Rhein ameliorates transverse aortic constriction-induced cardiac hypertrophy via regulating STAT3 and p38 MAPK signaling pathways.

The progression from compensatory hypertrophy to heart failure is difficult to reverse, in part due to extracellular matrix fibrosis and continuous activation of abnormal signaling pathways. Although the anthraquinone rhein has been examined for its many biological properties, it is not clear whether it has therapeutic value in the treatment of cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure. In this study, we report for the first time that rhein can ameliorate transverse aortic constriction (TAC)-induced cardiac hypertrophy and other cardiac damage in vivo and in vitro. In addition, rhein can reduce cardiac hypertrophy by attenuating atrial natriuretic peptide, brain natriuretic peptide, and ß-MHC expression; cardiac fibrosis; and ERK phosphorylation and transport into the nucleus. Furthermore, the inhibitory effect of rhein on myocardial hypertrophy was similar to that of specific inhibitors of STAT3 and ERK signaling. In addition, rhein at therapeutic doses had no significant adverse effects or toxicity on liver and kidney function. We conclude that rhein reduces TAC-induced cardiac hypertrophy via targeted inhibition of the molecular function of ERK and downregulates STAT3 and p38 MAPK signaling. Therefore, rhein might be a novel and effective agent for treating cardiac hypertrophy and other cardiovascular diseases.

Inhibition of GSDMD Activates Poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation and Promotes Myocardial Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury.

The precise control of cardiomyocyte viability is imperative to combat myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury (I/R), in which apoptosis and pyroptosis putatively contribute to the process. Recent researches indicated that GSDMD is involved in I/R as an executive protein of pyroptosis. However, its effect on other forms of cell death is unclear. We identified that GSDMD and GSDMD-N levels were significantly upregulated in the I/R myocardium of mice. Knockout of GSDMD conferred the resistance of the hearts to reperfusion injury in the acute phase of I/R but aggravated reperfusion injury in the chronic phase of I/R. Mechanistically, GSDMD deficiency induced the activation of PARylation and the consumption of NAD+ and ATP, leading to cardiomyocyte apoptosis. Moreover, PJ34, a putative PARP-1 inhibitor, reduced the myocardial injury caused by GSDMD deficiency. Our results reveal a novel action modality of GSDMD in the regulation of cardiomyocyte death; inhibition of GSDMD activates PARylation, suggesting the multidirectional role of GSDMD in I/R and providing a new theory for clinical treatment.

Loganin Inhibits Angiotensin II-Induced Cardiac Hypertrophy Through the JAK2/STAT3 and NF-κB Signaling Pathways.

Loganin is an iridoid glycoside extracted from Cornus officinalis, which is a traditional oriental medicine, and many biological properties of loganin have been reported. Nevertheless, it is not clear whether loganin has therapeutic effect on cardiovascular diseases. Hence, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of loganin on Ang II-induced cardiac hypertrophy. In the present study, we reported for the first time that loganin inhibits Ang II-provoked cardiac hypertrophy and cardiac damages in H9C2 cells and in mice. Furthermore, loganin can achieve cardioprotective effects through attenuating cardiac fibrosis, decreasing pro-inflammatory cytokine secretion, and suppressing the phosphorylation of critical proteins such as JAK2, STAT3, p65, and IκBα. Besides, the outstanding findings of the present study were to prove that loganin has no significant toxicity or side effects on normal cells and organs. Based on these results, we conclude that loganin mitigates Ang II-induced cardiac hypertrophy at least partially through inhibiting the JAK2/STAT3 and NF-κB signaling pathways. Accordingly, the natural product, loganin, might be a novel effective agent for the treatment of cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure.

Reversible pyrrole-based proton storage/release in ruthenium(ii) complexes.

Newly designed ruthenium(ii) complexes are reported which contain a pyridylpyrrole ligand featuring fast-responsive and reversible proton storage/release on the pyrrole group. The protonated pyrrolium acts as an acidic initiator and is capable of triggering the polymerization of 2,2-dimethyloxirane.

[Incidence Analysis of Monoclonal Gammopathy of Undetermined Significance in People over 40 Years of Age].

OBJECTIVE: To study the distribution of monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance(MGUS) in different age, sex and ethnic people over 40 years old. METHODS: Five hundred and ninety-six people(over 40 years old) examened in the Health Examination center of the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from July 2017 to September 2017 were selected. Among 596 people, male 310, female 286, Han people 488, and Uygur ethnic people 108. According to age, 596 people were divided into 3 groups, (40-59 years old group, 60-79 years old group, over 80 years old group). First, all samples were screened by capillary serum protein electrophoresis. If the suspected monoclonal bands were found in the electrophoretogram, and then the specific protein types were determined by serum immunofixation electrophoresis. RESULTS: The total incidence of MGUS in 596 screened population was 4.027%. The incidence of MGUS in 40-59 years old group, 60-69 years old group and over 80 years old group were 1.762%, 2.929% and 10% respectively, and the differences among the groups were statistically significant(P<0.05). The incidence of MGUS in male (5.806%) was significantly higher than that in female (2.097%)(χ2=5.177，P<0.05). Binary Logistic regression analysis showed that over 80 years old and male were independent risk factors for MGUS(P=0.001, OR=4.188, 95%CI: 1.814-9.673, P=0.048, OR=2.605, 95%CI: 1.009-6.725). The types of immunoglobulin in patients with MGUS were mostly IgG, IgG(66.7%) was significantly more than IgA (29.2%)(χ2=21.375，P<0.05)，and there was no significant difference in the incidence of MGUS between people with in Kappa and Lambda. CONCLUSION: The age increase and male may increase the incidence of MGUS, the IgG is the most common type of immunoglobcdin in pathogenesis of MGUS, so the early screening should be done.

[Expression of Transcription Factor SOX4 in Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Its Clinical Significance].

OBJECTIVE: To study the expression of SOX4 gene in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and its correlation with clinical features and prognosis, and to explore the role of this gene in acute myeloid leukemia. METHODS: The real-time guantitative PCR was used to detect the expression level of SOX4 gene in bone marrow of 96 patients with newby diagmsed AML, and the features and prognosis was analyzed. RESULTS: The level of SOX4 expression in the 96 AML patients was significantly higher than that in healthy controls (P<0.01), and the expression of SOX4 gene was not significanly different between M1-M5 (P<0.05). The expression of SOX4 gene was no significanly different between different sex, nationality, and remission after chemotherapy (P>0.05). In AML patients the SOX4 gene expression level did not significantly correlated with the white blood cell count, hemoglobin level, platelet count primitive cell count, reticulocyte count and other laboratory indexes ( P>0.05), while which correlated with the overall survival (OS) (P<0.01) and erent-free survival (EFS) (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The high expression of SOX4 gene affects the survival time of patients (OS, EFS), suggesting that may be one of the unfavorable prognostic factors for the AML patients.

[Expression of Ki-67 in chronic lymphocytic leukemia and its clinical significance].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of nuclear antigen Ki-67 in CLL patients and realationship of Ki-67 expression with other clinical parameters. METHODS: Twenty-Six confirmed cases of CLL were analysised retrospectively. The immhnohistochemical method was carried out to examine the expression of Ki-67 in bone marrow cells, the flow cytometer was used to detect ZAP70 (Zeta chain-associated protein), CD38 and other markers, additionally, a panel of probes RB1 (13q14), ATM (11q22.3), P53 (17p13.1) and CSP12 (+12) FISH were perfomed to detect the cytogenetic abnormalities. RESULTS: Out of 26 patients, 15 cases (57.7%) showed positive expression of Ki-67, 11 cases (42.3%) showed negative expression of Ki-67, the average rate of Ki-67 positive expression was (10.86±7.36)%. The level of Ki-67 did not relate with sex, age, Hb, platelet, ZAP70, ATM. ß2-MG, IgHV and P53, but related to the Rai staging (P=0.01, r=0.517), CD38 (P=0.02, r=0.469), 13q14 (P=0.021, r=-0.48), and there was statistically significant difference (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The Ki-67 level is higher in progressive stage of CLL and the Ki-67 expression is related with Rai staging, CD38, 13q14. The expression level of Ki-67 may be used as indicator for evaluation of CLL prognosis and guiding treatment for this disease.