Overcoming Barriers: The Endothelium As a Linchpin of Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pathogenesis?

Objective: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a global pandemic involving >5 500 000 cases worldwide as of May 26, 2020. The culprit is the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2, which invades cells by binding to ACE2 (angiotensin-converting enzyme 2). While the majority of patients mount an appropriate antiviral response and recover at home, others progress to respiratory distress requiring hospital admission for supplemental oxygen.

B-Cell Deficiency Lowers Blood Pressure in Mice.

The proto-oncogene c-myb (and corresponding nuclear transcription factor, c-Myb) regulates the proliferation and differentiation of hematologic and vascular smooth muscle cells; however, the role of c-Myb in blood pressure regulation is unknown. Here, we show that mice homozygous for a hypomorphic c-myb allele ( c-myb ) conferring reduced c-Myb activity manifest reduced peripheral blood and kidney B220 B-cells and have decreased systolic (104±2 versus 120±1 mm Hg; P<0.0001) and diastolic blood pressure (71±2 versus 83±1 mm Hg; P<0.

Leptin enhances hypothalamic lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA)-dependent glucose sensing to lower glucose production in high-fat-fed rats.

The responsiveness of glucose sensing to regulate whole-body glucose homeostasis is dependent on the ability of a rise in glucose to lower hepatic glucose production and increase peripheral glucose uptake In both rodents and humans, glucose sensing is lost in diabetes and obesity, but the site(s) of impairment remains elusive. Here, we first report that short-term high-fat feeding disrupts hypothalamic glucose sensing to lower glucose production in rats. Second, leptin administration into the hypothalamus of high-fat-fed rats restored hypothalamic glucose sensing to lower glucose production during a pancreatic (basal insulin)-euglycemic clamp and increased whole-body glucose tolerance during an intravenous glucose tolerance test.

Paradoxical Suppression of Atherosclerosis in the Absence of microRNA-146a.

Rationale: Inflammation is a key contributor to atherosclerosis. MicroRNA-146a (miR-146a) has been identified as a critical brake on proinflammatory nuclear factor κ light chain enhancer of activated B cells signaling in several cell types, including endothelial cells and bone marrow (BM)-derived cells. Importantly, miR-146a expression is elevated in human atherosclerotic plaques, and polymorphisms in the precursor have been associated with risk of coronary artery disease.

Janus Kinase 2 (JAK2) Dissociates Hepatosteatosis from Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Mice.

Hepatocellular carcinoma is an end-stage complication of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Inflammation plays a critical role in the progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and the development of hepatocellular carcinoma. However, whether steatosis promotes liver cancer, and the molecular mechanisms that control the progression in this disease spectrum remain largely elusive.