Publications by authors named "Ait-Aissa K"

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.

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  • Dyslipidemia is a key risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, and current treatments primarily aim to lower LDL cholesterol levels to prevent conditions like atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction.
  • Homozygous Familial Hypercholesterolemia (HoFH) results from mutations in the LDL receptor, leading to very high LDL cholesterol levels, which often do not respond well to standard statin therapy.
  • Lomitapide, a microsomal triglyceride transfer protein inhibitor, has been approved for HoFH treatment; it effectively lowers LDL-C levels without affecting the LDL receptor and has been shown to reduce LDL-C by more than 50% in resistant cases.
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The 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.

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Background: 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.

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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.

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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.

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Background: 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.

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  • Homozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HoFH) is a serious metabolic disorder caused by LDL receptor mutations, leading to high cholesterol levels and premature death if left untreated; lomitapide is a FDA-approved drug for lowering lipids in adult HoFH patients.* -
  • This study tested lomitapide's effects in LDL receptor-knockout mice on different diets, assessing factors like body weight, lipid profiles, blood glucose, and vascular health.* -
  • Results showed that lomitapide treatment significantly reduced body weight, fat mass, and cholesterol levels while improving vascular function, suggesting its effectiveness in managing cardiovascular issues related to high fat levels in HoFH.*
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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.

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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.

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Telomerase 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.

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  • Radiation therapy significantly increases the risk of atherosclerotic vascular diseases like carotid stenosis, mainly due to DNA damage in mitochondria, although the signaling pathways involved remain unclear.
  • The study used specific mice models to investigate the effects of cranial irradiation on endothelial function and mitochondrial integrity over time, focusing on the role of the mitochondrial Ca uniporter (MCU) and reactive oxygen species (ROS).
  • Findings revealed that irradiation leads to increased calcium and ROS levels, damaging mitochondrial DNA and impairing endothelial function; however, inhibiting MCU or using a ROS scavenger could prevent these adverse effects, highlighting a potential mechanism for radiation-induced vascular damage.
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Objective: 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.

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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.

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There 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.

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Anticancer 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.

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Objective: 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.

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The 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.

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Damage 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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  • Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a major cause of global mortality and is linked to issues in mitochondrial function, but detailed knowledge about these abnormalities in CAD patients is limited.
  • Researchers examined mitochondrial damage, energy production, and complex activity in heart tissues from both CAD and non-CAD patients to identify differences in mitochondrial function.
  • Findings revealed increased mitochondrial DNA damage and reduced levels of key metabolites like NAD and ATP in CAD hearts, as well as a shift from oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis for energy production in these patients.
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  • Elevated levels of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) are linked to cardiovascular diseases, with TERT playing a crucial role in reducing ROS and enhancing ATP production.
  • A study using a TERT-deficient rat model revealed no baseline structural changes in cardiac function; however, TERT rats showed reduced coronary flow and elevated left ventricle pressure after ischemia/reperfusion injury.
  • Despite these issues, TERT rats had smaller infarct sizes compared to wild-type rats, indicating that the lack of TERT activity increases vulnerability to cardiac stress.
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  • The rising global obesity rates over the last 30 years have led to serious heart health issues, including increased rates of cardiovascular diseases.
  • Obesity alters heart structure and function, contributing to conditions like cardiomyopathy and arrhythmia, largely due to impaired autophagy—a cellular recycling process.
  • Restoring autophagy in obese individuals shows promise in improving heart function and could be a potential therapeutic approach to reduce obesity-related cardiovascular disease risks.
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