Valosin-containing protein acts as a target and mediator of S-nitrosylation in the heart through distinct mechanisms.

S-nitrosylation (SNO) is an emerging paradigm of redox signaling protecting cells against oxidative stress in the heart. Our previous studies demonstrated that valosin-containing protein (VCP), an ATPase-associated protein, is a vital mediator protecting the heart against cardiac stress and ischemic injury. However, the molecular regulations conferred by VCP in the heart are not fully understood. In this study, we explored the potential role of VCP in cardiac protein SNO using multiple cardiac-specific genetically modified mouse models and various analytical techniques including biotin switch assay, liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, and western blotting. Our results showed that cardiac-specific overexpression of VCP led to an overall increase in the levels of SNO-modified cardiac proteins in the transgenic (TG) vs. wild-type (WT) mice. Mass spectrometry analysis identified mitochondrial proteins involved in respiration, metabolism, and detoxification as primary targets of SNO modification in VCP-overexpressing mouse hearts. Particularly, we found that VCP itself underwent SNO modification at a specific cysteine residue in its N-domain. Additionally, our study demonstrated that glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), a key enzyme in glycolysis, also experienced increased SNO in response to VCP overexpression. While deletion of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in VCP TG mice did not affect VCP SNO, it did abolish SNO modification in mitochondrial complex proteins, suggesting a dual mechanism of regulation involving both iNOS-dependent and independent pathways. Overall, our findings shed light on post-translational modification of VCP in the heart, unveiling a previously unrecognized role for VCP in regulating cardiac protein SNO and offering new insights into its function in cardiac protection.

Nephrotic proteinuria and hematuria with newly diagnosed IgA nephropathy after liver transplant: A case report.

BACKGROUND: IgA nephropathy is a renal lesion in patients with end-stage liver disease, called hepatic IgA nephropathy. The common manifestation of hepatic IgA nephropathy is microscopic hematuria. Sirolimus, often used to prevent organ rejection, has been reported to induce proteinuria after organ transplantation. But few cases of nephrotic proteinuria and hematuria are reported. CASE PRESENTATION: In this case, a 45-year-old male with a long history of hepatic B virus infection and liver cirrhosis, received liver transplant and was taking sirolimus as one of his immunosuppression drugs. Overt proteinuria and hematuria occurred. With no proteinuria history before, renal biopsy was performed, which indicated IgA nephropathy. CONCLUSION: We reported a liver recipient, who was taking sirolimus, developing nephrotic proteinuria and hematuria with IgA nephropathy. Further studies need to be carried out to disclose mechanism behind this phenomenon.

Pegmolesatide for the treatment of anemia in patients undergoing dialysis: a randomized clinical trial.

Background: Pegmolesatide, a synthetic peptide-based erythropoietin (EPO) receptor agonist, is being evaluated as an alternative to epoetin alfa for treating anemia of chronic kidney disease (CKD) in Chinese dialysis patients. There is a critical need for a long-acting, cost-effective erythropoiesis-stimulating agent that does not produce EPO antibodies. Methods: A randomized, open-label, active-comparator, non-inferiority phase three trial was conducted at 43 dialysis centers in China between May 17th, 2019, and March 28th, 2022. Eligible patients aged 18-70 years were randomly assigned (2:1) to receive pegmolesatide once every four weeks or epoetin alfa one to three times per week, with doses adjusted to maintain a hemoglobin level between 10.0 and 12.0 g/dL. The primary efficacy endpoint was the mean change in hemoglobin level from baseline to the efficacy evaluation period in the per-protocol set (PPS) population. Non-inferiority of pegmolesatide to epoetin alfa was established if the lower limit of the two-sided 95% confidence interval for the between-group difference was ≥ -1.0 g/dL. Safety assessment included adverse events and potential anaphylaxis reactions. This trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03902691. Findings: Three hundreds and seventy-two patients were randomly assigned to the pegmolesatide group (248 patients) or the epoetin alfa group (124 patients). A total of 347 patients (233 in the pegmolesatide group and 114 in the epoetin alfa group) were included in the PPS population. In the PPS, the mean change (standard deviation, SD) in hemoglobin level from baseline to the efficacy evaluation period was 0.07 (0.92) g/dL in the pegmolesatide group and -0.22 (0.97) g/dL in the epoetin alfa group. The between-group difference was 0.29 g/dL (95% confidence interval: 0.11-0.47), verifying non-inferiority of pegmolesatide to epoetin alfa. Adverse events occurred in 231 (94%) participants in the pegmolesatide group and in 110 (89%) in the epoetin alfa group. Hypertension was the most common treatment-related adverse event. No fatal cases of anaphylaxis or hypotension were reported. Interpretation: Monthly subcutaneously injection of pegmolesatide was as effective and safe as conventional epoetin alfa administrated one to three times a week in treating anemia in Chinese dialysis patients. Funding: The study was supported by Hansoh Medical Development Group.

Amyloid-ß: A potential mediator of aging-related vascular pathologies.

Aging is one of the most promising risk factors for vascular diseases, however, the precise mechanisms mediating aging-related pathologies are not fully understood. Amyloid beta (Aß), a peptide produced by the proteolytic processing of amyloid precursor protein (APP), is known as a key mediator of brain damage involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recently, it was found that the accumulation of Aß in the vascular wall is linked to a range of aging-related vascular pathologies, indicating a potential role of Aß in the pathogenesis of aging-associated vascular diseases. In the present review, we have updated the molecular regulation of Aß in vascular cells and tissues, summarized the relevance of the Aß deposition with vascular aging and diseases, and the role of Aß dysregulation in aging-associated vascular pathologies, including the impaired vascular response, endothelial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and inflammation. This review will provide advanced information in understanding aging-related vascular pathologies and a new avenue to explore therapeutic targets.

Epigenetic Reader Bromodomain-Containing Protein 4 in Aging-Related Vascular Pathologies and Diseases: Molecular Basis, Functional Relevance, and Clinical Potential.

Aging is a key independent risk factor of various vascular diseases, for which the regulatory mechanisms remain largely unknown. Bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) is a member of the Bromodomain and Extra-Terminal domain (BET) family and is an epigenetic reader playing diverse roles in regulating transcriptional elongation, chromatin remodeling, DNA damage response, and alternative splicing in various cells and tissues. While BRD4 was initially recognized for its involvement in cancer progression, recent studies have revealed that the aberrant expression and impaired function of BRD4 were highly associated with aging-related vascular pathology, affecting multiple key biological processes in the vascular cells and tissues, providing new insights into the understanding of vascular pathophysiology and pathogenesis of vascular diseases. This review summarizes the recent advances in BRD4 biological function, and the progression of the studies related to BRD4 in aging-associated vascular pathologies and diseases, including atherosclerosis, aortic aneurism vascular neointima formation, pulmonary hypertension, and essential hypertension, providing updated information to advance our understanding of the epigenetic mechanisms in vascular diseases during aging and paving the way for future research and therapeutic approaches.

Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura in a patient on long-term alpha-interferon therapy for essential thrombocythemia: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) is rare and severe thrombotic microangiopathy characterized by thrombocytopenia, hemolytic anemia, and renal dysfunction. In contrast, essential thrombocythemia (ET) is a myeloproliferative disease associated with an abnormal increase in platelet numbers. Previous studies reported several cases of the development of ET in patients with TTP. However, the case of an ET patient complicated with TTP has not been previously reported. In this case study, we present a patient with TTP who was previously diagnosed with ET. Therefore, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of TTP in ET. CASE PRESENTATION: A 31-year-old Chinese female who was previously diagnosed with ET presented with anemia and renal dysfunction. The patient had been on long-term treatment with hydroxyurea, aspirin, and alpha interferon (INF-α) for ten years. The diagnosis of TTP was confirmed by clinical features, schistocytes noted on the peripheral blood smear, and lower ADAMTS13 activity (8.5%), together with the renal biopsy results. INF-α was discontinued, and the patient was then treated with plasma exchange and corticosteroids. After one year of follow-up, the patient had a normal hemoglobin level and platelet numbers, and her ADAMTS13 activity had improved. However, the patient's renal function remains impaired. CONCLUSIONS: We report a case of an ET patient complicated with TTP that was possibly due to INF-α, highlighting the potential complications associated with long-term ET therapy. The case also highlights the importance of considering TTP in patients with pre-existing ET who present with anemia and renal dysfunction, extending the spectrum of known studies.

Reprogramming of human peripheral blood mononuclear cells into induced mesenchymal stromal cells using non-integrating vectors.

Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) have great value in cell therapies. The MSC therapies have many challenges due to its inconsistent potency and limited quantity. Here, we report a strategy to generate induced MSCs (iMSCs) by directly reprogramming human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) with OCT4, SOX9, MYC, KLF4, and BCL-XL using a nonintegrating episomal vector system. While OCT4 was not required to reprogram PBMCs into iMSCs, omission of OCT4 significantly impaired iMSC functionality. The omission of OCT4 resulted in significantly downregulating MSC lineage specific and mesoderm-regulating genes, including SRPX, COL5A1, SOX4, SALL4, TWIST1. When reprogramming PBMCs in the absence of OCT4, 67 genes were significantly hypermethylated with reduced transcriptional expression. These data indicate that transient expression of OCT4 may serve as a universal reprogramming factor by increasing chromatin accessibility and promoting demethylation. Our findings represent an approach to produce functional MSCs, and aid in identifying putative function associated MSC markers.

Optimization of Voriconazole Dosing Regimens Against Aspergillus Species and Candida Species in Pediatric Patients After Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation: A Theoretical Study Based on Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Analysis.

This study aimed to optimize the dosing regimens of voriconazole (VRC) for pediatric patients after hematopoietic cell transplantation with different cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C19 phenotypes and body weights, based on pharmacokinetic (PK)/pharmacodynamic (PD) analysis. The PK parameters of VRC were derived from previous literature. Combined with key factors affecting VRC, patients were categorized into 9 subgroups based on different CYP2C19 phenotypes (poor metabolizer/intermediate metabolizer, normal metabolizer, and rapid metabolizer/ultrarapid metabolizer) and typical body weights (15, 40, and 65 kg). Monte Carlo simulation was used to investigate dosing regimens for different groups. The area under the 24-hour free drug concentration-time curve to the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) > 25 was used as the target value for effective treatment. The probability of target achievement and the cumulative fraction of response were determined on the basis of the assumed MICs and MICs distribution frequency of Aspergillus species and Candida species. When the MIC was ≤1 mg/L, 4 mg/kg every 12 hours was sufficient for optimal effects in groups 1-3 and groups 5 and 6; however, 6 mg/kg every 12 hours was required for group 4, and 8 mg/kg every 12 hours was required for groups 7-9. In empirical treatment, lower (2-6 mg/kg every 12 hours) and higher (6-12 mg/kg every 12 hours) dosing regimens were recommended for Candida spp. and Aspergillus spp., respectively. Our findings will assist in selecting appropriate dosing regimens of VRC for pediatric patients after hematopoietic cell transplantation with different CYP2C19 phenotypes and body weights. Clinically, it is better to continuously adjust the dosing on the basis of the therapeutic drug monitoring.

A post-marketing pharmacovigilance study of avapritinib: Adverse event data mining and analysis based on the United States Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System database.

AIMS: Avapritinib was first approved by the FDA in January 2020 and represents the first precision-targeted drug for gastrointestinal stromal tumours. However, there is a lack of large-scale data relating to adverse events (AEs) related to its use. We aimed to explore the avapritinib-related AEs in real-world practice based on the post-marketing data. METHODS: We extracted all avapritinib-related reports submitted to the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) by June 2022. Based on disproportionality analysis and Bayesian analysis, we then calculated the reporting odds ratio (ROR), proportional reporting ratio (PRR), information component (IC) and empirical Bayes geometric mean (EBGM) to evaluate whether there is a significant association between avapritinib and AEs. Gender, age and time to onset were comparable between haemorrhage/non-haemorrhage, serious/non-serious, death/non-death AEs, respectively. RESULTS: In total, 3120 cases related to avapritinib were documented in the FAERS database, and 44% were reported within 30 days of commencing avapritinib. A total of 331 different AE signals were detected, and no significant differences between males and females was identified. Although the number of AEs associated with an abnormal skin texture and executive dysfunction was small, the signal intensity is high, suggesting that these events are strongly correlated with avapritinib. Subgroup analysis showed that elderly male patients were more likely to suffer from serious AEs compared to females (P < .01), but there was no significant difference between the haemorrhage group and the non-haemorrhage group. Analysis of fatalities due to avapritinib-related AEs indicated that sex, age and time-to-onset were all significantly related to death (P < .05). CONCLUSION: Our study provides a more precise description of the incidence and characteristics of AEs after using avapritinib, clinicians should be particularly careful when prescribing avapritinib to elderly male patients, especially within the 30 days.

Metabolomic and systematic biochemical analysis of sheep infected with Fasciola hepatica.

Fasciolosis is a neglected zoonotic parasitic disease caused by liver flukes, Fasciola hepatica. F. hepatica is harmful to livestock and human health. However, changes in host metabolism caused by F. hepatica infection are unclear. An artificial sheep model was established as follows. The sheep in the infection group were fed with 220 metacercariae obtained by incubating F. hepatica miracidia with the intermediate host snail (Galba pervia). Thereafter, serum and blood were collected from these sheep periodically. Changes in 31 biochemical parameters were systematically tested over different periods of infection. Metabolomic analysis was performed based on liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC-MS) technology using a UHPLC system. Differentially expressed metabolites were analyzed for biomarkers, and changes in the metabolic pathways of the host were evaluated. Ten biochemical parameters (TP, ALB, GLB, DBIL, IBIL, GGT, LDH, CHOL, HDL-C, and BUN) showed significant dynamic changes during the study period. For metabolomic analysis: 13, 27, and 82 differential metabolites (ESI+ mode) and 0, 37, and 83 differential metabolites (ESI- mode) were found on 7, 56, and 98 dpi, respectively. The number of different metabolic pathways increased with disease development. Five metabolites had the highest area under the curve (AUC) value as joint diagnostic factors, indicating their potential use as biomarkers for diagnosing F. hepatica infection. This study establishes the F. hepatica life cycle in an artificial model of sheep infected with F. hepatica to identify changes in metabolic pathways in the host due to infection. Biochemical parameters and metabolomic analysis revealed that not only the biomarkers screened by differentially expressed metabolites have the potential to diagnose F. hepatica infection in sheep, but the differential pathways and biochemical parameters also explain the metabolic pathway changes in the sheep infected with F. hepatica. F. hepatica absorbs the nutrients of the host and destroys the essential metabolic pathways of the host. This result suggests that animal metabolism can be altered in the host as a response to parasitic infections such as F. hepatica. In addition, this finding will provide the basis for studying the pathogenic mechanisms and biomarkers for F. hepatica infection.

Microbiota Community Structure and Interaction Networks within Dermacentor silvarum, Ixodes persulcatus, and Haemaphysalis concinna.

Ticks carry and transmit a variety of pathogens, which are very harmful to humans and animals. To characterize the microbial interactions in ticks, we analysed the microbiota of the hard ticks, Dermacentor silvarum, Ixodes persulcatus, and Haemaphysalis concinna, using 16S rRNA, showing that microbial interactions are underappreciated in terms of shaping arthropod microbiomes. The results show that the bacterial richness and microbiota structures of these three tick species had significant differences. Interestingly, the bacterial richness (Chao1 index) of all ticks decreased significantly after they became engorged. All the operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were assigned to 26 phyla, 67 classes, 159 orders, 279 families, and 627 genera. Microbial interactions in D. silvarum demonstrated more connections than in I. persulcatus and H. concinna. Bacteria with a high abundance were not important families in microbial interactions. Positive interactions of Bacteroidaceae and F_Solibacteraceae Subgroup 3 with other bacterial families were detected in all nine groups of ticks. This study provides an overview of the microbiota structure and interactions of three tick species and improves our understanding of the role of the microbiota in tick physiology and vector capacity, thus being conducive to providing basic data for the prevention of ticks and tick-borne diseases.

Changes of gut microbiota structure in rats infected with Toxoplasma gondii.

Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) infection can cause intestinal inflammation in rodents and significantly alters the structure of gut microbiota. However, the effects of different T. gondii genotypes on the gut microbiota of rats remain unclear. In this study, acute and chronic T. gondii infection in Fischer 344 rats was induced artificially by intraperitoneal injection of tachyzoites PYS (Chinese 1 ToxoDB#9) and PRU (Type II). Fecal 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing was employed to analyze the gut microbiota structure at different stages of infection, and to compare the effects of infection by two T. gondii genotypes. Our results suggested that the infection led to structural changes of gut microbiota in rats. At the acute infection stage, the microbiota diversity increased, while both diversity and abundance of beneficial bacteria decreased at the chronic infection stage. The differences of microbiota structure were caused by strains of different genotypes. However, the diversity changes were consistent. This study demonstrates that the gut microbiota plays an important role in T. gondii infection in rats. The data will improve our understanding of the association between T. gondii infection and gut microbiota in rodents.

Characterization of the complete mitochondrial genomes of Diplodiscus japonicus and Diplodiscus mehari (Trematoda: Diplodiscidae): Comparison with the members of the superfamily Paramphistomoidea and phylogenetic implication.

Diplodiscus japonicus and Diplodiscus mehari (Trematoda: Diplodiscidae) are two important parasites in wood frogs, which have large infection rates and essential importance of ecology, economy and society. In this study, the complete mitochondrial (mt) genomes of D. japonicus and D. mehari were sequenced, then compared with other related trematodes in the superfamily Paramphistomoidea. The complete circular mt sequence of D. japonicus and D. mehari were 14,210 bp and 14,179 bp in length, respectively. Both mt genomes comprised 36 functional subunits, consisting of 12 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, 22 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and one non-coding region. The mt genes of D. japonicus and D. mehari were transcribed in the same direction, and the gene arrangements were identical to those of Paramphistomoidea trematodes. In the 12 PCGs, GTG was the most common initiation codon, whereas TAG was the most common termination codon. All tRNAs had a typical cloverleaf structure except tRNA Ser1. A comparison with related Paramphistomoidea trematode mt genomes suggested that the cox1 gene of D. mehari was the longest in these trematodes. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that Paramphistomoidea trematodes formed a monophyletic branch, Paramphistomidae and Gastrothylacidae were more closely related than Diplodiscidae. And the further analysis with Pronocephalata branch found that the flukes parasitic in amphibians (frogs) formed one group, and the flukes from ruminants (cattle, sheep, ect) formed another group. Our study demonstrated the importance of sequencing mt genomes of D. japonicus and D. mehari, which will provide significant molecular resources for further studies of Paramphistomoidea taxonomy, population genetics and systematics.

Seroprevalence of pullorum disease in chicken across mainland China from 1982 to 2020: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Pullorum disease (PD), caused by the bacterium Salmonella pullorum, severely threatens the health of chickens worldwide, especially in China, and generating concerns for public health safety. Greater awareness of the seroprevalence may facilitate the prevention and control of this disease. We conducted systematic review and meta-analysis on the seroprevalence of PD in chicken flocks across mainland China. The results show that the overall pooled estimates of PD seroprevalence in chicken flocks was 18.2%. Furthermore, during 38-year period the seroprevalence of PD was markedly high in all seven regions, being at least 14.9% in central China. Our results suggest PD was highly prevalent in autumn, followed by winter. Chickens older than 120 days (22.6%, CI95: 14.5%-31.9%) had a significantly higher positive rate of PD than those <120 days in age (9.4%, CI95: 3.7%-17.4%). Additionally, the rearing mode used is a risk factor associated with the seroprevalence of PD, it being considerably lower for caged chickens (13.7%, CI95: 7.1%-22.0%) than free-range chickens (30.4%, CI95: 17.3-45.4%). Our findings demonstrate that PD still poses a major threat to poultry industries in mainland China, and therefore comprehensive and stringent strategies are needed to prevent and control this disease.

What is the prognosis of ANCA-associated glomerulonephritis with immune deposition?

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to analyze histological and clinical characteristics of patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) showing renal involvement to investigate the associations between immune complexes (IC) and clinicopathological indicators, and explore the renal outcomes of AAV. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the histopathological features and clinical characteristics of 80 renal biopsies of patients with AAV with renal involvement. Renal morphology was classified into two (with and without the presence of IC and complement deposition). Endpoints included end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) and death. RESULTS: Compared with patients without IC, patients with immune deposition had lower complement C3 (0.80 ± 0.27 vs. 0.93 ± 0.20, p = 0.024), more severe hematuria [133 (46-299) vs. 33 (15-115), p = 0.001] but had milder chronic pathology, including chronic tubular atrophy (p = 0.03), chronic interstitial fibrosis (p = 0.049). Patients in the immune deposition group showed a tendency to have more severe crescent formation and less glomerulosclerosis, but the difference was not statistically significant. Endpoints such as death and ESKD were not significantly different between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Immune deposition may indicate lower complement C3, more severe hematuria and glomerular lesions, milder tubular atrophy, and interstitial fibrosis, but it cannot predict the renal outcome.

Human immune globulin treatment controls Zika viremia in pregnant rhesus macaques.

There are currently no approved drugs to treat Zika virus (ZIKV) infection during pregnancy. Hyperimmune globulin products such as VARIZIG and WinRho are FDA-approved to treat conditions during pregnancy such as Varicella Zoster virus infection and Rh-incompatibility. We administered ZIKV-specific human immune globulin as a treatment in pregnant rhesus macaques one day after subcutaneous ZIKV infection. All animals controlled ZIKV viremia following the treatment and generated robust levels of anti-Zika virus antibodies in their blood. No adverse fetal or infant outcomes were identified in the treated animals, yet the placebo control treated animals also did not have signs related to congenital Zika syndrome (CZS). Human immune globulin may be a viable prophylaxis and treatment option for ZIKV infection during pregnancy, however, more studies are required to fully assess the impact of this treatment to prevent CZS.

Hypothetical bromodomain-containing protein 5 is required for the growth of Toxoplasma gondii.

Bromodomain (BRD) is a highly conserved structural module domain, found in various proteins, including chromatin-related proteins, nucleus acetyltransferases, and transcription-associated proteins. Toxoplasma gondii, a zoonotic protozoan, encodes at least 12 predicted BRD-containing proteins (BDPs). Here, we investigated the subcellular location and regulatory role of a hypothetical protein BDP that we named TgBDP5. The BRD of TgBDP5 did not contain the conserved Asn and Tyr residues required for acetyl-lysine recognition. TgBDP5 localized in the nucleus of the parasite and remained unchanged during parasite replication. Conditional ablation of TgBDP5 through an auxin-inducible degron-based knockdown strategy caused a growth defect in parasite replication. Depletion of TgBDP5 led to changes in the expression level of 179 genes, suggesting it as an important target for drugs acting against T. gondii.

Age and Blood Pressure Contribute to Aortic Cell and Tissue Stiffness Through Distinct Mechanisms.

BACKGROUND: Aortic stiffening is strongly associated with both aging and hypertension, but the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. We hypothesized that aging-induced aortic stiffness is mediated by a mechanism differing from hypertension. METHODS: We conducted comprehensive in vivo and in vitro experiments using multiple rat models to dissect the different mechanisms of aortic stiffening mediated by aging and hypertension. RESULTS: A time-course study in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) normotensive rats showed more pronounced aging-associated aortic stiffening in SHR versus WKY. Angiotensin II-induced hypertension was associated with more significant aortic stiffening in older versus young WKY rats. Hypertension aggravated aging effects on aortic wall thickness and extracellular matrix content, indicating combinational effects of aging and hypertension on aortic stiffening. Intrinsic stiffness of isolated aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) increased with age in WKY rats, although no significant difference between older SHR and older WKY VSMCs was observed in 2-dimensional culture, reconstituted 3-dimensional tissues were stiffer for older SHR versus older WKY. A selective inhibitor that reduced hypertension-mediated aortic stiffening did not decrease age-related stiffening in aortic VSMCs and aortic wall. Integrin ß1 and SM22 (smooth muscle-specific SM22 protein) expression were negligibly changed in WKY VSMCs during aging but were markedly increased by hypertension in older versus young WKY VSMCs. A notable shift of filamin isoforms from B to A was detected in older WKY VSMCs. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate distinct mechanisms mediating aging-associated aortic VSMC and vessel stiffness, providing new insights into aortic stiffening and the pathogenesis of hypertension in the elderly.

New Progress in the Molecular Regulations and Therapeutic Applications in Cardiac Oxidative Damage Caused by Pressure Overload.

Chronic pressure overload is a key risk factor for mortality due to its subsequent development of heart failure, in which the underlying molecular mechanisms remain vastly undetermined. In this review, we updated the latest advancements for investigating the role and relevant mechanisms of oxidative stress involved in the pathogenesis of pressure-overload-induced cardiomyopathy and cardiac dysfunction, focusing on significant biological sources of reactive oxygen species (free radical) production, antioxidant defenses, and their association with the cardiac metabolic remodeling in the stressed heart. We also summarize the newly developed preclinical therapeutic approaches in animal models for pressure-overload-induced myocardial damage. This review aims to enhance the current understanding of the mechanisms of chronic hypertensive heart failure and potentially improve the development of better therapeutic strategies for the associated diseases.