Serum Zinc-α2-Glycoprotein Levels in Patients with or without Coronary Artery Disease in Chinese North Population

The Protective Effect of the Crosstalk between Zinc Hair Concentration and Lymphocyte Count-Preliminary Report

BACKGROUND

An imbalance between pro- and anti-inflammatory mechanisms is indicated in the pathophysiology of atherosclerotic plaque. The coronary artery and carotid disease, despite sharing similar risk factors, are developed separately. The aim of this study was to analyze possible mechanisms between trace element hair-scalp concentrations and whole blood counts that favor atherosclerotic plaque progression in certain locations.

METHODS

There were 65 (36 (55%) males and 29 (45%) females) patients with a median age of 68 (61-73) years enrolled in a prospective, preliminary, multicenter analysis. The study group was composed of 13 patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD group) referred for surgical revascularization due to multivessel coronary disease, 34 patients with carotid artery disease (carotid group) admitted for vascular procedure, and 18 patients in a control group (control group).

RESULTS

There was a significant difference between the CAD and carotid groups regarding lymphocyte (p = 0.004) counts. The biochemical comparison between the coronary and carotid groups revealed significant differences regarding chromium (Cr) (p = 0.002), copper (Cu) (p < 0.001), and zinc (Zn) (p < 0.001) concentrations. Spearman Rank Order Correlations between lymphocyte counts and trace elements in the analyzed groups were performed, revealing a strong correlation with zinc (R = 0.733, p < 0.001) in the control group (non-CAD, non-carotid).

CONCLUSION

Significant differences in hair-scalp concentrations related to atherosclerosis location were observed in our analysis. The interplay between zinc concentration and lymphocyte count may play a pivotal role in cardiovascular disease development.

Human epicardial adipose tissue inflammation correlates with coronary artery disease

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

This study investigates the expression of novel adipocytokines and inflammatory cells infiltration in epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) between 27 coronary artery disease (CAD) and 21 non-CAD (NCAD) patients enrolled from September 2020 to September 2021.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Serum, gene, and protein expression levels of the novel adipocytokines were determined using ELISA, RT-qPCR, and western blot analyses. The number of blood vessels and adipocytes morphology were measured via hematoxylin-eosin staining, and inflammatory cells infiltration was examined via immunohistochemistry. Serum ANGPTL8, CTRP5, and Wnt5a levels were higher in the CAD than in the NCAD group, while serum CTRP3, Sfrp5, and ZAG levels were lower in the CAD than in the NCAD group. Compared to the EAT of NCAD and SAT of CAD patients, the EAT of CAD patients had higher mRNA levels of ANGPTL8, CTRP5, and Wnt5a while lower levels of CTRP3, Sfrp5, and ZAG; higher protein expression levels of ANGPTL8 and CTRP5 but lower levels of CTRP3; more blood vessels; and higher infiltration rates of macrophages (CD68 + ), pro-inflammatory M1 macrophages (CD11c + ), mast cells (Tryptase + ), T lymphocytes (CD3 + ), and B lymphocytes (CD20 + ) but lower infiltration rates of anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages (CD206 + ).

CONCLUSION

Novel adipocytokines and inflammatory cells infiltration are dysregulated in human EAT, and could be important pathophysiological mechanisms and novelly promising medicating targets of CAD.

Expression of Recombinant Rat Secretable FNDC5 in Pichia Pastoris and Detection of Its Biological Activity

FNDC5 is the precursor of the myokine irisin proposed to exhibit favorable metabolic activity, including anti-obesity and anti-diabetes effects. The diversity of FNDC5 transcripts has been reported by several studies, but the role and existence of these transcripts are not well defined. In our previous study, a novel secretable FNDC5 (sFNDC5) isoform lacking the transmembrane region was found in rat INS-1 cells and multiple rat tissues. In the current study, we established a high-yield system for the expression and purification of sFNDC5 in Pichia pastoris, and functional investigations were undertaken using 3T3-L1 cells. We discovered that this new isoform has similar and even stronger biological functions than irisin, which may be due to its more complete structure without cleavage. Hence, we believe that sFNDC5, as the first identified readily secretable derivative, can better induce lipolysis and can potentially prevent obesity and related metabolic diseases.