Showing papers by "Umar Mohideen published in 2016"

Basement membrane stiffening promotes retinal endothelial activation associated with diabetes

Abstract: Endothelial activation is a hallmark of the high-glucose (HG)-induced retinal inflammation associated with diabetic retinopathy (DR). However, precisely how HG induces retinal endothelial activation is not fully understood. We hypothesized that HG-induced up-regulation of lysyl oxidase (LOX), a collagen-cross-linking enzyme, in retinal capillary endothelial cells (ECs) enhances subendothelial basement membrane (BM) stiffness, which, in turn, promotes retinal EC activation. Diabetic C57BL/6 mice exhibiting a 70 and 50% increase in retinal intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 expression and leukocyte accumulation, respectively, demonstrated a 2-fold increase in the levels of BM collagen IV and LOX, key determinants of capillary BM stiffness. Using atomic force microscopy, we confirmed that HG significantly enhances LOX-dependent subendothelial matrix stiffness in vitro, which correlated with an ∼2.5-fold increase in endothelial ICAM-1 expression, a 4-fold greater monocyte-EC adhesion, and an ∼2-fold alteration in endothelial NO (decrease) and NF-κB activation (increase). Inhibition of LOX-dependent subendothelial matrix stiffening alone suppressed HG-induced retinal EC activation. Finally, using synthetic matrices of tunable stiffness, we demonstrated that subendothelial matrix stiffening is necessary and sufficient to promote EC activation. These findings implicate BM stiffening as a critical determinant of HG-induced retinal EC activation and provide a rationale for examining BM stiffness and underlying mechanotransduction pathways as therapeutic targets for diabetic retinopathy.

Senescence Increases Choroidal Endothelial Stiffness and Susceptibility to Complement Injury: Implications for Choriocapillaris Loss in AMD.

Abstract: Author(s): Cabrera, Andrea P; Bhaskaran, Arun; Xu, Jun; Yang, Xiao; Scott, Harry A; Mohideen, Umar; Ghosh, Kaustabh | Abstract: PurposeAge-related macular degeneration (AMD) commonly causes blindness in the elderly. Yet, it is untreatable in the large fraction of all AMD patients that develop the early dry form. Dry AMD is marked by the deposition of membrane attack complex (MAC) on choriocapillaris (CC), which is implicated in CC degeneration and subsequent atrophy of overlying retinal pigment epithelium. Since MAC is also found on the CC of young eyes, here we investigated whether and how aging increases choroidal endothelial susceptibility to MAC injury.MethodsMonkey chorioretinal endothelial cells (ECs, RF/6A) were cultured to high passages (gP60) to achieve replicative senescence. We treated ECs with complement-competent human serum to promote MAC deposition and injury, which were assessed by flow cytometry and trypan blue exclusion assay, respectively. Stiffness of EC was measured by atomic force microscopy indentation while Rho GTPase activity was quantified by Rho G-LISA assay.ResultsOur findings reveal that senescent ECs are significantly stiffer than their normal counterparts, which correlates with higher cytoskeletal Rho activity in these cells and their greater susceptibility to complement (MAC) injury. Importantly, inhibition of Rho activity in senescent ECs significantly reduced cell stiffness and MAC-induced lysis.ConclusionsBy revealing an important role of senescence-associated choroidal EC stiffening in complement injury, these findings implicate CC stiffening as an important determinant of age-related CC atrophy seen in dry AMD. Future studies are needed to validate these findings in appropriate animal models so new therapeutic targets can be identified for treatment of dry AMD.

In situ ion gun cleaning of surface adsorbates and its effect on electrostatic forces

Abstract: To obtain precise measurements of the Casimir force, it is crucial to take into account the electrostatic interactions that exist between the two boundaries. Two otherwise grounded conductors will continue to have residual electrostatic effects from patch potentials existing on the surfaces. In this paper, we look at the effect of in situ cleaning of adsorbate patches, and the resultant effect on the net electrostatic potential difference between two surfaces. We find a significant reduction in the residual potential due to in situ Ar+ cleaning for the samples used.

Site-targeted nano-liposomal nitroglycerin therapeutics

Abstract: The disclosure provides for nanoliposomal formulations comprising nitroglycerin, methods of making the formulations, and methods of use thereof.