Inhibition of CB1R in the Hypothalamic Paraventricular Nucleus Ameliorates Hypertension Through Wnt/β-Catenin/RAS Pathway.

The hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN), as an important integrating center, plays a prominent role in the pathogenesis of hypertension, in maintaining the stability of cardiovascular activity through peripheral sympathetic nervous activity and secretion of various humoral factors. Acknowledging that the mechanistic targets of the endocannabinoid type 1 receptor (CB1R) are the key signaling systems involved in the regulation of hypertension, we sought to clarify whether inhibition of CB1R within the PVN ameliorates hypertension through Wnt/β-catenin/RAS pathway. Spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and Wistar Kyoto rats were randomly assigned to different groups and treated with bilateral PVN injections of AM251 (CB1R antagonist, 10 µg/h) or vehicle (artificial cerebrospinal fluid, aCSF) for four weeks.

Capsaicin pretreatment attenuates salt-sensitive hypertension by alleviating AMPK/Akt/Nrf2 pathway in hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus.

Background: Long term hypertension seriously promotes target organ damage in the brain and heart, and has increasingly become serious public health problem worldwide. The anti-hypertensive effects of capsaicin has been reported, however, the role and mechanism of capsaicin within the brain on salt-induced hypertension have yet to be elucidated. This study aimed to verify the hypothesis that capsaicin attenuates salt-induced hypertension via the AMPK/Akt/Nrf2 pathway in hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN).

Central administration of AICAR attenuates hypertension via AMPK/Nrf2 pathway in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus of hypertensive rats.

Background: Oxidative stress and inflammatory cytokines in the hypothalamus paraventricular nucleus (PVN) have been implicated in sympathetic nerve activity and the development of hypertension, but the specific mechanisms underlying their production in the PVN remains to be elucidated. Previous studies have demonstrated that activation of nuclear transcription related factor-2 (Nrf2) in the PVN reduced the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and inflammatory mediators. Moreover, AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), has been observed to decrease ROS and inflammatory cytokine production when activated in the periphery.

Capsaicin improves hypertension and cardiac hypertrophy via SIRT1/NF-κB/MAPKs pathway in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus.

Background: Hypertension has seriously affected a large part of the adult and elderly population. The complications caused by hypertension are important risk factors for cardiovascular disease accidents. Capsaicin, a pungent component of chili pepper has been revealed to improve hypertension.

High C-X-C motif chemokine 5 expression is associated with malignant phenotypes of prostate cancer cells via autocrine and paracrine pathways.

The present study aimed to examine the effects and mechanisms of exogenous C-X-C motif chemokine 5 (CXCL5) and lentiviral CXCL5 overexpression on the regulation of malignant behaviors of prostate cancer cells in vitro and in a nude mouse xenograft model. The expression levels of CXCL5 and a number of tumor-related genes were assessed by using semi-quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), western blotting, ELISA, or immunohistochemistry in normal and cancerous prostate cells and tissues. Cell proliferation, colony formation, and Transwell assays were performed to determine the effects of exogenous, autocrine, and paracrine CXCL5 on prostate cancer cell proliferative and migratory capacity.

IL-8 is upregulated in cervical cancer tissues and is associated with the proliferation and migration of HeLa cervical cancer cells.

Interleukin-8 (IL-8) serves an important function in chronic inflammation and cancer development; however, the underlying molecular mechanism(s) of IL-8 in uterine cervical cancer remains unclear. The present study investigated whether IL-8 and its receptors [IL-8 receptor (IL-8R)A and IL-8RB] contributed to the proliferative and migratory abilities of HeLa cervical cancer cells, and also investigated the potential underlying molecular mechanisms. Results demonstrated that IL-8 and its receptors were detected in HeLa cells, and levels of IL-8RA were significantly increased compared with those of IL-8RB.

Vitamin D suppresses oxidative stress-induced microparticle release by human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

Endothelial microparticle (MP) release was increased in numerous cardiovascular diseases including preeclampsia. Oxidative stress is a potent inducer of endothelial dysfunction. In this study, we aimed to investigate if vitamin D could protect endothelial cells (ECs) from MP release induced by oxidative stress.

Vitamin D Reduces Oxidative Stress-Induced Procaspase-3/ROCK1 Activation and MP Release by Placental Trophoblasts.

Context: Increased microparticle (MP) shedding by placental trophoblasts contributes to maternal vascular inflammatory response and endothelial dysfunction in preeclampsia. Vitamin D has beneficial effects in pregnancy; however, its effect on trophoblast MP release has not been investigated.

Objective: To investigate if vitamin D could protect trophoblasts from oxidative stress-induced MP release.

1,25(OH)2D3 Induces Placental Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Relaxation by Phosphorylation of Myosin Phosphatase Target Subunit 1Ser507: Potential Beneficial Effects of Vitamin D on Placental Vasculature in Humans.

Placental vascular dysfunction has been linked to insufficiency/deficiency of maternal vitamin D levels during pregnancy. In contrast, sufficient maternal vitamin D levels have shown beneficial effects on pregnancy outcomes. To study the role of vitamin D in pregnancy, we tested our hypothesis that vitamin D exerts beneficial effects on placental vasculature.

The β3 Adrenergic Receptor Agonist BRL37344 Exacerbates Atrial Structural Remodeling Through iNOS Uncoupling in Canine Models of Atrial Fibrillation.

Background/aims: The role of the β3-adrenergic receptor (β3-AR) agonist BRL37344 in atrial fibrillation (AF) structural remodeling and the underlying mechanisms as a therapeutic target were investigated.

Methods: Four groups of dogs were evaluated: sham, pacing, β3-AR agonist BRL37344 (β3-AGO), and β3-AR antagonist L748337 (β3-ANT) groups. Dogs in the pacing, β3-AGO and β3-ANT groups were subjected to rapid atrial pacing for four weeks.

Increased urinary levels of podocyte glycoproteins, matrix metallopeptidases, inflammatory cytokines, and kidney injury biomarkers in women with preeclampsia.

To investigate kidney injury in preeclampsia, we analyzed 14 biomarkers in urine specimen from 4 groups of pregnant women (normotensive pregnant women and those with pregnancy complicated with chronic hypertension or mild or severe preeclampsia). These biomarkers included 1) podocyte glycoproteins nephrin and podocalyxin, 2) matrix metallopeptidase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 and their inhibitor tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2, 3) inflammatory molecules and cytokines soluble VCAM-1, TNF-α, soluble TNF receptor receptor-1, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, and IL-18, and 4) kidney injury biomarkers neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin and kidney injury molecule-1. Postpartum urine specimens (6-8 wk) from normotensive women and those with severe preeclampsia were also evaluated.