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Recently, sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) has been highlighted as an endothelial barrier-stabilizing mediator. FTY720 is a S1P analog originally developed as a novel immunosuppressant. The phosphorylated form of FTY720 binds to S1P receptors to exert S1P-like biological effects, suggesting endothelial barrier promotion by FTY720. To elucidate whether FTY720 induces signaling events related to endothelial barrier enhancement under hyperglycemic conditions, human microvascular endothelial cells (HMVECs) preincubated with hyperglycemic (30 mM) medium were treated with 100 nM FTY720 for 3 h. Immunofluorescent microscopy and coprecipiration study revealed FTY720-induced focal adhesion kinase (FAK)-associated adherens junction (AJ) assembly at cell-cell contacts coincident with formation of a prominent cortical actin ring. FTY720 also induced transmonolayer electrical resistance (TER) augmentation in HMVEC monolayers in both normoglycemic and hyperglycemic conditions, implying endothelial barrier enhancement. Similar to S1P, site-specific FAK tyrosine phosphorylation analysis revealed FTY720-induced FAK [[Y.sup.576]] phosphorylation without phosphorylation of FAK [[Y.sup.397]/[Y.sup.925]]. Furthermore, FTY720 conditioned the phosphorylation profile of FAK [[Y.sup.397]/[Y.sup.576]][Y.sup.925]] in hyperglycemic medium to the same pattern observed in normoglycemic medium. FTY720 challenge resulted in small GTPase Rac activation under hyperglycemic conditions, whereas increased Rho activity in hyperglycemic medium was restored to the basal level. Rac protein depletion by small interfering RNA (siRNA) technique completely abolished FTY720-induced FAK [[Y.sup.576]] phosphorylation. These findings strongly suggest the barrier protective effect of FTY720 on HMVEC monolayers in hyperglycemic medium via S1P signaling, further implying the possibility of FTY720 as a therapeutic agent of diabetic vascular disorder. endothelial barrier function; human microvascular endothelial cell; diabetes mellitus; transmonolayer electrical resistance; cytoskeleton doi: 10.1152/ajpcell.00606.2008

Edaravone is a potent scavenger of hydroxyl radicals and is quite successful in patients with acute cerebral ischemia, and several organ-protective effects have been reported. Treatment of human microvascular endothelial cells with edaravone (1.5 [micro]M) resulted in the enhancement of transmonolayer electrical resistance coincident with cortical actin enhancement and redistribution of focal adhesion proteins and adherens junction proteins to the cell periphery. Edaravone also induced small GTPase Rac activation and focal adhesion kinase (FAK; [Tyr.sup.576]) phosphorylation associated with sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor type 1 ([S1P.sub.1]) transactivation. [S1P.sub.1] protein depletion by the short interfering RNA technique completely abolished edaravoneinduced FAK ([Tyr.sub.576]) phosphorylation and Rac activation. This is the first report of edaravone-induced endothelial barrier enhancement coincident with focal adhesion remodeling and cytoskeletal rearrangement associated with Rac activation via S1[P.sub.1] transactivation. Considering the well-established endothelial barrier-protective effect of S1P, endothelial barrier enhancement as a consequence of [S1P.sub.1] transactivation may at least partly be the potent mechanisms for the organ-protective effect of edaravone and is suggestive of edaravone as a therapeutic agent against systemic vascular barrier disorder. focal adhesion; Rac; sphingosine-l-phosphate receptor type 1; transmonolayer electrical resistance

Thiazolidinedione (TZD), a ligand for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-[gamma] (PPAR-[gamma]), exerts anti-inflammatory effects independently of the insulin-sensitizing effect. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that TZD prevents the progression of diabetic nephropathy by modulating the inflammatory process. Five-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups: 1) nondiabetic control rats (non-DM), 2) diabetic rats (DM), and 3) diabetic rats treated with pioglitazone (DM+pio). Diabetes was induced by injection with streptozotocin (STZ). The DM+pio group received 0.0002% pioglitazone mixed in chow for 8 wk after induction of diabetes. Blood glucose and HbA1c were elevated in diabetic rats but did not change by treatment with pioglitazone. Pioglitazone reduced urinary albumin excretion and glomerular hypertrophy, suppressed the expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-[beta], type IV collagen, and ICAM-1, and infiltration of macrophages in the kidneys of diabetic rats. Furthermore, renal NF-[kappa]B activity was increased in diabetic rats and reduced by pioglitazone. PPAR-[gamma] was expressed in glomerular endothelial cells in the diabetic kidney and in cultured glomerular endothelial cells. High-glucose conditions increased the expression of ICAM-1 and the activation of NF-[kappa]B in cultured glomerular endothelial cells. These changes were reduced by pioglitazone, ciglitazone, and pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate, an inhibitor of NF-[kappa]B. However, pioglitazone did not show the changes in the presence of PPAR-[gamma] antagonist GW9662. Our results suggest that the preventive effects of pioglitazone may be mediated by its anti-inflammatory actions, including inhibition of NF-[kappa]B activation, ICAM-1 expression, and macrophage infiltration in the diabetic kidney. macrophages; ICAM-1

Thiazolidinedione (TZD), a Iigand for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPAR-γ), exerts anti-inflammatory effects independently of the insulin-sensitizing effect. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that TZD prevents the progression of diabetic nephropathy by modulating the inflammatory process. Five-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups: 1) nondiabetic control rats (non-DM), 2) diabetic rats (DM), and 3) diabetic rats treated with pioglitazone (DM+pio). Diabetes was induced by injection with streptozotocin (STZ). The DM+pio group received 0.0002% pioglitazone mixed in chow for 8 wk after induction of diabetes. Blood glucose and HbA1c were elevated in diabetic rats but did not change by treatment with pioglitazone. Pioglitazone reduced urinary albumin excretion and glomerular hypertrophy, suppressed the expression of transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, type IV collagen, and ICAM-1, and infiltration of macrophages in the kidneys of diabetic rats. Furthermore, renal NF-κB activity was increased in diabetic rats and reduced by pioglitazone. PPAR-γ was expressed in glomerular endothelial cells in the diabetic kidney and in cultured glomerular endothelial cells. High-glucose conditions increased the expression of ICAM-1 and the activation of NF-κB in cultured glomerular endothelial cells. These changes were reduced by pioglitazone, ciglitazone, and pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate, an inhibitor of NF-κB. However, pioglitazone did not show the changes in the presence of PPAR-γ antagonist GW9662. Our results suggest that the preventive effects of pioglitazone may be mediated by its anti-inflammatory actions, including inhibition of NF-κB activation, ICAM-1 expression, and macrophage infiltration in the diabetic kidney. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies suggested the involvement of inflammatory processes in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. Methotrexate (MTX), a folic acid antagonist, is widely used for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. Recently, it has been shown that treatment with low-dose MTX reduces the cardiovascular mortality in patients with rheumatoid arthritis, suggesting that MTX has anti-atherosclerotic effects via its anti-inflammatory actions. This study was designed to determine the anti-inflammatory effects of this agent on diabetic nephropathy. Diabetes was induced in Sprague-Dawley rats with streptozotocin, and MTX (0.5 or 1.0 mg/kg) was administered once a week for 8 wk. Treatment with MTX reduced urinary albumin excretion, mesangial matrix expansion, macrophage infiltration, expression of TGF-beta and type IV collagen, and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 in glomeruli. MTX also reduced the high glucose-induced NF-kappaB activation in vitro and in vivo. The results indicate that intermittent administration of MTX prevented renal injuries without changes in blood glucose level and BP in experimental diabetic rats. The protective effects of MTX are suggested to be mediated by its anti-inflammatory actions through inhibition of NF-kappaB activation and consequent reduction of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 expression and macrophage infiltration. The results suggest that anti-inflammatory agents might be beneficial for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy.