Endothelial Cell News 2.21 June 19, 2017 | |
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TOP STORYBlood-Brain-Barrier Spheroids as an In Vitro Screening Platform for Brain-Penetrating Agents The authors report that self-assembling multicellular blood–brain barrier (BBB) spheroids display reproducible BBB features and functions. The spheroid core was comprised mainly of astrocytes, while brain endothelial cells and pericytes encased the surface, acting as a barrier that regulated transport of molecules. The spheroid surface exhibited high expression of tight junction proteins, VEGF-dependent permeability, efflux pump activity and receptor-mediated transcytosis of angiopep-2. [Nat Commun] Full Article | Press Release | |
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PUBLICATIONS(Ranked by impact factor of the journal)Researchers proposed an in vitro angiogenesis process and tested it by examining the co-culture of human retinal pigmental epithelial cells (ARPE-19) and HUVECs inside a microfluidic device. From characterization of the APRE-19 monoculture, the tight junction protein was found on the cells cultured in the microfluidic device but changes in the medium conditions did not affect the integrity of monolayers found in the permeability tests. [Sci Rep] Full Article The functional significance of soluble recombinant thrombomodulin (rTM) on autophagy-related apoptosis in endothelial cells (ECs) is undetermined. Implicating a cytoprotective role for rTM in persistent serum starvation (SS)-induced autophagy in cultured ECs, investigators found that treatment of rTM decreased the expression of SS-induced autophagy-related proteins, ATG5 and LC3, and the formation of autophagosomes through activation of AKT/mTOR pathway. [Sci Rep] Full Article Hydrogen sulphide (H2S) has an antioxidative effect, but its regulation on mitochondrial dynamics and mitophagy in aortic endothelial cells under hyperglycemia and hyperlipidemia is unclear. Scientists demonstrated that high glucose and palmitate decreased H2S production and CSE expression in rat aortic endothelial cells (RAECs). The antioxidative effect of H2S was proved in RAECs under high glucose and palmitate to reduce mitochondrial ROS level. [J Cell Mol Med] Full Article Researchers hypothesized that port wine stain (PWS) endothelial cells present a unique molecular phenotype that lead to pathoanatomic PWS vasculatures. They showed multiple clinicopathologic features of PWS blood vessels during the development and progression of the disease. [Br J Dermatol] Abstract Human induced pluripotent stem cells can be differentiated into vascular endothelial (iEC) and smooth muscle (iSMC) cells. Scientists tested the hypothesis that hemodynamic exposure of iECs in coculture with iSMCs induces an in vivo-like phenotype. Hemodynamic flow-induced gene expression positively correlated between primary endothelial cells and iECs, as well as primary smooth muscles cells and iSMCs. [Stem Cells Transl Med] Full Article MAP4K4 Impairs Energy Metabolism in Endothelial Cells and Promotes Insulin Resistance in Obesity Investigators showed that inducible endothelial cell (EC) Mitogen activated protein kinase kinase kinase kinase 4 (Map4k4) deletion in adult mice ameliorates metabolic dysfunction in obesity despite the development of chylous ascites and a concomitant striking increase in adipose tissue lymphocyte content. Despite these defects, animals lacking endothelial Map4k4 were protected from skeletal muscle microvascular rarefaction in obesity, and primary ECs lacking Map4k4 displayed reduced senescence and increased metabolic capacity. [Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab] Abstract The authors used an ox-LDL injured HUVEC in vitro model to explore the protective effects and mechanism of dihydromyricetin (DMY). HUVECs were pretreated with DMY and then exposed to ox-LDL, and the cell viability was measured. Their results showed that DMY pretreatment provided cytoprotective effects by suppressing ox-LDL-induced endothelial cell apoptosis, mitochondrial membrane depolarization, caspase-3 activation, and modulation of oxidative enzymes, thereby inhibiting reactive oxygen species generation. [Apoptosis] Abstract Scientists investigated whether DJ-1 could protect endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) against angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced cell damage. The proliferation and migration of EPCs were strongly reduced in the Ang II group and were increased by overexpression of DJ-1. Western blotting indicated that the increased expression of the senescence marker β-galactosidase and decreased expression of adhesion molecules induced by Ang II were reversed after Ad-DJ-1 transfection. [J Cell Biochem] Abstract Researchers present a comparative proteome study of inflammatory and angiogenic activated endothelial cells. HUVECs were stimulated with interleukin 1-β and VEGF, respectively. GO Term enrichment analysis and comparative pathway analysis revealed features such as NOD and NfkB signaling for inflammatory activated HUVECs and VEGF and ErB signaling for VEGF-activated HUVECs with potential crosstalk via map kinases MAP2K2. [PLoS One] Full Article 3D-Printed Vascular Networks Direct Therapeutic Angiogenesis in Ischemia Scientists introduce an approach whereby implantation of 3D-printed grafts containing endothelial-cell-lined lumens induced spontaneous, geometrically guided generation of collateral circulation in ischemic settings. In rodent models of hind limb ischemia and myocardial infarction, they demonstrated that the vascular patches rescue perfusion of distal tissues, preventing capillary loss, muscle atrophy and loss of function. [Nat Biomed Eng] Abstract | |
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REVIEWSAngiogenesis Biomarkers and Their Targeting Ligands as Potential Targets for Tumor Angiogenesis The authors summarize a variety of biomarkers which their expressions or their functions could change the function of endothelial cells in tumor microenvironments. They highlight various therapeutic agents which could target these biomarkers. [J Cell Physiol] Abstract Visit our reviews page to see a complete list of reviews in the endothelial cell research field. | |
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INDUSTRY NEWSAcceleron Pharma Inc. announced that the DART Phase II study of dalantercept plus axitinib did not achieve its primary endpoint in advanced renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The primary efficacy endpoint of the study was to demonstrate a statistically significant increase in progression-free survival for treatment of dalantercept plus axitinib versus placebo plus axitinib in advanced RCC patients. [Acceleron Pharma Inc.] Press Release Exelixis, Inc. announced that the analysis of the review by a blinded independent radiology review committee has confirmed the primary efficacy endpoint results of investigator-assessed progression-free survival from the CABOSUN randomized Phase II trial of cabozantinib as compared with sunitinib in patients with previously untreated advanced renal cell carcinoma with intermediate- or poor-risk disease per the International Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Database Consortium. [Exelixis, Inc.] Press Release | |
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POLICY NEWSMacron Consolidates Electoral Victory The party of France’s recently elected president won an absolute majority in its first general elections, with an agenda that included strong support for research. [Nature News] Editorial Indian Research Labs Face Financial Crisis India’s 38 premier scientific laboratories are in a budgetary pinch. A jump in expenditures on salaries, pensions, and perks for government employees, recommended by an advisory commission, is leaving little money for new research in the budget of the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, based in New Delhi, which oversees the labs and their 4600 scientists. [ScienceInsider] Editorial Biologists Debate How to License Preprints Biology’s zeal for preprints — papers posted online before peer review — is opening up a thorny legal debate: should scientists license their manuscripts on open-access terms? Researchers have now shared more than 11,000 papers at the popular bioRxiv preprints site. But where some researchers allow their bioRxiv manuscripts to be freely redistributed and reused, others have chosen to lock them down with restrictive terms. [Nature News] Editorial
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EVENTSNEW 11th World Congress for Microcirculation Visit our events page to see a complete list of events in the community.
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JOB OPPORTUNITIESNEW Faculty Position – Endothelial Cell Biology (Northwestern University) NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Vascular Cell Signaling (Louisiana State University) NEW Postdoctoral Fellow – Tumor and Immune Angiogenesis (Stanford University) PhD Positions – Tight Junction Research (Charite, University Medicine Berlin) Postdoctoral Position – Biomaterials (Linnaeus University) Postdoctoral Research Assistant – Cancer and Vascular Biology (University of Oxford) Postdoctoral Research Associate – Immunity (University of Illinois) Postdoctoral Researcher – Cardiopulmonary Molecular Biology (Hannover Medical School) Postdoctoral Positions – Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism (VIB) PhD Positions – Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism (VIB) Recruit Top Talent: Reach potential candidates by posting your organization’s career opportunities on the Connexon Creative Job Board at no cost.
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