The Influence of Hypertensive Therapies on Circulating Factors: Clinical Implications for SCFAs, FGF21, TNFSF14 and TNF-α

Insights into the role of FGF21 in coronary heart disease

Coronary heart disease (CHD) remains a leading cause of global mortality, with an alarming increase in its incidence among the younger population in recent years. This has amplified the need for early diagnostic markers and advances in therapeutic strategies to improve patient outcomes. Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21), an endocrine hormone crucial for the regulation of metabolic homeostasis, has garnered significant attention over the past decade, owing to its role in cardiovascular health. FGF21 exerts cardioprotective effects through various mechanisms, including regulation of myocardial energy metabolism, prevention of cardiac cell death, suppression of inflammation, and reduction of oxidative stress in the heart. Given these properties, FGF21 shows considerable promise as a pharmacological agent for the management of CHD. Moreover, it has emerged as a promising biomarker for the diagnosis and prognostic assessment of CHD. This review aims to clarify the molecular mechanisms underlying the favorable effects of FGF21 on CHD and its related risk factors, thereby providing valuable insights for future research on the role of FGF21 in CHD management.

TNFSF14/LIGHT promotes cardiac fibrosis and atrial fibrillation vulnerability via PI3Kγ/SGK1 pathway-dependent M2 macrophage polarisation

BACKGROUND

Tumour necrosis factor superfamily protein 14 (TNFSF14), also called LIGHT, is an important regulator of immunological and fibrosis diseases. However, its specific involvement in cardiac fibrosis and atrial fibrillation (AF) has not been fully elucidated. The objective of this study is to examine the influence of LIGHT on the development of myocardial fibrosis and AF.

METHODS

PCR arrays of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from patients with AF and sinus rhythm was used to identify the dominant differentially expressed genes, followed by ELISA to evaluate its serum protein levels. Morphological, functional, and electrophysiological changes in the heart were detected in vivo after the tail intravenous injection of recombinant LIGHT (rLIGHT) in mice for 4 weeks. rLIGHT was used to stimulate bone marrow-derived macrophages (BMDMs) to prepare a macrophage-conditioned medium (MCM) in vitro. Then, the MCM was used to culture mouse cardiac fibroblasts (CFs). The expression of relevant proteins and genes was determined using qRT-PCR, western blotting, and immunostaining.

RESULTS

The mRNA levels of LIGHT and TNFRSF14 were higher in the PBMCs of patients with AF than in those of the healthy controls. Additionally, the serum protein levels of LIGHT were higher in patients with AF than those in the healthy controls and were correlated with left atrial reverse remodelling. Furthermore, we demonstrated that rLIGHT injection promoted macrophage infiltration and M2 polarisation in the heart, in addition to promoting atrial fibrosis and AF inducibility in vivo, as detected with MASSON staining and atrial burst pacing respectively. RNA sequencing of heart samples revealed that the PI3Kγ/SGK1 pathway may participate in these pathological processes. Therefore, we confirmed the hypothesis that rLIGHT promotes BMDM M2 polarisation and TGB-β1 secretion, and that this process can be inhibited by PI3Kγ and SGK1 inhibitors in vitro. Meanwhile, increased collagen synthesis and myofibroblast transition were observed in LIGHT-stimulated MCM-cultured CFs and were ameliorated in the groups treated with PI3Kγ and SGK1 inhibitors.

CONCLUSION

LIGHT protein levels in peripheral blood can be used as a prognostic marker for AF and to evaluate its severity. LIGHT promotes cardiac fibrosis and AF inducibility by promoting macrophage M2 polarisation, wherein PI3Kγ and SGK1 activation is indispensable.

Effects and Mechanisms of Probiotics, Prebiotics, Synbiotics, and Postbiotics on Metabolic Diseases Targeting Gut Microbiota: A Narrative Review

Metabolic diseases are serious threats to public health and related to gut microbiota. Probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and postbiotics (PPSP) are powerful regulators of gut microbiota, thus possessing prospects for preventing metabolic diseases. Therefore, the effects and mechanisms of PPSP on metabolic diseases targeting gut microbiota are worth discussing and clarifying. Generally, PPSP benefit metabolic diseases management, especially obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The underlying gut microbial-related mechanisms are mainly the modulation of gut microbiota composition, regulation of gut microbial metabolites, and improvement of intestinal barrier function. Moreover, clinical trials showed the benefits of PPSP on patients with metabolic diseases, while the clinical strategies for gestational diabetes mellitus, optimal formula of synbiotics and health benefits of postbiotics need further study. This review fully summarizes the relationship between probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, postbiotics, and metabolic diseases, presents promising results and the one in dispute, and especially attention is paid to illustrates potential mechanisms and clinical effects, which could contribute to the next research and development of PPSP.

Role and mechanism of action of butyrate in atherosclerotic diseases: a review

Butyrate is a bioactive molecule produced by the intestinal flora and plays a major role in a variety of inflammatory diseases. Increasing evidence indicates that butyrate can regulate the occurrence and development of atherosclerosis (AS). Coincidentally, it reduces hyperlipidemia and hyperglycemia, which are major risk factors of AS. However, the mechanism by which butyrate regulates the development of AS remains unclear. In this article, we review the effect of butyrate treatment on AS with a focus on the mechanisms of butyrate-mediated modulation of several atherosclerotic processes. These include the improvement of monocyte-endothelial interactions, macrophage lipid accumulation, smooth muscle cell proliferation and migration, and lymphocyte differentiation and function. The existing research indicates that butyrate treatment may be a potentially effective strategy for the prevention of AS. Identity and underlying mechanisms of the molecular pathways of these interactions should be explored in the future to counter AS effectively.