YAP activity protects against endotoxemic acute lung injury by activating multiple mechanisms.

The roles of the Hippo‑Yes‑associated protein (YAP) pathway in lung injury and repair remain elusive. The present study examined the effects of systemic inhibition or stimulation of YAP activity on lung injury, repair and inflammation in a mouse model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‑induced lung injury. Mice were treated with or without YAP inhibitor, verteporfin, or with or without YAP stimulator, XMU‑MP‑1, and intraperitoneally injected with LPS (7.

Hydrogen Attenuates Allergic Inflammation by Reversing Energy Metabolic Pathway Switch.

Mechanisms mediating the protective effects of molecular hydrogen (H) are not well understood. This study explored the possibility that H exerts its anti-inflammatory effect by modulating energy metabolic pathway switch. Activities of glycolytic and mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation systems were assessed in asthmatic patients and in mouse model of allergic airway inflammation.

Skeletal development of the chondrocranium in the tongue sole Cynoglossus semilaevis (Pleuronectiformes: Cynoglossidae).

This study provides a comprehensive description of chondrocranial development before, during and after larval metamorphosis in the tongue sole Cynoglossus semilaevis, a commercially valuable flatfish in China. Samples were collected at regular intervals ranging from 1 to 23 days post hatching (dph). Based on observations of cleared and double-stained specimens and images from sections stained with safranin O-fast green, major morphological events during early development were described.

The number and function of T regulatory cells in obese atopic female asthmatics.

Background: Mechanisms underlying the association between asthma and obesity remain poorly understood. Obesity appears to be a risk factor for asthma, and obese asthmatics fare poorly compared to lean asthmatics.

Objectives: To explore the possibility that reduced regulatory T cell (Treg) number and function contribute to the obesity-asthma association.

Selective inhibition of endothelial NF-κB signaling attenuates chronic intermittent hypoxia-induced atherosclerosis in mice.

Background And Aims: Chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) exposure causes atherosclerosis, although the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. This study defines the role of endothelial intrinsic NF-κB signaling in the atherogenic response to CIH.

Methods: We created ApoE-EC mice that are deficient in the apolipoprotein E gene (ApoE) and overexpress an I-κBα mutant (I-κBmt) selectively in endothelial cells.

Hypoxia-induced activation of specific members of the NF-kB family and its relevance to pulmonary vascular remodeling.

Background And Objective: Pulmonary Hypertension (pH) is a chronic progressive disease. Endothelial cells (EC) play a central and critical role in the initiation and progression of pH. The NF-κB family (NF-κB1 (p50/p105), NF-κB2 (p52/p100), RelA (p65), RelB, and C-Rel) regulates a wide array of genes involved in inflammatory responses, cell proliferation, and survival.

Blood pressure regulation by CD4 lymphocytes expressing choline acetyltransferase.

Blood pressure regulation is known to be maintained by a neuro-endocrine circuit, but whether immune cells contribute to blood pressure homeostasis has not been determined. We previously showed that CD4 T lymphocytes that express choline acetyltransferase (ChAT), which catalyzes the synthesis of the vasorelaxant acetylcholine, relay neural signals. Here we show that these CD4CD44CD62L T helper cells by gene expression are a distinct T-cell population defined by ChAT (CD4 T).

Chronic intermittent hypoxia exposure-induced atherosclerosis: a brief review.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is highly prevalent in the USA and is recognized as an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Identification of atherosclerosis risk factor attributable to OSA may provide opportunity to develop preventive measures for cardiovascular risk reduction. Chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) is a prominent feature of OSA pathophysiology and may be a major mechanism linking OSA to arteriosclerosis.

LPS Down-Regulates Specificity Protein 1 Activity by Activating NF-κB Pathway in Endotoxemic Mice.

Background: Specificity protein (Sp) 1 mediates the transcription of a large number of constitutive genes encoding physiological mediators. NF-κB mediates the expression of hundreds of inducible genes encoding pathological mediators. Crosstalk between Sp1 and NF-κB pathways could be pathophysiologically significant, but has not been studied.

Resident Endothelial Cells and Endothelial Progenitor Cells Restore Endothelial Barrier Function After Inflammatory Lung Injury.

Objective: Disruption of endothelial barrier integrity is a characteristic of many inflammatory conditions. However, the origin and function of endothelial cells (ECs) restoring endothelial barrier function remain unknown. This study defined the roles of resident ECs (RECs) and bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells (BMDEPCs) in endothelial barrier restoration after endotoxemic lung injury.

The Apelin-APJ axis is an endogenous counterinjury mechanism in experimental acute lung injury.

Background: Although the mechanisms and pathways mediating ARDS have been studied extensively, less attention has been given to the mechanisms and pathways that counteract injury responses. This study found that the apelin-APJ pathway is an endogenous counterinjury mechanism that protects against ARDS.

Methods: Using a rat model of oleic acid (OA)-induced ARDS, the effects of ARDS on apelin and APJ receptor expressions and on APJ receptor binding capacity were examined.

An obligatory role of NF-κB in mediating bone marrow derived endothelial progenitor cell recruitment and proliferation following endotoxemic multiple organ injury in mice.

Background: Recruitment of bone marrow derived endothelial progenitor cells (BMDEPCs) alleviates multiple organ injury (MOI) and improves outcomes. However, mechanisms mediating BMDEPC recruitment following septic MOI remain largely unknown. This study characterized the kinetics of BMDEPC recruitment and proliferation and defined the role of NF-κB in regulating BMDEPC recruitment and proliferation.

NF-κB-to-AP-1 switch: a mechanism regulating transition from endothelial barrier injury to repair in endotoxemic mice.

Endothelial barrier disruption is a hallmark of multiple organ injury (MOI). However, mechanisms governing the restoration of endothelial barrier function are poorly understood. Here, we uncovered an NF-κB-to-AP-1 switch that regulates the transition from barrier injury to repair following endotoxemic MOI.

Ulinastatin activates haem oxygenase 1 antioxidant pathway and attenuates allergic inflammation.

Background And Purpose: Ulinastatin (UTI), a serine protease inhibitor, was recently found to have an anti-inflammatory action. However, the mechanisms mediating this anti-inflammatory effect are not well understood. This study tested the hypothesis that UTI suppresses allergic inflammation by inducing the expression of haem oxygenase 1 (HO1).

Intermedin modulates hypoxic pulmonary vascular remodeling by inhibiting pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell proliferation.

Background: Hypoxic pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a disabling disease with limited treatment options. Hypoxic pulmonary vascular remodeling is a major cause of hypoxic PAH. Pharmacological agents that can inhibit the remodeling process may have great therapeutic value.

Association of nesfatin-1 and fat mass in cystic fibrosis.

Background: The mechanisms of fat mass (FM) loss in cystic fibrosis (CF) are poorly understood but could represent complex pathways involving dysregulation of appetite-modulating peptides and an amplified inflammatory response. Nesfatin-1 is a newly described peptide that decreases food intake and FM but has not been studied in CF.

Objectives: We hypothesized that changes in the appetite-suppressing hormone nesfatin-1 would be physiological, and levels would be lower in advanced CF patients with lower FM compared to those with milder disease and healthy controls.

Chronic intermittent hypoxia down-regulates endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression by an NF-κB-dependent mechanism.

Objectives: Patients with obstructive sleep apnea have an impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilator response. The mechanisms underlying this impairment remain unclear. We tested the hypothesis that chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) impairs endothelium-dependent vasodilatation by NF-κB-mediated down-regulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression.

Chronic intermittent hypoxia exposure induces atherosclerosis in ApoE knockout mice: role of NF-κB p50.

Current animal models of chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH)-induced atherosclerosis have limitations. Mechanisms of CIH-induced atherosclerosis are poorly understood. This study tested new mouse models of CIH-induced atherosclerosis and defined the role of NF-κB p50 in CIH-induced atherosclerosis.

Selective blockade of endothelial NF-kappaB pathway differentially affects systemic inflammation and multiple organ dysfunction and injury in septic mice.

Endothelium has long been considered both a source and a target of systemic inflammation. However, to what extent endothelial activation contributes to systemic inflammation remains unclear. This study addresses the relative contribution of endothelial activation to systemic inflammation and multiple organ dysfunction and injury (MOD/I) in an E.

A pivotal role of endothelial-specific NF-kappaB signaling in the pathogenesis of septic shock and septic vascular dysfunction.

Although the role of NF-kappaB in the pathogenesis of sepsis and septic shock has been extensively studied, little is known about the causative contribution of endothelial-intrinsic NF-kappaB to these pathological processes. In this study, we used transgenic (TG) mice (on FVB genetic background) that conditionally overexpress the NF-kappaB inhibitor, mutant I-kappaBalpha, selectively on endothelium and their transgene-negative littermates (wild type (WT)) to define the causative role of endothelial-specific NF-kappaB signaling in septic shock and septic vascular dysfunction. In WT mice, LPS challenge caused systemic hypotension, a significantly blunted vasoconstrictor response to norepinephrine, and an impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilator response to acetylcholine, concomitant with a markedly increased aortic inducible NO synthase expression, significantly elevated plasma and aortic levels of nitrite/nitrate, increased aortic TNF-alpha expression, and decreased aortic endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) expression.

Activation of endothelial intrinsic NF-{kappa}B pathway impairs protein C anticoagulation mechanism and promotes coagulation in endotoxemic mice.

Although the role of systemic activation of the nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) pathway in septic coagulation has been well documented, little is known about the contribution of endothelial-specific NF-kappaB signaling in this pathologic process. Here, we used transgenic mice that conditionally overexpress a mutant I-kappaBalpha, an inhibitor of NF-kappaB, selectively on endothelium, and their wild-type littermates to define the role of endothelial-specific NF-kappaB in septic coagulation. In wild-type mice, lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge (5 mg/kg intraperitoneally) caused markedly increased plasma markers of coagulation, decreased plasma fibrinogen level, and widespread tissue fibrin deposition, which were abrogated by endothelial NF-kappaB blockade in transgenic mice.

[Establishment of a podocyte cell injury model induced by puromycin aminonucleoside].

Objective: To establish a podocyte cell injury model induced by puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN), an in vitro model for studying the role of podocytes, especial the slit diaphragm molecules in proteinuria at the cellular and molecular levels.

Methods: MPC5 were treated for 24 and 48 hours by 15, 45 and 75 mg/L PAN, respectively. The podocyte molecular behavior during podocyte injury was evaluated: the apoptotic podocyte cells were revealed with FITC-Annexin V and Propidium Iodide (PI) assay and the proliferative podocyte cells detected with MTT assay after PAN treatment.

Divergent roles of endothelial NF-kappaB in multiple organ injury and bacterial clearance in mouse models of sepsis.

To define the roles of endothelial-intrinsic nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) activity in host defense and multiple organ injury in response to sepsis, we generated double transgenic (TG) mice (EC-rtTA/I-kappaB alpha mt) that conditionally overexpress a degradation-resistant form of the NF-kappaB inhibitor I-kappaB alpha (I-kappaB alpha mt) selectively on vascular endothelium. The EC-rtTA/I-kappaB alpha mt mice had no basal, but a relatively high level of doxycycline-inducible, I-kappaB alpha mt expression. I-kappaB alpha mt expression was detected in endothelial cells, but not in fibroblasts, macrophages, and whole blood cells, confirming that transgene expression was restricted to the endothelium.

Lipopolysaccharide causes Sp1 protein degradation by inducing a unique trypsin-like serine protease in rat lungs.

We have previously demonstrated that challenge of rat or mice with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in vivo promotes Sp1 protein degradation. The protease responsible for the LPS-induced Sp1 degradation has not been identified. In this study, we have identified, characterized and partially purified an LPS-inducible Sp1-degrading enzyme (LISPDE) activity from rat lungs.