The inflammation-associated long pentraxin PTX3 plays key roles in innate immunity, female fertility, and vascular biology (e.g. it inhibits FGF2 (fibroblast growth factor 2)-mediated angiogenesis). PTX3 is composed of multiple protomers, each composed of distinct N-and C-terminal domains; however, it is not known how these are organized or contribute to its functional properties. Here, biophysical analyses reveal that PTX3 is composed of eight identical protomers, associated through disulfide bonds, forming an elongated and asymmetric, molecule with two differently sized domains interconnected by a stalk. The N-terminal region of the protomer provides the main structural determinant underlying this quaternary organization, supporting formation of a disulfidelinked tetramer and a dimer of dimers (a non-covalent tetramer), giving rise to the asymmetry of the molecule. Furthermore, the PTX3 octamer is shown to contain two FGF2 binding sites, where it is the tetramers that act as the functional units in ligand recognition. Thus, these studies provide a unifying model of the PTX3 oligomer, explaining both its quaternary organization and how this is required for its antiangiogenic function.

Placenta growth factor (PlGF), a member of the vascular endothelial growth factor family, plays an important role in adult pathological angiogenesis. To further investigate PlGF functions in tumor growth and metastasis formation, we used transgenic mice overexpressing PlGF in the skin under the control of the keratin 14 promoter. These animals showed a hypervascularized phenotype of the skin and increased levels of circulating PlGF with respect to their wild-type littermates. Transgenic mice and controls were inoculated intradermally with B16-BL6 melanoma cells. The tumor growth rate was fivefold increased in transgenic animals compared to wild-type mice, in the presence of a similar percentage of tumor necrotic tissue. Tumor vessel area was increased in transgenic mice as compared to controls. Augmented mobilization of endothelial and hematopoietic stem cells from the bone marrow was observed in transgenic animals, possibly contributing to tumor vascularization. The number and size of pulmonary metastases were significantly higher in transgenic mice compared to wild-type littermates. Finally, PlGF promoted tumor cell invasion of the extracellular matrix and increased the activity of selected matrix metalloproteinases. These findings indicate that PlGF, in addition to enhancing tumor angiogenesis and favoring tumor growth, may directly influence melanoma dissemination.

Abstract-The arterial wall in aged animals shows an increased susceptibility to develop atherosclerotic lesions, although the mechanisms by which aging acts are still unclear. We investigated early aortic lesions in aged rabbits (5 to 6 years old, AH group) and young rabbits (2 months old, YH group) after 2 months of 0.2% cholesterol feeding. Fatty streaks or spots mainly in the proximal segments occupied a relative surface area that was greater in AH than in YH rabbits, although plasma cholesterol and lipoprotein levels did not differ. YH lesions showed an irregular endothelial profile mainly from accumulations of large, rounded, RAM 11-positive macrophagic foam cells. There was a higher percentage of myocytic, CD-5-positive, proliferating, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL)-positive cells and larger accumulation of glycosaminoglycans in AH fatty streaks than in YH lesions. Ligation-mediated polymerase chain reaction confirmed differences in apoptosis. Early fibromuscular coats and subendothelial plasma-like insudate were also observed in AH lesions. Aged-matched normocholesterolemic rabbits showed a diffuse aortic intimal thickening composed of myocytic cells with a synthetic phenotype and extracellular matrix rich in glycosaminoglycans. In addition, in aged rabbits, we observed a spontaneous increase of monocytes adhering to the endothelial surface and a reduced expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase in areas distant from the branches. These plasma cholesterol-independent spontaneous changes in the aortic wall of aged rabbits seem to act as a multiple atherogenic risk factor. Moreover, age-related differences in the distribution, composition, and proliferative and apoptotic rates represent crucial events during the progression of early fatty streaks to advanced plaques. Key Words: atherosclerosis Ⅲ aging Ⅲ smooth muscle cells Ⅲ glycosaminoglycans Ⅲ endothelial nitric oxide synthase T he outset of severe or advanced fibroatheromatous plaques is a late event and represents the final result of a slow and complex phenomenon. 1,2 Human and animal studies suggest that atherosclerotic plaques begin as early lesions or fatty streaks, 2,3 although the mechanisms responsible for this progression are still unclear. In fact, advanced plaques are generally encountered after the fourth or fifth decade of life, 2,4 and their development is at first related to the chronic exposure of the arterial wall to exogenous risk factors, 1 in particular to hypercholesterolemia. 5 In rabbits receiving a hyperlipemic diet, the pattern of atherosclerotic lesions depends on cholesterol content 6 and duration of the diet. 7 In particular, a low-dose hypercholesterolemic diet, even when extended for a long period of time, induces the development of fatty streaks. 6 In addition to dietary habits, endogenous or intrinsic factors have been also considered in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. On the basis of the high incidence of cardiovascular disease in elderly people, McGill et al 8 ...

We studied the anticancer activity of a series of new combretastatin derivatives with B-ring modifications. The structure-activity relationship (SAR) information confirmed the importance of cis-stereochemistry and of a phenolic moiety in B-ring. We selected the benzo[b]thiophene and benzofuran combretastatin analogues 11 (ST2151) and 13 (ST2179) and their phosphate prodrugs (29 and 30) for their high antitumor activity in in vitro and in vivo models. Cell exposure to IC50 of 11, 13, and CA-4 led to the arrest of various cell types in the G2/M phase of the cell cycle and induction of apoptosis. Mainly, 11 and 13 induced the formation of multinucleated cells with abnormal chromatin distribution, with only a minimal effect on the microtubule organization, with respect to CA-4. Interestingly, both the pharmacokinetic profile of 29 and its in vivo antitumor effect and those of 30, active even after oral administration, suggest additional pharmacological differences between these compounds and CA-4P.

Objective-The beneficial effect of the natural compound propionyl-L-carnitine (PLC) on intermittent claudication in patients with peripheral arterial disease is attributed to its anaplerotic function in ischemic tissues, but inadequate information is available concerning action on the vasculature. Methods and Results-We investigated the effects of PLC in rabbit hind limb collateral vessels after femoral artery excision, mouse dorsal air pouch, chicken chorioallantoic membrane, and vascular cells by angiographic, Doppler flow, and histomorphometrical and biomolecular analyses. PLC injection accelerated hind limb blood flow recovery after 4 days (PϽ0.05) and increased angiographic quadriceps collateral vascularization after 7 days (PϽ0.001) Histomorphometry confirmed the increased vascular area (PϽ0.05), with unchanged intramuscular capillary density. PLCinduced dilatative adaptation, and growth was found associated with increased inducible nitric oxide synthase and reduced arterial vascular endothelial growth factor and intracellular adhesion molecule-1 expression. PLC also increased vascularization in air pouch and chorioallantoic membrane (PϽ0.05), particularly in large vessels. PLC increased endothelial and human umbilical vascular endothelial cell proliferation and rapidly reduced inducible nitric oxide synthase and NADPH-oxidase 4 -mediated reactive oxygen species production in human umbilical vascular endothelial cells; NADPH-oxidase 4 also regulated NF-B-independent intracellular adhesion molecule-1 expression. Conclusion-Our results provided strong evidence that PLC improves postischemic flow recovery and revascularization and reduces endothelial NADPH-oxidase-related superoxide production. We recommend that PLC should be included among therapeutic interventions that target endothelial function. Key Words: arteriogenesis Ⅲ endothelial function Ⅲ oxidative stress Ⅲ vascular function P eripheral arterial disease (PAD) is the most common clinical consequence of atherosclerosis, affecting Ϸ20% of adults older than age 55 years. 1 Atherosclerotic occlusion of leg arteries induces clinical manifestations, most frequently intermittent claudication. 1,2 Among the functional vascular changes observed with atherosclerosis, endothelial dysfunction plays a major role. 3,4 L-carnitine is a natural amino acid that plays a crucial role in the shuttle mechanism of long-chain fatty acids and in fueling ␤ oxidation. 5 The endogenous L-carnitine pool includes a series of short-chain, medium-chain, and long-chain esters in homeostatic equilibrium. 5,6 Propionyl-L-carnitine (PLC) is a short-chain L-carnitine ester that has been introduced among emerging noninterventional medical regiments that aim to counteract PAD-related adverse effects. 1,2,7 PLC activity is classically related to the anaplerotic function of providing substrates for energy expenditure in ischemic tissues. 1,8 Although some data showed beneficial remodeling after injury, 9 the mechanisms through which PLC influences arterial function remain largely hypot...