Dispersion and collapse in stochastic velocity fields on a cylinder

The dynamics of fluid particles on cylindrical manifolds is investigated. The velocity field is obtained by generalizing the isotropic Kraichnan ensemble, and is therefore Gaussian and decorrelated in time. The degree of compressibility is such that when the radius of the cylinder tends to infinity the fluid particles separate in an explosive way. Nevertheless, when the radius is finite the transition probability of the two-particle separation converges to an invariant measure. This behavior is due to the large-scale compressibility generated by the compactification of one dimension of the space

Suppression of TGFβ-mediated conversion of endothelial cells and fibroblasts into cancer associated (myo)fibroblasts via HDAC inhibition

Background: Cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) support tumour progression and invasion, and they secrete abundant extracellular matrix (ECM) that may shield tumour cells from immune checkpoint or kinase inhibitors. Targeting CAFs using drugs that revert their differentiation, or inhibit their tumour-supportive functions, has been considered as an anti-cancer strategy. Methods: We have used human and murine cell culture models, atomic force microscopy (AFM), microarray analyses, CAF/tumour cell spheroid co-cultures and transgenic fibroblast reporter mice to study how targeting HDACs using small molecule inhibitors or siRNAs re-directs CAF differentiation and function in vitro and in vivo. Results: From a small molecule screen, we identified Scriptaid, a selective inhibitor of HDACs 1/3/8, as a repressor of TGFβ-mediated CAF differentiation. Scriptaid inhibits ECM secretion, reduces cellular contraction and stiffness, and impairs collective cell invasion in CAF/tumour cell spheroid co-cultures. Scriptaid also reduces CAF abundance and delays tumour growth in vivo. Conclusions: Scriptaid is a well-tolerated and effective HDACi that reverses many of the functional and phenotypic properties of CAFs. Impeding or reversing CAF activation/function by altering the cellular epigenetic regulatory machinery could control tumour growth and invasion, and be beneficial in combination with additional therapies that target cancer cells or immune cells directly

ARDD 2020: from aging mechanisms to interventions

Aging is emerging as a druggable target with growing interest from academia, industry and investors. New technologies such as artificial intelligence and advanced screening techniques, as well as a strong influence from the industry sector may lead to novel discoveries to treat age-related diseases. The present review summarizes presentations from the 7th Annual Aging Research and Drug Discovery (ARDD) meeting, held online on the 1st to 4th of September 2020. The meeting covered topics related to new methodologies to study aging, knowledge about basic mechanisms of longevity, latest interventional strategies to target the aging process as well as discussions about the impact of aging research on society and economy. More than 2000 participants and 65 speakers joined the meeting and we already look forward to an even larger meeting next year. Please mark your calendars for the 8th ARDD meeting that is scheduled for the 31st of August to 3rd of September, 2021, at Columbia University, USA

Sera from preeclamptic patients contain factor(s) that stimulate prostacyclin production by human endothelial cells

A relative decrease in endothelial cell prostacyclin production may be pivotal in the genesis of preeclampsia. We determined the effect of sera from preeclamptic women on prostacyclin production by monolayers of normal term human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Endothelial cells were incubated with media containing serum from patients with preeclampsia, non-hypertensive, gestational age-matched pregnant controls, or normal non-pregnant controls (N = 7, all groups). 6-Keto-prostaglandin F(1α), the stable metabolite of prostacyclin, was measured directly in the culture medium by radioimmunoassay. Treatment with preeclamptic sera, when associated with a statistically significant increase in prostacyclin metabolite production by endothelial cells. Thus, sera from women with preeclampsia stimulate rather than inhibit prostacyclin production by endothelial cells. We speculate that there is a factor in the sera of women with preeclampsia that functions to activate endothelial cells or which may play a role in the homeostatic mechanisms to balance reduced prostacyclin output in preeclampsia

The regulation of endothelin production in human umbilical vein endothelial cells: Unique inhibitory action of calcium ionophores

Endothelins (ETs) are a recently discovered family of small proteins that have potent long-lasting vasoconstrictive activities. Increased circulating concentrations of ETs have been found in hypertensive and renal disorders, including pregnancy-induced hypertension (PIH). PIH has been postulated to be the end result of endothelial cell damage and aberrant calcium metabolism. We evaluated the effects of calcium ionophores, calcium channel blockers, and two forms of cellular damage on ET production by human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC). Cells were grown to confluence and then incubated for 16 h with these treatments: physical trauma ("scratching"), oxidant damage (hydrogen peroxide, 1-20 mm), ionomycin (0.25-2.0-mu-M), A-23187 (10(-9)-10(-5) M), verapamil (0.22-22.0-mu-M), and nifedipine (2-200-mu-M/mL). ET production was determined using a commercial RIA that detects ET-1 and ET-2. Physical trauma enhanced ET production, whereas oxidant damage had the opposite effect. Both ionomycin and A-23187 caused concentration-dependent inhibition of ET production. Neither verapamil nor nifedipine consistently altered ET production. We conclude that specific forms of cellular damage can stimulate HUVEC ET production, although oxidant damage may be slightly inhibitory. Thus, enhanced ET levels in PIH may represent endothelial cell activation, rather than damage. HUVEC ET production is regulated in an inverse manner by intracellular calcium concentrations, suggesting a negative feedback from mediators of ET action on cells

Bacterial lipopolysaccharide-mediated murine fetal death: The role of interleukin-1

OBJECTIVE: Our purpose was to determine whether interleukin-1 is an important mediator of lipopolysaccharide-induced fetal death and, if so, whether interleukin-1 causes fetal death by inducing prostanoid formation in gestational tissues