Authors: Ross, Rebecca L et al.

Journal: Frontiers in Physiology (2022)

Institution: Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, United Kingdom

Research Areas: Immune disease

Cell Lines: HLMECs，HUVECs (Human lung microvascular endothelial cells， Human umbilical vein endothelial cells)

Summary: In this paper, the authors investigate the physiological role of an antioxidant enzyme, Hemeoxygenase-1(HO-1), and its relevance in the cardiovascular complications of systemic sclerosis (SSc). Authors use HoloMonitor to study endothelial cells' morphological and functional features in the presence of an HO-1 activator and selective inhibitors. The results demonstrate that inhibition of HO-1 significantly reduces cell proliferation and cell motility (migration) of cultured endothelial cells. In summary, results indicate a clear link between 1) downregulation of HO-1/CO signaling; and 2) pathophysiological processes occurring in the early phases of SSc, such as calcium homeostasis dysregulation, impaired angiogenesis and cardiac arrhythmias.

Keywords: HoloMonitor M4, cell proliferation, cell motility, cell morphology, carbon monoxide, endothelial dysfunction, angiogenesis, systemic sclerosis, hemoxygenase-1, calcium homeostasis, kv7.1 channels