Other
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LanguagesDutch, French, German, English
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Scientific MembershipsEuropean Respiratory Society, American Thoracic Society, American Heart Association
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Journal RefereesBiochemical pharmacology, Yearbook of Critical Care Medicine, AJRCMB, Blood, The Journal of Immunology, AJP Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Eur. Resp. J.
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Other InterestsPiano, table tennis, traveling
Publications (80) View all
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Article: Adenosine A1 Receptors Promote Vasa Vasorum Endothelial Cell Barrier Integrity via Gi and Akt-Dependent Actin Cytoskeleton Remodeling.
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ABSTRACT: In a neonatal model of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension, a dramatic pulmonary artery adventitial thickening, accumulation of inflammatory cells in the adventitial compartment, and angiogenic expansion of the vasa vasorum microcirculatory network are observed. These pathophysiological responses suggest that rapidly proliferating vasa vasorum endothelial cells (VVEC) may exhibit increased permeability for circulating blood cells and macromolecules. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying these observations remain unexplored. Some reports implicated extracellular adenosine in the regulation of vascular permeability under hypoxic and inflammatory conditions. Thus, we aimed to determine the role of adenosine in barrier regulation of VVEC isolated from the pulmonary arteries of normoxic (VVEC-Co) or chronically hypoxic (VVEC-Hyp) neonatal calves. We demonstrate via a transendothelial electrical resistance measurement that exogenous adenosine significantly enhanced the barrier function in VVEC-Co and, to a lesser extent, in VVEC-Hyp. Our data from a quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction show that both VVEC-Co and VVEC-Hyp express all four adenosine receptors (A1, A2A, A2B, and A3), with the highest expression level of A1 receptors (A1Rs). However, A1R expression was significantly lower in VVEC-Hyp compared to VVEC-Co. By using an A1R-specific agonist/antagonist and siRNA, we demonstrate that A1Rs are mostly responsible for adenosine-induced enhancement in barrier function. Adenosine-induced barrier integrity enhancement was attenuated by pretreatment of VVEC with pertussis toxin and GSK690693 or LY294002, suggesting the involvement of Gi proteins and the PI3K-Akt pathway. Moreover, we reveal a critical role of actin cytoskeleton in VVEC barrier regulation by using specific inhibitors of actin and microtubule polymerization. Further, we show that adenosine pretreatment blocked the tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α)-induced permeability in VVEC-Co, validating its anti-inflammatory effects. We demonstrate for the first time that stimulation of A1Rs enhances the barrier function in VVEC by activation of the Gi/PI3K/Akt pathway and remodeling of actin microfilament.PLoS ONE 01/2013; 8(4):e59733. · 4.09 Impact Factor -
Article: A Combined Impedance and AlphaLISA-Based Approach to Identify Anti-inflammatory and Barrier-Protective Compounds in Human Endothelium.
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ABSTRACT: Chronic inflammation is at least partially mediated by the chemokine-mediated attraction and by the adhesion molecule-directed binding of leukocytes to the activated endothelium. Therefore, it is therapeutically important to identify anti-inflammatory compounds able to control the interaction between leukocytes and the endothelial compartments of the micro- and macrocirculation. When testing novel drug candidates, it is, however, of the utmost importance to detect side effects, such as potential cytotoxic and barrier-disruptive activities. Indeed, minor changes in the endothelial monolayer integrity may increase the permeability of small blood vessels and capillaries, which, in extreme cases, can lead to edema development. Here, we describe the development of a high-throughput screening (HTS) platform, based on AlphaLISA technology, able to identify anti-inflammatory nontoxic natural or synthetic compounds capable of reducing tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-induced chemokine (interleukin [IL]-8) and adhesion molecule (ICAM-1) expression in human lung microvascular endothelial cells. Quantification of cell membrane-expressed ICAM-1 and of cell culture supernatant-associated levels of IL-8 was analyzed in HTS. In parallel, we monitored monolayer integrity and endothelial cell viability using the electrical cell substrate impedance sensing method. This platform allowed us to identify natural secondary metabolites from cyanobacteria, capable of reducing ICAM-1 and IL-8 levels in TNF-activated human microvascular endothelial cells in the absence of endothelial monolayer barrier disruption.Journal of Biomolecular Screening 08/2012; · 2.05 Impact Factor -
Article: A Computational Study of the Oligosaccharide Binding Sites in the Lectin-Like Domain of Tumor Necrosis Factor and the TNF-derived TIP Peptide.
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ABSTRACT: The lectin-like domain of Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF), mimicked by the TIP peptide, activates amiloride-sensitive sodium uptake in type II alveolar epithelial cells and as such increases alveolar liquid clearance in dysfunctional lungs. This protective effect is blunted upon mutation of residues T105, E107 and E110 in human TNF into alanine or upon pre-incubation of the cytokine with the disaccharide N,N'-diacetylchitobiose. In this study, we used molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation to predict the binding sites for N,N'-diacetylchitobiose and trimannose-O-ethyl in the lectin-like domain of TNF and in the TIP peptide. Specific sites (K98, S99, P100, Q102 and E116) in the three loops of the lectin-like domain provide specific binding for both oligosaccharides, but none of the residues crucial for anti-edema activity are involved in hydrogen bonding with oligosaccharides or are subjected to steric hindrance by them. These results thus suggest that neither chitobiose nor trimannose affect crucial amino acids, while they occupy the cavity in the lectin-like domain. Consequently, both crucial amino acids and the emptiness of the cavity in the lectin-like domain may be critical for TNF's lectin-like activity. Analogously, the R4, E5, P7, Y16 amino acids of the TIP peptide are involved in forming hydrogen bonds with both oligosaccharides, whereas residues T6, E8 and E11 (corresponding to T105, E107 and E110 in hTNF) play an important role in stabilizing the peptide-oligosaccharide complex, supporting the hypothesis that amino acids in the polar region (TPEGAE) of the TIP peptide represent only a partial binding motif for sugars.Current pharmaceutical design 06/2012; 18(27):4236-43. · 4.41 Impact Factor -
Article: β-Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced inflammatory effects in a murine model of acute lung injury.
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ABSTRACT: Acute lung injury (ALI) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) occur in approximately 200,000 patients per year. Studies indicate that lung endothelium plays a significant role in ALI. The authors' recent in vitro studies demonstrate a novel mechanism of β-nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (β-NAD)-induced protection against gram-positive (pneumolysin, PLY) and gram-negative (lipopolysaccharide, LPS) toxin-induced lung endothelial cell (EC) barrier dysfunction. The objective of the current study was to evaluate the protective effect of β-NAD against LPS-induced ALI in mice. C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into 4 groups: vehicle, β-NAD, LPS, and LPS/β-NAD. After surgery, mice were allowed to recover for 24 hours. Evans blue dye-albumin (EBA) was given through the internal jugular vein 2 hours prior to the termination of the experiments. Upon sacrificing the animals, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) was collected and the lungs were harvested. β-NAD treatment significantly attenuated the inflammatory response by means of reducing the accumulation of cells and protein in BALF, blunting the parenchymal neutrophil infiltration, and preventing capillary leak. In addition, the histological examination demonstrated decreased interstitial edema in the LPS/β-NAD specimens, as compared to the LPS-only specimens. The mRNA levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokines were up-regulated in the LPS group treated with β-NAD compared to the LPS-only-treated group. β-NAD treatment down-regulated the mRNA levels of the proinflammatory cytokines. These findings suggest that β-NAD could be investigated as a therapeutic option against bacterial toxin-induced lung inflammation and ALI in mice.Experimental Lung Research 06/2012; 38(5):223-32. · 1.22 Impact Factor -
Article: Protein Kinase C-α and Arginase I Mediate Pneumolysin-Induced Pulmonary Endothelial Hyperpermeability.
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ABSTRACT: Antibiotics-induced release of the pore-forming virulence factor pneumolysin (PLY) in patients with pneumococcal pneumonia results in its presence days after lungs are sterile and is a major factor responsible for the induction of permeability edema. Here we sought to identify major mechanisms mediating PLY-induced endothelial dysfunction. We evaluated PLY-induced endothelial hyperpermeability in human lung microvascular endothelial cells (HL-MVECs) and human lung pulmonary artery endothelial cells in vitro and in mice instilled intratracheally with PLY. PLY increases permeability in endothelial monolayers by reducing stable and dynamic microtubule content and modulating VE-cadherin expression. These events, dependent upon an increased calcium influx, are preceded by protein kinase C (PKC)-α activation, perturbation of the RhoA/Rac1 balance, and an increase in myosin light chain phosphorylation. At later time points, PLY treatment increases the expression and activity of arginase in HL-MVECs. Arginase inhibition abrogates and suppresses PLY-induced endothelial barrier dysfunction by restoring NO generation. Consequently, a specific PKC-α inhibitor and the TNF-derived tonoplast intrinsic protein peptide, which blunts PLY-induced PKC-α activation, are able to prevent activation of arginase in HL-MVECs and to reduce PLY-induced endothelial hyperpermeability in mice. Arginase I (AI)(+/-)/arginase II (AII)(-/-) C57BL/6 mice, displaying a significantly reduced arginase I expression in the lungs, are significantly less sensitive to PLY-induced capillary leak than their wild-type or AI(+/+)/AII(-/-) counterparts, indicating an important role for arginase I in PLY-induced endothelial hyperpermeability. These results identify PKC-α and arginase I as potential upstream and downstream therapeutic targets in PLY-induced pulmonary endothelial dysfunction.American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology 05/2012; 47(4):445-53. · 5.13 Impact Factor
