Basic Science and Pathogenesis.

Background: Impaired interstitial fluid drainage in the brain is indicated by the presence of perivascular β-amyloid (Aβ) deposits and is attributed to alterations in contractility and relaxation of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs). The brain microvasculature in Alzheimer disease (AD) accumulates amyloid-forming amylin secreted from the pancreas. Here, we tested the hypothesis that cerebrovascular amylin deposits perturbs cerebral Aβ efflux by impairing cerebral vasodilation.

KLF8 is activated by TGF-β1 via Smad2 and contributes to ovarian cancer progression.

Krüppel-like factor 8 (KLF8) is a transcription factor expressed abnormally in various cancer types and promotes oncogenic transformation. However, the role of KLF8 in ovarian cancer (OC) progression remains unclear. This study reports that transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)/Smad2/KLF8 axis regulates epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and contributes to OC progression.

Flow Cytometric Analysis of Hyperglycemia-Induced Cell Death Pathways in Cardiomyoblasts.

Type-2 diabetes, characterized by hyperglycemia causing various symptoms of metabolic disorders in the heart, kidneys, and brain, has many underlying molecular mechanisms leading to functional insufficiency of these organs. We describe protocols wherein we have optimized conditions for maintenance of hyperglycemic H9c2 cell lines and design to assess the effect of a water-soluble vitamin, Trolox, on the apoptotic pathway. Primarily, the design provides researchers to analyze apoptosis by flow cytometry.

qRT-PCR Analysis of GLUT-4 and Assessment of Trolox as an Effective Antioxidant in Diabetic Cardiomyoblasts.

A high global prevalence of diabetes and its implications on the heart in vivo and in vitro tools have been pursued to alleviate the complications of high glucose. This chapter oulines the methods used for maintaining H9C2 cardiomyoblasts in vitro and for stimulating hyperglycemic situation. In addition, we present a method to assess cellular GLUT-4 expression using qRT-PCR.

Trolox prevents high glucose-induced apoptosis in rat myocardial H9c2 cells by regulating GLUT-4 and antioxidant defense mechanism.

Redox imbalance due to hyperglycemia is a causative factor for an increased generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) that leads to mitochondrial dysfunction and the release of cytochrome-c. The aim of the present study is to elucidate the functional role of oxidative stress (OS) in the induction of apoptosis in H9c2 cells in the hyperglycemic state through glucose transporter-4 (GLUT-4) regulation and antioxidant status. H9c2 cells were incubated with 15, 24, and 33 mM glucose for 24, 48, and 72 hr to induce hyperglycemic stress.

Toxic effect of high glucose on cardiomyocytes, H9c2 cells: Induction of oxidative stress and ameliorative effect of trolox.

Oxidative stress (OS) has been implicated in a variety of pathological conditions, including diabetes mellitus, characterized by hyperglycemia. In the present study, OS induced by hyperglycemia and the effect of trolox, a vitamin E analog, were studied in cardiomyocytes and H9c2 cells exposed to 15 to 33 mM glucose (HG) for 24 to 72 hours in Dulbecco modified Eagle medium. Cells treated wirh 24 or 33 mM glucose for 24 hours or above showed decreased viability and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content with a concomitant increase in radicals of oxygen species, calcium (Ca ), mitochondrial permeability transition, and oxidative markers, confirming that the cells were under stress.