Retracted: Downregulated microRNA-224 aggravates vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques and vascular remodeling in acute coronary syndrome through activation of the TGF-β/Smad pathway

Recent studies have shown that circulating microRNAs (miRNA) play a critical role in diagnosing acute coronary syndrome (ACS). This study aims to investigate the effect of miR-224 on atherosclerotic plaques forming and vascular remodeling in ACS and its relationship with TGF-β/Smad pathway. Myocardial infarction (MI) rat model was established and lentivirus vector of miR-224 inhibitor was prepared for investigating the effect of downregulated miR-224 on the contents of nitric oxide (NO) and endothelin-1 (ET-1), blood lipid levels and inflammatory factor levels in serum as well as the TGF-β/Smad pathway. The rats suffering from MI had decreased survival rates and exhibited reduced levels of NO, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and lumen diameter, and Smad7 messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein expression; while had significantly increased ratio of heart weight or body weight, levels of ET-1, inflammatory factors, blood lipid indexes, vascular remodeling indexes, collagen volume fraction, vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque area, VCAM-1 and MMP-2 protein expression, TGF-β, Smad2, Smad3, and Smad4 mRNA and protein expression. After inhibiting the TGF-β/Smad pathway, the rats suffering from MI showed notably opposite trend. In conclusion, downregulation of miR-224 expression promotes the formation of vulnerable atherosclerotic plaques and vascular remodeling in ACS through activation of the TGF-β/Smad pathway. Therefore, this study provides a new therapeutic target for ACS.     

Recent insights into atherosclerotic plaque cell autophagy

Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases, such as coronary heart disease and stroke, caused by atherosclerosis have become the “number one killer”, seriously endangering human health in developing and developed countries. Atherosclerosis mainly occurs in large and medium-sized arteries and involves intimal thickening, accumulation of foam cells, and formation of atheromatous plaques. Autophagy is a cellular catabolic process that has evolved to defend cells from the turnover of intracellular molecules. Autophagy is thought to play an important role in the development of plaques. This review focuses on studies on autophagy in cells involved in the formation of atherosclerotic plaques, such as monocytes, macrophages, endothelial cells, dendritic cells, and vascular smooth muscle cells, indicating that autophagy plays an important role in plaque development. We mainly discuss the roles of autophagy in these cells in maintaining the stability of atherosclerotic plaques, providing a reference for the next steps to unravel the mechanisms of atherogenesis.     

血清尿酸水平对急性脑梗死患者颈动脉粥样硬化斑块的影响

目的:探讨血清尿酸(UA)水平对急性脑梗死患者颈动脉粥样硬化斑块的影响。方法:回顾性分析2011年6月至2016年1月我院收治的251例急性脑梗死患者的临床资料,根据有无颈动脉粥样硬化斑块分为伴颈动脉粥样硬化斑块组(观察组)176例和无颈动脉粥样硬化斑块组(对照组)75例,观察组根据颈动脉粥样硬化程度分为斑块形成组(113例)、内中膜增厚组(63例),根据颈动脉斑块稳定程度分为不稳定组(106例)、稳定组(70例),比较各组血清UA水平,根据UA水平不同分为高UA组(134例)和正常UA组(117例),进行颈动脉斑块发生情况比较。结果:观察组的血清UA水平显著高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P0.05)。(1)斑块形成组和内中膜增厚组血清UA水平显著高于对照组(P0.05),而斑块形成组和内中膜增厚组血清UA水平比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05);(2)不稳定组血清UA水平显著高于对照组和稳定组(P0.05),而稳定组和对照组血清UA水平比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05);(3)正常UA组和高UA组颈动脉斑块的发生情况比较,差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。结论:血清UA水平可以作为表征急性脑梗死患者伴随出现颈动脉粥样硬化斑块的生物学指标之一,此外,血清UA的水平在颈动脉粥样硬化斑块形成者和不稳定者表达更高,但血清UA水平与颈动脉斑块形成无明显联系。     

Oxidation as a crucial reaction for cholesterol to induce tissue degeneration: CD36 overexpression in human promonocytic cells treated with a biologically relevant oxysterol mixture

Oxidative stress, inflammation and altered cholesterol metabolism and levels are among the pathogenetic mechanisms of cognitive impairment that may accompany aging. Within the research area of hypercholesterolemia and age-related disease processes, the molecular mechanisms of cholesterol interaction with the inflammatory cells of the macrophage lineage are yet to be elucidated. We thus investigated the effect of both non-oxidized and oxidized cholesterol on monocytic cell differentiation and foam cell formation, as it occurs within vascular lesions during progression of atherosclerosis. In vitro experiments performed on human U937 promonocytic cells showed that a biologically representative mixture of oxysterols markedly stimulated CD36 expression and synthesis. In contrast, non-oxidized cholesterol did not exert any effect on CD36 mRNA and protein levels. Furthermore, the oxysterol-induced up-regulation of CD36 appeared to be based on the subsequent activation of protein kinase Cdelta (PKCdelta), extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma). Cells overexpressing CD36 were indeed able to actively take up oxidized low-density lipoproteins, and become foam cells. The essential role of ERK pathway and CD36 receptor in oxysterol-induced foam cell formation was proved by the prevention of the latter event when monocytic cells were incubated in the presence of MEK1/2 selective inhibitor or anti-CD36 specific antibody. These experimental findings point to cholesterol oxidation as an essential reaction for this sterol to exert cellular stress and tissue damage in age-related diseases in which inflammation represents a main driving force.     

比较两种测量方法获得的血压波动对老年颈动脉斑块的影响

目的:比较两种不同血压波动测定方法测定的血压波动与颈动脉斑块发生的关系。方法:以1456名患有动脉硬化老年男性患者为研究对象,监测患者24 h动态血压,根据有无颈动脉斑块将入选患者分为2组:颈动脉斑块组(n=1012)和无颈动脉斑块组(n=444),分别采用经典的标准差方法(SD法)和个体血压波动测定方法(个体法)分别测定每位患者的血压波动,回顾性分析这两种方法测定的血压波动与颈动脉斑块形成的关联性。结果:SD法测定颈动脉斑块组24 h收缩期血压波动(SBPV)、白天SBPV、夜间SBPV以及24 h舒张期血压波动(DBPV)水平均明显高于无颈动脉斑块组(P0.05);而白天和夜间DBPV差异无统计学意义。个体法测定颈动脉斑块组24 h SBPV、白天SBPV、24 h DBPV以及白天DBPV水平较无颈动脉斑块组均明显升高(P0.05);夜间SBPV和夜间DBPV差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。比较颈动脉斑块组SBPV值出现次数,SD法测定SBPV最多的是10-15 mmHg(n=541),其次是大于15 mmHg(n=399);个体法测定颈动脉斑块组SBPV值出现次数最多的是0-8 mmHg(n=490),其次是8-10 mmHg(n=350)。结论:在老年男性动脉硬化相关疾病患者中,血压波动与颈动脉斑块的形成有着密切的关系,两种方法均可测定血压波动,但以个体血压波动测定方法更加敏感。     

紫外激光消融主动脉斑块和感生荧光光谱观测

利用XeCI准分子激光辐照主动脉血管正常组织和斑块组织,观察到组织被激光消融。消融所产生的凹坑与辐射时间呈对数直线关系。308nm激光感生的血管壁荧光光谱在可见波段出现二个荧光极大值,用二极值的相对强度之比可以判断正常或斑块组织。     

冠状动脉粥样硬化性心脏病患者血清SFRP5、FGF21、IGF-I水平与血脂和冠状动脉病变严重程度的相关性研究

目的:探讨冠状动脉粥样硬化性心脏病(CHD)患者血清分泌型卷曲蛋白5(SFRP5)、成纤维细胞生长因子21(FGF21)、胰岛素样生长因子-1(IGF-I)水平与血脂和冠状动脉病变严重程度的相关性。方法:选择2018年6月至2021年6月我院收治的109例CHD患者(CHD组),根据冠心病类型分为稳定型心绞痛组(SAP组,32例),不稳定型心绞痛组(UA组,42例)、急性心肌梗死组(AMI组,35例),根据Gensini积分分为轻度病变组(≤20分,42例)、中度病变组(21~40分,44例)和重度病变组(>40分,23例),另选择同期在我院行冠脉造影检查结果为正常的53例患者为对照组。检测并比较各组血清SFRP5、FGF21、IGF-I、血脂水平,分析血清SFRP5、FGF21、IGF-I与血脂和Gensini积分的相关性。结果:不同类型、不同冠脉病变程度CHD患者的血清SFRP5、FGF21、IGF-I、HDL-C水平均低于对照组,血清TC、TG、LDL-C水平均高于对照组,差异有统计学意义(P<0.05);血清SFRP5、FGF21、IGF-I水平的差异比较中,UA组低于SAP组,AMI组又低于UA组,中度病变组低于轻度病变组,重度病变组又低于中度病变组,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05);血清TC、LDL-C水平的差异比较中,UA组高于SAP组,AMI组又高于UA组,中度病变组高于轻度病变组,重度病变组又高于中度病变组,差异均有统计学意义(P<0.05);而SAP组、UA组、AMI组之间两两比较以及轻度病变组、中度病变组、重度病变组之间两两比较的血清TG、HDL-C水平差异无统计学意义(P>0.05)。Pearson相关性分析结果显示:血清SFRP5、FGF21、IGF-I水平与TC、LDL-C、Gensini积分呈负相关(P<0.05)。结论:CHD患者血清SFRP5、FGF21、IGF-I水平均降低,且与血脂水平增高以及CHD病变程度加重均有关。     

天然药物通过重构肠道菌群减少动脉粥样硬化风险的研究进展

动脉粥样硬化（atherosclerosis,AS）是冠心病（coronary atherosclerotic heart disease,CAD）的发病基础。参与AS形成的原因有很多,近年来的研究表明依赖肠道菌群的胆碱代谢物氧化三甲胺（trimethylamine oxide,TMAO）也与AS的发生、发展有关。天然药物具有生物多效性,有研究表明其中的多酚类成分可通过影响肠道菌群的多样性减少AS的风险。本文就天然药物与肠道菌群和AS关系的研究进展进行综述。     

前蛋白转换酶枯草溶菌素9抑制剂降低脂蛋白(a)作用的机制

脂蛋白(a)(lipoprotein(a),Lp(a))在结构上与低密度脂蛋白相似,是动脉粥样硬化性心血管疾病发病的独立危险因素和潜在的治疗靶点。前蛋白转换酶枯草溶菌素9(proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9,PCSK9)抑制剂可有效降低Lp(a)的循环水平并减少心血管事件风险。本文综合近年来的相关研究,阐述PCSK9抑制剂减少Lp(a)合成和促进其降解的相关机制,分析该领域所面临的挑战和未来的发展方向。