Loss of Hepatic Angiotensinogen Attenuates Sepsis-Induced Myocardial Dysfunction.

[Figure: see text].

Cardiac ankyrin repeat protein contributes to dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure.

Cardiac ankyrin repeat protein (CARP) is a cardiac-specific stress-response protein which exerts diverse effects to modulate cardiac remodeling in response to pathological stimuli. We examined the role of CARP in postnatal cardiac development and function under basal conditions in mice. Transgenic mice that selectively overexpressed CARP in heart (CARP Tg) exhibited dilated cardiac chambers, impaired heart function, and cardiac fibrosis as assessed by echocardiography and histological staining. Furthermore, the mice had a shorter lifespan and reduced survival rate in response to ischemic acute myocardial infarction. Immunofluorescence demonstrated the overexpressed CARP protein was predominantly accumulated in the nuclei of cardiomyocytes. Microarray analysis revealed that the nuclear localization of CARP was associated with the suppression of calcium-handling proteins. In vitro experiments revealed that CARP overexpression resulted in decreased cell contraction and calcium transient. In post-mortem cardiac specimens from patients with dilated cardiomyopathy and end-stage heart failure, CARP was significantly increased. Taken together, our data identified CARP as a crucial contributor in dilated cardiomyopathy and heart failure which was associated with its regulation of calcium-handling proteins.

Generating hematopoietic cells from human pluripotent stem cells: approaches, progress and challenges.

Human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs) have been suggested as a potential source for the production of blood cells for clinical application. In two decades, almost all types of blood cells can be successfully generated from hPSCs through various differentiated strategies. Meanwhile, with a deeper understanding of hematopoiesis, higher efficiency of generating progenitors and precursors of blood cells from hPSCs is achieved. However, how to generate large-scale mature functional cells from hPSCs for clinical use is still difficult. In this review, we summarized recent approaches that generated both hematopoietic stem cells and mature lineage cells from hPSCs, and remarked their efficiency and mechanisms in producing mature functional cells. We also discussed the major challenges in hPSC-derived products of blood cells and provided some potential solutions. Our review summarized efficient, simple, and defined methodologies for developing good manufacturing practice standards for hPSC-derived blood cells, which will facilitate the translation of these products into the clinic.

HBV reactivation in patients with chronic or resolved HBV infection following BCMA-targeted CAR-T cell therapy.

B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-targeted chimeric antigen receptor-T cell (CAR-T) therapy is used for refractory or relapsed multiple myeloma (r/r MM). Concern of the safety and efficacy of CAR-T cell therapy in patients with chronic or resolved HBV infection is raised. In this study, we retrospectively reviewed 99 patients with r/r MM treated with BCMA-targeted CAR-T cell therapy, of which 7 (7.1%) patients had chronic HBV infection, 43 (43.4%) with resolved HBV infection, and the remaining 49 (49.49%) HBV-uninfected. Patients' characteristics before CAR-T cell administration were comparable in different status of HBV infection. Patients' liver function, cytokine levels, CAR-T cell expansion and cytokine release syndrome (CRS) grade after CAR-T cell therapy did not differ in different HBV serologic status. Furthermore, chronic HBV infection or resolved HBV infection did not affect clinical response, progress-free survival (PFS), or overall survival (OS). Four (4.04%) patients experienced HBV reactivation, 3 (6.98%) with resolved HBV infection, and 1 (14.29%) chronic HBV infection. Of 4 patients with HBV reactivation, 2 cases (50%) of severe hepatitis were noted and reported. Drops of serum IgG and elevation of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alanine aminotransferase (AST), total bilirubin (TB) were observed in all four patients around the date of HBV reactivation.

Induction of thoracic aortic dissection: a mini-review of ß-aminopropionitrile-related mouse models.

Thoracic aortic dissection (TAD) is one of the most lethal aortic diseases due to its acute onset, rapid progress, and high rate of aortic rupture. The pathogenesis of TAD is not completely understood. In this mini-review, we introduce three emerging experimental mouse TAD models using ß-aminopropionitrile (BAPN) alone, BAPN for a prolonged duration (four weeks) and then with added infusion of angiotensin II (AngII), or co-administration of BAPN and AngII chronically. We aim to provide insights into appropriate application of these three mouse models, thereby enhancing the understanding of the molecular mechanisms of TAD.