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Abstract: Hsp20, referred to as HspB6, is constitutively expressed in various tissues. Specifically, HspB6 is most highly expressed in different types of muscle including vascular, airway, colonic, bladder, and uterine smooth muscle; cardiac muscle; and skeletal muscle. It can be phosphorylated at Ser-16 by both cAMP- and cGMP-dependent protein kinases (PKA/PKG). Recently, Hsp20 and its phosphorylation have been implicated in multiple physiological and pathophysiological processes including smooth muscle relaxation, platelet aggregation, exercise training, myocardial infarction, atherosclerosis, insulin resistance and Alzheimer''s disease. In the heart, key advances have been made in elucidating the significance of Hsp20 in contractile function and cardioprotection over the last decade. This mini-review highlights exciting findings in animal models and human patients, with special emphasis on the potential salutary effects of Hsp20 in heart disease. This article is part of a special issue entitled "Key Signaling Molecules in Hypertrophy and Heart Failure." [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) participate in myocardial repair following myocardial infarction. However, their in vivo reparative capability is limited due to lack of their survival in the infarcted myocardium. To overcome this limitation, we genetically engineered male rat MSCs overexpressing CXCR4 in order to maximize the effect of stromal cell-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α) for cell migration and regeneration. MSCs were isolated from adult male rats and cultured. Adenoviral transduction was carried out to over-express either CXCR4/green fluorescent protein (Ad-CXCR4/GFP) or Ad-null/GFP alone (control). Flow cytometry was used to identify and isolate GFP/CXCR4 over-expressing MSCs for transplantation. Female rats were assigned to one of four groups (n =8 each) to receive GFP-transduced male MSCs (2×106) via tail vein injection 3 days after ligation of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery: GFP-transduced MSCs (Ad-null/GFP-MSCs, group 1) or MSCs over-expressing CXCR4/GFP (Ad-CXCR4/GFP-MSCs, group 2), or Ad-CXCR4/GFP-MSCs plus SDF-1α (50 ng/μl) (Ad-CXCR4/GFP-MSCs/SDF-1α, group 3), or Ad-miRNA targeting CXCR4 plus SDF-1α (Ad-miRNA/GFP-MSCs+SDF-1α treatment, group 4). Cardiodynamic data were obtained 4 weeks after induction of regional myocardial infarction (MI) using echocardiography after which hearts were harvested for immunohistochemical studies. The migration of GFP and Y-chromosome positive cells increased significantly in the peri- and infarct areas of groups 2 and 3 compared to control group (p <0.05), or miRNA-CXCR4 group (p <0.01). The number of CXCR4 positive cells in groups 2, 3 was intimately associated with angiogenesis and myogenesis. MSCs engraftment was blocked by pretreatment with miRNA (group 4). Cardiac function was significantly improved in rats receiving MSCs over-expressing CXCR4 alone or with SDF-1α. The up-regulation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) by CXCR4 overexpressing MSCs perhaps facilitated their engraftment in the collagenous tissue of the infarcted area. CXCR4 over-expression led to enhance in vivo mobilization and engraftment of MSCs into ischemic area where these cells promoted neomyoangiogenesis and alleviated early signs of left ventricular remodeling. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In oogamous reproduction of multicellular organisms, a striking phenomenon is the prevailing synchronous development of male germ cells connected by wide intercellular bridges (IBs, 0.1–2 μm), which is well conserved in both animal and plant species ranging from algae to human. In the literature, IBs are believed either to allow genetically segregated haploid spermatids to share diploid gene products after meiosis, or to mediate rapid transfer of some vital signals or nutrients. Although intercellular sharing of gene transcripts has experimental evidences, these hypotheses are still not satisfactory. To explore the unknown roles of IB, we assume that developing male germ cells may be especially sensitive to stochastic gene expression to become heterogeneous. To achieve best gamete quality, such heterogeneity must be eliminated so that relatively uniform gametes with normal functions can be produced. Development within a common syncytium may be the only way for this purpose. The process may require not only the intercellular exchange of a few molecular signals but also the mixing of protoplasm between the connected cells so that they have similar levels/states of mRNAs, proteins and organelles, which can be achieved only through wide IBs. This hypothesis can explain some quite intriguing aspects of male gametogenesis and provide unique predictions that can be tested experimentally. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The NF-κB/IκBα pathway plays an important role in the regulation of immune and inflammatory responses. IκBα is an inhibitory molecule that sequesters transcription activator NF-κB dimer in the cytoplasm of unstimulated cells. Here, we isolated the full-length cDNAs of the mandarin fish (Siniperca chuatsi) alpha inhibitor of NF-κB (ScIκBα) and p65 NF-κB (Scp65). Multiple sequence alignments showed that the amino acid sequences of both ScIκBα and Scp65 contain conserved domains similar to those of mammalian counterparts. Protein pull-down and coimmunoprecipitation assays showed that ScIκBα directly bound with Scp65. Real-time quantitative PCR analysis showed that ScIκBα mRNA was constitutive in all mandarin fish tissues detected. After challenge with infectious spleen and kidney necrosis virus (ISKNV), the mRNA level of ScIκBα was decreased nearly 6 fold in the spleen. This result suggests that the NF-κB/IκBα pathway in mandarin fish may play a role in the immune response against ISKNV. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: A gene manipulated cell patch using a homologous peritoneum substrate was developed and applied after myocardial infarction to repair scarred myocardium. We genetically engineered male rat mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) using adenoviral transduction to over-express CXCR4/green fluorescent protein (GFP) (MSCCXCR4) or MSCNull or siRNA targeting CXCR4 (MSCsiRNA). Gene expression was studied by real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Cells were cultured on excised peritoneum for 9 days. Two weeks after left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery ligation in female hearts, the peritoneum patch was applied over the scarred myocardium, cell side down. Efficacy of engraftment was determined by presence of GFP positive cells. One month after cell implantation, echocardiography was performed and hearts were harvested for histological analysis. Left ventricle (LV) fibrosis, LV anterior wall thickness (AWT) and blood vessel density at the margins of the graft were measured. There was significant up-regulation of the chemokines in the MSCCXCR4 group cultured under normoxic conditions when compared to the MSCNull group and a further increase was observed after exposure to hypoxia. One month after cell transplantation with the peritoneum patch, substantial numbers of GFP-positive cells were observed in and around the infarcted myocardium in MSCCXCR4 group. LV AWT, LV fibrosis and LV function were significantly improved in the MSCCXCR4 group as compared to these same variables in the MSCNull control. These salutary effects were absent in MSCsiRNA group. The gene manipulated MSC-seeded peritoneum patch promotes tissue nutrition (angiogenesis), reduces myocardial remodeling, and enhances heart function after myocardial infarction. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The occurrence of cardiovascular dysfunction in sepsis is associated with a significantly increased mortality rate of 70% to 90% compared with 20% in septic patients without cardiovascular impairment. Thus, rectification or blockade of myocardial depressant factors should partly ameliorate sepsis progression. Heat shock protein 20 (Hsp20) has been shown to enhance myocardial contractile function and protect against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity. To investigate the possible role of Hsp20 in sepsis-mediated cardiac injury, we first examined the expression profiles of five major Hsps in response to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge, and observed that only the expression of Hsp20 was downregulated in LPS-treated myocardium, suggesting that this decrease might be one of the mechanisms contributing to LPS-induced cardiovascular defects. Further studies using loss-of-function and gain-of-function approaches in adult rat cardiomyocytes verified that reduced Hsp20 levels were indeed correlated with the impaired contractile function. In fact, overexpression of Hsp20 significantly enhanced cardiomyocyte contractility upon LPS treatment. Moreover, after administration of LPS (25 μg/g) in vivo, Hsp20 transgenic mice (10-fold overexpression) displayed: 1) an improvement in myocardial function; 2) reduced the degree of cardiac apoptosis; and 3) decreased NF-κB activity, accompanied with reduced myocardial cytokines IL-1β and TNF-α production, compared to the LPS-treated non-transgenic littermate controls. Thus, the increases in Hsp20 levels can protect against LPS-induced cardiac apoptosis and dysfunction, associated with inhibition of NF-κB activity, suggesting that Hsp20 may be a new therapeutic agent for the treatment of sepsis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]