Cellular and molecular mechanisms of HGF/Met in the cardiovascular system

Human platelet lysate-cultured adipose-derived stem cell sheets promote angiogenesis and accelerate wound healing via CCL5 modulation

BACKGROUND

A rising population faces challenges with healing-impaired cutaneous wounds, often leading to physical disabilities. Adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs), specifically in the cell sheet format, have emerged as a promising remedy for impaired wound healing. Human platelet lysate (HPL) provides an attractive alternative to fetal bovine serum (FBS) for culturing clinical-grade ASCs. However, the potential of HPL sheets in promoting wound healing has not been fully investigated. This study aimed to explore the anti-fibrotic and pro-angiogenic capabilities of HPL-cultured ASC sheets and delve into the molecular mechanism.

METHODS

A rat burn model was utilized to evaluate the efficacy of HPL-cultured ASC sheets in promoting wound healing. ASC sheets were fabricated with HPL, and those with FBS were included for comparison. Various analyses were conducted to assess the impact of HPL sheets on wound healing. Histological examination of wound tissues provided insights into aspects such as wound closure, collagen deposition, and overall tissue regeneration. Immunofluorescence was employed to assess the presence and distribution of transplanted ASCs after treatment. Further in vitro studies were conducted to decipher the specific factors in HPL sheets contributing to angiogenesis.

RESULTS

HPL-cultured ASC sheets significantly accelerated wound closure, fostering ample and organized collagen deposition in the neo-dermis. Significantly more retained ASCs were observed in wound tissues treated with HPL sheets compared to the FBS counterparts. Moreover, HPL sheets mitigated macrophage recruitment and decreased subsequent wound tissue fibrosis in vivo. Immunohistochemistry also indicated enhanced angiogenesis in the HPL sheet group. The in vitro analyses showed upregulation of C-C motif chemokine ligand 5 (CCL5) and angiogenin in HPL sheets, including both gene expression and protein secretion. Culturing endothelial cells in the conditioned media compared to media supplemented with CCL5 or angiogenin suggested a correlation between CCL5 and the pro-angiogenic effect of HPL sheets. Additionally, through neutralizing antibody experiments, we further validated the crucial role of CCL5 in HPL sheet-mediated angiogenesis in vitro.

CONCLUSIONS

The present study underscores CCL5 as an essential factor in the pro-angiogenic effect of HPL-cultured ASC sheets during the wound healing process. These findings highlight the potential of HPL-cultured ASC sheets as a promising therapeutic option for healing-impaired cutaneous wounds in clinical settings. Furthermore, the mechanism exploration yields valuable information for optimizing regenerative strategies with ASC products.

BRIEF ACKNOWLEDGMENT

This research was supported by the National Science and Technology Council, Taiwan (NSTC112-2321-B-002-018), National Taiwan University Hospital (111C-007), and E-Da Hospital-National Taiwan University Hospital Joint Research Program (111-EDN0001, 112-EDN0002).

Peripheral inflammatory response in people after acute ischaemic stroke and isolated spontaneous cervical artery dissection

The systemic inflammatory response following acute ischaemic stroke remains incompletely understood. We characterised the circulating inflammatory profile in 173 acute ischaemic stroke patients by measuring 65 cytokines and chemokines in plasma. Participants were grouped based on their inflammatory response, determined by high-sensitivity C-reactive protein levels in the acute phase. We compared stroke patients' profiles with 42 people experiencing spontaneous cervical artery dissection without stroke. Furthermore, variations in cytokine levels among stroke aetiologies were analysed. Follow-up samples were collected in a subgroup of ischaemic stroke patients at three and twelve months. Ischaemic stroke patients had elevated plasma levels of HGF and SDF-1α, and lower IL-4 levels, compared to spontaneous cervical artery dissection patients without stroke. Aetiology-subgroup analysis revealed reduced levels of nine cytokines/chemokines (HGF, SDF-1α, IL-2R, CD30, TNF-RII, IL-16, MIF, APRIL, SCF), and elevated levels of IL-4 and MIP-1β, in spontaneous cervical artery dissection (with or without ischaemic stroke as levels were comparable between both groups) compared to other aetiologies. The majority of cytokine/chemokine levels remained stable across the study period. Our research indicates that stroke due to large artery atherosclerosis, cardioembolism, and small vessel occlusion triggers a stronger inflammatory response than spontaneous cervical artery dissection.

Post-stroke cognitive impairment: exploring molecular mechanisms and omics biomarkers for early identification and intervention

Post-stroke cognitive impairment (PSCI) is a major stroke consequence that has a severe impact on patients' quality of life and survival rate. For this reason, it is especially crucial to identify and intervene early in high-risk groups during the acute phase of stroke. Currently, there are no reliable and efficient techniques for the early diagnosis, appropriate evaluation, or prognostication of PSCI. Instead, plenty of biomarkers in stroke patients have progressively been linked to cognitive impairment in recent years. High-throughput omics techniques that generate large amounts of data and process it to a high quality have been used to screen and identify biomarkers of PSCI in order to investigate the molecular mechanisms of the disease. These techniques include metabolomics, which explores dynamic changes in the organism, gut microbiomics, which studies host-microbe interactions, genomics, which elucidates deeper disease mechanisms, transcriptomics and proteomics, which describe gene expression and regulation. We looked through electronic databases like PubMed, the Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, and common databases for each omics to find biomarkers that might be connected to the pathophysiology of PSCI. As all, we found 34 studies: 14 in the field of metabolomics, 5 in the field of gut microbiomics, 5 in the field of genomics, 4 in the field of transcriptomics, and 7 in the field of proteomics. We discovered that neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and atherosclerosis may be the primary causes of PSCI development, and that metabolomics may play a role in the molecular mechanisms of PSCI. In this study, we summarized the existing issues across omics technologies and discuss the latest discoveries of PSCI biomarkers in the context of omics, with the goal of investigating the molecular causes of post-stroke cognitive impairment. We also discuss the potential therapeutic utility of omics platforms for PSCI mechanisms, diagnosis, and intervention in order to promote the area's advancement towards precision PSCI treatment.

A real-world pharmacovigilance study of amivantamab-related cardiovascular adverse events based on the FDA adverse event reporting system (FAERS) database

Amivantamab is the first dual-specificity antibody targeting EGFR and MET, which is approved for the treatment of locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with EGFR exon 20 insertion mutations. Cardiovascular toxicities related to amivantamab have not been reported in the CHRYSALIS study. However, the occurrence of cardiovascular events in the real world is unknown. To comprehensively investigate the clinical characteristics, onset times, and outcomes of cardiovascular toxicities associated with amivantamab. The Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database from 1st quarter of 2019 to the 2nd quarter of 2023 was retrospectively queried to extract reports of cardiovascular adverse events (AEs) associated with amivantamab. To perform disproportionality analysis, the reporting odds ratios (RORs) and information components (ICs) were calculated with statistical shrinkage trans-formation formulas and a lower limit of the 95% confidence interval (CI) for ROR (ROR025) > 1 or IC (IC025) > 0 with at least 3 reports was considered statistically significant. A total of 20,270,918 eligible records were identified, among which 98 records were related to cardiovascular events associated with amivantamab. 4 categories of cardiovascular events exhibited positive signals: venous thrombotic diseases, abnormal blood pressure, arrhythmia, and pericardial effusion. Venous thrombotic diseases and abnormal blood pressure were the two most common signals. The median time to onset (TTO) for cardiovascular AEs was 33 days. The cumulative incidence within 90 days was 100% for cardiac failure, 75% for stroke, 63.16% for arrhythmia, 50% for sudden death, and 44.18% for venous thrombotic diseases. Death accounted for 16.3% of all cardiovascular AEs associated with amivantamab. The mortality rates for Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events (MACE) were up to 60%. This pharmacovigilance study systematically explored the cardiovascular adverse events of amivantamab and provided new safety signals based on past safety information. Early and intensified monitoring is crucial, and attention should be directed towards high-risk signals.

Hepatocyte growth factor as indicator for subclinical atherosclerosis

Background: Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a pleiotropic cytokine mainly produced by mesenchymal cells. After endothelial damage by oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL), HGF is produced and released into the circulation in response. Due to this mechanism HGF has been proposed as possible clinical biomarker for clinical as well as subclinical atherosclerosis. Patients and methods: The conducted study is an observational, single centre, cohort study, including 171 patients with at least one cardiovascular risk factor or already established cardiovascular disease (CVD). Each patient underwent 3D plaque volumetry of the carotid and femoral arteries as well as physical examination and record of the medical history. Additionally, plasma HGF and further laboratory parameters like high sensitivity C-reactive protein and LDL-cholesterol were determined. Results: 169 patients were available for statistical analysis. In bivariate correlation, HGF showed a highly significant correlation with total plaque volume (TPV, r=0.48; p<0.001). In receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis for high TPV, HGF showed an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.68 (CI 95%: 0.59-0.77, p<0.001) with a sensitivity of 78% and a specificity of 52% to predict high TPV at a cut-off of 959 ng/ml. In the ROC-analysis for the presence of CVD, HGF demonstrated an AUC of 0.65 (95% CI 0.55-0.73; p=0.01) with a sensitivity of 77% and a specificity of 52%. Conclusions: Higher plasma levels of HGF are associated with higher atherosclerotic plaque volume as measured by 3D-ultrasound.

Association of plasma proteomics with incident coronary heart disease in individuals with and without type 2 diabetes: results from the population-based KORA study

BACKGROUND

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is a major global health concern, especially among individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Given the crucial role of proteins in various biological processes, this study aimed to elucidate the aetiological role and predictive performance of protein biomarkers on incident CHD in individuals with and without T2D.

METHODS

The discovery cohort included 1492 participants from the Cooperative Health Research in the Region of Augsburg (KORA) S4 study with 147 incident CHD cases (45 vs. 102 cases in the group with T2D and without T2D, respectively) during 15.6 years of follow-up. The validation cohort included 888 participants from the KORA-Age1 study with 70 incident CHD cases (19 vs. 51 cases in the group with T2D and without T2D, respectively) during 6.9 years of follow-up. We measured 233 plasma proteins related to cardiovascular disease and inflammation using proximity extension assay technology. Associations of proteins with incident CHD were assessed using Cox regression and Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Predictive models were developed using priority-Lasso and were evaluated on top of Framingham risk score variables using the C-index, category-free net reclassification index (cfNRI), and relative integrated discrimination improvement (IDI).

RESULTS

We identified two proteins associated with incident CHD in individuals with and 29 in those without baseline T2D, respectively. Six of these proteins are novel candidates for incident CHD. MR suggested a potential causal role for hepatocyte growth factor in CHD development. The developed four-protein-enriched model for individuals with baseline T2D (ΔC-index: 0.017; cfNRI: 0.253; IDI: 0.051) and the 12-protein-enriched model for individuals without baseline T2D (ΔC-index: 0.054; cfNRI: 0.462; IDI: 0.024) consistently improved CHD prediction in the discovery cohort, while in the validation cohort, significant improvements were only observed for selected performance measures (with T2D: cfNRI: 0.633; without T2D: ΔC-index: 0.038; cfNRI: 0.465).

CONCLUSIONS

This study identified novel protein biomarkers associated with incident CHD in individuals with and without T2D and reaffirmed previously reported protein candidates. These findings enhance our understanding of CHD pathophysiology and provide potential targets for prevention and treatment.

Age-related nitration/dysfunction of myogenic stem cell activator HGF

Mechanical perturbation triggers activation of resident myogenic stem cells to enter the cell cycle through a cascade of events including hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) release from its extracellular tethering and the subsequent presentation to signaling-receptor c-met. Here, we show that with aging, extracellular HGF undergoes tyrosine-residue (Y) nitration and loses c-met binding, thereby disturbing muscle homeostasis. Biochemical studies demonstrated that nitration/dysfunction is specific to HGF among other major growth factors and is characterized by its locations at Y198 and Y250 in c-met-binding domains. Direct-immunofluorescence microscopy of lower hind limb muscles from three age groups of rat, provided direct in vivo evidence for age-related increases in nitration of ECM-bound HGF, preferentially stained for anti-nitrated Y198 and Y250-HGF mAbs (raised in-house) in fast IIa and IIx myofibers. Overall, findings highlight inhibitory impacts of HGF nitration on myogenic stem cell dynamics, pioneering a cogent discussion for better understanding age-related muscle atrophy and impaired regeneration with fibrosis (including sarcopenia and frailty).

Hepatocyte growth factor and risk of incident stroke in Black and White Americans in the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke study

Background

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is a cytokine produced in response to endothelial damage. Higher levels correlate with cardiovascular risk factors, including hypertension and diabetes.

Objectives

We hypothesized that HGF is associated with stroke.

Methods

The Reasons for Geographic And Racial Differences in Stroke (REGARDS) study enrolled 30,239 Black and White Americans aged ≥45 years from 2003 to 2007. In this case-cohort study, after 5.5 years of follow-up, circulating baseline HGF was measured in 557 participants with incident ischemic stroke and in a cohort random sample of 964 participants. Hazard ratios (HRs) per SD log-transformed HGF and by HGF quintile were calculated using Cox proportional hazards models adjusting for stroke risk factors and other correlates of HGF. Differences by race and sex were tested using interaction terms.

Results

Median HGF was 295 (IQR, 209-402) pg/mL. HGF was higher with older age, male sex, prevalent cardiovascular disease, smoking, and warfarin use, but did not differ by race. The adjusted HR of incident ischemic stroke per SD higher baseline HGF (145 pg/mL) was 1.30 (CI, 1.00-1.70), with no difference by sex or race. HGF in the highest (>434 pg/mL) vs lowest quintile (<135 pg/mL) was associated with an adjusted HR of incident stroke of 2.12 (CI, 1.31-3.41).

Conclusion

In the REGARDS study, higher HGF was associated with increased risk of incident ischemic stroke in Black and White adults, with a doubling in risk of HGF in the top quintile compared with the lowest quintile after adjusting for other stroke risk factors.

SPINT2 is involved in the proliferation, migration and phenotypic switching of aortic smooth muscle cells: Implications for the pathogenesis of thoracic aortic dissection

Thoracic aortic dissection (TAD) is a severe and extremely dangerous cardiovascular disease. Proliferation, migration and phenotypic switching of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) are major pathogenetic mechanisms involved in the development of TAD. The present study was designed to investigate the expression and potential function of serine peptidase inhibitor Kunitz type 2 (SPINT2) in TAD. The gene expression profile data for ascending aorta from patients with TAD were downloaded from the GEO database with the accession number GSE52093. Bioinformatics analysis using GEO2R indicated that the differentially expressed SPINT2 was prominently decreased in TAD. The expression levels of SPINT2 mRNA and protein in aortic dissection specimens and normal aorta tissues were measured using reverse transcription-quantitative PCR and western blotting. SPINT2 expression was downregulated in clinical samples from aortic dissection specimens of patients with TAD compared with the corresponding expression noted in tissues derived from patients without TAD. In vitro, platelet-derived growth factor BB (PDGF-BB) was applied to induce the isolated primary mouse aortic SMC phenotypic modulation (a significant upregulation in the expression levels of synthetic markers), and the SMCs were infected with the adenoviral vector, Ad-SPINT2, to construct SPINT2-overexpressed cell lines. SMC viability was detected by an MTT assay and SMC proliferation was detected via the presence of Ki-67-positive cells (immunofluorescence staining). To explore the effects of SPINT2 on SMC migration, a wound healing assay was conducted. ELISA and western blotting assays were used to measure the content and expression levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9. The expression levels of vimentin, collagen I, α-SMA and SM22α were measured using western blotting. The PDGF-BB-induced proliferation and migration of SMCs were recovered by SPINT2 overexpression. The increase in the expression levels of SPINT2 reduced the expression levels of active matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), MMP-2 and MMP-9. Overexpression of SPINT2 suppressed SMC switching from a contractile to a synthetic type, as evidenced by decreased vimentin and collagen I expression levels along with increased α-smooth muscle actin and smooth muscle protein 22-α expression levels. Furthermore, activation of ERK was inhibited in SPINT2-overexpressing SMCs. A specific ERK agonist, 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate, reversed the SPINT2-mediated inhibition of SMC migration and the phenotypic switching. Collectively, the data indicated that SPINT2 was implicated in the proliferation, migration and phenotypic switching of aortic SMCs, suggesting that it may be involved in TAD progression.

Olink proteomics analysis uncovers the landscape of inflammation-related proteins in patients with acute compartment syndrome

Purpose

Our primary purpose was to explore the landscape of inflammation-related proteins, and our second goal was to investigate these proteins as potential biomarkers of acute compartment syndrome (ACS), which is a serious complication of tibial fractures.

Methods

We collected sera from 15 healthy subjects (control group, CG) and 30 patients with tibial fractures on admission day, comprising 15 patients with ACS (ACS group, AG) and 15 patients without ACS (fracture group, FG). Ten samples in each group were analyzed by the inflammation panel of Olink Proteomics Analysis, and all samples were verified by an ELISA. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to identify the diagnostic ability and cutoff values of potential biomarkers.

Results

Our findings showed that the levels of IL6, CSF-1, and HGF in the FG were significantly higher than those in the CG. Similar results were found between the AG and CG, and their cutoff values for predicting ACS compared with the CG were 9.225 pg/ml, 81.04 pg/ml, and 0.3301 ng/ml, respectively. Furthermore, their combination had the highest diagnostic accuracy. Notably, compared with FG, we only found a higher expression of CCL23 in the AG. Additionally, we identified 35.75 pg/ml as the cutoff value of CCL23 for predicting ACS in patients with tibial fractures.

Conclusion

We identified CCL23 as a potential biomarker of ACS in comparison with tibial fracture patients and the significance of the combined diagnosis of IL6, CSF-1, and HGF for predicting ACS compared with healthy individuals. Furthermore, we also found their cutoff values, providing clinicians with a new method for rapidly diagnosing ACS. However, we need larger samples to verify our results.

The Role of Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) in Pathogenesis of Cardiotoxicity: Diagnostic & Prognostic Approach

Cancer is one of the diseases, which it is not still completely curable; the existing treatments are associated with many complications, that double its complexity. One of the causes of cancer cell metastasis is Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition (EMT). Recently study demonstrated that EMT cause cardiotoxicity and heart diseases such as heart failure, hypertrophy and fibrosis. This study evaluated molecular and signaling pathway, which lead to cardiotoxicity via EMT. It was demonstrated that the processes of inflammation, oxidative stress and angiogenesis were involved in EMT and cardiotoxicity. The pathways related to these processes act as a double-edged sword. In relation to inflammation and oxidative stress, molecular pathways caused apoptosis of cardiomyocytes and cardiotoxicity induction. While the angiogenesis process inhibits cardiotoxicity despite the progression of EMT. On the other hand, some molecular pathways such as PI3K/mTOR despite causing the progression of EMT lead to the proliferation of cardiomyocytes and prevent cardiotoxicity. Therefore, it was concluded that the identification of molecular pathways can help in designing therapeutic and preventive strategies to increase patients' survival.

Dual Pigment Epithelium-derived Factor and Hepatocyte Growth Factor Overexpression: A New Therapy for Pulmonary Hypertension

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a disease characterized by advanced pulmonary vasculature remodeling that is thought to be curable only through lung transplantation. The application of angiogenic hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is reported to be protective in PH through its anti-vascular remodeling effect, but excessive HGF-mediated immature neovascularization is not conducive to the restoration of pulmonary perfusion because of apparent vascular leakage. As a canonical antiangiogenic molecule, pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) inhibits angiogenesis and reduces vascular permeability in a variety of diseases. However, the effect of PEDF on HGF-based PH treatment remains to be determined. In this study, monocrotaline-induced PH rats and endothelial cells isolated from rat and human PH lung tissues were used. We assessed PH progression, right cardiac function, and pulmonary perfusion in HGF- and/or PEDF-treated rats with PH. Additionally, the receptor and mechanism responsible for the role of PEDF in HGF-based PH therapy were investigated. In this study, we found that HGF and PEDF jointly prevent PH development and improve right cardiac function in rats with PH. Moreover, PEDF delivery increases the pulmonary perfusion in PH lungs and inhibits immature angiogenesis and vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin junction disintegration induced by HGF without affecting the therapeutic inhibition of pulmonary vascular remodeling by HGF. Mechanistically, PEDF targets VE growth factor receptor 2 and suppresses its phosphorylation at Y951 and Y1175 but not Y1214. Finally, VE growth factor receptor 2/VE protein tyrosine phosphatase/VE-cadherin complex formation and Akt and Erk1/2 inactivation were observed in rat and human PH lung endothelial cells. Collectively, our data indicate that PEDF additively enhances the efficacy of HGF against PH, which may provide new insights into treatment strategies for clinical PH.

Targeting MET: Discovery of Small Molecule Inhibitors as Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Therapy

MET has been considered as a promising drug target for the treatment of MET-dependent diseases, particularly non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Small molecule MET inhibitors with mainly three types of binding modes (Ia/Ib, II, and III) have been developed. In this Review, we provide an overview of the structural features, activation mechanism, and dysregulation pathway of MET and summarize progress on the development and discovery strategies utilized for MET inhibitors as well as mechanisms of acquired resistance to current approved inhibitors. The insights will accelerate discovery of new generation MET inhibitors to overcome clinical acquired resistance.

Investigation of Causal Effects of Protein Biomarkers on Cardiovascular Disease in Persons With HIV

BACKGROUND

There is an incompletely understood increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) among people with HIV (PWH). We investigated if a collection of biomarkers were associated with CVD among PWH. Mendelian randomization (MR) was used to identify potentially causal associations.

METHODS

Data from follow-up in 4 large trials among PWH were used to identify 131 incident CVD cases and they were matched to 259 participants without incident CVD (controls). Tests of associations between 460 baseline protein levels and case status were conducted.

RESULTS

Univariate analysis found CLEC6A, HGF, IL-6, IL-10RB, and IGFBP7 as being associated with case status and a multivariate model identified 3 of these: CLEC6A (odds ratio [OR] = 1.48, P = .037), HGF (OR = 1.83, P = .012), and IL-6 (OR = 1.45, P = .016). MR methods identified 5 significantly associated proteins: AXL, CHI3L1, GAS6, IL-6RA, and SCGB3A2.

CONCLUSIONS

These results implicate inflammatory and fibrotic processes as contributing to CVD. While some of these biomarkers are well established in the general population and in PWH (IL-6 and its receptor), some are novel to PWH (HGF, AXL, and GAS6) and some are novel overall (CLEC6A). Further investigation into the uniqueness of these biomarkers in PWH and the role of these biomarkers as targets among PWH is warranted.

Identification of Protein Biomarkers of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension Diet in Randomized Feeding Studies and Validation in an Observational Study

Background The Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet is recommended for cardiovascular disease prevention. We aimed to identify protein biomarkers of the DASH diet using data from 2 randomized feeding studies and validate them in an observational study, the ARIC (Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities) study. Methods and Results Large-scale proteomic profiling was conducted in serum specimens (SomaLogic) collected at the end of 8-week and 4-week DASH diet interventions in multicenter, randomized controlled feeding studies of the DASH trial (N=215) and the DASH-Sodium trial (N=396), respectively. Multivariable linear regression models were used to compare the relative abundance of 7241 proteins between the DASH and control diet interventions. Estimates from the 2 trials were meta-analyzed using fixed-effects models. We validated significant proteins in the ARIC study (N=10 490) using the DASH diet score. At a false discovery rate <0.05, there were 71 proteins that were different between the DASH diet and control diet in the DASH and DASH-Sodium trials. Nineteen proteins were validated in the ARIC study. The 19 proteins collectively improved the prediction of the DASH diet intervention in the feeding studies (range of difference in C statistics, 0.267-0.313; P<0.001 for both tests) and the DASH diet score in the ARIC study (difference in C statistics, 0.017; P<0.001) beyond participant characteristics. Conclusions We identified 19 proteins robustly associated with the DASH diet in 3 studies, which may serve as biomarkers of the DASH diet. These results suggest potential pathways that are impacted by consumption of the DASH diet. Registration URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifiers: NCT03403166, NCT00000608.

Unraveling the Relevance of Tissue-Specific Decellularized Extracellular Matrix Hydrogels for Vocal Fold Regenerative Biomaterials: A Comprehensive Proteomic and In Vitro Study

Decellularized extracellular matrix (dECM) is a promising material for tissue engineering applications. Tissue-specific dECM is often seen as a favorable material that recapitulates a native-like microenvironment for cellular remodeling. However, the minute quantity of dECM derivable from small organs like the vocal fold (VF) hampers manufacturing scalability. Small intestinal submucosa (SIS), a commercial product with proven regenerative capacity, may be a viable option for VF applications. This study aims to compare dECM hydrogels derived from SIS or VF tissue with respect to protein content and functionality using mass spectrometry-based proteomics and in vitro studies. Proteomic analysis reveals that VF and SIS dECM share 75% of core matrisome proteins. Although VF dECM proteins have greater overlap with native VF, SIS dECM shows less cross-sample variability. Following decellularization, significant reductions of soluble collagen (61%), elastin (81%), and hyaluronan (44%) are noted in VF dECM. SIS dECM contains comparable elastin and hyaluronan but 67% greater soluble collagen than VF dECM. Cells deposit more neo-collagen on SIS than VF-dECM hydrogels, whereas neo-elastin (~50 μg/scaffold) and neo-hyaluronan (~ 6 μg/scaffold) are comparable between the two hydrogels. Overall, SIS dECM possesses reasonably similar proteomic profile and regenerative capacity to VF dECM. SIS dECM is considered a promising alternative for dECM-derived biomaterials for VF regeneration.

Alginate sulfate-nanoparticles loaded with hepatocyte growth factor and insulin-like growth factor-1 improve left ventricular repair in a porcine model of myocardial ischemia reperfusion injury

Nanomedicine offers great potential for the treatment of cardiovascular disease and particulate systems have the capacity to markedly improve bioavailability of therapeutics. The delivery of pro-angiogenic hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and pro-survival and pro-myogenic insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1) encapsulated in Alginate-Sulfate nanoparticles (AlgS-NP) might improve left ventricular (LV) functional recovery after myocardial infarction (MI). In a porcine ischemia-reperfusion model, MI is induced by 75 min balloon occlusion of the mid-left anterior descending coronary artery followed by reperfusion. After 1 week, pigs (n = 12) with marked LV-dysfunction (LV ejection fraction, LVEF < 45%) are randomized to fusion imaging-guided intramyocardial injections of 8 mg AlgS-NP prepared with 200 µg HGF and IGF-1 (HGF/IGF1-NP) or PBS (Control). Intramyocardial injection is safe and pharmacokinetic studies of Cy5-labeled NP confirm superior cardiac retention compared to intracoronary infusion. Seven weeks after intramyocardial-injection of HGF/IGF1-NP, infarct size, measured using magnetic resonance imaging, is significantly smaller than in controls and is associated with increased coronary flow reserve. Importantly, HGF/IGF1-NP-treated pigs show significantly increased LVEF accompanied by improved myocardial remodeling. These findings demonstrate the feasibility and efficacy of using AlgS-NP as a delivery system for growth factors and offer the prospect of innovative treatment for refractory ischemic cardiomyopathy.

Intracoronary Administration of Microencapsulated HGF in a Reperfused Myocardial Infarction Swine Model

Therapy microencapsulation allows minimally invasive, safe, and effective administration. Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) has angiogenic, anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and anti-fibrotic properties. Our objective was to evaluate the cardiac safety and effectiveness of intracoronary (IC) administration of HGF-loaded extended release microspheres in an acute myocardial infarction (AMI) swine model. An IC infusion of 5 × 10⁶ HGF-loaded microspheres (MS+HGF, n = 7), 5 × 10⁶ placebo microspheres (MS, n = 7), or saline (SAL, n = 7) was performed two days after AMI. TIMI flow and Troponin I (TnI) values were assessed pre- and post-treatment. Cardiac function was evaluated with magnetic resonance imaging (cMR) before injection and at 10 weeks. Plasma cytokines were determined to evaluate the inflammatory profile and hearts were subjected to histopathological evaluation. Post-treatment coronary flow was impaired in five animals (MS+HGF and MS group) without significant increases in TnI. One animal (MS group) died during treatment. There were no significant differences between groups in cMR parameters at any time (p > 0.05). No statistically significant changes were found between groups neither in cytokines nor in histological analyses. The IC administration of 5 × 10⁶ HGF-loaded-microspheres 48 h post-AMI did not improve cardiac function, nor did it decrease inflammation or cardiac fibrosis in this experimental setting.

Estimating the causal effects of genetically predicted plasma proteome on heart failure

Background

Heart Failure (HF) is the end-stage cardiovascular syndrome with poor prognosis. Proteomics holds great promise in the discovery of novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets for HF. The aim of this study is to investigate the causal effects of genetically predicted plasma proteome on HF using the Mendelian randomization (MR) approach.

Methods

Summary-level data for the plasma proteome (3,301 healthy individuals) and HF (47,309 cases; 930,014 controls) were extracted from genome-wide association studies (GWASs) of European descent. MR associations were obtained using the inverse variance-weighted (IVW) method, sensitivity analyses, and multivariable MR analyses.

Results

Using single-nucleotide polymorphisms as instrumental variables, 1-SD increase in MET level was associated with an approximately 10% decreased risk of HF (odds ratio [OR]: 0.92; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.89 to 0.95; p = 1.42 × 10^-6), whereas increases in the levels of CD209 (OR: 1.04; 95% CI: 1.02-1.06; p = 6.67 × 10^-6) and USP25 (OR: 1.06; 95% CI: 1.03-1.08; p = 7.83 × 10^-6) were associated with an increased risk of HF. The causal associations were robust in sensitivity analyses, and no evidence of pleiotropy was observed.

Conclusion

The study findings suggest that the hepatocyte growth factor/c-MET signaling pathway, dendritic cells-mediated immune processes, and ubiquitin-proteasome system pathway are involved in the pathogenesis of HF. Moreover, the identified proteins have potential to uncover novel therapies for cardiovascular diseases.

Experimental and Clinical Aspects of Sevoflurane Preconditioning and Postconditioning to Alleviate Hepatic Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury: A Scoping Review

Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is an inflammatory process inherent in organ transplantation procedures. It is associated with tissue damage and, depending on its intensity, can impact early graft function. In liver transplantation (LT), strategies to alleviate IRI are essential in order to increase the use of extended criteria donor (ECD) grafts, which are more susceptible to IRI, as well as to improve postoperative graft and patient outcomes. Sevoflurane, a commonly used volatile anesthetic, has been shown to reduce IRI. This scoping review aims to give a comprehensive overview of the existing experimental and clinical data regarding the potential benefits of sevoflurane for hepatic IRI (HIRI) and to identify any gaps in knowledge to guide further research. We searched Medline and Embase for relevant articles. A total of 380 articles were identified, 45 of which were included in this review. In most experimental studies, the use of sevoflurane was associated with a significant decrease in biomarkers of acute liver damage and oxidative stress. Administration of sevoflurane before hepatic ischemia (preconditioning) or after reperfusion (postconditioning) appears to be protective. However, in the clinical setting, results are conflicting. While some studies showed a reduction of postoperative markers of liver injury, the benefit of sevoflurane on clinical outcomes and graft survival remains unclear. Further prospective clinical trials remain necessary to assess the clinical relevance of the use of sevoflurane as a protective factor against HIRI.

Induced pluripotent stem cells as natural biofactories for exosomes carrying miR-199b-5p in the treatment of spinal cord injury

Background: Induced pluripotent stem cells-derived exosomes (iPSCs-Exo) can effectively treat spinal cord injury (SCI) in mice. But the role of iPSCs-Exo in SCI mice and its molecular mechanisms remain unclear. This research intended to study the effects and molecular mechanism of iPSCs-Exo in SCI mice models. Methods: The feature of iPSCs-Exo was determined by transmission electron microscope (TEM), nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), and western blot. The effects of iPSCs-Exo in the SCI mice model were evaluated by Basso Mouse Scale (BMS) scores and H&E staining. The roles of iPSCs-Exo and miR-199b-5p in LPS-treated BMDM were verified by immunofluorescence, RT-qPCR, and Cytokine assays. The target genes of miR-199b-5p were identified, and the function of miR-199b-5p and its target genes on LPS-treated BMDM was explored by recuse experiment. Results: iPSCs-Exo improved motor function in SCI mice model in vivo, shifted the polarization from M1 macrophage to M2 phenotype, and regulated related inflammatory factors expression to accelerate the SCI recovery in LPS-treated BMDM in vitro. Meanwhile, miR-199b-5p was a functional player of iPSCs-Exo, which could target hepatocyte growth factor (Hgf). Moreover, miR-199b-5p overexpression polarized M1 macrophage into M2 phenotype and promoted neural regeneration in SCI. The rescue experiments confirmed that miR-199b-5p induced macrophage polarization and SCI recovery by regulating Hgf and Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling pathways. Conclusion: The miR-199b-5p-bearing iPSCs-Exo might become an effective method to treat SCI.

Autophagy triggered by the ROS/ERK signaling pathway protects mouse embryonic palatal cells from apoptosis induced by nicotine

Maternal cigarette smoking during pregnancy is a known high-risk factor for having a child with a cleft lip and/or palate (CLP), a common congenital malformation. Nicotine is the major teratogen component of cigarettes and e-cigarettes, and nicotine plays an important role in the development of CLP. However, the mechanism underlying nicotine's effect on CLP remains unclear. Here, we aimed to determine the role and molecular mechanisms of nicotine-induced autophagy, an important process involved in regulating the cellular stress response in mouse embryonic palatal cells (MEPCs). First, we found that nicotine promoted MEPCs proliferation and inhibited their apoptosis from 0 to 12 h. After 12 h, the proliferation was inhibited, and apoptosis was promoted. The migration of MEPCs was also inhibited by nicotine. Simultaneously, long-term nicotine stimulation inhibited the osteogenic differentiation of MEPCs. We then found that nicotine significantly increased autophagy flux in MEPCs at 12 h by increasing the expression of microtubule-associated protein light chain 3 (LC3) and reducing P62 expression levels. After nicotine exposure, intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and extracellular signal-regulated kinase-1/2 (ERK1/2) expression significantly increased, and the expression of ERK1/2 was reversed by the ROS scavenging agent N-acetylcysteine (NAC). Moreover, the autophagy induced by nicotine was reversed by SCH772984, a specific inhibitor of ERK1/2, and the autophagy inhibitor chloroquine (CQ). These results suggest that in the early stage of nicotine exposure, MEPCs may trigger autophagy through the ROS/ERK1/2 signaling pathway to avoid cell damage caused by nicotine.

Upregulation of Reg IV and Hgf mRNAs by Intermittent Hypoxia via Downregulation of microRNA-499 in Cardiomyocytes

Sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) is characterized by recurrent episodes of oxygen desaturation and reoxygenation (intermittent hypoxia [IH]), and is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and insulin resistance/Type 2 diabetes. However, the mechanisms linking IH stress and CVD remain elusive. We exposed rat H9c2 and mouse P19.CL6 cardiomyocytes to experimental IH or normoxia for 24 h to analyze the mRNA expression of several cardiomyokines. We found that the mRNA levels of regenerating gene IV (Reg IV) and hepatocyte growth factor (Hgf) in H9c2 and P19.CL6 cardiomyocytes were significantly increased by IH, whereas the promoter activities of the genes were not increased. A target mRNA search of microRNA (miR)s revealed that rat and mouse mRNAs have a potential target sequence for miR-499. The miR-499 level of IH-treated cells was significantly decreased compared to normoxia-treated cells. MiR-499 mimic and non-specific control RNA (miR-499 mimic NC) were introduced into P19.CL6 cells, and the IH-induced upregulation of the genes was abolished by introduction of the miR-499 mimic, but not by the miR-499 mimic NC. These results indicate that IH stress downregulates the miR-499 in cardiomyocytes, resulting in increased levels of Reg IV and Hgf mRNAs, leading to the protection of cardiomyocytes in SAS patients.

Plasma protein alterations during human large vessel stroke: A controlled comparison study

BACKGROUND

Stroke is a major cause of death and disability in the United States. Mechanical thrombectomy (MT) ¹ and tissue plasminogen activator are the current treatments for ischemic stroke, which have improved clinical outcomes. Despite these treatments, functional and cognitive deficits still occur demonstrating a need for predictive biomarkers for beneficial clinical outcomes which can be used as therapeutic targets for pharmacotherapy. The aim of this study compares the proteomic expression of systemic arterial blood collected at the time of MT to those from a matched cerebrovascular disease (CVD) control cohort.

METHODS

The Blood and Clot Thrombectomy Registry and Collaboration (BACTRAC) (clinicaltrials.gov NCT03153683) collects and banks arterial blood, both distal and proximal to the thrombus, from ischemic stroke subjects undergoing MT. Arterial blood from patients undergoing a diagnostic angiogram was also collected and banked as CVD controls. Changes in cardiometabolic and inflammatory proteins between stroke and CVD controls were analyzed via Olink Proteomics.

RESULTS

Proteins including ARTN, TWEAK, HGF, CCL28, FGF-5, CXCL9, TRANCE and GDNF were found to be decreased in stroke subjects when compared to CVD controls. CXCL1, CCL5, OSM, GP1BA, IL6, MMP-1, and CXCL5 were increased in stroke subjects when compared to CVD controls. These proteins were also significantly correlated to stroke outcome metrics such as NIHSS, infarct volume and MoCA scoring.

CONCLUSION

Overall, acute stroke patients had an increase in inflammatory proteins with a decrease in trophic proteins systemically compared to matched CVD controls. Using our CVD controls, proteins of interest were directly compared to stroke patients with the same cerebrovascular risk factors instead of statistically controlling for comorbidities. The novel methodology of matching an arterial blood CVD control group to a stroke group, as well as controlling for age and comorbid status add to the literature on prognostic stroke biomarkers, which are specific targets for future therapeutics.

Identification and validation of autophagy-related gene expression for predicting prognosis in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis

Background

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic, progressive, and fatal fibrotic pulmonary disease with unknow etiology. Owing to lack of reliable prognostic biomarkers and effective treatment measures, patients with IPF usually exhibit poor prognosis. The aim of this study is to establish a risk score prognostic model for predicting the prognosis of patients with IPF based on autophagy-related genes.

Methods

The GSE70866 dataset was obtained from the gene expression omnibus (GEO) database. The autophagy-related genes were collected from the Molecular Signatures Database (MSigDB). Gene enrichment analysis for differentially expressed genes (DEGs) was performed to explore the function of DEGs. Univariate, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), as well as multivariate Cox regression analyses were conducted to identify a multi-gene prognostic model. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was applied to assess the prediction accuracy of the model. The expression of genes screened from the prognostic model was validated in clinical samples and human lung fibroblasts by qPCR and western blot assays.

Results

Among the 514 autophagy-related genes, a total of 165 genes were identified as DEGs. These DEGs were enriched in autophagy-related processes and pathways. Based on the univariate, LASSO, and multivariate Cox regression analyses, two genes (MET and SH3BP4) were included for establishing the risk score prognostic model. According to the median value of the risk score, patients with IPF were stratified into high-risk and low-risk groups. Patients in high-risk group had shorter overall survival (OS) than low-risk group in both training and test cohorts. Multivariate regression analysis indicated that prognostic model can act as an independent prognostic indicator for IPF. ROC curve analysis confirmed the reliable predictive value of prognostic model. In the validation experiments, upregulated MET expression and downregulated SH3BP4 expression were observed in IPF lung tissues and TGF-β1-activated human lung fibroblasts, which is consistent with results from microarray data analysis.

Conclusion

These findings indicated that the risk score prognostic model based on two autophagy-related genes can effectively predict the prognosis of patients with IPF.

Management of Peripheral Edema in Patients with MET Exon 14-Mutated Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Treated with Small Molecule MET Inhibitors

Small molecule mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET) inhibitors, such as crizotinib, capmatinib, and tepotinib, are treatment options for metastatic non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in adult patients whose tumors have a mutation that leads to MET exon 14 skipping. In clinical trials, these MET inhibitors were associated with a high incidence of peripheral edema, although this was generally mild-to-moderate in severity. There is limited information about the mechanism involved in MET inhibitor-induced peripheral edema. Perturbation of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/MET signaling may disrupt the permeability balance in the vascular endothelium and thus promote edema development. Another potential mechanism is through effects on renal function, although this is unlikely to be the primary mechanism. Because edema is common in cancer patients and may not necessarily be caused by the cancer treatment, or other conditions that have similar symptoms to peripheral edema, a thorough assessment is required to ascertain the underlying cause. Before starting MET-inhibitor therapy, patients should be educated about the possibility of developing peripheral edema. Patient limb volume should be measured before initiating treatment, to aid assessment if symptoms develop. Since the exact mechanism of MET inhibitor-induced edema is unknown, management is empiric, with common approaches including compression stockings, specific exercises, massage, limb elevation, and/or diuretic treatment. Although not usually required, discontinuation of MET inhibitor treatment generally resolves peripheral edema. Early diagnosis and management, as well as patient information and education, are vital to decrease the clinical burden associated with edema, and to reinforce capmatinib treatment adherence.

Short- and medium-term air pollution exposure, plasmatic protein levels and blood pressure in children

Exposure to air pollution influences children's health, however, the biological mechanisms underlying these effects are not completely elucidated. We investigated the association between short- and medium-term outdoor air pollution exposure with protein profiles and their link with blood pressure in 1170 HELIX children aged 6-11 years. Different air pollutants (NO₂, PM₁₀, PM_2.5, and PM_2.5abs) were estimated based on residential and school addresses at three different windows of exposure (1-day, 1-week, and 1-year before clinical and molecular assessment). Thirty-six proteins, including adipokines, cytokines, or apolipoproteins, were measured in children's plasma using Luminex. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) were measured following a standardized protocol. We performed an association study for each air pollutant at each location and time window and each outcome, adjusting for potential confounders. After correcting for multiple-testing, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and interleukin 8 (IL8) levels were positively associated with 1-week home exposure to some of the pollutants (NO₂, PM₁₀, or PM_2.5). NO₂ 1-week home exposure was also related to higher SBP. The mediation study suggested that HGF could explain 19% of the short-term effect of NO₂ on blood pressure, but other study designs are needed to prove the causal directionality between HGF and blood pressure.

Growth factors: avenues for the treatment of myocardial infarction and potential delivery strategies

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Despite recent advances in clinical management, reoccurence of heart failure after AMI remains high, in part because of the limited capacity of cardiac tissue to repair after AMI-induced cell death. Growth factor-based therapy has emerged as an alternative AMI treatment strategy. Understanding the underlying mechanisms of growth factor cardioprotective and regenerative actions is important. This review focuses on the function of different growth factors at each stage of the cardiac repair process. Recent evidence for growth factor therapy in preclinical and clinical trials is included. Finally, different delivery strategies are reviewed with a view to providing workable strategies for clinical translation.

Identification of autophagy-related biomarkers in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension based on bioinformatics analysis

Autophagy participates in the regulation of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). However, the role of autophagy-related genes (ARGs) in the pathogenesis of the PAH is still unclear. This study aimed to identify the ARGs in PAH via bioinformatics analysis. A microarray dataset (GSE113439) was downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus database to identify differentially expressed ARGs (DEARGs). Protein–protein interactions network, gene ontology, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment analyses were performed to screen hub genes and the underlying molecular mechanisms of PAH. Finally, the mRNA expression of the hub genes was validated using the GSE53408 dataset. Twenty-six DEARGs were identified, all of which were upregulated. Enrichment analyses revealed that these DEARGs were mainly enriched in the nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain (NOD)-like receptor signaling pathway, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, response to hypoxia, response to nutrient levels, and autophagy. Among these hub genes, the mRNA expression levels of HSP90AA1, HIF1A, MET, IGF1, LRRK2, CLTC, DNM1L, MDM2, RICTOR, and ROCK2 were significantly upregulated in PAH patients than in healthy individuals. Ten hub DEARGs were identified and may participate in the pathogenesis of the PAH via the regulation of autophagy. The present study may provide novel therapeutic targets for PAH prevention and treatment and expand our understanding of PAH.

Construction of HGF-Displaying Yeast by Cell Surface Engineering

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) has been investigated as a regulator for immune reactions caused by transplantation and autoimmune diseases and other biological functions. Previous studies demonstrated that cDNA-encoding HGF administration could inhibit acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) after treatment via hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. This study aimed to show the preparation of HGF protein on yeast cell surfaces to develop a tool for the oral administration of HGF to a GVHD mouse model. In this study, full-length HGF and the heavy chain of HGF were genetically fused with α-agglutinin and were successfully displayed on the yeast cell surface. This study suggested that yeast cell surface display engineering could provide a novel administration route for HGF.

Circulating Hepatocyte Growth Factor Reflects Activation of Vascular Repair in Response to Stress

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HGF is released by stressed human vascular cells and promotes vascular cell repair responses in autocrine and/or paracrine ways.

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Subjects with a low capacity to express HGF in response to systemic stress have an increased cardiovascular risk.

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Human atherosclerotic plaques with a low content of HGF have a more unstable phenotype.

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The present study shows that subjects with a low ability to express HGF in response to metabolic stress have an increased risk to suffer cardiovascular events.

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is released by stressed human vascular cells and promotes vascular cell repair responses in both autocrine and paracrine ways. Subjects with a low capacity to express HGF in response to systemic stress have an increased cardiovascular risk. Human atherosclerotic plaques with a low content of HGF have a more unstable phenotype. The present study shows that subjects with a low ability to express HGF in response to metabolic stress have an increased risk to suffer myocardial infarction and stroke.

Evidence for the Benefits of Melatonin in Cardiovascular Disease

The pineal gland is a neuroendocrine gland which produces melatonin, a neuroendocrine hormone with critical physiological roles in the circadian rhythm and sleep-wake cycle. Melatonin has been shown to possess anti-oxidant activity and neuroprotective properties. Numerous studies have shown that melatonin has significant functions in cardiovascular disease, and may have anti-aging properties. The ability of melatonin to decrease primary hypertension needs to be more extensively evaluated. Melatonin has shown significant benefits in reducing cardiac pathology, and preventing the death of cardiac muscle in response to ischemia-reperfusion in rodent species. Moreover, melatonin may also prevent the hypertrophy of the heart muscle under some circumstances, which in turn would lessen the development of heart failure. Several currently used conventional drugs show cardiotoxicity as an adverse effect. Recent rodent studies have shown that melatonin acts as an anti-oxidant and is effective in suppressing heart damage mediated by pharmacologic drugs. Therefore, melatonin has been shown to have cardioprotective activity in multiple animal and human studies. Herein, we summarize the most established benefits of melatonin in the cardiovascular system with a focus on the molecular mechanisms of action.

The Key Genes Underlying Pathophysiology Correlation Between the Acute Myocardial Infarction and COVID-19

Introduction

Accumulating evidences disclose that COVID-19, caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has a marked effect on acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Nevertheless, the underlying pathophysiology correlation between the AMI and COVID-19 remains vague.

Materials and Methods

Bioinformatics analyses of the altered transcriptional profiling of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in patients with AMI and COVID-19 were implemented, including identification of differentially expressed genes and common genes between AMI and COVID-19, protein–protein interactions, Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analyses, TF-genes and miRNA coregulatory networks, to explore their biological functions and potential roles in the pathogenesis of COVID-19-related AMI.

Conclusion

Our bioinformatic analyses of gene expression profiling of PBMCs in patients with AMI and COVID-19 provide us with a unique view regarding underlying pathophysiology correlation between the two vital diseases.

Cardiomyocyte Atrophy, an Underestimated Contributor in Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiotoxicity

Left ventricular (LV) mass loss is prevalent in doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiotoxicity and is responsible for the progressive decline of cardiac function. Comparing with the well-studied role of cell death, the part of cardiomyocyte atrophy (CMA) playing in the LV mass loss is underestimated and the knowledge of the underlying mechanism is still limited. In this review, we summarized the recent advances in the DOX-induced CMA. We found that the CMA caused by DOX is associated with the upregulation of FOXOs and “atrogenes,” the activation of transient receptor potential canonical 3-NADPH oxidase 2 (TRPC3-Nox2) axis, and the suppression of IGF-1-PI3K signaling pathway. The imbalance of anabolic and catabolic process may be the common final pathway of these mechanisms. At last, we provided some strategies that have been demonstrated to alleviate the DOX-induced CMA in animal models.

Inhibition of IL17A Using an Affibody Molecule Attenuates Inflammation in ApoE-Deficient Mice

The balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory cytokines released by immune and non-immune cells plays a decisive role in the progression of atherosclerosis. Interleukin (IL)-17A has been shown to accelerate atherosclerosis. In this study, we investigated the effect on pro-inflammatory mediators and atherosclerosis development of an Affibody molecule that targets IL17A. Affibody molecule neutralizing IL17A, or sham were administered in vitro to human aortic smooth muscle cells (HAoSMCs) and murine NIH/3T3 fibroblasts and in vivo to atherosclerosis-prone, hyperlipidaemic ApoE^−/− mice. Levels of mediators of inflammation and development of atherosclerosis were compared between treatments. Exposure of human smooth muscle cells and murine NIH/3T3 fibroblasts in vitro to αIL-17A Affibody molecule markedly reduced IL6 and CXCL1 release in supernatants compared with sham exposure. Treatment of ApoE^−/− mice with αIL-17A Affibody molecule significantly reduced plasma protein levels of CXCL1, CCL2, CCL3, HGF, PDGFB, MAP2K6, QDPR, and splenocyte mRNA levels of Ccxl1, Il6, and Ccl20 compared with sham exposure. There was no significant difference in atherosclerosis burden between the groups. In conclusion, administration of αIL17A Affibody molecule reduced levels of pro-inflammatory mediators and attenuated inflammation in ApoE^−/− mice.

LncRNA HOTTIP Knockdown Attenuates Acute Myocardial Infarction via Regulating miR-92a-2/c-Met Axis

Increasing investigations have focused on long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in various human diseases, including acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Although lncRNA HOTTIP has been identified to play an important role in coronary artery diseases, its role and specific mechanism in AMI remain unclear. To investigate the potential role of HOTTIP in MI, HOTTIP expression in hypoxia-treated cardiomyocytes and myocardial tissues of MI mice was evaluated. The potential targets of HOTTIP and miR-92a-2 were predicted using Starbase and Targetscan. To further determine the cardio-protective effects of HOTTIP in vivo, si-HOTTIP and miR-92a-2 mimics were individually or co-injected into mice through intramyocardial injection. Moreover, their roles were further confirmed in rescue experiments. HOTTIP was significantly upregulated in ischemic myocardium of MI mice and hypoxia-induced cardiomyocytes. Moreover, HOTTIP knockdown markedly promoted cardiomyocyte growth and inhibited cardiomyocyte apoptosis in vitro. Luciferase reporter assay showed that HOTTIP could directly sponge miR-92a-2 to negatively regulate miR-92a-2 expression. In addition, c-Met was identified as a direct target of miR-92a-2, and their correlation was confirmed by luciferase reporter assay. MiR-92a-2 overexpression significantly enhanced the protective effect of HOTTIP knockdown against AMI through partially inhibiting c-Met expression. Our results demonstrated that HOTTIP downregulation attenuated AMI progression via the targeting miR-92a-2/c-Met axis and suggested that HOTTIP might be a potential therapeutic target for AMI.

Restoration of erectile function by a combination of antiapoptosis by JNK inhibitor and preservation of smooth muscle or endothelium by hepatocyte growth factor in a rat model of cavernous nerve injury

BACKGROUND

Because of structural alterations in the corpus cavernosum after radical prostatectomy (RP), post-RP erectile dysfunction remains a very difficult condition to treat. We aimed to determine if the combined administration of a Jun-amino terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor and hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) in the immediate post-injury period would restore erectile function by antiapoptotic and pro-regenerative effects through the rectification of molecular pathways related to the structural integrity of the penis in a rat model of bilateral cavernosal nerve crush injury (CNCI).

METHODS

A total of 70 rats were divided into five groups: Sham surgery (S), CNCI (I), and once-daily intraperitoneal administration of 10.0 mg/kg JNK inhibitor + twice-weekly intracavernosal administration of low-dose (2.1 μg), medium-dose (4.2 μg), or high-dose (8.4 μg) HGF (I + J + LH or I + J + MH or I + J + HH, respectively) in the immediate post-injury period. Erectile responses to electrostimulation (1.0, 3.0, and 5.0 V), histological staining, caspase-3 activity, and Western blotting were evaluated 9 days after surgery.

RESULTS

Group I showed lower intracavernosal pressure (ICP)/mean arterial pressure (MAP) after stimulation at each voltage, lower area under the curve (AUC)/MAP after stimulation at each voltage, less smooth muscle (SM) content, a lower SM/collagen ratio, higher caspase-3 activity, increased cJun phosphorylation, decreased protein expression of PECAM-1, decreased cMet phosphorylation, and decreased endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) phosphorylation compared to Group S. The SM content, SM/collagen ratio, protein expression of ICP/MAP, or AUC/MAP after stimulation at each voltage in Group I + J + LH were partially restored, despite the normalization of cJun phosphorylation and caspase-3 activity. The ICP/MAP, AUC/MAP, caspase-3 activity, SM content, protein expression of PECAM-1, cJun phosphorylation, cMet phosphorylation, and eNOS phosphorylation in both Groups I + J + MH and I + J + HH were restored to the levels observed in Group S, while the SM/collagen ratio was significantly improved but not completely normalized.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data indicated that the combined administration of a JNK inhibitor and medium or high-dose HGF to nerve-injured rats in the immediate post-injury period after CNCI may restore erectile function to a level comparable to the normal level by suppressing cavernosal apoptosis and preserving the integrity of SM or endothelium via rectification of the cJun and cMet/eNOS pathways.

Targeting angiogenesis in myocardial infarction: Novel therapeutics (Review)

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) remains the main cause of mortality worldwide. Despite surgery and medical treatment, the non-regeneration of dead cardiomyocytes and the limited contractile ability of scar tissue can lead to heart failure. Therefore, restoring blood flow in the infarcted area is important for the repair of myocardial injury. The objective of the present review was to summarize the factors influencing angiogenesis after AMI, and to describe the application of angiogenesis for cardiac repair. Collectively, this review may be helpful for relevant studies and to provide insight into future therapeutic applications in clinical practice.

Engineering, Characterization, and Biological Evaluation of an Antibody Targeting the HGF Receptor

The Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and its receptor (MET) promote several physiological activities such as tissue regeneration and protection from cell injury of epithelial, endothelial, neuronal and muscle cells. The therapeutic potential of MET activation has been scrutinized in the treatment of acute tissue injury, chronic inflammation, such as renal fibrosis and multiple sclerosis (MS), cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. On the other hand, the HGF-MET signaling pathway may be caught by cancer cells and turned to work for invasion, metastasis, and drug resistance in the tumor microenvironment. Here, we engineered a recombinant antibody (RDO24) and two derived fragments, binding the extracellular domain (ECD) of the MET protein. The antibody binds with high affinity (8 nM) to MET ECD and does not cross-react with the closely related receptors RON nor with Semaphorin 4D. Deletion mapping studies and computational modeling show that RDO24 binds to the structure bent on the Plexin-Semaphorin-Integrin (PSI) domain, implicating the PSI domain in its binding to MET. The intact RDO24 antibody and the bivalent Fab2, but not the monovalent Fab induce MET auto-phosphorylation, mimicking the mechanism of action of HGF that activates the receptor by dimerization. Accordingly, the bivalent recombinant molecules induce HGF biological responses, such as cell migration and wound healing, behaving as MET agonists of therapeutic interest in regenerative medicine. In vivo administration of RDO24 in the murine model of MS, represented by experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), delays the EAE onset, mitigates the early clinical symptoms, and reduces inflammatory infiltrates. Altogether, these results suggest that engineered RDO24 antibody may be beneficial in multiple sclerosis and possibly other types of inflammatory disorders.

A single injection of CM1021, a long half-life hepatocyte growth factor mimetic, increases liver mass in mice

Despite years of positive animal data, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) has never been developed into a useful pharmaceutical, primarily due to its poor pharmacological properties. CM1021 is a fusion protein containing the K1 loop of HGF and the human IgG1 Fc region. The experiments described here demonstrate that CM1021 has the biological properties of HGF and the pharmacological properties of a monoclonal antibody. CM1021 stimulates scattering and branching morphogenesis in MDCK cells and stimulates liver growth in vivo. Unlike HGF, it is available via intraperitoneal injection and has an estimated half-life similar to an antibody.

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Fusion of the K1 loop of HGF to the Fc region of IgG creates CM1021, a long half-life HGF mimetic.

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CM1021 has the biological properties of HGF without the pharmacological liabilities.

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CM1021 stimulates hepatocyte division in vivo.

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CM1021 can realize the potential of HGF in regenerative medicine.

Anti-inflammatory effect of HGF responses to oral traumatic ulcers using an HGF-Tg mouse model

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) has been implicated in inhibiting diverse types of inflammation. Oral traumatic ulceration (OTU) is a common disease of the oral mucosa, and inflammation is the main process for ulcer healing. This study aimed to explore the expression of HGF in oral ulcers and its role in ulcer inflammation. The saliva of 14 recurrent alphous stomatitis (RAS) patients, 18 OTU patients and 17 healthy controls was collected. Traumatic ulcers of the left mucosa were observed in 42 wild-type (WT) and 42 HGF-overexpressing transgenic (HGF-Tg) mice. Histological scores, inflammatory cell expression and serum cytokine expression were measured and analyzed on the 5th day. The HGF protein level in ulcer-affected human saliva was 9.3-fold higher than that in healthy saliva. The HGF protein levels in RAS and OTU saliva were 14- and 5.7-fold higher, respectively, than those in healthy saliva. Traumatic ulcers enhanced HGF expression in ulcer-affected oral mucosa and in the blood of C57BL/6 mice by 1.21- and 1.40-fold, respectively. In HGF-Tg mouse traumatic ulcers, HGF expression was 1.34-fold higher than that in wild-type mice. HGF-Tg mice had lower weight loss, less ulcer area and lower histopathology scores than WT mice. The results from immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry and serum cytokine analysis showed that HGF-Tg animals presented fewer Ly6G-positive neutrophils and higher levels of circulating inflammatory cytokines. HGF overexpression alleviated weight loss, ulcer area and inflammation, suggesting the role of HGF in promoting the healing of oral ulcers.

Combination Therapy with a JNK Inhibitor and Hepatocyte Growth Factor for Restoration of Erectile Function in a Rat Model of Cavernosal Nerve Injury: Comparison with a JNK Inhibitor Alone or Hepatocyte Growth Factor Alone

We determined if combined administration of JNK-inhibitors and HGF (hepatocyte-growth-factor) would restore erectile-function through both antiapoptotic and regenerative effects in a rat model of cavernous-nerve-crush-injury (CNCI), and compared the results with administration of JNK-inhibitor alone or HGF alone. We randomized 70 rats into 5 groups: sham-surgery-group (S), CNCI (I) group, a group treated with once-daily intraperitoneal-administration of 10.0-mg/kg of JNK-inhibitors (J), a twice-weekly intracavernosal-administration of 4.2-μg HGF group (H), and a combined-treatment with 10.0-mg/kg JNK-inhibitors and 4.2-μg HGF group (J+H). We investigated erectile-responses to electrostimulation, histological-staining, caspase-3-activity-assay, and immunoblotting at two-weeks postoperatively. The three treatment groups showed improvements in erectile-responses (ICP/MAP and AUC/MAP ratios) compared to Group-I. The erectile-responses in Group-J+H were greater than those in Group-J or Group-H. The erectile-responses in Group-J+H were generally normalized. Caspase-3-activity and cJun-phosphorylation in Group-J and Group-J+H improved compared to Group-I, whereas caspase-3-activity in Group-H partially improved. Protein-expression of PECAM-1, eNOS-phosphorylation, and smooth-muscle content in Group-J+H were normalized, although those in Group-J or Group-H were partially restored. Combination therapy with JNK-inhibitors and HGF can generally normalize erectile-function through anti-apoptosis and preservation of endothelium or SM in rat CNCI model. The combined treatment appears to be superior to the respective agent alone in terms of therapeutic effects.

Pharmacology active microcarriers delivering HGF associated with extracellular vesicles for myocardial repair

Despite the curative approaches developed against myocardial infarction, cardiac cell death causes dysfunctional heart contractions that depend on the extent of the ischemic area and the reperfusion period. Cardiac regeneration may allow neovascularization and limit the ventricular remodeling caused by the scar tissue. We have previously found that large extracellular vesicles, carrying Sonic Hedgehog (lEVs), displayed proangiogenic and antioxidant properties, and decreased myocardial infarction size when administrated by intravenous injection. We propose to associate lEVs with pharmacology active microcarriers (PAMs) to obtain a combined cardioprotective and regenerative action when administrated by intracardiac injection. PAMs made of poly-D,L-lactic-coglycolic acid-poloxamer 188-poly-D,L-lactic-coglycolic acid and covered by fibronectin/poly-D-lysine provided a biodegradable and biocompatible 3D biomimetic support for the lEVs. When compared with lEVs alone, lEVs-PAMs constructs possessed an enhanced in vitro pro-angiogenic ability. PAMs were designed to continuously release encapsulated hepatocyte growth factor (PAMs_HGF) and thus, locally increase the activity of the lEVs by the combined anti-fibrotic properties and regenerative properties. Intracardiac administration of either lEVs alone or lEVs-PAMs_HGF improved cardiac function in a similar manner, in a rat model of ischemia-reperfusion. Moreover, lEVs alone or the IEVs-PAMs_HGF induced arteriogenesis, but only the latter reduced tissue fibrosis. Taken together, these results highlight a promising approach for lEVs-PAMs_HGF in regenerative medicine for myocardial infarction.

Acquisition of New Migratory Properties by Highly Differentiated CD4+CD28null T Lymphocytes in Rheumatoid Arthritis Disease

Expanded CD4+CD28^null T lymphocytes are found in the tissues and peripheral blood of patients with many autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). These highly differentiated cells present potent inflammatory activity and capability to induce tissue destruction, which has been suggested to predispose to the development of more aggressive disease. In fact, preferential migration to inflammatory sites has been proposed to be a contributing factor in the progression of autoimmune and cardiovascular diseases frequently found in these patients. The functional activity of CD4+CD28^null T lymphocytes is largely dependent on interleukin 15 (IL-15), and this cytokine may also act as a selective attractor of these cells to local inflammatory infiltrates in damaged tissues. We have analysed, in RA patients, the migratory properties and transcriptional motility profile of CD4+CD28^null T lymphocytes compared to their counterparts CD28+ T lymphocytes and the enhancing role of IL-15. Identification of the pathways involved in this process will allow us to design strategies directed to block effector functions that CD4+CD28^null T lymphocytes have in the target tissue, which may represent therapeutic approaches in this immune disorder.

cMet agonistic antibody prevents acute kidney injury to chronic kidney disease transition by suppressing Smurf1 and activating Smad7

We aimed to investigate the role of cMet agonistic antibody (cMet Ab) in preventing kidney fibrosis during acute kidney injury (AKI) to chronic kidney disease (CKD) transition. Additionally, we explored the effect of cMet Ab on TGF-β1/Smad pathway during the pathogenesis of kidney fibrosis. A unilateral ischemia-reperfusion injury (UIRI) mouse model was established to induce AKI-to-CKD transition. Furthermore, we incubated human proximal tubular epithelial cells (hPTECs) under hypoxic conditions as in vitro model of kidney fibrosis. We analyzed the soluble plasma cMet level in patients with AKI requiring dialysis. Patients who did not recover kidney function and progressed to CKD presented a higher increase in the cMet level. The kidneys of mice treated with cMet Ab showed fewer contractions and weighed more than the controls. The mice in the cMet Ab-treated group showed reduced fibrosis and significantly decreased expression of fibronectin and α-smooth muscle actin. cMet Ab treatment decreased inflammatory markers (MCP-1, TNF-α, and IL-1β) expression, reduced Smurf1 and Smad2/3 level, and increased Smad7 expressions. cMet Ab treatment increased cMet expression and reduced the hypoxia-induced increase in collagen-1 and ICAM-1 expression, thereby reducing apoptosis in the in vitro cell model. After cMet Ab treatment, hypoxia-induced expression of Smurf1, Smad2/3, and TGF-β1 was reduced, and suppressed Smad7 was activated. Down-regulation of Smurf1 resulted in suppression of hypoxia-induced fibronectin expression, whereas treatment with cMet Ab showed synergistic effects. cMet Ab can successfully prevent fibrosis response in UIRI models of kidney fibrosis by decreasing inflammatory response and inhibiting the TGF-β1/Smad pathway.

HGF and MET: From Brain Development to Neurological Disorders

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and its tyrosine kinase receptor, encoded by the MET cellular proto-oncogene, are expressed in the nervous system from pre-natal development to adult life, where they are involved in neuronal growth and survival. In this review, we highlight, beyond the neurotrophic action, novel roles of HGF-MET in synaptogenesis during post-natal brain development and the connection between deregulation of MET expression and developmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD). On the pharmacology side, HGF-induced MET activation exerts beneficial neuroprotective effects also in adulthood, specifically in neurodegenerative disease, and in preclinical models of cerebral ischemia, spinal cord injuries, and neurological pathologies, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and multiple sclerosis (MS). HGF is a key factor preventing neuronal death and promoting survival through pro-angiogenic, anti-inflammatory, and immune-modulatory mechanisms. Recent evidence suggests that HGF acts on neural stem cells to enhance neuroregeneration. The possible therapeutic application of HGF and HGF mimetics for the treatment of neurological disorders is discussed.

Supramolecular Self-Assembled Nanofibers Efficiently Activate the Precursor of Hepatocyte Growth Factor for Angiogenesis in Myocardial Infarction Therapy

The reconstruction of blood perfusion is a crucial therapeutic method to save and protect cardiac function after acute myocardial infarction (AMI). The activation of the hepatocyte growth factor precursor (pro-HGF) has a significant effect on promoting angiogenesis and antiapoptosis. The oxygen/glucose deprivation (OGD) caused by AMI could induce vascular adventitia fibroblasts to differentiate into myofibroblasts and secrete the pro-HGF. Meanwhile, the specific Met receptor of the hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) is upregulated in endothelial cells during AMI. However, the poor prognosis of AMI suggests that the pro-HGF is not effectively activated. Improving the activation efficiency of the pro-HGF may play a positive role in the treatment of AMI. Herein, we designed supramolecular nanofibers self-assembled by compound 1 (Comp.1, Nap-FFEG-IVGGYPWWMDV), which can strongly activate the pro-HGF and initiate HGF-Met signaling. Studies have proven that Comp.1 possesses a better ability to activate the pro-HGF to perform antiapoptosis and pro-angiogenesis. In vivo results have confirmed that the retention time of Comp.1 and its accumulation in the infarct area of the heart are promoted. Moreover, Comp.1 plays an effective role in promoting angiogenesis in the marginal area of AMI, reducing myocardial fibrosis, and protecting cardiac function. Herein, we will optimize the structure of bioactive peptides through supramolecular self-assembly and amplify their therapeutic effect by improving their efficiency, providing a new strategy for the therapy of AMI.

CD73+ Mesenchymal Stem Cells Ameliorate Myocardial Infarction by Promoting Angiogenesis

With multipotent differentiation potential and paracrine capacity, mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been widely applied in clinical practice for the treatment of ischemic heart disease. MSCs are a heterogeneous population and the specific population of MSCs may exhibit a selective ability for tissue repair. The aim of our research was to adapt the CD73⁺ subgroup of adipose derived MSCs (AD-MSCs) for the therapy of myocardial infarction (MI). In this research, AD-MSCs were isolated from adipose tissue surrounding the groin of mice and CD73⁺ AD-MSCs were sorted using flow cytometry. To investigate the therapeutic effects of CD73⁺ AD-MSCs, 1.2 × 10⁶ CD73⁺ AD-MSCs were transplanted into rat model of MI, and CD73^– AD-MSCs, normal AD-MSCs transplantation served as control. Our results revealed that CD73⁺ AD-MSCs played a more effective role in the acceleration function of cardiac recovery by promoting angiogenesis in a rat model of MI compared with mixed AD-MSCs and CD73^– AD-MSCs. Moreover, with the expression of CD73 in AD-MSCs, the secretion of VEGF, SDF-1α, and HGF factors could be promoted. It also shows differences between CD73⁺ and CD73^– AD-MSCs when the transcription profiles of these two subgroups were compared, especially in VEGF pathway. These findings raise an attractive outlook on CD73⁺ AD-MSCs as a dominant subgroup for treating MI-induced myocardial injury. CD73, a surface marker, can be used as a MSCs cell quality control for the recovery of MI by accelerating angiogenesis.

Mesenchymal Stem Cells Attenuates TGF-β1-Induced EMT by Increasing HGF Expression in HK-2 Cells

Background:

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have recently shown promise for the treatment of various types of chronic kidney disease models. However, the mechanism of this effect is still not well understood. Our study is aimed to investigate the effect of MSCs on transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-β1)-induced epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) in renal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2 cells) and the underlying mechanism related to the reciprocal balance between hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) and TGF-β1.

Methods:

Our study was performed at Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang, China between Mar 2017 and Jun 2018. HK-2 cells were initially treated with TGF-β1, then co-cultured with MSCs. The induced EMT was assessed by cellular morphology and the expressions of alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and EMT-related proteins. MTS assay and flow cytometry were employed to detect the effect of TGF-β1 and MSCs on HK-2 cell proliferation and apoptosis. SiRNA against hepatocyte growth factor (siHGF) was transfected to decrease the expression of HGF to identify the role of HGF in MSCs inhibiting HK-2 cells EMT.

Results:

Overexpressing TGF-β1 decreased HGF expression, induced EMT, suppressed proliferation and promoted apoptosis in HK-2 cells; but when co-cultured with MSCs all the outcomes were reversed. However, after treated with siHGF, all the benefits taken from MSCs vanished.

Conclusion:

TGF-β1 was a motivating factor of kidney cell EMT and it suppressed the HGF expression. However, MSCs provided protection against EMT by increasing HGF level and decreasing TGF-β1 level. Our results also demonstrated HGF is one of the critical factor in MSCs anti- fibrosis.