Biomedical subjects

Sirpa Jalkanen

Publications and source records attributed to Sirpa Jalkanen.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2007

Intravascular ADP and soluble nucleotidases contribute to acute prothrombotic state during vigorous exercise in humans.

Extracellular ATP and ADP trigger vasodilatatory and prothrombotic signalling events in the vasculature. Here, we tested the hypothesis that nucleotide turnover is activated in the bloodstream of exercising humans thus contributing to the enhanced platelet reactivity and haemostasis. Right atrial, arterial and venous blood samples were collected from endurance-trained athletes at rest, during submaximal and maximal cycle ergometer exercise, and after early recovery. ATP-specific bioluminescent assay, together with high-performance liquid chromatographic analysis, revealed that plasma ATP and ADP concentrations increased up to 2.5-fold during maximal exercise. Subsequent flow cytometric analysis showed that plasma from exercising subjects significantly up-regulated the surface expression of P-selectin in human platelets and these prothrombotic effects were diminished after scavenging plasma nucleotides with exogenous apyrase. Next, using thin layer chromatographic assays with [gamma-(32)P]ATP and (3)H/(14)C-labelled nucleotides, we showed that two soluble nucleotide-inactivating enzymes, nucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterase and nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase, constitutively circulate in human bloodstream. Strikingly, serum nucleotide pyrophosphatase and hydrolase activities rose during maximal exercise by 20-25 and 80-100%, respectively, and then declined after 30 min recovery. Likewise, soluble nucleotidases were transiently up-regulated in the venous blood of sedentary subjects during exhaustive exercise. Human serum also contains 5'-nucleotidase, adenylate kinase and nucleoside diphosphate (NDP) kinase; however, these activities remain unchanged during exercise. In conclusion, intravascular ADP significantly augments platelet activity during strenuous exercise and these prothrombotic responses are counteracted by concurrent release of soluble nucleotide-inactivating enzymes. These findings provide a novel insight into the mechanisms underlying the enhanced risk of occlusive thrombus formation under exercising conditions.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗

PubMed2007

Islet beta-cell-specific T cells can use different homing mechanisms to infiltrate and destroy pancreatic islets.

Organ infiltration by T cells depends on the adhesion molecules expressed in these sites and on homing receptors expressed by the T cells. Here, we have studied which form of priming can enable T cells to home to pancreatic islets. To this end, we have used transgenic mice expressing the model autoantigen ovalbumin in pancreatic islets and transgenic ovalbumin-specific CD4 and CD8 T cells. We demonstrate that these T cells were imprinted with homing receptor patterns characteristic for the site of priming, such as alpha4beta7 integrin for mucosal antigen delivery or functionally active alpha4beta1 integrin for islet autoantigens. The adhesion molecules corresponding to these receptors were found to be constitutively expressed in islets, enabling T cells bearing these receptors to infiltrate the islets and to cause diabetes. Disease was prevented only by blockade of the endothelial adhesion molecule, ligand of homing receptors with which the T cells were imprinted. Thus, different priming locations induced different homing mechanisms, allowing T cells to target the islets. This may contribute to the susceptibility of islets to T-cell-mediated attack. Furthermore, it may pertain to the design of adhesion-modulating therapies alone or in combination with external autoantigen administration.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Carotid arterial stiffness, elastic fibre network and vasoreactivity in semicarbazide-sensitive amine-oxidase null mouse.

OBJECTIVE: We examined the arterial phenotype of semicarbazide-sensitive amine-oxidase null mouse (SSAO -/-) using various techniques including high resolution echotracking. METHODS AND RESULTS: SSAO -/- mice showed no change in arterial pressure under anesthesia. The in vivo arterial diameter, only measured in the carotid artery (CA), was higher in SSAO -/- than in SSAO +/+ animals. Elastic modulus-wall stress curves and CA rupture pressure were similar between SSAO -/- and +/+ mice, indicating no change in arterial wall stiffness or mechanical strength. There was no significant difference in insoluble elastin, total collagen content and elastic lamellar morphology between the two genotypes. No alteration in vascular reactivity was observed in aortic rings and mesenteric arteries from SSAO -/- mice. Aortic lysyl oxidase (LO) activity remained unaltered, indicating that SSAO invalidation is not accompanied by a compensatory increase in LO activity. CONCLUSION: This is the first functional study of arteries lacking SSAO. Our results indicate that SSAO -/- mice present an increased arterial diameter associated with normal arterial mechanical properties, suggesting that SSAO deficiency might contribute to arterial wall remodeling. However, these results argue against the hypothesis that SSAO intervenes in elastic fibre organization, elastin cross-linking processes and vasoreactivity.

Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing)↗

PubMed2006

ATP-consuming and ATP-generating enzymes secreted by pancreas.

Pancreatic acini release ATP in response to various stimuli, including cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8), as we show in the present study. There were indications that pancreatic juice also contains enzymes that could hydrolyze ATP during its passage through the ductal system. The aim of this study was to determine which ATP-degrading and possibly ATP-generating enzymes were present in pancreatic secretion. For this purpose, pancreatic juice was collected from anesthetized rats stimulated with infusion of CCK-8. Purine-converting activities in juice samples were assayed by TLC using either [gamma-(32)P]ATP or (14)C/(3)H-labeled and unlabeled nucleotides as appropriate substrates. Data show that the juice contains the enzyme ecto-nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase that can hydrolyze both [(14)C]ATP and [(3)H]ADP about equally well, i.e. CD39. Reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography analysis additionally shows that this enzyme has broad substrate specificity toward other nucleotides, UTP, UDP, ITP, and IDP. In addition, secretion contains ecto-5'-nucleotidase, CD73, further converting [(3)H]AMP to adenosine. Along with highly active hydrolytic enzymes, there were also ATP-generating enzymes in pancreatic juice, adenylate kinase, and NDP kinase, capable of sequentially phosphorylating AMP via ADP to ATP. Activities of nonspecific phosphatases, nucleotide pyrophosphatase/phosphodiesterases, and adenosine deaminase were negligible. Taken together, CCK-8 stimulation of pancreas causes release of both ATP-consuming and ATP-generating enzymes into pancreatic juice. This newly discovered richness of secreted enzymes underscores the importance of purine signaling between acini and pancreatic ducts lumen and implies regulation of the purine-converting enzymes release.

5'-Nucleotidase↗

PubMed2006

The detection of micromolar pericellular ATP pool on lymphocyte surface by using lymphoid ecto-adenylate kinase as intrinsic ATP sensor.

Current models of extracellular ATP turnover include transient release of nanomolar ATP concentrations, triggering of signaling events, and subsequent ectoenzymatic inactivation. Given the high substrate specificity for adenylate kinase for reversible reaction (ATP + AMP <--> 2ADP), we exploited lymphoid ecto-adenylate kinase as an intrinsic probe for accurate sensing pericellular ATP. Incubation of leukemic T- and B-lymphocytes with [3H]AMP or [alpha-32P]AMP induces partial nucleotide conversion into high-energy phosphoryls. This "intrinsic" AMP phosphorylation occurs in time- and concentration-dependent fashions via nonlytic supply of endogenous gamma-phosphate-donating ATP, remains relatively resistant to bulk extracellular ATP scavenging by apyrase, and is diminished after lymphocyte pretreatment with membrane-modifying agents. This enzyme-coupled approach, together with confocal imaging of quinacrine-labeled ATP stores, suggests that, along with predominant ATP accumulation within cytoplasmic granules, micromolar ATP concentrations are constitutively retained on lymphoid surface without convection into bulk milieu. High basal levels of inositol phosphates in the cells transfected with ATP-selective human P2Y2-receptor further demonstrate that lymphocyte-surrounding ATP is sufficient for triggering purinergic responses both in autocrine and paracrine fashions. The ability of nonstimulated lymphocytes to maintain micromolar ATP halo might represent a novel route initiating signaling cascades within immunological synapses and facilitating leukocyte trafficking between the blood and tissues.

Adenosine Monophosphate↗

PubMed2006

Antigen targeting to endosomal pathway in dendritic cell vaccination activates regulatory T cells and attenuates tumor immunity.

Lymphoma cells are malignant cells of the T- or B-cell lineage that often express many surface markers inappropriately, yet are not recognized as abnormal by the immune system. We modeled this situation by inoculating ovalbumin-expressing E.G7-OVA lymphoma cells into mice that expressed ovalbumin as a self antigen in pancreatic islets, and investigated the efficacy of dendritic cell (DC) vaccination in these mice. Although vaccination with DC-expressing ovalbumin induced strong cytotoxic T-cell immunity, which led to clearance of E.G7-OVA lymphoma cells in naive C57BL/6 mice, DC vaccination was ineffective in mice expressing ovalbumin as a self antigen. Antigen modification to increase its processing via the endosomal processing pathway dramatically increased CD4 T-cell activation but paradoxically, impaired the protective effect of DC vaccination even in naive mice. Depletion of CD25(+) T cells (regulatory T cells [Tregs]) prior to vaccination restored the efficacy of DC vaccination and allowed eradication of lymphoma also in mice expressing ovalbumin as a self antigen. We conclude that lymphoma cells may be eradicated using DC vaccination if activation of CD25(+) Tregs is simultaneously inhibited, and that intentionally enhanced endosomal antigen processing in DC vaccines may shift the balance from CD4 T-cell help toward stimulation of Tregs.

Adoptive Transfer↗

PubMed2006

Developmental regulation of the adhesive and enzymatic activity of vascular adhesion protein-1 (VAP-1) in humans.

Vascular adhesion protein-1 (VAP-1) is a homodimeric glycoprotein that belongs to a unique subgroup of cell-surface-expressed oxidases. In adults, endothelial VAP-1 supports leukocyte rolling, firm adhesion, and transmigration in both enzyme activity-dependent and enzyme activity-independent manner. Here we studied the induction and function of VAP-1 during human ontogeny. We show that VAP-1 is already found in the smooth muscle at embryonic week 7. There are marked time-dependent switches in VAP-1 expression in the sinusoids of the liver, in the peritubular capillaries of the kidney, in the capillaries of the heart, and in the venules in the lamina propria of the gut. Fetal VAP-1 is dimerized, and it is enzymatically active. VAP-1 in fetal-type venules is able to bind cord blood lymphocytes. Also, adenovirally transfected VAP-1 on human umbilical vein endothelial cells is involved in rolling and firm adhesion of cord blood lymphocytes under conditions of physiologic shear stress. We conclude that VAP-1 is synthesized from early on in human vessels and it is functionally intact already before birth. Thus, VAP-1 may contribute critically to the oxidase activities in utero, and prove important for lymphocyte trafficking during human ontogeny.

Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing)↗

PubMed2006

Liver steatosis coexists with myocardial insulin resistance and coronary dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Nonalcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) is a common comorbidity in patients with type 2 diabetes and links to the risk of coronary syndromes. The aim was to determine the manifestations of metabolic syndrome in different organs in patients with liver steatosis. We studied 55 type 2 diabetic patients with coronary artery disease using positron emission tomography. Myocardial perfusion was measured with [15O]H2O and myocardial and skeletal muscle glucose uptake with 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-D-glucose during hyperinsulinemic euglycemia. Liver fat content was determined by magnetic resonance proton spectroscopy. Patients were divided on the basis of their median (8%) into two groups with low (4.6 +/- 2.0%) and high (17.4 +/- 8.0%) liver fat content. The groups were well matched for age, BMI, and fasting plasma glucose. In addition to insulin resistance at the whole body level (P = 0.012) and muscle (P = 0.002), the high liver fat group had lower insulin-stimulated myocardial glucose uptake (P = 0.040) and glucose extraction rate (P = 0.0006) compared with the low liver fat group. In multiple regression analysis, liver fat content was the most significant explanatory variable for myocardial insulin resistance. In addition, the high liver fat group had increased concentrations of high sensitivity C-reactive protein, soluble forms of E-selectin, vascular adhesion protein-1, and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (P < 0.05) and lower coronary flow reserve (P = 0.02) compared with the low liver fat group. In conclusion, in patients with type 2 diabetes and coronary artery disease, liver fat content is a novel independent indicator of myocardial insulin resistance and reduced coronary functional capacity. Further studies will reveal the effect of hepatic fat reduction on myocardial metabolism and coronary function.

Biomarkers↗

PubMed2006

Vimentin function in lymphocyte adhesion and transcellular migration.

Although the adhesive interactions of leukocytes with endothelial cells are well understood, little is known about the detailed mechanisms underlying the actual migration of leukocytes across the endothelium (diapedesis). Leukocytes have been shown to use both paracellular and transcellular routes for transendothelial migration. Here we show that peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs; T- and B-lymphocytes) preferentially use the transcellular route. The intermediate filaments of both endothelial cells and lymphocytes formed a highly dynamic anchoring structure at the site of contact between these two cell types. The initiation of this process was markedly reduced in vimentin-deficient (vim(-/-)) PBMCs and endothelial cells. When compared with wild-type PBMCs, vim(-/-) PBMCs showed a markedly reduced capacity to home to mesenteric lymph nodes and spleen. Furthermore, endothelial integrity was compromised in vim(-/-) mice, demonstrating that intermediate filaments also regulate the barrier that governs leukocyte extravasation. Absence of vimentin resulted in highly aberrant expression and distribution of surface molecules critical for homing (ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 on endothelial cells and integrin-beta1 on PBMCs). These data show that intermediate filaments are active in lymphocyte adhesion and transmigration.

Animals↗

PubMed2006

Vascular amine oxidases are needed for leukocyte extravasation into inflamed joints in vivo.

OBJECTIVE: Leukocyte traffic from the blood to the joints is crucial in the pathogenesis of arthritis. A bifunctional endothelial cell-surface glycoprotein, AOC3 (amine oxidase, copper-containing 3; also known as vascular adhesion protein 1), has both adhesive and enzymatic properties. We undertook this study to determine the contribution of AOC3 and its oxidase activity to leukocyte trafficking into inflamed joints in vivo. METHODS: We used gene-modified animals, molecular modeling, an AOC3 enzyme inhibitor, oxidase assays, and arthritis models (adjuvant-induced arthritis [AIA] in rats and anti-type II collagen antibody-induced arthritis in mice) to dissect the importance of AOC3 in vivo. RESULTS: The AOC3 inhibitor fitted well with a covalent binding mode into the active site of the AOC3 crystal structure. It selectively blocked the oxidase activity of AOC3 in enzyme assays. Intraperitoneal and oral administration of the AOC3 inhibitor significantly ameliorated rat AIA. In anti-type II collagen antibody-induced arthritis in mice, the AOC3 inhibitor also improved the outcome of the joint inflammation. The acute semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase blockade by the inhibitor had even more pronounced effects than genetic deletion of AOC3. Enzymatic analyses showed that the inhibitor also blocked 2 other structurally very closely related AOCs, but not any of more than 100 other enzymes tested. CONCLUSION: These are the first data to demonstrate that the enzymatic activity of the atypical endothelial adhesion molecule AOC3, and possibly that of other closely related ecto-oxidases, is crucial for leukocyte exit from the vessels in inflamed joints in vivo.

Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing)↗

PubMed2006

Involvement of semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase-mediated deamination in lipopolysaccharide-induced pulmonary inflammation.

Semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO) resides on the vascular endothelium and smooth muscle cell surface and is capable of deaminating short chain aliphatic amines and producing toxic aldehydes and hydrogen peroxide. The enzyme, also known as a vascular adhesion protein-1, is involved in the inflammation process. This intriguing protein with dual functions is increased in the serum of diabetic and heart failure patients. In the present study we assessed the involvement of SSAO in a lipopolysaccharide-induced pulmonary inflammation model using transgenic mice that overexpress human vascular adhesion protein-1. Overexpression of SSAO activity increased the formation of protein-formaldehyde deposits in tissues. Lysine residues of proteins were the primary targets for cross-linkage with formaldehyde derived from deamination of methylamine. Lipo-polysaccharide-induced increases in inflammatory cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid were significantly higher in the transgenic than in the nontransgenic mice. BAL cell counts were also higher in the untreated transgenic than in nontransgenic mice. Blocking SSAO activity with a selective inhibitor significantly reduced the number of neutrophils as well as levels of macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and interleukin-6 in the BAL fluid. Inhalation of methylamine also increased BAL neutrophil counts. Together, these results suggest a role for SSAO-mediated deamination in pulmonary inflammation.

Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing)↗

PubMed2005

Fas costimulation of naive CD4 T cells is controlled by NF-kappaB signaling and caspase activity.

Fas ligation induces apoptosis of activated T cells via the caspase cascade but can also mediate costimulatory signals to naïve T cells at the time of activation. We have previously shown that Fas ligation of naïve CD4 T cells activated by dendritic cells induces death or accelerates their proliferation and increases interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) production. To understand this costimulation, we investigated the roles of caspases and nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB in survival and proliferation of responding T cells. Fas ligation increased caspase-3 and -8 activities during T cell activation, irrespective of cell fate. The accelerated proliferation induced by Fas ligation could be reduced by selective inhibition of both caspases. Inhibition of NF-kappaB simultaneously with Fas ligation inhibited the increased IFN-gamma production and caused uniform death of all responding T cells. Thus, Fas-mediated costimulation of naïve CD4 T cells is driven by active caspases, and NF-kappaB acts as a dominant survival-supporting factor of Fas-costimulated cells containing high levels of activated caspase-8 and -3.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Circulating inflammatory endothelial cells contribute to endothelial progenitor cell dysfunction in patients with vasculitis and kidney involvement.

Impaired angiogenic function has been reported in patients with kidney failure. During vascular damage, endothelial cells may detach from the site of inflammation and be released into the peripheral blood. With the use of Wegener's granulomatosis as a study model, whether circulating inflammatory endothelial cells (IEC) can (1) be used as a disease activity marker and (2) contribute to sustained vascular damage by inducing endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) dysfunction were examined. IEC-defined as endothelial cells that express the two inflammatory-associated markers vascular-adhesion protein-1 (VAP-1) and MHC class I-related chain A (MICA)-were increased significantly in patients with active disease as compared with those in remission. IEC expressed high levels of inducible nitric oxide synthase and neutrophil-activating chemokines, such as macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha, growth-related oncogene-alpha, epithelial neutrophil activating peptide-78, and IL-8, and induced increased neutrophil migration. IEC levels significantly correlated with C-reactive protein and extent of organ involvement. Patients with active disease had decreased numbers of EPC colony-forming units and a high expression of VAP-1 and MICA in kidney endothelium. EPC did not express VAP-1 or MICA. IEC significantly inhibited proliferation, migration, and endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression in EPC. Thus, apart from being a new disease activity marker, IEC may contribute to vascular damage by impairing the functional capacity for repair by EPC. IEC may provide a unique in vitro system to study pathogenesis of kidney and vascular diseases.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

Molecular identification of PAL-E, a widely used endothelial-cell marker.

The pathologische anatomie Leiden-endothelium (PAL-E) antibody has been used for almost 20 years as a specific marker for vascular endothelial cells. Due to the fact that this antibody works only in very limited applications, the molecular identity of PAL-E has remained unknown. In this work, we demonstrate by double stainings, cross-immunoprecipitations, and transfectants that the PAL-E antigen is identical with a protein designated PV-1 (plasmalemmal vesicle 1) or FELS (fenestrated endothelial-linked structure protein) and is not vimentin, as reported earlier. As the expression of this molecule is by no means restricted to fenestrated endothelium, we suggest the use of the name PLVAP for this protein. Molecular identification of PLVAP should help in the production of new tools for the identification of vascular as opposed to lymphatic endothelium and to elucidate the function of this protein.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Carbohydrates located on the top of the "cap" contribute to the adhesive and enzymatic functions of vascular adhesion protein-1.

Vascular adhesion protein 1 (VAP-1) is an endothelial adhesion molecule with an enzymatic activity. It deaminates biogenic amines, resulting in the formation of aldehydes and hydrogen peroxide. During the enzymatic reaction a transient Schiff base is formed between endothelial VAP-1 and its leukocytic ligand, and this interaction is important for lymphocyte adhesion. VAP-1 monomer has six potential N-linked, and three putative O-linked glycosylation sites and an SSSS sequence potentially forming an attachment site for an adjacent O-linked site. In this work we modeled the carbohydrate decorations on a structural model of VAP-1, and studied which of those potential glycosylation sites are utilized, and whether those decorations accessible to a lymphocyte ligand are important in lymphocyte adhesion and enzymatic activity of VAP-1. We show that, unlike the O-linked attachment sites, all six N-linked glycosylation sites are in use. Furthermore, mutation of the N-linked attachment sites strategically located on the top of the molecule reduces lymphocyte adhesion in non-static conditions, and enhances the catalytic activity of membrane-bound human VAP-1 in static conditions, suggesting that glycosylation regulates the functional properties of VAP-1.

Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing)↗

PubMed2005

Function-blocking antibodies to human vascular adhesion protein-1: a potential anti-inflammatory therapy.

Human vascular adhesion protein-1 (VAP-1) is a homodimeric 170-kDa sialoglycoprotein that is expressed on the surface of endothelial cells and functions as a semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase and as an adhesion molecule. Blockade of VAP-1 has been shown to reduce leukocyte adhesion and transmigration in in vivo and in vitro models, suggesting that VAP-1 is a potential target for anti-inflammatory therapy. In this study we have constructed mouse-human chimeric antibodies by genetic engineering in order to circumvent the potential problems involved in using murine antibodies in man. Our chimeric anti-VAP-1 antibodies, which were designed to lack Fc-dependent effector functions, bound specifically to cell surface-expressed recombinant human VAP-1 and recognized VAP-1 in different cell types in tonsil. Furthermore, the chimeric antibodies prevented leukocyte adhesion and transmigration in vitro and in vivo. Hence, these chimeric antibodies have the potential to be used as a new anti-inflammatory therapy.

Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing)↗

PubMed2005

Absence of the endothelial oxidase AOC3 leads to abnormal leukocyte traffic in vivo.

Leukocyte migration from the blood to tissues is a prerequisite for normal immune responses. We produced mice deficient in an endothelial cell-surface oxidase (amine oxidase, copper containing-3 [AOC3], also known as vascular adhesion protein-1 [VAP-1]) and found that this enzyme is needed for leukocyte extravasation in vivo. Real-time imaging shows that AOC3 mediates slow rolling, firm adhesion, and transmigration of leukocytes in vessels at inflammatory sites and lymphoid tissues. Absence of AOC3 results in reduced lymphocyte homing into lymphoid organs and in attenuated inflammatory response in peritonitis. These data alter the paradigm of leukocyte extravasation cascade by providing the first physiological proof for the concept that endothelial cell surface enzymes regulate the development of inflammatory reactions in vivo and suggest that this enzyme should be useful as an anti-inflammatory target.

Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing)↗

PubMed2005

Rules of recruitment for Th1 and Th2 lymphocytes in inflamed liver: a role for alpha-4 integrin and vascular adhesion protein-1.

The mechanisms that mediate the recruitment of Th1 and Th2 lymphocytes in vivo are poorly understood. We demonstrate that the mechanisms by which exogenously produced CD4(+) Th1 and Th2 cells roll and adhere in Con A-inflamed liver microcirculation differ dramatically: Th1 cells use alpha(4)beta(1)-integrin and Th2 cells use the vascular adhesion protein (VAP)-1. P-selectin plays no detectable role in Th1 or Th2 cell trafficking in liver microcirculation. Cellular recruitment in the liver sinusoids has previously been shown to be independent of many known adhesion molecules, leading to the suggestion that recruitment in these structures is mediated by physical trapping. While this may still be true for neutrophils, Th1 and Th2 cells use alpha(4)-integrin and VAP-1, respectively, to adhere within the liver sinusoids.

Amine Oxidase (Copper-Containing)↗