MicroRNA-223 controls the expression of histone deacetylase 2: a novel axis in COPD.

Unlabelled: Reduced activity of histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) has been described in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but the mechanisms resulting in decreased expression of this important epigenetic modifier remain unknown. Here, we employed several in vitro experiments to address the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) on the regulation of HDAC2 in endothelial cells. Manipulation of miRNA levels in human pulmonary artery endothelial cells (HPAEC) was achieved by using electroporation with anti-miRNAs and miRNA mimics.

The hypoxia-induced microRNA-130a controls pulmonary smooth muscle cell proliferation by directly targeting CDKN1A.

Excessive proliferation of human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (HPASMC) is one of the major factors that trigger vascular remodeling in hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension. Several studies have implicated that hypoxia inhibits the tumor suppressor p21 (CDKN1A). However, the precise mechanism is unknown.

Decreased stability of erythroblastic islands in integrin β3-deficient mice.

Erythroblasts proliferate and differentiate in hematopoietic organs within erythroblastic islands (EI) composed of erythropoietic progenitor cells attached to a central macrophage. This cellular interaction crucially involves the erythroid intercellular adhesion molecule-4 (ICAM-4) and αv integrin. Because integrins are biologically active as α/β heterodimers, we asked whether β3 could be a heterodimerization partner of αv integrin in EIs.

Transcriptome analysis revealed unique genes as targets for the anti-inflammatory action of activated protein C in human macrophages.

Background: Activated protein C (APC) has been introduced as a therapeutic agent for treatment of patients with severe sepsis due to its unique anticoagulant and anti-inflammatory properties in the vascular system. In this study we investigated novel targets for the anti-inflammatory action of APC in human macrophages.

Methods: Using a genome-wide approach, effects of APC on the expression profile in inflammatory activated human macrophages were analyzed.

What is the optimal anesthetic protocol for measurements of cerebral autoregulation in spontaneously breathing mice?

Autoregulation, an important feature of the cerebral circulation, is affected in many diseases. Since genetically modified mice are a fundamental tool in biomedical research, including neuro(bio)logy also in this specie measurements of cerebral autoregulation (CA) are mandatory. However, this requires anesthesia that unfortunately significantly impacts cerebral perfusion and consequently might distort CA measurements directly or by altering arterial pCO(2).