Platelet-induced inhibition of adrenomedullin secretion

Adrenomedullin regulates expressions of transforming growth factor-beta1 and beta1-induced matrix metalloproteinase-2 in hepatic stellate cells

Adrenomedullin (AM), a peptide isolated from human pheochromocytoma, can be produced and secreted by various types of cells including hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), and its possible role in HSCs is not clear now. In the present study, the interactive regulation between transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 and AM and the effect of AM on TGF-beta1-induced matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 expression in HSCs were investigated. TGF-beta1 and AM inhibited gene transcript level mutually (real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction). AM suppressed the protein expression level of TGF-beta1 (Western blot), but TGF-beta1 might have no effect on AM secretion level. MMP-2 protein expression in HSCs was increased in response to TGF-beta1, and upregulation of MMP-2 expression stimulated with TGF-beta1 was suppressed by AM in dose-dependent manner (Western blot). AM decreased the phosphorylation level of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in HSCs treated with TGF-beta1, and TGF-beta1-induced MMP-2 expression was suppressed by adding Mitogen-activated protein Kinase/ERK (MEK) inhibitor U(0126) (Western blot)(.) Our results suggest that AM may intervene the activation of HSCs by inhibiting TGF-beta1 production and TGF-beta1-induced MMP-2 expression; AM may suppress the upregulation of MMP-2 expression induced by TGF-beta1 partially through ERK pathway.

Characterization of adrenomedullin in non-human primates

Adrenomedullin (AM) is a 52 amino acid peptide involved in the pathophysiology of several human diseases. Here we show the gene structure, organ distribution, and regulated expression of AM in monkey. The monkey AM (mAM) gene is located on the short arm of chromosome 9 and it codes for a 185 amino acid preprohormone, which contains two amidated peptides identical to the human AM and proadrenomedullin N-terminal 20 peptide. The promoter region of the mAM gene contains a variety of transcription factor binding motifs. mAM is widely expressed throughout many organs as shown by real-time PCR and immunohistochemical techniques, and we have found similar levels of circulating plasma AM in monkeys and humans. A significant upregulation of the mAM mRNA was observed in monkey cells exposed to low oxygen tension conditions, TGF-beta1, all-trans-retinoic acid, and dexamethasone. Our collective data show a high degree of homology between mAM and hAM, which renders the monkey an attractive animal model for future pharmacological and pre-clinical studies targeting AM.

Platelet-endothelial cell interactions during hepatic ischemia-reperfusion in vivo: a systematic analysis

Platelets have been implicated in the pathophysiology of ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. This study was designed to analyze platelet-endothelial cell interactions after I/R of the liver in vivo in dependence of the duration of ischemia and reperfusion. In C57BL/6 mice, a warm (37 degrees C) lobar hepatic ischemia was induced for 30, 60, or 90 min. Platelets were isolated from syngeneic donors, labeled ex vivo by rhodamine-6G, and infused intraarterially. Platelet-endothelial cell interactions and sinusoidal perfusion were analyzed using intravital fluorescence microscopy after 20-240 min of reperfusion. Hepatic I/R induced platelet rolling and adhesion in terminal arterioles and postsinusoidal venules as well as platelet accumulation in sinusoids already after 20 min of reperfusion. The number of platelets interacting with the endothelium was significantly increased as ischemia time was prolonged from 30 min up to 60 and 90 min. Postischemic platelet adhesion was associated with an increase in thrombin activity and a loss of platelets from the systemic circulation. Moreover, I/R-induced platelet adhesion was linearly correlated with an impairment of sinusoidal perfusion. The prolongation of reperfusion time up to 4 h did not further enhance platelet-endothelial cell interactions. These in vivo results indicate that hepatic I/R induces platelet-endothelial cell interactions in arterioles, sinusoids, and venules already during early reperfusion. The extent of these interactions is dependent on the duration of ischemia, but not on reperfusion time. Adherent platelets seem to participate in the development of sinusoidal perfusion failure in the postischemic liver.

Platelet adhesion mediated by fibrinogen-intercelllular adhesion molecule-1 binding induces tissue injury in the postischemic liver in vivo

BACKGROUND

Platelets are thought to be involved in the induction of hepatic ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. The mechanisms of platelet adhesion in the hepatic microvasculature and the role of platelets in the pathogenesis of I/R-induced liver damage in vivo remain unclear.

METHODS

In C57BL/6 mice, platelet- and leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions were quantitatively analyzed using intravital fluorescence microscopy in sham-operated animals, after warm lobar hepatic I/R (90/20 min) in wild-type and intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1-deficient mice, and after I/R in wild-type mice treated with an antifibrinogen antibody. Fibrinogen deposition on the endothelium was detected by intravital microscopy and by immunostaining. Reperfusion injury was assessed by measurement of liver enzyme and caspase-3 activities and of lipid peroxidation.

RESULTS

Hepatic I/R induced fibrinogen deposition on hepatic endothelium, followed by a dramatic increase in the number of firmly adherent platelets in the liver microvasculature. Simultaneously, the number of adherent leukocytes in postsinusoidal venules and the aspartate aminotransferase/alanine aminotransferase and caspase-3 activities were elevated. Although ICAM-1 deficiency attenuated postischemic adherence of both platelets and leukocytes, the application of an antifibrinogen antibody selectively reduced the number of adherent platelets but did not influence leukocyte adhesion. The selective blockade of platelet adherence significantly prevented the postischemic increase in liver enzyme and caspase-3 activities. Furthermore, sinusoidal perfusion failure and lipid peroxidation were attenuated in the treated group.

CONCLUSIONS

These in vivo data show that platelet adhesion mediated through fibrinogen deposition on ICAM-1 expressed on the endothelium of postischemic hepatic microvessels induces microvascular injury and hepatocellular apoptosis after I/R of the liver during early reperfusion.