Pitavastatin nanoparticle-engineered endothelial progenitor cells repair injured vessels

Gelatin-decorated Graphene oxide: A nanocarrier for delivering pH-responsive drug for improving therapeutic efficacy against atherosclerotic plaque

The progressive inflammatory disease atherosclerosis promotes myocardial infarction, stroke, and heart attack. Anti-inflammatory drugs treat severe atherosclerosis. They are inadequate bioavailability and cause adverse effects at higher doses. A new nanomaterial coupled pH-apperceptive drug delivery system for atherosclerotic plaque is outlined here. We have synthesized a Graphene Oxide-Gelatin-Atorvastatin (GO-Gel-ATR) nanodrug characterized by spectroscopic and imaging techniques. The encapsulation efficiency of GO-Gel-ATR (79.2%) in the loading process is observed to be better than GO-ATR (66.8%). The internal milieu of the plaque cells has a pH of 6.8. The GO-Gel-ATR displays sustained and cumulative release profile at pH 6.8 compared to ATR and GO-ATR. Our proposed nanocomposite demonstrated high cytocompatibility up to 100μg/mL in foam cells induced by Oxidized-Low Density Lipoprotein (Ox-LDL) and Lipopolysaccharides (LPS) compared to normal macrophages for 24 and 48 h. The uptake efficacy of the nanodrugs is shown to be enhanced in foam cells compared to normal macrophage. Oil red O staining of foam cells with and without drugs confirmed therapeutic efficacy. Foam cells treated with nanocomposite had more lipids efflux than ATR. The finding of the in-vitro study reveals that the GO-Gel-ATR nanocomposite carriers have the potential to deliver anti-atherosclerotic drugs effectively and inhibit atherosclerotic plaque progression.

Co-inoculation of antagonistic Bacillus velezensis FH-1 and Brevundimonas diminuta NYM3 promotes rice growth by regulating the structure and nitrification function of rhizosphere microbiome

Microbial inoculation with plant growth-promoting microorganisms (PGPMs) is one of the most promising technologies to solve the current global challenges. Co-inoculants is more efficient and stable than mono-inoculants. However, the growth promoting mechanism of co-inoculants in complex soil system is still poorly understood. In this study, the effects on rice, soil and the microbiome of the mono-inoculant Bacillus velezensis FH-1 (F) and Brevundimonas diminuta NYM3 (N) and the co-inoculant FN obtained in previous works were compared. Correlation analysis and PLS-PM were used to explore the primary mechanism of different inoculants promoting rice growth. We hypothesized that inoculants promoted plant growth (i) by themselves, (ii) by improving soil nutrient availability or (iii) by regulating the rhizosphere microbiome in complex soil system. We also assumed that different inoculants had different ways of promoting plant growth. The results showed that FN significantly promoted rice growth and nitrogen absorption and slightly increased soil total nitrogen and microbial network complexity compared with F, N and the control (CK). B. velezensis FH-1 and B. diminuta NYM3 interfered with each other's colonization in FN. FN increased the complexity of the microbial network compared to F and N. The bacterial community of FN was quite different from CK and N, while the fungal community was not significantly different from other treatments. The species and functions enriched or inhibited by FN are part of F. The correlation analysis and PLS-PM results showed that inoculants (F/N/FN) promoted the growth of rice mainly by regulating the rhizosphere microbiome rather than by themselves or by improving soil nutrient availability. Co-inoculant FN promotes rice growth specifically by enhancing microbial nitrification function through enriching related species compared with F or N. This may provide theoretical guidance for the construction and application of co-inoculants in the future.

Transplantation of Endothelial Progenitor Cells: Summary and prospect

Endothelial Progenitor Cells (EPCs) are precursor cells of endothelial cells (ECs), which can differentiate into vascular ECs, protect from endothelial dysfunction and tissue ischemia, and reduce vascular hyperplasia. Due to these functions, EPCs are used as a candidate cell source for transplantation strategies. In recent years, a great progress was achieved in EPCs biology research, and EPCs transplantation has become a research hotspot. At present, transplanted EPCs have been used to treat ischemic diseases due to their powerful vasculogenesis and beneficial paracrine effects. Although EPCs transplantation has been proved to play an important role, the clinical application of EPCs still faces many challenges. This review briefly summarized the basic characteristics of EPCs, the process of EPCs transplantation promoting the healing of ischemic tissue, and the ways to improve the efficiency of EPCs transplantation. In addition, the application of EPCs in neurological improvement, cardiovascular and respiratory diseases and the challenges and problems in clinical application of EPCs were also discussed. In the end, the application of EPCs transplantation in regenerative medicine and tissue engineering was discussed.

Combined Therapy with Simvastatin- and Coenzyme-Q10-Loaded Nanoparticles Upregulates the Akt-eNOS Pathway in Experimental Metabolic Syndrome

In addition to their LDL-cholesterol-lowering effect, statins have pleiotropic beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system. However, long-term treatment with statins may be associated with serious side effects. With the aim to make statin therapy more effective, we studied the effects of simvastatin- and coenzyme-Q10-loaded polymeric nanoparticles on the lipid profile and nitric oxide (NO)/reactive oxygen species (ROS) balance in the heart and aorta of adult male obese Zucker rats. The rats were divided into an untreated group, a group treated with empty nanoparticles, and groups treated with simvastatin-, coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10)-, or a combination of simvastatin- and CoQ10-loaded nanoparticles (SIMV+CoQ10). After 6 weeks, the lipid profile in the plasma and the concentration of conjugated dienes in the liver were determined. Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity, Akt, endothelial NOS (eNOS), phosphorylated eNOS (p-eNOS), nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase, and nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) protein expressions were measured in the heart and aorta. All simvastatin, CoQ10, and SIMV+CoQ10 treatments decreased plasma LDL levels, but only the combined SIMV+CoQ10 treatment increased NOS activity and the expression of Akt, eNOS, and p-eNOS in both the heart and the aorta. Interestingly, NADPH oxidase in the heart and NF-kappaB protein expression in the aorta were decreased by all treatments, including nanoparticles alone. In conclusion, only combined therapy with SIMV- and CoQ10-loaded nanoparticles increased NOS activity and upregulated the Akt-eNOS pathway in obese Zucker rats, which may represent a promising tool for the treatment of cardiometabolic diseases.

EPC infusion ameliorates acute graft-versus-host disease-related endothelial injury after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation

Introduction

Graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) damages vascular endothelium. Endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) can differentiate to endothelial cell and promote angiogenesis, but its role in endothelial damage in GVHD is unclear.

Methods

In this study, we intend to assess whether EPC infusion promotes the repair of endothelial injury in GVHD mouse model. Male BALB/c mice were randomly divided into 5 groups: control group, total body irradiation group (TBI group), allogeneic bone marrow transplantation group (Allo-BMT group), acute graft versus host disease group (GVHD group), EPC infusion group (GVHD+EPC group) followed by analysis of mice survival, acute GVHD (aGVHD) score, T cell infiltration by immunofluorescence, as well as continuity of vascular endothelium in liver.

Results

Compared with Allo-BMT group, the clinical and pathological score of aGVHD mice were higher. On day 21 after transplantation, a large number of mononuclear cell infiltrations were seen in the target tissues of aGVHD mice and mice died within 30 days. In addition, aGVHD group also presented increased subendothelial infiltration of CD3+ T cells in the liver, decreased VE-cadherin expression and elevated major histocompatibility complex (MHC) II molecule expression in the endothelium. Moreover, expression of MHC-II molecule increased in endothelial cell after irradiation injury and LPS stimulation, indicating abnormally activated endothelial cell with antigen-presenting function. Interestingly, infusion of EPC reduced the clinical and pathological score of aGVHD, decreased infiltration of mononuclear cells, improved survival as well as upregulated VE-cadherin and downregulated MHC-II molecule.

Discussion

EPC infusion can mobilize to affected endothelium to decrease the infiltration of T cells and pathological endothelial activation contributing to ameliorating the damage of endothelium. EPC infusion combined with bone marrow transplantation might be a perspective strategy for the prevention and treatment of aGVHD.

Targeted Strategy in Lipid-Lowering Therapy

Dyslipidemia is characterized by a diminished lipid profile, including increased level of total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) and reduced level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c). Lipid-lowering agents represent an efficient tool for the prevention or reduction of progression of atherosclerosis, coronary heart diseases and metabolic syndrome. Statins, ezetimibe, and recently proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors are the most effective and used drugs in clinical lipid-lowering therapy. These drugs are mainly aimed to lower cholesterol levels by different mechanisms of actions. Statins, the agents of the first-line therapy—known as 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors—suppress the liver cholesterol synthesis. Ezetimibe as the second-line therapy can decrease cholesterol by inhibiting cholesterol absorption. Finally, the PCSK9 inhibitors act as an inducer of LDL excretion. In spite of their beneficial lipid-lowering properties, many patients suffer from their serious side effects, route of administration, or unsatisfactory physicochemical characteristics. Clinical demand for dose reduction and the improvement of bioavailability as well as pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic profile has resulted in the development of a new targeted therapy that includes nanoparticle carriers, emulsions or vaccination often associated with another more subtle form of administration. Targeted therapy aims to exert a more potent drug profile with lipid-lowering properties either alone or in mutual combination to potentiate their beneficial effects. This review describes the most effective lipid-lowering drugs, their favorable and adverse effects, as well as targeted therapy and alternative treatments to help reduce or prevent atherosclerotic processes and cardiovascular events.

Paracrine mechanisms of endothelial progenitor cells in vascular repair

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) play an important role in repairing damaged blood vessels and promoting neovascularization. However, the specific mechanism of EPCs promoting vascular repair is still unclear. Currently, there are two different views on the repair of damaged vessels by EPCs, one is that EPCs can directly differentiate into endothelial cells (ECs) and integrate into injured vessels, the other is that EPCs act on cells and blood vessels by releasing paracrine substances. But more evidence now supports the latter. Therefore, the paracrine mechanisms of EPCs are worth further study. This review describes the substances secreted by EPCs, some applications based on paracrine effects of EPCs, and the studies of paracrine mechanisms in cardiovascular diseases--all of these are to support the view that EPCs repair blood vessels through paracrine effects rather than integrating directly into damaged vessels.

A comprehensive review on the lipid and pleiotropic effects of pitavastatin

The 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors, or statins, are administered as first line therapy for hypercholesterolemia, both in primary and secondary prevention. There is a growing body of evidence showing that beyond their lipid-lowering effect, statins have a number of additional beneficial properties. Pitavastatin is a unique lipophilic statin with a strong effect on lowering plasma total cholesterol and triacylglycerol. It has been reported to have pleiotropic effects such as decreasing inflammation and oxidative stress, regulating angiogenesis and osteogenesis, improving endothelial function and arterial stiffness, and reducing tumor progression. Based on the available studies considering the risk of statin-associated muscle symptoms it seems to be also the safest statin. The unique lipid and non-lipid effects of pitavastatin make this molecule a particularly interesting option for the management of different human diseases. In this review, we first summarized the lipid effects of pitavastatin and then strive to unravel the diverse pleiotropic effects of this molecule.

Factors Affecting the Re-Endothelialization of Endothelial Progenitor Cell

The vascular endothelium, which plays an essential role in maintaining the normal shape and function of blood vessels, is a natural barrier between the circulating blood and the vascular wall tissue. The endothelial damage can cause vascular lesions, such as atherosclerosis and restenosis. After the vascular intima injury, the body starts the endothelial repair (re-endothelialization) to inhibit the neointimal hyperplasia. Endothelial progenitor cell is the precursor of endothelial cells and plays an important role in the vascular re-endothelialization. However, re-endothelialization is inevitably affected in vivo and in vitro by factors, which can be divided into two types, namely, promotion and inhibition, and act on different links of the vascular re-endothelialization. This article reviews these factors and related mechanisms.

Polymers and Nanoparticles for Statin Delivery: Current Use and Future Perspectives in Cardiovascular Disease

Atherosclerosis-related coronary artery disease (CAD) is one of the leading sources of mortality and morbidity in the world. Primary and secondary prevention appear crucial to reduce CAD-related complications. In this scenario, statin treatment was shown to be clinically effective in the reduction of adverse events, but systemic administration provides suboptimal results. As an attempt to improve bioavailability and effectiveness, polymers and nanoparticles for statin delivery were recently investigated. Polymers and nanoparticles can help statin delivery and their effects by increasing oral bioavailability or enhancing target-specific interaction, leading to reduced vascular endothelial dysfunction, reduced intimal hyperplasia, reduced ischemia-reperfusion injury, increased cardiac regeneration, positive remodeling in the extracellular matrix, reduced neointimal growth and increased re-endothelization. Moreover, some innovative aspects described in other cardiovascular fields could be translated into the CAD scenario. Recent preclinical studies are underlining the effect of statins in the stimulation and differentiation of endogenous cardiac stem cells, as well as in targeting of local adverse conditions implicated in atherosclerosis, and statin delivery through poly-lactic-co-glycolic acid (PLGA) appears the most promising aspect of current research to enhance drug activity. The present review intends to summarize the current evidence about polymers and nanoparticles for statin delivery in the field of cardiovascular disease, trying to shed light on this topic and identify new avenues for future studies.

Bringing Community Ecology to Bear on the Issue of Antimicrobial Resistance

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a global concern, pertaining not only to human health but also to the health of industry and the environment. AMR research has traditionally focused on genetic exchange mechanisms and abiotic environmental constraints, leaving important aspects of microbial ecology unresolved. The genetic and ecological aspects of AMR, however, not only contribute separately to the problem but also are interrelated. For example, mutualistic associations among microbes such as biofilms can both serve as a barrier to antibiotic penetration and a breeding ground for horizontal exchange of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs). In this review, we elucidate how species interactions promote and impede the establishment, maintenance, and spread of ARGs and indicate how management initiatives might benefit from leveraging the principles and tools of community ecology to better understand and manipulate the processes underlying AMR.

Nanomagnetite-embedded PLGA Spheres for Multipurpose Medical Applications

We report on the synthesis and evaluation of biopolymeric spheres of poly(lactide-co-glycolide) containing different amounts of magnetite nanoparticles and Ibuprofen (PLGA-Fe₃O₄-IBUP), but also chitosan (PLGA-CS-Fe₃O₄-IBUP), to be considered as drug delivery systems. Besides morphological, structural, and compositional characterizations, the PLGA-Fe₃O₄-IBUP composite microspheres were subjected to drug release studies, performed both under biomimetically-simulated dynamic conditions and under external radiofrequency magnetic fields. The experimental data resulted by performing the drug release studies evidenced that PLGA-Fe₃O₄-IBUP microspheres with the lowest contents of Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles are optimal candidates for triggered drug release under external stimulation related to hyperthermia effect. The as-selected microspheres and their chitosan-containing counterparts were biologically assessed on macrophage cultures, being evaluated as biocompatible and bioactive materials that are able to promote cellular adhesion and proliferation. The composite biopolymeric spheres resulted in inhibited microbial growth and biofilm formation, as assessed against Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans microbial strains. Significantly improved antimicrobial effects were reported in the case of chitosan-containing biomaterials, regardless of the microorganisms' type. The nanostructured composite biopolymeric spheres evidenced proper characteristics as prolonged and controlled drug release platforms for multipurpose biomedical applications.

Characterization of Phenotypic and Genotypic Diversity of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia Strains Isolated From Selected Hospitals in Iran

Stenotrophomonas maltophilia is an environmental Gram-negative bacterium that has rapidly emerged as an important nosocomial pathogen in hospitalized patients. Treatment of S. maltophilia infections is difficult due to increasing resistance to multiple antibacterial agents. The purpose of this study was to determine the phenotypic and genotypic characterization of S. maltophilia isolates recovered from patients referred to several hospitals. A total of 164 clinical isolates of S. maltophilia were collected from hospitals in various regions in Iran between 2016 and 2017. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed by disc diffusion method and E-test assay according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) guideline. The ability of biofilm formation was assessed with crystal violet staining and then, biofilm-associated genes were investigated by PCR-sequencing method. The presence of L1 (a metallo-β-lactamase), L2 (a clavulanic acid-sensitive cephalosporinase), sul1 and sul2 (resistance to Trimethoprim/Sulfamethoxazole), Smqnr (intrinsic resistance to quinolones), and dfrA genes (dihydrofolate reductase enzyme that contributes to trimethoprim resistance) was also examined by PCR-sequencing. Relative gene expression of smeDEF efflux pump was assessed by real-time PCR. Genotyping was performed using the multi-locus sequencing typing (MLST) and repetitive extragenic palindromic-PCR (Rep-PCR). Isolates were resistant to imipenem (100%), meropenem (96%), doripenem (96%), and ceftazidime (36.58%). Notably, 5 (3.04%) isolates showed resistant to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TMP-SMX), an alarming trend of decreased susceptibility to TMP-SMX in Iran. Minocycline and levofloxacin exhibited the highest susceptibility of 91.46 and 99.39%, respectively. Using the crystal violet staining, 157 (95.73%) isolates had biofilm phenotype: 49 (29.87%), 63 (38.41%), and 45 (27.43%) isolates were categorized as strong-, moderate- and weak-biofilm producer while 7 isolates (4.26%) were identified a non-biofilm producer. Biofilm genes had an overall prevalence of 145 (88.41%), 137 (83.53%), and 164 (100%) of rmlA, rpfF, and spgM, respectively. L1, L2, Smqnr, sul1, and sul2 resistance genes were detected in 145 (88.41%), 156 (96.12%), 103 (62.80%), 89 (54.26%), and 92 (56.09%) isolates, respectively. None of the S. maltophilia isolates were positive for dfrA12, dfrA17, and dfrA27 genes. Gene expression analysis showed that smeD efflux system was overexpressed in two out of the five clinical isolates (40%) that showed resistance to TMP-SMX. Most of the isolates were genetically unrelated. Two new sequence types (ST139 and ST259) were determined. Our results showed that TMP-SMX was still an effective antibiotic against S. maltophilia. The findings of the current study revealed an increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistance and biofilm genes in clinical S. maltophilia isolates in Iran.