Association of Adiponectin, Leptin and Resistin Plasma Concentrations with Echocardiographic Parameters in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease.

The imbalanced network of adipokines may contribute to the development of systemic low-grade inflammation, metabolic diseases and coronary artery disease (CAD). In the last decade, three classic adipokines-adiponectin, leptin and resistin-have been of particular interest in studies of patients with CAD due to their numerous properties in relation to the cardiovascular system. This has directed our attention to the association of adipokines with cardiac structure and function and the development of heart failure (HF), a common end effect of CAD.

Adiponectin in Chronic Kidney Disease.

Adiponectin is the adipokine associated with insulin sensitization, reducing liver gluconeogenesis, and increasing fatty acid oxidation and glucose uptake. Adiponectin is present in the kidneys, mainly in the arterial endothelium and smooth muscle cells, as well as in the capillary endothelium, and might be considered as a marker of many negative factors in chronic kidney disease. The last few years have brought a rising body of evidence that adiponectin is a multipotential protein with anti-inflammatory, metabolic, anti-atherogenic, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) protective actions.

The Multifunctionality of CD36 in Diabetes Mellitus and Its Complications-Update in Pathogenesis, Treatment and Monitoring.

CD36 is a multiligand receptor contributing to glucose and lipid metabolism, immune response, inflammation, thrombosis, and fibrosis. A wide range of tissue expression includes cells sensitive to metabolic abnormalities associated with metabolic syndrome and diabetes mellitus (DM), such as monocytes and macrophages, epithelial cells, adipocytes, hepatocytes, skeletal and cardiac myocytes, pancreatic β-cells, kidney glomeruli and tubules cells, pericytes and pigment epithelium cells of the retina, and Schwann cells. These features make CD36 an important component of the pathogenesis of DM and its complications, but also a promising target in the treatment of these disorders.

Extracellular Adenine Nucleotides and Adenosine Modulate the Growth and Survival of THP-1 Leukemia Cells.

A new approach to improve the effectiveness of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) treatment is to use the properties of purinergic signaling molecules secreted into the bone marrow milieu in response to leukemic cell growth. Therefore, our study aimed to evaluate the effects of extracellular adenine nucleotides and adenosine on the growth and death parameters in the leukemic THP-1 cell line. Cells were exposed to ATP, ADP, AMP, adenosine and nonhydrolyzable analogues of ATP and ADP (ATPγS and ADPβS) in a 1-1000 μM broad concentration range.

Associations between IL-6 and Echo-Parameters in Patients with Early Onset Coronary Artery Disease.

Background: Over the last two decades, many studies have investigated the association between interleukin 6 (IL-6) and pathogenesis and progression of coronary artery disease (CAD). Patients with CAD manifested at a young age are a particularly interesting group. They differ from older patients, not only in terms of the severity of coronary artery atherosclerosis, but also risk factor profiles, short- and long-term prognosis after myocardial infarction (MI).

Plasma concentration of urokinase plasminogen activator receptor is a marker of kidney allograft function.

Background: Urokinase-type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) is found in a variety of cell types including monocytes, lymphocytes, macrophages, and endothelial cells and plays an important role in fibrinolysis and in the activation and chemotaxis of neutrophils and lymphocytes. In this study, we examined the correlation between uPAR plasma concentration and kidney allograft function.

Aims: This study enrolled 78 Caucasian deceased-donor renal transplant recipients.

Bioactive lipids derived from arachidonic acid metabolism in different types of renal replacement therapy.

Introduction: Metabolism and plasma concentration of lipids and lipid-derived compounds play an important role in kidney physiology and pathological processes. The component of membrane phospholipids - arachidonic acid (AA) and its active derivatives - eicosanoids are involved in the development of hypertension, diabetes, inflammation and may contribute to progression of chronic kidney disease (CKD). The purpose of the study was to determine, whether the type of renal replacement therapy has an effect on eicosanoids metabolism.

Purinergic signaling and the functioning of the nervous system cells.

Purinergic signaling in the nervous system has been the focus of a considerable number of studies since the 1970s. The P2X and P2Y receptors are involved in the initiation of purinergic signaling. They are very abundant in the central and peripheral nervous systems, where they are expressed on the surface of neurons and glial cells--microglia, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells and the precursors of the latter two.

Effects of perinatal exposure to lead (Pb) on purine receptor expression in the brain and gliosis in rats tolerant to morphine analgesia.

The aim of the present study was to investigate the molecular effects of perinatal exposure to lead (Pb) on protein and mRNA expression of purine receptors: P2X4, P2X7, adenosine receptor A1; and astrocytes (GFAP mRNA expression) and on microglia activation (Iba1 mRNA expression) in several structures of the mesolimbic system (striatum, hippocampus, prefrontal cortex) in rats expressing tolerance to the antinociceptive effect of morphine. Rat mothers were orally treated with 0.1% lead acetate from conception, through gestation, and postnatally, as well as to offspring up to day (PND) 28; subsequently molecular studies were conducted on adult (PND 60) male rats.

P2X and P2Y receptors—role in the pathophysiology of the nervous system.

Purinergic signalling plays a crucial role in proper functioning of the nervous system. Mechanisms depending on extracellular nucleotides and their P2 receptors also underlie a number of nervous system dysfunctions. This review aims to present the role of purinergic signalling, with particular focus devoted to role of P2 family receptors, in epilepsy, depression, neuropathic pain, nervous system neoplasms, such as glioma and neuroblastoma, neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease and multiple sclerosis.