Baraa K. Al-Khazraji

Neuropeptide Y stimulates proliferation and migration in the 4T1 breast cancer cell line

Stress has long been thought of to be associated with increased risk of cancer. Chronic stress is associated with elevated levels of sympathetic neurotransmitter (norepinephrine and neuropeptide Y: NPY) release and immunosuppression. The expression of NPY receptors has been reported in human breast carcinomas. Recently, activation of the NPY Y5 receptor was shown to stimulate cell growth and increase migration in human breast cancer cells; however the effects of NPY have yet to be investigated in a murine model of breast cancer. Thus, the specific aims of the current study were to: (i) characterize NPY receptor expression in 4T1 breast cancer cells and orthotopic tumors grown in BALB/c mice and (ii) investigate the impact of NPY receptor activation on 4T1 cell proliferation and migration in vitro. Positive expression of NPY receptors (Y1R, Y2R and Y5R) was observed in cells and tumor tissue. As well, NPY treatment of 4T1 cells promoted a concentration‐dependent increase in proliferation, through increased phosphorylation of ERK 1/2. Using NPY receptor antagonists (Y1R:BIBP3226, Y2R:BIIE0246 and Y5R:L‐152,804), we found the proliferative response to be Y5R mediated. Additionally, NPY increased chemotaxis through Y2R and Y5R activation. These data are in congruence with those from human cell lines and highlight the 4T1 cell line as a translatable model of breast cancer in which the effects of NPY can be studied in an immunocompetent system.

A Simple ''Streak Length Method'' for Quantifying and Characterizing Red Blood Cell Velocity Profiles and Blood Flow in Rat Skeletal Muscle Arterioles

Please cite this paper as: Al‐Khazraji BK, Novielli NM, Goldman D, Medeiros PJ, Jackson DN. A simple “Streak Length Method” for quantifying and characterizing red blood cell velocity profiles and blood flow in rat skeletal muscle arterioles. Microcirculation 19: 327–335, 2012.

From one generation to the next: a comprehensive account of sympathetic receptor control in branching arteriolar trees

The sympathetic nervous system increases skeletal muscle arteriolar resistance by activating adrenergic, peptidergic and purinergic receptors, which may depend on network topology. To date, there has been limited work conducted on topologically‐dependent sympathetic nervous system control in continuously branching skeletal muscle microvascular networks. In the present study, we investigated how arterioles respond to activation of receptors for sympathetic neurotransmitters based on their location within continuously branching arteriolar trees in skeletal muscle. For the first time, we show differential order‐dependent responses to adrenergic, peptidergic and purinergic agonists in continuously branching arteriolar trees. These results provide novel and detailed network data describing full‐range sympathetic control in the skeletal muscle microcirculation. This work provides much needed experimental data, which can be applied to mathematical models of skeletal muscle blood flow and oxygen transport.

An automated cell-counting algorithm for fluorescently-stained cells in migration assays

A cell-counting algorithm, developed in Matlab®, was created to efficiently count migrated fluorescently-stained cells on membranes from migration assays. At each concentration of cells used (10,000, and 100,000 cells), images were acquired at 2.5 ×, 5 ×, and 10 × objective magnifications. Automated cell counts strongly correlated to manual counts (r2 = 0.99, P < 0.0001 for a total of 47 images), with no difference in the measurements between methods under all conditions. We conclude that our automated method is accurate, more efficient, and void of variability and potential observer bias normally associated with manual counting.

Effect of extraluminal ATP application on vascular tone and blood flow in skeletal muscle: implications for exercise hyperemia

During skeletal muscle contractions, the concentration of ATP increases in muscle interstitial fluid as measured by microdialysis probes. This increase is associated with the magnitude of blood flow, suggesting that interstitial ATP may be important for contraction-induced vasodilation. However, interstitial ATP has solely been described to induce vasoconstriction in skeletal muscle. To examine whether interstitial ATP induces vasodilation in skeletal muscle and to what extent this vasoactive effect is mediated by formation of nitric oxide (NO) and prostanoids, three different experimental models were studied. The rat gluteus maximus skeletal muscle model was used to study changes in local skeletal muscle hemodynamics. Superfused ATP at concentrations found during muscle contractions (1-10 μM) increased blood flow by up to 400%. In this model, the underlying mechanism was also examined by inhibition of NO and prostanoid formation. Inhibition of these systems abolished the vasodilator effect of ATP. Cell-culture experiments verified ATP-induced formation of NO and prostacyclin in rat skeletal muscle microvascular endothelial cells, and ATP-induced formation of NO in rat skeletal muscle cells. To confirm these findings in humans, ATP was infused into skeletal muscle interstitium of healthy subjects via microdialysis probes and found to increase muscle interstitial concentrations of NO and prostacyclin by ~60% and ~40%, respectively. Collectively, these data suggest that a physiologically relevant elevation in interstitial ATP concentrations increases muscle blood flow, indicating that the contraction-induced increase in skeletal muscle interstitial [ATP] is important for exercise hyperemia. The vasodilator effect of ATP application is mediated by NO and prostanoid formation.

Pre-Diabetes Augments Neuropeptide Y1- and α1-Receptor Control of Basal Hindlimb Vascular Tone in Young ZDF Rats

Background Peripheral vascular disease in pre-diabetes may involve altered sympathetically-mediated vascular control. Thus, we investigated if pre-diabetes modifies baseline sympathetic Y1-receptor (Y1R) and α1-receptor (α1R) control of hindlimb blood flow (Qfem) and vascular conductance (VC). Methods Qfem and VC were measured in pre-diabetic ZDF rats (PD) and lean controls (CTRL) under infusion of BIBP3226 (Y1R antagonist), prazosin (α1R antagonist) and BIBP3226+prazosin. Neuropeptide Y (NPY) concentration and Y1R and α1R expression were determined from hindlimb skeletal muscle samples. Results Baseline Qfem and VC were similar between groups. Independent infusions of BIBP3226 and prazosin led to increases in Qfem and VC in CTRL and PD, where responses were greater in PD (p<0.05). The percent change in VC following both drugs was also greater in PD compared to CTRL (p<0.05). As well, Qfem and VC responses to combined blockade (BIBP3226+prazosin) were greater in PD compared to CTRL (p<0.05). Interestingly, an absence of synergistic effects was observed within groups, as the sum of the VC responses to independent drug infusions was similar to responses following combined blockade. Finally, white and red vastus skeletal muscle NPY concentration, Y1R expression and α1R expression were greater in PD compared to CTRL. Conclusions For the first time, we report heightened baseline Y1R and α1R sympathetic control of Qfem and VC in pre-diabetic ZDF rats. In support, our data suggest that augmented sympathetic ligand and receptor expression in pre-diabetes may contribute to vascular dysregulation.

CT Perfusion Imaging as an Early Biomarker of Differential Response to Stereotactic Radiosurgery in C6 Rat Gliomas

Background The therapeutic efficacy of stereotactic radiosurgery for glioblastoma is not well understood, and there needs to be an effective biomarker to identify patients who might benefit from this treatment. This study investigated the efficacy of computed tomography (CT) perfusion imaging as an early imaging biomarker of response to stereotactic radiosurgery in a malignant rat glioma model. Methods Rats with orthotopic C6 glioma tumors received either mock irradiation (controls, N = 8) or stereotactic radiosurgery (N = 25, 12 Gy in one fraction) delivered by Helical Tomotherapy. Twelve irradiated animals were sacrificed four days after stereotactic radiosurgery to assess acute CT perfusion and histological changes, and 13 irradiated animals were used to study survival. Irradiated animals with survival >15 days were designated as responders while those with survival ≤15 days were non-responders. Longitudinal CT perfusion imaging was performed at baseline and regularly for eight weeks post-baseline. Results Early signs of radiation-induced injury were observed on histology. There was an overall survival benefit following stereotactic radiosurgery when compared to the controls (log-rank P<0.04). Responders to stereotactic radiosurgery showed lower relative blood volume (rBV), and permeability-surface area (PS) product on day 7 post-stereotactic radiosurgery when compared to controls and non-responders (P<0.05). rBV and PS on day 7 showed correlations with overall survival (P<0.05), and were predictive of survival with 92% accuracy. Conclusions Response to stereotactic radiosurgery was heterogeneous, and early selection of responders and non-responders was possible using CT perfusion imaging. Validation of CT perfusion indices for response assessment is necessary before clinical implementation.

Estimating Blood Flow in Skeletal Muscle Arteriolar Trees Reconstructed from In Vivo Data Using the Fry Approach

To develop a computational method to accurately predict blood flow in skeletal muscle arteriolar trees in the absence of complete boundary data.

A Microvascular Wall Shear Rate Function Derived From In Vivo Hemodynamic and Geometric Parameters in Continuously Branching Arterioles.

Conventional approaches to WSR estimation in the microcirculation involve assumptions that may result in under–/over‐estimation of WSR. Therefore, our objectives were: (i) calculate WSR from RBC velocity profiles for a wide range of arteriolar diameters, (ii) provide an experimentally derived and straightforward WSR estimation function, and (iii) compare calculated to conventional WSR estimations.