97,693 research outputs found
Joshua Davis: Author of Spare Parts
No full textCitation: K-State First (2016). Joshua Davis: Author of Spare Parts [Flier]. Manhattan, Kansas: K-State First.Flyer advertising Joshua Davis's author talk at Kansas State University
Rho-kinase inhibition blunts renal vasoconstriction induced by distinct signaling pathways in vivo
No full textIn addition to intracellular calcium, which activates myosin light chain (MLC) kinase, MLC phosphorylation and hence contraction is importantly regulated by MLC phosphatase (MLCP). Recent evidence suggests that distinct signaling cascades of vasoactive hormones interact with the Rho/Rho kinase (ROK) pathway, affecting the activity of MLCP. The present study measured the impact of ROK inhibition on vascular F-actin distribution and on vasoconstriction induced by activation/inhibition of distinct signaling pathways in vivo in the microcirculation of the split hydronephrotic rat kidney. Local application of the ROK inhibitors Y-27632 or HA-1077 induced marked dilation of pre- and postglomerular vessels. Activation of phospholipase C with the endothelin ET B agonist IRL 1620, inhibition of soluble guanylyl cyclase with 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo-[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ), or inhibition of adenylyl cyclase with the adenosine A1 agonist N6-cyclopentyladenosine (CPA) reduced glomerular blood flow (GBF) by about 50% through vasoconstriction at different vascular levels. ROK inhibition with Y-27632 or HA-1077, but not protein kinase C inhibition with Ro 31-8220, blunted ET B-induced vasoconstriction. Furthermore, the reduction of GBF and of vascular diameters in response to ODQ or CPA were abolished by pretreatment with Y-27632. ROK inhibitors prevented constriction of preglomerular vessels and of efferent arterioles with equal effectiveness. Confocal microscopy demonstrated that Y-27632 did not change F-actin content and distribution in renal vessels. The results suggest that ROK inhibition might be considered as a potent treatment of renal vasoconstriction, because it interferes with constriction induced by distinct signaling pathways in renal vessels without affecting F-actin structure
Steven Johnson Author Talk Poster
No full textK-State Book NetworkA poster advertising an author talk by Steven Johnson at Kansas State University on September 3, 2014. Steven Johnson's book "The Ghost Map" was the 2014-2015 common book
Rho-Kinase inhibition blunts renal vasoconstriction induced by distinct signaling pathways in vivo
No full textEvaluation of endogenous miRNA reference genes across different zebrafish strains, developmental stages and kidney disease models
No full textThe majority of kidney diseases arise from the loss of podocytes and from morphological changes of their highly complex foot process architecture, which inevitably leads to a reduced kidney filtration and total loss of kidney function. It could have been shown that microRNAs (miRs) play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of podocyte-associated kidney diseases. Due to their fully functioning pronephric kidney, larval zebrafish have become a popular vertebrate model, to study kidney diseases in vivo. Unfortunately, there is no consensus about a proper normalization strategy of RT-qPCR-based miRNA expression data in zebrafish. In this study we analyzed 9 preselected candidates dre-miR-92a-3p, dre-miR-206-3p, dre-miR-99-1, dre-miR-92b-3p, dre-miR-363-3p, dre-let-7e, dre-miR-454a, dre-miR-30c-5p, dre-miR-126a-5p for their capability as endogenous reference genes in zebrafish experiments. Expression levels of potential candidates were measured in 3 different zebrafish strains, different developmental stages, and in different kidney disease models by RT-qPCR. Expression values were analyzed with NormFinder, BestKeeper, GeNorm, and DeltaCt and were tested for inter-group differences. All candidates show an abundant expression throughout all samples and relatively high stability. The most stable candidate without significant inter-group differences was dre-miR-92b-3p making it a suitable endogenous reference gene for RT-qPCR-based miR expression zebrafish studies
Influence of endothelium-derived relaxing factor on renal microvessels and pressure-dependent vasodilation
No full textThe influence of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) on renal microvessels and autoregulation was visualized in vivo, in the split hydronephrotic kidney of rats. EDRF synthesis was inhibited by local administration of 10(-5) M NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME). Diameters of arcuate arteries decreased by 17%. In cortical vessels efferent arterioles constricted more (13-16%) than interlobular arteries and afferent arterioles (7-12%). Cortical glomerular blood flow (GBF) decreased by 46% after L-NAME. A similar behavior of blood flow and vascular diameters was also observed in juxtamedullary (JM) arterioles. The responses to acetylcholine but not to sodium nitroprusside were attenuated after L-NAME. After local administration of L-arginine (10(-3) M) diameters of all vessels and GBF increased, vascular responses to L-NAME were blunted. Stepwise reduction of renal perfusion pressure revealed that autoregulation was preserved in cortical vessels after L-NAME. In JM arterioles, which do not autoregulate in female Wistar rats, autoregulation of GBF was enhanced after L-NAME. These data suggest that tonic formation of EDRF influences basal renal hemodynamics to a considerable extent. EDRF may also impair autoregulation of JM glomeruli without disturbing autoregulation of cortical glomeruli
Prolonged podocyte depletion in larval zebrafish resembles mammalian focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis
No full textFocal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is a histological pattern frequently found in patients with nephrotic syndrome that often progress to end-stage kidney disease. The initial step in development of this histologically defined entity is injury and ultimately depletion of podocytes, highly arborized interdigitating cells on the glomerular capillaries with important function for the glomerular filtration barrier. Since there are still no causal therapeutic options, animal models are needed to develop new treatment strategies. Here, we present an FSGS-like model in zebrafish larvae, an eligible vertebrate model for kidney research. In a transgenic zebrafish strain, podocytes were depleted, and the glomerular response was investigated by histological and morphometrical analysis combined with immunofluorescence staining and ultrastructural analysis by transmission electron microscopy. By intravenous injection of fluorescent high-molecular weight dextran, we confirmed leakage of the size selective filtration barrier. Additionally, we observed severe podocyte foot process effacement of remaining podocytes, activation of proximal tubule-like parietal epithelial cells identified by ultrastructural cytomorphology, and expression of proximal tubule markers. These activated cells deposited extracellular matrix on the glomerular tuft which are all hallmarks of FSGS. Our findings indicate that glomerular response to podocyte depletion in larval zebrafish resembles human FSGS in several important characteristics. Therefore, this model will help to investigate the disease development and the effects of potential drugs in a living organism
Effects of angiotensin II, arginine vasopressin and tromboxane A2 in renal vascular bed: role of rho-kinase
No full textAngiotensin II (Ang II), arginine vasopressin (AVP) and tromboxane A(2) (TxA(2)) are dissimilar vasoconstrictors involved in regulating renal circulation. Whereas Ang II is primarily a physiological modulator, AVP and TxA(2) play important roles under pathological conditions. Previously, we have shown variable importance of intracellular Ca(2+) and protein kinase C for their mode of action (Ang II > AVP >U-46619), but the cell signalling via rho-associated kinase (ROK) is a common pathway. The aim of this study was to determine their sites of action in the renal vascular bed and the corresponding role of ROK at the microvascular level.
METHODS:
Glomerular blood flow (GBF) and luminal diameter of different vessels (10-70 micro m) were measured in the split hydronephrotic kidney of anaesthetized rats. The tissue bath concentration of Ang II, AVP or the TxA(2) agonist U-46619 was adjusted to reduce GBF by approximately 50%. The measurements were repeated after adding a sub-maximal dose of the ROK inhibitor Y-27632 into the bath.
RESULTS:
Ang II constricted all vessels significantly, the constriction being least in the proximal segment of the arcuate artery ( approximately 70 micro m). Significant constrictions due to AVP were found only in interlobular and arcuate arteries (20-70 micro m), but not in the afferent and efferent arterioles. U-46619 constricted only the arcuate artery (> or = 50 micro m). Y-27632 (10(-4) M) dilated all vessels significantly and increased GBF by 65%. Thereafter, effects of all agonists were severely attenuated. Control reductions in GBF could be obtained at higher concentrations of AVP (10-fold) and U-46619 (5-fold) and a lesser GBF reduction with Ang II (100-fold) without changes in the respective patterns of vascular constriction.
CONCLUSIONS:
Our data indicate that the agonists, in the order Ang II, AVP and TxA(2), constrict larger vessels within the renal vascular tree via activation of ROK. Therefore, ROK inhibitors may provide a therapeutic tool to antagonize pathological vasospasm of conduit vessels, which are resistant to other vasodilators
On finitely summable K-homology
No full textWir definieren für die Kategorie der topologischen *-Algebren endlich summierbare K-Homologie-Gruppen K_fin, deren Elemente durch Homotopieklassen endlich summierbarer Fredholm-Moduln gegeben sind, und studieren einige ihrer Eigenschaften: Wir zeigen, dass K_fin invariant ist unter Stabilisierung mit Schatten-Klassen, im Allgemeinen jedoch nicht additiv für abzählbar unendliche direkte Summen von topologischen *-Algebren ist. Des Weiteren berechnen wir die endlich summierbare K-Homologie von AF-Algebren und behandeln den Fall von Mannigfaltigkeiten. Darüber hinaus untersuchen wir einige Klassen von Algebren, für die K_fin degeneriert. Insbesondere beweisen wir, dass abgesehen von trivialen Beispielen keine endlich summierbaren Fredholm-Moduln über der Faltungsalgebra l^1(G) einer diskreten Gruppe G existieren können
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