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Biomedical subjects

Ying Xia

Publications and source records attributed to Ying Xia.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Carbonic anhydrase inhibition prevents and reverts cardiomyocyte hypertrophy.

Hypertrophic cardiomyocyte growth contributes substantially to the progression of heart failure. Activation of the plasma membrane Na+-H+ exchanger (NHE1) and Cl- -HCO3- exchanger (AE3) has emerged as a central point in the hypertrophic cascade. Both NHE1 and AE3 bind carbonic anhydrase (CA), which activates their transport flux, by providing H+ and HCO3-, their respective transport substrates. We examined the contribution of CA activity to the hypertrophic response of cultured neonatal and adult rodent cardiomyocytes. Phenylephrine (PE) increased cell size by 37 +/- 2% and increased expression of the hypertrophic marker, atrial natriuretic factor mRNA, twofold in cultured neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. Cell size was also increased in adult cardiomyocytes subjected to angiotensin II or PE treatment. These effects were associated with increased expression of cytosolic CAII protein and the membrane-anchored isoform, CAIV. The membrane-permeant CA inhibitor, 6-ethoxyzolamide (ETZ), both prevented and reversed PE-induced hypertrophy in a concentration-dependent manner in neonate cardiomyocytes (IC50=18 microm). ETZ and the related CA inhibitor methazolamide prevented hypertrophy in adult cardiomyocytes. In addition, ETZ inhibited transport activity of NHE1 and the AE isoform, AE3, with respective EC50 values of 1.2 +/- 0.3 microm and 2.7 +/- 0.3 microm. PE significantly increased neonatal cardiomyocyte Ca2+ transient frequency from 0.33 +/- 0.4 Hz to 0.77 +/- 0.04 Hz following 24 h treatment; these Ca2+ -handling abnormalities were completely prevented by ETZ (0.28 +/- 0.07 Hz). Our study demonstrates a novel role for CA in mediating the hypertrophic response of cardiac myocytes to PE and suggests that CA inhibition represents an effective therapeutic approach towards mitigation of the hypertrophic phenotype.

Age Factors↗

Bone marrow-derived fibroblast precursors mediate ischemic cardiomyopathy in mice.

We previously described a mouse model of fibrotic ischemia/reperfusion cardiomyopathy (I/RC) arising from daily, brief coronary occlusion. One characteristic of I/RC was the prolonged elevation of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1), which was obligate to its phenotype and may contribute to the uptake of bloodborne cells. Here we describe in I/RC hearts a population of small spindle-shaped fibroblasts that were highly proliferative and expressed collagen I and alpha-smooth muscle actin (myofibroblast markers), CD34 (a precursor marker), and CD45 (a hematopoietic marker). These cells represented 3% of all nonmyocyte live cells. To confirm the cells' bone marrow origin, chimeric mice were created by the rescue of irradiated C57BL/6 mice with marrow from ROSA26, a congenic line expressing lacZ. I/RC resulted in a large population of spindle-shaped fibroblasts containing lacZ. We postulated that the fibroblast precursors represented a developmental path for a subset of monocytes, whose phenotype we have shown to be influenced by serum amyloid P (SAP). Thus, we administered SAP in vivo, which markedly reduced the number of proliferative spindle-shaped fibroblasts and completely prevented I/RC-induced fibrosis and global ventricular dysfunction. By contrast, SAP did not suppress the inflammation or chemokine expression seen in I/RC. SAP, a member of the pentraxin family, binds to Fcgamma receptors and modifies the pathophysiological function of monocytes. Our data suggest that SAP interferes with assumption of a fibroblast phenotype in a subset of monocytes and that SAP may be an important regulator in the linkage between inflammation and nonadaptive fibrosis in the heart.

Amyloid↗

Distinct KATP channels mediate the antihypertrophic effects of adenosine receptor activation in neonatal rat ventricular myocytes.

Recent evidence suggests that both adenosine receptor (AR) and K ATP channel activation exert antihypertrophic effects in cardiac myocytes. We studied the relative contributions of mitochondrial K ATP (mitoK ATP) and sarcolemmal K ATP (sarcK ATP) to the antihypertrophic effects of ARs in primary cultures of neonatal rat ventricular myocytes exposed for 24 h with the alpha1 adrenoceptor agonist phenylephrine (PE). The A1R agonist N6-cyclopentyladenosine (CPA), the A(2A)R agonist CGS21680 [2-p-(2-carboxyethyl)phenethylamino-5'-N-ethylcarboxamidoadenosine], and the A3R agonist N6-(3-iodobenzyl)adenosine-5'-methyluronamide (IB-MECA) all prevented PE-induced hypertrophy. Glibenclamide, a nonselective K(ATP) channel blocker reversed the antihypertrophic effect of all three AR agonists as determined by cell size and atrial natriuretic peptide expression and early c-fos up-regulation. In contrast, the mitoK(ATP) blocker 5-hydroxydecanoic acid selectively attenuated the effect of CGS21680 and IB-MECA, whereas HMR1098 [1-[[5-[2-(5-chloro-o-anisamido)ethyl]-2-methoxyphenyl]sulfonyl]-3-methylthiourea, sodium salt], a specific blocker of sarcK(ATP), only abolished the antihypertrophic effect of CPA. Moreover, both CGS21680 and IB-MECA but not CPA decreased the mitochondrial membrane potential when PE was present, similarly to that seen with diazoxide, and both agents inhibited PE-stimulated elevation in mitochondrial Ca2+. All AR agonists diminished PE-induced phosphoserine/threonine kinase and protein kinase B up-regulation, which was unaffected by any K(ATP) blocker. Our data suggest that AR-mediated antihypertrophic effects are mediated by distinct K(ATP) channels, with sarcK(ATP) mediating the antihypertrophic effects of A1R activation, whereas mitoK(ATP) activation mediates the antihypertrophic effects of both A(2A)R and A3R agonists.

Animals↗

Engraftment of engineered ES cell-derived cardiomyocytes but not BM cells restores contractile function to the infarcted myocardium.

Cellular cardiomyoplasty is an attractive option for the treatment of severe heart failure. It is, however, still unclear and controversial which is the most promising cell source. Therefore, we investigated and examined the fate and functional impact of bone marrow (BM) cells and embryonic stem cell (ES cell)-derived cardiomyocytes after transplantation into the infarcted mouse heart. This proved particularly challenging for the ES cells, as their enrichment into cardiomyocytes and their long-term engraftment and tumorigenicity are still poorly understood. We generated transgenic ES cells expressing puromycin resistance and enhanced green fluorescent protein cassettes under control of a cardiac-specific promoter. Puromycin selection resulted in a highly purified (>99%) cardiomyocyte population, and the yield of cardiomyocytes increased 6-10-fold because of induction of proliferation on purification. Long-term engraftment (4-5 months) was observed when co-transplanting selected ES cell-derived cardiomyocytes and fibroblasts into the injured heart of syngeneic mice, and no teratoma formation was found (n = 60). Although transplantation of ES cell-derived cardiomyocytes improved heart function, BM cells had no positive effects. Furthermore, no contribution of BM cells to cardiac, endothelial, or smooth muscle neogenesis was detected. Hence, our results demonstrate that ES-based cell therapy is a promising approach for the treatment of impaired myocardial function and provides better results than BM-derived cells.

Animals↗

Cortical delta-opioid receptors potentiate K+ homeostasis during anoxia and oxygen-glucose deprivation.

Central neurons are extremely vulnerable to hypoxic/ischemic insult, which is a major cause of neurologic morbidity and mortality as a consequence of neuronal dysfunction and death. Our recent work has shown that delta-opioid receptor (DOR) is neuroprotective against hypoxic and excitotoxic stress, although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Because hypoxia/ischemia disrupts ionic homeostasis with an increase in extracellular K(+), which plays a role in neuronal death, we asked whether DOR activation preserves K(+) homeostasis during hypoxic/ischemic stress. To test this hypothesis, extracellular recordings with K(+)-sensitive microelectrodes were performed in mouse cortical slices under anoxia or oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD). The main findings in this study are that (1) DOR activation with [D-Ala(2), D-Leu(5)]-enkephalinamide attenuated the anoxia- and OGD-induced increase in extracellular K(+) and decrease in DC potential in cortical slices; (2) DOR inhibition with naltrindole, a DOR antagonist, completely abolished the DOR-mediated prevention of increase in extracellular K(+) and decrease in DC potential; (3) inhibition of protein kinase A (PKA) with N-(2-[p-bromocinnamylamino]-ethyl)-5-isoquinolinesulfonamide dihydrochloride had no effect on the DOR protection; and (4) inhibition of protein kinase C (PKC) with chelerythrine chloride reduced the DOR protection, whereas the PKC activator (phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate) mimicked the effect of DOR activation on K(+) homeostasis. These data suggest that activation of DOR protects the cortex against anoxia- or ODG-induced derangement of potassium homeostasis, and this protection occurs via a PKC-dependent and PKA-independent pathway. We conclude that an important aspect of DOR-mediated neuroprotection is its early action against derangement of K(+) homeostasis during anoxia or ischemia.

Analgesics, Opioid↗

A role for the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 1 in epithelial wound healing.

The mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) kinase 1 (MEKK1) mediates activin B signals required for eyelid epithelium morphogenesis during mouse fetal development. The present study investigates the role of MEKK1 in epithelial wound healing, another activin-regulated biological process. In a skin wound model, injury markedly stimulates MEKK1 expression and activity, which are in turn required for the expression of genes involved in extracellular matrix (ECM) homeostasis. MEKK1 ablation or down-regulation by interfering RNA significantly delays skin wound closure and impairs activation of Jun NH2-terminal kinases, induction of plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1, and restoration of cell-cell junctions of the wounded epidermis. Conversely, expression of wild-type MEKK1 accelerates reepithelialization of full-thickness skin and corneal debridement wounds by mechanisms involving epithelial cell migration, a cell function that is partially abolished by neutralizing antibodies for PAI-1 and metalloproteinase III. Our data suggest that MEKK1 transmits wound signals, leading to the transcriptional activation of genes involved in ECM homeostasis, epithelial cell migration, and wound reepithelialization.

Activins↗

Rapid hypoxia preconditioning protects cortical neurons from glutamate toxicity through delta-opioid receptor.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Hypoxia preconditioning (HPC), rapid or delayed, has been reported to induce neuroprotection against subsequent severe stress. Because delta-opioid receptor (DOR) plays an important role in delayed HPC-induced neuroprotection against severe hypoxic injury, we asked whether DOR is also involved in the rapid HPC-induced neuroprotection. METHODS: Cultured rat cortical neurons at culture days 8 to 9 were exposed to a short-term hypoxia (1% O2 for 30 minutes) to induce HPC followed by 30-minute normoxia before exposing to glutamate toxicity (100 micromol/L; 4 hours). Neuronal viability was assessed by lactate dehydrogenase leakage and morphological assessment. Protein and mRNA levels of DOR were detected by receptor binding and RT-PCR, respectively. Naltrindole was used to block DOR. Developmental changes in NMDA receptor expression was measured by Western blots. RESULTS: HPC significantly reduced the glutamate-induced neuronal injury. Receptor binding showed that HPC increased DADLE (a DOR ligand) binding density in the cultured cortical neurons by >90% over control level (P<0.05), although RT-PCR did not detect any appreciable change in DOR mRNA. DOR inhibition with naltrindole had no effect on neuronal injury and completely abolished the HPC-induced neuroprotection. In contrast to HPC-induced increase in DADLE binding density, prolonged hypoxia caused severe neuronal injury with a significant decrease in DADLE binding density and DOR mRNA level. CONCLUSIONS: DOR is involved in neuroprotection induced by rapid HPC in cortical neurons.

Animals↗

Magnetic resonance imaging of transplanted neural stem cells in Parkinson disease rats.

In this study we implanted magnetically labeled neural stem cells (NSCs) in PD rats and then monitored their survival and migration in the host brain by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The mesencephalic NSCs were obtained from the brain of SD rats. Superparamagnetic iron oxide (SPIO) was transferred to NSCs by Lipofectamine transfection. Eighteen PD lesioned rats were selected for transplantation by evaluation of their rotational behavior in response to amphetamine and randomly assigned to 3 groups, i.e., sham group, PBS group and NSCs transplanted group, with 6 rats in each group. MR scanning was performed at 1, 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 week(s) following transplantation. At the meantime, rotational behavior was assessed in each group. Our results showed that SPIO particles were clearly visible with Prissian blue staining in neurospheres and cells derived from NSCs. The rotational behavior of the NSCs transplanted group was remarkably improved compared with that of sham group and PBS group (P < 0.05). In vivo MR tracking of NSCs showed that SPIO labeling led to a strong susceptibility change of signal 1 week after transplantation on T2 weighted images. And a large circular hypointense signal appeared in the transplanted area on T2* gradient echo images. Ten weeks following transplantation, the hypointense signal on T2 weighted and T2* gradient echo images was still displayed. It is concluded that SPIO particles could label NSCs effectively, and MRI detection of SPIO labeled cells is a promising method and novel approach to analyzing the NSCs following transplantation in the treatment of PD.

Animals↗

[Experimental study of antisense oligodeoxynucleotide targeting survivin gene for cisplatin resistant human lung adeno-carcinoma xenograft in nude mice].

OBJECTIVE: To explore the feasibility of antisense oligodeoxynucleotide (ASODN) targeting survivin gene for cisplatin resistant human lung adeno-carcinoma xenograft in nude mice. METHODS: Cisplatin resistant cell lines A549/CDDP were cultured routinely with RPMI1640 medium. A549/CDDP cells were subcutaneously implanted in nude mice to establish cisplatin resistant xenograft animal models. After survivin ASODN mediated by cytofectin was directly injected into xenograft in 5 places. The volumes and weight of tumor mass were detected, respectively, and then tumor growth inhibitory rate and tumor growth index were calculated. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunochemohistology assay were performed to detect the expression level of survivin mRNA and protein. RESULTS: In mice treated with single ASODN, the tumor growth inhibitory rate and tumor growth index was 35.4% and 4.23+/-0.4456. The difference of the tumor growth inhibitory rate and tumor growth index between blank control group and ASODN group was significant (P<0.05). While combined ASODN with cisplatin,the anticancer efficacy was far more significant and the tumor growth inhibitory rate was enhanced to 63.7%. The tumor growth index, however, reduced to 1.700+/-0.436, which was obviously significant,compared with the cisplatin group and other controls (P<0.05). The anticancer efficacy was even more obvious than that of ASODN group (P<0.05). Significant down-regulation of survivin mRNA and protein level expression in tumor tissues of ASODN group and ASODN and cisplatin group was detected by RT-PCR and immunochemohistology assay, respectively (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: Survivin ASODN mediated by cytofectin can inhibit the cisplatin resistant tumor growth by direct intra-tumoral injection. The anticancer efficacy may be associated with the down regulation of survivin expression. ASODN targeting survivin gene can be a supportive therapy to cisplatin resistant lung cancer, while the clinical effective values need further exploration.

Adenocarcinoma↗

Down-regulation of delta-opioid receptors in Na+/H+ exchanger 1 null mutant mouse brain with epilepsy.

Mice lacking Na+/H+ exchanger 1 (NHE1) show a unique epilepsy phenotype although the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Since expression of delta-opioid receptor (DOR) may be involved in control of epileptic activity, we conducted immunohistochemistry and autoradiography to investigate whether DOR expression is dys-regulated in the brain of NHE1 null mouse. Immunohistochemistry showed a decline in DOR expression in hippocampus and cortex. Autoradiographic results confirmed that the density of DOR was decreased in most cortical and hippocampal regions such as striate and temporal cortex, hippocampal CA1 and CA3 regions (reduced by 27.7 +/- 6.4%, 29.4 +/- 5.1%, 40.7 +/- 4.4% and 20.6 +/- 5.7%, respectively, P < 0.05). These data demonstrate that NHE1 null mutation leads to a reduction of DOR expression in the cortical and hippocampal regions, which provides a new clue for the genesis of epilepsy.

Animals↗

[Analysis of CCM1 gene mutations in Chinese patients with intracranial cavernous malformations].

OBJECTIVE: To study the CCM1 gene (7q11.2 - q22) mutations in Chinese patients with intracranial cavernous malformations (ICM), METHODS: Peripheral blood samples were collected from 25 unrelated patients with ICM confirmed by post-operational pathology, 7 being with familial ICM, all of Han nationality, and from 30 healthy people as controls. The genomic DNA was extracted and the exons 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, and 18 of CCM1 gene and part of intervening sequences near both sides of these exons were amplified by PCR. The PCR products were sequenced directly and then compared with the GenBank data. RESULTS: Seven new mutation sites of CCM1 gene were detected from 11 Chinese ICM patients with a total mutation rate of 44%. Of the seven new mutations there were three missense mutations: 1160A-->C (Q387P) and 1172C-->T (S391F) in exon12, and 1405A-->C (N469H) in exon13; two insertion mutations: 704insT (K246stop) in exon8, and 2138insG (T733stop) in exon18; one intervening sequence mutation: IVS12 - 4C-->T; and one synonymous mutation: 1875C-->T (F625F) in exon17. None mutation was detected in the control group. The CCM1 mutation rate of familial ICM was 85.7%, significantly higher than that of sporadic ICM (27.7%, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: As the genetic basis of ICM, CCM1 gene mutation exists in Chinese ICM patients too, that leads to functional loss or changes of the gene encoding KRIT1 protein.

Adult↗

Butylhydroquinone protects cells genetically deficient in glutathione biosynthesis from arsenite-induced apoptosis without significantly changing their prooxidant status.

Arsenic, first among the top environmentally hazardous substances, is associated with skin, lung, liver, kidney, prostate, and bladder cancer. Arsenic is also a cardiovascular and a central nervous system toxicant, and it has genotoxic and immunotoxic effects. Paradoxically, arsenic trioxide is used successfully in the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia and multiple myeloma. Arsenic induces oxidative stress, and its toxicity is decreased by free thiols and increased by glutathione depletion. To further characterize the role of glutathione and oxidative stress in the toxicity of arsenic, we have used fetal fibroblasts from Gclm(-/-) mice, which lack the modifier subunit of glutamate-cysteine ligase, the rate-limiting enzyme in glutathione biosynthesis. Gclm(-/-) mouse embryo fibroblasts (MEFs) are eight times more sensitive to arsenite-induced apoptotic death. Because of a dramatic decrease in glutathione levels, Gclm(-/-) MEFs have a high prooxidant status that is not significantly relieved by treatment with the phenolic antioxidant tBHQ; however, tBHQ blocks arsenite-induced apoptosis in both Gclm(+/+) and Gclm(-/-) cells, although it raises a significant antioxidant response only in Gclm(+/+) cells. Global gene expression profiles indicate that tBHQ is significantly effective in reversing arsenite-induced gene deregulation in Gclm(+/+) but not in Gclm(-/-) MEFs. This effect of tBHQ is evident in the expression of metalloproteases and chaperones, and in the expression of genes involved in DNA damage and repair, protein biosynthesis, cell growth and maintenance, apoptosis, and cell cycle regulation. These results suggest that regulation of glutathione levels by GCLM determines the sensitivity to arsenic-induced apoptosis by setting the overall ability of the cells to mount an effective antioxidant response.

Animals↗

Arsenite-induced aryl hydrocarbon receptor nuclear translocation results in additive induction of phase I genes and synergistic induction of phase II genes.

Complex mixtures of carcinogenic metalloids, such as arsenic, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons are common environmental contaminants. The biological consequences of exposure to these mixtures are unpredictable and, although the health effects of individual chemicals may be known, the toxicity of environmental mixtures is largely unexplored. Arsenic, not a potent mutagen by itself, is co-mutagenic with many DNA-damaging agents. Mixtures of arsenite plus benzo[a]pyrene (B[a]P) augment B[a]P mutagenicity, suggesting that arsenite might uncouple expression of phase I and II genes responsible for detoxification. We have studied the effects of arsenite exposure on the activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) and its subsequent role in gene transactivation. Treatment of mouse Hepa-1 cells with arsenite induces AHR nuclear translocation and binding to the Cyp1a1 gene promoter with the same efficiency as tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD), the most potent ligand of the AHR; however, TCDD and B[a]P are an order of magnitude more potent than arsenite in up-regulating Cyp1a1 transcription. Global profiling analyses of cells treated with arsenite plus B[a]P indicate that several phase I and II detoxification genes are in some cases additively and in others synergistically deregulated by the mixtures. Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analyses of mouse embryonic fibroblasts showed that the mixtures had an additive effect on the mRNA levels of Cyp1b1, a prototypical phase I detoxification gene, and an AHR-dependent synergistic effect on the corresponding levels of Nqo1, a prototypical phase II gene. We conclude that exposure to arsenite/B[a]P mixtures causes regulatory changes in the expression of detoxification genes that ultimately affect the metabolic activation and disposition of toxicants.

Active Transport, Cell Nucleus↗

Oxygen-sensitive {delta}-opioid receptor-regulated survival and death signals: novel insights into neuronal preconditioning and protection.

The detrimental effect of severe hypoxia (SH) on neurons can be mitigated by hypoxic preconditioning (HPC), but the molecular mechanisms involved remain unclear, and an understanding of these may provide novel solutions for hypoxic/ischemic disorders (e.g. stroke). Here, we show that the delta-opioid receptor (DOR), an oxygen-sensitive membrane protein, mediates the HPC protection through specific signaling pathways. Although SH caused a decrease in DOR expression and neuronal injury, HPC induced an increase in DOR mRNA and protein levels and reversed the reduction in levels of the endogenous DOR peptide, leucine enkephalin, normally seen during SH, thus protecting the neurons from SH insult. The HPC-induced protection could be blocked by DOR antagonists. The DOR-mediated HPC protection depended on an increase in ERK and Bcl 2 activity, which counteracted the SH-induced increase in p38 MAPK activities and cytochrome c release. The cross-talk between ERK and p38 MAPKs displays a "yinyang" antagonism under the control of the DOR-G protein-protein kinase C pathway. Our findings demonstrate a novel mechanism of HPC neuroprotection (i.e. the intracellular up-regulation of DOR-regulated survival signals).

Animals↗

Isolation and characterization of phenanthrene-degrading Sphingomonas paucimobilis strain ZX4.

Phenanthrene-degrading bacterium strain ZX4 was isolated from an oil-contaminated soil, and identified as Sphingomonas paucimobilis based on 16S rDNA sequence, cellular fatty acid composition, mol% G + C and Biolog-GN tests. Besides phenanthrene, strain ZX4 could also utilize naphthalene, fluorene and other aromatic compounds. The growth on salicylic acid and catechol showed that the strain degraded phenanthrene via salicylate pathway, while the assay of catechol 2,3-dioxygenase revealed catechol could be metabolized through meta-cleavage pathway. Three genes, including two of meta-cleavage operon genes and one of GST encoding gene were obtained. The order of genes arrangement was similar to S-type metapathway operons. The phylogenetic trees based on 16S rDNA sequence and meta-pathway gene both revealed that strain ZX4 is clustered with strains from genus Sphingomonas.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

Intermittent hypoxia modulates Na+ channel expression in developing mouse brain.

Because our previous work showed that intermittent hypoxia alters neuronal excitability and Na+ current density, we examined in this work the effect of intermittent hypoxia on Na+ channel subtypes using 3H-saxitoxin (3H-STX) autoradiography and immunoblotting. Mice were exposed to intermittent hypoxia for 2 or 4 weeks from postnatal day 2 or 3. A 2-week intermittent hypoxia reduced cerebral STX binding density with significant decrease in Na(v)1.2 in the rostral and Na(v)1.1 in the caudal regions. In contrast, a 4-week intermittent hypoxia tended to increase STX binding density in most brain regions. Our data suggest that intermittent hypoxia differentially regulates plasma membrane Na+ channels in the developing brain, depending on duration of intermittent hypoxia.

Adaptation, Physiological↗