1
|
Kumar V, Narisawa M, Cheng XW. Overview of multifunctional Tregs in cardiovascular disease: From insights into cellular functions to clinical implications. FASEB J 2024; 38:e23786. [PMID: 38979903 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202400839r] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2024] [Revised: 06/01/2024] [Accepted: 06/21/2024] [Indexed: 07/10/2024]
Abstract
Regulatory T cells (Tregs) are crucial in regulating T-cell-mediated immune responses. Numerous studies have shown that dysfunction or decreased numbers of Tregs may be involved in inflammatory cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) such as atherosclerosis, hypertension, myocardial infarction, myocarditis, cardiomyopathy, valvular heart diseases, heart failure, and abdominal aortic aneurysm. Tregs can help to ameliorate CVDs by suppressing excessive inflammation through various mechanisms, including inhibition of T cells and B cells, inhibition of macrophage-induced inflammation, inhibition of dendritic cells and foam cell formation, and induction of anti-inflammatory macrophages. Enhancing or restoring the immunosuppressive activity of Tregs may thus serve as a fundamental immunotherapy to treat hypertension and CVDs. However, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying the Tregs-induced protection against hypertension and CVDs remain to be investigated. This review focuses on recent advances in our understanding of Tregs subsets and function in CVDs. In addition, we discuss promising strategies for using Tregs through various pharmacological approaches to treat hypertension and CVDs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vipin Kumar
- Department of Cardiology and Hypertension, Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Stress and Cardiovascular Disease, Yanbian University Hospital, Yanji, Jilin, P.R. China
| | - Megumi Narisawa
- Department of Cardiology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Xian Wu Cheng
- Department of Cardiology and Hypertension, Jilin Provincial Key Laboratory of Stress and Cardiovascular Disease, Yanbian University Hospital, Yanji, Jilin, P.R. China
- Department of Cardiology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Fuenzalida B, Yañez MJ, Mueller M, Mistry HD, Leiva A, Albrecht C. Evidence for hypoxia-induced dysregulated cholesterol homeostasis in preeclampsia: Insights into the mechanisms from human placental cells and tissues. FASEB J 2024; 38:e23431. [PMID: 38265294 PMCID: PMC10953329 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202301708rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 01/04/2024] [Indexed: 01/25/2024]
Abstract
Preeclampsia (PE) poses a considerable risk to the long-term cardiovascular health of both mothers and their offspring due to a hypoxic environment in the placenta leading to reduced fetal oxygen supply. Cholesterol is vital for fetal development by influencing placental function. Recent findings suggest an association between hypoxia, disturbed cholesterol homeostasis, and PE. This study investigates the influence of hypoxia on placental cholesterol homeostasis. Using primary human trophoblast cells and placentae from women with PE, various aspects of cholesterol homeostasis were examined under hypoxic and hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) conditions. Under hypoxia and H/R, intracellular total and non-esterified cholesterol levels were significantly increased. This coincided with an upregulation of HMG-CoA-reductase and HMG-CoA-synthase (key genes regulating cholesterol biosynthesis), and a decrease in acetyl-CoA-acetyltransferase-1 (ACAT1), which mediates cholesterol esterification. Hypoxia and H/R also increased the intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species and elevated the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-2α and sterol-regulatory-element-binding-protein (SREBP) transcription factors. Additionally, exposure of trophoblasts to hypoxia and H/R resulted in enhanced cholesterol efflux to maternal and fetal serum. This was accompanied by an increased expression of proteins involved in cholesterol transport such as the scavenger receptor class B type I (SR-BI) and the ATP-binding cassette transporter G1 (ABCG1). Despite these metabolic alterations, mitogen-activated-protein-kinase (MAPK) signaling, a key regulator of cholesterol homeostasis, was largely unaffected. Our findings indicate dysregulation of cholesterol homeostasis at multiple metabolic points in both the trophoblast hypoxia model and placentae from women with PE. The increased cholesterol efflux and intracellular accumulation of non-esterified cholesterol may have critical implications for both the mother and the fetus during pregnancy, potentially contributing to an elevated cardiovascular risk later in life.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Fuenzalida
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland
| | - Maria Jose Yañez
- School of Medical Technology, Faculty of Medicine and ScienceUniversidad San SebastiánSantiagoChile
| | - Martin Mueller
- Division of Gynecology and ObstetricsLindenhofgruppeBernSwitzerland
- Department for BioMedical ResearchUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland
| | - Hiten D. Mistry
- Department of Women and Children's HealthSchool of Life Course and Population Health Sciences, King's College LondonLondonUK
| | - Andrea Leiva
- School of Medical Technology, Faculty of Medicine and ScienceUniversidad San SebastiánSantiagoChile
| | - Christiane Albrecht
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland
- Swiss National Center of Competence in Research, NCCR TransCureUniversity of BernBernSwitzerland
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Sönmez HE, Bayındır Y, Batu ED. Cardiovascular manifestations of monogenic periodic fever syndromes. Clin Rheumatol 2023; 42:2717-2732. [PMID: 36622520 DOI: 10.1007/s10067-023-06504-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 12/23/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Periodic fever syndromes (PFS) are a group of autoinflammatory diseases characterized by repeated febrile episodes and systemic inflammation. The most common monogenic periodic fever syndromes are familial Mediterranean fever, mevalonate kinase deficiency/hyper immunoglobulin D syndrome, cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome, and tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated periodic syndrome. Although fever is the predominant feature of PFS, other systems, including the cardiovascular system, may be involved in the disease process. This review focuses on cardiovascular risks and issues in monogenic PFS. Cardiovascular involvement may occur as a disease manifestation, association, or result of complications or a drug's adverse effects in monogenic PFS. Pericarditis seems to be a feature of PFS. Patients with recurrent pericarditis or pericarditis resistant to conventional treatment should be evaluated for PFS. Amyloidosis is the most severe complication of PFS, increasing the risk of cardiac morbidity. Furthermore, ongoing inflammation may result in early atherosclerosis. Therefore, assessing cardiovascular risks in PFS patients should be considered a part of routine care. Key points • Pericarditis is the most common cardiac involvement of monogenic periodic fever syndromes (PFS), while some forms may present with myocarditis. • Amyloidosis, the most significant complication of PFS, may lead to deterioration in cardiac functions. • Ongoing inflammation in PFS may result in endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis. • Effective control of inflammation and reducing concomitant risk factors such as obesity, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension could improve cardiovascular outcomes in PFS patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hafize Emine Sönmez
- Division of Pediatric Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Kocaeli University Faculty of Medicine, Izmit, Kocaeli, Turkey
| | - Yağmur Bayındır
- Division of Pediatric Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Sıhhiye, 06100, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Ezgi Deniz Batu
- Division of Pediatric Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine, Sıhhiye, 06100, Ankara, Turkey.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Li C, Qin D, Hu J, Yang Y, Hu D, Yu B. Inflamed adipose tissue: A culprit underlying obesity and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Front Immunol 2022; 13:947147. [PMID: 36483560 PMCID: PMC9723346 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.947147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2022] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The incidence of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction is increasing in patients with obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and in the aging population. However, there is a lack of adequate clinical treatment. Patients with obesity-related heart failure with preserved ejection fraction display unique pathophysiological and phenotypic characteristics, suggesting that obesity could be one of its specific phenotypes. There has been an increasing recognition that overnutrition in obesity causes adipose tissue expansion and local and systemic inflammation, which consequently exacerbates cardiac remodeling and leads to the development of obese heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Furthermore, overnutrition leads to cellular metabolic reprogramming and activates inflammatory signaling cascades in various cardiac cells, thereby promoting maladaptive cardiac remodeling. Growing evidence indicates that the innate immune response pathway from the NLRP3 inflammasome, to interleukin-1 to interleukin-6, is involved in the generation of obesity-related systemic inflammation and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. This review established the existence of obese heart failure with preserved ejection fraction based on structural and functional changes, elaborated the inflammation mechanisms of obese heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, proposed that NLRP3 inflammasome activation may play an important role in adiposity-induced inflammation, and summarized the potential therapeutic approaches.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chenyu Li
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Research Institute of Blood Lipid and Atherosclerosis, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Donglu Qin
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Research Institute of Blood Lipid and Atherosclerosis, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Jiarui Hu
- Department of Spine Surgery, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Yang Yang
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Research Institute of Blood Lipid and Atherosclerosis, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Die Hu
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Research Institute of Blood Lipid and Atherosclerosis, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Bilian Yu
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Research Institute of Blood Lipid and Atherosclerosis, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, China,*Correspondence: Bilian Yu,
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy share common cfDNA methylation profiles. Sci Rep 2022; 12:19837. [PMID: 36400896 PMCID: PMC9674847 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-24348-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) contribute substantially to perinatal morbidity and mortality. Epigenetic changes point towards cardio-metabolic dysregulation for these vascular disorders. In early pregnancy, epigenetic changes using cell free DNA (cfDNA) are largely unexplored. We aimed to investigate these in HDP between 11 and 14 weeks of gestation by analysis of cfDNA methylation profiles in patients with hypertensive disorders. We identified patients without chronic hypertension but with subsequent development of preeclampsia (PE) (n = 11), with chronic hypertension (HT) but without PE development (n = 14), and lacking both PE and HT (n = 422). We matched patients according to PE risk factors into three groups (n = 5 each group): (1) PE: no HT but PE development, (2) HT: chronic hypertension but no PE and (3) Control: no PE or HT. We successfully optimized our cfDNA isolation process prior to whole genome bisulfite sequencing. Analysis of cfDNA methylation changes indicate a common predisposition in PE and HT groups, chiefly of maternal origin. Assessment of significant differentially methylated regions and annotated genes point towards a common cardiovascular predisposition in preeclampsia and hypertension groups in the first trimester. We postulate the pivotal role of the maternal cardiovascular system in HDP, which is already evident in the first trimester.
Collapse
|
6
|
Martí-Carvajal AJ, De Sanctis JB, Hidalgo R, Martí-Amarista CE, Alegría E, Correa-Pérez A, Monge Martín D, Riera Lizardo RJ. Colchicine for the primary prevention of cardiovascular events. Hippokratia 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/14651858.cd015003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Arturo J Martí-Carvajal
- Cochrane Ecuador. Centro de Investigación en Salud Pública y Epidemiología Clínica (CISPEC). Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud Eugenio Espejo ; Universidad UTE; Quito Ecuador
- Faculty of Medicine; Universidad Francisco de Vitoria; Madrid Spain
- Cátedra Rectoral de Médicina Basada en la Evidencia; Universidad de Carabobo; Valencia Venezuela
| | - Juan Bautista De Sanctis
- The Institute of Molecular and Translational Medicine; Palacky University Olomouc, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry; Czech Republic Czech Republic
| | - Ricardo Hidalgo
- Cochrane Ecuador. Centro de Investigación en Salud Pública y Epidemiología Clínica (CISPEC). Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud Eugenio Espejo; Universidad Tecnológica Equinoccial; Quito Ecuador
| | | | - Eduardo Alegría
- Faculty of Medicine; Universidad Francisco de Vitoria; Madrid Spain
| | - Andrea Correa-Pérez
- Faculty of Medicine; Universidad Francisco de Vitoria; Madrid Spain
- Clinical Biostatistics Unit; Hospital Universitario Ramón y Cajal (IRYCIS); Madrid Spain
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
7
|
Colchicine reduces atherosclerotic plaque vulnerability in rabbits. ATHEROSCLEROSIS PLUS 2021; 45:1-9. [PMID: 36643998 PMCID: PMC9833268 DOI: 10.1016/j.athplu.2021.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/29/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Background and aims The anti-inflammatory agent colchicine is gaining interest as a treatment for coronary artery disease. However, the effects of colchicine in atherosclerotic animal models are mostly unknown. This study aimed to evaluate colchicine in a rabbit model of atherosclerosis. Methods Twenty-two rabbits were fed a 0.5% cholesterol-enriched diet for 10 weeks and then randomized to receive either oral saline (n=11) or colchicine (350 μg/kg/day; n=11) for 6 weeks, with 0.2% cholesterol-diet during the treatment period. We performed intravascular ultrasound imaging (at start and end of treatment) and histology analyses of the descending thoracic aorta. Leucocyte activation was assessed in vitro on blood samples obtained during treatment. Results Colchicine prevented positive aortic vascular remodelling (p=0.029 vs placebo). This effect was even more marked at high plasma cholesterol level (third quartile of plasma cholesterol, p=0.020). At high cholesterol level, both atherosclerotic plaque and media areas on histomorphology were reduced by colchicine compared to placebo (p=0.031 and p=0.039, respectively). Plaque fibrosis and macrophage area were reduced by colchicine (Masson's trichrome stain: p=0.038; RAM-11: p=0.026). The plaque vulnerability index, assessed by histology, was reduced by colchicine (p=0.040). Elastin/type I collagen ratio in media was significantly higher with colchicine compared to placebo (p=0.013). At a high level of plasma cholesterol, in vitro LPS challenge revealed a decrease in monocyte activation following treatment with colchicine (p<0.001) and no change in the placebo group (p=0.353). Conclusions Colchicine decreases plaque vulnerability with reductions in plaque inflammation, medial fibrosis, outward vascular remodelling and ex vivo monocyte activation.
Collapse
|