Department of Physiology Theses and Dissertations

Permanent URI for this collectionhttps://hdl.handle.net/10675.2/320387

This collection contains theses and dissertations submitted by graduate students under the Department of Physiology for either a Master of Science degree or a Doctor of Philosophy degree.

Browse

Now showing 1 - 20 of 40

Unknown
EFFECTS OF SODIUM BICARBONATE ON GLUCOSE HOMEOSTASIS AND BLOOD PRESSURE IN CHRONIC KIDNEY DISEASE
(Augusta University, 2021-10) Mannon, Elinor; Department of Philosophy
Sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) is a therapeutic used in chronic kidney disease (CKD). NaHCO3 is typically used to treat metabolic acidosis, but clinical studies have indicated that NaHCO3 supplementation may slow CKD progression. As such, NaHCO3 is now given to patients with CKD to slow the decline of glomerular filtration rate. However, the consequences of chronic NaHCO3 supplementation in CKD remain unclear. Acidosis has been associated with insulin resistance, and correction of acidosis with NaHCO3 was reported to improve insulin sensitivity. Our goal in Aim 1 was to determine whether acid and alkali loading would promote loss of acid-base homeostasis and consequently decrease insulin sensitivity. We determined that the blood glucose response to insulin is enhanced following renal mass reduction, and that this response is not reversed by an acidosis. Additionally, the development of an alkalosis did not impair the blood glucose response to insulin. Alkali can promote potassium (K+) wasting, and an association between K+ wasting and insulin resistance has been identified in clinical and basic science research. Our goal in Aim 2 was to identify whether chronic NaHCO3 treatment may promote loss of insulin sensitivity through effects on K+ status. We determined that chronic NaHCO3 treatment impairs insulin sensitivity when combined with other K+ wasting stimuli. K+ deprivation alone also impaired the blood glucose response to insulin, however these impairments in insulin sensitivity were not directly related to decreases in intracellular [K+]. Salt-sensitivity increases as functional renal mass declines, and chronic sodium (Na+) loading with NaHCO3 may contribute to hypertension in patients with CKD. Our goal in Aim 3 was to investigate whether NaHCO3 loading promotes similar levels of Na+ and volume retention, and hypertension as sodium chloride (NaCl) loading does in a rat model of CKD. We found that NaHCO3 was pro-hypertensive, but to a lesser degree than NaCl, despite similar amounts of Na+ and volume retention. From these studies we concluded that NaHCO3 does not improve insulin sensitivity through its effects on acid-base status. Further, access to dietary K+ may improve insulin sensitivity with chronic NaHCO3 treatment. Finally, NaHCO3 can promote hypertension in CKD.
Open Access
A NOVEL NETWORK BASED LINEAR MODEL FOR ENRICHMENT OF SYNERGISTIC DRUG COMBINATIONS
(Augusta University, 2021-07) Li, Jiaqi; Department of Physiology
Drug combination therapies can improve drug efficacy, reduce drug dosage, and overcome drug resistance with respect to cancer treatments. Current research strategies to determine which drug combinations have a synergistic effect rely mainly on clinical or empirical experience and screening predefined pools of drugs. Given the number of possible drug combinations, the speed and scope to find new drug combinations are very limited using these methods. Due to the exponential growth in these combinatorials, it is difficult to test all possible outcomes in the lab. Several large-scale public genomic and phenotypic resources that provide data from single drug-treated cells as well as data from small molecules deliver a wealth of cellular response information. This data gives opportunity to overcome limitations of the current methods. The development of a new strategy for advanced data processing and analysis that includes a computational prediction algorithm is highly desirable. Because of this, a program was written that predicts synergistic drug combinations using gene regulatory network knowledge and an operational module unit (OMU) system generated from single drug genomic and phenotypic data. As a proof of principle, we applied the pipeline to a group of anticancer drugs and demonstrated how the algorithm could help researchers efficiently find possible synergistic drug combinations using single drug data to evaluate all possible drug pairs.
Open Access
MODELING THE SIMULTANEOUS EFFECTS OF COPY NUMBER VARIATION AND METHYLATION ON GENE EXPRESSION USING NEXT GENERATION SEQUENCING DATA
(Augusta University, 2021-07) Claussen, Henry; Department of Physiology
The collection and order of nucleobases in a strand of DNA, called the primary sequence, is one of the most important pieces of information in the study of the human body. The proteins which regulate all biological functions in the body are synthesized based on the structure of the DNA molecule. The next generation sequencing (NGS) process of sequencing RNA transcripts, known as RNA-seq, has become a powerful alternative to traditional microarray technology. NGS is used to measure the levels of gene expression, detect structural DNA variations from the human reference genome, and uncover the epigenetic modifications of methylation. Despite its prevalence in genetic research, RNA-seq data suffers from the statistical complication known as ”large p small n” where the predictor variables greatly outnumber the subjects in a study. In this research we propose combining all three types of data into a multivariate linear model. With the implementation of a variable selection process for preliminary dimension reduction and the application of a Group LASSOapproach, we hope to reduce the complexity and dimension of NGS data to a manageable and, most importantly, interpretable level. Changes in gene expression levels have been linked with the development of harmful diseases such as cancer. A successful model will provide insight on the simultaneous effects that methylation and structural variation have on gene expression in the body.
Open Access
Predictive Inference for Linear and Circular Concomitants with Biomedical Applications
(Augusta University, 2021-07) Howie, Melissa; Department of Philosophy
Let (X_i, Y_i), for i=1,...,n, be a random sample from a bivariate distribution. If the sample is ordered with respect to one of the variables, say X, then the rth ordered X-value is called the rth order statistic and is denoted X_{r:n}. The Y-value corresponding to this value is called the concomitant of the rth order statistic and is denoted Y_{[r:n]}. In biomedical research, there is an interest in predicting the concomitant variable corresponding to the rth order statistic of the other variable. For example, one may be interested in predicting the time at which a patient has the peak blood pressure or the mercury level in fish where the water is most polluted. One such distribution of interest is the bivariate exponential conditionals distribution (BEC), whose conditional distributions are both exponential. The asymptotic predictive distribution of the concomitants of order statistics from the BEC is derived. The results are used in a prediction problem involving the mercury concentration in largemouth bass sampled from Florida lakes, as a function of surface water pollution level. Clinicians are often confronted with data such that one variable is linear and the other variable is circular, i.e., measured as an angle. A particular linear-circular distribution of interest is the exponential circular normal distribution. The predictive distribution of concomitants of order statistics from the exponential circular normal distribution is derived. The results are applied to predicting the future value of time at maximum heart rate in subjects from the Augusta Heart Study, a longitudinal study of normotensive children with verified family histories of cardiovascular diseases (e.g., hypertension and premature myocardial infarction).
Embargo
DEFINING THE ROLE OF AQUEOUS HUMOR PROTEOME IN GLAUCOMATOUS OPTIC NEUROPATHY
(Augusta University, 2021-05) Kodeboyina, Sai Karthik; Department of Physiology
Aqueous humor (AH) is a fluid in the anterior and posterior chambers of the eye that contains proteins associated with vision disorders including glaucoma. We performed comprehensive characterization of AH proteins and evaluated their association with optic nerve and visual field changes in glaucoma patients. AH reference database was developed to include proteomic and clinical information from cataract and glaucoma patients. Aqueous humor samples from 251 cataract and glaucoma patients were analyzed using Liquid-Chromatography Mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness was evaluated with the SPECTRALIS Tracking Laser Tomography. Optic nerve head imaging was performed using Heidelberg Retinal Tomograph (HRT). Visual fields were analyzed with the Humphrey Visual Field analyzer. Statistical analyses were performed to discover the relationship between AH proteins and demographic characteristics, RNFL, optic nerve, and visual field parameters. AH reference database and website was developed using standard software tools including Visual Studio, ASP.NET, SQL, C#, and HTML. A total of 1774 unique proteins were identified in 251 AH samples of which 233 proteins were expressed in at least half of samples. Five protein families were discovered including apolipoproteins, complements, immunoglobulins, serine protease inhibitors (SERPINS) and insulin like growth factors (IGF). A total of 38 proteins significantly correlated with at least one RNFL thickness measure including average, inferior and superior thicknesses. Similarly, 62 proteins significantly associated with at least one HRT parameter such as cup shape measure, cup-disc area ratio and rim area. A total of 11, 9, 7, and 6 proteins were significantly correlated with pattern standard deviation, visual field index, mean deviation, and glaucoma hemifield test respectively. Strongly associated proteins include APOD, APOH, C4A, C4B, C7, IKHV3-9, IGKV2-28, SERPINA1, SERPINF1, IGFBP6, and IGFBP7. They are involved in immune responses, signaling, binding, and metabolic functions. These findings provide targets for future studies investigating molecular mechanisms and new therapies for glaucoma. Moreover, the database would serve as a resource for researchers pursuing AH proteomic and glaucoma studies.
Restricted
MICROVASCULAR DYSFUNCTION IN HEART FAILURE WITH PRESERVED EJECTION FRACTION
(Augusta University, 2019-05) Davila, Alec Christopher; Biomedical Sciences
Background. Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is often manifested as impaired cardiac and microvascular reserve, for which no current effective therapies are available. We sought to determine if conducted vasodilation, which coordinates microvascular resistance longitudinally becomes compromised in HFpEF. We tested the hypothesis that inhibition of adenosine kinase (ADK), the major adenosine-metabolizing enzyme and novel therapeutic target, augments conducted vasodilation; therefore, improving tissue perfusion and left ventricle (LV) diastolic function. Methods and Results. Conducted vasodilation was assessed ex vivo in coronary arterioles isolated from right atrial appendages of patients with or without HFpEF diagnosis and in skeletal muscle arteries of the rodent model of HFpEF, ZSF1 rats. Obese ZSF1 rats displayed LV diastolic dysfunction over a 20-week lifespan as indicated by reduced E/A ratio and increased deceleration time of mitral flow velocity observed on echocardiogram. Conducted vasodilation in both HFpEF patients and obese ZSF1 rats were significantly reduced, which was associated with increased vascular expression of ADK. Isolated arterioles incubated with ADK inhibitor, ABT-702 (0.1 μM) displayed an improved conducted vasodilation. In vivo treatment of obese ZSF1 rats with ABT-702 (1.5 mg/kg, i.p. for 8-week) prevented LV diastolic dysfunction, and in a crossover design, ADK inhibition improved conducted vasodilation and LV diastolic function. Furthermore, ABT-702 treatment reduced surrogate markers of myocardial hypoxia (carbonic anhydrase 9 expression and fibrosis) in obese ZSF1 rats. Moreover, mice with endothelium-specific deletion of ADK exhibited augmented vasodilation and were protected against the development of transverse aortic constriction-induced LV dysfunction. Conclusion. Collectively, upregulation of microvascular ADK impairs conducted vasodilation in HFpEF. Pharmacological inhibition of ADK improves microvascular vasodilator function and provides beneficial effects on myocardial perfusion and LV diastolic function in HFpEF.
Open Access
Adenosine Release and Functional Hyperemia in an Isolated Guinea Pig Heart Preparation
(1983-12) Holmes, Gerrad; Department of Physiology
Open Access
Antitumor Activity of 3-Phenylacetylamino-2, 6-Piperidinedione and Its Computer Modeled Analogs
(1992-06) Copeland, John A. III; Department of Physiology and Endocrinology
N/A
Open Access
Arteriolar Responsiveness In Adrenal Crisis In the Dog
(1955) Brown, Faith Kipp; Department of Physiology
Restricted
NAE1-MEDIATED NEDDYLATION IS REQUIRED FOR POSTNATAL LIVER DEVELOPMENT AND FUNCTION
(7/26/2018) Sahay, Khushboo; Department of Physiology
Liver disease is an important health concern and a significant source of morbidity and mortality in the United States and worldwide. NEDD8 (neural-precursor-cell-expressed developmentally down-regulated 8) is a novel ubiquitin-like protein modifier. The conjugation of NEDD8 to target proteins, termed neddylation, requires NEDD8 specific E1, E2 and E3 ligases. Neddylation participates in various cellular processes. However, whether neddylation regulates liver development and function is completely unknown. We created mice with hepatocyte specific deletion of NAE1, a subunit of the only NEDD8 E1 enzyme, and identified that they display severe hepatomegaly, hypertriglyceridemia, and hypercholesterolemia from 10 days after birth. By postnatal 14 days, their liver cytoarchitecture is completely disrupted, along with formation of numerous biliary cysts, fibrosis and hypoglycemia, which ultimately result in liver failure and premature death by 6 weeks. Mechanistically, NAE1 deficiency in hepatocytes caused reduced hepatocytespecific gene expression but increased biliary/oval cell gene expression in liver. In vitro, NAE1 inhibition by MLN4924 and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated NAE1 deletion in HepG2 cells recapitulated in vivo findings with repressed expression of hepatocyte specific genes but elevated biliary/oval cell gene expression. Together, these data highlight an essential role for neddylation in regulating hepatocyte lineage commitment and function as well as polycyst formation through trans/de-differentiation of hepatocytes.
Open Access
Assessment of Renal Ischemia Reperfusion Induced Injury in Male and Female Rats
(2017) Crislip, Gene Ryan; Department of Physiology
Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a clinical problem often induced by ischemia reperfusion (IR). Males are reported to have worse outcomes following IR compared to females based on measurements of blood urea nitrogen and creatinine. However, these markers are produced at different levels depending on body mass. The goal of Aims 1 and 2 was to do a complete assessment of the impact of sex on IR to establish a model that displays a sex difference. We measured multiple markers, including inulin clearance which is the gold standard of determining renal function. We determined there is no sex difference in response to IR after 24 hours. However, males had impaired renal function, higher vascular congestion and tubular injury than females 7 days following IR. A consequence of vascular congestion and tubular injury is fluid leakage into interstitial space, which increases renal volume. The goal of Aim 3 was to determine if ultrasound could be used as a tool to detect progressive changes in regional kidney volume following IR. To do this, we compared renal volume measurements with stereological assessment and examined the use of renal volume as an injury marker following IR. We verified the use of ultrasound to monitor renal volume after IR and the changes in volume correlated with the extent of medullary injury. Limiting vascular congestion improves recovery following IR. Pericytes are contractile cells that line the vessels in the renal medulla that are prone to congestion following IR. The goal of Aim 4 was to determine the role of renal pericytes following IR. To do this, we decreased pericytes in rats before IR to determine if this effected injury. We found that lower pericyte density was associated with greater vascular congestion following IR, additionally, males lose more pericytes than females. From these studies, we concluded that there was no sex difference in IR induced injury after 24 hours, however, following 7 days males had poorer recovery than females. We hypothesize that this poorer recovery is attributed to less pericytes in males following IR resulting in the inability to reduce vascular congestion compared to females.
Open Access
ADAM17 AND AGING-RELATED VASCULAR DYSFUNCTION
(1/25/2018) Dou, Huijuan; Department of Physiology
A disintegrin and metalloproteinase ADAM17 (tumor necrosis factor–converting enzyme) regulates soluble TNF levels. We tested the hypothesis that aging-induced activation in adipose tissue (AT)-expressed ADAM17 contributes to the development of remote coronary microvascular dysfunction in obesity. We found that the increased activity of endothelial ADAM17 is mediated by a diminished inhibitory interaction with caveolin-1, due to age-related decline in caveolin-1 expression in obese patients and mice or to genetic deletion of caveolin-1. Coronary arterioles (CA) and AT were examined in patients who underwent heart surgery. Excess, ADAM17-shed TNF from AT arteries in older obese patients was sufficient to impair CA dilation in a bioassay in which the AT artery was serially connected to a CA. CA and AT were also studied in 6-month and 24-month lean and obese mice. We found that obesity elicited impaired endothelium-dependent CA dilations only in older patients and in aged obese mice. Transplantation of AT from aged obese, but not from young or aged, mice increased serum cytokine levels, including TNF, and impaired CA dilation in the young recipient mice. In patients and mice, obesity was accompanied by age-related activation of ADAM17, which was attributed to vascular endothelium–expressed ADAM17. Additionally, ADAM17 mediates shedding of JAM-A (junctional adhesion molecule-A). We hypothesized that ADAM17 activation, via increased JAM-A shedding impairs flow mechanosensing and induces abnormal artery remodeling in aging. We found a reduced lumen diameter and increased wall thickness in AT of aged patients. ECs using plasmid JAM-A were aligned to flow direction earlier than GFP treated control cells. Site-directed mutagenesis was employed to generate JAM-A cleavage resistant mutants, we detected soluble JAM-A in the supernatants from cells transfected with plasmid JAM-A, but not from cells expressing mutant JAM-A plasmids. Importantly, soluble JAM-A is significantly increased in the supernatant from cells with combined action of plasmid JAM-A and recombinant ADAM17, when compared to cells with plasmid JAM-A alone. Collectively, our data revealed that age-related reduction in Cav-1 expression and subsequently increased the activity of endothelial ADAM17 led to excess TNF production, which acts remotely to promote coronary arteriole dysfunction. Whereas activation of ADAM17 in vascular endothelium mediates increased JAM-A shedding and causes ECs misalignment. Our data suggest that the combined action of TNF and JAM-A lead to development of CMD and its related vascular remodeling in older obese patients.
Open Access
The effects of hypertension on neurovascular unit function and structure
(2015) Iddings, Jennifer Ann; Department of Physiology
Functional hyperemia is the regional increase in cerebral blood flow upon increases in neuronal activity which ensures that the metabolic demands of the neurons are met. Hypertension is known to impair the hyperemic response; however, the neurovascular coupling mechanisms by which this cerebrovascular dysfunction occurs have yet to be fully elucidated. The goal of this dissertation project was to test the central hypothesis that hypertension-induced impairments in functional hyperemia are mediated by a specific disruption of communication within the neurovascular unit at the parenchymal arteriole level of the cerebrovascular tree. To test our hypothesis, we measured parenchymal arteriole reactivity, vascular smooth muscle cell Ca2+ dynamics, parenchymal arteriole remodeling and cerebral vascular density in cortical brain slices from normotensive (WKY) and hypertensive (SHR) rats. We found that vasoconstriction in response to the thromboxane A2 receptor agonist U46619 and basal vascular smooth muscle cell Ca2+ oscillation frequency were increased in parenchymal arterioles from SHR. In perfused and pressurized parenchymal arterioles, myogenic tone was increased in SHR. While K+-induced parenchymal arteriole dilations were similar in WKY and SHR, metabotropic glutamate receptor activation-induced parenchymal arteriole dilations were enhanced in SHR. Further, neuronal stimulation-evoked parenchymal arteriole dilations were similar in SHR and WKY. Parenchymal arteriole wall to lumen ratio and wall thickness were increased in SHR. Vascular density was also increased in deeper cortical layers in SHR. Our data indicate that although SHR parenchymal arterioles display vascular remodeling, neurovascular coupling is not impaired in SHR, at least at the parenchymal arteriole level.
Restricted
The role of ceramide in the regulation of ciliogenesis
(2015) He, Qian; Department of Physiology
The primary cilium is a single, antenna-like protrusion of mammalian cells, involved in many signaling pathways important for cellular processes. In Madin-Darby Canine Kidney (MDCK) cells, an apical ceramide-enriched compartment (ACEC) was observed at the base of the primary cilia. Ceramide and Rab11a vesicles showed similar protein and lipid profiles. The lipid and protein composition suggested the presence of a ceramide associated lipid-protein complex containing atypical protein kinase C (aPKC), Cdc42, Sec8, Rab11a, and Rab8 in MDCK cells. Ceramide vesicles and Rab11a vesicles were highly enriched with C16 and C18 ceramides. Expression of a ceramide-binding but dominant-negative mutant of aPKC suppressed ciliogenesis, indicating that not only the association of ceramide with aPKC, but the activation of aPKC is critical for ciliogenesis in MDCK cells. In neural progenitors (NPs) differentiated from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) and human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), the ceramide-protein interaction underlying ciliogenesis showed parallels to that with MDCK cells, but also significant differences. Ceramide was enriched in the apical region of the cell as well as primary cilia. In addition, the ceramide level was elevated by 3-fold after neural differentiation, especially C16 and C24:1 ceramide. Immunostaining showed that C16 ceramide was mainly distributed in the apical region and primary cilium, while the C24:1 antibody showed signals at the apicolateral cell membrane in addition to the apical area and the primary cilium. Immunostaining of aPKC also showed a signal at the apicolateral membrane as well as the primary cilium. Decreasing ceramide levels led to not only reduced ciliogenesis, but also translocation of membrane-bound aPKC to the cytosol, concurrent with its activation and the phosphorylation of its substrate Aurora A kinase (AurA). Incubation of ceramide-depleted cells with C24:1 ceramide restored ciliogenesis as well as membrane distribution of aPKC and accelerated neuronal process formation. The histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor trichostatin A rescued ciliogenesis in ceramide-depleted MDCK cells and NPs, indicating that ceramide promotes tubulin acetylation in cilia. In summary, we concluded that ceramide promotes ciliogenesis by inhibiting HDAC6 activity in both of these two models, but via different molecular signaling pathways.
Open Access
Toll-like receptor 9 contributes to vascular dysfunction in hypertension
(2016-03) McCarthy, Cameron; Department of Physiology
Inappropriate immune system activation is common in hypertension; however, the exact mechanisms by which this occurs are not well understood. Innate immune system recognition and response to damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) is becoming an increasingly accepted mechanism. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is a DAMP that is recognized by Toll-like receptor (TLR)9, and it is elevated in the circulation of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Therefore, we hypothesized that (1) inhibition of TLR9 in SHR with a TLR9 antagonist (ODN2088) or TLR9 inhibitor (chloroquine) would lower blood pressure and improve vascular function and that (2) treatment of normotensive rats with a TLR9 agonist (ODN2395) would cause vascular dysfunction and increase blood pressure. Both ODN2088 and chloroquine lowered high blood pressure in SHR and treatment with chloroquine also improved cyclooxygenase-dependent endothelial function and prevented the full recruitment of the adaptive immune system in SHR. On the other hand, treatment of normotensive rats with ODN2395 increased blood pressure and rendered their arteries less sensitive to acetylcholine-induced relaxation and more sensitive to norepinephrine-induced contraction. This dysfunctional vasoreactivity was due to cyclooxygenase activation, increased reactive oxygen species generation, and reduced nitric oxide bioavailability. In conclusion, these findings support the involvement of the innate immune system pattern recognition receptor TLR9 in the pathogenesis and maintenance of hypertension. Specifically, circulating mtDNA may activate TLR9 and contribute to high blood pressure and endothelial dysfunction in SHR.
Restricted
Toll-like receptor 2 contributes to cerebrovascular dysfunction and cognitive impairment in diabetes
(2016-03) Hardigan, Trevor; Department of Physiology
The risk of cognitive decline in diabetes (Type 1 and Type 2) is significantly greater compared to normoglycemic patients, and the risk of developing dementia in diabetic patients is doubled. The etiology for this is likely multifactorial, but one mechanism that has gained increasing attention is decreased cerebral blood flow (CBF) as a result of cerebrovascular dysfunction. The innate immune system has been shown to play a role in diabetic vascular complications, notably through Toll-like receptor (TLR) stimulated release of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines that leads to vascular damage. TLR2 has been implicated in the development of diabetic microvascular complications such as nephropathy, and thus we hypothesized that TLR2-mediated cerebrovascular dysfunction leads to decreased CBF and cognitive impairment in diabetes. Vascular TLR2 expression was increased and local TLR2 antagonism improved cerebrovascular function in diabetes. While the anti-hyperglycemic dipeptidylpeptidase-IV (DPP-IV) inhibitor linagliptin prevented TLR2 expression in brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMVEC) when applied locally, chronic in vivo treatment did not decrease vascular smooth muscle TLR2 expression. Treatment with linagliptin restored CBF in diabetes independent of effects on blood glucose levels, and this increase in CBF was correlated with decreased endothelin-1 (ET-1)-mediated vasoconstriction, decreased pathological remodeling, and increased endothelium-dependent relaxation. Knockout of TLR2 conferred protection from impaired CBF in early-stage diabetes and from hyperperfusion in long-term diabetes, prevented the development of endothelium dependent vascular dysfunction in diabetes, created a hyperactive and anxiolytic phenotype, and protected against diabetes induced impairment of long term hippocampal- and prefrontal cortex- mediated fear learning. In conclusion, these findings support the involvement of TLR2 in the pathogenesis of diabetic vascular disease and cognitive impairment.
Metadata only
Protein Kinase D Restrains Angiotensin II-Induced Aldosterone Secretion in Primary Adrenal Glomerulosa Cells
(2007-07) Shapiro, Brian A.; Department of Physiology
Misregulation of the renin-angiotensin II (Angll)-aldosterone (Aldo) system is a key feature of cardiovascular disease. A focus of study in this system is the Angll-elicited secretion of Aldo from the adrenocortical zona glomerulosa. An excellent model in which to study this phenomenon is primary cultures of bovine adrenal glomerulosa (AG) cells. These cells secrete detectable quantities of Aldo in response to secretagogues, such as Angll, elevated potassium (K+), adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), within 30 minutes. The serine (Ser)/threonine kinase protein kinase D (PKD) is reported to be activated by Angll in several systems, including the adrenocortical carcinoma cell line NCI H295R, and is thought to have a positive role in chronic (24 hours) Angll-evoked Aldo secretion. Because the role of PKD in acute Angll-elicited Aldo secretion has never been examined in a primary culture system, we undertook to study the role of PKD in acute (minutes to one hour) Aldo secretion. Thus, Angll (10 nM) and PMA (100 nM), but not elevated K+ (15 mM) and ACTH (10 nM), induced phosphorylation of PKD on Ser910, a marker of PKD activation, in primary bovine AG cells. This finding was confirmed by an in vitro kinase activity assay. Angll and PMA were also able to induce PKD activation in H295R cells. Furthermore, this activation was concentration dependent, and was rapidly induced (by 5 min). PKD activation was dependent on Angll type 1 (AT-1), but not AT-2 receptor, signaling, and was independent of tyrosine kinase signaling. Finally, we introduced, via adenovirus transduction, wild-type PKDwt and dominant negative PKDS738/742A constructs into primary AG cells and monitored Angll-evoked Aldo secretion. PKDwt -transduced AG cells exhibited decreased Angll-stimulated Aldo secretion, while in the PKDS738A742A - infected AG cells Angll-stimulated Aldo was enhanced. Thus, we hypothesize that PKD has an anti-secretory role in Angll-induced acute Aldo secretion.
Open Access
Neuro-vascular Communication in the Hypothalamic Supraoptic Nucleus in Rats. Do nitric oxide and vasopressin play a role?
(2015-03) Du, Wenting; Department of Physiology
The classical model of neurovascular coupling (NVC) proposes that activity-dependent synaptically released glutamate dilates arterioles. However, whether this model is also applicable to brain areas that use less conventional neurotransmitters, such as neuropeptides, is currently unknown. To this end, we studied NVC in the hypothalamic magnocellular neurosecretory system (MNS) of the supraoptic nucleus (SON), in which dendritically released vasopressin (VP) can be found. Bath-applied VP significantly constricted SON arterioles via activation of the V ia receptor subtype. Vasoconstriction was also observed in response to single VP neuronal stimulation, an effect prevented by V ia receptor blockade (V2255). Conversely, osmotically-driven magnocellular neurosecretory neuronal population activity leads to a predominant nitric oxide (NO)- mediated vasodilation. Activity-dependent vasodilation was followed by a VP-mediated vasoconstriction, which acted to reset vascular tone. Taken together, our results unveiled a unique and complex form of NVC in the MNS, supporting a competitive balance between activity-dependent dendritic released VP and NO, in the generation of proper NVC responses.
Metadata only
Angiotensin II Regulation of Aldosterone Synthase
(2009-07) Nogueira, Edson da F.; Department of Physiology
Angiotensin II (Ang II) is the major physiological regulator of aldosterone production acting acutely to stimulate aldosterone biosynthesis and chronically to increase the capacity of the adrenals to produce aldosterone. Aldosterone is principally synthesized in the zona glomerulosa of the adrenal by a series of enzymatic reactions leading to the conversion of cholesterol to aldosterone. The major goal of our study was to define the Ang II-induced mechanisms regulating the expression of aldosterone synthase (CYP11B2) in adrenocortical cells. We approached the analysis of the protein synthesis-dependent regulation of this enzyme by defining, through microarray and real time PCR analysis, the transcription factors that are rapidly induced by Ang II incubation of adrenocortical cell models from three species (human, bovine, and rat). The gene list generated by this comparison included: ATF3, BTG2, NR4A1, NR4A2, NR4A3, EGR1, FOS, FOSB, and JUNB. Importantly, pretreatment of H295R cells with cycloheximide had no effect on Ang II induction of these genes, suggesting that they are direct targets of Ang II signaling. Co-transfection studies, used to investigate the role of these transcription factors in the regulation of CYP11B2, determined that out of the nine transcription factors listed above, only the NGFI-B family members (NGFI-B, NURR1, and NOR1) increased expression of CYP11B2. The importance of NGFI-B in the regulation of CYP11B2 was confirmed by the decrease in CYP11B2 expression in the presence of a dominant-negative (DN)- NGFI-B. A pharmacological approach used to characterize the Ang II pathways regulating transcription of NGFI-B family genes suggested that Ang II binding to the AT1R increases activity of protein kinase C (PKC), Ca -dependent calmodulin kinases (CaMK), and SRC kinase (SRC), which act to regulate the expression of the family of NGFI-B genes as well as CYP11B2. In the current study we also analyzed protein synthesis-independent mechanisms regulating CYP11B2 expression. We studied the role of the ATF/CREB family of transcription factors (ATF1, ATF2, CREB, and CREM), which may bind the cAMP response element (CRE) in the promoter region of the CYP11B2 gene. Importantly, analysis of these transcription factors in the human H295R adrenocortical cell line revealed very low expression of CREB in comparison to the other CRE-binding proteins herein studied. We investigated Ang II-induced phosphorylation of these transcription factors, their binding to the promoter region of CYP11B2, and their effect on CYP11B2 expression. Ang II time-dependently induced phosphorylation of ATF1, ATF2, and CREM in H295R cells. The association of these transcription factors with the CYP11B2 promoter region was induced by Ang II and K+. Transfection of siRNA for ATF1, ATF2, and CREM significantly reduced CYP11B2 expression in Ang II-stimulated conditions. Expression of NURR-1 alone or with constitutively active ATF1, ATF2, CREB, and CREM increased the promoter activity of CYP11B2 in H295R cells. In summary, Ang II rapidly induces expression of newly synthesized transcription factors as well as the phosphorylation of transcription factors already present in the adrenocortical cell. These events are followed by increased CYP11B2 expression and, therefore, represent important mechanisms to increase the adrenal capacity to produce aldosterone.
Metadata only
The Role of Iron Induced Oxidative Stress in Acute Ischemic Stroke and the Potential Role for Fasciculations in their Therapy
(2003-07) Mehta, Shyamal H.; Department of Physiology
(Introductory Paragraphs) Stroke accounts for about one of every 15 deaths in the United States. It is the third leading cause of death behind heart disease and cancer in the United States and the second most common cause of death worldwide, according to the National Center for Health Statistics (1,2). Stroke is also the leading cause of serious disability in the United States; four million people are coping with the debilitating consequences of surviving a stroke which adds to the significant public financial burden (3). Based on the Framingham Heart Study 500,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year, of whom one third die over the next year, one-third remain permanently disabled and the remaining one-third make a reasonable recovery (1,4). Stroke is a sudden loss of brain function resulting from a disruption in the supply of blood and oxygen to the central nervous system (CNS) giving rise to hypoxic-ischemic conditions within the tissue. Acute stroke can be classified either as: 1. Ischemic stroke involves an interruption in blood supply to the CNS secondary to a vaso-occlusive phenomenon, accounting for 80% of the stroke cases. On basis of its etiology it can be further arbitrarily classified to extra-cranial or intracranial thrombosis and embolism (5). 2. Hemorrhagic stroke involves an interference in blood supply secondary to vascular disruption, accounting for 20% of the cases, which can be further classified to intracranial hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage (5). A progressing stroke or a stroke in evolution is an extremely complex event whose etiopathogenesis is poorly understood. Its multifactorial etiology makes it difficult to predict and treat by means of clinical, imaging and laboratory data currently available in clinical practice. The hemodynamic changes in the cerebral milieu and the biochemical mechanisms that hasten the progression of neurological injury are crucial to understand in order to reduce neurological morbidity and to design clinically effective interventions. In cerebral ischemia there is an ischemic gradient which can be divided into the core, which is the central ischemic zone and the penumbra, which is the area peripheral to the core. In the penumbra, functional impairment occurs in the neurons and the glia, with the neurons being more susceptible to ischemic injury due their dependence on oxidative metabolism (5). A better understanding of the pathologic mechanisms in ischemic injury would help limit the neurological injury in the penumbra through therapeutic intervention. The major pathogenic mechanisms include energy failure and excitotoxicity, loss of protein translation in the susceptible neurons, apoptotic mechanisms, inflammation and lastly, injury mediated by oxidative stress through the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) (6). Many of the above mentioned mechanisms are influenced by the generation of ROS. It has been directly demonstrated in numerous studies that ROS are involved in oxidative damage through peroxidation of lipids, proteins and nucleic acids in ischemic tissues (7). In addition, ROS also function as signaling molecules in cellular ischemia and reperfusion. In this dissertation we tried to elucidate the role of ROS in exacerbation of neurological injury in acute ischemic stroke. In order to gain a better understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying oxidative stress, we studied iron induced oxidative stress, as iron generates ROS through the Fenton reaction. We believe that ROS exacerbate ischemic injury, hence we wanted to demonstrate the neuroprotective ability of various antioxidants. In the end, we present a model of neuronal behavior in vitro that may have possible implications in post-injury remodeling and repair. Chapter 1 will review the literature in the field of antioxidants and ROS in stroke. In addition, the prevailing theories on the role of iron-induced oxidative stress and the various antioxidant agents used in stroke will be critically reviewed.

Browse

Recent Submissions