PIEZO1-activated donor lymphatic remodeling integrates with autologous lymphangiogenesis to enhance vein graft patency in mice.

The great saphenous vein is the most commonly used conduit in coronary artery bypass grafting; however, the high vein graft failure rates remain an unresolved issue. Here, we compared different harvesting techniques for mouse vein grafts and found that the construction of a denser lymphatic network contributed to improved vein graft patency. Dual lymphatic tracing strategies using -Cre;R26-tdTomato/zsGreen mice uncovered a heterogeneous lymphatic network in mouse vein grafts.

Impact of IK Channel on CD34 Cells in Angiotensin II-Induced Arteriole Remodeling of Hypertensive Mice.

Background: Mechanisms of endothelial repair in hypertension remain unclear. CD34 cells are reported to contribute to vascular regeneration; however, their origin and regulation in hypertension are poorly understood. We investigated the role of IK channels in CD34 cell-mediated endothelial repair during Ang II (angiotensin II)-induced arteriole remodeling.

CD34 PI16 fibroblast progenitors aggravate neointimal lesions of allograft arteries via CCL11/CCR3-PI3K/AKT pathway.

Transplant-accelerated arteriosclerosis is a common complication that limits the long-term survival of organ transplant recipients. While previous studies have indicated the involvement of CD34 stem/progenitor cells (SPCs) in this process, their heterogeneity and potential adverse effects remains incompletely understood. To investigate the role of CD34 SPCs in transplant arteriosclerosis, we used various genetically modified mouse models, including BALB/c, C57BL/6J, CD34-CreER, Rosa26-tdTomato, Rosa26-iDTR, CD34-Dre, PI16-CreER, and CAG-LSL-RSR-tdTomato-2A-DTR mice.

Association of triglyceride-glucose index with severity of coronary artery disease among male patients.

The correlation between diabetes and coronary artery disease (CAD) is well established. Insulin resistance (IR) is considered a primary contributor to elevated CAD risk in diabetic individuals. The triglyceride-glucose (TyG) index serves as a straightforward surrogate marker for insulin resistance.

Association of testosterone with myocardial infarction and severity of coronary artery disease among male patients.

Background: Coronary heart disease (CHD) remains a leading cause of morbidity and mortality, particularly in aging populations. Men typically exhibit higher rates of CHD compared to women, with testosterone levels inversely associated with cardiovascular risk. This study investigates the relationship between testosterone levels and angiographically confirmed CHD, disease severity, and myocardial infarction (MI) among CHD cases.

CD34 cell atlas of main organs implicates its impact on fibrosis.

Rationale: CD34 cells are believed being progenitors that may be used to treat cardiovascular disease. However, the exact identity and the role of CD34 cells in physiological and pathological conditions remain unclear.

Methods: We performed single-cell RNA sequencing analysis to provide a cell atlas of normal tissue/organ and pathological conditions.

Oral immunotherapy for Immunoglobulin E-mediated cow's milk allergy in children: A systematic review and meta analysis.

Backgound: Cow's milk allergy (CMA) is the most common allergy in infants that decreases the quality of life of patients and their families. Standard treatment for CMA is the strict avoidance of milk; new treatment strategies such as oral immunotherapy (OIT) have been sought for patients with CMA. We aimed to assess the clinical efficacy and safety of OIT in the treatment of children with immunoglobulin E-mediated CMA (IMCMA).

Nonbone Marrow CD34 Cells Are Crucial for Endothelial Repair of Injured Artery.

[Figure: see text].

Stem/Progenitor Cells and Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a progressive disease characterized by endothelial dysfunction and vascular remodeling. Despite significant advancement in our understanding of the pathogenesis of PAH in recent years, treatment options for PAH are limited and their prognosis remains poor. PAH is now seen as a severe pulmonary arterial vasculopathy with structural changes driven by excessive vascular proliferation and inflammation.

Primary percutaneous coronary intervention in a COVID-19 patient with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction after lung transplantation: a case report.

We present an unusual case of a patient with bilateral-lung transplantation due to severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), who subsequently suffered complications with acute myocardial infarction and underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Effect of a coronary-heart-disease-associated variant of ADAMTS7 on endothelial cell angiogenesis.

Background And Aims: Recent studies have unveiled an association between ADAMTS7 gene variation and coronary artery disease (CAD) caused by atherosclerosis. We investigated if the ADAMTS7 Serine214-to-Proline substitution arising from a CAD-associated variant affected angiogenesis, since neovascularization plays an important role in atherosclerosis.

Methods And Results: ADAMTS7 knockdown in vascular endothelial cells (ECs) attenuated their angiogenesis potential, whereas augmented ADAMTS7-Ser214 expression had the opposite effect, leading to increased ECs migratory and tube formation ability.

Exosomes derived from oxidized LDL-stimulated macrophages attenuate the growth and tube formation of endothelial cells.

Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) has a critical role in the development of atherosclerosis. The participation of oxLDL‑stimulated macrophages has been well‑established in atherosclerosis, however the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Macrophage‑derived exosomes are actively released and are involved in numerous physiological and pathological processes.

Genetic Variation at the Locus is Associated With Reduced Severity of Coronary Artery Disease.

Background: Genome-wide association studies identified ADAMTS7 as a risk locus for coronary artery disease (CAD). Functional studies suggest that ADAMTS7 may promote cellular processes in atherosclerosis. We sought to examine the association between genetic variation at ADAMTS7 and measures of atherosclerosis using histological, angiographic, and clinical outcomes data.

Coronary-Heart-Disease-Associated Genetic Variant at the COL4A1/COL4A2 Locus Affects COL4A1/COL4A2 Expression, Vascular Cell Survival, Atherosclerotic Plaque Stability and Risk of Myocardial Infarction.

Genome-wide association studies have revealed an association between coronary heart disease (CHD) and genetic variation on chromosome 13q34, with the lead single nucleotide polymorphism rs4773144 residing in the COL4A2 gene in this genomic region. We investigated the functional effects of this genetic variant. Analyses of primary cultures of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and endothelial cells (ECs) from different individuals showed a difference between rs4773144 genotypes in COL4A2 and COL4A1 expression levels, being lowest in the G/G genotype, intermediate in A/G and highest in A/A.

MicroRNA-200C and -150 play an important role in endothelial cell differentiation and vasculogenesis by targeting transcription repressor ZEB1.

To investigate the role of miRNA in controlling human embryonic stem (hES) cell differentiation toward the endothelial lineage and chick embryonic blood vessel formation, undifferentiated hES cells were first cultured on Matrigel-coated flasks and in endothelial cell growth medium-2 (EGM-2) to initiate endothelial cell (EC) differentiation. CD146(+) cells were isolated from differentiating hES cells and expanded in vitro. The in vitro expanded CD146(+) cells were positive for EC markers, capable of Ac-LDL uptake, lectin binding, and the formation of vascular structures in vitro and in vivo.

ADAMTS7 cleavage and vascular smooth muscle cell migration is affected by a coronary-artery-disease-associated variant.

Recent genome-wide association studies have revealed an association between variation at the ADAMTS7 locus and susceptibility to coronary artery disease (CAD). Furthermore, in a population-based study cohort, we observed an inverse association between atherosclerosis prevalence and rs3825807, a nonsynonymous SNP (A to G) leading to a Ser-to-Pro substitution in the prodomain of the protease ADAMTS7. In light of these data, we sought a mechanistic explanation for this association.

Functional involvements of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A1 in smooth muscle differentiation from stem cells in vitro and in vivo.

To investigate the functional involvements of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein A1 (hnRNPA1) in smooth muscle cell (SMC) differentiation from stem cells, embryonic stem cells were cultivated on collagen IV-coated plates to allow for SMC differentiation. We found that hnRNPA1 gene and protein expression was upregulated significantly during differentiation and coexpressed with SMC differentiation markers in the stem cell-derived SMCs as well as embryonic SMCs of 12.5 days of mouse embryos.

Functional role of matrix metalloproteinase-8 in stem/progenitor cell migration and their recruitment into atherosclerotic lesions.

Rationale: Accumulating evidence indicates that stem/progenitor cells (SPCs) represent an important source of cells in atheromas and contribute to lesion formation and progression.

Objective: We investigated whether matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP8) played a role in SPC migration and their recruitment into atheromas.

Methods And Results: We found that SPCs in atheromas expressed MMP8 and that MMP8 knockout significantly reduced SPC numbers in atherosclerotic lesions in apolipoprotein E (ApoE)-deficient mice fed a Western diet.