Β-blockers activate autophagy on infantile hemangioma-derived endothelial cells in vitro

Effects of Age and Exposure Duration on the Sensitivity of Early Life Stage Fathead Minnow (Pimephales promelas) to Waterborne Propranolol Exposure

Propranolol is a heavily prescribed, nonspecific beta-adrenoceptor (bAR) antagonist frequently found in wastewater effluents, prompting concern over its potential to adversely affect exposed organisms. In the present study, the transcriptional responses of 4, 5, and 6 days postfertilization (dpf) ±1 h fathead minnow, exposed for 6, 24, or 48 h to 0.66 or 3.3 mg/L (nominal) propranolol were characterized using RNA sequencing. The number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) was used as an estimate of sensitivity. A trend toward increased sensitivity with age was observed; fish >7 dpf at the end of exposure were particularly sensitive to propranolol. The DEGs largely overlapped among treatment groups, suggesting a highly consistent response that was independent of age. Cluster analysis was performed using normalized count data for unexposed and propranolol-exposed fish. Control fish clustered tightly by age, with fish ≥7 dpf clustering away from younger fish, reflecting developmental differences. When clustering was conducted using exposed fish, in cases where propranolol induced a minimal or no transcriptional response, the results mirrored those of the control fish and did not appreciably cluster by treatment. In treatment groups that displayed a more robust transcriptional response, the effects of propranolol were evident; however, fish <7 dpf clustered away from older fish, despite having similar numbers of DEGs. Increased sensitivity at 7 dpf coincided with developmental milestones with the potential to alter propranolol pharmacokinetics or pharmacodynamics, such as the onset of exogenous feeding and gill functionality as well as increased systemic expression of bAR. These results may have broader implications because toxicity testing often utilizes fish <4 dpf, prior to the onset of these potentially important developmental milestones, which may result in an underestimation of risk for some chemicals. Environ Toxicol Chem 2024;00:1-14. Published 2023. This article is a U.S. Government work and is in the public domain in the USA.

Inhibition of infantile hemangioma growth and promotion of apoptosis via VEGF/PI3K/Akt axis by 755-nm long-pulse alexandrite laser

BACKGROUND

Infantile hemangioma (IH) is a common vascular tumor in female infants, which can lead to aesthetic issues and facial scarring. This study aimed to investigate the inhibitory effects and underlying mechanisms of 755 nm long-pulsed alexandrite laser on IH.

METHODS

Hemangioma endothelial cells (HemECs) were exposed to 755 nm long-pulsed alexandrite laser to evaluate its impact on cell proliferation and apoptosis. A patient-derived xenograft model was established to assess the inhibitory effects of laser treatment on IH in vivo.

RESULTS

In vitro, 755 nm long-pulsed alexandrite laser effectively suppressed the proliferation of HemECs and induced cell apoptosis. Laser treatment significantly inhibited the volume and weight of tumors, accompanied by significant downregulation of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 (VEGFR2), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), and protein kinase B (Akt) expression levels in both hemangioma cells and tumors. Additionally, laser treatment resulted in the conversion of VEGFA165a to VEGFA165b. TUNEL staining demonstrated increased apoptosis in tumor cells after laser treatment, along with upregulation of cleaved caspase-3 and Bax, and downregulation of Bcl-2.

CONCLUSION

In addition to the principle of selective photothermal decomposition, modulation of the VEGF/PI3K/Akt axis may serve as a potential mechanism for IH treatment using a long pulse-width 755 nm laser. This sheds valuable light on the molecular mechanisms underlying IH pathogenesis and potential therapeutic targets while providing a theoretical basis for the safe and efficient management of proliferative IH using laser therapy.

Advances for pediatricians in 2022: allergy, anesthesiology, cardiology, dermatology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, genetics, global health, infectious diseases, metabolism, neonatology, neurology, oncology, pulmonology

The last year saw intensive efforts to advance knowledge in pediatric medicine. This review highlights important publications that have been issued in the Italian Journal of Pediatrics in 2022. We have chosen papers in the fields of allergy, anesthesiology, cardiology, dermatology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, genetics, global health, infectious diseases, metabolism, neonatology, neurology, oncology, pulmonology. Novel valuable developments in epidemiology, pathophysiology, prevention, diagnosis and treatment that can rapidly change the approach to diseases in childhood have been included and discussed.

Stachydrine Relieved the Inflammation and Promoted the Autophagy in Diabetes Retinopathy Through Activating the AMPK/SIRT1 Signaling Pathway

Background

Diabetes retinopathy (DR) is a chronic, progressive, and potentially harmful retinal disease associated with persistent hyperglycemia. Autophagy is a lysosome-dependent degradation pathway that widely exists in eukaryotic cells, which has recently been demonstrated to participate in the DR development. Stachydrine (STA) is a water-soluble alkaloid extracted from Leonurus heterophyllus. This study aimed to explore the effects of STA on the autophagy in DR progression in vivo and in vitro.

Methods

High glucose-treated human retinal microvascular endothelial cells (HRMECs) and STA-treated rats were used to establish DR model. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inflammatory factor levels (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6) were determined using corresponding kits. Additionally, the cell growth was analyzed using CCK-8 and EdU assays. Besides, LC3BII, p62, p-AMPKα, AMPKα, and SIRT1 protein levels were measured using Western blot. The LC3BII and SIRT1 expressions were also determined using immunofluorescence.

Results

The results showed that STZ decreased the ROS and inflammatory factor levels in the HG-treated HRMECs. Besides, after STA treatment, the beclin-1, LC3BII, p-AMPKα, and SIRT1 levels were increased, and p62 was decreased in the HG-treated HRMECs and the retinal tissue of STZ-treated rats.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this study demonstrated that STA effectively relieved the inflammation and promoted the autophagy in DR progression in vivo and in vitro through activating the AMPK/SIRT1 signaling pathway.

The β3 adrenoceptor in proliferative retinopathies: "Cinderella" steps out of its family shadow

In the retina, hypoxic condition leads to overgrowing leaky vessels resulting in altered metabolic supply that may cause impaired visual function. Hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) is a central regulator of the retinal response to hypoxia by activating the transcription of numerous target genes, including vascular endothelium growth factor, which acts as a major player in retinal angiogenesis. In the present review, oxygen urge by the retina and its oxygen sensing systems including HIF-1 are discussed in respect to the role of the beta-adrenergic receptors (β-ARs) and their pharmacologic manipulation in the vascular response to hypoxia. In the β-AR family, β1- and β2-AR have long been attracting attention because their pharmacology is intensely used for human health, while β3-AR, the third and last cloned receptor is no longer increasingly emerging as an attractive target for drug discovery. Here, β3-AR, a main character in several organs including the heart, the adipose tissue and the urinary bladder, but so far a supporting actor in the retina, has been thoroughly examined in respect to its function in retinal response to hypoxia. In particular, its oxygen dependence has been taken as a key indicator of β3-AR involvement in HIF-1-mediated responses to oxygen. Hence, the possibility of β3-AR transcription by HIF-1 has been discussed from early circumstantial evidence to the recent demonstration that β3-AR acts as a novel HIF-1 target gene by playing like a putative intermediary between oxygen levels and retinal vessel proliferation. Thus, targeting β3-AR may implement the therapeutic armamentarium against neovascular pathologies of the eye.