Showing papers by "Serpil C. Erzurum published in 2013"

An endothelial apelin-FGF link mediated by miR-424 and miR-503 is disrupted in pulmonary arterial hypertension

Abstract: Pulmonary arterial hypertension is characterized by vascular remodeling associated with obliteration of pulmonary arterioles and formation of plexiform lesions comprised of hyperproliferative endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells. Here, we describe a novel, microRNA-dependent association between APLN and FGF2 pathways in the pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAECs), where disruption of APLN signaling results in a robust increase in FGF2 expression. We show that this link is mediated by two microRNAs, miR-424 and miR-503, that are regulated by APLN and significantly downregulated in PAH. MiR-424 and miR-503 exert anti-proliferative effects by targeting FGF2 and FGFR1. Overexpression of miR-424 and miR-503 in PAECs promoted cellular quiescence and inhibited the capacity of PAEC conditioned media to induce proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells. We show that reconstitution of miR-424 and miR-503 can ameliorate pulmonary hypertension in experimental models. These studies demonstrate the importance of APLN-miR-424/503-FGF axis in maintaining pulmonary vascular homeostasis.

Bronchial thermoplasty: Long-term safety and effectiveness in patients with severe persistent asthma

Abstract: Background Bronchial thermoplasty (BT) has previously been shown to improve asthma control out to 2 years in patients with severe persistent asthma. Objective We sought to assess the effectiveness and safety of BT in asthmatic patients 5 years after therapy. Methods BT-treated subjects from the Asthma Intervention Research 2 trial (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01350414) were evaluated annually for 5 years to assess the long-term safety of BT and the durability of its treatment effect. Outcomes assessed after BT included severe exacerbations, adverse events, health care use, spirometric data, and high-resolution computed tomographic scans. Results One hundred sixty-two (85.3%) of 190 BT-treated subjects from the Asthma Intervention Research 2 trial completed 5 years of follow-up. The proportion of subjects experiencing severe exacerbations and emergency department (ED) visits and the rates of events in each of years 1 to 5 remained low and were less than those observed in the 12 months before BT treatment (average 5-year reduction in proportions: 44% for exacerbations and 78% for ED visits). Respiratory adverse events and respiratory-related hospitalizations remained unchanged in years 2 through 5 compared with the first year after BT. Prebronchodilator FEV 1 values remained stable between years 1 and 5 after BT, despite a 18% reduction in average daily inhaled corticosteroid dose. High-resolution computed tomographic scans from baseline to 5 years after BT showed no structural abnormalities that could be attributed to BT. Conclusions These data demonstrate the 5-year durability of the benefits of BT with regard to both asthma control (based on maintained reduction in severe exacerbations and ED visits for respiratory symptoms) and safety. BT has become an important addition to our treatment armamentarium and should be considered for patients with severe persistent asthma who remain symptomatic despite taking inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting β 2 -agonists.

An Association between l-Arginine/Asymmetric Dimethyl Arginine Balance, Obesity, and the Age of Asthma Onset Phenotype

Abstract: Rationale: Increasing body mass index (BMI) has been associated with less fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO). This may be explained by an increase in the concentration of asymmetric dimethyl arginine (ADMA) relative to l-arginine, which can lead to greater nitric oxide synthase uncoupling. Objectives: To compare this mechanism across age of asthma onset groups and determine its association with asthma morbidity and lung function. Methods: Cross-sectional study of participants from the Severe Asthma Research Program, across early- ( 12 yr) onset asthma phenotypes. Measurements and Main Results: Subjects with late-onset asthma had a higher median plasma ADMA level (0.48 μM, [interquartile range (IQR), 0.35–0.7] compared with early onset, 0.37 μM [IQR, 0.29–0.59], P = 0.01) and lower median plasma l-arginine (late onset, 52.3 [IQR, 43–61] compared with early onset, 51 μM [IQR 39–66]; P = 0.02). The log of plasma l-arginine/ADMA was inversely correlated with BMI in the late- (r = −0.4, P = 0.0006) in contrast to the early-onset phenotype (r = −0.2, P = 0.07). Although FeNO was inversely associated with BMI in the late-onset phenotype (P = 0.02), the relationship was lost after adjusting for l-arginine/ADMA. Also in this phenotype, a reduced l-arginine/ADMA was associated with less IgE, increased respiratory symptoms, lower lung volumes, and worse asthma quality of life. Conclusions: In late-onset asthma phenotype, plasma ratios of l-arginine to ADMA may explain the inverse relationship of BMI to FeNO. In addition, these lower l-arginine/ADMA ratios are associated with reduced lung function and increased respiratory symptom frequency, suggesting a role in the pathobiology of the late-onset phenotype.

Genome-wide association study identifies TH1 pathway genes associated with lung function in asthmatic patients

Abstract: Background Recent meta-analyses of genome-wide association studies in general populations of European descent have identified 28 loci for lung function. Objective We sought to identify novel lung function loci specifically for asthma and to confirm lung function loci identified in general populations. Methods Genome-wide association studies of lung function (percent predicted FEV 1 [ppFEV 1 ], percent predicted forced vital capacity, and FEV 1 /forced vital capacity ratio) were performed in 4 white populations of European descent (n = 1544), followed by meta-analyses. Results Seven of 28 previously identified lung function loci ( HHIP , FAM13A , THSD4 , GSTCD , NOTCH4-AGER , RARB , and ZNF323 ) identified in general populations were confirmed at single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) levels ( P IL12A , IL12RB1 , STAT4 , and IRF2 ) associated with ppFEV 1 ( P −4 ) belong to the T H 1 or IL-12 cytokine family pathway. By using a linear additive model, these 4 T H 1 pathway SNPs cumulatively explained 2.9% to 7.8% of the variance in ppFEV 1 values in 4 populations ( P = 3 × 10 −11 ). Genetic scores of these 4 SNPs were associated with ppFEV 1 values ( P = 2 × 10 −7 ) and the American Thoracic Society severe asthma classification ( P = .005) in the Severe Asthma Research Program population. T H 2 pathway genes ( IL13 , TSLP , IL33 , and IL1RL1 ) conferring asthma susceptibility were not associated with lung function. Conclusion Genes involved in airway structure/remodeling are associated with lung function in both general populations and asthmatic subjects. T H 1 pathway genes involved in anti-virus/bacterial infection and inflammation modify lung function in asthmatic subjects. Genes associated with lung function that might affect asthma severity are distinct from those genes associated with asthma susceptibility.

Fasting 2-Deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-d-glucose Positron Emission Tomography to Detect Metabolic Changes in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension Hearts over 1 Year

Abstract: Background: The development of tools to monitor the right ventricle in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is of clinical importance. PAH is associated with pathologic expression of the transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1α, which induces glycolytic metabolism and mobilization of proangiogenic progenitor (CD34+CD133+) cells. We hypothesized that PAH cardiac myocytes have a HIF-related switch to glycolytic metabolism that can be detected with fasting 2-deoxy-2-[18F]fluoro-d-glucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) and that glucose uptake is informative for cardiac function.Methods: Six healthy control subjects and 14 patients with PAH underwent fasting FDG-PET and echocardiogram. Blood CD34+CD133+ cells and erythropoietin were measured as indicators of HIF activation. Twelve subjects in the PAH cohort underwent repeat studies 1 year later to determine if changes in FDG uptake were related to changes in echocardiographic parameters or to measures of HIF activation.Measurements and R...

HuR Is Required for IL-17–Induced Act1-Mediated CXCL1 and CXCL5 mRNA Stabilization

Abstract: IL-17, a major inflammatory cytokine plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of many autoimmune inflammatory diseases. In this study, we report a new function of RNA-binding protein HuR in IL-17-induced Act1-mediated chemokine mRNA stabilization. HuR deficiency markedly reduced IL-17-induced chemokine expression due to increased mRNA decay. Act1-mediated HuR polyubiquitination was required for the binding of HuR to CXCL1 mRNA, leading to mRNA stabilization. Although IL-17 induced the coshift of Act1 and HuR to the polysomal fractions in a sucrose gradient, HuR deficiency reduced the ratio of translation-active/translation-inactive IL-17-induced chemokine mRNAs. Furthermore, HuR deletion in distal lung epithelium attenuated IL-17-induced neutrophilia. In summary, HuR functions to couple receptor-proximal signaling to posttranscriptional machinery, contributing to IL-17-induced inflammation.

Fatty acid binding protein 4 regulates VEGF-induced airway angiogenesis and inflammation in a transgenic mouse model: implications for asthma.

Abstract: Neovascularization of the airways occurs in several inflammatory lung diseases, including asthma. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays an important role in vascular remodeling in the asthmatic airways. Fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4 or aP2) is an intracellular lipid chaperone that is induced by VEGF in endothelial cells. FABP4 exhibits a proangiogenic function in vitro, but whether it plays a role in modulation of angiogenesis in vivo is not known. We hypothesized that FABP4 promotes VEGF-induced airway angiogenesis and investigated this hypothesis with the use of a transgenic mouse model with inducible overexpression of VEGF165 under a CC10 promoter [VEGF-TG (transgenic) mice]. We found a significant increase in FABP4 mRNA levels and density of FABP4-expressing vascular endothelial cells in mouse airways with VEGF overexpression. FABP4−/− mouse airways showed a significant decrease in neovessel formation and endothelial cell proliferation in response to VEGF overexpression. These alterations in airway vasculature were accompanied by attenuated expression of proinflammatory mediators. Furthermore, VEGF-TG/FABP4−/− mice showed markedly decreased expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase, a well-known mediator of VEGF-induced responses, compared with VEGF-TG mice. Finally, the density of FABP4-immunoreactive vessels in endobronchial biopsy specimens was significantly higher in patients with asthma than in control subjects. Taken together, these data unravel FABP4 as a potential target of pathologic airway remodeling in asthma.

Nitrosation-Dependent Caveolin 1 Phosphorylation, Ubiquitination, and Degradation and its Association with Idiopathic Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension

Abstract: In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that chronic inflammation and oxidative/nitrosative stress induce caveolin 1 (Cav-1) degradation, providing an underlying mechanism of endothelial cell activation/dysfunction and pulmonary vascular remodeling in patients with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH). We observed reduced Cav-1 protein despite increased Cav-1 messenger RNA expression and also endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) hyperphosphorylation in human pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAECs) from patients with IPAH. In control human lung endothelial cell cultures, tumor necrosis factor α–induced nitric oxide (NO) production and S-nitrosation (SNO) of Cav-1 Cys-156 were associated with Src displacement and activation, Cav-1 Tyr-14 phosphorylation, and destabilization of Cav-1 oligomers within 5 minutes that could be blocked by eNOS or Src inhibition. Prolonged stimulation (72 hours) with NO donor DETANONOate reduced oligomerized and total Cav-1 levels by 40%–80%, similar to that observed in IPAH patient–derived PAECs. NO donor stimulation of endothelial cells for >72 hours, which was associated with sustained Src activation and Cav-1 phosphorylation, ubiquitination, and degradation, was blocked by NOS inhibitor L-NAME, Src inhibitor PP2, and proteosomal inhibitor MG132. Thus, chronic inflammation, sustained eNOS and Src signaling, and Cav-1 degradation may be important causal factors in the development of IPAH by promoting PAEC dysfunction/activation via sustained oxidative/nitrosative stress.

Loss of alveolar membrane diffusing capacity and pulmonary capillary blood volume in pulmonary arterial hypertension

Abstract: Reduced gas transfer in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is traditionally attributed to remodeling and progressive loss of pulmonary arterial vasculature that results in decreased capillary blood volume available for gas exchange. We tested this hypothesis by determination of lung diffusing capacity (DL) and its components, the alveolar capillary membrane diffusing capacity (Dm) and lung capillary blood volume (Vc) in 28 individuals with PAH in comparison to 41 healthy individuals, and in 19 PAH patients over time. Using single breath simultaneous measure of diffusion of carbon monoxide (DLCO) and nitric oxide (DLNO), DL and Dm were respectively determined, and Vc calculated. Dm and Vc were evaluated over time in relation to standard clinical indicators of disease severity, including brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), 6-minute walk distance (6MWD) and right ventricular systolic pressure (RVSP) by echocardiography. Both DLCO and DLNO were reduced in PAH as compared to controls and the lower DL in PAH was due to loss of both Dm and Vc (all p < 0.01). While DLCO of PAH patients did not change over time, DLNO decreased by 24 ml/min/mmHg/year (p = 0.01). Consequently, Dm decreased and Vc tended to increase over time, which led to deterioration of the Dm/Vc ratio, a measure of alveolar-capillary membrane functional efficiency without changes in clinical markers. The findings indicate that lower than normal gas transfer in PAH is due to loss of both Dm and Vc, but that deterioration of Dm/Vc over time is related to worsening membrane diffusion.

Nascent Endothelium Initiates Th2 Polarization of Asthma

Abstract: Asthma airway remodeling is linked to Th2 inflammation. Angiogenesis is a consistent feature of airway remodeling, but its contribution to pathophysiology remains unclear. We hypothesized that nascent endothelial cells in newly forming vessels are sufficient to initiate Th2-inflammation. Vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin is a constitutively expressed endothelial cell adhesion molecule that is exposed in its monomer form on endothelial tip cells prior to adherens junction formation. Abs targeted to VE-cadherin monomers inhibit angiogenesis by blocking this adherens junction formation. In this study, VE-cadherin monomer Ab reduced angiogenesis in the lungs of the allergen-induced murine asthma model. Strikingly, Th2 responses including, IgE production, eosinophil infiltration of the airway, subepithelial fibrosis, mucus metaplasia, and airway-hyperreactivity were also attenuated by VE-cadherin blockade, via mechanisms that blunted endothelial IL-25 and proangiogenic progenitor cell thymic stromal lymphopoietin production. The results identify angiogenic responses in the origins of atopic inflammation.

Disulfide Bond As a Switch for Copper-Zinc Superoxide Dismutase Activity in Asthma

Abstract: Aim: Loss of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity is a defining biochemical feature of asthma. However, mechanisms for the reduced activity are unknown. We hypothesized that loss of asthmatic SOD activity is due to greater susceptibility to oxidative inactivation. Result: Activity assays of blood samples from asthmatics and healthy controls revealed impaired dismutase activity of copper-zinc SOD (CuZnSOD) in asthma. CuZnSOD purified from erythrocytes or airway epithelial cells from asthmatic was highly susceptible to oxidative inactivation. Proteomic analyses identified that inactivation was related to oxidation of cysteine 146 (C146), which is usually disulfide bonded to C57. The susceptibility of cysteines pointed to an alteration in protein structure, which is likely related to the loss of disulfide bond. We speculated that a shift to greater intracellular reducing potential might account for the change. Strikingly, measures of reduced and oxidized glutathione confirmed greater reducing intrace...

Altered expression and signal transduction of endothelin-1 receptors in heritable and idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Abstract: Human pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cells (PASMC) were isolated from elastic pulmonary arteries dissected from lungs of individuals with and without pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Reflecting increased smooth muscle constriction in cells from PAH subject, Ca(2+) influx in response to endothelin-1 (ET-1) increased in all the PAH PASMC populations relative to the normal donor control cells. The ETA receptor mRNA levels remained unchanged, whereas the ETB receptor mRNA levels decreased in both heritable and idiopathic PAH-derived PASMC. All the PASMC populations expressed considerably higher ETA compared to ETB receptor number. Both ETA and ETB receptor numbers were reduced in bone morphogenetic protein receptor type II (BMPR2) mutation PAH. ETB receptors showed a particular reduction in number. Phospho-antibody array analysis of normal and BMPR2 deletion PASMC illustrated ERK and Akt activation to be the most prominent and to be taking place principally through ETB receptors in normal PASMC, but primarily through ETA receptors in PASMC from BMPR2 PAH subjects. Additionally in the PAH cells the total relative ET-1 signal response was markedly reduced. Western analysis from the BMPR2 PASMC duplicated the array results, whereas PASMC from iPAH subjects showed variability with most samples continuing to signal through ETB. In sum, these results indicate that generally both receptors are reduced in PAH particularly ETB, and that ETB signaling through protein kinases becomes markedly reduced in BMPR2 PASMC, while it continues in IPAH. Importantly, the data suggest that caution must be taken when applying ET-1 receptor antagonist therapy to PAH patients.

Novel therapeutic approaches to preserve the right ventricle.

Abstract: The right ventricle (RV) is increasingly recognized for its role in heart disease. In fact, RV function is a strong predictor of outcome in patients with cardiovascular disease. Although the focus in heart failure has been on the left ventricle (LV), recently the spotlight has been shifting to include the RV. The RV and LV have different embryological origins and respond differently to stressors and to therapies. Newer therapies targeting the RV have been investigated in an attempt to improve right-ventricular adaptation to cardiovascular diseases. In this review, we summarize the differences between the RV and LV and focus on novel therapies that target the RV.

Bone marrow-derived vascular modulatory cells in pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Abstract: Hematopoiesis and vascular homeostasis are closely linked to each other via subsets of circulating bone marrow–derived cells with potent activity to repair endothelial injury and promote angiogenesis. As a consequence, abnormalities in hematopoiesis will eventually affect vascular health. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a vascular disease characterized by severe remodeling of the pulmonary artery wall. Over the past decade, circulating hematopoietic cells have been assigned an increasing role in the remodeling, such that these cells have been used in new therapeutic strategies. More recently, research has been extended to the bone marrow where these cells originate to identify abnormalities in hematopoiesis that may underlie PAH. Here, we review the current literature and identify gaps in knowledge of the myeloid effects on PAH.

A Faraday rotation spectrometer for study of NO isotopes in breath

Abstract: Nitric oxide isotope sensing in breath using a transportable Faraday rotation spectrometer(FRS) is reported. Sensitivity of 0.49 ppbv/Hz1/2 for 15NO and 3.59 ppbv/Hz1/2 for 14NO were achieved using a quantum cascade laser based dual-modulation FRS.