LRP1 in the NVU to promote tPA-mediated activation of PDGF-CC. Mac-1-deficient mice (Mac-1 −/−) are protected from tPA-induced BBB permeability but not from perme-ability induced by intracerebroventricular injection of active PDGF-CC. Immunofluorescence analysis demonstrates that Mac-1, LRP1, and the PDGFRα all localize to the NVU of arterioles, and following middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) Mac-1 −/− mice show significantly less PDGFRα phosphorylation, BBB permeability, and infarct volume compared to wild-type mice. Bone-marrow transplantation studies indicate that resident CD11b + cells, but not bone-marrow-derived leukocytes, mediate the early activation of PDGF-CC by tPA after MCAO. Finally, using a model of thrombotic stroke with late thrombolysis, we show that wild-type mice have an increased incidence of spontaneous ICH following thrombolysis with tPA 5 h after MCAO, whereas Mac-1 −/− mice are resistant to the development of ICH even with late tPA treatment. Together, these results indicate that Mac-1 and LRP1 act as co-factors for the activation of PDGF-CC by tPA in the NVU, and suggest a novel mechanism for tightly regulating PDGFRα signaling in the NVU and controlling BBB permeability. Abstract Treatment of acute ischemic stroke with the thrombolytic tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) can significantly improve neurological outcomes; however, throm-bolytic therapy is associated with an increased risk of intra-cerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Previously, we demonstrated that during stroke tPA acting on the parenchymal side of the neurovascular unit (NVU) can increase blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability and ICH through activation of latent platelet-derived growth factor-CC (PDGF-CC) and signaling by the PDGF receptor-α (PDGFRα). However , in vitro, activation of PDGF-CC by tPA is very inefficient and the mechanism of PDGF-CC activation in the NVU is not known. Here, we show that the integrin Mac-1, expressed on brain microglia/macrophages (denoted micro-glia throughout), acts together with the endocytic receptor Enming Joseph Su and Chunzhang Cao contributed equally to this work. Daniel A. Lawrence and Li Zhang contributed equally to this work. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (

Cortactin, a prominent substrate for pp60 c-src , is a filamentous actin (F-actin) binding protein. We show here that cortactin can promote sedimentation of Factin at centrifugation forces under which F-actin is otherwise not able to be precipitated. Electron microscopic analysis after negative staining further revealed that actin filaments in the presence of cortactin are cross-linked into bundles of various degrees of thickness. Hence, cortactin is also an F-actin cross-linking protein. We also demonstrate that the optimal F-actin cross-linking activity of cortactin requires a physiological pH in a range of 7.3-7.5. Furthermore, pp60 c-src phosphorylates cortactin in vitro, resulting in a dramatic reduction of its F-actin cross-linking activity in a manner depending on levels of tyrosine phosphorylation. In addition, pp60 c-src moderately inhibits the F-actin binding activity of cortactin. This study presents the first evidence that pp60 c-src can directly regulate the activity of its substrate toward the cytoskeleton and implies a role of cortactin as an F-actin modulator in tyrosine kinase-regulated cytoskeleton reorganization.

Bisphosphonate-associated osteonecrosis of the jaw (BONJ) is a morbid bone disease linked to long-term bisphosphonate use. Despite its broad health impact, mechanistic study is lacking. In this study, we have established a mouse model of BONJ-like disease based on the equivalent clinical regimen in myeloma patients, a group associated with high risk of BONJ. We demonstrate that the murine BONJ-like disease recapitulates major clinical and radiographical manifestations of the human disease, including characteristic features of osseous sclerosis, sequestra, avascular, and radiopaque alveolar bone in the jaw that persists beyond a normal course of wound healing following tooth extraction. We find that long-term administration of bisphosphonates results in an increase in the size and number of osteoclasts and the formation of giant osteoclast-like cells within the alveolar bone. We show that the development of necrotic bone and impaired soft tissue healing in our mouse model is dependent on long-term use of high-dose bisphosphonates, immunosuppressive and chemotherapy drugs, as well as mechanical trauma.Most importantly, we demonstrate that bisphosphonate is the major cause of BONJ-like disease in mice , mediated in part by its ability to suppress osseous angiogenesis and bone remodeling. The availability of this novel mouse model of BONJ-like disease will help elucidate the pathophysiology of BONJ and ultimately develop novel approaches for prevention and treatment of human BONJ. (Am J Pathol

Activated protein C (APC), the only FDA-approved biotherapeutic drug for sepsis, possesses anticoagulant, antiinflammatory, and barrier-protective activities. However, the mechanisms underlying its antiinflammatory functions are not well defined. Here, we report that the antiinflammatory activity of APC on macrophages is dependent on integrin CD11b/CD18, but not on endothelial protein C receptor (EPCR). We showed that CD11b/CD18 bound APC within specialized membrane microdomains/lipid rafts and facilitated APC cleavage and activation of protease-activated receptor-1 (PAR1), leading to enhanced production of sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) and suppression of the proinflammatory response of activated macrophages. Deletion of the γ-carboxyglutamic acid domain of APC, a region critical for its anticoagulant activity and EPCR-dependent barrier protection, had no effect on its antiinflammatory function. Genetic inactivation of CD11b, PAR1, or sphingosine kinase-1, but not EPCR, abolished the ability of APC to suppress the macrophage inflammatory response in vitro. Using an LPS-induced mouse model of lethal endotoxemia, we showed that APC administration reduced the mortality of wild-type mice, but not CD11b-deficient mice. These data establish what we believe to be a novel mechanism underlying the antiinflammatory activity of APC in the setting of endotoxemia and provide clear evidence that the antiinflammatory function of APC is distinct from its barrier-protective function and anticoagulant activities.

Summary Background The interaction of fibrin βN-domain with VE-cadherin on endothelial cells was implicated in transendothelial migration of leukocytes and theβ15-42 fragment representing part of this domain was shown to inhibit this process. However, our previous study revealed that only a dimeric (β15-66)2 fragment corresponding to the full-length βN-domain and mimicking its dimeric arrangement in fibrin bound to VE-cadherin. Objective To test our hypothesis that dimerization of β15-42-containing fragments increases their affinity to VE-cadherin and ability to inhibit transendothelial migration of leukocytes. Methods Interaction of β15-42-containing fragments with VE-cadherin was characterized by ELISA and surface plasmon resonance. Inhibitory effect of such fragments was tested in vitro using leukocyte transendothelial migration assay and in vivo using mouse models of peritonitis and myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury. Results First, we prepared the monomeric β15-42 and β15-64 fragments and their dimeric forms, (β15-44)2 and (β15-66)2, and studied their interaction with fibrin-binding domain of VE-cadherin, VE-cad(3). The experiments revealed that both dimeric fragments bound to VE-cad(3) with high affinity while the affinities of monomeric β15-42 and β15-64 were significantly lower. Next, we tested the ability of these fragments to inhibit leukocyte transmigration in vitro and infiltration into the inflamed peritoneum in vivo and found that the inhibitory effects of the dimers on these processes were also superior. Furthermore, dimeric (β15-44)2 significantly reduced myocardial injury induced by ischemia-reperfusion. Conclusion The results confirm our hypotheses and indicate that dimeric (β15-66)2 and (β15-44)2, which exhibited much higher affinity to VE-cadherin, are highly effective in suppressing inflammation by inhibiting leukocyte transmigration.