ABSTRACT
Fibrosis is a repair response initiated by tissues and organs after injury, and is a self-protection mechanism of the body. It has been found that endothelium-to-interstitial transdifferentiation (EndMT) is involved in the physiological and pathological processes of various organ fibrosis, which has become a focus of the research on fibrotic diseases. In recent years, the study has found that EndMT plays an important role in many pathological processes in cardiovascular system, lungs, kidneys, liver, pancreas fibrosis, and so on. This article summarizes EndMT regulatory mechanism and its role in each organ fibrosis, as well as the related treatment progress of EndMT targets, so as to provide new targets for prevention and control of organ fibrosis.
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION: The epithelial tight junctions of intestine were impaired in murine model of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The aim of this work was to investigate the alteration of intestinal barrier in T2DM patients. METHODS: 90 patients with T2DM and 28 healthy controls were recruited. Serum lipopolysaccharide (LPS), Zonulin, and intestinal fatty acid binding protein (IFABP) were measured by ELISA, based on which a derived permeability risk score (PRS) was calculated. Subgroup analyses were conducted based on the glycemic control (HbA1câ¯<â¯7%, or HbA1câ¯≥â¯7%), the amount of chronic diabetic complications, and the use of aspirin at the time. RESULTS: Serum LPS, Zonulin, and IFABP, and PRS of T2DM group were significantly higher than those of the control group (pâ¯<â¯0.05 for all). Serum LPS and PRS was higher in T2DM patients with poor glycemic control (both pâ¯<â¯0.05). Patients with more chronic complications of diabetes had higher serum LPS and IFABP, and PRS (all pâ¯<â¯0.05). No differences were found in these serum markers between T2DM patients being treated with aspirin or not. CONCLUSIONS: Intestinal barrier function was impaired in T2DM patients. Poor glycemic control and more chronic complications of diabetes were associated with worse intestinal barrier function. Treatment with aspirin did not aggravate the impairment of intestinal barrier in T2DM patients.
