Efflux of excess cellular cholesterol mediated by lipidpoor apolipoproteins occurs by an active mechanism distinct from passive diffusion and is controlled by the ATP-binding cassette transporter ABCA1. Here we examined whether ABCA1-mediated lipid efflux involves the selective removal of lipids associated with membrane rafts, plasma membrane domains enriched in cholesterol and sphingomyelin. ABCA1 was not associated with cholesterol and sphingolipid-rich membrane raft domains based on detergent solubility and lack of colocalization with marker proteins associated with raft domains. Lipid efflux to apoA-I was accounted for by decreases in cellular lipids not associated with cholesterol/ sphingomyelin-rich membranes. Treating cells with filipin, to disrupt raft structure, or with sphingomyelinase, to digest plasma membrane sphingomyelin, did not impair apoA-I-mediated cholesterol or phosphatidylcholine efflux. In contrast, efflux of cholesterol to high density lipoproteins (HDL) or plasma was partially accounted for by depletion of cholesterol from membrane rafts. Additionally, HDL-mediated cholesterol efflux was partially inhibited by filipin and sphingomyelinase treatment. Apo-A-I-mediated cholesterol efflux was absent from fibroblasts with nonfunctional ABCA1 (Tangier disease cells), despite near normal amounts of cholesterol associated with raft domains and normal abilities of plasma and HDL to deplete cholesterol from these domains. Thus, the involvement of membrane rafts in cholesterol efflux applies to lipidated HDL particles but not to lipid-free apoA-I. We conclude that cholesterol and sphingomyelin-rich membrane rafts do not provide lipid for efflux promoted by apolipoproteins through the ABCA1-mediated lipid secretory pathway and that ABCA1 is not associated with these domains. Cellular cholesterol efflux occurs by at least two distinct mechanisms (reviewed in Refs. 1-3). Aqueous diffusion involves desorption of membrane cholesterol into the aqueous compartment surrounding cells followed by absorption to an appropriate acceptor, such as high density lipoproteins (HDL).

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Objective: The purpose of the present study was to determine whether increased activation of the RhoA/Rho-kinase (ROCK) pathway occurs in diabetic cardiomyopathy and whether acute inhibition of this pathway improves contractile function of the diabetic heart. Methods: Male Wistar rats were made diabetic with streptozotocin. Twelve to fourteen weeks later, the effects of acute administration of the ROCK inhibitors Y-27632 and H-1152 on cardiac contractile function were measured both in vitro, in isolated working hearts, and in vivo, using echocardiography. Changes in the expression and activity of RhoA, and the effect of ROCK inhibition on changes in the phosphorylation of the downstream target of ROCK, LIM kinase 2, and on actin polymerization in diabetic hearts were also determined. Results: Perfusion of isolated working hearts from diabetic rats with Y-27632 or H-1152 acutely improved left ventricle developed pressure and the rates of contraction and relaxation. Acute administration of H-1152 also significantly improved the percent fraction shortening, an index of left ventricle contractility, in vivo in diabetic rats. The expression and activity of RhoA in cardiomyocytes from diabetic rats were significantly increased, as was the phosphorylation of LIM kinase 2. This was associated with an increase in actin polymerization (the F-actin to G-actin ratio). Both the increase in LIM kinase 2 phosphorylation and actin polymerization were attenuated by ROCK inhibition. Conclusions: These data suggest that activation of the RhoA/ROCK signaling pathway plays a critical role in the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy, and that ROCK is an excellent therapeutic target in the treatment of this condition.

A golden opportunity: A novel gold‐catalyzed oxidative ring‐expansion of unactivated cyclopropylalkynes using Ph2SO has been developed (see scheme). For substrates bearing a donor group at the cyclopropane ring, preliminary results reveal a distinct cleavage of the cyclopropane unit; such a ring cleavage is further applicable to the synthesis of 2H‐pyrans. L=P(tBu)2(o‐biphenyl), Tf=triflate.

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We report Au(I)- and Ag(I)-catalyzed cycloisomerizations of epoxide-alkyne functionalities in both aromatic and nonaromatic systems, leading to diversified carbocyclic and heterocyclic frameworks with high chemoselectivities. The use of such cycloisomerizations is reflected by a facile access to the cores of natural pallidol and gibberic acid.

OBJECTIVEImpaired cardiovascular function in diabetes is partially attributed to pathological overexpression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in cardiovascular tissues. We examined whether the hyperglycemia-induced increased expression of iNOS is protein kinase C-β2 (PKCβ2) dependent and whether selective inhibition of PKCβ reduces iNOS expression and corrects abnormal hemodynamic function in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats.RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODSCardiomyocytes and aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) from nondiabetic rats were cultured in low (5.5 mmol/l) or high (25 mmol/l) glucose or mannitol (19.5 mmol/l mannitol + 5.5 mmol/l glucose) conditions in the presence of a selective PKCβ inhibitor, LY333531 (20 nmol/l). Further, the in vivo effects of PKCβ inhibition on iNOS-mediated cardiovascular abnormalities were tested in STZ-induced diabetic rats.RESULTSExposure of cardiomyocytes to high glucose activated PKCβ2 and increased iNOS expression that was prevented by LY333531. Similarly, treatment of VSMC with LY333531 prevented high glucose–induced activation of nuclear factor κB, extracellular signal–related kinase, and iNOS overexpression. Suppression of PKCβ2 expression by small interference RNA decreased high-glucose–induced nuclear factor κB and extracellular signal–related kinase activation and iNOS expression in VSMC. Administration of LY333531 (1 mg/kg/day) decreased iNOS expression and formation of peroxynitrite in the heart and superior mesenteric arteries and corrected the cardiovascular abnormalities in STZ-induced diabetic rats, an action that was also observed with a selective iNOS inhibitor, L-NIL.CONCLUSIONSCollectively, these results suggest that inhibition of PKCβ2 may be a useful approach for correcting abnormal hemodynamics in diabetes by preventing iNOS mediated nitrosative stress.