Genetic or pharmacological reduction of cholangiocyte senescence improves inflammation and fibrosis in the Mdr2 -/- mouse.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Cholangiocyte senescence is important in the pathogenesis of primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC). We found that CDKN2A (p16), a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor and mediator of senescence, was increased in cholangiocytes of patients with PSC and from a PSC mouse model (multidrug resistance 2; Mdr2 -/-). Given that recent data suggest that a reduction of senescent cells is beneficial in different diseases, we hypothesised that inhibition of cholangiocyte senescence would ameliorate disease in Mdr2 -/- mice. METHODS: We used 2 novel genetic murine models to reduce cholangiocyte senescence: (i) p16Ink4a apoptosis through targeted activation of caspase (INK-ATTAC)xMdr2 -/-, in which the dimerizing molecule AP20187 promotes selective apoptotic removal of p16-expressing cells; and (ii) mice deficient in both p16 and Mdr2. Mdr2 -/- mice were also treated with fisetin, a flavonoid molecule that selectively kills senescent cells. p16, p21, and inflammatory markers (tumour necrosis factor [TNF]-α, IL-1ß, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 [MCP-1]) were measured by PCR, and hepatic fibrosis via a hydroxyproline assay and Sirius red staining. RESULTS: AP20187 treatment reduced p16 and p21 expression by ~35% and ~70% (p >0.05), respectively. Expression of inflammatory markers (TNF-α, IL-1ß, and MCP-1) decreased (by 60%, 40%, and 60%, respectively), and fibrosis was reduced by ~60% (p >0.05). Similarly, p16 -/- xMdr2 -/- mice exhibited reduced p21 expression (70%), decreased expression of TNF-α, IL-1ß (60%), and MCP-1 (65%) and reduced fibrosis (~50%) (p >0.05) compared with Mdr2 -/- mice. Fisetin treatment reduced expression of p16 and p21 (80% and 90%, respectively), TNF-α (50%), IL-1ß (50%), MCP-1 (70%), and fibrosis (60%) (p >0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our data support a pathophysiological role of cholangiocyte senescence in the progression of PSC, and that targeted removal of senescent cholangiocytes is a plausible therapeutic approach. LAY SUMMARY: Primary sclerosing cholangitis is a fibroinflammatory, incurable biliary disease. We previously reported that biliary epithelial cell senescence (cell-cycle arrest and hypersecretion of profibrotic molecules) is an important phenotype in primary sclerosing cholangitis. Herein, we demonstrate that reducing the number of senescent cholangiocytes leads to a reduction in the expression of inflammatory, fibrotic, and senescence markers associated with the disease.

Bosentan preserves endothelial function in mice overexpressing APP.

This study was designed to test the hypothesis that Alzheimer's disease (AD) is associated with endothelial dysfunction and that chronic endothelin-1 antagonism preserves endothelial function in mice overexpressing the AD amyloid precursor protein (APP). Three groups of mice were studied: C57BL/6 (normal control, n = 6), transgenic mice overexpressing APP (Tg2576, n = 5), and Tg2576 mice fed Bosentan (100 mg/(kg day)(-1)), a combined endothelin A and B receptor antagonist, for 4 months (Tg2576+Bosentan, n = 5). Mice were sacrificed at the age of 7 months. In vitro, the endothelium-dependent aortic vasorelaxation was significantly attenuated in Tg2576 mice as compared to C57BL/6 and Tg2576+Bosentan mice. In contrast, Tg2576+Bosentan and C57BL/6 mice showed similar endothelium-dependent aortic vasorelaxation. Similarly, endothelium-dependent carotid vasorelaxation was significantly attenuated in Tg2576 mice compared to C57BL/6 and Tg2576+Bosentan mice. There was no difference between the three groups in the response to nitroprusside. The current study demonstrates the presence of endothelial dysfunction in both carotid and aortic arteries in mice overexpressing APP and suggests a pathophysiological role for the endogenous endothelin system in AD.

Concurrent treatment with renin-angiotensin system blockers and acetylsalicylic acid reduces nuclear factor kappaB activation and C-reactive protein expression in human carotid artery plaques.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The local renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and cyclooxygenase-2 contribute to the activation of nuclear factor kappaB (NFkappaB) and C-reactive protein (CRP). We hypothesized that the combination of RAS blockers (RASb) and ASA reduces NFkappaB and CRP within atherosclerotic plaques. METHODS: Patients undergoing carotid endarterectomy were divided into groups according to treatment (RASb-acetylsalicylic acid [ASA], ASA, RASb, and control). The expression of NFkappaB, CRP, and CD40L was analyzed through Western blots in the obtained plaques. RESULTS: Plaques from patients treated with the combination of RASb and ASA showed lower expression of NFkappaB (25.4+/-9.8 densitometric units [DU]) than those of the control group (57.6+/-13.2 DU, P=0.03) as well as lower expression of CRP (20.9+/-9.6 DU) than those of the other treatment groups (ASA 86.1+/-13 DU, RASb 88.4+/-31 DU, controls 67.8+/-18.6, P=0.004). A negative expression of NFkappaB was associated with a reduced incidence of symptoms compared with a positive expression (5/33 [15.1%] versus 14/35 [40%], P=0.031). CONCLUSIONS: The combined treatment with RASb and ASA decreases the expression of inflammatory markers in atherosclerosis in humans. This study supports the role of the local RAS and cyclooxygenase-2 in the progression of atherosclerosis.

Oxidative stress-related increase in ubiquitination in early coronary atherogenesis.

The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) is involved in the removal of damaged proteins and the activation of transcription factors, such as nuclear-factor-kappaB. Recent reports, however, questioned the functional activity of the UPS under conditions of increased oxidative stress, such as experimental hypercholesterolemia, which was the objective of our study. Pigs were placed on a normal chow diet (N) or on a hypercholesterolemic diet without (HC) or with vitamin C and E supplementation (HC+VIT) for 12 weeks. Compared with N, plasma concentration of total cholesterol increased in both HC and HC+VIT [76 +/- 21 vs. 400 +/- 148 (P<0.05) and 329 +/- 102 (P<0.05) mg/dL], whereas increase in lipid peroxidation, as assessed by LDL-malondialdehyde plasma concentration, was found in HC but not in HC+VIT [6.6 +/- 0.7 vs. 8.5 +/- 0.3 (P<0.05) and 6.8 +/- 0.7 nmol/mg protein]. In comparison with N, the level of ubiquitin conjugates in the coronary artery, as assessed by immunoblotting, increased by 42% in HC but not in HC+VIT and was localized predominantly to media vascular smooth muscle cells by immunostaining. There was no difference in proteasome proteolytic activity among the study groups. These results demonstrate that the UPS is functionally active in early atherogenesis despite increase in oxidative stress with important repercussions in the pathophysiology and therapy of cardiovascular diseases.