Efficient and reproducible generation of human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes using a stirred bioreactor.

In the last decade human iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) proved to be valuable for cardiac disease modeling and cardiac regeneration, yet challenges with scale, quality, inter-batch consistency, and cryopreservation remain, reducing experimental reproducibility and limiting clinical translation. Here, we report a robust cardiac differentiation protocol that uses Wnt modulation and a stirred suspension bioreactor to produce on average 124 million hiPSC-CMs with >90% purity using a variety of hiPSC lines (19 differentiations; 10 iPSC lines). After controlled freeze and thaw, bioreactor-derived CMs (bCMs) showed high viability (>90%), interbatch reproducibility in cellular morphology, function, drug response and ventricular identity, which was further supported by single cell transcriptomes. bCMs on microcontact printed substrates revealed a higher degree of sarcomere maturation and viability during long-term culture compared to monolayer-derived CMs (mCMs). Moreover, functional investigation of bCMs in 3D engineered heart tissues showed earlier and stronger force production during long-term culture, and robust pacing capture up to 4 Hz when compared to mCMs. bCMs derived from this differentiation protocol will expand the applications of hiPSC-CMs by providing a reproducible, scalable, and resource efficient method to generate cardiac cells with well-characterized structural and functional properties superior to standard mCMs.

Tbx5 maintains atrial identity by regulating an atrial enhancer network.

Understanding how the atrial and ventricular chambers of the heart maintain their distinct identity is a prerequisite for treating chamber-specific diseases. Here, we selectively inactivated the transcription factor Tbx5 in the atrial working myocardium of the neonatal mouse heart to show that it is required to maintain atrial identity. Atrial Tbx5 inactivation downregulated highly chamber specific genes such as Myl7 and Nppa , and conversely, increased the expression of ventricular identity genes including Myl2 . Using combined single nucleus transcriptome and open chromatin profiling, we assessed genomic accessibility changes underlying the altered atrial identity expression program, identifying 1846 genomic loci with greater accessibility in control atrial cardiomyocytes compared to KO aCMs. 69% of the control-enriched ATAC regions were bound by TBX5, demonstrating a role for TBX5 in maintaining atrial genomic accessibility. These regions were associated with genes that had higher expression in control aCMs compared to KO aCMs, suggesting they act as TBX5-dependent enhancers. We tested this hypothesis by analyzing enhancer chromatin looping using HiChIP and found 510 chromatin loops that were sensitive to TBX5 dosage. Of the loops enriched in control aCMs, 73.7% contained anchors in control-enriched ATAC regions. Together, these data demonstrate a genomic role for TBX5 in maintaining the atrial gene expression program by binding to atrial enhancers and preserving tissue-specific chromatin architecture of atrial enhancers.

Tbx5 maintains atrial identity in post-natal cardiomyocytes by regulating an atrial-specific enhancer network.

Understanding how the atrial and ventricular heart chambers maintain distinct identities is a prerequisite for treating chamber-specific diseases. Here, we selectively knocked out (KO) the transcription factor Tbx5 in the atrial working myocardium to evaluate its requirement for atrial identity. Atrial Tbx5 inactivation downregulated atrial cardiomyocyte (aCM) selective gene expression. Using concurrent single nucleus transcriptome and open chromatin profiling, genomic accessibility differences were identified between control and Tbx5 KO aCMs, revealing that 69% of the control-enriched ATAC regions were bound by TBX5. Genes associated with these regions were downregulated in KO aCMs, suggesting they function as TBX5-dependent enhancers. Comparing enhancer chromatin looping using H3K27ac HiChIP identified 510 chromatin loops sensitive to TBX5 dosage, and 74.8% of control-enriched loops contained anchors in control-enriched ATAC regions. Together, these data demonstrate TBX5 maintains the atrial gene expression program by binding to and preserving the tissue-specific chromatin architecture of atrial enhancers.

MUC22, HLA-A, and HLA-DOB variants and COVID-19 in resilient super-agers from Brazil.

Background: Although aging correlates with a worse prognosis for Covid-19, super elderly still unvaccinated individuals presenting mild or no symptoms have been reported worldwide. Most of the reported genetic variants responsible for increased disease susceptibility are associated with immune response, involving type I IFN immunity and modulation; HLA cluster genes; inflammasome activation; genes of interleukins; and chemokines receptors. On the other hand, little is known about the resistance mechanisms against SARS-CoV-2 infection. Here, we addressed polymorphisms in the MHC region associated with Covid-19 outcome in super elderly resilient patients as compared to younger patients with a severe outcome. Methods: SARS-CoV-2 infection was confirmed by RT-PCR test. Aiming to identify candidate genes associated with host resistance, we investigated 87 individuals older than 90 years who recovered from Covid-19 with mild symptoms or who remained asymptomatic following positive test for SARS-CoV-2 as compared to 55 individuals younger than 60 years who had a severe disease or died due to Covid-19, as well as to the general elderly population from the same city. Whole-exome sequencing and an in-depth analysis of the MHC region was performed. All samples were collected in early 2020 and before the local vaccination programs started. Results: We found that the resilient super elderly group displayed a higher frequency of some missense variants in the MUC22 gene (a member of the mucins' family) as one of the strongest signals in the MHC region as compared to the severe Covid-19 group and the general elderly control population. For example, the missense variant rs62399430 at MUC22 is two times more frequent among the resilient super elderly (p = 0.00002, OR = 2.24). Conclusion: Since the pro-inflammatory basal state in the elderly may enhance the susceptibility to severe Covid-19, we hypothesized that MUC22 might play an important protective role against severe Covid-19, by reducing overactive immune responses in the senior population.

Toll-like receptor inflammatory cascade and the development of diabetic kidney disease in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes.

AIM: This study aimed to evaluate the association of toll-like receptor (TLR) inflammatory cascade with the development of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) in children and adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D). METHODS: A total of 49 T1D patients and 49 normoglycaemic (NG) subjects aged 5-20 years old were recruited. TLR2, TLR4, MYD88, NFKB, MCP1/CCL2 and IL18 mRNA expressions were measured in peripheral blood mononuclear cells by reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Fasting glucose, glycated haemoglobin, serum urea, serum creatinine and urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) were determined. RESULTS: The mRNA expressions of TLR2, TLR4, MYD88 and NFKB were significantly increased in the T1D group compared with the NG group. The mRNA expression levels of MCP1/CCL2 and IL18 were higher in 21 T1D patients (42.9%) (average of MCP1/CCL2: 6.6-fold and IL18: 5.8-fold) than in NG patients. Furthermore, ACR was increased in the T1D group compared with the NG group. CONCLUSION: The increased mRNA expression of TLR2, TLR4, MYD88, NFKB, MCP1/CCL2 and IL18 favours the development of an inflammatory process that may lead to a decline in renal function and consequently DKD in children and adolescents with T1D. This suggests that these genes are early mediators of onset DKD since the beginning of the lives of the paediatric T1D patients.

MHC Variants Associated With Symptomatic Versus Asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Highly Exposed Individuals.

Despite the high number of individuals infected by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) who develop coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) symptoms worldwide, many exposed individuals remain asymptomatic and/or uninfected and seronegative. This could be explained by a combination of environmental (exposure), immunological (previous infection), epigenetic, and genetic factors. Aiming to identify genetic factors involved in immune response in symptomatic COVID-19 as compared to asymptomatic exposed individuals, we analyzed 83 Brazilian couples where one individual was infected and symptomatic while the partner remained asymptomatic and serum-negative for at least 6 months despite sharing the same bedroom during the infection. We refer to these as "discordant couples". We performed whole-exome sequencing followed by a state-of-the-art method to call genotypes and haplotypes across the highly polymorphic major histocompatibility complex (MHC) region. The discordant partners had comparable ages and genetic ancestry, but women were overrepresented (65%) in the asymptomatic group. In the antigen-presentation pathway, we observed an association between HLA-DRB1 alleles encoding Lys at residue 71 (mostly DRB1*03:01 and DRB1*04:01) and DOB*01:02 with symptomatic infections and HLA-A alleles encoding 144Q/151R with asymptomatic seronegative women. Among the genes related to immune modulation, we detected variants in MICA and MICB associated with symptomatic infections. These variants are related to higher expression of soluble MICA and low expression of MICB. Thus, quantitative differences in these molecules that modulate natural killer (NK) activity could contribute to susceptibility to COVID-19 by downregulating NK cell cytotoxic activity in infected individuals but not in the asymptomatic partners.

Functional analysis of PCSK9 3'UTR variants and mRNA­miRNA interactions in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia

AIM: functional analysis of pcsk9 3'utr variants and mrna-mirna interactions were explored in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (fh). MATERIALS & METHODS: PCSK9 3'UTR variants were identified by exon-targeted gene sequencing. Functional effects of 3'UTR variants and mRNA-miRNA interactions were analyzed using in silico and in vitro studies in HEK293FT and HepG2 cells. RESULTS: Twelve PCSK9 3'UTR variants were detected in 88 FH patients. c.*75C >T and c.*345C >T disrupted interactions with miR-6875, miR-4721 and miR-564. Transient transfection of the c.*345C >T decreased luciferase activity in HEK293FT cells. miR-4721 and miR-564 mimics reduced PCSK9 expression in HepG2 cells. CONCLUSION: PCSK9 c.*345C >T has a possible role as loss-of-function variant. miR-4721 and miR-564 downregulate PCSK9 and may be useful to improve lipid profile in FH patients.

Functional analysis of PCSK9 3'UTR variants and mRNA-miRNA interactions in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia.

Aim: Functional analysis of PCSK9 3'UTR variants and mRNA-miRNA interactions were explored in patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). Materials & methods:PCSK9 3'UTR variants were identified by exon-targeted gene sequencing. Functional effects of 3'UTR variants and mRNA-miRNA interactions were analyzed using in silico and in vitro studies in HEK293FT and HepG2 cells. Results: Twelve PCSK9 3'UTR variants were detected in 88 FH patients. c.*75C >T and c.*345C >T disrupted interactions with miR-6875, miR-4721 and miR-564. Transient transfection of the c.*345C >T decreased luciferase activity in HEK293FT cells. miR-4721 and miR-564 mimics reduced PCSK9 expression in HepG2 cells. Conclusion:PCSK9 c.*345C >T has a possible role as loss-of-function variant. miR-4721 and miR-564 downregulate PCSK9 and may be useful to improve lipid profile in FH patients.

High serum miR-421 is associated with metabolic dysregulation and inflammation in patients with metabolic syndrome.

Aim: To explore the association of circulating miRNAs with adiposity, metabolic status and inflammatory biomarkers in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS). Methods: Serum levels of 372 miRNAs were measured in patients with (n = 6) and without MetS (n = 6) by quantitative PCR array, and dysregulated miRNAs were validated in a larger cohort (MetS, n = 89; non-MetS, n = 144). Results: In the screening study, seven miRNAs were dysregulated in patients with MetS, and miR-421 remained increased in the validation study. miR-421 was associated with a high risk of MetS and insulin resistance and hypertension and correlated with glycated hemoglobin, triacylglycerols, high-sensitivity CRP, IL-6, resistin and adiponectin (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Circulating miR-421 is a potential biomarker for insulin resistance, metabolic dysregulation and inflammatory status in patients with MetS.

High serum miR-421 is associated with metabolic dysregulation and inflammation in patients with metabolic syndrome

ABSTRACT: To explore the association of circulating miRNAs with adiposity, metabolic status and inflammatory biomarkers in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS). METHODS: Serum levels of 372 miRNAs were measured in patients with (n = 6) and without MetS (n = 6) by quantitative PCR array, and dysregulated miRNAs were validated in a larger cohort (MetS, n = 89; non-MetS, n = 144). RESULTS: In the screening study, seven miRNAs were dysregulated in patients with MetS, and miR-421 remained increased in the validation study. miR-421 was associated with a high risk of MetS and insulin resistance and hypertension and correlated with glycated hemoglobin, triacylglycerols, high-sensitivity CRP, IL-6, resistin and adiponectin (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Circulating miR-421 is a potential biomarker for insulin resistance, metabolic dysregulation and inflammatory status in patients with MetS.

Plasma levels of soluble HLA-G and cytokines in papillary thyroid carcinoma before and after thyroidectomy.

BACKGROUND: Increasing evidence shows that chronic inflammation plays an important role in thyroid tumorigenesis. Cytokines as central mediators in inflammatory microenvironment can present both pro-tumour and anti-tumour effects and cytokine release may be influenced by soluble HLA-G (sHLA-G), an immune checkpoint molecule whose expression can also be induced by certain cytokines. AIM: To understand the role of these soluble factors in papillary thyroid cancer (PTC). METHODS: We evaluated plasma levels of sHLA-G and of 13 cytokines using ELISA and flow cytometry, respectively, in PTC patients at two time points: pre- and post-thyroidectomy; and control subjects. RESULTS: Compared with controls, IL-6 levels were increased, while IL-1ß, IFN-α and TGF-ß1 levels were decreased in pre-thyroidectomy PTC patients. IFN-α and TGF-ß1 efficiently discriminated patients from controls and were associated with extrathyroidal extension and lymph node metastasis, respectively. In addition, TNF and IL-13 were associated with male gender, lymph node metastasis and Hashimoto thyroiditis, and sHLA-G with tumour invasion. Compared with pre-thyroidectomy, IL-4, IL-10, TNF, IFN-α and TGF-ß1 levels were increased in post-thyroidectomy. CONCLUSION: There are significant changes in the cytokine profile after surgical removal of the thyroid tumour, and IFN-α e TGF-ß1 showed to be promising cytokines for discriminating PTC patients from controls. We also found that different cytokines are associated with clinicohistopathological characteristics of PTC related to poor prognosis, suggesting that cytokines seem to play an important role in PTC development and management.

Anti-TNF-α Agent Tamarind Kunitz Trypsin Inhibitor Improves Lipid Profile of Wistar Rats Presenting Dyslipidemia and Diet-induced Obesity Regardless of PPAR-γ Induction.

: The increasing prevalence of obesity and, consequently, chronic inflammation and its complications has increased the search for new treatment methods. The effect of the purified tamarind seed trypsin inhibitor (TTIp) on metabolic alterations in Wistar rats with obesity and dyslipidemia was evaluated. Three groups of animals with obesity and dyslipidemia were formed, consuming a high glycemic index and glycemic load (HGLI) diet, for 10 days: Obese/HGLI diet; Obese/standard diet; Obese/HGLI diet + TTIp (730 µg/kg); and one eutrophic group of animals was fed a standard diet. Rats were evaluated daily for food intake and weight gain. On the 11th day, animals were anesthetized and sacrificed for blood and visceral adipose tissue collection. TTIp treated animals presented significantly lower food intake than the untreated group (p = 0.0065), TG (76.20 ± 18.73 mg/dL) and VLDL-C (15.24 ± 3.75 mg/dL). Plasma concentrations and TNF-α mRNA expression in visceral adipose tissue also decreased in obese animals treated with TTIp (p < 0.05 and p = 0.025, respectively) with a negative immunostaining. We conclude that TTIp presented anti-TNF-α activity and an improved lipid profile of Wistar rats with dyslipidemia and obesity induced by a high glycemic index and load diet regardless of PPAR-γ induction.

Satietogenic Protein from Tamarind Seeds Decreases Food Intake, Leptin Plasma and CCK-1r Gene Expression in Obese Wistar Rats.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the effect of a protein, the isolated Trypsin Inhibitor (TTI) from Tamarindus indica L. seed, as a CCK secretagogue and its action upon food intake and leptin in obese Wistar rats. METHODS: Three groups of obese rats were fed 10 days one of the following diets: Standard diet (Labina®) + water; High Glycemic Index and Load (HGLI) diet + water or HGLI diet + TTI. Lean animals were fed the standard diet for the 10 days. Food intake, zoometric measurements, plasma CCK, plasma leptin, relative mRNA expression of intestinal CCK-related genes, and expression of the ob gene in subcutaneous adipose tissue were assessed. RESULTS: TTI decreased food intake but did not increase plasma CCK in obese animals. On the other hand, TTI treatment decreased CCK-1R gene expression in obese animals compared with the obese group with no treatment (p = 0.027). Obese animals treated with TTI presented lower plasma leptin than the non-treated obese animals. CONCLUSION: We suggest that TTI by decreasing plasma leptin may improve CCK action, regardless of its increase in plasma from obese rats, since food intake was lowest.

Zinc supplementation reduces RANKL/OPG ratio and prevents bone architecture alterations in ovariectomized and type 1 diabetic rats.

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and estrogen deficiency are associated with several alterations in bone turnover. Zinc (Zn) is required for growth, development, and overall health. Zinc has been used in complementary therapy against bone loss in several diseases. We hypothesized that Zn supplementation represents a potential therapy against severe bone loss induced by the combined effect of estrogen deficiency and T1DM. We evaluated the protective effect of Zn against bone alterations in a chronic model of these disorders. Female Wistar rats were ramdomized into 3 groups (5 rats each): control, OVX/T1DM (ovariectomized rats with streptozotocin-induced T1DM), and OVX/T1DM+Zn (OVX/T1DM plus daily Zn supplementation). Serum biochemical, bone histomorphometric, and molecular analyses were performed. Histomorphometric parameters were similar between the control and OVX/T1DM+Zn groups, suggesting that Zn prevents bone architecture alterations. In contrast, the OVX/T1DM group showed significantly lower trabecular width and bone area as well as greater trabecular separation than the control. The OVX/T1DM and OVX/T1DM+Zn groups had significantly higher serum alkaline phosphatase activity than the control. The supplemented group had higher levels of serum-ionized calcium and phosphorus than the nonsupplemented group. The RANKL/OPG ratio was similar between the control and OVX/T1DM+Zn groups, whereas it was higher in the OVX/T1DM group. In conclusion, Zn supplementation prevents bone alteration in chronic OVX/T1DM rats, as demonstrated by the reduced RANKL/OPG ratio and preservation of bone architecture. The findings may represent a novel therapeutic approach to preventing OVX/T1DM-induced bone alterations.

Exercise training ameliorates matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 messenger RNA expression and mitigates adverse left ventricular remodeling in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

BACKGROUND: The aim was to investigate whether exercise training (ExT) would ameliorate expression of key genes for myocardial morphostructure and mitigate adverse left ventricular (LV) remodeling in experimental type 1 diabetes (T1D). METHODS AND RESULTS: Male Wistar rats were divided into four groups: sedentary control (SC, n=9), trained control (TC, n=13), sedentary diabetic (SD, n=20), and trained diabetic (TD, n=17). T1D was induced by 40 mg/kg streptozotocin (single dose, i.v.). Training program consisted of 4-week treadmill running (60 min/day, 5 days/wk). Structure of the LV was evaluated using histomorphometric techniques. Gene expression changes of LV collagens I and III, metalloproteinases (MMPs) 2 and 9, and transforming growth factor-ß1 were detected by reverse transcriptase quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Compared with SC, SD rats presented LV eccentric remodeling, myocyte hypertrophy, and fibrosis, whereas TD animals showed normal LV geometry and collagen content but thinner myocytes. Expression of collagens and type I/III collagen messenger RNA (mRNA) ratio were diminished in diabetic hearts compared with SC. MMP-2 gene was down-regulated in SD, whereas TD group showed decreased MMP-9 mRNA levels and MMP-2 expression comparable to that of SC rats. CONCLUSIONS: Attenuation of MMP-2 down-regulation and reduction in MMP-9 mRNA expression may constitute an underlying mechanism by which ExT counteracts progression of adverse LV remodeling in T1D.

mRNA-miRNA integrative analysis of diabetes-induced cardiomyopathy in rats.

An integrative analysis of miRNA and mRNA expression profiles in left ventricle (LV) of diabetes-induced rats was performed to elucidate the role of miRNAs and their mRNAs target in diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM). mRNA (GSE4745) and miRNA (GSE44179) datasets were downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus 2R (GEO2R) and differentially expressed mRNAs and miRNAs were selected. Cardiotoxicity-related mRNAs (n=7) were analyzed by Ingenuity Pathway Analyses 6 (IPA) and regulatory miRNAs (n=639) were identified using TargetScan 7.1. web dataset. The integrative analysis was performed between miRNAs differentially expressed in GSE44179 and regulatory TargetScan-detected miRNAs of mRNAs differentially expressed in GSE4745. Pla2g2a and Hk2 mRNAs were up-and-down regulated, respectively, in GSE4745 on days 3 and 42 after diabetes-induction. The Pla2g2a regulatory miRNAs, rno-miR-877, rno-miR-320 and rno-miR-214, were down-regulated, and Hk2 regulatory miRNAs, rno-miR-17, rno-miR-187, rno-miR-34a, rno-miR-322, rno-miR-188, rno-miR-532 and rno-miR-21, were up-regulated in GSE44179 dataset. These results are suggestive that Pla2g2a and Hk2 mRNAs and their regulatory miRNAs play a role in DCM pathogenesis and they may be potential circulating biomarkers to detect early cardiovascular complications in diabetic patients.

Modulation of miR-26a-5p and miR-15b-5p Exosomal Expression Associated with Clopidogrel-Induced Hepatotoxicity in HepG2 Cells.

Clopidogrel is an essential antiplatelet drug used to prevent thrombosis complications associated with atherosclerosis. However, hepatotoxicity is a potential adverse effect related to clopidogrel therapy. Exosome-derived miRNAs may be useful for improved monitoring of drug response and hepatotoxicity risk. In the present study, the expression of several exosomal miRNAs (miR-26a-5p, miR-145-5p, miR-15b-5p, and miR-4701-3p) and cell-derived mRNA targets (PLOD2, SENP5, EIF4G2, HMGA2, STRADB, and TLK1) were evaluated in HepG2 cells treated with clopidogrel (6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, and 100 µM) for 24 and 48 h. Then, clopidogrel cytotoxicity was evaluated by analyzing DNA fragmentation and the cell cycle profile using flow cytometry. Differential expression of exosome-derived miRNAs and cell-derived mRNAs was analyzed by RT-qPCR. Exposure of HepG2 cells to high concentrations of clopidogrel (50 and 100 µM) for 24 h caused significant DNA fragmentation (17.6 and 44.4%, respectively; p < 0.05) and 48 h (26.8 and 48.9%, respectively; p < 0.05), indicating cellular toxicity. Upregulation of miR-26a-5p and downregulation of miR-15b-5p was observed in cells exposed to 100 µM clopidogrel for 24 and 48 h. The miR-26a-5p target mRNAs HMGA2, EIF4G2, STRADB, and SENP5 were downregulated in HepG2 cells following exposure to cytotoxic concentrations of clopidogrel (50 and 100 µM) for 24 h, and HMGA2 levels remained low after 48 h of treatment. TLK1, a target of miR-15b-5p, was downregulated by 50 and 100 µM clopidogrel at 24 h. In conclusion, our results suggest that exposure to high concentrations of clopidogrel modulates the expression of exosomal miR-26a-5p and miR-15b-5p and their target mRNAs in HepG2 cells. Dysregulation of these miRNAs maybe modulate the regulatory pathways involved in clopidogrel-induced liver injury.

mRNA-miRNA integrative analysis of diabetes-induced cardiomyopathy in rats

An integrative analysis of miRNA and mRNA expression profiles in left ventricle (LV) of diabetes-induced rats was performed to elucidate the role of miRNAs and their mRNAs target in diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM). mRNA (GSE4745) and miRNA (GSE44179) datasets were downloaded from Gene Expression Omnibus 2R (GEO2R) and differentially expressed mRNAs and miRNAs were selected. Cardiotoxicity-related mRNAs (n=7) were analyzed by Ingenuity Pathway Analyses 6 (IPA) and regulatory miRNAs (n=639) were identified using TargetScan 7.1. web dataset. The integrative analysis was performed between miRNAs differentially expressed in GSE44179 and regulatory TargetScan-detected miRNAs of mRNAs differentially expressed in GSE4745. Pla2g2a and Hk2 mRNAs were up-and-down regulated, respectively, in GSE4745 on days 3 and 42 after diabetes-induction. The Pla2g2a regulatory miRNAs, rno-miR-877, rno-miR-320 and rno-miR-214, were down-regulated, and Hk2 regulatory miRNAs, rno-miR-17, rno-miR-187, rno-miR-34a, rno-miR-322, rno-miR-188, rno-miR-532 and rno-miR-21, were up-regulated in GSE44179 dataset. These results are suggestive that Pla2g2a and Hk2 mRNAs and their regulatory miRNAs play a role in DCM pathogenesis and they may be potential circulating biomarkers to detect early cardiovascular complications in diabetic patients.

Modulation of miR-26a-5p and miR-15b-5p exosomal expression associated with Clopidogrel-induced hepatotoxicity in HepG2 Cells

Clopidogrel is an essential antiplatelet drug used to prevent thrombosis complications associated with atherosclerosis. However, hepatotoxicity is a potential adverse effect related to clopidogrel therapy. Exosome-derived miRNAs may be useful for improved monitoring of drug response and hepatotoxicity risk. In the present study, the expression of several exosomal miRNAs (miR-26a-5p, miR-145-5p, miR-15b-5p, and miR-4701-3p) and cell-derived mRNA targets (PLOD2, SENP5, EIF4G2, HMGA2, STRADB, and TLK1) were evaluated in HepG2 cells treated with clopidogrel (6.25, 12.5, 25, 50, and 100 μM) for 24 and 48 h. Then, clopidogrel cytotoxicity was evaluated by analyzing DNA fragmentation and the cell cycle profile using flow cytometry. Differential expression of exosome-derived miRNAs and cell-derived mRNAs was analyzed by RT-qPCR. Exposure of HepG2 cells to high concentrations of clopidogrel (50 and 100 μM) for 24 h caused significant DNA fragmentation (17.6 and 44.4%, respectively; p < 0.05) and 48 h (26.8 and 48.9%, respectively; p < 0.05), indicating cellular toxicity...

Zinc supplementation reduces RANKL/OPG ratio and prevents bone architecture alterations in ovariectomized and type 1 diabetic rats

Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and estrogen deficiency are associated with several alterations in bone turnover. Zinc (Zn) is required for growth, development, and overall health. Zinc has been used in complementary therapy against bone loss in several diseases. We hypothesized that Zn supplementation represents a potential therapy against severe bone loss induced by the combined effect of estrogen deficiency and T1DM. We evaluated the protective effect of Zn against bone alterations in a chronic model of these disorders. Female Wistar rats were ramdomized into 3 groups (5 rats each): control, OVX/T1DM (ovariectomized rats with streptozotocin-induced T1DM), and OVX/T1DM+Zn (OVX/T1DM plus daily Zn supplementation). Serum biochemical, bone histomorphometric, and molecular analyses were performed. Histomorphometric parameters were similar between the control and OVX/T1DM+Zn groups, suggesting that Zn prevents bone architecture alterations. In contrast, the OVX/T1DM group showed significantly lower trabecular width and bone area as well as greater trabecular separation than the control...