l-Arginine Mitigates Radiation-Induced Early Changes in Cardiac Dysfunction: The Role of Inflammatory Pathways

During the last few years, a significant number of studies have attempted to clarify the underlying mechanisms that lead to the presentation of atrial fibrillation (AF). Inflammation is a key component of the pathophysiological processes that lead to the development of AF; the amplification of inflammatory pathways triggers AF, and, in tandem, AF increases the inflammatory state. Indeed, the plasma levels of several inflammatory biomarkers are elevated in patients with AF. In addition, the levels of specific inflammatory biomarkers may provide information regarding to the AF duration. Several small studies have assessed the role of anti-inflammatory treatment in atrial fibrillation but the results have been contradictory. Large-scale studies are needed to evaluate the role of inflammation in AF and whether anti-inflammatory medications should be routinely administered to patients with AF.

Download Full-text

The Role of Inflammasomes in Atherosclerosis and Stroke Pathogenesis

Current Pharmaceutical Design ◽

10.2174/1381612826666200427084949 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 26 (34) ◽

pp. 4234-4245

Author(s):

Deepaneeta Sarmah ◽

Aishika Datta ◽

Swapnil Raut ◽

Ankan Sarkar ◽

Birva Shah ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Atherosclerotic Plaque ◽

Treatment Strategies ◽

Cerebrovascular Diseases ◽

Cellular Injury ◽

Inflammatory Reactions ◽

Inflammatory Pathways

Inflammation is a devastating outcome of cerebrovascular diseases (CVD), namely stroke and atherosclerosis. Numerous studies over the decade have shown that inflammasomes play a role in mediating inflammatory reactions post cellular injury occurring after a stroke or a rupture of an atherosclerotic plaque. In view of this, targeting these inflammatory pathways using different pharmacological therapies may improve outcomes in patients with CVD. Here, we review the mechanisms by which inflammasomes drive the pathogenesis of stroke and atherosclerosis. Also, discussed here are the possible treatment strategies available for inhibiting inflammasomes or their up-stream/down-stream mediators.

Download Full-text

Molecular Mechanisms of Obesity-Linked Cardiac Dysfunction: An Up-Date on Current Knowledge

Cells ◽

10.3390/cells10030629 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (3) ◽

pp. 629

Author(s):

Jorge Gutiérrez-Cuevas ◽

Ana Sandoval-Rodriguez ◽

Alejandra Meza-Rios ◽

Hugo Christian Monroy-Ramírez ◽

Marina Galicia-Moreno ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Cardiac Dysfunction ◽

Molecular Mechanisms ◽

Current Knowledge ◽

Peroxisome Proliferator ◽

White Adipocyte ◽

Peroxisome Proliferator Activated Receptors ◽

And Oxidative Stress

Obesity is defined as excessive body fat accumulation, and worldwide obesity has nearly tripled since 1975. Excess of free fatty acids (FFAs) and triglycerides in obese individuals promote ectopic lipid accumulation in the liver, skeletal muscle tissue, and heart, among others, inducing insulin resistance, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes (T2D), atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular disease (CVD). These diseases are promoted by visceral white adipocyte tissue (WAT) dysfunction through an increase in pro-inflammatory adipokines, oxidative stress, activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), and adverse changes in the gut microbiome. In the heart, obesity and T2D induce changes in substrate utilization, tissue metabolism, oxidative stress, and inflammation, leading to myocardial fibrosis and ultimately cardiac dysfunction. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) are involved in the regulation of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, also improve insulin sensitivity, triglyceride levels, inflammation, and oxidative stress. The purpose of this review is to provide an update on the molecular mechanisms involved in obesity-linked CVD pathophysiology, considering pro-inflammatory cytokines, adipokines, and hormones, as well as the role of oxidative stress, inflammation, and PPARs. In addition, cell lines and animal models, biomarkers, gut microbiota dysbiosis, epigenetic modifications, and current therapeutic treatments in CVD associated with obesity are outlined in this paper.

Download Full-text

Histologic Findings of Choroidal Vasculopathy in Eyes Enucleated following Radiation Therapy for Uveal Melanoma: Radiation Choroidopathy

Klinische Monatsblätter für Augenheilkunde ◽

10.1055/a-1275-0626 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Sean Platt ◽

Diva R. Salomao ◽

Jose Pulido

Keyword(s):

Radiation Therapy ◽

Uveal Melanoma ◽

Malignant Tumors ◽

Vitreous Hemorrhage ◽

Radiation Retinopathy ◽

Radiation Induced ◽

Histopathologic Analysis ◽

Choroidal Vessels ◽

Choroidal Vasculopathy

Abstract Introduction Little has been published about the choroidal vascular changes that occur years after radiation exposure. The aim of this study was to review the histological changes observed in the choroidal vasculature following radiotherapy for uveal melanoma. Methods Records from a single institution were retrospectively reviewed from June 7, 2007 to June 7, 2017; 101 patients with a diagnosis of uveal melanoma that underwent enucleation had their records reviewed. Out of these, a total of 26 eyes had undergone plaque brachytherapy prior to enucleation, which had been performed at a mean time of 7.2 years (range from 0 years to 30 years) after the initial plaque placement. A histopathologic analysis was conducted on all 26 eyes with special emphasis on the choroidal changes. Of these 26 eyes, 18 demonstrated evidence of radiation-induced vasculopathy. Results Of the 18 eyes, 10/18 (55%) had radiation retinopathy and 16/18 (89%) had radiation choroidal vasculopathy. One patient had a phthisical eye, and the choroid could not be evaluated because the characteristics of the vasculature could not be determined. Nine cases had vitreous hemorrhage (50%), all cases had radiation retinopathy, and 8/9 (89%) had radiation choroidopathy. Of the 16 cases with radiation choroidal vasculopathy, 3/16 (19%) had only intratumoral radiation choroidal vasculopathy, 3/16 (19%) had only extratumoral radiation choroidal vasculopathy, and, thus, 10/16 (32%) had both intratumoral and extratumoral radiation choroidal vasculopathy. In patients with radiation choroidal vasculopathy, 2/16 (13%) had hyalinization of the choroidal vessels. Another 3/16 (19%) cases with radiation choroidal vasculopathy had ectatic vessels. The other 11/16 (68%) had evidence of both hyalinization of the choroidal vessels as well as ectatic vessels in the choroid. Histological evidence of radiation retinopathy and choroidopathy were seen in 69% of eyes enucleated after receiving radiation therapy, which, in some cases, also had vitreous hemorrhage. Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy, choroidal neovascularization, and retinal choroidal anastomoses (RAP-type lesions) were seen in 12 of the 16 eyes (75%). Discussion/Conclusion Irradiation of malignant tumors of the eye causes not only radiation retinopathy but also radiation choroidopathy. The role of radiation choroidopathy in the subsequent visual loss following radiotherapy and the role of anti-VEGF therapy needs to be recognized and distinguished from radiation retinopathy. Our data adds to the prior limited knowledge that radiation affects the choroid and can induce specific phenotypes similar to the clinical spectrum of CNV, PCV, and RAP.

Download Full-text

Space Radiation-Induced Alterations in the Hippocampal Ubiquitin-Proteome System

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22147713 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (14) ◽

pp. 7713

Author(s):

Alyssa Tidmore ◽

Sucharita M. Dutta ◽

Arriyam S. Fesshaye ◽

William K. Russell ◽

Vania D. Duncan ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Spatial Memory ◽

Memory Performance ◽

Space Radiation ◽

Label Free ◽

Proteomic Profiling ◽

Neurocognitive Deficits ◽

Male Wistar Rats ◽

Radiation Induced ◽

Induced Changes

Exposure of rodents to <20 cGy Space Radiation (SR) impairs performance in several hippocampus-dependent cognitive tasks, including spatial memory. However, there is considerable inter-individual susceptibility to develop SR-induced spatial memory impairment. In this study, a robust label-free mass spectrometry (MS)-based unbiased proteomic profiling approach was used to characterize the composition of the hippocampal proteome in adult male Wistar rats exposed to 15 cGy of 1 GeV/n 48Ti and their sham counterparts. Unique protein signatures were identified in the hippocampal proteome of: (1) sham rats, (2) Ti-exposed rats, (3) Ti-exposed rats that had sham-like spatial memory performance, and (4) Ti-exposed rats that impaired spatial memory performance. Approximately 14% (159) of the proteins detected in hippocampal proteome of sham rats were not detected in the Ti-exposed rats. We explored the possibility that the loss of the Sham-only proteins may arise as a result of SR-induced changes in protein homeostasis. SR-exposure was associated with a switch towards increased pro-ubiquitination proteins from that seen in Sham. These data suggest that the role of the ubiquitin-proteome system as a determinant of SR-induced neurocognitive deficits needs to be more thoroughly investigated.

Download Full-text