Kazi Nazrul Islam

α-Tocopherol Enrichment of Monocytes Decreases Agonist-Induced Adhesion to Human Endothelial Cells

Background —Monocyte-endothelium adhesion is a crucial early event in atherogenesis. Several reports indicate that α-tocopherol (AT) is a potent antioxidant in plasma and LDL and also has intracellular effects that are antiatherogenic. Recently, it has been shown that AT supplementation results in decreased monocyte–endothelial cell adhesion. However, there is a paucity of data on the mechanisms by which AT inhibits adhesion of monocytes. We studied the effect of AT enrichment of a human monocytic cell line, U937, on adhesion to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). Methods and Results —Both lipopolysaccharide (LPS)– and N -formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP)–stimulated U937 adhesion to HUVECs were studied. AT (50 and 100 μmol/L) significantly decreased adhesion of both LPS- and FMLP-stimulated U937 cells to HUVECs (LPS-treated cells, P <0.0125; FMLP-treated cells, P <0.05). Expression of the adhesion molecules CD11a, CD11b, CD11c, very late antigen-4 (VLA-4), and L-selectin, as assessed by flow cytometry, was increased in the stimulated U937 cells, and AT resulted in significant reduction in the expression of CD11b and VLA-4. In addition, activation of the transcription factor nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), as assessed by gel shift assays, was inhibited by pretreatment with AT in LPS-treated U937 cells. Conclusions —AT significantly decreases adhesion of activated monocytes to endothelial cells by decreasing expression of CD11b and VLA-4 on monocytes, possibly by inhibiting the activation of NF-κB.

Alpha-tocopherol supplementation decreases the oxidative susceptibility of LDL in renal failure patients on dialysis therapy

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD) who have undergone dialysis treatment. The oxidation of low density lipoprotein (LDL) appears to be a crucial step in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The increased oxidative stress and attendant increased oxidizability of lipoproteins, such as LDL could contribute to the accelerated atherosclerosis in dialysis patients. Since alpha-tocopherol (AT) is the major antioxidant in LDL, the aim of the present study was to test the effectiveness of RRR-AT supplementation (800 I.U. per day) for 12 weeks on the susceptibility of LDL to oxidation. The study subjects comprised patients with chronic renal failure on hemodialysis (HD), peritoneal dialysis (PD), and age and sex matched controls (C). Plasma fatty acids, lipoproteins and AT levels were measured in these subjects before and after supplementation. Also, LDL AT and oxidizability was studied. LDL was isolated by ultracentrifugation at baseline and after 12 weeks of supplementation, and subjected to a 5-h time course of copper catalyzed oxidation. Oxidation was measured by the formation of conjugated dienes (CD) and lipid peroxides (LP). Supplementation with AT did not alter the plasma lipid or lipoprotein profile of these subjects. Plasma lipid-standardized AT and LDL AT concentrations were not different among the groups at baseline. AT supplementation significantly increased plasma lipid-standardized AT (C=150%, HD=149%, PD=217%, P<0.001) and LDL AT concentrations (C=94%, HD=94%, PD=135%, P<0.003). AT enrichment of LDL resulted in a significant prolongation in conjugated diene lag phase in all groups (C=34%, HD=21%, PD=54%, P<0.02). Lipid peroxide lag phase was also increased significantly in C (27%,) and PD (40%) groups after AT supplementation (P<0.01). There was a significant positive correlation between plasma lipid standardized AT and lag phase (r=0. 54, P=0.0003). Overall, AT decreased the susceptibility of LDL to oxidation in patients with chronic renal failure but the benefit appears to be greater in patients on PD. Therefore, AT supplementation may also provide a measure of protection against CAD in patients with chronic renal failure on dialysis therapy.

Permissive Effects of Oxygen on Cyclic AMP and Interleukin-1 Stimulation of Surfactant Protein A Gene Expression Are Mediated by Epigenetic Mechanisms

ABSTRACT Surfactant protein A (SP-A) is important for immune defense within the alveolus. Cyclic AMP (cAMP) stimulation of SP-A expression in lung type II cells is O2 dependent and mediated by increased phosphorylation and binding of thyroid transcription factor 1 (TTF-1) to an upstream response element (TTF-1-binding element [TBE]). Interleukin-1 (IL-1) stimulation of SP-A expression is mediated by NF-κB (p65/p50) activation and increased binding to the TBE. In this study, we found that O2 also was permissive for IL-1 induction of SP-A expression and for cAMP and IL-1 stimulation of type II cell nuclear protein binding to the TBE. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation, we observed that when type II cells were cultured in 20% O2, cAMP and IL-1 stimulated the recruitment of TTF-1, p65, CBP, and steroid receptor coactivator 1 to the TBE region of the SP-A promoter and increased local acetylation of histone H3; these effects were prevented by hypoxia. Hypoxia markedly reduced global levels of CBP and acetylated histone H3 and increased the expression of histone deacetylases. Furthermore, hypoxia caused a global increase in histone H3 dimethylated on Lys9 and increased the association of dimethyl histone H3 with the SP-A promoter. These results, together with findings that the histone deacetylase inhibitor trichostatin A and the methyltransferase inhibitor 5′-deoxy(5′-methylthio)adenosine markedly enhanced SP-A expression in lung type II cells, suggest that increased O2 availability to type II cells late in gestation causes epigenetic changes that permit access of TTF-1 and NF-κB to the SP-A promoter. The binding of these transcription factors facilitates the recruitment of coactivators, resulting in the further opening of the chromatin structure and activation of SP-A transcription.

Nebivolol Acts as a S-Nitrosoglutathione Reductase Inhibitor: A New Mechanism of Action.

Background and Purpose: Published data on nebivolol reveal selective β1 adrenergic selectively along with novel nitric oxide (NO)-dependent vasodilatory properties. However, the exact molecular mechanism is unknown. Protein S-nitrosylation constitutes a large part of the ubiquitous influence of NO on cellular signal transduction and is involved in a number of human diseases. More recently, protein denitrosylation has been shown to play a major role in controlling cellular S-nitrosylation (SNO). Several enzymes have been reported to catalyze the reduction of SNOs and are viewed as candidate denitrosylases. One of the first described is known as S-nitrosoglutathione reductase (GSNOR). Importantly, GSNOR has been shown to play a role in regulating SNO signaling downstream of the β-adrenergic receptor and is therefore operative in cellular signal transduction. Pharmacological inhibition or genetic deletion of GSNOR leads to enhanced vasodilation and characteristic of known effects of nebivolol. Structurally, nebivolol is similar to known inhibitors of GSNOR. Therefore, we hypothesize that some of the known effects of nebivolol may occur through this mechanism. Experimental Approach: Using cell culture systems, tissue organ bath, and intact animal models, we report that nebivolol treatment leads to a dose-dependent accumulation of nitrosothiols in cells, and this is associated with an enhanced vasodilation by S-nitrosoglutathione. Key Results: These data suggest a new mechanism of action of nebivolol that may explain in part the reported NO activity. Conclusions and Implications: Because exogenous mediators of protein SNO or denitrosylation can substantially affect the development or progression of disease, this may call for new utility of nebivolol.