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Biomedical subjects

P A Vincent

Publications and source records attributed to P A Vincent.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Oxidant-increased endothelial permeability: prevention with phosphodiesterase inhibition vs. cAMP production.

The present objective was to determine whether hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) increases transvascular albumin clearance and lung weight in an isolated rat lung and whether posttreatment with cAMP-enhancing agents can prevent these increases. Transvascular albumin clearance was assessed by (125)I-labeled albumin clearance ((125)I-albumin flux/perfusate concentration of (125)I-albumin) at a given fluid filtration. Nonlinear regression analysis of transvascular albumin clearance vs. fluid filtration yielded values for the permeability-surface area product (PS) and the reflection coefficient (sigma). H(2)O(2) decreased sigma from a control value of 0.93 to 0.38, did not change PS, and increased lung weight. Posttreatment with isoproterenol, a beta(2)-adrenergic-receptor agonist, reduced the H(2)O(2)-induced decrease in sigma to 0.65 and augmented the increase in lung weight. Posttreatment with CP-80633, a phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor, further reduced the H(2)O(2)-induced decrease in sigma to 0.79 and blocked the rise in lung weight. In the presence of isoproterenol or CP-80633, H(2)O(2) increased PS. Therefore, H(2)O(2) increased the convective and diffusive clearances of albumin across an intact pulmonary vasculature. Furthermore, inhibition of cAMP metabolism more effectively attenuated the H(2)O(2)-induced increases in convective albumin clearance and lung weight as compared with stimulation of cAMP production.

Adrenergic beta-Agonists↗

Hepatic fibronectin matrix turnover in rats: involvement of the asialoglycoprotein receptor.

Fibronectin (Fn) is a major adhesive protein found in the hepatic extracellular matrix (ECM). In adult rats, the in vivo turnover of plasma Fn (pFn) incorporated into the liver ECM is relatively rapid, i.e., <24 h, but the regulation of its turnover has not been defined. We previously reported that cellular Fn (cFn) and enzymatically desialylated plasma Fn (aFn), both of which have a high density of exposed terminal galactose residues, rapidly interact with hepatic asialoglycoprotein receptors (ASGP-R) in association with their plasma clearance after intravenous infusion. With the use of adult male rats (250-350 g) and measurement of the deoxycholate (DOC)-insoluble (125)I-labeled Fn in the liver, we determined whether the ASGP-R system can also influence the hepatic matrix retention of various forms of Fn. There was a rapid deposition of (125)I-pFn, (125)I-aFn, and (125)I-cFn into the liver ECM after their intravenous injection. Although (125)I-pFn was slowly lost from the liver matrix over 24 h, more than 90% of the incorporated (125)I-aFn and (125)I-cFn was cleared within 4 h (P < 0.01). Intravenous infusion of excess nonlabeled asialofetuin to competitively inhibit the hepatic ASGP-R delayed the rapid turnover of both aFn and cFn already incorporated within the ECM of the liver. ECM retention of both (125)I-aFn and (125)I-cFn was also less than (125)I-pFn (P < 0.01) as determined in vitro using liver slices preloaded in vivo with either tracer form of Fn. The hepatic ASGP-R appears to participate in the turnover of aFn and cFn within the liver ECM, whereas a non-ASGP-R-associated endocytic pathway apparently influences the removal of normal pFn incorporated within the hepatic ECM, unless it becomes locally desialylated.

Animals↗

Rearrangement of adherens junctions by transforming growth factor-beta1: role of contraction.

The signal transduction pathways that lead to disruption of pulmonary endothelial monolayer integrity by transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) have not been elucidated. The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether disassembly of the adherens junction is temporally associated with the TGF-beta1-induced decrease in pulmonary endothelial monolayer integrity. Measurement of albumin clearance and electrical resistance showed that monolayer integrity started to decrease between 1 and 2 h post-TGF-beta1 treatment and continued to slowly decrease over the next 6 h. Immunofluorescence microscopy of monolayers between 2 and 3 h post-TGF-beta1 showed that beta-catenin, plakoglobin, alpha-catenin, and cadherin-5 were colocalized both at the cell periphery and in newly formed bands that are perpendicular to the cell-cell border. At 4 h post-TGF-beta1, cells began separating; however, beta- and alpha-catenin, plakoglobin, and cadherin-5 could still be found at the cell periphery at areas of cell separation and in strands between separated cells. By 8 h, these junctional proteins were no longer present at the cell periphery at areas of cell separation. The myosin light chain kinase inhibitor KT-5926 prevented the TGF-beta1-induced change in integrity but did not inhibit the formation of actin stress fibers or the formation of bands containing adherens junction proteins that were perpendicular to the cell-cell junction. Overall, these results suggest that adherens junction disassembly occurs after cell separation during TGF-beta1-induced decreases in pulmonary endothelial monolayer integrity and that the loss of integrity may be due to the activation of a myosin light chain kinase-dependent signaling cascade.

Animals↗

Lung matrix incorporation of plasma fibronectin reduces vascular permeability in postsurgical bacteremia.

Plasma fibronectin (pFN) can incorporate into the lung extracellular matrix (ECM) as well as enhance hepatic cell phagocytic removal of bloodborne microparticulate debris that can contribute to lung vascular injury. Treatment of human pFN (hFN) with N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) blocks its ECM incorporation but not its ability to augment phagocytosis. Using hFN purified from fresh human plasma cryoprecipitate, we compared the effect of NEM-treated hFN versus normal hFN on lung transvascular protein clearance (TVPC) in postoperative bacteremic sheep to determine whether the ability of hFN to attenuate the increase in lung endothelial permeability required its ECM incorporation. Sheep with lung lymph fistulas were infused with a sublethal dose of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (5 x 10(8)) 48 h after surgery. In the first study, sheep received either FN-rich human cryoprecipitate, FN-deficient cryoprecipitate, FN purified from cryoprecipitate (hFN), FN-deficient cryoprecipitate reconstituted with purified hFN, or the sterile saline diluent. In the second study, sheep received either 200 mg of purified hFN (group I), 200 mg of NEM-treated hFN (group II), or the saline diluent (group III). In the first study, the increase in TVPC after bacterial challenge was attenuated by FN-rich cryoprecipitate, hFN, or reconstituted FN-deficient cryoprecipitate (P < 0.05) but not by saline and FN-deficient cryoprecipitate. In the second study, TVPC increased by 2 h (P < 0.05) and peaked over 4-8 h (P < 0.05) at 380-420% above baseline in postoperative bacteremic sheep given the diluent (group III). In contrast, intravenous infusion of hFN, but not of NEM-treated hFN, significantly (P < 0.05) attenuated this increase of lung protein clearance. Thus the ability for the intravenously infused purified pFN to attenuate the increase in lung endothelial protein permeability in sheep during postsurgical bacteremia appears to require its ECM incorporation into the interstitial ECM of the lung.

Animals↗

Rat renal and plasma prorenin are activated in vitro by different mechanisms.

The aim of the present study was to purify and identify a plasma protein fraction (PreR-Co) involved in renal prorenin activation and to explore its capacity to process plasma prorenin. PreR-Co was obtained from plasma as a single electrophoretic band by (NH(4))(2)SO(4) precipitation, Sephacryl S-200 HR gel filtration, anti-rat albumin immunoaffinity, and ion-exchange chromatography. The amidase, esterase, and kallikrein activities of PreR-Co were studied, as was its N-terminal amino acid sequence. Rat kidney extract or plasma (normal or previously treated with acid to pH 2.8) were incubated with PreR-Co for 15 minutes at 37 degrees C. Renin concentration was measured by incubation with homologous angiotensinogen. The same protocol was repeated with samples activated by trypsin. The N-terminal amino acid sequence was IIGGSMDAKGSFP, which had a homology of 90% with the beta-chain of haptoglobin, 69% with serine-proteases, and 65% with kallikreins. The renin concentration in rat kidney extract was 34+/-4 ng of angiotensin I (Ang I). mg of tissue(-1). h(-1). After PreR-Co or trypsin treatments, renin concentrations were 211+/-7 and 110+/-11 ng of Ang I. mg of tissue(-1). h(-1), respectively. The plasma renin concentration in normal plasma was 67.6+/-13.3 ng of Ang I. mL(-1). h(-1), and no significant difference was observed after PreR-Co treatment. However, a significant increase (202.8+/-7.8 ng of Ang I. mL(-1). h(-1); P<0.01) was found after trypsin treatment. The isolated PreR-Co acts on renal prorenin but not on plasma prorenin. These results suggest that active renin is processed in the kidney by a circulating enzyme that may have a role in the regulation of circulating renin.

Amidohydrolases↗

The amino-terminal matrix assembly domain of fibronectin stabilizes cell shape and prevents cell cycle progression.

Adhesion to the extracellular matrix modulates the cellular response to growth factors and is critical for cell cycle progression. The present study was designed to address the relationship between fibronectin matrix assembly and cell shape or shape dependent cellular processes. The binding of fibronectin's amino-terminal matrix assembly domain to adherent cells represents the initial step in the assembly of exogenous fibronectin into the extracellular matrix. When added to monolayers of pulmonary artery endothelial cells, the 70 kDa fragment of fibronectin (which contains the matrix assembly domain) stabilized both the extracellular fibronectin matrix as well as the actin cytoskeleton against cytochalasin D-mediated structural reorganization. This activity appeared to require specific fibronectin sequences as fibronectin fragments containing the cell adhesion domain as well as purified vitronectin were ineffective inhibitors of cytochalasin D-induced cytoarchitectural restructuring. Such pronounced morphologic consequences associated with exposure to the 70 kDa fragment suggested that this region of the fibronectin molecule may affect specific growth traits known to be influenced by cell shape. To assess this possibility, the 70 kDa fragment was added to scrape-wounded monolayers of bovine microvessel endothelium and the effects on two shape-dependent processes (i.e. migration and proliferation) were measured as a function of time after injury and location from the wound. The addition of amino-terminal fragments of fibronectin to the monolayer significantly inhibited (by >50%) wound closure. Staining of wounded monolayers with BrdU, moreover, indicated that either the 70 kDa or 25 kDa amino-terminal fragments of fibronectin, but not the 40 kDa collagen binding fragment, also inhibited cell cycle progression. These results suggest that the binding of fibronectin's amino-terminal region to endothelial cell layers inhibits cell cycle progression by stabilizing cell shape.

Actins↗

Lung matrix deposition of normal and alkylated plasma fibronectin: response to postsurgical sepsis.

Plasma fibronectin (Fn) can both enhance phagocytic clearance of microparticulate debris by macrophages as well as incorporate it into the lung extracellular matrix (ECM). The goal of this study was to document that N-ethylmaleimide (NEM)-treated human plasma Fn (HFn) would lose its ability to incorporate into the lung ECM in vivo even though it would retain its ability to stimulate test particle phagocytosis and bind to fibrin. Using dual-label immunofluorescence, we compared the lung deposition of purified normal HFn and NEM-alkylated HFn (NEM-HFn) after their intravenous injection into postoperative nonbacteremic and bacteremic sheep in relationship to the localization of endogenous sheep Fn. Two days after a sterile surgical thoracotomy, sheep were infused with either 5 x 10(8) Pseudomonas aeruginosa (postsurgical bacteremic model) or the diluent (nonbacteremic model). They also received a bolus 100-mg injection (5 min) of either HFn or NEM-HFn. Analysis of serial lung biopsies harvested at 2-h intervals demonstrated little deposition of NEM-HFn compared with HFn in the lung interstitial matrix of postoperative nonbacteremic sheep. In contrast, enhanced deposition of both HFn and NEM-HFn was observed in the lungs of postoperative bacteremic sheep. However, in the lungs of bacteremic sheep, HFn displayed a diffuse fibrillar deposition pattern in the lung characteristic of ECM incorporation, whereas the enhanced NEM-HFn deposition, especially in the interstitial ECM region of the lung, was primarily focal and punctate, with very little fibrillar incorporation. Immunofluorescent analysis with antibodies specific to fibrinogen, Fn, and lung macrophage surface antigens coupled with immunoperoxidase staining for HFn antigen revealed that the punctate fluorescence pattern was due to both the binding of HFn to fibrin and its colocalization with inflammatory cells. Thus treatment of plasma Fn with low concentrations of NEM will limit its normal in vivo fibrillar incorporation into the interstitial ECM region of the lung.

Alkylation↗

TNF-alpha-induced matrix Fn disruption and decreased endothelial integrity are independent of Fn proteolysis.

Exposure of confluent pulmonary arterial endothelial monolayers to tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha causes both a reorganization and/or disruption of fibronectin (Fn) in the extracellular matrix and an increase in transendothelial protein permeability. However, the factors initiating this response to TNF-alpha have not been defined. Because TNF-alpha can induce proteinase expression in endothelial cells, we determined whether proteinases cause both the alteration of the Fn matrix and the permeability increase as is often speculated. Incubation of calf pulmonary arterial endothelial monolayers with TNF-alpha (200 U/ml) for 18 h caused a disruption of the Fn matrix and an increase in transendothelial protein permeability. A reduced colocalization of cell-surface alpha5beta1-Fn integrins with the Fn fibers in focal contacts was also observed. TNF-alpha treatment of endothelial monolayers with matrices prelabeled with 125I-human Fn (hFn) did not cause the release of Fn fragments or alter the content of Fn antigen in the medium as analyzed by SDS-PAGE coupled with autoradiography. Both the content and fragmentation pattern of Fn within the cell layer and the insoluble Fn matrix also appeared unchanged after TNF-alpha exposure as confirmed by Western immunoblot. Fn-substrate zymography revealed that TNF-alpha increased the expression of two proteinases within the conditioned medium in which activity could be blocked by aprotinin but not by EDTA, 1,10-phenanthroline, leupeptin, or pepstatin. However, inhibition of the Fn proteolytic activity of these two serine proteinases did not prevent either the TNF-alpha-induced disruption of the Fn matrix or the increase in permeability. Thus the reorganization and/or disruption of the Fn matrix and the temporally associated increase in endothelial permeability caused by TNF-alpha appear not to be due to proteolytic degradation of Fn within the extracellular matrix. In contrast, decreased alpha5beta1-Fn integrin interaction with Fn fibers in the matrix may be important in the response to TNF-alpha exposure.

Animals↗

ATP-MgCL2 reduces intestinal permeability during mesenteric ischemia.

ATP-MgCl2 has been demonstrated to have beneficial attributes in numerous models of organ ischemia. In this study we examined whether ATP-MgCl2 could decrease permeability in ischemic segments of rat ileum. Ileal segments (nonischemic and ischemic) from the same rat were cannulated and perfused, and the plasma to lumen clearance of 51Cr-EDTA was measured. Ischemia increased permeability from a baseline value of 0.59 +/- 0.14 (mean +/- SEM in ml/min/g dry wt of intestine) to 1.10 +/- 0.14 at 90 min (n = 12), significantly higher than that of the nonischemic segments (0.55 +/- 0.07) at 90 min (P < 0.05). This was associated with a significant reduction in blood flow from 0.84 +/- 0.08 (n = 4) (mean +/- SEM ml/min/g wet wt of intestine) to 0.16 +/- 0.06 (n = 4) (P < 0.05) as measured by labeled microspheres. Rats receiving ATP-MgCl2 (100 micromol) (n = 8) pretreatment showed no increase in clearance over 90 min (baseline 0.69 +/- 0.07; 90 min 0.70 +/- 0.07) and no significant difference in blood flow from untreated ischemic segments (0.21 +/- 0.9) (n = 4). Tissue ATP levels determined enzymatically were significantly reduced by 5 min postischemia to 4.19 +/- 0.35 (n = 7) (P < 0.05) from a control value of 6.77 +/- 0.77 micromol/g dry wt (n = 14). ATP levels remained depressed at 30 min (3.45 +/- 0.35) and 90 min (3.38 +/- 0.26). ATP-MgCl2 treatment did not significantly alter these tissue ATP levels. These data indicate that ATP-MgCl2 prevents the increase of 51Cr-EDTA permeability during ischemia without alterations in tissue ATP levels or increases in intestinal blood flow.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

Thrombin increases fluid flux in isolated rat lungs by a hemodynamic and not a permeability mechanism.

Alpha-Thrombin increases endothelial protein permeability in vitro and induces weight gain in the isolated perfused lung. The objectives of this study were to determine whether thrombin increases endothelial permeability of the isolated perfused rat lung and whether a change in permeability or hemodynamics mediates the gain in lung weight. Endothelial protein permeability was assessed by regression analysis of 125I-labeled albumin clearance vs. fluid flux to determine the permeability-surface area product (PS) and the reflection coefficient (sigma). Thrombin (5 x 10(-8) or 5 x 10(-7) M) did not alter protein permeability from the control values of PS and sigma. Thrombin caused an overall increase in transvascular fluid flux, as depicted by a gain in lung weight. Pulmonary arterial and capillary pressures and arterial and venous resistances increased by 10 min after thrombin injection, and lung weight decreased due to arterial constriction. From 10 to 50 min, pressures and resistances decreased, but capillary pressure and venous resistance decreased to a lesser extent and, as a result, lung weight increased. Pretreatment with BQ-123, an endothelin-receptor antagonist, attenuated the sustained increases in pressures and resistances and the rate of lung weight gain. Indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, had no effect. These findings indicate that the increase in lung weight induced by thrombin results from an elevation of capillary pressure mediated, in part, by endothelin and is not due to an increase in endothelial protein permeability of the isolated perfused rat lung.

Animals↗

Extracellular matrix incorporation of normal and NEM-alkylated fibronectin: liver and spleen deposition.

The incorporation of plasma fibronectin (pFn) into the extracellular matrix (ECM) is believed to influence tissue integrity, wound repair, and vascular permeability. In vitro, matrix assembly of Fn requires the binding of soluble Fn to cell-associated matrix assembly sites. Alkylation of human pFn (HFn) with N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) prevents the initial binding of Fn to matrix assembly sites as well as its in vitro incorporation into the ECM as reflected by detergent-insoluble 125I-labeled Fn (pool II Fn). We determined the kinetics of Fn matrix incorporation in tissue and whether NEM treatment of rat pFn (NEM-RFn) would limit its in vivo incorporation into ECM by analysis of pool I [deoxycholate (DOC) soluble] and pool II (DOC insoluble) 125I-Fn in tissues after its intravenous injection into rats. After intravenous injection, tissue incorporation of normal rat 125I-pFn was especially intense in liver and spleen, in agreement with the large amount of endogenous Fn detected in the matrices of these organs. Tissue deposition of plasma-derived 125I-RFn in liver and spleen peaked by 4 h, with significant (P < 0.01) loss over 24 h, indicating turnover of matrix Fn. Tissue localization of normal 125I-RFn in liver, lung, spleen, heart, and intestine was greater (P < 0.05) than 125I-NEM-RFn at 4 h. Normal HFn, but not NEM-HFn, was incorporated into tissues and colocalized with endogenous Fn in the matrix. To identify the cells mediating the intense incorporation of pFn into liver ECM, we compared matrix assembly of 125I-HFn by cultured fibroblasts, hepatocytes, and hepatic Kupffer cells. With fibroblasts, 125I-HFn in pool I reached steady state by 3 h, whereas 125I-HFn in pool II exceeded that in pool I by 6 h and continued to increase over 24 h. With hepatocytes, pool I 125I-HFn reached steady state by 1 h, and a progressive increase (P < 0.05) of 125I-HFn in pool II was observed over 24 h. Kupffer cells were not able to incorporate significant amounts of 125I-HFn into matrix. NEM-HFn displayed limited incorporation into ECM by both fibroblast and hepatocyte cultures. These novel observations suggest that the interaction of soluble pFn with matrix assembly sites is necessary to its in vivo incorporation into the ECM.

Alkylation↗

Fibronectin attenuates increased endothelial monolayer permeability after RGD peptide, anti-alpha 5 beta 1, or TNF-alpha exposure.

Endothelial permeability can be altered by tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), a cytokine released in association with inflammation-induced tissue injury. In the subendothelial matrix, fibronectin (Fn) influences endothelial cell adhesion by the interaction of integrins with RGD and non-RGD attachment sites in Fn. We compared the effect of TNF-alpha, RGD-containing peptides (GRGDSP), or antibody to alpha 5 beta 1-integrins on the protein permeability of bovine lung endothelial monolayers as assessed by transendothelial 125I-labeled albumin clearance. We also examined the influence of purified human plasma fibronectin (hFn) on this permeability response. TNF-alpha, RGD peptides, and antibodies to alpha 5 beta 1-integrins elicited a dose- and time-dependent increase in protein permeability as well as a reorganization and/or disruption of the endogenous Fn matrix. A control RGE peptide (GRGESP) as well as immunoglobulin G purified from nonimmune rabbit serum did not increase endothelial protein permeability or disrupt the endogenous fibrillar Fn pattern in the matrix. Likewise, a LDV peptide derived from the alternatively spliced type III connecting segment (IIICS) within bovine Fn (bFn) was unable to increase permeability of the bovine endothelial monolayer. Co-incubation of purified soluble hFn (300 or 600 micrograms/ml) with either TNF-alpha, the RGD peptide, or the antibody to alpha 5 beta 1-integrins prevented the increase in endothelial permeability. This protective effect was also observed when the purified hFn (600 micrograms/ml) was added after the TNF-alpha-induced increase in endothelial permeability had taken place. Immunofluorescent analysis confirmed the incorporation of the hFn into the subendothelial matrix and its co-localization with the endogenous bFn. The similar alteration of the subendothelial matrix after exposure to RGD peptides, anti-alpha 5 beta 1-antibodies, or TNF-alpha, coupled with the ability for hFn to attenuate the permeability increase typically elicited by all three agents, suggests that disruption of cell-matrix interactions may be the mechanism by which TNF-alpha alters endothelial permeability.

Animals↗

Delayed elevation of ED1-cellular fibronectin in plasma following postsurgical bacteremia.

Fibronectin (Fn) exists in both a soluble form in plasma and lymph as well as an insoluble form in the extracellular matrix. Matrix-localized cellular fibronectin (cFn) contains extra domains (ED1 and/or ED2) not found in plasma Fn (pFn). Very little (< 1-2%) ED1-containing cFn exists in normal blood, and its rapid release into plasma and/or lymph is believed to reflect acute vascular injury. We used a polyclonal antibody to sheep pFn and a monoclonal antibody to ED1 domain of cFn to measure both pFn and ED1-cFn in relationship to lung lymph flow (QL), lung lymph-to-plasma (L/P) total protein concentration ratio, and lung protein clearance (LPC). Unanesthetized sheep (n = 7) were injected intravenously with Pseudomonas aeruginosa (5 x 10(8)) at both 2 and 7 days following surgical preparation of a lung lymph fistula. After both bacterial challenges, we observed an early increase in QL and a small decline in the L/P ratio (0-2 h), reflecting increased fluid filtration in the presence of an intact vascular barrier. This was followed by a further increase (P < 0.05) in QL; an elevation in the L/P ratio; and a marked (P < 0.05) increase in LPC over 3-6 h, indicative of an increase in lung endothelial protein permeability. Before the first bacterial infusion, ED1-cFn in plasma was 9.97 micrograms/ml or approximately 2% of the total Fn antigen in plasma; whereas ED1-cFn in lung lymph was 6-8% of total lymph Fn.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Isoproterenol decreases protein permeability in edematous isolated rabbit lungs: estimation of PS and sigma.

The objective of the present study was to determine whether the ability of the beta-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol to attenuate pulmonary edema occurs via a permeability and/or hemodynamic mechanism. In isolated perfused rabbit lungs, the restrictive property of the vascular barrier to the movement of fluid and protein was assessed by measurements of the capillary filtration coefficient (Kf) and the transvascular clearance of 125I-labeled albumin, respectively. Regression analysis of albumin clearance vs. transvascular fluid flux was performed to estimate the permeability-surface area product (PS) and the reflection coefficient (sigma) by use of the linear or nonlinear flux equation. Arterial, capillary, and venous pressures and resistances, weight gain, and the wet-to-dry weight ratio were also assessed. Isoproterenol (8 ng.ml-1.min-1) attenuated the arachidonic acid (4 mg)-induced increases in fluid flux, wet-to-dry weight ratio, albumin clearance, and PS and the decrease in sigma. Isoproterenol had no effect on the increase in Kf, and there was no correlation between capillary pressure and fluid flux in any of the four groups. Regression analysis revealed that the non-linear flux equation provided estimates of PS and sigma that more accurately described the statistical differences in albumin clearance among the groups studied than the linear flux equation. These findings demonstrate that isoproterenol attenuated the increased transvascular flux of albumin in edematous lungs by modifying the protein permeability of the vascular barrier.

Animals↗

Steroid priming promotes oxytocin-induced norepinephrine release in the ventromedial hypothalamus of female rats.

In vivo microdialysis was used to detect norepinephrine (NE) release in the ventromedial hypothalamus of estradiol (E2)- or E2 plus progesterone (P)-treated female rats injected with 1.0 IU of oxytocin (OXY). Dialysates were collected before and after OXY administration on 3 consecutive days and analyzed for NE content by high performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. After the last sample was collected on day 1, animals were injected with 3 micrograms E2 benzoate or oil. On day 3, E2-primed animals received 200 micrograms of P and control females received oil prior to OXY administration. OXY administration did not induce NE release on day 1. When OXY was administered to animals that received E2 approximately 20 h earlier, increased release of NE was not consistently seen. In contrast, E2-primed animals that received P on day 3 displayed significant increases in the release of NE after OXY administration compared to their own basal levels and to NE levels in control animals. To distinguish whether E2 priming is sufficient to promote OXY-induced release of NE without the addition of P, NE content of VMH dialysates in a second group of animals was examined following exposure to vehicle or E2 alone. When OXY was administered 24 or 48 h after estrogen priming, only 1 of 4 E2-primed females had modestly elevated dialysate NE levels. To evaluate the interactions between OXY and NE in the regulation of reproductive behavior, lordosis responses were observed in hormone-primed female rats receiving systemic injections of OXY, the alpha 1-adrenoceptor antagonist prazosin, or both OXY and prazosin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Incorporation of fibronectin into matrix decreases TNF-induced increase in endothelial monolayer permeability.

Plasma fibronectin, a dimeric adhesive protein in blood, incorporates into the subendothelial and interstitial matrix in the lung especially during vascular injury. Fibronectin in the matrix is believed to influence cell-cell interaction and endothelial cell adhesion to the collagen-rich extracellular matrix. We previously observed that addition of purified soluble human plasma fibronectin (hFn) to cultured pulmonary endothelial monolayers attenuates the increase in protein permeability of such monolayers exposed to tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). In the current study, we determined the specificity of this permeability response to fibronectin by comparing hFn to two other purified adhesive proteins in human plasma, i.e., vitronectin (Vn) and fibrinogen (Fg). We also determined whether matrix incorporation was essential for this hFn-mediated protective response by comparing normal intact hFn to either hFn alkylated with N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) or to purified 160/180-kDa hFn fragments, since these alternate forms of fibronectin are believed to exhibit limited ability to incorporate into matrix. Calf pulmonary artery endothelial (CPAE) monolayers (3-4 days postseeding) were exposed to human recombinant TNF-alpha for 18 h at a medium concentration of 200 U/ml followed by assessment of protein permeability using transendothelial 125I-labeled albumin clearance. Dimeric hFn (600 micrograms/ml) significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the TNF-induced increase in endothelial monolayer permeability. Vn or Fg, added at equal molar concentrations to the hFn, were unable to attenuate endothelial permeability. Immunofluorescent analysis utilizing antibodies specific to either hFn, human Vn, or human Fg revealed incorporation of the exogenous hFn into the extracellular matrix, but no matrix incorporation of Vn or Fg. Both NEM-treated dimeric hFn as well as purified 160/180-kDa fragments of hFn, which cannot incorporate into the matrix, were also unable to prevent the TNF-induced increase in protein permeability. Thus the ability for soluble hFn to reduce the TNF-induced increase in lung endothelial monolayer permeability was specific and dependent on its incorporation into the extracellular matrix.

Animals↗