Journal of cellular physiology
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Sepsis, a complex and dynamic syndrome resulting from microbial invasion and immune system dysregulation, is associated with an increased mortality, reaching up to 35% worldwide. Cholesterol metabolism is often disturbed during sepsis, with low plasma cholesterol levels being associated with poor prognosis. Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) promotes degradation of the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR), thus regulating intracellular and plasma cholesterol levels. ⋯ First, PCSK9 is associated with increased plasma cholesterol levels, which might be protective during sepsis. Second, PCSK9, by stimulating LDLR degradation and inhibiting reverse cholesterol transport (RCT), might promote preferential cholesterol accumulation in macrophages and other immune cells; these events might improve lipid raft composition and augment toll-like receptor function thus supporting inflammatory response. Hence, a more clear definition of the role of PCSK9 in septic states might provide additional insight in the understanding of the sepsis-associated immune dysregulation and enhance therapeutic outcomes.
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Bile acids are steroid acids found in the bile of mammals. The bile acid conjugate tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA) is neuroprotective in different animal models of stroke and neurological diseases. We have previously shown that TUDCA has anti-inflammatory effects on glial cell cultures and in a mouse model of acute neuroinflammation. ⋯ J. Cell. Physiol. 232: 2231-2245, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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In the present study, the effect of low-frequency, low-energy pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMFs) has been investigated by using different cell lines derived from neuron-like cells and microglial cells. In particular, the primary aim was to evaluate the effect of PEMF exposure in inflammation- and hypoxia-induced injury in two different neuronal cell models, the human neuroblastoma-derived SH-SY5Y cells and rat pheochromocytoma PC12 cells and in N9 microglial cells. In neuron-like cells, live/dead and apoptosis assays were performed in hypoxia conditions from 2 to 48 h. ⋯ J. Cell. Physiol. 232: 1200-1208, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Brain derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) is emerging as an important player in airway inflammation, remodeling, and hyperreactivity. Separately, there is increasing evidence that sex hormones contribute to pathophysiology in the lung. BDNF and sex steroid signaling are thought to be intricately linked in the brain. ⋯ Furthermore, SNARE complex protein SNAP25 was decreased. Overall, these novel data suggest that physiologically relevant concentrations of E2 or T inhibit BDNF secretion in human ASM, suggesting a potential interaction of sex steroids with BDNF in the airway that is different from brain. The relevance of sex steroid-BDNF interactions may lie in their overall contribution to airway diseases such as asthma.
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Acetylcholine (ACh) protected against cardiac injury via promoting autophagy and mitochondrial biogenesis, however, the involvement of mitophagy in ACh-elicited cardioprotection remains unknown. In the present study, H9c2 cardiomyocytes were subjected to hypoxia/reoxygenation (H/R) and ACh treatment during reoxygenation. Mitophagy markers PTEN-induced kinase 1 (PINK1) and Parkin translocation were examined using western blot and confocal fluorescence microscopy. ⋯ Mitophagy inhibitor 3-methaladenine abolished ACh-induced mitoprotection, manifesting as aggravated mitochondrial morphology disruption, ATP and membrane potential depletion, increased ROS overproduction, and apoptosis. Furthermore, PINK1/Parkin siRNA attenuated the protective effects of ACh against ATP loss and oxidative stress due to mitochondrial-dependent injury. Taken together, ACh promoted mitochondrial translocation of PINK1/Parkin to stimulate cytoprotective mitophagy via M2 receptor, which may provide beneficial targets in the preservation of cardiac homeostasis against H/R injury.