Arachidonic acid induces endothelin-1 gene expression in vascular endothelial cells

Pretreatment with β-Boswellic Acid Improves Blood Stasis Induced Endothelial Dysfunction: Role of eNOS Activation

Vascular endothelial cells play an important role in modulating anti-thrombus and maintaining the natural function of vascular by secreting many active substances. β-boswellic acid (β-BA) is an active triterpenoid compound from the extract of boswellia serrate. In this study, it is demonstrated that β-BA ameliorates plasma coagulation parameters, protects endothelium from blood stasis induced injury and prevents blood stasis induced impairment of endothelium-dependent vasodilatation. Moreover, it is found that β-BA significantly increases nitric oxide (NO) and cyclic guanosine 3’, 5’-monophosphate (cGMP) levels in carotid aortas of blood stasis rats. To stimulate blood stasis-like conditions in vitro, human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were exposed to transient oxygen and glucose deprivation (OGD). Treatment of β-BA significantly increased intracellular NO level. Western blot and immunofluorescence as well as immunohistochemistry reveal that β-BA increases phosphorylation of enzyme nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) at Ser1177. In addition, β-BA mediated endothelium-dependent vasodilatation can be markedly blocked by eNOS inhibitor L-NAME in blood stasis rats. In OGD treated HUEVCs, the protective effect of β-BA is attenuated by knockdown of eNOS. In conclusion, the above findings provide convincing evidence for the protective effects of β-BA on blood stasis induced endothelial dysfunction by eNOS signaling pathway.

Alpha-fetoprotein gene expression in early and full-term human trophoblast

Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) is a major serum glycoprotein synthesized during fetal life mainly by the yolk sac and the fetal liver. At term, it reaches high concentrations in the maternal intervillous blood, which is in direct contact with the placental trophoblastic microvillous membrane, and this suggests the placental origin of the AFP at the fetal-maternal interface. We used several experimental approaches to investigate the expression of AFP gene and fetal protein production in early gestation and term placentas. RT-PCR and immunological studies clearly identified AFP messenger RNA and AFP protein in the placental villi from first trimester of pregnancy. The AFP gene was also expressed in highly purified cytotrophoblasts from early placentas, and enzymo-immunoassay showed that AFP protein was synthesized and secreted by early cytotrophoblasts. AFP was also detected in the cytoplasm of these cells by immuno-cytochemistry. However, none of these methods detected any expression of the AFP gene in full-term placental villi or in cultured trophoblasts. These findings demonstrate that both AFP mRNA and protein are present in trophoblastic cells early in pregnancy. The absence of AFP gene expression in term placental villi also suggests, that the AFP at the fetal-maternal interface is attributable to a notable transplacental passage of AFP from fetal blood in late pregnancy.

Cerebrovascular inflammation following subarachnoid hemorrhage

Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage frequently results in complications including intracranial hypertension, rebleeding and vasospasm. The extravasated blood is responsible for a cascade of reactions involving release of various vasoactive and pro-inflammatory factors (several of which are purported to induce vasospasm) from blood and vascular components in the subarachnoid space. The authors review the available evidence linking these factors to the development of inflammatory lesions of the cerebral vasculature, emphasizing: 1) neurogenic inflammation due to massive release of sensory nerve neuropeptides; 2) hemoglobin from lysed erythrocytes, which creates functional lesions of endothelial and smooth muscle cells; 3) activity, expression and metabolites of lipoxygenases cyclooxygenases and nitric oxide synthases; 4) the possible role of endothelin-1 as a pro-inflammatory agent; 5) serotonin, histamine and bradykinin which are especially involved in blood-brain barrier disruption; 6) the prothrombotic and pro-inflammatory action of complement and thrombin towards endothelium; 7) the multiple actions of activated platelets, including platelet-derived growth factor production; 8) the presence of perivascular and intramural macrophages and granulocytes and their interaction with adhesion molecules; 9) the evolution, origins, and effects of pro-inflammatory cytokines, especially IL-1, TNF-alpha and IL-6. Human and animal studies on the use of anti-inflammatory agents in subarachnoid hemorrhage include superoxide and other radical scavengers, lipid peroxidation inhibitors, iron chelators, NSAIDs, glucocorticoids, and serine protease inhibitors. Many animal studies claim reduced vasospasm, but these effects are not always confirmed in human trials, where symptomatic vasospasm and outcome are the major endpoints. Despite recent work on penetrating vessel constriction, there is a paucity of studies on inflammatory markers in the microcirculation.

Secreted phospholipase A2 induces vascular endothelial cell migration

Secreted phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) regulates a variety of cellular functions. The present investigation was undertaken to elucidate the potential role of sPLA2 in endothelial cell (EC) migration. Bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs) exposed to sPLA2 placed in the lower compartment of a modified Boyden chamber displayed increased migration compared to cells exposed to vehicle. The effect of sPLA2 on EC migration was time and dose dependent. Migration of BAECs was observed at 30 minutes, increased over 1 to 2 hours, and declined thereafter. At 2 hours of stimulation, sPLA2 (0.01-2 μmol/L) induced 1.2- to 3-fold increased cell migration compared with media alone. Among the different sPLA2s tested, bee venom, Naja naja, and porcine and human pancreatic PLA2s all evoked a migratory response in ECs. Moreover, human synovial fluid, obtained from patients with arthritis and containing sPLA2 activity, induced EC migration. Migration of ECs was significantly reduced after exposure to a catalytic site mutant of pancreatic sPLA2with decreased lipolytic activity as compared to wild-type sPLA2. Similarly, pretreatment of human synovial fluid withp-bromophenacyl bromide, an irreversible inhibitor of sPLA2, markedly decreased the ability of human synovial fluid to stimulate EC migration. Moreover, migration of ECs was stimulated on exposure to hydrolytic products of sPLA2activity including arachidonic acid, lysophosphatidic acid, and lysophosphatidylcholine. These findings suggest that sPLA2plays a physiologic role in induction of EC migration. Moreover, the effects of sPLA2 on EC migration are mediated, at least in part, by its catalytic activity.

Secreted phospholipase A2 induces vascular endothelial cell migration

Secreted phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) regulates a variety of cellular functions. The present investigation was undertaken to elucidate the potential role of sPLA2 in endothelial cell (EC) migration. Bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs) exposed to sPLA2 placed in the lower compartment of a modified Boyden chamber displayed increased migration compared to cells exposed to vehicle. The effect of sPLA2 on EC migration was time and dose dependent. Migration of BAECs was observed at 30 minutes, increased over 1 to 2 hours, and declined thereafter. At 2 hours of stimulation, sPLA2 (0.01-2 μmol/L) induced 1.2- to 3-fold increased cell migration compared with media alone. Among the different sPLA2s tested, bee venom, Naja naja, and porcine and human pancreatic PLA2s all evoked a migratory response in ECs. Moreover, human synovial fluid, obtained from patients with arthritis and containing sPLA2 activity, induced EC migration. Migration of ECs was significantly reduced after exposure to a catalytic site mutant of pancreatic sPLA2with decreased lipolytic activity as compared to wild-type sPLA2. Similarly, pretreatment of human synovial fluid withp-bromophenacyl bromide, an irreversible inhibitor of sPLA2, markedly decreased the ability of human synovial fluid to stimulate EC migration. Moreover, migration of ECs was stimulated on exposure to hydrolytic products of sPLA2activity including arachidonic acid, lysophosphatidic acid, and lysophosphatidylcholine. These findings suggest that sPLA2plays a physiologic role in induction of EC migration. Moreover, the effects of sPLA2 on EC migration are mediated, at least in part, by its catalytic activity.