Sodium Selenite Attenuates Balloon Injury-Induced and Monocrotaline-Induced Vascular Remodeling in Rats

Erythropoietin improves pulmonary hypertension by promoting the homing and differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells in lung tissue

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a chronic disease thatultimately progresses to right-sided heart failure and death. Erythropoietin (EPO) has been shown to have therapeutic potential in cardiovascular diseases, including PAH. In this study, we aimed to investigate the improvement effect of EPO pretreated bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) on PAH. BMSCs were obtained from the bone marrow of male SD rats. Female rats were randomly divided into six groups, including control group, monocrotaline (MCT)-induced group, and four groups with different doses of EPO pretreated BMSCs. Lung tissue was taken for testing at 2 weeks of treatment. Our results showed EPO promoted homing and endothelial cell differentiation of BMSCs in the lung tissues of PAH rats. EPO and BMSCs treatment attenuated pulmonary arterial pressure, polycythemia, and pulmonary artery structural remodeling. Furthermore, BMSCs inhibited pulmonary vascular endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndoMT) in PAH rats, which was further suppressed by EPO in a concentration-dependent manner. Meanwhile, EPO and BMSC treatment elevated pulmonary angiogenesis in PAH rats. BMSCs inhibited TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, and MCP-1 in lung tissues of PAH rats, which was further decreased by EPO in a concentration-dependent manner. Thus, EPO improved pulmonary hypertension (PH) by promoting the homing and differentiation of BMSCs in lung tissue.

Neurovascular protection of alisol A on cerebral ischemia mice through activating the AKT/GSK3β pathway

Alisol A, a triterpene isolated from Alisma Orientale, has been shown to exhibit anti-inflammatory effects and vascular protection. This study was designed to observe the effect of alisol A on cerebral ischemia (CI)-induced neurovascular dysfunction in the hippocampus and to further explore the potential mechanisms. The results showed that alisol A treatment improved the neurological deficits and cognitive impairment of CI mice. Alisol A reduced gliosis and improved neuronal/glial metabolism. Accordingly, alisol A inhibited inflammatory factors IL-6 and IL-1β induced by overactivation of astrocytes and microglia, thus protecting the neurovasculature. Furthermore, alisol A promoted the survival of neurons by decreasing the ratio of Bax/Bcl-2, and protected brain microvascular endothelial cells (BMECs) by upregulating the expression of ZO-1, Occludin and CD31. The phosphorylation of protein kinase B (AKT) and glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) increased after treatment with alisol A. To explore the underlying mechanism, AKT was inhibited. As expected, the neurovascular protection of alisol A above was eliminated by AKT inhibition. The present study primarily suggested that alisol A could exert neurovascular protection in the hippocampus of CI mice by activating the AKT/GSK3β pathway and may potentially be used for the treatment of CI.

Chitinase-3 like-protein-1, matrix metalloproteinase -9 and positive intracranial arterial remodelling

Introduction

Positive intracranial arterial remodelling is a dilated lesion of the large intracranial vessels; however, its pathogenesis is currently unknown. Some studies have identified chitinase-3 like-protein-1 (YKL-40) and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 as circulating inflammatory factors involved in positive vascular remodelling. Herein, we aimed to investigate the relationship between changes in serum YKL-40 and MMP-9 levels and positive intracranial arterial remodelling in patients with cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD).

Methods

A total of 110 patients with CSVD were selected. Patients with brain arterial remodelling (BAR) scores >1 times the standard deviation were defined as the positive intracranial artery remodelling group (n = 21 cases), and those with BAR scores ≤1 times the standard deviation were defined as the non-positive intracranial artery remodelling group (n = 89 cases). Serum YKL-40 and MMP-9 levels were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. Factors influencing positive intracranial artery remodelling using binary logistic regression analysis and predictive value of YKL-40 and MMP-9 for positive intracranial arterial remodelling in patients with CSVD were assessed by a subject receiver operating characteristic curve.

Results

Statistically significant differences in serum YKL-40 and MMP-9 levels were observed between the positive and non-positive remodelling groups (p < 0.05). The integrated indicator (OR = 9.410, 95% CI: 3.156 ~ 28.054, P<0.01) of YKL-40 and MMP-9 levels were independent risk factors for positive intracranial arterial remodelling. The integrated indicator (OR = 3.763, 95% CI: 1.884 ~ 7.517, p < 0.01) of YKL-40 and MMP-9 were independent risk factors for positive arterial remodelling in posterior circulation, but were not significantly associated with positive arterial remodelling in anterior circulation (p > 0.05). The area under the curve for YKL-40 and MMP-9 diagnostic positive remodelling was 0.778 (95% CI: 0.692–0.865, p < 0.01) and 0.736 (95% CI: 0.636–0.837, p < 0.01), respectively.

Discussion

Elevated serum YKL-40 and MMP-9 levels are independent risk factors for positive intracranial arterial remodelling in patients with CSVD and may predict the presence of positive intracranial arterial remodelling, providing new ideas for the mechanism of its occurrence and development and the direction of treatment.

Seleno-Metabolites and Their Precursors: A New Dawn for Several Illnesses?

Selenium (Se) is an essential element for human health as it is involved in different physiological functions. Moreover, a great number of Se compounds can be considered potential agents in the prevention and treatment of some diseases. It is widely recognized that Se activity is related to multiple factors, such as its chemical form, dose, and its metabolism. The understanding of its complex biochemistry is necessary as it has been demonstrated that the metabolites of the Se molecules used to be the ones that exert the biological activity. Therefore, the aim of this review is to summarize the recent information about its most remarkable metabolites of acknowledged biological effects: hydrogen selenide (HSe⁻/H₂Se) and methylselenol (CH₃SeH). In addition, special attention is paid to the main seleno-containing precursors of these derivatives and their role in different pathologies.

Apolipoprotein J Attenuates Vascular Restenosis by Promoting Autophagy and Inhibiting the Proliferation and Migration of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

This research investigated the mechanism of CLU in vascular restenosis by regulating vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation and migration. Firstly, rat models of balloon injury (BI) were established, followed by the assessment of the injury to the common carotid artery. The effect of CLU on the intimal hyperplasia of BI rats was measured after the intervention in CLU, in addition to the evaluation of proliferation, migration, and autophagy of VSMCs. Moreover, the interaction between ATG and LC3 was analyzed, followed by validation of the role of autophagy in CLU's regulation on the proliferation and migration of VSMCs. It was found that CLU was highly expressed in BI rats. Altogether, our findings indicated that CLU was highly expressed in vascular restenosis, and CLU over-expression promoted the binding between ATG3 and LC3, thus facilitating VSMC autophagy and eventually attenuating intimal hyperplasia and vascular restenosis.