Exploring the potential biological function of GRK2 in colorectal cancer.

BACKGROUND: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a malignant tumor of the gastrointestinal tract with high morbidity and mortality. There is growing evidence that GRK2 plays a key role in the development and progression of several human cancers. However, the role and potential mechanisms of GRK2 in colon cancer (COAD) are unclear. METHODS: The expression data of GRK2 was downloaded from The Cancer Genome Atlas database (TCGA). Variation in GRK2 was explored based on the cBioPortal database. The TIMER and TISCH2 databases were used to analyse the relationship between GRK2 expression and tumor immune microenvironment (TME). A log-rank test was used to compare the prognosis of high and low expression of GRK2 groups. Detecting the effect of GRK2 on cell cycle and apoptosis induced by 5-Fluorouracil (5-FU) through the flow cytometry and detection of apoptosis-related molecules by Western blot. RESULTS: We demonstrated that GRK2 has a potential oncogenic role. GRK2 expression was upregulated in COAD, which predicted poorer overall survival in COAD patients. The cellular assays showed that GRK2 plays a role in the growth and proliferation of colon cancer cells, also the expression of GRK2 have relationship with the sensitivity of 5-FU and cell cycle progression. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that high GRK2 expression is closely associated with the development of tumor and affects the 5-FU sensitivity.

Serum BAFF level is associated with the presence and severity of coronary artery disease and acute myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between circulating levels of B cell activating factor (BAFF) and the presence and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in humans, as its biological functions in this context remain unclear. METHODS: Serum BAFF levels were measured in a cohort of 723 patients undergoing angiography, including 204 patients without CAD (control group), 220 patients with stable CAD (CAD group), and 299 patients with AMI (AMI group). Logistic regression analyses were used to assess the association between BAFF and CAD or AMI. RESULTS: Significantly elevated levels of BAFF were observed in patients with CAD and AMI compared to the control group. Furthermore, BAFF levels exhibited a positive correlation with the SYNTAX score (r = 0.3002, P < 0.0001) and the GRACE score (r = 0.5684, P < 0.0001). Logistic regression analysis demonstrated that increased BAFF levels were an independent risk factor for CAD (adjusted OR 1.305, 95% CI 1.078-1.580) and AMI (adjusted OR 2.874, 95% CI 1.708-4.838) after adjusting for confounding variables. Additionally, elevated BAFF levels were significantly associated with a high GRACE score (GRACE score 155 to 319, adjusted OR 4.297, 95% CI 1.841-10.030). BAFF exhibited a sensitivity of 75.0% and specificity of 71.4% in differentiating CAD patients with a high SYNTAX score, and a sensitivity of 75.5% and specificity of 72.8% in identifying AMI patients with a high GRACE score. CONCLUSION: Circulating BAFF levels serve as a valuable diagnostic marker for CAD and AMI. Elevated BAFF levels are associated with the presence and severity of these conditions, suggesting its potential as a clinically relevant biomarker in cardiovascular disease.

Activation of CTNNB1 by deubiquitinase UCHL3-mediated stabilization facilitates bladder cancer progression.

BACKGROUND: The catenin beta 1 gene (CTNNB1) plays a crucial role in the malignant progression of various cancers. Recent studies have suggested that CTNNB1 hyperactivation is closely related to the occurrence and development of bladder cancer (BCa). As a member of the deubiquitinating enzyme (DUB) family, ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L3 (UCHL3) is abnormally expressed in various cancers. In this study, we discovered that UCHL3 is a novel oncogene in bladder cancer, suggesting it is a promising target against bladder cancer. METHODS: We utilized CRISPR‒Cas9 technology to construct cell lines with UCHL3 stably overexpressed or knocked out. The successful overexpression or knockout of UCHL3 was determined using Western blotting. Then, we performed CCK-8, colony formation, soft agar and Transwell migration assays to determine the impact of the UCHL3 gene on cell phenotype. RNA-seq was performed with UCHL3-depleted T24 cells (established via CRISPR-Cas9-mediated genomic editing). We analyzed differences in WNT pathway gene expression in wild-type and UCHL3-deficient T24 cell lines using a heatmap and by gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA). Then, we validated the effect of UCHL3 on the Wnt pathway using a dual fluorescence reporter. We then analyzed the underlying mechanisms involved using Western blots, co-IP, and immunofluorescence results. We also conducted nude mouse tumor formation experiments. Moreover, conditional UCHL3-knockout mice and bladder cancer model mice were established for research. RESULTS: We found that the overexpression of UCHL3 boosted bladder cancer cell proliferation, invasion and migration, while the depletion of UCHL3 in bladder cancer cells delayed tumor tumorigenesis in vitro and in vivo. UCHL3 was highly associated with the Wnt signaling pathway and triggered the activation of the Wnt signaling pathway, which showed that its functions depend on its deubiquitination activity. Notably, Uchl3-deficient mice were less susceptible to bladder tumorigenesis. Additionally, UCHL3 was highly expressed in bladder cancer cells and associated with indicators of advanced clinicopathology. CONCLUSION: In summary, we found that UCHL3 is amplified in bladder cancer and functions as a tumor promoter that enhances proliferation and migration of tumor cells in vitro and bladder tumorigenesis and progression in vivo. Furthermore, we revealed that UCHL3 stabilizes CTNNB1 expression, resulting in the activation of the oncogenic Wnt signaling pathway. Therefore, our findings strongly suggest that UCHL3 is a promising therapeutic target for bladder cancer.

[68Ga]Ga-DOTA-FAPI-04 PET/MR in patients with acute myocardial infarction: potential role of predicting left ventricular remodeling.

PURPOSE: To assess predictive value of 68Ga-labeled fibroblast activation protein inhibitor-04 ([68Ga]Ga-DOTA-FAPI-04) PET/MR for late left ventricular (LV) remodeling in patients with ST-segment elevated myocardial infarction (STEMI). METHODS: Twenty-six patients with STEMI were included in the study. [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-FAPI-04 PET/MR was performed at baseline and at average 12 months after STEMI. LV remodeling was defined as >10% increase in LV end-systolic volume (LVESV) from baseline to 12 months. RESULTS: The LV remodeling group demonstrated higher [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-FAPI-04 uptake volume (UV) at baseline than the non-LV remodeling group (p < 0.001). [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-FAPI-04 UV at baseline was a significant predictor (OR = 1.048, p = 0.011) for LV remodeling at 12 months after STEMI. Compared to clinical information, MR imaging and cardiac function parameters at baseline, [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-FAPI-04 UV demonstrated better predictive ability (AUC = 0.938, p < 0.001) for late LV remodeling, with sensitivity of 100.0% and specificity of 81.3%. CONCLUSIONS: [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-FAPI-04 PET/MR is an effective tool to non-invasively quantify myocardial fibroblasts activation, and baseline [68Ga]Ga-DOTA-FAPI-04 UV may have potential predictive value for late LV remodeling.

A Four Amino Acid Metabolism-Associated Genes (AMGs) Signature for Predicting Overall Survival Outcomes and Immunotherapeutic Efficacy in Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Metabolites are important indicators of cancer and mutations in genes involved in amino acid metabolism may influence tumorigenesis. Immunotherapy is an effective cancer treatment option; however, its relationship with amino acid metabolism has not been reported. In this study, RNA-seq data for 371 liver cancer patients were acquired from TCGA and used as the training set. Data for 231 liver cancer patients were obtained from ICGC and used as the validation set to establish a gene signature for predicting liver cancer overall survival outcomes and immunotherapeutic responses. Four reliable groups based on 132 amino acid metabolism-related DEGs were obtained by consistent clustering of 371 HCC patients and a four-gene signature for prediction of liver cancer survival outcomes was developed. Our data show that in different clinical groups, the overall survival outcomes in the high-risk group were markedly low relative to the low-risk group. Univariate and multivariate analyses revealed that the characteristics of the 4-gene signature were independent prognostic factors for liver cancer. The ROC curve revealed that the risk characteristic is an efficient predictor for 1-, 2-, and 3-year HCC survival outcomes. The GSVA and KEGG pathway analyses revealed that high-risk score tumors were associated with all aspects of the degree of malignancy in liver cancer. There were more mutant genes and greater immune infiltrations in the high-risk groups. Assessment of the three immunotherapeutic cohorts established that low-risk score patients significantly benefited from immunotherapy. Then, we established a prognostic nomogram based on the TCGA cohort. In conclusion, the 4-gene signature is a reliable diagnostic marker and predictor for immunotherapeutic efficacy.

c-MYC-USP49-BAG2 axis promotes proliferation and chemoresistance of colorectal cancer cells in vitro.

Deubiquitinases (DUBs) play critical roles in tumorigenesis and are emerging as potential therapeutic targets. However, it remains less clear which DUBs may play important roles and represent a realistic vulnerability for a particular type of tumor. Here we revealed that Ubiquitin Specific Peptidase 49 (USP49) is transcriptionally activated by c-MYC in colorectal cancer (CRC), and CRC patients with elevated USP49 levels exhibited significantly shorter survival. Knockdown of USP49 markedly inhibited CRC cell proliferation, colony formation, and chemotherapy resistance in vitro. Investigation of mechanisms unravels that USP49 deubiquitinates and stabilizes Bcl-2-Associated Athanogene 2 (BAG2), a well-known protein that antagonizes apoptosis and enables adaptive response of CRC cells. This study identified a novel mechanism by which USP49 promotes CRC cell survival by stabilizing BAG2 through the c-MYC-USP49-BAG2 axis, indicating that USP49 may become a potential therapeutic target for CRC.

Genome-Wide Characterization of High-Affinity Nitrate Transporter 2 (NRT2) Gene Family in Brassica napus.

Nitrate transporter 2 (NRT2) plays an essential role in Nitrogen (N) uptake, transport, utilization, and stress resistance. In this study, the NRT2 gene family in two sequenced Brassica napus ecotypes were identified, including 31 genes in 'Zhongshuang11' (BnaZSNRT2s) and 19 in 'Darmor-bzh' (BnaDarNRT2s). The candidate genes were divided into three groups (Group I-III) based on phylogenetic analyses, supported by a conserved intron-exon structure in each group. Collinearity analysis revealed that the large expansion of BnaZSNRT2s attributed to allopolyploidization of ancestors Brassica rapa and Brassica oleracea, and small-scale duplication events in B. napus. Transcription factor (TF) binding site prediction, cis-element analysis, and microRNA prediction suggested that the expressions of BnaZSNRT2s are regulated by multiple factors, and the regulatory pattern is relatively conserved in each group and is tightly connected between groups. Expression assay showed the diverse and differentiated spatial-temporal expression profiles of BnaZSNRT2s in Group I, but conserved patterns were observed in Group II/III; and the low nitrogen (LN) stress up-regulated expression profiles were presented in Group I-III, based on RNA-seq data. RT-qPCR analyses confirmed that BnaZSNRT2.5A-1 and BnaZSNRT2.5C-1 in Group II were highly up-regulated under LN stress in B. napus roots. Our results offer valid information and candidates for further functional BnaZSNRT2s studies.

miR-210 Participates in Hepatic Ischemia Reperfusion Injury by Forming a Negative Feedback Loop With SMAD4.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Hepatic ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury is a major complication of liver transplantation, resection, and hemorrhagic shock. Hypoxia is a key pathological event associated with IR injury. MicroRNA-210 (miR-210) has been characterized as a micromanager of hypoxia pathway. However, its function and mechanism in hepatic IR injury is unknown. APPROACH AND RESULTS: In this study, we found miR-210 was induced in liver tissues from patients subjected to IR-related surgeries. In a murine model of hepatic IR, the level of miR-210 was increased in hepatocytes but not in nonparenchymal cells. miR-210 deficiency remarkably alleviated liver injury, cell inflammatory responses, and cell death in a mouse hepatic IR model. In vitro, inhibition of miR-210 decreased hypoxia/reoxygenation (HR)-induced cell apoptosis of primary hepatocytes and LO2 cells, whereas overexpression of miR-210 increased cells apoptosis during HR. Mechanistically, miR-210 directly suppressed mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 4 (SMAD4) expression under normoxia and hypoxia condition by directly binding to the 3' UTR of SMAD4. The pro-apoptotic effect of miR-210 was alleviated by SMAD4, whereas short hairpin SMAD4 abrogated the anti-apoptotic role of miR-210 inhibition in primary hepatocytes. Further studies demonstrated that hypoxia-induced SMAD4 transported into nucleus, in which SMAD4 directly bound to the promoter of miR-210 and transcriptionally induced miR-210, thus forming a negative feedback loop with miR-210. CONCLUSIONS: Our study implicates a crucial role of miR-210-SMAD4 interaction in hepatic IR-induced cell death and provides a promising therapeutic approach for liver IR injury.

Increased glycated albumin and decreased esRAGE levels in serum are related to negative coronary artery remodeling in patients with type 2 diabetes: an Intravascular ultrasound study.

BACKGROUND: Negative coronary artery remodeling is frequent in patients with diabetes, but its mechanism remains unclear. We here evaluated the association of serum levels of glycated albumin (GA) and endogenous secretory receptor for advanced glycation end products (esRAGE) with coronary artery remodeling in type 2 diabetic patients. METHODS: Serum levels of GA and esRAGE were measured and intravascular ultrasound was performed in 136 consecutive diabetic patients with 143 coronary intermediate lesions. The remodeling index (RI) was calculated as the ratio between external elastic membrane (EEM) area at the lesion site and EEM area at the reference segment. Negative remodeling (NR) was defined as an RI < 0.95 and intermediate or positive remodeling as an RI ≥ 0.95. RESULTS: Mean plaque burden at the lesion site was 70.96 ± 9.98%, and RI was 0.96 ± 0.18. Negative coronary arterial remodeling existed in 81 (56.6%) lesions. RI correlated closely with serum esRAGE level (r = 0.236, P = 0.005) and was inversely related to serum GA level (r = - 0.240, P = 0.004) and plasma low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) (r = - 0.206, P = 0.014) and total cholesterol levels (r = - 0.183, P = 0.028). Generalized estimating equations logistic regression analysis identified esRAGE (OR 0.037; 95% CI 0.012-0.564, P = 0.021), GA (OR 1.093; 95% CI 1.013-1.179, P = 0.018) and LDL-C (OR 1.479; 95% CI 1.072-2.835, P = 0.023) as independent predictors for negative remodeling. CONCLUSIONS: In diabetic patients, negative coronary artery remodeling is associated with increased GA and decreased esRAGE levels in serum.

Increment of HFABP Level in Coronary Artery In-Stent Restenosis Segments in Diabetic and Nondiabetic Minipigs: HFABP Overexpression Promotes Multiple Pathway-Related Inflammation, Growth and Migration in Human Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells.

BACKGROUND: Our previous study suggested that heart-type fatty acid-binding protein (HFABP) levels were greatly elevated in the conditioned medium of explant culture of in-stent restenosis (ISR) tissue from diabetic minipigs compared with those of non-ISR tissue. We here verified this result in animal tissues and investigated the impact of HFABP overexpression in human aortic smooth muscle cells (hASMCs). METHODS AND RESULTS: In Western blot and real-time RT-PCR, HFABP protein and mRNA levels were significantly higher in ISR than in non-ISR tissues from minipigs, and higher in the ISR tissue from diabetic minipigs than that from nondiabetic minipigs. The mRNA microarray and cellular effects of hASMC retroviral overexpression of HFABP and vector was analyzed. Compared with vector, HFABP transduction activates multiple signaling pathways (e.g. adipokine, TGF-ß, Toll-like receptor, Wnt, Hedgehog, ErbB and Notch) and promotes inflammation, growth and migration in hASMCs whereas the knockdown of HFABP by small hairpin RNA attenuates these effects. CONCLUSION: HFABP expression is significantly higher in ISR tissue than in non-ISR tissue from diabetic and nondiabetic minipigs. Overexpression of HFABP induces multiple pathway-related promotion of inflammation, growth and migration in vascular SMCs, suggesting a potential role in coronary artery ISR.

Correlates and outcomes related to periprocedural myocardial injury during percutaneous coronary intervention for chronic total occlusion: Results from a prospective, single center PCI registry.

BACKGROUND: There is increasing interest in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for chronic total occlusions (CTO). Periprocedural myocardial injury (PMI) post CTO PCI is not uncommon, but true incidence and implications of PMI are not well understood. OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to investigate risk factors for PMI post CTO PCI and its implications for the 1-year clinical outcome of a Chinese population. METHODS: Baseline characteristics, procedure features, and major adverse cardiac events (MACE) at 1 year were assessed in 629 consecutive patients who underwent CTO PCI. PMI was diagnosed as an elevation of creatine kinase MB ≥3 times ULN 12-24 hr post procedure. Multivariate analysis was performed to determine the correlates of PMI and MACE at 1-year follow-up. RESULTS: In total, PMI was detected in 115 patients (18.3%). Compared with patients without PMI, those with PMI had a higher percentage of previous coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), right coronary occlusion and side branch occlusion, and technical success was lower in the PMI group (90.4% vs. 96.7%, P = 0.003). One-year MACE-free survival was reduced in the PMI group (87.8% vs. 95.9%, P = 0.001). The final TIMI flow 0-1 (OR 2.23, 95%CI 1.06-4.87, P = 0.02), side branch occlusion (OR 2.67, 95%CI 1.19-7.11, P = 0.009), retrograde PCI (OR 1.35, 95%CI 1.10-2.74, P = 0.04), and history of prior CABG (OR 2.41, 95%CI 1.38-5.91, P = 0.01) were independent risk factors for the occurrence of PMI. CONCLUSIONS: In this unique Chinese cohort, PMI post CTO PCI was associated with several clinical and angiographic factors and exerts an adverse effect on 1-year clinical outcomes.

[Essential Oil of Chenopodium ambrosioides Induced Caspase-Dependent Apoptosis in SMMC-7721 Cells].

Objective: To investigate the inhibition of cell proliferation by essential oil of Chenopodium ambrosioides on the human liver cancer SMMC-7721 cells and human liver LO2 cells,and to study the mechanism of anti-tumor in vitro. Methods: The inhibition of cell proliferation by essential oil of Chenopodium ambrosioides was determined by MTT assay; the distribution of cell cycle was analyzed by flow cytometry( FCM) with PI staining; cell morphology and apoptosis effect of SMMC-7721 cells were observed by microscope; the apoptotic rate was quantified by FCM with Annexin V / PI double staining. Results: Essential oil of Chenopodium ambrosioides could significantly inhibit the cell proliferation in a concentration-time-dependent manner( P < 0. 05),and the IC50 values on SMMC-7721 cells were lower than human liver LO2 cells at 24,48 and 72 h,respectively( P < 0. 05); cell cycle of SMMC-7721 cells was arrested in G0/G1phase; morphological observation revealed that the cells were wrinkled and the cellular cohesiveness of cells was reduced; nuclear was condensed and in orange colour,of which were the late apoptotic features; and the apoptotic rate increased in a concentration-dependent manner( P < 0. 05),non-viable apoptotic rate was obviously decreased with caspase inhibitor in 100 µg / m L essential oil of Chenopodium ambrosioides( P < 0. 01). Conclusion: Essential oil of Chenopodium ambrosioides can inhibit SMMC-7721 cell proliferation, which may be related to inducing cell cycle arrest and caspase-dependent apoptosis.

Nemo-like kinase (NLK) negatively regulates NF-kappa B activity through disrupting the interaction of TAK1 with IKKß.

Stringent negative regulation of the transcription factor NF-κB is essential for maintaining cellular stress responses and homeostasis. However, the tight regulation mechanisms of IKKß are still not clear. Here, we reported that nemo-like kinase (NLK) is a suppressor of tumor necrosis factor (TNFα)-induced NF-κB signaling by inhibiting the phosphorylation of IKKß. Overexpression of NLK largely blocked TNFα-induced NF-κB activation, p65 nuclear localization and IκBα degradation; whereas genetic inactivation of NLK showed opposing results. Mechanistically, we identified that NLK interacted with IκB kinase (IKK)-associated complex, which in turn inhibited the assembly of the TAK1/IKKß and thereby, diminished the IκB kinase phosphorylation. Our results indicate that NLK functions as a pivotal negative regulator in TNFα-induced activation of NF-κB via disrupting the interaction of TAK1 with IKKß.

Periprocedural use of tirofiban in elective percutaneous coronary intervention for long coronary lesions in stable patients with overlapping drug-eluting stents--the PETITION study: a prospective, randomized, multicenter study.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Patients are at risk of developing periprocedural myonecrosis after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We investigated whether the use of the platelet glycoprotein (GP) IIb/IIIa receptor inhibitor tirofiban could reduce periprocedural myocardial infarction (PMI) in patients with stable coronary artery disease undergoing elective PCI with overlapping stent implantation for long lesions. METHODS: A total of 748 stable angina patients with long lesions (≥ 40 mm in length) treated with overlapping stent implantation were randomly assigned to receive tirofiban (tirofiban group; n = 373) or conventional therapy (control group; n = 375). Intravenous tirofiban was initiated before PCI and maintained for 12 hr after the procedure. The primary endpoint was PMI, defined as an elevation in CK-MB > 3 times the upper limit of normal 12 hr after the index procedure. The secondary endpoint was major adverse cardiac events (MACE), including cardiac death, target vessel revascularization, and recurrent MI (re-MI), at one-year of clinical follow-up. The safety end-points included Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) major bleeding and stent thrombosis. RESULTS: Despite comparable angiographic and procedural characteristics, in the intention-to-treatment analysis, the primary endpoint was significantly reduced in the tirofiban group (4.0% vs. 11.5%, P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that the adjunctive use of tirofiban was the only negative predictor of PMI (OR 0.41, 95% CI 0.28-0.81, P < 0.01). At one-year of clinical follow-up, the overall occurrence of MACE was significantly lower in the tirofiban group (13.4% vs. 22.7%, P = 0.001). The rate of TIMI major bleeding and stent thrombosis did not differ significantly between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Our results show that the adjunctive use of tirofiban reduces the occurrence of PMI and MACE at one year in stable coronary artery disease patients undergoing elective PCI for long lesions with overlapping stent implantation.

Comparison of biodegradable polymer versus durable polymer sirolimus-eluting stenting in patients with acute st-elevation myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention: results of the RESOLVE study.

BACKGROUND: Sirolimus-eluting stents (SES) with a biodegradable polymer coating have demonstrated promising results but have not been compared to SES with a durable polymer in high-risk patients. We compared the efficacy of these 2 stent types in patients with acute myocardial infarction (STEMI). METHODS: One thousand one hundred ninety-two STEMI patients were randomized to receive SES coated with biodegradable (n = 596) or durable polymer (n = 596). The study end-point was the composite of major adverse cardiac events (MACE) including all-cause death, recurrent myocardial infarction (MI), or target lesion revascularization (TLR) at 1-year follow-up. Secondary end-points included individual components of primary end-point and stent thrombosis. RESULTS: Compared with durable polymer SES, the noninferiority of SES with biodegradable polymer coating was established by an absolute risk difference of 0.9% in the primary end-point (12.4% vs. 13.3%, P = 0.67) and an upper limit of one-sided 95% confidence interval (CI) of 2.96% (P for noninferiority = 0.001). Rate of death, recurrent MI, and TLR were 7.9% and 8.6% (HR: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.61-1.38, P = 0.67), 2.9% and 3.5% (HR: 0.80; 95% CI: 0.42-1.54, P = 0.51), and 2.0% and 3.2% (HR: 0.62; 95% CI: 0.30-1.30, P = 0.20) in the biodegradable polymer SES and durable polymer SES group at 1-year clinical follow-up, respectively. Despite similar rates of 30-day ARC definite/probable stent thrombosis, late stent thrombosis (stent thrombosis occurring beyond 30 days) was lower with biodegradable polymer SES (0.7% vs. 2.2%, P = 0.028). CONCLUSIONS: In patients undergoing primary PCI for STEMI, the use of biodegradable polymer SES was associated with noninferior 1-year rates of MACE compared with durable polymer SES.

Two-dimensional fluorescence in-gel electrophoresis of coronary restenosis tissues in minipigs: increased adipocyte fatty acid binding protein induces reactive oxygen species-mediated growth and migration in smooth muscle cells.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to uncover the protein changes of coronary artery in-stent restenosis (ISR) tissue in minipigs with and without streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus by quantitative 2-dimensional fluorescence in-gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE), and to investigate the influences of crucial proteins identified, particularly adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (AFABP), in human arterial smooth muscle cells. METHODS AND RESULTS: Sirolimus-eluting stents were implanted in the coronary arteries of 15 diabetic and 26 nondiabetic minipigs, and angiography was repeated after 6 months. The intima tissue of significant ISR and non-ISR segments in both diabetic and nondiabetic minipigs was analyzed by 2D-DIGE and MALDI-TOF/TOF mass spectrometry. AFABP level was significantly increased in ISR tissue than in non-ISR tissue in both diabetic and nondiabetic minipigs, with level being higher in diabetic ISR than in nondiabetic ISR tissue. In human arterial smooth muscle cells, overexpression of AFABP significantly altered phenotype and promoted growth and migration, with effects more prominent in high-glucose than in low-glucose medium, whereas AFABP knockdown inhibited these effects. AFABP overexpression increased reactive oxygen species production by upregulating the expression of NADPH oxidase subunits Nox1, Nox4, and P22 through multiple pathways, with elevation of downstream gene cyclin D1, matrix metalloproteinase-2, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1. However, AFABP-induced effects were inhibited by diphenyleneiodonium, pathway inhibitors, and small interfering RNA. In addition, the supernatant from AFABP-expressing human arterial smooth muscle cells and recombinant AFABP also promoted cellular growth and migration. CONCLUSIONS: This study has demonstrated that AFABP is significantly increased in coronary artery ISR segments of both diabetic and nondiabetic minipigs. Increased AFABP expression and secretory AFABP of human arterial smooth muscle cells promote growth and migration via reactive oxygen species-mediated activation.

Case Report of snare-assisted coaxiality optimized technique during valve deployment in patient with pure aortic regurgitation.

In high-risk patients with pure native aortic regurgitation (PNAR), transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) remains an off-label intervention. Due to anatomical variations in the aortic root and technical challenges unique to PNAR, the transfemoral approach (TF-TAVR) requires continued accumulation of experience and technological refinement. In this context, we successfully and safely performed a snare-assisted TF-TAVR procedure for a patient with PNAR, characterized by significant aortic angulation. We introduced an innovative technique termed "snare-assisted coaxiality optimized technique" (SACOT) during valve deployment. SACOT played a crucial role in optimizing valve positioning, enhancing coaxiality, and achieving the ideal implantation depth for PNAR. Post-procedure assessments demonstrated stability and the absence of paravalvular regurgitation (PVR).

Potential of 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/MR to predict worsening renal function after acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

PURPOSE: The fibroblast activation protein inhibitor-04 (FAPI-04) specifically binds to the FAP of activated myocardial fibroblasts, which makes 68Ga-labelled FAPI-04 (68Ga-FAPI-04) positron emission tomography (PET)/magnetic resonance (MR) a new potential imaging technique for the evaluation of myocardial fibrosis. This study aimed to evaluate the potential value of 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/MR in assessing and predicting changes in renal function in patients with acute ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). METHODS: Thirty-three patients with STEMI were included in this study. 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/MR and cardiac magnetic resonance were performed before discharge in all patients. Worsening renal function(WRF) was defined as ≥20% decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate(eGFR) from baseline to 12 months. RESULTS: The WRF group demonstrated higher 68Ga-FAPI-04 uptake volume (UV) at baseline than the non-WRF group(P = 0.009). 68Ga-FAPI-04 UV at baseline was correlated with follow-up eGFR (r = -0.493, P = 0.004). 68Ga-FAPI-04 UV at baseline was a significant predictor of WRF (OR = 1.014, P = 0.029) at 12 months after STEMI. CONCLUSIONS: As an effective tool to non-invasively quantify myocardial fibroblast activation, 68Ga-FAPI-04 PET/MR has potential value for assessing and predicting worsening renal function in patients with STEMI.

Day-night pattern of acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction onset in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with acute nocturnal hemodynamic and neurohormonal abnormalities that may increase the risk of coronary events, especially during the nighttime. This study sought to investigate the day-night pattern of acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) onset in patients with OSA and its impact on cardiovascular adverse events. METHODS: We prospectively enrolled 397 patients with STEMI, for which the time of onset of chest pain was clearly identified. All participants were categorized into non-OSA (n = 280) and OSA (n = 117) groups. The association between STEMI onset time and major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events was estimated by Cox proportional hazards regression. RESULTS: STEMI onset occurred from midnight to 5:59 am in 33% of patients with OSA, as compared with 15% in non-OSA patients (P < .01). For individuals with OSA, the relative risk of STEMI from midnight to 5:59 am was 2.717 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.616 - 4.568] compared with non-OSA patients. After a median of 2.89 ± 0.78 years follow-up, symptom onset time was found to be significantly associated with risk of major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events in patients with OSA, while there was no significant association observed in non-OSA patients. Compared with STEMI presenting during noon to 5:59 pm, the hazard ratios for major adverse cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events in patients with OSA were 4.683 (95% CI 2.024 - 21.409, P = .027) for midnight to 5:59 am and 6.964 (95% CI 1.379 - 35.169, P = .019) for 6 pm to midnight, whereas the hazard ratios for non-OSA patients were 1.053 (95% CI 0.394 - 2.813, P = .917) for midnight to 5:59 am and 0.745 (95% CI 0.278 - 1.995, P = .558) for 6 pm to midnight. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with OSA exhibited a peak incidence of STEMI between midnight and 5:59 am, which showed an independent association with cardiovascular adverse events. CITATION: Wang Y, Buayiximu K, Zhu T, et al. Day-night pattern of acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction onset in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. J Clin Sleep Med. 2024;20(5):765-775.

CLK2 mediates IκBα-independent early termination of NF-κB activation by inducing cytoplasmic redistribution and degradation.

Activation of the NF-κB pathway is strictly regulated to prevent excessive inflammatory and immune responses. In a well-known negative feedback model, IκBα-dependent NF-κB termination is a delayed response pattern in the later stage of activation, and the mechanisms mediating the rapid termination of active NF-κB remain unclear. Here, we showed IκBα-independent rapid termination of nuclear NF-κB mediated by CLK2, which negatively regulated active NF-κB by phosphorylating the RelA/p65 subunit of NF-κB at Ser180 in the nucleus to limit its transcriptional activation through degradation and nuclear export. Depletion of CLK2 increased the production of inflammatory cytokines, reduced viral replication and increased the survival of the mice. Mechanistically, CLK2 phosphorylated RelA/p65 at Ser180 in the nucleus, leading to ubiquitin‒proteasome-mediated degradation and cytoplasmic redistribution. Importantly, a CLK2 inhibitor promoted cytokine production, reduced viral replication, and accelerated murine psoriasis. This study revealed an IκBα-independent mechanism of early-stage termination of NF-κB in which phosphorylated Ser180 RelA/p65 turned off posttranslational modifications associated with transcriptional activation, ultimately resulting in the degradation and nuclear export of RelA/p65 to inhibit excessive inflammatory activation. Our findings showed that the phosphorylation of RelA/p65 at Ser180 in the nucleus inhibits early-stage NF-κB activation, thereby mediating the negative regulation of NF-κB.