Objective Apoptosis of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) is a prominent pathological characteristic of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA). We have previously shown that SMC apoptosis stimulates proinflammatory signaling in a mouse model of AAA. Here, we test whether Protein Kinase C-delta (PKCδ), an apoptotic mediator, participates in the pathogenesis of AAA by regulating apoptosis and proinflammatory signals. Methods and Results Mouse experimental AAA is induced by perivascular administration of CaCl2. Mice deficient in PKCδ exhibit a profound reduction in aneurysmal expansion, SMC apoptosis, and transmural inflammation as compared to wildtype littermates. Delivery of PKCδ to the aortic wall of PKCδ−/− mice restores aneurysm, while overexpression of a dominant negative PKCδ mutant in the aorta of wildtype mice attenuates aneurysm. In vitro, PKCδ−/− aortic SMCs exhibit significantly impaired monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) production. Ectopic administration of recombinant MCP-1 to the arterial wall of PKCδ−/− mice restores inflammatory response and aneurysm development. Conclusions PKCδ is an important signaling mediator for SMC apoptosis and inflammation in a mouse model of AAA. By stimulating MCP-1 expression in aortic SMCs, upregulated PKCδ exacerbates the inflammatory process, in turn perpetuating elastin degradation and aneurysmal dilatation. Inhibition of PKCδ may serve as a potential therapeutic strategy for AAA.

Background and Aims Hepatic ischemia reperfusion injury (IRI) is a critical component of hepatic surgery. Oxidative stress has long been implicated as a key player in IRI. In this study, we examine the cell-specific role of the Nrf2-antioxidant response element pathway in warm hepatic IRI. Methods Nrf2 KO and WT animals, and novel transgenic mice expressing a constitutively active Nrf2 mutant in hepatocytes (AlbCre+/caNrf2+) and their littermate controls underwent partial hepatic ischemia or sham surgery. The animals were sacrificed 6 hours after reperfusion and their serum and tissue collected for analysis. Results As compared to wild type animals after IR, Nrf2 KO mice had increased hepatocellular injury with increased serum ALT and AST, Suzuki score, apoptosis, an increased inflammatory infiltrate and enhanced inflammatory cytokine expression. On the other hand, AlbCre+/caNrf2+ that underwent IR had significantly reduced serum transaminases, less necrosis on histology, and a less pronounced inflammatory infiltrate and inflammatory cytokine expression as compared to the littermate controls. However, there were no differences in apoptosis. Conclusion Taken together, Nrf2 plays a critical role in our murine model of warm hepatic IRI, with Nrf2 deficiency exacerbating hepatic IRI and hepatocyte specific Nrf2 over-activation providing protection against warm hepatic IRI.

Arterial thrombosis in the setting of dyslipidemia promotes clinically significant events, including myocardial infarction and stroke. Oxidized lipids in low-density lipoproteins (oxLDL) are a risk factor for athero-thrombosis and are recognized by platelet scavenger receptor CD36. oxLDL binding to CD36 promotes platelet activation and thrombosis by promoting generation of reactive oxygen species. The downstream signaling events initiated by reactive oxygen species in this setting are poorly understood. In this study, we report that CD36 signaling promotes hydrogen peroxide flux in platelets. Using carbon nucleophiles that selectively and covalently modify cysteine sulfenic acids, we found that hydrogen peroxide generated through CD36 signaling promotes cysteine sulfenylation of platelet proteins. Specifically, cysteines were sulfenylated on Src family kinases, which are signaling transducers that are recruited to CD36 upon recognition of its ligands. Cysteine sulfenylation promoted activation of Src family kinases and was prevented by using a blocking antibody to CD36 or by enzymatic degradation of hydrogen peroxide. CD36-mediated platelet aggregation and procoagulant phosphatidylserine externalization were inhibited in a concentration-dependent manner by a panel of sulfenic acid–selective carbon nucleophiles. At the same concentrations, these probes did not inhibit platelet aggregation induced by the purinergic receptor agonist adenosine diphosphate or the collagen receptor glycoprotein VI agonist collagen-related peptide. Selective modification of cysteine sulfenylation in vivo with a benzothiazine-based nucleophile rescued the enhanced arterial thrombosis seen in dyslipidemic mice back to control levels. These findings suggest that CD36 signaling generates hydrogen peroxide to oxidize cysteines within platelet proteins, including Src family kinases, and lowers the threshold for platelet activation in dyslipidemia.

Hepatic ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) is an unavoidable consequence of liver transplantation that can lead to postoperative hepatic dysfunction. Myeloid cells that include Kupffer cells, monocytes, and neutrophils contribute to the inflammatory response and cellular injury observed during hepatic IRI. We hypothesize that overactivation of the nuclear erythroid 2 p45- related factor 2 (Nrf2)–antioxidant response element (ARE) pathway in myeloid cells leads to decreased cellular damage after hepatic IRI. We constructed transgenic mice with constitutively active nuclear erythroid 2 p45-related factor 2 (caNrf2) that over activates the Nrf2-ARE pathway in myeloid cells (lysozyme M cre recombinase [LysMcre]+/caNrf2−, n = 9), and their littermate controls lacking transgene expression (LysMcre+/caNrf2−, n = 11). The mice underwent either sham or partial hepatic ischemia surgery, with 60 minutes of ischemia followed by 6 hours of reperfusion. After IRI, LysMcre+/caN-rf2+ mice demonstrated significantly decreased serum alanine aminotransferase and decreased areas of necrosis. Immunohistochemistry and immunoblot of caspase 3 showed a significantly decreased cleaved to full-length caspase 3 ratio in LysMcre+/caNrf2+ animals. Lymphocyte antigen 6 complex locus G and CD68 staining demonstrated reduced inflammatory cell infiltration. LysMcre+/caNrf2+ animals also had significantly decreased gene expression of proinflammatory cytokines, including interleukin (IL) 1β, IL6, tumor necrosis factor α, chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2, and chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 10, and significantly decreased levels of 8-isoprostanes. In our model, Nrf2 overactivation in myeloid cells leads to decreased hepatocellular damage, necrosis, apoptosis, inflammation, and oxidative stress. Pharmacologic targeting of the Nrf2-ARE pathway in myeloid cells may be a novel strategy to mitigate hepatic IRI.

Zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) is a transcription factor that plays a central role in the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) of cancer cell lines. Studies on its regulation have mostly focused on the negative 3’UTR binding of miR200c. Interestingly, it has been previously reported that androgen receptor (AR) regulates ZEB1 expression in breast and prostate cancers. In order to validate this, various ZEB1 promoter deletions were cloned into a luciferase reporter system to elucidate the contribution of two putative androgen response elements (AREs). The in vivo contribution of AR was also assessed in cell lines after R1881 treatment using qPCR with prostate specific antigen (PSA) as the positive control. We discovered that AR upregulates the levels of expression of ZEB1 10-fold on a luciferase promoter that only contains the distal ARE. However, when the proximal ARE is included, no additional activation is apparent with AR or its hormone independent variant, AR-V7. Furthermore, we demonstrate here that a promoter construct containing both AREs activates transcription of ZEB1 even in the AR-null cell lines DU145 and PC3. Incubation of the AR-positive cell line, LNCaP with R1881, failed to substantially increase the expression levels of ZEB1. Despite the presence of AREs in the promoter region, it appears that ZEB1 expression can be induced even without AR. In addition, the region around the distal ARE is a potent repressor in AR-null cell lines.