Bone marrow (BM) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (Ad) are both considered being prospective sources of MSC for therapeutic applications. However, functional properties and therapeutic efficacy of MSC derived from different tissues of the same patient are still poorly investigated. In our study, BM-MSC and F-MSC cultures from 43 adult donors were evaluated in successive passages for immunophenotype, secretion of VEGF, SDF1, MCP1, IL6 and TGFβ1, frequency of colony-forming units (CFU-F), frequency of adipo- and osteo-progenitors (CFU-Ad, CFU-Ost), and for onset of in vitro replicative senescence. We have demonstrated that at early passages (P2-P4 or up to 14-15 in vitro population doublings) BM- and Ad- derived MSC cultures are comparable in such important characteristics as proliferation rate (population doubling time: 3,4±0,2% in BM-MSC, 3±0,3 % in F-MSC), clonogenity (CFU-F frequency: 32±5% in BM-MSC, 31±5% in F-MSC), differentiation potential (CFU-Ad frequency: 10,4±2% in BM-MSC, 13±3% in F-MSC; CFU-Ost frequency: 18,5±5,5% in BM-MSC, 18±5% in F-MSC), but differ significantly in abundance of CD146+ fraction within the sample (25±5% in BM-MSC, 7±3 % in F-MSC) and in a level of VEGF, SDF-1, MCP1 and TGFβ1 secretion. We have also demonstrated that BM-MSC enter senescence after P3-4 while most of F-MSC did not show senescence features up to P6-8. Together, these data demonstrate that specific properties of MSC from different sources should be always taken into account, when developing and optimizing the specific protocols for MSC expansion and evaluation for each particular clinical application.

To determine plasma levels of the endogenous bufodienolide Na+/K+ ATPase inhibitor, marinobufagenin-like factor (MBG), in normotensive pregnancy and in preeclampsia, to compare changes of MBG with that of ouabain-like compound (OLC), and to characterize the purified MBG immunoreactive factor from preeclamptic plasma. Consecutive sample study. The levels of MBG and OLC compounds were measured in extracted plasma by solid phase fluoroimmunoassays. MBG and ouabain immunoreactive materials were partially purified from preeclamptic plasma via reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and studied for their ability to cross react with MBG and ouabain antibodies, and to inhibit the Na+/K+ ATPase from human mesenteric arteries. Vasoconstrictor effect of authentic MBG was studied in isolated rings of human umbilical arteries. In 11 nonpregnant control individuals, plasma concentrations of MBG and OLC were 0.190 ± 0.04 nmol/l and 0.297 ± 0.037 nmol/l, respectively. In the third trimester of noncomplicated pregnancy (n = 6), plasma MBG increased (0.625 ± 0.067 nmol/l, P < 0.05), and OLC did not (0.32 ± 0.07 nmol/l). In 15 patients with preeclampsia, plasma levels of both MBG and OLC increased dramatically (2.63 ± 0.10 nmol/l and 0.697 ± 0.16 nmol/l, respectively, P < 0.01 versus both control groups). When fractionated by reverse phase HPLC, OLC was eluted by 18% acetonitrile, and MBG by 48% acetonitrile. Serially diluted samples of MBG and OLC immunoreactive materials from HPLC fractions reacted with MBG and ouabain antibody in solid phase immunoassay in a concentration dependent fashion. Authentic MBG caused contractile responses of isolated rings of human mesenteric arteries in a concentration-dependent manner. Similarly to the authentic MBG, HPLC purified MBG immunoreactive material from preeclamptic plasma inhibited Na+/K+ ATPase purified from human mesenteric artery. Our observations demonstrate the coexistence of two endogenous cardiotonic steroids in preeclamptic plasma, a more polar OLC and a less polar MBG-like compound. Substantial increases in plasma OLC and MBG immunoreactivity in preeclampsia, along with the vasoconstrictor properties of authentic MBG and Na+, K+ ATPase inhibitory activity of human MBG immunoreactive factor, suggest, that in preeclampsia, plasma concentrations of MBG are enough to substantially inhibit the sodium pump in cardiovascular tissues, and are in accordance with the views attributing endogenous digitalis-like factors a pathogenic role in the preeclamptic hypertension.

—Recent evidence suggests the existence of several endogenous Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase inhibitors in mammals. Previously, we have shown that the amphibian Na⁺,K⁺-ATPase inhibitor marinobufagenin (3,5-dihydroxy-14,15-epoxy bufodienolide) acts as a vasoconstrictor in isolated rat and human arteries. Mammalian plasma was shown to contain marinobufagenin-like immunoreactive material, which is responsive to saline volume expansion. The present study describes purification of a bufodienolide, which is similar to marinobufagenin, from the urine of patients after acute myocardial infarction with the use of thin-layer chromatography and reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The purified substance cross-reacted with marinobufagenin antibody, demonstrated maximal UV absorbance at 300 nm characteristic of bufodienolides, and eluted from HPLC columns with the same retention time as marinobufagenin. Mass spectrometry of purified material revealed the presence of a substance indistinguishable from amphibian marinobufagenin and having molecular mass of 400 D. The present studies show that one of the human digitalis-like factors may have a bufodienolide structure and is likely to represent marinobufagenin or its isomer, and they suggest a role for this substance in the pathogenesis of myocardial ischemia.

WISP1 (Wnt1-inducible signaling pathway protein-1, also known as CCN4) is a member of the secreted extracellular matrix–associated proteins of the CCN family and a target gene of the Wingless-type (WNT) signaling pathway. Growing evidence links the WNT signaling pathway to the regulation of adipogenesis and low-grade inflammation in obesity. We aimed to validate WISP1 as a novel adipokine. Human adipocyte differentiation was associated with increased WISP1 expression and secretion. Stimulation of human macrophages with WISP1 led to a proinflammatory response. Circulating WISP1 and WISP1 subcutaneous adipose tissue expression were regulated by weight changes in humans and mice. WISP1 expression in visceral and subcutaneous fat tissue was associated with markers of insulin resistance and inflammation in glucose-tolerant subjects. In patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, we found no correlation among disease activity score, liver fat content, and WISP1 expression. Insulin regulated WISP1 expression in adipocytes in vitro but had no acute effect on WISP1 gene expression in subcutaneous fat tissue in overweight subjects who had undergone hyperinsulinemic clamp experiments. The data suggest that WISP1 may play a role in linking obesity to inflammation and insulin resistance and could be a novel therapeutic target for obesity.

Background— We studied the growth-promoting effects of 2 sodium pump–selective cardiotonic steroids, ouabain and marinobufagenin, on cultured cells from vascular smooth muscle (VSMCs) from human umbilical vein and a rat VSMC line, A7r5. Methods and Results— Both ouabain and marinobufagenin activated proliferation of these cells in a concentration-dependent manner, reflecting the cardiotonic steroid sensitivity of the specific α ₁ subunit contained within each cell source. The observed effective concentration ranges of both compounds was below that necessary to induce cytoplasmic ion alterations by sodium pump inhibition. Conclusions— These data indicate that the ouabain-activated proliferative effect previously observed in canine VSMCs occurs in other VSMC sources. This growth effect seems to be initiated by drug interaction with the sodium pump, reflected by the affinity of the steroid for the pump, and is independent of altered transmembrane ionic gradients.

In previous studies investigators found that conditioned hypoventilatory breathing potentiated a sodium-sensitive form of hypertension in dogs that was not mediated by sympathetic nervous system arousal. Our study investigated effects of 30 minutes of voluntary hypoventilation, maintained by a respiratory gas monitor and feedback procedure, in 16 normotensive humans of both sexes on (1) plasma concentrations of endogenous digitalis-like factors (ouabain-like and marinobufagenin-like immunoreactivity), (2) activity of erythrocyte Na ⁺ ,K ⁺ -ATPase, (3) inhibitory activity of plasma Na ⁺ ,K ⁺ -ATPase, and (4) blood pressure. Increased end tidal P co ₂ (41±0.78 mm Hg versus 37.6±1.03 mm Hg) was associated with (1) an increase in plasma marinobufagenin-like immunoreactivity (1.23±0.47 versus 4.96±1.19 nmol/L), (2) an inhibition of Na ⁺ ,K ⁺ -ATPase in red blood cells (3.68±0.22 versus 2.15±0.25 mmol P _i · mL ⁻¹ · h ⁻¹ ; P <.01), (3) increase in plasma Na ⁺ ,K ⁺ -ATPase inhibitory activity (34.9±4.0% versus 48.8±2.1%, P <.02), and (4) increases in systolic (112.4±2.6 versus 107.6±1.8 mm Hg) and diastolic (73.5±2.1 versus 68.8±2.1 mm Hg) blood pressures. Plasma levels of ouabain-like immunoreactivity did not increase significantly. Incubation of erythrocytes obtained during hypoventilation with antidigoxin antibody restored the Na ⁺ ,K ⁺ -ATPase activity (3.99±0.34 mmol P _i · mL ⁻¹ · h ⁻¹ ). Cessation of hypoventilation was associated with decreases in diastolic blood pressure (70.5±2.2 mm Hg) and restoration of Na ⁺ ,K ⁺ -ATPase activity in erythrocytes (2.99±0.43 mmol P _i · mL ⁻¹ · h ⁻¹ ). On the basis of organic extraction and thin-layer chromatography followed by separation with the use of reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography, the material coeluting with marinobufagenin was separated from human urine. This material cross-reacted with anti-marinobufagenin antibody. These results demonstrate the presence of a bufadienolide-like Na ⁺ ,K ⁺ -ATPase inhibitor in human plasma and support the view that breathing pattern may participate in blood pressure control via release of a rapidly acting circulating Na ⁺ ,K ⁺ -ATPase inhibitor.