Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor And Coronary Artery Disease

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is defined as myocardial damage developing as a result of its organic and functional changes, and leading to impaired blood flow through the coronary arteries. An important pathogenetic component of CAD is atherosclerosis. Currently, key aspects of the molecular relationship between inflammation and atherosclerosis are being actively studied, the immunometabolic theory of atherosclerosis is being discussed, along with an involvement of perivascular adipose tissue in the pathogenesis of this pathology, due to its ability to respond to atherogenic stimuli via developing inflammatory reactions. Evidence has been accumulated that in patients with CAD, both in their blood and perivascular adipose tissue, the level of neurotrophic factors (in particular, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, BDNF) changes, which may be a promising area of research from the standpoint of studying this factor as a therapeutic target for atherosclerosis in CAD. Neurotrophic growth factors control the functioning of both immune and nervous systems, and the balance of energy metabolism and innervation of adipose tissue. They affect vascular homeostasis, and are also involved in causing and stopping inflammation. Currently, there are data on the role of BDNF in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular, neurodegenerative and metabolic diseases, and on the effect of polyunsaturated fatty acids and eicosanoids on the level of BDNF and, accordingly, the development and progression of coronary artery atherosclerosis. Our review summarizes published data (2019-2021) on the pathophysiological and pathogenetic mechanisms of the relationship between BDNF and CAD (atherosclerosis).

Nerve growth factor and post-infarction cardiac remodeling

The prevalence of sudden death from chronic heart failure and cardiac arrhythmias caused by myocardial infarction is a complex problem in cardiology. Post-infarction cardiac remodeling occurs after myocardial infarction. This compensatory-adaptive reaction, regulated by mechanical, neurohumoral and genetic factors, includes the structural and functional changes of cardiomyocytes, stromal elements and extracellular matrix, geometry and architectonics of the left ventricular cavity. Adverse left ventricular remodeling is associated with heart failure and increased mortality. The concept of post-infarction cardiac remodeling is an urgent problem, since the mechanisms of development and progression of adverse post-infarction changes in the myocardium are completely unexplored. In recent years, the scientist attention has been focused on neurotrophic factors involved in the sympathetic nervous system and the vascular system remodeling after myocardial infarction. Nerve growth factor (NGF) is a protein from the neurotrophin family that is essential for the survival and development of sympathetic and sensory neurons, which also plays an important role in vasculogenesis. Acute myocardial infarction and heart failure are characterized by changes in the expression and activity of neurotrophic factors and their receptors, affecting the innervation of the heart muscle, as well as having a direct effect on cardiomyocytes, endothelial and smooth muscle vascular cells. The identification of the molecular mechanisms involved in the interactions between cardiomyocytes and neurons, as well as the study of the effects of NGF in the cardiovascular system, will improve understanding of the cardiac remodeling mechanism. This review summarizes the available scientific information (2019–2021) about mechanisms of the link between post-infarction cardiac remodeling and NGF functions.

Thermosensory Transient Receptor Potential Ion Channels and Asthma

Asthma is a widespread chronic disease of the bronchopulmonary system with a heterogeneous course due to the complex etiopathogenesis. Natural-climatic and anthropogenic factors play an important role in the development and progression of this pathology. The reception of physical and chemical environmental stimuli and the regulation of body temperature are mediated by thermosensory channels, members of a subfamily of transient receptor potential (TRP) ion channels. It has been found that genes encoding vanilloid, ankyrin, and melastatin TRP channels are involved in the development of some asthma phenotypes and in the formation of exacerbations of this pathology. The review summarizes modern views on the role of high and low temperatures in airway inflammation in asthma. The participation of thermosensory TRP channels (vanilloid, ankyrin, and melastatin TRP channels) in the reaction to high and low temperatures and air humidity as well as in the formation of bronchial hyperreactivity and respiratory symptoms accompanying asthma is described. The genetic aspects of the functioning of thermosensory TRP channels are discussed. It is shown that new methods of treatment of asthma exacerbations caused by the influence of temperature and humidity should be based on the regulation of channel activity.

Neuroimmune regulatory networks of the airway mucosa in allergic inflammatory disease

Communication between the nervous and immune systems serves a key role in host‐protective immunity at mucosal barrier sites including the respiratory tract. In these tissues, neuroimmune interactions operate in bidirectional circuits that can sense and respond to mechanical, chemical, and biologic stimuli. Allergen‐ or helminth‐induced products can produce airway inflammation by direct action on nociceptive afferents and adjacent tissues. The activity of nociceptive afferents can regulate innate and adaptive immune responses via neuropeptides and neurotransmitter signaling. This review will summarize recent work investigating the role of neuropeptides CGRP, VIP, neuromedins, substance P, and neurotransmitters dopamine and the B2‐adrenoceptor agonists epinepherine/norepinepherine, each of which influence type 2 immunity by instructing mast cell, innate lymphoid cell type 2, dendritic cell, and T cell responses, both in the airway and the draining lymph node. Afferents in the airway also contain receptors for alarmins and cytokines, allowing their activity to be modulated by immune cell secreted products, particularly those secreted by mast cells. Taken together, we propose that further investigation of how immunoregulatory neuropeptides shape respiratory inflammation in experimental systems may reveal novel therapeutic targets for addressing the increasing prevalence of chronic airway disease in humans.