Systematic review and bioinformatics analysis of plasma and serum extracellular vesicles proteome in type 2 diabetes

Background

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a complex metabolic ailment marked by a global high prevalence and significant attention in primary healthcare settings due to its elevated morbidity and mortality rates. The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying the onset and progression of this disease remain subjects of ongoing investigation. Recent evidence underscores the pivotal role of the intricate intercellular communication network, wherein cell-derived vesicles, commonly referred to as extracellular vesicles (EVs), emerge as dynamic regulators of diabetes-related complications. Given that the protein cargo carried by EVs is contingent upon the metabolic conditions of the originating cells, particular proteins may serve as informative indicators for the risk of activating or inhibiting signaling pathways crucial to the progression of T2D complications.

Methods

In this study, we conducted a systematic review to analyze the published evidence on the proteome of EVs from the plasma or serum of patients with T2D, both with and without complications (PROSPERO: CRD42023431464).

Results

Nine eligible articles were systematically identified from the databases, and the proteins featured in these articles underwent Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis. We identified changes in the level of 426 proteins, with CST6, CD55, HBA1, S100A8, and S100A9 reported to have high levels, while FGL1 exhibited low levels.

Conclusion

These proteins are implicated in pathophysiological mechanisms such as inflammation, complement, and platelet activation, suggesting their potential as risk markers for T2D development and progression. Further studies are required to explore this topic in greater detail.

Monocyte (THP-1) Response to Silver Nanoparticles Synthesized with Rumex hymenosepalus Root Extract

The study, synthesis, and application of nanomaterials in medicine have grown exponentially in recent years. An example of this is the understanding of how nanomaterials activate or regulate the immune system, particularly macrophages. In this work, nanoparticles were synthesized using Rumex hymenosepalus as a reducing agent (AgRhNPs). According to thermogravimetric analysis, the metal content of nanoparticles is 55.5% by weight. The size of the particles ranges from 5-26 nm, with an average of 11 nm, and they possess an fcc crystalline structure. The presence of extract molecules on the nanomaterial was confirmed by UV-Vis and FTIR. It was found by UPLC-qTOF that the most abundant compounds in Rh extract are flavonols, flavones, isoflavones, chalcones, and anthocyanidins. The viability and apoptosis of the THP-1 cell line were evaluated for AgRhNPs, commercial nanoparticles (AgCNPs), and Rh extract. The results indicate a minimal cytotoxic and apoptotic effect at a concentration of 12.5 μg/mL for both nanoparticles and 25 μg/mL for Rh extract. The interaction of the THP-1 cell line and treatments was used to evaluate the polarization of monocyte subsets in conjunction with an evaluation of CCR2, Tie-2, and Arg-1 expression. The AgRhNPs nanoparticles and Rh extract neither exhibited cytotoxicity in the THP-1 monocyte cell line. Additionally, the treatments mentioned above exhibited anti-inflammatory effects by maintaining the classical monocyte phenotype CD14++CD16, reducing pro-inflammatory interleukin IL-6 production, and increasing IL-4 production.

Effect on Human Vascular Endothelial Cells of Au Nanoparticles Synthesized from Vitex mollis

A green method for synthesizing gold nanoparticles is proposed using hydroethanolic extract of Vitex mollis fruit (Vm extract) as a reducer and stabilizer. The formation of gold nanoparticles synthesized with Vm extract (AuVmNPs) was monitored by measuring the ultraviolet-visible spectra. The morphology and crystalline phase were determined using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. Synthesized nanoparticles were generally spherical, and the size distribution obtained by transmission electron microscopy shows two populations with mean sizes of 12.5 and 22.5 nm. Cell viability assay using MTT and cellular apoptosis studies using annexin V on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and the human mammary epithelial cell line (MCF10A) indicate that AuVmNPs have low toxicity. Cell migration tests indicate that AuVmNPs significantly inhibit HUVEC cell migration in a dose-dependent manner. The evaluation of the localization of AuVmNPs in HUVECs using confocal laser scanning microscopy indicates that nanoparticles penetrate cells and are found in the cytosol without preferential distribution and without entering the nucleus. The inhibitory effect on cellular migration and low toxicity suggest AuVmNPs as appropriate candidates in future studies of antiangiogenic activity.

Hydrogel with silver nanoparticles synthesized by Mimosa tenuiflora for second-degree burns treatment

In this work we use Mimosa tenuiflora (MtE) extracts as reducing agents to synthesize silver nanoparticles (AgMt NPs) which were characterized by DPPH and Total Polyphenols Assays, UV-visible, X-ray diffractometer (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). AgMt NPs possess average sizes of 21 nm and fcc crystalline structure, it was also confirmed that the MtE is present in the AgMt NPs even after the cleaning protocol applied. Subsequently, carbopol hydrogels were made and the MtE and the synthesized AgMt NPs were dispersed in different gels (MtE-G and AgMt NPs-G, respectively) at 100 µg/g concentration. The gels were characterized by UV-Vis, IR, and rheology. Antimicrobial tests were performed using Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. Burn wound healing was evaluated in a second-degree burn injury on a Wistar rats model for 14 days and additional skin biopsies were examined with histopathological analysis. Gel with commercial silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) was prepared and employed as a control on the biological assays. Hydrogel system containing silver nanoparticles synthesized with Mimosa tenuiflora (AgMt NPs-G) is a promising therapeutic strategy for burn wound healing, this due to bactericidal and anti-inflammatory effects, which promotes a more effective recovery (in percentage terms) by damaged area.

Increased serum ferritin is associated with oxidized low-density lipoprotein in prediabetes patients: A pilot study

Aims

This pilot study aimed to determine if increased serum ferritin (SF) is associated with cardiovascular risk factors in patients with prediabetes.

Methods

Eighteen patients with prediabetes and 36 subjects without prediabetes (control), non-white Hispanic, non-indigenous origin, Mexican mestizo descent were included. Participants had no inflammation, or vascular complications. SF and metabolic markers were evaluated in both groups.

Results

SF and oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) were increased in prediabetes subjects. Moreover, in prediabetes and control groups as a whole, natural logarithm (ln)-SF correlated with oxLDL and ln-oxLDL/LDL after adjustment for sex, ln-age, ln-fasting plasma glucose (FPG), ln-body mass index, ln-triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), and high-density lipoproteins. Finally, ln-SF was an independent contributor to ln-oxLDL/LDL ratio in control and prediabetes subjects (β = 0.2915) after the introduction of potential confounders such as FPG, TC, TG, and hypertension.

Conclusions

The results of this study indicate that hyperferritinemia is associated with oxLDL, considered one of the main cardiovascular risk factors, which allows us to suggest that an increase in SF could contribute to the progression of prediabetes, prior to the appearance of diabetes. Further research is required to establish a causal relationship of iron disruption metabolism in oxLDL generation under prediabetes conditions.

Utilidad de los ensayos de liberación de interferón gamma para la detección de tuberculosis en población pediátrica

El ensayo de liberación de interferón gamma es un método novedoso para el diagnóstico de la tuberculosis aunque su utilidad es incierta en población pediátrica.Objetivo: examinar la utilidad diagnóstica del QuantiFERON-TB Gold (QFT-G®), uno de los ensayos de liberación de interferón gamma comerciales, en población pediátrica del Estado de Sonora, México.Materiales y métodos: estudio transversal con 160 menores de 19 años de edad, en un hospital de Sonora, México. Se compararon tres grupos, uno de pacientes con tuberculosis activa, otro con tuberculosis latente y uno más de controles hospitalizados. Los criterios de Stegen-Toledo fueron el estándar empleado. Se usó regresión logística multivariada para evaluar la asociación entre el QFT-G® y los predictores seleccionados.Resultados: la sensibilidad del QFT-G® en la tuberculosis activa fue de 76.9% y la especificidad de 90.3%. Para la tuberculosis latente la sensibilidad fue 25.0% y la especificidad de 98.6%. El QFT-G® mostró una concordancia moderada (K = 0.574) con el estándar. También mostró asociación con la radiografía de tórax sugestiva de tuberculosis (razón de momios ajustada 4.37, IC 95%: 1.42, 13.42) y con el hecho de ser caso de tuberculosis pulmonar (razón de momios ajustada 6.15, IC 95%: 1.90, 19.92).Conclusión: el ensayo de liberación de interferón gamma es un método útil para diagnosticar tuberculosis activa y puede emplearse para descartar tuberculosis latente en población pediátrica.