Matrix Gla Protein Levels Are Associated With Arterial Stiffness and Incident Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction.

OBJECTIVE: Arterial stiffness is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, including heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). MGP (matrix Gla protein) is implicated in vascular calcification in animal models, and circulating levels of the uncarboxylated, inactive form of MGP (ucMGP) are associated with cardiovascular disease-related and all-cause mortality in human studies. However, the role of MGP in arterial stiffness is uncertain. Approach and Results: We examined the association of ucMGP levels with vascular calcification, arterial stiffness including carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV), and incident heart failure in community-dwelling adults from the Framingham Heart Study. To further investigate the link between MGP and arterial stiffness, we compared aortic PWV in age- and sex-matched young (4-month-old) and aged (10-month-old) wild-type and Mgp+/- mice. Among 7066 adults, we observed significant associations between higher levels of ucMGP and measures of arterial stiffness, including higher PWV and pulse pressure. Longitudinal analyses demonstrated an association between higher ucMGP levels and future increases in systolic blood pressure and incident HFpEF. Aortic PWV was increased in older, but not young, female Mgp+/- mice compared with wild-type mice, and this augmentation in PWV was associated with increased aortic elastin fiber fragmentation and collagen accumulation. CONCLUSIONS: This translational study demonstrates an association between ucMGP levels and arterial stiffness and future HFpEF in a large observational study, findings that are substantiated by experimental studies showing that mice with Mgp heterozygosity develop arterial stiffness. Taken together, these complementary study designs suggest a potential role of therapeutically targeting MGP in HFpEF.

Electronic cigarette vaping with aged coils causes acute lung injury in mice.

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have been used widely as an alternative to conventional cigarettes and have become particularly popular among young adults. A growing body of evidence has shown that e-cigarettes are associated with acute lung injury and adverse effects in multiple other organs. Previous studies showed that high emissions of aldehydes (formaldehyde and acetaldehyde) in aerosols were associated with increased usage of the same e-cigarette coils. However, the impact on lung function of using aged coils has not been reported. We investigated the relationship between coil age and acute lung injury in mice exposed to experimental vaping for 1 h (2 puffs/min, 100 ml/puff). The e-liquid contains propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin (50:50, vol) only. The concentrations of formaldehyde and acetaldehyde in the vaping aerosols increased with age of the nichrome coils starting at 1200 puffs. Mice exposed to e-cigarette aerosols produced from 1800, but not 0 or 900, puff-aged coils caused acute lung injury, increased lung wet/dry weight ratio, and induced lung inflammation (IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1ß, MIP-2). Exposure to vaping aerosols from 1800 puff-aged coils decreased heart rate, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation in mice compared to mice exposed to air or aerosols from new coils. In conclusion, we observed that the concentration of aldehydes (formaldehyde and acetaldehyde) increased with repeated and prolonged usage of e-cigarette coils. Exposure to high levels of aldehyde in vaping aerosol was associated with acute lung injury in mice. These findings show significant risk of lung injury associated with prolonged use of e-cigarette devices.

Oral Administration of Glutathione Trisulfide Increases Reactive Sulfur Levels in Dorsal Root Ganglion and Ameliorates Paclitaxel-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy in Mice.

Peripheral neuropathy is a dose-limiting side effect of chemotherapy with paclitaxel. Paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy (PIPN) is typically characterized by a predominantly sensory neuropathy presenting with allodynia, hyperalgesia and spontaneous pain. Oxidative mitochondrial damage in peripheral sensory neurons is implicated in the pathogenesis of PIPN. Reactive sulfur species, including persulfides (RSSH) and polysulfides (RSnH), are strong nucleophilic and electrophilic compounds that exert antioxidant effects and protect mitochondria. Here, we examined the potential neuroprotective effects of glutathione trisulfide (GSSSG) in a mouse model of PIPN. Intraperitoneal administration of paclitaxel at 4 mg/kg/day for 4 days induced mechanical allodynia and thermal hyperalgesia in mice. Oral administration of GSSSG at 50 mg/kg/day for 28 days ameliorated mechanical allodynia, but not thermal hyperalgesia. Two hours after oral administration, 34S-labeled GSSSG was detected in lumber dorsal root ganglia (DRG) and in the lumber spinal cord. In mice treated with paclitaxel, GSSSG upregulated expression of genes encoding antioxidant proteins in lumber DRG, prevented loss of unmyelinated axons and inhibited degeneration of mitochondria in the sciatic nerve. In cultured primary neurons from cortex and DRG, GSSSG mitigated paclitaxel-induced superoxide production, loss of axonal mitochondria, and axonal degeneration. These results indicate that oral administration of GSSSG mitigates PIPN by preventing axonal degeneration and mitochondria damage in peripheral sensory nerves. The findings suggest that administration of GSSSG may be an approach to the treatment or prevention of PIPN and other peripheral neuropathies.