Effect of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor on the reendothelialization and intima hyperplasia of ballon-injured rat carotid artery

AIM:To study the effect of mobilization of stem cells by exogenous recombinant human granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) on the repairing process of reendothelialization and neointima hyperplasy on ballon injured rat carotid arteries.METHODS:Male Wistar rats were randomly divided into rhG-CSF group and NS+injury group.The animals were injected daily with 30 μg/kg rhG-CSF or 0.9% NaCl for 7 days,then underwent balloon angioplasty of the common carotid arteries which were harvested and processed for scanning electron microscopy (SEM),Evans blue staining,morphometric analysis of endothelialization and neointimal formation at 1 h,3 d,5 d,7 d,14 d after injury.Immunohistochemistry for proliferation cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and RT-PCR for eNOS mRNA were also conducted for evaluating the proliferation of cells of the vessel wall and the possible mechanism of the repairing.RESULTS:SEM and Evan’s blue staining showed increased reendothelialization of the denuded vessels in rhG-CSF-treated animals compared with that NS+injury animals ［(60.6±7.3)% vs (41.6±3.3)%，P<0.01］.Neointima thickness was reduced by 37.3% in rhG-CSF group compared with NS+injury group 2 weeks after injury.Immunohistochemical staining for PCNA positive cells was less in rhG-CSF group compared with that in NS+injury group (42.6% vs 72.8%,P<0.01).CONCLUSION:rhG-CSF has beneficial effects on the reendothelialization and neointima thickness of the ballon-injured arteries.Mobilization of EPCs by exogenous granulocyte colony stimulating factor may be a potential therapeutic strategy for prevention of restenosis after percutenous coronary artery intervention.     

The change of smooth muscle cells apoptosis and apoptosis related-gene expression after balloon injury to vessel

AIM: To investigate the mechanism of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) apoptosis after balloon injury. METHODS: VSMCs apoptosis, Bax protein and Bcl-2 protein was measured by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end labeling (TUNEL) and immunohistochemical technique after balloon injury. RESULTS:VSMCs apoptosis occurred in vascular media at 3 days after balloon injury and reached a peak in media and intima where apoptosis was mainly present at 7 days, then decreased. At 28 days after balloon injury, only a few apoptosis cells were in intima. Irbesartan significantly increased VSMCs apoptosis (P＜0.01). Expressions of Bax and Bcl-2 were significantly higher in vascular media at 3 days after balloon injury than sham(P＜0.01). At 7 days, Bax expression reached a peak which was three times as that of sham, and then decreased. After balloon injury, Bcl-2 expression was generally increased and reached its peak at 28 days. The ratio of Bax to Bcl-2 (Bax/Bcl-2) also reached its peak at 7 days and was decreased under basal level at 28 days. Irbesartan increased Bax and the ratio of Bax to Bcl-2, while decreased Bcl-2. CONCLUSION: Bcl-2 and Bax contribute to the regulation of VSMC apoptosis after balloon injury.     

Retrovirus-mediated cellular repressor of E1A-stimulated genes inhibits neointima formation in the rat carotid artery after balloon injury

AIM: To evaluate the effects of over-expression of cellular repressor of E1A-stimulated genes (CREG) mediated by retrovirus on neointima formation in injured rat carotid. METHODS: The pluronic F127 containing pLNCX/CREG or pLNCX/GFP retroviral vectors was placed around the injured rat carotid.The neointima,media areas and the intima to media ratio were calculated.Expressions of CREG,SM α-actin and Ki-67 were detected. RESULTS: The GFP expression was observed at day 2 in pLNCX/GFP groups.The expression of exogenous CREG was also significantly increased in arteries at day 2 after pLNCX-CREG infection.Over-expression of CREG significantly suppressed neointima formation,attenuated the expression of Ki-67 and up-regulated SM α-actin expression. CONCLUSION: Over-expression of CREG inhibits VSMCs proliferation and promotes VSMCs differentiation after vascular injury.It suggests that modulation of CREG expression or activity may be a viable approach to treat neointimal restenosis after percutaneous coronary intervention.     

AT2R gene transfer to rat carotid arteries inhibits neointimal hyperplasia after balloon angioplasty

AIM: To study the effects of angiotensin Ⅱ type 2 receptor (AT2R) gene transfer on neointimal hyperplasia in rat carotid arteries after balloon angioplasty. METHODS:AT2R gene was transfected into rat carotid arteries with pAdCMV/AT2R after the establishment of rat carotid balloon injury restenosis model. The arteries were harvested at 7 days, 14 days and 21 days after gene transfer. The expression of AT2R, AT1R, PCNA in arteries and morphology analysis were evaluated by RT-PCR, immunohistochemistry and HE staining. The expressions of AT2R and PCNA were measured by double immunofluorescence staining and confocal microscope. RESULTS:pAdCMV/AT2R delivered into injured rat carotid arteries significantly up-regulated the levels of AT2R mRNA and protein in neointima from day 7 to day 21, but the levels of AT1R was not significantly different (P>0.05). pAdCMV/AT2R transfection significantly decreased the expression of PCNA in neointima at day 14 ［(27.29±5.81)% vs ( 72.25±4.47)%, (68.43±9.12)%，P<0.01］. At day 21, compared with no transfection group and pAd-GFP transfection group, pAdCMV/AT2R transfection reduced I/M (intimal/medial area) ratio significantly (0.78±0.06 vs 1.44±0.22, 1.36±0.21， respectively, P<0.01). No significant difference between pAd-GFP group and no transfection group was observed. CONCLUSION: Gene transfer of AT2R from lumen may effectively inhibit VSMC proliferation and neointimal hyperplasia in the rat carotid arteries after balloon angioplasty. The cross-talk between AT1R and AT2R may operate via signaling pathway, but not via counteraction of receptor expression.     

Expression of NK4 gene in human pancreatic cancer cells and its effect on growth of human vascular endothelial cells

AIM:The current study was designed to construct eukaryotic expression vector containing NK4 gene and transfect it into human pancreatic cancer cell lines.METHODS:The recombinant of pcDNA3/hNK4 was digested by restriction enzyme,the NK4 gene was cloned into a high effective eukaryotic expressing plasmid which contains CMV2 immediate early gene promoter and then transiently introduced into the pancreatic cancer cell line SW1990 by lipo fectamine and clonal cel lines that secrete high levels of NK4 protein were isolated.The expression of NK4 was observed by RT-PCR and Western blot,in vitro the vascular endothelial cell proliferation inhibiting activity of NK4 was examined by 3-[4,5-dimethylthiazolzyl]-2,5-diphenyl tetrazolium bromide(MTT)method.RESULTS:A specific expression of NK4 gene mRNA by lipofectamine-mediated transfer exhibited only in SW1990/NK4 cells,Western blot analysis demonstrated that there was positive expression of NK4 protein(50 kD).The NK4 inhibited proliferation of the vascular endothelial cellsin vitro.CONCLUSION:The recombinant of pRC/CMV2-hNK4 is a high effective expressing eukaryotic vector.The bio-engineering product of the NK4 is an angiogenesis inhibitor and may play an important role in the gene therapy for tumor.     

Association of Fas promoter-670 polymorphism with systemic lupus erythematosus in southern Chinese

AIM: To investigate whether Fas promoter-670 polymorphism is associated with systemic lupus erythematosus(SLE) in Southern Chinese. METHODS: 103 SLE patients and 110 controls were studied. Fas promoter -670 polymorphism was typed by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). RESULTS: No statistically significant differences were found when Fas promoter -670 genotype and allele frequencies were compared between the SLE and the controls. Similarly, no significant differences were seen between the male and female SLE and the controls, the SLE with lupus nephritis (LN) and the controls, the SLE with LN and the SLE without LN. CONCLUSION: Fas promoter -670 polymorphism does not appear to be associated with susceptibility to SLE in Southern Chinese.     

The role of C-type natriuretic peptide in balloon injury of rat aorta

AIM and METHODS: In a model of balloon injury of rat aorta, the dynamic changes of C-type natriuretic peptide (CNP) in plasma and aortic tissues and the effect of exogenous CNP on intima/media (I/M) ratios were studied. RESULTS:CNP levels in plasma were significantly increased by 80.7% (P＜0.01),43.5%(P＜0.05) and 27.5% (P＜0.05) on 3 days, 10 days and 21 days after balloon injury, but its levels in aortic tissues were decreased by 46.6% (P＜0.05) on day 3 and increased by 2.8 (P＜0.01),1.6(P＜0.05) and 0.82-fold (P＜0.05) on day 10, day 21 and day 28 after balloon injury of rat aorta. Result also showed that the administration of CNP i.p. inhibited neointima formation. I/M ratios were decreased by 23% (P＜0.05) and 20% (P＜0.05) on 7 days, 21 days after balloon injury of rat aorta.CONCLUSION:CNP might be involved in the process of recovery after vascular endothelium-denudation and exogenous CNP suppress the neointima formation.     

Effect of pulmonary vascular endothelial cells on the development of acute lung injury in rats

AIM: Effect of endothelial cell on the development of acute lung injury and the prevention of dexamethasone in acute lung injury were observed.METHODS:Rats were divided into three groups:1.Control group.2.LPS group:Venous injection with LPS(5mg/kg body weight),execute respectively at 1 h,2 h,6 h and 24 h after LPS injection. 3.dexamethasone group:intraperitoneal injection with dexamethasone ,1 h before LPS injection,execute after 2 hours after LPS injection.RESULTS: Serum NO,TNF-α levels,lung iNOS activity and lung ICAM-1mRNA expression were increased( P <0.05, P <0.01, vs control group),but serum ACE was decreased( P <0.01).Dexamethasone could improve all the changes above mentioned.CONCLUSION:Endothelial cell played a vital role in the development of acute lung injury and dexamethasone could prevent acute lung injury.     

The alteration of urotensin-II receptors in rat aorta after balloon angioplasty injury

AIM:To observe the alteration of urotensin II (UII) receptors and contractile response to UII in rat aorta after balloon angioplasty injury. METHODS: The plasma membrane isolated from balloon injured aorta was used to study the binding of ¹²⁵-UII to the membrane and the contractile potency of UII on rat aorta was assayed. RESULTS: In contrast to the normal aorta, the contractile potency to UII enhanced in balloon injury artery and the calculated maximal number of specific binding sites (Bmax) was increased about 44% and 36% respectively in rat artery after balloon injury 3 and 21 days (P＜0.01). CONCLUSION: The density of UII receptors and the contractile response to UII had changed after balloon angioplasty injury. It was proposed that UII might play an important role in the intervention of restenosis after angioplasty.     

Effect of heme oxygenase-1/endogenous carbon monoxide system on restenosis of rabbit carotid artery after balloon injury

AIM: To investigate the effect of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1)/carbon monoxide (CO) system on restenosis of carotid artery after balloon angioplasty.METHODS: Fifty rabbits were randomly divided into 5 groups: control group given normal chow (C group), sham group(Sh group), 1.5% cholesterol diet group (Ch group), 1.5% cholesterol diet plus hemin group(Hm group)and zinc protoporphyrin IX group(Zn group).The experiment lasted for 10 weeks. At the beginning of the 3rd week, the animals in Ch group, Hm group and Zn group underwent balloon injury at one side of common carotid artery.RESULTS: Compared with those in C group, the production of arterial nitric oxide (NO) and activity of constructive nitric oxide synthase (cNOS) were significantly decreased, while CO production and HO-1 expression were significantly increased (all P<0.01) in Ch group. Compared with those in Ch group, the arterial CO production and HO-1 expression in Hm group were markedly increased, while the expression of endothelin-1 (ET-1), the intimal area and the ratio of intimal area/medial area(I/M) were distinctly reduced. Compared with those in Ch group, the arterial CO production and HO-1 expression in Zn group were obviously decreased, while the expression of ET-1, the intima area and the ratio of I/M were significantly increased.CONCLUSION: The HO-1/CO system improves the endothelium function and restrains neointimal proliferation by compensating and regulating NOS/NO system and lowering ET-1 expression so as to inhibit the restenosis.     

Effects of Tertram ethylpyrazine on expression of Fas/FasL mRNA in lung tissue with ischemia-reperfusion injury in rabbits

AIM: To study the expression of Fas/FasL mRNA in lung tissue with ischemia-reperfusion lung injury in rabbits and the relationship with the apoptosis,and to observe the effects of Tertram ethylpyrazine on them.METHODS: The pulmonary ischemia-reperfusion models in rabbits with occlusion of left pulmonary hilum for 1 h and then reperfusion 1,3,5 h respectively were used in this experiment.In TMP group,Tertram ethylpyrazine was intravenously dropped at dose of 60 mg/kg at 1 h before ischemia.The TUNEL technique was used to explore apoptotsis of pulmonary cells.In situ hybridization was performed on the rabbit lung tissue to assay the expression of Fas/FasL mRNA.RESULTS: Apoptosis of pulmonary cells was found in both IR group and TMP group.Compared with group IR,the apoptosis index (AI) was decreased obviously in group TMP (P<0.01).There was a significant positive correlation between the expression of Fas/FasL mRNA and the apoptosis of pulmonary cells (r₁=0.900,r₂=0.869,P<0.01).CONCLUSION: The activation of Fas/Fas-L system may contribute significantly to induce pneumocyte apoptosis in pulmonary ischemic injury.Tertram ethylpyrazine inhibits the activation of Fas/FasL system to decrease apoptosis in pulmonary tissue,which may protect the pulmonary tissues in ischemia injury.     

Influence of Sini decoction on the proliferation and apoptosis of artery smooth muscle cells after balloon injury

AIM: To investigate the influence of Sini decoction (SND) on the proliferation and apoptosis of rabbit abdominal aorta smooth muscle cells after ballon injury and discuss the effect of vascular smooth muscle cell's (VSMCs) proliferation and apoptosis in post-percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) restenosis (RS) and the feasibility of SND preventing post-PCI RS. METHODS: The animal model of rabbit abdominal aorta ballon injury was set up and the therapertic group was treated with SND. The shape of proliferative and apoptotic cell were investigated by electron microscope. Immunohistochemistry staining was performed using α-actin,PCNA and Cyclin E monoclonal antibodies. In situ Cell Death Detection Kit was used to identify apoptotic cells. Abdomial aorta angiography was operated in the 84th day subgroup and the stenosis degree was evalued by quantitative angiographic analysis. RESULTS: As compared with the control group, the therapeutic group displayed a lower proliferative percentage and a higher apoptosic percentage (P<0.05). Moreover, the apoptosic peek time was on the 14th day after operation,which was longer than the control group. CONCLUSION: SND effectly inhibited the proliferation of VSMCs and iuduced apoptosis in VSMCs.     

Effects of testosterone on endothelial function and intimal proliferation after balloon injury in male rabbit abdominal aorta

AIM: To investigate the effects of testosterone on endothelial function and intimal proliferation after balloon injury in male rabbit abdominal aorta. METHODS: 24 male New Zealand white rabbits were divided randomly into three groups: control group (n=8, sham castration), hypotestosteronemia group (n=8,castration) and testosterone replacement group (n=8,castration +testosterone undecanoate intramuscular injection,14mg/kg). Abdominal aorta was injured with 3 mm PTCA balloon after testosterone undecanoate had been injected for three days. Two weeks later, blood samples were obtained for detection of plasma testosterone, lipids, metabolic product of nitric oxide (NO₂^-／NO₃^-), superoxide dismutase(SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA),and all the abdominal aorta were excised to be analyzed by computer. RESULTS: The intimal area of hypotestosteronemia group were significantly larger than that of other two groups(P＜0.01). plasma NO₂^-／NO₃^- and SOD levels were significantly decreased, while the total cholesterol(TC),triglycerides(TG), low density lipoprotein(LDL) and plasma MDA were significantly increased. No difference was observed between control group and testosterone replacement group in all parameters. CONCLUSION: Testosterone, at physiological level,had the effects of inhibiting the intimal proliferation and of protecting the endothelial function after balloon injury in male rabbit abdominal aorta.     

Effect of antioxidant and NFκB on the induction of iNOS gene in rat pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells in vitro

AIM:To investigate the role of nuclear factor κB (NF_κB) in the induction of iNOS gene by TNFα and LPS in endothelial cells and the effect of antioxidant on the induction of iNOS. METHODS:Nitrite was determined based on Griess reaction. iNOS mRNA was analyzed using Northern blot. NF_κB in the cell nucleole was detected with electrophoretic mobility shift assay.RESULTS: (1)NO production and iNOS mRNA expression induced by LPS and TNFα was blocked by pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate(PDTC) or N-acetylcysteine(NAC). (2)LPS and TNFα triggered the activation and translocation of NF_κB, and PDTC or NAC inhibited the activation of NF_κB induced by LPS and TNFα. CONCLUSIONS:(1)The induction of iNOS gene by TNFα and LPS is dependent on the activation of NF_κB.(2)Antioxidants may inhibit the induction of iNOS gene through the inhibition of NF_κB activation.     

Expression of bFGF mRNA in pulmonary artery of rat with chronic hypoxia and its effect on tension of rat pulmonary artery in vitro

AIM: To explore the role of basic-fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in the development of pulmonary hypertension induced by hypoxia. METHODS: 1) The pulmonary arteries of SD rats with hypoxia for one and two weeks were isolated, from which the total RNA were extracted by acid guanidinium thiocyanate-phenol-chlorform .Then the levels of mRNA were measured by RT-PCR. 2) About 3mm-long arterial rings cut from SD rat pulmonary arterial stem were suspended between stainless steelhooks in chamber with warmed (37℃) Kreb's solution. Different concentrations of bFGF were added in a cumulative fashion into the chamber where the rings were suspended. The cumulative concentration response curve was obtained. RESULTS: 1)The levels of bFGF mRNA in pulmonary artery of rats with hypoxia were increased significantly compared with those that without hypoxia (2578±384 counts·min^-1 (control) vs 5303±756 (hypoxia) for 1 week and 4054±547 (hypoxia) for 2 weeks, P all ＜0.05). 2) bFGF at concentrations ranged from 5.56×10^-10~2.78×10^-7mol/L caused dose-dependent contraction of vessel rings of rat pulmonary artery (r=0.695,P＜0.05), with EC₅₀ being 2.62×10^-7mol/L. CONCLUSION: bFGF may play an important role in the hypoxic pulmonary hypertension.     

siRNA targeting fas protects donor liver against cold preservation and ischemic reperfusion injury in rat liver transplantation

AIM:To investigate the silencing effect of fas siRNA to alleviate ischemic-reperfusion (I/R) injury in liver transplantation. METHODS:Three pairs of 21-nt synthesized fas siRNAs were transfected into BRL cells respectively for evaluation of silence efficacy, and the most effective fas siRNA was chosen in vivo for experiment. In cold preservation experiment, siRNA was transfected in vivo by hydrodynamics method. After 48 h, livers of fas siRNA group and control group were harvested and cold preserved, and cell apoptosis and fas expression was evaluated at 2, 4 and 6 h. Orthotopic liver transplantation was performed in fas siRNA group and blank control group. At 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24 h after transplantation, blood and liver samples were collected for evaluation of serum ALT levels, Fas protein and mRNA expression, and apoptosis by TUNEL staining. RESULTS:fas siRNA2, which began at nt 315, inhibited fas gene expression much more than other siRNAs. As to cold preservation, apoptosis index (AI) and fas expression in fas siRNA group was lower than that in control group at each checked point (P<0.01). At 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 h after blood reperfusion of liver transplantation, the serum ALT level in fas siRNA group was much less than that in control group. The cell apoptosis in fas siRNA group was substantially decreased, and the expressions of fas mRNA and protein were dramatically reduced. CONCLUSION:fas-mediated apoptosis plays an important role in I/R injury of rat liver transplantation. Silencing fas by siRNA holds therapeutic promise to limit I/R injury.     

Effect of ischemia or hypoxia on vascular endothelial growth factor production in rat myocardium and its significance

AIM:To determine the relationship between ischemia, hypoxia and the production of vascular endothelial growth factor in rat myocardium and its basic mechanism. METHODS:(1) 28 Wistar rats were randomly divided into 4 groups: group A, normal control;group B, 1 day's acute myocardial infarction;group C, 3 day's acute myocardial infarction;group D, 7 day's acute myocardial infarction. (2) Rat cardiac myocytes cultured were primarily divided into some groups, hypoxia incubated 24 hours; PMA groups, hypoxia incubated 24 hours with PKC activator (PMA), A 0 ng/mL; B 10 ng/mL; C 100 ng/mL; D 1 000 ng/mL; Chelerythrine groups, hypoxia incubated 24 hours with PKC inhibitor (chelerythrine), A 0 nmol/L; B 10 nmol/L. (3) By computer scanned and quantitated, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein was detected with immunohistochemical technique. RESULTS:The longer time of ischemia and hypoxia was, the higher the VEGF production.The relat ionship was found between the time of ischemia or hypoxia and the production of VEGF.The product ion of VEGF protein was further promoted by PMA with different concentrat ion, decreased by chelerythrine.CONCLUSION: Ischemia or hypoxia strongly stimulated the production of VEGF in myocardium, which played an important role in autoprotecting of ischemic or hypoxic myocardium. Hypoxia-induced PKC activation is one kind of basic mechanisms in this course.