[E-Selectin as a Marker of Endothelial Dysfunction in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease Including Those with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus]

Diabetic kidney disease induces transcriptome alterations associated with angiogenesis activity in human mesenchymal stromal cells

BACKGROUND

Therapeutic interventions that optimize angiogenic activities may reduce rates of end-stage kidney disease, critical limb ischemia, and lower extremity amputations in individuals with diabetic kidney disease (DKD). Infusion of autologous mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) is a promising novel therapy to rejuvenate vascular integrity. However, DKD-related factors, including hyperglycemia and uremia, might alter MSC angiogenic repair capacity in an autologous treatment approach.

METHODS

To explore the angiogenic activity of MSC in DKD, the transcriptome of adipose tissue-derived MSC obtained from DKD subjects was compared to age-matched controls without diabetes or kidney impairment. Next-generation RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed on MSC (DKD n = 29; Controls n = 9) to identify differentially expressed (DE; adjusted p < 0.05, |log₂fold change|> 1) messenger RNA (mRNA) and microRNA (miRNA) involved in angiogenesis (GeneCards). Paracrine-mediated angiogenic repair capacity of MSC conditioned medium (MSCcm) was assessed in vitro using human umbilical vein endothelial cells incubated in high glucose and indoxyl sulfate for a hyperglycemic, uremic state.

RESULTS

RNA-seq analyses revealed 133 DE mRNAs (77 upregulated and 56 down-regulated) and 208 DE miRNAs (119 up- and 89 down-regulated) in DKD-MSC versus Control-MSC. Interestingly, miRNA let-7a-5p, which regulates angiogenesis and participates in DKD pathogenesis, interacted with 5 angiogenesis-associated mRNAs (transgelin/TAGLN, thrombospondin 1/THBS1, lysyl oxidase-like 4/LOXL4, collagen 4A1/COL4A1 and collagen 8A1/COL8A1). DKD-MSCcm incubation with injured endothelial cells improved tube formation capacity, enhanced migration, reduced adhesion molecules E-selectin, vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 mRNA expression in endothelial cells. Moreover, angiogenic repair effects did not differ between treatment groups (DKD-MSCcm vs. Control-MSCcm).

CONCLUSIONS

MSC from individuals with DKD show angiogenic transcriptome alterations compared to age-matched controls. However, angiogenic repair potential may be preserved, supporting autologous MSC interventions to treat conditions requiring enhanced angiogenic activities such as DKD, diabetic foot ulcers, and critical limb ischemia.

Non-invasive techniques to access in vivo the skin microcirculation in patients

The microcirculation is composed of blood vessels with mean internal diameter smaller than 100 μm. This structure is responsible for survival of cells and in the last 50 years its study has become increasingly interesting because it often participates in the pathophysiology of several diseases or can determine better or worse prognosis for them. Due to the growing importance of knowing more about the microcirculation, several techniques have been developed and now it is possible to study its structure or function. In the last 25 years, the cutaneous microcirculation has emerged as an accessible and representative portion of generalized vascular bed allowing the examination of mechanisms of microcirculatory function and dysfunction. This mini review presents several techniques used for non-invasive access to skin microcirculation, such as Nailfold Videocapillaroscopy, Orthogonal Polarization Spectral Imaging, Sidestream Dark Field Imaging, Incident Dark field Illumination, Laser Doppler Flowmetry, and Laser Speckle Contrast Imaging applied. The techniques presented will describe which types of variables (structural or functional) can be evaluated, their limitations and potential uses.

Differentiated serum levels of Krüppel-like factors 2 and 4, sP-selectin, and sE-selectin in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus

OBJECTIVES

This study aims to determine serum levels of human Krüppel-like factors (KLFs), sP-selectin and sE-selectin and establish correlations between them in patients with gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM).

METHODS

Twenty-six GDM patients aged between 22 and 35 years and 25 healthy pregnant women aged between 23 and 34 years were recruited. Maternal serum levels of KLF2, KLF4, and their target proteins sP-selectin, sE-selectin were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays at 24-28 weeks of gestation.

RESULTS

Women with GDM had significantly lower serum KLF2 than controls. However, the differences in levels of serum KLF4 between the control and GDM groups were not significant. Additionally, elevated serum sP-selectin and sE-selectin were found in the GDM group and not in the healthy group. Importantly, we also found that serum KLF2 levels were negatively correlated with indicators of glucose metabolism, including insulin, fasting blood glucose, 1-h oral glucose tolerance test, and glycated hemoglobin.

CONCLUSION

We conclude that (i) serum KLF2 might be indicative of GDM risk, and (ii) sP-selectin and sE-selectin were increased in GDM patients.

[Assessment of the structural and functional state of blood vessels in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy]

Aim      To evaluate the structural and functional condition of the vasculature using fingertip photoplethysmography and computerized videocapillaroscopy in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCMP).Material and methods  The study included patients with HCMP (n=48; 28 (57 %) men; age, 54.3±13.6 years) and healthy volunteers (control group, n=33, 15 (45 %) men; age, 58.2±8.8 years). Standard laboratory and instrumental examination (blood count and biochemistry, electrocardiography, echocardiography, Holter electrocardiogram monitoring) were performed for all HCMP patients. The condition of vascular wall at various levels of the vasculature was evaluated by fingertip photoplethysmography (apparatus Angioscan-01) and computerized nail-fold videocapillaroscopy (apparatus Capillaroscan-01). The photoplethysmography study analyzed structural parameters, including the arterial wall stiffness index (aSI) of large blood vessels and the resistance index (RI) of small muscular arteries. Endothelial dysfunction was evaluated by the occlusion index (OI) and phase shift (PS). The capillaroscopy study assessed structural parameters, including the resting capillary density (rCD) and the capillary density following venous occlusion (voCD), and functional parameters, including the percentage of perfused capillaries (PPC), the percentage of restored capillaries (PRC), and the capillary density after the reactive hyperemia test (rhCD).Results The study showed increases in aSI (8.8 [6.8; 12.2] and RI (32.5 [17.4; 47.9] in the HCMP group. The OI was significantly lower in the HCMP group (1.3 [1.1; 1.5]) than in the control group (1.8 [1.5; 2.7], р&lt;0.001). Also, PS values were significantly decreased in the HCMP group (4.4 [2.3; 8.6]) compared to the control group (8.4 [5.1; 12.1]. p=0.018). Disorders of structural and functional capillary indexes were observed in HCMP patients compared to the control group; rCD and voCD were decreased in the HCMP group (60 [52.6; 68] and 88 [75; 90], respectively) compared to the control group (75.8 [60; 87] and 90 [73; 101]), however, no intergroup difference reached a statistical significance. The rhCD, PPC, and PRC values were decreased in the HCMP group (66.3 [55; 72], 86.7 [70.9; 104.2] and 1.7 [-6.95; 20.3], respectively) compared to the control group (86 [68.6; 100], 103 [96; 114] and 18.4 [8.1; 27.4], respectively); PPC and PRC values were significantly different (р&lt;0.005 and p&lt;0.004, respectively).Conclusion      In patients with HCMP, fingertip photoplethysmography and computerized videocapillaroscopy showed increased wall stiffness in both large blood vessels and microvasculature, pronounced endothelial dysfunction, and decreases in capillary density and percentage of restored capillaries following respective tests.

Assesment of Markers of Endothelial Dysfunction and Myocardial Stress in Patients with Hypertrophic Cardyomyopathy

Aim. To study the level of serum biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction and myocardial stress in patients with various types of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM).

Material and Methods. 48 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (27 men and 21 women) were examined, the mean age was 54±13 years. The patients were divided into two groups according to the course options: group 1 - symptomatic stable course (n=14); group 2 - progressive course of symptomatic HCM (n=34). In accordance with the assigned tasks, all patients underwent determination of biological markers of neurohumoral systems in blood serum using immunofluorescence assay analysis: N-terminal fragment of brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), von Willebrand factor (vWF), endothelin-1, E-selectin with subsequent evaluation and correlation of results with clinical and instrumental characteristics of patients. When performing echocardiography following parameters were assessed: dimensions of the heart chambers, the thickness of the interventricular septum, the thickness of the posterior wall of the left ventricle (LV), LV mass, LV mass index, the ratio between LV filling in diastole (peak E) and atrial systole (peak A)-(E/A), relative myocardial thickness index, left atrial volume index.

Results. Both groups showed increased levels of NT-proBNP and endothelin-1. E-selectin and vonWillebrand factor remained within the normal range. There was no statistically significant intergroup difference. There was a correlation between the level of the index of the relative myocardial thickness and the level of NT-proBNP (r=0.30; p=0.04). A correlation was found between the level of the vWF marker and the left atrial volume index (r=0.32; p=0.04). When assessing the association of indicators of intracardiac hemodynamics with other markers (E-selectin and endothelin-1, no statistically significant relationships were found.

Conclusion. In the course of the research, it was found that the high activity of endothelin-1 and NT-proBNP reflects endothelial dysfunction and myocardial stress in patients with HCM, especially in patients with a progressive variant of HCM. However, we did not find any changes in the levels of E-selectin and von Willebrand factor, as well as their intergroup differences. These results require additional studies to assess endothelial dysfunction in patients with HCM.