Inhibiting STAT5 significantly attenuated Ang II-induced cardiac dysfunction and inflammation

The Kruppel-like factor 4-signal transducer and activator of transcription 5A axis promotes pancreatic fibrosis in mice with caerulein-induced chronic pancreatitis

Pancreatic fibrosis (PF) is a hallmark of chronic pancreatitis (CP), but its molecular mechanism remains unclear. This study was conducted to explore the role of Kruppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) in PF in CP mice. The CP mouse model was established using caerulein. After KLF4 interference, pathological changes in pancreatic tissues and fibrosis degree were observed by hematoxylin-eosin staining and Masson staining, and levels of Collagen I, Collagen III, and alpha-smooth muscle actin, inflammatory cytokines, KLF4, signal transducer and activator of transcription 5A (STAT5) in pancreatic tissues were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, Western blot assay, and immunofluorescence. The enrichment of KLF4 on the STAT5 promoter and the binding of KLF4 to the STAT5 promoter were analyzed. The rescue experiments were performed by co-injection of sh-STAT5 and sh-KLF4 to confirm the regulatory mechanism of KLF4. KLF4 was upregulated in CP mice. Inhibition of KLF4 effectively attenuated pancreatic inflammation and PF in mice. KLF4 was enriched on the STAT5 promoter and enhanced the transcriptional and protein levels of STAT5. Overexpression of STAT5 reversed the inhibitory role of silencing KLF4 in PF. In summary, KLF4 promoted the transcription and expression of STAT5, which further facilitated PF in CP mice.

Regulation of the JAK/STAT signaling pathway: The promising targets for cardiovascular disease

Individuals have known that Janus kinase (JAK) signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) signaling pathway was involved in the growth of the cell, cell differentiation courses advancement, immune cellular survival, as well as hematopoietic system advancement. Researches in the animal models have already uncovered a JAK/STAT regulatory function in myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (MIRI), acute myocardial infarction (MI), hypertension, myocarditis, heart failure, angiogenesis and fibrosis. Evidences originating in these studies indicate a therapeutic JAK/STAT function in cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). In this retrospection, various JAK/STAT functions in the normal and ill hearts were described. Moreover, the latest figures about JAK/STAT were summarized under the background of CVDs. Finally, we discussed the clinical transformation prospects and technical limitations of JAK/STAT as the potential therapeutic targets for CVDs. This collection of evidences has essential meanings for the clinical application of JAK/STAT as medicinal agents for CVDs. In this retrospection, various JAK/STAT functions in the normal and ill hearts were described. Moreover, the latest figures about JAK/STAT were summarized under the background of CVDs. Finally, we discussed the clinical transformation prospects and toxicity of JAK/STAT inhibitors as potential therapeutic targets for CVDs. This collection of evidences has essential meanings for the clinical application of JAK/STAT as medicinal agents for CVDs.

STAT5b is a key effector of NRG-1/ERBB4-mediated myocardial growth

The growth factor Neuregulin-1 (NRG-1) regulates myocardial growth and is currently under clinical investigation as a treatment for heart failure. Here, we demonstrate in several in vitro and in vivo models that STAT5b mediates NRG-1/EBBB4-stimulated cardiomyocyte growth. Genetic and chemical disruption of the NRG-1/ERBB4 pathway reduces STAT5b activation and transcription of STAT5b target genes Igf1, Myc, and Cdkn1a in murine cardiomyocytes. Loss of Stat5b also ablates NRG-1-induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. Dynamin-2 is shown to control the cell surface localization of ERBB4 and chemical inhibition of Dynamin-2 downregulates STAT5b activation and cardiomyocyte hypertrophy. In zebrafish embryos, Stat5 is activated during NRG-1-induced hyperplastic myocardial growth, and chemical inhibition of the Nrg-1/Erbb4 pathway or Dynamin-2 leads to loss of myocardial growth and Stat5 activation. Moreover, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockdown of stat5b results in reduced myocardial growth and cardiac function. Finally, the NRG-1/ERBB4/STAT5b signaling pathway is differentially regulated at mRNA and protein levels in the myocardium of patients with pathological cardiac hypertrophy as compared to control human subjects, consistent with a role of the NRG-1/ERBB4/STAT5b pathway in myocardial growth.

Regulation of Microglia-Activation-Mediated Neuroinflammation to Ameliorate Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury via the STAT5-NF-κB Pathway in Ischemic Stroke

Inflammatory reaction after ischemia-reperfusion contributes significantly to a worsened prognosis, and microglia activation is the main resource of inflammation in the nervous system. Targeting STAT5 has been shown to be a highly effective anti-inflammatory therapy; however, the mechanism by which the STAT5 signaling pathway regulates neuroinflammation following brain injury induced by ischemia-reperfusion remains unclear. Dauricine is an effective agent in anti-inflammation and neuroprotection, but the mechanism by which dauricine acts in ischemia-reperfusion remained unknown. This study is the first to find that the anti-inflammation mechanism of dauricine mainly occurs through the STAT5-NF-κB pathway and that it might act as a STAT5 inhibitor. Dauricine suppresses the inflammation caused by cytokines Eotaxin, KC, TNF-α, IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-12β, and IL-17α, as well as inhibiting microglia activation. The STAT5b mutant at Tyr-699 reverses the protective effect of dauricine on the oxygen-glucose deprivation-reperfusion injury of neurons and reactivates the P-NF-κB expression in microglia. These results suggest that dauricine might be able to suppress the neuroinflammation and protect the neurons from the injury of post-ischemia-reperfusion injury via mediating the microglia activation through the STAT5-NF-κB pathway. As a potential therapeutic target for neuroinflammation, STAT5 needs to be given further attention regarding its role in ischemic stroke.

Exploring the role of uterine fibroids in promotion of cardiovascular diseases by diabetes exposure: Findings from national health and nutrition examination survey 1999-2006

Objective

The relationship between uterine fibroids (UF) and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in the diabetes population seemed to remain undetermined in previous studies. This study aims to explore the association between UF and CVDs by using the database from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). To further evaluate the connection between UF and CVDs we also tested the potential differences due to diabetes exposure.

Materials and methods

National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data (1999–2006) were collected and used in this study. A total of 5,509 individuals were included and analyzed. The student’s t-test and the chi-squared test were used to explore the demographic characteristic between UF and non-UF groups. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine the odds ratios of UF and covariates.

Results

Female participants were divided into UF (n = 694, 12.60%) and non-UF (n = 4,815, 87.40%) groups. The incidence of CVDs in UF patients (n = 245, 35.30%) were higher than non-UF individuals (n = 776, 16.12%) (p < 0.001). In addition, each subtype of CVDs were also different, which contains hypertension (33.29 vs. 15.31%, p < 0.001), heart failure (1.59 vs. 0.52%, p < 0.01), angina (2.59 vs. 0.62%, p < 0.001), heart attack (1.73 vs. 0.58%, p < 0.01) and coronary heart disease (1.44 vs. 0.54%, p < 0.01). The odds ratios of CVDs according to logistic regression were 2.840 (95% CI: 2.387–3.379) for UF patients (p < 0.001), while the odds ratios (ORs) were 1.438 (95% CI: 1.175–1.760) after taking account for the age, body mass index (BMI), diabetes, race, education, and annual family income (p < 0.001). In addition, secondary analysis indicated more adverse effects in by UF exposure on CVDs risk among non-diabetes individuals (OR = 1.389, 95% CI = 1.124–1.718, p < 0.01) than diabetes patients (p = 0.063).

Conclusion

Overall, UFs were positively associated with CVDs, and this effect seems blunted by diabetes exposure.