PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

J L Nadler

Publications and source records attributed to J L Nadler.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Activation of 12-lipoxygenase in proinflammatory cytokine-mediated beta cell toxicity.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Beta cell inflammation and cytokine-induced toxicity are central to autoimmune diabetes development. Lipid mediators generated upon lipoxygenase (LO) activation can participate in inflammatory pathways. 12LO-deficient mice are resistant to streptozotocin-induced diabetes. This study sought to characterise the cellular processes involving 12LO-activation lipid inflammatory mediator production in cytokine-treated pancreatic beta cells. METHODS: Islets and beta cell lines were treated with a combination of IL-1beta, IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha, or the 12LO product 12(S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (HETE). Insulin secretion was measured using an enzyme immunoassay, and cell viability was evaluated using an in situ terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labelling assay. 12LO activity was evaluated and 12LO protein levels were determined using immunoblotting with a selective leucocyte type 12LO antibody. Cellular localisation of 12LO was evaluated using immunocytochemistry. RESULTS: Basal expression of leucocyte type 12LO protein was found in human and mouse islets and in several rodent beta cell lines. In mouse beta-TC3 cells, and in human islets, cytokines induced release of 12-HETE within 30 min. Cytokine addition also induced a rapid translocation of 12LO protein from the cytosol to the nucleus of beta-TC3 cells as shown by subcellular fractionation and immunostaining. Cytokine-induced cell death and inhibition of insulin secretion were partially reversed by baicalein, a 12LO inhibitor. 12(S)-HETE inhibited beta-TC3 cell insulin release in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Incubating beta-TC3 cells with 100 nmol/l of 12(S)-HETE resulted in a 57% reduction in basal insulin release (6 h), and a 17% increase in cell death (18 h) as compared with untreated cells. 12(S)-HETE activated the stress-activated protein kinase c-Jun N-terminal kinase and p38 within 15 min, as judged by increased kinase protein phosphorylation. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: The data suggest that inflammatory cytokines rapidly activate 12LO and show for the first time that cytokines induce 12LO translocation. The effects of 12-HETE on insulin secretion, cytotoxicity and kinase activation were similar to the effects seen with cytokines. The results provide mechanistic information of cytokine-induced toxic effects on pancreatic beta cells and support the hypothesis that blocking 12LO activation could provide a new therapeutic way to protect pancreatic beta cells from autoimmune injury.

12-Hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic Acid↗

Assessment of human pancreatic islets after long distance transportation.

Pancreatic islet transplantation can replace functional insulin-secreting beta cells for patients with type 1 diabetes. More than 300 patients who have received islet transplantation have returned to a euglycemic condition without using insulin. Therefore, islet transplantation has gained public attention and interest. Unfortunately, shortages in organ donations, suboptional antirejection regimens, and difficulties in islet isolation limit clinical utilization of this therapy. Recently, successful islet transplantation has been reported using a centralized islet isolation facility. The advantage of this experience is that it avoids the high costs in building an isolation facility and maintaining an experienced technical team. However, a private airplane carrier was required for transporting islets back to the transplantation site in a remote hospital. The cost of this specialized transportation was still too high to be considered as a routine procedure. In this study, we report our experience using commercial carriers to deliver isolated human islets from an established isolation facility to a remote medical center.

Animals↗

Inflammation blockade improves pancreatic islet function.

Pancreatic islet transplantation can replace insulin-secreting beta cells in patients with diabetes mellitus. However, current methodology for isolating islets from a pancreas only retrieves a portion of the total islets. Within these limited number of islets, nearly 50% of beta cells lose biological function before transplantation. Protecting and improving beta-cell viability and function was the goal of this study. Previously we observed that an anti-inflammatory compound, lisofylline (LSF), protects beta cells from cytotoxicity during diabetes development. In this study, we demonstrated that human islets treated in vitro with LSF retained beta-cell glucose responsiveness and insulin secretion in the presence of multiple proinflammatory cytokines. In addition, LSF treatment in vitro enhanced basal insulin production in beta cells, suggesting that LSF can directly improve beta-cell function. LSF reduced beta-cell apoptosis induced by proinflammatory cytokines by 50%. Importantly, 30% fewer LSF-treated islets were sufficient to achieve insulin independence in a murine islet transplantation model. These results demonstrate the ability of LSF-like compounds to protect and enhance beta-cell function, suggesting the potential of using LSF or its analogs in islet transplantation.

Animals↗

Impact of donor immune cells in pancreatic islet transplantation.

Autoimmune-mediated cytotoxicity may cause pancreatic islet transplant failure, leading to recurrent diabetes. Protection of islet grafts depends on immunosuppressive control, which may also prevent autoimmune recurrence of diabetes. In this study, we compared the survival of syngeneic islet transplants using different strains of donor mice. We observed extended functional survival in the islet grafts from donors lacking the genetic background and potential of autoimmunity. Without immunosuppression, the islet grafts of NOR and immune-deficient NOD. Scid donors functioned up to 3 weeks in syngeneic islet transplants compared to 3-day survivals with the grafts from NOD donors. T-cell proliferation and activation markers, CD44 and CD69, were upregulated in NOD donors, suggesting that T-cell activation had occurred prior to pancreas procurement. Systemic delivery of a recombinant adenoassociated viral vector (AAV) encoding the viral (vIL-10) IL-10 gene (AAV vIL-10) in NOD recipients protected syngeneic islets from autoimmune destruction. Alternatively, pretreatment of NOD donor mice with AAV vIL-10 prolonged islet graft survival in untreated NOD recipients. Both studies indicate the effectiveness of vIL-10 gene therapy in autoimmune regulation. These results suggest that a donor factor may exist in autoimmune-prone donors. Therefore, autoimmune recurrence of diabetes may result from donor immune cells transferred during islet transplantation. The AAV vIL-10 gene therapy suppressed previously activated donor T cells and protected the grafted islets from autoimmune-mediated destruction.

Animals↗

Role of 12-lipoxygenase and oxidant stress in hyperglycaemia-induced acceleration of atherosclerosis in a diabetic pig model.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: We previously showed that vascular smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells cultured under high glucose conditions produced more 12(S)-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE), the 12-lipoxygenase (12-LO) product of arachidonate metabolism, relative to normal glucose. Because the lipoxygenase (LO) pathway has been associated with oxidant stress and the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, we now examined 12-LO activation in vivo in a pig model of diabetes-induced accelerated atherosclerosis which displays human characteristics. METHODS: The animal model was developed in pigs who were fed a normal or high fat diet and given streptozotocin injections to produce normolipemic-normoglycaemic (NLNG), normolipemic-hyperglycaemic (NLHG), hyperlipemic-normoglycaemic (HLNG) and hyperlipemic-hyperglycaemic (HLHG) pigs. Tissue samples were obtained from key arterial beds to examine 12-LO expression at 20 weeks after the pigs began their diet. RESULTS: All HG pigs maintained threefold higher serum glucose concentrations. The HL groups developed atherosclerosis but diabetic HLHG pigs showed markedly accelerated atherosclerosis (twofold) relative to non-diabetic HLNG pigs. Immunostaining showed progressive increases in 12-LO in arteries in the order NLNG, NLHG, HLNG and HLHG. Leukocyte-type 12-LO protein (immuno-blotting) as well as mRNA expression (by competitive PCR) in abdominal and coronary arteries were significantly greater in HLHG pigs than in all the other three groups. Furthermore, increased oxidant stress was observed in monocytes from NLHG and HLNG pigs, and greatly potentiated in HLHG pigs. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: These results are consistent with the hypothesis that 12-LO activation plays a key role in accelerated atherosclerosis due to diabetes and hyperlipemia.

12-Hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic Acid↗

Adenoviral delivery of a leukocyte-type 12 lipoxygenase ribozyme inhibits effects of glucose and platelet-derived growth factor in vascular endothelial and smooth muscle cells.

The lipoxygenase (LO) pathway has been implicated as an important mediator of chronic glucose and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-induced effects in the vascular system. Endothelial cells treated with 12LO products or cultured in high glucose showed enhanced monocyte adhesion, an important step in atherogenesis. We have previously reported that PDGF increased HETE levels in porcine aortic smooth muscle cells. Although several pharmacological inhibitors to the LO pathway are available, most lack specificity and may harbor undesirable side effects. Therefore, we developed a recombinant adenovirus expressing a hammerhead ribozyme (AdRZ) targeted against the porcine leukocyte-type 12LO mRNA to investigate the involvement of LO in glucose- and PDGF-mediated effects in vascular cells. Infection of porcine aortic endothelial cells with AdRZ reduced the level of glucose-enhanced 12LO mRNA expression as determined by quantitative, real-time reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Reverse-phase HPLC and RIA analysis also revealed a corresponding decrease in glucose-stimulated 12HETE production in both the cellular and supernatant fractions. In the ribozyme-treated porcine aortic endothelial cells, there was marked inhibition of high glucose-stimulated monocyte adhesion. Infection with AdRZ also reduced PDGF-induced porcine aortic smooth muscle cell migration by approximately 50%. These studies demonstrate the efficacy of recombinant adenovirus expressing 12LO ribozyme in studying the effects of 12LO in vascular wall cells. They document an important role for the 12LO pathway in regulating inflammatory changes in endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells.

12-Hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic Acid↗

Ribozyme-mediated inhibition of rat leukocyte-type 12-lipoxygenase prevents intimal hyperplasia in balloon-injured rat carotid arteries.

BACKGROUND: 12-Lipoxygenase (12-LO) products of arachidonate metabolism have growth and chemotactic effects in vascular smooth muscle cells. We have also recently demonstrated increased 12-LO mRNA and protein expression in the neointima of balloon-injured rat carotid arteries. In this study, we evaluated whether 12-LO activation plays a role in neointimal thickening in this rat model by using a specific ribozyme (Rz) directed to rat 12-LO. METHODS AND RESULTS: We designed a chimeric DNA-RNA hammerhead Rz to cleave rat leukocyte-type 12-LO mRNA. This Rz dose-dependently cleaved a 166-nucleotide target 12-LO mRNA substrate in vitro and reduced 12-LO mRNA and protein expression in rat vascular smooth muscle cells. A control mutant Rz (MRz) with a point mutation in the catalytic site was inactive. To test the in vivo efficacy of the 12-LO Rz, the left common carotid arteries of rats were injured with a balloon catheter. The distal half of the injured arteries was treated with Rz or MRz mixed with lipofectin. The proximal half received only lipofectin. Twelve days after injury, intima-to-media ratios were significantly lower in the Rz-treated sections than in untreated sections from the same rat (0.742+/-0.16 versus 1.749+/-0.12, P:<0.001). In contrast, the MRz had no significant effect. CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate the important role of the leukocyte-type 12-LO pathway in restenosis in response to injury.

Analysis of Variance↗

Overexpression of 12-lipoxygenase causes cardiac fibroblast cell growth.

Evidence suggests that leukocyte type 12-lipoxygenase (12-LO) plays an important role in cell growth. However, the role of 12-LO in cardiac cell growth has not been tested. We have now stably overexpressed 12-LO cDNA in rat fetal cardiac fibroblasts to evaluate the role of the 12-LO pathway in cardiac cell growth. Overexpression of 12-LO increased cell [(3)H]leucine incorporation by 2.1+/-0.1-fold (P<0.01) and cell protein content by 2.2+/-0. 3-fold (P<0.01) over mock-transfected cells. These findings were confirmed in additional clones. Baicalein, a 12-LO enzyme inhibitor, dose-dependently inhibited serum-induced leucine incorporation in cardiac fibroblast cells as well as partially inhibited leucine incorporation in cells overexpressing 12-LO. 12-LO overexpression also caused cell [(3)H]thymidine incorporation to increase by 3.4+/-0.3-fold (P<0.01). Cell flow cytometry analysis showed that the size of 12-LO-overexpressing cells was markedly enlarged compared with that of mock-transfected cells. The fibronectin content of the 12-LO-overexpressing cardiac fibroblasts was also significantly increased. We next evaluated the effects of 12-LO RNA overexpression on kinase pathways linked to cellular growth. The overexpression of 12-LO enhanced extracellular signal-regulated kinase activity (4. 1+/-0.5-fold), c-Jun NH(2)-terminal kinase activity (2.9+/-0.5-fold), and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activity (2.2+/-0.3-fold). Pretreatment with SB202190 (100 nmol/L), a specific inhibitor of p38, prevented the increases in protein content of 12-LO-overexpressing cardiac fibroblast cells. These data clearly demonstrate that the overexpression of 12-LO causes cell growth of cardiac fibroblasts, thus supporting the role of 12-LO as a novel growth-promoting pathway in the heart.

Animals↗

Evidence that increased 12-lipoxygenase activity induces apoptosis in fibroblasts.

The 12-lipoxygenase (LO) enzyme has been implicated in playing a role in pancreatic beta cell inflammatory damage and atherosclerosis. 12-LO reacts with fatty acids to form hydroperoxides which may alter cellular growth. In this study we investigated the direct effect of mouse leukocyte type 12-LO cDNA overexpression on apoptosis in Chinese hamster ovary fibroblast cells that also stably overexpress the angiotensin II type 1a receptor. CHO-AT1a cells expressing background levels of 12-LO exhibited clear increases in growth in response to angiotensin II. In contrast, the new 12-LO transfected cells (CHO-AT1a/ML12-LO cells) displayed reduced basal and angiotensin Il-induced growth compared to CHO-AT1a cells. Furthermore, serum-deprivation resulted in a significantly greater number of non-viable cells in clones having the greatest magnitude of 12-LO overexpression. These results suggested that reduction of the proliferation rate of CHO-AT1a/ML12-LO cells was due to an increasing rate of cell death. To determine whether the increase in cell death was due to apoptosis, we evaluated nuclear DNA fragmentation, cell morphologic changes, and activation of caspase-3. Cells overexpressing 12-LO cDNA displayed all these changes characteristic of apoptosis. In addition the 12-LO product, 12-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12-HPETE), directly induced apoptosis in CHO-AT1a cells. These results demonstrate for the first time that 12-LO activation can lead to apoptosis in fibroblasts, suggesting a role of 12-LO in leading to inflammatory mediated cellular damage.

Angiotensin II↗

12-lipoxygenase is increased in glucose-stimulated mesangial cells and in experimental diabetic nephropathy.

BACKGROUND: Arachidonic acid-derived 12-lipoxygenase (12-LO) products have potent growth and chemotactic properties. The present studies examined whether 12-LO and fibronectin are induced in cultured rat mesangial cells (MCs) exposed to high glucose and whether they are expressed in experimental diabetic nephropathy. METHODS: To determine the effect of high glucose on MC 12-LO mRNA and protein expression, rat MCs were incubated with RPMI medium containing 100 (NG) or 450 mg/dL glucose (HG). For animal studies, rats were injected with diluent (control) or streptozotocin. The latter were left untreated (DM) or treated with insulin (DM + I). At sacrifice after four months, GAPDH, 12-LO, and fibronectin mRNA were measured by competitive reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) in microdissected glomeruli (G). Renal sections were semiquantitatively scored (0 to 4+) for diabetic changes and for 12-LO and fibronectin by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: 12-LO mRNA expression in MC exposed to HG (12.71 +/- 1.17 attm/microL) and DM G (1.78 +/- 0.65 x 10-3 attm/glomerulus) was significantly higher than those of MCs in NG media (6.71 +/- 0.78 attm/microL) and control G (0.34 +/- 0.12 x 10-3 attm/glomerulus, P < 0.005), respectively. Western blot revealed a 1.7- and a 2.8-fold increase in MC and G 12-LO protein expression, respectively (P < 0.05). The immunohistochemistry score for G 12-LO and diabetic nephropathy score was significantly greater in DM and DM + I than controls. MC and G GAPDH mRNA remained unchanged. CONCLUSIONS: In MCs exposed to HG and in diabetic rat glomeruli, increments in 12-LO mRNA and protein are associated with changes modeling diabetic nephropathy. These findings suggest a role for the 12-LO pathway in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy.

Animals↗

Diabetes-induced accelerated atherosclerosis in swine.

Patients with diabetes are at higher risk for atherosclerotic disease than nondiabetic individuals with other comparable risk factors. Studies examining mechanisms underlying diabetes-accelerated atherosclerosis have been limited by the lack of suitable humanoid animal models. In this study, diabetes was superimposed on a well-characterized swine model of atherosclerosis by injection of the beta-cell cytotoxin streptozotocin (STZ), resulting in a >80% reduction in beta-cells and an increase in plasma glucose to diabetic levels. Animals were maintained without exogenous insulin for up to 48 weeks. Plasma glucose and cholesterol levels and lesion extent and severity were quantified in swine with diabetes and hyperlipemia alone and in combination compared with controls. Diabetes had no effect on plasma cholesterol levels, but diabetic/hyperlipemic (D-HL) swine developed hypertriglyceridemia and showed a doubling in aortic sudanophilia over nondiabetic/hyperlipemic (N-HL) swine as early as 12 weeks (47.25 +/- 4.5 vs. 24.0 +/- 4.6%). At 20 weeks, coronary artery stenosis was significantly greater in D-HL than in N-HL animals (86 +/- 10 vs. 46 +/- 8%). Coronary lesions predominantly arose in the first 2-3 cm of the vessels and displayed humanoid morphology. Aortic lesions in D-HL swine had double the cholesterol content of those in N-HL swine, and incorporation of oleate into cholesteryl ester was significantly greater in grossly normal aortic areas of D-HL swine compared with N-HL and was attributed to similar elevated incorporation in monocytes. This large study demonstrates that a model of diabetes with humanoid characteristics, including hypertriglyceridemia and severe, accelerated atherosclerosis can be reproducibly induced and maintained in swine. This model should potentially be of great value in elucidating mechanisms underlying the accelerated atherosclerosis seen in human diabetic individuals.

Acetates↗

Evidence that 12-lipoxygenase product 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid activates p21-activated kinase.

The effect of 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE), an arachidonic acid metabolite of 12-lipoxygenase, to activate p21(Rac/Cdc42)-activated kinase (PAK1) was studied in a Chinese hamster ovary fibroblast cell line overexpressing the rat vascular type-1a angiotensin II receptor (CHO-AT(1a)). 12-HETE (0.1 microM) treatment induced a time-dependent activation of PAK1, with a peak effect at 10 min (335 +/- 16% of control; n=3, P<0.001). The stimulatory effect of 12-HETE on PAK1 activity was dose-dependent, with the maximal activation at 0.01 microM (350+/-15% of control; n=3, P<0.001). A PAK1 fragment encoding the Cdc42/Rac binding domain (amino acid residues 67-150 of hPAK1 termed PBD), was transfected into CHO-AT(1a) cells. PBD transfection markedly reduced 12-HETE-induced PAK1 activation. Furthermore, transfection of dominant negative Cdc42 and Rac1 inhibited 12-HETE-induced PAK1, strongly suggesting that Cdc42 and Rac1 are the upstream activators of 12-HETE-induced PAK1 activation. Low concentrations (1.5 microM) of LY294002, a highly specific inhibitor of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI-3K), abolished 12-HETE-induced PAK1 activation, suggesting that PI-3K activation is upstream of 12-HETE-induced PAK1 activation. Transfection of dominant negative PAK1 blocked 12-HETE-induced PAK1, cJun N-terminal kinase (JNK1) and extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activity, while transfection of constitutively active PAK1 stimulated PAK1, JNK1 and ERK activity, suggesting that PAK1 is an upstream activator of 12-HETE-induced JNK1 and ERK activation in these cells. We conclude that 12-HETE can activate Cdc42, Rac1 and PI-3K, which then participate as upstream signalling molecules for PAK1 and JNK1 activation.

12-Hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatetraenoic Acid↗

Molecular mechanisms of tumor necrosis factor alpha gene expression in monocytic cells via hyperglycemia-induced oxidant stress-dependent and -independent pathways.

Increased oxidative stress has been reported in vivo in the diabetic state via the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Such stress is bound to play a key role on activation of circulating monocytes, leading to the accelerated atherosclerosis observed in diabetics. However the exact molecular mechanisms of monocyte activation by high glucose is currently unclear. Here, we demonstrate that chronic high glucose (CHG) causes a dramatic increase in the release of the inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFalpha), at least in part through enhanced TNFalpha mRNA transcription, mediated by ROS via activation of transcription factors nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) and activating protein-1 (AP-1). TNFalpha accumulation in the conditioned media was increased 10-fold and mRNA levels were increased 11.5-fold by CHG. The following observations supported that both NF-kappaB and AP-1 mediated enhanced TNFalpha transcription by CHG: 1) A 295-base pair fragment of the proximal TNFalpha promoter containing NF-kappaB and AP-1 sites reproduced the effects of CHG on TNFalpha transcription in a luciferase reporter assay, 2) mutational analyses of both NF-kappaB and the AP-1 sites abrogated 90% of the luciferase activity, 3) gel-shift analysis using the binding sites showed activation of NF-kappaB and AP-1 in CHG nuclear extracts, and 4) Western blot analyses demonstrated elevated nuclear levels of p65 and p50 and decreased cytosolic levels of IkappaBalpha in CHG-treated monocytes. That ROS acted as a key intermediate in the CHG pathway was supported by the following evidence: 1) increased superoxide levels similar to those observed with PMA or TNFalpha, 2) increased phosphorylation of stress-responsive mitogen-activated protein kinases p38 and JNK-1, 3) counteraction of the effects of CHG on TNFalpha production, the 295TNFluc reporter activity, activation of NF-kappaB, and repression of IkappaBalpha by antioxidants and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitors. The study suggests that ROS function as key components in the regulatory pathway progressing from elevated glucose to monocyte activation.

Acetylcysteine↗

Evidence that pioglitazone, metformin and pentoxifylline are inhibitors of glycation.

Enhanced formation and accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) have been proposed to play a major role in the pathogenesis of diabetic complications, and atherosclerosis, leading to the development of a range of diabetic complications including nephropathy, retinopathy and neuropathy. Several potential drug candidates as AGE inhibitors have been reported recently. Aminoguanidine is the first drug extensively studied. However, there are no currently available medications known to block AGE formation. We have previously reported a number of novel and structurally diverse compounds as potent inhibitors of glycation and AGE formation. We have now studied several of the existing drugs, which are in therapeutic practice for lowering blood sugar or the treatment of peripheral vascular disease in diabetic patients, for possible inhibitory effects on glycation. We show that that three compounds; pioglitazone, metformin and pentoxifylline are also inhibitors of glycation.

Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay↗

Adeno-associated virus vector mediated gene transfer to pancreatic beta cells.

Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) or type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that results in destruction of the insulin-producing pancreatic islet beta cells. Several factors induce the invasion of immune cells into islets and trigger inflammation. Gene therapy approaches targeting the islet cells could be an effective treatment to prevent the onset or reverse type 1 diabetes. Allogeneic islet transplantation provides short-term treatment. However, genetically modified islets, which resist the host immune response, could provide long-term solutions. Adeno-associated virus (AAV) is emerging as a prominent vector system for delivering therapeutic genes for human gene therapy. AAV vector can transduce nondividing cells and provide long-term gene expression by integrating into host chromosome. Therefore, it is an appropriate vector system for islet cell gene therapy. To test the efficacy of AAV vector to transduce pancreatic endocrine cells, we constructed AAV vectors using plasmid pSub201. Wild-type AAV DNA analogue from plasmid psub201 was subcloned into a cloning plasmid pSP72 and AAV vectors were constructed by inserting the transgenes with heterologous promoter in place of AAV open reading frames (rep and cap). In this report we demonstrate the transduction of pancreatic islet cells with AAV vectors encoding bacterial -galactosidase enzyme or enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) as reporter gene. Dispersed porcine and rat islet cells can be transduced by AAV vector, with an efficiency of 47% and 38%, respectively. In particular porcine islet insulin producing beta cells were transduced with an efficiency of 39%. Intact rat islet cells were transduced with an efficiency of 26% as estimated by FACS analysis following transduction with an AAV vector encoding EGFP. Transduction of intact rat islets with an AAV vector did not alter glucose-induced insulin secretion. AAV vector transduction was higher in transformed islet cell lines INS-1 and RIN m5F with an efficiency of 65% and 57%, respectively. These new results suggest that AAV vectors will provide an improved method of gene delivery to pancreatic islets and isolated pancreatic beta cells.

Animals↗

Angiotensin II increases neuronal delayed rectifier K(+) current: role of 12-lipoxygenase metabolites of arachidonic acid.

Angiotensin II (Ang II) elicits an Ang II type 2 (AT(2)) receptor-mediated increase in voltage-dependent delayed rectifier K(+) current (I(KV)) in neurons cultured from newborn rat hypothalamus and brain stem. In previous studies, we have determined that this effect of Ang II is mediated via a Gi protein, activation of phospholipase A(2) (PLA(2)), and generation of arachidonic acid (AA). AA is rapidly metabolized within cells via lipoxygenases (LO), cyclooxygenase (COX) or p450 monooxygenase enzymes, and the metabolic products are known regulators of K(+) currents and channels. Thus in the present study, we have investigated whether the AT(2) receptor-mediated effects of Ang II on neuronal I(KV) require AA metabolism and if so, which metabolic pathways are involved. The data presented here indicate that the stimulatory actions of Ang II and AA on neuronal I(KV) are attenuated by selective blockade of 12-LO enzymes. However, the effects of Ang II are not altered by blockade of 5-LO or p450 monooxygenase enzymes. Furthermore, the actions of Ang II are mimicked by a 12-LO metabolite of AA, but 5-LO metabolites such as leukotriene B(4) and C(4) do not alter neuronal I(KV). These data indicate that the AT(2) receptor-mediated stimulation of neuronal I(KV) is partially mediated through 12-LO metabolites of AA.

5,8,11,14-Eicosatetraynoic Acid↗

Resistance to type 1 diabetes induction in 12-lipoxygenase knockout mice.

Leukocyte 12-lipoxygenase (12-LO) gene expression in pancreatic beta cells is upregulated by cytotoxic cytokines like IL-1beta. Recent studies have demonstrated that 12-LO inhibitors can prevent glutamate-induced neuronal cell death when intracellular glutathione stores are depleted. Therefore, 12-LO pathway inhibition may prevent beta-cell cytotoxicity. To evaluate the role of 12-LO gene expression in immune-mediated islet destruction, we used 12-LO knockout (12-LO KO) mice. Male homozygous 12-LO KO mice and control C57BL/6 mice received 5 consecutive daily injections of low-dose streptozotocin to induce immune-mediated diabetes. Fasting serum glucose and insulin levels were measured at 7-day intervals, and the mice were followed up for 28 days. 12-LO KO mice were highly resistant to diabetes development compared with control mice and had higher serum insulin levels on day 28. Isolated pancreatic islets were treated with IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, and IFN-gamma for 18 hours. Glucose-stimulated insulin secretion in cytokine-treated islets from C57/BL6 mice decreased 54% from that of untreated islets. In marked contrast, the same cytokine mix led to only a 26% decrease in islets from 12-LO KO mice. Furthermore, cytokine-induced 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE) production was absent in 12-LO KO islets but present in C57/BL6 islets. Isolated peritoneal macrophages were stimulated for 48 hours with IFN-gamma + LPS and compared for nitrate/nitrite generation. 12-LO KO macrophages generated 50% less nitrate/nitrite when compared with C57BL/6 macrophages. In summary, elimination of leukocyte 12-LO in mice ameliorates low dose streptozotocin-induced diabetes by increasing islet resistance to cytokines and decreasing macrophage production of nitric oxide.

Animals↗