Publications by authors named "Margaret T Weis"

Aim: To assess the direct effects of ischemia on intestinal epithelial integrity. Furthermore, clinical efforts at mitigating the effect of hypoperfusion on gut permeability have focused on restoring gut vascular function.

Methods: We report that, in the Caco-2 cell model of transepithelial transport, calcium glycerophosphate (CGP), an inhibitor of intestinal alkaline phosphatase F3, has a significant effect to preserve transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER) and to attenuate increases in mannitol flux rates during hypoxia or cytokine stimulation.

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Various triacsin C analogs, containing different alkenyl chains and carboxylic acid bioisoteres including 4-aminobenzoic acid, isothiazolidine dioxide, hydroxylamine, hydroxytriazene, and oxadiazolidine dione, were synthesized and their inhibitions of long chain fatty acyl-CoA synthetase (ACSL) were examined. Two methods, a cell-based assay of ACSL activity and an in situ [(14)C]-palmitate incorporation into extractable lipids were used to study the inhibition. Using an in vivo leukocyte recruitment inhibition protocol, the translocation of one or more cell adhesion molecules from the cytoplasm to the plasma membrane on either the endothelium or leukocyte or both was inhibited by inhibitors 1, 9, and triacsin C.

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In a rat model of neuroinflammation, produced by a 6-day intracerebral ventricular infusion of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), we reported that the brain concentrations of non-esterified brain arachidonic acid (AA, 20:4 n-6) and its eicosanoid products PGE(2) and PGD(2) were increased, as were AA turnover rates in certain brain phospholipids and the activity of AA-selective cytosolic phospholipase A(2) (cPLA(2)). The activity of Ca(2+)-independent iPLA(2), which is thought to be selective for the release of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, 22:6 n-3) from membrane phospholipid, was unchanged. In the present study, we measured parameters of brain DHA metabolism in comparable artificial cerebrospinal fluid (control) and LPS-infused rats.

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Rationale: Several drugs used to treat bipolar disorder (lithium and carbamazepine), when administered chronically to rats, reduce the turnover of arachidonic acid, but not docosahexaenoic acid, in brain phospholipids by decreasing the activity of an arachidonic acid-selective phospholipase A(2). Although chronic valproic acid produces similar effects on brain arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid turnover, it does not alter phospholipase A(2) activity, suggesting that it targets a different enzyme in the turnover pathway.

Materials And Methods/results: By isolating rat brain microsomal long-chain fatty acyl-CoA synthetases (Acsl), we show in vitro that valproic acid is a non-competitive inhibitor of Acsl, as it reduces the maximal velocity of the reaction without changing the affinity of the substrate for the enzyme.

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Reperfusion injury is characterized by a decrease in endothelial release of nitric oxide within 5 min after reperfusion, increased leukocyte-endothelium interaction, and transmigration of leukocytes into the myocardium, producing cardiac contractile dysfunction. Gö 6983 is a fast acting, lipid soluble, broad spectrum protein kinase C inhibitor. When administered at the beginning of reperfusion, it can restore cardiac function within 5 min and attenuate the deleterious effects associated with acute ischemia/reperfusion.

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Background: Triacsin C, a fatty acid analog, inhibits endothelial nitric oxide synthetase (eNOS) palmitoylation, increases nitric oxide synthesis and enhances methacholine-induced relaxation of vascular rings. The experiments presented here tested the hypothesis that triacsin C increases the synthesis of PGI(2) and/or endothelial-derived hyperpolarizing factor.

Methods: Long-chain fatty acyl CoA synthetase activity (LCFACoAS), agonist-induced prostacyclin synthesis and agonist-induced release of radioactivity in endothelial cells labeled with [(3)H]arachidonic acid were measured in the presence and absence of triacsin C.

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Objectives: Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activation/deactivation is associated with cyclic depalmitoylation/repalmitoylation of specific Cys residues. The mechanism of depalmitoylation has been identified recently, but repalmitoylation remains undefined. We hypothesized that long chain fatty acyl CoA synthetase (LCFACoAS) modulates endothelial nitric oxide synthase repalmitoylation by limiting palmitoyl CoA availability.

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The formation of coenzyme A thioesters from long-chain fatty acids represents a metabolic branch point. We have isolated, cloned and sequenced a long-chain fatty acyl CoA synthetase (LCFACoAS) that is localized to the endothelium of rabbit heart and aorta. Immunofluoresence and in situ hybridization studies show intense staining of the intimal layer of the aorta and coronary vessels.

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The non-selective beta-adrenergic receptor agonist isoproterenol stimulates Mg(2+) efflux from the perfused heart. The beta-adrenergic receptor subtype governing Mg(2+) efflux was determined in rabbit hearts perfused by the method of Langendorff with Mg(2+)-free Krebs Henseleit buffer. Magnesium efflux was examined during infusion of isoproterenol (a non-selective beta-adrenergic agonist), dobutamine (beta(1)-selective), salbutamol (beta(2)-selective), BRL37344 in the presence of 200 nM propranolol (beta(3)-selective conditions) or CGP12177 (beta(3)/low affinity state beta(1)-selective).

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