GLUT1 and prorenin receptor mediate differential regulation of TGF-β and CTGF in renal inner medullary collecting duct cells during high glucose conditions.

Background: During diabetes, prorenin is highly produced by the renal collecting ducts. The binding of prorenin to (pro)renin receptor (PRR) on the apical plasma membrane triggers intracellular profibrotic genes, including TGF-β and CTGF. However, the underlying mechanisms contributing to the stimulation of these pathways remain unclear.

ACE and ACE2 activities and polymorphisms assessment: A populational study from Ipaussu (SP, Brazil) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Aim: The angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and its homolog, the angiotensin converting enzyme 1 (ACE), are involved in COVID-19 physiopathology. Alterations in the enzymatic structure, expression, and/or activity may influence the risk of infection and severity of disease. For this reason, we aimed to identify different allelic forms of ACE2 G8790A and ACE I/D polymorphisms in a Brazilian cohort and evaluate their impact on ACE and ACE2 activities and their association with COVID-19 susceptibility and severity.

Aerobic training increases renal antioxidant defence and reduces angiotensin II levels, mitigating the high mortality in SHR-STZ model.

Objectve: The purpose of the research was to investigate the effects of aerobic training on renal function, oxidative stress, intrarenal renin-angiotensin system, and mortality of hypertensive and diabetic (SHR-STZ) rats.

Materials And Methods: Blood pressure, creatinine, urea levels, urinary glucose, urine volume, and protein excretion were reduced in trained SHR-STZ rats.

Results: Aerobic training not only attenuated oxidative stress but also elevated the activity of antioxidant enzymes in the kid'ney of SHR-STZ rats.

Immune checkpoint expression as prognostic biomarker candidates in non-small cell lung carcinoma patients.

Background: Cancer immunotherapy has had an important role in oncologic therapeutics for patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) using checkpoint inhibitors. We will explore the possible prognosis biomarker candidates such as: soluble OX40 (sOX40), OX40L (sOX40L), Glucocorticoid-induced tumor necrosis factor receptor family-related receptor (GITR), and their ligand (GITRL), 4-1BB or tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily 9 (TNFRS9) and inducible T cell co-stimulator (ICOS) in peripheral blood of NSCLC patients.

Methods: Fifty-eight patients were diagnosed with advanced NSCLC between January 2019 and March 2020.