Dipeptidyl Peptidase IV Inhibition Exerts Renoprotective Effects in Rats with Established Heart Failure

Circulating dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPPIV) activity is associated with worse cardiovascular outcomes in humans and experimental heart failure (HF) models, suggesting that DPPIV may play a role in the pathophysiology of this syndrome. Renal dysfunction is one of the key features of HF, but it remains to be determined whether DPPIV inhibitors are capable of improving cardiorenal function after the onset of HF. Therefore, the present study aimed to test the hypothesis that DPPIV inhibition by vildagliptin improves renal water and salt handling and exerts anti-proteinuric effects in rats with established HF. To this end, male Wistar rats were subjected to left ventricle (LV) radiofrequency ablation or sham operation. Six weeks after surgery, radiofrequency-ablated rats who developed HF were randomly divided into two groups and treated for 4 weeks with vildagliptin (120 mg/kg/day) or vehicle by oral gavage. Echocardiography was performed before (pretreatment) and at the end of treatment (post-treatment) to evaluate cardiac function. The fractional area change (FAC) increased (34 +/- 5 vs. 45 +/- 3%, p < 0.05), and the isovolumic relaxation time decreased (33 +/- 2 vs. 27 +/- 1 msp < 0.05) in HF rats treated with vildagliptin (post-treatment vs. pretreatment). On the other hand, cardiac dysfunction deteriorated further in vehicle-treated HF rats. Renal function was impaired in vehicle-treated HF rats as evidenced by fluid retention, low glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and high levels of urinary protein excretion. Vildagliptin treatment restored urinary flow. GFR, urinary sodium and urinary protein excretion to sham levels. Restoration of renal function in HF rats by DPPIV inhibition was associated with increased active glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) serum concentration, reduced DPPIV activity and increased activity of protein kinase A in the renal cortex. Furthermore, the anti-proteinuric effect of vildagliptin treatment in rats with established HF was associated with upregulation of the apical proximal tubule endocytic receptor megalin and of the podocyte main slit diaphragm proteins nephrin and podocin. Collectively, these findings demonstrate that DPPIV inhibition exerts renoprotective effects and ameliorates cardiorenal function in rats with established HF. Long-term studies with DPPIV inhibitors are needed to ascertain whether these effects ultimately translate into improved clinical outcomes.Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Cientifico e Tecnologico (CNPq)Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Med, Heart Inst InCor, Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Med, Div Cardiol, Sao Paulo, BrazilUniv Fed Espirito Santo, Dept Physiol Sci, Vitoria, BrazilUniv Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Med, Div Cardiol, Sao Paulo, BrazilFAPESP: 2013/10619-8Web of Scienc

Potentiation of combined p19Arf and interferon-beta cancer gene therapy through its association with doxorubicin chemotherapy

Balancing safety and efficacy is a major consideration for cancer treatments, especially when combining cancer immunotherapy with other treatment modalities such as chemotherapy. Approaches that induce immunogenic cell death (ICD) are expected to eliminate cancer cells by direct cell killing as well as activation of an antitumor immune response. We have developed a gene therapy approach based on p19Arf and interferon-β gene transfer that, similar to conventional inducers of ICD, results in the release of DAMPS and immune activation. Here, aiming to potentiate this response, we explore whether association between our approach and treatment with doxorubicin (Dox), a known inducer of ICD, could further potentiate treatment efficacy without inducing cardiotoxicity, a critical side effect of Dox. Using central composite rotational design analysis, we show that cooperation between gene transfer and chemotherapy killed MCA205 and B16F10 cells and permitted the application of reduced viral and drug doses. The treatments also cooperated to induce elevated levels of ICD markers in MCA205, which correlated with improved efficacy of immunotherapy in vivo. Treatment of subcutaneous MCA205 tumors associating gene transfer and low dose (10 mg/kg) chemotherapy resulted in inhibition of tumor progression. Moreover, the reduced dose did not cause cardiotoxicity as compared to the therapeutic dose of Dox (20 mg/kg). The association of p19Arf/interferon-β gene transfer and Dox chemotherapy potentiated antitumor response and minimized cardiotoxicity

Characterization of cryopreserved porcine adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells and responsiveness to shear stress

As células-tronco mesenquimais derivados do tecido adiposo (ASC) apresentam potencial para uso em terapêuticas para reparação cardíaca e o modelo de suínos recapitula aspectos relevantes dos seres humanos. Nesta dissertação quisemos caracterizar ASC de porcos (pASC), após criopreservação e avaliar a responsividade destas células ao shear stress. Após descongelamento as pASC exibiram 90-95% de viabilidade, não apresentaram alterações morfológicas e nem na expressão de marcadores de superfície (CD29+ 99,74%±0,10; CD90+ 97,84%±1,32; CD44+ 99,39%±0,19, CD31- 1,75%±0,21; média±EPM, n=3). O tempo de dobramento médio foi de 63,51±16,46 horas (média±DP) e o dobramento populacional cumulativo aumentou constantemente até a passagem 10, com pequeno e gradual aumento na senescência (P5 3,25%±0,26 e P10 9,6%±0,29 SA-?-Gal). Além disso, as pASC responderam, in vitro, ao tratamento para diferenciação em adipócitos e osteócitos. Já a exposição ao SS (15 dyn/cm² por 48 hs) não induziu a expressão de marcadores endoteliais (CD31, VE-caderina e FLK-1), mas resultou no acúmulo de VEGF induzido por NO (15 dyn/cm² por 96 hs). Interessantemente, o SS induziu a fosforilação de ERK e AKT e a liberação de NO independente da magnitude do SS (1-30 dyn/cm², por 30 min). No entanto, longos períodos de estímulo (24-48 hs) e diferentes intensidades de shear stress induziram desigualmente a liberação de NO e VEGF (5 dyn/cm² maior do que 10 ou 15 dyn/cm²). Tomados em conjunto, nossos dados promovem evidências de que a viabilidade, morfologia, cinética de crescimento e resposta a estímulos químicos ou físicos de pASC não foram influenciados pela criopreservação. Além disso, a magnitude de SS aplicada a essas células afetou a liberação de NO e VEGF somente após longos períodos de exposição a esse estímuloAdipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASC) offer potential regenerative therapeutic application for cardiac repair and the porcine model recapitulates key aspects relevant to humans. In this dissertation we wanted to establish the culture characteristics of pig ASC (pASC), especially after long-term cryopreservation and the effect of shear-stress (SS)-induced phenotypes. Upon thawing, pASC displayed 90-95% viability and no changes in morphological characteristics or in the expression of surface markers (CD29+ 99.74%±0.10; CD90+ 97.84%±1.32; CD44+ 99.39%±0.19, CD31- 1.75%±0.21; mean±SEM, n=3). Mean population doubling time was 63.51±16.46 hours (mean±SD) and cumulative population doubling increased constantly until passage 10 with a small and gradual increase in senescence (P5 3.25%±0.26 and P10 9.6%±0.29 SA--Gal staining). In addition, pASC in vitro responded to adipogenic and osteogenic chemical cues, whereas SS exposure (15 dyn/cm² up to 48 hours) failed to induce endothelial cell (EC) markers (CD31, VE-cadherin and FLK-1), but resulted in nitric oxide (NO)-induced VEGF accumulation (15 dyn/cm² up to 96 hours). Interestingly, SS-induced phosphorylation of ERK and AKT and the release of NO were independent of the magnitude of the stimulus (1-30 dyn/cm², up to 30minutes). In contrast, long term (24-48 hours) SS-induced NO and VEGF release under 5 dyn/cm² were higher than 10 or 15 dyn/cm2. Altogether, we provided evidence that pASC cell viability, morphology, growth characteristics and capacity to respond to chemical or physical cues were not influenced by cryopreservation. Moreover, the magnitude of the SS affected the NO and VEGF release in pASC only during long-term exposure to S

Additive effect of transplantation of adult stem cells post-infarction on the cardiac perfusion in pigs treated with beta-blocker and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor

Os efeitos benéficos associados à injeção intramiocárdica de células-tronco adultas, obtidos em roedores, não tem sido reproduzidos de modo consistente em modelos animais de grande porte e seres humanos. Neste trabalho testamos a hipótese que o transplante de células-tronco mesenquimais derivadas do tecido adiposo de porcos (pASC) aumenta a perfusão tecidual cardíaca em animais infartados e humanizados pelo tratamento com um inibidor da enzima conversora de angiotensina (iECA) e um ?-bloqueador. Os animais foram submetidos a oclusão da artéria coronária circunflexa esquerda (ACX) e 4 semanas após o IM, 4 grupos foram randomizados para receber injeção intramiocárdica de pASC nas doses de 1, 2 ou 4x10^6 pASC/Kg de massa corporal ou placebo. A análise de perfusão miocárdica foi realizada através da ecocardiografia com perfusão miocárdica em tempo real (ECMTR) utilizando contraste de microbolhas comercialmente disponível antes da injeção de pASC e 4 semanas após o tratamento com as células. Avaliações anatomopatológicas foram realizadas para medir a área de IM e o remodelamento de VE. Oito semanas após o IM, os porcos tratados com a maior dose de pASC mostraram um aumento significativo do fluxo sanguíneo do miocárdio, tanto em áreas remotas (3,9 vezes) como na área de borda do infarto (3,7 vezes) vs. os outros grupos estudados. Neste mesmo grupo, um aumento significativo no número de vasos (cerca de 54 e 56%, área remota e de borda respectivamente) foi observado (p> 0,05 vs. outros grupos). Curiosamente, a área de tecido não perfundido foi menor (em até 38%), enquanto que a razão de afinamento da parede (25%) e a percentagem de fibras de colágeno imaturas (verde/finas) foram maiores no grupo 4 que recebeu 4x10^6 pASC/Kg em comparação com os demais. Além disso, a dose mais elevada de pASCs alogênicas testadas não induziu um aumento da resposta inflamatória celular no VE. Deste modo, os resultados mostram que a injeção intramiocárdica de pASCs alogênicas pós-IM promove aumento da perfusão miocárdica e no número de vaso sanguíneos no VE na ausência de resposta inflamatória celular que podem contribuir para atenuar o remodelamento cardíaco adverso de VE 2 meses após o IM na presença de terapêutica farmacológica padrãoThe beneficial effects associated with intramyocardial injection of adult stem cells in rodents have not been consistently reproduced in larger animals and humans. We evaluated the dose of porcine adipose-tissue derived mesenchymal stem cells (pASC) to increase cardiac tissue perfusion in pigs treated with ace-inhibitors and ?-blockers to mimic human management post-MI. Animals were subjected to LCx occlusion and 4 weeks after MI blinded randomized in 4 groups to receive intramyocardial injection of pASC (1, 2 and 4x10^6 pASC/Kg bw) or placebo. Real time myocardial perfusion echocardiography (RTMPE) was conducted using commercial microbubbles before injection and 4 weeks after treatment with pASC. Anatomopathological assessments were performed to evaluated MI area, LV remodeling. Eight weeks after MI, the pigs treated with the highest dose of pASC showed a significant increase of myocardial blood flow in both remote (3.9 times) and border zone (3.7 times) versus the other groups, which was also in agreement with the increase in vessel numbers (about 54 and 56%, respectively) compared to the other groups (p > 0.05). Interestingly, the non-perfused area was reduced (up to 38%) and the thinning ratio was higher (25%) in the 4x10 ^ 6 pASC/Kg.bw group compared with placebo or the other cell groups. In addition, the percentage of immature (thin/green) collagen fibers was greater in group 4 than in the placebo animals. The highest dose of allogeneic pASCs did not elicit an increased cellular inflammatory response in LV. Altogether, we provide evidence that intramyocardial injection of allogeneic pASC post-MI did not elicit cellular inflammatory response and also it increased cardiac perfusion and vessel number when in highest dose, which may have contributed to attenuate the LV adverse remodeling 2 months after the M

Expressão dos fatores de regulação miogênica em cultura de mioblastos submetidos ao TNF-α/IFN-γ

A insuficiência cardíaca (IC) está associada a miopatia dos músculos esqueléticos dos membros, com perda da massa muscular, diminuição na proporção das fibras do tipo I (contração lenta) e aumento na proporção das fibras do tipo II (contração rápida). É provável que alterações na expressão de fatores de transcrição pertencentes à família “basic helix-loop-helix” (bHLH), da qual fazem parte a MyoD, Miogenina, Myf5 e o MRF-4, conhecidos como fatores de regulação miogênica (MRFs), sejam responsáveis pelas mudanças nos tipos de fibras. Enquanto que a Miogenina é expressa em níveis superiores aos da MyoD em músculos lentos, o oposto é verdadeiro para músculos rápidos. Similarmente, a MyoD está associada com a expressão das isoformas de miosina de cadeia pesada rápidas dos tipos IIX e IIB. Estudos in vitro, demonstraram que o TNF-α inibe a expressão de MyoD e miogenina diminuindo a atividade de genes músculo específicos. A ação do TNF-α diminuindo a expressão da MyoD mostra-se mais acentuada quando em associação com o IFN-γ, no entanto, há poucas informações na literatura a respeito do papel desta associação na expressão dos fatores de regulação miogênica, in vitro. Avaliar a expressão dos fatores de regulação miogênica, MyoD, miogenina, Myf5, e MRF-4 em cultura de mioblastos C2C12 submetidos ao TNF-α/IFN-γ. Nossos resultados mostraram um aumentou na expressão dos gene MyoD, Myf5 e miogenina sob tratamento com IFN-γ quando comparado aos grupos controle e TNF-α/IFN-γ. A expressão gênica do MRF-4 na cultura de células não foi detectada em nenhum dos grupos analisados. O GAPDH foi utilizado para normalizar os valores de expressão dos outros genes analisados. O presente estudo demonstrou que o IFN-γ exógeno administrado à culturas de mioblastos... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo

Human Induced Pluripotent Stem (hiPS) Cells from Urine Samples: A Non-Integrative and Feeder-Free Reprogramming Strategy

International audienceHuman induced pluripotent stem (hiPS) cell technology has already revolutionized some aspects of fundamental and applied research such as study of disease mechanisms and pharmacology screening. The first clinical trial using hiPS cell-derived cells began in Japan, only 10 years after the publication of the proof-of concept article. In this exciting context, strategies to generate hiPS cells have evolved quickly, tending towards non-invasive protocols to sample somatic cells combined with "safer" reprogramming strategies. In this unit, we describe a protocol combining both of these advantages to generate hiPS cells with episomal plasmid transfection from urine samples of individuals carrying the desired genotype. Based on previous published works, this simplified protocol requires minimal equipment and reagents, and is suitable both for scientists familiar with the hiPS cells technology and neophytes. HiPS cells displaying classical features of pluripotency and suitable for all desired downstream applications are generated rapidly (\textless10 weeks) and with high efficiency. © 2017 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc

Mechanisms underlying the inhibitory effects of uroguanylin on NHE3 transport activity in renal proximal tubule

Lessa LM, Carraro-Lacroix LR, Crajoinas RO, Bezerra CN, Dariolli R, Girardi AC, Fonteles MC, Malnic G. Mechanisms underlying the inhibitory effects of uroguanylin on NHE3 transport activity in renal proximal tubule. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 303: F1399-F1408, 2012. First published September 5, 2012; doi: 10.1152/ajprenal.00385.2011.-We previously demonstrated that uroguanylin (UGN) significantly inhibits Na+/H+ exchanger (NHE)3-mediated bicarbonate reabsorption. In the present study, we aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying the action of UGN on NHE3 in rat renal proximal tubules and in a proximal tubule cell line (LLC-PK1). The in vivo studies were performed by the stationary microperfusion technique, in which we measured H+ secretion in rat renal proximal segments, through a H+-sensitive microelectrode. UGN (1 mu M) significantly inhibited the net of proximal bicarbonate reabsorption. The inhibitory effect of UGN was completely abolished by either the protein kinase G (PKG) inhibitor KT5823 or by the protein kinase A (PKA) inhibitor H-89. The effects of UGN in vitro were found to be similar to those obtained by microperfusion. Indeed, we observed that incubation of LLC-PK1 cells with UGN induced an increase in the intracellular levels of cAMP and cGMP, as well as activation of both PKA and PKG. Furthermore, we found that UGN can increase the levels of NHE3 phosphorylation at the PKA consensus sites 552 and 605 in LLC-PK1 cells. Finally, treatment of LLC-PK1 cells with UGN reduced the amount of NHE3 at the cell surface. Overall, our data suggest that the inhibitory effect of UGN on NHE3 transport activity in proximal tubule is mediated by activation of both cGMP/PKG and cAMP/PKA signaling pathways which in turn leads to NHE3 phosphorylation and reduced NHE3 surface expression. Moreover, this study sheds light on mechanisms by which guanylin peptidesFundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP)Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado de Sao Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Pesquisas (CNPq)Conselho Nacional de Pesquisas (CNPq)Fund. C. Fortaleza (Funcap)Fund. C. Fortaleza (Funcap

Porcine Adipose Tissue-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Retain Their Proliferative Characteristics, Senescence, Karyotype and Plasticity after Long-Term Cryopreservation

<div><p>We and others have provided evidence that adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) can mitigate rat cardiac functional deterioration after myocardial ischemia, even though the mechanism of action or the relevance of these findings to human conditions remains elusive. In this regard, the porcine model is a key translational step, because it displays heart anatomic-physiological features that are similar to those found in the human heart. Towards this end, we wanted to establish the cultural characteristics of porcine ASCs (pASCs) with or without long-term cryostorage, considering that allogeneic transplantation may also be a future option. Compared to fresh pASCs, thawed cells displayed 90–95% viability and no changes in morphological characteristics or in the expression of surface markers (being pASCs characterized by positive markers CD29⁺; CD90⁺; CD44⁺; CD140b⁺; CD105⁺; and negative markers CD31⁻; CD34⁻; CD45⁻ and SLA-DR⁻; n = 3). Mean population doubling time was also comparable (64.26±15.11 hours to thawed cells vs. 62.74±18.07 hours to fresh cells) and cumulative population doubling increased constantly until Passage 10 (P10) in the entire cell population, with a small and gradual increase in senescence (P5, 3.25%±0.26 vs. 3.47%±0.32 and P10, 9.6%±0.29 vs. 10.67%±1.25, thawed vs. fresh; SA-β-Gal staining). Chromosomal aberrations were not observed. In addition, under both conditions pASCs responded to adipogenic and osteogenic chemical cues <i>in vitro</i>. In conclusion, we have demonstrated the growth characteristics, senescence, and the capacity of pASCs to respond to chemical cues <i>in vitro</i> and have provided evidence that these properties are not influenced by cryostorage in 10% DMSO solution.</p></div

Cryostorage does not influence the expression of mesenchymal surface markers.

<p><b>A)</b> FACS histogram representations for each analyzed surface marker in pASCs. <b>B)</b> Quantification of surface markers (means expressed as percentages; n = 3). <b>C)</b> Representative semi quantitative RT-PCR comparing fresh and thawed cells by mRNA expression for positive and negative phenotypic markers (2% agarose gel). Numbers 1, 2 and 3 are relative to different animals used to extract the pASCs.</p

pASC morphology and viability are maintained after long-term cryostorage.

<p>Morphological profiles for pASCs <b>A)</b> after passage 3 (before freezing) and passages 5, 10, and 15 (after thawing). Note similar fibroblast–like morphology in all represented passages. <b>B)</b> Quantification of viability of pASCs by Tripan blue dye assay in Passage 5 after thawing displayed a small but significant reduction versus fresh cells (P6–P10; *p<0.001; n = 3). <b>C)</b> Representative FACS plot showing the viability of P5 pASC by Annexin/PI assay (mean%±SEM; n = 3). <b>D)</b> Quantification of cell death by type (*p<0.0001 fresh late apoptotic vs. thawed late apoptotic cells; n = 3). Correlation curve of percentage of viability between Tripan blue dye assay×Annexin/PI assay.</p