Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zdenek Matloch, Milos Mraz, Barbora Judita Kasperova, Helena Kratochvilova, Petr Svoboda, Iveta Pleyerova, Katerina Reznickova, Sarah Norman, Daniel Hlavacek, Jakub Mahrik, Peter Ivak, Zdenka Lacinova, Ivan Netuka, Martin Haluzik
Summary: In this study, changes in serum CTRP3 and its gene expression in patients with CAD and T2DM undergoing cardiac surgery were examined. The results showed that decreased EAT mRNA levels of CTRP3 may contribute to higher risk of atherosclerosis in patients with CAD and T2DM.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Natalia V. Naryzhnaya, Olga A. Koshelskaya, Irina V. Kologrivova, Olga A. Kharitonova, Vladimir V. Evtushenko, Alla A. Boshchenko
Summary: The study compared the morphological characteristics of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) adipocytes and their sensitivity to insulin with coronary artery disease (CAD) severity, finding a relationship between the size and degree of hypertrophy of epicardial adipocytes and CAD severity. Insulin resistance of adipocytes may mediate this relationship.
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Takashi Kataoka, Ken Harada, Akihito Tanaka, Tomohiro Onishi, Shun Matsunaga, Hiroshi Funakubo, Kazuhiro Harada, Tomoyuki Nagao, Norihiro Shinoda, Nobuyuki Marui, Kiyoshi Niwa, Hiroshi Tashiro, Yusuke Hitora, Kenji Furusawa, Hideki Ishii, Tetsuya Amano, Toyoaki Murohara
Summary: The study found that Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) volume is significantly associated with coronary artery spasm, while total abdominal adipose tissue (AAT) may not have a significant impact.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CARDIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Wenjun Fan, Yueqiao Si, Enhong Xing, Zengbin Feng, Zhenjiang Ding, Yixiang Liu, Chen Wei, Yanan Tian, Ying Zhang, Jingyi Liu, Lixian Sun
Summary: This study investigates the expression of novel adipocytokines and inflammatory cells infiltration in epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) and subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) between 27 coronary artery disease (CAD) and 21 non-CAD (NCAD) patients. The results showed dysregulation of novel adipocytokines and inflammatory cells infiltration in EAT, which could be important pathophysiological mechanisms and novelly promising medicating targets of CAD.
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Runlei Ma, Marly van Assen, Grigory Sidorenkov, Daan Ties, Gert Jan Pelgrim, Arthur Stillman, Carlo de Cecco, Pim van der Harst, Rozemarijn Vliegenthart
Summary: In both CAD and non-CAD patients, EAT density, but not EAT volume, showed significant associations with PCAT(MA). Men had higher PCAT(MA) and EAT volume independently of disease status, but similar or slightly lower EAT density compared to women. Personalized interpretation and thresholding may be needed due to differences in trends and relations of PCAT(MA) and EAT by sex.
EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF RADIOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Marco Guglielmo, Andrew Lin, Damini Dey, Andrea Baggiano, Laura Fusini, Giuseppe Muscogiuri, Gianluca Pontone
Summary: EAT and PCAT are not inert fat tissues, they secrete adipokines that have significant effects on cardiovascular health; PCAT inflammation is associated with CAD and cardiovascular events, and CCT has become a key technology for assessing EAT and PCAT.
Article
Health Care Sciences & Services
Olga V. Gruzdeva, Yulia A. Dyleva, Ekaterina V. Belik, Maxim Y. Sinitsky, Aleksandr N. Stasev, Aleksandr N. Kokov, Natalia K. Brel, Evgenia O. Krivkina, Evgenia E. Bychkova, Roman S. Tarasov, Olga L. Barbarash
Summary: This study assessed the expression and secretion of adipocytokine genes in the adipose tissue of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) and patients with aortic or mitral valve replacement. The results showed that epicardial fat depots in CAD patients exhibited more pronounced changes and increased pro-inflammatory activity compared to the group with heart defects.
JOURNAL OF PERSONALIZED MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Noura N. Ballasy, Anshul S. Jadli, Pariya Edalat, Sean Kang, Ali Fatehi Hassanabad, Karina P. Gomes, Paul W. M. Fedak, Vaibhav B. Patel
Summary: The study found that epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) treated with high glucose, high palmitate, and lipopolysaccharide released a large amount of proinflammatory cytokines, which may lead to EAT inflammation in patients with type 2 diabetes, causing coronary artery endothelial cell dysfunction.
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Kimie Tanaka, Daiju Fukuda, Masataka Sata
Summary: Adipose tissue acts not only as an energy store and mechanical cushion, but also as an endocrine organ. EAT, located between the heart surface and visceral layer of the pericardium, influences coronary artery disease.
CIRCULATION JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Brendin Flinn, Christopher Adams, Nepal Chowdhury, Todd Gress, Nalini Santanam
Summary: Epicardial fat plays a key role in cardiovascular diseases, and the non-coding RNA and transcriptomic alterations of epicardial fat in coronary artery disease have been found to be unique. Analysis of microRNA and long non-coding RNA revealed sex-dependent mi/lncRNA changes in epicardial fat of patients with coronary artery disease. These changes are associated with inflammation, adipogenesis, cardiomyocyte apoptosis, atherosclerosis, and myocardial infarction.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Yasufumi Katanasaka, Ayumi Saito, Yoichi Sunagawa, Nurmila Sari, Masafumi Funamoto, Satoshi Shimizu, Kana Shimizu, Takehide Akimoto, Chikara Ueki, Mitsuru Kitano, Koji Hasegawa, Genichi Sakaguchi, Tatsuya Morimoto
Summary: This study investigated the expression of ANGPTL4 in epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). The results showed that the expression of ANGPTL4 was significantly increased in EAT of CAD patients and positively correlated with IL-1 beta. Additionally, non-obese CAD patients also exhibited increased expression of ANGPTL4 and IL-1 beta in EAT.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Radiology, Nuclear Medicine & Medical Imaging
Jasmine Chan, Udit Thakur, Sean Tan, Rahul G. Muthalaly, Harsh Thakkar, Vinay Goel, Yeong-Chee Cheen, Damini Dey, Adam J. Brown, Dennis T. L. Wong, Nitesh Nerlekar
Summary: This study compares three different software platforms and finds significant differences in the measurement of epicardial adipose tissue volume and attenuation. The results from the research-specific software are more consistent and reproducible compared to the freeware and coronary software platforms.
EUROPEAN RADIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Hematology
Magali Barchuk, Patricia Ancel, Veronica Miksztowicz, Elisa Doukbi, Ljubica Svilar, Daniel Ynon, Juan Patricio Nogueira, Miguel Rubio, Laura Schreier, Anne Dutour, Jean Charles Martin, Benedicte Gaborit, Gabriela Berg
Summary: This study evaluated the relationship between lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity, its regulators, and ceramides in epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) from patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). The results showed that LPL activity was higher in EAT from CAD patients, and EAT exhibited increased ceramide levels. The findings highlight the importance of LPL activity and these bioactive lipids in the different metabolic profile of EAT in CAD.
ARTERIOSCLEROSIS THROMBOSIS AND VASCULAR BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Michal Konwerski, Agnieszka Gromadka, Adam Arendarczyk, Marta Koblowska, Roksana Iwanicka-Nowicka, Radoslaw Wilimski, Pawel Czub, Krzysztof Jerzy Filipiak, Piotr Hendzel, Piotr Zielenkiewicz, Grzegorz Opolski, Aleksandra Gasecka, Tomasz Mazurek
Summary: Perivascular release of inflammatory mediators may accelerate coronary lesion formation and contribute to plaque instability. The study revealed altered gene expression in PCAT of CAD patients, with upregulation of genes involved in inflammation and atherosclerosis, and downregulation of genes related to cardiac ischemia, remodeling, platelet function, and mitochondrial function. This suggests that genes in PCAT may play a role in CAD development and progression.
JOURNAL OF INFLAMMATION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Physiology
Qian-Chen Wang, Zhen-Yu Wang, Qian Xu, Ruo-Bing Li, Guo-Gang Zhang, Rui-Zheng Shi
Summary: This study compared the histological and gene expression differences of epicardial adipose tissue (EAT) between patients with and without coronary artery disease (CAD). The CAD group showed larger epicardial adipocytes and a total of 747 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified in CAD EAT, with more pro-inflammatory and immunological genes and pathways involved. Ten hub DEGs were also identified. EAT in CAD exhibits unique gene expression profiles and may play a key role in the pathological process of CAD.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Rosalinda Madonna, Serena Barachini, Stefania Moscato, Chiara Ippolito, Letizia Mattii, Chiara Lenzi, Carmela Rita Balistreri, Riccardo Zucchi, Raffaele De Caterina
Summary: This study investigated the effects of SGLT2 inhibitors on PON-induced endothelial cell toxicity. The results showed that EMPA and DAPA could reverse the effects of PON on cell viability, cell senescence, and cell tubulization, thereby attenuating PON-induced vascular toxicity.
VASCULAR PHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Nadia Calabriso, Marika Massaro, Egeria Scoditti, Tiziano Verri, Amilcare Barca, Carmela Gerardi, Giovanna Giovinazzo, Maria Annunziata Carluccio
Summary: The study shows that polyphenolic extract from grape pomace can effectively alleviate inflammatory response in enterocyte-like cells and improve vascular function by inhibiting NF-kappa B activity and reducing intracellular ROS levels.
Review
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Mariann Gyongyosi, Pilar Alcaide, Folkert W. Asselbergs, Bianca J. J. M. Brundel, Giovanni G. Camici, Paula da Costa Martins, Peter Ferdinandy, Marianna Fontana, Henrique Girao, Massimiliano Gnecchi, Can Gollmann-Tepekoylu, Petra Kleinbongard, Thomas Krieg, Rosalinda Madonna, Melanie Paillard, Antonis Pantazis, Cinzia Perrino, Maurizio Pesce, Gabriele G. Schiattarella, Joost P. G. Sluijter, Sabine Steffens, Carsten Tschope, Sophie Van Linthout, Sean M. Davidson
Summary: Long COVID is a global non-communicable epidemic characterized by long-lasting multiorgan symptoms after SARS-CoV-2 infection has subsided. This scientific document aims to provide insight into the cardiovascular manifestations of long COVID and the possible causes and therapeutic options available. Imaging has shown evidence of chronic perimyocarditis, arterial wall inflammation, and microthrombosis in certain patient populations. Understanding the underlying cellular and molecular mechanisms is crucial for the development of effective treatment strategies. However, current biomarkers are not highly predictive for the presence or outcome of long COVID.
CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Rosalinda Madonna, Stefania Moscato, Maria Concetta Cufaro, Damiana Pieragostino, Letizia Mattii, Piero Del Boccio, Sandra Ghelardoni, Riccardo Zucchi, Raffaele De Caterina
Summary: This study found that empagliflozin can inhibit excessive autophagy in the heart of diabetic patients by suppressing the AMPK/GSK3β signaling pathway, thus protecting the heart from damage.
CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Immunology
Maria Rosaria Tumolo, Egeria Scoditti, Roberto Guarino, Tiziana Grassi, Francesco Bagordo, Saverio Sabina
Summary: This study selected four miRNAs as candidates and used bioinformatic analyses to identify their target genes, lncRNAs, and biological processes that regulate them. In the constructed miRNA-mRNA network, 193 gene targets were identified, potentially controlling important processes such as signal transduction and cancer. LncRNA-XIST, lncRNA-NEAT1, and lncRNA-HCG18 interacted with all four miRNAs. These preliminary results lay the foundation for further understanding the role of these molecules and their interactions in HIV.
CURRENT HIV RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Giovanna Manzi, Marco Valerio Mariani, Domenico Filomena, Roberto Poscia, Paolo Severino, Antonio Iaconelli, Tommaso Recchioni, Rosalinda Madonna, Carmine Dario Vizza, Roberto Badagliacca
Summary: Heart failure (HF) is a significant health and economic issue, and current therapeutic approaches are ineffective due to the complexity of the syndrome. The European Union is developing policies to shift towards precision medicine and identify specific disease biomarkers for targeted therapies. The establishment of biobanks could revolutionize HF treatment by providing a collection of human biological materials and associated data for personalized approaches and research projects.
VASCULAR PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Maria Rosaria Tumolo, Tiziana Grassi, Carlo Giacomo Leo, Pierpaolo Mincarone, Francesco Bagordo, Antonella Bodini, Egeria Scoditti, Alessandra Panico, Antonella De Donno, Elisabetta De Matteis, Vincenzo Canali, Saverio Sabina
Summary: miRNAs play a role in musculoskeletal pain development, which has significant clinical, economic, and social impact. This study aims to evaluate the association between miRNAs in circulation and saliva and pain in runners, as well as to identify miRNAs that can distinguish between responders and nonresponders to a kinesiological intervention. Possible correlations between these miRNAs and inflammatory molecules, stress parameters, and individual/behavioral characteristics will be examined. In silico analysis will also be used to understand miRNAs function. Ethics approval has been obtained.
Editorial Material
Nutrition & Dietetics
Nadia Calabriso, Marika Massaro, Egeria Scoditti, Maria Annunziata Carluccio
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Stefano Quarta, Egeria Scoditti, Vincenzo Zonno, Luisa Siculella, Fabrizio Damiano, Maria Annunziata Carluccio, Patrizia Pagliara
Summary: Sea urchins have been found to contain bioactive compounds with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which are beneficial to human health. In this study, the potential anti-inflammatory and vasculoprotective effects of a red-cell extract from the black sea urchin were assessed in an in vitro model of endothelial cell dysfunction. The extract was found to significantly attenuate the expression of inflammatory molecules and reduce monocyte adhesion and chemotaxis, suggesting its potential anti-atherosclerotic properties.
Review
Medicine, General & Internal
Serena Barachini, Sandra Ghelardoni, Rosalinda Madonna
Summary: Vascular progenitor cells are activated to repair and form a neointima following various vascular damages. They not only play a role in resolving vascular lesions, but also contribute to neovascularization and angiogenesis associated with cancer. This review discusses the biology and pathophysiology of vascular progenitor cells, including their origins, stimuli, and activated pathways. It focuses on their involvement in tumor-induced vascular injury and their implications in promoting tumor angiogenesis during cancer proliferation and migration.
JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MEDICINE
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Nunzia Gallo, Stefano Quarta, Marika Massaro, Maria Annunziata Carluccio, Amilcare Barca, Donato Cannoletta, Luisa Siculella, Luca Salvatore, Alessandro Sannino
Summary: Vascularization is a complex and precise process, but it can be slow and inadequate for tissue repair. Biomaterial-based strategies have been developed to enhance vasculogenesis. In this study, PLGA microparticles loaded with L-lysine were developed for controlled release. The optimized formulation showed biocompatibility and supported cell proliferation and angiogenesis. L-lysine encapsulated in PLGA microparticles has potential as a cost-effective system for angiogenesis enhancement and rapid healing.
Review
Cell Biology
Donato Santovito, Sabine Steffens, Serena Barachini, Rosalinda Madonna
Summary: Autophagy is a cellular mechanism that helps cells adapt to metabolic and environmental stress. It plays a crucial role in clearing protein aggregates and dysfunctional organelles, and recent studies have shown its broader role in various pathophysiological conditions. Basal autophagy is essential for maintaining cardiac homeostasis and protecting against age-related cell damage and genomic instability. Additionally, autophagy is stimulated in response to cardiac injuries such as ischemia, pressure overload, and metabolic stress. It also affects the function of neutrophils and other immune cells.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sara Carpi, Stefano Quarta, Stefano Doccini, Anella Saviano, Noemi Marigliano, Beatrice Polini, Marika Massaro, Maria Annunziata Carluccio, Nadia Calabriso, Martin Wabitsch, Filippo Maria Santorelli, Marco Cecchini, Francesco Maione, Paola Nieri, Egeria Scoditti
Summary: The two compounds TIIA and CRY found in Danshen were found to reduce inflammation in adipocytes and prevent inflammatory response through modulation of gene and miRNA expression. This offers a new approach for preventing and treating obesity-related diseases.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Serena Barachini, Sandra Ghelardoni, Zoltan V. Varga, Radwa A. Mehanna, Maria Magdalena Montt-Guevara, Peter Ferdinandy, Rosalinda Madonna
Summary: With the improvement in cancer prognosis, there has been an increase in survival rate among cancer survivors. However, the use of anti-neoplastic drugs has led to an increase in morbidity among these survivors due to cardiovascular complications. These complications include arrhythmias, myocardial ischemia, heart failure, arterial hypertension, thromboembolic events, and accelerated atherosclerosis. The drugs not only target cancer cells but also affect normal cells within the cardiovascular system, leading to toxicity.
VASCULAR PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)