a-modified-technique-for-transverse-aortic-constriction-in-mice

A Modified Technique for Transverse Aortic Constriction in Mice

Transverse aortic constriction (TAC) is a frequently used surgery in research regarding heart failure and cardiac hypertrophy based on the formation of ...

Silkworm (Bombyx mori) is a lepidopteran-holometabolic model organism. To understand its developmental biochemistry, we characterized the larval hemolymph metabonome from the third instar to prepupa stage using (1)H NMR spectroscopy whilst hemolymph fatty acid composition using GC-FID/MS. We unambiguously assigned more than 60 metabolites, among which tyrosine-o-β-glucuronide, mesaconate, homocarnosine, and picolinate were reported for the first time from the silkworm hemolymph. Phosphorylcholine was the most abundant metabolite in all developmental stages with exception for the periods before the third and fourth molting. We also found obvious developmental dependence for the hemolymph metabonome involving multiple pathways including protein biosyntheses, glycolysis, TCA cycle, the metabolisms of choline amino acids, fatty acids, purines, and pyrimidines. Most hemolymph amino acids had two elevations during the feeding period of the fourth instar and prepupa stage. Trehalose was the major blood sugar before day 8 of the fifth instar, whereas glucose became the major blood sugar after spinning. C16:0, C18:0 and its unsaturated forms were dominant fatty acids in hemolymph. The developmental changes of hemolymph metabonome were associated with dietary nutrient intakes, biosyntheses of cell membrane, pigments, proteins, and energy metabolism. These findings offered essential biochemistry information in terms of the dynamic metabolic changes during silkworm development. 

Developmental Changes for the Hemolymph Metabolome of Silkworm (Bombyx mori L.).

Chronic heart failure (CHF) has poor prognosis and polygenic heritability, and the genetic risk score (GRS) to predict CHF outcome has not yet been researched comprehensively. In this study, we sought to establish GRS to predict the outcomes of CHF. We re-analysed the proteomics data of failing human heart and combined them to filter the data of high-throughput sequencing in 1000 Chinese CHF cohort. Cox hazards models were used based on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to estimate the association of GRS with the prognosis of CHF, and to analyse the difference between individual SNPs and tertiles of genetic risk. In the cohort study, GRS encompassing eight SNPs harboured in seven genes were significantly associated with the prognosis of CHF (P = 2.19 × 10 after adjustment). GRS was used in stratifying individuals into significantly different CHF risk, with those in the top tertiles of GRS distribution having HR of 3.68 (95% CI: 2.40-5.65 P = 2.47 × 10 ) compared with those in the bottom. We developed GRS and demonstrated its association with first event of heart failure endpoint. GRS might be used to stratify individuals for CHF prognostic risk and to predict the outcomes of genomic screening as a complement to conventional risk and NT-proBNP.

Genetic risk scores to predict the prognosis of chronic heart failure patients in Chinese Han.

Lung cancer (LC) is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, which highlights the urgent need for better therapies. Peroxisome proliferator-activated nuclear receptor alpha (PPARα), known as a key nuclear transcription factor involved in glucose and lipid metabolism, has been also implicated in endothelial proliferation and angiogenesis. However, the effects and potential mechanisms of the novel PPARα ligand, AVE8134, on LC growth and progression remain unclear.

PPARα ligand, AVE8134, and cyclooxygenase inhibitor therapy synergistically suppress lung cancer growth and metastasis.

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are currently considered to have a vital and wide range of biological functions, but the molecular mechanism underlying triglycerides metabolism remains poorly understood. This study aims to identify novel lncRNAs differentially expressed in rat livers with hypertriglyceridemia and elucidated the function role in TG metabolism.

The novel long noncoding RNA Lnc19959.2 modulates triglyceride metabolism-associated genes through the interaction with Purb and hnRNPA2B1.

As the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) epidemic worsens, this global pandemic is impacting more than 200 countries/regions and more than 4,500,000 confirmed cases worldwide. COVID-19 is caused by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), which might attack not only the respiratory system, but also the other important organs, including the heart. It was reported that COVID-19 patients with a past history of cardiovascular diseases would have a higher mortality. Meanwhile, elevated troponin levels were frequently observed in COVID-19 cases. Besides the comprehensive treatments for COVID-19, as a cardiologist, we should also remain vigilant about the cardiac injuries, especially those with severe emergent cardiovascular symptoms.

Cardiac injuries in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Our objective was to investigate the association of common variants in the coding region of advanced glycosylation end-product specific receptor (RAGE) and the prognosis of heart failure (HF).

Association of rs2070600 in advanced glycosylation end-product specific receptor with prognosis of heart failure.

Genetic analysis for germline mutations of RET proto-oncogene has provided a basis for individual management of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) and pheochromocytoma. Most of compound mutations have more aggressive phenotypes than single point mutations, but the compound C634Y/V292M variant in MTC has never been reported. Thus, we retrospectively investigated synergistic effect of C634Y and V292M RET germline mutations in family members with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A. Nine of 14 family members in a northern Chinese family underwent RET mutation screening using next-generation sequencing and PCR followed by direct bidirectional DNA sequencing. Clinical features of nine individuals were retrospectively carefully reviewed. In vitro, the scratch-wound assay was used to investigate the difference between the cells carrying different mutations. We find no patients died of MTC. All 3 carriers of the V292M variant were asymptomatic and did not have biochemical or structural evidence of disease (age: 82, 62 and 58). Among 4 C634Y mutation carriers, 2 patients had elevated calcitonin with the highest (156 pg/mL) in an 87-year-old male. Two carriers of compound C634Y/V292M trans variant had bilateral MTC with pheochromocytoma or lymph node metastasis (age: 54 and 41 years, respectively). Further, the compound C634Y/V292M variant had a faster migration rate than either single point mutation in vitro (P < .05). In conclusion, the V292M RET variant could be classified as 'likely benign' according to ACMG (2015). The compound variant V292M/C634Y was associated with both more aggressive clinical phenotype and faster cell growth in vitro than was either single mutation.

The synergy of germline C634Y and V292M RET mutations in a northern Chinese family with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A.

Obesity-driven cardiac lipid accumulation can progress to lipotoxic cardiomyopathy. Soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH) is the major enzyme that metabolizes epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs), which have biological activity of regulating lipid metabolism. The current study explores the unknown role of sEH deficiency in lipotoxic cardiomyopathy and its underlying mechanism. Wild-type and Ephx2 knock out (sEH KO) C57BL/6 J mice were fed with high-fat diet (HFD) for 24 weeks to induce lipotoxic cardiomyopathy animal models. Palmitic acid (PA) was utilized to induce lipotoxicity to cardiomyocytes for in vitro study. We found sEH KO, independent of plasma lipid and blood pressures, significantly attenuated HFD-induced myocardial lipid accumulation and cardiac dysfunction in vivo. HFD-induced lipotoxic cardiomyopathy and dysfunction of adenosine 5'-monophosphate-activated protein kinase-mammalian target of rapamycin complex (AMPK-mTORC) signaling mediated lipid autophagy in heart were restored by sEH KO. In primary neonatal mouse cardiomyocytes, both sEH KO and sEH substrate EETs plus sEH inhibitor AUDA treatments attenuated PA-induced lipid accumulation. These effects were blocked by inhibition of AMPK or autophagy. The outcomes were supported by the results that sEH KO and EETs plus AUDA rescued HFD- and PA-induced impairment of autophagy upstream signaling of AMPK-mTORC, respectively. These findings revealed that sEH deficiency played an important role in attenuating myocardial lipid accumulation and provided new insights into treating lipotoxic cardiomyopathy. Regulation of autophagy via AMPK-mTORC signaling pathway is one of the underlying mechanisms.

Soluble epoxide hydrolase deficiency attenuates lipotoxic cardiomyopathy via upregulation of AMPK-mTORC mediated autophagy.

Cytokines play important roles in the development and prognosis of laryngeal cancer (LC). Interleukin-17 (IL-17) from a distinct subset of CD4+ T cells may significantly induce cancer-elicited inflammation to prevent tumor immune surveillance.

IL-17 Affects the Progression, Metastasis, and Recurrence of Laryngeal Cancer  the Inhibition of Apoptosis through Activation of the PI3K/AKT/FAS/FASL Pathways.

The incidence rate of cervical cancer is increasing yearly. The persistent infection of high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV) is the main factor leading to cervical cancer. HPV infection is double peak type. This study aimed at analyzing the HPV distribution characteristics, infection rate, and risk of age in pre- and postmenopausal women. So as to provide reference for the prevention of HPV infection and cervical cancer screening strategy.

Human papillomavirus infection rate, distribution characteristics, and risk of age in pre- and postmenopausal women.

Despite mounting evidence demonstrating the significance of inflammation in the pathophysiological mechanisms of heart failure (HF), most large clinical trials that target the inflammatory responses in HF yielded neutral or even worsening outcomes. Further in-depth understanding about the roles of inflammation in the pathogenesis of HF is eagerly needed. This review summarizes cytokines, cardiac infiltrating immune cells, and extracardiac organs that orchestrate the complex inflammatory responses in HF and highlights emerging therapeutic targets.

Inflammatory Cytokines, Immune Cells, and Organ Interactions in Heart Failure.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are critical regulators of viral infection and inflammatory responses. However, the roles of lncRNAs in acute myocarditis (AM), especially fulminant myocarditis (FM), remain unclear.

Expression Profiles and Potential Functions of Long Non-Coding RNAs in the Heart of Mice With Coxsackie B3 Virus-Induced Myocarditis.

 Viral myocarditis could initiate various immune response to the myocardium, resulting in myocyte damage and subsequent cardiac dysfunction. The expression profile and functions of circRNAs in this process are unknown.  Fulminant myocarditis (FM) and non-FM models were induced by coxsackie B3 virus (CVB3) infection in A/J mice and C57BL/6 mice, respectively. CircRNAs expression profile was identified by RNA-seq. Quantitative RT-PCR, Spearman rank correlation, KEGG pathway, GO analysis, Western blot and flow cytometry were performed for functional analysis.  Severer inflammatory cell infiltration and cardiomyocyte necrosis were presented in CVB3-treated A/J mice than those in C57BL/6 mice. The dysregulated circRNAs in both of the mouse strains displayed strong correlation with the immune response, but dysregulated circRNAs in A/J mice were more prone to cardiac dysfunction. KEGG analysis indicated that the target genes of dysregulated circRNAs in A/J mice were mainly involved in viral infection, T cell and B cell receptor signaling pathways, while the target genes of dysregulated circRNAs in C57BL/6 mice were unrelated to immune pathways. Furthermore, knockdown of circArhgap32 that was downregulated in CVB3-treated A/J mice promoted cardiomyocyte apoptosis .  Our data showed that cardiac circRNAs dysregulation is an important characteristic of viral myocarditis.

Article	Year
Developmental Changes for the Hemolymph Metabolome of Silkworm (Bombyx mori L.). Journal of proteome research\| PubMed ID: 25825269	2015
Genetic risk scores to predict the prognosis of chronic heart failure patients in Chinese Han. Journal of cellular and molecular medicine\| PubMed ID: 31670483	2020
PPARα ligand, AVE8134, and cyclooxygenase inhibitor therapy synergistically suppress lung cancer growth and metastasis. BMC cancer\| PubMed ID: 31791289	2019
The novel long noncoding RNA Lnc19959.2 modulates triglyceride metabolism-associated genes through the interaction with Purb and hnRNPA2B1. Molecular metabolism\| PubMed ID: 32302712	2020
Cardiac injuries in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Journal of molecular and cellular cardiology\| PubMed ID: 32526224	2020
Association of rs2070600 in advanced glycosylation end-product specific receptor with prognosis of heart failure. ESC heart failure\| PubMed ID: 32914565	2020
The synergy of germline C634Y and V292M RET mutations in a northern Chinese family with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2A. Journal of cellular and molecular medicine\| PubMed ID: 32989896	2020
Soluble epoxide hydrolase deficiency attenuates lipotoxic cardiomyopathy via upregulation of AMPK-mTORC mediated autophagy. Journal of molecular and cellular cardiology\| PubMed ID: 33378686	2021
IL-17 Affects the Progression, Metastasis, and Recurrence of Laryngeal Cancer the Inhibition of Apoptosis through Activation of the PI3K/AKT/FAS/FASL Pathways. Journal of immunology research\| PubMed ID: 33415169	2020
Human papillomavirus infection rate, distribution characteristics, and risk of age in pre- and postmenopausal women. BMC women's health\| PubMed ID: 33632179	2021
Inflammatory Cytokines, Immune Cells, and Organ Interactions in Heart Failure. Frontiers in physiology\| PubMed ID: 34276413	2021
Expression Profiles and Potential Functions of Long Non-Coding RNAs in the Heart of Mice With Coxsackie B3 Virus-Induced Myocarditis. Frontiers in cellular and infection microbiology\| PubMed ID: 34504807	2021
Identification of Cardiac CircRNAs in Mice With CVB3-Induced Myocarditis. Frontiers in cell and developmental biology\| PubMed ID: 35198554	2022

Huihui Li

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