Mitochondrial Oxidative Stress Promotes Cardiac Remodeling in Myocardial Infarction through the Activation of Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress

Role of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor in Anxiety or Depression After Percutaneous Coronary Intervention

Anxiety or depression after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is one of the key clinical problems in cardiology that need to be solved urgently. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) may be a potential biomarker for the pathogenesis and treatment of anxiety or depression after PCI. This article reviews the correlation between BDNF and cardiovascular system and nervous system from the aspects of synthesis, release and action site of BDNF, and focuses on the latest research progress of the mechanism of BDNF in anxiety or depression after PCI. It includes the specific mechanisms by which BDNF regulates the levels of inflammatory factors, reduces oxidative stress damage, and mediates multiple signaling pathways. In addition, this review summarizes the therapeutic potential of BDNF as a potential biomarker for anxiety or depression after PCI.

Hyperbaric Oxygen Upregulates Mst1 to Activate Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1 Pathway Resisting Oxidative Stress in a Rat Model of Acute Myocardial Infarction

This study aimed to investigate the protective effects and mechanisms of hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) preconditioning in a rat model of acute myocardial infarction (MI) established by ligation of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery. Microarray, real-time PCR, and western blotting (WB) results demonstrated that the Mst1 gene was downregulated in the heart tissue of the MI rat model. HBO preconditioning significantly increased Mst1 expression in cardiac tissues of rats after MI modeling. Lentiviral infection was used to silence the Mst1 gene in rats treated with HBO to probe the effect of Mst1 on HBO cardioprotection. HBO preconditioning decreased heart infarct size and ameliorated cardiac function in MI rats, whereas Mst1 silencing reversed the effect of HBO administration, as indicated after heat infarct size determination via TTC staining, histological examination via HE staining, and measurements of cardiac function. HBO preconditioning reduced oxidative stress and inflammation in cardiac tissue of MI rat model, evidenced by alteration of malondialdehyde (MDA), 8-hydroxy-2-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG), and protein carbonyl contents, as well as production of inflammation-associated myeloperoxidase (MPO), IL-1β, and TNF-α. These findings provide a new signaling mechanism through which HBO preconditioning can protect against acute MI injury through the Mst1-mediating Keap1/Nrf2/HO-1-dependent antioxidant defense system.

An emerging view on vascular fibrosis molecular mediators and relevant disorders: from bench to bed

Vascular fibrosis is a widespread pathologic condition that arises during vascular remodeling in cardiovascular dysfunctions. According to previous studies, vascular fibrosis is characterized by endothelial matrix deposition and vascular wall thickening. The RAAS and TGF-β/Smad signaling pathways have been frequently highlighted. It is, however, far from explicit in terms of understanding the cause and progression of vascular fibrosis. In this review, we collected and categorized a large number of molecules which influence the fibrosing process, in order to acquire a better understanding of vascular fibrosis, particularly of pathologic dysfunction. Furthermore, several mediators that prevent vascular fibrosis are discussed in depth in this review, with the aim that this will contribute to the future prevention and treatment of related conditions.

Mitochondrial-Targeted Antioxidant MitoQ-Mediated Autophagy: A Novel Strategy for Precise Radiation Protection

Radiotherapy (RT) is one of the most effective cancer treatments. However, successful radiation protection for normal tissue is a clinical challenge. Our previous study observed that MitoQ, a mitochondria-targeted antioxidant, was adsorbed to the inner mitochondrial membrane and remained the cationic moiety in the intermembrane space. The positive charges in MitoQ restrained the activity of respiratory chain complexes and decreased proton production. Therefore, a pseudo-mitochondrial membrane potential (PMMP) was developed via maintenance of exogenous positive charges. This study identified that PMMP constructed by MitoQ could effectively inhibit mitochondrial respiration within normal cells, disrupt energy metabolism, and activate adenosine 5'-monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling to induce autophagy. As such, it could not lead to starvation-induced autophagy among tumor cells due to the different energy phenotypes between normal and tumor cells (normal cells depend on mitochondrial respiration for energy supply, while tumor cells rely on aerobic glycolysis). Therefore, we successfully protected the normal cells from radiation-induced damage without affecting the tumor-killing efficacy of radiation by utilizing selective autophagy. MitoQ-constructed PMMP provides a new therapeutic strategy for specific radiation protection.

Melatonin Supplement Plus Exercise Effectively Counteracts the Challenges of Isoproterenol-Induced Cardiac Injury in Rats

To explore the combined effects of exercise and melatonin supplement against the challenges of isoproterenol-induced cardiac oxidative stress and injury in rats., the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma co-activator-1α (PGC-1α), mitochondrial biogenesis, and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) was up-regulated in cardiac muscle in normal rats and in a melatonin and exercise regimented group. Cardiac injury was induced by two subcutaneous injections of isoproterenol in the rats. The combination of exercise and melatonin supplement successfully counteracted the isoproterenol-induced cardiac injury, which is reflected by the improved hemodynamic parameters, reduction in oxidative stress markers, and cardiac injury serum markers (cardiac troponin-I and creatine kinase-MB). The cardiac tissue level of ATP, expression of PGC-1α and mitochondrial biogenesis-related genes, mitochondrial membrane potential, and the activities of typical antioxidants (glutathione, superoxide dismutase) were preserved, whereas the levels of reactive oxygen species, lipid peroxidation, and inflammatory cytokines were suppressed in the melatonin and exercise regimented (MEI) group compared to the group treated with isoproterenol alone. Furthermore, the expression of endoplasmic reticular stress- and apoptosis-related proteins (Bax, Bcl2, and caspase-3) was also effectively suppressed in the MEI group. Therefore, the present study suggests that melatonin supplement in combination with exercise prevents cardiac injury, possibly through the preservation of mitochondrial function and inhibition of oxidative stress in rats.