Significant reduction of ischemia-reperfusion cell death in mouse myocardial infarcts using the immediate-acting PrC-210 ROS-scavenger

The Effect of Antioxidant Added to Preservation Solution on the Protection of Kidneys before Transplantation

Ischemia–reperfusion injury is a key clinical problem of transplantology. Current achievements in optimizing organ rinse solutions and storage techniques have significantly influenced the degree of graft damage and its survival after transplantation. In recent years, intensive research has been carried out to maintain the viability of tissues and organs outside the integral environment of the body. Innovative solutions for improving the biochemical functions of the stored organ have been developed. The article discusses directions for modifying preservation solutions with antioxidants. Clinical and experimental studies aimed at optimizing these fluids, as well as perfusion and organ preservation techniques, are presented.

CPNE3 interaction with RACK1 protects against myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury

Copine 3 (CPNE3) and receptor for activated C kinase 1 (RACK1) have been determined to be risk factors for patients with acute myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R). The present study aimed to evaluate the role of CPNE3 and its interaction with RACK1 in myocardial (I/R) injury. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) and western blotting were performed to detect CPNE3 and RACK1 expression levels in H9c2 cells before and after the transfection of CPNE3 overexpression plasmid or small interfering RNA-RACK1. Cell viability was detected using a Cell Counting Kit-8 assay, and immunoprecipitation assays were performed to determine the interaction between CPNE3 and RACK1. A commercial kit was used to examine lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels. The expression levels of inflammatory cytokines were detected via RT-qPCR and western blotting. Cell apoptosis was assessed via TUNEL staining and western blotting. The results demonstrated that the expression levels of CPNE3 and RACK1 were decreased in hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R)-induced H9c2 cardiomyocytes, which was consistent with the expression levels observed in the myocardial I/R injury rat model. It was found that CPNE3 overexpression upregulated RACK1 expression, increased cell viability and suppressed the release of LDH in H/R-induced H9c2 cells. Furthermore, CPNE3 overexpression inhibited the release of inflammatory cytokines and decreased cell apoptosis in H/R-induced cardiomyocytes by activating RACK1 expression. The present study suggested that CPNE3 served an important role in preventing I/R injury by interacting with RACK1, providing novel insight into the prevention of myocardial I/R injury, as well as the treatment and care of patients with myocardial I/R.

Suppression of Inflammation-Associated Kidney Damage Post-Transplant Using the New PrC-210 Free Radical Scavenger in Rats

Allograft kidney transplantation, which triggers host cellular- and antibody-mediated rejection of the kidney, is a major contributor to kidney damage during transplant. Here, we asked whether PrC-210 would suppress damage seen in allograft kidney transplant. Brown Norway (BN) rat kidneys were perfused in situ (UW Solution) with or without added 30 mM PrC-210, and then immediately transplanted into Lewis (LEW) rats. 20 h later, the transplanted BN kidneys and LEW rat plasma were analyzed. Kidney histology, and kidney/serum levels of several inflammation-associated cytokines, were measured to assess mismatch-related kidney pathology, and PrC-210 protective efficacy. Twenty hours after the allograft transplants: (i) significant histologic kidney tubule damage and mononuclear inflammatory cell infiltration were seen in allograft kidneys; (ii) kidney function metrics (creatinine and BUN) were significantly elevated; (iii) significant changes in key cytokines, i.e., TIMP-1, TNF-alpha and MIP-3A/CCL20, and kidney activated caspase levels were seen. In PrC-210-treated kidneys and recipient rats, (i) kidney histologic damage (Banff Scores) and mononuclear infiltration were reduced to untreated background levels; (ii) creatinine and BUN were significantly reduced; and (iii) activated caspase and cytokine changes were significantly reduced, some to background. In conclusion, the results suggest that PrC-210 could provide broadly applicable organ protection for many allograft transplantation conditions; it could protect transplanted kidneys during and after all stages of the transplantation process-from organ donation, through transportation, re-implantation and the post-operative inflammation-to minimize acute and chronic rejection.

An Overview of Chemical and Biological Materials lead to Damage and Repair of Heart Tissue

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are major causes of mortality in developing countries. One of the challenges during CVDs studies is the creation of a damaged model of the heart. Many injured models of cardiac diseases are created by using chemical and biological materials. Many approaches were applied to simulate heart injury for investigating CVDs. In previous years, animal models could be used as a useful pattern in many investigations about the pathogenesis of the heart. Nowadays it has been proven that there are many differences between human and animal models in terms of responses or reactions to treatments. For such reasons, researchers prefer to use cellular models alongside the animal models for studying heart diseases.

PURPOSE

In this review, we collected information about some chemical and biological materials used to create damaged-heart models both in vitro and in vivo. After explaining the materials that induce cardiac damage, we explicate some methods for repairing the damage of heart. Finally, the role of extracellular vesicles as an important biological candidate for repairing heart damage is briefly discussed.

CONCLUSION

This mini-review tried to explain some methods which can induce cardiac damage and repair of heart cells by use chemical and biological materials. We considered that various molecular pathways play a role in restoration and that most of these pathways are connected in a complex network and, to this end, different chemicals and drugs have been studied to date. Nonetheless, more studies are needed to ensure the performance and safety of the drugs and chemicals produced.

Determination of plasma levels of the active thiol form of the direct-acting PrC-210 ROS-scavenger using a fluorescence-based assay

PrC-210 is a direct-acting ROS-scavenger. It's active when administered orally, IV, or topically; it has none of the nausea/emesis nor hypotension side effects that have precluded human amifostine use. PrC-210 confers 100% survival to mice and rats that received an otherwise 100% lethal radiation dose and 36% reduction of ischemia-reperfusion-induced mouse myocardial infarct damage, and thus is a viable candidate to prevent human ROS-induced ischemia-reperfusion and ionizing radiation toxicities. We report the first assay for the pharmacologically active PrC-210 thiol in blood. PrC-210 has no double-bonds nor light absorption, so derivatizing the thiol with a UV-absorbing fluorochrome enables quantification. This assay: i) is done on the benchtop; it's read with a fluorescence plate reader, ii) provides linear product formation through 60 min, iii) quantifies μM to low mM rodent blood levels of PrC-210 that confer complete radioprotection, iv) accurately reflects PrC-210 thiol formation of mixed disulfides with other thiols in blood, and v) shows excellent between-day assay outcome with very low standard deviation and coefficient of variation. A fluorescence assay quantifying formation of a PrC-210 thiol-bimane adduct enables measurement of blood PrC-210 thiol. A blood assay will help in the development of PrC-210 for use in the human clinical setting.

Significant Improvement in Rat Kidney Cold Storage Using UW Organ Preservation Solution Supplemented With the Immediate-Acting PrC-210 Free Radical Scavenger

Ischemia-reperfusion injury, including injury from warm- and cold-ischemia (CI) organ storage, remains a significant problem for all solid organ transplants. Suppressing CI damage would reduce delayed graft function and increase the donor organ pool size. PrC-210 has demonstrated superior prevention of damage in several preclinical studies as an immediate-acting free-radical scavenger. Here, we describe its profound efficacy in suppressing CI injury in a rat kidney model.

MicroRNA-668-3p Protects Against Oxygen-Glucose Deprivation in a Rat H9c2 Cardiomyocyte Model of Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury by Targeting the Stromal Cell-Derived Factor-1 (SDF-1)/CXCR4 Signaling Pathway

Background

Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) results from the restoration of blood supply to ischemic organs, including the heart. Expression of microRNA-668-3p (miR-668-3p) is known to protect the kidney from IRI. This study aimed to investigate the role of miR-668-3p in oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) in a rat H9c2 cardiomyocyte model of IRI.

Material/Methods

Rat H9c2 cardiomyocytes were cultured in glucose-free Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium (DMEM) under anaerobic conditions, followed by oxygenation, to create the OGD model of IRI. The luciferase reporter assay evaluated the interaction between stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1), or CXC motif chemokine 12 (CXCL12), and miR-668-3p. Protein and mRNA levels of SDF-1, CXCR4, Bcl2, Bax, cleaved caspase-3, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), and phosphorylated endothelial nitric oxide synthase (p-eNOS) were analyzed by Western blot and quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and apoptosis were assessed by flow cytometry. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) measured reactive oxygen species (ROS), including malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), p-eNOS, and the inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), IL-6, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) in H9c2 cell supernatants.

Results

In the OGD rat H9c2 cardiomyocyte model of IRI, miR-668-3p levels were reduced. Overexpression of miR-668-3p inhibited SDF-1, CXCR4, the expression of inflammatory cytokines, markers of oxidative stress, and p-eNOS. The overexpression of SDF-1 reversed these findings. Overexpression of SDF-1 promoted cell apoptosis, which was reduced by miR-668-3p.

Conclusions

In the OGD rat H9c2 cardiomyocyte model of IRI, miR-668-3p suppressed mediators of inflammation and oxidative stress and enhanced cell viability through the SDF-1/CXCR4 signaling pathway.