Two murine models of sepsis: immunopathological differences between the sexes-possible role of TGFß1 in female resistance to endotoxemia.

Endotoxic shock (ExSh) and cecal ligature and puncture (CLP) are models that induce sepsis. In this work, we investigated early immunologic and histopathologic changes induced by ExSh or CLP models in female and male mice. Remarkable results showed that females supported twice the LD100 of LPS for males, CLP survival and CFU counts were similar between genders, high circulating LPS levels in ExSh mice and low levels of IgM anti-LPS in males. In the serum of ExSh males, TNF and IL-6 increased in the first 6 h, in CLP males at 12 h. In the liver of ExSh mice, TNF increased at 1.5 and 12 h, IL-1 at 6 h. TGFß1 increased in females throughout the study and at 12 h in males. In CLP mice, IL-6 decreased at 12 h, TGFß1 increased at 6-12 h in males and at 12 h in females. In the lungs of ExSh males, IL-1ß increased at 1.5-6 h and TGFß1 at 12 h; in females, TNF decrease at 6 h and TGFß1 increased from 6 h; in CLP females, TNF and IL-1ß decreased at 12 h and 1.5 h, respectively, and TGFß1 increased from 6 h; in males, TGFß1 increased at 12 h. In the livers of ExSh mice, signs of inflammation were more common in males; in the CLP groups, inflammation was similar but less pronounced. ExSh females had leucocytes with TGFß1. The lungs of ExSh males showed patches of hyaline membranes and some areas of inflammatory cells, similar but fewer and smaller lesions were seen in male mice with CLP. In ExSh females, injuries were less extent than in males, similar pulmonary lesions were seen in female mice with CLP. ExSh males had lower levels of TGFß1 than females, and even lower levels were seen in CLP males. We conclude that the ExSh was the most lethal model in males, associated with high levels of free LPS, low IgM anti-LPS, exacerbated inflammation and target organ injury, while females showed early TGFß1 production in the lungs and less tissue damage. We didn't see any differences between CLP mice.

Increased Expression of lncRNA AC000120.7 and SENP3-EIF4A1 in Patients with Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome Induced by SARS-CoV-2 Infection: A Pilot Study.

COVID-19, a disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, poses significant threats to the respiratory system and other vital organs. Long non-coding RNAs have emerged as influential epigenetic regulators and promising biomarkers in respiratory ailments. The objective of this study was to identify candidate lncRNAs in SARS-CoV-2-positive individuals compared to SARS-CoV-2-negative individuals and investigate their potential association with ARDS-CoV-2 (acute respiratory distress syndrome). Employing qRT-PCR, we meticulously examined the expression profiles of a panel comprising 84 inflammation-related lncRNAs in individuals presenting upper respiratory infection symptoms, categorizing them into those testing negative or positive for SARS-CoV-2. Notably, first-phase PSD individuals exhibited significantly elevated levels of AC000120.7 and SENP3-EIF4A1. In addition, we measured the expression of two lncRNAs, AC000120.7 and SENP3-EIF4A1, in patients with ARDS unrelated to SARS-CoV-2 (n = 5) and patients with ARDS induced by SARS-CoV-2 (ARDS-CoV-2, n = 10), and interestingly, expression was also higher among patients with ARDS. Intriguingly, our interaction pathway analysis unveiled potential interactions between lncRNA AC000120.7, various microRNAs, and genes associated with inflammation. This study found higher expression levels of lncRNAs AC000120.7 and SENP3-EIF4A1 in the context of infection-positive COVID-19, particularly within the complex landscape of ARDS.

Expression profiles of GPR21, GPR39, GPR135, and GPR153 orphan receptors in different cancers.

Orphan receptors have unknown endogenous ligands, are expressed in different tissues, and participate in various diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and cancer. We studied the expression profiles of GPR21, GPR39, GPR135 and GPR153 orphan receptors in several tumour tissues. Cervical, breast, skin, prostate, and astrocytoma tissues were analysed for orphan receptor gene expression using Real time PCR analysis. GPR39 is over-expressed in cervical and prostate cancer tissues, and GPR21 and GPR135 receptors are significantly decreased in cervical, breast, skin, prostate, and astrocytoma tissues, when compared with healthy human fibroblasts. In conclusion, GPR21 and GPR135 receptor gene expression is reduced in cancerous tissues. GPR39 may have a role in the development and evolution of cervical and prostate cancer. These data suggest these receptors may be alternative molecules for new diagnostic approaches, and the design of novel therapeutics against oncological pathologies.

Chronic diabetes and hypertension impair the in vivo functional response to phenylephrine independent of α1-adrenoceptor expression.

Diabetes and hypertension can coexist and exacerbate each other. In the early stages of diabetes, there is a decreased vascular response of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS), probably due to lower expression of α1-adrenoceptors; however, it is unclear how diabetes in advanced stages changes the functionality of the SNS, especially the expression of α1-adrenoceptors. Thus, the aim of this work was to analyse the functional response to phenylephrine, a selective α1-adrenoceptor agonist, and the expression of α1-adrenoceptors in chronic diabetes and hypertension. Male SHR and WKY rats aged 10-12 weeks were administered either streptozotocin (60 mg/kg i.p.) or a vehicle (control group). Eight weeks after administration, dose-response curves to phenylephrine were generated and the gene and protein expression of α1-adrenoceptor subtypes (α1A-, α1B- and α1D-adrenoceptors) in the heart and aorta were measured. The response to phenylephrine was diminished in hypertensive rats and in normotensive diabetic rats. The coexistence of both diabetes and hypertension produced an even smaller response to phenylephrine than that observed for each condition separately. In the heart and aorta of diabetic rats, no changes in α1A-, α1B- or α1D-adrenoceptor mRNA expression were observed; however, protein expression was increased, mainly for the α1D-adrenoceptor. Hypertension increased mRNA and protein expression of α1-adrenoceptors in a tissue-dependent manner. The coexistence of both diabetes and hypertension produced differences in the regulation of mRNA and protein expression (increase or decrease) in both the heart and aorta. In conclusion, diabetes, hypertension and the coexistence of both pathologies impairs the in vivo response to phenylephrine. However, the differences in α1A-, α1B- and α1D-adrenoceptor expression cannot explain the reduced response to the agonist. This should be further explored in future experiments.

Silencing of GPR82 with Interference RNA Improved Metabolic Profiles in Rats with High Fructose Intake.

Metabolic syndrome (MS) is a clinical condition, constituted by alterations that lead to the onset of type II diabetes and cardiovascular disease. It has been reported that orphan G-protein-coupled receptor 82 (GPR82) participates in metabolic processes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the function of GPR82 in MS using a small interfering RNA (siRNA) against this receptor. We used Wistar rats of 10-12 weeks of age fed with a high-fructose solution (70%) for 9 weeks to induce MS. Subsequently, the rats were treated with an intrajugular dose of an siRNA against GPR82 and the effects were evaluated on day 3 and 7 after administration. On day 3 the siRNA had a transient effect on decreasing blood pressure and triglycerides and increasing high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, which recovered to the MS control on day 7. Decreased gene expressions of GPR82 mRNA in the aorta and heart were observed on day 3; moreover, decreased gene expression was maintained in the aorta on day 7. Therefore, we conclude that the orphan receptor GPR82 participates in the development of MS induced by fructose and the silencing of this receptor could ameliorate metabolic components.

Altered function and expression of the orphan GPR135 at the cardiovascular level in diabetic Wistar rats.

Cardiovascular complications are the main cause of mortality in patients with diabetes, these have been associated with changes in function and expression of receptors coupled to G proteins (GPCR), which include orphan receptors which some of them tend to modify in diabetes, although others are not known, such as GPR135. For this reason, the objective of this work was to study the expression of the orphan receptor GPR135 in brain, heart, kidney, aorta, lung, spleen and liver of diabetic rats, as well as its function by the administration of siRNA (small interfering RNA) and curves to isoproterenol. Our results showed that GPR135 is expressed in all tissues analyzed and its expression is modified due to diabetes, we also observed that the responses to isoproterenol increase in diabetic rats administered with siRNA. Therefore, we conclude that the orphan receptor GPR135 is expressed in different tissues and its expression tends to be modified due to diabetes, besides that it is functional and that it seems to be coupled to Gi/o protein which has negative chronotropic and inotropic effects, therefore, we do not rule out that it participates in the cardiovascular complications associated with diabetes.

Evidence of alterations in the expression of orphan receptors GPR26 and GPR39 due to the etiology of the metabolic syndrome.

AIMS: Metabolic syndrome (MS) is composed of several metabolic abnormalities that increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Although there are treatments for the components of MS, this pathology maintains a high mortality, suggesting that there are other mechanisms in which orphan receptors such as GPR26 and GPR39 may be involved. For this reason, the aim of this work was to evaluate the expression of GPR26 and GPR39 orphan receptors in two models of MS (diet and genetics). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used male Wistar rats, which received 70% fructose in drinking water for 9 weeks, and obese Zucker rats. We measured weight, blood pressure, glucose, triglycerides, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol to determine the MS and the expression of the orphan receptors GPR26 and GPR39 in brain, heart, aorta, liver, and kidney by RT-PCR. RESULTS: The analysis of the expression of the orphan receptors GPR26 and GPR39 showed that the receptors are expressed in some tissues, but the expression of the GPR26 tends to decrease in the heart and aorta, whereas in the brain, no changes were observed, this receptor is not expressed in the liver and kidney of both strains. The expression of GPR39 isoforms depends on the tissue and MS model. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that the orphan receptors GPR26, GPR39v1, and GPR39v2 are expressed in different tissues and their profile expression is dependent on the etiology of the MS.

Expression of orphan receptors GPR22 and GPR162 in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

AIMS/INTRODUCTION: Diabetes mellitus is a chronic degenerative disease characterized by high blood glucose levels as a result of problems in the action or insulin secretion. Although there are many treatments for this pathology, it has been associated with a high mortality rate. For this reason, it is important to try to identify new pathways that could be involved in diabetic complications. Recently, a new class of receptors has been reported, called orphan receptors because the associated ligand and signaling pathways are unknown, these receptors have been associated with certain pathologies. Therefore, the aim of this work was to study the expression of the orphan receptors GPR22 and GPR162 in heart, aorta, brain and kidney of diabetic rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We used Wistar male rats with 10-12 weeks of age. Diabetes was induced by a single dose of streptozotocin (60 mg/kg i.p.). After four weeks, the tissue was obtained and the expression of the mRNA was measured by RT-PCR. RESULTS: Our results showed that the orphan receptors are expressed in a different way in heart, kidney, brain and aorta of diabetic and non-diabetic rats. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that orphan receptors could be involved in the development of diabetes complications.