In swine with atherosclerosis, rhEPO and cEPO-FC failed to attenuate prolonged ischemia-induced kidney injury within an 8-h reperfusion period, possibly due to reduced EPO receptor expression resulting from pre-existing oxidative stress and/or reduced NO release.

Posttreatment sulfide infusion after blunt chest trauma did not affect the impaired lung mechanics and gas exchange but attenuated stress protein expression and apoptotic cell death. This protective effect was amplified by moderate hypothermia. The simultaneous reduction in cystathionine-β synthase and cystathionine-γ lyase expression supports the role of H2S-generating enzymes as an adaptive response during stress states.

Abstract-Restenosis remains a significant clinical problem associated with mechanical interventional procedures for arterial revascularization or repair, including coronary angioplasty and stenting. Studies with rodents have established that platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), a potent chemotactic and mitogenic agent for vascular smooth muscle cells, is a key mediator of lesion formation after vascular injury. To further explore this hypothesis in a more clinically relevant model, neutralizing monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) were used to examine the effect of selective inhibition of alpha or beta PDGF receptor (PDGFR) on neointima formation in nonhuman primates. Carotid arteries were injured by surgical endarterectomy and femoral arteries by balloon catheter dilatation. Immunostaining revealed that both injuries induced cell proliferation and the upregulation of beta PDGFR but not alpha PDGFR. By 7 days after injury, beta PDGFR staining was limited to the luminal region of the media, the small areas of neointima, and the adventitia. Nearly all bromodeoxyuridine-positive cells were found in these regions as well. After 30 days, a concentric neointima that stained strongly for beta PDGFR had formed in the carotid and femoral arteries. Treatment of baboons with anti-beta PDGFR mAb 2A1E2 for 6 days after injury reduced the carotid artery and femoral artery lesion sizes by 37% (PϽ0.05) and 48% (PϽ0.005), respectively, when measured at 30 days. Under the same conditions, treatment with anti-alpha PDGFR mAb 2H7C5 had no effect. These findings suggest that PDGF mediates neointima formation through the beta PDGFR, and that antagonism of this pathway may be a promising therapeutic strategy for reducing clinical restenosis.

While the sulfide-induced protection against organ injury was only present when initiated simultaneously with blood removal, it was largely unrelated to hypothermia. The absence of sulfide-mediated protection in the pretreatment protocol may be due to the accumulation of sulfide during low flow states. In conclusion, sulfide treatment can be effective in hemorrhagic shock, but its effectiveness is restricted to a narrow timing and dosing window.

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