0000000001310636
AUTHOR
Fei Cheng
Synthesis and structural characterisation of germanium(II) halide complexes with neutral N-donor ligands.
The Ge(II) complexes [GeX(2)(L-L)] (L-L = 1,10-phen (X = Cl, Br); L-L = Me(2)N(CH(2))(2)NMe(2), 2,2'-bipy (X = Cl)), [GeX(L-L)][GeX(3)] (L-L = 2,2'-bipy (X = Br); L-L = pmdta (MeN(CH(2)CH(2)NMe(2))(2)) (X = Cl, Br)) have been prepared and their crystal structures determined. The crystal structure of [GeCl(2){Me(2)N(CH(2))(2)NMe(2)}] shows a weakly associated centrosymmetric dimer based upon distorted square-pyramidal coordination at Ge(II) and containing asymmetrically chelating diamine ligands. The structure of [GeCl(2)(2,2'-bipy)] contains a chelating 2,2'-bipy ligand and forms a zig-zag chain polymer via long-range intermolecular Ge...Cl bridging interactions, leading to a very distorted…
No effect of C-reactive protein on early atherosclerosis in LDLR-/- / human C-reactive protein transgenic mice
summaryThe association between increased concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP) and future cardiovascular events is well established. However, it is currently unclear whether this clinical observation represents an epiphenomenon or whether the pentraxin may actively promote the development of atherosclerosis. Experimental studies with knockout mice with a defect in apolipoprotein E (ApoE-/-) have been used to investigate the role of CRP in atherogenesis, but the results obtained have been contradictory so far. Since knockout mice with a defect in low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR-/-) may represent a better model of atherogenesis compared to ApoE-/- animals, we undertook experiments…
Overexpression of TGF-ß1 in macrophages reduces and stabilizes atherosclerotic plaques in ApoE-deficient mice.
Although macrophages represent the hallmark of both human and murine atherosclerotic lesions and have been shown to express TGF-ß1 (transforming growth factor β1) and its receptors, it has so far not been experimentally addressed whether the pleiotropic cytokine TGF-ß1 may influence atherogenesis by a macrophage specific mechanism. We developed transgenic mice with macrophage specific TGF-ß1 overexpression, crossed the transgenics to the atherosclerotic ApoE (apolipoprotein E) knock-out strain and quantitatively analyzed both atherosclerotic lesion development and composition of the resulting double mutants. Compared with control ApoE(-/-) mice, animals with macrophage specific TGF-ß1 overe…
Investigation of Sudan IV staining areas in aortas of infants and children: Possible prelesional stages of atherogenesis
Although atherosclerosis in infants and children is generally acknowledged, the temporal and spatial sequence of LDL insudation, modification and intimal monocyte accumulation has not been systematically studied. We have investigated herein very early stages of lesion formation in human aortas of individuals up to the age of 15 years. Aortic specimens from 61 cases (37 male, 24 female) were examined. 34 cases were1 year old, 16 cases were between 1 and 5 years old, and 11 cases were between 6 and 15 years old. Areas preselected under a dissection microscope after Sudan IV staining were investigated in depth by immunohistochemical staining for apolipoprotein B, monocytes/macrophages, smooth …
Combined B, T and NK Cell Deficiency Accelerates Atherosclerosis in BALB/c Mice.
This study focused on the unique properties of both the Ldlr knockout defect (closely mimicking the human situation) and the BALB/c (C) inbred mouse strain (Th-2 slanted immune response). We generated two immunodeficient strains with severe combined B- and T-cell immunodeficiency with or without a complete lack of natural killer cells to revisit the role of adaptive immune responses on atherogenesis. C-Ldlr-/- Rag1-/- mice, which show severe combined B- and T-cell immunodeficiency and C-Ldlr-/- Rag1-/- Il2rg-/- mice, which combine the T- and B-cell defect with a complete lack of natural killer cells and inactivation of multiple cytokine signalling pathways were fed an atherogenic Western ty…
Selective p38α MAP kinase/MAPK14 inhibition in enzymatically modified LDL-stimulated human monocytes: implications for atherosclerosis.
The first ATP-competitive p38α MAPK/MAPK14 inhibitor with excellent in vivo efficacy and selectivity, skepinone-L, is now available. We investigated the impact of selective p38α MAPK/MAPK14 inhibition on enzymatically modified LDL (eLDL) stimulated human monocytes with its implications for atherosclerosis. Among the different p38 MAPK isoforms, p38α/MAPK14 was the predominantly expressed and activated isoform in isolated human peripheral blood monocytes. Moreover, eLDL colocalized with macrophages positive for p38α MAPK/MAPK14 in human carotid endarterectomy specimens. Using the human leukemia cell line THP-1 and/or primary monocyte-derived macrophages, skepinone-L inhibited eLDL-induced ac…
Impact of Glutathione Peroxidase-1 Deficiency on Macrophage Foam Cell Formation and Proliferation: Implications for Atherogenesis
Clinical and experimental evidence suggests a protective role for the antioxidant enzyme glutathione peroxidase-1 (GPx-1) in the atherogenic process. GPx-1 deficiency accelerates atherosclerosis and increases lesion cellularity in ApoE(-/-) mice. However, the distribution of GPx-1 within the atherosclerotic lesion as well as the mechanisms leading to increased macrophage numbers in lesions is still unknown. Accordingly, the aims of the present study were (1) to analyze which cells express GPx-1 within atherosclerotic lesions and (2) to determine whether a lack of GPx-1 affects macrophage foam cell formation and cellular proliferation. Both in situ-hybridization and immunohistochemistry of l…
Deficiency of glutathione peroxidase-1 accelerates the progression of atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice.
Background— We have recently demonstrated that activity of red blood cell glutathione peroxidase-1 is inversely associated with the risk of cardiovascular events in patients with coronary artery disease. The present study analyzed the effect of glutathione peroxidase-1 deficiency on atherogenesis in the apolipoprotein E-deficient mouse. Methods and Results— Female apolipoprotein E-deficient mice with and without glutathione peroxidase-1 deficiency were placed on a Western-type diet for another 6, 12, or 24 weeks. After 24 weeks on Western-type diet, double-knockout mice (GPx-1 −/− ApoE −/− ) developed significantly more atherosclerosis than control apolipoprotein E-deficient mice. Moreover…
T Cell-Specific Overexpression of TGFß1 Fails to Influence Atherosclerosis in ApoE-Deficient Mice
Clinical data have indicated a negative correlation between plasma TGFß1 concentrations and the extent of atherosclerosis and have thus led to the hypothesis that the pleiotropic cytokine may have anti-atherogenic properties. T-cells are currently discussed to significantly participate in atherogenesis, but the precise role of adaptive immunity in atherogenesis remains to be elucidated. TGFß1 is known to strongly modulate the function of T-cells, however, inhibition of TGFß1 signalling in T-cells of atherosclerosis-prone knock-out mice failed to unequivocally clarify the role of the cytokine for the development of atherosclerosis. In the present study, we thus tried to specify the role of T…
CCDC 724642: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination
Related Article: Fei Cheng, J.M.Dyke, F.Ferrante, A.L.Hector, W.Levason, G.Reid, M.Webster, Wenjian Zhang|2010|Dalton Trans.|39|847|doi:10.1039/b911016j
CCDC 724632: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination
Related Article: Fei Cheng, J.M.Dyke, F.Ferrante, A.L.Hector, W.Levason, G.Reid, M.Webster, Wenjian Zhang|2010|Dalton Trans.|39|847|doi:10.1039/b911016j
CCDC 724631: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination
Related Article: Fei Cheng, J.M.Dyke, F.Ferrante, A.L.Hector, W.Levason, G.Reid, M.Webster, Wenjian Zhang|2010|Dalton Trans.|39|847|doi:10.1039/b911016j
CCDC 724634: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination
Related Article: Fei Cheng, J.M.Dyke, F.Ferrante, A.L.Hector, W.Levason, G.Reid, M.Webster, Wenjian Zhang|2010|Dalton Trans.|39|847|doi:10.1039/b911016j
CCDC 724636: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination
Related Article: Fei Cheng, J.M.Dyke, F.Ferrante, A.L.Hector, W.Levason, G.Reid, M.Webster, Wenjian Zhang|2010|Dalton Trans.|39|847|doi:10.1039/b911016j
CCDC 724633: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination
Related Article: Fei Cheng, J.M.Dyke, F.Ferrante, A.L.Hector, W.Levason, G.Reid, M.Webster, Wenjian Zhang|2010|Dalton Trans.|39|847|doi:10.1039/b911016j
CCDC 724635: Experimental Crystal Structure Determination
Related Article: Fei Cheng, J.M.Dyke, F.Ferrante, A.L.Hector, W.Levason, G.Reid, M.Webster, Wenjian Zhang|2010|Dalton Trans.|39|847|doi:10.1039/b911016j