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1.
PLoS One ; 18(8): e0286871, 2023.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37643172

ABSTRACT

The COVID-19 pandemic has created an urgency to study the host gene response that leads to variable clinical presentations of the disease, particularly the critical illness response. miRNAs have been implicated in the mechanism of host immune dysregulation and thus hold potential as biomarkers and/or therapeutic agents with clinical application. Hence, further analyses of their altered expression in COVID-19 is warranted. An important basis for this is identifying appropriate reference genes for high quality expression analysis studies. In the current report, NanoString technology was used to study the expression of 798 miRNAs in the peripheral blood of 24 critically ill patients, 12 had COVID-19 and 12 were COVID-19 negative. A list of potentially stable candidate reference genes was generated that included ten miRNAs. The top six were analyzed using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) in a total of 41 patients so as to apply standard computational algorithms for validating reference genes, namely geNorm, NormFinder, BestKeeper and RefFinder. There was general agreement among all four algorithms in the ranking of four stable miRNAs: miR-186-5p, miR-148b-3p, miR-194-5p and miR-448. A detailed analysis of their output rankings led to the conclusion that miR-186-5p and miR-148b-3p are appropriate reference genes for miRNA expression studies using PaxGene tubes in the peripheral blood of patients critically ill with COVID-19 disease.


Subject(s)
COVID-19 , MicroRNAs , Humans , MicroRNAs/genetics , Critical Illness , Reverse Transcription , Pandemics , COVID-19/genetics , Polymerase Chain Reaction , COVID-19 Testing
2.
Biomolecules ; 13(6)2023 06 07.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-37371535

ABSTRACT

Asthma is a heterogeneous disease, characterized by chronic inflammation and oxidative stress of the airways. Several inflammatory pathways including activation of the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) have been described in the course of the disease. DJ-1 is a redox-sensitive protein with multifaceted roles in mast cell homeostasis and an emerging role in the pathogenesis of asthma. Moreover, cardiac function abnormalities have been described via echocardiography in patients with asthma. The main aim of this study was to investigate the plasma levels of RAGE, its ligands and DJ-1 in asthmatic patients pre- and post-treatment along with echocardiographic indices of cardiovascular function. The study population was divided into two groups. Group A included 13 patients with newly diagnosed bronchial asthma who were free of treatment for at least two weeks and Group B included 12 patients without asthma. An echocardiography examination was performed on all patients. The plasma levels of RAGE, its ligands (AGEs, S100A12, S100B, S100A8/A9), the interleukins (IL-6, IL-1ß) and DJ-1 were measured. No differences were noted among the two groups for baseline characteristics and echocardiographic indices of cardiac function. In Group A, 31% suffered from mild asthma, 54% from moderate asthma and 15% from severe asthma. Plasma levels of IL-6, AGEs and AGE/RAGE ratio were increased and those of S100A12 and DJ-1 were decreased in asthmatics. Pharmacotherapy with corticosteroids/ß2-agonists decreased IL-6, and AGEs, and increased DJ-1. In search of novel approaches in diagnosing and treating patients with asthma, S100A12, ratio AGE/sRAGE, and DJ-1 in addition to IL-6 may prove to be useful tools.


Subject(s)
Asthma , S100A12 Protein , Humans , Ligands , Interleukin-6 , Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products , Glycation End Products, Advanced , Asthma/diagnostic imaging , Asthma/drug therapy , Echocardiography
3.
Antioxidants (Basel) ; 12(3)2023 Feb 24.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36978809

ABSTRACT

Oxidative stress is considered one of the early underlying contributors of sepsis-induced myocardial depression. DJ-1, also known as PARK7, has a well-established role as an antioxidant. We have previously shown, in a clinically relevant model of polymicrobial sepsis, DJ-1 deficiency improved survival and bacterial clearance by decreasing ROS production. In the present study, we investigated the role of DJ-1 in sepsis-induced myocardial depression. Here we compared wildtype (WT) with DJ-1 deficient mice at 24 and 48 h after cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). In WT mice, DJ-1 was increased in the myocardium post-CLP. DJ-1 deficient mice, despite enhanced inflammatory and oxidative responses, had an attenuated hypertrophic phenotype, less apoptosis, improved mitochondrial function, and autophagy, that was associated with preservation of myocardial function and improved survival compared to WT mice post-CLP. Collectively, these results identify DJ-1 as a regulator of myocardial function and as such, makes it an attractive therapeutic target in the treatment of early sepsis-induced myocardial depression.

4.
Int J Cardiol ; 376: 127-133, 2023 04 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-36758863

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The multi-ligand receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) and its ligands AGEs and S100/calgranulin proteins are important mediators of inflammation and oxidative stress whereas the soluble form of RAGE (sRAGE) by acting as a decoy and the antioxidant PARK7/DJ-1 exert antiatherogenic effects. We examined whether sRAGE and its ligands AGEs, S100A8/A9, S100B, S100A12 and DJ-1 are associated with the presence of angiographic coronary artery disease (CAD) in asymptomatic patients with and without diabetes. METHODS AND RESULTS: Plasma levels of RAGE ligands, sRAGE and DJ-1 were determined in 50 patients with angiographically proven CAD and in 50 age-matched healthy controls. In the whole cohort, lower levels of sRAGE and higher levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), the RAGE ligands S100B, S100A12 and the AGEs/sRAGE ratio were associated with CAD. In patients without diabetes (n = 72), lower levels of sRAGE and DJ-1 and higher levels of IL-6 and AGEs/sRAGE ratio were associated with CAD. In multivariable analysis, AGEs/sRAGE ratio was an independent predictor of CAD both in the whole cohort (p = 0.034, OR = 1.247, [95%CI: 1.024, 1.0519]) and in the subgroup of patients without diabetes (p = 0.021, OR = 1.363, 95%CI [1.048, 1.771]) on top of established cardiovascular risk factors. CONCLUSION: Alterations in plasma RAGE axis inflammatory mediators are associated with atherosclerosis, and higher levels of AGEs/sRAGE ratio are independently associated with CAD in asymptomatic patients and may act as a novel biomarker for predicting CAD. DJ-1 emerges as promising marker of oxidative stress in CAD patients without diabetes, a finding that deserves further study.


Subject(s)
Coronary Artery Disease , Diabetes Mellitus , Humans , S100A12 Protein , Ligands , Interleukin-6 , Inflammation , S100 Proteins , Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products , Biomarkers , Glycation End Products, Advanced , Oxidative Stress
5.
Biomolecules ; 14(1)2023 Dec 21.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38275751

ABSTRACT

Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is defined as abnormal dilation of a coronary artery with a diameter exceeding that of adjacent normal arterial segment by >1.5 times. CAE is a pathological entity of the coronary arteries and characterized as a variant of coronary atherosclerosis. CAE frequently coexists with coronary artery disease (CAD). While inflammation appears to be involved, the pathophysiology of CAE remains unclear. Damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), defined as endogenous molecules released from stressed or damaged tissue, are deemed as alarm signals by the innate immune system. Inflammatory agents can generate DAMPs and DAMPs can create a pro-inflammatory state. In a prospective cross-sectional study, we enrolled 29 patients with CAE and non-obstructive CAD, 19 patients with obstructive CAD without CAE, and 14 control subjects with normal (control) coronary arteries age- and sex-matched with the CAE patients, to investigate the differential expression of plasma DAMPs. Patients with CAE and non-obstructive CAD had increased plasma levels of the DAMPs S100B, S100A12, HMGB1, and HSP70, the DAMPs receptor TLR4, and miR328a-3p compared to CAD and controls. Plasma levels of the mir328a-3p target the protective soluble form of the DAMPs receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE), and the antioxidant DJ-1 was decreased in both CAE and CAD compared to controls. In an in vitro human umbilical vein endothelial cells model, circulating levels of S100B, HMGB1, HSP70 as well as CAE patient plasma induced inflammatory responses. The differential expression of the DAMPs S100B, HSP70, HMGB1, and their receptors TLR4 and sRAGE in CAE versus CAD makes them attractive novel biomarkers as therapeutic targets and therapeutics.


Subject(s)
Coronary Artery Disease , HMGB1 Protein , Humans , HMGB1 Protein/genetics , Dilatation, Pathologic , Coronary Angiography , Prospective Studies , Cross-Sectional Studies , Endothelial Cells/pathology , Toll-Like Receptor 4/genetics , Alarmins
6.
J Psychiatr Res ; 146: 109-117, 2022 02.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34971908

ABSTRACT

Among different proposed pathophysiological mechanisms, redox imbalance has been suggested to be a potential contributor in the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. DJ-1 is a redox-sensitive protein that has been shown to have neuroprotective function in the brain in Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases. However, a role for DJ-1 in schizophrenia is unknown. Bioinformatic analysis suggested that microRNA (miR)-203a-3p could target the 3' untranslated region (UTR) of DJ-1. In whole blood and blood-derived exosomes of 11 first episode antipsychotic naïve schizophrenia patients, DJ-1 protein and mRNA demonstrated decreased DJ-1 mRNA and protein and increased miR203a-3p levels compared to healthy controls. In whole blood, antipsychotic monotherapy with olanzapine for 6 weeks increased DJ-1 and attenuated miR203a-3p levels, whereas in blood derived exosomes, olanzapine returned DJ-1 and miR203a-3p to levels seen healthy controls. Consistent with this finding, we showed that human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVACs) transfected with a DJ-1-3' UTR luciferase reporter construct displayed reduced gene expression when subjected to the oxidative stressor H2O2. Transfection of a miR203a-3p mimic into HUVACs reduced DJ-1-3 'UTR reporter gene expression, while transfection of an anti miR-203a-3p prevented the H2O2-induced downregulation of the reporter gene. We conclude that miR-203a-3p is an essential mediator of oxidative stress in schizophrenia via its ability to target the 3' UTR of DJ-1 and antipsychotic monotherapy restores DJ-1 antioxidant levels by regulating miR203a-3p expression. miR-203a-3p and DJ-1 might represent attractive targets for the treatment of pathologies such as schizophrenia that has underlying oxidative stress.


Subject(s)
MicroRNAs , Olanzapine/therapeutic use , Protein Deglycase DJ-1/blood , Schizophrenia , Endothelial Cells/metabolism , Endothelial Cells/pathology , Humans , Hydrogen Peroxide , Longitudinal Studies , MicroRNAs/blood , Schizophrenia/drug therapy , Schizophrenia/genetics
7.
Biomolecules ; 11(9)2021 09 13.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34572568

ABSTRACT

Apart from its beneficial effects on cardiovascular risk factors, an anti-inflammatory effect of exercise is strongly implicated. Yet, data regarding the effect of an exercise intervention on healthy individuals are limited and contradictory. The present study aimed to investigate the effects of a physical activity intervention on the soluble form of the receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGEs) and its ligands S100A8/A9. A total of 332 young army recruits volunteered and 169 completed the study. The participants underwent the standard basic training of Greek army recruits. IL-6, IL-1ß, S100A8/A9, and sRAGEs were measured at the beginning and at the end of the training period. Primary rodent adult aortic smooth muscle cells (ASMCs) were analyzed for responsiveness to direct stimulation with S100A8/A9 alone or in combination with sRAGEs. At the end of the training period, we observed a statistically significant reduction in S100A8/A9 (630.98 vs. 472.12 ng/mL, p = 0.001), IL-1ß (9.39 [3.8, 44.14] vs. 5.03 [2.44, 27.3] vs. pg/mL, p = 0.001), and sRAGEs (398.38 vs. 220.1 pg/mL, p = 0.001). IL-6 values did not change significantly after exercise. S100A8/A9 reduction was positively correlated with body weight (r = 0.236 [0.095, 0.370], p = 0.002) and BMI (r = 0.221 [0.092, 0.346], p = 0.004). Direct stimulation of ASMCs with S100A8/A9 increased the expression of IL-6, IL-1ß, and TNF-α and, in the presence of sRAGEs, demonstrated a dose-dependent inhibition. A 4-week military training resulted in significant reduction in the pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-1ß and S100A8/A9 complex. The observed reduction in sRAGEs may possibly reflect diminished RAGE axis activation. Altogether, our findings support the anti-inflammatory properties of physical activity.


Subject(s)
Calgranulin A/blood , Calgranulin B/blood , Exercise/physiology , Military Personnel , Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products/blood , Animals , Humans , Ligands , Male , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Solubility , Young Adult
8.
Molecules ; 26(13)2021 Jun 22.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-34206441

ABSTRACT

DJ-1 was originally identified as an oncogene product while mutations of the gene encoding DJ-1/PARK7 were later associated with a recessive form of Parkinson's disease. Its ubiquitous expression and diversity of function suggest that DJ-1 is also involved in mechanisms outside the central nervous system. In the last decade, the contribution of DJ-1 to the protection from ischemia-reperfusion injury has been recognized and its involvement in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease is attracting increasing attention. This review describes the current and gaps in our knowledge of DJ-1, focusing on its role in regulating cardiovascular function. In parallel, we present original data showing an association between increased DJ-1 expression and antiapoptotic and anti-inflammatory markers following cardiac and vascular surgical procedures. Future studies should address DJ-1's role as a plausible novel therapeutic target for cardiovascular disease.


Subject(s)
Heart/physiopathology , Myocardial Reperfusion Injury , Myocardium , Protein Deglycase DJ-1/metabolism , Animals , Biomarkers/metabolism , Humans , Inflammation/metabolism , Inflammation/pathology , Inflammation/physiopathology , Myocardial Reperfusion Injury/metabolism , Myocardial Reperfusion Injury/pathology , Myocardial Reperfusion Injury/physiopathology , Myocardium/metabolism , Myocardium/pathology
9.
Molecules ; 25(22)2020 Nov 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-33182705

ABSTRACT

We determined whether plasma concentrations of the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) and the soluble (s) form of RAGE (sRAGE) in healthy individuals and patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D) modulate vascular remodeling. Healthy individuals and patients with T2D were divided into two age groups: young = <35 years old or middle-aged (36-64 years old) and stratified based on normal glucose tolerance (NGT), impaired (IGT), and T2D. Plasma titers of sRAGE, the RAGE ligands, AGEs, S100B, S100A1, S100A6, and the apoptotic marker Fas ligand Fas(L) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The apoptotic potential of the above RAGE ligands and sRAGE were assessed in cultured adult rat aortic smooth muscle cells (ASMC). In NGT individuals, aging increased the circulating levels of AGEs and S100B and decreased sRAGE, S100A1 and S100A6. Middle-aged patients with T2D presented higher levels of circulating S100B, AGEs and FasL, but lower levels of sRAGE, S100A1 and S100A6 than individuals with NGT or IGT. Treatment of ASMC with either AGEs or S100B at concentrations detected in T2D patients increased markers of inflammation and apoptosis. Responses attenuated by concomitant administration of sRAGE. In middle-aged patients with T2D, lower circulating plasma levels of sRAGE may limit decoy and exogenous trapping of deleterious pro-apoptotic/pro-inflammatory RAGE ligands AGEs and S100B, increasing the risk for diabetic complications.


Subject(s)
Apoptosis , Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/blood , Ligands , Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products/blood , Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products/chemistry , Adult , Age Factors , Aged , Animals , Anthropometry , Cell Cycle Proteins/metabolism , Cells, Cultured , Endothelium, Vascular/metabolism , Fas Ligand Protein/metabolism , Female , Glucose Tolerance Test , Humans , Inflammation , Male , Middle Aged , Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/cytology , Myocytes, Smooth Muscle , Rats , S100 Calcium Binding Protein A6/metabolism , S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit/metabolism , S100 Proteins/metabolism , Signal Transduction , fas Receptor/metabolism
10.
J Mol Cell Cardiol ; 121: 25-32, 2018 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29885959

ABSTRACT

Atrial fibrillation (AF) following on-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) is a common condition associated with increased morbidity and mortality. We investigated the possibility that miRs may play a contributory role in postoperative AF and associated apoptosis. A total of 42 patients (31 males and 11 females, mean age 65.0 ±â€¯1.3 years) with sinus rhythm and without a history of AF were prospectively enrolled. We examined the levels of the muscle-specific miRs 1 and 133A and markers of apoptosis including TUNEL staining, caspase-3 activation, Bcl2 and Bax mRNAs in right atrial appendage (RAA) biopsies and blood plasma taken before aortic cross-clamping and after reperfusion. After reperfusion, indices of apoptosis increased the RAA. There was no change in tissue or plasma miR -1 and -133A levels compared to pre CABG. However, in patients who postoperatively developed AF (n = 14, 7 males and 7 females), compared to patients that remained in SR (n = 28, 24 males and 4 females) post CABG, tissue miR-1 increased whereas miR-133A decreased and negatively correlated with RAA apoptosis. Mechanistically, overexpression of miR-133A inhibited hypoxia-induced rat neonatal cardiomyocyte apoptosis and phosphorylated pro-survival Akt, responses abolished by a miR-133A antisense inhibitor oligonucleotide or by pre-treatment with an Akt inhibitor. In postoperative AF, differential regulation of pro- and anti-apoptotic miRs-1 and -133A respectively in the RAA, may contribute to postoperative apoptosis. These results provide new insights into molecular mechanisms of postoperative AF with potential therapeutic implications.


Subject(s)
Atrial Appendage/pathology , Atrial Fibrillation/genetics , MicroRNAs/genetics , Aged , Apoptosis/genetics , Atrial Appendage/metabolism , Atrial Fibrillation/blood , Atrial Fibrillation/etiology , Atrial Fibrillation/pathology , Biopsy , Cardiac Surgical Procedures/adverse effects , Cell Differentiation/genetics , Coronary Artery Bypass/adverse effects , Female , Gene Expression Regulation/genetics , Heart Atria/metabolism , Heart Atria/pathology , Humans , Male , MicroRNAs/blood
11.
J Cardiovasc Pharmacol ; 72(2): 86-96, 2018 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29738368

ABSTRACT

Heat shock proteins (HSPs) play an important role in the cellular adaptation to stress, a requisite for cell survival. The aortic wall appears to be a target for increased expression of HSPs during surgical stress. We aimed to define the expression and function of aortic HSP70 in 31 patients with normal ascending thoracic aortic diameter who underwent aortic valve replacement due to aortic valve stenosis and in 35 patients with dilated ascending thoracic aorta who underwent replacement of an ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm. To elucidate responsible signaling mechanisms we used an in vitro model of rat hypoxic aortic vascular smooth muscle cell (AVSMC) cultures. We demonstrated an increase in AVSMC HSP70 and an attenuation of the apoptotic markers (TUNEL-positive nuclei, caspase-3 activity, Bax/Bcl2 ratio) in aortic wall tissue specimens from both aortic valve stenosis and ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm patients on ß1 blockade with metoprolol. In vitro, metoprolol treatment of hypoxic rat AVSMCs increased nitric oxide (NO) production, induced heat shock factor 1 transport to the nucleus, upregulated HSP70, decreased p53 phosphorylation and attenuated apoptosis. Blockade of NO production, resulted in decreased HSP70 and prevented the metoprolol-induced anti-apoptotic response of hypoxic AVSMCs. We demonstrate an anti-apoptotic effect of metoprolol dependent on NO-induced HSP70 expression, and thus augmentation of HSP70 expression should be considered as a therapeutic approach to limit apoptosis in the human ascending thoracic aorta of patients undergoing cardiac surgery.


Subject(s)
Adrenergic beta-1 Receptor Antagonists/pharmacology , Apoptosis/drug effects , HSP70 Heat-Shock Proteins/metabolism , Metoprolol/pharmacology , Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/drug effects , Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/drug effects , Aged , Animals , Aorta, Thoracic/drug effects , Aorta, Thoracic/metabolism , Aorta, Thoracic/pathology , Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic/metabolism , Aortic Aneurysm, Thoracic/pathology , Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins/metabolism , Case-Control Studies , Cells, Cultured , Female , Heat Shock Transcription Factors/metabolism , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/metabolism , Muscle, Smooth, Vascular/pathology , Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/metabolism , Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/pathology , Nitric Oxide/metabolism , Phosphorylation , Prospective Studies , Rats , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Signal Transduction/drug effects , Tumor Suppressor Protein p53/metabolism
12.
Exp Cell Res ; 365(1): 129-137, 2018 04 01.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29499206

ABSTRACT

The calcium binding protein S100B has been implicated in diabetic neuronal and vascular complications but has not been examined in the development of diabetes. S100B knock out (S100B KO) and wild-type (WT) mice were injected with 40 mg/kg body weight streptozotocin (STZ) for 5 days. Blood and pancreatic tissue samples were obtained to examine islet structure and function, the profile of glucose and insulin and expression of glucose transporter 2 (Glut2), S100B and its receptor, the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE). Primary islet ß-cells cultures from WT mice were used to test the apoptotic potential of S100B. S100B KO mice were resistant to STZ induced-diabetes with lower urine volume, food and water intake compared to WT mice. S100B increased in the WT islet following diabetes but did not co-localize with beta or peri-islet Schwann cells but with CD3 + T lymphocytes. S100B KO mice exhibited enhanced glucose tolerance, insulin sensitivity, prevented ß-cell destruction and functional impairment in response to STZ treatment. S100B deficiency was associated with decreased Glut2 and RAGE. In primary ß-cell cultures from WT mice, S100B induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and RAGE-dependent apoptosis. In the STZ diabetic animal model, abrogation of S100B enhances insulin sensitivity and reduces pancreatic islet, and ß-cell destruction. S100B may be a promising target for pharmacological interventions aimed at repressing diabetes.


Subject(s)
Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/metabolism , S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit/metabolism , Animals , Apoptosis/drug effects , Blood Glucose/drug effects , Blood Glucose/metabolism , Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/chemically induced , Disease Models, Animal , Glucose/metabolism , Glucose Transporter Type 2/metabolism , Insulin/metabolism , Insulin-Secreting Cells/drug effects , Insulin-Secreting Cells/metabolism , Islets of Langerhans/drug effects , Islets of Langerhans/metabolism , Male , Mice , Mice, Knockout , Reactive Oxygen Species/metabolism , Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products/metabolism , Streptozocin/pharmacology , T-Lymphocytes/drug effects , T-Lymphocytes/metabolism
13.
Clin Chem Lab Med ; 52(7): 999-1007, 2014 Jul.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24497226

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: This study addresses the expression of the glycosylated proteins known as advanced glycation end products (AGEs), the calcium binding protein S100B and the apoptotic parameters cytochome c and caspase-3 activity in peripheral lymphocyte cytosolic extracts from a sample of bipolar disorder (BD) patients and healthy (control) subjects. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of 35 patients with a clinical diagnosis of bipolar disease (10 euthymic, 12 depressed, 13 manic) and 10 healthy control subjects. Lymphocytes were used as a surrogate model in BD diagnosis and treatment. AGEs and S100B in lymphocyte cell extracts were measured by commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. RESULTS: AGEs were lower in all BD patients compared to healthy subjects. Depressed patients had approximately two-fold higher S100B levels compared to healthy subjects. Manic and depressed BD patients had increased superoxide dismutase mRNA levels. Apoptosis as measured by BAX/Bcl2 ratio, cytochrome c release, caspase-3 activity was increased in manic and depressed patients compared to healthy subjects. In the depressed patients, S100B levels correlated with cytochrome c release. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, our study shows decreased AGEs and increased S100B levels and caspase down-stream apoptosis in peripheral lymphocytes of BD patients that may underlie disease etiopathogenesis.


Subject(s)
Apoptosis , Bipolar Disorder/blood , Bipolar Disorder/metabolism , Glycation End Products, Advanced/metabolism , Lymphocytes/metabolism , Lymphocytes/pathology , S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit/metabolism , Adult , Aged , Bipolar Disorder/pathology , Female , Glycation End Products, Advanced/analysis , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit/analysis , Young Adult
14.
Curr Pharm Des ; 20(12): 1941-9, 2014.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-23844739

ABSTRACT

S100A6, a 20 kDa, Ca2+ - binding dimer with low basal cardiac expression, is upregulated in the rat heart following infarction and forced expression of S100A6 in rat neonatal cardiac myocyte cultures, inhibited the induction of ß myosin heavy chain (MHC), skeletal α actin (skACT) and myocyte apoptosis in response to diverse stimuli including tumor necrosis factor α. To define a role for S100A6 in vivo, we generated cardiac myocyte-specific transgenic mice by placing the human S100A6 cDNA downstream of a promoter responsive to a doxycycline (DOX)-regulated transcriptional activator (tTA) and breeding this line with one harboring cardiac myocyte-restricted (αMHC) expression of tTA (αMHC-tTA). We compared S100A6-αMHC-tTA mice 35 days post-myocardial infarction (MI) produced by coronary artery ligation with similar matched sham-operated controls on (S100A6 transgene overexpressed) or off (S100A6 transgene silenced) DOX. There were no differences between the sham groups on or off DOX. Thirty five days post-MI, myocardial S100A6 levels increased 12.5-fold in S100A6-α-MHC-tTA mice off DOX compared with S100A6-α-MHC-tTA mice on DOX. Hemodynamic studies, echocardiography and postmortem examination indicated that S100A6-αMHC-tTA mice on DOX 35 days post-MI mounted a hypertrophic response (20-22.5 % increase) accompanied by a program of fetal gene re-expression, fibrosis and myocardial apoptosis. Whereas the S100A6-α-MHC-tTA mice off DOX showed an attenuated myocyte hypertrophic response, less fibrosis and apoptosis which was beneficial to preservation of cardiac function. Therefore, S100A6 is a potential therapeutic target for modulation of adverse left ventricular remodeling in the early post infarct period.


Subject(s)
Apoptosis/physiology , Cell Cycle Proteins/biosynthesis , Gene Expression Regulation , Myocardial Infarction/metabolism , Myocytes, Cardiac/metabolism , S100 Proteins/biosynthesis , Animals , Humans , Hypertrophy/metabolism , Hypertrophy/pathology , Mice , Mice, Transgenic , Myocardial Infarction/pathology , Myocytes, Cardiac/pathology , S100 Calcium Binding Protein A6
15.
J Mol Cell Cardiol ; 52(2): 464-73, 2012 Feb.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-21889514

ABSTRACT

Post-infarct remodeling is associated with the upregulation of the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE), the induction of its ligand the calcium binding protein S100B and the release of the potent endothelial-cell specific mitogen vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). To determine a possible functional interaction between S100B, RAGE and VEGF we stimulated rat neonatal cardiac myocyte cultures transfected with either RAGE or a dominant-negative cytoplasmic deletion mutant of RAGE with S100B for 48 h. Under baseline conditions, cardiac myocytes express low levels of RAGE and VEGF and secrete VEGF in the medium as measured by ELISA. In RAGE overexpressing myocytes, S100B (100 nM) resulted in increases in VEGF mRNA, VEGF protein, VEGF secretion, and activation of the transcription factor NF-κB. Pre-treatment of RAGE overexpressing myocytes with the NF-κB inhibitor caffeic acid phenethyl ester inhibited increases in VEGF mRNA, VEGF protein and VEGF in the medium by S100B. In myocytes expressing dominant-negative RAGE, S100B did not induce VEGF mRNA, VEGF protein, VEGF secretion or NF-κB activation. In culture, rat neonatal and adult cardiac fibroblasts undergo phenotypic transition to myofibroblasts. Treatment of neonatal and adult myofibroblasts with VEGF (10 ng/mL) induces VEGFR-2 (flk-1/KDR) tyrosine kinase phosphorylation, ERK1/2 phosphorylation and myofibroblast proliferation. Together these data demonstrate that secreted VEGF by cardiac myocytes in response to S100B via RAGE ligation induces myofibroblast proliferation potentially contributing to scar formation observed in infarcted myocardium. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled "Local Signaling in Myocytes".


Subject(s)
Myocytes, Cardiac/metabolism , Myofibroblasts/drug effects , Nerve Growth Factors/metabolism , Receptors, Immunologic/metabolism , S100 Proteins/metabolism , Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/metabolism , Animals , Cell Proliferation/drug effects , Fibroblasts/cytology , Fibroblasts/metabolism , Hemodynamics/physiology , Humans , Myocardial Infarction/metabolism , Myocardial Infarction/physiopathology , Myofibroblasts/cytology , NF-kappa B/metabolism , Nerve Growth Factors/blood , Phosphorylation/drug effects , Primary Cell Culture , Rats , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products , Receptors, Immunologic/genetics , S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit , S100 Proteins/blood , Signal Transduction/drug effects , Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/blood , Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A/pharmacology , Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2/metabolism , Ventricular Remodeling
16.
Am J Hypertens ; 22(10): 1048-53, 2009 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-19713945

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: We have previously reported that S100B acts as an intrinsic negative regulator of the myocardial hypertrophic response to norepinephrine (NE). METHODS: To examine the role of S100B in acute and chronic hemodynamic responses to NE stimulation, knockout (KO) mice devoid of the S100B gene, transgenic (TG) mice with forced overexpression of S100B, and control CD1 mice were injected subcutaneously once daily with NE (1.5 mg/kg) or vehicle for 28 days. RESULTS: The acute and chronic hemodynamic responses were not different in CD1 and TG mice. In KO mice, both the chronic and acute increase in blood pressure (BP) in response to NE was attenuated compared with CD1 mice. NE induced ventricular myocyte hypertrophy and smooth muscle proliferation in CD1 mice, responses that were augmented in KO mice. In TG mice, NE did not induce myocyte hypertrophy or smooth muscle cell proliferation. NE treatment of smooth muscle cells derived from KO mice resulted in lower cytosolic calcium concentrations compared to CD1 and TG mice. NE induced S100B in ventricular myocytes and increased S100B in arterial tissues of CD1 and TG mice. The giant phosphoprotein AHNAK is expressed in both ventricular myocytes and aortic smooth muscle cells (ASMCs). In response to NE, S100B co-immunoprecipitates with AHNAK in ventricular myocytes and ASMCs. CONCLUSION: Thus, absence of S100B is associated with attenuation of the hemodynamic response to catecholamines, in contradistinction to, the augmented cardiac hypertrophy and smooth muscle cell proliferation.


Subject(s)
Cardiomegaly/physiopathology , Hemodynamics/drug effects , Nerve Growth Factors/metabolism , Norepinephrine/pharmacology , S100 Proteins/metabolism , Animals , Calcium/metabolism , Cardiomegaly/metabolism , Disease Models, Animal , Membrane Proteins/metabolism , Mice , Mice, Knockout , Muscle Cells/metabolism , Myocytes, Smooth Muscle/metabolism , Neoplasm Proteins/metabolism , Nerve Growth Factors/genetics , RNA, Messenger/metabolism , S100 Calcium Binding Protein beta Subunit , S100 Proteins/genetics
17.
J Biol Chem ; 283(44): 30174-83, 2008 Oct 31.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-18753141

ABSTRACT

S100A6 is induced in myocardium post-infarction in vivo and in response to growth factors and inflammatory cytokines in vitro. Forced expression of S100A6 in cardiomyocytes inhibits regulation of cardiac specific gene expression in response to trophic stimulation. To define regulation and function of S100A6, we characterized the human S100A6 promoter and mapped upstream regulatory elements in rat neonatal cardiac myocytes, fibroblasts, and vascular smooth muscle cells and defined a functional role for S100A6 in tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced myocyte apoptosis. The functional S100A6 promoter was localized to region -167/+134 containing 167 upstream base pairs. The S100A6 promoter is regulated by positive (-361/-167 and -588/-361) and negative (-1371/-1194) elements. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha induced the maximal S100A6 promoter and transcription factor NF-kappaB (p65 subunit). Electrophoretic mobility shift showed that tumor necrosis factor-alpha induced p65 binding to a potential NF-kappaB-binding site at -460/-451. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis revealed p65 is recruited to the S100A6 promoter upon tumor necrosis factor-alpha stimulation. The NF-kappaB inhibitor caffeic acid phenethyl ester and mutation of the NF-kappaB-binding site inhibited S100A6 promoter activation by tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha induced cardiac myocyte apoptosis. Specific inhibition of S100A6 using a small interfering RNA directed against S100A6 potentiated tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced myocyte apoptosis, whereas overexpression of S100A6 by gene transfer prevented tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced myocyte apoptosis by interfering with p53 phosphorylation. These results demonstrate that S100A6 is induced by tumor necrosis factor-alpha via an NF-kappaB-dependent mechanism, serving a role in homeostasis to limit tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced apoptosis by regulating p53 phosphorylation.


Subject(s)
Apoptosis , Cell Cycle Proteins/biosynthesis , Gene Expression Regulation , Myocytes, Cardiac/metabolism , S100 Proteins/biosynthesis , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/metabolism , Animals , Cell Cycle Proteins/genetics , Chromatin/metabolism , Humans , Inflammation , Models, Biological , Phosphorylation , Promoter Regions, Genetic , RNA, Small Interfering/metabolism , Rats , Rats, Sprague-Dawley , S100 Calcium Binding Protein A6 , S100 Proteins/genetics
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