Comparison of the Effects of Mitochondria-Targeted Antioxidant 10-(6'-Plastoquinonyl)Decyltriphenylphosphonium Bromide (SkQ1) and a Fragment of its Molecule Dodecyltriphenylphosphonium on Carrageenan-Induced Acute Inflammation in Mouse Model of Subcuteneous Air Pouch

The effect of mitochondria-targeted antioxidant 10-(6'-plastoquinonyl) decyltriphenylphosphonium bromide (SkQ1) and its fragment dodecyltriphenylphosphonium (C12TPP), weak uncouplers of respiration and oxidative phosphorylation, was studied using a mouse model of carrageenan-induced acute inflammation in the subcutaneous air pouch. In our model, SkQ1 demonstrated a strong anti-inflammatory effect that manifested in a decrease in the absolute number of inflammatory cells, mainly neutrophils, and their relative number in parallel with an increase in macrophages and mast cell content in the inflammatory exudate. The concentration of proinflammatory cytokine IL-6 in the exudate also tended to decrease. C12TPP produced no significant effect on the inflammation process.

A Cytofluorometric Study of Membrane Rafts in Human Monocyte Subsets in Atherosclerosis

The peripheral blood monocytes of atherosclerotic patients are pre-activated and have some of the features of tissue macrophages. Their adhesion to the endothelium is 1.5 times higher than that of monocytes from healthy subjects, and they express a number of receptors and antigens typical of tissue macrophages. Additionally, earlier we showed that the biosynthesis of gangliosides, whose main function is the formation of membrane rafts, is significantly activated in blood monocytes from atherosclerotic patients, as well as during the in vitro differentiation of normal monocytes into macrophages. In this study, we investigated the expression of membrane rafts on various monocyte subsets from healthy subjects and atherosclerotic patients. Based on flow cytometry results, the monocytes in the examined atherosclerotic patients were found to differ from those in healthy subjects by a twofold increase in the proportion of the intermediate subset (CD14 ++/CD16 +) and by enhancement in the expression of the fractalkine receptor CX3CR1 on the intermediate and non-classical subsets (CD14 ++/CD16 + and CD14 +/CD16 ++) (2.3 and 1.8 times, respectively). This suggests a pre-activated state of monocytes in atherosclerotic patients. At the same time, the expression of the membrane raft marker on the monocyte subsets was similar in both studied groups. However, a study of the in vitro differentiation of monocytes into macrophages showed that the membrane raft expression increased 2 times as early as on the 1st day of culturing and 3 times on the 7th day compared to that in freshly isolated monocytes. Therefore, it is suggested that monocytes in atherosclerosis accumulate gangliosides that are used to form membrane rafts during the macrophage differentiation after the migration of monocytes into the arterial intima.

A cytofluorometric study of membrane rafts in human monocyte subsets in atherosclerosis

The peripheral blood monocytes of atherosclerotic patients are pre-activated and have some of the features of tissue macrophages. Their adhesion to the endothelium is 1.5 times higher than that of monocytes from healthy subjects, and they express a number of receptors and antigens typical of tissue macrophages. Additionally, earlier we showed that the biosynthesis of gangliosides, whose main function is the formation of membrane rafts, is significantly activated in blood monocytes from atherosclerotic patients, as well as during the in vitro differentiation of normal monocytes into macrophages. In this study, we investigated the expression of membrane rafts on various monocyte subsets from healthy subjects and atherosclerotic patients. Based on flow cytometry results, the monocytes in the examined atherosclerotic patients were found to differ from those in healthy subjects by a twofold increase in the proportion of the intermediate subset (CD14(++)/CD16(+)) and by enhancement in the expression of the fractalkine receptor CX3CR1 on the intermediate and non-classical subsets (CD14(++)/CD16(+) and CD14(+)/CD16(++)) (2.3 and 1.8 times, respectively). This suggests a pre-activated state of monocytes in atherosclerotic patients. At the same time, the expression of the membrane raft marker on the monocyte subsets was similar in both studied groups. However, a study of the in vitro differentiation of monocytes into macrophages showed that the membrane raft expression increased 2 times as early as on the 1st day of culturing and 3 times on the 7th day compared to that in freshly isolated monocytes. Therefore, it is suggested that monocytes in atherosclerosis accumulate gangliosides that are used to form membrane rafts during the macrophage differentiation after the migration of monocytes into the arterial intima.

Effects of transforming growth factor-beta(1)on proliferation of smooth muscle cells in human aortic intima and human promonocytic leukemia THP-1 cells

We studied the effects of transforming growth factor on proliferation of cultured smooth muscle cells from human aortic intima and proliferation and differentiation of human leukemia THP-1 promonocytes. Transforming growth factor inhibited proliferation of these cells, but stimulated differentiation of THP-1 cells. Therefore, transforming growth factor probably modulates proliferation and differentiation of smooth muscle cells and monocytes/macrophages involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic damages.

Early and delayed tolerance to simulated ischemia in heat-preconditioned endothelial cells: a role for HSP27

An ischemia-mimicking metabolic stress in cultured endothelial cells from the human aorta or umbilical vein caused ATP depletion, a rise in cytosolic free Ca2+, fragmentation and aggregation of actin microfilaments, retraction of the cytoplasm, and disintegration of cell monolayer. Simultaneously, the constitutive heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) underwent dephosphorylation and formed granules inside cell nuclei. Prior heat shock (45 degreesC, 10 min) in confluent cultures conferred two phases (early and delayed) of tolerance to simulated ischemia. Although heat preconditioning did not retard the ATP drop and the free Ca2+ overload within ischemia-stressed cells, each phase of the tolerance was manifested in longer preservation of normal cell morphology during the stress. Cells exhibiting the early tolerance within 3 h after heating altered the F-actin response to ischemic stress; no microfilament debris but, instead, translocation of F-actin to the tight submembranous layer was observed. In contrast, the delayed cytoprotection preserved the preexisting F-actin bundles under simulated ischemia; this happened only after 12- to 14-h post-heat shock recovery, elevating the intracellular HSP content, and was sensitive to blockers of HSP synthesis, cycloheximide and quercetin. The dephosphorylation and intranuclear granulation of HSP27 were markedly suppressed in both phases of the heat-induced tolerance. Without heat pretreatment, similar attenuation of the HSP27 dephosphorylation/granulation and the actin cytoskeleton stability during simulated ischemia were achieved by treating cells with the protein phosphatase inhibitors cantharidin or sodium orthovanadate. We suggest that prior heat shock ameliorates the F-actin response to ischemic stress by suppressing the HSP27 dephosphorylation/granulation; this prolongs a sojourn in the cytosol of phosphorylated HSP27, which protects microfilaments from the disruption and aggregation.

Distinct effects of heat shock and ATP depletion on distribution and isoform patterns of human Hsp27 in endothelial cells

To study the cytoprotective capacity of Hsp27 under various cellular stresses, we compared the effects of heating and energy deprivation on its distribution and isoform composition. Cultured endothelial cells from human aorta or umbilical vein were subjected to heat shock (45 degrees C) and ATP-depleting metabolic stress (CCCP or rotenone in a glucose-free medium). Both exposures led to the translocation of Hsp27 into the Triton X-100-insoluble cellular fraction, whereas the immunofluorescent Hsp27 pattern was characteristic for each stress employed. Heating (5-30 min) caused unexpected association of Hsp27 with thick bundles of actin microfilaments (stress fibers). ATP depletion within 30-120 min resulted in the appearance of Hsp27-containing compact granules in the nucleus. The insolubilization and relocalization of Hsp27 were reversible in both cases. The stress-induced shifts in the Hsp27 isoform spectrum indicate an increase in phosphorylation of Hsp27 in heat-shocked cells and its dephosphorylation in ATP-depleted cells. We suggest that these stresses diversely affect the phosphorylation status of endothelial Hsp27, thus altering its localization, supramolecular organization and functional activity toward actin.