Perivascular Adipose Tissue-Derived PDGF-D Contributes to Aortic Aneurysm Formation During Obesity.

Obesity increases the risk of vascular diseases, including aortic aneurysm (AA). Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) surrounding arteries are altered during obesity. However, the underlying mechanism of adipose tissue, especially PVAT, in the pathogenesis of AA is still unclear. Here we showed that angiotensin II (AngII) infusion increases the incidence of AA in leptin-deficient obese mice (ob/ob) and high-fat diet-induced obese mice with adventitial inflammation. Furthermore, transcriptome analysis revealed that platelet-derived growth factor-D (PDGF-D) was highly expressed in the PVAT of ob/ob mice. Therefore, we hypothesized that PDGF-D mediates adventitial inflammation, which provides a direct link between PVAT dysfunction and AA formation in AngII-infused obese mice. We found that PDGF-D promotes the proliferation, migration, and inflammatory factors expression in cultured adventitial fibroblasts. In addition, the inhibition of PDGF-D function significantly reduced the incidence of AA in AngII-infused obese mice. More importantly, adipocyte-specific PDGF-D transgenic mice are more susceptible to AA formation after AngII infusion accompanied by exaggerated adventitial inflammatory and fibrotic responses. Collectively, our findings reveal a notable role of PDGF-D in the AA formation during obesity, and modulation of this cytokine might be an exploitable treatment strategy for the condition.

S100A8 inhibits PDGF-induced proliferation of airway smooth muscle cells dependent on the receptor for advanced glycation end-products.

BACKGROUND: Airway remodeling is a key feature of asthma, characterized by increased proliferation of airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs). S100A8 is a calcium-binding protein with a potential to regulate cell proliferation. Here, the effect of exogenous S100A8 protein on the proliferation of ASMCs induced by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and the underlying molecular mechanism was investigated. METHODS: Rat ASMCs were cultured with or without a neutralizing antibody to the receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE), a potential receptor for S100A8 protein. Purified recombinant rat S100A8 protein was then added into the cultured cells, and the proliferation of ASMCs induced by PDGF was detected by colorimetric-based WST-8 assay and ampedance-based xCELLigence proliferation assay. The expression levels of RAGE in ASMCs were analyzed using western blotting assay. RESULTS: Results showed that exogenous S100A8 inhibited the PDGF-induced proliferation of rat ASMCs in a dose-dependent manner with the maximal effect at 1 µg/ml in vitro. Furthermore, when ASMCs was pre-treated with anti-RAGE neutralizing antibody, the inhibitory effect of S100A8 on PDGF-induced proliferation was significantly suppressed. In addition, neither the treatment with S100A8 or PDGF alone nor the pre-treatment with rS100A8 followed by PDGF stimulation affected the expression levels of RAGE. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that S100A8 inhibits PDGF-induced ASMCs proliferation in a manner dependent on membrane receptor RAGE.

S100A8 inhibits PDGF-induced proliferation of airway smooth muscle cells dependent on the receptor for advanced glycation end-products

BACKGROUND: Airway remodeling is a key feature of asthma, characterized by increased proliferation of airway smooth muscle cells (ASMCs). S100A8 is a calcium-binding protein with a potential to regulate cell proliferation. Here, the effect of exogenous S100A8 protein on the proliferation of ASMCs induced by platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and the underlying molecular mechanism was investigated. METHODS: Rat ASMCs were cultured with or without a neutralizing antibody to the receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE), a potential receptor for S100A8 protein. Purified recombinant rat S100A8 protein was then added into the cultured cells, and the proliferation of ASMCs induced by PDGF was detected by colorimetric-based WST-8 assay and ampedance-based xCELLigence proliferation assay. The expression levels of RAGE in ASMCs were analyzed using western blotting assay. RESULTS: Results showed that exogenous S100A8 inhibited the PDGF-induced proliferation of rat ASMCs in a dose- dependent manner with the maximal effect at 1 µg/ml in vitro. Furthermore, when ASMCs was pre-treated with anti-RAGE neutralizing antibody, the inhibitory effect of S100A8 on PDGF-induced proliferation was significantly suppressed. In addition, neither the treatment with S100A8 or PDGF alone nor the pre-treatment with rS100A8 followed by PDGF stimulation affected the expression levels of RAGE. CONCLUSIONS: Our study demonstrated that S100A8 inhibits PDGF-induced ASMCs proliferation in a manner dependent on membrane receptor RAGE.

Voriconazole Enhances the Osteogenic Activity of Human Osteoblasts In Vitro through a Fluoride-Independent Mechanism.

Periostitis, which is characterized by bony pain and diffuse periosteal ossification, has been increasingly reported with prolonged clinical use of voriconazole. While resolution of clinical symptoms following discontinuation of therapy suggests a causative role for voriconazole, the biological mechanisms contributing to voriconazole-induced periostitis are unknown. To elucidate potential mechanisms, we exposed human osteoblasts in vitro to voriconazole or fluconazole at 15 or 200 µg/ml (reflecting systemic or local administration, respectively), under nonosteogenic or osteogenic conditions, for 1, 3, or 7 days and evaluated the effects on cell proliferation (reflected by total cellular DNA) and osteogenic differentiation (reflected by alkaline phosphatase activity, calcium accumulation, and expression of genes involved in osteogenic differentiation). Release of free fluoride, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) was also measured in cell supernatants of osteoblasts exposed to triazoles, with an ion-selective electrode (for free fluoride) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) (for VEGF and PDGF). Voriconazole but not fluconazole significantly enhanced the proliferation and differentiation of osteoblasts. In contrast to clinical observations, no increases in free fluoride levels were detected following exposure to either voriconazole or fluconazole; however, significant increases in the expression of VEGF and PDGF by osteoblasts were observed following exposure to voriconazole. Our results demonstrate that voriconazole can induce osteoblast proliferation and enhance osteogenic activity in vitro. Importantly, and in contrast to the previously proposed mechanism of fluoride-stimulated osteogenesis, our findings suggest that voriconazole-induced periostitis may also occur through fluoride-independent mechanisms that enhance the expression of cytokines that can augment osteoblastic activity.

Meningioma: current treatment options and future directions.

Benign meningiomas can be observed if not symptomatic or growing. When treatment is indicated, the options are surgery, radiosurgery, fractionated radiation therapy, or a combination of these modalities. Except in certain cases, such as large tumors that require debulking for relief of symptoms, we do not recommend the routine use of combination therapy. Intracranial meningiomas have usually been treated with surgical resection with an expected durable local control of 80% to 90% when a gross total resection (GTR) is obtained. Patients who have inoperable disease, refuse surgery, undergo less than a GTR, or who have aggressive histology should instead be considered candidates for radiation therapy or radiosurgery. While benign meningiomas can be successfully treated definitively or postoperatively with either fractionated radiation therapy or single fraction radiosurgery, atypical or malignant lesions are best treated with fractionated radiation therapy with conventional dosimetric margins. The role of systemic therapy is not yet defined, but multiple agents are being investigated in early phase trials for patients with recurrent or progressive disease after standard therapy has failed.

Overproduction of N(epsilon)-(carboxymethyl)lysine-induced neovascularization in cultured choroidal explant of streptozotocin-diabetic rat.

Action of N(epsilon)-(carboxymethyl)lysine (CML) adduct, an advanced glycation end product, was investigated on neovascularization of cultured choroidal explants in streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic rat. The choroidal explants of early (4 weeks after an injection of 60 mg/kg STZ) and advanced (8 months after the STZ injection) diabetic rats, and age-matched normal rats were cultured in fibrin gel with Dulbecco's modified Eagle medium containing fetal bovine serum. The number of budded microvessel-like structures was counted and used as an index of in vitro neovascularization. Choroidal explants in the early diabetic stage released vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and tended to increase tumor necrosis factor (TNF) alpha and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-B, and concomitantly facilitated growth of sprout and buds, compared to the normal control. When choroidal explants were stimulated with CML-human serum albumin (HSA), its releasing effect was in the order VEGF>TNFalpha>PDGF-B. CML-HSA and CML-bovine serum albumin augmented the neovascularization in the cultured diabetic explant and their actions did not virtually differ. A monoclonal anti-CML antibody (6D12) inhibited the neovascularization in the advanced diabetes greater than that in the early diabetes. Inhibitory actions of anti-VEGF and anti-TNFalpha antibodies on the neovascularization were similar to that of the anti-CML antibody in the diabetes. In conclusion, CML adducts were accumulated and over-produced the actions of VEGF, TNFalpha and PDGF-B in the choroidal explant during diabetes in an age-dependent manner. TNFalpha and VEGF are likely to play a predominant role for the CML-induced choroidal neovascularization.

Platelet-derived growth factor-induced arachidonic acid release for enhancement of prostaglandin E(2) synthesis in human gingival fibroblasts pretreated with interleukin-1beta.

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) is a biological mediator for connective tissue cells and plays a critical role in a wide variety of physiological and pathological processes. We here investigated the effect of PDGF on arachidonic acid release and prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) synthesis in human gingival fibroblasts (HGF). PDGF induced arachidonic acid release in a time- and dose-dependent manner, and simultaneously induced a transient increase in intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)), but less provoked PGE(2) release and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) mRNA expression. When [Ca(2+)](i) was increased by Ca(2+)-mobilizing reagents, arachidonic acid release was increased. The PDGF-induced arachidonic acid release and increase in [Ca(2+)](i) were prevented by a tyrosine kinase inhibitor. On the other hand, in the HGF pre-stimulated with interleukin-1beta (IL-1beta), PDGF clearly increased PGE(2) release. The PDGF-induced PGE(2) release was inhibited by a tyrosine kinase inhibitor. In the HGF pretreated with IL-1beta, arachidonic acid strongly enhanced PGE(2) release and COX-2 mRNA expression. These results suggest that PDGF stimulates arachidonic acid release by the increase in [Ca(2+)](i) via tyrosine kinase activation, and which contributes to PGE(2) production via COX-2 expression in HGF primed with IL-1beta.