Sortilin and hypertension

New Marker in the Umbilical Cord Blood of Fetuses with Fetal Growth Restriction: Serum Sortilin-1 Level

Objective: To determine the role of sortilin in the pathogenesis of fetal growth restriction (FGR) by examining serum sortilin levels in fetal cord blood. Methods: This prospective case-control study was conducted at Ankara Etlik City Hospital between July 2023 and January 2024. Group 1 included 44 pregnant women with late FGR; Group 2 included 44 healthy pregnant women as controls. Results: Umbilical cord blood sortilin levels were significantly higher in the FGR group [2.96 (2.43-4.01)] compared to the control group [2.12 (1.74-3.18)] (p = 0.001). Sortilin levels negatively correlated with APGAR scores at 1 min (r=-0.281, p = 0.008) and 5 min (r=-0.292, p = 0.006). A sortilin threshold of 2.58 ng/ml predicted composite adverse neonatal outcomes with 66.7% sensitivity, 53.1% specificity, and an AUC of 0.652 (95% CI: 0.529-0.775, p = 0.031). Conclusion: This study showed that sortilin levels, which are indicators of oxidation, were higher in the cord blood of newborns with late FGR.

Diagnostic utility of sortilin & other biomarkers in the diagnosis of carotid & coronary atherosclerosis in individuals with arterial hypertension

Background & objectives Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a leading cause of mortality worldwide. The aim of this investigation was to study the role of biological markers in predicting the risk of carotid and coronary artery atherosclerosis. Methods A total of 161 males in the age group of 30-65 yr were included in this study. All participants underwent biochemical analyses [cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides, glucose, (interleukin) IL-8, IL-10, (proprotein convertase inhibitors subtilisin/kexin type 9) PCSK9, sortilin, creatinine]; ECG; echocardiography; coronary angiography; ultrasound doppler of brachiocephalic arteries. Based on PCSK9 levels, participants were divided into four groups: group 1, n=41 individuals with PCSK9 level of 100-250 ng/ml; group 2, n=37 individuals with PCSK9 level of 251-400 ng/ml; group 3, n=51 individuals with PCSK9 level of 401-600 ng/ml and group 4, n=32 individuals with PCSK9 level of 601-900 ng/ml. Results Sortilin level was the highest in group 2. Group 3 individuals had the highest level of IL-8. Correlation analysis of the entire data set revealed the relationship of relative left ventricular thickness index with age, cardiovascular risk, body mass index, intima-media thickness and left ventricular mass index; sortilin had a negative relationship of weak strength with age and smoking, a direct relationship between the risk of cardiovascular complications and with IL-10. Interpretation & conclusions Sortilin is the innovative marker of CVDs. In the present investigation, we demonstrated the clear increase in the inflammatory markers (IL-8) in individuals with subclinical atherosclerosis. This fact can be explained by the oxygen stress activation. In individuals with coronary artery stenosis (50% and more), the increase in IL-10 levels demonstrates, to our opinion, the activation of antioxidant protection activation.

Repurposing Drugs to Modulate Sortilin: Structure-Guided Strategies Against Atherogenesis, Coronary Artery Disease, and Neurological Disorders

Sortilin (SORT1) is a multifunctional protein intricately involved in atherogenesis, coronary artery disease (CAD), and various neurological disorders. It has materialized as a potential pharmacological target for therapeutic development due to its diverse biological roles in pathological processes. Despite its central role under these conditions, effective therapeutic strategies targeting SORT1 remain challenging. In this study, we introduce a drug repurposing strategy guided by structural insights to identify potent SORT1 inhibitors with broad therapeutic potential. Our approach combines molecular docking, virtual screening, and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations, enabling the systematic evaluation of 3648 FDA-approved drugs for their potential to modulate SORT1. The investigation reveals a subset of repurposed drugs exhibiting highly favorable binding profiles and stable interactions within the binding site of SORT1. Notably, two hits, ergotamine and digitoxin, were carefully chosen based on their drug profiles and subjected to analyze their interactions with SORT1 and stability assessment via all-atom MD simulations spanning 300 ns (ns). The structural analyses uncover the complex binding interactions between these identified compounds and SORT1, offering essential mechanistic insights. Additionally, we explore the clinical implications of repurposing these compounds as potential therapeutic agents, emphasizing their significance in addressing atherogenesis, CAD, and neurological disorders. Overall, this study highlights the efficacy of structure-guided drug repurposing and provides a solid foundation for future research endeavors aimed at the development of effective therapies targeting SORT1 under diverse pathological conditions.

The association of Sort1 expression with LDL subfraction and inflammation in patients with coronary artery disease

BACKGROUND

Controversial effect of sortilin on lipoprotein metabolism in the development of atherosclerosis reveals the need for more extensive research.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to investigate the association between Sort1 gene expression and lipids, lipoprotein subfractions, and inflammation in CAD.

METHODS

The study population included 162 subjects with CAD and 49 healthy individuals. The Sort1 gene expression level was determined by qRT-PCR using Human Sortilin TaqMan Gene Expression Assays. Lipoprotein subclasses were analysed by the Lipoprint system. Serum levels of apolipoprotein and CRP were measured by autoanalyzer.

RESULTS

Sort1 gene expression and atherogenic subfraction (SdLDL) levels were significantly higher (p < 0.001) while atheroprotective subfraction (LbLDL) was lower in the subjects with CAD (p < 0.050). Also, increased Sort1 gene expression levels were observed in those with higher CRP values.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings reveal that the high Sort1 gene expression has a prominent linear relationship with both the atherogenic LDL phenotype and proinflammation, thereby might contribute to the occurrence of CAD.

COVID-19 Causes Ferroptosis and Oxidative Stress in Human Endothelial Cells

Oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction have been shown to play crucial roles in the pathophysiology of COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019). On these grounds, we sought to investigate the impact of COVID-19 on lipid peroxidation and ferroptosis in human endothelial cells. We hypothesized that oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation induced by COVID-19 in endothelial cells could be linked to the disease outcome. Thus, we collected serum from COVID-19 patients on hospital admission, and we incubated these sera with human endothelial cells, comparing the effects on the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation between patients who survived and patients who did not survive. We found that the serum from non-survivors significantly increased lipid peroxidation. Moreover, serum from non-survivors markedly regulated the expression levels of the main markers of ferroptosis, including GPX4, SLC7A11, FTH1, and SAT1, a response that was rescued by silencing TNFR1 on endothelial cells. Taken together, our data indicate that serum from patients who did not survive COVID-19 triggers lipid peroxidation in human endothelial cells.