Sex- and isoform-specific mechanism of neuroprotection by transgenic expression of P450 epoxygenase in vascular endothelium

Cytochrome P450 epoxygenases (CYP) metabolize arachidonic acid to epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs), which exhibit vasodilatory, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective actions in experimental cerebral ischemia. We evaluated the effect of endothelial-specific CYP overexpression on cerebral blood flow, inflammatory cytokine expression and tissue infarction after focal cerebral ischemia in transgenic mice

17β-Estradiol Rapidly Increases KATP Activity in GnRH via a Protein Kinase Signaling Pathway

17β-Estradiol (E2) both inhibits and excites GnRH neurons via presynaptic as well as postsynaptic mechanisms. Although it has been demonstrated that E2 can alter the excitability of GnRH neurons via direct actions, the intracellular signaling cascades mediating these actions are not well understood. Previously we have shown that the activity of one of the critical ion channels needed for maintaining GnRH neurons in a hyperpolarized state, the ATP-sensitive potassium channel (KATP) channel, is augmented by E2 in ovariectomized females. However, the mRNA expression of the KATP channel subunits Kir6.2 and SUR1 are unchanged with in vivo E2 treatment. Therefore, to elucidate the cellular signaling mechanism(s) modulating the channel activity, we did whole-cell patch-clamp recording of enhanced green fluorescent protein-GnRH neurons from ovariectomized female mice to study the acute effects of E2. E2 dose-dependently (EC50 = 0.6 nM) enhanced the diazoxide (channel opener)-activated KATP channel currents by 1.2- to 2.0-fold, which was antagonized by ICI 182,780. E2-BSA was equally as effective as E2, whereas E2 had no effect. The protein kinase A (PKA) activator forskolin mimicked the effects of E2, whereas the PKA inhibitor H89 and the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor bisindolylmaleimide I blocked the effects of E2. Similar to E2, STX, a membrane estrogen receptor (ER) agonist that does not bind to ERα or ERβ, also potentiated the diazoxide-induced KATP channel current by 1.5-fold. Therefore, E2 can potentiate KATP channel activity in GnRH neurons through a membrane ER-activated PKC-PKA signaling pathway

Endothelial expression of human cytochrome P450 epoxygenases lowers blood pressure and attenuates hypertension-induced renal injury in mice

Renal cytochrome P450 (CYP)-derived epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) regulate sodium transport and blood pressure. Although endothelial CYP-derived EETs are potent vasodilators, their contribution to the regulation of blood pressure remains unclear. Consequently, we developed transgenic mice with endothelial expression of the human CYP2J2 and CYP2C8 epoxygenases to increase endothelial EET biosynthesis. Compared to wild-type littermate controls, an attenuated afferent arteriole constrictor response to endothelin-1 and enhanced dilator response to acetylcholine was observed in CYP2J2 and CYP2C8 transgenic mice. CYP2J2 and CYP2C8 transgenic mice demonstrated modestly, but not significantly, lower mean arterial pressure under basal conditions compared to wild-type controls. However, mean arterial pressure was significantly lower in both CYP2J2 and CYP2C8 transgenic mice during coadministration of N-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester and indomethacin. In a separate experiment, a high-salt diet and subcutaneous angiotensin II was administered over 4 wk. The angiotensin/high-salt-induced increase in systolic blood pressure, proteinuria, and glomerular injury was significantly attenuated in CYP2J2 and CYP2C8 transgenic mice compared to wild-type controls. Collectively, these data demonstrate that increased endothelial CYP epoxygenase expression attenuates afferent arteriolar constrictor reactivity and hypertension-induced increases in blood pressure and renal injury in mice. We conclude that endothelial CYP epoxygenase function contributes to the regulation of blood pressure.—Lee, C. R., Imig, J. D., Edin, M. E., Foley, J., DeGraff, L. M., Bradbury, J. A., Graves, J. P., Lih, F. B., Clark, J., Myers, P., Perrow, A. L., Lepp, A. N., Kannon, M. A., Ronnekleiv, O. K., Alkayed, N. J., Falck, J. R., Tomer, K. B., Zeldin, D. C. Endothelial expression of human cytochrome P450 epoxygenases lowers blood pressure and attenuates hypertension-induced renal injury in mice

Sex- and isoform-specific mechanism of neuroprotection by transgenic expression of P450 epoxygenase in vascular endothelium

OBJECTIVE: Cytochrome P450 epoxygenases (CYP) metabolize arachidonic acid to epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs), which exhibit vasodilatory, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective actions in experimental cerebral ischemia. We evaluated the effect of endothelial-specific CYP overexpression on cerebral blood flow, inflammatory cytokine expression and tissue infarction after focal cerebral ischemia in transgenic mice. APPROACH AND RESULTS: Male and female wild-type and transgenic mice overexpressing either human CYP2J2 or CYP2C8 epoxygenases in vascular endothelium under control of the Tie2 promoter (Tie2-CYP2J2 and Tie2-CYP2C8) were subjected to 60-minutes middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Microvascular cortical perfusion was monitored during vascular occlusion and reperfusion using laser-Doppler flowmetry and optical imaging. Infarct size and inflammatory cytokines were measured at 24 hours of reperfusion by TTC and real-time quantitative PCR, respectively. Infarct size was significantly reduced in both Tie2-CYP2J2 and Tie2-CYP2C8 transgenic male mice compared to corresponding WT male mice (n=10 per group, p < 0.05). Tie2-CYP2J2, but not Tie2-CYP2C8 male mice maintained higher blood flow during MCAO; however, both Tie2-CYP2J2 and Tie2-CYP2C8 had lower inflammatory cytokine expression after ischemia compared to corresponding WT males (n=10 per group for CBF and n=3 for cytokines, p<0.05). In females, a reduction in infarct was observed in the caudate-putamen, but not in the cortex or hemisphere as a whole and no differences were observed in blood flow between female transgenic and WT mice (n=10 per group). CONCLUSIONS: Overexpression of CYP epoxygenases in vascular endothelial cells protects against experimental cerebral ischemia in male mice. The mechanism of protection is in part linked to enhanced blood flow and suppression of inflammation, and is both sex- and CYP isoform-specific

Epigenetic control of female puberty

The timing of puberty is controlled by many genes. The elements coordinating this process have not, however, been identified. Here we show that an epigenetic mechanism of transcriptional repression times the initiation of female puberty in rats. We identify silencers of the Polycomb group (PcG) as major contributors to this mechanism, and show that PcG proteins repress Kiss1, a puberty-activating gene. Hypothalamic expression of two key PcG genes, Eed and Cbx7, decreases and methylation of their promoters increases preceding puberty. Inhibiting DNA methylation blocks both events and results in pubertal failure. The pubertal increase in Kiss1 is accompanied by EED loss from the Kiss1 promoter and enrichment of histone H3 modifications associated with gene activation. Preventing the eviction of EED from the Kiss1 promoter disrupts pulsatile GnRH release, delays puberty, and compromises fecundity. Our results identify epigenetic silencing as a novel mechanism underlying the neuroendocrine control of female puberty