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ABSTRACT: Hypoxia and HIF-2α-dependent A2A receptor expression and activation increase proliferation of human lung microvascular endothelial cells (HLMVECs). This study was undertaken to investigate the signaling mechanisms that mediate the proliferative effects of A2A receptor. A2A receptor-mediated proliferation of HLMVECs was inhibited by intracellular calcium chelation, and by specific inhibitors of ERK1/2 and PI3-kinase (PI3K). The adenosine A2A receptor agonist CGS21680 caused intracellular calcium mobilization in controls and, to a greater extent, in A2A receptor-overexpressing HLMVECs. Adenoviral-mediated A2A receptor overexpression as well as receptor activation by CGS21680 caused increased PI3K activity and Akt phosphorylation. Cells overexpressing A2A receptor also manifested enhanced ERK1/2 phosphorylation upon CGS21680 treatment. A2A receptor activation also caused enhanced cAMP production. Likewise, treatment with 8Br-cAMP increased PI3K activity. Hence A2A receptor-mediated cAMP production and PI3K and Akt phosphorylation are potential mediators of the A2A-mediated proliferative response of HLMVECs. Cytosolic calcium mobilization and ERK1/2 phosphorylation are other critical effectors of HLMVEC proliferation and growth. These studies underscore the importance of adenosine A2A receptor in activation of survival and proliferative pathways in pulmonary endothelial cells that are mediated through PI3K/Akt and ERK1/2 pathways.
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications 04/2013; · 2.48 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Hypoxia-inducible transcription factors HIF-1α and HIF-2α can contribute to pulmonary hypertension and vascular remodeling but the mechanisms are unknown. This study investigated the role of HIF-1α and HIF-2α in pulmonary artery endothelial and smooth muscle cells. Exposure of human pulmonary artery endothelial cells (HPAEC) to hypoxia (10% O2 or 5% O2) increased proliferation over 48 hours when compared to cells in normoxia (21% O2). Adenovirus-mediated overexpression of HIF-2α that is transcriptionally active under normoxia (mutHIF-2α) increased HPAEC proliferation while overexpression of HIF-1α that is transcriptionally active under normoxia (mutHIF-1α) had no effect. Knockdown of HIF-2α decreased proliferation in both hypoxia and normoxia. Both HIFs increased migration towards fibrinogen, used as chemoattractant. In an angiogenesis tube formation assay, mutHIF-2α-transduced cells had increased tube formation compared to the mutHIF-1α-transduced cells. Additionally, tubes formed in HIF-2α-transduced cells were more enduring than those in the other groups. In human pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (HPASMC) chronic exposure to hypoxia increased proliferation as compared to cells in normoxia. For HPASMC transduced with adenoviral HIFs, HIF-1α increased proliferation, while HIF-2α had no such effect. Thus, HIF-1α and HIF-2α exert differential effects in isolated cells of the human pulmonary vasculature. This study demonstrates that HIF-2α plays a predominant role in endothelial growth pertinent to the remodeling process. In contrast, HIF-1α appears to play a major role in pulmonary smooth muscle growth. Selective targeting of each HIF in specific target cells might more effectively counteract hypoxic pulmonary hypertension and vascular remodeling.
American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology 03/2013; · 5.13 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Rationale: Plastic bronchitis is a rare but life-threatening disorder characterized by bronchial cast formation, resulting in severe airway obstruction that leads to respiratory failure and/or death. Mortality rate approaches 60%. Current therapies are anecdotal, due to lack of systematic research available to assess efficacy of therapies in regards to improvements in either mortality and/or morbidity. Methods: Adult rats exposed to sulfur mustard analog were treated with intratracheal tPA (0.15-0.7mg/kg, 5.5 and 6.5 h), compared to controls (no treatment, isoflurane, and placebo). Respiratory distress and pulse oximetry were assessed (for 12 or 48 h), and arterial blood gases were obtained at study termination (12 h). Microdissection of fixed lungs was done to assess airway obstruction by casts. Results: Optimal intratracheal tPA treatment (0.7mg/kg) completely eliminated mortality (0% at 48 h) and greatly improved morbidity in this nearly uniformly fatal disease model (90-100% mortality at 48 h). tPA normalized plastic bronchitis-associated hypoxemia, hypercarbia, and lactic acidosis, and improved respiratory distress (i.e. clinical scores) while decreasing airway fibrin casts. Conclusions: Intratracheal tPA diminished airway obstructive fibrin-containing casts while improving clinical respiratory distress, pulmonary gas exchange, tissue oxygenation, and oxygen utilization in our model of severe plastic bronchitis. Most importantly, mortality, which was associated with hypoxemia and clinical respiratory distress, was eliminated.
American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology 12/2012; · 5.13 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Rationale: Tissue factor (TF) initiates the extrinsic coagulation cascade and is a high affinity receptor for coagulation factor VII. TF also participates in Protease Activated Receptor, PAR1 and PAR2, activation. Human epithelial basal cells were previously purified on the basis of tissue factor (TF) expression. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine if tracheobronchial epithelial basal cell-associated TF drives coagulation and/or activates PARs to promote basal cell functions. Methods: We utilized human tracheobronchial tissues to isolate human airway epithelial cells using specific cell surface markers by flow cytometry and studied TF expression by immunostaining. TF-dependent fibrin network formation was observed by confocal and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). TF knockdown was done using shRNA, and TF mRNA was measured using quantitative RT-PCR. Results: We found that 97±5% of first passage human tracheobronchial epithelial cells were basal cells, and 100% of these basal cells expressed TF. Basal cell-associated TF was active, but TF activity was dependent on added extrinsic coagulation cascade factors. TF inhibition caused basal cell apoptosis and necrosis. This was due to two parallel but interdependent TF-regulated processes: failure to generate a basal cell-associated fibrin network and suboptimal PAR1/2 activity. Conclusions: The data indicates that membrane surface TF mediates airway epithelial basal cell attachment, which maintains cell survival and mitotic potential. The implications of these findings are discussed in the context of basal cell-associated TF activity in normal and injured tissues, and potential for repair of airway epithelium in lung disease.
American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology 10/2012; · 5.13 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The superoxide dismutase (SOD)-mimetic effectiveness of [meso-tetrakis(R)porphyrinato]manganese with R=1,3-di-N-ethylimidazolium-2-yl (Mn-TDEIP), 1,3-di-N-methylimidazolium-2-yl (Mn-TDMIP), 1,3-di-N-propylimidazolium-2-yl (Mn-TDPIP), N-ethyl-2-pyridyl (Mn-T2EPyP), 4-sulphonatophenyl (Mn-TSP), 1-methyl-4-pyridyl (Mn-T4PyP), 4-carboxyphenyl (Mn-TBAP), and β-octabromo-meso-tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl
porphyrinato)manganese (MnBr8TBAP) was compared with Cu, Zn SOD. Superoxide generated by reaction of xanthine oxidase with hypoxanthine was trapped with
5-tert-butoxycarbonyl-5-methyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide (BMPO), forming BMPO–OOH, which was monitored by electron paramagnetic resonance. Manganoporphyrins with redox potentials
ranging from −0.190 to 0.346V relative to the standard hydrogen electrode were selected for this study. With 0.1μM manganoporphyrins
and 20mM BMPO, the effectiveness of the manganoporphyrins in inhibiting formation of BMPO–OOH increases in the order Mn-TSP<Mn-TBAP<MnBr8TBAP<Mn-T4PyP<Mn-T2EPyP<Mn-TDEIP~Mn-TDMIP~Mn-TDPIP~Cu, Zn SOD. However, at higher concentrations of manganoporphyrin
and BMPO, a BMPO–OH signal was observed. The formation of BMPO–OH was not inhibited by catalase or dimethylsulfoxide, which
demonstrated that it was not produced from hydroxyl radical. The artifactual formation of BMPO–OH is attributed to oxidation
of the water adduct of BMPO by the manganoporphyrins or decomposition of BMPO–OOH. Although spin trapping is an effective
method for evaluating SOD-mimetic efficacy, caution must be exercised to ensure that artifact signals are not interpreted
improperly.
Applied Magnetic Resonance 04/2012; 40(1):125-134. · 0.75 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Nanoparticles (NPs) produced by nanotechnology processes have taken the field of medicine by storm. Concerns about safety of these NPs in humans, however, have recently been raised. Although studies of NP toxicity have focused on lung disease the mechanistic link between NP exposure and lung injury remained unclear. This is primarily due to a lack of availability of appropriate airway disease models and sophisticated microscopic techniques to study nano-sized particulate delivery and resulting responses.
Air-liquid interface (ALI) cultures of non-cystic fibrosis (CF) and CF airway epithelial cells were exposed to the FITC-labeled NPs using a PennCentury microsprayer™. Uptake of NPs was assessed by FACS. Laser scanning microscopy (LSM) was performed and the images were analyzed by an advanced imaging software to study particle deposition and uptake.
Flow cytometry data revealed that CF cells accumulated increased amounts of NPs. The increased NP uptake could be attributed to the reduced CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) function as a similar increased retention/uptake was observed in cells whose CFTR expression was downregulated by antisense oligonucleotide. NPs alone did not induce pro-inflammatory cytokine release or cell death. The cell culture system was sensitive to ozone but exposure to the uncoated synthetic NPs used in this study, did not cause any synergistic or suppressive effects. LSM imaging and subsequent image restoration further indicated particle uptake and intracellular localization. Exposure to ozone increased nuclear uptake in both non-CF and CF cells.
Our findings demonstrate the uptake of NPs using ALI cultures of non-CF and CF airway epithelial cells. The NPs used here were useful in demonstrating uptake by airway epithelial cells without causing adverse effects in presence or absence of ozone. However, to totally exclude toxic effects, chronic studies under in vivo conditions using coated particulates are required.
Journal of Aerosol Medicine and Pulmonary Drug Delivery 02/2012; 25(1):7-15. · 2.20 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Chemical warfare agent sulfur mustard (HD) inflicts delayed blistering and incapacitating skin injuries. To identify effective countermeasures against HD-induced skin injuries, efficacy studies were carried out employing HD analog 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (CEES)-induced injury biomarkers in skin cells and SKH-1 hairless mouse skin. The data demonstrate strong therapeutic efficacy of silibinin, a natural flavanone, in attenuating CEES-induced skin injury and oxidative stress. In skin cells, silibinin (10 µM) treatment 30 min after 0.35/0.5 mM CEES exposure caused a significant (p<0.05) reversal in CEES-induced decrease in cell viability, apoptotic and necrotic cell death, DNA damage, and an increase in oxidative stress. Silibinin (1 mg) applied topically to mouse skin 30 min post-CEES exposure (2 mg), was effective in reversing CEES-induced increases in skin bi-fold (62%) and epidermal thickness (85%), apoptotic cell death (70%), myeloperoxidase activity (complete reversal), induction of iNOS, COX-2, and MMP-9 protein levels (>90%), and activation of transcription factors NF-κB and AP-1 (complete reversal). Similarly, silibinin treatment was also effective in attenuating CEES-induced oxidative stress measured by 4-hydroxynonenal and 5,5-dimethyl-2-(8-octanoic acid)-1-pyrolline N-oxide protein adduct formation, and 8-oxo-2-deoxyguanosine levels. Since our previous studies implicated oxidative stress, in part, in CEES-induced toxic responses, the reversal of CEES-induced oxidative stress and other toxic effects by silibinin in this study indicate its pleiotropic therapeutic efficacy. Together, these findings support further optimization of silibinin in HD skin toxicity model to develop a novel effective therapy for skin injuries by vesicants.
PLoS ONE 01/2012; 7(9):e46149. · 4.09 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Acute lung injury is a principal cause of morbidity and mortality in response to mustard gas (SM) inhalation. Obstructive, fibrin-containing airway casts have recently been reported in a rat inhalation model employing the SM analog 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (CEES). The present study was designed to identify the mechanism(s) causing activation of the coagulation cascade after CEES-induced airway injury. Here we report that CEES inhalation elevates tissue factor (TF) activity and numbers of detached epithelial cells present in lavage fluid (BALF) from rats after exposure (18 h). In vitro studies using 16HBE cells, or with rat BALF, indicated that detached epithelial cells could convert factor X (FX) to the active form FXa when incubated with factor VII and could elicit rapid clotting of plasma. In addition, immunocytochemical analysis demonstrated elevated cell surface (TF) expression on CEES-exposed 16HBE cells as a function of time. However, total cell TF expression did not increase. Since membrane surfaces bearing TF are important determinants of clot initiation, anticoagulants directed against these entities were tested for ability to limit plasma clotting or FX activation capacity of BALF or culture media. Addition of tifacogin, a TF pathway inhibitor, effectively blocked either activity, demonstrating that the procoagulant actions of CEES were TF pathway dependent. Lactadherin, a protein capable of competing with clotting factors for phospholipid-binding sites, was partially effective in limiting these procoagulant actions. These findings indicate that TF pathway inhibition could be an effective strategy to prevent airway obstruction after SM or CEES inhalation.
AJP Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology 09/2011; 302(1):L82-92. · 3.66 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Employing mouse skin epidermal JB6 cells and dermal fibroblasts, here we examined the mechanisms of DNA damage by 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (CEES), a monofunctional analog of sulfur mustard (SM). CEES exposure caused H2A.X and p53 phosphorylation as well as p53 accumulation in both cell types, starting at 1h, that was sustained for 24h, indicating a DNA-damaging effect of CEES, which was also confirmed and quantified by alkaline comet assay. CEES exposure also induced oxidative stress and oxidative DNA damage in both cell types, measured by an increase in mitochondrial and cellular reactive oxygen species and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine levels, respectively. In the studies distinguishing between oxidative and direct DNA damage, 1h pretreatment with glutathione (GSH) or the antioxidant Trolox showed a decrease in CEES-induced oxidative stress and oxidative DNA damage. However, only GSH pretreatment decreased CEES-induced total DNA damage measured by comet assay, H2A.X and p53 phosphorylation, and total p53 levels. This was possibly due to the formation of GSH-CEES conjugates detected by LC-MS analysis. Together, our results show that CEES causes both direct and oxidative DNA damage, suggesting that to rescue SM-caused skin injuries, pleiotropic agents (or cocktails) are needed that could target multiple pathways of mustard skin toxicities.
Free radical biology & medicine 08/2011; 51(12):2272-80. · 5.42 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Bifunctional alkyalating agent, sulfur mustard (SM)-induced cutaneous injury is characterized by inflammation and delayed blistering. Our recent studies demonstrated that 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (CEES), a monofunctional analog of SM that can be used in laboratory settings, induces oxidative stress. This could be the major cause of the activation of Akt/MAP kinase and AP1/NF-κB pathways that are linked to the inflammation and microvesication, and histopathological alterations in SKH-1 hairless mouse skin. To further establish a link between CEES-induced DNA damage and signaling pathways and inflammatory responses, skin samples from mice exposed to 2 mg or 4 mg CEES for 9-48 h were subjected to molecular analysis. Our results show a strong CEES-induced phosphorylation of H2A.X and an increase in cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), inducible NOS (iNOS), and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) levels, indicating the involvement of DNA damage and inflammation in CEES-induced skin injury in male and female mice. Since, our recent studies showed reduction in CEES-induced inflammatory responses by glutathione (GSH), we further assessed the role of oxidative stress in CEES-related DNA damage and the induction of inflammatory molecules. Oral GSH (300 mg/kg) administration 1h before CEES exposure attenuated the increase in both CEES-induced H2A.X phosphorylation (59%) as well as expression of COX-2 (68%), iNOS (53%) and MMP-9 (54%). Collectively, our results indicate that CEES-induced skin injury involves DNA damage and an induction of inflammatory mediators, at least in part via oxidative stress. This study could help in identifying countermeasures that alone or in combination, can target the unveiled pathways for reducing skin injury in humans by SM.
Toxicology Letters 06/2011; 205(3):293-301. · 3.23 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The inhalation of sulfur mustard (SM) causes substantial deposition in the nasal region. However, specific injury has not been characterized. 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (CEES) is an SM analogue used to model injury and screen potential therapeutics. After the inhalation of CEES, damage to the olfactory epithelium (OE) was extensive. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling-positive cells were present by 4 hours, and maximal at 18-72 hours. Cleaved caspase 3 immunohistochemistry (IHC) was maximal at 18 hours after the inhalation of 5% CEES. Olfactory marker protein (OMP)-positive olfactory neurons were markedly decreased at 18 hours. IHC-positive cells for 3-nitrotyrosine (3-NT) within epithelium were elevated by 8 hours, waning by 18 hours, and absent by 72 hours. AEOL 10150, a catalytic manganoporphyrin antioxidant, administered both subcutaneously (5 mg/kg) and intranasally (50 μM, "combined treatment"), decreased OE injury. CEES-induced increases in markers of cell death were decreased by combined treatment involving AEOL 10150. CEES-induced changes in OMP and 3-NT immunostaining were markedly improved by combined treatment involving AEOL 10150. The selective inducible nitric oxide synthase inhibitor 1400W (5 mg/kg, subcutaneous), administered 1 hour after inhalation and thereafter every 4 hours (five doses), also reduced OE damage with improved OMP and 3-NT staining. Taken together, these data indicate that reactive oxygen and nitrogen species are important mediators in CEES-induced nasal injury.
American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology 06/2011; 45(2):323-31. · 5.13 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: New therapeutics designed as rescue treatments after toxic gas injury such as from chlorine (Cl(2)) are an emerging area of interest. We tested the effects of the metalloporphyrin catalytic antioxidant AEOL10150, a compound that scavenges peroxynitrite, inhibits lipid peroxidation, and has SOD and catalase-like activities, on Cl(2)-induced airway injury. Balb/C mice received 100ppm Cl(2) gas for 5 min. Four groups were studied: Cl(2) only, Cl(2) followed by AEOL10150 1 and 9 h after exposure, AEOL10150 only, and control. Twenty-four hours after Cl(2) gas exposure airway responsiveness to aerosolized methacholine (6.25-50mg/ml) was measured using a small-animal ventilator. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed to assess airway inflammation and protein. Whole lung tissue was assayed for 4-hydroxynonenal. In separate groups, lungs were collected at 72 h after Cl(2) injury to evaluate epithelial cell proliferation. Mice exposed to Cl(2) showed a significantly higher airway resistance compared to control, Cl(2)/AEOL10150, or AEOL10150-only treated animals in response to methacholine challenge. Eosinophils, neutrophils, and macrophages were elevated in BAL of Cl(2)-exposed mice. AEOL10150 attenuated the increases in neutrophils and macrophages. AEOL10150 prevented Cl(2)-induced increase in BAL fluid protein. Chlorine induced an increase in the number of proliferating airway epithelial cells, an effect AEOL10150 attenuated. 4-Hydroxynonenal levels in the lung were increased after Cl(2) and this effect was prevented with AEOL10150. AEOL10150 is an effective rescue treatment for Cl(2)-induced airway hyperresponsiveness, airway inflammation, injury-induced airway epithelial cell regeneration, and oxidative stress.
Free radical biology & medicine 03/2011; 50(5):602-8. · 5.42 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Sulfur mustard (HD) is a vesicating agent that has been used as a chemical warfare agent in a number of conflicts, posing a major threat in both military conflict and chemical terrorism situations. Currently, we lack effective therapies to rescue skin injuries by HD, in part, due to the lack of appropriate animal models, which are required for conducting laboratory studies to evaluate the therapeutic efficacy of promising agents that could potentially be translated in to real HD-caused skin injury. To address this challenge, the present study was designed to assess whether microvesication could be achieved in mouse skin by an HD analog 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (CEES) exposure; notably, microvesication is a key component of HD skin injury in humans. We found that skin exposure of male SKH-1 hairless mice to CEES caused epidermal-dermal separation indicating microvesication. In other studies, CEES exposure also caused an increase in skin bi-fold thickness, wet/dry weight ratio, epidermal thickness, apoptotic cell death, cell proliferation, and infiltration of macrophages, mast cells and neutrophils in male SKH-1 hairless mouse skin. Taken together, these results establish CEES-induced microvesication and inflammation-related histopathological changes in mouse skin, providing a potentially relevant laboratory model for developing effective countermeasures against HD skin injury in humans.
Toxicology 02/2011; 282(3):129-38. · 3.68 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Calcium mobilization can regulate a wide range of essential functions of respiratory epithelium, including ion transport, ciliary beat frequency, and secretion of mucus, all of which are modified in cystic fibrosis (CF). SERCA2, an important controller of calcium signaling, is deficient in CF epithelium. We conducted this study to determine whether SERCA2 deficiency can modulate airway epithelial responses to environmental oxidants such as ozone. This could contribute to the pathogenesis of pulmonary exacerbations, which are important and frequent clinical events in CF. To address this, we used air-liquid interface (ALI) cultures of non-CF and CF cell lines, as well as differentiated cultures of cells derived from non-CF and CF patients. We found that ozone exposure caused enhanced membrane damage, mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptotic cell death in CF airway epithelial cell lines relative to non-CF. Ozone exposure caused increased proinflammatory cytokine production in CF airway epithelial cell lines. Elevated proinflammatory cytokine production also was observed in shRNA-mediated SERCA2 knockdown cells. Overexpression of SERCA2 reversed ozone-induced proinflammatory cytokine production. Ozone-induced proinflammatory cytokine production was NF-κB- dependent. In a stable NF-κB reporter cell line, SERCA2 inhibition and knockdown both upregulated cytomix-induced NF-κB activity, indicating importance of SERCA2 in modulating NF-κB activity. In this system, increased NF-κB activity was also accompanied by increased IL-8 production. Ozone also induced NF-κB activity and IL-8 release, an effect that was greater in SERCA2-silenced NF-κB-reporter cells. SERCA2 overexpression reversed cytomix-induced increased IL-8 release and total nuclear p65 in CFTR-deficient (16HBE-AS) cells. These studies suggest that SERCA2 is an important regulator of the proinflammatory response of airway epithelial cells and could be a potential therapeutic target.
PLoS ONE 01/2011; 6(11):e27451. · 4.09 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Sulfur mustard (SM) is a frequently used chemical warfare agent, even in modern history. SM inhalation causes significant respiratory tract injury, with early complications due to airway obstructive bronchial casts, akin to those seen after smoke inhalation and in single-ventricle physiology. This process with SM is poorly understood because animal models are unavailable.
To develop a rat inhalation model for airway obstruction with the SM analog 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (CEES), and to investigate the pathogenesis of bronchial cast formation.
Adult rats were exposed to 0, 5, or 7.5% CEES in ethanol via nose-only aerosol inhalation (15 min). Airway microdissection and confocal microscopy were used to assess cast formation (4 and 18 h after exposure). Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) retrieval and intravascular dye injection were done to evaluate vascular permeability.
Bronchial casts, composed of abundant fibrin and lacking mucus, occluded dependent lobar bronchi within 18 hours of CEES exposure. BALF contained elevated concentrations of IgM, protein, and fibrin. Accumulation of fibrin-rich fluid in peribronchovascular regions (4 h) preceded cast formation. Monastral blue dye leakage identified bronchial vessels as the site of leakage.
After CEES inhalation, increased permeability from damaged bronchial vessels underlying damaged airway epithelium leads to the appearance of plasma proteins in both peribronchovascular regions and BALF. The subsequent formation of fibrin-rich casts within the airways then leads to airways obstruction, causing significant morbidity and mortality acutely after exposure.
American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine 12/2010; 182(11):1352-61. · 11.08 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Premature birth and respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) are risk factors for disturbed lung development and bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). The molecular mechanisms related to prematurity and BPD remain largely unknown. Epithelial expression of the transcription factor GATA-6 has been implicated in normal and abnormal murine lung development.
The possible involvement of GATA-6 in the normal development and in RDS and BPD was investigated in the human and baboon lung.
Immunohistochemistry was used to study the expression of GATA-6 and thyroid transcription factor 1 in lung specimens from different age groups of human and baboon fetuses and newborns with lung disease. Furthermore, the regulatory role of TGF-β₁ in GATA-6 expression was investigated in human pulmonary epithelial cell lines using RT-PCR. Results: GATA-6 expression increased in the developing human airway epithelium along with advancing gestation, but diminished to negligible at birth. In RDS, GATA-6 expression was enhanced at 5-7 days after birth, and decreased thereafter. In BPD, the expression of GATA-6 in alveolar epithelial cells was low. These results were confirmed and extended using an established baboon model of prematurity. The in vitro experiments revealed that TGF-β₁ induces GATA-6 and thyroid transcription factor 1 expression in lung epithelial cells.
Our results suggest that the expression of GATA-6 at the early stages of the preterm lung may be related to impaired postnatal alveolar development.
Neonatology 11/2010; 99(3):231-40. · 2.66 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Exposure to chlorine (Cl2) causes airway injury, characterized by oxidative damage, an influx of inflammatory cells and airway hyperresponsiveness. We hypothesized that Cl2-induced airway injury may be attenuated by antioxidant treatment, even after the initial injury.
Balb/C mice were exposed to Cl2 gas (100 ppm) for 5 mins, an exposure that was established to alter airway function with minimal histological disruption of the epithelium. Twenty-four hours after exposure to Cl2, airway responsiveness to aerosolized methacholine (MCh) was measured. Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed to determine inflammatory cell profiles, total protein, and glutathione levels. Dimethylthiourea (DMTU;100 mg/kg) was administered one hour before or one hour following Cl2 exposure.
Mice exposed to Cl2 had airway hyperresponsiveness to MCh compared to control animals pre-treated and post-treated with DMTU. Total cell counts in BAL fluid were elevated by Cl2 exposure and were not affected by DMTU treatment. However, DMTU-treated mice had lower protein levels in the BAL than the Cl2-only treated animals. 4-Hydroxynonenal analysis showed that DMTU given pre- or post-Cl2 prevented lipid peroxidation in the lung. Following Cl2 exposure glutathione (GSH) was elevated immediately following exposure both in BAL cells and in fluid and this change was prevented by DMTU. GSSG was depleted in Cl2 exposed mice at later time points. However, the GSH/GSSG ratio remained high in chlorine exposed mice, an effect attenuated by DMTU.
Our data show that the anti-oxidant DMTU is effective in attenuating Cl2 induced increase in airway responsiveness, inflammation and biomarkers of oxidative stress.
Respiratory research 10/2010; 11:138. · 3.36 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Exposure to chemical warfare agent sulfur mustard (HD) is reported to cause GSH depletion, which plays an important role in HD-linked oxidative stress and skin injury. Using the HD analog 2-chloroethyl ethyl sulfide (CEES), we evaluated the role of GSH and its efficacy in ameliorating CEES-caused skin injury. Using mouse JB6 and human HaCaT epidermal keratinocytes, we observed both protective and therapeutic effects of exogenous GSH (1 or 10 mM) in attenuating a CEES-caused decrease in cell viability and DNA synthesis, as well as S and G(2)M phase arrest in cell cycle progression. However, the protective effect of GSH was stronger than its ability to reverse CEES-induced cytotoxic effect. The observed effect of GSH could be associated with an increase in intracellular GSH levels after its treatment before or after CEES exposure, which strongly depleted cellular GSH levels. N-Acetyl cysteine, a GSH precursor, also showed both protective and therapeutic effects against CEES-caused cytotoxicity. Buthionine sulfoximine, which reduces cellular GSH levels, caused an increased CEES cytotoxicity in both JB6 and HaCaT cells. In further studies translating GSH effects in cell culture, pretreatment of mice with 300 mg/kg GSH via oral gavage 1 h before topical application of CEES resulted in significant protection against CEES-caused increase in skin bifold and epidermal thickness, apoptotic cell death, and myeloperoxidase activity, which could be associated with increased skin GSH levels. Together, these results highlight GSH efficacy in ameliorating CEES-caused skin injury and further support the need for effective antioxidant countermeasures against skin injury by HD exposure.
Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics 10/2010; 336(2):450-9. · 3.83 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: This chapter argues that the hierarchical stem cell model should be adapted to reflect the specialized progenitor cell types
that maintain the conducing airway epithelium. The conducting airway epithelium serves as the interface between the lung and
the environment. Basic epithelial functions, such as barrier maintenance, are characteristic of all airway regions. However,
other epithelial activities that are necessary to protect the lung from the environment vary along the proximal to distal
axis of the airway. These adaptive modifications are manifest as differences in cellular composition and in the structure/function
of specific cell types. Studies in humans and mice suggest that this specialization is a consequence of distinct progenitor
cell pools. Each pool includes a tissue-specific stem cell and one or more facultative progenitor cell types. Facultative
progenitors perform differentiated functions in the steady state but maintain the ability to proliferate in response to cellular
injury. We propose that the facultative progenitor cells comprise a unique tier(s) within distinct stem cell hierarchies that
maintain the proximal and distal conducing airway epithelium
KeywordsMouse-Lung-Clara-Basal-Facultative progenitor-Label retention-Differentiation potential
08/2010: pages 1-23;
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ABSTRACT: Humans can come into contact with chlorine gas during short-term, high-level exposures due to traffic or rail accidents, spills, or other disasters. By contrast, workplace and public (swimming pools, etc.) exposures are more frequently long-term, low-level exposures, occasionally punctuated by unintentional transient increases. Acute exposures can result in symptoms of acute airway obstruction including wheezing, cough, chest tightness, and/or dyspnea. These findings are fairly nonspecific, and might be present after exposures to a number of inhaled chemical irritants. Clinical signs, including hypoxemia, wheezes, rales, and/or abnormal chest radiographs may be present. More severely affected individuals may suffer acute lung injury (ALI) and/or acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Up to 1% of exposed individuals die. Humidified oxygen and inhaled beta-adrenergic agents are appropriate therapies for victims with respiratory symptoms while assessments are underway. Inhaled bicarbonate and systemic or inhaled glucocorticoids also have been reported anecdotally to be beneficial. Chronic sequelae may include increased airways reactivity, which tends to diminish over time. Airways hyperreactivity may be more of a problem among those survivors that are older, have smoked, and/or have pre-existing chronic lung disease. Individuals suffering from irritant-induced asthma (IIA) due to workplace exposures to chlorine also tend to have similar characteristics, such as airways hyperresponsiveness to methacholine, and to be older and to have smoked. Other workplace studies, however, have indicated that workers exposed to chlorine dioxide/sulfur dioxide have tended to have increased risk for chronic bronchitis and/or recurrent wheezing attacks (one or more episodes) but not asthma, while those exposed to ozone have a greater incidence of asthma. Specific biomarkers for acute and chronic exposures to chlorine gas are currently lacking. Animal models for chlorine gas inhalation have demonstrated evidence of oxidative injury and inflammation. Early epithelial injury, airways hyperresponsiveness, and airway remodeling, likely diminishing over time, have been shown. As in humans, ALI/ARDS can occur, becoming more likely when the upper airways are bypassed. Inhalation models of chlorine toxicity provide unique opportunities for testing potential pharmacologic rescue agents.
Proceedings of the American Thoracic Society 07/2010; 7(4):257-63.
