The reduction of NDUFC2 expression is associated with mitochondrial impairment in circulating mononuclear cells of patients with acute coronary syndrome

NDUFC2 deficiency exacerbates endothelial mesenchymal transformation during ischemia-reperfusion via NLRP3

Ischemic stroke is the main type of cerebrovascular disease. Emergency thrombectomy combined with medication therapy is currently the primary treatment for stroke. Inflammation and oxidative stress induced by ischemia-reperfusion cause secondary damage to blood vessels, especially endothelial mesenchymal transformation (EndoMT). However, much is still unclear about the role of EndoMT in ischemia-reperfusion. In this study, an in vivo ischemia-reperfusion model was established by transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) in wild-type (WT) C57BL/6 mice and NLRP3 (NOD-like receptor thermal protein domain associated protein 3) knockout (KO) C57BL/6 mice. An in vitro ischemia-reperfusion model was established by oxygen glucose deprivation and reoxygenation (OGD/R) of human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs). α-SMA (alpha smooth muscle actin), CD31 (platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1, PECAM-1/CD31), NDUFC2 (NADH: ubiquinone oxidoreductase subunit C2), and NLRP3 were used to evaluate EndoMT and inflammation. Real-time PCR measured superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) and catalase (CAT) mRNA expression to evaluate oxidative stress levels. NLRP3 was activated by ischemia-reperfusion injury and NLRP3 inactivation inhibited the EndoMT in tMCAO mice. Further experiments demonstrated that OGD/R treatment induced NLRP3 activation and EndoMT in HBMECs, which resulted in NDUFC2 deficiency. NDUFC2 overexpression suppressed NLRP3 activation and EndoMT in HBMECs induced by OGD/R. Moreover, NDUFC2 overexpression rescued SOD1 and CAT mRNA expression. These results demonstrated that NDUFC2 deficiency decreased the antioxidant levels, leading to NLRP3 activation and EndoMT during ischemia-reperfusion injury and suggesting that NDUFC2 is a potential drug target for the treatment of ischemic stroke.

Polymorphic variants at NDUFC2, encoding a mitochondrial complex I subunit, associate with cardiac hypertrophy in human hypertension

BACKGROUND

A dysfunction of NADH dehydrogenase, the mitochondrial Complex I (CI), associated with the development of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in previous experimental studies. A deficiency of Ndufc2 (subunit of CI) impairs CI activity causing severe mitochondrial dysfunction. The T allele at NDUFC2/rs11237379 variant associates with reduced gene expression and impaired mitochondrial function. The present study tested the association of both NDUFC2/rs11237379 and NDUFC2/rs641836 variants with LVH in hypertensive patients. In vitro studies explored the impact of reduced Ndufc2 expression in isolated cardiomyocytes.

METHODS

Two-hundred-forty-six subjects (147 male, 59.7%), with a mean age of 59 ± 15 years, were included for the genetic association analysis. Ndufc2 silencing was performed in both H9c2 and rat primary cardiomyocytes to explore the hypertrophy development and the underlying signaling pathway.

RESULTS

The TT genotype at NDUFC2/rs11237379 associated with significantly reduced gene expression. Multivariate analysis revealed that patients carrying this genotype showed significant differences for septal thickness (p = 0.07), posterior wall thickness (p = 0.008), RWT (p = 0.021), LV mass/BSA (p = 0.03), compared to subjects carrying either CC or CT genotypes. Patients carrying the A allele at NDUFC2/rs641836 showed significant differences for septal thickness (p = 0.017), posterior wall thickness (p = 0.011), LV mass (p = 0.003), LV mass/BSA (p = 0.002) and LV mass/height2.7(p = 0.010) after adjustment for covariates. In-vitro, the Ndufc2 deficiency-dependent mitochondrial dysfunction caused cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, pointing to SIRT3-AMPK-AKT-MnSOD as a major underlying signaling pathway.

CONCLUSIONS

We demonstrated for the first time a significant association of NDUFC2 variants with LVH in human hypertension and highlight a key role of Ndufc2 deficiency-dependent CI mitochondrial dysfunction on increased susceptibility to cardiac hypertrophy development.

Transcriptomic Analyses of Neurotoxic Astrocytes Derived from Adult Triple Transgenic Alzheimer's Disease Mice

Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease have been classically studied from a purely neuronocentric point of view. More recent evidences support the notion that other cell populations are involved in disease progression. In this sense, the possible pathogenic role of glial cells like astrocytes is increasingly being recognized. Once faced with tissue damage signals and other stimuli present in disease environments, astrocytes suffer many morphological and functional changes, a process referred as reactive astrogliosis. Studies from murine models and humans suggest that these complex and heterogeneous responses could manifest as disease-specific astrocyte phenotypes. Clear understanding of disease-associated astrocytes is a necessary step to fully disclose neurodegenerative processes, aiding in the design of new therapeutic and diagnostic strategies. In this work, we present the transcriptomics characterization of neurotoxic astrocytic cultures isolated from adult symptomatic animals of the triple transgenic mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (3xTg-AD). According to the observed profile, 3xTg-AD neurotoxic astrocytes show various reactivity features including alteration of the extracellular matrix and release of pro-inflammatory and proliferative factors that could result in harmful effects to neurons. Moreover, these alterations could be a consequence of stress responses at the endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria as well as of concomitant metabolic adaptations. Present results support the hypothesis that adaptive changes of astrocytic function induced by a stressed microenvironment could later promote harmful astrocyte phenotypes and further accelerate or induce neurodegenerative processes.

Mating modifies the expression of crucial oxidative-reductive transcripts in the pig oviductal sperm reservoir: is the female ensuring sperm survival?

Background

Mating induces large changes in the female genital tract, warranting female homeostasis and immune preparation for pregnancy, including the preservation of crucial oxidative status among its pathways. Being highly susceptible to oxidative stress, sperm survival and preserved function depend on the seminal plasma, a protection that is removed during sperm handling but also after mating when spermatozoa enter the oviduct. Therefore, it is pertinent to consider that the female sperm reservoir takes up this protection, providing a suitable environment for sperm viability. These aspects have not been explored despite the increasing strategies in modulating the female status through diet control and nutritional supplementation.

Aims

To test the hypothesis that mating modifies the expression of crucial oxidative-reductive transcripts across the entire pig female genital tract (cervix to infundibulum) and, particularly in the sperm reservoir at the utero-tubal junction, before ovulation, a period dominated by estrogen stimulation of ovarian as well as of seminal origin.

Methods

The differential expression of estrogen (ER) and progesterone (PR) receptors and of 59 oxidative-reductive transcripts were studied using a species-specific microarray platform, in specific segments of the peri-ovulatory sow reproductive tract in response to mating.

Results

Mating induced changes along the entire tract, with a conspicuous downregulation of both ER and PR and an upregulation of superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), glutaredoxin (GLRX3), and peroxiredoxin 1 and 3 (PRDX1, PRDX3), among other NADH Dehydrogenase Ubiquinone Flavoproteins, in the distal uterus segment. These changes perhaps helped prevent oxidative stress in the area adjacent to the sperm reservoir at the utero-tubal junction. Concomitantly, there were a downregulation of catalase (CAT) and NADH dehydrogenase (ubiquinone) oxidoreductases 1 beta subcomplex, subunit 1 (NDUFB1) in the utero-tubal junction alongside an overall downregulation of CAT, SOD1, and PRDX3 in the ampullar and infundibulum segments.

Conclusions

Natural mating is an inducer of changes in the expression of female genes commanding antioxidant enzymes relevant for sperm survival during sperm transport, under predominant estrogen influence through the bloodstream and semen. The findings could contribute to the design of new therapeutics for the female to improve oxidative-reductive balance.

Atrial natriuretic peptide stimulates autophagy/mitophagy and improves mitochondrial function in chronic heart failure

Mitochondrial dysfunction, causing increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, is a molecular feature of heart failure (HF). A defective antioxidant response and mitophagic flux were reported in circulating leucocytes of patients with chronic HF and reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) exerts many cardiac beneficial effects, including the ability to protect cardiomyocytes by promoting autophagy. We tested the impact of ANP on autophagy/mitophagy, altered mitochondrial structure and function and increased oxidative stress in HFrEF patients by both ex vivo and in vivo approaches. The ex vivo study included thirteen HFrEF patients whose peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated and treated with αANP (10^-11 M) for 4 h. The in vivo study included six HFrEF patients who received sacubitril/valsartan for two months. PBMCs were characterized before and after treatment. Both approaches analyzed mitochondrial structure and functionality. We found that levels of αANP increased upon sacubitril/valsartan, whereas levels of NT-proBNP decreased. Both the ex vivo direct exposure to αANP and the higher αANP level upon in vivo treatment with sacubitril/valsartan caused: (i) improvement of mitochondrial membrane potential; (ii) stimulation of the autophagic process; (iii) significant reduction of mitochondrial mass-index of mitophagy stimulation-and upregulation of mitophagy-related genes; (iv) reduction of mitochondrial damage with increased inner mitochondrial membrane (IMM)/outer mitochondrial membrane (OMM) index and reduced ROS generation. Herein we demonstrate that αANP stimulates both autophagy and mitophagy responses, counteracts mitochondrial dysfunction, and damages ultimately reducing mitochondrial oxidative stress generation in PBMCs from chronic HF patients. These properties were confirmed upon sacubitril/valsartan administration, a pivotal drug in HFrEF treatment.

Beneficial Effects of Citrus Bergamia Polyphenolic Fraction on Saline Load-Induced Injury in Primary Cerebral Endothelial Cells from the Stroke-Prone Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat Model

High salt load is a known noxious stimulus for vascular cells and a risk factor for cardiovascular diseases in both animal models and humans. The stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHRSP) accelerates stroke predisposition upon high-salt dietary feeding. We previously demonstrated that high salt load causes severe injury in primary cerebral endothelial cells isolated from SHRSP. This cellular model offers a unique opportunity to test the impact of substances toward the mechanisms underlying high-salt-induced vascular damage. We tested the effects of a bergamot polyphenolic fraction (BPF) on high-salt-induced injury in SHRSP cerebral endothelial cells. Cells were exposed to 20 mM NaCl for 72 h either in the absence or the presence of BPF. As a result, we confirmed that high salt load increased cellular ROS level, reduced viability, impaired angiogenesis, and caused mitochondrial dysfunction with a significant increase in mitochondrial oxidative stress. The addition of BPF reduced oxidative stress, rescued cell viability and angiogenesis, and recovered mitochondrial function with a significant decrease in mitochondrial oxidative stress. In conclusion, BPF counteracts the key molecular mechanisms underlying high-salt-induced endothelial cell damage. This natural antioxidant substance may represent a valuable adjuvant to treat vascular disorders.

Effect of different doses of cholecalciferol and calcidiol on meat quality parameters and skeletal muscle transcriptome profiles in swine

Skeletal muscle tissue is one of the potential targets for vitamin D actions. There are indications that vitamin D supplementation to swine has a positive effect on meat quality. However, these issues need further study, especially in terms of response to the use of different forms of vitamin D. We carried out a multi-purpose study to compare the effects of cholecalciferol and calcidiol on meat quality and muscle tissue transcriptome. Meat quality assessment and gene expression analysis were performed on longissimus dorsi samples collected from swine fed grower/finisher diets containing 2000 IU cholecalciferol/1500 IU cholecalciferol per kg (n = 8), 3000 IU cholecalciferol/2500 IU cholecalciferol per kg (n = 10), 2000 IU cholecalciferol +1000 IU calcidiol/1500 IU cholecaliferol +1000 IU calcidiol per kg (n = 8), and 2000 IU calcidiol/1500 IU calcidiol per kg (n = 8). The results suggest that increasing the dose of cholecalciferol and using calcidiol in the diet of finishers may improve meat texture parameters (shear force P = 0,014, toughness P = 0,048, cohesiveness P = 0,017, resilience P = 0,002). Shear force (68.46 N-51.42 N) and toughness (145.85 N-114.52 N) decreased the most under the effect of increasing cholecalciferol dosage. In turn, cohesiveness (0.60 N-0.65 N) and resilience (0.23 N-0.28 N) increased most strongly under the use of cholecalciferol+calcidiol. Moreover, the results indicate no significant effect of increasing cholecalciferol dose and use calcidiol in the swine diet on muscle tissue transcriptome.

Identification of biomarkers, pathways, and potential therapeutic targets for heart failure using next-generation sequencing data and bioinformatics analysis

BACKGROUND

Heart failure (HF) is the most common cardiovascular diseases and the leading cause of cardiovascular diseases related deaths. Increasing molecular targets have been discovered for HF prognosis and therapy. However, there is still an urgent need to identify novel biomarkers. Therefore, we evaluated biomarkers that might aid the diagnosis and treatment of HF.

METHODS

We searched next-generation sequencing (NGS) dataset (GSE161472) and identified differentially expressed genes (DEGs) by comparing 47 HF samples and 37 normal control samples using limma in R package. Gene ontology (GO) and pathway enrichment analyses of the DEGs were performed using the g: Profiler database. The protein-protein interaction (PPI) network was plotted with Human Integrated Protein-Protein Interaction rEference (HiPPIE) and visualized using Cytoscape. Module analysis of the PPI network was done using PEWCC1. Then, miRNA-hub gene regulatory network and TF-hub gene regulatory network were constructed by Cytoscape software. Finally, we performed receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis to predict the diagnostic effectiveness of the hub genes.

RESULTS

A total of 930 DEGs, 464 upregulated genes and 466 downregulated genes, were identified in HF. GO and REACTOME pathway enrichment results showed that DEGs mainly enriched in localization, small molecule metabolic process, SARS-CoV infections, and the citric acid tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle and respiratory electron transport. After combining the results of the PPI network miRNA-hub gene regulatory network and TF-hub gene regulatory network, 10 hub genes were selected, including heat shock protein 90 alpha family class A member 1 (HSP90AA1), arrestin beta 2 (ARRB2), myosin heavy chain 9 (MYH9), heat shock protein 90 alpha family class B member 1 (HSP90AB1), filamin A (FLNA), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), phosphoinositide-3-kinase regulatory subunit 1 (PIK3R1), cullin 4A (CUL4A), YEATS domain containing 4 (YEATS4), and lysine acetyltransferase 2B (KAT2B).

CONCLUSIONS

This discovery-driven study might be useful to provide a novel insight into the diagnosis and treatment of HF. However, more experiments are needed in the future to investigate the functional roles of these genes in HF.

Adverse effects of SYP-3343 on zebrafish development via ROS-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction

As a newly-invented and highly-efficiency strobilurin fungicide, pyraoxystrobin (SYP-3343) has been recognized as a highly poisonous toxin for a variety of aquatic organisms. Nevertheless, the developmental toxicity and potential mechanism of SYP-3343 have not been well-documented. The results showed that SYP-3343 was relatively stable and maintained within the range of 20 % in 24 h, and the LC₅₀ value to embryos at 72 hpf was 17.13 μg/L. The zebrafish embryotoxicity induced by 1, 2, 4, and 8 μg/L SYP-3343 is demonstrated by repressive embryo incubation, enhancive mortality rate, abnormal heart rate, malformed morphological characteristic, and impaired spontaneous coiling, indicating SYP-3343 mostly exerted its toxicity in a dose- and time-dependent manner. Besides SYP-3343 was critically involved in regulating cell cycle, mitochondrial membrane potential, and reactive oxygen species production as well as zebrafish primary cells apoptosis, which can be mitigated using antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine. A significant change occurred in total protein content, the biochemical indices, and antioxidant capacities owing to SYP-3343 exposure. Additionally, SYP-3343 altered the mRNA levels of heart development-, mitochondrial function-, and apoptosis-related genes in zebrafish embryos. These results indicated that SYP-3343 induced apoptosis accompanying reactive oxygen species-initiated mitochondrial dysfunction in zebrafish embryos.

Mass Spectrometry-Based Quantitative Proteomics Analysis for Better Understanding of Telomeric Zinc Finger-Associated Protein-Induced Pathogenesis in Cardiomyocytes

Telomere length is highly related to cardiovascular diseases. Telomeric zinc finger-associated protein (TZAP) directly binds to telomeric TTAGGG repeats via zinc finger domains and triggers the initiation of the telomere trimming process. However, proteomics analysis of TZAP in cardiomyocytes is slightly unknown. In our study, TZAP was overexpressed by adenovirus transfection in cultured H9c2 cardiomyocytes, and then mass spectrometry-based quantitative proteomics research strategies, including Gene Ontology analysis, Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis, subcellular localizations, predicted functional domains, and protein-protein interaction (PPI) analysis, were performed to explore TZAP-induced potential pathogenesis in cardiomyocytes. A total of 184 upregulated and 228 downregulated differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) were identified among identified 5693 quantifiable proteins in TZAP-overexpressed cardiomyocytes. These DEPs were mainly distributed in the nucleus, cytoplasm, and plasma membrane. DEPs were enriched in biological processes including cardiac muscle cell contraction, acute inflammatory response, cell-cell junction assembly, and macromolecule biosynthetic process. They were enriched in 9 KEGG pathways, including Hippo signaling pathway, protein digestion and absorption, and cytokine receptor interaction, and enriched in 17 protein domains, including translation initiation factor 1A/IF-1, class I histocompatibility antigen, and zinc finger. PPI analysis indicated that TZAP interacted with NDUFC2, Gja1, and HDAC2. Further, as proteins closely related to cardiovascular function, the mRNA levels of BRD4, Gja1, HDAC2, MAP2K3, Plakophilin 4, and Syndecan 1 significantly decreased, while Trpm7, clusterin, and NDUFC2 remarkably increased in TZAP-overexpressed cardiomyocytes by RT-PCR assay, which were consistent with the proteomics analysis. Collectively, we provided candidate proteins and enrichment pathways in TZAP-overexpressed cardiomyocytes, which need further investigation.

Impact of a NDUFC2 Variant on the Occurrence of Acute Coronary Syndromes

Background

Among several potential mechanisms, mitochondrial dysfunction has been proposed to be involved in the pathogenesis of coronary artery disease (CAD). A mitochondrial complex I deficiency severely impairs cardiovascular health and contributes to CAD development. Previous evidence highlighted a key role of NDUFC2, a subunit of complex I, deficiency in the increased occurrence of renal and cerebrovascular damage in an animal model of hypertension, and of juvenile ischemic stroke occurrence in humans. Furthermore, a significant decrease of NDUFC2 mRNA was detected in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients experiencing acute coronary syndrome (ACS). The T allele at NDUFC2/rs23117379 variant is known to associate with reduced gene expression and mitochondrial dysfunction.

Objective

In the present study we tested the impact of the T/C NDUFC2/rs23117379 variant on occurrence of ACS in a prospective cohort of CAD patients (n = 260).

Results

Hypertension, smoking habit, diabetes and hypercholesterolemia were present in a large proportion of patients. Non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) represented the most frequent type of ACS (44%, n = 115), followed by ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) (34%, n = 88) and unstable angina (22%, n = 57). The alleles/genotypes distribution for T/C at NDUFC2/rs23117379 revealed that the TT genotype was associated with a trend toward the development of ACS at an earlier age (TT 61 ± 12, CT 65 ± 12 and CC 66 ± 11 years; p = 0.051 after adjustment for gender, hypertension, smoking habit, diabetes and hypercholesterolemia) and with a significant predictive role for ACS recurrence (hazard ratio [HR]1.671; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.138–2.472; p = 0.009).

Conclusions

Our findings are consistent with a deleterious effect of NDUFC2 deficiency on acute coronary events predisposition and further support a role of the NDUFC2/rs23117379 variant as a genetic cardiovascular risk factor.

Identification of key molecular markers of acute coronary syndrome using peripheral blood transcriptome sequencing analysis and mRNA-lncRNA co-expression network construction

Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is a term used to describe major cardiovascular diseases, and treatment of in-stent restenosis in patients with ACS remains a major clinical challenge. Further investigation into molecular markers of ACS may aid early diagnosis, and the treatment of ACS and post-treatment recurrence. In the present study, total RNA was extracted from the peripheral blood samples of 3 patients with ACS, 3 patients with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)_non-restenosis, 3 patients with PCI_restenosis and 3 healthy controls. Subsequently, RNA library construction and high-throughput sequencing were performed. DESeq2 package in R was used to screen genes that were differentially expressed between the different samples. Moreover, the intersection of the differentially expressed mRNAs (DEmRNAs) and differentially expressed long noncoding RNAs (DElncRNAs) obtained. GeneCodis4.0 was used to perform function enrichment for DEmRNAs, and lncRNA-mRNA co-expression network was constructed. The GSE60993 dataset was utilized for diagnostic analysis, and the aforementioned investigations were verified using in vitro studies. Results of the present study revealed a large number of DEmRNAs and DElncRNAs in the different groups. We selected genes in the top 10 of differential expression and also involved in the co-expression of lncRNA-mRNA for diagnostic analysis in the GSE60993 dataset. The area under curve (AUC) of PDZK1IP1 (0.747), PROK2 (0.769) and LAMP3 (0.725) were all >0.7. These results indicated that the identified mRNAs and lncRNAs may act as potential clinical biomarkers, and more specifically, PDZK1IP1, PROK2 and LAMP3 may act as potential biomarkers for the diagnosis of ACS.

Identification of key pathways and genes in polycystic ovary syndrome via integrated bioinformatics analysis and prediction of small therapeutic molecules

To enhance understanding of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) at the molecular level; this investigation intends to examine the genes and pathways associated with PCOS by using an integrated bioinformatics analysis. Based on the expression profiling by high throughput sequencing data GSE84958 derived from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between PCOS samples and normal controls were identified. We performed a functional enrichment analysis. A protein-protein interaction (PPI) network, miRNA- target genes and TF - target gene networks, were constructed and visualized, with which the hub gene nodes were identified. Validation of hub genes was performed by using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and RT-PCR. Small drug molecules were predicted by using molecular docking. A total of 739 DEGs were identified, of which 360 genes were up regulated and 379 genes were down regulated. GO enrichment analysis revealed that up regulated genes were mainly involved in peptide metabolic process, organelle envelope and RNA binding and the down regulated genes were significantly enriched in plasma membrane bounded cell projection organization, neuron projection and DNA-binding transcription factor activity, RNA polymerase II-specific. REACTOME pathway enrichment analysis revealed that the up regulated genes were mainly enriched in translation and respiratory electron transport and the down regulated genes were mainly enriched in generic transcription pathway and transmembrane transport of small molecules. The top 10 hub genes (SAA1, ADCY6, POLR2K, RPS15, RPS15A, CTNND1, ESR1, NEDD4L, KNTC1 and NGFR) were identified from PPI network, miRNA - target gene network and TF - target gene network. The modules analysis showed that genes in modules were mainly associated with the transport of respiratory electrons and signaling NGF, respectively. We find a series of crucial genes along with the pathways that were most closely related with PCOS initiation and advancement. Our investigations provide a more detailed molecular mechanism for the progression of PCOS, detail information on the potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

Superoxide Dismutase 2 (SOD2) in Vascular Calcification: A Focus on Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells, Calcification Pathogenesis, and Therapeutic Strategies

Vascular calcification (VC) describes the pathophysiological phenotype of calcium apatite deposition within the vascular wall, leading to vascular stiffening and the loss of compliance. VC is never benign; the presence and severity of VC correlate closely with the risk of myocardial events and cardiovascular mortality in multiple at-risk populations such as patients with diabetes and chronic kidney disease. Mitochondrial dysfunction involving each of vascular wall constituents (endothelia and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs)) aggravates various vascular pathologies, including atherosclerosis and VC. However, few studies address the pathogenic role of mitochondrial dysfunction during the course of VC, and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) seem to lie in the pathophysiologic epicenter. Superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), through its preferential localization to the mitochondria, stands at the forefront against mitochondrial ROS in VSMCs and thus potentially modifies the probability of VC initiation or progression. In this review, we will provide a literature-based summary regarding the relationship between SOD2 and VC in the context of VSMCs. Apart from the conventional wisdom of attenuating mitochondrial ROS, SOD2 has been found to affect mitophagy and the formation of the autophagosome, suppress JAK/STAT as well as PI₃K/Akt signaling, and retard vascular senescence, all of which underlie the beneficial influences on VC exerted by SOD2. More importantly, we outline the therapeutic potential of a novel SOD2-targeted strategy for the treatment of VC, including an ever-expanding list of pharmaceuticals and natural compounds. It is expected that VSMC SOD2 will become an important druggable target for treating VC in the future.

Adverse Cardiac Remodelling after Acute Myocardial Infarction: Old and New Biomarkers

The prevalence of heart failure (HF) due to cardiac remodelling after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) does not decrease regardless of implementation of new technologies supporting opening culprit coronary artery and solving of ischemia-relating stenosis with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Numerous studies have examined the diagnostic and prognostic potencies of circulating cardiac biomarkers in acute coronary syndrome/AMI and heart failure after AMI, and even fewer have depicted the utility of biomarkers in AMI patients undergoing primary PCI. Although complete revascularization at early period of acute coronary syndrome/AMI is an established factor for improved short-term and long-term prognosis and lowered risk of cardiovascular (CV) complications, late adverse cardiac remodelling may be a major risk factor for one-year mortality and postponded heart failure manifestation after PCI with subsequent blood flow resolving in culprit coronary artery. The aim of the review was to focus an attention on circulating biomarker as a promising tool to stratify AMI patients at high risk of poor cardiac recovery and developing HF after successful PCI. The main consideration affects biomarkers of inflammation, biomechanical myocardial stress, cardiac injury and necrosis, fibrosis, endothelial dysfunction, and vascular reparation. Clinical utilities and predictive modalities of natriuretic peptides, cardiac troponins, galectin 3, soluble suppressor tumorogenicity-2, high-sensitive C-reactive protein, growth differential factor-15, midregional proadrenomedullin, noncoding RNAs, and other biomarkers for adverse cardiac remodelling are discussed in the review.

Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells and Platelets Mitochondrial Dysfunction, Oxidative Stress, and Circulating mtDNA in Cardiovascular Diseases

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are devastating disorders and the leading cause of mortality worldwide. The pathophysiology of cardiovascular diseases is complex and multifactorial and, in the past years, mitochondrial dysfunction and excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) have gained growing attention. Indeed, CVDs can be considered as a systemic alteration, and understanding the eventual implication of circulating blood cells peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and or platelets, and particularly their mitochondrial function, ROS production, and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) releases in patients with cardiac impairments, appears worthwhile. Interestingly, reports consistently demonstrate a reduced mitochondrial respiratory chain oxidative capacity related to the degree of CVD severity and to an increased ROS production by PBMCs. Further, circulating mtDNA level was generally modified in such patients. These data are critical steps in term of cardiac disease comprehension and further studies are warranted to challenge the possible adjunct of PBMCs’ and platelets’ mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and circulating mtDNA as biomarkers of CVD diagnosis and prognosis. This new approach might also allow further interesting therapeutic developments.

Circulating Leukocytes and Oxidative Stress in Cardiovascular Diseases: A State of the Art

Increased oxidative stress from both mitochondrial and cytosolic sources contributes to the development and the progression of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), and it is a target of therapeutic interventions. The numerous efforts made over the last decades in order to develop tools able to monitor the oxidative stress level in patients affected by CVDs rely on the need to gain information on the disease state. However, this goal has not been satisfactorily accomplished until now. Among others, the isolation of circulating leukocytes to measure their oxidant level offers a valid, noninvasive challenge that has been tested in few pathological contexts, including hypertension, atherosclerosis and its clinical manifestations, and heart failure. Since leukocytes circulate in the blood stream, it is expected that they might reflect quite closely both systemic and cardiovascular oxidative stress and provide useful information on the pathological condition. The results of the studies discussed in the present review article are promising. They highlight the importance of measuring oxidative stress level in circulating mononuclear cells in different CVDs with a consistent correlation between degree of oxidative stress and severity of CVD and of its complications. Importantly, they also point to a double role of leukocytes, both as a marker of disease condition and as a direct contributor to disease progression. Finally, they show that the oxidative stress level of leukocytes reflects the impact of therapeutic interventions. It is likely that the isolation of leukocytes and the measurement of oxidative stress, once adequately developed, may represent an eligible tool for both research and clinical purposes to monitor the role of oxidative stress on the promotion and progression of CVDs, as well as the impact of therapies.