OR14-06 Inhibition of Protein Kinase C-beta2 Phosphorylation Restores Nuclear Factor-Kappa B Activation and Improves Peripheral Arterial Disease in Diabetes

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is atherosclerotic occlusion of vessel outside the heart and most commonly affects the lower extremities. Diabetes (DM) accelerates the course and severity of PAD. Studies have shown that vascular endothelial cell NF-κB activity is required for post ischemic adaptation in experimental PAD. To better understand how DM contributes to PAD severity, we investigated the role of DM hyperglycemia in the activation of NF-κB under ischemic conditions. Induced ischemia in human vascular endothelial cell (HUVEC) cultures increased components of both canonical and non-canonical NF-κB pathways in the nucleus (p65 1.0 ± 0.1 vs 1.5 ± 0.2, p< 0.05, RelB 1.0 ± 0.1 vs 1.5 ± 0.2, p<0.01). Similarly, HUVEC acutely exposed to high glucose (HG, 25 mM) activated both canonical (IκB-α degradation, normal vs. HG 1.25 ± 0.02 vs 0.9 ± 0.0, p<0.05) and non-canonical NF-κB (p100 degradation, normal vs HG 0.021±0.001 vs 0.016±0.000, p<0.05) pathways. Prolonged exposure (3 days) of HUVEC to high glucose before ischemia resulted in impaired NF-κB activation as evident from decreased IκB phosphorylation (pIκB/IκB in normal glucose and ischemia 1.56 ± 0.22 vs 1.12 ± 0.35, p<0.01). To understand the signaling pathways underlying the ischemic activation of the NF-κB pathway, we used an array of antibodies to phosphoproteins involved in the inflammatory pathway. Compared to the lysates from cells grown in normal glucose, the lysates from cells grown in prolonged high glucose had dramatically increased phosphorylation of PKC-β2 (PKC-β2pSer661, 8-fold increase). To test whether this increase in PKC-β2pSer66 impairs NF-κB activation by ischemia, we treated HUVECS with prolonged high glucose exposure and ruboxystaurin (Rbx) (20 nM), an inhibitor of PKC-β2 phosphorylation, prior to ischemic exposure. Immunoblotting results confirmed that inhibition of PKC-β2 phosphorylation enhanced the ischemia induced NF-κB activation in HUVEC in this condition. We then tested the effect of Rbx on PKC-β2 phosphorylation and NF-κB activation in vivo in Akita mice, a model for type 1 diabetes. Consistent with our in vitro findings, in experimental PAD, NF-κB activity in the ischemic hind limb of Akita mice was significantly lower than those of the wild type (WT) mice as measured by IκB-α degradation (WT ischemic vs Akita ischemic; 0.04 ± 0.03 vs 0.10 ± 0.04 p<0.05). However, treatment of Akita mice with Rbx increased NF-κB activation in the ischemic hind limb (Akita ischemic 0.10 ± 0.04 vs ischemic+ Rbx 0.05 ± 0.02, p<0.05). Moreover, compared to the WT mice, the untreated Akita mice showed an impaired perfusion in the ischemic limbs (% perfusion recovery, WT vs Akita; 80.1 ± 10.3 vs 55.7 ± 10.1, p<0.05, n=5-8) that was improved in Rbx treated Akita mice (96.3 ± 2.3, p<0.01). Thus, hyperglycemic conditions increase PKC-β2pSer66 in endothelial cells attenuating salutary NF-κB activation contributing to poor PAD outcomes in DM.

Isolation of an Anti–tumour Disintegrin: Dabmaurin–1, a Peptide Lebein–1–like, from Daboia mauritanica Venom

In the soft treatment of cancer tumours, consequent downregulation of the malignant tissue angiogenesis constitutes an efficient way to stifle tumour development and metastasis spreading. As angiogenesis requires integrin–promoting endothelial cell adhesion, migration, and vessel tube formation, integrins represent potential targets of new therapeutic anti–angiogenic agents. Our work is a contribution to the research of such therapeutic disintegrins in animal venoms. We report isolation of one peptide, named Dabmaurin–1, from the hemotoxic venom of snake Daboia mauritanica, and we evaluate its potential anti–tumour activity through in vitro inhibition of the human vascular endothelial cell HMECs functions involved in tumour angiogenesis. Dabmaurin–1 altered, in a dose–dependent manner, without any significant cytotoxicity, HMEC proliferation, adhesion, and their mesenchymal migration onto various extracellular matrix proteins, as well as formation of capillary–tube mimics on MatrigelTM. Via experiments involving HMEC or specific cancers cells integrins, we demonstrated that the above Dabmaurin–1 effects are possibly due to some anti–integrin properties. Dabmaurin–1 was demonstrated to recognize a broad panel of prooncogenic integrins (αvβ6, αvβ3 or αvβ5) and/or particularly involved in control of angiogenesis (α5β1, α6β4, αvβ3 or αvβ5). Furthermore, mass spectrometry and partial N–terminal sequencing of this peptide revealed, it is close to Lebein–1, a known anti–β1 disintegrin from Macrovipera lebetina venom. Therefore, our results show that if Dabmaurin–1 exhibits in vitro apparent anti–angiogenic effects at concentrations lower than 30 nM, it is likely because it acts as an anti–tumour disintegrin.

Antioxidant and Anti-inflammatory Protective Properties of Thai Shallot (Allium ascalonicum cv. Chiangmai) Juice on Human Vascular Endothelial Cell Lines (EA.hy926)

Oxidative stress and inflammation are 2 major contributors to numerous life-threatening disorders, including vascular pathologies. Shallots (Allium ascalonicum) are a type of red onion which grows in Southeast Asia. Bulbs of this plant are used both as a food ingredient and in traditional medicine. This study attempted to investigate the possible ways that juice extracted from Thai shallot (A.ascalonicum cv. Chiangmai) bulbs could be used in the prevention of cardiovascular complications. The antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects of shallot juice extract (SHE) on human vascular endothelial cells (EA.hy926) were investigated. Cell viability was evaluated by MTT assay, membrane lipid peroxidation by thiobarbituric acid reactive substances assay, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by the fluorescent probe 6-carboxy-2'-7'-dichlorofluoresceine, and interleukin-6 (IL-6) released by ELISA. The shallot juice showed extremely low cytotoxicity against EA.hy926 cells, with IC50 of 41.9 and 27.3 mg/ml for 24 h- and 48 h-incubation, respectively. SHE reduced the iron-induced malondialdehyde production in a dose-dependent manner. The extract also demonstrated antioxidant activity as shown by a significant reduction of H2O2-induced ROS production at a low concentration (< 200 mg/ml). Furthermore, SHE significantly attenuated the level of IL-6 released during lipopolysaccharide stimulation (p < 0.05). It is of interest that the juice extracted from Thai shallot bulbs demonstrated both cellular antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties in endothelial cell models, combined with a reduction in toxicity. Shallot extract could be considered as a nutraceutical for the prevention or management of vascular diseases as it is related to oxidative stress and inflammation.

Diphlorethohydroxycarmalol Isolated from Ishige okamurae Represses High Glucose-Induced Angiogenesis In Vitro and In Vivo

Diabetes mellitus causes abnormalities of angiogenesis leading to vascular dysfunction and serious pathologies. Diphlorethohydroxycarmalol (DPHC), which is isolated from Ishige okamurae, is well known for its bioactivities, including antihyperglycemic and protective functions against diabetes-related pathologies. In the present study, the inhibitory effect of DPHC on high glucose-induced angiogenesis was investigated on the human vascular endothelial cell line EA.hy926. DPHC inhibited the cell proliferation, cell migration, and tube formation in cells exposed to 30 mM of glucose to induce angiogenesis. Furthermore, the effect of DPHC against high glucose-induced angiogenesis was evaluated in zebrafish embryos. The treatment of embryos with DPHC suppressed high glucose-induced dilation in the retinal vessel diameter and vessel formation. Moreover, DPHC could inhibit high glucose-induced vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR-2) expression and its downstream signaling cascade. Overall, these findings suggest that DPHC is actively involved in the suppression of high glucose-induced angiogenesis. Hence, DPHC is a potential agent for the development of therapeutics against angiogenesis induced by diabetes.

Corrigendum

Gaspari T, Spizzo I, Liu HB, et al. (2018) Dapagliflozin attenuates human vascular endothelial cell activation and induces vasorelaxation: A potential mechanism for inhibition of atherogenesis. Diabetes & Vascular Disease Research 2018; 15(1): 64–73. DOI: 10.1177/1479164117733626 The authors have highlighted a typographical error which exists in the NFκB reverse primer sequence outlined in the paper. The published NFκB reverse primer sequence reads 5′-TGT-CGT-GCT-CCA-CAC-AGC-CAG-GT-3′. The correct sequence for the NFκB reverse primer sequence should read 5′-TGT-CGT-GCT-CCA-CAG-CCA-GGT-3′. The correct NFκB primer sequence was the sequence utilised in production of the NFκB reverse primer used in all PCR experiments undertaken in this study and thus does not impact on the validity of the PCR results.

Integrin-Linked Kinase Senses Hypoxia During Scar Angiogenesis

Integrin-linked kinase (ILK) mediates signal transduction between cells and the extracellular matrix, regulating cell proliferation, migration, angiogenesis, and apoptosis. However, its roles in the formation of hypertrophic scars are not yet clear. In this study, we found that ILK was predominantly expressed on the microvascular endothelial cells and the epidermal basal cells of human hypertrophic scars. The proliferation, migration and angiogenesis of primary human scar microvascular endothelial cells (HSMECs) were significantly inhibited after ILK was silenced. The ILK inhibitor QLT0267 had the same effect of impeding angiogenesis in vitro by blocking ILK activity. Both siRNA and QLT0267 markedly decreased the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor, but not its receptors, such as human vascular endothelial cell growth factor receptor 1 or kinase insert domain-containing receptor. We also showed that the expression of ILK was enhanced by inducing mild hypoxia with CoCl2, but it was suppressed under serious hypoxia. Thus, ILK regulates HSMEC proliferation and angiogenesis and participates in the formation of hypertrophic scars, in which mild hypoxia may be the mechanism of action.