Regenerating vascular endothelium under sepsis, trauma, and viral infections is vital for promoting the resolution of inflammatory diseases such as acute lung injury (ALI). Transient receptor potential canonical (TRPC) channels mediated Ca 2+ entry compromises organ functions and survival from lung injury. Through decoding the domain in TRPC6 responsible for vascular injury, we unveiled the intricate molecular mechanisms underlying vascular regeneration in injured tissue. We found that the substitution of isoleucine 111 within the I st ankyrin domain of TRPC6 for its isomer 111 leucine (I 111 L-TRPC6) altered channel localization at the membrane, blocked TRPC6-mediated Ca 2+ entry and cation currents without affecting TRPC6 protein expression. Next, we delivered WT-TRPC6 and I 111 L-TRPC6 to the endothelial cells (ECs) of TRPC6 knockout mice using liposomes and found that while WT-TRPC6 induced lung vascular inflammatory injury and EC death these responses were blocked in lungs expressing I 111 L-TRPC6 mutant. Instead, the I 111 L-TRPC6 mutant promoted lung EC proliferation and prevented vascular injury. These responses were recapitulated in a preclinical mouse model of ALI after injection of engineered TRPC6-blocking peptide, suggesting a novel strategy for regenerating anti-inflammatory vascular niche and preventing ALI therapeutically.

The mechanical environment generated through the adhesive interaction of endothelial cells (ECs) with the matrix controls nuclear tension, preventing aberrant gene synthesis and the transition from restrictive to leaky endothelium, a hallmark of acute lung injury (ALI). However, the mechanisms controlling tension transmission to the nucleus and EC-restrictive fate remain elusive. Here, we demonstrate that, in a kinase-independent manner, focal adhesion kinase (FAK) safeguards tension transmission to the nucleus to maintain EC-restrictive fate. In FAK-depleted ECs, robust activation of the RhoA-Rho-kinase pathway increased EC tension and phosphorylation of the nuclear envelope protein, emerin, activating DNMT3a. Activated DNMT3a methylates the KLF2 promoter, impairing the synthesis of KLF2 and its target S1PR1 to induce the leaky EC transcriptome. Repleting FAK (wild type or kinase dead) or inhibiting RhoA-emerin-DNMT3a activities in damaged lung ECs restored KLF2 transcription of the restrictive EC transcriptome. Thus, FAK sensing and control of tension transmission to the nucleus govern restrictive endothelium to maintain lung homeostasis.

Disruption of endothelial barrier is a crucial factor in the pathogenesis of tissue inflammation, the hallmark of inflammatory diseases such as diabetes and atherosclerosis. Increased endothelial permeability occurs because of loss of cell–cell contacts and disruption of cell–extracellular matrix (ECM) adhesions. Vascular injury is associated with activation of the coagulation cascade and release of thrombin, which increases endothelial permeability by activating endothelial cell surface thrombin receptor. This increase in endothelial permeability is typically followed by a recovery period of ≈2 hours, during which barrier integrity is restored. It has been surmised that thrombin signaling stimulates intrinsic repair mechanisms that restore barrier function. To validate our finding we determined endothelial barrier function using state of the art Electric Cell-substrate Impedance Sensing (ECIS) mechanism, a measure of trans-endothelial electrical resistance (TEER) across the endothelial monolayers using TEER electrodes. Our data show that 50mM thrombin increase endothelial permeability followed by complete recovery and reannealing of adherens junction in control endothelial cells. However, SPHK1 depleted cells showed significantly decrease in barrier disruption, and barrier failed recover completely compared to control monolayer. Upon treatment with S1P in SPHK1 depleted endothelia showed completely recovery in barrier function. In conclusion, our study for the first time shows that SPHK1-S1P-S1PR1 signaling pathway is emerging as a potential therapeutic target in improving endothelial barrier function and prevent coronary artery disease. CTRE Seed Grant to Professor Nadeem Fazal, MD, PhD

Current treatments have shown limited success in reversing DM induced vascular endothelial barrier dysfunction. Vascular endothelium forms the inner most lining of the blood vessels, regulates variety of biological processes such as angiogenesis, wound healing and host defense mechanisms. During inflammatory conditions, such as diabetes mellitus and myocardial infarction endothelial cell-cell junctions start to disrupt because of the internalization of the junctional proteins, such as vascular endothelial (VE) cadherin. This leads to the formation of minute inter-endothelial gaps, and the infiltration of protein-rich fluid and immune cells in the interstitial space. If remains unchecked, the persistent buildup of edema underlying the endothelial lining sets the stage for the serious life-threatening complications. Therefore, we hypothesized that the donepezil prevents high glucose-induced endothelial barrier dysfunction by preventing the destabilization of junctional proteins. We investigated the potential protective role of Donepezil in high glucose induced increase in human coronary artery endothelial (HCAE) permeability and wound healing process. Wound healing assay was performed by employing electric signals to both wound and monitor the healing process in endothelial monolayer. To investigate the signaling mechanism involved in the protection offered by Donepezil, we found that Donepezil prevented loss of VE-cadherin in endothelial junctions, and abrogated stress fiber formation in endothelial cell exposed to high-glucose solution. In conclusion, our study shows that Donepezil maintained endothelial barrier function and improved wound healing process in endothelial cells exposed to high glucose. Chicago State University CTRE grant to Professor Nadeem Fazal, MD, PhD

Sudden switch to online mode of learning in the March of 2020 for a Basic Immunology course lead to a cascade of experimenting teaching strategies. We at College of Pharmacy Chicago State University experimented such innovative teaching techniques for two consecutive spring semesters. One such teaching method was to deliver course content material through use of mainstream media (MSM) via scientific journalism. Basic immunology course content was divided into media-inspired topics of public concern and the students were made to research and review selected topics before we discussed those in virtual classrooms. The most common topics included immunology terms (antigen, antibody, immune reaction, innate and adaptive immunity, immunology of infection, ARDS, non-pharmacological interventions (NPI) like lockdown, masking and herd immunity, development of vaccines and therapeutics of infectious diseases. The students researched those topics in daily news outlets, i.e., TV, Radio, Newspaper, Social media (YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram), and presented to the class the underlying and foundational immunology concepts making the breaking news. Subjective data was collected through student opinion surveys and objective data was analyzed through students’ performance, assessments, grades, and Course and Faculty evaluations. The study found a positive correlation between the use of scientific journalism as a teaching tool and students’ engagement, comprehension, retention and academic outcomes. The publications authored by Scientific Journalists presented the complex and complicated immunology material in a very simple and understandable way for the public, which complemented immunology students’ learning as well.

Vascular endothelium forms a restrictive barrier to defend the underlying tissue against uncontrolled influx of circulating protein and immune cells. Mechanisms that mediate the transition from restrictive to leaky endothelium, a hallmark of tissue injury exemplified by acute lung injury (ALI), remain elusive. Using endothelial cell (EC)-Fak -/- mice, we show that FAK sensing and transmission of mechanical tension to the EC nucleus governs cell fate. In FAK- deleted EC, increased EC tension induced by Rho kinase caused tyrosine phosphorylation of nuclear envelope protein, emerin at Y74/Y95, and its localization in a nuclear cap. Activated emerin stimulated DNMT3a activity and methylation of the KLF2 promoter, impairing the restrictive EC transcriptome, including S1PR1 . Inhibiting emerin phosphorylation or DNMT3a activity enabled KLF2 transcription of S1PR1 , rescuing the restrictive EC phenotype in EC-Fak -/- lungs. Thus, FAK sensing of tension transmission to the nucleus is crucial for maintaining a restrictive EC fate and lung homeostasis.

Despite tremendous advancement in glycemic control, anti-diabetic medications have failed to revert vascular impairment once triggered by the metabolic disorder. The cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway (CAP) is a neurophysiological mechanism that regulates the immune system. Studies show that the CAP inhibits inflammation by suppressing cytokine synthesis via release of acetylcholine in organs of the reticuloendothelial system, including the heart, lungs and gastrointestinal tract. Upon release, acetylcholine interacts with α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (α7nAChR), down-regulate pro-inflammatory cytokine synthesis and prevent tissue damage and inflammation. Although a CAP modulated the response to severe inflammation during sepsis, the role of this pathway in the regulation of type-2 diabetes (T2D)-induced increase in endothelial permeability is completely unknown. Our data showed that human coronary artery endothelial cells (HCAECs) from T2D displayed increased endothelial permeability and enhanced pro-inflammatory signaling in response to pro-coagulant thrombin and endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS), respectively. We also found increased expression and activity of acetylcholinesterase enzyme, and no change in expression of α7nAChR in T2D endothelial cells (ECs) compared to ECs from normal subjects. Our research findings showed that the T2D increased the expression and activity of AChE enzyme in HCAECs, and thereby decreasing the availability of ACh at α7nAChR. In summary, our work offered novel insights and therapeutic targets that we think will lead to the development of more effective treatments with improved outcomes. Grant from CTRE Chicago State University, Chicago, IL

The Cholinergic Anti-inflammatory Pathway (CAP) is a neurophysiological mechanism that regulates the immune system. Studies show that the CAP inhibits inflammation by suppressing cytokine synthesis via release of acetylcholine in the heart, lungs and gastrointestinal tract. Upon release, acetylcholine interacts with α7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (α7nAChR), down-regulate pro-inflammatory cytokine synthesis and prevent tissue damage and inflammation. Donepezil, a centrally acting reversible acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, has been used in the palliative treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). We hypothesized that the donepezil prevents high glucose-induced endothelial barrier dysfunction and accelerates wound healing process in human coronary endothelial cells by preventing the destabilization of junctional proteins. We investigated the potential protective role of Donepezil in high glucose induced increase in human coronary artery endothelial (HCAE) permeability and wound healing process. Endothelial permeability was evaluated by using state of the art Electric Cell-substrate Impedance Sensing (ECIS) mechanism, a measure of trans-endothelial electrical resistance (TEER) across the endothelial monolayers using TEER electrodes. Wound healing assay was performed by employing electric signals to both wound and monitor the healing process in endothelial monolayer. Our data show that 25mM glucose concentration increased endothelial permeability and abrogated the wound healing process. Donepezil at the dose of 5 μM and 10 μM significantly prevented alteration of endothelial barrier function and enhances wound healing process in the presence of high glucose concentration.

Sphingosine kinases (SPHKs) catalyze the formation of sphingosine 1 phosphate (S1P) from sphingosine. S1P, a lipid mediator, was shown to be one such factor promoting endothelial barrier function. S1P binds to S1P receptor-1 (S1PR1) in endothelial cells, leading to activation of heterotrimeric G proteins (Gi), and signals enhancement of endothelial barrier function by the activation of small GTPase Rac1. We hypothesized that SPHK1 via generation of S1P induces reannealing of adherens junctions and thereby prevents thrombin-induced endothelial permeability. To understand the role of SPHK1 pathway, we depleted SPHK1 protein in endothelial cells using SPHK1 specific small interference (si) RNA. Depletion of SPHK1 significantly disrupted the adherens junction, VE-cadherin and increased the gap formation of endothelial cells. Upon depletion of SPHK1 we found decrease cell proliferation and migration, but no change in the expression of Sphingosine 1 Phosphate Receptor 1 (S1PR1) expression in endothelial cells. To determine if in the absence of SPHK1, does S1P has any pharmacological role, we treated the cells with Sphingosine 1 Phosphate (S1P) at the dose of 1μM. We found that S1P re-anneal the adherens junctions and improve cell proliferation and migration in SPHK1 depleted endothelial cells. This indicates that SPHK1 via generation of S1P prevents endothelial permeability through S1PR1 receptor activation. Upon treatment with S1P in SPHK1 depleted endothelia showed completely recovery in barrier function. In conclusion, our study for the first time shows that SPHK1 maintains endothelial barrier function and reanneals adherens junctions, thus hastens the recovery process. CTRE grant to Professor Nadeem Fazal, MD, PhD

Endothelial-cell surface localized sphingosine 1 phosphate receptor 1 (S1PR1) is known to promote anti-inflammatory and barrier enhancing niche upon ligating S1P. Recently we showed that S1P and TNFα, later being a well-known inflammatory agonist, phosphorylate S1PR1 at tyrosine 143 (Y 143 ) which functions as an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) import signal (Anwar et al, 2021). ER-retained S1PR1 instructs barrier disruptive signaling but the mechanism remains unclear. Here, we generated S1PR1 knock-in mice using CRISPR-Cas9 strategy to edit endogenous S1PR1 into Y 143 D-S1PR1 (phospho mimicking) or Y 143 F-S1PR1 (phosphodefective) to test the hypothesis that ER-localized S1PR1 subverts EC from anti-inflammatory to pro-inflammatory EC leading to vascular injury. Because EC constitutes about 50% of cells in the lungs, we assessed if knock-in of Y 143 D-S1PR1 impaired lung homeostasis. We show that editing of S1PR1 into Y 143 D- or Y 143 F-S1PR1 did not alter total S1PR1 expression. Interestingly, Y 143 D-S1PR1 knock-in mice showed marked vascular leak at homeostasis along with increased neutrophil influx and inflammatory cytokine generation including TNFα, IL1ß and MiP2 as compared to Y 143 F-S1PR1 or WT mice. We next challenge these mice with intratracheal LPS. LPS-induced non-resolvable vascular inflammatory injury in Y 143 D-S1PR1 mice. Surprisingly, Y 143 F-S1PR1 knock-in mice did not develop vascular inflammatory injury. Furthermore, NFκB activity, a predominant transcription factor inducing inflammatory EC phenotype, was increased in EC transducing Y 143 D-S1PR1 mutant as compared to WT. However, TNFα failed to induce NFkB activity in EC transducing Y 143 F-S1PR1 mutant. Together, these results show that ER-resident S1PR1 program endothelial niche into immune-active niche by activating NFkB pathway leading to irreparable lung injury. Further experiments are being done to assess epigenetic changes (ATACseq and ChIP-Seq) in EC to address the concept the ER-resident S1PR1 controls the fate of immune cells in the lungs. We believe that understanding how ER-resident S1PR1 programs EC into inflammatory phenotype would allow development of new targets for treating the inflammatory vascular diseases including lung injury, ARDS, and COVID-19

Epigenetics “above or over genetics” is the term used for processes that result in modifications which are stably inherited through cell generations, without changing the underlying DNA sequence of the cell. These include DNA methylation, Post-translational histone modification and non-coding RNAs. Over the last two decades, interest in the field of epigenetics has grown manifold because of the realization of its involvement in key cellular and pathological processes beyond what was initially anticipated. Epigenetics and chromatin biology have been underscored to play key roles in diseases like cancer. The landscape of different epigenetic signatures can vary considerably from one cancer type to another, and even from one ethnic group to another in the case of same cancer. This chapter discusses the emerging role of epigenetics and chromatin biology in the field of cancer research. It discusses about the different forms of epigenetic mechanisms and their respective role in carcinogenesis in the light of emerging research.

The maternal innate immune system plays a central role in preeclampsia (PE). Toll-like receptors (TLRs) are innate immune system receptors that recognize characteristics of extracellular endogenous ligands or pathogens, and their activation leads to a pro-inflammatory immune response. We and others have reported that excessive activation of TLRs causes pregnancy-dependent hypertension in animals and is associated with PE in women. Activation of TLR3 by poly I:C mimics the innate immune system activation by viruses that women who develop PE encounter during pregnancy. Vardenafil was approved by the FDA for erectile dysfunction but has recently been examined as a potential PE medication due to studies done with a similar drug, sildenafil. Preclinical as well as recent clinical studies demonstrate the potential effectiveness of sildenafil for PE. However, vardenafil is more potent than sildenafil and acts by increasing expression of placental growth factor in addition to increasing cGMP levels. We hypothesized that vardenafil will be more potent and effective in reducing the negative health effects in a mouse model of virus-induced PE. Pregnant mice were injected with the TLR3 agonist poly I:C (PPIC) on gestational days 13, 15, and 17. We treated PPIC mice with a high dose of vardenafil (50 mg human equivalent), a lower dose of vardenafil (20 mg human equivalent), or sildenafil (50 mg human equivalent) on gestational days 15–17 after hypertension was established. Daily i.p. injections of either high dose or low dose vardenafil significantly decreased systolic blood pressure in PPIC mice whereas sildenafil had no effect. There were no differences in body weight between the groups. The splenomegaly induced in PPIC mice was ameliorated in high dose vardenafil-treated PPIC mice, while low dose vardenafil-treated and sildenafil-treated PPIC mice still exhibited splenomegaly. High dose vardenafil-treated PPIC mice also did not exhibit any fetal demise characteristic of PPIC mice, while low dose vardenafil-treated and sildenafil-treated PPIC mice still had significantly increased incidences of fetal demise. These data support the notion that high dose vardenafil may be safe and effective at reducing blood pressure during a virus-associated hypertensive pregnancy.

INTRODUCTION:Mucormycosis is an uncommon but life-threatening infection with nonspecific clinical manifestations that make its diagnosis/treatment difficult. The current literature indicates that mucormycosis case incidences are on the rise in developing and developed countries, and, unfortunately, there are only a few treatments available. Accordingly, it is essential to provide more treatment options for mucormycosis.AREA COVERED:This patent review focuses on the granted patents and patent applications related to medication for mucormycosis treatment from the publication year of the amphotericin-B patent application (1958) till 30 January 2021.EXPERT OPINION:Mucormycosis has few available treatments, including amphotericin-B, isavuconazonium sulfate, posaconazole, or their combination. A few anti-mucormycosis medicines are under clinical development. The exact burden of mucormycosis is unknown, but it is expected to be higher than the reported cases because of mucormycosis epidemiological changes. This patent review has shown that scientists are progressing toward developing a new treatment for mucormycosis in the form of new chemical compounds, new drug combinations, and dosage forms, vaccines, plant products, drug repurposing, and derivatives of the biomolecules. This progress is encouraging to fight this devastating illness.

Protein kinase inhibitors (PKIs) are important therapeutic agents. As of 31 May 2021, the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) has approved 70 PKIs. Most of the PKIs are employed to treat cancer and inflammatory diseases. Imatinib was the first PKI approved by USFDA in 2001. This review summarizes the compound patents and the essential polymorph patents of the PKIs approved by the USFDA from 2001 to 31 May 2021. The dates on the generic drug availability of the PKIs in the USA market have also been forecasted. It is expected that 19 and 48 PKIs will be genericized by 2025 and 2030, respectively, due to their compound patent expiry. This may reduce the financial toxicity associated with the existing PKIs. There are nearly 535 reported PKs. However, the USFDA approved PKIs target only about 10–15% of the total said PKs. As a result, there are still a large number of unexplored PKs. As the field advances during the next 20 years, one can anticipate that PKIs with many scaffolds, chemotypes, and pharmacophores will be developed.

Increase in vascular endothelial permeability is an earliest pathological hallmark in diabetes mellitus, which progressively leads to cardiovascular disease. Stromal‐interaction molecule 1 (STIM1), upon sensing the depletion of calcium (Ca2+) from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) store, organizes as a puncta that triggers store‐operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) via plasmalemmal Ca2+‐selective Orai1 channels in endothelial cells. Thus, signals to disrupt endothelial cell‐cell junctions’ integrity and increase in endothelial permeability. Recent studies show that the anti‐diabetic drug metformin confers vascular benefits beyond glycaemia control and reduced the high risk of cardiovascular events in pre‐diabetes patients. However, the precise pharmacological role of metformin and the mechanism to regulate SOCE‐induced endothelial hyper permeability response in coronary vasculature remain enigmatic in the pathogenesis of hyperglycemia. Here, we demonstrate a previously undetermined role of metformin in inhibiting the Orai1 mediated induction of SOCE and thereby preventing the disintegration of vascular endothelial (VE) cadherin in high‐glucose exposed coronary vascular endothelial cells (ECs). Our data showed that exposing the human coronary endothelial cell monolayer to high glucose media (25mM) for 48 hours increased the expression of Orai1, protracted SOCE and the increased in endothelial permeability. We found that SOCE mediated by Orai1 activated the Pyk2 in ECs. Intriguingly, we observed the tyrosine phosphorylation of vascular endothelial‐protein tyrosine phosphatase (VE‐PTP) at tyrosine (Y) 1981 residue downstream of the Pyk2 activation in high glucose milieu. Our results showed that metformin prevented the SOCE by decreasing the expression of Orai1 and thereby abrogated the Pyk2 mediated phosphorylation of VE‐PTP in high glucose condition. Thus, led to the stabilization and maintenance of VE‐cadherin at interendothelial junctions and strengthening the barrier function. Our data identify heretofore unprecedented signaling mechanism by which metformin via inhibiting SOCE, maintains VE‐cadherin integrity and henceforth decreased high glucose induced hyper permeability response in human coronary endothelial cells.Support or Funding InformationThis work is supported by the Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Chicago State University College of Pharmacy (CSU‐COP) research funding to Mohammad Tauseef.

Increased endothelial permeability leads to excessive exudation of plasma proteins and leukocytes in the interstitium, which characterizes several vascular diseases including acute lung injury. The myosin light chain kinase long (MYLK-L) isoform is canonically known to regulate the endothelial permeability by phosphorylating myosin light chain (MLC-P). Compared to the short MYLK isoform, MYLK-L contains an additional stretch of ~919 amino acid at the N-terminus of unknown function. We show that thapsigargin and thrombin-induced SOCE was markedly reduced in Mylk-L-/- endothelial cells (EC) or MYLK-L-depleted human EC. These agonists also failed to increase endothelial permeability in MYLK-L-depleted EC and Mylk-L-/- lungs, thus demonstrating the novel role of MYLK-L-induced SOCE in increasing vascular permeability. MYLK-L augmented SOCE by increasing endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-plasma membrane (PM) junctions and STIM1 translocation to these junctions. Transduction of N-MYLK domain (amino acids 1-919 devoid of catalytic activity) into Mylk-L-/- EC rescued SOCE to the level seen in control EC in a STIM1-dependent manner. N-MYLK-induced SOCE augmented endothelial permeability without MLC-P via an actin-binding motif, DVRGLL. Liposomal-mediated delivery of N-MYLK mutant but not ∆DVRGLL-N-MYLK mutant in Mylk-L-/- mice rescued vascular permeability increase in response to endotoxin, indicating that targeting of DVRGLL motif within MYLK-L may limit SOCE-induced vascular hyperpermeability.