Highly oxidized low-density lipoprotein mediates activation of monocytes but does not confer interleukin-1β secretion nor interleukin-15 transpresentation function

Hypotensive drugs mitigate the high-sodium diet-induced pro-inflammatory activation of mouse macrophages in vivo

Nowadays, there is an increasing emphasis on the need to alleviate the chronic inflammatory response to effectively treat hypertension. However, there are still gaps in our understanding on how to achieve this. Therefore, research on interaction of antihypertensive drugs with the immune system is extremely interesting, since their therapeutic effect could partly result from amelioration of hypertension-related inflammation, in which macrophages seem to play a pivotal role. Thus, current comprehensive studies have investigated the impact of repeatedly administered hypotensive drugs (captopril, olmesartan, propranolol, carvedilol, amlodipine, verapamil) on macrophage functions in the innate and adaptive immunity, as well as if drug-induced effects are affected by a high-sodium diet (HSD), one of the key environmental risk factors of hypertension. Although the assayed medications increased the generation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen intermediates by macrophages from standard fed donors, they reversed HSD-induced enhancing effects on macrophage oxidative burst and secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. On the other hand, some drugs increased macrophage phagocytic activity and the expression of surface markers involved in antigen presentation, which translated into enhanced macrophage ability to activate B cells for antibody production. Moreover, the assayed medications augmented macrophage function and the effector phase of contact hypersensitivity reaction, but suppressed the sensitization phase of cell-mediated hypersensitivity under HSD conditions. Our current findings contribute to the recognition of mechanisms, by which excessive sodium intake affects macrophage immune activity in hypertensive individuals, and provide evidence that the assayed medications mitigate most of the HSD-induced adverse effects, suggesting their additional protective therapeutic activity.

Investigation of the Correlation Between the Polymorphism/Expression Level of RANTES and Its Receptor CCR5 Gene Promoter and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to explore relationship among RANTES -28 (rs2280788) C/G polymorphism or CCR5 59029 (rs1799987) A/G polymorphism, level of self-expression, and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Clinical data were collected from 92 subjects with normal blood glucose (NC) and 97 patients with T2DM (DM). CCR5 levels on the surface of monocyte/lymphocyte and plasma RANTES levels were detected by flow cytometry. TaqMan real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR was used to detect genetic polymorphisms of RANTES rs2280788 and CCR5 rs1799987.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences in frequencies of CCR5 rs1799987 genotype and A/G allele and frequencies of RANTES rs2280788 genotype and C/G allele, between subjects in NC and DM group (P > 0.05). Plasma RANTES level in DM group was significantly lower than NC group (P < 0.05), and difference came from patients with T2DM using insulin and subjects with normal blood glucose. CCR5 levels on the surface of monocytes and lymphocytes of patients in DM group were higher than NC group (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in CCR5 level on the surface of monocytes and lymphocytes (or plasma RANTES level) among different genotypes of CCR5 rs1799987 (or RANTES rs2280788) (P > 0.05). RANTES level was positively correlated with age and TC and negatively correlated with diabetes course and HbA1c. CCR5 level on the surface of monocytes was positively correlated with drinking years, HbA1c, course of diabetes, and negatively correlated with TC. CCR5 on lymphocyte surface was positively correlated with diabetes course, smoking years, HbA1c, and negatively correlated with LDL, TC, HDL (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

RANTES -28 (rs2280788) C/G polymorphism or CCR5 59029 (rs1799987) A/G polymorphism may not be associated with T2DM of Han nationality in Kunming and cannot affect RANTES and CCR5 expression. RANTES and CCR5 levels may be related to T2DM but may also be affected by age, blood lipids, HbA1c, diabetes course, drugs, and other factors.

Survey of In Vitro Model Systems for Investigation of Key Cellular Processes Associated with Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis progression is associated with a complex array of cellular processes in the arterial wall, including endothelial cell activation/dysfunction, chemokine-driven recruitment of immune cells, differentiation of monocytes to macrophages and their subsequent transformation into lipid laden foam cells, activation of inflammasome and pro-inflammatory signaling, and migration of smooth muscle cells from the media to the intima. The use of in vitro model systems has considerably advanced our understanding of these atherosclerosis-associated processes and they are also often used in drug discovery and other screening platforms. This chapter will describe key in vitro model systems employed frequently in atherosclerosis research.

Novel Strategies to Combat CMV-Related Cardiovascular Disease

Cytomegalovirus (CMV), a ubiquitous human pathogen that is never cleared from the host, has long been thought to be relatively innocuous in immunocompetent adults, but causes severe complications including blindness, end-organ disease, and death in newborns and in immuno-compromised individuals, such as organ transplant recipients and those suffering from AIDS. Yet even in persons with intact immunity, CMV infection is associated with profound stimulation of immune and inflammatory pathways. Carriers of CMV infection also have an elevated risk of developing cardiovascular complications. In this review, we define the proposed mechanisms of how CMV contributes to cardiovascular disease (CVD), describe current approaches to target CMV, and discuss how these strategies may or may not alleviate cardiovascular complications in those with CMV infection. In addition, we discuss the special situation of CMV coinfection in people with HIV infection receiving antiretroviral therapy, and describe how these 2 viral infections may interact to potentiate CVD in this especially vulnerable population.