Lipid Behavior in Metabolic Syndrome Pathophysiology

Genome-wide association study for metabolic syndrome reveals APOA5 single nucleotide polymorphisms with multilayered effects in Koreans

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of metabolic syndrome (MetS) have predominantly focused on non-Asian populations, with limited representation from East Asian cohorts. Moreover, previous GWAS analyses have primarily emphasized the significance of top single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), poorly explaining other SNP signals in linkage disequilibrium. This study aimed to reveal the interaction between rs651821 and rs2266788, the principal variants of apolipoprotein A5 (APOA5), within the most significant loci identified through GWAS on MetS.

METHODS

GWAS on MetS and its components was conducted using the data from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES) city cohort comprising 58,600 individuals with available biochemical, demographic, lifestyle factors, and the most significant APOA5 locus was analyzed further in depth.

RESULTS

According to GWAS of MetS and its diagnostic components, a significant association between the APOA5 SNPs rs651821/rs2266788 and MetS/triglycerides/high-density lipoprotein phenotypes was revealed. However, a conditional analysis employing rs651821 unveiled a reversal in the odds ratio for rs2266788. Therefore, rs651821 and rs2266788 emerged as independent and opposing signals in the extended GWAS analysis, i.e., the multilayered effects. Further gene-environment interaction analyses regarding lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical activity underscored these multilayered effects.

CONCLUSION

This study unveils the intricate interplay between rs651821 and rs2266788 derived from MetS GWAS. Removing the influence of lead SNP reveals an independent protective signal associated with rs2266788, suggesting a multilayered effect between these SNPs. These findings underline the need for novel perspectives in future MetS GWAS.

Transcription Factors in Brain Regeneration: A Potential Novel Therapeutic Target

Transcription factors play a crucial role in providing identity to each cell population. To maintain cell identity, it is essential to balance the expression of activator and inhibitor transcription factors. Cell plasticity and reprogramming offer great potential for future therapeutic applications, as they can regenerate damaged tissue. Specific niche factors can modify gene expression and differentiate or transdifferentiate the target cell to the required fate. Ongoing research is being carried out on the possibilities of transcription factors in regenerating neurons, with neural stem cells (NSCs) being considered the preferred cells for generating new neurons due to their epigenomic and transcriptome memory. NEUROD1/ASCL1, BRN2, MYTL1, and other transcription factors can induce direct reprogramming of somatic cells, such as fibroblasts, into neurons. However, the molecular biology of transcription factors in reprogramming and differentiation still needs to be fully understood.

Autophagy Behavior under Local Hypothermia in Myocardiocytes Injury

Hypothermia and autophagy are critical regulators of cell homeostasis by regulating intra and intercellular cell communication. Myocardiocyte cryotherapy poses multiple cellular and subcellular effects on the injured cell, including upregulation of autophagy. Autophagy plays a crucial role in modifying cell metabolism by regulating downregulation, reducing reactive oxygen species production, and improving the natural cellular antioxidant defense system. Reduction of reactive oxygen species production and improving natural cellular antioxidant defense system. Therapeutic hypothermia ranges from 32-34°C in terms of local myocardiocyte cooling. Hypothermia induces autophagy by phosphorylating the Akt signaling pathway. Hypothermia has a more therapeutic effect when applied at the beginning of reperfusion rather than in the beginning of ischemia. Moderate hypothermia with 33°C poses most therapeutic effect by viability maintaining and reduction of reactive oxygen species release. Application of local hypothermia to myocardiocytes can be applied to infarcted myocardiocytes, anginal and to the cardiomyopathies.

Gastrointestinal Tract and Kidney Injury Pathogenesis in Post-COVID-19 Syndrome

COVID-19 is a global health emergency that requires worldwide collaboration to control its spread. The scientific community is working to understand the different aspects of the post-COVID-19 syndrome and potential treatment strategies. Interestingly, there have been reports of gastrointestinal tract (GIT) involvement in the post-COVID-19 syndrome, suggesting the presence of both severe and mild GIT disorders. The development of the post-COVID-19- GIT syndrome involves various factors, such as impaired GIT mucosa cells, disruptions in the feeling of satiety, reduced blood supply due to the formation of small blood clots, and increased prostaglandin secretion caused by an excessive immune response. GIT symptoms have been observed in around 16% of COVID-19 patients. Other complications include kidney damage and prolonged impairment in the filtration and excretion functions of the glomeruli and tubules. The pathogenesis of post-COVID-19 renal syndrome involves factors, like an overactive immune response, reduced lung perfusion and oxygenation, viral infection in kidney tissues, endothelial dysfunction, and decreased blood volume. Roughly 20% of hospitalized patients experience renal manifestations after recovering from COVID-19.

Cytokines and Regulating Epithelial Cell Division

Physiologically, cytokines play an extremely important role in maintaining cellular and subcellular homeostasis, as they interact almost with every cell in the organism. Therefore, cytokines play a significantly critical role in the field of pathogenic pharmacological therapy of different types of pathologies. Cytokine is a large family containing many subfamilies and can be evaluated into groups according to their action on epithelial cell proliferation; stimulatory include transforming growth factor-α (TGF-α), Interlukine-22 (IL-22), IL-13, IL-6, IL-1RA and IL-17 and inhibitory include IL-1α, interferon type I (IFN type I), and TGF-β. The balance between stimulatory and inhibitory cytokines is essential for maintaining normal epithelial cell turnover and tissue homeostasis. Dysregulation of cytokine production can contribute to various pathological conditions, including inflammatory disorders, tissue damage, and cancer. Several cytokines have shown the ability to affect programmed cell death (apoptosis) and the capability to suppress non-purpose cell proliferation. Clinically, understanding the role of cytokines' role in epithelial tissue is crucial for evaluating a novel therapeutic target that can be of use as a new tactic in the management of carcinomas and tissue healing capacity. The review provides a comprehensive and up-to-date synthesis of current knowledge regarding the multifaceted effects of cytokines on epithelial cell proliferation, with a particular emphasis on the intestinal epithelium. Also, the paper will highlight the diverse signaling pathways activated by cytokines and their downstream consequences on epithelial cell division. It will also explore the potential therapeutic implications of targeting cytokine- epithelial cell interactions in the context of various diseases.

Autophagy Behavior in Endothelial Cell Regeneration

Autophagy plays a crucial role in maintaining endothelial cell homeostasis through the turnover of intracellular components during stress conditions in a lysosomal-dependent manner. The regeneration strategy involves several aspects, including autophagy. Autophagy is a catabolic degenerative lysosomal-dependent degradation of intracellular components. Autophagy modifies cellular and subcellular endothelial cell functions, including mitochondria stress, lysosomal stress, and endoplasmic reticulum unfolded protein response. Activation of common signaling pathways of autophagy and regeneration and enhancement of intracellular endothelial cell metabolism serve as the bases for the induction of endothelial regeneration. Endothelial progenitor cells include induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC), embryonic stem cells, and somatic cells, such as fibroblasts. Future strategies of endothelial cell regeneration involve the induction of autophagy to minimize the metabolic degeneration of the endothelial cells and optimize the regeneration outcomes.

Nicotinamide Mononucleotide in the Context of Myocardiocyte Longevity

Cellular and subcellular metabolic activities are crucial processes involved in the regulation of intracellular homeostasis, including cellular and subcellular signaling pathways. Dysregulation of intracellular regulation mechanisms is catastrophic and cumulates into cell death. To overcome the issue of dysregulation of intracellular regulation mechanisms, the preservation of subcellular and extracellular components is essential to maintain healthy cells with increased longevity. Several physiopathological changes occur during cell ageing, one of which is the dysregulation of intracellular physiology of the oxidative phosphorylation process. Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN) remains in the debut of anti-aging therapeutic effect. Aged myocardiocyte characterized by disrupted NMN and or its precursors or signaling pathways. Simultaneously, several other pathophysiological occur that collectively impair intracellular homeostasis. The NMN role in the antiaging effect remains unclear and several hypotheses have been introduced into describing the mechanism and the potential outcomes from NMN exogenous supply. Correction of the impaired intracellular homeostasis includes correction to the NMN metabolism. Additionally, autophagy correction, which is the key element in the regulation of intracellular intoxication, including oxidative stress, unfolding protein response, and other degradation of intracellular metabolites. Several signaling pathways are involved in the regulation mechanism of NMN effects on myocardiocyte health and further longevity. NMN protects myocardiocytes from ischemic injury by reducing anabolism and, increasing catabolism and further passing the myocardiocytes into dormant status. NMN applications include ischemic heart, disease, and failed heart, as well as dilated cardiomyopathies. Cytosolic and mitochondrial NADPH are independently functioning and regulating. Each of these plays a role in the determination of the longevity of the myocardiocytes. NMN has a cornerstone in the functionality of Sirtuins, which are an essential anti-senescent intrinsic molecule. The study aims to assess the role of NMN in the longevity and antisenescent of myocardiocytes.

Endothelial Dysfunction under the Scope of Arterial Hypertension, Coronary Heart Disease, and Diabetes Mellitus using the Angioscan

BACKGROUND

Cardiovascular disease and diabetes mellitus are among the leading causes of mortality.

OBJECTIVES

Our study evaluated endothelial function in patients with arterial hypertension, coronary heart disease, and diabetes mellitus.

AIMS

This study aimed to assess the degree of endothelial dysfunction in individuals with cardiovascular risk factors older than 55 years of age.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A total of 112 patients were subdivided into three groups according to the existing disease; the first group consisted of 50 patients diagnosed with arterial hypertension (AH), the second group consisted of 30 patients with ischemic heart disease (IHD), and the third group included 20 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). The control group included 12 practically healthy volunteers, comparable in age and sex. Exclusion criteria were age under 55 years, severe concomitant diseases in the acute phase or acute infectious diseases, and oncopathology. Considered factors of cardiovascular risk include dyslipidemia, elevated fasting blood glucose, hypertension, obesity, cigarette smoking, and heredity for CVD. Moreover, tests were conducted with the help of the device 'AngioScan-01' (LLC "AngioScan Electronics"). Endothelium-dependent vasodilation (EDV), the index of stiffness of the vascular wall (SI), and the atherogenic index (log (TG/HDL - C )) were evaluated. The analysis of the data obtained was carried out using the IBM SPSS Statistic program.

RESULTS

In the control group, the atherogenic index was in the range of 3.34 (the normal is up to 3.5). The highest atherogenic index, 4.01, was observed in the DM group (differences with the control group are statistically significant). In the AH and IHD groups, the atherogenic index was 3.57 and 3.65, respectively. In the control group, the level of glycemia was 4.45 mmol/l. The highest level of fasting glucose was reported in the DM group, i.e., 6.7 mmol/l (differences with the control group were statistically significant). In the first and second groups, the fasting glucose level was 5.07 mmol/l and 5.08 mmol/l, respectively. In the control group, the mean EDV score was 2,056 ± 0.757 mm, and the lowest EDV in the DM group was 1.365 ± 0.413, but in the AH and IHD groups, it was also significantly reduced by 1.404 ± 0.440 and 1.377 ± 0.390, respectively. The stiffness index in the control group was 6.725 ± 0.776 m/s. In the DM group, this parameter was 8.258 ± 0.656 m/s; in the AH and IHD groups, it was 7.398 ± 1.330 m/s and 7.486 ± 0.816 m/s, respectively.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, the study of endothelial function using non-invasive angioscan reflects the influence of risk factors on the vascular wall. The most severe endothelial dysfunction is expressed in patients with diabetes. The results of endothelium-dependent vasodilation and the vascular wall stiffness index (SI) correspond to the scale of evaluation of the 10-year CVD mortality risk (SCORE). These results indicate a deterioration in the vascular ability to vasodilate in patients in response to mechanical deformation of the endothelium and the effect of NO on smooth muscle vascular cells.

Myocardiocyte autophagy in the context of myocardiocytes regeneration: a potential novel therapeutic strategy

Background

The regeneration strategy involves several aspects, such as reprogramming aspects, targeting pathophysiological processes, and inducing the physiological one. Autophagy targeting is a potential physiological/pathogenetic strategy to enhance myocardiocytes' function. Myocardiocytes' injury-related death remains to be the highest in our era. Unfortunately, myocardiocytes have a limited proliferation capacity to compensate for what was lost by infarction. However, partially injured myocardiocytes can be preserved by improving the autophagy process of myocardiocytes.

Main text

Autophagy induction involved controlling the cellular and subcellular environment as well as gene expression. Autophagy is well known to prolong the longevity of cell and human life. Inhibition of the mTOR receptor, proapoptotic gene Bnip3, IP3, and lysosome inhibitors, inhibition of microRNA-22 and overexpression of microRNA-99a, modulators of activated protein kinase with adenosine monophosphate, resveratrol, sirtuin activators, Longevinex and calcium lowering agents can promote physiological myocardiocyte autophagy and improve post-myocardial modulation and recovery speed. The paper aimed to assess autophagy role in myocardiocytes regeneration modulation.

Conclusions

The autophagy strategy can be applied to infarcted myocardiocytes, as well as heart failure. However, cell self-eating is not the preferred therapy for preserving injured myocardiocytes or causing regeneration.