Interactions of renin-angiotensin system and COVID-19: the importance of daily rhythms in ACE2, ADAM17 and TMPRSS2 expression.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) was identified as a molecule that mediates the cellular entry of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Several membrane molecules of the host cell must cooperate in this process. While ACE2 serves in a membrane receptor-mediating interaction with the surface spike (S) glycoprotein of SARS-CoV-2 located on the virus envelope, enzyme A disintegrin and metalloproteinase 17 (ADAM17) regulates ACE2 availability on the membrane and transmembrane protease serine 2 (TMPRSS2) facilitates virus-cell membrane fusion. Interestingly, ACE2, ADAM17 and TMPRSS2 show a daily rhythm of expression in at least some mammalian tissue. The circadian system can also modulate COVID-19 progression via circadian control of the immune system (direct, as well as melatonin-mediated) and blood coagulation. Virus/ACE2 interaction causes ACE2 internalization into the cell, which is associated with suppressed activity of ACE2. As a major role of ACE2 is to form vasodilatory angiotensin 1-7 from angiotensin II (Ang II), suppressed ACE2 levels in the lung can contribute to secondary COVID-19 complications caused by up-regulated, pro-inflammatory vasoconstrictor Ang II. This is supported by the positive association of hypertension and negative COVID-19 prognosis although this relationship is dependent on numerous comorbidities. Hypertension treatment with inhibitors of renin-angiotensin system does not negatively influence prognosis of COVID-19 patients. It seems that tissue susceptibility to SARS-CoV-2 shows negative correlation to ACE2 expression. However, in lungs of infected patient, a high ACE2 expression is associated with better outcome, compared to low ACE2 expression. Manipulation of soluble ACE2 levels is a promising COVID-19 therapeutic strategy.

Downregulation of miR-30c-5p expression in colorectal cancer tissue is sex-dependent.

We report that decreased expression of miR-30c in tumor compared to adjacent tissue is sex-dependent in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. High expression of miR-30c was associated with better survival in the whole cohort. When the cohort was split into male and female subcohorts, decreased miR-30c expression in tumor compared to adjacent tissue was observed only in males. Expression of miR-30c was decreased in CRC tumor tissue in male patients with nodes involvement compared to those without metastases in nodes and this difference was not observe in females. Next dependency of miR-30c expression on oestrogen receptor beta (ERbeta) mRNA levels in tumor was tested. In males with low expression of ERbeta, we observed a significant decrease in miR-30c levels in patients with nodes involvement compared to those without nodes involvement. This difference was not observed in males with high ERbeta mRNA levels and in females. Accordingly, males with low expression of ERbeta and high expression of miR-30c showed a better survival that those with low expression ERbeta and low expression of miR-30c. It is possible to conclude that whole cohort survival dependence on miR-30c is mostly generated by a subcohort of males with low expression of ERbeta mRNA in tumor tissue.

Sex-dependent regulation of estrogen receptor beta in human colorectal cancer tissue and its relationship with clock genes and VEGF-A expression.

The incidence of colorectal cancer (CRC) shows a sex-dependent difference in humans. The aim of this study was to analyze estrogen receptor beta mRNA (ERbeta) expression in patients with CRC with respect to their gender and clinicopathological features. Since cancer progression is accompanied by tumor vascularization, VEGF-A (vascular endothelial growth factor A) transcription was analyzed along with ERbeta mRNA. ERbeta mRNA was also correlated with the expression of clock genes, which are known to influence the cell cycle. ERbeta mRNA expression in females with CRC showed an inverse association with increasing tumor staging that was not observed in males. Lower levels of ERbeta mRNA were observed in females with a higher clinical stage compared with those with earlier-stage tumors. ERbeta mRNA expression showed a significant positive correlation with mRNA of clock genes period 2 and cryptochrome 2 in healthy but not in cancerous tissue in males. Expression of VEGF-A mRNA showed a negative correlation with ERbeta mRNA after splitting of the cohort according to gender and nodus involvement. We propose that gender differences in ERbeta mRNA expression in tumors during the early stages of CRC can partially explain the lower occurrence of CRC in females compared with males.

The expression of clock genes cry1 and cry2 in human colorectal cancer and tumor adjacent tissues correlates differently dependent on tumor location.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) exhibits differences in its features depending on the location of the tumor. The role of the circadian system in carcinogenesis is accepted, and many studies report different clock gene expression in tumors compared to healthy tissue. However, little attention is given to the changes in clock genes in tumors arising from various locations across the colon and rectum. The aim of our study was to investigate the expression of the clock genes cry1 and cry2 in human CRC tissue and tissue adjacent to colorectal tumors in a cohort of 64 patients by real time PCR. Expression of cry1 in the entire patient cohort was higher in tumors compared to adjacent tissues in the right-sided colon but not in the left-sided colorectum. Difference in cry1 expression between tumor and adjacent tissue in the right-sided colon was preserved in women and a trend was observed in men. Higher expression of cry1 in the right-sided colon tumor tissue was associated with worse survival in women and the expression of cry1 in the left-sided colorectum was significantly higher in the adjacent tissue compared to tumor in men but not in women. Expression of cry2 was lower in the tumor than in adjacent tissue in both the right and left-sided colorectum. This trend was generally preserved, but the difference reached significance level only in the male left-sided colon, and cry2 expression in the tumor tissue significantly correlated with location of the tumor in men with grade 2 cancer. Finally, we detected significant correlation between tumor location and cry1 expression in the adjacent tissue and the combined results establish that tumor influence on adjacent tissue is dependent on tumor location. Changed clock gene expression should therefore be considered in specific CRC patient sub-groups.

Prefrontal cortex and dorsomedial hypothalamus mediate food reward-induced effects via npas2 and egr1 expression in rat.

The effects of food reward on circadian system function were investigated in the hypothalamic nuclei, prefrontal cortex and liver. Food rewards of small hedonic and caloric value were provided for 16 days 3 h after light phase onset to male Wistar rats. The daily pattern of locomotor activity was monitored. Gene expression profiling performed in the dorsomedial hypothalamus (DMH) and liver at the time of reward delivery indicated transcriptional factors egr1 and npas2 as possible mediators of food reward effects. Candidate genes were measured in the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN), DMH, arcuate nucleus (ARC), prefrontal cortex (PFC) and liver along with per2 expression. A daily pattern in glycemia and per2 expression in the SCN was emphasized by food reward. The expression of egr1 was rhythmic in the SCN, DMH, PFC and liver and food reward weakened or diminished this rhythm. The expression of npas2 was rhythmic in all tissues except for the PFC where food reward induced rhythm in npas2 expression. Food reward induced npas2 and egr1 expression in the DMH at the time of reward delivery. We suppose that the DMH and PFC participate in the adjustment of the circadian system to utilize food reward-induced input via egr1 and npas2 expression.

Gender-dependent expression of leading and passenger strand of miR-21 and miR-16 in human colorectal cancer and adjacent colonic tissues.

miRNAs are small regulatory RNA molecules involved in posttranscriptional gene silencing. Their biosynthesis results in the formation of duplex consisting of a leading and a passenger strand of mature miRNA. The leading strand exhibits the main activity but recent findings indicate a certain role of the passenger strand as well. Deregulated levels of miRNA were found in many types of cancers including colorectal cancer. miR-21 and miR-16 were indicated as possible markers of colorectal cancer, however, small attention to gender differences in their expression was paid so far. Therefore, the aim of our study was to investigate the expression of miR-21-5p, miR-21-3p, miR-16-5p and miR-16-3p in human colorectal cancer tissue and compare it to the adjacent tissues taken during surgery in men and women separately. Our results showed an up-regulation of all measured miRNAs in tumor tissue compared to adjacent tissues. As expected, tumors and adjacent tissues exhibited a significantly higher expression of leading miRNAs compared to passenger strand of miR-21 and miR-16. The expression of leading and passenger strand of miR-21 and miR-16 positively correlated exhibiting the highest correlation coefficient in the distal tissue. The expression pattern showed gender-dependent differences, with higher levels of miRNA in men than in women. Our findings indicate a gender-related expression pattern of miRNA, which should be considered as an important factor in generating new prognostic or diagnostic biomarkers.

Effect of angiotensin II infusion on rhythmic clock gene expression and local renin-angiotensin system in the aorta of Wistar rats.

OBJECTIVE: Endogenous daily rhythms in physiology are regulated by the circadian system consisting of the central and peripheral components. The renin-angiotensin system, involved predominantly in water balance and blood pressure control, exerts 24 h rhythmicity in many of its parameters. The present study is aimed to study possible interactions between these two control systems. We analyzed effects induced by angiotensin II administration on clock gene expression in the aorta of rat and an ability of angiotensin II to influence the local tissue renin-angiotensin system. METHODS: Angiotensin II was infused in a dose of 100 ng/kg/min by subcutaneously implanted osmotic minipumps for 28 days to male Wistar rats. Gene expression was measured by real time PCR. RESULTS: Angiotensin II administration resulted in an increase in blood pressure, heart weight/body weight index, and water intake in comparison with controls. We observed a significant phase advance in per2 and npas2 mRNA rhythms and decreased mesor of npas2 rhythmic expression in the aorta of angiotensin II-treated rats compared to control. Angiotensin II administration did not influence daily pattern and level of at1 mRNA expression. The ratio ace/ace2 showed a rhythmic pattern in the aorta of control rats with peak levels in the dark period. CONCLUSIONS: Angiotensin II infusion influenced clock gene expression and diminished a daily rhythm in ace/ace2 mRNA ratio indicating modulatory effect of angiotensin II on tissue renin-angiotensin system in the aorta.

Different effects of phase advance and delay in rotating light-dark regimens on clock and natriuretic peptide gene expression in the rat heart.

Under physiological conditions the mammalian circadian system is synchronized to a cyclic environment. The central oscillator in the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN) responds predominantly to an external light (L) dark (D) cycle. Peripheral oscillators are more efficiently synchronized by metabolic cues. When the circadian system is exposed to opposing synchronizing cues, peripheral oscillators uncouple from the SCN. To consider influence of phase advances and delays in light regimens mimicking shift work, we analyzed the expression of clock genes (per2, bmal1) and natriuretic peptides (anp, bnp) in the heart of male rats. Experimental groups were exposed to a rotating LD regimen with either 8 h phase advance or delay for 11 weeks. Samples were taken for a 24 h cycle in 4 h intervals. Peripheral oscillators responded to rotating phase advance by decreasing rhythm robustness, while phase delay mostly influenced the phase angle between the acrophase of rhythmic gene expression and the external LD cycle. The expression of anp was arrhythmic in the heart of control rats and was not influenced by rotating LD regimens. The expression of bnp showed a daily rhythm with a nadir during the active phase. The daily rhythm in bnp expression diminished under rotating LD regimen conditions.

Daily profile of glut1 and glut4 expression in tissues inside and outside the blood-brain barrier in control and streptozotocin-treated rats.

Glucose is molecule usually studied in relation to metabolism. Except for this traditional view, it is known that under certain conditions glucose can serve as a signal molecule for the circadian system. The circadian system is entrained by relevant synchronizing cues that can be tissue-dependent. Central oscillator is synchronized mainly by light-dark cycle, while peripheral oscillators can be entrained by food intake. Glucose transport in the organism is controlled by insulin dependent and independent mechanism. Therefore, we employed streptozotocin-induced diabetes to elucidate the influence of metabolic changes on glucose transporter (glut1, glut4) 24-h expression profile in peripheral oscillators in tissues, inside (frontal cortex, cerebellum) and outside (heart) the blood-brain barrier. Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin injection. Seventeen days later, sampling was performed during a 24-h cycle. Gene expression was measured using real-time PCR. We observed down-regulation of glut1 and glut4 expression in the heart of diabetic rats. The expression of glut1 and glut4 in brain areas was not down-regulated, however, we observed trend to phase advance in glut1 expression in the cerebellum. These results may indicate higher glucose levels in diabetic brain, which might influence regulation of clock gene expression in different manner in brain compared to periphery.

Changes of physiological functions induced by shift work.

Shift work was positively associated with higher incidence of metabolic syndrome, obesity, cardiovascular disease, sleep disturbances, decreased immune functions, and cancer. Observed disorders were manifested usually after longer time of shift work (more than 10 years). On the other hand, disturbed daily profile of melatonin and cortisol during shift work were detected even in human self reporting well tolerated shift work. Similarly, changes in thyroid stimulating hormone, prolactin, growth hormone, insulin, and ghrelin were demonstrated. Changes in hormone concentrations are influenced by shift work, sleep or circadian system or combinations of above mentioned regulatory factors. The circadian system consists of the central part localized in the hypothalamus and peripheral oscillators located in all tissues of the body. The central oscillator is predominantly synchronized by light and peripheral oscillators are more responsive to metabolic signals. Under conditions of shift work, central and peripheral oscillators dissociate that causes misalignment of daily rhythms in physiological functions. Synchronization during shift work can be improved by melatonin supplementation and manipulation with light:dark cycles and food regimens. Shift work tolerance is individual. Partial positive selection can be achieved on the basis of several psychological traits. Appropriate schedule can be estimated on the basis of chronotype.

Effect of streptozotocin-induced diabetes on clock gene expression in tissues inside and outside the blood-brain barrier in rat.

The circadian system allows organisms to remain synchronized with rhythmic environmental changes with a 24-h period. The molecular mechanism of circadian oscillations is based on the rhythmic expression of clock genes organized in feedback loops. Alterations in the circadian system contribute to the development of several pathological conditions including diabetes, but the exact mechanisms responsible for such alterations are not known. Therefore, we employed streptozotocin-induced diabetes to elucidate the influence of metabolic changes on clock gene (clock, npas2, per2) expression in peripheral oscillators in tissues inside (frontal cortex, cerebellum) and outside (heart, kidney) the blood-brain barrier. Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin injection. Seventeen days later, sampling was performed during a 24-h cycle. Gene expression was measured using real-time PCR. We observed a phase advance in rhythmic clock gene expression in the heart and kidney of diabetic rats. The study also focused on the possible role of npas2 in locomotor activity regulation in diabetic animals. The most pronounced changes were observed in the frontal cortex, which displayed up-regulation of npas2 expression. A change in locomotor activity was observed in diabetic rats during the dark phase of the 24-h cycle. We suggest that the altered function of the frontal cortex induced by diabetes might contribute to the modified behavior of diabetic rats.

Renin-angiotensin system: upgrade of recent knowledge and perspectives.

UNLABELLED: Although more than 100 years passed from the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) discovery, new knowledge is still ceaselessly accruing in this field. The present review provides brief overview on the history of the RAS investigation, circulating and tissue RAS, and outlines the physiological functions of the RAS major active substance, angiotensin II (ANG II). Circulating ANG II is generated from angiotensin I (ANG I) by carboxypeptidaze angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) expressed in the pulmonary endothelial cells. ANG I is formed from angiotensinogen, originating in the liver, by renal peptidase renin secreted by the juxtaglomerular cells. The ANG II effects are mediated mainly via AT1 receptors. Scientific, medical, and pharmacological interests in the RAS relay mainly in its potency to influence the blood pressure and heart hypertrophy. Inhibition of ACE and AT1 receptors has been shown to be very useful in the hypertension management although several unexpected effects of this treatment led to the initiation of new studies. This review also describes other bioactive angiotensins and modifying enzymes identified during the last years, the ways how the RAS activity can be measured and ANG II degraded in the organism. It also indicates the most convenient models for the RAS investigation. Finally, the major mechanisms of the RAS activity regulation are also described. KEYWORDS: angiotensin, angiotensin-converting enzyme, angiotensin-converting enzyme 2, angiotensin AT1 receptors, experimental model.

Down regulation of angiotensin II receptor AT1 expression in the pancreas of diabetic rat.

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is altered in diabetes. The aim of our study was to investigate whether streptozotocin-induced diabetes was associated with a change in angiotensin II receptors AT (1) and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) mRNA expression in the pancreas in vivo. Rats were synchronized to a 12:12 light:dark cycle. Pancreas tissue sampling was done at 4 h intervals during 24 h cycle starting 17 days after streptozotocin (STZ) treatment (65 mg/kg of body weight). Real time PCR showed decreased expression of ACE in the pancreas after STZ administration during the dark phase. Expression of AT (1) was decreased in diabetic rats during the light and the dark phase of 24 h cycle. Our data show down-regulation of the pancreatic RAS during early stage of diabetes development.

Ontogeny of melatonin, Per2 and E4bp4 light responsiveness in the chicken embryonic pineal gland.

The chicken pineal gland possesses the capacity to generate circadian oscillations, is able to synchronize to external light:dark cycles and can generate an hormonal output--melatonin. We examined the light responses of the chicken pineal gland and its effects on melatonin and Per2, Bmal1 and E4bp4 expression in 19-day old embryos and hatchlings during the dark phase, subjective light phase and in constant darkness. Expression of Per2 and E4bp4 were rhythmic under light:dark conditions, but the rhythms of E4bp4 and Bmal1 mRNA did not persist in constant darkness in 19-day old embryos. Per2 mRNA expression persisted in constant darkness, but with a reduced amplitude. Per2 expression was inducible by light only during the subjective day. Melatonin release was inhibited by light only at end of the dark phase and during the subjective light phase in embryos. Our data demonstrate that the embryonic avian pineal pacemaker is light sensitive and can generate rhythmic output, however the effects of light were diminished in chick embryos in compared to hatchlings.

Plasma melatonin concentrations in hypertensive patients with the dipping and non-dipping blood pressure profile.

Some patients with hypertension exhibit disturbed circadian organization in the cardiovascular system. Hormone melatonin can synchronize circadian rhythms and its repeated administration can improve synchronization of rhythmicity in blood pressure (BP). In our study we measured endogenous melatonin production in patients with essential hypertension exhibiting a dipping and non-dipping BP profile. Blood pressure was monitored for at least 24-hr with an automatic ambulatory BP monitor and patients with no decline in BP were classified as non-dippers. Plasma melatonin was measured in the middle of the daytime and night-time by radioimmunoassay. As expected night-time systolic (P <0.05), diastolic (P <0.001) and mean arterial (P <0.001) BP was higher in non-dippers than in dippers. No significant difference was found between both groups in BP during the day. Mean melatonin concentrations were higher during the night than during the day in both dippers and non-dippers. When patients were divided into dippers and non-dippers on the basis of mean arterial or diastolic BP a lower ratio of night/day concentration was determined in non-dippers than in dippers. Our study showed a blunted night/day difference in plasma melatonin concentrations in hypertensive patients with the non-dipping profile in diastolic BP indicating disturbances in the circadian system of these patients.

Rhythms of the pineal N-acetyltransferase mRNA and melatonin concentrations during embryonic and post-embryonic development in chicken.

Development of a daily rhythmicity in transcription of a gene encoding a rate-limiting enzyme of melatonin biosynthesis, the arylalkylamine-N-acetyltransferase (AA-NAT) was studied by northern blot analysis in pineal glands of 16 and 19-day-old embryos and 1, 4, 8, 11, and 14-day-old chicks. In a parallel experiment, melatonin content in pineal glands and plasma was measured. A significant rhythm of AA-NAT expression was found at embryonic day (ED) 16, the earliest day assayed in this experiment. Expression was low during the daytime and a clear signal was found in the middle of the darktime. The intensity of the signal was increasing during the ontogeny. The nocturnal pineal melatonin concentrations were increasing over the studied period (from ED 19 until post-embryonic day 21). Midnight plasma melatonin concentrations increased from ED19 to PD 3 and oscillated around this value afterwards. Data show that rhythmic expression of AA-NAT mRNA starts very early in development of chicken and plays a major role in melatonin rhythm generation during embryonic development.

[Additive effect of pilocarpine and Timoptol on pupillary diameter and intraocular pressure in healthy rabbits]. / Aditívny úcinok pilokarpínu a Timoptolu na priemer pupily a VOT u zdravých králikov.

In the submitted paper experimental results are interpreted comparing the administration of two fundamental anti-glaucomatous drugs into the conjunctival sac of healthy rabbits of the Chinchilla strain. The authors administered 2% pilocarpine and 0.25% Timoptol (Timololi maleas, Léciva) alone, as combined consecutive administration and concurrent administration. The greatest effect on the width of the pupil and on IOP was exerted before 60 minutes by administration of pilocarpine, then Timoptol resp. And after 60 minutes the mixture of the two substances was most effective. This effect is explained by the additive action via substances produced by interaction (metabolites). Pilocarpine being a cholinergic substance promotes formation of the vitreous fluid and thus also an increased supply of free amino acids into ciliary body processes and the vitreous fluid. Timoptol then interacts with the increased amount of free amino acids and thus a greater and longer reduction of VOT occurs than after the action of newly formed cholinergic or newly formed adrenergic substances alone.

Role of melatonin in the control of growth and growth hormone secretion in poultry.

The pineal hormone melatonin controls reproduction of photoperiodic mammals and is an integral part of the circadian organization in birds. Recent findings indicate an involvement of this hormone also in more basic physiological processes, including growth, development, and aging. Melatonin may modulate growth in poultry through interaction with transcriptional factors, through interaction with hormones involved in growth control, and by modulation of energy metabolism and decreasing physical activity. Our studies showed that a single melatonin injection increased plasma growth hormone (GH) concentrations in the Japanese quail. Specific serotonin receptor blocker ketanserin did not preclude a stimulatory action of melatonin on GH synthesis. Serotonin agonist quipazine increased GH levels but failed to enhance the stimulatory effect of melatonin. Pretreatment with melatonin in drinking water did not affect the magnitude of the GH response to subcutaneous (s.c.) administration of thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH) that considerably stimulated GH secretion. Present data suggest that melatonin modulates rather central neural pathways involved in the control of GH synthesis at the hypothalamic level than the sensitivity of the pituitary gland.

Melatonin content in plasma and large intestine of patients with colorectal carcinoma before and after surgery.

The distinct melatonin rhythm with higher concentrations during the darktime was found in plasma of both control patients and patients with colorectal carcinoma. Moderate surgery did not induce any changes in plasma melatonin levels, but a pronounced increase in both the day- and nighttime melatonin concentrations was found after surgical treatment for colon cancer. The melatonin content in the tumor tissue did not differ from that in the proximal and the distal parts of the resected gut, which were without signs of malignant changes. Neither concentrations of serotonin nor 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid differed among analyzed parts of the gut. Daytime melatonin concentrations in gut tissue (314.7 +/- 87.8 pg/g of wet tissue) were more than ten times higher than the daytime levels in circulation. It was hypothesized that increased levels of this hormone in the gastrointestinal tract may play an important protective role against the development of colorectal cancer via stimulation of the immune system, protection against free radicals, and interaction with fatty acid uptake and metabolism.

Perinatal development of circadian melatonin production in domestic chicks.

In contrast to the situation in mammals, in which circadian melatonin production by the pineal gland does not begin until some time after birth, the development of pineal gland rhythmicity is an embryonic event in the precocial domestic fowl. A distinct melatonin rhythm was found in 19-d-old chick embryos maintained under light:dark (LD) 16:8. No significant variation in melatonin levels was detected in embryos exposed to LD 8:16. The melatonin rhythm in the pineal gland and plasma of chick embryos incubated for 18 d in LD 12:12 persisted for 2 d in constant darkness indicating that melatonin production is under circadian control at least from the end of embryonic life. A 1-d exposure to a LD cycle during the first postembryonic day was sufficient to entrain the melatonin rhythm, and previous embryonic exposure to either LD or constant darkness (DD) neither modified this rapid synchronization nor did it affect the melatonin pattern during the two subsequent days in DD. It is suggested that, in contrast to the situation in mammals, the avian embryo has evolved its own early circadian melatonin-producing system because, as a consequence of its extrauterine development, it cannot use the system of its mother.