Increased plasma P-selectin induced by intravenous administration of endotoxin in rats

Role of platelet-rich plasma in acceleration of bone fracture healing

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a common therapy for acceleration of maxillofacial and spinal fusion bone-graft healing. This study analyzes the therapeutic role of PRP during long-bone fracture healing evaluated Lewis rats. Following creation of unilateral open femur fractures, either 500 microL thrombin-activated PRP (PRP treated group) or 500 microL saline (control group) were applied once to the fracture site. Fracture healing was analyzed after 1 and 4 weeks. Following 4 weeks of fracture healing, radiographic analysis demonstrated higher callus to cortex width ratio (P < 0.05) in the PRP group (PRP: 1.65 +/- 0.06; control: 1.48 +/- 0.05). Three-point load bearing showed increased bone strength following PRP treatment (PRP: 60.85 +/- 6.06 Newton, control: 47.66 +/- 5.49 Newton). Fracture histology showed enhanced bone formation in the PRP group. Immunohistochemistry and Western-blotting demonstrated healing-associated changes in transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2. Our results suggest that PRP accelerates bone fracture healing of rat femurs via modulation of TGF-beta1 and BMP-2 growth factor expression.

Elevation of rat plasma P-selectin in acute lung injury

Acute lung injury in the rat caused by intravenous (i.v.) infusion of cobra venom factor (CVF) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is mediated by P-selectin-dependent neutrophil infiltration into the lung. In these lung injury models, P-selectin expression is induced on lung vascular endothelial cells after the CVF or LPS infusion, suggesting soluble P-selectin derived from inflamed sites might also be elevated. Here we established a sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to measure soluble P-selectin in plasma, a potential marker of lung injury. Nine anti-rat P-selectin monoclonal antibodies that we established previously were first classified into 5 groups based on real-time biospecific interaction analyses, and used to develop a sandwich ELISA for accurately measuring the amount of soluble P-selectin in plasma. We then used this ELISA to measure the plasma P-selectin levels in Long Evans, Wistar, and Sprague-Dawley rats after the i.v. infusion of CVF or LPS. The elevation in P-selectin levels was significantly different among the strains, but it consistently correlated with the extent of lung inflammation, measured by myeloperoxidase levels in the lung tissues. Thus, our results indicate that the soluble P-selectin in plasma could serve as a sensitive biomarker reflecting lung inflammation, which is of clinical importance for detecting and preventing severe lung injury.

Chronic treatment of DA-8159, a new phosphodiesterase type V inhibitor, attenuates endothelial dysfunction in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rat

This study examined the effects of chronic treatment of a new phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor, DA-8159, on endothelial dysfunction in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR-SP). Six-week-old male SHR-SP were divided into 4 groups; vehicle control, DA-8159 1, 3, and 10 mg/kg/day. During a 32-week experimental period, the animals were administered DA-8159 orally and fed a 4% NaCl-loaded diet. The systolic blood pressure was measured every two weeks throughout the experimental period using the tail-cuff method. At the end of experiments, the vascular function (acetylcholine-induced vasodilation) in the endothelium-intact aortic rings was investigated. In addition, the mortality, the left ventricular hypertrophy index, the plasma parameters and the incidence of a cerebral infarction were assessed. In the DA-8159 treated-rats, the vascular reactivity improved significantly in a dose-dependent manner. Although DA-8159 did not alter the elevation of the systolic blood pressure directly, the 3 and 10 mg/kg/day DA-8159 treatment delayed the early death caused by stroke. DA-8159 significantly reduced the left ventricular heart weight/body weight ratio compared with the vehicle control group. Furthermore, the DA-8159 treatment significantly increased the plasma nitric oxide, cGMP, and the total antioxidative status. The DA-8159 treatment also reduced the occurrence of stroke-associated cerebral damage. These results indicate that DA-8159 can ameliorate an endothelial dysfunction-related vascular injury. Therefore, pharmacological intervention aimed at attenuating an endothelial dysfunction is important and might be useful in both preventing and treating endothelial dysfunction-related complications.

P-selectin participates in cardiopulmonary bypass-induced inflammatory response in association with nitric oxide and peroxynitrite production

OBJECTIVES

P-selectin participates in the development of inflammatory disorders. Cardiopulmonary bypass is thought to induce inflammatory response and increase nitric oxide production. To evaluate the role of P-selectin in bypass-induced inflammatory response and its association with nitric oxide production, we examined the effect of P-selectin monoclonal antibody in a rat model of cardiopulmonary bypass.

METHODS

Twenty adult Sprague-Dawley rats undergoing cardiopulmonary bypass for 60 minutes were divided into 2 groups. A 3-mg/kg dose of anti-rat specific P-selectin monoclonal antibody (ARP2-4; Sumitomo Pharmaceuticals, Osaka, Japan) was administered into the priming solution before bypass in group P (n = 10) and a 3-mg/kg dose of PNB1.6 (nonblocking monoclonal antibody) was added in group C for control (n = 10).

RESULTS

At the termination of bypass and 3 hours after the termination of bypass, plasma levels of interleukins 6 and 8, nitrate/nitrite, the percentage ratio of nitrotyrosine to tyrosine (an indicator of peroxynitrite formation), and the respiratory index were significantly higher than before bypass in both groups, and they were significantly lower in group P than in group C. Plasma P-selectin level in group C and exhaled nitric oxide concentration in both groups at termination of bypass were significantly lower than those before bypass, and they were significantly higher 3 hours after termination of bypass than before bypass in both groups. Plasma P-selectin level and exhaled nitric oxide concentration in group P were significantly higher than those in group C at the end of bypass, but they were significantly lower 3 hours after the termination of bypass.

CONCLUSIONS

These results demonstrate that P-selectin may participate in the augmentation of bypass-induced inflammatory response in association with nitric oxide and peroxynitrite production.

Protective effect of anti-P-selectin monoclonal antibody in lipopolysaccharide-induced lung hemorrhage

Excessive leukocyte accumulation is involved in the pathogenesis of the sepsis-induced acute lung injury. Selectins are essential to the interaction between leukocytes and endothelial cells. In this report, we investigated the role of selectins in the severe lung injury induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Significant lung hemorrhage was observed 24 h after the intravenous administration of LPS (1 mg/kg). First, we evaluated the effect of sialyl Lewis X-oligosaccharide (SLeX-OS), a derivative of sialyl Lewis X which is one of the ligands for E-, P- and L-selectins. The treatment with SLeX-OS (26.5 mg/kg iv bolus + 19.8 mg/kg iv infusion) resulted in a decrease of lung hemorrhage by 49.5% (P<0.05 versus the control group). Second, we tested the effect of anti-P-selectin monoclonal antibody (MAb), PB 1.3, to investigate the role of P-selectin. The bolus administration of PB1.3 at a dose of 5 mg/kg attenuated the lung hemorrhage by 74.6% (P<0.05 versus the control group). In addition, we also detected an increase of soluble P-selectin in plasma 24 h after the injection of LPS. These results suggest that P-selectin has a substantial role in the pathogenesis of the lung injury induced by LPS.

Neutrophil and endothelial cell interactions in sepsis. The role of adhesion molecules

Although adhesion molecules present on circulating neutrophils and endothelial cells are essential for normal host defense, generalized activation of these molecules has been implicated in the inflammatory tissue injury occurring during sepsis and septic shock. A review of both preclinical and clinical studies suggests, however, that although these molecules mediate tissue injury related to a variety of microbial and host inflammatory mediators, their predominant role during sepsis with infection is a protective one.

Protective effects of sialyl Lewis X and anti-P-selectin antibody against lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury in rabbits

The prophylactic effects of selectin inhibitors on lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury were studied in rabbits by using sialyl Lewis X-oligosaccharide and PB1.3, an anti-human P-selectin monoclonal antibody. Lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury resembles that of the acute respiratory distress syndrome, in which there is a decrease in arterial blood oxygen tension (PaO2) and an increase in the difference between alveolar and arterial oxygen tension (A-aDO2). Prophylactic treatment with the selectin inhibitors, sialyl Lewis X-oligosaccharide (55 mg kg(-1) i.v. bolus injection immediately before lipopolysaccharide administration + 36 mg kg(-1) h(-1) i.v. infusion for 4 h) and PB1.3 (5 mg kg(-1) i.v. bolus injection immediately before lipopolysaccharide administration), prevented the lipopolysaccharide-induced impairments in pulmonary gas exchange. In contrast, these agents had no significant effects on lipopolysaccharide-induced systemic hypotension, the decrease in the number of circulating white blood cells and platelets, the decline in blood pH, or the increase in arterial CO2 tension (PaCO2). These results indicate that selectin inhibitors including sialyl Lewis X-oligosaccharide and the anti-P-selectin antibody, PB1.3, attenuate lipopolysaccharide-induced acute lung injury in rabbits. This is the first demonstration that P-selectin is directly involved in the development of lipopolysaccharide-induced impairments in pulmonary gas exchange.