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Bryan J McVerry

Publications and source records attributed to Bryan J McVerry.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

In vitro and in vivo modulation of vascular barrier integrity by sphingosine 1-phosphate: mechanistic insights.

Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), a biologically active lipid growth factor, induces robust endothelial cell activation resulting in cellular locomotion, vascular maturation and angiogenesis. Recent work by our laboratory has demonstrated S1P to enhance the cellular barrier function of the vascular endothelium. S1P-induced modulation of vascular permeability is effected through profound cytoskeletal reorganization initiated by cell surface receptor-mediated G protein activation and downstream signaling via the Rho family of small GTPases. The details of the downstream signaling mechanism remain an active area of in vitro investigation. Translational investigation suggests a profound impact of S1P administration in the modulation of edema formation in disease state manifest as acute inflammatory lung injury in which increased vascular permeability is a hallmark feature. These data support an exciting potential therapeutic role for S1P in vascular barrier enhancement necessary for the treatment of critically ill patients.

Adherens Junctions↗

Pre-B-cell colony-enhancing factor as a potential novel biomarker in acute lung injury.

Although the pathogenic and genetic basis of acute lung injury (ALI) remains incompletely understood, the identification of novel ALI biomarkers holds promise for unique insights. Expression profiling in animal models of ALI (canine and murine) and human ALI detected significant expression of pre-B-cell colony-enhancing factor (PBEF), a gene not previously associated with lung pathophysiology. These results were validated by real-time polymerase chain reaction and immunohistochemistry studies, with PBEF protein levels significantly increased in both bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and serum of ALI models and in cytokine- or cyclic stretch-activated lung microvascular endothelium. We genotyped two PBEF single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in a well characterized sample of white patients with sepsis-associated ALI, patients with severe sepsis, and healthy subjects and observed that carriers of the haplotype GC from SNPs T-1001G and C-1543T had a 7.7-fold higher risk of ALI (95% confidence interval 3.01-19.75, p < 0.001). The T variant from the SNP C-1543T resulted in a significant decrease in the transcription rate (1.8-fold; p < 0.01) by the reporter gene assay. Together, these results strongly indicate that PBEF is a potential novel biomarker in ALI and demonstrate the successful application of robust genomic technologies in the identification of candidate genes in complex lung disease.

Adult↗

Endothelial cell barrier regulation by sphingosine 1-phosphate.

Disruption of vascular barrier integrity markedly increases permeability to fluid and solute and is the central pathophysiologic mechanism of many inflammatory disease processes, including sepsis and acute lung injury (ALI). Dynamic control of the endothelial barrier involves complex signaling to the endothelial cytoskeleton and to adhesion complexes between neighboring cells and between cells and the underlying matrix. Sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), a biologically active lipid generated by hydrolysis of membrane lipids in activated platelets, organizes actin into a strong cortical ring and strengthens both intercellular and cell-matrix adherence. The mechanisms by which S1P increases endothelial barrier integrity remain the focus of intense basic research. The downstream structural changes induced by S1P interact to decrease vascular permeability to fluid and solute, which translates into a reduction lung edema formation in animal models of ALI, thus suggesting a potentially life-saving therapeutic role for vascular barrier modulation in critically ill patients.

Animals↗

Sphingosine 1-phosphate reduces vascular leak in murine and canine models of acute lung injury.

Excessive mechanical stress is a key component of ventilator-associated lung injury, resulting in profound vascular leak and an intense inflammatory response. To extend our in vitro observations concerning the barrier-protective effects of the lipid growth factor sphingosine 1-phosphate (Sph 1-P), we assessed the ability of Sph 1-P to prevent regional pulmonary edema accumulation in clinically relevant rodent and canine models of acute lung injury induced by combined intrabronchial endotoxin administration and high tidal volume mechanical ventilation. Intravenously delivered Sph 1-P significantly attenuated both alveolar and vascular barrier dysfunction while significantly reducing shunt formation associated with lung injury. Whole lung computed tomographic image analysis demonstrated the capability of Sph 1-P to abrogate significantly the accumulation of extravascular lung water evoked by 6-hour exposure to endotoxin. Axial density profiles and vertical density gradients localized the Sph 1-P response to transitional zones between aerated and consolidated lung regions. Together, these results indicate that Sph 1-P represents a novel therapeutic intervention for the prevention of pulmonary edema related to inflammatory injury and increased vascular permeability.

Acute Disease↗

Protective effects of sphingosine 1-phosphate in murine endotoxin-induced inflammatory lung injury.

Our prior in vitro studies indicate that sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), a phospholipid angiogenic factor, produces endothelial cell barrier enhancement through ligation of endothelial differentiation gene family receptors. We hypothesized that S1P may reduce the vascular leak associated with acute lung injury and found that S1P infusion produced a rapid and significant reduction in lung weight gain (more than 50%) in the isolated perfused murine lung. The effect of S1P was next assessed in a murine model of LPS-mediated microvascular permeability and inflammation with marked increases in parameters of lung injury at both 6 and 24 hours after intratracheal LPS. Each parameter assessed was significantly reduced by intravenous S1P (1 microM final) and in selected experiments by the S1P analogue FTY720 (0.1 mg/kg, intraperitoneally) delivered 1 hour after LPS. S1P produced an approximately 40-50% reduction in LPS-mediated extravasation of Evans blue dye albumin, bronchoalveolar lavage protein content, and lung tissue myeloperoxidase activity (reflecting phagocyte infiltration). Consistent with systemic barrier enhancement, S1P significantly decreased Evans blue dye albumin extravasation and myeloperoxidase content in renal tissues of LPS-treated mice. These studies indicate that S1P significantly decreases pulmonary/renal vascular leakage and inflammation in a murine model of LPS-mediated acute lung injury and may represent a novel therapeutic strategy for vascular barrier dysfunction.

Animals↗