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Rupture of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a lethal event. No oral medicine has been available to prevent or treat AAA. We have recently identified a novel mechanism of eNOS uncoupling by which AAA develops, in angiotensin II (Ang II) infused h yper ph enylalaninemia 1 (hph-1) mice. Using this unique model we investigated effects on AAA formation of the L-type calcium channel blocker nifedipine, in view of the unclear relationship between hypertension and AAA, and unclear mechanisms of aneurysm protective effects of some blood pressure lowering drugs. Six-month old hph-1 mice were infused with Ang II (0.7 mg/kg/day) for 2 weeks, and fed nifedipine chow at two different doses (5 and 20 mg/kg/day). While the high dose of nifedipine reduced blood pressure, the lower dose had no effect. Interestingly, the incidence rate of AAA dropped from 71% to 7 and 12.5% for low and high dose nifedipine, respectively. Expansion of abdominal aorta, determined by ultrasound imaging, was abolished by both doses of nifedipine, which recoupled eNOS completely to improve NO bioavailability. Both also abrogated aortic superoxide production. Of note, Ang II activation of NADPH oxidase in vascular smooth muscle cells and endothelial cells, known to uncouple eNOS, was also attenuated by nifedipine. Although low dose was a sub-pressor while the high dose reduced blood pressure via inhibition of calcium channels, both doses were highly effective in preventing AAA by preserving eNOS coupling activity to eliminate sustained oxidative stress from uncoupled eNOS. These data demonstrate that oral treatment of nifedipine is highly effective in preserving eNOS function to attenuate AAA formation. Nifedipine may be used for AAA prevention either at low dose in AAA risk group, or at high dose in patients with co-existing hypertension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Abundant clinical evidences indicate that up-regulation of several cathepsins in many human cancers is correlated with malignant progression and poor patient prognosis. In addition, a decrease in catalase activity or accumulation of hydrogen peroxide correlates with cancer metastasis. Recent studies indicate that cathepsin activation and expression can be modulated via H2O2 treatment. However, the actual relationship between catalase and cathepsins is not yet fully understood. In the present study, we found that catalase expression (or activity) was higher, while intracellular and extracellular Cat S, Cat L, and Cat K activities were lower in the non-invasive CL1-0 cells compared to the highly invasive CL1-5 cells. After CL1-0 cells were transfected with catalase-shRNA, the corresponding ROS (H2O2) level and Cat S, Cat L, or Cat K expression (or activity) was up-regulated, accompanied by an increase in cell migration and invasion. On the other hand, ROS (H2O2) level, cathepsin S, L, and K activities, cell migration and invasion were decreased in catalase-overexpressed CL1-5 cells. It is suggested that catalase may regulate cathepsin activity by controlling the production of ROS (H2O2), leading to variation in migration and invasion ability of lung cancer cells. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Differences in virulence between Fusarium sulphureum and Fusarium sambucinum were compared. Changes in reactive oxygen species production and metabolism in inoculated slices of potato tubers were also compared. The result showed that Fusarium infection induced significant production of ROS, lipid peroxidation and loss of cell membrane integrity, but low activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX). Compared to F. sambucinum, F. sulphureum led larger lesion diameters on potato tubers and slices. It resulted in more superoxide anion ( ) and earlier peak of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), but lower activity of catalase (CAT) and APX, and accompanied with higher malondialdehyde (MDA) content and lower cell membrane integrity. These findings suggested that overproduction of ROS involved in the pathogenicity of Fusarium in potato tubers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] Salvianolic acid B (SalB) protected cardiomyocytes from AngII-induced hypertrophy. [•] SalB’ anti-hypertrophy was partly attributed to its inhibition on PARP-1. [•] SalB prevented the depletion of cellular NAD+ induced by AngII. [•] SalB’s antioxidant effect might contribute to the inhibition of PARP-1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Blockade of Notch signaling increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) in primary HUVECs. [•] Abruption of ROS generation abolished Notch blockade-induced HUVEC proliferation, migration and adhesion. [•] The enhanced generation of ROS after blocking Notch signal was accompanied by augmented expression of Nox4. [•] Increased expression of Nox4 led to enhanced phosphorylation of VEGFR2 and ERK in HUVECs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] Epoxyisoprostane E2 (EI) induced oxidative stress in endothelial cells. [•] EI stimulated the expression of oxidative stress response gene OKL38 and HO-1. [•] EI stimulated oxidative stress response genes via Nrf2 signaling. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] Human Nox1 undergoes glycosylation at Asn-162 and Asn-236. [•] Nox1 can be transported to the cell surface as no or high mannose N-glycan form. [•] Nox1 N-glycosylation is dispensable for its catalytic function. [•] p22 phox allows maturation of Nox1 N-glycans into more complex oligosaccharides. [•] p22 phox directly contributes to Nox1 activation independently of Nox1 glycosylation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Uric acid directly induces neutrophil extracellular trap (NET) formation. [•] NET formation induced by uric acid is independent of NADPH oxidase. [•] NET formation by uric acid is partially mediated by NF-κB activation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Oxidative stress and reactive oxygen species (ROS) have been implicated in the teratogenicity of methanol (MeOH) in rodents, both in vivo and in embryo culture. We explored the ROS hypothesis further in vivo in pregnant C57BL/6J mice. Following maternal treatment with a teratogenic dose of MeOH, 4g/kg via intraperitoneal (ip) injection on gestational day (GD) 12, there was no increase 6h later in embryonic ROS formation, measured by 2′,7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA) fluorescence, despite an increase observed with the positive control ethanol (EtOH), nor was there an increase in embryonic oxidatively damaged DNA, quantified as 8-oxo-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG) formation. MeOH teratogenicity (primarily ophthalmic anomalies, cleft palate) also was not altered by pre- and post-treatment with varying doses of the free radical spin trapping agent alpha-phenyl-N-tert-butylnitrone (PBN). In contrast, pretreatment with l-buthionine-(S,R)-sulfoximine (BSO), an inhibitor of glutathione (GSH) synthesis, depleted maternal hepatic and embryonic GSH, and enhanced some new anomalies (micrognathia, agnathia, short snout, fused digits, cleft lip, low set ears), but not the most common teratogenic effects of MeOH (ophthalmic anomalies, cleft palate) in this strain. These results suggest that ROS did not contribute to the teratogenic effects of MeOH in this in vivo mouse model, in contrast to results in embryo culture from our laboratory, and that the protective effect of GSH in this model may arise from its role as a cofactor for formaldehyde dehydrogenase in the detoxification of formaldehyde. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Sustained induction and activation of matrixins (matrix metalloproteinases or MMPs), and the destruction and deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM), are the hallmarks of cardiac fibrosis. The reversion-inducing-cysteine-rich protein with Kazal motifs (RECK) is a unique membrane-anchored endogenous MMP regulator. We hypothesized that elevated angiotensin II (Ang II), which is associated with fibrosis in the heart, differentially regulates MMPs and RECK both in vivo and in vitro. Continuous infusion of Ang II into male C57Bl/6 mice for 2weeks resulted in cardiac fibrosis, with increased expressions of MMPs 2, 7, 9 and 14, and of collagens Ia1 and IIIa1. The expression of RECK, however, was markedly suppressed. These effects were inhibited by co-treatment with the Ang II type 1 receptor (AT1) antagonist losartan. In vitro, Ang II suppressed RECK expression in adult mouse cardiac fibroblasts (CF) via AT1/Nox4-dependent ERK/Sp1 activation, but induced MMPs 2, 14 and 9 via NF-κB, AP-1 and/or Sp1 activation. Further, while forced expression of RECK inhibits, its knockdown potentiates Ang II-induced CF migration. Notably, RECK overexpression reduced Ang II-induced MMPs 2, 9 and 14 activation, but enhanced collagens Ia1 and IIIa1 expression and soluble collagen release. These results demonstrate for the first time that Ang II suppresses RECK, but induces MMPs both in vivo and in vitro, and RECK overexpression blunts Ang II-induced MMP activation and CF migration in vitro. Strategies that upregulate RECK expression in vivo have the potential to attenuate sustained MMP expression, and blunt fibrosis and adverse remodeling in hypertensive heart diseases. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] 8-Nitro-cGMP is a unique cGMP derivative formed in response to NO and ROS production. [•] 8-Nitro-cGMP mediates canonical cGMP signaling via PKG activation. [•] 8-Nitro-cGMP also mediates redox signaling via protein S-guanylation. [•] H2S involves 8-nitro-cGMP metabolism via sulfhydration to form 8-SH-cGMP. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] VPO1 was over-expressed in hypertensive SHRs as compared to WKY rats. [•] VPO1 over-expression was accompanied by increased oxidative stress. [•] VPO1 over-expression was found to be related to impaired endothelial function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Reactive O2 species production triggered by particulate matter (PM) exposure is able to initiate oxidative damage mechanisms, which are postulated as responsible for increased morbidity along with the aggravation of respiratory diseases. The aim of this work was to quantitatively analyse the major sources of reactive O2 species involved in lung O2 metabolism after an acute exposure to Residual Oil Fly Ashes (ROFAs). Mice were intranasally instilled with a ROFA suspension (1.0mg/kg body weight), and lung samples were analysed 1h after instillation. Tissue O2 consumption and NADPH oxidase (Nox) activity were evaluated in tissue homogenates. Mitochondrial respiration, respiratory chain complexes activity, H2O2 and ATP production rates, mitochondrial membrane potential and oxidative damage markers were assessed in isolated mitochondria. ROFA exposure was found to be associated with 61% increased tissue O2 consumption, a 30% increase in Nox activity, a 33% increased state 3 mitochondrial O2 consumption and a mitochondrial complex II activity increased by 25%. During mitochondrial active respiration, mitochondrial depolarization and a 53% decreased ATP production rate were observed. Neither changes in H2O2 production rate, nor oxidative damage in isolated mitochondria were observed after the instillation. After an acute ROFA exposure, increased tissue O2 consumption may account for an augmented Nox activity, causing an increased O2 − production. The mitochondrial function modifications found may prevent oxidative damage within the organelle. These findings provide new insights to the understanding of the mechanisms involving reactive O2 species production in the lung triggered by ROFA exposure. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] Deletion of N-type Ca2+ channels suppresses endothelial dysfunction induced by angiotensin II in mice. [•] Deletion of N-type Ca2+ channels suppresses oxidative stress and macrophage infiltration in the mouse aortic endothelium. [•] Blockade of N-type Ca2+ channels underlies the superior vascular protective effect of cilnidipine. [•] Blockade of N-type Ca2+ channels inhibits ATP-induced production of reactive oxygen species in cultured endothelial cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) that bind invading microbes are pivotal for innate host defense. There is a growing body of evidence for the significance of NETs in the pathogenesis of infectious and inflammatory diseases, but the mechanism of NET formation remains unclear. Previous observation in neutrophils of chronic granulomatous disease (CGD) patients, which defect NADPH oxidase (Nox) and fail to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS), revealed that ROS contributed to the formation of NETs. However, the active species were not identified. In this study, we discovered that singlet oxygen, one of the ROS, mediated Nox-dependent NET formation upon stimulation with phorbol myristate acetate. We also revealed that singlet oxygen itself could induce NET formation by a distinct system generating singlet oxygen with porfimer sodium (Photofrin) in CGD neutrophils, as well as healthy neutrophils. This was independent of Nox activation. These results show that singlet oxygen is essential for NET formation, and provide novel insights into the pathogenesis of infectious and inflammatory diseases. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: NADPH oxidase is a multi-protein complex producing reactive oxygen species (ROS) both in phagocytic cells, being essential in host defense, and in non-phagocytic cells, regulating intracellular signalling. In the liver, NADPH oxidase plays a central role in fibrogenesis. A functionally active form of the NADPH oxidase is expressed not only in Kupffer cells (phagocytic cell type) but also in hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) (non-phagocytic cell type), suggesting a role of the non-phagocytic NADPH oxidase in HSC activation. Consistent with this concept, profibrogenic agonists such as Angiotensin II (Ang II) and platelet derived growth factor (PDGF), or apoptotic bodies exert their activity through NADPH oxidase-activation in HSCs. Both pharmacological inhibition with DPI and genetic studies using p47phox knockout mice provided evidence for a central role of NADPH oxidase in the regulation of HSC-activity and liver fibrosis. In addition to the p47phox component, only Rac1 has been identified as a functional active component of the NADPH oxidase complex in HSCs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]