Osteoporosis, a condition marked by the loss of bone density and mass, affects individuals of all ages. However, it becomes more prevalent and severe with aging, increasing the risk of fractures and other health complications. Recent research has highlighted a link between osteoporosis and periodontitis, a chronic gum disease, as both conditions involve excessive bone loss that can lead to significant oral health problems if untreated.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe oral microbiome is a diverse ecosystem containing a community of symbiotic, commensal, and pathogenic microorganisms. One key microorganism linked to periodontal disease (PD) is (), a Gram-negative anaerobic bacterium known to have several virulence factors that trigger inflammation and immune evasion. On the other hand, (), a symbiotic bacterium, has been recently shown to play an important role in mitigating inflammation and reducing periodontal damage.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The incidental use of statins during radiation therapy has been associated with a reduced long-term risk of developing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. We examined whether irradiation causes chronic vascular injury and whether short-term administration of statins during and after irradiation is sufficient to prevent chronic injury compared with long-term administration.
Methods And Results: C57Bl/6 mice were pretreated with pravastatin for 72 hours and then exposed to 12 Gy X-ray head-and-neck irradiation.
Background: The incidental use of statins during radiation therapy has been associated with a reduced long-term risk of developing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
Objectives: Determine if irradiation causes chronic vascular injury and whether short-term administration of statins during and after irradiation is sufficient to prevent chronic injury compared to long-term administration.
Methods: C57Bl/6 mice were pretreated with pravastatin for 72 hours and then exposed to 12 Gy x-ray head-and-neck irradiation.
Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is associated with increased risk of atherosclerotic vascular disease due to excessive vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation. Here, we investigated the role of mitochondrial dysfunction and Ca2+ levels in VSMC proliferation in T2D. VSMCs were isolated from normoglycemic and T2D-like mice induced by diet.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBackground: The incidental use of statins during radiation therapy has been associated with a reduced long-term risk of developing atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. However, the mechanisms by which statins protect the vasculature from irradiation injury remain poorly understood.
Objectives: Identify the mechanisms by which the hydrophilic and lipophilic statins pravastatin and atorvastatin preserve endothelial function after irradiation.
Background: Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is associated with a strongly increased risk for restenosis after angioplasty driven by proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Here, we sought to determine whether and how mitochondrial dysfunction in T2D drives VSMC proliferation with a focus on ROS and intracellular [Ca ] that both drive cell proliferation, occur in T2D and are regulated by mitochondrial activity.
Methods: Using a diet-induced mouse model of T2D, the inhibition of the mitochondrial Ca /calmodulin-dependent kinase II (mtCaMKII), a regulator of Ca entry via the mitochondrial Ca uniporter selectively in VSMCs, we performed in vivo phenotyping after mechanical injury and established the mechanisms of excessive proliferation in cultured VSMCs.
Objectives: Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), the main metabolites released from the gut microbiota, are altered during hypertension and obesity. SCFAs play a beneficial role in the cardiovascular system. However, the effect of SCFAs on cerebrovascular endothelial cells is yet to be uncovered.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTelomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) (catalytic subunit of telomerase) is linked to the development of coronary artery disease (CAD); however, whether the role of nuclear vs. mitchondrial actions of TERT is involved is not determined. Dominant-negative TERT splice variants contribute to decreased mitochondrial integrity and promote elevated reactive oxygen species production.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol
September 2022
This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThis article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (http://www.elsevier.com/locate/withdrawalpolicy).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: In this study, the effect of lomitapide, a microsomal triglyceride transfer protein inhibitor, on the cardiovascular function in obesity was investigated.
Methods: Eight-week-old C57BL/6 mice were fed with high-fat diet for 12 weeks in the presence and absence of lomitapide. Lomitapide was administered by gavage (1 mg/kg/d) during the last 2 weeks of high-fat feeding.
The prevalence of obesity is increasing worldwide, and novel therapeutic strategies such as enhancement of thermogenic pathways in white adipose tissue (WAT) are gaining more attention. The gut/brain axis plays an essential role in promoting the browning of WAT. However, the mechanism by which this axis regulates WAT function is not fully understood.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThere is abundant evidence demonstrating the association between gut dysbiosis and neurogenic diseases such as hypertension. A common characteristic of resistant hypertension is the chronic elevation in sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity accompanied by increased release of norepinephrine (NE), indicating a neurogenic component that contributes to the development of hypertension. Factors that modulate the sympathetic tone to the cardiovascular system in hypertensive patients are still poorly understood.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFAnticancer drugs play an important role in reducing mortality rates and increasing life expectancy in cancer patients. Treatments include monotherapy and/or a combination of radiation therapy, chemotherapy, hormone therapy, or immunotherapy. Despite great advances in drug development, some of these treatments have been shown to induce cardiotoxicity directly affecting heart function and structure, as well as accelerating the development of cardiovascular disease.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFObjective: Coronary artery disease (CAD) is associated with a compensatory switch in mechanism of flow-mediated dilation (FMD) from nitric oxide (NO) to HO. The underlying mechanism responsible for the pathological shift is not well understood, and recent reports directly implicate telomerase and indirectly support a role for autophagy. We hypothesize that autophagy is critical for shear stress-induced release of NO and is a crucial component of for the pathway by which telomerase regulates FMD.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe endothelium plays a pivotal role in maintaining vascular health. Obesity is a global epidemic that has seen dramatic increases in both adult and pediatric populations. Obesity perturbs the integrity of normal endothelium, leading to endothelial dysfunction which predisposes the patient to cardiovascular diseases.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFDamage to the microvascular endothelium is an important part of normal tissue injury after radiation exposure and driven by the production of pro-oxidants. The Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II is present in the mitochondrial matrix (mitoCaMKII) where it regulates Ca2+ uptake via the mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter (MCU) and pro-oxidant production. Here, we demonstrate that radiation exposure disrupts endothelial cell barrier integrity in vitro, but can be abrogated by inhibition of mitoCaMKII, MCU, or opening of the mitochondrial transition pore.
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