Myocardial Infarction (MI) initiates a series of wound healing events that begins with up-regulation of an inflammatory response and culminates in scar formation. The extracellular matrix (ECM) is intricately involved in all stages from initial break down of existing ECM to synthesis of new ECM to form the scar. This review will summarize our current knowledge on the processes involved in ECM remodeling after MI and identify the gaps that still need to be filled.
Oxidative stress (OS) is a common characteristic of several neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson disease (PD). PD is more prevalent in men than in women, indicating the possible involvement of androgens. Androgens can have either neuroprotective or neurodamaging effects, depending on the presence of OS. Specifically, in an OS environment, androgens via a membrane-associated androgen receptor (mAR) exacerbate OS-induced damage. To investigate the role of androgens on OS signaling and neurodegeneration, the effects of testosterone and androgen receptor activation on the major OS signaling cascades, the reduced form of NAD phosphate (NADPH) oxidase (NOX)1 and NOX2 and the Gαq/inositol trisphosphate receptor (InsP3R), were examined. To create an OS environment, an immortalized neuronal cell line was exposed to H2O2 prior to cell-permeable/cell-impermeable androgens. Different inhibitors were used to examine the role of G proteins, mAR, InsP3R, and NOX1/2 on OS generation and cell viability. Both testosterone and DHT/3-O-carboxymethyloxime (DHT)-BSA increased H2O2-induced OS and cell death, indicating the involvement of an mAR. Furthermore, classical AR antagonists did not block testosterone's negative effects in an OS environment. Because there are no known antagonists specific for mARs, an AR protein degrader, ASC-J9, was used to block mAR action. ASC-J9 blocked testosterone's negative effects. To determine OS-related signaling mediated by mAR, this study examined NOX1, NOX2, Gαq. NOX1, NOX2, and the Gαq complex with mAR. Only NOX inhibition blocked testosterone-induced cell loss and OS. No effects of blocking either Gαq or G protein activation were observed on testosterone's negative effects. These results indicate that androgen-induced OS is via the mAR-NOX complex and not the mAR-Gαq complex.
A common characteristic of several neurodegenerative disorders is oxidative stress (OS). Many neurodegenerative disorders are more prevalent in men and postmenopausal women compared to premenopausal women, indicating the possible involvement of androgens (men > postmenopausal women > premenopausal women) in neurodegeneration. Our lab found testosterone can have either neuroprotective or neurodamaging effects depending on the presence of OS in the cellular environment. We have shown testosterone via a non‐genomic mechanism exacerbates OS damage in neurons. Indeed, our lab was the first to discover the presence of the androgen receptor (AR) splice variant, AR45, in the brain. Subcellular localization of AR45 is in the lipid rafts of the plasma membrane in several brain regions affected by neurodegenerative disorders (eg. substantia nigra, hippocampus). We found testosterone can initiate signaling cascades via this membrane associated AR (mAR), leading to increased OS. However, the mechanism for OS generation is unknown. NADPH Oxidase 1 and 2 (NOX 1/2) are major OS generators, and potential targets for androgen‐induced OS and cell death. Based on our studies showing protein‐protein interactions between NOX1/2, AR45, and Gα q, we hypothesize testosterone increases OS by activating mAR complexed with NOX 1/2, initiating IP 3 signaling. Using an immortalized neuronal cell line (N27 cells), we exposed cells to hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) prior to testosterone (100 nM) or DHT‐BSA (500nM). Inhibitors were used to examine G protein, androgen receptor, IP 3 and NOX1/2 signaling. Cell viability and OS were quantified. In addition to in vitro experiments, we examined the effects of NOX 1/2 on DHT exacerbation of chronic intermittent hypoxia, CIH (AHI=10) induced OS by treating adult male Long Evans rats with the NOX1/2 inhibitor, apocynin (4mg/kg). Classical AR antagonists did not block testosterone's negative effects, indicating the classical AR does not mediate these effects. Since AR antagonists do not block mAR, we used an AR protein degrader, ASC‐J9 (5uM). Unlike AR antagonists, the AR degrader blocked testosterone's negative effects. Next, we examined signaling cascades associated with proteins complexed with mAR‐AR45, such as NOX1/2 and Gα q . To block NOX actions, we used apocynin (10 uM), a nonspecific NOX inhibitor. Apocynin did not alter H 2 O 2 ‐induced cell loss, indicating H 2 O 2 increases OS via a non‐NOX mechanism. However, apocynin completely blocked testosterone induced cell loss and OS, suggesting the involvement of NOX1/2. Consistent with our in vitro data, apocynin also decreased OS generation in DHT‐treated rats exposed to the oxidative stressor, CIH, during sleep phase for 7 days. Inhibition of Gα q or G protein activation did not alter testosterone's negative effects on cell viability. However, inhibition of IP 3 receptor blocked these effects. Interestingly, NOX can influence IP 3 receptor mediated signaling, indicating that testosterone may activate IP 3 signaling via the mAR‐NOX complex and not the mAR‐ Gα q complex localized in membrane lipid raft. Future studies will examine the mAR‐NOX complex as a therapeutic target for neurodegenerative diseases. Support or Funding Information NIH/NINDS R01 NS088514 to RLC This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal .
Sleep apnea has been associated with elevated risk for metabolic, cognitive, and cardiovascular disorders. Further, the role of hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) activation in sleep apnea has been controversial in human studies. Chronic intermittent hypoxia (CIH) is a rodent model, which mimics the hypoxemia experienced by patients with sleep apnea. Most studies of CIH in rats have been conducted in the Sprague Dawley rat strain. Previously published literature suggests different strains of rats exhibit various responses to disease models, and these effects can be further modulated by the housing conditions experienced by each strain. This variability in response is similar to what has been observed in clinical populations, especially with respect to the HPA system. To investigate if strain or housing (individual or pair-housed) can affect the results of CIH (AHI 8 or 10) treatment, we exposed individual and pair-housed Sprague Dawley and Long-Evans male rats to 7 days of CIH treatment. This was followed by biochemical analysis of circulating hormones, oxidative stress, and neurodegenerative markers. Both strain and housing conditions altered oxidative stress generation, hyperphosphorylated tau protein (tau tangles), circulating corticosterone and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and weight metrics. Specifically, pair-housed Long-Evans rats were the most sensitive to CIH, which showed a significant association between oxidative stress generation and HPA activation under conditions of AHI of 8. These results suggest both strain and housing conditions can affect the outcomes of CIH.
Abstract Background The role of sex hormones on cellular function is unclear. Studies show androgens and estrogens are protective in the CNS, whereas other studies found no effects or damaging effects. Furthermore, sex differences have been observed in multiple oxidative stress-associated CNS disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease, depression, and Parkinson’s disease. The goal of this study is to examine the relationship between sex hormones (i.e., androgens and estrogens) and oxidative stress on cell viability. Methods N27 and PC12 neuronal and C6 glial phenotypic cell lines were used. N27 cells are female rat derived, whereas PC12 cells and C6 cells are male rat derived. These cells express estrogen receptors and the membrane-associated androgen receptor variant, AR45, but not the full-length androgen receptor. N27, PC12, and C6 cells were exposed to sex hormones either before or after an oxidative stressor to examine neuroprotective and neurotoxic properties, respectively. Estrogen receptor and androgen receptor inhibitors were used to determine the mechanisms mediating hormone-oxidative stress interactions on cell viability. Since the presence of AR45 in the human brain tissue was unknown, we examined the postmortem brain tissue from men and women for AR45 protein expression. Results Neither androgens nor estrogens were protective against subsequent oxidative stress insults in glial cells. However, these hormones exhibited neuroprotective properties in neuronal N27 and PC12 cells via the estrogen receptor. Interestingly, a window of opportunity exists for sex hormone neuroprotection, wherein temporary hormone deprivation blocked neuroprotection by sex hormones. However, if sex hormones are applied following an oxidative stressor, they exacerbated oxidative stress-induced cell loss in neuronal and glial cells. Conclusions Sex hormone action on cell viability is dependent on the cellular environment. In healthy neuronal cells, sex hormones are protective against oxidative stress insults via the estrogen receptor, regardless of sex chromosome complement (XX, XY). However, in unhealthy (e.g., high oxidative stress) cells, sex hormones exacerbated oxidative stress-induced cell loss, regardless of cell type or sex chromosome complement. The non-genomic AR45 receptor, which is present in humans, mediated androgen’s damaging effects, but it is unknown which receptor mediated estrogen’s damaging effects. These differential effects of sex hormones that are dependent on the cellular environment, receptor profile, and cell type may mediate the observed sex differences in oxidative stress-associated CNS disorders.
