Vitamin C inhibits endothelial cell apoptosis in congestive heart failure

Background - Proinflammatory cytokines like tumor necrosis factor- and oxidative stress induce apoptotic cell death in endothelial cells (ECs). Systemic inflammation and increased oxidative stress in congestive heart failure (CHF) coincide with enhanced EC apoptosis and the development of endothelial dysfunction. Therefore, we investigated the effects of antioxidative vitamin C therapy on EC apoptosis in CHF patients. Methods and Results - Vitamin C dose dependently suppressed the induction of EC apoptosis by tumor necrosis factor- and angiotensin II in vitro as assessed by DNA fragmentation, DAPI nuclear staining, and MTT viability assay. The antiapoptotic effect of vitamin C was associated with reduced cytochrome C release from mitochondria and the inhibition of caspase-9 activity. To assess EC protection by vitamin C in CHF patients, we prospectively randomized CHF patients in a double-blind trial to vitamin C treatment versus placebo. Vitamin C administration to CHF patients markedly reduced plasma levels of circulating apoptotic microparticles to 32±8% of baseline levels, whereas placebo had no effect (87±14%, P<0.005). In addition, vitamin C administration suppressed the proapoptotic activity on EC of the serum of CHF patients (P<0.001). Conclusions - Administration of vitamin C to CHF patients suppresses EC apoptosis in vivo, which might contribute to the established functional benefit of vitamin C supplementation on endothelial function

Distinct RNA profiles in subpopulations of extracellular vesicles: apoptotic bodies, microvesicles and exosomes

Introduction: In recent years, there has been an exponential increase in the number of studies aiming to understand the biology of exosomes, as well as other extracellular vesicles. However, classification of membrane vesicles and the appropriate protocols for their isolation are still under intense discussion and investigation. When isolating vesicles, it is crucial to use systems that are able to separate them, to avoid cross-contamination. Method: EVs released from three different kinds of cell lines: HMC-1, TF-1 and BV-2 were isolated using two centrifugation-based protocols. In protocol 1, apoptotic bodies were collected at 2,000&#x00D7;g, followed by filtering the supernatant through 0.8 &#x00B5;m pores and pelleting of microvesicles at 12,200&#x00D7;g. In protocol 2, apoptotic bodies and microvesicles were collected together at 16,500&#x00D7;g, followed by filtering of the supernatant through 0.2 &#x00B5;m pores and pelleting of exosomes at 120,000&#x00D7;g. Extracellular vesicles were analyzed by transmission electron microscopy, flow cytometry and the RNA profiles were investigated using a Bioanalyzer&#x00AE;. Results: RNA profiles showed that ribosomal RNA was primary detectable in apoptotic bodies and smaller RNAs without prominent ribosomal RNA peaks in exosomes. In contrast, microvesicles contained little or no RNA except for microvesicles collected from TF-1 cell cultures. The different vesicle pellets showed highly different distribution of size, shape and electron density with typical apoptotic body, microvesicle and exosome characteristics when analyzed by transmission electron microscopy. Flow cytometry revealed the presence of CD63 and CD81 in all vesicles investigated, as well as CD9 except in the TF-1-derived vesicles, as these cells do not express CD9. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that centrifugation-based protocols are simple and fast systems to distinguish subpopulations of extracellular vesicles. Different vesicles show different RNA profiles and morphological characteristics, but they are indistinguishable using CD63-coated beads for flow cytometry analysis

Stability of the thrombin-thrombomodulin complex on the surface of endothelial cells from human saphenous vein or from the cell line EA.hy 926

Protein C activation by alpha-thrombin on the surface of endothelial cells depends on an essential membrane-glycoprotein cofactor, thrombomodulin. In the present study we have monitored the activity of thrombin-thrombomodulin complexes on human saphenous-vein endothelial cells (HSVEC) or on the endothelial cell line EA.hy 926. Cell monolayers were exposed for 5 min to 8.5 nM human alpha-thrombin and then washed to remove unbound thrombin. The cells were then incubated at 37 degrees C for 5-180 min. At the end of the respective incubation periods, purified human protein C (120 nM) was added in order to assay the activity of the thrombin-thrombomodulin complexes present on the cell surface. HSVEC pre-exposed to thrombin retained their full capacity to promote protein C activation up to 90 min after free thrombin was removed. This capacity then decreased slowly to reach 56% of control value after 180 min of incubation. Original activity was 3.8 +/- 0.9 pmol of activated protein C formed/min per ml per 10(6) cells (mean +/- S.E.M., n = 5). The capacity of protein C activation of EA.hy 926 cells remained constant for 120 min after free thrombin was removed, then decreased to 76% of control after 180 min. Original activity was 2.0 +/- 0.4 pmol of activated protein C formed/min per ml per 10(6) cells (mean +/- S.E.M., n = 3). Similar results were obtained with cells fixed with 3% paraformaldehyde. However, during the 5-180 min incubation period, non-fixed cells of both types were capable of significantly internalizing fluorescent acetylated low-density lipoprotein. In the experimental protocol used here, an eventual inhibition of thrombin internalization by protein C can be excluded, as protein C is only added at the end of the incubation period. We conclude that there is no evidence of rapid internalization of thrombin-thrombomodulin complexes on HSVEC or the EA.hy 926 cell line, as assessed by the ability of membrane-bound thrombin to activate protein C

Microparticles from patients with metabolic syndrome induce vascular hypo-reactivity via Fas/Fas-ligand pathway in mice

Peer reviewedPublisher PD