Biology subjects

Jeffrey, D. A.

Publications and source records attributed to Jeffrey, D. A..

5 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2025

VasoTracker 2: An Open-source Platform for Quantitative Analysis of Vascular Reactivity and Function

VasoTracker 2 is an open-source platform for studying blood vessel dynamics, featuring versatile diameter-tracking software and complementary low-cost hardware components. This system surpasses existing tools through accessible, high-resolution analysis across multiple imaging modalities, enabling comprehensive assessment of vascular dynamics in both real-time and pre-recorded experiments. Advanced algorithms enable multi-point diameter tracking in branched vessels, automated pressure-response protocols, and reliable edge detection. The software can assess vessels imaged by brightfield microscopy, fluorescence imaging, and in ultrasound recordings, supporting diverse applications from isolated vessel studies to in vivo assessment. For ex vivo applications, VasoTracker 2 includes modular open-source hardware components that can be used to create a low-cost pressure myograph system: a confocal-compatible vessel chamber and a programmable pressure controller, VasoMoto. By combining powerful analytical capabilities with an open-access approach, VasoTracker 2 provides free software and low-cost hardware alternatives to commercial systems, democratizing access to advanced vascular research tools for scientists worldwide.

physiology↗

bioRxiv2025

Impact of Serum Circulating Factors and PDE5 Inhibitor Therapy on Cardiomyocyte Metabolism in Single Ventricle Heart Disease

BackgroundWhile operative and perioperative care continues to improve for single ventricle congenital heart disease (SV), long-term morbidities and mortality remain high. Importantly, phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor therapies (PDE5i) are increasingly used, however, little is known regarding the direct myocardial effects of PDE5i therapy in the SV population. ObjectivesOur group has previously demonstrated that the failing SV myocardium is characterized by increased PDE5 activity and impaired mitochondrial bioenergetics. Here we sought to determine whether serum circulating factors contribute to pathological metabolic remodeling in SV, and whether PDE5i therapy abrogates these changes. MethodsUsing an established in vitro model whereby primary cardiomyocytes are treated with patient sera +/- PDE5i, we assessed the impact of circulating factors on cardiomyocyte metabolism. Mass spectrometry-based lipidomics and metabolomics were performed to identify phospholipid and metabolite changes. Mitochondrial bioenergetics were assessed using the Seahorse Bioanalyzer and a stable isotope based mitochondrial enzyme activity assay. Relative mitochondrial copy number was quantified using RT-qPCR. ResultsOur data suggest that serum circulating factors contribute to fundamental changes in cardiomyocyte bioenergetics, including impaired mitochondrial function associated with decreased cardiolipin and other phospholipid species, increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, and altered metabolite milieu. Treatment with PDE5i therapy was sufficient to abrogate a number of these metabolic changes, including a rescue of phosphatidylglycerol levels, a reduction in ROS, improved energy production, and normalization of several key metabolic intermediates. ConclusionsTogether, these data suggest PDE5i therapy has direct cardiomyocyte effects and contributes to beneficial cardiomyocyte metabolic remodeling in SV failure.

cell biology↗

bioRxiv2024

Activity-dependent regulation of vascular cholesterol metabolism acts as a negative feedback mechanism for neurovascular coupling

Brain function is dependent on a continuous supply of bloodborne oxygen and nutrients. Because neurons require a greater supply of oxygen and nutrients when active, there is increased local blood flow following neuronal activity. The underlying mechanisms of this hyperemia are termed neurovascular coupling (NVC). Many complex processes contribute to NVC, and there is still much unknown about how vascular physiology adapts to changes in neuronal activity and blood flow. Here we show that neuronal activity increases brain endothelial expression of genes related to cholesterol synthesis and uptake in vivo, and that shear stress is sufficient for upregulation of these genes in vitro. We previously found that treatment with PLX5622 induces upregulation of the same cassette of cholesterol-related genes in brain endothelial cells. In the present study, we find that increasing brain endothelial cholesterol synthesis and/or uptake, either with PLX5622 or targeted AAV-mediated expression of LDLR, inhibits brain arteriole dilation in response to capillary K+ stimulation, and this deficit is rescued by cholesterol depletion. Together, these data suggest that neuronal activity regulates brain endothelial cholesterol, which in turn blocks endothelial retrograde signaling and vasodilation, thus acting as a negative feedback mechanism for NVC.

neuroscience↗

bioRxiv2023

LRMP inhibits the cAMP-dependence of HCN4 channels by disrupting intramolecular signal transduction

Lymphoid restricted membrane protein (LRMP) is a specific regulator of the hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-sensitive isoform 4 (HCN4) channel. LRMP prevents cAMP-dependent potentiation of HCN4 but the interaction domains, mechanisms of action, and basis for isoform-specificity remain unknown. Here we identify the domains of LRMP essential for regulation. We show that LRMP acts by disrupting the intramolecular signal transduction between cyclic nucleotide binding and gating. And we demonstrate that multiple unique regions in HCN4 are required for LRMP isoform-specificity. Using patch clamp electrophysiology and Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET), we showed that the initial 227 residues of LRMP and the N-terminus of HCN4 are necessary for LRMP to interact with HCN4. We found that the HCN4 N-terminus and HCN4-specific residues in the C-linker are necessary for regulation of HCN4 by LRMP. And we demonstrate that LRMP-regulation can be conferred to HCN2 by addition of the HCN4 N-terminus along with mutation of 5 residues in the S5 region and C-linker to the cognate HCN4 residues. Taken together, these results suggest that LRMP inhibits HCN4 through an isoform-specific interaction involving the N-terminals of both proteins that prevents the transduction of cAMP binding into a change in channel gating via an HCN4-specific orientation of the N-terminus, C-linker, and S4-S5 linker.

biophysics↗

bioRxiv2023

Estrogen regulates myogenic tone in hippocampal arterioles by enhanced basal release of nitric oxide and endothelial SKCa channel activity

Arteries and arterioles exhibit myogenic tone, a partially constricted state that allows further constriction or dilation in response to moment-to-moment fluctuations in blood pressure. The vascular endothelium that lines the internal surface of all blood vessels controls a wide variety of essential functions, including the contractility of the adjacent smooth muscle cells by providing a tonic vasodilatory influence. Studies conducted on large (pial) arteries on the surface of the brain have shown that estrogen lowers myogenic tone in female mice by enhancing nitric oxide (NO) release from the endothelium, however, whether this difference extends to the intracerebral microcirculation remains ambiguous. The existing incomplete picture of sex differences in cerebrovascular physiology combined with a deficiency in treatments that fully restore cognitive function after cerebrovascular accidents places heavy emphasis on the necessity to investigate myogenic tone regulation in the microcirculation from both male and female mice. We hypothesized that sex-linked hormone regulation of myogenic tone extends its influence on the microcirculation level, and sought to characterize it in isolated arterioles from the hippocampus, a major cognitive brain area. Using diameter measurements both in vivo (acute cranial window vascular diameter) and ex vivo (pressure myography experiments), we measured lower myogenic tone responses in hippocampal arterioles from female than male mice. By using a combined surgical and pharmacological approach, we found myogenic tone in ovariectomized (OVX) female mice matches that of males, as well as in endothelium-denuded arterioles. Interestingly, eNOS inhibition induced a larger constriction in female arterioles but only partially abolished the difference in tone. We identified that the remnant difference was mediated by a higher activity and expression of the small-conductance Ca2+-sensitive K+ (SK) channels. Collectively, these data indicate that eNOS and SK channels exert greater vasodilatory influence over myogenic tone in female mice at physiological pressures.

neuroscience↗