scholarly journals Structural, Functional, and Metabolic Alterations in Human Cerebrovascular Endothelial Cells during Toxoplasma gondii Infection and Amelioration by Verapamil In Vitro

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (9) ◽  
pp. 1386
Author(s):  
Alaa T. Al-sandaqchi ◽  
Victoria Marsh ◽  
Huw E. L. Williams ◽  
Carl W. Stevenson ◽  
Hany M. Elsheikha
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Toxoplasma Gondii ◽  
Intercellular Junctions ◽  
Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Functional Changes ◽  
Brain Infection ◽  
Toxoplasma Gondii Infection ◽  
Cerebrovascular Endothelial Cells ◽  
Treatment Application

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii), the causative agent of toxoplasmosis, is a frequent cause of brain infection. Despite its known ability to invade the brain, there is still a dire need to better understand the mechanisms by which this parasite interacts with and crosses the blood–brain barrier (BBB). The present study revealed structural and functional changes associated with infection and replication of T. gondii within human brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) in vitro. T. gondii proliferated within the BMECs and disrupted the integrity of the cerebrovascular barrier through diminishing the cellular viability, disruption of the intercellular junctions and increasing permeability of the BMEC monolayer, as well as altering lipid homeostasis. Proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H NMR)-based metabolomics combined with multivariate data analysis revealed profiles that can be attributed to infection and variations in the amounts of certain metabolites (e.g., amino acids, fatty acids) in the extracts of infected compared to control cells. Notably, treatment with the Ca2+ channel blocker verapamil rescued BMEC barrier integrity and restricted intracellular replication of the tachyzoites regardless of the time of treatment application (i.e., prior to infection, early- and late-infection). This study provides new insights into the structural and functional changes that accompany T. gondii infection of the BMECs, and sheds light upon the ability of verapamil to inhibit the parasite proliferation and to ameliorate the adverse effects caused by T. gondii infection.

Ultrastructural studies on the interaction of haemophilus influenzae with human endothelial cells in vitro

1990 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 636-637
Author(s):  
D.J.P. Ferguson ◽  
M. Virji ◽  
H. Kayhty ◽  
E.R. Moxon
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Haemophilus Influenzae ◽  
Intercellular Junctions ◽  
Blood Stream ◽  
Ultrastructural Studies ◽  
Endothelial Barriers ◽  
Serotype B ◽  
Meningitis In Children ◽  
Respiratory Epithelial

Haemophilus influenzae is a human pathogen which causes meningitis in children. Systemic H. influenzae infection is largely confined to encapsulated serotype b organisms and is a major cause of meningitis in the U.K. and elsewhere. However, the pathogenesis of the disease is still poorly understood. Studies in the infant rat model, in which intranasal challenge results in bacteraemia, have shown that H. influenzae enters submucosal tissues and disseminates to the blood stream within minutes. The rapidity of these events suggests that H. influenzae penetrates both respiratory epithelial and endothelial barriers with great efficiency. It is not known whether the bacteria penetrate via the intercellular junctions, are translocated within the cells or carried across the cellular barrier in 'trojan horse' fashion within phagocytes. In the present studies, we have challenged cultured human umbilical cord_vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) with both capsulated (b+) and capsule-deficient (b-) isogenic variants of one strain of H. influenzae in order to investigate the interaction between the bacteria and HUVEC and the effect of the capsule.

Morphilogy and Ultrastructure of in Vitro Cultures of Aortic Endothelial Cells Interacting with Antibodies

1979 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Korach ◽  
D. Ngo
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Cell Surface ◽  
Vascular Endothelial Cells ◽  
Intercellular Junctions ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Endothelial Damage ◽  
Antibody Concentration ◽  
High Yields ◽  
Scanning Em

Adult pig aortas, sectioned longitudinally, were incubated in 0.1% collagenase-PBS (15 mn, 37°C). Gentle scraping of the lumenal surface resulted in high yields (3-4 x 106 cell/aorta) of viable endothelial cells, essentially devoid of other cell types by morphological and immunochemical (F VIII-antigen) criteria. Confluent monolayers were incubated for various times (5 mn to 1 wk) with decomplemented rabbit antisera raised against pig endothelial cells. Changes in cell morphology appeared to depend on antibody concentration rather than on duration of contact with antiserum. High concentrations of antiserum (5 to 20%) led to cytoplasmic shredding, bulging of cells and extensive vacuolization, whereas at lower concentrations, cells appeared almost normal. Transmission EM studies by the indirect immunoperoxydase method showed antibodies reacting with unfixed cells to be distributed all over the upper cell surface, in the outer parts of intercellular junctions, and within numerous pinocytotic vesicles. Much weaker reactions could also be seen at the lower cell surface. When viewed under the Scanning EM, antiserum-treated endothelial cells also disclosed antibody concentration-dependent bulging and release of cells from their substrate. In vitro studies of gradual modifications of vascular endothelial cells acted upon by antibodies should provide a better understanding of the structural and biochemical processes underlying endothelial damage and detachment.

scholarly journals Morphofunctional characteristics of endothelial cells in coronary atherosclerosis

2011 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 921-932 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vesna Lackovic ◽  
Irena Tanaskovic ◽  
Dj. Radak ◽  
Vesna Nesic ◽  
Z. Gluvic ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Coronary Atherosclerosis ◽  
Complex Disease ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Intercellular Junctions ◽  
Vascular Wall ◽  
Functional Changes ◽  
Initial Stage ◽  
Numerous Data

Atherosclerosis represents a complex disease which encompasses all the components of the vascular wall. Nevertheless, according to all known theories of the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, the key role in this process belongs to the endothelial cells, i.e. the changes that they are subjected to especially during the initial stage of the lesion. In this review we have attempted, according to the results of our continuous research and numerous data from available modern literature, to show the cytohistological characteristics of endothelial cells, as well as the changes they are subjected to in all stages of atherosclerosis. In the first part we have reviewed the ultrastructure, function and pathology of the endothelium, subcellular organization of the endothelial cells, their specific characteristics, micro compartments and intercellular junctions. In the second part we have described the morphological and functional changes of endothelial cells during atherosclerosis. Special attention is given to the role of endothelial cells in the development of the initial stage of lesion: endothelial dysfunction, factors that cause the increased expression of adhesion molecules in endothelial cells and mechanisms that cause leukocytes to migrate through the endothelial layer to subendothelial connective tissue in the early stage of atherosclerosis.

Abstract 585: Endothelial Cells from Adipose Tissue of Obese Humans Display Mesenchymal Characteristics

2016 ◽  
Vol 36 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Bronson A Haynes ◽  
Eric J Lehrer ◽  
Giann J Bhatt ◽  
Ryan W Huyck ◽  
Ashley N James ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Adipose Tissue ◽  
Prolonged Exposure ◽  
Endothelial Permeability ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Atp Production ◽  
Functional Changes ◽  
Twist 1

The mechanisms underlying vascular dysfunction in adipose tissue (AT) in obesity are not clearly understood. Our hypothesis is that in response to pro-inflammatory cytokines (PIC) present in obese AT, endothelial cells (EC) can de-differentiate and acquire a mesenchymal-like phenotype (EndoMT) that leads to endothelial dysfunction. To test our hypothesis, we measured endothelial and mesenchymal markers of CD31 + CD34 + EC isolated from omental (OM) and subcutaneous (SC) AT of bariatric subjects (BAMVEC) using RT-PCR and western blot. Permeability and oxidative metabolism were determined by ECIS and Seahorse analyzer XF e 24, respectively. BAMVEC isolated from both OM and SC fat showed very low protein expression of vWF and VE-Cadherin (EC markers) and abundantly expressed αSMA and the EMT transcription factor twist-1. To determine effects of PIC on EndoMT, commercially available primary endothelial cells from AT (HAMVEC) were treated in vitro with PIC (2.5ng/mL TNFα, IFNγ and TGFβ) for 1, 3 or 6 days. We found progressive down-regulation by >2-fold (p<0.001) of the EC markers vWF, VE-Cadherin, and Occludin compared to controls. As early as 1 day of PIC treatment twist-1 (p<0.001) and snail1 (p<0.05) showed an increase by >2-fold. Similarly, OM and SC BAMVEC expressed >2-fold increase in the mesenchymal genes twist-1, FSP1, αSMA, and snail1 compared to untreated HAMVEC. Metabolically, BAMVEC had increased ATP production and maximal respiration compared to HAMVEC suggesting increased oxidative phosphorylation, a marker of mesenchymal-like cells. PIC stimulation of HAMVEC yielded significant increases in endothelial permeability and motility (p<0.001). Notably, there were no significant differences in any of the markers between OM and SC BAMVEC. These results show that EC in obese AT exhibit a mesenchymal-like phenotype which may account for functional changes such as increased permeability and migration and are not depot specific. Using primary EC from human AT we showed that prolonged exposure to PIC induces a phenotype similar to CD31+CD34+ EC from obese AT. This supports the concept that AT inflammation can promote EC de-differentiation in vivo and our in vitro model is suitable for future studies to uncover the relevant mechanisms.

THE "LUPUS ANTICOAGULANT" INDUCES FUNCTIONAL CHANGES IN ENDOTHELIAL CELLS AND PLATELETS

1987 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna E Schorer ◽  
Kathleen V Watson
Keyword(s):  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Tissue Factor ◽  
Lupus Anticoagulant ◽  
Inhibitory Effect ◽  
Clinical Syndrome ◽  
Factor Vii ◽  
Factor X ◽  
Functional Changes ◽  
Thrombin Activation

The presence of the "lupus anticoagulant" (LA) predicts a clinical syndrome of excessive arterial, venous and microvascu-lar thrombosis. LA is an antibody which reacts with negatively charged phospholipid (PL) species in vitro. Since PL is involved in many aspects of the regulation of thrombosis, we postulated that LA might modify one or more of the membrane-(PL-dependent reactions of platelets and endothelial cells (EC). Blood samples from 20 patients with a history of thrombosis were tested for the presence of LA (kaolin PTT) and titres determined. LA-positive (LA+) sera and plasma were compared to LA-negative (LA−) samples from normal donors (n=6) or patients who had lupus but no clinical thrombosis (n=4). These specimens were tested in a panel of assays. The thrombin-stimulated release of prostacyclin (PG12) from cultured human EC was markedly reduced (52%±12.5 s.e.) by preincubation of the EC with LA+ sera (30 minutes). Purified LA+ IgG from one patient reproduced this effect. Thrombin induction of EC synthesis of the procoagulant, tissue factor-which is dissociable from prostaglandin metabolism-was also inhibited by LA+ sera. Normal platelets incubated in LA+ plasma became refractory to thrombin (1 unit/ml) but retained their responsiveness to epinephrine and ADP. The reduced responsiveness to thrombin was not due to altered (specific or total) binding of thrombin. The cleavage of Factor X by Factor VII requires PL as a co-factor for the EC procoagulant, tissue factor (TF). Unlike the inhibitory effect of LA on thrombin activation of EC and platelets, this distinct membrane-(PL-) dependent function was variably enhanced by LA+ sera. Brief (20 min) exposure of EC to LA+ sera increased TF co-catalysis of Factor VII cleavage of Factor X (measured by chromogenic Xa substrate, S-2222) by up to 10 fold (p<0.05, unpaired t test). This effect was not the result of EC disruption or changes in whole-cell TF content. These data suggest multiple, complex and heterogenous effects of LA, including impaired production of PG12, impaired EC modulation, and heightened ability of endogenous EC tissue factor to initiate coagulation. These (and perhaps other) membrane-dependent effects may contribute to the tendency of LA+ patients to develop clots.

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