Vasculotoxic and Proinflammatory Effects of Plasma Heme: Cell Signaling and Cytoprotective Responses
Figure 5
Vaso-occlusion (stasis) is inhibited in the skin of sickle mice 8 weeks after hydrodynamic infusion of liver–directed SB-wt-HO-1 or 24 h after 3 days of intraperitoneal hemin pretreatment (40 µmols/kg) compared to control mice or mice given hydrodynamic infusions of LRS or enzymatically inactive ns-HO-1. Vascular stasis was measured in a dorsal skin fold chamber (DSFC) model after H/R. At baseline in room air, the mice were placed under a microscope and flowing venules were selected inside the DSFC. The mice were then subjected to 1 h of hypoxia (7% O2/93% N2) followed by 1 h of reoxygenation in room air. After 1 h of reoxygenation, the same venules were reexamined for blood flow. The number of static venules exhibiting no blood flow was counted and expressed as a percentage of the total number of venules examined. There were 7 mice and 403 venules in the control group, 5 mice and 243 venules in the LRS group, 5 mice and 347 venules in the wt-HO-1 group, 6 mice and 325 venules in the ns-HO-1 group, and 5 mice and 227 venules in the hemin group. There was a minimum of 26 venules per mouse. Values are mean % stasis ± SEM. The proportions of venules exhibiting stasis in each treatment group were compared using a -test; compared to LRS controls. Figure derived from [62].
