) expression, as well as increased expression and activity of the signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) protein. However, this effect was not observed in knockout animals for IL-10. After 12 h of Ang-(1-7) treatment, arteries from control mice displayed decreased vascular reactivity to phenylephrine, but this effect was not observed in the absence of endogenous IL-10. Additionally, incubation with Ang-(1-7) augments IL-10 levels after 6 h, 12 h, and 24 h of incubation. SIGNIFICANCE: These results demonstrated the role of Ang-(1-7) in the IL-10 signaling pathway and its effects in the vascular contractility response. Thus, these findings suggest a new synergic action where Ang-(1-7) and IL-10 converge into a protective mechanism against vascular dysfunction.

Automated evaluation of pharmaceutically active ionic liquids' (eco)toxicity through the inhibition of human carboxylesterase and Vibrio fischeri.

The toxicity of 16 pharmaceutical active ionic liquids (IL-APIs) was evaluated by automated approaches based on sequential injection analysis (SIA). The implemented bioassays were centered on the inhibition of human carboxylesterase 2 and Vibrio fischeri, in the presence of the tested compounds. The inhibitory effects were quantified by calculating the inhibitor concentration required to cause 50% of inhibition (EC50). The EC50 values demonstrated that the cetylpyridinium group was one of the most toxic cations and that the imidazolium group was the less toxic. The obtained results provide important information about the safety of the studied IL-APIs and their possible use as pharmaceutical drugs. The developed automated SIA methodologies are robust screening bioassays, and can be used as a generic tools to identify the (eco)toxicity of the structural elements of ILs, contributing to a sustainable development of drugs.

Nanostructured films from phthalocyanine and carbon nanotubes: surface morphology and electrical characterization.

We report on the investigation of the surface morphology and DC conductivity of nanostructured layer-by-layer (LbL) films from nickel tetrasulfonated phthalocyanine (NiTsPc) alternated with either multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs/NiTsPc) or multi-walled carbon nanotubes dispersed in chitosan (MWNTs+Ch/NiTsPc). We have explored the surface morphology of the films by using fractal concepts and dynamic scale laws. The MWNTs/NiTsPc LbL films were found to have a fractal dimension of ca. 2, indicating a quasi Euclidean surface. MWNTs+Ch/NiTsPc LbL films are described by the Lai-Das Sarma-Villain (LDV) model, which predicts the deposition of particles and their subsequent relaxation. An increase in the wetting contact angle of MWNTs+Ch/NiTsPc LbL films was observed, as compared with MWNTs/NiTsPc LbL films, which presented an increase in the fractal dimension of the first system. Room temperature conductivities were found be ca. 0.45 S/cm for MWNTs/NiTsPc and 1.35 S/cm for MWNTs+Ch/NiTsPc.