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Abstract
The aim of this study is to propose an integrated Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) and Weighted Additive Fuzzy Goal Programming (WAFGP) method for the selection of information system projects that can use all types of linear membership functions and offer more flexibility. The proposed methodology includes three steps. First, an expert team was formed to identify the decision criteria and build a hierarchical model for the information system project selection. Then, the AHP was used to estimate the relative weights of the criteria. Finally, a WAFGP model was formulated and used to select the projects. A hypothetical example is given to show how to use this methodology and its advantages. In comparison to other approaches, the AHP-WAFGP hybrid model gives better support for information system project selection by selecting projects that make the best use of available resources and better satisfy the decision goals. Furthermore, the sensitivity analysis reveals that the proposed model is robust, adaptable, and not sensitive to small changes. Nevertheless, the proposed methodology does not include interdependencies among criteria and alternatives.
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Hasham MG, Baxan N, Stuckey DJ, Branca J, Perkins B, Dent O, Duffy T, Hameed TS, Stella SE, Bellahcene M, Schneider MD, Harding SE, Rosenthal N, Sattler S. Systemic autoimmunity induced by the TLR7/8 agonist Resiquimod causes myocarditis and dilated cardiomyopathy in a new mouse model of autoimmune heart disease. Dis Model Mech 2017; 10:259-270. [PMID: 28250051 PMCID: PMC5374321 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.027409] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2016] [Accepted: 01/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Systemic autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA) show significant heart involvement and cardiovascular morbidity, which can be due to systemically increased levels of inflammation or direct autoreactivity targeting cardiac tissue. Despite high clinical relevance, cardiac damage secondary to systemic autoimmunity lacks inducible rodent models. Here, we characterise immune-mediated cardiac tissue damage in a new model of SLE induced by topical application of the Toll-like receptor 7/8 (TLR7/8) agonist Resiquimod. We observe a cardiac phenotype reminiscent of autoimmune-mediated dilated cardiomyopathy, and identify auto-antibodies as major contributors to cardiac tissue damage. Resiquimod-induced heart disease is a highly relevant mouse model for mechanistic and therapeutic studies aiming to protect the heart during autoimmunity. Summary: A novel mouse model of autoimmune-mediated heart damage to study the underlying mechanisms and test therapeutic options for systemic autoimmunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muneer G Hasham
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA
| | - Nicoleta Baxan
- Biological Imaging Centre, Department of Medicine, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Daniel J Stuckey
- Centre for Advanced Biomedical Imaging, Division of Medicine, University College London, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Jane Branca
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA
| | - Bryant Perkins
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA
| | - Oliver Dent
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Ted Duffy
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA
| | - Tolani S Hameed
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Sarah E Stella
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Mohammed Bellahcene
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Michael D Schneider
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Sian E Harding
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Nadia Rosenthal
- The Jackson Laboratory, 600 Main Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609, USA.,National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Susanne Sattler
- National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
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Cahill TJ, Leo V, Kelly M, Stockenhuber A, Kennedy NW, Bao L, Cereghetti GM, Harper AR, Czibik G, Liao C, Bellahcene M, Steeples V, Ghaffari S, Yavari A, Mayer A, Poulton J, Ferguson DJP, Scorrano L, Hettiarachchi NT, Peers C, Boyle J, Hill RB, Simmons A, Watkins H, Dear TN, Ashrafian H. Resistance of dynamin-related protein 1 oligomers to disassembly impairs mitophagy, resulting in myocardial inflammation and heart failure. J Biol Chem 2016; 291:25762. [PMID: 27913663 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.a115.665695] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
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Lawrence KM, Kabir AMN, Bellahcene M, Davidson S, Cao XB, McCormick J, Mesquita RA, Carroll CJ, Chanalaris A, Townsend PA, Hubank M, Stephanou A, Knight RA, Marber MS, Latchman DS. Cardioprotection mediated by urocortin is dependent upon PKCε activation. FASEB J 2005; 19:831-3. [PMID: 15764590 DOI: 10.1096/fj.04-2506fje] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
Urocortin (Ucn) is an endogenous cardioprotective agent that protects against the damaging effects of ischemia and reperfusion injury in vitro and in vivo. We have found that the mechanism of action of Ucn involves both acute activation of specific target molecules, and using Affymetrix (Santa Clara, CA) gene chip technology, altered gene expression of different end effector molecules. Here, from our gene chip data, we show that after a 24 h exposure to Ucn, there was a specific increase in mRNA and protein levels of the protein kinase C epsilon (PKCepsilon) isozyme in primary rat cardiomyocytes compared with untreated cells and in the Langendorff perfused ex vivo heart. Furthermore, a short 10 min exposure of these cells to Ucn caused a specific translocation/activation of PKCepsilon in vitro and in the Langendorff perfused ex vivo heart. The importance of the PKCepsilon isozyme in cardioprotection and its relationship to cardioprotection produced by Ucn was assessed using PKCepsilon-specific inhibitor peptides. The inhibitor peptide, when introduced into cardiomyocytes, caused an increase in apoptotic cell death compared with control peptide after ischemia and reperfusion. When the inhibitor peptide was present with Ucn, the cardioprotective effect of Ucn was lost. This loss of cardioprotection by Ucn was also seen in whole hearts from PKCepsilon knockout mice. These findings indicate that the cardioprotective effect of Ucn is dependent upon PKCepsilon.
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Affiliation(s)
- K M Lawrence
- Medical Molecular Biology Unit, Institute of Child Health, University College, London, UK.
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Zaugg CE, Spaniol M, Kaufmann P, Bellahcene M, Barbosa V, Tolnay M, Buser PT, Krähenbühl S. Myocardial function and energy metabolism in carnitine-deficient rats. Cell Mol Life Sci 2003; 60:767-75. [PMID: 12785723 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-003-3011-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Carnitine is essential for mitochondrial metabolism of long-chain fatty acids and thus for myocardial energy production. Accordingly, carnitine deficiency can be associated with cardiomyopathy. To better understand this disease, we determined myocardial function and energy metabolism in a rat model of carnitine deficiency. Carnitine deficiency was induced by a 3- or 6-week diet containing N-trimethyl-hydrazine-3-propionate, reducing cardiac and plasma carnitine by 70-85%. Myocardial function was investigated in isolated isovolumic heart preparations. Carnitine-deficient hearts showed left ventricular systolic dysfunction, reduced contractile reserve, and a blunted frequency-force relationship independently of the substrate used (glucose or palmitate). After glycogen depletion, palmitate could not sustain myocardial function. Histology and activities of carnitine palmitoyl transferase, citrate synthase, and cytochrome c oxidase were unaltered. Thus, as little as 3-6 weeks of systemic carnitine deficiency can lead to abnormalities in myocardial function. These abnormalities are masked by endogenous glycogen and are not accompanied by structural alterations of the myocardium or by altered activities of important mitochondrial enzymes.
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Affiliation(s)
- C E Zaugg
- Department of Research, University Hospital, Hebelstrasse 20, 4031 Basel, Switzerland.
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Abstract
Although protein kinase C (PKC) is a key enzyme in the signal transduction process, there is little information on the mechanism leading to PKC activation in living cells. Using a new fluorescence imaging method, we studied this mechanism and correlated PKC conformational changes with intracellular Ca2+ concentration. PC12 cells were simultaneously loaded with Fura-2-AM and Fim-1, two fluorescent probes, which recognize Ca2+ and PKC, respectively. KCl and carbachol (an agonist to muscarinic receptors) applications induced dose-dependent increases of fluorescence for both probes. Both Ca2+ and PKC responses were observed within seconds following KCl or carbachol application, and were reversible upon stimulus withdrawal. PKC activation kinetics was slightly more rapid than the Ca2+ response after KCl application. After nerve growth factor (NGF) treatment of the cells, the amplitude of the KCl-induced PKC responses was larger indicating an increase in the activated PKC-pool in these cells. This difference between control and NGF-treated cells was not observed following carbachol application, suggesting the involvement of different PKC pools. While the Ca2+ response uniformly occurred in the cytosol, the PKC response displayed a patch pattern with higher intensities in the peripheral zone near the plasma membrane. This heterogeneous distribution of PKC activation sites was similar to the immunocytological localization of Ca2+-dependent and independent PKC isoforms, which suggested that at least several PKC isoforms interacted with intracellular elements. Upon repeated stimulation, the PKC response rapidly desensitized.
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Affiliation(s)
- J L Dupont
- Laboratoire de Neurobiologie Cellulaire, UPR 9009 CNRS, 5 rue B. Pascal, F-67084 Strasbourg Cedex, France
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