The influence of high glucose on the aerobic metabolism of endothelial EA.hy926 cells

The endothelium is considered to be relatively independent of the mitochondrial energy supply. The goals of this study were to examine mitochondrial respiratory functions in endothelial cells and isolated mitochondria and to assess the influence of chronic high glucose exposure on the aerobic metabolism of these cells. A procedure to isolate of bioenergetically active endothelial mitochondria was elaborated. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (EA.hy926 line) were grown in medium containing either 5.5 or 25?mM glucose. The respiratory response to elevated glucose was observed in cells grown in 25?mM glucose for at least 6?days or longer. In EA.hy926 cells, growth in high glucose induced considerably lower mitochondrial respiration with glycolytic fuels, less pronounced with glutamine, and higher respiration with palmitate. The Crabtree effect was observed in both types of cells. High glucose conditions produced elevated levels of cellular Q10, increased ROS generation, increased hexokinase I, lactate dehydrogenase, acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, uncoupling protein 2 (UCP2), and superoxide dismutase 2 expression, and decreased E3-binding protein of pyruvate dehydrogenase expression. In isolated mitochondria, hyperglycaemia induced an increase in the oxidation of palmitoylcarnitine and glycerol-3-phosphate (lipid-derived fuels) and a decrease in the oxidation of pyruvate (a mitochondrial fuel); in addition, increased UCP2 activity was observed. Our results demonstrate that primarily glycolytic endothelial cells possess highly active mitochondria with a functioning energy-dissipating pathway (UCP2). High-glucose exposure induces a shift of the endothelial aerobic metabolism towards the oxidation of lipids and amino acids.     

Effect of sodium dichloroacetate on apoptotic gene expression in human leukemia cell lines

Background

Sodium dichloroacetate (DCA) is an agent with anticancer properties against solid tumors. DCA also seems to have antileukemic activity. In order to affirm it we investigate the effect of DCA on cell viability and apoptotic gene expression profiles in leukemia cell lines: CEM/C1, CCRF/CEM, HL-60, HL-60/MX2.

Ocular Complications in Influenza Virus Infection

Purpose: To describe a case series of ocular complications associated with upper respiratory tract infections.

Methods: Four patients aged 21–61 years (three females, one male) had confirmed ocular complications connected with a general upper respiratory tract infection with myalgia and fever. Ophthalmological examination, including a visual acuity test, a slit-lamp exam, intraocular pressure measurements, fluorescein and indocyanine green angiography, optical coherence tomography (OCT), and diagnostic tests for influenza were performed in the patients (RT-PCR, HAI).

Results: Acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy (APMPPE) was diagnosed in three patients and serous macular detachment (SME) in one. Influenza virus infection was confirmed by molecular biological methods (RT-PCR) or the hemagglutination inhibition test (HAI) in two patients. All patients were treated with systemic prednisone.

Conclusion: A coincidence between APMPPE and SME epitheliopathy and influenza virus infection was observed in different months of a given epidemic season.