Topic Review
HDLs and Adiponectin in Promoting Endothelial Dysfunction
Obesity is an epidemic public health problem that has progressively worsened in recent decades and is associated with low-grade chronic inflammation (LGCI) in metabolic tissues and an increased risk of several diseases. In particular, LGCI alters metabolism and increases cardiovascular risk by impairing endothelial function and altering the functions of adiponectin and high-density lipoproteins (HDLs). Adiponectin is an adipokine involved in regulating energy metabolism and body composition. Serum adiponectin levels are reduced in obese individuals and negatively correlate with chronic sub-clinical inflammatory markers. HDLs are a heterogeneous and complex class of lipoproteins that can be dysfunctional in obesity. Adiponectin and HDLs are strictly interdependent, and the maintenance of their interplay is essential for vascular function.
  • 413
  • 16 Jun 2022
Topic Review
Blood-brain Barrier and MSC
Ischemic stroke is a debilitating disease and one of the leading causes of long-term disability. During the early phase after ischemic stroke, the blood-brain barrier (BBB) exhibits increased permeability and disruption, leading to an influx of immune cells and inflammatory molecules that exacerbate the damage to the brain tissue. Mesenchymal stem cells have been investigated as a promising therapy to improve the recovery after ischemic stroke. The therapeutic effects imparted by MSCs are mostly paracrine. 
  • 396
  • 05 May 2021
Topic Review
Coagulation System in Peripheral Arterial Disease
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is a clinical manifestation of atherosclerotic disease with a large-scale impact on the economy and global health. Histopathological analysis and some clinical studies conducted on atherosclerotic plaques testify to the existence of different types of plaques. Likely, the role of coagulation in each specific type of plaque can be an important determinant in the histopathological composition of atherosclerosis and in its future stability.
  • 385
  • 20 Dec 2022
Topic Review
Henoch–Schönlein Purpura
Henoch–Schönlein purpura or IgA vasculitis is the most common type of pediatric vasculitis that may affect adults as well. It is classified as a type of small-vessel vasculitis. It can cause cutaneous and systemic symptoms with a minority of patients developing kidney failure.
  • 363
  • 23 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Alterations in Vascular Chloride Channels and Transporters
Blood pressure is determined by cardiac output and systemic vascular resistance, and mediators that induce vasoconstriction will increase systemic vascular resistance and thus elevate blood pressure. While peripheral vascular resistance reflects a complex interaction of multiple factors, vascular ion channels and transporters play important roles in the regulation of vascular tone by modulating the membrane potential of vascular cells. In vascular smooth muscle cells, chloride ions (Cl−) are a type of anions accumulated by anion exchangers and the anion–proton cotransporter system, and efflux of Cl− through Cl− channels depolarizes the membrane and thereby triggers vasoconstriction. Among these Cl− regulatory pathways, emerging evidence suggests that upregulation of the Ca2+-activated Cl− channel TMEM16A in the vasculature contributes to the increased vascular contractility and elevated blood pressure in hypertension. A robust accumulation of intracellular Cl− in vascular smooth muscle cells through the increased activity of Na+–K+–2Cl− cotransporter 1 (NKCC1) during hypertension has also been reported. Thus, the enhanced activity of both TMEM16A and NKCC1 could act additively and sequentially to increase vascular contractility and hence blood pressure in hypertension.
  • 350
  • 22 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Diseases Associated with Fli1 Deficiency
Being initially described as a factor of virally induced leukemias, Fli1 (Friend leukemia integration 1) lately has attracted considerable interest due to its role in both healthy physiology and a variety of pathological conditions. Over the past years Fli1 was found to be one of the crucial regulators of normal hematopoiesis, vasculogenesis and immune responses. However, abnormal expression of Fli1 due to genetic predisposition, epigenetic reprogramming (modifications) or environmental factors is associated with a few diseases of different etiology. Fli1 hyperexpression leads to malignant transformation of cells and progression of cancers such as Ewing’s sarcoma. The deficiency of Fli1 implicates in development of systemic sclerosis and hypertensive disorders, which are often accompanied by pronounced fibrosis in different organs. 
  • 339
  • 02 Feb 2023
Topic Review
Management of Peripheral Artery Disease in Diabetes
Peripheral artery disease (PAD) increases the risk of diabetes, while diabetes increases the risk of PAD, and certain symptoms in each disease increase the risk of contracting the other. The phenotypic manifestations of atherosclerosis vary in each individual and throughout the body; it is not fully understood why plaque formation has such a heterogeneous distribution, although different arterial systems are correlated. Moreover, risk factors (such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, smoking, etc.) undoubtedly aggravate atherogenesis and cardiovascular mortality through a dual risk: firstly, the intrinsic risk of the underlying disease; secondly, it increases the risk of atherosclerosis in various target organs. 
  • 330
  • 23 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells in Critical Limb Ischemia
A promising cell treatment in wound healing is the local injection of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMNCs). The treatment is aimed to induce angiogenesis as well to switch inflammatory macrophages, called the M1 phenotype, into anti-inflammatory macrophages, called M2, a phenotype devoted to tissue repair. This mechanism is called polarization and is a critical step for the healing of all human tissues. PBMNCs are the mononuclear cells of the blood: lymphocytes (T cells, B cells and NK cells), monocytes and a small fraction of the endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) .
  • 323
  • 19 May 2022
Topic Review
Genetic Modifications to Alter Blood Pressure Level
Genetic manipulation is one of the indispensable techniques to examine gene functions both in vitro and in vivo. In particular, cardiovascular phenotypes such as blood pressure cannot be evaluated in vitro system, necessitating the creation of transgenic or gene-targeted knock-out and knock-in experimental animals to understand the pathophysiological roles of specific genes on the disease conditions. 
  • 290
  • 01 Sep 2022
Topic Review
Immune Mechanisms of Atherosclerosis Pathogenesis
The term ‘atherosclerosis’ comes from the Greek words ‘athero’, which means gruel or paste, and ‘sclerosis’, which means hardness. Atherosclerosis is a disease that is genetically intended for everyone who reaches a certain age, and its complications, primarily coronary heart disease and stroke are the main causes of death in developed countries. Atherosclerosis can be characterized as an independent form of inflammation, sharing similarities but also having fundamental differences from low-grade inflammation and various variants of canonical inflammation (classic vasculitis).
  • 222
  • 15 May 2023
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