Extracellular Hsp90α, which participates in vascular inflammation, is a novel serum predictor of atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetes.

INTRODUCTION: Atherosclerosis is the main pathological change in diabetic angiopathy, and vascular inflammation plays an important role in early atherosclerosis. Extracellular heat shock protein 90 (eHsp90) is secreted into the serum and is involved in various physiological and pathophysiological processes. However, the specific mechanism of eHsp90 in early atherosclerosis remains unclear. This study explored the relationship between Hsp90 and diabetic lower extremity arterial disease and investigated the expression of eHsp90 in vascular endothelial cells under environmental stimulation and the function and mechanism of eHsp90α involved in diabetic atherosclerosis. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: One hundred and three selected patients were divided into three groups: the diabetes mellitus group (n=27), the diabetic lower extremity arterial disease group (n=46), and the diabetic critical limb ischemia group (n=30). The relationships among serum Hsp90, oxidative stress indexes, and patient outcomes and the correlations among the indexes were analyzed. H&E staining and immunohistochemistry were used to observe the vasculature of amputated feet from patients with diabetic foot. An oxidative stress endothelial injury model was established under high glucose in vitro to explore the role of eHsp90 release in atherosclerosis progression. RESULTS: The level of serum Hsp90 was upregulated with aggravation of diabetic vascular disease. Hsp90α was correlated with malondialdehyde to some extent and was an independent risk factor in the progression of diabetic vascular disease, with predictive ability. The expression area of Hsp90α was consistent with the area of inflammatory infiltration in the vessel lumen. Vascular endothelial cells were found to increase eHsp90α secretion under stress. Then inhibition of eHsp90α can reduce the degree of cellular inflammation and damage. Endothelial cell-conditioned medium and recombinant human Hsp90α increased monocyte migration via the low-denisity lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1) receptor to promote disease progression. CONCLUSIONS: eHsp90α plays a critical role in the early inflammatory injury stage of atherosclerosis. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: NCT04787770.

The role of the microbiome in diabetes mellitus.

The microbiome is greatly significant for immune system development and homeostasis. Dysbiosis in gut microbial composition and function is linked to immune responses and the development of metabolic diseases, including diabetes mellitus (DM). However, skin microbiome changes in diabetic patients and their role in DM are poorly elucidated. In this review, we summarize recent findings about the association between the gut and skin microbiota and DM, highlighting their roles in the proinflammatory status of DM. Moreover, although there is evidence that the connection between the gut and skin causes the same activated innate immune response, additional studies are needed to explore the mechanism. These findings might inform future DM prevention, diagnosis and treatment.