Regulation of neovascularization by S-glutathionylation via the Wnt5a/sFlt-1 pathway

S-glutathionylation occurs when reactive oxygen or nitrogen species react with protein-cysteine thiols. Glutaredoxin-1 (Glrx) is a cytosolic enzyme which enzymatically catalyses the reduction in S-glutathionylation, conferring reversible signalling function to proteins with redox-sensitive thiols. Glrx can regulate vascular hypertrophy and inflammation by regulating the activity of nuclear factor κB (NF-κB) and actin polymerization. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced endothelial cell (EC) migration is inhibited by Glrx overexpression. In mice overexpressing Glrx, blood flow recovery, exercise function and capillary density were significantly attenuated after hindlimb ischaemia (HLI). Wnt5a and soluble Fms-like tyrosine kinase-1 (sFlt-1) were enhanced in the ischaemic-limb muscle and plasma respectively from Glrx transgenic (TG) mice. A Wnt5a/sFlt-1 pathway had been described in myeloid cells controlling retinal blood vessel development. Interestingly, a Wnt5a/sFlt-1 pathway was found also to play a role in EC to inhibit network formation. S-glutathionylation of NF-κB components inhibits its activation. Up-regulated Glrx stimulated the Wnt5a/sFlt-1 pathway through enhancing NF-κB signalling. These studies show a novel role for Glrx in post-ischaemic neovascularization, which could define a potential target for therapy of impaired angiogenesis in pathological conditions including diabetes

Innowacyjne i informacyjne perspektywy zarządzania przedsiębiorstwem

The purpose of this study is to point out the extent to which enterprises want to exploit the possibilities of information technologies (IT), system integration of information systems (IS) and business process automation with the aim to increase the intelligent work with information and improve business management support in enterprises. The paper evaluates the development and analyzes the views of 189 managers of Slovak SMEs and 26 managers of IT companies on the causes that prevent wider use of innovation opportunities and IS potential in enterprises in the process of increasing the competitiveness of their enterprises in the market. In this case we focused on the analysis and identification of several advantages and disadvantages related to the implementation of innovation and process automation and their impact on business management. We compare these results with the results of similar researches in the EU. Based on the best practice results, we suggest practices and recommendations that should eliminate the barriers to successful implementation of innovation potential in businesses and create conditions to support managerial decision making processes to be more effective.Celem niniejszego artykułu jest wskazanie, w jakim stopniu przedsiębiorstwa chcą wykorzystać możliwości technologii informacyjnych (IT), systemowej integracji systemów informatycznych (IS) i automatyzacji procesów biznesowych w celu zwiększenia inteligentnej pracy z informacjami oraz poprawy wsparcia zarządzania w przedsiębiorstwach. Artykuł ocenia rozwój i analizuje opinie 189 menedżerów słowackich MŚP i 26 menedżerów firm IT na temat przyczyn, które uniemożliwiają szersze wykorzystanie możliwości innowacyjnych i potencjału systemów informatycznych w przedsiębiorstwach w procesie zwiększania konkurencyjności na rynku. W tym przypadku skupiono się na analizie i identyfikacji szeregu zalet i wad związanych z wdrażaniem innowacji i automatyzacji procesów oraz ich wpływem na zarządzanie przedsiębiorstwem. Porównano osiągnięte wyniki z rezultatami podobnych badań w UE. W oparciu o wyniki najlepszych praktyk zaproponowano rozwiązania i zalecenia, które powinny wyeliminować bariery utrudniające skuteczne wdrażanie potencjału innowacyjnego w przedsiębiorstwach i stworzyć warunki do wspierania procesów decyzyjnych menedżerów, tak aby były bardziej skuteczne

Cell adhesion and growth on ultrananocrystalline diamond and diamond-like carbon films after different surface modifications

Diamond and diamond-like carbon (DLC) films possess a set of excellent physical and chemical properties which together with a high biocompatibility make them attractive candidates for a number of medical and biotechnological applications. In the current work thin ultrananocrystalline diamond (UNCD) and DLC films were comparatively investigated with respect to cell attachment and proliferation after different surface modifications. The UNCD films were prepared by microwave plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition, the DLC films by pulsed laser deposition (PLD). The films were comprehensively characterized with respect to their basic properties, e.g. crystallinity, morphology, chemical bonding nature, etc. Afterwards the UNCD and DLC films were modified applying O2 or NH3/N2 plasmas and UV/O3 treatments to alter their surface termination. The surface composition of as-grown and modified samples was studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Furthermore the films were characterized by contact angle measurements with water, formamide, 1-decanol and diiodomethane; from the results obtained the surface energy with its dispersive and polar components was calculated. The adhesion and proliferation of MG63 osteosarcoma cells on the different UNCD and DLC samples were assessed by measurement of the cell attachment efficiency and MTT assays. The determined cell densities were compared and correlated with the surface properties of as-deposited and modified UNCD and DLC films.JRC.I.4-Nanobioscience

Quantifying changes in the thiol redox proteome upon oxidative stress in vivo

Antimicrobial levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) are produced by the mammalian host defense to kill invading bacteria and limit bacterial colonization. One main in vivo target of ROS is the thiol group of proteins. We have developed a quantitative thiol trapping technique termed OxICAT to identify physiologically important target proteins of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and hypochlorite (NaOCl) stress in vivo. OxICAT allows the precise quantification of oxidative thiol modifications in hundreds of different proteins in a single experiment. It also identifies the affected proteins and defines their redox-sensitive cysteine(s). Using this technique, we identified a group of Escherichia coli proteins with significantly (30–90%) oxidatively modified thiol groups, which appear to be specifically sensitive to either H2O2 or NaOCl stress. These results indicate that individual oxidants target distinct proteins in vivo. Conditionally essential E. coli genes encode one-third of redox-sensitive proteins, a finding that might explain the bacteriostatic effect of oxidative stress treatment. We identified a select group of redox-regulated proteins, which protect E. coli against oxidative stress conditions. These experiments illustrate that OxICAT, which can be used in a variety of different cell types and organisms, is a powerful tool to identify, quantify, and monitor oxidative thiol modifications in vivo