Soon after injury, hyaluronan is prominent in granulation tissue. As hyaluronan wanes, sulfated glycosaminoglycans predominate. The temporal relationship between the transition from unsulfated to sulfated glycosaminoglycans and the phenotypic changes in fibroblasts in the wound bed suggest that these two events are interrelated. This possibility was investigated using chitosan and its sulfated product as model compounds. The ability of cultured human foreskin fibroblasts to bind and to contract lattices of collagen, collagen-chitosan, and collagen-chitosan sulfate was determined. Fibroblast adherence to substrates after 24 hours was determined by the MTT assay at A570. Adherence to the collagen-chitosan substrate was markedly reduced (mean A570 +/- SD; 0.16 +/- 0.05, n = 6) (p < 0.01) compared to collagen alone (0.92 +/- 0.04) or to collagen-chitosan sulfate (0.84 +/- 0.05). Kinetics of contraction of lattices by enmeshed fibroblasts was determined by planimetric measurements, 0-48 hours after loosening the lattices. Contraction of the collagen-chitosan lattices (n = 5) was less at all time points than for the other two lattices. After 48 hours, the collagen- chitosan lattices contracted significantly (p < 0.01) less (30.0% +/- 4.4) compared to collagen alone (66.9% +/- 4.7) and collagen-chitosan sulfate (71.6% +/- 7.7). Scanning electron microscopy of the acellular lattices showed fibers of the collagen-chitosan mixture to be the thickest and with altered organization. These results show that chitosan sulfation markedly enhances fibroblast adhesion and promotes contraction of a collagen lattice compared to the unsulfated material. By analogy to the in vivo sequence of hyaluronan followed by sulfated glycosaminoglycans in wounds, the results suggest that glycosaminoglycan sulfation may be a contributing signal for phenotypic transformation during wound healing.

Biopolymers↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Fabrication of resorbable microporous intravascular stents for gene therapy applications.

The authors have produced resorbable, microporous endoluminal stents from Poly-L-lactic acid (PLLA)/Poly epsilon-caprolactone (PCL) blends. Both helical and tube stent designs have been obtained by solvent casting and flotation-precipitation fabrication techniques. A range of PLLA/PCL blend ratios and process variables were employed to investigate their influence on mechanical properties, porosity, and degradation rate. Polymer blends with higher PLLA proportions exhibit higher elastic moduli and ultimate tensile strength, and lower elongation, porosity, and degradation rates than do materials with higher PCL content. Stents with suitable mechanical properties for deployment and support of the vessel wall were obtained. Poly(ethylene oxide) was incorporated into these devices using an acid swelling technique, opening the pore structure and improving the hydrophilic character, thereby enabling the uptake of recombinant adenoviral vectors. The 50:50 PLLA/PCL blended stents were impregnated with recombinant adenovirus (AdCMB beta Gal, encoding a nuclear localizing variant of Escherichia coli beta-galactosidase). Cultured CV-1 cells incubated with stents impregnated with the recombinant virus expressed nuclear localized beta-galactosidase activity, confirming that absorbed virus is released from the matrix in an infectious form, with kinetics suggesting that genetically enhanced endovascular devices of this design are feasible.

Adenoviridae↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Endothelial cell binding to Dacron modified with polyethylene oxide and peptide.

Polyethylene oxide (PEO) was incorporated into the surface of Dacron (PET) vascular prosthetic material (crimped Bionit I, BNl) followed by covalent attachment of an endothelial cell (EC) adhesion peptide; Gly-Arg-Glu-Asp-Val-Tyr (GREDVY). This procedure provides the possibility of a surface selective for EC adherence. Optimal PEO incorporation with minimal fiber damage was achieved from 78% (vol) trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) as characterized by scanning electron microscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance, bromphenol blue staining, and tensile testing. By weight, there was 4.4 times as much 18.5kD PEO as 1.5kD PEO incorporated into PET, but there were 2.8 times as many molecules of low molecular weight PEO. Attachment of 125I-GREDVY to substrates increased as follows: BNJ < BNI - 18.5 kD PEO < BNI - 1.5 kD PEO. Polyethylene oxide size affected EC binding with high molecular weight material decreasing binding and low molecular weight PEO increasing attachment. GREDVY modification of BNI or either of the two BNI-PEOs gave small but consistently increased EC binding compared with the same preparation without GREDVY. In contrast, human fibroblasts cultured from umbilical vein showed decreased binding when GREDVY was attached to BNI or PEO modified BNI. These results indicate that selective EC binding to PET vascular prostheses can be achieved.

Amino Acid Sequence↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Inhibition of surface-induced platelet activation by nitric oxide.

This study was undertaken to determine whether the nitric oxide/platelet cyclic guanosine monophosphate (NO/cGMP) pathway might be used to reduce platelet activation by artificial surfaces. Because serotonin release (SR) is a platelet activation indicator, rabbit platelets in their own plasma (PRP) were labeled with 3H-serotonin. Labeled PRP was incubated with glass beads for 5-10 min, at 37 degrees C with gentle agitation, and SR was measured. PRP pretreatment with NO gas or nitroprusside + N-acetylcysteine inhibited SR 50%. Dose response studies indicate the existence of an optimal NO concentration above which its inhibitory effect is diminished. The guanylate cyclase inhibitor methylene blue attenuates the NO effect, implicating cGMP in NO mediated inhibition of surface induced platelet activation. Adult pigs were supported on a membrane oxygenator in an in vitro model of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Introduction of NO gas into the oxygenator sweep gas at 500 ppm reduced platelet adherence to the oxygenator surfaces, increased circulating platelet counts, and decreased the rate of platelet aggregation (whole blood impedance platelet aggregometry) compared with the results of the control animals. Indications of NO toxicity were seen when the NO flow rate was increased to 1,000 ppm. These studies support the hypothesis that NO reduces platelet activation by artificial surfaces in clinical devices.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Platelet and neutrophil distributions in pump oxygenator circuits. III. Influence of nitric oxide gas infusion.

The authors used quantitative gamma scintigraphy to evaluate the influence of nitric oxide gas on platelet and neutrophil deposition in Cobe Duo microporous oxygenators during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). The effects of nitric oxide gas on circulating platelet and neutrophil counts and platelet function also were assessed. Animals were prepared by standard methods. Cells were harvested, labeled (111 In platelet and 99mTc neutrophil), infused, and recirculated. Nitric oxide gas, a guanylate cyclase pathway promoter, was infused int he Duo gas port at 500 ppm (t = 0-60 min), increased to 1,000 (t = 60-80 min), and stopped (final, 10 min). Images were taken at 10-15 min intervals during CPB. Standard isotope image corrections were made. No differences between nitric oxide gas and control experiments were observed for flow, pressure, hematocrit, or replacement volume. Nitric oxide gas infusion significantly (p < 0.05) reduced both platelet adherence to the oxygenator and in vitro platelet aggregation. Neutrophil adhesion tended to be lower, and circulating platelet and neutrophil counts tended to be higher with nitric oxide gas infusion. Results of in vitro aggregometry studies using rabbit platelets indicate that the class V phosphodiesterase inhibitor zaprinast can strongly enhance the inhibitory effects of nitric oxide. The authors conclude nitric oxide gas is a promising platelet sparing agent in the setting of CPB.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Elastase and alpha 1-protease inhibitor in burn wound exudates.

By degrading antithrombin III, polymorphonuclear neutrophil (PMN) elastase can become a procoagulant. Because intravascular coagulation may accompany severe burn injury, this study examined burn wound exudates for PMN elastase and its physiologic inhibitor, plasma alpha 1-protease inhibitor (alpha 1-PI), as a step in evaluating their contributions to coagulopathy in patients with burns. Each of the nine exudates examined were inhibitory for PMN elastase. Chromatographic characterization of the inhibitor indicated that it was alpha 1-PI; its elution volume for four exudates was identical to that of pure alpha 1-PI. Confirmation of the inhibitor's identity was achieved by reaction of anti-alpha 1-PI antibody with each exudate and with inhibitory chromatographic fractions of exudates with the most inhibitory activity. Inhibitor potency, determined from dose-response curves against a standard PMN elastase activity, varied twentyfold among exudates. Only one exudate had catalytic activity with the PMN elastase substrate. Although this enzyme had elastase-like properties, it appeared to differ from PMN elastase. The presence of alpha 1-PI in the wound exudate suggests that this inhibitor may act to diminish fibrin formation from the level that might otherwise have been seen if excess elastase were free to degrade antithrombin III.

Burns↗