Oxidative stress induces angiogenesis by activating TLR2 with novel endogenous ligands

Reciprocity of inflammation, oxidative stress and neovascularization is emerging as an important mechanism underlying numerous processes from tissue healing and remodelling to cancer progression. Whereas the mechanism of hypoxia-driven angiogenesis is well understood, the link between inflammation-induced oxidation and de novo blood vessel growth remains obscure. Here we show that the end products of lipid oxidation, ω-(2-carboxyethyl)pyrrole (CEP) and other related pyrroles, are generated during inflammation and wound healing and accumulate at high levels in ageing tissues in mice and in highly vascularized tumours in both murine and human melanoma. The molecular patterns of carboxyalkylpyrroles are recognized by Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2), but not TLR4 or scavenger receptors on endothelial cells, leading to an angiogenic response that is independent of vascular endothelial growth factor. CEP promoted angiogenesis in hindlimb ischaemia and wound healing models through MyD88-dependent TLR2 signalling. Neutralization of endogenous carboxyalkylpyrroles impaired wound healing and tissue revascularization and diminished tumour angiogenesis. Both TLR2 and MyD88 are required for CEP-induced stimulation of Rac1 and endothelial migration. Taken together, these findings establish a new function of TLR2 as a sensor of oxidation-associated molecular patterns, providing a key link connecting inflammation, oxidative stress, innate immunity and angiogenesis.     

Macrophage-induced angiogenesis is mediated by tumour necrosis factor-alpha

Macrophages are important in the induction of new blood vessel growth during wound repair, inflammation and tumour growth. We show here that tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), a secretory product of activated macrophages that is believed to mediate tumour cytotoxicity, is a potent inducer of new blood vessel growth (angiogenesis). In vivo, TNF-alpha induces capillary blood vessel formation in the rat cornea and the developing chick chorioallantoic membrane at very low doses. In vitro, TNF-alpha stimulates chemotaxis of bovine adrenal capillary endothelial cells and induces cultures of these cells grown on type-1 collagen gels to form capillary-tube-like structures. The angiogenic activity produced by activated murine peritoneal macrophages is completely neutralized by a polyclonal antibody to TNF-alpha, suggesting immunological features are common to TNF-alpha and the protein responsible for macrophage-derived angiogenic activity. In inflammation and wound repair, TNF-alpha could augment repair by stimulating new blood vessel growth; in tumours, TNF-alpha might both stimulate tumour development by promoting vessel growth and participate in tumour destruction by direct cytotoxicity.     

Therapeutic angiogenesis induced by human hepatocyte growth factor gene in hindlimb ischemia of dogs

A preclinical study of treating peripheral srtery occlusive disease(PAD) was performed by using a hepatocyte growth factor(HGF) gene-expressing vector,plasmid pUDKH,in a dog model with complete ischemia of one hindlimb.After ligation of femoral artery of one hindlimb,pUDKH was transferred directly into the ischemic limb muscles.The angiogenic activity of the plasmid pUDKH was evaluated.On D 30 after injecting once of pUDKH at differ-ent doses into local muscles immediately after operation,the degree of augmentation of collateral vessel formation was significantly greater than that treated by blank vector.In addition,the blood flow rate of femoral artery in dogs treated with pUDKH was recovered on D90,while the folw rate was only 1/5 tp 1/3 in control dogs.The pulse amplitude of pUDKH-treated dogs was recovered on D90,but it was hardly detectable in most of the control dogs.The side effects of intramuscular transfection of pUDKH were also investi-gated,and no significant positive change was found.It is suggested that angiogenesis induced by HGF gene has the potential for clincal use in the treatment of peripheral arte-rial diseases.     

IGF-1 receptor regulates lifespan and resistance to oxidative stress in mice

Studies in invertebrates have led to the identification of a number of genes that regulate lifespan, some of which encode components of the insulin or insulin-like signalling pathways. Examples include the related tyrosine kinase receptors InR (Drosophila melanogaster) and DAF-2 (Caenorhabditis elegans) that are homologues of the mammalian insulin-like growth factor type 1 receptor (IGF-1R). To investigate whether IGF-1R also controls longevity in mammals, we inactivated the IGF-1R gene in mice (Igf1r). Here, using heterozygous knockout mice because null mutants are not viable, we report that Igf1r(+/-) mice live on average 26% longer than their wild-type littermates (P < 0.02). Female Igf1r(+/-) mice live 33% longer than wild-type females (P < 0.001), whereas the equivalent male mice show an increase in lifespan of 16%, which is not statistically significant. Long-lived Igf1r(+/-) mice do not develop dwarfism, their energy metabolism is normal, and their nutrient uptake, physical activity, fertility and reproduction are unaffected. The Igf1r(+/-) mice display greater resistance to oxidative stress, a known determinant of ageing. These results indicate that the IGF-1 receptor may be a central regulator of mammalian lifespan.     

Vascular-specific growth factors and blood vessel formation

A recent explosion in newly discovered vascular growth factors has coincided with exploitation of powerful new genetic approaches for studying vascular development. An emerging rule is that all of these factors must be used in perfect harmony to form functional vessels. These new findings also demand re-evaluation of therapeutic efforts aimed at regulating blood vessel growth in ischaemia, cancer and other pathological settings.     

中晚期原发性肝癌血供的单层动态血管造影CT研究

目的 :运用单层动态肝动脉及间接门静脉血管造影CT观察评价中晚期原发性肝癌的血供特点。方法 :确诊且未接受过介入治疗的中晚期原发性肝癌 33例 ,行经导管动脉化疗栓塞(TACE)前 ,运用联合导管技术 ,在肝动脉造影CT(CTHA)、动脉性门静脉造影CT(CTAP)中运用单层动态扫描技术进行造影检查 ,绘制时间 -密度曲线 ,进行比较和综合分析。结果 :全组肝癌均存在肝动脉供血 ,2 9例为明确的单纯肝动脉供血 ,4例为肝动脉和侧支动脉供血 ;未见明确的门静脉供血表现。在CTHA和CTAP单层动态扫描上 ,时间 -密度曲线显示 :肝癌组织在CTHA上呈显著的强化 (P <0 0 5 ) ,在CTAP上无显著强化 (P >0 0 5 ) ;比较CTHA和CTAP单层动态扫描与术后复查碘油CT的肿瘤同层面横截面积 ,未见显著性差异 (P >0 0 5 )。结论 :中晚期肝癌血供以肝动脉供血占绝对优势 ,少数可见侧支动脉供血 ,未见门静脉供血     

Vascular endothelial growth factor induced by hypoxia may mediate hypoxia-initiated angiogenesis.

Inefficient vascular supply and the resultant reduction in tissue oxygen tension often lead to neovascularization in order to satisfy the needs of the tissue. Examples include the compensatory development of collateral blood vessels in ischaemic tissues that are otherwise quiescent for angiogenesis and angiogenesis associated with the healing of hypoxic wounds. But the presumptive hypoxia-induced angiogenic factors that mediate this feedback response have not been identified. Here we show that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF; also known as vascular permeability factor) probably functions as a hypoxia-inducible angiogenic factor. VEGF messenger RNA levels are dramatically increased within a few hours of exposing different cell cultures to hypoxia and return to background when normal oxygen supply is resumed. In situ analysis of tumour specimens undergoing neovascularization show that the production of VEGF is specifically induced in a subset of glioblastoma cells distinguished by their immediate proximity to necrotic foci (presumably hypoxic regions) and the clustering of capillaries alongside VEGF-producing cells.     

Acetylation-dependent regulation of endothelial Notch signalling by the SIRT1 deacetylase

Notch signalling is a key intercellular communication mechanism that is essential for cell specification and tissue patterning, and which coordinates critical steps of blood vessel growth. Although subtle alterations in Notch activity suffice to elicit profound differences in endothelial behaviour and blood vessel formation, little is known about the regulation and adaptation of endothelial Notch responses. Here we report that the NAD(+)-dependent deacetylase SIRT1 acts as an intrinsic negative modulator of Notch signalling in endothelial cells. We show that acetylation of the Notch1 intracellular domain (NICD) on conserved lysines controls the amplitude and duration of Notch responses by altering NICD protein turnover. SIRT1 associates with NICD and functions as a NICD deacetylase, which opposes the acetylation-induced NICD stabilization. Consequently, endothelial cells lacking SIRT1 activity are sensitized to Notch signalling, resulting in impaired growth, sprout elongation and enhanced Notch target gene expression in response to DLL4 stimulation, thereby promoting a non-sprouting, stalk-cell-like phenotype. In vivo, inactivation of Sirt1 in zebrafish and mice causes reduced vascular branching and density as a consequence of enhanced Notch signalling. Our findings identify reversible acetylation of the NICD as a molecular mechanism to adapt the dynamics of Notch signalling, and indicate that SIRT1 acts as rheostat to fine-tune endothelial Notch responses.     

运动性骨骼肌适应的炎症诱导机制研究现状

运动人体科学界、运动医学界普遍认为炎症诱导肌卫星细胞激活的机制是运动性骨骼肌适应的最重要机制。运动肌会因机械损伤、缺血／再灌注、钙离子升高尤其牵拉激活型Ca^2＋通道激活导致的Ca^2＋升高,产生肿瘤坏死因子-α（tumornec rosisfactor,TNF-α）、白细胞介素-1β（interleukin-1β,IL-1β）、白细胞介素-8（interleukin-8,IL-8）等各种促炎症因子。这些细胞因子以内皮细胞为媒介将白细胞尤其是中性粒细胞由血液引向骨骼肌组织导致炎症发生。一定范围内或一定程度的炎症反应过程中,炎症造成的缺氧及炎症募集的ED^2＋巨噬细胞产生的成纤生长因子、胰岛素样生长因子-1会激活卫星,随着卫星细胞内各种肌源性调节因子的程序性合成,卫星细胞并从G0期重返细胞周期,进行细胞的增殖,既实现卫星细胞的自我更新、维持,又有序地进行细胞分化、同损伤肌细胞融合,最终完成骨骼肌的正常生长、损伤肌肉的修复及再生。     

Bidirectional control of CNS capillary diameter by pericytes

Neural activity increases local blood flow in the central nervous system (CNS), which is the basis of BOLD (blood oxygen level dependent) and PET (positron emission tomography) functional imaging techniques. Blood flow is assumed to be regulated by precapillary arterioles, because capillaries lack smooth muscle. However, most (65%) noradrenergic innervation of CNS blood vessels terminates near capillaries rather than arterioles, and in muscle and brain a dilatory signal propagates from vessels near metabolically active cells to precapillary arterioles, suggesting that blood flow control is initiated in capillaries. Pericytes, which are apposed to CNS capillaries and contain contractile proteins, could initiate such signalling. Here we show that pericytes can control capillary diameter in whole retina and cerebellar slices. Electrical stimulation of retinal pericytes evoked a localized capillary constriction, which propagated at approximately 2 microm s(-1) to constrict distant pericytes. Superfused ATP in retina or noradrenaline in cerebellum resulted in constriction of capillaries by pericytes, and glutamate reversed the constriction produced by noradrenaline. Electrical stimulation or puffing GABA (gamma-amino butyric acid) receptor blockers in the inner retina also evoked pericyte constriction. In simulated ischaemia, some pericytes constricted capillaries. Pericytes are probably modulators of blood flow in response to changes in neural activity, which may contribute to functional imaging signals and to CNS vascular disease.     

Inhibition of Dll4 signalling inhibits tumour growth by deregulating angiogenesis

Haploinsufficiency of Dll4, a vascular-specific Notch ligand, has shown that it is essential for embryonic vascular development and arteriogenesis. Mechanistically, it is unclear how the Dll4-mediated Notch pathway contributes to complex vascular processes that demand meticulous coordination of multiple signalling pathways. Here we show that Dll4-mediated Notch signalling has a unique role in regulating endothelial cell proliferation and differentiation. Neutralizing Dll4 with a Dll4-selective antibody rendered endothelial cells hyperproliferative, and caused defective cell fate specification or differentiation both in vitro and in vivo. In addition, blocking Dll4 inhibited tumour growth in several tumour models. Remarkably, antibodies against Dll4 and antibodies against vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) had paradoxically distinct effects on tumour vasculature. Our data also indicate that Dll4-mediated Notch signalling is crucial during active vascularization, but less important for normal vessel maintenance. Furthermore, unlike blocking Notch signalling globally, neutralizing Dll4 had no discernable impact on intestinal goblet cell differentiation, supporting the idea that Dll4-mediated Notch signalling is largely restricted to the vascular compartment. Therefore, targeting Dll4 might represent a broadly efficacious and well-tolerated approach for the treatment of solid tumours.     

Ultrastructural localization of choline acetyltransferase in vascular endothelial cells in rat brain

Furchgott and Zawadski have shown that acetylcholine (ACh) does not act directly on the smooth muscle of blood vessel walls, but rather via receptors on the endothelial cells lining the lumen, to release an endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF). As it is very unlikely that neurotransmitter released from the periarterial nerves, which are confined to the adventitial-medial border, diffuses all the way through the medial muscle coat before acting on endothelial cells to release EDRF to produce vasodilatation, this discovery has been regarded as an indication of a pathophysiological mechanism, rather than a physiological one (see refs 2, 3). ACh is rapidly degraded in the blood by acetylcholinesterase, so that ACh must be released locally to be effective on endothelial cells. Here we demonstrate the immunocytochemical localization of choline acetyltransferase in endothelial cells of small brain vessels, which is consistent with the view that the ACh originates from endothelial cells that can synthesize and store it. We suggest that release of ACh following damage to endothelial cells during ischaemia contributes to a pathophysiological mechanism of vasodilation which protects that segment of vessel from further damage as well as brain cells from hypoxia.     

Therapeutic induction of angiogenesis by direct myocardial administration of an adenovirus vector encoding human hepatocyte growth factor gene and its safety

After the study in vitro and in rats, we assessed further the effects and safety of local angiogen therapy using intramyocardial delivery of an adenovirus carrying hepatocyte growth factor gene (Ad-HGF) in a canine ischemia model. The angiogenic activity of Ad-HGF was evaluated from three aspects. First, the augmentation of collateral vessel development was assessed by angiography 30 d after surgery. The results showed that the density of collateral vessels in treated group was higher than that of control group. Secondly, infarct size was evaluated by TTC staining and image analysis. The results showed that the infarct size of treated group was smaller than that of control group. Thirdly, the myocardial regional blood flow was determined by the method of colored microspheres. The results showed that the blood flow recovered to the level before ligation in treated group, but that of the control group was lower than normal level. In addition, during the study of chronic toxicity, we tested the anti-adenovirus antibodies by neutralization method. The antibodies yielded after the fourth injection decreased slowly from peak level and disappeared 12 weeks after drug withdrawal. Overall, Ad-HGF can promote angiogenesis in ischemic myocardium and reduce infarct size. So this method may be considered as a therapeutic angiogenesis induction strategy for ischemic disease including myocardial infarction and peripheral artery disease. At the same time, Ad-HGF could induce the yield of anti-adenovirus antibodies to neutralize adenovirus, which may be the mechanism of adenovirus clearance.     

肉鸡腹水综合征发病机理研究进展

快速生长等病因使机体氧不足,产生OFR,导致血管内皮细胞损伤.首先,内皮细胞损伤引起以非肌性动脉肌性化,肌性动脉中膜平滑肌增厚,外膜下胶原纤维增多为特征的肺血管重构.肺血管重构时,血管壁增厚,内径缩小、僵硬,弹性回缩力缩小而形成PS.其次,内皮细胞损伤使有缩血管作用的TXA2和EDCF合成增加,而有舒血管作用的PGI2和EDRF合成减少,肺血管收缩加强,再加上血栓的阻力,形成PS.高Na+通过使胃肠内容物渗透压升高,液体从血液中向胃肠腔渗漏,血液PCV值升高;ED下降,血流阻力增大;血容量增加三方面导致PS.PS出现早于右心肥大.PS引起右心肥大和AS.PS使右心负荷增大,久之右心衰竭,静脉回流受阻,肝脏淤血.肝毛细血管压力升高,大量滤出液进入肝淋巴管而使其压力上升,淋巴液从肝被膜和肝淋巴管渗出而形成腹水.PS是AS发病机理的中心环节.AHI(RV/TV)是学术界公认的研究AS的参数,它反映了心扩张程度和肺动脉压的高低,可以做为AS的诊断根据.大量的试验数据表明:右心室越重,右心区面积越大,腹水越多.AS病鸡的AHI值>0.40.     

Thymosin beta4 induces adult epicardial progenitor mobilization and neovascularization

Cardiac failure has a principal underlying aetiology of ischaemic damage arising from vascular insufficiency. Molecules that regulate collateral growth in the ischaemic heart also regulate coronary vasculature formation during embryogenesis. Here we identify thymosin beta4 (Tbeta4) as essential for all aspects of coronary vessel development in mice, and demonstrate that Tbeta4 stimulates significant outgrowth from quiescent adult epicardial explants, restoring pluripotency and triggering differentiation of fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells. Tbeta4 knockdown in the heart is accompanied by significant reduction in the pro-angiogenic cleavage product N-acetyl-seryl-aspartyl-lysyl-proline (AcSDKP). Although injection of AcSDKP was unable to rescue Tbeta4 mutant hearts, it significantly enhanced endothelial cell differentiation from adult epicardially derived precursor cells. This study identifies Tbeta4 and AcSDKP as potent stimulators of coronary vasculogenesis and angiogenesis, and reveals Tbeta4-induced adult epicardial cells as a viable source of vascular progenitors for continued renewal of regressed vessels at low basal level or sustained neovascularization following cardiac injury.     

Phosphoglycerate kinase acts in tumour angiogenesis as a disulphide reductase

Disulphide bonds in secreted proteins are considered to be inert because of the oxidizing nature of the extracellular milieu. An exception to this rule is a reductase secreted by tumour cells that reduces disulphide bonds in the serine proteinase plasmin. Reduction of plasmin initiates proteolytic cleavage in the kringle 5 domain and release of the tumour blood vessel inhibitor angiostatin. New blood vessel formation or angiogenesis is critical for tumour expansion and metastasis. Here we show that the plasmin reductase isolated from conditioned medium of fibrosarcoma cells is the glycolytic enzyme phosphoglycerate kinase. Recombinant phosphoglycerate kinase had the same specific activity as the fibrosarcoma-derived protein. Plasma of mice bearing fibrosarcoma tumours contained several-fold more phosphoglycerate kinase, as compared with mice without tumours. Administration of phosphoglycerate kinase to tumour-bearing mice caused an increase in plasma levels of angiostatin, and a decrease in tumour vascularity and rate of tumour growth. Our findings indicate that phosphoglycerate kinase not only functions in glycolysis but is secreted by tumour cells and participates in the angiogenic process as a disulphide reductase.     

小剂量低分子量肝素治疗老年人重症肺心病合并呼吸衰竭

目的:观察低分子量肝素治疗老年人重症肺心病合并呼吸衰竭的疗效.方法:全部病例60例,随机分为两组,治疗组:在常规氧疗、抗感染、平喘等治疗的同时,加低分子量肝素,每日2次,皮下注射.对照组:常规治疗.全部患者疗程均为10 d,治疗前后分别检查pH,PaO2,PaCO2并进行比较.结果:患者经吸氧、抗感染、平喘等治疗,症状、体征均有明显改善,但pH,PaO2升高,PaCO2下降,以治疗组作用为佳.治疗组与对照组疗效比较,有显著性差异(P＜0.05).结论:低分子量肝素能改善老年人的肺循环,降低肺动脉高压 ,且具有明显的临床应用价值.