Current Opinion in Physiology最新文献

Cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs) are a leading contributor to worldwide morbidity and mortality. Recent insights into the pathogenesis of CMDs reveal crucial roles of intercellular crosstalk between metabolically active organs and cardiac cells. In this context, extracellular vesicles (EVs), lipid membrane-delimited particles containing diverse cargo (including small and long RNAs, proteins, lipids, and metabolites), and nonvesicular extracellular particles (NVEPs) have emerged as key mediators of cell-to-cell communications. EV cargo can reflect the metabolic state of their cells of origin and affect the function of their target cells. Understanding EV cargo content and function is essential for unraveling the pathophysiology of CMDs. This mini-review describes recent studies on EV-mediated local and interorgan crosstalk in CMDs, focusing on those that lead to atrial and ventricular myopathy, which are hallmarks of atrial fibrillation and heart failure, respectively. Lastly, this review discusses the potential applications of EVs in the diagnostics and therapeutics of these CMDs.

The battle against cancer remains a formidable challenge despite ongoing efforts worldwide. Current treatments are limited, leading to increased interest in personalized approaches, including drug delivery via extracellular vesicles (EVs). EVs are lipid bilayer particles released by cells that play a crucial role in intercellular communication by transferring biological compounds. Recent preclinical studies have demonstrated that EVs are also effective delivery vehicles for other cargo, such as chemotherapeutic drugs, immunotherapeutic agents, or nucleic acid–based therapeutics with improved pharmacokinetics. This review focuses on the latest advances on EVs as drug carriers in cancer therapy, pointing out the current ongoing clinical trials testing the potential of molecules, such as interleukin-12, STING agonists, or KRAS-G12D small interfering RNA. The evolving landscape of EVs in targeted cancer therapeutics holds significant promise for developing safer, personalized, and cell-free therapies.

Kidney diseases pose a significant challenge, lacking effective therapies. Extracellular vesicle (EV)-based therapies have emerged as a novel advanced therapeutic. Particularly, mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) and their EV are being explored as potential candidates. While MSC-EV therapeutics offer promise, there is a lack of widely standardized potency tests to assess EV effectiveness. Tailoring potency assessment in kidney diseases requires considering multifactorial effects and may necessitate a combination of multiple assays to recapitulate EV function. The design of a matrix of assays will be specific for the chosen disease and will involve specific molecular mechanisms and biological processes. This review highlights recent MSC-EV functional assays focused on modeling kidney disease mechanisms of action.

The diagnosis of breast cancer in the early stage is essential for a favorable prognosis. Extracellular vesicles isolated from body fluids have a central role in breast cancer development due to their biochemical components. Among the biochemical components, surface proteins mediate vesicle interactions with elements of the extracellular milieu, the extracellular matrix, and neighboring cells. The identification of specific surface proteomic profile has been regarded as an easy and reproducible means to define cancer parameters, identify markers for a diagnosis, and determine targets for therapeutical treatments. In this review, we will focus on annexins, tetraspanins, integrins, immune checkpoint proteins, and growth factor receptors that have been identified on the surface of extracellular vesicles isolated from the serum of patients with breast cancer and that have been found to be relevant diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers.

The cellular ‘powerhouse’, mitochondria play vital roles in cardiac cells, including the modulation of contractility. Among the various mechanisms, the modulation of cardiac mitochondria by adrenergic signaling stands out as a crucial component in orchestrating cardiac function. Adrenergic system serving as the primary regulator of cardiac contractility, exerts its effects through α- and ß-adrenoceptors, which are regulated by G-protein-coupled receptor kinase 2 (GRK2) and ß-arrestin. In recent years, it has been revealed that these components of adrenergic signaling interact with mitochondria in diverse ways. α- and ß-adrenoceptors are reported to contribute to mitochondrial biogenesis, dynamics, and function. Besides, GRK2 is known to be localized to mitochondria, following oxidative stress or ischemic injury, and exerts negative metabolic effects. In this review, we outlined the contributions of these pivotal elements of adrenergic signaling to mitochondrial function. The better understanding of this delicate relationship holds crucial implications for novel therapeutic options to treat cardiovascular pathologies.

Vasculopathy is a generic feature of autoimmune rheumatic disease and there is substantial evidence that endothelial cell dysfunction has a role in pathogenesis and clinical manifestations of this challenging group of diseases. Endothelial cells (EC) are a target for injury and through their essential functional role in vascular homoeostasis, this has significant impact. In addition, the emerging recognition that EC are important regulators of other cell types and can differentiate into other relevant cell types has direct relevance. These aspects are reviewed with a focus on recent published evidence regarding the importance of EC in development, progression and treatment of autoimmune rheumatic disease. The potential role of the adaptive and innate immune system in causing endothelial cell damage, including anti-endothelial cell autoantibodies, will be reviewed. Recent advances in understanding how EC may differentiate into mesenchymal lineages and the interplay between physiological roles in healing or tissue repair and dysfunctional responses in acquired connective tissue disease will be reviewed.

The lethality of heart failure, particularly in the context of post-acute sequelae SARS-CoV-2 infection-related myocarditis, necessitates the discovery of the cellular pathways implicated in cardiovascular disease. We summarize the signaling mechanisms of the catecholamine-binding β-adrenergic receptors (β-ARs), with an emphasis on the role of β-arrestins. β-ARs, a subset of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), canonically propagate signals through heterotrimeric G proteins. However, since their discovery in the late 1980s, β-arrestins have been shown to both (i) quench G protein signaling and (ii) initiate their own independent signaling cascades, which is influenced by posttranslational modifications. β-arrestin-biased agonism by the beta-blocker carvedilol and its allosteric modulation can serve a cardioprotective role. The increasingly labyrinthine nature of GPCR signaling suggests that ligand-dependent β-AR signaling, either stimulated by an agonist or blocked by an antagonist, is selectively enhanced or suppressed by allosteric modulations, which are orchestrated by novel drugs or endogenous posttranslational modifications.

The average lifespan of humans is increasing worldwide, and the percentage of older adults is substantially growing. The adrenergic system is a crucial determinant for the cardiovascular homeostasis during aging. In this short review, we discuss the new insights that emerged concerning the role of adrenergic receptors and relative signaling in the aging of the heart and vasculature with particular emphasis on molecular mechanisms involved. We also examine specific therapeutic interventions that modulate the adrenergic system feasibly counteracting and delaying age-induced pathophysiological changes in cardiovascular function and structure.

Adrenergic receptors (AR) are essential regulators of vascular physiology and are largely used as pharmacological targets. This chapter will review the main roles of the vascular AR in both the endothelium and vascular smooth muscle. We will discuss the ability of ARs to regulate key functions in endothelial and smooth muscle cells and their involvement in several pathologic conditions such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, and heart failure.

Cancer progression involves complex interactions between tumor cells and the surrounding microenvironment. Chronic psychosocial stress and sympathetic nervous system activation lead to abnormal catecholamine release, impacting tumor cells directly and indirectly and fuelling cancer-promoting effects. However, the same adrenergic Receptor (AR) that mediate these effects could also convey exercise-related beneficial changes. Epidemiological studies show conflicting associations between stress, AR inhibitors, and breast cancer (BC) metastatic progression. Adrenergic sympathetic stress triggers sustained inflammatory and hypoxic-related signaling pathways, alters function and distribution of immune cell populations, and remodels blood vessels, leading to immunosuppression and premetastatic site formation. Activated AR initiate feedback loops with tyrosine kinase receptors and chemokine receptors, affecting stem-related transcription factors, pro-inflammatory mediators, angiogenic factors, and energy metabolism regulators, promoting tumor growth and invasion. Understanding molecular mechanisms of agonistic and antagonistic AR ligands and crosstalk with other signaling pathways is crucial for developing effective therapies targeting adrenergic-driven BC progression.