Relationship between circulating VCAM-1, ICAM-1, E-selectin and MMP9 and the extent of coronary lesions

OBJECTIVES: Inflammatory molecules play a role in the development of atherosclerosis, which is the primary origin of cardiovascular disorders. However, to the best of our knowledge, no study has attempted to investigate the relationship between these circulating molecules and the prediction of cardiovascular risk. The present study aimed to investigate the relationships of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, E-selectin and matrix metalloproteinase 9 serum concentrations with the extent of coronary lesions. METHODS: Seventy-four individuals who were undergoing coronary angiography for the first time for diagnostic purposes were enrolled in this study. The extent of the coronary lesion was assessed using the Friesinger Index, and subjects were classified into four groups: no lesions, minor lesions, intermediate lesions and major lesions. Serum biochemical parameters and serum concentrations of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, E-selectin and matrix metalloproteinase 9 were analyzed. RESULTS: The vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 concentration was higher than 876 ng/mL in individuals with intermediate and major lesions (p<0.001 and p=0.020, respectively). Moreover, logistic regression analysis showed that these patients had an increased risk of having an intermediate lesion (p=0.007). Interestingly, all individuals with major lesions had vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 concentrations higher than 876 ng/mL. No association was found between the concentrations of the other proteins and the Friesinger Index. CONCLUSIONS: Serum vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 may be associated with the extent of coronary lesions. Moreover, it may represent an alternative to improve the cardiovascular risk classification in patients without acute coronary syndrome.

Regulating Effect Of Carnosine And /Or L- Arginine On The Expression Of Inflammatory Molecules Induced Nephropathy In The Hypoxic Rat Model

This study aimed to explore the effective role of carnosine and /or L- arginine in down regulation of the inflammatory molecule expression caused renal damage in response to sodium nitrite (NaNO2) induced hypoxia in rats . NaNO2 was administered subcutaneously (s.c.) to rats as a single dose (60 mg/kg body weight ). L-arginine (200mg/Kg body weight) and carnosine (250 mg/ Kg body weight ) were administered (i.p.) as a single dose , 24 h before NaNO2 injection. The results revealed that pre- administration of arginine and /or carnosine to NaNO2 hypoxic rats, significantly modulated the increases in serum markers of renal function (creatinine and urea) as well as the decrease in hemoglobin (Hb) level versus hypoxic rats. The two agents each alone or in a combination, markedly down regulated the serum pro-inflammatory molecules, including tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF- α) , C-reactive protein (CRP), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and heat shock protein -70 (HSP-70) as well as interleukin-6 (IL-6) in renal tissue compared to NaNO2 hypoxic rats . Also, the two agents successfully down modulated the alteration in the serum hypoxia inducible factor 1α (HIF 1α) . The present biochemical results were also supported by histopathological examination. In conclusion, the current data revealed that although the efficacy of arginine or carnosine each alone, their combination was more effective in ameliorating the renal damage induced by inflammatory molecules in response to NaNO2 hypoxia . This may support the use of this combination as an effective drug to treat hypoxic renal damage

The TLR7 agonist Imiquimod promote the immunogenicity of msenchymal stem cells

BACKGROUND: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are considered the best candidate in stem cells therapy due to their multipotent differentiation ability, low expression of co-stimulatory molecules (CD80, CD86, CD34 and HLA-II) and immunosuppression effects on in vivo immune responses. MSCs were now widely used in clinical trials but received no encourage results. The major problem was the fate of engrafted MSCs in vivo could not be defined. Some studies indicated that MSCs could induce immune response and result in the damage and rejection of MSCs. As toll like receptors (TLRs) are important in inducing of immune responses, in this study we study the role of TLR7 in mediating the immune status of MSCs isolated from umbilical cord. RESULTS: Our results indicated that TLR7 agonist Imiquimod could increase the proliferation of PBMC isolated from healthy human volunteers and release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) in supernatant from PBMC-UCMSCs co-culture system. Flow cytometry and quantitative PCR also confirmed the regulated expression of surface co-stimulatory molecules and pro-inflammatory genes (IL-6, IL-8, IL-12, TGF-β and TNF-α). And the down-regulation expression of stem cell markers also confirmed the loss of stemness of UCMSCs. We also found that the osteo-differentiation ability of UCMSCs was enhanced in the presence of Imiquimod. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this is the first report that activation of TLR7 pathway increases the immunogenicity of UCMSCs. Extensive researches have now been conducted to study whether the change of immune status will be help in tumor rejection based on the tumor-tropism of MSCs.

The Interaction of Adipose Tissue with Immune System and Related Inflammatory Molecules

BACKGROUND: Adipose tissues were initially introduced as energy storages, but recently they have become famous as an endocrine organ which produces and secretes various kinds of molecules to make physiologic and metabolic changes in human body. It has been studied that these molecules are secreted in abundance as the adipose tissue becomes bigger along with obesity. Furthermore, it has been found that they are mediating systemic inflammation and generation of metabolic diseases such as type 2 diabetes and atherosclerosis. On the basis of these, we studied previous papers which have been researched about the interaction between preadipocytes and macrophages, adipose tissues and lymph nodes, and adipose tissue secreting molecules. RESULTS: Firstly, preadipocytes and macrophages are expressing similar transcriptomes and proteins, and preadipocytes can be converted to mature macrophages which have phagocytic activity. Moreover, the monocytes, which initially located in the bone marrow, are filtrated to the adipose tissue by monocyte chemotatic protein-1 and are matured to macrophages by colony stimulating factor-1. Secondly, adipose tissues and their associated lymph nodes are interacting each other in terms of energy efficiency. Lymph nodes promote lipolysis in adipose tissues, and polyunsaturated fatty acids in adipocytes become energy sources for dendritic cells. Lastly, adipose tissues produce and secrete proinflammatory molecules such as leptin, adiponectin, TNF-alpha, IL-6, and acute phase proteins, which induce the inflammation and potentially generate metabolic diseases. CONCLUSION: According to these, we can link adipose tissues to inflammation, but we need to affirm the actual levels and roles of adipose tissue-derived proinflammatory molecules in human body.