Renal denervation in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: end of the beginning?

MiR-149 attenuates endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced inflammation and apoptosis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease by negatively targeting ATF6 pathway

This study aimed to research the effect of miR-149 on endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS)-induced inflammation and apoptosis in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The mouse model with NAFLD was established by feeding with a high-fat diet, and the model establishment was subsequently confirmed by H&E staining and oil red O staining. MiR-149 agomir was injected into NAFLD mice to observe changes in liver tissues. After cell transfection, qRT-PCR and Western blot were performed to measure the expressions of lipid metabolism-related proteins (SCD-1, PPARα, and ABCA1), miR-149 and ATF6. Luciferase reporter gene assay was applied to verify the relationship between miR-149 and ATF6. Inflammatory factors (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6 and NF-κB) and apoptotic-related factors (caspase-12 and CHOP) were measured by ELISA and flow cytometry. qRT-PCR and Western blot were applied to detect expressions of ATF6 signaling pathway-related proteins (GRP94 and Akt). NAFLD progression was attenuated in mice injected with miR-149 agomir. The expression of miR-149 was reduced in liver tissues of NAFLD mice, while the expression of ATF6 was increased. Transfection of miR-149 can result in a decrease of ATF6 expression. ATF6 was a target gene of miR-149. MiR-149 could down-regulate the expressions of inflammatory factors and apoptotic-related factors. MiR-149 could down-regulate expressions of ATF6 signaling pathway-related proteins. MiR-149 alleviates ERS-induced inflammation and apoptosis by down-regulating the ATF6 signaling pathway, thus inhibiting the progression of NAFLD.

Effects of Renal Denervation on Cardiac Structural and Functional Abnormalities in Patients with Resistant Hypertension or Diastolic Dysfunction

The aim of the present study is to systematically evaluate the impact of RDN on cardiac structure and function in patients with resistant hypertension (RH) or diastolic dysfunction. We retrieved Pubmed, Embase and Cocharane Library databases, from inception to April 1^st, 2016. Studies reporting left ventricular mass (LVMI) or left ventricular (LV) diastolic function (reflected by the ratio of mitral inflow velocity to annular relaxation velocity [E/e’]) responses to RDN were included. Two randomized controlled trials (RCTs), 3 controlled studies and 11 uncontrolled studies were finally identified. In observational studies, there was a reduction in LVMI, E/e’ and N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) at 6 months, compared with pre-RDN values. LV ejection fraction (LVEF) elevated at 6 months following RDN. In RCTs, however, no significant change in LVMI, E/e’, BNP, left atrial volume index or LVEF was observed at 12 months, compared with pharmaceutical therapy. In summary, both LV hypertrophy and cardiac function improved at 6 months after RDN. Nonetheless, current evidence failed to show that RDN was superior to intensive (optimal) drug therapy in improving cardiac remodeling and function.