Circulating Ageing Neutrophils as a Marker of Asymptomatic Polyvascular Atherosclerosis in Statin-Naïve Patients without Established Cardiovascular Disease

Background: Current data on the possible involvement of aging neutrophils in atherogenesis are limited. This study aimed to research the diagnostic value of aging neutrophils in their relation to subclinical atherosclerosis in statin-naïve patients without established atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD). Methods: The study was carried out on 151 statin-naïve patients aged 40–64 years old without ASCVD. All patients underwent duplex scanning of the carotid arteries, lower limb arteries and abdominal aorta. Phenotyping and differentiation of neutrophil subpopulations were performed through flow cytometry (Navios 6/2, Beckman Coulter, USA). Results: The number of CD62L^loCXCR4^hi-neutrophils is known to be significantly higher in patients with subclinical atherosclerosis compared with patients without atherosclerosis (p = 0.006). An increase in the number of CD62L^loCXCR4^hi-neutrophils above cut-off values makes it possible to predict atherosclerosis in at least one vascular bed with sensitivity of 35.4–50.5% and specificity of 80.0–92.1%, in two vascular beds with sensitivity of 44.7–84.4% and specificity of 80.8–33.3%. Conclusion: In statin-naïve patients 40–64 years old without established ASCVD with subclinical atherosclerosis, there is an increase in circulating CD62L^loCXCR4^hi-neutrophils. It was also concluded that the increase in the number of circulating CD62L^loCXCR4^hi-neutrophils demonstrated moderate diagnostic efficiency (AUC 0.617–0.656) in relation to the detection of subclinical atherosclerosis, including polyvascular atherosclerosis.     

Evaluation of Oxidative Stress Biomarkers,Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines,and Histological Changes in Experimental Hypertension,Dyslipidemia, and Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

The present study aims to compare the oxidative stress biomarkers, pro-inflammatory cytokines, and histological changes induced by three cardiovascular risk factors, namely, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and type 1 diabetes mellitus. Hypertension was induced with 40 mg/kg body weight (b.w.) of N omega-nitro-L-arginine-methyl (L-NAME) administered orally. Dyslipidemia was induced by the administration of a diet with a high cholesterol (2%) content. Diabetes mellitus was induced by intraperitoneal administration of a single dose of streptozocin (65 mg/kg). Malondialdehyde (MDA) and total oxidative status (TOS) are increased by all three cardiovascular risk factors (up to 207%). The indirect assessment of NO synthesis (NOx) is observed to be reduced after L-NAME administration (43%), and dyslipidemia induction (16%), while type 1 diabetes mellitus is associated with the highest levels of NOx (increased 112%). Hypertension, dyslipidemia, and type 1 diabetes reduced the total antioxidative capacity (TAC) and total thiol (SH) levels (up to 57%). The values of evaluated pro-inflammatory cytokines, tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), assessed from the ascending aorta were elevated by all three cardiovascular risk factors, with the highest levels induced by type 1 diabetes mellitus (up to 259%). The histopathological examination of the ascending and descending aorta revealed reversible pro-atherogenic changes consisting of the accumulation of lipid droplets in the subendothelial connective tissue on rats with hypertension and dyslipidemia. Irreversible pro-atherogenic changes consisting of a reduction of the specific elasticity of the arteries were observed in rats with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Type 1 diabetes mellitus demonstrates an alteration of the oxidative stress parameters, the elevation of tissue levels of the pro-inflammatory cytokines and causing irreversible pro-atherogenic changes on the aortic wall.     

小檗碱对高脂血症兔脂代谢及肝脏LDLR和SR-B1基因表达的影响

目的研究小檗碱(Berberine,Ber)对高脂血症兔脂代谢及肝脏低密度脂蛋白受体(Low density lipoprotein re-ceptor,LDLR)和B类1型清道夫受体(Scavenger receptor B1,SR-B1)基因表达的影响。方法取新西兰大耳白兔40只,以基础饲料喂养1周后,随机选取8只为普通饲料组(ND),继续以基础饲料喂养;其余32只以高脂饲料喂养;复制高脂血症兔模型。建模8周后,将模型动物随机分为4组:高脂饲料组(HFD)、高脂饲料+非诺贝特组(FD)、高脂饲料+低剂量Ber干预组(BLD)组和高脂饲料+高剂量Ber干预组(BHD),继续喂养8周,采用全自动生化分析仪测定兔血清总胆固醇(TC)、甘油三酯(TG)、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇(LDL-C)和高密度脂蛋白胆固醇(HDL-C)的含量;观察肝脏组织病理学变化;实时荧光定量PCR法检测肝脏组织LDLR和SR-B1基因表达的变化。结果 HFD组TC、TG和LDL-C的表达水平较ND组明显升高(P<0.01),肝脏发生中度脂肪变性和水样变性的病理学改变,而经Ber干预后,血清中TC、TG和LDL-C的表达的水平较HFD组显著降低(P<0.01),且肝细胞脂肪变性和水样变性程度较HFD组有所减轻;HFD组LDLR和SR-B1基因mRNA的表达水平明显低于ND组(P<0.01),经Ber干预后,LDLR和SR-B1基因mRNA的表达水平则较HFD组明显上调(P<0.01)。结论 Ber具有明显的调血脂作用,其作用机制可能是通过上调肝脏LDLR和SR-B1基因的表达,进而抑制肝脏中胆固醇的合成。