We have previously demonstrated that pre-B-cell colony enhancing factor (PBEF) ais a biomarker in sepsis and sepsis-induced acute lung injury (ALI) with genetic variants conferring ALI susceptibility118. In the current study, we explored the mechanistic participation of PBEF in ALI and ventilator-induced associated lung injury (VIALI). Initial in vitro studies and demonstrated rhPBEF aas a direct rat neutrophil chemotactic factor in vitro producing marked in vivo increases in BAL leukocytes (PMNs) in vivo following (intratracheal injection (,IT) in C57B6 mice. These latter changes were accompanied by increased BAL levels of the PMN chemoattractants (, KC and MIP2), and modest changes in lung vascular and but were not associated with significant increasesin alveolar permeability. We next explored the potential synergism between rhPBEF administration (IT) and a mechanical ventilation model of modest VILI lung injury (4 hours, 30 ml/kg tidal volume). We and observed dramatic synergistic increases in BAL PMNs, and both BAL protein and cytokine levels (IL-6, TNF-?, KC). Gene expression profiling Microarray analysis further supported a major role for PBEF in the induction of gene modules associated with ALI and VALI (NFkB pathway, leukocyte extravasation, apoptosis, toll receptor signaling). Finally, we exposed wild type and heterozygous PBEF+/- mice (targeted deletion of a single PBEF allele deletion) to a model of severe VILImechanical ventilation-induced lung injury (4 hours, 40 ml/kg tidal volume). PBEF+/- mice were significantly protected from VIALI-associated increases in BAL protein and BAL IL-6 levels and exhibited significantly reduced expression of ALI-associated gene expression modules. Together, these results indicate that PBEF is a key inflammatory mediator intimately involved in both the development and severity of ventilator-induced ALI.
Essential role of pre-B-cell colony enhancing factor in ventilator-induced lung injury.
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View SamplesParticulate Matter Triggers Carotid Body Dysfunction, Respiratory Dysynchrony and Cardiac Arrhythmias in Mice with Cardiac Failure
Particulate matter induces cardiac arrhythmias via dysregulation of carotid body sensitivity and cardiac sodium channels.
Age, Specimen part
View SamplesBackground: Microvascular injury and increased vascular leakage are prominent features of the radiation-induced lung injury (RILI) which follows cancerassociated thoracic irradiation. The mechanisms of RILI are incompletely understood and therapeutic strategies to limit RILI are currently unavailable. We established a murine model of radiation pneumonitis in order to assess mechanism-based therapies for RILI-induced inflammation and vascular barrier dysfunction. Based on prior studies, we investigated the therapeutic potential of simvastatin as a vascular barrier protective agent in RILI.
Simvastatin attenuates radiation-induced murine lung injury and dysregulated lung gene expression.
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View SamplesThe subunits of voltage-gated calcium channels regulate surface expression and gating of CaV1 and CaV2 1 subunits, and thus contribute to neuronal excitability, neurotransmitter release and calcium-induced gene regulation. In addition certain subunits are targeted into the nucleus, where they directly interact with the epigenetic machinery. Whereas their involvement in this multitude of functions is reflected by a great molecular heterogeneity of isoforms derived from four genes and abundant alternative splicing, little is known about the roles of individual variants in specific neuronal functions. In the present study, an alternatively spliced 4 subunit lacking the variable N-terminus (4e) is identified. It is highly expressed in mouse cerebellum and cultured cerebellar granule cells (CGC) and modulates P/Q-type calcium currents in tsA cells and CaV2.1 surface expression in neurons. Compared to the other two known full-length 4 variants (4a, 4b) 4e is most abundantly expressed in the distal axon, but lacks nuclear targeting properties. To examine the importance of nuclear targeting of 4 subunits for transcriptional regulation, we performed whole genome expression profiling of CGCs from lethargic mice individually reconstituted with 4a, 4b, and 4e. Notably, the number of genes regulated by each 4 splice variant correlated with the rank order of their nuclear targeting properties (4b> 4a> 4e). Together these findings support isoform-specific functions of 4 splice variant in neurons, with 4b playing a dual role in channel modulation and gene regulation, while the newly detected 4e variant serves exclusively in calcium channel-dependent functions.
Differential neuronal targeting of a new and two known calcium channel β4 subunit splice variants correlates with their regulation of gene expression.
Specimen part
View SamplesIn several models of obesity-induced diabetes, increased lipid accumulation in the liver has been associated with decreased diabetes susceptibility. For instance, deficiency in leptin receptor (db/db) leads to hyperphagia and obesity in both C57BL/6 and C57BLKS mice but, only on the C57BLKS background do the mice develop beta-cell loss leading to severe diabetes while C57BL/6 mice are relatively resistant. Liver triglyceride levels in the resistant C57BL/6 mice are 3 to 4 fold higher than in C57BLKS.
Systems genetics of susceptibility to obesity-induced diabetes in mice.
Sex, Age
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