Diabetes and Its Cardiovascular Complications: Potential Role of the Acetyltransferase p300

Mitochondria targeted esculetin administration improves insulin resistance and hyperglycemia-induced atherosclerosis in db/db mice

The development and progression of hyperglycemia (HG) and HG-associated atherosclerosis are exacerbated by mitochondrial dysfunction due to dysregulated mitochondria-derived ROS generation. We recently synthesized a novel mitochondria-targeted esculetin (Mito-Esc) and tested its dose-response therapeutic efficacy in mitigating HG-induced atherosclerosis in db/db mice. In comparison to simvastatin and pioglitazone, Mito-Esc administration resulted in a considerable reduction in body weights and improved glucose homeostasis, possibly by reducing hepatic gluconeogenesis, as indicated by a reduction in glycogen content, non-esterified free fatty acids (NEFA) levels, and fructose 1,6-bisphosphatase (FBPase) activity. Interestingly, Mito-Esc treatment, by regulating phospho-IRS and phospho-AKT levels, greatly improved palmitate-induced insulin resistance, resulting in enhanced glucose uptake in adipocytes and HepG2 cells. Also, and importantly, Mito-Esc administration prevented HG-induced atheromatous plaque formation and lipid accumulation in the descending aorta. In addition, Mito-Esc administration inhibited the HG-mediated increase in VACM, ICAM, and MAC3 levels in the aortic tissue, as well as reduced the serum pro-inflammatory cytokines and markers of senescence. In line with this, Mito-Esc significantly inhibited monocyte adherence to human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) treated with high glucose and reduced high glucose-induced premature senescence in HAECs by activating the AMPK-SIRT1 pathway. In contrast, Mito-Esc failed to regulate high glucose-induced endothelial cell senescence under AMPK/SIRT1-depleted conditions. Together, the therapeutic efficacy of Mito-Esc in the mitigation of hyperglycemia-induced insulin resistance and the associated atherosclerosis is in part mediated by potentiating the AMPK-SIRT1 axis. KEY MESSAGES: Mito-Esc administration significantly mitigates diabetes-induced atherosclerosis. Mito-Esc improves hyperglycemia (HG)-associated insulin resistance. Mito-Esc inhibits HG-induced vascular senescence and inflammation in the aorta. Mito-Esc-mediated activation of the AMPK-SIRT1 axis regulates HG-induced endothelial cell senescence.

Identification of key genes and biological pathways associated with vascular aging in diabetes based on bioinformatics and machine learning

Vascular aging exacerbates diabetes-associated vascular damage, a major cause of microvascular and macrovascular complications. This study aimed to elucidate key genes and pathways underlying vascular aging in diabetes using integrated bioinformatics and machine learning approaches. Gene expression datasets related to vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) senescence and diabetic vascular aging were analyzed. Differential expression analysis identified 428 genes associated with VSMC senescence. Functional enrichment revealed their involvement in cellular senescence, ECM-receptor interaction, PI3K-Akt and AGE-RAGE signaling pathways. Further analysis of diabetic vascular aging datasets revealed 52 differentially expressed genes, enriched in AMPK signaling, AGE-RAGE signaling, cellular senescence, and VEGF signaling pathways. Machine learning algorithms, including LASSO regression and SVM-RFE, pinpointed six key genes: TFB1M, FOXRED2, LY75, DALRD3, PI4K2B, and NDOR1. Immune cell infiltration analysis demonstrated correlations between diabetic vascular aging, the identified key genes, and infiltration levels of plasma cells, M1 macrophages, CD8+ T cells, eosinophils, and regulatory T cells. In conclusion, this study identified six pivotal genes (TFB1M, FOXRED2, LY75, DALRD3, PI4K2B, and NDOR1) closely associated with diabetic vascular aging through integrative bioinformatics and machine learning approaches. These genes are linked to alterations in the immune microenvironment during diabetic vascular aging. This study provides a reference and basis for molecular mechanism research, biomarker mining, and diagnosis and treatment evaluation of diabetes-related vascular aging.

Pharmacological inhibition of p300 ameliorates steatosis, inflammation, and fibrosis in mice with non-alcoholic steatohepatitis

The histone acetyltransferase p300 plays a pivotal role in regulating gene expression and cellular phenotype through epigenetic mechanisms. It significantly influences lipid metabolism, which is a key factor in the pathogenesis of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), by modulating the transcription of genes involved in lipid synthesis and accumulation. This study aimed to investigate the protective potential of inhibiting p300 in NASH. Male C57BL/6J mice were subjected to a methionine- and choline-deficient (MCD) diet for 4 weeks to induce NASH, and during this period, the p300 inhibitor C646 (10 mg/kg) was administered three times a week. C646 treatment reduced the elevation of p300 expression and histone H3 acetylation, leading to a decrease in liver injury markers in the serum and an improvement in the histological abnormalities observed in MCD diet-fed mice. C646 also reduced lipid accumulation by modulating de novo lipogenesis and suppressed inflammation, including cytokine overproduction and macrophage infiltration. Furthermore, C646 mitigated liver fibrosis and myofibroblast accumulation. This protective effect was achieved through the inhibition of apoptosis by reducing p53 and Bax expression and the suppression of ferroptosis by decreasing lipid peroxidation while enhancing antioxidant defenses. Additionally, C646 alleviated endoplasmic reticulum stress, as evidenced by the downregulation of unfolded protein response signaling molecules. These results highlight the potential of p300 as a therapeutic target for NASH.

Role of transcriptional cofactors in cardiovascular diseases

Cardiovascular disease is a main cause of mortality in the world and the highest incidence of all diseases. However, the mechanism of the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease is still unclear, and we need to continue to explore its mechanism of action. The occurrence and development of cardiovascular disease is significantly associated with genetic abnormalities, and gene expression is affected by transcriptional regulation. In this complex process, the protein-protein interaction promotes the RNA polymerase II to the initiation site. And in this process of transcriptional regulation, transcriptional cofactors are responsible for passing cues from enhancers to promoters and promoting the binding of RNA polymerases to promoters, so transcription cofactors playing a key role in gene expression regulation. There is growing evidence that transcriptional cofactors play a critical role in cardiovascular disease. Transcriptional cofactors can promote or inhibit transcription by affecting the function of transcription factors. It can affect the initiation and elongation process of transcription by forming complexes with transcription factors, which are important for the stabilization of DNA rings. It can also act as a protein that interacts with other proteins to affect the expression of other genes. Therefore, the aim of this overview is to summarize the effect of some transcriptional cofactors such as BRD4, EP300, MED1, EZH2, YAP, SIRT6 in cardiovascular disease and to provide a promising therapeutic strategy for the treatment of cardiovascular disease.

Interplay between Senescence and Macrophages in Diabetic Cardiomyopathy: A Review of the Potential Role of GDF-15 and Klotho

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a critical health problem, with 700 million diagnoses expected worldwide by 2045. Uncontrolled high blood glucose levels can lead to serious complications, including diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM). Diabetes induces cardiovascular aging and inflammation, increasing cardiomyopathy risk. DCM is characterized by structural and functional abnormalities in the heart. Growing evidence suggests that cellular senescence and macrophage-mediated inflammation participate in the pathogenesis and progression of DCM. Evidence indicates that growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15), a protein that belongs to the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) superfamily, is associated with age-related diseases and exerts an anti-inflammatory role in various disease models. Although further evidence suggests that GDF-15 can preserve Klotho, a transmembrane antiaging protein, emerging research has elucidated the potential involvement of GDF-15 and Klotho in the interplay between macrophages-induced inflammation and cellular senescence in the context of DCM. This review explores the intricate relationship between senescence and macrophages in DCM while highlighting the possible contributions of GDF-15 and Klotho.

Coenzyme Q10: A Key Antioxidant in the Management of Diabetes-Induced Cardiovascular Complications-An Overview of Mechanisms and Clinical Evidence

Background

Diabetes mellitus (DM) presents a significant global health challenge with considerable cardiovascular implications. Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) has gained recognition for its potential as a natural antioxidant supplement in the management of diabetes and its associated cardiovascular complications.

Aim

This comprehensive review systematically examines the scientific rationale underlying the therapeutic properties of CoQ10 in mitigating the impact of diabetes and its cardiovascular consequences. The analysis encompasses preclinical trials (in vitro and in vivo) and clinical studies evaluating the efficacy and mechanisms of action of CoQ10. Result & Discussion. Findings reveal that CoQ10, through its potent antioxidant and anti-inflammatory attributes, demonstrates significant potential in reducing oxidative stress, ameliorating lipid profiles, and regulating blood pressure, which are crucial aspects in managing diabetes-induced cardiovascular complications. CoQ10, chemically represented as C59H90O4, was administered in capsule form for human studies at doses of 50, 100, 150, 200, and 300 mg per day and at concentrations of 10 and 20 μM in sterile powder for experimental investigations and 10 mg/kg in powder for mouse studies, according to the published research. Clinical trials corroborate these preclinical findings, demonstrating improved glycemic control, lipid profiles, and blood pressure in patients supplemented with CoQ10.

Conclusion

In conclusion, CoQ10 emerges as a promising natural therapeutic intervention for the comprehensive management of diabetes and its associated cardiovascular complications. Its multifaceted impacts on the Nrf2/Keap1/ARE pathway, oxidative stress, and metabolic regulation highlight its potential as an adjunct in the treatment of diabetes and related cardiovascular disorders. However, further extensive clinical investigations are necessary to fully establish its therapeutic potential and assess potential synergistic effects with other compounds.

TGR5 signalling in heart and brain injuries: focus on metabolic and ischaemic mechanisms

The heart and brain are the core organs of the circulation and central nervous system, respectively, and play an important role in maintaining normal physiological functions. Early neuronal and cardiac damage affects organ function. The relationship between the heart and brain is being continuously investigated. Evidence-based medicine has revealed the concept of the "heart- brain axis," which may provide new therapeutic strategies for certain diseases. Takeda protein-coupled receptor 5 (TGR5) is a metabolic regulator involved in energy homeostasis, bile acid homeostasis, and glucose and lipid metabolism. Inflammation is critical for the development and regeneration of the heart and brain during metabolic diseases. Herein, we discuss the role of TGR5 as a metabolic regulator of heart and brain development and injury to facilitate new therapeutic strategies for metabolic and ischemic diseases of the heart and brain.

Metabolic memory: mechanisms and diseases

Metabolic diseases and their complications impose health and economic burdens worldwide. Evidence from past experimental studies and clinical trials suggests our body may have the ability to remember the past metabolic environment, such as hyperglycemia or hyperlipidemia, thus leading to chronic inflammatory disorders and other diseases even after the elimination of these metabolic environments. The long-term effects of that aberrant metabolism on the body have been summarized as metabolic memory and are found to assume a crucial role in states of health and disease. Multiple molecular mechanisms collectively participate in metabolic memory management, resulting in different cellular alterations as well as tissue and organ dysfunctions, culminating in disease progression and even affecting offspring. The elucidation and expansion of the concept of metabolic memory provides more comprehensive insight into pathogenic mechanisms underlying metabolic diseases and complications and promises to be a new target in disease detection and management. Here, we retrace the history of relevant research on metabolic memory and summarize its salient characteristics. We provide a detailed discussion of the mechanisms by which metabolic memory may be involved in disease development at molecular, cellular, and organ levels, with emphasis on the impact of epigenetic modulations. Finally, we present some of the pivotal findings arguing in favor of targeting metabolic memory to develop therapeutic strategies for metabolic diseases and provide the latest reflections on the consequences of metabolic memory as well as their implications for human health and diseases.

Latent inter-organ mechanism of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis unveiled by a generative computational approach

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a chronic and progressive disease characterized by complex lung pathogenesis affecting approximately three million people worldwide. While the molecular and cellular details of the IPF mechanism is emerging, our current understanding is centered around the lung itself. On the other hand, many human diseases are the products of complex multi-organ interactions. Hence, we postulate that a dysfunctional crosstalk of the lung with other organs plays a causative role in the onset, progression and/or complications of IPF. In this study, we employed a generative computational approach to identify such inter-organ mechanism of IPF. This approach found unexpected molecular relatedness of IPF to neoplasm, diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, obesity, atherosclerosis, and arteriosclerosis. Furthermore, as a potential mechanism underlying this relatedness, we uncovered a putative molecular crosstalk system across the lung and the liver. In this inter-organ system, a secreted protein, kininogen 1, from hepatocytes in the liver interacts with its receptor, bradykinin receptor B1 in the lung. This ligand-receptor interaction across the liver and the lung leads to the activation of calmodulin pathways in the lung, leading to the activation of interleukin 6 and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 1 pathway across these organs. Importantly, we retrospectively identified several pre-clinical and clinical evidence supporting this inter-organ mechanism of IPF. In conclusion, such feedforward and feedback loop system across the lung and the liver provides a unique opportunity for the development of the treatment and/or diagnosis of IPF. Furthermore, the result illustrates a generative computational framework for machine-mediated synthesis of mechanisms that facilitates and complements the traditional experimental approaches in biomedical sciences.

Aging and Metabolic Reprogramming of Adipose-Derived Stem Cells Affect Molecular Mechanisms Related to Cardiovascular Diseases

We performed a systematic search of the PubMed database for English-language articles related to the function of adipose-derived stem cells in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. In preclinical models, adipose-derived stem cells protected arteries and the heart from oxidative stress and inflammation and preserved angiogenesis. However, clinical trials did not reiterate successful treatments with these cells in preclinical models. The low success in patients may be due to aging and metabolic reprogramming associated with the loss of proliferation capacity and increased senescence of stem cells, loss of mitochondrial function, increased oxidative stress and inflammation, and adipogenesis with increased lipid deposition associated with the low potential to induce endothelial cell function and angiogenesis, cardiomyocyte survival, and restore heart function. Then, we identify noncoding RNAs that may be mechanistically related to these dysfunctions of human adipose-derived stem cells. In particular, a decrease in let-7, miR-17-92, miR-21, miR-145, and miR-221 led to the loss of their function with obesity, type 2 diabetes, oxidative stress, and inflammation. An increase in miR-34a, miR-486-5p, and mir-24-3p contributed to the loss of function, with a noteworthy increase in miR-34a with age. In contrast, miR-146a and miR-210 may protect stem cells. However, a systematic analysis of other noncoding RNAs in human adipose-derived stem cells is warranted. Overall, this review gives insight into modes to improve the functionality of human adipose-derived stem cells.

Development of a core outcome set for cardiovascular diabetology: a methodological framework

Background

Cardiovascular diabetology is an emergent field focusing on all aspects of diabetes/cardiovascular interrelationship and metabolic syndrome. High-quality evidence needs to be provided to determine the efficacy and safety of interventions in cardiovascular diabetology. The heterogeneity of outcomes among trials limits the comparison of results, and some outcomes are not always meaningful to end-users. The cardiovascular diabetology core outcome set (COS) study aims to develop a COS of interventions for cardiovascular diabetology. In this paper, we introduce the methodological framework for developing the COS.

Methods

The COS development will include the following steps: (a) establish the COS groups of stakeholders, including international steering committee, Delphi survey group, and consensus meeting group; (b) systematic reviews of outcomes used in trials of cardiovascular diabetology; (c) semistructured interview of stakeholders for outcomes of cardiovascular diabetology; (d) generate a list of candidate outcomes and determine the original outcome pool; (e) Delphi survey with stakeholders of cardiovascular diabetology to select potential core outcomes; and (f) review and endorse the cardiovascular diabetology COS by expert consensus meeting.

Conclusions

This current study reports the methodological framework to develop a COS in cardiovascular diabetology and will provide evidence for the future development of COS in cardiovascular diabetology.

Role of Epigenetics and Metabolomics in Predicting Endothelial Dysfunction in Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a worldwide health problem and cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in T2D patients, making the prevention of CVD onset a major priority. It is therefore crucial to optimize diagnosis and treatment to reduce this burden. Endothelial dysfunction is one of the most important prognostic factors for CVD progression, thus novel approaches to identify the early phase of endothelial dysfunction may lead to specific preventive measures to reduce the occurrence of CVD. Nowadays, multiomics approaches have provided unprecedented opportunities to stratify T2D patients into endotypes, improve therapeutic treatment and outcome and amend the survival prediction. Among omics strategies, epigenetics and metabolomics are gaining increasing interest. Recently, a dynamic correlation between metabolic pathways and gene expression through chromatin remodeling, such as DNA methylation, has emerged, indicating new perspectives on the regulatory networks impacting cellular processes. Thus, a better understanding of epigenetic-metabolite relationships can provide insight into the physiological processes altered early in the endothelium that ultimately head to disease development. Here, recent studies on epigenetics and metabolomics related to CVD prevention potentially useful to identify disease biomarkers, as well as new therapies hopefully targeting the early phase of endothelial dysfunction are highlighted.

Role of Natural and Synthetic Compounds in Modulating NRF2/KEAP1 Signaling Pathway in Prostate Cancer

Prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men worldwide. Prostate cancer can be treated by surgery or active surveillance when early diagnosed but, when diagnosed at an advanced or metastatic stage, radiation therapy or androgen-deprivation therapy is needed to reduce cancer progression. However, both of these therapies can cause prostate cancer resistance to treatment. Several studies demonstrated that oxidative stress is involved in cancer occurrence, development, progression and treatment resistance. The nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (NRF2)/KEAP1 (Kelch-Like ECH-Associated Protein 1) pathway plays an important role in protecting cells against oxidative damage. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and NRF2 activation can determine cell fate. In particular, toxic levels of ROS lead physiological cell death and cell tumor suppression, while lower ROS levels are associated with carcinogenesis and cancer progression. On the contrary, a high level of NRF2 promotes cell survival related to cancer progression activating an adaptive antioxidant response. In this review, we analyzed the current literature regarding the role of natural and synthetic compounds in modulating NRF2/KEAP1 signaling pathway in prostate cancer.