Michael J. Eppihimer

Heterogeneity of Expression of E- and P-Selectins In Vivo

A novel technique involving radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies was used to characterize and compare the expression of E- and P-selectin on unstimulated, histamine-challenged, and endotoxin-challenged endothelial cells in various tissues of the mouse. Under unstimulated conditions, E-selectin was absent in all organs, but significant expression of P-selectin was observed in several organs. Histamine induced a rapid time-dependent upregulation of P-selectin, with the largest responses observed in mesentery and lung. Significant fold elevations in P-selectin expression occurred as early as 5 minutes after the histamine injection and remained elevated up to 1 hour. Histamine-induced P-selectin upregulation was inhibited by the H1 receptor antagonist diphenhydramine, whereas the H2 receptor antagonist cimetidine had no effect. Endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide [LPS]) also induced a time-dependent expression of P-selectin that reached a maximum between 4 and 8 hours after endotoxin administration. LPS-induced upregulation of P-selectin was greatest in heart and stomach, which exhibited insignificant constitutive expression of P-selectin. LPS also induced a time-dependent upregulation of E-selectin, with maximal expression occurring 3 to 5 hours after intraperitoneal administration. The lung and small intestine exhibited the largest responses to LPS challenge. Histamine administration did not affect E-selectin expression in any tissue. E- and P-selectin-deficient mice were used to test the specificity of monoclonal antibody binding in unstimulated, histamine-challenged, and LPS-stimulated tissues. Vascular binding of the radiolabeled E-selectin and P-selectin monoclonal antibodies was not observed in the respective deficient mice. These findings suggest that P-selectin is constitutively expressed on vascular endothelium in some tissues of the mouse and that there are significant regional differences in the magnitude and time course of histamine- and endotoxin-induced P-selectin expression. In contrast, E-selectin appears to be absent on unstimulated vascular endothelium but is upregulated within 3 hours after the administration of endotoxin in most tissues.

Expression and Regulation of the PD‐L1 Immunoinhibitory Molecule on Microvascular Endothelial Cells

Objective: To evaluate the expression and regulation of a novel B7‐like protein, PD‐L1, the ligand for the immunoinhibitory receptor PD‐1 expressed on activated T‐cells, on microvascular endothelial cells (ECs)

Modulation of P-selectin expression in the postischemic intestinal microvasculature

The dual radiolabeled monoclonal antibody technique was used to 1) define the magnitude and kinetics of P-selectin expression in murine small intestine exposed to ischemia-reperfusion (I/R), and 2) determine the factor(s) responsible for initiating this response. Within 10 min after release of a 20-min arterial occlusion, intestinal P-selectin expression increased two- to threefold compared with control values. Peak (4-fold) expression of P-selectin was noted at 5 h after reperfusion, returning to the control value at 24 h. The early (10-30 min) I/R-induced upregulation of P-selectin appears to reflect mobilization of a preformed pool of the adhesion molecule, whereas the later (5 h) rise appears to be transcription dependent. The early increase in P-selectin expression was not inhibited by pretreatment with either oxypurinol (inhibits xanthine oxidase), diphenhydramine (H1-receptor antagonist), or MK-571 (leukotriene C4/D4antagonist), nor was it blunted in transgenic mice expressing three times the normal level of copper-zinc superoxide dismutase or in mast cell-deficient mice. However, significant inhibition was noted after treatment with either MK-886 (5-lipoxygenase inhibitor) or a nitric oxide (NO) donor (diethylenetriamine/NO). These findings indicate that the early I/R-induced increase in intestinal P-selectin expression is mediated by a 5-lipoxygenase-dependent NO-inhibitable mechanism.The dual radiolabeled monoclonal antibody technique was used to 1) define the magnitude and kinetics of P-selectin expression in murine small intestine exposed to ischemia-reperfusion (I/R), and 2) determine the factor(s) responsible for initiating this response. Within 10 min after release of a 20-min arterial occlusion, intestinal P-selectin expression increased two- to threefold compared with control values. Peak (4-fold) expression of P-selectin was noted at 5 h after reperfusion, returning to the control value at 24 h. The early (10-30 min) I/R-induced upregulation of P-selectin appears to reflect mobilization of a performed pool of the adhesion molecule, whereas the later (5 h) rise appears to be transcription dependent. The early increase in P-selectin expression was not inhibited by pretreatment with either oxypurinol (inhibits xanthine oxidase), diphenhydramine (H1-receptor antagonist), or MK-571 (leukotriene C4/D4 antagonist), nor was it blunted in transgenic mice expressing three times the normal level of copper-zinc superoxide dismutase or in mast cell-deficient mice. However, significant inhibition was noted after treatment with either MK-886 (5-lipoxygenase inhibitor) or a nitric oxide (NO) donor (diethylenetriamine/NO). These findings indicate that the early I/R-induced increase in intestinal P-selectin expression is mediated by a 5-lipoxygenase-dependent NO-inhibitable mechanism.

Lung Neutrophil Retention and Injury After Intestinal Ischemia/Reperfusion

Objective: To define the mechanisms responsible for the lung leukosequestration and injury elicited by intestinal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R).

Endothelial cell adhesion molecule expression in gene-targeted mice

Gene-targeted mice are now routinely employed as tools for defining the contribution of different leukocyte and endothelial cell adhesion molecules to the leukocyte recruitment and tissue injury associated with acute and chronic inflammation. The objective of this study was to determine whether gene-targeted mice that are deficient in CD11/CD18, intracellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), or P-selectin exhibit an altered constitutive or induced expression of the endothelial cell adhesion molecules E- and P-selectin. The gene-targeted mice were all developed in the 129Sv mouse strain and backcrossed into C57Bl/6J mice. The number of backcrosses ranged between 8 (P-selectin) and 10 (CD18 and ICAM-1) generations. The dual-radiolabeled monoclonal antibody technique was used to quantify E- and P-selectin expression in different vascular beds. In the unstimulated state, E-selectin expression was significantly elevated (relative to wild-type mice) in the stomach, large intestine, and brain of mutants deficient in ICAM-1. In general, constitutive expression of P-selectin did not differ between wild-type, ICAM-1-deficient, and CD11/CD18-deficient mutants. In CD11/CD18-deficient mice, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) administration elicited a more profound upregulation of P-selectin in several vascular beds, compared with wild-type and ICAM-1-deficient mice. E-selectin expression in brain of TNF-α-stimulated, ICAM-1-deficient, and P-selectin-deficient mice was attenuated compared with wild-type mice. These findings indicate that chronic deficiency of some of the adhesion glycoproteins that mediate leukocyte recruitment alters basal and induced surface expression of other adhesion molecules on endothelial cells.

Quantification of murine endothelial cell adhesion molecules in solid tumors

Coordinated adhesive interactions between lymphocyte receptors and endothelial cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are a prerequisite for effector cell entry into tumor stroma. Whereas the diminished leukocyte-endothelial cell interactions observed in tumor microvessels have been attributed to a reduced expression of endothelial CAMs, there is no quantitative data bearing on this issue. The dual-radiolabeled monoclonal antibody technique was used to quantify constitutive and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α-induced expression of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), ICAM-2, P-selectin, E-selectin, and platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule 1 (PECAM-1) in different vascular beds of normal (C57Bl/6) and RM-1 tumor-bearing mice. When corrected for endothelial surface area, the constitutive expression of selectins in tumor vessels was higher than that observed in other vascular beds. Both constitutive and induced expression of endothelial CAMs in peripheral vascular beds did not differ between normal and tumor-bearing mice. Within the tumor, the magnitude of the upregulation of P-selectin, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1 after TNF-α was similar to that within other vascular beds. E-selectin expression in tumors was refractory to TNF-α, whereas PECAM-1 and ICAM-2 expression were significantly reduced. Our findings suggest that the presence of a solid tumor does not influence endothelial CAM expression in other vascular beds and that the higher density of selectins in nonstimulated tumor vessels may promote the recruitment of rolling leukocytes in this tissue.

Differential Expression of Platelet-Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 (PECAM-1) in Murine Tissues

Objective: To characterize and compare the expression of PECAM‐1 in unstimulated and tumor necrosis factor α‐ (TNF‐α)‐stimulated tissues of mice.

Impact of Stent Surface on Thrombogenicity and Vascular Healing A Comparative Analysis of Metallic and Polymeric Surfaces

Background—Emerging drug-eluting stent technologies are evolving toward the elimination of polymeric component used as the method for modulating drug delivery. Although this technological approach seems to be biologically appealing, the impact of durable polymers and metallic stent surfaces on vascular healing remains unclear. In the present study, we aimed to compare the independent effect of a durable polymer and a metallic stent surface on thrombogenicity and endothelial cell coverage using different in vitro and in vivo experimental models. Methods and Results—Platinum chromium (PtCr) and polyvinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropene (PVDF-HFP)–coated surfaces were evaluated in this study. Thrombogenicity was assessed by exposing all surfaces to human blood under shear flow conditions. The inflammatory potential of the material was evaluated by measuring cytokine release from THP-1 cells exposed to all surfaces for 24 hours. Endothelial cell coverage was evaluated by detection of CD31 after the stents were exposed to human coronary artery endothelial cells for ⩽14 days. Platelet adhesion (P<0.01) and activation (P=0.03) on PVDF-HFP were greater than on PtCr. In vivo, PVDF-HFP revealed more neointimal area (P<0.01) and residual parastrut fibrin (P=0.01) at 30 days compared with PtCr. PtCr displayed higher endothelialization rates and higher vascular endothelial-cadherin expression at 7 and 14 days (P=0.02) compared with PVDF-HFP. Conclusions—Thrombogenicity and vascular healing differ among metallic and polymeric stent surfaces. PVDF-HFP exhibits higher degrees of platelet activation–adhesion and thrombus accumulation in vivo compared with PtCr. PtCr displayed higher degrees of endothelial surface coverage compared with PVDF-HFP surfaces.

Differential Healing After Sirolimus, Paclitaxel, and Bare Metal Stent Placement in Combination With Peroxisome Proliferator-Activator Receptor γ Agonists. Requirement for mTOR/Akt2 in PPARγ Activation

Rationale: Sirolimus-eluting coronary stents (SESs) and paclitaxel-eluting coronary stents (PESs) are used to reduce restenosis but have different sites of action. The molecular targets of sirolimus overlap with those of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)&ggr; agonist rosiglitazone (RSG) but the consequence of this interaction on endothelialization is unknown. Objective: Using the New Zealand white rabbit iliac model of stenting, we examined the effects of RSG on SESs, PESs, and bare metal stents endothelialization. Methods and Results: Animals receiving SESs, PESs, or bare metal stents and either RSG (3 mg/kg per day) or placebo were euthanized at 28 days, and arteries were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy. Fourteen-day organ culture and Western blotting of iliac arteries and tissue culture experiments were conducted. Endothelialization was significantly reduced by RSG in SESs but not in PESs or bare metal stents. Organ culture revealed reduced vascular endothelial growth factor in SESs receiving RSG compared to RSG animals receiving bare metal stent or PESs. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction in human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) revealed that sirolimus (but not paclitaxel) inhibited RSG-induced vascular endothelial growth factor transcription. Western blotting demonstrated that inhibition of molecular signaling in SES+RSG–treated arteries was similar to findings in HAECs treated with RSG and small interfering RNA to PPAR&ggr;, suggesting that sirolimus inhibits PPAR&ggr;. Transfection of HAECs with mTOR (mammalian target of rapamycin) short hairpin RNA and with Akt2 small interfering RNA significantly inhibited RSG-mediated transcriptional upregulation of heme oxygenase-1, a PPAR&ggr; target gene. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay demonstrated sirolimus interferes with binding of PPAR&ggr; to its response elements in heme oxygenase-1 promoter. Conclusions: mTOR/Akt2 is required for optimal PPAR&ggr; activation. Patients who receive SESs during concomitant RSG treatment may be at risk for delayed stent healing.

Antirestenotic mechanisms of everolimus on human coronary artery smooth muscle cells: inhibition of human coronary artery smooth muscle cell proliferation, but not migration.

Abstract Everolimus, a pharmaceutical component of drug-eluting stents, inhibits coronary vessel restenosis, but the antirestenotic mechanisms of action remain unclear. Here, we describe the effects of everolimus on key contributors to vessel restenosis, smooth muscle cell proliferation, and migration. In a dose-dependent fashion, everolimus reduced human coronary artery smooth muscle cell (HCASMC) proliferation without toxicity in a bimodal fashion, with accentuated potency occurring at 10 &mgr;M. Everolimus arrested the majority of HCASMCs in G1-phase, whereas it reduced the fraction of cells in S-phase at doses that inhibited DNA synthesis (bromodeoxyuridine incorporation). Consistent with this, Western blotting demonstrated that everolimus reduced activation and expression of G1-phase cell cycle progression factors, including p70S6K and cyclin D, respectively, decreased levels of proliferating cell nuclear antigen, and attenuated growth factor/serum-induced phosphorylation of the cell cycle phase transition intermediate, retinoblastoma protein. Everolimus did not, however, affect HCASMC migration. These observations suggest that everolimus acts as an antiproliferative, but not antimigratory, compound to account for at least some of the clinical efficacy exhibited by this drug as an antirestenotic agent. Moreover, everolimus-induced inhibition of the mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1 and regulation of cyclin-mediated cell cycle progression actions likely account for the antiproliferative effects of this compound on HCASMCs.