Vasoactive peptides in cardiovascular (patho)physiology

Numerous vasoactive agents play an important physiological role in regulating vascular tone, reactivity and structure. In pathological conditions, alterations in the regulation of vasoactive peptides result in endothelial dysfunction, vascular remodeling and vascular inflammation, which are important processes underlying vascular damage in cardiovascular disease. Among the many vasoactive agents implicated in vascular (patho)biology, angiotensin II (Ang II), endothelin (ET), serotonin and natriuretic peptides appear to be particularly important because of their many pleiotropic actions and because they have been identified as potential therapeutic targets in cardiovascular disease. Ang II, ET-1, serotonin and natriuretic peptides mediate effects via specific receptors, which belong to the group of G-protein-coupled receptors. ET, serotonin and Ang II are primarily vasoconstrictors with growth-promoting actions, whereas natriuretic peptides, specifically atrial, brain and C-type natriuretic peptides, are vasodilators with natriuretic effects. Inhibition of vasoconstrictor actions with drugs that block peptide receptors, compounds that inhibit enzymes that generate vasoactive peptides or agents that increase levels of natriuretic peptides are potentially valuable therapeutic tools in the management of cardiovascular diseases. This review focuses on ET, natriuretic peptides and serotonin. The properties and distribution of these vasoactive agents and their receptors, mechanisms of action and implications in cardiovascular (patho)physiology will be discussed.     

Vasoactive peptides in cardiovascular (patho)physiology

Numerous vasoactive agents play an important physiological role in regulating vascular tone, reactivity and structure. In pathological conditions, alterations in the regulation of vasoactive peptides result in endothelial dysfunction, vascular remodeling and vascular inflammation, which are important processes underlying vascular damage in cardiovascular disease. Among the many vasoactive agents implicated in vascular (patho)biology, angiotensin II (Ang II), endothelin (ET), serotonin and natriuretic peptides appear to be particularly important because of their many pleiotropic actions and because they have been identified as potential therapeutic targets in cardiovascular disease. Ang II, ET-1, serotonin and natriuretic peptides mediate effects via specific receptors, which belong to the group of G-protein-coupled receptors. ET, serotonin and Ang II are primarily vasoconstrictors with growth-promoting actions, whereas natriuretic peptides, specifically atrial, brain and C-type natriuretic peptides, are vasodilators with natriuretic effects. Inhibition of vasoconstrictor actions with drugs that block peptide receptors, compounds that inhibit enzymes that generate vasoactive peptides or agents that increase levels of natriuretic peptides are potentially valuable therapeutic tools in the management of cardiovascular diseases. This review focuses on ET, natriuretic peptides and serotonin. The properties and distribution of these vasoactive agents and their receptors, mechanisms of action and implications in cardiovascular (patho)physiology will be discussed.     

骨髓液促进鸡胚绒毛尿囊膜血管的生成

背景：生长因子能促进侧支血管的发育,且多种因子协同效果更为明显,骨髓液中富含多种生长因子。目的：观察血管内膜损伤后的骨髓液对鸡胚绒毛尿囊膜血管生成的作用。方法：受精蛋70枚在（37.5±0.5）℃条件下孵育,第7天开窗,第8天将存活鸡胚随机分为生理盐水组、正常血清组、正常骨髓液组、损伤血清组、损伤骨髓液组以及血管内皮生成因子组,每组10枚,分别滴加5μL兔正常血清、5μL兔骨髓液、5μL兔血管内膜损害血清、5μL兔血管内膜损害骨髓液、5μL生理盐水及0.3μg血管内皮生长因子进鸡胚绒毛尿囊膜中,连续3d。数码相机拍照后平铺于载玻片上,计数鸡胚绒毛尿囊膜新生的血管数目。结果与结论：与正常血清组相比,正常骨髓液组、血管内膜损害血清组鸡胚绒毛尿囊膜新生的血管总数明显增多,大中血管明显增生;且血管内膜损害血清组大、中血管数更为明显增加。提示正常骨髓液具有明显的促进鸡胚绒毛尿囊膜模型血管生成的作用,其强度优于血管内皮生长因子;血管内膜损伤第7天的血清和骨髓液能够明显的促进鸡胚绒毛尿囊膜上的血管生成,其强度优于血管内皮生长因子组。     

骨髓液促进鸡胚绒毛尿囊膜血管的生成

背景:生长因子能促进侧支血管的发育,且多种因子协同效果更为明显,骨髓液中富含多种生长因子.目的:观察血管内膜损伤后的骨髓液对鸡胚绒毛尿囊膜血管生成的作用.方法:受精蛋70枚在(37.5±0.5) ℃条件下孵育,第7天开窗,第8天将存活鸡胚随机分为生理盐水组、正常血清组、正常骨髓液组、损伤血清组、损伤骨髓液组以及血管内皮生成因子组,每组10枚,分别滴加5 μL兔正常血清、5 μL兔骨髓液、5 μL兔血管内膜损害血清、5 μL兔血管内膜损害骨髓液、5 μL生理盐水及0.3 μg 血管内皮生长因子进鸡胚绒毛尿囊膜中,连续3 d.数码相机拍照后平铺于载玻片上,计数鸡胚绒毛尿囊膜新生的血管数目.结果与结论:与正常血清组相比,正常骨髓液组、血管内膜损害血清组鸡胚绒毛尿囊膜新生的血管总数明显增多,大中血管明显增生;且血管内膜损害血清组大、中血管数更为明显增加.提示正常骨髓液具有明显的促进鸡胚绒毛尿囊膜模型血管生成的作用,其强度优于血管内皮生长因子;血管内膜损伤第7天的血清和骨髓液能够明显的促进鸡胚绒毛尿囊膜上的血管生成,其强度优于血管内皮生长因子组.     

Hemodynamic parameters regulating vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis: A brief update

Atherosclerosis is a chronic lipid-driven inflammatory disease of the arteries. Early lesions (fatty streaks) contain monocytes and T lymphocytes which are recruited from the circulation by adhesion to activated vascular endothelial cells (EC). This process is described as the leukocyte adhesion cascade. Atherogenesis occurs predominantly at branches and bends of the arterial tree that are exposed to relatively low or re-circulating blood flow. Here we briefly review the effects of blood flow and shear stress on the leukocyte adhesion cascade and endothelial cell function.     

小口径生物型人工血管移植后的血管内皮再生

背景:经过生物化改造的人工血管特性更接近人体血管,移植后自体化程度也较高,但人工血管的内皮再生是解决血管长期通畅的关键。目的:观察新型小口径生物型人造血管移植后不同时期移植材料的组织相容性及移植血管壁内膜再生的组织病理学变化。方法:建立犬颈总动脉-人造血管端端连续缝合的动物模型。结果与结论:①光镜:移植后12周于吻合口处见新内膜表面有不连续的内皮细胞生长;移植后6个月通畅的整段管腔内面均可见内皮细胞生长;移植后1.5年管腔通畅,部分内膜组织呈慢性炎症表现。②电镜:移植后12周新生血管内皮细胞排列规则,从吻合口向移植血管中段爬行;移植后6个月内皮细胞从吻合口向移植血管中段爬行,移植血管中段呈跳跃式片状生长的内皮细胞群落,细胞排列更致密,形态更接近成熟血管内皮细胞;移植后1.5年整段血管内壁均有致密内皮细胞覆盖,部分内膜组织呈慢性炎症表现。说明新型小口径生物型人造血管新生内皮形成早,血管内膜重构能力强,生物相容和稳定性好。     

THE INITIAL LESION IN EXPERIMENTAL ALLERGIC NEURITIS : A PHASE AND ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC STUDY

Experimental allergic neuritis (EAN) was produced in rats by the intradermal injection of an emulsion of peripheral nerve in Freund's adjuvant. Early lesions in perfused sciatic nerves were studied by phase, light, and electron microscopy at intervals up to 15 days following immunization. Circulating lymphocytes attached focally to the inner surface of blood vessels, primarily venules, to initiate parenchymal lesion formation. Attached cells had the hand mirror configuration typical of the motile lymphocyte. They subsequently flattened against the endothelial surface and then traversed the vascular wall by sinking into and passing through the cytoplasm of endothelial cells. The transgressor and transgressed cell membranes were intact and both cells retained their integrity. Lymphocytes began to transform and divide intravascularly; these events accelerated extravascularly. Although the migrating cells became larger and more pleomorphic in the perivascular regions, their essential character was in keeping with an origin from circulating lymphocytes. In many lesions, there was fluid with protein, possibly produced by the transformed extravascular cells. The described cellular events precede tissue damage and are likely instrumental in the myelin destruction which follows     

Effect of hydroxyethyl starch on vascular leak syndrome and neutrophil accumulation during hypoxia

OBJECTIVE: Several studies have suggested that intravenous hydroxyethyl starch treatment may dampen acute inflammatory responses. It is well documented that limited oxygen delivery to tissues (hypoxia) is common in acute inflammation, and numerous parallels exist between acute responses to hypoxia and to inflammation, including the observation that both are associated with increased vascular leakage and neutrophil infiltration of tissues. Therefore, we compared functional influences of hydroxyethyl starch on normoxic or posthypoxic endothelia. DESIGN: Laboratory study. SETTING: University hospital. SUBJECTS: Cultured human microvascular endothelial cells and mice (C57BL/6/129 svj). INTERVENTIONS: We measured functional influences of hydroxyethyl starch on normoxic or posthypoxic endothelia. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Studies to assess endothelial barrier function in vitro indicated that the addition of hydroxyethyl starch promotes endothelial barrier in a dose-dependent fashion and hydroxyethyl starch-barrier effects are increased following endothelial hypoxia exposure (human microvascular endothelial cells, 48 hrs, 2% oxygen). Treatment of human microvascular endothelial cells with hydroxyethyl starch resulted in a dose-dependent increase in 157-phosphorylated vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein, a protein responsible for controlling the geometry of actin-filaments. Neutrophil adhesion was decreased in the presence of physiologically relevant concentrations of hydroxyethyl starch in vitro, particularly after endothelial hypoxia exposure. Using a murine model of normobaric hypoxia, increases in vascular leakage and pulmonary edema associated with hypoxia exposure (4 hrs at 8% oxygen) were decreased in animals treated with intravenous hydroxyethyl starch. Increases of tissue neutrophil accumulation following hypoxia exposure were dampened in hydroxyethyl starch-treated mice. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, these results indicate that hypoxia-induced increases in vascular leakage and acute inflammation are attenuated by hydroxyethyl starch treatment.     

Endothelial cell-restricted disruption of FoxM1 impairs endothelial repair following LPS-induced vascular injury

Recovery of endothelial integrity after vascular injury is vital for endothelial barrier function and vascular homeostasis. However, little is known about the molecular mechanisms of endothelial barrier repair following injury. To investigate the functional role of forkhead box M1 (FoxM1) in the mechanism of endothelial repair, we generated endothelial cell-restricted FoxM1-deficient mice (FoxM1 CKO mice). These mutant mice were viable and exhibited no overt phenotype. However, in response to the inflammatory mediator LPS, FoxM1 CKO mice displayed significantly protracted increase in lung vascular permeability and markedly increased mortality. Following LPS-induced vascular injury, FoxM1 CKO lungs demonstrated impaired cell proliferation in association with sustained expression of p27(Kip1) and decreased expression of cyclin B1 and Cdc25C. Endothelial cells isolated from FoxM1 CKO lungs failed to proliferate, and siRNA-mediated suppression of FoxM1 expression in human endothelial cells resulted in defective cell cycle progression. Deletion of FoxM1 in endothelial cells induced decreased expression of cyclins, Cdc2, and Cdc25C, increased p27(Kip1) expression, and decreased Cdk activities. Thus, FoxM1 plays a critical role in the mechanism of the restoration of endothelial barrier function following vascular injury. These data suggest that impairment in FoxM1 activation may be an important determinant of the persistent vascular barrier leakiness and edema formation associated with inflammatory diseases.     

Vascular bed-targeted in vivo gene delivery using tropism-modified adeno-associated viruses.

Virus-mediated gene delivery is restricted by the infectivity profile of the chosen vector. Targeting the vascular endothelium via systemic delivery has been attempted using peptides isolated in vitro (using either phage or vector display) and implicit reliance on target receptor expression in vivo. This has limited application since endothelial cells in vitro and in vivo differ vastly in receptor profiles and because of the existence of complex endothelial "zip codes" in vivo. We therefore tested whether in vivo phage display combined with adeno-associated virus (AAV) capsid modifications would allow in vivo homing to the endothelium residing in defined organs. Extensive in vivo biopanning in rats identified four consensus peptides homing to the lung or brain. Each was incorporated into the VP3 region of the AAV-2 capsid to display the peptide at the virion surface. Peptides that conferred heparan independence were shown to retarget virus to the expected vascular bed in vivo in a preferential manner, determined 28 days post-systemic injection by both virion DNA and transgene expression profiling. Our findings significantly impact the design of viral vectors for targeting individual vascular beds in vivo.     

Endothelial dysfunction in cirrhosis and portal hypertension

Portal hypertension (PHT) is a common clinical syndrome associated with chronic liver diseases; it is characterized by a pathological increase in portal pressure. Pharmacotherapy for PHT is aimed at reducing both intrahepatic vascular tone and elevated splanchnic blood flow. Due to the altered hemodynamic profile in PHT, dramatic changes in mechanical forces, both pressure and flow, may play a pivotal role in controlling endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cell signaling, structure, and function in cirrhotics. Nitric oxide, prostacyclin, endothelial-derived contracting factors, and endothelial-derived hyperpolarizing factor are powerful vasoactive substances released from the endothelium in response to both humoral and mechanical stimuli that can profoundly affect both the function and structure of the underlying vascular smooth muscle. This review will examine the contributory role of hormonal- and mechanical force-induced changes in endothelial function and signaling and the consequence of these changes on the structural and functional response of the underlying vascular smooth muscle. It will focus on the pivotal role of hormonal and mechanical force-induced endothelial release of vasoactive substances in dictating the reactivity of the underlying vascular smooth muscle, i.e., whether hyporeactive or hyperreactive, and will examine the extent to which these substances may exert a protective and/or detrimental influence on the structure of the underlying vascular smooth muscle in both a normal hemodynamic environment and following hemodynamic perturbations typical of PHT and cirrhosis. Finally, it will discuss the intracellular processes that regulate the release/expression of these vasoactive substances and that control the transformation of this normally protective cell to one that may promote the development of vasculopathy in PHT.     

Notch Pathway Modulation on Bone Marrow-Derived Vascular Precursor Cells Regulates Their Angiogenic and Wound Healing Potential

Bone marrow (BM) derived vascular precursor cells (BM-PC, endothelial progenitors) are involved in normal and malignant angiogenesis, in ischemia and in wound healing. However, the mechanisms by which BM-PC stimulate the pre-existing endothelial cells at sites of vascular remodelling/recovery, and their contribution towards the formation of new blood vessels are still undisclosed. In the present report, we exploited the possibility that members of the Notch signalling pathway, expressed by BM-PC during endothelial differentiation, might regulate their pro-angiogenic or pro-wound healing properties. We demonstrate that Notch pathway modulates the adhesion of BM-PC to extracellular matrix (ECM) in vitro via regulation of integrin alpha3beta1; and that Notch pathway inhibition on BM-PC impairs their capacity to stimulate endothelial cell tube formation on matrigel and to promote endothelial monolayer recovery following wounding in vitro. Moreover, we show that activation of Notch pathway on BM-PC improved wound healing in vivo through angiogenesis induction. Conversely, inoculation of BM-PC pre-treated with a gamma secretase inhibitor (GSI) into wounded mice failed to induce angiogenesis at the wound site and did not promote wound healing, presumably due to a lower frequency of BM-PC at the wound area. Our data suggests that Notch pathway regulates BM-PC adhesion to ECM at sites of vascular repair and that it also regulates the capacity of BM-PC to stimulate angiogenesis and to promote wound healing. Drug targeting of the Notch pathway on BM-PC may thus represent a novel strategy to modulate neo-angiogenesis and vessel repair.     

Adeno-associated virus (AAV)-7 and -8 poorly transduce vascular endothelial cells and are sensitive to proteasomal degradation

Transduction of the vascular endothelium by adeno-associated virus (AAV) vectors would have broad appeal for gene therapy. However, levels of transduction by AAV serotype-2 are low, an observation linked to deficiencies in endothelial cell binding, sequestration of virions in the extracellular matrix and/or virion degradation by the proteasome. Strategies to improve transduction of endothelial cells include AAV-2 capsid targeting using small peptides isolated by phage display or the use of alternate serotypes. Previously, we have shown that AAV serotypes-3 through -6 transduce endothelial cells with poor efficiency. Recently, AAV serotypes-7 and -8 have been shown to mediate efficient transduction of the skeletal muscle and liver, respectively, although their infectivity profile for vascular cells has not been addressed. Here, we show that AAV-7 and -8 also transduce endothelial cells with poor efficiency and the levels of transgene expression are markedly enhanced by inhibition of the proteasome. In both cases proteasome blockade enhances the nuclear translocation of virions. We further show that this is vascular cell-type selective since transduction of smooth muscle cells is not sensitive to proteasome inhibition. Analysis in intact blood vessels corroborated these findings and suggests that proteasome degradation is a common limiting factor for endothelial cell transduction by AAV vectors.     

血管内皮生长因子在海马伞-穹窿横断后隔区神经干细胞增殖分化中的作用

背景:目前已经证实成熟脑中存在神经干细胞,如何定向诱导其分化为某种特异性神经元从而替代损伤神经元有效治疗神经系统疾病非常关键.目的:探讨血管内皮生长因子对体内神经干细胞增殖和分化的作用.设计、时间及地点:随机对照动物实验,于2007-06/2008-06在中南大学湘雅医学院人体解剖学及神经生物学系完成.材料:健康雄性SD大鼠24只,随机分为模型对照组、抗体处理组、假手术组,8只/组.方法:模型对照组、抗体处理组大鼠建立海马伞一穹窿横断模型,假手术组大鼠仅做开颅手术.造模后即刻,抗体处理组吸取抗血管内皮生长因子抗体4 μL,于损伤侧前囟+0.6 mm,外侧+0.6 mm,腹侧-5.5 mm插入进针;模型对照组、假手术组注射等量生理盐水.主要观察指标:免疫组织化学法观察隔区血管内皮生长因子,巢蛋白、增殖细胞核抗原的表达,计算增殖细胞核抗原增殖指数.结果:与假手术组比较,模型对照组海马伞-穹窿横断后隔区血管内皮生长因子及巢蛋白的表达强度均明显增高(P<0.01);与模型对照组比较,抗体处理组巢蛋白表达强度明显降低(P<0.01).假手术组增殖细胞核抗原在神经元胞浆内呈弥漫表达,表现为非特异性染色,增殖指数几乎为0:模型对照组出现少量增殖细胞核抗原阳性的神经元,增殖指数为1%;经抗体处理后增殖指数又降为0.结论:隔区损伤后血管内皮生长因子表达增加的同时确实有神经干细胞的出现.血管内皮生长因子的高表达可能是神经干细胞生成与分化的促进因素,是脑损伤后自我修复的基础.     

重组人骨形态发生蛋白2调节人脂肪间充质干细胞表达血管内皮生长因子

背景：重组人骨形态发生蛋白2可以促进组织工程骨血管化,但是对于其作用于人体细胞时的生物学规律不明确。目前对于重组人骨形态发生蛋白2调节人体细胞血管内皮生长因子表达的规律国内还未见相关报道。目的：从基因和蛋白水平观察比较不同时间点重组人骨形态发生蛋白2诱导下人脂肪间充质干细胞血管内皮生长因子的表达。方法：从成人脂肪组织中分离培养脂肪间充质干细胞,取第3代细胞用于实验,分为诱导组和对照组。诱导组采用终浓度为100pg／L重组人骨形态发生蛋白2诱导人脂肪问充质干细胞,分别诱导3,6,12,18,24,36,48h后收集样本,用RT—PCR和ELISA分别从基因水平和蛋白水平检测血管内皮生长因子的表达,并与空白对照组比较。结果与结论：重组人骨形态发生蛋白2调节人脂肪间充质干细胞表达血管内皮生长因子具有时间依赖性,在不同时间点血管内皮生长因子表达量不同。与空白对照组相比,3—6h时间段重组人骨形态发生蛋白2抑制血管内皮生长因子表达（P〈0．05）,18—24h时间段重组人骨形态发生蛋白2促进血管内皮生长因子表达（P〈0．05）,当利用重组人骨形态发生蛋白2促进组织工程骨血管化时这两个时间段应当引起特别关注。     

Modulation of Rho GTPase activity in endothelial cells by selective proteinase-activated receptor (PAR) agonists

Summary.  The proteinase-activated receptors (PAR) PAR1 and PAR2 mediate responses to thrombin and trypsin-like proteases, respectively. Both receptors are expressed on endothelial cells where they have been reported to transduce a similar set of intracellular responses. In cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC), we observed a marked difference in shape changes induced by PAR-activating peptides (PAR-APs); unlike PAR1-AP, PAR2-AP failed to stimulate cell rounding. Objectives were to shed light on the mechanisms underlying PAR-mediated cytoskeletal responses. We examined the activation of the Rho family GTPases in HUVEC using highly selective PAR1- and PAR2-APs to do this. Both peptides induced a robust and transient activation of RhoA, with the time course of activation being more sustained for the PAR1-AP. Interestingly, divergent effects on Rac activity were observed. Addition of PAR1-AP inhibited basal Rac activity as well as the phosphorylation of the Rac effector, p21-activated kinase (PAK). In contrast, PAR2-AP induced a modest activation of Rac, phosphorylation of PAK and translocation of cortactin from the cytosol to membrane ruffles, a Rac-dependent event. In vivo , only PAR1-AP rapidly enhanced vascular permeability in a mouse skin assay. We conclude that the differential regulation of the Rac/PAK pathway by PAR1 and PAR2 agonists in endothelial cells points toward distinct roles for these receptors in the control of vascular permeability and blood vessel remodeling.     

血管内皮生长因子165转染骨髓间充质干细胞绿色荧光蛋白的表达

背景：血管内皮生长因子是一种有效的血管形成和通透性诱导因子,其中在体内以血管内皮生长因子165和血管内皮生长因子121表达为主,具有强烈的促血管新生作用。目的：观察以血管内皮生长因子165基因转染骨髓间充质干细胞,继而分化为血管内皮细胞的可行性。方法：分离提取50gSD大鼠骨髓间充质干细胞,采用流式细胞仪鉴定,将携有血管内皮生长因子165基因的质粒pGLV．EFla,采用慢病毒转染骨髓间充质干细胞,转染后于荧光显微镜下观察绿色荧光蛋白表达情况。结果与结论：转染后12h可见细胞内有绿色荧光蛋白表达,48h后表达增多,72h后达到高峰,其后部分细胞荧光开始减退。结果证明血管内皮生长因子165基因转染骨髓间充质干细胞后,骨髓间充质干细胞内有绿色荧光蛋白表达,提示细胞转染成功,骨髓间充质干细胞定向分化为血管内皮细胞具有可行性。     

Endothelium,thrombosis and atherosclerosis

The endothelium constitutes a specialized organ, with unique metabolic properties. Since the introduction of in vitro culture techniques, studies on the function of endothelial cells have rapidly increased and our knowledge has been greatly enhanced. It is now established that endothelial cells can either promote hemostasis or exert antithrombotic activities. These activities are in well controlled balance. Injuries to the intimal vascular monolayer may play a role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and its complications. Two types of endothelial cell injury have been described: a denuding injury, secondary to endothelial cell necrosis and desquamation, which triggers platelet/subendothelial interactions, and a non-denuding injury, which induces new endothelial properties and the loss of intimal thromboresistance. Thrombosis may complicate atherosclerosis at different stages. A role for inflammatory mediators in the pathogenesis of thrombosis has been stressed recently and this may have implications for future directions in the study of atherothrombotic disease.     

Targeting of superoxide dismutase and catalase to vascular endothelium.

Reactive oxygen species, such as superoxide anion (O2(-)) and H2O2, cause oxidative stress in endothelial cells, a condition implicated in the pathogenesis of many cardiovascular and pulmonary diseases. Antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutases (SOD, converting superoxide anion into H2O2) and catalase (converting H2O2 into water), are candidate drugs for augmentation of antioxidant defenses in endothelium. However, SOD and catalase undergo fast elimination from the bloodstream, which compromises delivery and permits rather modest, if any, protection against vascular oxidative stress. Coupling of polyethylene glycol (PEG) to the enzymes and encapsulating them in liposomes increases their bioavailability and enhances their protective effect. Chemical modifications and genetic manipulations of SOD and catalase have been proposed in order to provide more effective delivery to endothelium. For example, chimeric protein constructs consisting of SOD and heparin-binding peptides have an affinity for charged components of the endothelial glycocalix. However, the problem of developing a more effective and precise delivery of the drugs to endothelial cells persists. Endothelial surface antigens may be employed to provide targeting and subcellular addressing of drugs (vascular immunotargeting strategy). Thus, SOD and catalase conjugated to antibodies directed against the constitutively expressed endothelial antigens, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and adhesion molecules (ICAM-1 or PECAM-1), bind to endothelium in intact animals after intravascular administration, accumulate in the pulmonary vasculature, enter endothelial cells and augment their antioxidant defenses. Such immunotargeting strategies may provide secondary therapeutic benefits by inhibiting the function of target antigens. For example, blocking of ICAM-1 and PECAM-1 by carrier antibodies may attenuate inflammation and leukocyte-mediated vascular damage. Additional studies in animal models of vascular oxidative stress are necessary in order to more fully characterize potential therapeutic effects and limitations of targeting of antioxidant enzymes to endothelial cells.     

Proinflammatory stimuli regulate endothelial hyaluronan expression and CD44/HA-dependent primary adhesion.

The localization of circulating leukocytes within inflamed tissues occurs as the result of interactions with and migration across vascular endothelium, and is governed, in part, by the expression of adhesion molecules on both cell types. Recently, we have described a novel primary adhesion interaction between the structurally activated form of the adhesion molecule CD44 on lymphocytes and its major ligand hyaluronan on endothelial cells under physiologic laminar flow conditions, and have proposed that this interaction functions in an extravasation pathway for lymphocytes in vascular beds at sites of inflammation. While the regulation of activated CD44 on leukocytes has been characterized in depth, regulation of hyaluronate (HA) on endothelial cells has not been extensively studied. Here we demonstrate that the expression of HA on cultured endothelial cell lines and primary endothelial cultures is inducible by the proinflammatory cytokines TNFalpha and IL-1beta, as well as bacterial lipopolysaccharide. In addition, this inducibility appears strikingly restricted to endothelial cells derived from microvascular, but not large vessel, sources. The elevated HA levels thus induced result in increased CD44-dependent adhesive interactions in both nonstatic shear and laminar flow adhesion assays. Changes in mRNA levels for the described HA synthetic and degradative enzymes were not found, suggesting other more complex mechanisms of regulation. Together, these data add to the selectin and immunoglobulin gene families a new inducible endothelial adhesive molecule, hyaluronan, and help to further our understanding of the potential physiologic roles of the CD44/HA interaction; i.e., local cytokine production within inflamed vascular beds may enhance surface hyaluronan expression on endothelial cells, thereby creating local sites receptive to the CD44/HA interaction and thus extravasation of inflammatory cells.