An model for cardiac organoid production: The combined role of geometrical confinement and substrate stiffness.

Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), carrying the patient's genetic background, open the path to advanced modeling. The feasibility of recapitulating complex pathophysiological scenarios depends on iPSC's ability to differentiate into the plurality of specific organ resident cells, on their maturation and networking. To this end, a strong interest has arisen in organoids, 3D structures, obtained by exploiting iPSC natural capability to self-assemble and rebuild organ parts.

Deciphering Abdominal Aortic Diseases Through T-Cell Clonal Repertoire of Perivascular Adipose Tissue.

Background: Recent studies suggest that immune-mediated inflammation of perivascular adipose tissue of abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) contributes to disease development and progression. Whether the perivascular adipose tissue of AAA is characterized by a specific adaptive immune signature remains unknown.

Methods And Results: To investigate this hypothesis, we sequenced the T-cell receptor β-chain in the perivascular adipose tissue of patients with AAA and compared it with patients with aortic occlusive disease, who share the former anatomical site of the lesion and risk factors but differ in pathogenic mechanisms.

Whole-Blood Transcriptome Unveils Altered Immune Response in Acute Myocardial Infarction Patients With Aortic Valve Sclerosis.

Background: Aortic valve sclerosis (AVSc) presents similar pathogenetic mechanisms to coronary artery disease and is associated with short- and long-term mortality in patients with coronary artery disease. Evidence of AVSc-specific pathophysiological traits in acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is currently lacking. Thus, we aimed to identify a blood-based transcriptional signature that could differentiate AVSc from no-AVSc patients during AMI.

Whole-Blood Transcriptional Profiles Enable Early Prediction of the Presence of Coronary Atherosclerosis and High-Risk Plaque Features at Coronary CT Angiography.

Existing tools to estimate cardiovascular (CV) risk have sub-optimal predictive capacities. In this setting, non-invasive imaging techniques and omics biomarkers could improve risk-prediction models for CV events. This study aimed to identify gene expression patterns in whole blood that could differentiate patients with severe coronary atherosclerosis from subjects with a complete absence of detectable coronary artery disease and to assess associations of gene expression patterns with plaque features in coronary CT angiography (CCTA).

Trained Immunity in Perivascular Adipose Tissue of Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm-A Novel Concept for a Still Elusive Disease.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a chronic, life-threatening vascular disease whose only therapeutic option is a surgical repair to prevent vessel rupture. The lack of medical therapy results from an inadequate understanding of the etiopathogenesis of AAA. Many studies in animal and human models indicate a 'short-circuiting' of the regulation of the inflammatory-immune response as a major player in the AAA chronic process.