5-LO-derived LTB4 plays a key role in MCP-1 expression in HMGB1-exposed VSMCs via a BLTR1 signaling axis

HMGB family proteins: Potential biomarkers and mechanistic factors in cardiovascular diseases

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the most fatal disease that causes sudden death, and inflammation contributes substantially to its occurrence and progression. The prevalence of CVD increases as the population ages, and the pathophysiology is complex. Anti-inflammatory and immunological modulation are the potential methods for CVD prevention and treatment. High-Mobility Group (HMG) chromosomal proteins are one of the most abundant nuclear nonhistone proteins which act as inflammatory mediators in DNA replication, transcription, and repair by producing cytokines and serving as damage-associated molecular patterns in inflammatory responses. The most common and well-studied HMG proteins are those with an HMGB domain, which participate in a variety of biological processes. HMGB1 and HMGB2 were the first members of the HMGB family to be identified and are present in all investigated eukaryotes. Our review is primarily concerned with the involvement of HMGB1 and HMGB2 in CVD. The purpose of this review is to provide a theoretical framework for diagnosing and treating CVD by discussing the structure and function of HMGB1 and HMGB2.

Knock-out of 5-lipoxygenase in overexpressing tumor cells-consequences on gene expression and cellular function

5-Lipoxygenase (5-LO), the central enzyme in the biosynthesis of leukotrienes, is frequently expressed in human solid malignancies even though the enzyme is not present in the corresponding healthy tissues. There is little knowledge on the consequences of this expression for the tumor cells regarding gene expression and cellular function. We established a knockout (KO) of 5-LO in different cancer cell lines (HCT-116, HT-29, U-2 OS) and studied the consequences on global gene expression using next generation sequencing. Furthermore, cell viability, proliferation, migration and multicellular tumor spheroid (MCTS) formation were studied in these cells. Our results show that 5-LO influences the gene expression and cancer cell function in a cell type-dependent manner. The enzyme affected genes involved in cell adhesion, extracellular matrix formation, G protein signaling and cytoskeleton organization. Furthermore, absence of 5-LO elevated TGFβ₂ expression in HCT-116 cells while MCP-1, fractalkine and platelet-derived growth factor expression was attenuated in U-2 OS cells suggesting that tumor cell-derived 5-LO shapes the tumor microenvironment. In line with the gene expression data, KO of 5-LO had an impact on cell proliferation, motility and MCTS formation. Interestingly, pharmacological inhibition of 5-LO only partly mimicked the KO suggesting that also noncanonical functions are involved.

MiR-15a-5p accelerated vascular smooth muscle cells viabilities and migratory abilities via targeting Bcl-2

Aortic dissection (AD) caused by the tear in the aortic wall threatens aorta, causing severe chest pain, syncope and even death. Fortunately, development of genetic technology provides promising approaches for AD treatment. To analyze impacts of miR-15a-5p on modulating cell viability and migratory ability of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Ang II (0, 0.05 and 0.1 microM) treatment were applied for inducing inflammatory reactions of VSMCs. RNA expressions of miR-15a-5p with Bcl-2 was examined using RT-qPCR. CCK-8 and transwell evaluated cell viability and migratory ability, respectively. The binding about miR-15a-5p with Bcl-2 were detected by luciferase reporter assay. Western blot detected protein expressions of Bcl-2, MCP-1 and MMP-9. Ang II treatment not only accelerated VSMCs viability and migratory abilities, but also upregulated MCP-1 and MMP-9 protein expressions. MiR-15a-5p was detected to be promoted by Ang II. However, miR-15a-5p inhibitor decreased VSMC cell viability and migratory ability and suppressed protein expressions of MCP-1 and MMP-9. Bcl-2 was targeted and downregulated by miR-15a-5p. Nevertheless, high VSMC cell viability and migration caused by miR-15a-5p overexpression were hindered with overexpressed Bcl-2. MiR-15a-5p mimics also elevated MCP-1 and MMP-9 protein expressions, which were inhibited by Bcl-2 upregulation.

Cellular distribution of C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 like immunoreactivities in frontal cortex and corpus callosum of normal and lipopolysaccharide treated animal

BACKGROUND

C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) is reported to be involved in the pathogenesis of various neurological and/or psychiatric diseases. Tissue or cellular expression of CCL2, in normal or pathological condition, may play an essential role in recruiting monocytes or macrophages into targeted organs, and be involved in a certain pathogenic mechanism. However, few studies focused on tissue and cellular distribution of the CCL2 peptide in brain grey and white matters (GM, WM), and the changes of the GM and WM cellular CCL2 level in septic or endotoxic encephalopathy was not explored. Hence, the CCL2 cellular distribution in the front brain cortex and the corpus callosum (CC) was investigated in the present work by using immunofluorescent staining.

RESULTS

(1) CCL2 like immunoreactivity (CCL2-ir) in the CC is evidently higher than the cortex. When the measurement includes ependymal layer attached to the CC, CCL2-ir intensity is significantly higher than cortex. (2) Structures in perivascular areas, most of them are GFAP positive, contribute major CCL2-ir positive profiles in both GM and WM, but apparently more in the CC, where they are bilaterally distributed in the lateral CC between the cingulate cortex and ventricles. (3) The neuron-like CCL2-ir positive cells in cortex are significantly more than in the CC, and that number is significantly increased in the cortex following systemic lipopolysaccharide (LPS), but not in the CC. (4) In addition to CCL2-ir positive perivascular rings, more CCL2-ir filled cashew shape elements are observed, probably inside of microvasculature, especially in the CC following systemic LPS. (5) Few macrophage/microglia marker-Iba-1 and CCL2-ir co-labeled structures especially the soma is found in normal cortex and CC; the co-localizations are significantly augmented following systemic LPS, and co-labeled amoeba like somata are presented. (6) CCL2-ir and astrocyte marker GFAP or Iba-1 double labeled structures are also observed within the ependymal layer. No accumulation of neutrophils was detected.

CONCLUSION

There exist differences in the cellular distribution of the CCL2 peptide in frontal cortex GM and subcortical WM-CC, in both the physiological condition and experimental endotoxemia. Which might cause different pathological change in the GM and WM.