scholarly journals Endothelial glycocalyx regulates cytoadherence in Plasmodium falciparum malaria

2018 ◽  
Vol 15 (149) ◽  
pp. 20180773 ◽  
Author(s):  
Viola Introini ◽  
Antonio Carciati ◽  
Giovanna Tomaiuolo ◽  
Pietro Cicuta ◽  
Stefano Guido

Malaria is associated with significant microcirculation disorders, especially when the infection reaches its severe stage. This can lead to a range of fatal conditions, from cerebral malaria to multiple organ failure, of not fully understood pathogenesis. It has recently been proposed that a breakdown of the glycocalyx, the carbohydrate-rich layer lining the vascular endothelium, plays a key role in severe malaria, but direct evidence supporting this hypothesis is still lacking. Here, the interactions between Plasmodium falciparum infected red blood cells ( Pf RBCs) and endothelial glycocalyx are investigated by developing an in vitro , physiologically relevant model of human microcirculation based on microfluidics. Impairment of the glycocalyx is obtained by enzymatic removal of sialic acid residues, which, due to their terminal location and net negative charge, are implicated in the initial interactions with contacting cells. We show a more than twofold increase of Pf RBC adhesion to endothelial cells upon enzymatic treatment, relative to untreated endothelial cells. As a control, no effect of enzymatic treatment on healthy red blood cell adhesion is found. The increased adhesion of Pf RBCs is also associated with cell flipping and reduced velocity as compared to the untreated endothelium. Altogether, these results provide a compelling evidence of the increased cytoadherence of Pf RBCs to glycocalyx-impaired vascular endothelium, thus supporting the advocated role of glycocalyx disruption in the pathogenesis of this disease.

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justyna Mikuła-Pietrasik ◽  
Paweł Uruski ◽  
Krzysztof Aniukiewicz ◽  
Patrycja Sosińska ◽  
Zbigniew Krasiński ◽  
...  

Although the role of endothelium in varicose vein development is indisputable, the effect of the pathology on biological properties of endothelial cells remains unclear. Here we examined if the presence of varicose veins affects senescence of endothelial cells (HUVECs) and, if so, what will be the local and systemic outcome of this effect. Experiments showed that HUVECs subjected to serum from varicose patients display improved proliferation, increased expression of senescence marker, SA-β-Gal, and increased generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), as compared with serum from healthy donors. Both increased SA-β-Gal activity and ROS release were mediated by TGF-β1, the concentration of which in varicose serum was elevated and the activity of which in vitro was prevented using specific neutralizing antibody. Senescent HUVECs exposed to varicose serum generated increased amounts of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, P-selectin, uPA, PAI-1, and ET-1. Direct comparison of sera from varicose and healthy donors showed that pathological serum contained increased level of ICAM-1, VCAM-1, P-selectin, uPA, and ET-1. Calendar age of healthy subjects correlated positively with serum uPA and negatively with P-selectin. Age of varicose patients correlated positively with ICAM-1, VCAM-1, and ET-1. Collectively, our findings indicate that the presence of varicose veins causes a senescence-related dysfunction of vascular endothelium, which leads to the development of local and systemic proinflammatory environment.


1994 ◽  
Vol 72 (03) ◽  
pp. 457-464 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christoph J Hemmer ◽  
A Bierhaus ◽  
J v Riedesel ◽  
S Gabat ◽  
B Liliensiek ◽  
...  

SummaryWe used thrombomodulin (TM) to assess the participation of the vascular endothelium in human Plasmodium falciparum (P. F.) malaria. Before therapy TM plasma levels were elevated in P. F. malaria and fell to normal values during therapy. Parasitemia, TNFα, elastase and TAT levels correlated directly with TM. Elevated TM levels can not be explained by increased synthesis, since incubating HUVEC with pretherapy serum of patients with P. F. malaria, but not reconvalescence serum, suppressed TM transcription. This was partially prevented by adding a TNFα neutralizing antibody to patient serum before incubation with HUVEC. However, TNFα does not release TM from cultured HUVEC in vitro. Coincubation of HUVEC with pretherapy serum together with neutrophils resulted in endothelial cell destruction, which could be partly prevented by a TNFα neutralizing antibody. Hence the increase of TM during P. F. malaria might reflect the concerted action of cytokines and neutrophils on HUVEC.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Samir Sissaoui ◽  
Stuart Egginton ◽  
Ling Ting ◽  
Asif Ahmed ◽  
Peter W. Hewett

AbstractPlacenta growth factor (PlGF) is a pro-inflammatory angiogenic mediator that promotes many pathologies including diabetic complications and atherosclerosis. Widespread endothelial dysfunction precedes the onset of these conditions. As very little is known of the mechanism(s) controlling PlGF expression in pathology we investigated the role of hyperglycaemia in the regulation of PlGF production in endothelial cells. Hyperglycaemia stimulated PlGF secretion in cultured primary endothelial cells, which was suppressed by IGF-1-mediated PI3K/Akt activation. Inhibition of PI3K activity resulted in significant PlGF mRNA up-regulation and protein secretion. Similarly, loss or inhibition of Akt activity significantly increased basal PlGF expression and prevented any further PlGF secretion in hyperglycaemia. Conversely, constitutive Akt activation blocked PlGF secretion irrespective of upstream PI3K activity demonstrating that Akt is a central regulator of PlGF expression. Knock-down of the Forkhead box O-1 (FOXO1) transcription factor, which is negatively regulated by Akt, suppressed both basal and hyperglycaemia-induced PlGF secretion, whilst FOXO1 gain-of-function up-regulated PlGF in vitro and in vivo. FOXO1 association to a FOXO binding sequence identified in the PlGF promoter also increased in hyperglycaemia. This study identifies the PI3K/Akt/FOXO1 signalling axis as a key regulator of PlGF expression and unifying pathway by which PlGF may contribute to common disorders characterised by endothelial dysfunction, providing a target for therapy.


Author(s):  
Isabel Burghardt ◽  
Judith Johanna Schroeder ◽  
Tobias Weiss ◽  
Dorothee Gramatzki ◽  
Michael Weller

Abstract Purpose Members of the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β superfamily play a key role in the regulation of the malignant phenotype of glioblastoma by promoting invasiveness, angiogenesis, immunosuppression, and maintaining stem cell-like properties. Betaglycan, a TGF-β coreceptor also known as TGF-β receptor III (TβRIII), interacts with members of the TGF-β superfamily and acts as membrane-associated or shed molecule. Shed, soluble TβRIII (sTβRIII) is produced upon ectodomain cleavage of the membrane-bound form. Elucidating the role of TβRIII may improve our understanding of TGF-β pathway activity in glioblastoma Methods Protein levels of TβRIII were determined by immunohistochemical analyses and ex vivo single-cell gene expression profiling of glioblastoma tissue respectively. In vitro, TβRIII levels were assessed investigating long-term glioma cell lines (LTCs), cultured human brain-derived microvascular endothelial cells (hCMECs), glioblastoma-derived microvascular endothelial cells, and glioma-initiating cell lines (GICs). The impact of TβRIII on TGF-β signaling was investigated, and results were validated in a xenograft mouse glioma model Results Immunohistochemistry and ex vivo single-cell gene expression profiling of glioblastoma tissue showed that TβRIII was expressed in the tumor tissue, predominantly in the vascular compartment. We confirmed this pattern of TβRIII expression in vitro. Specifically, we detected sTβRIII in glioblastoma-derived microvascular endothelial cells. STβRIII facilitated TGF-β-induced Smad2 phosphorylation in vitro and overexpression of sTβRIII in a xenograft mouse glioma model led to increased levels of Smad2 phosphorylation, increased tumor volume, and decreased survival Conclusions These data shed light on the potential tumor-promoting role of extracellular shed TβRIII which may be released by glioblastoma endothelium with high sTβRIII levels.


Stroke ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mieko Oka ◽  
Nobuhiko Ohno ◽  
Takakazu Kawamata ◽  
Tomohiro Aoki

Introduction: Intracranial aneurysm (IA) affects 1 to 5 % in general public and becomes the primary cause of subarachnoid hemorrhage, the most severe form of stroke. However, currently, no drug therapy is available for IAs to prevent progression and rupture of lesions. Elucidation of mechanisms underlying the disease is thus mandatory. Considering the important role of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in the maintenance of stiffness of arterial walls and also in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis via mediating inflammatory responses, we in the present study analyzed morphological or phenotypical changes of SMCs during the disease development in the lesions. Methods: We subjected rats to an IA model in which lesions are induced by increase of hemodynamic force loading on intracranial arterial bifurcations and performed histopathological analyses of induced lesions including the electron microscopic examination. We then immunostained specimens from induced lesions to explore factors responsible for dedifferentiation or migration of SMCs. In vitro study was also done to examine effect of some candidate factors on dedifferentiation or migration of cultured SMCs. Results: We first found the accumulation of SMCs underneath the endothelial cell layer mainly at the neck portion of the lesion. These cells was positive for the embryonic form of myosin heavy chain, a marker for the dedifferentiated SMCs, and the expression of pro-inflammatory factors like TNF-α. In immunostaining to explore the potential factor regulating the dedifferentiation of SMCs, we found that Platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) was expressed in endothelial cells at the neck portion of IA walls. Consistently, recombinant PDGF-BB could promote the dedifferentiate of SMCs and chemo-attracted them in in vitro. Finally, in the stenosis model of the carotid artery, PDGF-BB expression was induced in endothelial cells in which high wall shear stress was loaded and the dedifferentiation of SMCs occurred there. Conclusions: The findings from the present study imply the role of dedifferentiated SMCs partially recruited by PDGF-BB from endothelial cells in the formation of inflammatory microenvironment at the neck portion of IA walls, leading to the progression of the disease.


1992 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 58-65 ◽  
Author(s):  
S N Heyman ◽  
B A Clark ◽  
N Kaiser ◽  
K Spokes ◽  
S Rosen ◽  
...  

The intravascular administration of the ionic radiocontrast agent sodium iothalamate (2.9 g of iodine/kg body wt) to rats induced an increase in plasma concentration of immunoreactive endothelin from 21.3 +/- 1.2 to 36 +/- 3 fmol/mL, preceded by a transient rise in the plasma level of atrial natriuretic peptide and associated with a fall in RBF. Equi-iodine amounts of the nonionic agents ioxaglate and iohexol elicited similar or more marked changes in plasma endothelin, but hypertonic solutions of NaCl, mannitol, or glucose did not. Comparable levels of endothelin produced by infusions of endothelin-1 induced a reduction of up to 29% in RBF. Iothalamate and iohexol stimulated endothelin release from cultured bovine endothelial cells, suggesting a direct effect of ionic and nonionic agents on vascular endothelium. The data invite speculation that under some circumstances endothelin release might play a role in the circulatory changes caused by these compounds and in the pathogenesis of radiocontrast nephropathy.


Author(s):  
Yifan Xia ◽  
Yunfei Li ◽  
Wasem Khalid ◽  
Marom Bikson ◽  
Bingmei M. Fu

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive physical therapy to treat many psychiatric disorders and to enhance memory and cognition in healthy individuals. Our recent studies showed that tDCS with the proper dosage and duration can transiently enhance the permeability (P) of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in rat brain to various sized solutes. Based on the in vivo permeability data, a transport model for the paracellular pathway of the BBB also predicted that tDCS can transiently disrupt the endothelial glycocalyx (EG) and the tight junction between endothelial cells. To confirm these predictions and to investigate the structural mechanisms by which tDCS modulates P of the BBB, we directly quantified the EG and tight junctions of in vitro BBB models after DCS treatment. Human cerebral microvascular endothelial cells (hCMECs) and mouse brain microvascular endothelial cells (bEnd3) were cultured on the Transwell filter with 3 μm pores to generate in vitro BBBs. After confluence, 0.1–1 mA/cm2 DCS was applied for 5 and 10 min. TEER and P to dextran-70k of the in vitro BBB were measured, HS (heparan sulfate) and hyaluronic acid (HA) of EG was immuno-stained and quantified, as well as the tight junction ZO-1. We found disrupted EG and ZO-1 when P to dextran-70k was increased and TEER was decreased by the DCS. To further investigate the cellular signaling mechanism of DCS on the BBB permeability, we pretreated the in vitro BBB with a nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor, L-NMMA. L-NMMA diminished the effect of DCS on the BBB permeability by protecting the EG and reinforcing tight junctions. These in vitro results conform to the in vivo observations and confirm the model prediction that DCS can disrupt the EG and tight junction of the BBB. Nevertheless, the in vivo effects of DCS are transient which backup its safety in the clinical application. In conclusion, our current study directly elucidates the structural and signaling mechanisms by which DCS modulates the BBB permeability.


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