Interleukin-1β Promotes Ox-LDL Uptake by Human Glomerular Mesangial Cells via LOX-1

Si-Wu-Tang improves liver fibrosis by restoring liver sinusoidal endothelial cell functionality and reducing communication with hepatic stellate cells

BACKGROUND

Liver fibrosis is a complex reparative process in response to chronic liver injuries, with limited effective therapeutic options available in clinical practice. During liver fibrosis, liver sinusoidal endothelial cells (LSECs) undergo phenotypic changes and also play a role in modulating cellular communications. Si-Wu-Tang (SWT), a traditional Chinese herbal remedy, has been extensively studied for its effectiveness in treating hematological, gynecological and hepatic diseases.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The component of SWT were identified by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC). After establishing bile duct ligation (BDL)-induced liver fibrosis mice model and VEGFA-stimulated LSEC model, we invested the mechanism of SWT through RNA sequencing combined with molecular biology techniques.

RESULTS

SWT significantly improved the sinusoidal permeability and liver fibrosis induced by BDL and effectively regulated pathological processes in LSECs, such as angiogenesis, cell adhesion, basement membrane formation and defenestration. The anti-fibrosis effects of SWT were attributed to the inhibition on LSEC adhesion via COL8A1, on LSEC angiogenesis via IL-1β and the induction of LSEC defenestration by OLR1. Additionally, SWT disrupted the intercellular crosstalk between LSECs and hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) driven by IL-1β, thus alleviating liver fibrosis.

CONCLUSION

SWT collectively ameliorated liver fibrosis by inhibiting the COL8A1/IL-1β/OLR1 pathways associated with LSEC angiogenesis, adhesion and defenestration, as well as suppressing LSEC secretion of IL-1β to reduce HSC activation.

Association between atherosclerosis and the development of multi-organ pathologies

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease affecting the vascular system, characterised by the accumulation of modified lipoproteins, immune cell aggregation and the development of fibrous tissue within blood vessel walls. As atherosclerosis impacts blood vessels, its adverse effects may manifest across various tissues and organs. In this review, we examine the association of atherosclerosis with Alzheimer's disease, stroke, pancreatic and thyroid dysfunction, kidney stones and chronic kidney diseases. In several cases, the reciprocal causative effect of these diseases on the progression of atherosclerosis is also discussed. Particular attention is given to common risk factors, biomarkers and identified molecular mechanisms linking the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis to the dysfunction of multiple tissues and organs. Understanding the role of atherosclerosis and its associated microenvironmental conditions in the pathology of multi-organ disorders may unveil novel therapeutic avenues for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular and associated diseases.

Kidney lipid metabolism: impact on pediatric kidney diseases and modulation by early-life nutrition

Our review summarizes and evaluates the current state of knowledge on lipid metabolism in relation to the pathomechanisms of kidney disease with a focus on common pediatric kidney diseases. In addition, we discuss how nutrition in early childhood can alter kidney development and permanently shape kidney lipid and protein metabolism, which in turn affects kidney health and disease throughout life. Comprehensive integrated lipidomics and proteomics network analyses are becoming increasingly available and offer exciting new insights into metabolic signatures. Lipid accumulation, lipid peroxidation, oxidative stress, and dysregulated pro-inflammatory lipid mediator signaling have been identified as important mechanisms influencing the progression of minimal change disease, focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, membranous nephropathy, diabetic kidney disease, and acute kidney injury. We outline key features of metabolic homeostasis and lipid metabolic physiology in renal cells and discuss pathophysiological aspects in the pediatric context. On the one hand, special vulnerabilities such as reduced antioxidant capacity in neonates must be considered. On the other hand, there is a unique window of opportunity during kidney development, as nutrition in early life influences the composition of cellular phospholipid membranes in the growing kidney and thus affects local signaling pathways far beyond the growth phase.

LOX-1 in Cardiovascular Disease: A Comprehensive Molecular and Clinical Review

LOX-1, ORL-1, or lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor 1 is a transmembrane glycoprotein that binds and internalizes ox-LDL in foam cells. LOX-1 is the main receptor for oxidized low-density lipoproteins (ox-LDL). The LDL comes from food intake and circulates through the bloodstream. LOX-1 belongs to scavenger receptors (SR), which are associated with various cardiovascular diseases. The most important and severe of these is the formation of atherosclerotic plaques in the intimal layer of the endothelium. These plaques can evolve into complicated thrombi with the participation of fibroblasts, activated platelets, apoptotic muscle cells, and macrophages transformed into foam cells. This process causes changes in vascular endothelial homeostasis, leading to partial or total obstruction in the lumen of blood vessels. This obstruction can result in oxygen deprivation to the heart. Recently, LOX-1 has been involved in other pathologies, such as obesity and diabetes mellitus. However, the development of atherosclerosis has been the most relevant due to its relationship with cerebrovascular accidents and heart attacks. In this review, we will summarize findings related to the physiologic and pathophysiological processes of LOX-1 to support the detection, diagnosis, and prevention of those diseases.

Signaling pathways of chronic kidney diseases, implications for therapeutics

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a chronic renal dysfunction syndrome that is characterized by nephron loss, inflammation, myofibroblasts activation, and extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition. Lipotoxicity and oxidative stress are the driving force for the loss of nephron including tubules, glomerulus, and endothelium. NLRP3 inflammasome signaling, MAPK signaling, PI3K/Akt signaling, and RAAS signaling involves in lipotoxicity. The upregulated Nox expression and the decreased Nrf2 expression result in oxidative stress directly. The injured renal resident cells release proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines to recruit immune cells such as macrophages from bone marrow. NF-κB signaling, NLRP3 inflammasome signaling, JAK-STAT signaling, Toll-like receptor signaling, and cGAS-STING signaling are major signaling pathways that mediate inflammation in inflammatory cells including immune cells and injured renal resident cells. The inflammatory cells produce and secret a great number of profibrotic cytokines such as TGF-β1, Wnt ligands, and angiotensin II. TGF-β signaling, Wnt signaling, RAAS signaling, and Notch signaling evoke the activation of myofibroblasts and promote the generation of ECM. The potential therapies targeted to these signaling pathways are also introduced here. In this review, we update the key signaling pathways of lipotoxicity, oxidative stress, inflammation, and myofibroblasts activation in kidneys with chronic injury, and the targeted drugs based on the latest studies. Unifying these pathways and the targeted therapies will be instrumental to advance further basic and clinical investigation in CKD.

Interaction between macrophages and ferroptosis

Abstract

Ferroptosis, a newly discovered iron-dependent cell death pathway, is characterized by lipid peroxidation and GSH depletion mediated by iron metabolism and is morphologically, biologically and genetically different from other programmed cell deaths. Besides, ferroptosis is usually found accompanied by inflammatory reactions. So far, it has been found participating in the development of many kinds of diseases. Macrophages are a group of immune cells that widely exist in our body for host defense and play an important role in tissue homeostasis by mediating inflammation and regulating iron, lipid and amino acid metabolisms through their unique functions like phagocytosis and efferocytosis, cytokines secretion and ROS production under different polarization. According to these common points in ferroptosis characteristics and macrophages functions, it’s obvious that there must be relationship between macrophages and ferroptosis. Therefore, our review aims at revealing the interaction between macrophages and ferroptosis concerning three metabolisms and integrating the application of certain relationship in curing diseases, mostly cancer. Finally, we also provide inspirations for further studies in therapy for some diseases by targeting certain resident macrophages in distinct tissues to regulate ferroptosis.

Facts

Ferroptosis is considered as a newly discovered form characterized by its nonapoptotic and iron-dependent lipid hydroperoxide, concerning iron, lipid and amino acid metabolisms.

Ferroptosis has been widely found playing a crucial part in various diseases, including hepatic diseases, neurological diseases, cancer, etc.

Macrophages are phagocytic immune cells, widely existing and owning various functions such as phagocytosis and efferocytosis, cytokines secretion and ROS production.

Macrophages are proved to participate in mediating metabolisms and initiating immune reactions to maintain balance in our body.

Recent studies try to treat cancer by altering macrophages’ polarization which damages tumor microenvironment and induces ferroptosis of cancer cells.

Open questions

How do macrophages regulate ferroptosis of other tissue cells specifically?

Can we use the interaction between macrophages and ferroptosis in treating diseases other than cancer?

What can we do to treat diseases related to ferroptosis by targeting macrophages?

Is the use of the relationship between macrophages and ferroptosis more effective than other therapies when treating diseases?

Atorvastatin Decreases Renal Calcium Oxalate Stone Deposits by Enhancing Renal Osteopontin Expression in Hyperoxaluric Stone-Forming Rats Fed a High-Fat Diet

Calcium oxalate (CaOx) is the major constituent of kidney stones. Growing evidence shows a close connection between hyperlipidemia, cardiovascular disease (CVD), and the formation of kidney stones. Owing to their antioxidant properties, statins control hyperlipidemia and may ameliorate CaOx stone formation. The present study was designed to investigate the suppressive effects of statins on CaOx urolithiasis and their potential mechanism. We used rats fed a high-fat diet (HFD) to achieve hyperlipidemia (HL) and hydroxyproline (HP) water to establish a hyperoxaluric CaOx nephrolithiasis model; the animals were administered statins (A) for 28 days. The rats were divided into eight groups treated or not with A, i.e., Control, HP, HL, HL + HP. HL aggravated urinary calcium crystallization compared to the control. Due to increased expression of renal osteopontin (OPN), a key anti-lithic protein, and reduced free radical production, the calcium crystals in the urinary bladder increased as renal calcium deposition decreased. The levels of the ion activity product of CaOx (AP(CaOx)) decreased after statins administration, and AP(Calcium phosphate) (CaP) increased, which suggested the dominant calcium crystal composition changed from CaOx to CaP after statin administration. In conclusion, atorvastatin decreases renal CaOx stone deposits by restoring OPN expression in hyperoxaluric rats fed a HFD.