Enzyme-independent functions of HDAC3 in the adult heart.

The cardioprotective effects of histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors (HDIs) are at odds with the deleterious effects of HDAC depletion. Here, we use HDAC3 as a prototype HDAC to address this contradiction. We show that adult-onset cardiac-specific depletion of HDAC3 in mice causes cardiac hypertrophy and contractile dysfunction on a high-fat diet (HFD), excluding developmental disruption as a major reason for the contradiction.

AIM2 Inflammasome Activation Contributes to Aortic Dissection in a Sporadic Aortic Disease Mouse Model.

Background: The absent in melanoma 2 (AIM2) inflammasome induces pyroptosis, tissue inflammation, and extracellular matrix destruction. We tested the hypothesis that the AIM2 inflammasome contributes to aortic aneurysm and dissection (AAD) development by promoting pyroptosis in smooth muscle cells (SMCs).

Methods: We examined AIM2 expression in aortic tissues from patients with ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm (ATAA) and aortic dissection (ATAD) and from organ donor controls.

Protective effects of a compound herbal extract (Tong Xin Luo) on free fatty acid induced endothelial injury: implications of antioxidant system.

Background: Tong-Xin-Luo (TXL) - a mixture of herbal extracts, has been used in Chinese medicine with established therapeutic efficacy in patients with coronary artery disease.

Methods: We investigated the protective role of TXL extracts on endothelial cells injured by a known risk factor - palmitic acid (PA), which is elevated in metabolic syndrome and associated with cardiovascular complications. Human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) were preconditioned with TXL extracts before exposed to PA for 24 hours.