Transport and Toxicity of Methylmercury-Cysteine in Cultured BeWo Cells.

Mercury is a heavy metal toxicant that is prevalent throughout the environment. Organic forms of mercury, such as methylmercury (MeHg), can cross the placenta and can lead to lasting detrimental effects in the fetus. The toxicological effects of MeHg on the placenta itself have not been clearly defined. Therefore, the purpose of the current study was to assess the transport of MeHg into placental syncytiotrophoblasts and to characterize the mechanisms by which MeHg exerts its toxic effects. Cultured placental syncytiotrophoblasts (BeWo) were used for these studies. The transport of radioactive MeHg was measured to identify potential mechanisms involved in the uptake of this compound. The toxicological effects of MeHg on BeWo cells were determined by assessing visible pathological change, autophagy, mitochondrial viability, and oxidative stress. The findings of this study suggest that MeHg compounds are transported into BeWo cells primarily by sodium-independent amino acid carriers and organic anion transporters. The MeHg altered mitochondrial function and viability, decreased mitophagy and autophagy, and increased oxidative stress. Exposure to higher concentrations of MeHg inhibited the ability of cells to protect against MeHg-induced injury. The findings show that MeHg is directly toxic to syncytiotrophoblasts and may lead to disruptions in the fetal/maternal transfer of nutrients and wastes.

Reaction of Cyanide with Hg0-Contaminated Gold Mining Tailings Produces Soluble Mercuric Cyanide Complexes.

Elemental mercury (Hg0) contamination in artisanal and small-scale gold mining (ASGM) communities is widespread, and Hg0-contaminated tailings are often reprocessed with cyanide (-CN) to extract residual gold remaining after amalgamation. Hg0 reacts with -CN under aerobic conditions to produce Hg(CN)42- and other Hg(CN)nn-2 complexes. The production of solvated Hg(CN)nn-2 complexes increases upon agitation in the presence of synthetic and authentic Hg0-contaminated tailings that aid in dispersing the Hg0, increasing its reactive surface area. Adult rats were exposed to various concentrations of Hg(CN)2, and accumulation in organs and tissues was quantified using direct mercury analysis. The primary site of Hg(CN)2 accumulation was the kidney, although accumulation was also detected in the liver, spleen, and blood. Little accumulation was observed in the brain, suggesting that Hg(CN)2 complexes do not cross the blood-brain barrier. Renal tissue was particularly sensitive to the effects of Hg(CN)2, with pathological changes observed at low concentrations. Hg(CN)2 complexes are handled by mammalian systems in a manner similar to other inorganic species of Hg, yet appear to be more toxic to organ systems. The findings from this study are the first to show that Hg(CN)2 complexes are highly stable complexes that can lead to cellular injury and death in mammalian organ systems.

Inhibition of hyaluronic acid formation sensitizes chronic myelogenous leukemia to treatment with doxorubicin.

In the current study we examined the ability of 4-methylumbelliferone (4-MU), which can inhibit hyaluronic acid synthesis, to sensitize K562 chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) cells to doxorubicin therapy. Exposure of K562 cells to doxorubicin led to increased hyaluronic acid synthase (HAS) gene expression and increased levels of cell surface hyaluronic acid. Furthermore, exposure of K562 cells to exogenous HA caused resistance to doxorubicin-induced cell death. The combination of low dose 4-MU and doxorubicin led to increased apoptosis when compared to higher doses of any agent alone. Additionally, treatment with 4-MU led to a significant reduction in doxorubicin-induced increase in HA cell surface expression. Mechanistically, 4-MU treatment led to an increase in p38 activation and PARP cleavage. The role of p38 in 4-MU/doxorubicin-treated K562 cells was confirmed when p38 inhibitors led to protection from 4-MU/doxorubicin-induced apoptosis. Together, results from this study suggest that treatment with 4-MU increases the sensitivity of CML to chemotherapeutics by decreasing their HA-mediated resistance to apoptosis.

Preservation of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Level Attenuates Angiotensin II-Induced Tissue Fibrosis by Altering AT1/AT 2 Receptor Expression and Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 Activity in Rat Heart.

PURPOSE: The glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) has been shown to exert cardioprotective effects in animals and patients. This study tests the hypothesis that preservation of GLP-1 by the GLP-1 receptor agonist liraglutide or the dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor linagliptin is associated with a reduction of angiotensin (Ang) II-induced cardiac fibrosis. METHODS AND RESULTS: Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to Ang II (500 ng/kg/min) infusion using osmotic minipumps for 4 weeks. Liraglutide (0.3 mg/kg) was subcutaneously injected twice daily or linagliptin (8 mg/kg) was administered via oral gavage daily during Ang II infusion. Relative to the control, liraglutide, but not linagliptin decreased MAP (124 ± 4 vs. 200 ± 7 mmHg in control, p < 0.003). Liraglutide and linagliptin comparatively reduced the protein level of the Ang II AT1 receptor and up-regulated the AT2 receptor as identified by a reduced AT1/AT2 ratio (0.4 ± 0.02 and 0.7 ± 0.01 vs. 1.4 ± 0.2 in control, p < 0.05), coincident with the less locally-expressed AT1 receptor and enhanced AT2 receptor in the myocardium and peri-coronary vessels. Both drugs significantly reduced the populations of macrophages (16 ± 6 and 19 ± 7 vs. 61 ± 29 number/HPF in control, p < 0.05) and α-SMA expressing myofibroblasts (17 ± 7 and 13 ± 4 vs. 66 ± 29 number/HPF in control, p < 0.05), consistent with the reduction in expression of TGFß1 and phospho-Smad2/3, and up-regulation of Smad7. Furthermore, ACE2 activity (334 ± 43 and 417 ± 51 vs. 288 ± 19 RFU/min/µg protein in control, p < 0.05) and GLP-1 receptor expression were significantly up-regulated. Along with these modulations, the synthesis of collagen I and tissue fibrosis were inhibited as determined by the smaller collagen-rich area and more viable myocardium. CONCLUSION: These results demonstrate for the first time that preservation of GLP-1 using liraglutide or linagliptin is effective in inhibiting Ang II-induced cardiac fibrosis, suggesting that these drugs could be selected as an adjunctive therapy to improve clinical outcomes in the fibrosis-derived heart failure patients with or without diabetes.

The role of hyaluronic acid in SEB-induced acute lung inflammation.

We investigated the role of the extracellular matrix component, hyaluronic acid (HA) in SEB-induced ALI/ARDS. Intranasal exposure of mice to SEB led to a significant increase in the level of soluble hyaluronic acid in the lungs. Similarly, in an endothelial cell/spleen cell co-culture, SEB exposure led to significant increases in soluble levels of hyaluronic acid, cellular proliferation, and cytokine production compared with SEB-exposed spleen cells or endothelial cells alone. Exposure of SEB-activated spleen cells to hyaluronic acid led to increased cellular proliferation and increased cytokine production. SEB-induced cytokine production and proliferation in vitro were significantly reduced by the hyaluronic acid blocking peptide, Pep-1. Finally, treatment of SEB-exposed mice with Pep-1 significantly reduced SEB-induced ALI/ARDS, through reduction of cytokine production and numbers of lung inflammatory cells, compared to mice treated with a control peptide. Together, these results suggest the possibility of targeting HA for the treatment of SEB-induced ALI/ARDS.

A collaborative approach to improving representation in viral genomic surveillance.

The lack of routine viral genomic surveillance delayed the initial detection of SARS-CoV-2, allowing the virus to spread unfettered at the outset of the U.S. epidemic. Over subsequent months, poor surveillance enabled variants to emerge unnoticed. Against this backdrop, long-standing social and racial inequities have contributed to a greater burden of cases and deaths among minority groups. To begin to address these problems, we developed a new variant surveillance model geared toward building 'next generation' genome sequencing capacity at universities in or near rural areas and engaging the participation of their local communities. The resulting genomic surveillance network has generated more than 1,000 SARS-CoV-2 genomes to date, including the first confirmed case in northeast Louisiana of Omicron, and the first and sixth confirmed cases in Georgia of the emergent BA.2.75 and BQ.1.1 variants, respectively. In agreement with other studies, significantly higher viral gene copy numbers were observed in Delta variant samples compared to those from Omicron BA.1 variant infections, and lower copy numbers were seen in asymptomatic infections relative to symptomatic ones. Collectively, the results and outcomes from our collaborative work demonstrate that establishing genomic surveillance capacity at smaller academic institutions in rural areas and fostering relationships between academic teams and local health clinics represent a robust pathway to improve pandemic readiness.

CD44 as a novel target for treatment of staphylococcal enterotoxin B-induced acute inflammatory lung injury.

Exposure to bacterial superantigens, such as staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB), can lead to the induction of acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS). In the current study, we investigated the role of CD44 in ALI/ARDS. Intranasal exposure of CD44 wild-type mice to SEB led to a significant increase in the expression of CD44 on lung mononuclear cells. CD44 knockout mice developed significantly reduced SEB-induced ALI/ARDS, through reduced inflammatory cytokine production and reduced lung inflammatory cells, compared to similarly treated CD44 wild-type mice. Mechanistically, deletion of CD44 altered SEB-induced cytokine production in the lungs and reduced the ability of SEB-exposed leukocytes to bind to lung epithelial cells. Finally, treatment of SEB-exposed mice with anti-CD44 mAbs led to significant reduction in vascular permeability, reduction in cytokine production, and prevented inflammatory cell infiltration in the lungs. Together, these results suggest the possibility of targeting CD44 for the treatment of SEB-induced ALI/ARDS.

Role of CD44 in lymphokine-activated killer cell-mediated killing of melanoma.

In the current study, we examined the potential significance of CD44 expression on lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells in their interaction and killing of melanoma cells. Stimulation of splenocytes with IL-2 led to a significant increase in the expression of CD44 on T cells, NK cells, and NKT cells. Treatment of melanoma-bearing CD44 WT mice with IL-2 led to a significant reduction in the local tumor growth while treatment of melanoma-bearing CD44 KO mice with IL-2 was ineffective at controlling tumor growth. Furthermore, the ability of splenocytes from IL-2-treated CD44 KO mice to kill melanoma tumor targets was significantly reduced when compared to the anti-tumor activity of splenocytes from IL-2-treated CD44 WT mice. The importance of CD44 expression on the LAK cells was further confirmed by the observation that adoptively transferred CD44 WT LAK cells were significantly more effective than CD44 KO LAK cells at controlling tumor growth in vivo. Next, the significance of the increased expression of CD44 in tumor killing was examined and showed that following stimulation with IL-2, distinct populations of cells with low (CD44(lo)) or elevated (CD44(hi)) expression of CD44 are generated and that the CD44(hi) cells are responsible for killing of the melanoma cells. The reduced killing activity of the CD44 KO LAK cells did not result from reduced activation or expression of effector molecules but was due, at least in part, to a reduced ability to adhere to B16F10 tumor cells.

A collaborative approach to improve representation in viral genomic surveillance.

The lack of routine viral genomic surveillance delayed the initial detection of SARS-CoV-2, allowing the virus to spread unfettered at the outset of the U.S. epidemic. Over subsequent months, poor surveillance enabled variants to emerge unnoticed. Against this backdrop, long-standing social and racial inequities have contributed to a greater burden of cases and deaths among minority groups. To begin to address these problems, we developed a new variant surveillance model geared toward building microbial genome sequencing capacity at universities in or near rural areas and engaging the participation of their local communities. The resulting genomic surveillance network has generated more than 1,000 SARS-CoV-2 genomes to date, including the first confirmed case in northeast Louisiana of Omicron, and the first and sixth confirmed cases in Georgia of the emergent BA.2.75 and BQ.1.1 variants, respectively. In agreement with other studies, significantly higher viral gene copy numbers were observed in Delta variant samples compared to those from Omicron BA.1 variant infections, and lower copy numbers were seen in asymptomatic infections relative to symptomatic ones. Collectively, the results and outcomes from our collaborative work demonstrate that establishing genomic surveillance capacity at smaller academic institutions in rural areas and fostering relationships between academic teams and local health clinics represent a robust pathway to improve pandemic readiness. Author summary: Genomic surveillance involves decoding a pathogen’s genetic code to track its spread and evolution. During the pandemic, genomic surveillance programs around the world provided valuable data to scientists, doctors, and public health officials. Knowing the complete SARS-CoV-2 genome has helped detect the emergence of new variants, including ones that are more transmissible or cause more severe disease, and has supported the development of diagnostics, vaccines, and therapeutics. The impact of genomic surveillance on public health depends on representative sampling that accurately reflects the diversity and distribution of populations, as well as rapid turnaround time from sampling to data sharing. After a slow start, SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance in the United States grew exponentially. Despite this, many rural regions and ethnic minorities remain poorly represented, leaving significant gaps in the data that informs public health responses. To address this problem, we formed a network of universities and clinics in Louisiana, Georgia, and Mississippi with the goal of increasing SARS-CoV-2 sequencing volume, representation, and equity. Our results demonstrate the advantages of rapidly sequencing pathogens in the same communities where the cases occur and present a model that leverages existing academic and clinical infrastructure for a powerful decentralized genomic surveillance system.

Plumbagin-induced apoptosis in lymphocytes is mediated through increased reactive oxygen species production, upregulation of Fas, and activation of the caspase cascade.

Extracts from plants containing plumbagin (PLB) continue to be used as a treatment of a number of chronic immunologically-based diseases. However, most of these claims are supported only by anecdotal evidence with few scientific reports describing the mechanism of action or the efficacy of plumbagin in the suppression of the immune response. In the current study, we tested the hypothesis that plumbagin-induced suppression of the immune response was mediated through the induction of apoptosis. Splenocytes from C57BL/6 mice cultured in the presence of 0.5 microM or greater concentrations of PLB significantly reduced proliferative responses to mitogens, including anti-CD3 mAbs, concanavalin A (Con A), lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) in vitro. Exposure of naïve and activated splenocytes to PLB led to a significant increase in the levels of apoptosis. In addition, PLB treatment led to a significant increase in the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in naïve and activated splenocytes. Furthermore, treatment with the ROS scavenger, N-acetylcysteine (NAC), prevented PLB-induced apoptosis, suggesting a role of ROS in PLB-induced apoptosis. PLB-induced apoptosis led to ROS-mediated activation of both the extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways. In addition, plumbagin led to increased expression of Fas. Finally, treatment of mice with PLB (5mg/kg) led to thymic and splenic atrophy as well as a significant suppression of the response to SEB and dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) in vivo. Together, these results suggest that plumbagin has significant immunosuppressive properties which are mediated by generation of ROS, upregulation of Fas, and the induction of apoptosis.

Potential mechanisms of cellular injury following exposure to a physiologically relevant species of inorganic mercury.

Mercury is a toxic metal that is found ubiquitously in the environment. Humans are exposed to different forms of mercury via ingestion, inhalation, and/or dermal absorption. Following exposure, mercuric ions may gain access to target cells and subsequently lead to cellular intoxication. The mechanisms by which mercury accumulation leads to cellular injury and death are not understood fully. Therefore, purpose of this study was to identify the specific intracellular mechanisms that are altered by exposure to inorganic mercury (Hg2+). Normal rat kidney (NRK) cells were exposed to a physiologically relevant form of Hg2+, as a conjugate of cysteine (10 µM or 50 µM). Alterations in oxidative stress were estimated by measuring lipid peroxidation and mitochondrial oxidative stress. Alterations in actin and tubulin were measured using specific fluorescent dyes. Calcium levels were measured using Fluo-3 AM Calcium Indicator while autophagy was identified with Premo™ Autophagy Sensor LC3B-GFP. The current findings show that exposure to Hg2+ leads to enhanced oxidative stress, alterations in cytoskeletal structure, increases in intracellular calcium, and enhanced autophagy. We have established a more complete understanding of intoxication and cellular injury induced by a relevant form of Hg2+ in proximal tubule cells.

CD44 Deficiency in Mice Protects the Heart Against Angiotensin Ii-Induced Cardiac Fibrosis.

This study tested the hypothesis that CD44 is involved in the development of cardiac fibrosis via angiotensin II (Ang II) AT1 receptor-stimulated TNFα/NFκB/IκB signaling pathways. Study was conducted in C57BL/6 wild type and CD44 knockout mice subjected to Ang II infusion (1,000 ng/kg/min) using osmotic minipumps up to 4 weeks or with gastric gavage administration of the AT1 receptor blocker, telmisartan at a dose of 10 mg/kg/d. Results indicated that Ang II enhances expression of the AT1 receptor, TNFα, NFκB, and CD44 as well as downregulates IκB. Further analyses revealed that Ang II increases macrophage migration, augments myofibroblast proliferation, and induces vascular/interstitial fibrosis. Relative to the Ang II group, treatment with telmisartan significantly reduced expression of the AT1 receptor and TNFα. These changes occurred in coincidence with decreased NFκB, increased IκB, and downregulated CD44 in the intracardiac vessels and intermyocardium. Furthermore, macrophage migration and myofibroblast proliferation were inhibited and fibrosis was attenuated. Knockout of CD44 did not affect Ang II-stimulated AT1 receptor and modulated TNFα/NFκB/IκB signaling, but significantly reduced macrophage/myofibroblast-mediated fibrosis as identified by less extensive collagen-rich area. These results suggest that the AT1 receptor is involved in the development of cardiac fibrosis by stimulating TNFα/NFκB/IκB-triggered CD44 signaling pathways. Knockout of CD44 blocked Ang II-induced cell migration/proliferation and cardiac fibrosis. Therefore, selective inhibition of CD44 may be considered as a potential therapeutic target for attenuating Ang II-induced deleterious cardiovascular effects.

Using glycyrrhizic acid to target sumoylation processes during Epstein-Barr virus latency.

Cellular sumoylation processes are proposed targets for anti-viral and anti-cancer therapies. We reported that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) dysregulates cellular sumoylation processes, contributing to its oncogenic potential in EBV-associated malignancies. Ginkgolic acid and anacardic acid, known inhibitors of sumoylation, inhibit LMP1-induced protein sumoylation; however, both drugs have adverse effects in hosts. Here we test the effects of glycyrrhizic acid, a medicinal botanical extract with anti-inflammatory, anti-carcinogenic, and anti-viral properties, on cellular sumoylation processes. While glycyrrhizic acid is known to inhibit EBV penetration, its affect on cellular sumoylation processes remains to be documented. We hypothesized that glycyrrhizic acid inhibits cellular sumoylation processes and may be a viable treatment for Epstein-Barr virus-associated malignancies. Results showed that glycyrrhizic acid inhibited sumoylation processes (without affecting ubiquitination processes), limited cell growth, and induced apoptosis in multiple cell lines. Similar to ginkgolic acid; glycyrrhizic acid targeted the first step of the sumoylation process and resulted in low levels of spontaneous EBV reactivation. Glycyrrhizic acid did not affect induced reactivation of the virus, but the presence of the extract did reduce the ability of the produced virus to infect additional cells. Therefore, we propose that glycyrrhizic acid may be a potential therapeutic drug to augment the treatment of EBV-associated lymphoid malignancies.

Treatment of Hematological Malignancies with Glycyrrhizic Acid.

The current study examined the effectiveness of glycyrrhizic acid (GA) in reducing cell viability and inducing apoptosis in human chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) in vitro and a mouse lymphoma in vivo. Additionally, we assessed GA as a candidate for combinational therapy in CML along with the current frontline treatment, imatinib (IM). Treatment of K562 CML cells with GA alone resulted in significant induction of apoptosis and loss of cell viability. GA was well tolerated by peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) up to 2 mM doses which were subsequently used in combination with IM. Co-treatment of CML with GA and IM greatly enhanced the levels of apoptosis in human CML. The effectiveness of GA was not limited to in vitro studies as treatment of EL-4 lymphoma-bearing mice with GA (50 or 500 mg/kg/day) led to significant dose-related decrease in tumor burden that correlated with a significant increase in the level of apoptotic tumors in vivo. The broad activity of GA against different tumor cell types, its tolerance by PBMCs and synergistic effects when combined with IM suggests that GA may be a viable candidate for combinational treatment strategies in CML and other hematological malignancies.

Angiotensin II AT1 receptor alters ACE2 activity, eNOS expression and CD44-hyaluronan interaction in rats with hypertension and myocardial fibrosis.

AIM: This study tested the hypothesis that angiotensin II (Ang II) AT1 receptor is involved in development of hypertension and cardiac fibrosis via modifying ACE2 activity, eNOS expression and CD44-hyaluronan interaction. MAIN METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to Ang II infusion (500ng/kg/min) using osmotic minipumps up to 4weeks and the AT1 receptor blocker, telmisartan was administered by gastric gavage (10mg/kg/day) during Ang II infusion. KEY FINDINGS: Our results indicated that Ang II enhances AT1 receptor, downregulates AT2 receptor, ACE2 activity and eNOS expression, and increases CD44 expression and hyaluronidase activity, an enzyme for hyaluronan degradation. Further analyses revealed that Ang II increases blood pressure and augments vascular/interstitial fibrosis. Comparison of the Ang II group, treatment with telmisartan significantly increased ACE2 activity and eNOS expression in the intracardiac vessels and intermyocardium. These changes occurred in coincidence with decreased blood pressure. Furthermore, the locally-expressed AT1 receptor was downregulated, as evidenced by an increased ratio of the AT2 over AT1 receptor (1.4±0.4% vs. 0.4±0.1% in Ang II group, P<0.05). Along with these modulations, telmisartan inhibited membrane CD44 expression and hyaluronidase activity, decreased populations of macrophages and myofibroblasts, and reduced expression of TGFß1 and Smads. Collagen I synthesis and tissue fibrosis were attenuated as demonstrated by the less extensive collagen-rich area. SIGNIFICANCE: These results suggest that the AT1 receptor is involved in development of hypertension and cardiac fibrosis. Selective activating ACE2/eNOS and inhibiting CD44/HA interaction might be considered as the therapeutic targets for attenuating Ang II induced deleterious cardiovascular effects.

Treatment with the hyaluronic Acid synthesis inhibitor 4-methylumbelliferone suppresses LPS-induced lung inflammation.

Exposure to bacterial endotoxins, such as lipopolysaccharide (LPS), can lead to the induction of acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS). To date, there are no known effective treatments for LPS-induced inflammation. In the current study, we investigated the potential use of the hyaluronic acid (HA) synthesis inhibitor 4-methylumbelliferone (4-MU) on LPS-induced acute lung inflammation. Culturing LPS-activated immune cells with 4-MU led to reduced proliferation, reduced cytokine production, and an increase in apoptosis when compared to untreated cells. Treatment of mice with 4-MU led to protection from LPS-induced lung injury. Specifically, 4-MU treatment led to a reduction in LPS-induced hyaluronic acid synthase (HAS) messenger RNA (mRNA) levels, reduction in lung permeability, and reduction in proinflammatory cytokine production. Taken together, these results suggest that use of 4-MU to target HA production may be an effective treatment for the inflammatory response following exposure to LPS.

Attenuation of myocardial fibrosis with curcumin is mediated by modulating expression of angiotensin II AT1/AT2 receptors and ACE2 in rats.

Curcumin is known to improve cardiac function by balancing degradation and synthesis of collagens after myocardial infarction. This study tested the hypothesis that inhibition of myocardial fibrosis by curcumin is associated with modulating expression of angiotensin II (Ang II) receptors and angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2). Male Sprague Dawley rats were subjected to Ang II infusion (500 ng/kg/min) using osmotic minipumps for 2 and 4 weeks, respectively, and curcumin (150 mg/kg/day) was fed by gastric gavage during Ang II infusion. Compared to the animals with Ang II infusion, curcumin significantly decreased the mean arterial blood pressure during the course of the observation. The protein level of the Ang II type 1 (AT1) receptor was reduced, and the Ang II type 2 (AT2) receptor was up-regulated, evidenced by an increased ratio of the AT2 receptor over the AT1 receptor in the curcumin group (1.2±0.02%) vs in the Ang II group (0.7±0.03%, P<0.05). These changes were coincident with less locally expressed AT1 receptor and enhanced AT2 receptor in the intracardiac vessels and intermyocardium. Along with these modulations, curcumin significantly decreased the populations of macrophages and alpha smooth muscle actin-expressing myofibroblasts, which were accompanied by reduced expression of transforming growth factor beta 1 and phosphorylated-Smad2/3. Collagen I synthesis was inhibited, and tissue fibrosis was attenuated, as demonstrated by less extensive collagen-rich fibrosis. Furthermore, curcumin increased protein level of ACE2 and enhanced its expression in the intermyocardium relative to the Ang II group. These results suggest that curcumin could be considered as an add-on therapeutic agent in the treatment of fibrosis-derived heart failure patient who is intolerant of ACE inhibitor therapy.

Analysis of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin-induced gene expression profile in vivo using pathway-specific cDNA arrays.

In the current study, we used pathway-specific cDNA arrays to detect the transcriptional signature induced by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) in vivo by studying simultaneously the expression profiles of 83 genes involved in apoptosis, cytokine production and angiogenesis. To this end, C57BL/6 mice were injected i.p. with 50 microg/kg body weight of TCDD and 1 or 3 days later, the thymus was analyzed for gene expression profiles. In the thymus, 23 out of 37 apoptotic genes screened were up-regulated by TCDD by a factor of two or more when compared to the vehicle-treated controls. In contrast, in the spleen, 20 out of 22 and in the liver, 16 out of 37 apoptotic genes were up-regulated. In the thymus, several genes encoding caspases, and members of the TNF family, including Fas ligand, were induced. Also, in the thymus, eight out of 23, and in the spleen, six out of 23 cytokine genes were up-regulated. In the liver and to a lesser extent in the thymus, certain angiogenesis genes were induced while others were repressed. When mice were injected with 0.1, 1, 10 or 50 microg/kg body weight of TCDD and the thymus was analyzed for apoptotic genes 1 day later, a dose-dependent response was not seen with most apoptotic genes. However, certain apoptotic genes were induced in the thymus even at low doses of 0.1 microg/kg body weight of TCDD. These data demonstrate that TCDD alters the expression of a large array of genes involved in apoptosis, cytokine production and angiogenesis. Thus, pathway-specific cDNA arrays may help in the identification of specific gene expression profiles induced by xenobiotics and to delineate the molecular mechanisms of toxicity.

Targeting hyaluronic acid production for the treatment of leukemia: treatment with 4-methylumbelliferone leads to induction of MAPK-mediated apoptosis in K562 leukemia.

The current study examined the effect of modulation of hyaluronic acid (HA) synthesis on leukemia cell survival using the hyaluronic acid synthesis inhibitor 4-methylumbelliferone (4-MU). Treatment of CML cells with 4-MU led to caspase-dependent apoptosis characterized by decreased HA production, PARP cleavage, and increased phosphorylation of p38. Addition of exogenous HA, the pan caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK or the p38 inhibitor SB203580 to 4-MU treated cells was able to protect cells from apoptosis. Treatment of tumor-bearing mice with 4-MU led to a significant reduction in tumor load which was mediated through the induction of apoptosis.

Treatment with the hyaluronic acid synthesis inhibitor 4-methylumbelliferone suppresses SEB-induced lung inflammation.

Exposure to bacterial superantigens, such as staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB), can lead to the induction of acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS). To date, there are no known effective treatments for SEB-induced inflammation. In the current study we investigated the potential use of the hyaluronic acid synthase inhibitor 4-methylumbelliferone (4-MU) on staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) induced acute lung inflammation. Culturing SEB-activated immune cells with 4-MU led to reduced proliferation, reduced cytokine production as well as an increase in apoptosis when compared to untreated cells. Treatment of mice with 4-MU led to protection from SEB-induced lung injury. Specifically, 4-MU treatment led to a reduction in SEB-induced HA levels, reduction in lung permeability, and reduced pro-inflammatory cytokine production. Taken together, these results suggest that use of 4-MU to target hyaluronic acid production may be an effective treatment for the inflammatory response following exposure to SEB.