Developmental and pathological angiogenesis in the central nervous system

Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels from pre-existing vessels, in the central nervous system (CNS) is seen both as a normal physiological response as well as a pathological step in disease progression. Formation of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) is an essential step in physiological CNS angiogenesis. The BBB is regulated by a neurovascular unit (NVU) consisting of endothelial and perivascular cells as well as vascular astrocytes. The NVU plays a critical role in preventing entry of neurotoxic substances and regulation of blood flow in the CNS. In recent years, research on numerous acquired and hereditary disorders of the CNS has increasingly emphasized the role of angiogenesis in disease pathophysiology. Here, we discuss molecular mechanisms of CNS angiogenesis during embryogenesis as well as various pathological states including brain tumor formation, ischemic stroke, arteriovenous malformations, and neurodegenerative diseases.     

Angiogenesis and signal transduction in endothelial cells

Endothelial cells receive multiple information from their environment that eventually leads them to progress along all the stages of the process of formation of new vessels. Angiogenic signals promote endothelial cell proliferation, increased resistance to apoptosis, changes in proteolytic balance, cytoskeletal reorganization, migration and, finally, differentiation and formation of a new vascular lumen. We aim to review herein the main signaling cascades that become activated in angiogenic endothelial cells as well as the opportunities of modulating angiogenesis through pharmacological interference with these signaling mechanisms. We will deal mainly with the mitogen-activated protein kinases pathway, which is very important in the transduction of proliferation signals; the phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/protein kinase B signaling system, particularly essential for the survival of the angiogenic endothelium; the small GTPases involved in cytoskeletal reorganization and migration; and the kinases associated to focal adhesions which contribute to integrate the pathways from the two main sources of angiogenic signals, i.e. growth factors and the extracellular matrix.Received 13 February 2004; received after revision 25 March 2004; accepted 19 April 2004     

Choroidal vascular repair: Scanning and transmission electron microscopy

Repair of the choroidal vasculature following laser photocoagulation in the rat was examined with vascular casts and correlated with observations on thin-sections. The regenerative process began at the periphery of the damaged area, starting from the surviving choriocapillaris and venules, and proceeding towards the center by means of recanalization of damaged vessels and growth of new ones. In small healed lesions the capillary bed was re-formed. It resembled the adjacent undamaged choriocapillaris morphologically but appeared to be less dense than the intact choriocapillaris when examined by scanning microscopy. In large lesions the capillary bed was re-formed at the periphery but not at the center. Also present at the edges of the large lesions were groups of new vessels which, when observed by scanning microscopy, appeared to extend in two directions; towards the subretinal space and towards the choroidal network. Another aspect of the repair process was the simultaneous occurrence of new vessel growth and capillary regression, which was observed both at the level of the choriocapillaris and at the foci of new vessels     

Choroidal vascular repair: scanning and transmission electron microscopy.

Repair of the choroidal vasculature following laser photocoagulation in the rat was examined with vascular casts and correlated with observations on thin-sections. The regenerative process began at the periphery of the damaged area, starting from the surviving choriocapillaris and venules, and proceeding towards the center by means of recanalization of damaged vessels and growth of new ones. In small healed lesions the capillary bed was re-formed. It resembled the adjacent undamaged choriocapillaris morphologically but appeared to be less dense than the intact choriocapillaris when examined by scanning microscopy. In large lesions the capillary bed was re-formed at the periphery but not at the center. Also present at the edges of the large lesions were groups of new vessels which, when observed by scanning microscopy, appeared to extend in two directions; towards the subretinal space and towards the choroidal network. Another aspect of the repair process was the simultaneous occurrence of new vessel growth and capillary regression, which was observed both at the level of the choriocapillaris and at the foci of new vessels.     

Protein kinases: which one is the memory molecule?

Encoding of new experiences is likely to induce activity-dependent modifications in the brain. Studies in organisms far apart on the phylogenetic scale have shown that similar, sometimes identical, signal transduction pathways subserve plasticity in neuronal systems, and they may play pivotal roles in the formation of long-term memories. It has become evident that phosphorylation/dephosphorylation reactions are critical for the initiation of cellular mechanisms that embody, retain and modify information in neural circuits. Although physiological investigations on synaptic plasticity have had a major impact, we have concentrated our review on behavioural studies that provide direct or indirect evidence for a role of kinases in mechanisms underlying memory formation. From these, it appears that the learning event induces activation of a variety of kinases with specific time courses. For instance, the calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II seems to participate in an early phase of memory formation. Apparently, activation of both protein tyrosine kinases and mitogen-activated protein kinases is required for much longer and may thus have a particular function during transformation from short-term into long-term memory. Quite different time courses appear for protein kinase C (PKC) and protein kinase A (PKA), which may function at two different time points, shortly after training and again much later. This suggests that PKC and PKA might play a role at early and late stages of memory formation. However, we have considered some examples showing that these signalling pathways do not function in isolation but rather interact in an intricate intracellular network. This is indicative of a more complex contribution of each kinase to the fine tuning of encoding and information processing. To decipher this complexity, pharmacological, biochemical and genetic investigations are more than ever necessary to unravel the role of each kinase in the syntax of learning and memory formation.     

Formation and role of exosomes in cancer

Exosomes offer new insight into cancer biology with both diagnostic and therapeutic implications. Because of their cell-to-cell communication, exosomes influence tumor progression, metastasis, and therapeutic efficacy. They can be isolated from blood and other bodily fluids to reveal disease processes occurring within the body, including cancerous growth. In addition to being a reservoir of cancer biomarkers, they can be re-engineered to reinstate tumor immunity. Tumor exosomes interact with various cells of the microenvironment to confer tumor-advantageous changes that are responsible for stromal activation, induction of the angiogenic switch, increased vascular permeability, and immune escape. Exosomes also contribute to metastasis by aiding in the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and formation of the pre-metastatic niche. Furthermore, exosomes protect tumor cells from the cytotoxic effects of chemotherapy drugs and transfer chemoresistance properties to nearby cells. Thus, exosomes are essential to many lethal elements of cancer and it is important to understand their biogenesis and role in cancer.     

香烟烟雾提取物对人内皮细胞细胞色素C氧化酶活性及细胞凋亡的影响

目的探讨香烟烟雾提取物（cigarette smoking extract,CSE）对内皮细胞细胞色素C氧化酶（cytochmme Coxidase,COX）活性及凋亡的影响。方法体外培养ECV304,分别给予0％、0．5％、1％、5％CSE刺激12h,及5％CSE刺激0h、6h、12h、24h后,生化法检测COX活性;投射电镜和流式细胞仪观察细胞凋亡情况。结果CSE引起COX活性下降,且随着刺激浓度和时间的增加而下降（P〈0．05）;电镜示CSE干预组细胞出现明显的凋亡形态学改变;流式细胞仪结果示不同浓度CSE分别作用12h后凋亡率依次增高,除O％CSE组和0．5％CSE组间比较无统计学意义（P〉0．05）,余各组间比较均有统计学意义（P〈0．05）;5％CSE作用不同时间后,随着干预时间的延长细胞凋亡率逐渐升高（P〈0．05）。结论CSE抑制内皮细胞COX活性,呈浓度和时间依赖性;CSE诱导内皮细胞凋亡,呈浓度和时间依赖性;COX活性的下降可能在CSE所致的内皮细胞凋亡中具有重要作用。     

Regulation and dysregulation of astrocyte activation and implications in tumor formation

Astrocytic activation is a cellular response to disturbances of the central nervous system (CNS). Recent advances in cellular and molecular biology have demonstrated the remarkable changes in molecular signaling, morphology, and metabolism that occur during astrocyte activation. Based on these studies, it has become clear that the astrocyte activation process is regulated by a variety of signaling pathways, which result in metabolic support, wound healing and scar formation. While normal astrocyte activation pathways drive homeostasis and/or repair in the CNS, dysregulation of these pathways can lead to astrocyte abnormalities, including glioma formation with similar phenotypes as reactive astrocytes. We review the principle pathways responsible for astrocytic activation, as well as their potential contribution to tumor formation in the CNS.     

What’s new in the renin-angiotensin system?

The type 1 angiotensin receptor (AT(1)) activates an array of intracellular signalling pathways that control cell and tissue responses to the peptide hormone angiotensin II (AngII). The capacity of AT(1) receptors to initiate and maintain such signals has typically been explained on the basis of conventional heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide binding protein (G protein) activation, specifically G(q/11). Accumulating evidence from studies utilising a variety of AT(1) receptor mutants and AngII analogues indicates that some important downstream effects of AT(1) receptors are independent of classical G protein coupling. Importantly, AT(1) receptor-mediated endocytosis, tyrosine phosphorylation signalling and mitogen-activated protein kinase activation as well as transactivation of the epidermal growth factor receptor can occur in G(q/11)-uncoupled receptor mutants. These observations point to a functional partitioning of AT(1) receptor signals that permits separation of short-term AngII actions (e.g., vasoconstriction) from more extended events, such as pathological cell growth in heart and blood vessels, and may open up new avenues for selective antagonism.     

Endothelial epsins as regulators and potential therapeutic targets of tumor angiogenesis

VEGF-driven tumor angiogenesis has been validated as a central target in several tumor types deserving of continuous and further considerations to improve the efficacy and selectivity of the current therapeutic paradigms. Epsins, a family of endocytic clathrin adaptors, have been implicated in regulating endothelial cell VEGFR2 signaling, where its inactivation leads to nonproductive leaky neo-angiogenesis and, therefore, impedes tumor development and progression. Targeting endothelial epsins is of special significance due to its lack of affecting other angiogenic-signaling pathways or disrupting normal quiescent vessels, suggesting a selective modulation of tumor angiogenesis. This review highlights seminal findings on the critical role of endothelial epsins in tumor angiogenesis and their underlying molecular events, as well as strategies to prohibit the normal function of endogenous endothelial epsins that capitalize on these newly understood mechanisms.     

Roles of the DNA mismatch repair and nucleotide excision repair proteins during meiosis

Numerous proteins are involved in the nucleotide excision repair (NER) and DNA mismatch repair (MMR) pathways. The function and specificity of these proteins during the mitotic cell cycle has been actively investigated, in large part due to the involvement of these systems in human diseases. In contrast, comparatively little is known about their functioning during meiosis. At least three repair pathways operate during meiosis in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae to repair mismatches that occur as a consequence of heteroduplex formation in recombination. The first pathway is similar to the one acting during postreplicative mismatch repair in mitotically dividing cells, while two pathways are responsible for the repair of large loops during meiosis, using proteins from MMR and NER systems. Some MMR proteins also help prevent recombination between diverged sequences during meiosis, and act late in recombination to affect the resolution of crossovers. This review will discuss the current status of DNA mismatch repair and nucleotide excision repair proteins during meiosis, especially in the yeast S. cerevisiae. Received 21 September 1998; received after revision 23 November 1998; accepted 23 November 1998     

MAP kinases in plant signal transduction

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways are modules involved in the transduction of extracellular signals to intracellular targets in all eukaryotes. Distinct MAPK pathways are regulated by different extracellular stimuli and are implicated in a wide variety of biological processes. In plants there is evidence for MAPKs playing a role in the signaling of abiotic stresses, pathogens and plant hormones. The large number and divergence of plant MAPKs indicates that this ancient mechanism of bioinformatics is extensively used in plants and may provide a new molecular handle on old questions.     

Inhaled and exhaled nitric oxide

Inhaled nitric oxide (NO) is used to treat various cardiopulmonary disorders associated with pulmonary hypertension. The rationale is based on the fact that NO, given by inhalation, only dilates those pulmonary vessels that perfuse well-ventilated lung units. As a result, pulmonary gas exchange is improved while pulmonary vascular resistance is reduced and pulmonary blood flow is increased. Inhaled NO has been succesfully applied to treat persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn, reducing the need for extracorporeal life support. Although pulmonary hypertension and altered vasoreactivity contribute to profound hypoxaemia in adult and paediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), the benefit of inhaled NO still remains to be established in patients with ARDS. ARDS is a complex response of the lung to direct or indirect insults, leading to pulmonary vasoconstriction and various inflammatory responses. Recent randomized trials suggest that inhaled NO only causes a transient improvement in oxygenation. Whether this effect is important in the long-term management of ARDS remains to be established. NO, measured in the exhaled breath, is an elegant and non-invasive means to monitor inflammation of the upper and lower respiratory tract. In the normal upper airways, the bulk of exhaled NO originates from the paranasal sinuses. Exhaled NO is increased in nasal allergy and decreased in cystic fibrosis, nasal polyposis and chronic sinusitis. That NO production is increased in asthmatic airways is also well established. However, several questions still need to be addressed, in particular evaluation of the sensitivity and specificity of the measurement techniques, and assessment of the bronchodilator action of endogenous NO.     

Regulation of cell adhesion by PP2A and SV40 small tumor antigen: An important link to cell transformation

The serine/threonine protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) represents a large family of highly conserved heterotrimeric enzymes. Their critical importance in cell homeostasis is underlined by the fact that they are targets of natural toxins like the tumor promoter okadaic acid, and of simian virus 40 small tumor antigen (SV40 small t), a viral protein known to promote cell transformation. Furthermore, mutated or lower expression levels of PP2A subunits have been found in certain cancers. One major known event in PP2A-dependent cell transformation is the alteration of key signaling pathways that control cell growth and survival. In this review, we focus on how PP2A enzymes also affect cell adhesion and cytoskeletal dynamics, the disruption of which is linked to loss of cell polarity, increased cell motility and invasiveness. We also examine how those various pathways participate in the transforming activity of SV40 small t. Received 29 June 2006; received after revision 3 August 2006; accepted 20 September 2006     

Integrin-mediated signal transduction

Integrins, expressed on virtually every cell type, are proteins that mediate cellular interactions with components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and cell surface integral plasma membrane proteins. In addition, integrins interact with the cytoskeleton and through this process participate in cell migration, tissue organization, cell growth, haemostasis, inflammation, target recognition of lymphocytes and the differentiation of many cell types. Signals generated from ligand-integrin interactions are propagated via the integrin cytoplasmic tails to signal transduction pathways within the cell (outside-in signalling). Information from within the cell can also be transmitted to the outside via integrin affinity modulation (inside-out signalling). Protein tyrosine phosphorylation has a central role in integrin-initiated cell signalling, leading to cytoskeletal organization and focal adhesion formation. This review will examine the current understanding of integrin function, focusing on the intracellular consequences of integrin-ligand interaction.