David L. Maass

Regulation of VEGF-induced endothelial cell migration by mitochondrial reactive oxygen species

Endothelial migration is a crucial aspect of a variety of physiologic and pathologic conditions including atherosclerosis and vascular repair. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) function as second messengers during endothelial migration. Multiple intracellular sources of ROS are regulated by cellular context, external stimulus, and the microenvironment. However, the predominant source of ROS during endothelial cell (EC) migration and the mechanisms by which ROS regulate cell migration are incompletely understood. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that mitochondria-derived ROS (mtROS) regulate EC migration. In cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells, VEGF increased mitochondrial metabolism, promoted mtROS production, and induced cell migration. Either the targeted mitochondrial delivery of the antioxidant, vitamin E (Mito-Vit-E), or the depletion of mitochondrial DNA abrogated VEGF-mediated mtROS production. Overexpression of mitochondrial catalase also inhibited VEGF-induced mitochondrial metabolism, Rac activation, and cell migration. Furthermore, these interventions suppressed VEGF-stimulated EC migration and blocked Rac1 activation in endothelial cells. Constitutively active Rac1 reversed Mito-Vit-E-induced inhibition of EC migration. Mito-Vit-E also attenuated carotid artery reendothelialization in vivo. These results provide strong evidence that mtROS regulate EC migration through Rac-1.

IL-1beta and IL-6 act synergistically with TNF-alpha to alter cardiac contractile function after burn trauma.

Although numerous studies have provided evidence that the inflammatory cytokines TNF-alpha and IL-1beta have significant negative inotropic effects, the role of the interleukins in burn-mediated cardiac dysfunction has not been defined. Furthermore, most studies examining the cardiotoxic effects of inflammatory cytokines have ignored the complex inflammatory milieu that occurs in the intact subject with trauma, sepsis, or ischemic heart disease. Therefore, this study examined the time course of IL-1beta and IL-6 secretion by cardiomyocytes after burn trauma, and additional studies examined the effects of these cytokines alone or in combination with TNF-alpha on cardiac contractile performance (Langendorff). Sprague-Dawley rats were given a full thickness burn injury over 40% of the total body surface area; fluid resuscitation was lactated Ringers solution, 4 mL/kg per burn percentage of burn area. Sham burn animals received identical anesthesia and handling, but no burn injury. Rats were sacrificed at several different times postburn, and isolated hearts (n = 4-5 rats/group/time period) were perfused with collagenase-containing buffer to prepare cardiomyocytes or were perfused in vitro to examine cardiac contractile function (n = 5-6 rats/group/time period). Additional naive control rats (n = 10) were included to prepare cardiomyocytes that, in turn, were challenged with different concentrations of either IL-1beta, IL-6, or TNF-alpha alone or in combination for several time periods (CO2 incubator at 37 degrees C for 1-3 h). Finally, inflammatory cytokines alone or in combination were added to the perfusate of hearts isolated from additional control rats (n = 6-7/group) to assess the cardiac contraction and relaxation effects of cytokine challenge. Despite aggressive fluid resuscitation, burn trauma produced a time-related increase in cardiomyocyte secretion of IL-1beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha. Exposure of naive cardiomyocytes prepared from control rats to each cytokine alone or combined cytokine challenge produced a time-dependent and concentration-dependent decrease in cell viability and an increase in supernatant creatine kinase levels. Either IL-1beta or TNF-alpha produced greater cardiac defects than IL-6 when added separately to Langendorff-perfused hearts; dysfunction was maximal with combined cytokine challenge (IL-1beta plus TNF-alpha plus IL-6). The data confirm that burn trauma upregulates inflammatory cytokine secretion by cardiomyocytes and suggest that these inflammatory cytokines act in concert to produce burn-mediated cardiac contractile dysfunction.

The time course of cardiac NF-kappaB activation and TNF-alpha secretion by cardiac myocytes after burn injury: contribution to burn-related cardiac contractile dysfunction.

Previous studies have suggested that cardiac synthesis of TNF-&agr; contributes to myocardial dysfunction in several models of trauma, sepsis and ischemia. Therefore, it is likely that myocyte secretion of TNF-&agr; occurs early after major burn trauma, contributing to progressive cardiac contractile dysfunction that is characteristic of thermal injury. This study examined the time course of nuclear translocation of the transcription factor NF-&kgr;B, the time course of TNF-&agr; secretion by cardiomyocytes after burn trauma, and the development of cardiac contractile defects. Rats were given burn injury over 40% TBSA (sham burns included for controls), and fluid resuscitation included lactated Ringers solution, 4 mL/kg/%burn. Subsets of rats were sacrificed at several times postburn (1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 18 and 24 h), hearts were harvested to prepare cardiomyocytes (N = 4 rats/group/time period), to prepare nuclear fractions to measure burn-induced NF-&kgr;B activation (N = 3–4 rats/group/time period), or to examine the time course of postburn cardiac contractile dysfunction (N = 6–7 rats/group/time period). Despite aggressive fluid resuscitation, burn trauma activated NF-&kgr;B 4 h postburn, and this activation persisted over the 24 h study period. In addition, burn trauma produced a time-related increase in TNF-&agr; secretion by cardiac myocytes with cytokine secretion evident 1 h postburn. Cardiac dysfunction occurred 8 h postburn and persisted over the 24 h study period. Administration of a strategy designed to inhibit NF-&kgr;B activation (N-acetyl-leucinyl-leucinyl-norleucinal, ALLN, 50 mg/kg, in additional groups of burn rats) inhibited TNF-&agr; secretion by cardiac myocytes and improved myocardial function. This study confirms that burn trauma activates myocardial NF-&kgr;B and promotes cardiomyocyte secretion of TNF-&agr;. This inflammatory cascade preceded the appearance of cardiac dysfunction, suggesting that cardiac myocyte derived TNF-&agr; contributes, in part, to postburn cardiac contractile deficits.

Antioxidant Vitamin Therapy Alters Burn Trauma-mediated Cardiac Nf-κb Activation and Cardiomyocyte Cytokine Secretion

BACKGROUND This study examined the effects of antioxidant vitamins A, C, and E on nuclear transcription factor-kappa B (NF-kappaB) nuclear translocation, on secretion of inflammatory cytokines by cardiac myocytes, and on cardiac function after major burn trauma. METHODS Adult rats were divided into four experimental groups: group I, shams; group II, shams given oral antioxidant vitamins (vitamin C, 38 mg/kg; vitamin E, 27 U/kg; vitamin A, 41 U/kg 24 hours before and immediately after burn); group III, burns (third-degree scald burn over 40% total body surface area) given lactated Ringers solution (4 mL/kg/% burn); and group IV, burns given lactated Ringers solution plus vitamins as described above. Hearts were collected 4, 8, 12, and 24 hours after burn to assay for NF-kappaB nuclear translocation, and hearts collected 24 hours after burn were examined for cardiac contractile function or tumor necrosis factor-alpha secretion by cardiomyocytes. RESULTS Compared with shams, left ventricular pressure was lower in burns given lactated Ringers solution (group III) (88 +/- 3 vs. 64 +/- 5 mm Hg, p < 0.01) as was +dP/dt max (2,190 +/- 30 vs. 1,321 +/- 122 mm Hg/s) and -dP/dt max (1,775 +/- 71 vs. 999 +/- 96 mm Hg, p < 0.01). Burn injury in the absence of vitamin therapy (group III) produced cardiac NF-kappaB nuclear migration 4 hours after burn and cardiomyocyte secretion of tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-1beta, and interleukin-6 by 24 hours after burn. Antioxidant therapy in burns (group IV) improved cardiac function, producing left ventricular pressure and +/-dP/dt (82 +/- 2 mm Hg, 1,880 +/- 44 mm Hg, and 1,570 +/- 46 mm Hg/s) comparable to those measured in shams. Antioxidant vitamins in burns inhibited NF-kappaB nuclear migration at all times after burn and reduced burn-mediated cytokine secretion by cardiomyocytes. CONCLUSION These data suggest that antioxidant vitamin therapy in burn trauma provides cardioprotection, at least in part, by inhibiting translocation of the transcription factor NF-kappaB and interrupting cardiac inflammatory cytokine secretion.

Major Burn Trauma In Rats Promotes Cardiac And Gastrointestinal Apoptosis

The hypothesis that cardiac functional abnormalities that occur after major burn trauma are paralleled by an increased incidence of apoptosis in cardiac myocytes was examined. Adult Sprague-Dawley rats were given a full thickness scald burn comprising 43+/-1% of the total body surface area or were manipulated identically but not exposed to burn injury (sham burn); burned rats were fluid resuscitated with lactated Ringers solution. Tissues from burn and sham burn animals were then examined by the TUNEL (TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling) assay and light microscopy to determine the presence of apoptosis 24 and 48 h after burn trauma. In parallel, the mechanical function of the heart was assayed in separate groups of rats. Tissues harvested from the hearts of sham-treated animals showed essentially no apoptosis, whereas a small number of apoptotic cells were noted in the intestinal villi and liver of sham-treated animals. Twenty-four hours after burn trauma, there was a marked increase in apoptotic cells in the left ventricle (+916%), and the number of apoptotic cells remained increased by eightfold 48 h postburn. Apoptosis was noted predominately in the subendocardial tissue of the left ventricle. The appearance of apoptotic cells was paralleled by a decrease in cardiac mechanical function with significant decreases in left ventricular pressure and +/-dP/dt(max). Burn injury also increased apoptosis in the small intestine significantly, whereas apoptosis in the liver did not increase with burn trauma. These data suggest that the apoptosis of the cardiac myocytes that occurs after burn trauma may contribute, in part, to postburn cardiac mechanical dysfunction.

Estrogen treatment following severe burn injury reduces brain inflammation and apoptotic signaling

BackgroundPatients with severe burn injury experience a rapid elevation in multiple circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines, with the levels correlating with both injury severity and outcome. Accumulations of these cytokines in animal models have been observed in remote organs, however data are lacking regarding early brain cytokine levels following burn injury, and the effects of estradiol on these levels. Using an experimental animal model, we studied the acute effects of a full-thickness third degree burn on brain levels of TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 and the protective effects of acute estrogen treatment on these levels. Additionally, the acute administration of estrogen on regulation of inflammatory and apoptotic events in the brain following severe burn injury were studied through measuring the levels of phospho-ERK, phospho-Akt, active caspase-3, and PARP cleavage in the placebo and estrogen treated groups.MethodsIn this study, 149 adult Sprague-Dawley male rats received 3rd degree 40% total body surface area (TBSA) burns. Fifteen minutes following burn injury, the animals received a subcutaneous injection of either placebo (n = 72) or 17 beta-estradiol (n = 72). Brains were harvested at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 18, and 24 hours after injury from the control (n = 5), placebo (n = 8/time point), and estrogen treated animals (n = 8/time point). The brain cytokine levels were measured using the ELISA method. In addition, we assessed the levels of phosphorylated-ERK, phosphorylated-Akt, active caspase-3, and the levels of cleaved PARP at the 24 hour time-point using Western blot analysis.ResultsIn burned rats, 17 beta-estradiol significantly decreased the levels of brain tissue TNF-α (~25%), IL-1β (~60%), and IL-6 (~90%) when compared to the placebo group. In addition, we determined that in the estrogen-treated rats there was an increase in the levels of phospho-ERK (p < 0.01) and Akt (p < 0.05) at the 24 hour time-point, and that 17 beta-estradiol blocked the activation of caspase-3 (p < 0.01) and subsequent cleavage of PARP (p < 0.05).ConclusionFollowing severe burn injury, estrogens decrease both brain inflammation and the activation of apoptosis, represented by an increase in the levels of phospho-Akt and inhibition of caspase-3 activation and PARP cleavage. Results from these studies will help further our understanding of how estrogens protect the brain following burn injury, and may provide a novel, safe, and effective clinical treatment to combat remote secondary burn injury in the brain and to preserve cognition.

Increased cardiomyocyte intracellular calcium during endotoxin-induced cardiac dysfunction in guinea pigs

Septic shock is a complex pathophysiologic state characterized by circulatory insufficiency, multiple system organ dysfunction, and frequent mortality. Although profound cardiac dysfunction occurs during sepsis, the pathogenesis of this dysfunction remains poorly understood. To determine whether abnormalities in intramyocyte calcium accumulation might contribute to the development of cardiac dysfunction, we measured myocyte intracellular calcium during peak cardiac dysfunction after an endotoxin challenge. Intraperitoneal administration of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide 4 mg/kg to adult guinea pigs resulted in significantly impaired cardiac performance (Langendorff preparation) 18 h after challenge compared with control. This included diminished left ventricular pressure development (56 ± 7 versus 95 ± 4 mm Hg, p < 0.05), maximal rate of left ventricular pressure rise (998 ± 171 versus 1784 ± 94 mm Hg/s, p < 0.05) and left ventricular pressure fall (1014 ± 189 versus 1621 ± 138 mm Hg/s, p < 0.05). Assay of intracellular calcium in fura-2AM-loaded cardiac myocytes demonstrated increased intracellular calcium concentration in myocytes obtained from lipopolysaccharide-challenged animals compared with controls (234 ± 18 versus 151 ± 6 nM, p < 0.05). Inhibition of calcium-release channel (ryanodine receptor) opening by administration of dantrolene prevented the increase in intracytoplasmic calcium (159 ± 8 versus 234 ± 18 nM, p < 0.05) and partially ameliorated systolic and diastolic ventricular dysfunction. These data indicate that abnormalities of intracellular calcium contribute to the development of endotoxin-induced myocardial dysfunction.

Simultaneous quantification of four native estrogen hormones at trace levels in human cerebrospinal fluid using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry

Estrogens are known to exhibit neuroprotective effects on the brain. Their importance in this regard and in others has been emphasized in many recent studies, which increases the need to develop reliable analytical methods for the measurement of estrogen hormones. A heart-cutting two-dimensional liquid chromatography separation method coupled with electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry (ESI-MS/MS) has been developed for simultaneous measurement of four estrogens, including estriol (E3), estrone (E1), 17β-estradiol (17β-E2), and 17α-estradiol (17α-E2), in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The method was based on liquid-liquid extraction and derivatization of estrogens with dansyl chloride to enhance the sensitivity of ESI-based detection in conjunction with tandem mass spectrometry. Dansylated estriol and estrone were separated in the first dimension by an amide-C18 column, while dansylated 17β- and 17α-estradiol were resolved on the second dimension by two C18 columns (175 mm total length) connected in series. This is the first report of a method for simultaneous quantification of all four endogenous estrogen compounds in their dansylated form. The detection limits for E1, 17α-E2, 17β-E2, and E3 were 19, 35, 26, and 61pg/mL, respectively. Due to matrix effects, validation and calibration was carried out in charcoal-stripped CSF. The precision and accuracy were more than 86% for the two E2 compounds and 79% for E1 and E3 while the extraction recovery ranged from 91% to 104%. The method was applied to measure estrogens obtained in a clinical setting, from the CSF of ischemic trauma patients. While 17β-estradiol was present at a significant level in the CSF of some samples, other estrogens were present at lower levels or were undetectable.

Specific inhibition of mitochondrial oxidative stress suppresses inflammation and improves cardiac function in a rat pneumonia-related sepsis model

Using a mitochondria-targeted vitamin E (Mito-Vit-E) in a rat pneumonia-related sepsis model, we examined the role of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species in sepsis-mediated myocardial inflammation and subsequent cardiac contractile dysfunction. Sepsis was produced in adult male Sprague-Dawley rats via intratracheal injection of S. pneumonia (4 × 10(6) colony formation units per rat). A single dose of Mito-Vit-E, vitamin E, or control vehicle, at 21.5 μmol/kg, was administered 30 min postinoculation. Blood was collected, and heart tissue was harvested at various time points. Mito-Vit-E in vivo distribution was confirmed by mass spectrometry. In cardiac mitochondria, Mito-Vit-E improved total antioxidant capacity and suppressed H(2)O(2) generation, whereas vitamin E offered little effect. In cytosol, both antioxidants decreased H(2)O(2) levels, but only vitamin E strengthened antioxidant capacity. Mito-Vit-E protected mitochondrial structure and function in the heart during sepsis, demonstrated by reduction in lipid and protein oxidation, preservation of mitochondrial membrane integrity, and recovery of respiratory function. While both Mito-Vit-E and vitamin E suppressed sepsis-induced peripheral and myocardial production of proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-6), Mito-Vit-E exhibited significantly higher efficacy (P < 0.05). Stronger anti-inflammatory action of Mito-Vit-E was further shown by its near-complete inhibition of sepsis-induced myeloperoxidase accumulation in myocardium, suggesting its effect on neutrophil infiltration. Echocardiography analysis indicated that Mito-Vit-E ameliorated cardiac contractility of sepsis animals, shown by improved fractional shortening and ejection fraction. Together, our data suggest that targeted scavenging of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species protects mitochondrial function, attenuates tissue-level inflammation, and improves whole organ activities in the heart during sepsis.

Cardiomyocyte intracellular calcium and cardiac dysfunction after burn trauma.

Objective To examine the effects of pharmacologic agents designed to limit burn-mediated calcium overload on cardiomyocyte [Ca2+] and cardiac contractile function. Design Experimental, comparative study. Setting Cellular biology and physiology laboratory. Subjects Adult Sprague Dawley rats. Interventions Rats were given third-degree burn injury over 40% of the total body surface area, were fluid resuscitated, and then were divided randomly to receive one of five treatments: vehicle (normal saline); amiloride (50 mg/kg) to inhibit H+-Na+ exchange and subsequent Na+-Ca2+ exchange; dantrolene (10 mg/kg, 30 mins, 6 and 22 hrs postburn) to inhibit sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ release; diltiazem (10 mg/kg given over first 6 hrs postburn); or amlodipine (0.07 mg/kg, 24 hrs preburn and 30 mins postburn) to block calcium slow channels. Appropriate controls (sham burns given the appropriate pharmacologic agent) were included in each group. Twenty-four hrs postburn, left ventricular function (Langendorff), cardiomyocyte [Ca2+]i and [Na+]i measured by fura-2-AM or sodium-binding benzofurzan isophthalate loading of cardiomyocytes, and myocyte secretion of tumor necrosis factor-&agr; (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) were assessed in shams and burns from each experimental group. This time point was selected based on our previous work confirming maximal ventricular contractile defects and maximal cytokine secretion 24 hrs postburn. Measurements and Main Results Burn trauma increased myocyte [Ca2+]i and [Na+]i, promoted tumor necrosis factor-&agr; secretion by cardiomyocytes, and impaired left ventricular function. All pharmacologic agents reduced the burn-mediated Ca2+/Na+ accumulation in cardiomyocytes and ablated burn-mediated tumor necrosis factor-&agr; secretion by myocytes; in contrast, dantrolene and amiloride provided significantly greater cardioprotection than pharmacologic agents that specifically targeted Ca2+ slow channels (diltiazem and amlodipine). Conclusion Our data suggest that the calcium antagonists used in this study provide cardioprotection by modulating several aspects of the overall inflammatory cascade rather than solely limiting cardiomyocyte accumulation of calcium.