Comparison of Ion Chromatography Conductivity Detection (IC-CD) and Ion Chromatography Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (IC-ICP-MS) for the Determination of Phosphonic Acid in Grapevine Plant Parts, Wine, and Soil.

Potassium dihydrogen phosphonate had been allowed as a plant strengthener in organic viticulture in the European Union only until 2013, supporting the control of grapevine downy mildew. Therefore, low or nondetectable levels are a prerequisite for marketing of organic wines and, consequently, validated analytical methods are of major interest. Herein, two methods based on ion chromatography conductivity detection (IC-CD) or ion chromatography inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (IC-ICP-MS) for the determination of phosphonic acid (H3PO3) from 14 different plant matrices of Vitis vinifera L., wine, and soil were developed, validated, and compared. Extraction recoveries ranged from 95.1 to 99.3%. Limits of quantification (LOQ) ranged in liquid and solid samples from 3.8 to 16.8 µg/kg and 0.08 to 2.41 mg/kg for ICP-MS detection and from 39.9 to 593.7 µg/kg and 3.51 to 58.7 mg/kg for CD, respectively. Data on a current anonymized selection of 100 conventionally and 30 organically produced wines are briefly presented to demonstrate the suitability of the method.

A novel role of endothelium in activation of latent pro-membrane type 1 MMP and pro-MMP-2 in rat aorta.

AIMS: Aortic stiffness is an independent risk factor for progression of cardiovascular diseases. Degradation of elastic fibres in aorta due to angiotensin II (ANGII)-stimulated overactivation of latent membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1MMP) and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP2) is regarded to represent an important cause of aortic stiffness. Therefore, clarification of the causal mechanisms triggering the overactivation of these MMPs is of utmost importance. This study addresses the endothelium as a novel key activator of latent pro-MT1MMP and pro-MMP2 in rat aorta. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using a co-culture model of rat aortic endothelial cells (ECs) and smooth muscle cells (SMCs), we found that ANGII stimulation resulted in activation of latent pro-MT1MMP and pro-MMP2 in SMCs exclusively when co-cultured with ECs (assessed with western blot and gelatin zymography, respectively). EC-specific AT1 receptor stimulation triggered endothelin-1 release and paracrine action on SMCs. Endothelin-1 increased expression and activity of pro-protein convertase furin in SMCs via endothelin receptor type A (assessed with qPCR and furin activity assay, respectively). Consequently, furin acted in two ways. First, it increased the activation of latent pro-MT1MMP and, second, it activated pro-αvß3 integrin. Both pathways led to overactivation of latent pro-MMP2. In vitro findings in the co-culture model were fully consistent with the ex vivo findings obtained in isolated rat aorta. CONCLUSIONS: We propose that the endothelium under ANGII stimulation acts as a novel and key activator of latent pro-MT1MMP and pro-MMP2 in SMCs of rat aorta. Therefore, endothelium may critically contribute to pathophysiology of aortic stiffness.