Cisatracurium attenuates LPS-induced modulation of MMP3 and junctional protein expression in human microvascular endothelial cells

Quercetin attenuates lipopolysaccharide-induced hepatic inflammation by modulating autophagy and necroptosis

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Gram-negative bacteria initially induces liver inflammation with proinflammatory cytokines expressions. However, the underlying hepatoprotective mechanism of quercetin on LPS-induced hepatic inflammation remains unclear. Specific pathogen-free chicken embryos (n = 120) were allocated control vehicle, PBS with or without ethanol vehicle, LPS (125 ng/egg) with or without quercetin treatment (10, 20, or 40 nmol/egg, respectively), quercetin groups (10, 20, or 40 nmol/egg). Fifteen-day-old embryonated eggs were inoculated abovementioned solutions via the allantoic cavity. At embryonic d 19, the livers of the embryos were collected for histopathological examination, RNA extraction, real-time polymerase chain reaction, and immunohistochemistry investigation. We found that the liver presented inflammatory response (heterophils infiltration) after LPS induction. The LPS-induced mRNA expressions of inflammation-related factors (TLR4, TNFα, IL-1β, IL-10, IL-6, MYD88, NF-κB1, p38, and MMP3) were upregulated after LPS induction when compared with the PBS group, while quercetin could downregulate these expressions as compared with the LPS group. Quercetin significantly decreased the immunopositivity to TLR4 and MMP3 in the treatment group when compared with the LPS group. Quercetin could significantly downregulate the mRNA expressions of autophagy-related genes (ATG5, ATG7, Beclin-1, LC3A, and LC3B) and necroptosis-related genes (Fas, Bcl-2, Drp1, and RIPK1) after LPS induction. Quercetin significantly decreased the immunopositivity to LC3 in the treatment group when compared with the LPS group; meanwhile, quercetin significantly decreased the protein expressions of LC3-I, LC3-II, and the rate of LC3-II/LC3-I. In conclusions, quercetin can alleviate hepatic inflammation induced by LPS through modulating autophagy and necroptosis.

Plasma matrix metalloproteinase-3 predicts mortality in acute respiratory distress syndrome: a biomarker analysis of a randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) is a proteolytic enzyme involved in acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) pathophysiology that may serve as a lung-specific biomarker in ARDS.

METHODS

This study was a secondary biomarker analysis of a subset of Albuterol for the Treatment of Acute Lung Injury (ALTA) trial patients to determine the prognostic value of MMP-3. Plasma sample MMP-3 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The primary outcome was the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) of MMP-3 at day 3 for the prediction of 90-day mortality.

RESULTS

A total of 100 unique patient samples were evaluated and the AUROC analysis of day three MMP-3 showed an AUROC of 0.77 for the prediction of 90-day mortality (95% confidence interval: 0.67-0.87), corresponding to a sensitivity of 92% and specificity of 63% and an optimal cutoff value of 18.4 ng/mL. Patients in the high MMP-3 group (≥ 18.4 ng/mL) showed higher mortality compared to the non-elevated MMP-3 group (< 18.4 ng/mL) (47% vs. 4%, p < 0.001). A positive difference in day zero and day three MMP-3 concentration was predictive of mortality with an AUROC of 0.74 correlating to 73% sensitivity, 81% specificity, and an optimal cutoff value of + 9.5 ng/mL.

CONCLUSIONS

Day three MMP-3 concentration and difference in day zero and three MMP-3 concentrations demonstrated acceptable AUROCs for predicting 90-day mortality with a cut-point of 18.4 ng/mL and + 9.5 ng/mL, respectively. These results suggest a prognostic role of MMP-3 in ARDS.

MMP3 in Severe COVID-19: A Biomarker or Therapeutic Target?

Identifying novel therapies is a critical need in the treatment of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Stromelysin-1, also known as matrixmetalloproteinase 3 (MMP3), has been investigated as a diagnostic biomarker and a potential pharmacological target. Here, we discuss the recent findings of Gelzo et al. in the context of additional MMP3 investigations to delineate its exact role in diagnosis, prognostication, and phenotyping, in addition to its promising role as a therapeutic target in COVID-19-associated respiratory failure.

Effect of dehydroepiandrosterone on atherosclerosis in postmenopausal women

In China, cardiovascular disease (CVD) has surpassed malignant tumours to become the disease with the highest mortality rate, and atherosclerosis (AS) is an important pathological cause of CVD. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is the most abundant steroid hormone in circulating human blood and is a precursor of estrogen and androgen. DHEA is converted into a series of sex hormones in local peripheral tissues where its acts physiologically. DHEA also acts therapeutically, thereby avoiding the adverse systemic reactions to sex hormones. DHEA inhibits AS, thus inhibiting the development of CVD, and it improves the prognosis for CVD. The incidence of CVD in postmenopausal women is substantially higher than that in premenopausal women, and that incidence is believed to be related to a decrease in ovarian function. The current review analyzes the mechanisms of postmenopausal women's susceptibility to AS. They tend to have dyslipidemia, and their vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) proliferate and migrate more. In addition, oxidative stress and the inflammatory response of endothelial cells (ECs) are more serious in postmenopausal women. This review also discusses how DHEA combats AS by countering these mechanisms, which include regulating the blood lipid status, protecting ECs (including coping with oxidative stress and inflammatory reactions of the vascular endothelium, inhibiting apoptosis of ECs, and inducing NO production) and inhibiting the proliferation and migration of VSMCs. As a result, DHEA has great value in preventing AS and inhibiting its progression in postmenopausal women.

Bioinformatics analyses reveal cell-barrier junction modulations in lung epithelial cells on SARS-CoV-2 infection

Cell junctions maintain the blood-tissue barriers to preserve vascular and tissue integrity. Viral infections reportedly modulate cell-cell junctions to facilitate their invasion. However, information on the effect of COVID-19 infection on the gene expression of cell junction and cytoskeletal proteins is limited. Using the Gene Expression Omnibus and Reactome databases, we analyzed the data on human lung A549, NHBE, and Calu-3 cells for the expression changes in cell junction and cytoskeletal proteins by SARS-CoV-2 (CoV-2) infection. The analysis revealed changes in 3,660 genes in A549, 100 genes in NHBE, and 592 genes in Calu-3 cells with CoV-2 infection. Interestingly, EGOT (9.8-, 3- and 8.3-fold; p < .05) and CSF3 (4.3-, 33- and 56.3-fold; p < .05) were the only two genes significantly elevated in all three cell lines (A549, NHBE and Calu-3, respectively). On the other hand, 39 genes related to cell junctions and cytoskeleton were modulated in lung cells, with DLL1 demonstrating alterations in all cells. Alterations were also seen in several miRNAs associated with the cell junction and cytoskeleton genes modulated in the analysis. Further, matrix metalloproteinases involved in disease pathologies, including MMP-3, -9, and -12 demonstrated elevated expression on CoV-2 infection (p < .05). The study findings emphasize the integral role of cell junction and cytoskeletal genes in COVID-19, suggesting their therapeutic potential. Our analysis also identified a distinct EGOT gene that has not been previously implicated in COVID-19. Further studies on these newly identified genes and miRNAs could lead to advances in the pathogenesis and therapeutics of COVID-19.