ПОВЫШЕНИЕ УРОВНЯ ПРОВОСПАЛИТЕЛЬНЫХ ЦИТОКИНОВ В ПЛАЗМЕ КРОВИ У ПАЦИЕНТОВ С ХРОНИЧЕСКОЙ ТРОМБОЭМБОЛИЧЕСКОЙ ЛЕГОЧНОЙ ГИПЕРТЕНЗИЕЙ

HighlightsIL-8 and MCP-1 have a significant role in the CTEPH pathogenesis, which indicates the importance of nonspecific immunity in the formation and progression of CTEPH. The coupling between cytokines and hemodynamic parameters, cardiac structural changes and plasma biochemical parameters were determined. AbstractBackground. Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) pathogenesis is complex and not fully understood. Particular attention to the microvascular damage genesis in CTEPH is given to aseptic inflammation, which in turn could be mediated through various molecular mechanisms. According to the conflicting and incomplete data on changes in the profile of factors controlling inflammation in CTEPH, research in this field would identify new therapeutic targets for the prevention and treatment of CTEPH.Aim. To study the profile of plasma proinflammatory cytokines in patients with chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) and evaluate the coupling of these cytokines with the main morphofunctional and laboratory values of the disease severity.Methods. 34 patients with CTEPH were included in this study. To characterize the group, the following methods were used: echocardiographic examination, catheterization of the right cardiac chambers. Biomarkers of heart failure, systemic inflammation, as well as erythropoiesis and iron metabolism were assessed in all patients. The control group included 10 donors. To study the proinflammatory cytokine profile in plasma, interleukins (IL) 6, 8, 18, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and matrix metalloproteinase 9 were determined using standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kits.Results. Hemodynamic and morphofunctional changes in the pulmonary circulation specific to pulmonary hypertension were determined with catheterization of the right cardiac chambers and echocardiography. During plasma proinflammatory cytokines analysis, a significant increase in the level of IL-8 (p = 0.030) and MCP-1 (p = 0.031) in CTEPH group compared to the control group was observed. No significant differences for other analyzed markers were found. In the elaboration of the correlation analysis, moderate inverse coupling between proinflammatory markers and hemodynamic parameters characterizing the CTEPH severity were revealed, as well as positive correlations with parameters of remodeling of the right cardiac chambers and iron metabolism.Conclusion. The increased levels of IL-8 and MCP-1 in patients with CTEPH identified in the present study indicate a significant role of nonspecific immunity in the formation and progression of CTEPH. The coupling between cytokines and hemodynamic parameters, structural cardiac changes and plasma biochemical parameters were determined. Based on the obtained data, it is possible to develop new medicinal substances, targeting towards proinflammatory cytokines, their receptors and signaling pathways.Основные положенияИЛ-8 и MCP-1 играют существенную роль в патогенезе хронической тромбоэмболической легочной гипертензии, что указывает на важное значение неспецифического иммунитета в формировании и прогрессировании данного заболевания. Определена связь цитокинов с показателями гемодинамики, структурными изменениями сердца и биохимическими показателями плазмы крови. РезюмеАктуальность. Патогенез хронической тромбоэмболической легочной гипертензии (ХТЭЛГ) сложен и до конца не изучен. Особое внимание в генезе микрососудистого поражения при ХТЭЛГ уделяют асептическому воспалению, которое в свою очередь может быть опосредовано различными молекулярными механизмами. Учитывая противоречивые и неполные данные об изменении профиля факторов, контролирующих воспаление при ХТЭЛГ, исследования в этой области позволят определить новые терапевтические мишени для профилактики и лечения ХТЭЛГ.Цель. Изучить профиль провоспалительных цитокинов в плазме крови у пациентов с ХТЭЛГ и оценить связь этих цитокинов с основными морфофункциональными и лабораторными показателями тяжести течения заболевания.Материалы и методы. В исследование включены 34 пациента с верифицированным диагнозом ХТЭЛГ. Для характеризации группы использованы эхокардиографическое исследование и катетеризация правых камер сердца. У всех больных оценены биомаркеры сердечной недостаточности, системного воспаления, а также эритропоэза и обмена железа. В группу контроля вошли 10 человек-доноров. Для изучения профиля провоспалительных цитокинов в плазме крови определены интерлейкины (ИЛ) 6, 8, 18, моноцитарный хемоаттрактантный белкок 1 (MCP-1) и матриксная металлопротеиназа 9 с помощью стандартных наборов для иммуноферментного анализа.Результаты. По данным катетеризации правых камер сердца и эхокардиографии определены гемодинамические и морфофункциональные изменения малого круга кровообращения, характерные для легочной гипертензии. При анализе уровня провоспалительных цитокинов в плазме крови в группе ХТЭЛГ по сравнению с группой контроля отмечено значимое повышение ИЛ-8 (p = 0,030) и MCP-1 (p = 0,031). По другим проанализированным маркерам значимых различий не получено. В результате корреляционного анализа выявлены умеренные обратные взаимосвязи провоспалительных маркеров с гемодинамическими параметрами, характеризующими тяжесть ХТЭЛГ, а также положительные корреляционные связи с показателями ремоделирования правых камер сердца и обмена железа.Заключение. Установленное в настоящем исследовании повышение уровней ИЛ-8 и MCP-1 у пациентов с ХТЭЛГ указывает на значительную роль неспецифического иммунитета в формировании и прогрессировании ХТЭЛГ. Определены взаимосвязи цитокинов с показателями гемодинамики, структурными изменениями сердца и биохимическими показателями плазмы крови. На основе полученных данных возможна разработка новых лекарственных субстанций, мишенями для которых будут провоспалительные цитокины, их рецепторы и сигнальные пути

Mechanisms of Regenerative Potential Activation in Cardiac Mesenchymal Cells

Recovery of the contractile function of the heart and the regeneration of the myocardium after ischemic injury are contemporary issues in regenerative medicine and cell biology. This study aimed to analyze early transcriptional events in cardiac tissue after infarction and to explore the cell population that can be isolated from myocardial tissue. We induced myocardial infarction in Wistar rats by permanent ligation of the left coronary artery and showed a change in the expression pattern of Notch-associated genes and Bmp2/Runx2 in post-MI tissues using RNA sequencing and RT-PCR. We obtained primary cardiac mesenchymal cell (CMC) cultures from postinfarction myocardium by enzymatic dissociation of tissues, which retained part of the activation stimulus and had a pronounced proliferative potential, assessed using a “xCELLigence” real-time system. Hypoxia in vitro also causes healthy CMCs to overexpress Notch-associated genes and Bmp2/Runx2. Exogenous activation of the Notch signaling pathway by lentiviral transduction of healthy CMCs resulted in a dose-dependent activation of the Runx2 transcription factor but did not affect the activity of the Bmp2 factor. Thus, the results of this study showed that acute hypoxic stress could cause short-term activation of the embryonic signaling pathways Notch and Bmp in CMCs, and this interaction is closely related to the processes of early myocardial remodeling after a heart attack. The ability to correctly modulate and control the corresponding signals in the heart can help increase the regenerative capacity of the myocardium before the formation of fibrotic conditions

Mechanisms of Regenerative Potential Activation in Cardiac Mesenchymal Cells

Recovery of the contractile function of the heart and the regeneration of the myocardium after ischemic injury are contemporary issues in regenerative medicine and cell biology. This study aimed to analyze early transcriptional events in cardiac tissue after infarction and to explore the cell population that can be isolated from myocardial tissue. We induced myocardial infarction in Wistar rats by permanent ligation of the left coronary artery and showed a change in the expression pattern of Notch-associated genes and Bmp2/Runx2 in post-MI tissues using RNA sequencing and RT-PCR. We obtained primary cardiac mesenchymal cell (CMC) cultures from postinfarction myocardium by enzymatic dissociation of tissues, which retained part of the activation stimulus and had a pronounced proliferative potential, assessed using a “xCELLigence” real-time system. Hypoxia in vitro also causes healthy CMCs to overexpress Notch-associated genes and Bmp2/Runx2. Exogenous activation of the Notch signaling pathway by lentiviral transduction of healthy CMCs resulted in a dose-dependent activation of the Runx2 transcription factor but did not affect the activity of the Bmp2 factor. Thus, the results of this study showed that acute hypoxic stress could cause short-term activation of the embryonic signaling pathways Notch and Bmp in CMCs, and this interaction is closely related to the processes of early myocardial remodeling after a heart attack. The ability to correctly modulate and control the corresponding signals in the heart can help increase the regenerative capacity of the myocardium before the formation of fibrotic conditions

Inhibition of JAK1,2 Prevents Fibrotic Remodeling of Pulmonary Vascular Bed and Improves Outcomes in the Rat Model of Chronic Thromboembolic Pulmonary Hypertension

Chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension (CTEPH) is a rare complication of acute pulmonary embolism with poor clinical outcomes. Therapeutic approaches to prevention of fibrotic remodeling of the pulmonary vascular bed in CTEPH are limited. In this work, we tested the hypothesis that Janus kinase 1/2 (JAK1/2) inhibition with ruxolitinib might prevent and attenuate CTEPH in a rat model. CTEPH was induced by repeated embolization of the pulmonary artery with partially biodegradable 180 ± 30 μm alginate microspheres. Two weeks after the last injection of microspheres, ruxolitinib was administered orally at doses of 0.86, 2.58, and 4.28 mg/kg per day for 4 weeks. Prednisolone (1.475 mg/kg, i.m.) was used as a reference drug. Ruxolitinib in all doses as well as prednisolone reduced pulmonary vascular wall hypertrophy. Ruxolitinib at a dose of 2.58 mg/kg and prednisolone reduced vascular wall fibrosis. Prednisolone treatment resulted in decreased right ventricular systolic pressure. Pulmonary vascular resistance was lower in the prednisolone and ruxolitinib (4.28 mg/kg) groups in comparison with the placebo group. The plasma level of brain natriuretic peptide was lower in groups receiving ruxolitinib at doses of 2.58 and 4.28 mg/kg versus placebo. This study demonstrated that JAK1/2 inhibitor ruxolitinib dose-dependently reduced pulmonary vascular remodeling, thereby preventing CTEPH formation in rats