Elevated CD169 expressing monocyte/macrophage promotes systemic inflammation and disease progression in cirrhosis.

Systemic inflammation is related to disease progression and prognosis in patients with advanced cirrhosis. However, the mechanisms underlying the initiation of inflammation are still not fully understood. The role of CD169+ monocyte/macrophage in cirrhotic systemic inflammation was undetected. Flow cytometry analysis was used to detect the percentage and phenotypes of CD169+ monocytes as well as their proinflammatory function in patient-derived cirrhotic tissue and blood. Transcriptome differences between CD169+ and CD169- monocytes were also compared. Additionally, a mouse model with specific depletion of CD169+ monocytes/macrophages was utilized to define their role in liver injury and fibrosis. We observed increased CD169 expression in monocytes from cirrhotic patients, which was correlated with inflammatory cytokine production and disease progression. CD169+ monocytes simultaneously highly expressed M1- and M2-like markers and presented immune-activated profiles. We also proved that CD169+ monocytes robustly prevented neutrophil apoptosis. Depletion of CD169+ monocytes/macrophages significantly inhibited inflammation and liver necrosis in acute liver injury, but the spontaneous fibrin resolution after repeated liver injury was impaired. Our results indicate that CD169 defines a subset of inflammation-associated monocyte that correlates with disease development in patients with cirrhosis. This provides a possible therapeutic target for alleviating inflammation and improving survival in cirrhosis.

Ultrasound-guided nitinol stent implantation in treatment of early recurrent stenosis of arteriovenous fistula.

To investigate the feasibility, methods and efficacy of ultrasound-guided nitinol stent implantation for the treatment of early recurrent stenosis of arteriovenous fistula (AVF). Thirty patients with early recurrent stenosis after percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA) who received ultrasound-guided nitinol stent implantation in Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital of Zhejiang University from April 2018 to July 2020 were followed up. The imaging features of the procedure and the interventional devices were observed under ultrasonography. The technical success rate and the clinical success rate as well as the incidence of complication were assessed. The post-interventional primary patency rates of access circuit, primary patency rates of target lesion and secondary patency rates were estimated. Ultrasonography was able to demonstrate the operation process and the interventional devices clearly. The technical and clinical success rates were both 100.0%. Eight patients had in-stent restenosis, which were treated by PTA. The post-interventional primary patency rates of the access circuit after 3, 6, 9 and were 91.3%, 86.2%, 86.2% and 64.2%, respectively; the post-interventional primary patency rates of target lesion were 100.0%, 100.0%, 86.4% and 69.3%, respectively; the post-interventional secondary patency rates were 100.0%, 100.0%, 100.0% and 94.4%, respectively. Compared with previous PTA in these cases, stent implantation had a higher post-interventional primary patency rates of target lesion and a lower cost-effectiveness (both <0.05). No other complications such as vascular rupture, pseudohemangioma, stent infection, stent displacement and stent exposure were observed during the follow-up. Ultrasonography can accurately guide the nitinol stent implantation in AVF, and the technique is feasible in treatment for the early recurrent stenosis after PTA with good short- and medium-term efficacy.