Comparison of nitric oxide production in response to carbachol between macrovascular and microvascular cardiac endothelial cells

ESC Working Group on Coronary Pathophysiology and Microcirculation position paper on 'coronary microvascular dysfunction in cardiovascular disease'

Although myocardial ischaemia usually manifests as a consequence of atherosclerosis-dependent obstructive epicardial coronary artery disease, a significant percentage of patients suffer ischaemic events in the absence of epicardial coronary artery obstruction. Experimental and clinical evidence highlight the abnormalities of the coronary microcirculation as a main cause of myocardial ischaemia in patients with 'normal or near normal' coronary arteries on angiography. Coronary microvascular disturbances have been associated with early stages of atherosclerosis even prior to any angiographic evidence of epicardial coronary stenosis, as well as to other cardiac pathologies such as myocardial hypertrophy and heart failure. The main objectives of the manuscript are (i) to provide updated evidence in our current understanding of the pathophysiological consequences of microvascular dysfunction in the heart; (ii) to report on the current knowledge on the relevance of cardiovascular risk factors and comorbid conditions for microcirculatory dysfunction; and (iii) to evidence the relevance of the clinical consequences of microvascular dysfunction. Highlighting the clinical importance of coronary microvascular dysfunction will open the field for research and the development of novel strategies for intervention will encourage early detection of subclinical disease and will help in the stratification of cardiovascular risk in agreement with the new concept of precision medicine.

Nitric oxide-induced murine hematopoietic stem cell fate involves multiple signaling proteins, gene expression, and redox modulation

There are a growing number of reports showing the influence of redox modulation in cellular signaling. Although the regulation of hematopoiesis by reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) has been described, their direct participation in the differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) remains unclear. In this work, the direct role of nitric oxide (NO(•)), a RNS, in the modulation of hematopoiesis was investigated using two sources of NO(•) , one produced by endothelial cells stimulated with carbachol in vitro and another using the NO(•)-donor S-nitroso-N-acetyl-D,L-penicillamine (SNAP) in vivo. Two main NO(•) effects were observed: proliferation of HSCs-especially of the short-term HSCs-and its commitment and terminal differentiation to the myeloid lineage. NO(•)-induced proliferation was characterized by the increase in the number of cycling HSCs and hematopoietic progenitor cells positive to BrdU and Ki-67, upregulation of Notch-1, Cx43, PECAM-1, CaR, ERK1/2, Akt, p38, PKC, and c-Myc. NO(•)-induced HSCs differentiation was characterized by the increase in granulocytic-macrophage progenitors, granulocyte-macrophage colony forming units, mature myeloid cells, upregulation of PU.1, and C/EBPα genes concomitantly to the downregulation of GATA-3 and Ikz-3 genes, activation of Stat5 and downregulation of the other analyzed proteins mentioned above. Also, redox status modulation differed between proliferation and differentiation responses, which is likely associated with the transition of the proliferative to differentiation status. Our findings provide evidence of the role of NO(•) in inducing HSCs proliferation and myeloid differentiation involving multiple signaling.

Allopurinol prevents nitroglycerin-induced tolerance in rat thoracic aorta

Xanthine oxidase is an important source of reactive oxygen species; so, it may play a role in the pathogenesis of endothelium dysfunction and its consequences. Allopurinol, a purine analog, is a famous xanthine oxidase inhibitor. This study aimed to investigate possible effects of allopurinol on nitroglycerin tolerance, vasoconstriction, and vasorelaxation in rat aortic ring. Using thoracic aortic rings obtained from male Wistar rats, the effect of allopurinol was examined on nitroglycerin-induced tolerance. In addition, changes of vasoconstriction (by using KCl and phenylephrine) and vasorelaxation (by using carbachol, sodium nitroprusside, and nitroglycerin) were also measured and compared between tissues treated with and without allopurinol. All 3 concentrations of allopurinol (50, 100, and 150 μM) significantly acted against the development of nitroglycerin-induced tolerance in comparison with controls. In terms of vasoconstriction and vasorelaxation, the effect of allopurinol was significant only on carbachol-induced (endothelium related) vasorelaxation in a dose-dependent manner. In conclusion, although allopurinol had no significant effect on the contractile response of the aorta, in accord with the previous data, it significantly intensified endothelium-dependent vasodilation. The inhibitory effect of allopurinol against the development of nitrate-induced tolerance may suggest its clinical benefit and is worth to be studied more extensively.

Angiotensin type 1 receptor is linked to inhibition of nitric oxide production in pulmonary endothelial cells

We previously demonstrated that angiotensin II (Ang II) stimulates an increase in nitric oxide synthase (NOS) mRNA levels, eNOS protein expression and NO production via the type 2 (AT2) receptor, whereas signaling via the type 1 (AT1) receptor negatively regulates NO production in bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells (BPAECs). In the present study, we investigated the components of the AT1 receptor-linked signaling pathway(s) that are involved in the downregulation of eNOS protein expression in BPAECs. Treatment of BPAECs with either AT1 receptor antagonists or an anti-AT1 receptor antibody induced eNOS protein expression. Furthermore, intracellular delivery of GP-Antagonist-2A, an inhibitor of Galphaq proteins, and treatment of BPAECs with U73122, a phosphatidylinositol-phospholipase C (PLC)-specific inhibitor, enhanced eNOS protein expression. Treatment of BPAECs with the cell-permeable calcium chelator, BAPTA/AM, increased eNOS protein expression at 8 h, while increasing intracellular calcium with either thapsigargin or A23187 prevented Ang II-induced eNOS protein expression. Phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), a protein kinase C (PKC) activator, completely prevented Ang II-stimulated eNOS protein expression at 8 h, whereas depletion of PKC by long-term treatment with PMA, induced eNOS protein expression. Treatment of BPAECs with a PKCalpha-specific inhibitor or transfection of BPAECs with an anti-PKCalpha neutralizing antibody stimulated eNOS protein expression. Conversely, rottlerin, a PKCdelta specific isoform inhibitor had no effect on basal or Ang II-stimulated eNOS protein expression. Moreover, treatment of BPAECs with U73122, BAPTA/AM and PKCalpha-specific inhibitors increased NO production at 8 h. In conclusion, Ang II downregulates eNOS protein expression via an AT1 receptor-linked pathway involving Galphaq/PLC/calcium/PKCalpha signaling pathway in BPAECs.

Shiga toxin enhances functional tissue factor on human glomerular endothelial cells: implications for the pathophysiology of hemolytic uremic syndrome

BACKGROUND

The pathogenesis of Shiga toxin (Stx)-mediated childhood hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is not fully delineated, although current evidence implicates a prothrombotic state. We hypothesized that the tissue factor (TF) pathway plays a major role in the pathophysiology of HUS.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We measured cell surface TF activity in response to tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) (20 ng mL(-1), 2-144 h), Stx-1 (10(-11) mol L(-1), 4-144 h), or their combination (TNF-alpha 22 h and Stx-1 for the last 0.5-4 h of TNF-alpha incubation) on human glomerular (microvascular) endothelial cells (HGECs) and human umbilical vein (macrovascular) endothelial cells (HUVECs).

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

We observed that while TNF-alpha caused an increase in cell surface TF activity on both cell types, the combination of TNF-alpha and Stx-1 differentially affected HGECs. On these cells, TF activity was increased further by 2.67 +/- 0.38-fold (n = 38, P < 0.001), consistent with our parallel observation that Stx-1 binds to HGECs but not to HUVECs. Anti-TF antibody abolished functional TF while anti-tissue factor pathway inhibitor antibody enhanced TF activity. Stx-1 alone did not induce TF activity on either cell type. Measurement of TF antigen levels and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction demonstrated that exposure to TNF-alpha markedly increased TF protein and TF mRNA for HGECs, but the exposure to the combination of TNF-alpha and Stx-1 did not increase further the amount of either TF protein or TF mRNA. We conclude that cytokine-activated HGECs, but not HUVECs, undergo a significant augmentation of cell surface TF activity following exposure to Stx, suggesting an important role for TF in the coagulopathy observed in HUS.