{μ-Bis(1-methyl­imidazol-2-yl)methane-κ2 N 3:N 3′}bis­{[(1-methyl­imidazol-2-yl)methane-κ2 N 3,N 3′]copper(I)} bis­(tri­fluoro­methane­sulfonate)

The title compound, [Cu2(C9H12N4)3](CF3SO3)2, contains two CuI ions, three bis­(1-methyl­imidazol-2-yl)methane (Me2BIM) ligands, and two trifluoromethanesulfonate anions in the asymmetric unit. Each CuI ion has a distorted trigonal-planar geometry and is coordinated by two N atoms from the Me2BIM ligand and another N atom from the Me2BIM that acts as a bridging ligand, another N atom of the bridging Me2BIM being linked to the second CuI ion. The imidazole rings of Me2BIM form intra­molecular π–π stacking inter­actions [centroid–centroid distances = 3.445 (2) and 3.547 (2) Å]

Tetra­chlorido[(diphenyl­phosphino)diphenyl­phosphine oxide-κO]zirconium(IV) benzene monosolvate

In the title centrosymmetric mononuclear ZrIV compound, [ZrCl4{P(O)(C6H5)2P(C6H5)2}2]·C6H6, the central ZrIV ion is coordinated by two O atoms from two symmetry-related (diphenyl­phosphino)diphenyl­phosphine ligands and four Cl atoms in a distorted octahedral geometry with the four Cl atoms in the equatorial positions. The mol­ecule lies about a center of inversion and the benzene solvent mol­ecule about another center of inversion. The P=O bond [1.528 (2) Å] is slightly longer than a typical P=O double bond (average 1.500 )

Activation of the IKK2/NF-κB pathway in VSMCs inhibits calcified vascular stiffness in CKD

IKK2/NF-κB pathway–mediated inflammation in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) has been proposed to be an etiologic factor in medial calcification and stiffness. However, the role of the IKK2/NF-κB pathway in medial calcification remains to be elucidated. In this study, we found that chronic kidney disease (CKD) induces inflammatory pathways through the local activation of the IKK2/NF-κB pathway in VMSCs associated with calcified vascular stiffness. Despite reducing the expression of inflammatory mediators, complete inhibition of the IKK2/NF-κB pathway in vitro and in vivo unexpectedly exacerbated vascular mineralization and stiffness. In contrast, activation of NF-κB by SMC-specific IκBα deficiency attenuated calcified vascular stiffness in CKD. Inhibition of the IKK2/NF-κB pathway induced cell death of VSMCs by reducing anti–cell death gene expression, whereas activation of NF-κB reduced CKD-dependent vascular cell death. In addition, increased calcification of extracellular vesicles through the inhibition of the IKK2/NF-κB pathway induced mineralization of VSMCs, which was significantly reduced by blocking cell death in vitro and in vivo. This study reveals that activation of the IKK2/NF-κB pathway in VSMCs plays a protective role in CKD-dependent calcified vascular stiffness by reducing the release of apoptotic calcifying extracellular vesicles