Testin protects against cardiac hypertrophy by targeting a calcineurin‐dependent signalling pathway

Multiple organs express testin (TES), including the heart. Nevertheless, current understanding of the influence of TES on cardiovascular diseases, especially on cardiac hypertrophy and its etiology, is insufficient. This study investigated the influence of TES on cardiac hypertrophy and its etiology. Murine models with excessive TES expression specific to the heart were constructed with an adeno‐associated virus expression system. Cardiac hypertrophy was stimulated through aortic banding (AB). The severity of cardiac hypertrophy was evaluated through molecular, echocardiographic, pathological, and hemodynamic examination. The findings of our study revealed that TES expression was remarkably suppressed not only in failing human hearts but also in mouse hearts with cardiac hypertrophy. It was discovered that excessive TES expression driven by an adeno‐associated viral vector noticeably inhibited hypertrophy triggered by angiotensin II (Ang II) in cultivated cardiomyocytes from newborn rats. It was also revealed that TES knockdown via AdshTES caused the reverse phenotype in cardiomyocytes. Furthermore, it was proved that excessive TES expression attenuated the ventricular dilation, cardiac hypertrophy, dysfunction, and fibrosis triggered by AB in mice. It was discovered that TES directly interacted with calcineurin and suppressed its downstream signalling pathway. Moreover, the inactivation of calcineurin with cyclosporin A greatly offset the exacerbated hypertrophic response triggered by AB in TES knockdown mice. Overall, the findings of our study suggest that TES serves as a crucial regulator of the hypertrophic reaction by hindering the calcineurin‐dependent pathway in the heart.     

MiR‐103 inhibiting cardiac hypertrophy through inactivation of myocardial cell autophagy via targeting TRPV3 channel in rat hearts

Cardiac hypertrophy is a common pathological change frequently accompanied by chronic hypertension and myocardial infarction. Nevertheless, the pathophysiological mechanisms of cardiac hypertrophy have never been elucidated. Recent studies indicated that miR‐103 expression was significantly decreased in heart failure patients. However, less is known about the role of miR‐103 in cardiac hypertrophy. The present study was designed to investigate the relationship between miR‐103 and the mechanism of pressure overload‐induced cardiac hypertrophy. TRPV3 protein, cardiac hypertrophy marker proteins (BNP and β‐MHC) and autophagy associated proteins (Beclin‐1 and LC3‐II) were up‐regulated, as well as, miR‐103 expression and autophagy associated proteins (p62) were down‐regulated in cardiac hypertrophy models in vivo and in vitro respectively. Further results indicated that silencing TRPV3 or forcing overexpression of miR‐103 could dramatically inhibit cell surface area, relative fluorescence intensity of Ca²⁺ signal and the expressions of BNP, β‐MHC, Beclin‐1 and LC3‐II, but promote p62 expression. Moreover, TRPV3 protein was decreased in neonatal rat ventricular myocyte transfected with miR‐103, but increased by AMO‐103. Co‐transfection of the miR‐103 with the luciferase reporter vector into HEK293 cells caused a sharp decrease in luciferase activity compared with transfection of the luciferase vector alone. The miR‐103‐induced depression of luciferase activity was rescued by an AMO‐103. These findings suggested that TRPV3 was a direct target of miR‐103. In conclusion, miR‐103 could attenuate cardiomyocyte hypertrophy partly by reducing cardiac autophagy activity through the targeted inhibition of TRPV3 signalling in the pressure‐overloaded rat hearts.     

氯吡格雷强化治疗对老年急性心肌梗死患者炎性反应及氧化-抗氧化水平影响

目的:探讨氯吡格雷强化治疗对老年急性心肌梗死患者炎性反应及氧化-抗氧化水平的影响。方法:选择我院2012年1月至2016年12月收治的400例老年急性心肌梗死患者,根据随机数字表法分为观察组及对照组。对照组给予常规治疗,观察组给予氯吡格雷强化治疗,对比两组患者的疗效,治疗期间的不良心血管事件及不良反应的发生情况,治疗前后的血清白介素1 (interleukin-1,IL-1)、白介素2 (interleukin-2,IL-2)、白介素6 (interleukin-6,IL-6)、白介素10 (interleukin-10,IL-10)水平及超氧化物歧化酶(superoxide dismutase,SOD)、丙二醛(malondialdehyde,MDA)、过氧化酶(catalase,CAT)及谷胱甘肽氧化物酶(glutathione peroxidase,GSHPX protein)水平。结果:治疗后,观察组的总有效率为92.50%,明显高于对照组(72%,P0.05);观察组的心血管不良事件发生率明显低于对照组(P0.05);两组的不良反应发生率对比差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。两组治疗后的血清IL-1、IL-2、IL-6、IL-10、MDA水平均较治疗前明显下降,且观察组以上指标水平均明显低于对照组(P0.05),而两组治疗后的血清SOD、CAT、GSHPX水平均较治疗前明显上升,且观察组以上指标水平均明显高于对照组(P0.05)。结论:与常规治疗相比,氯吡格雷强化治疗可显著提高老年急性心肌梗死患者的临床疗效,这可能与有效减轻患者的炎症反应,增强抗氧化作用有关。     

替格瑞洛与氯吡格雷对急性心肌梗死患者介入治疗后的心功能和炎症反应的影响

目的:探讨替格瑞洛与氯吡格雷对急性心肌梗死患者介入治疗后的心功能和炎症反应的影响。方法:选取2015年1月-2018年1月期间我院收治的行介入治疗的急性心肌梗死患者300例为研究对象。根据随机数字表法将患者分为替格瑞洛组(n=150)和氯吡格雷组(n=150),其中替格瑞洛组给予阿司匹林、替格瑞洛治疗,氯吡格雷组给予阿司匹林、氯吡格雷治疗。比较两组患者治疗前后的左心室射血分数(LVEF)、左心室舒张末期内径(LVEDd)及白介素-6(IL-6)、C反应蛋白(CRP)、可溶性CD40配体(s CD40L)、肿瘤坏死因子-α(TNF-α)水平,随访3个月,观察两组患者随访期间心血管不良事件的发生情况。结果:两组患者治疗后LVEF较治疗前升高,且替格瑞洛组高于氯吡格雷组,LVEDd较治疗前降低,且替格瑞洛组低于氯吡格雷组(P0.05)。两组患者治疗后IL-6、CRP、s CD40L、TNF-α均较治疗前升高,但替格瑞洛组低于氯吡格雷组(P0.05)。替格瑞洛组随访期间心血管不良事件总发生率为10.00%(15/150),显著低于氯吡格雷组患者的31.33%(47/150),组间比较差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:相较于氯吡格雷而言,替格瑞洛治疗行介入治疗的急性心肌梗死患者效果满意,可显著改善心功能,降低炎症因子水平及心血管不良事件发生率。     

Aged‐senescent cells contribute to impaired heart regeneration

Aging leads to increased cellular senescence and is associated with decreased potency of tissue‐specific stem/progenitor cells. Here, we have done an extensive analysis of cardiac progenitor cells (CPCs) isolated from human subjects with cardiovascular disease, aged 32–86 years. In aged subjects (>70 years old), over half of CPCs are senescent (p16^INK4A, SA‐β‐gal, DNA damage γH2AX, telomere length, senescence‐associated secretory phenotype [SASP]), unable to replicate, differentiate, regenerate or restore cardiac function following transplantation into the infarcted heart. SASP factors secreted by senescent CPCs renders otherwise healthy CPCs to senescence. Elimination of senescent CPCs using senolytics abrogates the SASP and its debilitative effect in vitro. Global elimination of senescent cells in aged mice (INK‐ATTAC or wild‐type mice treated with D + Q senolytics) in vivo activates resident CPCs and increased the number of small Ki67‐, EdU‐positive cardiomyocytes. Therapeutic approaches that eliminate senescent cells may alleviate cardiac deterioration with aging and restore the regenerative capacity of the heart.     

Associations of rs1883832 and rs4810485 polymorphisms of CD40 gene with myocardial infarction in the Tunisian population

Context: Cluster of differentiation 40 (CD40), and its ligand CD40L, are major co-stimulatory molecules whose interactions are important in both cellular and humoral immunity, and has been suggested to play a role in the pathogenesis of acute coronary syndrome.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the association of CD40 polymorphisms (-1?C>T (rs1883832) and 945G>T (rs4810485)) and myocardial infarction (MI), and to test the association of CD40 gene haplotypes with MI in Tunisians.

Materials and methods: Three hundred and fifty MI patients and 301 apparently healthy controls were included in the study. The polymorphisms of CD40 were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP).

Results: There were significant differences in the genotype and allele frequencies of CD40 gene -1?C>T (rs1883832) polymorphism between cases and controls. Stratifying according to gender, the association between the TT genotype and MI was statistically significant in males, only. Haplotype analysis revealed that the C-T and T-G haplotypes were associated with an increased risk of MI (p?=?0.012 and p?<?0.001, respectively).

Conclusions: Our work showed a significant association between the -1?C>T (rs1883832) polymorphism of the CD40 gene and MI in the Tunisians.