Intestinal epithelial Krüppel-like factor 4 alleviates endotoxemia and atherosclerosis through improving NF-κB/miR-34a-mediated intestinal permeability.

Maintenance of intestinal barrier function contributes to gastrointestinal homeostasis and therefore cardiovascular diseases. A number of studies show that intestinal permeability is affected by excessive inflammatory responses. Krüppel-like factor (KLF) 4 is one of the critical transcriptional factors, which controls multiple immune responses.

Sivelestat Alleviates Atherosclerosis by Improving Intestinal Barrier Function and Reducing Endotoxemia.

Emerging evidence suggests that atherosclerosis, one of the leading phenotypes of cardiovascular diseases, is a chronic inflammatory disease. During the atherosclerotic process, immune cells play critical roles in vascular inflammation and plaque formation. Meanwhile, gastrointestinal disorder is considered a risk factor in mediating the atherosclerotic process.

Identification of Blood Exosomal miRNA-1246, miRNA-150-5p, miRNA-5787 and miRNA-8069 as Sensitive Biomarkers for Hepatitis B Virus Infection.

Background: There is a big difference in the expression of miRNAs of plasma exosomes of patients with HBV infection. This study aims to analyze four molecular markers of peripheral blood plasma exosomes to evaluate their potential diagnostic values in HBV infection.

Methods: A total of 55 cases of patients with chronic hepatitis B were in Experimental Group 1; 49 cases of hepatitis B carriers were in Experimental Group 2, and 46 cases were in the healthy control group.

Microecological preparation combined with an modified low-carbon diet improves glucolipid metabolism and cardiovascular complication in obese patients.

Objective: To investigate the impact of microecological preparation combined with modified low-carbon diet on the glucolipid metabolism and cardiovascular complication in obese patients.

Methods: From August 2017 to July 2020, 66 obese patients were recruited, and administrated with an modified low-carbon diet with (group A) or without (Group B) microecology preparation and a balanced diet in control group (group C) for 6 months. Meanwhile, 20 volunteers administrated with a balanced diet were recruited as the healthy control group (group D).

Hepatocyte miR-33a mediates mitochondrial dysfunction and hepatosteatosis by suppressing NDUFA5.

Emerging evidence suggests that microRNAs (miRNAs) are essential for metabolic haemostasis of liver tissues. Among them, miR-33a is supposed to modulate the cholesterol export and fatty acid oxidation, but whether miR-33a involves in the process of fatty liver disease is unclear. To disclose the hypothesis, we utilized miR-33a mimic and antisense to explore their effects in primary hepatocytes or high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice.

Exosomal microRNA-194 causes cardiac injury and mitochondrial dysfunction in obese mice.

Obesity is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, but the effects of circulating factors on cardiac function is not fully elucidated. Present study aims to explore the pathophysiological role of microRNA (miR)-194, one of hepatic enriched miRs, in the process of obesity-related cardiomyopathy in human subjects and mice. The expression level of circulating exosomal miR-194 was measured in 39 lean and 35 obese human subjects, and correlated with cardiac parameters.

MicroRNA-194 inhibition improves dietary-induced non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in mice through targeting on FXR.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) affects obesity-associated metabolic syndrome, which exhibits hepatic steatosis, insulin insensitivity and glucose intolerance. Previous studies indicated that hepatic microRNAs (miRs) play critical roles in the development of NAFLD. In this study, we aim to explore the pathophysiological role of miR-194 in obesity-mediated metabolic dysfunction.

Specific MAPK inhibitors prevent hyperglycemia-induced renal diseases in type 1 diabetic mouse model.

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and renin-angiotensin system (RAS) play critical roles in the process of renal diseases, but their interaction has not been comprehensively discussed. In the present studies, we investigated the renoprotective effects of MPAK inhibitors on renal diseases in type 1 diabetic mouse model, and clarify the crosstalk among MAPK signaling. Type 1 diabetic mouse model was established in male C57BL/6 J mice, and treated with or without 10 mg/kg MAPK blockers, including ERK inhibitor PD98059, p38 inhibitor SB203850, and JNK inhibitor SP600125 for four weeks.

Mitochondrial DNA haplogroups modify the risk of osteoarthritis by altering mitochondrial function and intracellular mitochondrial signals.

Haplogroup G predisposes one to an increased risk of osteoarthritis (OA) occurrence, while haplogroup B4 is a protective factor against OA onset. However, the underlying mechanism is not known. Here, by using trans-mitochondrial technology, we demonstrate that the activity levels of mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I and III are higher in G cybrids than in haplogroup B4.

Mitochondrial common deletion is elevated in blood of breast cancer patients mediated by oxidative stress.

The 4977 bp common deletion is one of the most frequently observed mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations in human tissues and has been implicated in various human cancer types. It is generally believed that continuous generation of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) during oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) is a major underlying mechanism for generation of such mtDNA deletions while antioxidant systems, including Manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD), mitigating the deleterious effects of ROS. However, the clinical significance of this common deletion remains to be explored.

Mitochondrial common deletion, a potential biomarker for cancer occurrence, is selected against in cancer background: a meta-analysis of 38 studies.

Mitochondrial dysfunction has been long proposed to play a major role in tumorigenesis. Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations, especially the mtDNA 4,977 bp deletion has been found in patients of various types of cancer. In order to comprehend the mtDNA 4,977 bp deletion status in various cancer types, we performed a meta-analysis composed of 33 publications, in which a total of 1613 cancer cases, 1516 adjacent normals and 638 healthy controls were included.

The mitochondrial DNA 4,977-bp deletion and its implication in copy number alteration in colorectal cancer.

Background: qualitative and quantitative changes in human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) have been implicated in various cancer types. A 4,977 bp deletion in the major arch of the mitochondrial genome is one of the most common mutations associated with a variety of human diseases and aging.

Methods: we conducted a comprehensive study on clinical features and mtDNA of 104 colorectal cancer patients in the Wenzhou area of China.