Article
Cell Biology
Sou Inagaki, Yoshiaki Suzuki, Keisuke Kawasaki, Rubii Kondo, Yuji Imaizumi, Hisao Yamamura
Summary: In this study, the role of mitochondrial fusion protein 2 (Mfn2) in the coupling of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) and mitochondria in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) was examined. It was found that Mfn2 is responsible for tethering mitochondria to SR, which regulates calcium signaling, ATP production, and cell proliferation in VSMCs.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-CELL PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sou Inagaki, Yoshiaki Suzuki, Keisuke Kawasaki, Rubii Kondo, Yuji Imaizumi, Hisao Yamamura
Summary: Mitochondria play a crucial role in cytosolic Ca2+ buffering and energy metabolism. Recent research has shown that Mfn2 regulates Ca2+ signaling by tethering mitochondria and sarco-plasmic reticulum, enhancing mitochondrial function and VSMC proliferation. However, the physiological role of Mfn1 in Ca2+ signaling and mitochondrial function is still unclear.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Physiology
Adan Dagnino-Acosta, Agustin Guerrero-Hernandez
Summary: PKC inhibitors stimulate Ca2+ release from internal stores by increasing SR Ca2+ leak mediated by translocon activation. This increased leak does not deplete the Ca2+ store, but rather compensates by increasing SERCA pump activity, leading to a new steady-state level. This change also results in increased activity of high conductance, Ca2+-sensitive potassium channels.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Han Liu, Yuefeng Liu, He Wang, Qiang Zhao, Tao Zhang, Si-an Xie, Yueqi Liu, Yuanjun Tang, Qin Peng, Wei Pang, Weijuan Yao, Jing Zhou
Summary: Vascular smooth muscle cells can adapt to changes in cell geometry, and alterations in cell shape can affect the distribution of DNA methyltransferase 1 and mitochondrial function. Additionally, cell geometry is closely related to mitochondrial DNA methylation and vessel contractility.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Rizwan Qaisar, Gavin Pharaoh, Shylesh Bhaskaran, Hongyang Xu, Rojina Ranjit, Jan Bian, Bumsoo Ahn, Constantin Georgescu, Jonathan D. Wren, Holly Van Remmen
Summary: The study showed that pharmacological activation of SERCA can mitigate sarcopenia phenotype in aging mice, reversing reductions in muscle mass and force generation, and preventing an increase in mitochondrial ROS production. These effects are mediated in part by enhanced cellular energetics through activation of PGC1-alpha, UCP1, HSF1, and APMK, as well as increased regenerative capacity by suppression of MEF2C and p38 MAPK signaling.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Binjie Yan, Yu Gui, Yanan Guo, Jiaxing Sun, Mahmoud Saifeddine, Jingti Deng, Joseph A. Hill, Morley D. Hollenberg, Zhi-Sheng Jiang, Xi-Long Zheng
Summary: This study found that (+)-JQ1 can directly inhibit smooth muscle contractility and regulate endothelial cell function by indirectly activating the PI3K/AKT/eNOS cascade. However, these effects appear to be unrelated to BRD4 inhibition.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Weimin Yu, Gang Xu, Hui Chen, Li Xiao, Gang Liu, Pingping Hu, Siqi Li, Vivi Kasim, Chunyu Zeng, Xiaoyong Tong
Summary: Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a life-threatening disease characterized by pulmonary vascular remodeling and hyperproliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs). This study identifies the impact of C674 oxidative inactivation on pulmonary vascular remodeling and PH development, highlighting the importance of C674 in maintaining pulmonary vascular homeostasis by restricting PASMC proliferation. The IRE1 alpha/XBP1s pathway and SERCA2 may serve as potential targets for PH therapy.
ACTA PHARMACEUTICA SINICA B
(2022)
Review
Physiology
Hiroaki Eshima
Summary: Obesity and diabetes can disrupt peripheral insulin resistance in skeletal muscle and lead to loss of muscle size, strength, and physical function, with contractile dysfunction being linked to impaired intracellular Ca2+ concentration regulation. Recent studies have shown that metabolic disorders affect interactions between the SR and mitochondrial networks, altering Ca2+ handling by these organelles. This review highlights the importance of understanding the impact of metabolic disorders on calcium regulation in skeletal muscle for potential therapeutic strategies.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Medicine, Research & Experimental
Yarong Liu, Aiwei Song, Hongfei Wu, Yin Sun, Min Dai
Summary: Paeonol induces autophagy in VSMCs by activating the III class PI3K/Beclin-1 signaling pathway, ultimately inhibiting VSMCs apoptosis.
Article
Cell Biology
Blerina Ahmetaj-Shala, Isra Marei, Ryota Kawai, Stephen Rothery, Charis Pericleous, Nura A. Mohamed, Hime Gashaw, Kalliopi Bokea, Jake Samuel, Annabelle Vandenheste, Fisnik Shala, Nicholas S. Kirkby, Jane A. Mitchell
Summary: Our study demonstrates that BO-SMCs exhibit functional responses similar to VSMCs when exposed to the thromboxane mimetic U46619, providing critical evidence for their application in biomedical research.
FRONTIERS IN CELL AND DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Natthaphat Siri-Angkul, Behzad Dadfar, Riya Jaleel, Jazna Naushad, Jaseela Parambathazhath, Angelia Doye, Lai-Hua Xie, Judith Gwathmey
Summary: Heart failure remains a major issue globally, with efforts by clinicians and scientists to find effective treatments and cures not yet yielding major breakthroughs. The heart is not simply a pump, and treating heart failure requires consideration of its pathophysiological complexity.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Lyudmyla Borysova, Y. Y. Hanson Ng, Edward S. Wragg, Lillian E. Wallis, Emily Fay, Raimondo Ascione, Kim A. Dora
Summary: This protocol details how to conduct high spatial and temporal Ca2+ imaging of ex vivo multicellular myocardial strips, including the endocardial surface, to study the Ca2+ signaling that underpins cardiomyocyte contraction.
Review
Developmental Biology
Arndt F. Siekmann
Summary: This review discusses the functions of vascular mural cells in blood vessel formation and diameter regulation, as well as their interactions with endothelial cells. It also introduces the signaling pathways controlling mural cell development and highlights distinguishing features of mural cells located on different types of blood vessels. Therapeutic strategies involving mural cells to improve tissue ischemia and vascular efficiency in various diseases are explored.
Article
Cell Biology
Ngoc Luu, Apratim Bajpai, Rui Li, Seojin Park, Mahad Noor, Xiao Ma, Weiqiang Chen
Summary: This study reveals the defective mechanosensation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) during aging, leading to a decline in their ability to sense and adapt to mechanical perturbations. Aged VSMCs exhibit a relatively inert mechanobiological state with altered actin cytoskeletal integrity, resulting in impaired mechanosensitivity and dynamic mechanoresponse. This decline in mechanosensation is mediated by hyperactivity of Piezo1-dependent calcium signaling. Inhibition of Piezo1 can alleviate vascular aging and partially restore the loss in dynamic contractile properties in aged cells.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ya-Ning Shi, Le-Ping Liu, Chang-Feng Deng, Tan-Jun Zhao, Zhe Shi, Jian-Ye Yan, Yong-Zhen Gong, Duan-Fang Liao, Li Qin
Summary: The study found that celastrol effectively inhibited intimal hyperplasia and hyperproliferation of VSMCs by inducing autophagy, suggesting it may be a novel drug with great potential to prevent restenosis. The mechanism behind this effect involves lysosomal degradation of c-MYC and the Wnt5a/PKC/mTOR signaling pathway.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Pauline Puylaert, Melissa Van Praet, Frederik Vaes, Cedric H. G. Neutel, Lynn Roth, Pieter-Jan Guns, Guido R. Y. De Meyer, Wim Martinet
Summary: GSDMD plays a critical role in atherosclerotic plaque destabilization, with its deficiency leading to increased plaque stability and apoptosis. Targeting GSDMD may be an effective approach to limit the transition to an inflammatory, vulnerable plaque phenotype.
Article
Physiology
Sofie De Moudt, Jhana O. Hendrickx, Cedric Neutel, Dorien De Munck, Arthur Leloup, Guido R. Y. De Meyer, Wim Martinet, Paul Fransen
Summary: This study investigated the longitudinal changes in aortic reactivity and biomechanics in L-NAME treated mice. The results showed that arterial stiffness preceded peripheral hypertension and cardiac hypertrophy, and the underlying mechanisms shifted from early endothelial dysfunction to late-term vascular smooth muscle cell dysfunction.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jhana O. Hendrickx, Charlotte Adams, Anne Sieben, Kris Laukens, Debby Van Dam, Guido R. Y. De Meyer
Summary: This study investigated the potential interaction between arterial stiffness and neurodegeneration by inhibiting nitric oxide synthase in mice. The findings show that the progressive inhibition of nitric oxide synthase leads to molecular changes in the hippocampus, including mitochondrial dysfunction, altered neural signaling, seizures, and altered emotional behavior.
Article
Biology
Sofie De Moudt, Jhana O. Hendrickx, Cedric Neutel, Dorien De Munck, Arthur Leloup, Guido R. Y. De Meyer, Wim Martinet, Paul Fransen
Summary: This study provides an in-depth characterization of aortic aging in male C57Bl/6 mice, and reveals that aortic stiffness occurs before the development of cardiovascular disease, primarily due to changes in the extracellular matrix and vascular smooth muscle cell signaling.
COMMUNICATIONS BIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Hematology
Pauline Puylaert, Michelle Zurek, Katey J. Rayner, Guido R. Y. De Meyer, Wim Martinet
Summary: Lipid-rich plaques formed during atherosclerosis in arteries can reduce blood flow and become unstable, leading to serious health risks. Different forms of regulated necrosis have been identified in atherosclerosis and may play an important role. Pharmacological modulation of these pathways can stabilize vulnerable plaques, but challenges such as the presence of multiple death-inducing stimuli in plaques and cross-talk between necrosis pathways need to be addressed.
ARTERIOSCLEROSIS THROMBOSIS AND VASCULAR BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Transplantation
Geoffrey van den Bergh, Britt Opdebeeck, Cedric Neutel, Pieter-Jan Guns, Guido De Meyer, Patrick D'Haese, Anja Verhulst
Summary: Cardiovascular disease is a major cause of death in CKD patients, and we aimed to investigate the early stage of disease progression in AMC etiology. Male Wistar rats were fed an adenine diet to induce AMC, and the results showed a time-dependent increase in aortic calcium and arterial stiffness. The study also revealed early alterations in biomechanics/cellular functionality and a progressive loss in basal NO levels in CKD rats.
NEPHROLOGY DIALYSIS TRANSPLANTATION
(2023)
Article
Peripheral Vascular Disease
Pauline Puylaert, Lynn Roth, Melissa Van Praet, Isabel Pintelon, Catalina Dumitrascu, Alexander van Nuijs, Greta Klejborowska, Pieter-Jan Guns, Tom Vanden Berghe, Koen Augustyns, Guido R. Y. De Meyer, Wim Martinet
Summary: IP angiogenesis is a key feature in the development of atherosclerotic plaques. Erythrophagocytosis-induced ferroptosis during IP angiogenesis leads to larger atherosclerotic plaques, which can be prevented by the ferroptosis inhibitor UAMC-3203.
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Anneleen Robberechts, Laura Van Loon, Stephane Steurbaut, Guido R. Y. De Meyer, Hans De Loof
Summary: This study investigated patients' experiences during a pilot project on the implementation of type 3 medication review. The results showed that most patients were enthusiastic about this new service, but there was also a lack of understanding among some patients regarding the whole process. Therefore, better communication to patients by pharmacists and general practitioners about the goals and components of this type of medication review is needed, with the added benefit of increased efficiency.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PHARMACY
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Elham Ataei Alizadeh, Thomas Trautmann, Florian Krause, Benjamin Knoeferl, Pieter-Jan Guns, Guido De Meyer, Brian D. Guth, Michael Markert
Summary: This study investigated the effects of environmental and biological factors on resting heart rate (HR), and found that breed, sex, age, and cage system type have an impact on HR and its variability.
JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGICAL AND TOXICOLOGICAL METHODS
(2023)
Article
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Matthias Bosman, Dustin Kruger, Charles Van Assche, Hanne Boen, Cedric Neutel, Kasper Favere, Constantijn Franssen, Wim Martinet, Lynn Roth, Guido R. Y. De Meyer, Berta Cillero-Pastor, Leen Delrue, Ward Heggermont, Emeline M. Van Craenenbroeck, Pieter-Jan Guns
Summary: Apart from cardiotoxicity, the chemotherapeutic doxorubicin (DOX) induces vascular toxicity, represented by arterial stiffness and endothelial dysfunction. DOX-induced arterial stiffness precedes reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), while vascular dysfunction restores after DOX therapy cessation. THBS1 and SERPINA3 are promising biomarkers of DOX-induced cardiovascular toxicity and elevated in anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity patients.
CARDIOVASCULAR RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Cedric H. G. Neutel, Callan D. Wesley, Melissa Van Praet, Celine Civati, Lynn Roth, Guido R. Y. De Meyer, Wim Martinet, Pieter-Jan Guns
Summary: Arterial stiffness is a hallmark of vascular ageing and can lead to organ damage. The SGLT2 inhibitor empagliflozin has been shown to decrease arterial stiffness in aged mice.
VASCULAR PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Elham Ataei Alizadeh, Georg Rast, Chris Cantow, Jessica Schiwon, Florian Krause, Guido R. Y. De Meyer, Pieter-Jan Guns, Brian D. Guth, Michael Markert
Summary: Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic modelling is an important technique for understanding drug exposure and response relationships in drug development. This study evaluated the bioanalysis of dried blood samples (DBS) in comparison to conventional blood sampling techniques and optimized the recovery of compounds spiked into canine blood dried on filter paper tape. The results showed that, with optimized methods, DBS bioanalysis can provide equivalent results to conventional blood sampling techniques. Automated blood sampling systems have the potential to provide more blood samples without disrupting physiological parameters, which can be a viable alternative for various types of studies.
JOURNAL OF PHARMACOLOGICAL AND TOXICOLOGICAL METHODS
(2023)
Review
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Anneleen Robberechts, Melissa Michielsen, Stephane Steurbaut, Guido R. Y. De Meyer, Hans De Loof
Summary: This study investigated the development of quality criteria for medication reviews. The results showed that using simple and understandable language in conversations with patients and discussing the usefulness and purpose of medication reviews were considered essential by the majority of participants. Minor differences of opinion were found in aspects such as laboratory values, the use of specific tools, and reporting to and consulting with the treating physician.
FRONTIERS IN PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Physiology
Cedric H. G. Neutel, Callan D. Wesley, Guido R. Y. De Meyer, Wim Martinet, Pieter-Jan Guns
Summary: In this study, the ex vivo viscoelastic properties of different regions of the aorta in healthy adult mice were investigated, as well as the interplay between altered cyclic stretch and viscoelasticity. The results showed that the viscoelastic parameters increase along the distal aorta and that the effect of altered cyclic stretch is region dependent. The study also identified vascular smooth muscle cells as an important modulator of viscoelasticity. Overall, the findings suggest that cyclic stretch can modulate aortic viscoelasticity by acting on vascular smooth muscle cell focal adhesion. Rating: 8/10.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Cardiac & Cardiovascular Systems
Jens Van Fraeyenhove, Michiel Tubeeckx, Eline Feyen, Tine Bruyns, Guido De Meyer, Samuel Murphy, Hein Heidbuchel, Vincent Segers, Gilles De Keulenaer
CIRCULATION RESEARCH
(2022)
