Biomedical subjects

Dipak K Das

Publications and source records attributed to Dipak K Das.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Generation of survival signal by differential interaction of p38MAPKalpha and p38MAPKbeta with caveolin-1 and caveolin-3 in the adapted heart.

Sphingomyelin breakdown product ceramide has recently been found to induce an adaptive response and reduce myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury. Since activation of MAP kinases plays an essential role in myocardial adaptation to ischemic stress and since ceramide is involved in lipid raft formation where MAP kinases can be translocated in response to stress, we reasoned that preconditioning may potentiate the translocation of MAP kinases into the lipid raft. To test the hypothesis, rats were divided into five groups: (i) control, (ii) ischemia/reperfusion (I/R), (iii) I/R+C-2 ceramide, (iv) adapted and (v) adapted+desipramine, an inhibitor of ceramide formation. Isolated hearts were preperfused for 15 min with Krebs Henseleit bicarbonate (KHB) buffer in the absence or presence of 10 microM desipramine followed by adaptation induced by four cyclic episodes of 5 min ischemia and 10 min reperfusion. For myocardial adaptation to ischemia with ceramide, the hearts were perfused with 1 microM C-2 ceramide. All hearts were then subjected to 30 min ischemia and 2 h of reperfusion. As expected, both ischemic adaptation and ceramide adaptation made the heart resistant to I/R injury as evidenced by improved ventricular performance and reduced myocardial infarct size and cardiomyocyte apoptosis, which were significantly blocked with desipramine indicating the involvement of ceramide in ischemic adaptation. Ceramide also participated in the formation of lipid raft, and desipramine disrupted the raft formation. In the adapted hearts, there was an increased association of the proapoptotic p38MAPKalpha with caveolin-1 while there was a reduced association of anti-apoptotic p38MAPKbeta with caveolin-3 indicating reduced amount of p38MAPKalpha and increased amount of p38MAPKbeta were available to the adapted hearts thereby generating a survival signal. Desipramine decreased the association of P38MAPKalpha and C-2 ceramide increased the association of P38MAPKalpha with the lipid raft. The survival signal was further confirmed by increased phosphorylation of AKT and enhanced induction of expression of Bcl-2 during adaptation and its reversal with desipramine. The results indicated a unique ceramide signaling the ischemic and PC hearts involving lipid rafts, which generated a survival signal by differentially associating the p38MAPKalpha and p38MAPKbeta with the caveolin-1 and caveoli-3, respectively.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

PubMed2006

Comparison of cardioprotective abilities between the flesh and skin of grapes.

Recent studies have documented that grapes and grape juices are equally cardioprotective as red wine. The existing reports implicate that the skin and seeds of the grapes containing polyphenolic antioxidants are instrumental for the cardioprotective properties of grapes. The present study examines if the flesh of grapes also possesses any cardioprotective abilities. Three groups of randomly selected rats were fed, water only (control), flesh of the grapes (2.5 mg/kg b. wt.) or the skins (2.5 mg/kg b. wt.) for 30 days. At the end of the 30 days, isolated perfused hearts were made ischemic for 30 min followed by 2 h of reperfusion in the working mode. The results demonstrated that both flesh and skin of the grapes could protect the hearts from ischemic reperfusion injury as evidenced by improved postischemic ventricular recovery and reduced myocardial infarct size. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) revealed that skin and flesh contained comparative amounts of glucose, fructose, tartaric acid, malic acid, shikimic acid, and trans-caftaric acid. In addition, the flesh contained reduced amounts (compared to skin) of cis-coutaric, trans-coutaric, caffeic, p-coumaric, cinnamics, and catechin/epicatechin. Total polyphenolic index was also lower in flesh compared to skin. The anthocyanins were present exclusively in the skin. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectrometry of hydroxy radicals indicated that both flesh and skins possessed equal amount of ROS scavenging activities. Total malonaldehyde content in the heart was reduced comparatively with either flesh or skin. The results indicate for the first time that the flesh of grapes are equally cardioprotective as skin, and antioxidant potential of skin and flesh of grapes are comparable with each other despite of the fact that flesh does not possess any anthocyanin activities.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Targeted disruption of peroxiredoxin 6 gene renders the heart vulnerable to ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Peroxiredoxin 6 (Prdx6) is a novel peroxidase enzyme belonging to the Prdx family, which in mammals contains five more peroxiredoxins (Prdx1-Prdx5). Like glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx) and catalase, Prdx6 possesses H(2)O(2)-scavenging activities, and, like the former, it also removes hydroperoxides. Since significant amounts of catalase and GSHPx are present in the heart contributing toward the attenuation of H(2)O(2) and hydroperoxides formed during ischemia-reperfusion injury and thereby providing cardioprotection, we asked whether Prdx6 also has any role in this process. In the present study we used Prdx6(-/-) mice to assess the role of Prdx6 in ischemic injury. Western blot analysis revealed the absence of any Prdx activity in the Prdx6(-/-) mouse heart, while the GSHPx-1 and catalase levels remained unchanged. Randomly selected hearts from Prdx6(-/-) mice and wild-type mice were subjected to 30 min of global ischemia followed by 120 min of reperfusion at normothermia. The hearts from the Prdx6(-/-) mice were more susceptible to ischemic reperfusion injury as evidenced by reduced recovery of left ventricular function, increased myocardial infarct size, and higher amount of apoptotic cardiomyocytes compared with wild-type mouse hearts. These Prdx6(-/-) hearts were also subjected to a higher amount of oxidative stress as evidenced by the presence of higher amount of malondialdehyde. The present study thus indicates a nonredundant role of Prdx6 in myocardial ischemic reperfusion injury as catalase, and GSHPx could not make up for the deficiency of Prdx6 activities.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Redox regulation of angiotensin II preconditioning of the myocardium requires MAP kinase signaling.

A recent study documented reactive oxygen species (ROS), generated through NADPH oxidase by angiotensin II (Ang II) with the activation of NADPH oxidase subunits, p22phox and gp91phox, to be responsible for the preconditioning effect of Ang II. The present study was designed to determine if similar to ischemic preconditioning (PC), mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases are also involved in Ang II PC of the heart. Isolated working rat hearts were perfused for 15 min with KHB (Krebs-Henseleit bicarbonate) buffer containing Ang II in the absence or presence of an Erk (1/2) inhibitor, PD 098059, a p38MAPK inhibitor, SB 202190, a JNK inhibitor, SP 600125 or a ROS scavenger, N-acetyl cysteine (NAC). All hearts were subsequently subjected to 30 min global ischemia followed by 2 h reperfusion with KHB buffer only. Cardioprotection was examined by determining infarct size, cardiomyocyte apoptosis and ventricular recovery. Redox and MAP kinase regulation were studied by determining the survival signaling mediated by Akt and Bcl-2. In consistent with previous results, Ang II preconditioned the heart as evidenced by improved postischemic ventricular recovery and reduced infarct size and decreases cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Ang II phosphorylated both Akt, Bcl-2 and Bad, which was blocked by NAC, PD 098059 or SP 600125, but not by SB 202190. NAC, PD 098059 and SP600125, but not SB202190, also abolished the cardioprotective effect of Ang II preconditioning. The results indicate that Ang II preconditioning is potentiated through MAP kinases that are regulated by redox signaling.

Angiotensin II↗

PubMed2006

The effect of Euryale ferox (Makhana), an herb of aquatic origin, on myocardial ischemic reperfusion injury.

Fox nut or gorgon nut (Euryale ferox--Family Nymphaeaceae), popularly known as Makhana, has been widely used in traditional oriental medicine to cure a variety of diseases including kidney problems, chronic diarrhea, excessive leucorrhea and hypofunction of the spleen. Based on the recent studies revealing antioxidant activities of Euryale ferox and its glucosides composition, we sought to determine if Euryale ferox seeds (Makhana) could reduce myocardial ischemic reperfusion injury. Two different models were used: acute model, where isolated rat hearts were preperfused for 15 min with Krebs Henseleit bicarbonate (KHB) buffer containing three different doses of makhana (25, 125 or 250 microg/ml) followed by 30 min of ischemia and 2 h of reperfusion; and chronic model, where rats were given two different doses of makhana (250 and 500 mg/kg/day) for 21 days, after which isolated hearts were subjected to 30 min of ischemia followed by 2 h of reperfusion. In both cases, the hearts of the Makhana treated rats were resistant to ischemic reperfusion injury as evidenced by their improved post-ischemic ventricular function and reduced myocardial infarct size. Antibody array technique was used to identify the cardioprotective proteins. The Makhana-treated hearts had increased amounts of thioredoxin-1 (Trx-1) and thioredoxin-related protein-32 (TRP32) compared to the control hearts. Western blot analysis confirmed increased expression of TRP32 and thioredoxin proteins. In vitro studies revealed that Makhana extracts had potent reactive oxygen species scavenging activities. Taken together, the results of this study demonstrate cardioprotective properties of Makhana and suggest that such cardioprotective properties may be linked with the ability of makhana to induce TRP32 and Trx-1 proteins and to scavenge ROS.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Potentiation of a survival signal in the ischemic heart by resveratrol through p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase/mitogen- and stress-activated protein kinase 1/cAMP response element-binding protein signaling.

Resveratrol (3,4',5-trihydroxy-trans-stilbene), a naturally occurring polyphenolic compound found abundantly in grape skins and red wines, has been found to pharmacologically precondition the heart against ischemia reperfusion injury through the potentiation of a survival signal involving cAMP response element-binding protein-dependent phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-Akt-BclII pathway. The present study was designed to determine whether, similar to ischemic preconditioning, resveratrol uses mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) as upstream signaling targets. The isolated rat hearts were preperfused for 15 min with Krebs-Henseleit bicarbonate buffer in the absence (control) or presence of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 inhibitor 2'-amino-3'-methoxyflavone (PD98059), p38 MAPK inhibitor 4-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-5-(4-pyridyl)-1H-imidazole (SB-202190), mitogen- and stress-activated protein kinase 1 (MSK-1) inhibitor N-[2-(4-bromocinnamylamino)ethyl]-5-isoquinoline (H89), protein kinase A inhibitor (9S,10S,12R)-2,3,9,10,11,12-hexahydro-10hydroxy-9-methyl-1-oxo-9,12-epoxy-1H-diindolo[1,2,3fg: 3',2',1'-kl]-pyrrolo[3,4-i][1,6]benzodiazocine-10-carboxylic acid hexyl ester (KT5720), resveratrol only, resveratrol plus PD98059, resveratrol plus SB-202190, resveratrol plus H89, or resveratrol plus KT5720. Consistent with previous reports, resveratrol provided cardioprotection as evidenced by its ability to improve postischemic ventricular function, reduction of myocardial infarct size, and cardiomyocyte apoptosis. The cardioprotection afforded by resveratrol was partially abolished with PD98059 or SB-202190, suggesting that ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK play roles in resveratrol-mediated preconditioning. An MSK-1 inhibitor, H89, abolished resveratrol-mediated preconditioning, indicating MSK-1 to be the downstream target molecule for both ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK. KT5720 had no effect on resveratrol-mediated cardioprotection. Corroborating these results, Western blot analysis revealed phosphorylation of ERK1/2, p38 MAPK, MAPK-activated protein (MAPKAP) kinase 2, and MSK-1 with resveratrol and inhibition of phosphorylation with corresponding inhibitors. These results showed for the first time that resveratrol triggers an MAPK signaling pathway involving ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK, the former using MSK-1 as the downstream target and the latter, using both MAPKAP kinase 2 and MSK-1 as downstream targets.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Cardiac genomic response following preconditioning stimulus.

This review focuses on the genomic response following a preconditioning stimulus. Initial studies demonstrated that classical ischemic preconditioning mediated by cyclic episodes of short durations of reversible ischemia and reperfusion could result in the reprogramming of gene expression. Some of these genes are translated into proteins during the late preconditioning or so-called "second window of protection". Subsequent studies determined a unique similarity of the expressed gene profiles between diverse varieties of preconditioning including ischemic/hypoxic, heat shock, and oxidative stress. The most common genes that are expressed by virtually any kind of stress conditioning include antioxidants like superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and heme oxygenase and heat shock proteins such as HSP70. At a later date, differential display and subtractive hybridization techniques revealed the identities of many other genes including those belonging to mitochondrial respiratory chain such as ATPases. More recently, gene array profiles using gene chips determined several other genes triggered by preconditioning including the mitochondrial genes. The results of the studies present in the literature clearly indicate the existence of a strong resemblance between the patterns of gene expression profiles induced by diverse preconditioning stimuli, oxidative stress being situated at the cross-roads of all forms of the stresses. Redox signaling appears to be responsible for the conversion of the ischemia/reperfusion-induced "death signal" into preconditioning-mediated "survival signal".

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Attenuation of ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats by the anti-inflammatory action of resveratrol.

Resveratrol (trans-3,4',5-trihydroxystilbene, CAS 501-36-0), a natural antioxidant and polyphenol found in grapes and wine, has been found to pharmacologically precondition the heart in nitric oxide (NO)-dependent manner. In the vascular system, NO functions as an endogenous inhibitor of leukocyte chemotaxis, adherence, and activation. The present study was designed to determine if resveratrol, through NO, can block the proadhesive molecules generated in the ischemic reperfused myocardium. Isolated hearts were prepared from properly anesthetized rats, and mounted on a Langendorff apparatus. The hearts were randomly assigned to one of the three groups: (i) control, (ii) resveratrol, and (iii) resveratrol + NG-nitro-L-arginine ethyl ester (L-NAME). The hearts were perfused in the absence (n = 6) or presence of 10 micromol/L resveratrol (n=6) or resveratrol + L-NAME (n = 6) for 15 min. All the hearts were then subjected to 30 min ischemia followed by 2 h of reperfusion. Ventricular function was monitored, infarct size and apoptotic cell death measured, and the proadhesive molecules and malonaldehyde formation determined in the perfusate. Resveratrol significantly improved postischemic ventricular function and reduced myocardial infarct size compared to the non-treated control group. The amount of proadhesive molecules including soluble intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1), endothelial leukocyte adhesion molecule-1 (sE-Selectin) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1) were each significantly decreased during reperfusion in the resveratrol group. L-NAME, a NO blocker, completely abolished such beneficial effects of resveratrol. The results support an anti-inflammatory action of resveratrol through a NO-dependent mechanism.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Cardioprotective effect of resveratrol via HO-1 expression involves p38 map kinase and PI-3-kinase signaling, but does not involve NFkappaB.

Recent studies have demonstrated that resveratrol (trans-3,4',5-trihydroxy stilbene), a phytoalexin found in the skin and seeds of grapes, can pharmacologically precondition (PC) the heart through a nitric oxide (NO)-dependent and adenosine receptors-mediated mechanism. Since NO can induce the expression of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), we examined if HO-1 induction has a direct role in resveratrol-preconditioning of the heart. Eight groups of rats were studied during 7 days: (i) control rats; (ii) rats receiving resveratrol (gavage, 2.5 mg/kg); (iii) rats injected tin protoporphyrin (SnPP), a HO-1 inhibitor, i.p. on days 1, 3 and 6; (iv) rats injected 202190 (SB), a p38MAPK inhibitor, i.p. for 7 days; (v) rats injected 294002 (LY), a Akt inhibitor, i.p. for 7days; (vi) rats receiving resveratrol and SnPP; (vii) rats receiving resveratrol and SB; and (viii) rats receiving resveratrol and LY. After the treatments, the rats were sacrificed, and the hearts isolated and subjected to 30 min global ischemia followed by 2 h of reperfusion. The results shown a significant cardioprotection with resveratrol as evidenced by superior post-ischemic ventricular recovery, reduced myocardial infarct size, and decreased number of apoptotic cardiomyocytes. SnPP treatment abolished the cardioprotective effect of resveratrol. Resveratrol induced the activation of nuclear factor kappa-beta(NFkappaB), the phosphorylation of p38MAP kinase beta and Akt, as well as the inhibition of p38 MAP kinase alpha; all these effects but the activation of NFkappaB, were completely reversed by treatment with SnPP. These results indicate that resveratrol generates cardioprotection by preconditioning the heart by HO-1-mediated mechanisms, which are regulated by p38MAP kinase and Akt survival signaling, but non-dependent on NFkappaB activation.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Resveratrol in cardioprotection: a therapeutic promise of alternative medicine.

Resveratrol, a polyphenol phytoalexin, possesses diverse biochemical and physiological actions, including estrogenic, antiplatelet, and anti-inflammatory properties. Several recent studies determined the cardioprotective abilities of resveratrol. Both in experiments (acute) and in chronic models, resveratrol attenuates myocardial ischemic reperfusion injury, atherosclerosis, and reduces ventricular arrhythmias. It appears that resveratrol-mediated cardioprotection is achieved through the preconditioning effect (the best yet devised method of cardioprotection), rather than direct protection. Thus, resveratrol likely fulfills the definition of a pharmacological preconditioning compound and gives hope to the therapeutic promise of alternative medicine.

Antioxidants↗

PubMed2006

Resveratrol ameliorates myocardial damage by inducing vascular endothelial growth factor-angiogenesis and tyrosine kinase receptor Flk-1.

In our study, resveratrol (polyphenol) has been identified as a very important stimulus/agent for the induction of new vessel growth. Occlusion of a main coronary depletes the blood supply to the myocardium and subsequently reduces cardiac function, which ultimately leads to heart failure. Progressive, chronic coronary artery occlusion has been shown to induce development of collateral arteries to re-establish and maintain blood flow to the myocardium at risk via the growth of new capillary vessels or angiogenesis. Studies from our laboratory, as well as from others, have already confirmed the protective role of collaterals against myocardial ischemia and cell death. We have successfully demonstrated in rat myocardial infarction (MI) model an effect of resveratrol on significant upregulation of the protein expression profiles of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and its tyrosine kinase receptor Flk-1, 3 wk after MI. Pretreatment with resveratrol also increased nitric-oxide synthase (inducible NOS and endothelial NOS) along with increased antiapoptotic and proangiogenic factors nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB and specificity protein (SP)-1. We also were able to demonstrate increased capillary density as well as improved left ventricular function by pharmacological preconditioning with resveratrol 3 wk after MI.

Angiogenesis Inducing Agents↗

PubMed2006

Angiotensin preconditioning of the heart: evidence for redox signaling.

Angiotensin II (Ang II) has been found to exert preconditioning-like effect on mammalian hearts. Diverse mechanisms are known to exist to explain the cardioprotective abilities of Ang II preconditioning. The present study hypothesized, based on the recent report that Ang II generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) through NADPH oxidase, that Ang II preconditioning occurs through redox cycling. To test this hypothesis, a group of rat hearts was treated with Ang II in the absence or presence of an NADPH oxidase inhibitor, apocynin; or a cell-permeable ROS scavenger, N-acetyl cysteine (NAC). Ang II pretreatment improved postischemic ventricular recovery; reduced myocardial infarction; and decreased the number of cardiomyocyte apoptosis, indicating its ability to precondition the heart against ischemic injury. Both apocynin and NAC almost abolished the preconditioning ability of Ang II. Ang II resulted in increase in ROS activity in the heart, which was reduced by either NAC or apocynin. Ang II also increased both the NADPH oxidase subunits gp91 phox and p22phox mRNA expression, which was abolished with apocynin and NAC. Our results thus demonstrate that the Ang II preconditioning was associated with enhanced ROS activities and increased NADPH oxidase subunits p22phox and gp91phox expression. Both NAC and apocynin reduced ROS activities simultaneously abolishing preconditioning ability of Ang II, suggesting that Ang II preconditioning occurs through redox cycling. That both NAC and apocynin reduced ROS activities and abolished Ang II-mediated increase in p22phox and gp91phox activity further suggest that such redox cycling occurs via both NADPH oxidase-dependent and -independent pathways.

Acetophenones↗

PubMed2005

Role of lipid rafts in ceramide and nitric oxide signaling in the ischemic and preconditioned hearts.

Nitric oxide plays a crucial role in myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury as well as in myocardial adaptation to ischemic stress. To understand the dichotomy of nitric oxide behavior in the ischemic myocardium, isolated rat hearts were subjected to ischemia/reperfusion protocol. The tissue contents of sphingomyelin (SM), ceramide and sphingosine were determined by high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC). The myocardial plasma proteins were immunoprecipitated with caveolin-1 specific antibody. Ischemia/reperfusion resulted in the breakdown of SM with corresponding accumulation of ceramide and sphingosine. Immunoprecipitation with eNOS-specific antibody revealed the association of eNOS with caveolin-1 fraction of the heart. Ischemia/reperfusion caused a depression of contractile function and an increased apoptotic cell death and myocardial infarct size, which were reversed by pre-perfusing the hearts with desipramine, an sphingomyelinase inhibitor that also prevented ceramide accumulation and eNOS association with caveolin-1. The similar results were obtained when the hearts were adapted to ischemic stress by subjecting them to repeated reversible ischemia and reperfusion. The results indicate that ischemia/reperfusion causes an increase in eNOS, which is unavailable to the ischemic heart because of its binding with caveolin-1. Ceramide plays a crucial role in this process, because prevention of ceramide formation either by myocardial adaptation to ischemia or with desipramine results in the inhibition of eNOS association with caveolin-1 thereby reducing myocardial ischemic reperfusion injury.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Resveratrol-mediated activation of cAMP response element-binding protein through adenosine A3 receptor by Akt-dependent and -independent pathways.

A recent study documented a role of adenosine A(3)-Akt-cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) survival signaling in resveratrol preconditioning of the heart. In this study, we demonstrate that resveratrol-mediated CREB activation can also occur through an Akt-independent pathway. Isolated rat hearts were perfused for 15 min with Krebs-Henseleit bicarbonate (KHB) buffer containing resveratrol in the absence or presence of adenosine A(3) receptor blocker MRS-1191 [3-ethyl-5-benzyl-2-methyl-4-phenylethynyl-6-phenyl-1,4-(+/-)-dihydropyridine-3,5-dicar-boxylate], phosphatidylinositol 3 (PI3)-kinase inhibitor LY294002 [2-(4-morpholinyl)-8-phenyl-1(4H)-benzopyran-4-one hydrochloride], mitogen-activated extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase inhibitor PD098059 [2-(2-amino-3-methoxyphenyl)-4H-1-benzopyran-4-one], or a combination of LY294002 and PD098059. All hearts were subsequently subjected to 30-min ischemia followed by 2-h reperfusion. Cardioprotection was examined by determining infarct size, cardiomyocyte apoptosis, and ventricular recovery. Resveratrol phosphorylated both Akt and CREB that was blocked by MRS-1191, which also abolished cardioprotective abilities of resveratrol. LY294002 completely inhibited Akt phosphorylation but partially blocked the phosphorylation of CREB. Inhibition of PI3-kinase also partially blocked resveratrol's ability to precondition the heart. PD098059 partially blocked the phosphorylation of CREB and resveratrol-mediated cardioprotection. Preperfusing the hearts with LY294002 and PD098059 together completely abolished the phosphorylation of CREB, simultaneously inhibiting resveratrol-mediated cardioprotection. The results indicate that resveratrol preconditions the hearts through adenosine A(3) receptor signaling that triggers the phosphorylation of CREB through both Akt-dependent and -independent pathways, leading to cardioprotection.

Adenosine A3 Receptor Antagonists↗

PubMed2005

Cardioprotection with palm tocotrienol: antioxidant activity of tocotrienol is linked with its ability to stabilize proteasomes.

Tocotrienols, isomers of vitamin E, have been found to possess many health benefits. The present study was designed to determine whether tocotrienol has a direct cardioprotective role. Isolated rat hearts were perfused for 15 min with Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer in the absence or presence of palm tocotrienol derived from the tocotrienol-rich fraction (0.035%) of palm oil (TRF). In another group of studies, the hearts were preperfused for 15 min in the presence of a c-Src inhibitor, 4-amino-5-(4-methylphenyl)-7-(t-butyl)-pyrazolo-3,4-d-pyrimidine (PPI). The hearts were then subjected to 30 min of global ischemia followed by 2 h of reperfusion. As expected, ischemia-reperfusion caused ventricular dysfunction, electrical rhythm disturbances, and increased myocardial infarct size. PPI or TRF could reverse the ischemia-reperfusion-mediated cardiac dysfunction. Ischemia-reperfusion also upregulated c-Src expression and phosphorylation. Although TRF only minimally affected c-Src expression, it significantly inhibited the phosphorylation of c-Src. Ischemia-reperfusion reduced 20S and 26S proteasome activities, an effect prevented by TRF pretreatment. PPI exerted a cardioprotective effect that is not mediated by the proteasome but, rather, through direct inhibition of c-Src. The results of this study support a role for c-Src in postischemic cardiac injury and dysfunction and demonstrate direct cardioprotective effects of TRF. The cardioprotective properties of TRF appear to be due to inhibition of c-Src activation and proteasome stabilization.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Potential candidates for ischemic preconditioning-associated vascular growth pathways revealed by antibody array.

Our understanding of the phenomenon of myocardial vascular growth is very limited even though various studies have been conducted in several different models, because the focus in each has been on a select very few number of proteins as the possible growth factors. In the present study, we used the ischemic preconditioning (IP) model in the form of four in vivo repetitive cycles of coronary artery occlusion, each followed by reperfusion as the model to stimulate vascular growth, and performed the protein profiling using high-throughput antibody array technology. Rats were divided into two groups: control + left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) occlusion (CMI), and IP+ LAD occlusion (IPMI). The antibody array experiment performed to compare the expression of 512 proteins between the IPMI and CMI samples revealed significant upregulation of growth proteins like TGF-beta, BMX, granulocyte-monocyte colony-stimulating factor, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, alpha- and beta-catenins, ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme UbcH6, nexilin, and PKC-epsilon and -lambda. JNK1 and c-Src tyrosine kinase were expectedly found to be downregulated. Western blot experiments validated the changes in expression of these proteins. Therefore, this study puts forward the above-mentioned proteins as valid participants in the vascular growth signals that are known to be triggered by ischemic preconditioning of heart.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Antibody-array technique reveals overexpression of important DNA-repair proteins during cardiac ischemic preconditioning.

It is well known that repetitive ischemia followed by reperfusion (four cycles of 5 min of ischemia and 10 min of reperfusion) demonstrates protective effect against subsequent severe ischemic insult, known as ischemic preconditioning (PC). This phenomenon causes reduction in oxidative DNA damage, infarct size, and the extent of apoptotic cell death, leading to adaptation on functional recovery. The involvement of DNA-repair mechanisms in PC has not been well studied. We utilized the antibody-array technique to identify DNA-repair proteins that were upregulated by ischemic PC in the permanent left anterior coronary artery occlusion myocardial infarction (MI) model. The antibody-array system enabled us to identify three double-strand-break-repair proteins--Rad50, DNA topoisomerase I, Ku80--that were upregulated and might be involved in cell-survival processes during adaptation. With Western blot analysis, we found no significant difference in Ku80 protein expression between preconditioned and control groups after MI. Therefore, this report focuses on the overexpression of Rad50 and DNA topoisomerase and proposes that the DNA-repair mechanism in the permanent left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) occlusion model involves these two proteins.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Lycopene, tomatoes, and coronary heart disease.

Tomato and its major antioxidant component lycopene have recently been focused as important antioxidant nutrients because of their ability to reduce reactive oxygen species and to provide health benefits. Most of the studies were undertaken to determine the usefulness of lycopene against cancer and cardiovascular diseases. Epidemiological studies, however, yielded conflicting results. This study was undertaken to compare cardioprotective abilities of tomato juice and lycopene. Rats were gavaged either tomato juice or lycopene for 3 weeks. At the end of 3 weeks, isolated hearts were subjected to 30 min ischemia followed by 2 h of reperfusion. Both tomato juice and lycopene reduced the extent of lipid peroxidation; but only tomato juice, but not lycopene, improved post-ischemic ventricular function, and reduced myocardial infarct size and cardiomyocyte apoptosis. The results indicated for the first time that tomato juice, but not lycopene, possesses cardioprotective ability.

Animals↗