PADGEM (GMP140) is a component of Weibel-Palade bodies of human endothelial cells

PADGEM protein (PADGEM), also known as GMP140, is a platelet alpha- granule membrane protein that is translocated to the external membrane after platelet activation. Although the biosynthesis of this protein was originally thought to be confined to megakaryocytes, the synthesis of PADGEM in endothelial cells was recently demonstrated (McEver et al: Blood 70:1974a, 1987). We now describe the subcellular localization of this protein in endothelial cells. Immunofluorescence staining of permeabilized human umbilical vein endothelial cells with KC4, a well characterized monoclonal antibody to PADGEM, showed positively stained elongated structures similar in distribution and shape to Weibel-Palade bodies. Their identity as Weibel-Palade bodies was confirmed by double label immunofluorescence using KC4 and a polyclonal antiserum to von Willebrand factor (vWf), a protein known to be specifically stored in these organelles. All Weibel-Palade bodies were found to contain PADGEM. In contrast to strong perinuclear staining produced with anti- vWf antibodies, no significant perinuclear staining was obtained with KC4, indicating that relatively little PADGEM is present in the endoplasmic reticulum and in the Golgi apparatus. In endothelial cells treated with secretagogues that stimulate vWf release the elongated structures positive for PADGEM disappeared, further identifying these structures as Weibel-Palade bodies. This observation extends the parallels between Weibel-Palade bodies and alpha-granules and suggests a possible functional association between vWf and PADGEM.     

BUILDING THE FOUNDATION OF EXCELLENCE IN HEART FAILURE NURSING

This column contains the presidential address presented during the Third Annual Meeting of the American Association of Heart Failure Nurses on June 28, 2007, in San Diego, California, titled "Building the Foundation of Excellence in Heart Failure Nursing."     

Creating a professional practice environment on a shoestring

Did you ever think, “If we just had a little money we could…”? The current health care environment is wrought with financial stressors that can be overwhelming and take up most of our time. Such stress can limit the development of a professional practice environment if you let it. How do you not only survive but thrive in this financial climate?     

Importance of anesthesia for the genesis of neurogenic pulmonary edema in spinal cord injury

There are reports describing both provocation and inhibition of neurogenic pulmonary edema by anesthetic drugs. Therefore, we compared the effect of two types of anesthesia on the formation of neurogenic pulmonary edema in rats with balloon-induced acute spinal cord injury. Animals with sham procedure (group 1) were anesthesized by intraperitoneal sodium pentobarbital. In the experimental groups, rats were submitted to acute spinal cord lesion by insufflations of a balloon in the epidural space at T8 for 1 min (group 3 under i.p. sodium pentobarbital and group 2 under i.p. xylazine-ketamine anesthesia). In rats with pentobarbital anesthesia, systolic blood pressure doubled the baseline value during compression, whereas this effect was less pronounced in the ketamine-xylazine group. The pulmonary index (100 x wet lung weight/body weight) was 0.395 (+/-0.018) in sham-operated rats, rose to 0.499 (+/-0.060) in group 2, and was maximum under pentobarbital anesthesia (0.639+/-0.14; p=0.0018). Histologic examination of the spinal cord showed parenchymal ruptures and acute hemorrhage. Comparison of the pulmonary index with histologic slides of lung parenchyma revealed that relevant intra-alveolar edema occurred only for index values above 0.55. On electron microscopy, endothelial alterations, and damage of the alveolar lining cells were found. Our study indicates that neurogenic pulmonary edema caused by spinal cord injury is less pronounced in rats under xylazine-ketamine anesthesia, when compared with pentobarbital.     

THE EFFECT OF PROSTAGLANDIN E1 ON PULMONARYBLOOD FLOW AFTER RETROGRADE FLUSH ANDCOLD STORAGE OF LUNGS

ReSllm6 Objectif Nos studes Precedentes out montrd une panne fonCtion de la greffe pulmonaire traitde Prdalablementper perfusion forcde retrograde et un stockage d froid inns ~. L' etude Prdsente a pour but de determiner l' effet de ~ surlefiot mngUin du poumon trait4 Prdalablement per perfusion retrograde forcde et un stockage d froid. met~. 12poumons donneurs canins out ate trait4s per perfusion r4tFograde de solution UW. Chez 6 animaux du grouch A, 250ng furent injectes dans l' artrdre…     

左肺移植的实验研究

目的为临床肺移植积累经验。方法分析总结29例犬左肺移植的资料。其中15例的供体肺用Euro-Collings液在4℃下保存6h,14例用UW液保存22～25h,作同种异体移植,并阻断受体的右肺动脉,以测定移植左肺的功能。结果所有的移植左肺均能胜任气体交换,循环稳定。结击本左肺移植方法可靠,可供临床应用时参考。