Cardiovascular development: towards biomedical applicability: Epicardium-derived cells in cardiogenesis and cardiac regeneration

During cardiogenesis, the epicardium grows from the proepicardial organ to form the outermost layer of the early heart. Part of the epicardium undergoes epithelial-mesenchymal transformation, and migrates into the myocardium. These epicardium- derived cells differentiate into interstitial fibroblasts, coronary smooth muscle cells, and perivascular fibroblasts. Moreover, epicardium-derived cells are important regulators of formation of the compact myocardium, the coronary vasculature, and the Purkinje fiber network, thus being essential for proper cardiac development. The fibrous structures of the heart such as the fibrous heart skeleton and the semilunar and atrioventricular valves also depend on a contribution of these cells during development. We hypothesise that the essential properties of epicardium-derived cells can be recapitulated in adult diseased myocardium. These cells can therefore be considered as a novel source of adult stem cells useful in clinical cardiac regeneration therapy

COMPLEJA PARTICIPACIÓN DE LA IL6 EN LA PATOGENIA DE LA ARTRITIS PSORIÁSICA

Fil: Kölliker Frers, R.A. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Investigaciones Cardiológicas Profesor Dr. Alberto C. Taquini; ArgentinaFil: Ennis, L. Hospital José María Ramos Mejía. Departamento de Reumatología; ArgentinaFil: Montoya, S. F. Hospital José María Ramos Mejía. Departamento de Reumatología; ArgentinaFil: Kerzkerg, E. Hospital José María Ramos Mejía. Departamento de Reumatología; ArgentinaLa psoriasis (Ps) y la artritis psoriásica (APs) son enfermedades inflamatorias inmunomediadas (IMID). Numerosas evidencias sugieren que tanto la respuesta inmunitaria citotóxica como la respuesta Th1, Th17 están implicados en la patogenia de la APs. Las citoquinas se encuentran críticamente relacionadas con todas las fases de la patología y son responsables del daño articular e inflamación tanto local y sistémica. La IL6 integra esta red de citoquinas que se encuentra en elevadas concentraciones en la circulación, en las placas psoriásicas e incluso en la articulación. La IL6 parecería tener un papel activo en la Ps aun cuando sus mecanismos de acción no se encuentran totalmente esclarecidos

Psoriasis and cardiovascular risk: Immune-mediated crosstalk between metabolic, vascular and autoimmune inflammation

Introduction and background: In the last few years, a substantial body of evidence indicates that cutaneous psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis patients are at higher risk of developing cardiovascular disease. However, underlying mechanism remains not completely understood. In this review we discuss the role of the immune system in the development of atherosclerosis, focusing on available data implicating the role of an enhanced immune-mediated proinflammatory status in psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis diseases. Methods: A systematic search was performed on Pubmed until November 2014, with preference to the sources published within the past 8 years, including epidemiological studies (prospective and retrospective); cross-sectional case–control studies and reviews. Articles were selected according critical associations using the following keywords: arthritis, immune-mediated inflammatory diseases, and psoriasis. These were combined with closely related keywords reflecting cardiovascular diseases: atherogenesis, endothelial dysfunction, intima media thickness, subclinical atherosclerosis, plaque, thrombosis, thrombus, fibrinolysis, coagulation, and reactive oxygen species. Both types of disease selected terms were separately combined with non-traditional (innate and adaptive pro and anti-inflammatory immune molecules and cells) and traditional (metabolic related conditions and molecules) cardiovascular risk factors. Results and conclusions: Psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis diseases illustrate that immune-mediated activated crossroads of inflammation beyond enhanced cardiovascular risk factors are the result of an interplay between different proatherogenic mediators derived from metabolic, vascular and autoimmune joint and skin inflamed target tissue. Consistent with this point of view, psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis diseases offer an invaluable opportunity to reinforce our knowledge about atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease