Network analysis of human glaucomatous optic nerve head astrocytes

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Astrocyte activation is a characteristic response to injury in the central nervous system, and can be either neurotoxic or neuroprotective, while the regulation of both roles remains elusive.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>To decipher the regulatory elements controlling astrocyte-mediated neurotoxicity in glaucoma, we conducted a systems-level functional analysis of gene expression, proteomic and genetic data associated with reactive optic nerve head astrocytes (ONHAs).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Our reconstruction of the molecular interactions affected by glaucoma revealed multi-domain biological networks controlling activation of ONHAs at the level of intercellular stimuli, intracellular signaling and core effectors. The analysis revealed that synergistic action of the transcription factors AP-1, vitamin D receptor and Nuclear Factor-kappaB in cross-activation of multiple pathways, including inflammatory cytokines, complement, clusterin, ephrins, and multiple metabolic pathways. We found that the products of over two thirds of genes linked to glaucoma by genetic analysis can be functionally interconnected into one epistatic network via experimentally-validated interactions. Finally, we built and analyzed an integrative disease pathology network from a combined set of genes revealed in genetic studies, genes differentially expressed in glaucoma and closely connected genes/proteins in the interactome.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results suggest several key biological network modules that are involved in regulating neurotoxicity of reactive astrocytes in glaucoma, and comprise potential targets for cell-based therapy.</p

Effects of Pd on Catalysis by Au: CO Adsorption, CO Oxidation, and Cyclohexene Hydrogenation by Supported Au and Pd−Au Catalysts

Incorporating small amounts of Pd into supported Au catalysts has been shown to have beneficial effects on selective hydrogenation reactions, particularly 1,3-butadiene hydrogenation and the hydrogenation of nitroaromatics, especially p-chloronitrobenzene. Appropriate Pd incorporation enhances hydrogenation activity while maintaining the desirable high selectivity of supported Au catalysts. To better understand this phenomenon, a series of alumina- and titania-supported Au and dilute Pd–Au catalysts were prepared via urea deposition–precipitation. The catalysts were studied with infrared spectroscopy of CO adsorption, CO oxidation catalysis, and cyclohexene hydrogenation catalysis with the goal of understanding how Pd affects the catalytic properties of Au. CO adsorption experiments indicated a substantial amount of surface Pd when the catalyst was under CO. Adsorption experiments at various CO pressures were used to determine CO coverage; application of the Temkin adsorbate interaction model allowed for the determination of adsorption enthalpy metrics for CO adsorption on Au. These experiments showed that Pd induces an electronic effect on Au, affecting both the nascent adsorption enthalpy (ΔH0) and the change in enthalpy with increasing coverage. This electronic modification had little effect on CO oxidation catalysis. Michaelis–Menten kinetics parameters showed essentially the same oxygen reactivity on all the catalysts; the primary differences were in the number of active sites. The bimetallic catalysts were poor cyclohexene hydrogenation catalysts, indicating that there is relatively little exposed Pd when the catalyst is under hydrogen. The results, which are discussed in the context of the literature, indicate that a combination of surface composition and Pd-induced electronic effects on Au appear to increase hydrogen chemisorption and hydrogenation activity while largely maintaining the selectivities associated with catalysis by Au

Heme activates TLR4-mediated inflammatory injury via MyD88/TRIF signaling pathway in intracerebral hemorrhage

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Inflammatory injury plays a critical role in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH)-induced neurological deficits; however, the signaling pathways are not apparent by which the upstream cellular events trigger innate immune and inflammatory responses that contribute to neurological impairments. Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) plays a role in inflammatory damage caused by brain disorders.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In this study, we investigate the role of TLR4 signaling in ICH-induced inflammation. In the ICH model, a significant upregulation of TLR4 expression in reactive microglia has been demonstrated using real-time RT-PCR. Activation of microglia was detected by immunohistochemistry, cytokines were measured by ELISA, MyD88, TRIF and NF-κB were measured by Western blot and EMSA, animal behavior was evaluated by animal behavioristics.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Compared to WT mice, TLR4^−/−mice had restrained ICH-induced brain damage showing in reduced cerebral edema and lower neurological deficit scores. Quantification of cytokines including IL-6, TNF-α and IL-1β and assessment of macrophage infiltration in perihematoma tissues from TLR4^−/−, MyD88^−/−and TRIF^−/−mice showed attenuated inflammatory damage after ICH. TLR4^−/−mice also exhibited reduced MyD88 and TRIF expression which was accompanied by decreased NF-κB activity. This suggests that after ICH both MyD88 and TRIF pathways might be involved in TLR4-mediated inflammatory injury possibly via NF-κB activation. Exogenous hemin administration significantly increased TLR4 expression and microglial activation in cultures and also exacerbated brain injury in WT mice but not in TLR4^−/−mice. Anti-TLR4 antibody administration suppressed hemin-induced microglial activation in cultures and in the mice model of ICH.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our findings suggest that heme potentiates microglial activation <it>via </it>TLR4, in turn inducing NF-κB activation <it>via </it>the MyD88/TRIF signaling pathway, and ultimately increasing cytokine expression and inflammatory injury in ICH. Targeting TLR4 signaling may be a promising therapeutic strategy for ICH.</p