Elaborately programmed fluorescent calcein nanowire arrays can be prepared with the aid of superhydrophobic pillar-structured surfaces with high adhesion. Each nanowire can be precisely positioned by well designed tip-structured micropillars, indicating an advance in the methodologies of controlling small molecular 1D organic nanostructures. The as-prepared fluorescent nanowire arrays can serve ...

This work presents novel conductive bioinspired dry adhesives with mushroom caps that enable the use of a synergistic combination of electrostatic and van der Waals forces (electro-dry-adhesion). An increase in shear adhesion bond strength of up to 2600% on a wide range of materials is measured when a maximum electrical ...

Pregnancy in sickle cell disease (SCD) has been associated with increased complications such as vaso-occlusive crises, severe anemia and foetal loss. It has been proposed that the sickling of red blood cells (RBCs) inside the placenta circulation could participate to these complications. The present study investigated the adhesion of sickle ...

Both the total-etch and self-etching systems of today have the potential to provide durable adhesive interface, and despite the proclamations of some, total-etch is alive and well. Indeed, evidence indicates that a viable and growing market remains for total-etch adhesive systems. This paper will discuss the origins, evolution, and idiosyncrasies ...

The spiral arteries undergo physiologic changes during pregnancy, and the failure of this process may lead to a spectrum of pregnancy disorders, including pre-eclampsia. Our recent data indicate that decidual endothelial cells (DECs), covering the inner side of the spiral arteries, acquire the ability to synthesize C1q, which acts as ...

PET (pre-eclamptic toxaemia), characterized by pregnancy-related hypertension and proteinuria, due to widespread endothelial dysfunction, is a primary cause of maternal morbidity. Altered circulating factors, particularly the VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) family of proteins and their receptors, are thought to be key contributors to this disease. Plasma from patients with ...

Severe preeclampsia is characterized by hypertension, renal injury and placental dysfunction. Prothrombotic disorders are discovered in 10-20% of women with preeclampsia, providing the rationale for prescribing low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) in future pregnancies. Heparin has diverse molecular actions and appears to reduce the recurrence risk of preeclampsia in women without prothrombotic ...

Aim: Menopause and subsequent estrogen deficiency correlate with the development of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases in women. However, the relationship between estrogen deficiency and development of atherosclerosis with inflammatory infiltrates is not fully understood. We sought to determine whether perimenopausal women (PMW) exhibited T cell dysfunction related to the expression ...

BACKGROUNDAngiogenesis is a key feature of endometrial development. Inappropriate endometrial vascular development has been associated with recurrent miscarriage (RM) with increased amounts of perivascular smooth muscle cells surrounding them.METHODSIn the current study, we have used immunohistochemistry to study temporal and spatial expression of a series of angiogenic growth factors (AGFs) ...

ABSTRACT Aim Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) seems to be a critical molecule in cervical carcinogenesis. We aimed to investigate the possible associations between hormonal factors and VEGF expression in cervical epithelial cells from postmenopausal women. Method A total of 105 healthy postmenopausal women (aged 45?68 years old) attending a ...

Aquaporin 1 (AQP1) is a water channel protein expressed in endothelial and epithelial cells of many tissues, including the vasculature, where it serves to increase water permeability of the cell membrane. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression and distribution of AQP1 in porcine peri-ovarian vascular complex ...

Citation Lok CAR, Snijder KS, Nieuwland R, Van Der Post JAM, de Vos P, Faas MM. Microparticles of pregnant women and preeclamptic patients activate endothelial cells in the presence of monocytes. Am J Reprod Immunol 2011 Problem  Preeclampsia is a pregnancy-specific disorder that may result from an adverse maternal response ...

BACKGROUND: In vitro exposure of endothelial cells (ECs) to n-3 (omega-3) long-chain PUFAs (LCPUFAs) reduces cell adhesion molecule (CAM) expression. However, to our knowledge, no previous human studies have examined the influence of an altered diet on CAM expression. OBJECTIVE: We assessed whether salmon (rich in n-3 LCPUFAs) consumption twice ...

Citation Alijotas-Reig J, Palacio-Garcia C, Farran-Codina I, Ruiz-Romance M, Llurba E, Vilardell-Tarres M. Circulating cell-derived microparticles in severe preeclampsia and in fetal growth restriction. Am J Reprod Immunol 2011 Problem  The behavior of the circulating microparticles (cMP) in severe preeclampsia (PE) and fetal growth restriction (FGR) is disputed. Method of ...

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the effect of bladder flap formation (BFF) during caesarean section (CS) on the uterine scar, assessed during repeat CS. STUDY DESIGN: One hundred and fifteen women undergoing their first CS were divided into two groups: 58 women had a CS with BFF (Group 1) and 57 women ...

Preeclampsia is a high-prevalence systemic pregnancy disorder associated with maternal and foetal mortality. Its pathogenesis is unknown, but it is thought that oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction may play a fundamental role. Von Willebrand factor (vWF), a marker of endothelial cell injury, can be found in different cells and zones ...

OBJECTIVE: The antiinflammatory properties of the female sex hormone estrogen have been linked to a reduced incidence of cardiovascular disease. In the present study, we addressed whether estrogen could activate vasculoprotective mechanisms via annexin A1 (AnxA1) mobilization in human polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs). METHODS AND RESULTS: Using whole-blood flow cytometry, we ...

OBJECTIVE: We sought to determine the effect of nonclosure of the visceral and parietal peritoneum during cesarean section on the formation of adhesions. STUDY DESIGN: This was a prospective randomized trial of 533 women undergoing primary cesarean section; in 256 the peritoneum was left open and in 277 it was ...

Preeclampsia may result from overactivation of the maternal immune system and is characterized by endothelial dysfunction and excessive inflammation. Given the importance of maternal immune system regulation and anti-inflammatory cytokines in normotensive pregnancies, we hypothesized that maternal immune system activation via Toll-like receptor 3 during pregnancy would cause preeclampsia-like symptoms ...

OBJECTIVE: We sought to assess whether the presence and severity of adhesions at first repeat cesarean delivery are associated with delayed delivery of the newborn. STUDY DESIGN: We conducted secondary analysis of a prospective cohort of women undergoing first repeat cesarean. Severity and location of adhesions were reported by surgeons ...

This study reports on the development and validation of an integrated experimental system for quantitative monitoring of the effects of vascular dynamic and static forces on endothelial cells (ECs), in terms of their morphological remodelling and rheological properties. The system consists of a microscope-based flow bio-reactor which imposes controlled individual ...

Angiogenesis is a highly organized process under the control of guidance cues that direct endothelial cell (EC) migration. Recently, many molecules that were initially described as regulators of neural guidance were subsequently shown to also direct EC migration. Here, we report a novel protein, thrombospondin type I domain containing 7A ...

Rationale: Orai1 and the associated calcium release-activated calcium (CRAC) channel were discovered in the immune system. Existence also in endothelial cells has been suggested, but the relevance to endothelial biology is mostly unknown. Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the relevance of Orai1 and CRAC channels to ...

The estrogen metabolite 2-methoxyestradiol (2-ME2) is one of the most potent antiangiogenic and proapoptotic endogenous steroids. Herein, we investigate the effects of 2-ME2 on angiogenesis of cultured primary ovine uterine artery endothelial cells (UAECs) from nonpregnant follicular (F-UAECs), nonpregnant luteal (L-UAECs), and pregnant ewes (P-UAECs). Uterine artery endothelial cells were ...

Background Pollination is a crucial step in angiosperm (flowering plant) reproduction. Highly orchestrated pollen-pistil interactions and signalling events enable plant species to avoid inbreeding and outcrossing as a species-specific barrier. In compatible pollination, pollen tubes carrying two sperm cells grow through the pistil transmitting tract and are precisely guided to ...

The intracellular signaling mechanisms underlying postnatal angiogenesis are incompletely understood. Herein we show that Grb-2-associated binder 1 (Gab1) plays a critical role in ischemic and VEGF-induced angiogenesis. Endothelium-specific Gab1 KO (EGKO) mice displayed impaired angiogenesis in the ischemic hindlimb despite normal induction of VEGF expression. Matrigel plugs with VEGF implanted ...

To explore the role of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) in angiogenesis in the developing corpus luteum, luteal microvascular endothelial-like cells (luteal ECs) were prepared from highly luteinizing ovaries of rats using the percoll density gradient method. The cells abundantly expressed the mRNAs of the endothelial markers CD31 (PECAM-1) and responded to ...

PURPOSE:: To describe the trimming of a glaucoma shunt tube with Descemet membrane endothelial keratoplasty (DMEK) for the treatment of endothelial decompensation caused by tube-endothelium touch. METHODS:: An 84-year-old man with pseudoexfoliative glaucoma OU had endothelial decompensation because of the touch of the tube of an Ahmed glaucoma valve at ...

Oligosaccharides of hyaluronan (o-HA) can induce angiogenesis and the growth and tube formation of vascular endothelial cells (ECs) in particular. As the major o-HA receptor, CD44 has been implicated in EC function, but its role in mediating o-HA-induced EC proliferation and tube formation remains unclear. In this study, we investigated ...

Hypertension is one of the most common medical conditions complicating pregnancy, with significant implications on maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality. Abnormalities in placentation have been implicated as the primary pathology responsible for the development of hypertension during pregnancy and its effects such as pre-eclampsia and eclampsia. With advancing research, ...

Filamin proteins cross-link F-actin and form a scaffold for numerous signal transduction systems. In this study, we show that filaminB is apically enriched in avian embryonic epithelium, and colocalizes with cell adhesion molecules and circumferential F-actin. FilaminB knockdown in the neural tube and somites decreases the accumulation of N-cadherin and ...

Many studies reveal a fundamental role for extracellular matrix-mediated signaling through integrins and Rho GTPases as well as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in the molecular control of vascular tube morphogenesis in three-dimensional (3D) tissue environments. Recent work has defined an endothelial cell (EC) lumen signaling complex of proteins that controls these ...

The primary objective of this study was to examine the potential interaction between S1P, a pleiotropic lipid mediator, and CTGF/CCN2, a secreted multimodular protein, in the process of endothelial cell migration. The secondary objective was to determine whether C- and N-terminal domains of CTGF/CCN2 have a specific function in cell ...

Transcription enhancer factor 3 (TEF3) is known to regulate the expression of muscle-specific genes and to play important roles in muscle development and diseases. However, little is known about its role in vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-induced angiogenesis. Most recently, we discovered a novel function of TEF3, in which TEF3 ...

Many epithelial tissues undergo extensive remodelling during morphogenesis. How their epithelial features, such as apicobasal polarity or adhesion, are maintained and remodelled and how adhesion and polarity proteins contribute to morphogenesis are two important questions in development. Here, we approach these issues by investigating the role of the apical determinant ...

OBJECTIVE: RhoJ/TCL was identified by our group as an endothelial-expressed Rho GTPase. The aim of this study was to determine its tissue distribution, subcellular localization, and function in endothelial migration and tube formation. METHODS AND RESULTS: Using in situ hybridization, RhoJ was localized to endothelial cells in a set of ...

Sevoflurane induces preconditioning (SevoPC). The effect of aprotinin and the involvement of endothelial nitric-oxide synthase (NOS) on SevoPC are unknown. We investigated (1) whether SevoPC is strengthened by multiple preconditioning cycles, (2) whether SevoPC is blocked by aprotinin, and (3) whether endothelial NOS plays a crucial role in SevoPC. Anesthetized ...

Laminar shear stress (LSS) is known to increase endothelial nitric oxide (NO) production, which is essential for vascular health, through expression and activation of nitric oxide synthase 3 (NOS3). Recent studies demonstrated that LSS also increases the expression of argininosuccinate synthetase 1 (ASS1) that regulates the provision of L-arginine, the ...

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) is a known hematopoietic glycoprotein, and recent studies have revealed that G-CSF possesses other interesting properties. Oxidative stress is involved in many diseases, such as atherosclerosis, heart failure, myocardial infarction, Alzheimer disease, and diabetic retinopathy. This study was designed to examine whether G-CSF has a protective ...

Novel pharmacological strategies are urgently needed to prevent or reduce radiation-induced tissue injury. Microvascular injury is a prominent feature of both early and delayed radiation injury. Radiation-induced endothelial dysfunction is believed to play a key role in the pathogenesis of post-irradiation tissue injury. Hence, strategies that could prevent or improve ...

To investigate the efficacy of bone marrow mononuclear cell (BMMNC) treatment against ischemic white matter (WM) damage in a hypoperfused brain. Mice were administered intravenous treatment of vehicle, spleen-derived marrow mononuclear cells (MNCs), or BMMNCs (5 × 10⁶ cells) obtained from enhanced green fluorescent protein transgenic mice 24 hours after ...

The vitamin E analog γ-tocotrienol (GT3) is a powerful radioprotector. GT3 reduces postradiation vascular peroxynitrite production, an effect dependent on inhibition of hydroxy-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase. Hydroxy-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitors mediate their pleiotropic effects via endothelial nitric oxide synthase that requires the cofactor tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4). This study investigated the effects of ...

To evaluate the nanoleakage of one- and two-step self-etch adhesives bonded to artificial carious dentin. Deep dentin of 24 human molars was exposed and divided into four groups. One group served as control while the others were demineralized in artificial demineralization solution for 10 minutes, 6 hours, and 24 hours. ...

To induce the in vitro endothelial dysfunction model, H5V cells were treated with tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) and with unconjugated bilirubin (UCB) at two different physiological concentrations. The TNFα-induced reduction of nitric oxide (NO) concentration was reversed by UCB. Endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) gene expression was not influenced by ...

Flavonols, and specially quercetin, are widely distributed in plants and are present in considerable amounts in fruits and vegetables. In addition to their anti-oxidant effect, flavonols interfere with a large number of biochemical signaling pathways and, therefore, physiological and pathological processes. There is solid evidence that, in vitro, quercetin and ...

Adropin is a recently identified protein that has been implicated in the maintenance of energy homeostasis and insulin resistance. Because vascular function and insulin sensitivity are closely related, we hypothesized that adropin may also exert direct effects on the endothelium. In vitro cell culture models were partnered with an in ...

A computational model of Nitric Oxide (NO) production and transport within a parallel-plate flow chamber coated with endothelial cells is presented. The relationship between NO concentration and Wall Shear Stress (WSS) at the endothelium is investigated in detail. An increase in WSS is associated with two phenomena: enhanced NO production ...

The migration and proliferation of endothelial cells affect the process of angiogenesis or the formation of blood vessels. Endothelial cells interact with each other to form ring-like structures in monolayers and tubular structures in matrigels. However, the transit phase between the individual endothelial cells and fully formed tubular structures is ...

Circulating angiogenic cells (CACs), also termed endothelial progenitor cells, play an integral role in vascular repair and are functionally impaired in coronary artery disease (CAD). The role of nitric oxide (NO) in CAC function is poorly understood. We hypothesized that CAC migration toward angiogenic signals is modulated by both NO ...

Sphingosine kinases (SKs) convert sphingosine to sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P), which is a bioactive lipid that regulates a variety of cellular processes including proliferation, differentiation and migration. We used the human endothelial cell line EA.hy926 to investigate the effect of nitric oxide (NO) donors on SK-1 expression, and on cell migration ...