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Biomedical subjects

Juan-Carlos Murciano

Publications and source records attributed to Juan-Carlos Murciano.

13 recordsLinked to original sources

The glycocalyx protects erythrocyte-bound tissue-type plasminogen activator from enzymatic inhibition.

Coupling tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) to carrier red blood cells (RBC) prolongs its intravascular life span and permits its use for thromboprophylaxis. Here, we studied the susceptibility of RBC/tPA to PA inhibitors including plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) that constrain its activity and may reduce the duration of its effect. Despite lesser spatial and diffusional limitations, soluble tPA was far less effective than RBC/tPA in dissolving clots formed in vitro from blood of wild-type (WT) mice (40 versus 80% lysis at equal doses of tPA). Furthermore, after i.v. injection, soluble tPA lost activity faster in transgenic mice expressing a high level of PAI-1 than in WT mice, whereas the activity of RBC/tPA was unaffected. PAI-1 inactivated soluble tPA at equimolar ratios in vitro, but it had no effect on the amidolytic or fibrinolytic activity of RBC/tPA. RBC/tPA was also more resistant than soluble tPA to in vitro inhibition by other serpins (alpha2-macroglobulin and alpha1-antitrypsin) and pathologically high levels of glucose. However, coupling to RBC did not protect a truncated tPA mutant, Retavase, from plasma inhibitors. Chemical removal of the RBC glycocalyx negated tPA protection from inhibitors: tPA coupled to glycocalyx-stripped RBC bound twice as much 125I-PAI-1 as did tPA coupled to naive RBC, and susceptibility of the bound tPA to inhibition by PAI-1 was restored. Thus, the RBC glycocalyx protects RBC-coupled tPA against inhibition. Resistance to high levels of inhibitors in vivo contributes to the potential utility of RBC/tPA for thromboprophylaxis.

Animals↗

Dissociation between alveolar transmigration of neutrophils and lung injury in hyperoxia.

The objective of this study was to quantitatively assess changes in cell adhesion molecule (CAM) expression on the pulmonary endothelial surface during hyperoxia and to assess the functional significance of those changes on cellular trafficking and development of oxygen-induced lung injury. Mice were placed in >95% O(2) for 0-72 h, and pulmonary injury and neutrophil (PMN) sequestration were assessed. Specific pulmonary CAM expression was quantified with a dual-radiolabeled MAb technique. To test the role of CAMs in PMN trafficking during hyperoxia, blocking MAbs to murine P-selectin, ICAM-1, or platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1) were injected in wild-type mice. Mice genetically deficient in these CAMs and PMN-depleted mice were also evaluated. PMN sequestration occurred within 8 h of hyperoxia, although alveolar emigration occurred later (between 48 and 72 h), coincident with rapid escalation of the lung injury. Hyperoxia significantly increased pulmonary uptake of radiolabeled antibodies to P-selectin, ICAM-1, and PECAM-1, reflecting an increase in their level on pulmonary endothelium and possibly sequestered blood cells. Although both anti-PECAM-1 and anti-ICAM-1 antibodies suppressed PMN alveolar influx in wild-type mice, only mice genetically deficient in PECAM-1 showed PMN influx suppression. Neither CAM blockade, nor genetic deficiency, nor PMN depletion attenuated lung injury. We conclude that early pulmonary PMN retention during hyperoxia is not temporally associated with an increase in endothelial CAMs; however, subsequent PMN emigration into the alveolar space may be supported by PECAM-1 and ICAM-1. Blocking PMN recruitment did not prevent lung injury, supporting dissociation between PMN infiltration and lung injury during hyperoxia in mice.

Animals↗

Human complement receptor type 1-directed loading of tissue plasminogen activator on circulating erythrocytes for prophylactic fibrinolysis.

Plasminogen activators (PAs) are not used for thromboprophylaxis due to rapid clearance, bleeding, and extravascular toxicity. We describe a novel strategy that overcomes these limitations. We conjugated tissue-type PA (tPA) to a monoclonal antibody (mAb) against complement receptor type 1 (CR1) expressed primarily on human RBCs. Anti-CR1/tPA conjugate, but not control conjugate (mIgG/tPA), bound to human RBCs (1.2 x 10(3) tPA molecules/cell at saturation), endowing them with fibrinolytic activity. In vitro, RBC-bound anti-CR1/tPA caused 90% clot lysis versus 20% by naive RBCs. In vivo, more than 40% of anti-CR1/(125)I-tPA remained within the circulation ( approximately 90% bound to RBCs) 3 hours after injection in transgenic mice expressing human CR1 (TgN-hCR1) versus less than 10% in wild-type (WT) mice, without RBC damage; approximately 90% of mIgG/(125)I-tPA was cleared from the circulation within 30 minutes in both WT and TgN-hCR1 mice. Anti-CR1/tPA accelerated lysis of pulmonary emboli and prevented stable occlusive carotid arterial thrombi from forming after injection in TgN-hCR1 mice, but not in WT mice, whereas soluble tPA and mIgG/tPA were ineffective. Anti-CR1/tPA caused 20-fold less rebleeding in TgN-hCR1 mice than the same dose of tPA. CR1-directed immunotargeting of PAs to circulating RBCs provides a safe and practical means to deliver fibrinolytics for thromboprophylaxis in settings characterized by a high imminent risk of thrombosis.

Animals↗

Fibrin affinity of erythrocyte-coupled tissue-type plasminogen activators endures hemodynamic forces and enhances fibrinolysis in vivo.

Plasminogen activators (PAs; e.g., tissue-type, tPA) coupled to red blood cells (RBCs) display in vivo features useful for thromboprophylaxis: prolonged circulation, minimal extravasation, and preferential lysis of nascent versus preexisting clots. Yet, factors controlling the activity of RBC-bound PAs in vivo are not defined and may not mirror the profile of soluble PAs. We tested the role of RBC/PA binding to fibrin in fibrinolysis. RBC/tPA and RBC/tPA variant with low fibrin affinity (rPA) bound to and lysed plasminogen-containing fibrin clots in vitro comparably. In contrast, when coinjected in mice with fibrin emboli lodging in pulmonary vasculature, only RBC/tPA accumulated in lungs, which resulted in a more extensive fibrinolysis versus RBC/rPA (p < 0.01). Reconciling this apparent divergence between in vitro and in vivo behaviors, RBC/tPA, but not RBC/rPA perfused over fibrin in vitro at physiological shear stress bound to fibrin clots and caused greater fibrinolysis versus RBC/rPA (p < 0.001). These results indicate that because of high fibrin affinity, RBC/tPA binding to clots endures hemodynamic stress, which enhances fibrinolysis. Behavior of RBC/PAs under hemodynamic pressure is an important predictor of their performance in vivo.

Animals↗

Characterization of endothelial internalization and targeting of antibody-enzyme conjugates in cell cultures and in laboratory animals.

Streptavidin-biotin conjugates of enzymes with carrier antibodies provide a versatile means for targeting selected cellular populations in cell cultures and in vivo. Both specific delivery to cells and proper subcellular addressing of enzyme cargoes are important parameters of targeting. This chapter describes methodologies for evaluating the binding and internalization of labeled conjugates directed to endothelial surface adhesion molecules in cell cultures using anti-intercellular adhesion molecule/catalase or antiplatelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule/catalase conjugates as examples. It also describes protocols for characterization of biodistribution and pulmonary targeting of radiolabeled conjugates in rats using anti-intercellular adhesion molecule/tPA conjugates as an example. The experimental procedures, results, and notes provided may help in investigations of vascular immunotargeting of reporter, experimental, diagnostic, or therapeutic enzymes to endothelial and, perhaps, other cell types, both in vitro and in vivo.

Animals↗

Pro-thrombotic state induced by post-translational modification of fibrinogen by reactive nitrogen species.

Formation of nitric oxide-derived oxidants has been linked to development of atherosclerosis and associated thrombotic complications. Although systemic levels of protein nitrotyrosine predict risk for coronary artery disease, neither specific proteins targeted for modification nor functional consequences that might contribute to disease pathogenesis have been defined. Here we report a selective increase in circulating levels of nitrated fibrinogen in patients with coronary artery disease. Exposure of fibrinogen to nitrating oxidants, including those produced by the myeloperoxidase-hydrogen peroxide-nitrite system, significantly accelerates clot formation and factor XIII cross-linking, whereas exposure of fibrinogen to non-nitrating oxidants decelerates clot formation. Clots formed with fibrinogen exposed to nitrating oxidants are composed of large bundles made from twisted thin fibrin fibers with increased permeation and a decrease in storage modulus G' value, suggesting that these clots could be easily deformed by mechanical stresses. In contrast, clots formed with fibrinogen exposed to non-nitrating oxidants showed decreased permeation with normal architecture. Fibrinogen modified by exposure to physiologic nitration systems demonstrated no difference in the rate of plasmin-induced clot lysis, platelet aggregation, or binding. Thus, increased levels of fibrinogen nitration may lead to a pro-thrombotic state via acceleration in formation of fibrin clots. The present results may account, in part, for the association between nitrative stress and risk for coronary artery disease.

Blood Coagulation↗

Slow intracellular trafficking of catalase nanoparticles targeted to ICAM-1 protects endothelial cells from oxidative stress.

Nanotechnologies promise new means for drug delivery. ICAM-1 is a good target for vascular immunotargeting of nanoparticles to the perturbed endothelium, although endothelial cells do not internalize monomeric anti-ICAM-1 antibodies. However, coupling ICAM-1 antibodies to nanoparticles creates multivalent ligands that enter cells via an amiloride-sensitive endocytic pathway that does not require clathrin or caveolin. Fluorescence microscopy revealed that internalized anti-ICAM nanoparticles are retained in a stable form in early endosomes for an unusually long time (1-2 h) and subsequently were degraded following slow transport to lysosomes. Inhibition of lysosome acidification by chloroquine delayed degradation without affecting anti-ICAM trafficking. Also, the microtubule disrupting agent nocodazole delayed degradation by inhibiting anti-ICAM nanoparticle trafficking to lysosomes. Addition of catalase to create anti-ICAM nanoparticles with antioxidant activity did not affect the mechanisms of nanoparticle uptake or trafficking. Intracellular anti-ICAM/catalase nanoparticles were active, because endothelial cells were resistant to H2O2-induced oxidative injury for 1-2 h after nanoparticle uptake. Chloroquine and nocodazole increased the duration of antioxidant protection by decreasing the extent of anti-ICAM/catalase degradation. Therefore, the unique trafficking pathway followed by internalized anti-ICAM nanoparticles seems well suited for targeted delivery of therapeutic enzymes to endothelial cells and may provide a basis for treatment of acute vascular oxidative stress.

Catalase↗

Prophylactic fibrinolysis through selective dissolution of nascent clots by tPA-carrying erythrocytes.

A fibrinolytic agent consisting of a tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) coupled to the surface of red blood cells (RBCs) can dissolve nascent clots from within the clot, in a Trojan horse-like strategy, while having minimal effects on preexisting hemostatic clots or extravascular tissue. After intravenous injection, the fibrinolytic activity of RBC-tPA persisted in the bloodstream at least tenfold longer than did that of free tPA. In a model of venous thrombosis induced by intravenously injected fibrin microemboli aggregating in pulmonary vasculature, soluble tPA lysed pulmonary clots lodged before but not after tPA injection, whereas the converse was true for RBC-tPA. Free tPA failed to lyse occlusive carotid thrombosis whether injected before or after vascular trauma, whereas RBC-tPA circulating before, but not injected after, thrombus formation restored blood flow. This RBC-based drug delivery strategy alters the fibrinolytic profile of tPA, permitting prophylactic fibrinolysis.

Animals↗

Antithrombotic thrombocytes: ectopic expression of urokinase-type plasminogen activator in platelets.

Arterial occlusive disorders are a leading cause of human morbidity. We hypothesized that ectopic expression of fibrinolytic proteins in platelets could be used to favorably alter the hemostatic balance at sites of thrombosis. To test our hypothesis, we directed murine urokinase-type plasminogen activator transgene expression to platelets using a platelet factor 4 promoter. Urokinase was selectively expressed and stored in the platelets of these mice. These transgenic mice had altered platelet biology and a bleeding diathesis similar to that seen in patients with Quebec platelet disorder, affirming the role of ectopic urokinase expression as the etiology of this inherited disease. These mice were resistant to the development of occlusive carotid artery thrombosis in the absence of systemic fibrinolysis and displayed rapid resolution of pulmonary emboli. Moreover, transfusion of urokinase-expressing platelets into wild-type mice prevented formation of occlusive arterial thrombi. These studies show the feasibility of delivering fibrinolytic agents to sites of incipient thrombus formation through selective storage in platelets and offer a new strategy to prevent thrombosis and hemorrhage.

Animals↗

ICAM-directed vascular immunotargeting of antithrombotic agents to the endothelial luminal surface.

Drug targeting to a highly expressed, noninternalizable determinant up-regulated on the perturbed endothelium may help to manage inflammation and thrombosis. We tested whether inter-cellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) targeting is suitable to deliver antithrombotic drugs to the pulmonary vascular lumen. ICAM-1 antibodies bind to the surface of endothelial cells in culture, in perfused lungs, and in vivo. Proinflammatory cytokines enhance anti-ICAM binding to the endothelium without inducing internalization. (125)I-labeled anti-ICAM and a reporter enzyme (beta-Gal) conjugated to anti-ICAM bind to endothelium and accumulate in the lungs after intravenous administration in rats and mice. Anti-ICAM is seen to localize predominantly on the luminal surface of the pulmonary endothelium by electron microscopy. We studied the pharmacological effect of ICAM-directed targeting of tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA). Anti-ICAM/tPA, but not control IgG/tPA, conjugate accumulates in the rat lungs, where it exerts plasminogen activator activity and dissolves fibrin microemboli. Therefore, ICAM may serve as a target for drug delivery to endothelium, for example, for pulmonary thromboprophylaxis. Enhanced drug delivery to sites of inflammation and the potential anti-inflammatory effect of blocking ICAM-1 may enhance the benefit of this targeting strategy.

Analysis of Variance↗

Vascular immunotargeting of glucose oxidase to the endothelial antigens induces distinct forms of oxidant acute lung injury: targeting to thrombomodulin, but not to PECAM-1, causes pulmonary thrombosis and neutrophil transmigration.

Oxidative endothelial stress, leukocyte transmigration, and pulmonary thrombosis are important pathological factors in acute lung injury/acute respiratory distress syndrome (ALI/ARDS). Vascular immunotargeting of the H(2)O(2)-generating enzyme glucose oxidase (GOX) to the pulmonary endothelium causes an acute oxidative lung injury in mice.(1) In the present study we compared the pulmonary thrombosis and leukocyte transmigration caused by GOX targeting to the endothelial antigens platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule (PECAM) and thrombomodulin (TM). Both anti-PECAM and anti-TM delivered similar amounts of (125)I-GOX to the lungs and caused a dose-dependent, tissue-selective lung injury manifested within 2 to 4 hours by high lethality, vascular congestion, polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) sequestration in the pulmonary vasculature, severe pulmonary edema, and tissue oxidation, yet at an equal dose, anti-TM/GOX inflicted more severe lung injury than anti-PECAM/GOX. Moreover, anti-TM/GOX-induced injury was accompanied by PMN transmigration in the alveolar space, whereas anti-PECAM/GOX-induced injury was accompanied by PMN degranulation within vascular lumen without PMN transmigration, likely because of PECAM blockage. Anti-TM/GOX caused markedly more severe pulmonary thrombosis than anti-PECAM/GOX, likely because of TM inhibition. These results indicate that blocking of specific endothelial antigens by GOX immunotargeting modulates important pathological features of the lung injury initiated by local generation of H(2)O(2) and that this approach provides specific and robust models of diverse variants of human ALI/ARDS in mice. In particular, anti-TM/GOX causes lung injury combining oxidative, prothrombotic, and inflammatory components characteristic of the complex pathological picture seen in human ALI/ARDS.

Animals↗

Platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1-directed immunotargeting to cardiopulmonary vasculature.

Therapeutic molecules conjugated with antibodies to the platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1) accumulate in the pulmonary endothelium after i.v. injection in mice. In this study, we characterized PECAM-directed targeting to the lung and heart after local versus systemic intravascular administration in a large animal model, pigs. Radiolabel tracing showed that 1 h post-i.v. injection, 35% of anti-PECAM versus 2.5% of control IgG had accumulated in the lungs. Infusion of anti-PECAM via a catheter placed in the right pulmonary artery (RPA) resulted in a 3-fold elevation of the uptake in the right lower lobe and 2-fold reduction of uptake in the left lobes in the lung. Cardiac uptake of anti-PECAM was negligible after i.v. and RPA infusion. In contrast, delivery with a catheter placed in the right coronary artery (RCA) resulted in a 4-fold elevation of cardiac uptake of anti-PECAM, but not IgG, compared with i.v. injection. To estimate the targeting of an active reporter enzyme, streptavidin-conjugated beta-galactosidase (beta-Gal) was coupled to anti-PECAM or IgG (anti-PECAM/beta-Gal and IgG/beta-Gal) and injected into the RCA. Beta-Gal activity was markedly elevated in the heart and lungs (5- and 25-fold increased, respectively) after injection of anti-PECAM/beta-Gal, but not IgG/beta-Gal. Image analysis confirmed endothelial targeting of anti-PECAM/beta-Gal in the heart and lung. In summary, anti-PECAM antibody conjugates deliver agents to the pulmonary endothelium regardless of injection route, whereas local arterial infusion permits targeting to the cardiac vasculature. This paradigm may be useful for drug targeting to endothelium in lungs, heart, and possibly other organs.

Animals↗

Platelets inhibit the lysis of pulmonary microemboli.

Using tracings of (125)I-labeled fibrin(ogen) in rodents, we examined the hypothesis that platelets impede the lysis of pulmonary emboli. (125)I-Microemboli (ME, 3-10 micron diameter) lodged homogeneously throughout the lungs after intravenous injection in both rats and mice (60% of injected dose), caused no lethality, and underwent spontaneous dissolution (50 and 100% within 1 and 5 h, respectively). Although lung homogenates displayed the most intense fibrinolytic activity of all the major organs, dissolution of ME was much slower in isolated perfused lungs (IPL) than was observed in vivo. Addition of rat plasma to the perfusate facilitated ME dissolution in IPL to a greater extent than did addition of tissue-type plasminogen activator alone, suggesting that permeation of the clot by plasminogen is the rate-limited step in lysis. Platelet-containing ME injected in rats lysed much more slowly than did ME formed from fibrin alone. (125)I-Thrombi, formed in the pulmonary vasculature of mice in response to intravascular activation of platelets by injection of collagen and epinephrine, were essentially resistant to spontaneous dissolution. Moreover, injection of the antiplatelet glycoprotein IIb/IIIa antibody 7E3 F(ab')(2) facilitated spontaneous dissolution of pulmonary ME and augmented fibrinolysis by a marginally effective dose of Retavase (10 microg/kg) in rats. These studies show that platelets suppress pulmonary fibrinolysis. The mechanism(s) by which platelets stabilize ME and utility of platelet inhibitors to facilitate their dissolution deserves further study.

Animals↗