AIM: To investigate the expression and effects of sialyl Lewis X (SLeX) on the invasion and migration of human hepatocellular carcinoma HepG2 cells.METHODS: The expression of α1,3-fucosyltransferase VII (FUT7) in HepG2 cells and L-02 cells was detected by RT-qPCR and Western blot.The SLeX expression in HepG2 cells and L-02 cells was determined by Western blot and immunocytochemical staining.The invasion and migration abilities of the treated cells were evaluated by Transwell assay.RESULTS: The expression of FUT7 and SLeX in the HepG2 cells, but not in the L-02 cells, was observed.The invasion rates of the HepG2 cells treated with SLeX monoclonal antibody at 0.05, 0.5 and 5 mg/L were significantly decreased as compared with control group (P<0.05).The migration ability of the HepG2 cells treated with SLeX monoclonal antibody at 0.05, 0.5 and 5 mg/L was also significantly reduced as compared with control group (P<0.05).The invasion rate and migratory cell number were significantly different between any 2 groups in the HepG2 cells treated with SLeX monoclonal antibody at 0.05, 0.5 and 5 mg/L (P<0.05).CONCLUSION: HepG2 cells express SLeX.SLeX is closely related to the migration and invasion abilities of the HepG2 cells.

Objective: To explore the relationship between blood levels of cyclophilin A (CyPA) and chronic heart failure (CHF).
Methods: A total of 166 CHF patients were enrolled as CHF group, according to NYHA classiifcation, it was further divided into 4 sub-groups: Class I,n=37, Class II,n=39, Class III,n=46 and Class IV,n=44. In addition, there was a Normal control group,n=52. Blood levels of CyPA, B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were examined and compared among different groups.
Results: Compared with Normal control group, CHF group had elevated CyPA (5.11 ± 2.43) ng/ml vs (2.28 ± 0.61) ng/ml, BNP (385.65 ± 184.06) pg/ml vs (90.37 ± 18.44) pg/ml and hs-CRP (11.74 ± 5.44) mg/L vs (5.99 ± 1.14) mg/L, all P<0.05. As increased severity of NYHA classiifcation, blood levels of CyPA, BNP and hs-CRP between 2 subgroups had the increasing trend accordingly, allP<0.05; while there was an exception: blood levels of CyPA and hs-CRP were similar between Class I subgroup and Normal control group, allP>0.05. Pearson correlation analysis indicated that blood levels of CyPA were positively related to BNP and hs-CRP in CHF patients (r=0.838,P<0.01 and r=0.755,P<0.01).
Conclusion: Blood levels of CyPA were elevated in CHF patients and it’s obviously related to NYHA classiifcation, which might have certain effects on CHF diagnosis and evaluation.

Aim To observe whether the activation of aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 ( ALDH2 ) can protect a-gainst diabetes induced liver injury in rat model, and analyze the role of JNK pathway in the liver protection induced by activation of ALDH2 . Methods All male SD rats were randomly divided into three groups: nor-mal control group ( Con ) , diabetes group ( DM ) and ethanol + diabetes group ( EtOH + DM ) . After 8 weeks, the fasting blood glucose ( FBG) level, glyco-sylated hemoglobin ( HbA1c) level, serum AST and ALT levels were measured. The changes of hepatic pa-thology were observed by hematoxylin and eosin ( HE) staining method. The protein expressions of ALDH2, JNK and p-JNK in liver tissue were measured. Result Compared with control group, in DM group, the lev-els of FBG and HbA1c, serum AST and ALT levels were increased significantly. The structure of liver mor-phology was destroyed, disarranged and unclear, the hepatocyte was swollen, and a large number of inflam-matory cells were infiltrated. ALDH2 protein expres-sion was decreased, while the expressions of JNK, p-JNK and the ratio of p-JNK/JNK were increased. Com-pared with DM group, in EtOH+DM group, the levels of FBG and HbA1c, serum AST and ALT levels were decreased. The expression of ALDH2 protein was in-creased, accompanying with the decrease of JNK, p-JNK protein expressions and the ratio of p-JNK/JNK. Conclusion Activation of ALDH2 can protect the liv-er against diabetes induced liver damage in rat model, which may be relevant with inhibiting the JNK path-way.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the correlation of G487A polymorphism of aldehyde dehydrogenase-2 (ALDH2) gene with hypertension in patients with coronary heart disease complicated by type 2 diabetes.

METHODSThis study was conducted among 167 patients with coronary heart disease complicated by diabetes mellitus. The polymorphisms of gene G487A ALDH2 were determined using polymerase chain reaction-restricted fragments length polymorphism technique (PCR-RFLP). According to the genotypes, the patients were divided into GG group (n=105) and GA/AA group (n=62), and the incidence of hypertension, risk factors of hypertension, systolic and diastolic pressures, and pulse pressure indexes were compared between the two groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to adjust the effects of the confounding factors.

RESULTSThe incidence of hypertension in GA/AA group was significantly higher than that in GG group (P<0.05), and the former group showed a significantly greater differences between systolic and pulse pressure; the diastolic pressure was comparable between the two groups. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that GA/AA was associated with an increased risk of hypertension in synergy with high insulin level and insulin resistance.

CONCLUSIONALDH2 gene G487A polymorphism may be associated with hypertension in patients with coronary heart disease complicated by type 2 diabetes, and the patients with an A allele have a greater risk of developing hypertension.

Aged ; Alcohol Dehydrogenase ; genetics ; Coronary Disease ; complications ; genetics ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; complications ; genetics ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension ; etiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether CaN-NFAT3 pathway mediates the protective effects of aldehyde dehydrogenase (ALDH) 2 in high glucose-treated neonatal rat ventricular myocytes. METHODS: The ventricular myocytes were isolated from the heart of neonatal (within 3 days) SD rats by enzyme digestion and cultured in the presence of 5-Brdu. After reaching confluence, the cultured ventricular myocytes were identified using immunofluorescence assay for -SA protein. The cells were then cultured in either normal (5 mmol/L) or high glucose (30 mmol/L) medium in the presence of ALDH2 agonist Alda-1, ALDH 2 inhibitor Daidzin, or Alda-1 and NFAT3 inhibitor (11R-VIVIT). Fluorescent probe and ELISA were used to detect intracellular Ca concentration and CaN content, respectively; ALDH2, CaN and NFAT3 protein expressions in the cells were detected using Western blotting. RESULTS: Compared with cells cultured in normal glucose, the cells exposed to high glucose showed a significantly decreased expression of ALDH2 protein ( < 0.05) and increased expressions of CaN ( < 0.05) and NFAT3 proteins with also increased intracellular CaN and Ca concentrations ( < 0.01). Alda-1 treatment significantly lowered Ca concentration ( < 0.05), intracellular CaN content ( < 0.01), and CaN and NFAT3 protein expressions ( < 0.05), and increased ALDH2 protein expression ( < 0.05) in high glucose- exposed cells; Daidzin treatment significantly increased Ca concentration ( < 0.01) and intracellular CaN content ( < 0.05) in the exposed cells. Compared with Alda-1 alone, treatment of the high glucose-exposed cells with both Alda-1 and 11R-VIVIT did not produce significant changes in the expression of ALDH2 protein (>0.05) but significantly reduced the expression of NFAT3 protein ( < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Mitochondrial ALDH2 protects neonatal rat cardiomyocytes against high glucose-induced injury possibly by negatively regulating Ca-CaN-NFAT3 signaling pathway.
Aldehyde Dehydrogenase, Mitochondrial ; antagonists & inhibitors ; metabolism ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Benzamides ; pharmacology ; Benzodioxoles ; pharmacology ; Calcium ; metabolism ; Cells, Cultured ; Culture Media ; Enzyme Inhibitors ; pharmacology ; Glucose ; administration & dosage ; pharmacology ; Isoflavones ; pharmacology ; Mitochondria, Heart ; enzymology ; Myocytes, Cardiac ; drug effects ; metabolism ; NFATC Transcription Factors ; metabolism ; Nuclear Pore Complex Proteins ; metabolism ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

To investigate the effect of activating aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) on TASK-1 two-pore potassium channel in myocardial injury of diabetic rats.
 Methods: Diabetic rats were induced by intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (55 mg/kg). The diabetic rats were divided into 4 groups: normal group, diabetes at 4th week (DM4W) group, diabetes at 8th week (DM8W) group, and diabetes at 8th week+low concentration of ethanol intervention (DM8W+EtOH) group. The cardiac function of rats was determined by cardiac ultrasonography. The content of hydroxyproline was detected by ELISA. The appearance of myocardial morphous and positive material were observed by HE and PAS staining. The protein expression of TASK-1 was detected by Western blot. Whole-cell patch clamp technique was used to record the action potential duration at 30% and 90% repolarization (APD30, APD90) and two-pore potassium channel TASK-1 current in rat ventricular myocytes. Meanwhile, according to the sensitive electrophysiological characteristics of the potassium channel to acid and base, whether it is two-port potassium channel TASK-1current can be determined.
 Results: Compared with the N group, end-diastole left ventricular diameter (LVIDd), end-systolic left ventricular diameter (LVIDs), hydroxyproline content, TASK-1 protein expression increased, APD30 and APD90 extend, left ventricular fractional shortening (LVFS) and left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and TASK-1 current decreased (all P<0.01) in the DM4W group and the DM8W group. HE staining showed that myocardial cell and fiber arrangement disorder, myocyte hypertrophy, myocardial widened and PAS staining reveals that positive material increased in the DM4W group and the DM8W group. Compared with the DM4W group, these changs are more obvious in DM8W rats (P<0.01 or P<0.05). Compared with the DM8W group, in the DM8W+EtOH group, the left ventricular function was restored, the hydroxyproline content and expression of TASK-1 protein were decreased, the TASK-1 current was increased, and APD30 and APD90 were shortened (all P<0.01). HE staining showed that myocardial cell injury was ameliorate and PAS staining showed decreased deposition of positive substances in the DM8W+EtOH group.
 Conclusion: Activation of aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 by low concentration of ethanol can reduce myocardial injury and fibrosis caused by diabetes, and its mechanism may be related to the changes of the two-por potassium channel TASK-1.
Aldehyde Dehydrogenase, Mitochondrial ; Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental ; Heart Diseases ; metabolism ; Myocardium ; Potassium ; Potassium Channels, Tandem Pore Domain ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVETo investigate the changes of the two- pore K channel TASK-1 in diabetic rats with myocardial injury.

METHODSThirty-six SD rats were divided into normal group (N), diabetes at 4 weeks (DM 4W) group, and diabetes at 8 weeks (DM 8W) group. The cardiac functions of the rats were determined using cardiac ultrasonography, and the body weight and heart weight of the rats at different time points were measured to calculate the heart/body weight ratio (HW/BW). Myocardial fibrosis in the rats was assessed using Masson's staining. The protein expression of TASK-1 in the myocardium was detected using Western blotting. Whole- cell patch clamp technique was used to record the action potential duration (APD) and twopore domain potassium channel TASK- 1 current in acutely isolated rat ventricular myocytes. meanwhile, The inhibition of TASK-1 current was observed by the TASK-1 specific inhibitor ML-365.

RESULTSCompared with the normal group, the diabetic rats showed significantly increased HW/BW ( < 0.05), end- diastole left ventricular diameter (LVIDd), end- systolic left ventricular diameter (LVIDs), and TASK-1 protein expression, with obviously decreased left ventricular diameter shortening rate (FS) and ejection fraction (EF) ( < 0.01). Masson staining showed that in diabetic rats, the collagen fibers were thickened, interwoven into a network with uneven arrangement and increased deposition. Compared with DM 4W group, the rats in DM 8W group exhibited progressive increases in LVIDd, LVIDs, HW/BW, and TASK-1 expression ( < 0.01 or 0.05); FS and EF were further decreased ( < 0.01). Masson staining showed worsened morphological changes of the myocardium with increased deposition. Compared with that in the normal group, the current of TASK- 1 in diabetic rats at 8 weeks was significantly reduced ( < 0.01) and the duration of action potential was extended ( < 0.05). The TASK-1 current was successfully inhibited by ML-365.

CONCLUSIONSDiabetes can induce myocardial fibrosis and aggravate myocardial injury possibly in relation to changes in the protein expression and current of the two-port potassium channel TASK-1.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether autophagy mediates the effects of aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) on the proliferation of neonatal rat cardiac fibroblasts cultured in high glucose. METHODS: Cardiac fibroblasts were isolated from neonatal (within 3 days) SD rats and subcultured. The fibroblasts of the third passage, after identification with immunofluorescence staining for vimentin, were treated with 5.5 mmol/L glucose (control group), 30 mmol/L glucose (high glucose group), or 30 mmol/L glucose in the presence of Alda-1 (an ALDH2 agonist), daidzin (an ALDH2 2 inhibitor), or both. Western blotting was employed to detect ALDH2, microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3B subunit (LC3B) and Beclin-1 in the cells, and a hydroxyproline detection kit was used for determining hydroxyproline content in cell culture medium; CCK- 8 kit was used for assessing the proliferation ability of the cardiac fibroblasts after the treatments. RESULTS: Compared with the control cells, the cells exposed to high glucose exhibited obviously decreased expressions of ALDH2, Beclin-1 and LC3B and increased cell number and hydroxyproline content in the culture medium. Treatment of the high glucose-exposed cells with Alda-1 significantly increased Beclin-1, LC3B, and ALDH2 protein expressions and lowered the cell number and intracellular hydroxyproline content, whereas the application of daidzin resulted in reverse changes in the expressions of ALDH2, Beclin-1 and LC3B, viable cell number and intracellular hydroxyproline content in high glucose-exposed cells. CONCLUSIONS Mitochondrial ALDH2 inhibits the proliferation of neonatal rat cardiac fibroblasts induced by high glucose, and the effect is possibly mediated by the up-regulation of autophagy-related proteins Beclin-1 and LC3B.
Aldehyde Dehydrogenase ; Aldehyde Dehydrogenase, Mitochondrial ; metabolism ; Animals ; Animals, Newborn ; Autophagy ; Beclin-1 ; physiology ; Fibroblasts ; Glucose ; Microtubule-Associated Proteins ; Mitochondrial Proteins ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVE: To explore the correlation of plasma N-acetyl-neuraminic acid level with Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) risk score and clinical outcomes of patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). METHODS: We consecutively enrolled 708 consecutive patients (401 male and 307 female, mean age 63.6±10.6 years) undergoing coronary angiography in our hospital between October, 2018 and July, 2019, including 597 patients with ACS and 111 without ACS (control group). The patients with ACS group were divided into high (=104), moderate (=425) and low (=68) risk groups according to their TIMI risk scores. All the participants were examined for plasma Neu5Ac level using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry and underwent coronary angiography with their Gensini scores calculated. The patients with ACS were followed up after discharge for a mean of 15 months for the occurrence of major adverse cardiac events (Mace). Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the risk factors of Mace in these patients. RESULTS: Plasma Neu5Ac levels were significantly higher in ACS group than in the control group ( < 0.05). ROC curve analysis showed that plasma Neu5Ac level could assist in the diagnosis of ACS (0.648 [0.597-0.699]) with a sensitivity of 39.2% and a specificity of 86.5% at the cutoff value of 288.50 ng/mL. In the ACS patients, plasma Neu5Ac level was significantly higher in the high-risk group than in the moderate-risk and low-risk groups ( < 0.05) and could assist in the diagnosis of a high risk (0.645 [0.588-0.703]) with a sensitivity of 42.3% and a specificity of 80.1% at the cutoff value of 327.50 ng/ mL. Plasma Neu5Ac was positively correlated with age, serum uric acid, creatinine, lipoprotein a, Ddimer, C-reactive protein, MB isoform of creatine kinase and Gensini score and negatively correlated with high-density lipoprotein level. During the followup, 80 ACS patients experienced Mace, who had significantly higher plasma Neu5Ac level than those without Mace (=517). Logistic regression analysis showed that plasma Neu5Ac level and a history of previous stroke were independent risk factors for the occurrence of Mace. CONCLUSIONS Plasma Neu5Ac level can provide assistance in the diagnosis and risk stratification of ACS and is an independent risk factor for prognosis of ACS patients.

OBJECTIVETo investigate the effect of low-dose ethanol on the expression of nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) in diabetic rats with myocardial injury.

METHODSRat models of diabetes were established by an intraperitoneal injection of 55 mg/kg streptozotocin (STZ). After successful modeling, the rats were given 2.5% ethanol (daily dose of 20 mg/kg) for 1 week, followed by 5% ethanol (daily dose of 39.45 mg/kg) for another 7 weeks. Normal rats without STZ injection and diabetic rats without ethanol treatment serve as the normal control and diabetic model groups, respectively. The ventricular function of the rats was determined using echocardiography. The plasma levels of interleukin-1 (IL-1) and IL-4 were detected in the rats, and the expressions of 4-HNE, NF-κB and IKK proteins in the left anterior myocardium was evaluated using immunohistochemistry or Western blotting; the ultrastructural changes of the myocardium were observed using transmission electron microscopy.

RESULTSCompared with the normal control group, the diabetic rats showed significantly lowered systolic and diastolic functions of the left ventricle, increased plasma level of IL-1 and myocardial 4-HNE expression ( < 0.01), decreased plasma level of plasma IL-4 ( < 0.01), and increased myocardial expressions of NF-κB and IKK proteins ( < 0.01). Transmission electron microscopy revealed myofibrillar rupture, incomplete myofibrillar structure and mitochondrial damage in the cardiac myocytes in the diabetic rats. Compared with the diabetic rats, the rats with low-dose ethanol treatment exhibited improved systolic and diastolic functions of the left ventricle, milder myocardial myofibrillar and mitochondrial damages, and significantly lowered plasma IL-1 level and myocardial expressions of 4-HNE, NF-κB and IKK ( < 0.01), and increased plasma IL-4 level ( < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONSNF-κB expression is increased in the myocardium of diabetic rats with myocardial injury, and low-dose ethanol consumption lowers myocardial expression of NF-κB in diabetic rats, suggesting the involvement of NF-κB signaling pathway in the protective effect of low-dose ethanol against myocardial injury in diabetes mellitus.