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Biomedical subjects

W Schaper

Publications and source records attributed to W Schaper.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Expression of vascular permeability factor/vascular endothelial growth factor in pig cerebral microvascular endothelial cells and its upregulation by adenosine.

Porcine brain-derived microvascular endothelial cells (BMEC) express the mRNA of the polypeptide mitogen vascular permeability factor/vascular endothelial growth factor (VPF/VEGF). The VEGF mRNA expression in BMEC could be upregulated 2.5 fold after 6 h of treatment with 5 microM adenosine and adenosine agonists. Adenosine A1 and A2 receptor antagonists completely abolished the upregulation of the VEGF mRNA caused by adenosine. Agents like forskolin and cAMP phosphodiesterase inhibitors which are known to increase the cAMP level decreased the VEGF mRNA expression slightly whereas agents like phorbolester which activate the proteinkinase C (PKC) pathway enhanced the VEGF mRNA expression 3.2 fold. The specific inhibitor of the PKC bisindolymaleimide (BIM) abolished the upregulation of the VEGF mRNA by adenosine completely. The BMEC conditioned medium stimulated the proliferation of BMEC itself and Western blot analysis of the BMEC conditioned medium using a polyclonal antibody to human VEGF showed one band at 18 kDa which was slightly upregulated after treatment with adenosine. Results suggest that the effect of adenosine on the VEGF mRNA expression is mediated via the A1 receptor and that an activation of the PKC may be involved in the observed effects of adenosine on the VEGF mRNA expression. VEGF produced by BMEC and which is inducible by adenosine may function via the autocrine pathway and may be involved in repair reactions of brain blood vessels and/or the maintenance of these cells.

Adenosine↗
PubMed1995

Control of coronary angiogenesis.

We investigated the development of coronary collaterals in canine and porcine models using either progressive experimental coronary occlusion or microembolism of small vessels. Muscular arteries developed on the epicardial surface of canine--but not of porcine hearts, where large, thin-walled intra-myocardial capillaries developed irrespective of the type of vascular occlusion. The common motif for both types of vascular adaptation is the part played by inflammation, i.e. the involvement of monocytes/macrophages that are probably the producers of growth factors. Emphasis is placed on the importance of remodelling by controlled proteolysis to create the space for the new vascular cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

In vitro effects of fentanyl, methohexital, and thiopental on brain endothelial permeability.

BACKGROUND: The use of anesthetics can lead to changes of the permeability of the blood-brain barrier (BBB). To eliminate those factors, such as varying hemodynamic effects that are associated with anesthesia, an in vitro model of the BBB consisting of brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMEC) was used to study the direct effects of the opiate, fentanyl, and the barbiturates methohexital and thiopental, which are widely used in the clinical setting, on the permeability of confluent monolayers. METHODS: BMEC isolated from porcine brains were grown to confluence on collagen-coated polycarbonate membranes, which were placed into 24 well dishes, thus forming a two-compartment chamber. The permeability of the BMEC monolayer to ions--determined by measurements of the transendothelial resistance (TER)--the passage of sucrose, Evans Blue albumin (EBA), and alpha-aminoisobutyric acid (AIB) across the BMEC monolayer were assessed in the presence and absence of fentanyl (25-100 ng/ml), methohexital (10-50 micrograms/ml), and thiopental (25-100 micrograms/ml). RESULTS: The permeability of cultured BMEC to the tracers used increased significantly after exposure of the monolayer to arabinose and after removal of calcium ions. Fentanyl, methohexital, and thiopental did not change the permeability of the cell monolayer to ions, sucrose, albumin, and AIB. Only thiopental at the concentration of 100 micrograms/ml increased the flux of AIB. CONCLUSIONS: At the concentrations tested, there is little evidence of changes in the permeability of the in vitro BBB caused by fentanyl, methohexital, and thiopental regarding the para- and transcellular route of ions, sucrose, and albumin. Only thiopental at a concentration of 100 micrograms/ml increased the passage of AIB across the BMEC monolayer.

Albumins↗
PubMed1995

Insulin-like growth factor I is involved in inflammation linked angiogenic processes after microembolisation in porcine heart.

OBJECTIVE: Angiogenesis in the porcine heart can be induced by myocardial ischaemia following vascular occlusions. This process is characterised by increased numbers of monocytes/macrophages, known to be potent producers of various mitogens such as insulin-like growth factors (IGF) and interleukins (IL). The aim of the study was to examine gene expression of these factors by means of northern blot hybridisation, slot blot analysis, and in situ hybridisation in a porcine model of coronary angiogenesis. METHODS: Experimental ischaemia and subsequent focal necroses were induced by selective injection of 25 microns microspheres into the left circumflex artery. The hearts were excised after 3-168 h of microembolisation, and tissue was collected from a non-ischaemic control area and the circumflex region of the same heart for further analysis. RESULTS: IGF-I was constitutively transcribed in normal porcine myocardium mainly by myocytes. Following microembolisation, IGF-I mRNA expression was significantly increased in the experimental region (1.8-fold) after 72 h and to a lesser extent after 168 h. In the ischaemic region, characterised by capillary sprouting, numerous mononuclear cells contained IGF-I mRNA. In contrast, IGF-II mRNA levels, constitutively produced by porcine myocytes, were not altered by microembolisation. IL-1 alpha, IL-1 beta, and IL-4 mRNA expression was undetectable in our animal model, whereas IL-6 was constitutively transcribed in normal and ischaemic heart and remained insensitive to microembolisation and focal necrosis. CONCLUSION: After microembolisation, increased IGF-I mRNA expression occurred by infiltrating monocytes in areas of microsphere induced focal necrosis, where capillary sprouting can be detected, suggesting that IGF-I is involved in inflammation linked angiogenic processes.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Insulin-like growth factor II is an experimental stress inducible gene in a porcine model of brief coronary occlusions.

OBJECTIVE: Previous observations have shown that myocardium activates many adaptive processes after brief ischaemia. The aim of this study was to determine whether insulin-like growth factors (IGF) as well as their receptors and binding proteins (IGFBP), which control the activity of the IGF, may play an important role during these processes. METHODS: Ischaemia was induced in anaesthetised open chest pigs by two 10 min occlusions of the left anterior descending coronary artery, separated by 30 min of reperfusion, and followed by reperfusion up to 210 min. Tissue from the ischaemic area and from a non-ischaemic control region of the same heart was examined by means of northern blot, slot blot, and in situ hybridisation. RESULTS: IGF-I, IGF-II, the type I receptor, the insulin receptor, and IGFBP-2-6 are constitutively expressed in porcine myocardium. In situ hybridisation showed that IGF-I and IGF-II are mainly transcribed by myocytes. Ischaemia/reperfusion led to an early and significant increase in IGF-II mRNA compared to non-sham controls but not in comparison with sham operated animals, which already showed a (not significantly) enhanced IGF-II expression. In each case the IGF-II mRNA levels are equal in the control and the experimental region of the same heart. Whereas IGF-II expression was already increased by experimental stress, IGFBP-5 mRNA was enhanced only by ischaemia/reperfusion. The expression of IGF-I, the receptors, and IGFBP-2, 3, 4, and 6 remained unchanged during the experimental protocol. IGFBP-1 was neither expressed nor induced in our model. CONCLUSIONS: IGF-II acts like a stress-response gene activated by the experimental conditions (surgery, anaesthesia) and remains induced during following episodes of ischaemia/reperfusion. A possible interaction of IGFBP-5 with other components of the IGF system may contribute to the preconditioning response.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Changes in gene expression following short coronary occlusions studied in porcine hearts with run-on assays.

OBJECTIVE: Brief coronary occlusions cause upregulation of expression in a wide variety of genes. These changes in tissue mRNA concentration could have been produced by transcriptional or post-transcriptional events. The aim of this study was to discriminate between increased transcription and changes in mRNA stability using run-on assays with isolated myocyte nuclei. METHODS: Myocyte nuclei isolated from ischaemic/reperfused and normal myocardium were incubated with labelled ribonucleotides. The radioactive RNA was then hybridised with specific cDNA probes and slot blots were autoradiographed. RESULTS: There was increased transcriptional activity for the proto-oncogenes c-myc, c-jun, jun-B, and jun-D. There were marked increases in transcriptional activity for sarcoplasmic Ca(2+)-ATPase, calmodulin, phospholamban, and calsequestrin. Strong transcriptional activity was found for the ubiquitin and heat shock protein (hsp27, hsp70) genes, and for PAI-1 and GAPDH. The transcription for the beta myosin heavy chain gene was not altered. CONCLUSIONS: Changes in the tissue concentration of mRNA species following brief coronary occlusion and reperfusion are most often the result of altered transcriptional activity. Increased c-fos mRNA concentrations observed in earlier studies cannot be explained by transcriptional activity of myocytes during reperfusion. Calmodulin is strongly transcribed but tissue concentration stays constant. The overall pattern of gene expression is indicative of damage at the molecular level, and calcium binding proteins (among perhaps many others) are in need of repair.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1994

Effects of a new Na+/H+ antiporter inhibitor on postischemic reperfusion in pig heart.

We investigated the effects of a new compound (3-methylsulfonyl-4-piperidinobenzoyl) guanidine hydrochloride (HOE 694) known to inhibit the Na+/H+ exchanger in a porcine model of ischemia/reperfusion. Ischemia was induced by coronary occlusion (twice for 10 min, with a 30-min reperfusion interval) followed by a 4-h reperfusion period. Treated animals (n = 8) received HOE 694 as a bolus (7 mg/kg) 20 min before ischemia and subsequently as a continuous infusion (0.07 mg/kg) throughout the experiment. Control pigs (n = 11) received vehicle. Regional wall function (percentage of segment shortening, % SS) of the treated animals was significantly improved as compared with that of controls after the 4-h reperfusion period (74.1 +/- 2.5 vs. 50.9 +/- 5.4, p < 0.005). Ventricular fibrillation (VF) could be prevented completely in treated pigs but occurred in 9 of 11 control animals (p < 0.001). Ultrastructural changes after ischemia and reperfusion were moderate and slightly abnormal in controls but much milder and completely recovered in the treated group, respectively. The tissue content of high-energy phosphates did not show a significant difference between groups. Inhibition of the sarcolemmal Na+/H+ antiporter with HOC 694 is antiarrhythmic and diminishes myocardial ischemic cell injury by preventing Na+ overload.

Adenine Nucleotides↗
PubMed1994

Platelet-activating factor plays an important role in reperfusion injury in myocardium. Efficacy of platelet-activating factor receptor antagonist (CV-3988) as compared with leukocyte-depleted reperfusion.

Although platelet-activating factor has been implicated in the pathogenesis of neutrophil-induced reperfusion injury, it has other mechanisms of direct deleterious hemodynamic effect. In this study we evaluated the definitive role of platelet-activating factor in myocardial reperfusion injury. Porcine hearts that underwent 60 minutes of normothermic ischemia with cardioplegia and 60 minutes of reperfusion under cardiopulmonary bypass were divided into three groups according to the methods of 15 minutes of controlled reperfusion: whole blood reperfusion group (n = 6), leukocyte-depleted reperfusion group (n = 6), and platelet-activating factor receptor antagonist (CV-3988) group (n = 6). At 60 minutes of reperfusion, the percentage of recovery of maximum slope of the pressure-volume relationship measured with intraventricular balloon, malondialdehyde value in coronary sinus blood, tissue adenosine triphosphate, and percentage of spontaneous defibrillation were evaluated. The receptor antagonist group showed significantly better recovery of maximum slope of the pressure-volume relationship than did the whole blood reperfusion group. Moreover, the receptor antagonist group showed significantly less release of malondialdehyde in the coronary sinus, higher values of adenosine triphosphate in the myocardium, and a higher percentage of spontaneous defibrillation than did the whole blood reperfusion group. On the other hand, the leukocyte-depleted reperfusion group showed no significant differences of maximum slope of the pressure-volume relationship, malondialdehyde, adenosine triphosphate, or spontaneous defibrillation as compared with the whole blood group. These results suggest that platelet-activating factor receptor antagonist attenuated severe damage in whole blood reperfusion of the myocardium as compared with leukocyte-depleted reperfusion, which also suggests that platelet-activating factor may play a more important role in myocardial reperfusion injury than do neutrophils.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Expression of nuclear proto-oncogenes in isoproterenol-induced cardiac hypertrophy.

Rat hearts infused with the beta-adrenergic agonist isoproterenol were examined for the expression of several nuclear proto-oncogenes (c-fos, fosB, c-jun, junB, and junD) and the immediate early gene Egr-1. During the first 24 h after the start of infusion, a strong but transient expression of c-fos was observed. Expression of c-jun and junD were not elevated whereas junB was. By using specific antagonists to the alpha- (prazosin) and beta-adrenergic receptor (propranolol), a beta-adrenoceptor-specific blockade of the isoproterenol-mediated nuclear response was demonstrated. In situ hybridization localized c-fos expression to cardiac myocytes. Labelling was distributed focally in the left and right ventricles, and was strong and homogeneous in the atria. In contrast to beta-adrenergic stimulation, alpha-adrenoceptor stimulation with phenylephrine and norepinephrine caused the induction of c-jun and Egr-1 in addition to the proto-oncogenes induced by isoproterenol. Thus distinct programs of early response gene expression were expressed in response to alpha- versus beta-adrenergic stimulation.

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists↗
PubMed1993

Generation and localisation of monoclonal antibodies against fibroblast growth factors in ischaemic collateralised porcine myocardium.

OBJECTIVE: The collateral circulation plays a critical role in the prognosis of ischaemic heart disease, with a clear correlation between neovascularisation, infarction, and tissue recovery. The aim of the study was to address the question of whether endogenous acidic and basic fibroblast growth factors (FGF) participate in ischaemia induced collateral enlargement and development in the myocardium, and also which cells may represent the source of these growth factors. METHODS: Eight pigs received an ameroid constrictor around the left circumflex coronary artery which, by slow coronary occlusion, induces ischaemia and collateral growth in the left ventricle. The degree of stenosis and development of collaterals were determined angiographically. About 14 d after constrictor implantation pigs were killed and hearts were excised and prepared for western blot analysis and immunohistochemistry. Monoclonal antibodies were raised against acidic and basic FGF, characterised for their specificity, and used for the localisation of growth factors in sections of ischaemic and normal pig heart. RESULTS: The eight pigs included in this study showed a gradual 70-100% left circumflex coronary stenosis about 14 d after implantation of the constrictor. Out of four pigs with a complete occlusion, three developed visible collaterals. Antibody staining to acidic FGF was detected only in hearts from pigs with complete occlusion of the coronary artery. The growth factor was localised in cardiomyocytes close to small necrotic tissue patches. In control tissue no acidic FGF staining was evident. Basic FGF could not be detected in ischaemic or in normal perfused pig hearts. CONCLUSIONS: These data show that (1) complete occlusion of the left circumflex coronary artery in pig hearts induces collateral growth; (2) cardiomyocytes are able to produce acidic FGF in response to ischaemia, thus providing a mitogen for endothelial cells; (3) endogenous basic FGF, which was not detected in normal or ischaemic pig hearts, appears not to play an important role in ischaemia induced collateral growth at the chosen time point of investigation.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Proto-oncogene expression in porcine myocardium subjected to ischemia and reperfusion.

The molecular basis of myocardial adaptation to ischemia and reperfusion is poorly understood. It is thought that nuclear proto-oncogenes act as third messengers, converting cytoplasmic signal transduction into long-term changes of gene expression. We studied the expression of six nuclear proto-oncogenes (Egr-1, c-fos, fosB, c-jun, junB, and c-myc) in myocardium subjected to ischemia and reperfusion in anesthetized pigs. Stunning was achieved by two 10-minute left anterior descending coronary artery occlusions separated by 30 minutes of reperfusion. Hearts were excised after the first occlusion, after the first reperfusion, and at 30, 120, 150, and 210 minutes of reperfusion after the second occlusion. Total RNA was prepared from stunned as well as normally perfused myocardial tissue and subjected to Northern blotting. The response of the six nuclear proto-oncogenes varied.fosB gene expression was never detected. The c-myc gene was expressed, but its level was unchanged by ischemia. c-jun expression was slightly increased by ischemia (3.1 +/- 0.6-fold). The c-fos, Egr-1, and junB genes were highly induced, being fivefold to sevenfold higher in experimental than in control tissue. In three animals pretreated with the beta 1-antagonist metoprolol and then subjected to the above experimental protocol, the induction of proto-oncogenes was similar to that in nonblocked controls. Our results show that the myocardial adaptive response to ischemic stress includes the induction of at least four transcription factors that may be further operative in repair processes and angiogenesis.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Molecular biology of the coronary vascular and myocardial responses to ischemia.

To understand the complex mechanism(s) involved in molecular responses to ischemia, we developed two experimental models in pigs. In a "stunning" model of repetitive ischemia and reperfusion, we studied the mRNA expression of immediate early genes like c-fos, c-myc and heat shock protein-70 (HSP-70). Myocardial stunning was achieved by two cycles of 10-min left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) occlusion and 30 min reperfusion. We observed several-fold enhanced expression of c-fos and HSP-70 mRNA in the stunned myocardium as compared with the control, whereas c-myc mRNA levels remained almost unchanged. In the second model, we examined the expression of the peptide mitogens heparin-binding growth factor 1 (HBGF-1) and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) after a chronic coronary artery occlusion leading to myocardial collateralization. Progredient stenosis of the circumflex coronary artery was induced by implanting a hygroscopic ameroid constrictor ring around it and occlusion was verified by in vivo angiography. Using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Northern hybridization techniques, we observed significantly enhanced expression of HBGF-1 and TGF-beta 1 in collateralized myocardium as compared with normal. In situ techniques revealed the localization of HBGF-1 transcripts in the blood vessel wall, and TGF-beta 1 in cardiac myocytes and Purkinje cells. Our results clearly indicate that myocardial stunning stimulates the expression of transcription factors which might be involved in regulation of certain growth factors like HBGF-1 and TGF-beta 1 which may play a significant role in the development of a collateral circulation.

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Amplification and sequencing of mRNA encoding acidic fibroblast growth factor (aFGF) from porcine heart.

Progredient stenosis of coronary arteries can induce angiogenic processes, which are probably regulated by polypeptide growth factors like aFGF. Using applications of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, we amplified and sequenced an mRNA encoding aFGF in the porcine myocardium. A DNA fragment of expected size encoding aFGF was amplified with human and bovine aFGF specific oligonucleotide primers in porcine heart. Identity of amplified PCR product to aFGF sequence was confirmed by internal reamplification, Southern hybridization and sequencing of asymmetrically amplified PCR products. The nucleotide sequence analysis of porcine aFGF revealed a homology of 94% to the human and 92% to the bovine cDNA sequences respectively. The amino acid sequence was homologous to the known sequences except for three alterations in the human and thirteen in the bovine aFGF sequences.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1991

Angiogenesis in the adult heart.

We have studied the development of the collateral circulation in the heart in response to gradual and progressive coronary artery occlusion. When the coronary stenosis becomes critical, tissue ischemia occurs, which we believe leads to the production (and probably to release from storage sites) of tissue hormones (mitogens) that lead to mitosis of endothelial and smooth muscle cells. We have identified from hearts several known mitogens (aFGF, bFGF), non-mitogenic angiogenic factors (TGF-beta), a new anti-mitogen, and a new myocyte-derived growth factor (structures of the last two not yet elucidated). An important principle in the development of collaterals is the remodeling of pre-existing small vessels into the much larger vascular structure. To accommodate new cells old structures have to be removed by controlled proteolysis (tPA, uPA, elastase).

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Molecular mechanisms in "stunned" myocardium.

In a recent overview on stunning, Bolli listed the three pillars on which theories on stunning rest: its causation by oxygen radicals, the amplification of damage by Ca2+ overload, and the resulting excitation contraction uncoupling. Our own experiments with SOD and catalase do not convince us that stunning is caused by free radicals, because we and others were unable to show improvement. An important pathway of radical generation, i.e., xanthine oxidase, does not exist in the hearts of several families of mammals, but stunning can of course be produced in these species. We agree with Bolli that stunning represents a disturbance of electromechanical coupling, but we acknowledge the controversy that exists with regard to the subcellular seat of the defect. Our results would support hypotheses that pinpoint the defect to the sarcoplasmic reticulum. However, the possibility of multiple defects should also be considered: Our finding of altered Ca2+ ATPase expression and Kusuoka's finding of altered myofibrillar Ca2+ sensitivity are not necessarily mutually exclusive but may be complementary, or may represent different stages of ischemic damage. Our finding of decreased myosin expression may help to explain the long persistence of the contractile defect. From the available evidence, the hypothetial possibility evolves that stunning is not just an injury, but rather the unmasking of a regulatory mechanism to protect the heart against premature or further damage. The observation that coronary occlusion causes both stunning and preconditioning by a parallel, and not by a sequential, mechanism and that a multitude of genes alter their expression in order to protect the myocyte argue for a regulatory change.

Animals↗