Danger-associated metabolites trigger metaflammation: A crowbar in cardiometabolic diseases

Immunohistochemical Expression of Haptoglobin in Skin Lesions of Hidradenitis Suppurativa

BACKGROUND

Meta-inflammation is a hallmark of hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). Research on meta-inflammation in HS is growing, but there is still no research on haptoglobin as an inflammatory protein in lesional HS skin. This study examines the relationship between haptoglobin expression in HS skin lesions and clinical parameters.

METHODS

An examination was performed on 44 skin samples from HS patients and 10 healthy skin samples. Clinical parameters were then compared with haptoglobin expression.

RESULTS

Median haptoglobin expression was significantly higher in the Hurley stage III lesions compared with milder stages (H-score: 37.6 versus 17.1, p = 0.028). High haptoglobin expression (≥30.8% positive cells) was associated with advanced disease (Hurley stage III: 80% versus 41.7%, p = 0.01), active smoking (80% versus 50%, p = 0.039), increased pain (visual analogue scale: 5 versus 1.5, p = 0.03), and a higher prevalence of diabetes (35% versus 8.3%, p = 0.029) and hypertension (55% versus 25%, p = 0.042). No significant associations were found with the BMI, disease duration, or CRP levels.

CONCLUSIONS

High haptoglobin expression (positive cells ≥ 30.8%) in a skin lesion is associated with higher HS severity, active smoking, more pain and the comorbidities of diabetes mellitus and arterial hypertension in HS patients.

Mechanisms of inflammatory microenvironment formation in cardiometabolic diseases: molecular and cellular perspectives

Cardiometabolic diseases (CMD) are leading causes of death and disability worldwide, with complex pathophysiological mechanisms in which inflammation plays a crucial role. This review aims to elucidate the molecular and cellular mechanisms within the inflammatory microenvironment of atherosclerosis, hypertension and diabetic cardiomyopathy. In atherosclerosis, oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) and pro-inflammatory cytokines such as Interleukin-6 (IL-6) and Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha (TNF-α) activate immune cells contributing to foam cell formation and arterial wall thickening. Hypertension involves the activation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) alongside oxidative stress-induced endothelial dysfunction and local inflammation mediated by T cells. In diabetic cardiomyopathy, a high-glucose environment leads to the accumulation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs), activating the Receptor for Advanced Glycation Endproducts (RAGE) and triggering inflammatory responses that further damage cardiac and microvascular function. In summary, the inflammatory mechanisms in different types of metabolic cardiovascular diseases are complex and diverse; understanding these mechanisms deeply will aid in developing more effective individualized treatment strategies.