0000000000265396

AUTHOR

Aida Collado

Study of the systemic inflammation associated to primary hypercholesterolemia, its modulation and its impact in atherosclerosis. Role of CXCL16/CXCR6 axis in abdominal aortic aneurysm formation

La hipercolesterolemia primaria (HP) es un desorden metabólico caracterizado por unos elevados niveles circulantes de lipoproteínas de baja densidad (LDL), así como por una inflamación sistémica de bajo grado, que puede finalmente dar lugar al desarrollo de aterosclerosis. Debido a la escasa información que se tiene de la enfermedad a nivel inmunológico, hemos caracterizado el comportamiento de diferentes mediadores solubles y celulares de la inflamación y sus posibles consecuencias. Para ello se ha empleado sangre completa de 22 pacientes con HP y 21 controles de semejante edad. En todos ellos se ha analizado la sangre por citometría de flujo para determinar la activación leucocitaria y pl…

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Genome-Wide Inhibition of Pro-atherogenic Gene Expression by Multi-STAT Targeting Compounds as a Novel Treatment Strategy of CVDs.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), including atherosclerosis, are globally the leading cause of death. Key factors contributing to onset and progression of atherosclerosis include the pro-inflammatory cytokines Interferon (IFN)a and IFN? and the Pattern Recognition Receptor (PRR) Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4). Together, they trigger activation of Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription (STAT)s. Searches for compounds targeting the pTyr-SH2 interaction area of STAT3, yielded many small molecules, including STATTIC and STX-0119. However, many of these inhibitors do not seem STAT3-specific. We hypothesized that multi-STAT-inhibitors that simultaneously block STAT1, STAT2, and STAT3 activit…

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Vitamin D Receptor Activation Reduces Angiotensin-II–Induced Dissecting Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm in Apolipoprotein E–Knockout Mice

Objective— Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a vascular disorder characterized by chronic inflammation of the aortic wall. Low concentrations of vitamin D 3 are associated with AAA development; however, the potential direct effect of vitamin D 3 on AAA remains unknown. This study evaluates the effect of oral treatment with the vitamin D 3 receptor (VDR) ligand, calcitriol, on dissecting AAA induced by angiotensin-II (Ang-II) infusion in apoE −/− mice. Approach and Results— Oral treatment with calcitriol reduced Ang-II–induced dissecting AAA formation in apoE −/− mice, which was unrelated to systolic blood pressure or plasma cholesterol concentrations. Immunohistochemistry and reverse-tran…

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Primary hypercholesterolemia and development of cardiovascular disorders: Cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in low-grade systemic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction

Primary hypercholesterolemia, a metabolic disorder characterized by elevated circulating levels of cholesterol products, mainly low-density lipoproteins, is associated with arteriosclerosis development. Cardiovascular disease, predominantly myocardial infarction and stroke, remains the main cause of death worldwide, with atherosclerosis considered to be the most common underlying pathology. In addition to elevated plasma levels of low-density lipoproteins, low-grade systemic inflammation and endothelial dysfunction seem to be the main drivers of premature atherosclerosis. Here we review current knowledge related to cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in low-grade systemic inflammatio…

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Oral Unsaturated Fat Load Impairs Postprandial Systemic Inflammation in Primary Hypercholesterolemia Patients.

Context: Primary hypercholesterolemia (PH) is a lipid disorder characterized by elevated levels of cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL). Low-grade systemic inflammation is associated with PH, which might explain the higher incidence of cardiovascular diseases in this setting.Objective: To evaluate the effect of an oral unsaturated fat load (OUFL) on different immune parameters and functional consequences in patients with PH in postprandial state.Design: A commercial liquid preparation of long-chain triglycerides (Supracal®; ω6/ω3 ratio >20/1, OUFL) was administered to 20 patients and 10 age-matched controls. Whole blood was collected before (fasting state) and 4 h after admi…

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SGLT-2 (Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2) Inhibition Reduces Ang II (Angiotensin II)-Induced Dissecting Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm in ApoE (Apolipoprotein E) Knockout Mice.

Objective: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a pathological condition of permanent vessel dilatation that predisposes to the potentially fatal consequence of aortic rupture. SGLT-2 (sodium-glucose cotransporter 2) inhibitors have emerged as powerful pharmacological tools for type 2 diabetes mellitus treatment. Beyond their glucose-lowering effects, recent studies have shown that SGLT-2 inhibitors reduce cardiovascular events and have beneficial effects on several vascular diseases such as atherosclerosis; however, the potential effects of SGLT-2 inhibition on AAA remain unknown. This study evaluates the effect of oral chronic treatment with empagliflozin—an SGLT-2 inhibitor—on dissecting …

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Systemic inflammation in primary hypercholesterolemia results in platelet and leukocyte activation and their enhanced endothelial adhesiveness

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Polycerasoidol, a Natural Prenylated Benzopyran with a Dual PPARα/PPARγ Agonist Activity and Anti-inflammatory Effect

Dual peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-α/γ (PPARα/γ) agonists regulate both lipid and glucose homeostasis under different metabolic conditions and can exert anti-inflammatory activity. We investigated the potential dual PPARα/γ agonism of prenylated benzopyrans polycerasoidol (1) and polycerasoidin (2) and their derivatives for novel drug development. Nine semisynthetic derivatives were prepared from the natural polycerasoidol (1) and polycerasoidin (2), which were evaluated for PPARα, -γ, -δ and retinoid X receptor-α activity in transactivation assays. Polycerasoidol (1) exhibited potent dual PPARα/γ agonism and low cytotoxicity. Structure–activity relationship studies revealed th…

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Cigarette Smoke Increases Endothelial CXCL16-Leukocyte CXCR6 Adhesion In Vitro and In Vivo. Potential Consequences in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a major comorbidity in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Although the mechanism of its development remains largely unknown, it appears to be associated with cigarette consumption and reduced lung function. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the potential link between water-soluble cigarette smoke extract (CSE)-induced endothelial dysfunction and the function of CXCL16/CXCR6 axis on the initial attachment of leukocytes, in addition to its possible impact on COPD-associated systemic inflammation. To do this, we employed several experimental approaches, including RNA silencing and flow cytometry analysis, the dynamic flow chamber tec…

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Novel Immune Features of the Systemic Inflammation Associated with Primary Hypercholesterolemia: Changes in Cytokine/Chemokine Profile, Increased Platelet and Leukocyte Activation.

Primary hypercholesterolemia (PH) is associated with a low grade systemic inflammation that is likely the main driver of premature atherosclerosis. Accordingly, we characterized the immune cell behaviour in PH and its potential consequences. Whole blood from 22 PH patients and 21 age-matched controls was analysed by flow cytometry to determine the percentage of leukocyte immunophenotypes, activation, and platelet-leukocyte aggregates. Plasma markers were determined by Enzyme-Linked ImmunoSorbent Assay (ELISA). The adhesion of platelet-leukocyte aggregates to tumor necrosis factor-&alpha

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Functional role of endothelial CXCL16/CXCR6-platelet-leucocyte axis in angiotensin II-associated metabolic disorders.

Aims Angiotensin-II (Ang-II) is the main effector peptide of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and promotes leucocyte adhesion to the stimulated endothelium. Because RAS activation and Ang-II signalling are implicated in metabolic syndrome (MS) and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), we investigated the effect of Ang-II on CXCL16 arterial expression, the underlying mechanisms, and the functional role of the CXCL16/CXCR6 axis in these cardiometabolic disorders. Methods and results Results from in vitro chamber assays revealed that CXCL16 neutralization significantly inhibited mononuclear leucocyte adhesion to arterial but not to venous endothelial cells. Flow cytometry and immunofluorescence s…

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Systemic Inflammation in Metabolic Syndrome: Increased Platelet and Leukocyte Activation, and Key Role of CX3CL1/CX3CR1 and CCL2/CCR2 Axes in Arterial Platelet-Proinflammatory Monocyte Adhesion

Background: Metabolic syndrome is associated with low-grade systemic inflammation, which is a key driver of premature atherosclerosis. We characterized immune cell behavior in metabolic syndrome, its consequences, and the potential involvement of the CX3CL1/CX3CR1 and CCL2/CCR2 chemokine axes. Methods: Whole blood from 18 patients with metabolic syndrome and 21 age-matched controls was analyzed by flow cytometry to determine the leukocyte immunophenotypes, activation, platelet-leukocyte aggregates, and CX3CR1 expression. ELISA determined the plasma marker levels. Platelet-leukocyte aggregates adhesion to tumor necrosis factor-&alpha

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El ratón deficiente en apolipoproteína E, un modelo traslacional para el estudio de la aterosclerosis

Resumen Introduccion La aterosclerosis es una de las principales causas de morbimortalidad en paises desarrollados que presenta varias similitudes histopatologicas con la inflamacion cronica. Los ratones deficientes en apolipoproteina E (apoE -/− ) son ampliamente utilizados en el estudio de los mecanismos implicados en el inicio y el progreso de las lesiones ateroscleroticas. Objetivo Evaluar el impacto en la formacion de la placa de ateroma de una dieta aterogenica en el raton apoE -/− . Material y metodos Ratones apoE -/− de 2 meses de edad fueron sometidos o no a una dieta hipercolesterolemica (10,8% de grasa, 0,75% en colesterol) durante 2 meses adicionales. Se determino el perfil lipi…

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Absence of CCR3 receptor accelerates atherosclerosis in apoE-/- mice

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