Changes in anti-heat shock protein 27 antibody and C-reactive protein levels following cardiac surgery and their association with cardiac function in patients with cardiovascular disease

The relationship between serum anti-heat shock protein (Hsp)27 antibody and high sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels and indices of cardiac function were investigated in patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or heart valve replacement. The changes in anti-Hsp27 antibody titers and hs-CRP levels were compared among patients undergoing off-pump and on-pump CABG or valvular heart replacement. Fifty-three patients underwent off-pump, on-pump CABG, and heart valvular replacement in each group. Serum anti-Hsp27 titers and hs-CRP values were measured 24 h before and after the operation and at discharge. Echocardiography was performed before surgery and before discharge. The results were compared with values from 83 healthy controls. hs-CRP levels increased and anti-Hsp27 antibody decreased following surgery (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05, respectively), although these changes were independent of operative procedure (P = 0.361 and P = 0.120, respectively). Anti-Hsp27 antibody levels were higher at the time of discharge (P = 0.016). Only in coronary patients were anti-Hsp27 antibody levels negatively associated with E/E′ (r = −0.268, P = 0.022), a marker of pulmonary capillary wedge pressure. In conclusions, anti-Hsp27 antibody levels are associated with indices of cardiac function in coronary patients. Cardiopulmonary bypass had no significant effect on the induction of changes in anti-Hsp27 levels. Moreover, anti-Hsp27 antibody levels fell in all groups postoperatively; this may be due to the formation of immune complexes of antigen–antibody, and antibody levels were higher at the time of discharge.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s12192-012-0358-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Lysoglycerophospholipids in chronic inflammatory disorders: The PLA2/LPC and ATX/LPA axes

Lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) and lysophosphatidic acid (LPA), the most prominent lysoglycerophospholipids, are emerging as a novel class of inflammatory lipids, joining thromboxanes, leukotrienes and prostaglandins with which they share metabolic pathways and regulatory mechanisms. Enzymes that participate in LPC and LPA metabolism, such as the phospholipase A₂ superfamily (PLA₂) and autotaxin (ATX, ENPP2), play central roles in regulating LPC and LPA levels and consequently their actions. LPC/LPA biosynthetic pathways will be briefly presented and LPC/LPA signaling properties and their possible functions in the regulation of the immune system and chronic inflammation will be reviewed. Furthermore, implications of exacerbated LPC and/or LPA signaling in the context of chronic inflammatory diseases, namely rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, pulmonary fibrosis and hepatitis, will be discussed. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Advances in Lysophospholipid Research.     

Use of Spin Traps in Intact Animals Undergoing Myocardial Ischemia/Reperfusion: A New Approach to Assessing the Role of Oxygen Radicals in Myocardial “Stunning”

Numerous studies have indirectly, suggested that oxygen-derived free radicals play an important path-ogenetic role in the prolonged depression of contractile function observed in myocardium reperfused after reversible ischemia (myocardial “stunning”). In order to provide direct evidence for the oxy-radical hypothesis of stunning, we administered the spin trap, α-phenyl N-tert-butyl nitrone (PBN), to open-chest dogs undergoing a 15-min coronary artery occlusion followed by reperfusion. Plasma of local coronary venous blood was analyzed by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy. EPR signals characteristic of radical adducts of PBN appeared during ischemia and increased dramatically in the first few minutes after reperfusion. After this initial burst, the production of adducts abated but did not cease, persisting up to 3 h after reflow. The production of PBN adducts after reperfusion was inversely related to collateral flow during ischemia. PBN itself enhanced recovery of contractile function. indicating that the radicals trapped may play a pathogenetic role in myocardial stunning. Superoxide dismutase plus catalase attenuated PBN adduct production and, at the same time, improved recovery of contractile function. Antioxidant therapy given 1 min before reperfusion suppressed PBN adduct production and improved contractile recovery; however, the same therapy given 1 min after reperfusion did not suppress early radical production and did not attenuate contractile dysfunction. After i.v. administration, the elimination half-life of PBN was estimated to be approximately 4–5 h. The results demonstrate that 1) free radicals are produced in the stunned myocardium in intact animals; 2) inhibition of free radical production results in improved contractile recovery; and 3) the free radicals important in causing dysfunction are produced in the first few minutes of reperfusion. Taken together, these studies provide cogent evidence supporting the oxy-radical hypothesis of stunning in open-chest dogs. It is now critical to determine whether these results can be reproduced in conscious animal preparations.     

SOD3 R231G polymorphism associated with coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction. The Ludwigshafen Risk and Cardiovascular Health (LURIC) study

This study examined the superoxide dismutase 3 (SOD3) R231G polymorphism in relation to the severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) and the risk of myocardial infarction (MI) in 3211 individuals; 94.4% of study participants were homozygous for SOD3 231RR and 5.5% were heterozygous for SOD3 231RG. The odds ratios of the RG and GG genotype (adjusted for age, gender and for conventional cardiovascular risk factors) were 2.02 (95% CI, 1.23–3.33, p=0.005) for the highest vs the lowest Friesinger coronary score and 1.40 (95% CI, 1.02–1.92, p=0.037) for MI, respectively. Further the SOD3 RG and GG genotype was associated with lower alpha-tocopherol levels than the wild type SOD3 RR genotype. It is concluded that the SOD3 231RG and GG genotype is associated with lower alpha-tocopherol levels and the severity of CAD and the risk of MI.     

Age- and gender-related oxidative status determined in healthy subjects by means of OXY-SCORE,a potential new comprehensive index

Oxidative stress has been related to various diseases, gender and ageing, and has been measured by various markers. The authors developed a procedure to compute a global oxidative stress index (OXY-SCORE), reflecting both oxidative and antioxidant markers in healthy subjects. Its performance was tested in relation to age and gender and in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients. Eighty-two healthy subjects and 20 CAD patients were enrolled. Plasma free and total malondialdehyde (F- and T-MDA), glutathione disulphide/reduced form ratio (GSSG/GSH) and urine isoprostanes (iPF_2α-III) levels were combined as oxidative damage markers (damage score). GSH, α- and γ-tocopherol (TH) levels, and individual antioxidant capacity were combined as antioxidant defence indexes (protection score). The OXY-SCORE was computed by subtracting the protection score from the damage score. Among single parameters, T-MDA and iPF_2α-III significantly correlated with age; only GSH and both tocopherols correlated with male gender in healthy subjects. The OXY-SCORE was positively associated with age (p=0.004) and male gender (p=0.03). As expected, the OXY-SCORE was higher in CAD with a very significant p-value (<0.0001), after adjusting for age, gender and smoking. Combining different markers can potentially provide a powerful index in the evaluation of oxidative stress related to age, gender and CAD status.     

Exploration of disease mechanism in acute kidney injury using a multiplex bead array assay: a nested case–control pilot study

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) following cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) causes increased morbidity and mortality.

Objective: To evaluate the plasma profile of biomarkers potentially involved in AKI development following CPB.

Methods: In a nested case–control study, plasma levels of 27 biomarkers in 11 AKI cases were compared with 25 controls.

Results: Pre-CPB, plasma levels of epidermal growth factor and macrophage inflammatory protein-1β, 2?h following CPB, soluble vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (sVCAM-1), fractalkine and macrophage inflammatory protein-1α, and at later time points, sVCAM-1 and interleukin-6 were associated with AKI.

Conclusion: Biomarkers associated with AKI following CPB may merit further study.     

Hippo信号通路在颈动脉结扎所致大鼠动脉血管重构中的表达及其意义

目的:在建立大鼠血管重构模型基础上探讨Hippo信号通路在该模型中的表达及意义。方法:模型组(n=40)经颈部正中切口游离出左侧颈总动脉,用6-0不可吸收线在尽量靠近近心端处结扎,完全阻断血流。对照组(n=20)仅将手术线穿过颈总动脉而不结扎,闭合切合。14 d后处死所有动物,经原手术路径分离颈总动脉,收集结扎处至远心端的动脉。用HE以及MASSON染色观察血管形态以及纤维化,免疫组织化学染色法检测颈动脉中α-肌动蛋白(α-MSA)和增殖细胞核抗原(PCNA)的表达,Western blot检测yes相关蛋白(YAP),PDZ结合基序的转录辅激活子(TAZ),TEAD1,Bax,Bcl-2的表达。结果:与对照组相比,造模组HE染色提示血管重构明显,新生内膜/中膜比例明显增加,MASSON染色提示纤维化明显增加;免疫组织化学染色法提示造模组血管α-MSA及PCNA表达明显增加; Western blot提示造模组血管YAP,TAZ,TEAD1,Bcl-2表达增加,而Bax表达降低,Bax/Bcl-2蛋白比例明显降低。结论:本研究成功建立颈动脉结扎介导的大鼠血管重构模型,另外证明Hippo信号通路在颈动脉结扎介导的大鼠血管重构模型中明显激活,以及可能介导增殖、凋亡相关的Bax/Bcl-2比值的改变,进而参与平滑肌细胞增殖促进血管重构。     

Effects of laser needle-knife therapy on vertebroarterial morphology and protein expression of PI-3K,AKT and VEGF in the carotid artery in a rabbit model of cervical spondylotic arteriopathy

Purpose

To explore how the use of a laser needle-knife affects vertebroarterial morphology and protein expression of PI-3K, AKT and VEGF in the carotid artery of a rabbit model of cervical spondylotic arteriopathy (CSA), and to determine its primary treatment mechanism.

Influence of laser needle-knife on PI-3K,AKT and VEGF mRNA expression in cervical spondylotic arteriopathy model rabbits

Objective

To determine the effect of laser needle-knife on PI-3K, AKT and VEGF mRNA expression of vertebral arteries in a rabbit model of cervical spondylotic arteriopathy (CSA) and the mechanism of action involved.

新疆野苹果作为苹果砧木利用的研究进展

新疆野苹果是我国重要的野生果树资源,在栽培苹果起源研究和砧木利用方面有重要价值。本文在收集整理近年来有关新疆野苹果大量文献的基础上,从苹果砧木利用角度,就新疆野苹果对主要生物逆境、非生物逆境的抗性以及与主栽品种的嫁接亲和性进行了综述,以期为相关研究提供参考。