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Inflammation and Endothelial Dysfunction in Cardio-Cerebrovascular Disease

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A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Immunology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 November 2024) | Viewed by 8567

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Dr. Vittoriano Della Corte

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Internal Medicine and Stroke Care Ward, Department of Health Promotion, Maternal and Infant Care, Internal Medicine and Medical Specialities (PROMISE) “G. D’Alessandro”, University of Palermo, 90127 Palermo, Italy
Interests: internal medicine; arterial stiffness; endothelial dysfunction; vascular ultrasound; blood gas analysis acid-base equilibrium; stroke; cardiovascular diseases; cardiology; phlebology; atherosclerosis
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Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, the role of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction has been central to the understanding and treatment of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. The endothelium is an organ that responds in different ways to the stimuli it receives in order to maintain the correct homeostasis. However, the inflammatory microenvironment creates the conditions for the development of endothelial dysfunction, which then leads to cardio and cerebrovascular events. There has been an increasing number of discoveries in this area, considering the progressive development of innovative methods for the evaluation of endothelial dysfunction and for the study of inflammation.

This Special Issue will cover a selection of papers in the field of inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases. Authors are welcome to contribute original research articles, current review articles and commentaries.

Dr. Vittoriano Della Corte
Guest Editor

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Keywords

endothelial dysfunction
inflammation
cytokines
atherosclerosis
arterial stiffness
stroke
myocardial infarction
cardiovascular risk
microRNA
miRNA

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

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10 pages, 970 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Associations between Various Inflammatory Markers and Carotid Findings in a Voluntary Asymptomatic Population Sample

by Balázs Bence Nyárády, Edit Dósa, László Kőhidai, Éva Pállinger, Renáta Gubán, Ádám Szőnyi, Loretta Zsuzsa Kiss and Zsolt Bagyura

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(17), 9656; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25179656 - 6 Sep 2024

Viewed by 745

Abstract

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and atherosclerosis is the key factor promoting its development. Carotid intima-media thickening and the presence of carotid plaques are important indices of cardiovascular risk. In addition, inflammation is a major and complex factor in the development of atherosclerosis. The relationships between carotid atherosclerosis and certain inflammatory markers have rarely been studied in healthy individuals. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the associations between subclinical carotid atherosclerosis and various inflammatory biomarkers in a large Caucasian population free of evident CVD. In addition to recording study participants’ demographic characteristics, anthropometric characteristics, and atherosclerotic risk factors, laboratory tests were performed to measure levels of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein, and inflammatory cytokines/chemokines, including interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-17A, IL-18, IL-23, IL-33, interferon (IFN)-α2, IFN-γ, tumor necrosis factor-α, and monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)-1. This study included 264 asymptomatic individuals with a median age of 61.7 years (interquartile range, 54.5–67.5 years); 45.7% of participants were male. Participants were divided into two groups according to their carotid status: the normal carotid group, comprising 120 participants; and the pathological carotid group, comprising 144 participants. Compared with the normal carotid group, hypertension and diabetes mellitus were significantly more common and serum levels of HbA1c, IL-8, and MCP-1 were significantly higher in the pathological carotid group. Multivariate regression analysis revealed significant positive associations between pathological carotid findings and serum levels of IL-8 (highest tertile, OR: 2.4, p = 0.030) and MCP-1 (highest tertile, OR: 2.4, p = 0.040). Our results suggest that IL-8 and MCP-1 may serve as early indicators of subclinical atherosclerosis, thereby helping to identify individuals at increased risk of CVD before the onset of clinical symptoms. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Inflammation and Endothelial Dysfunction in Cardio-Cerebrovascular Disease)

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14 pages, 6020 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessing the Impact of Long-Term High-Dose Statin Treatment on Pericoronary Inflammation and Plaque Distribution—A Comprehensive Coronary CTA Follow-Up Study

by Botond Barna Mátyás, Imre Benedek, Nóra Raț, Emanuel Blîndu, Zsolt Parajkó, Theofana Mihăilă and Theodora Benedek

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2024, 25(3), 1700; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms25031700 - 30 Jan 2024

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1718

Abstract

Computed tomography angiography (CTA) has validated the use of pericoronary adipose tissue (PCAT) attenuation as a credible indicator of coronary inflammation, playing a crucial role in coronary artery disease (CAD). This study aimed to evaluate the long-term effects of high-dose statins on PCAT attenuation at coronary lesion sites and changes in plaque distribution. Our prospective observational study included 52 patients (mean age 60.43) with chest pain, a low-to-intermediate likelihood of CAD, who had documented atheromatous plaque through CTA, performed approximately 1 year and 3 years after inclusion. We utilized the advanced features of the CaRi-Heart^® and syngo.via Frontier^® systems to assess coronary plaques and changes in PCAT attenuation. The investigation of changes in plaque morphology revealed significant alterations. Notably, in mixed plaques, calcified portions increased (p < 0.0001), while non-calcified plaque volume (NCPV) decreased (p = 0.0209). PCAT attenuation generally decreased after one year and remained low, indicating reduced inflammation in the following arteries: left anterior descending artery (LAD) (p = 0.0142), left circumflex artery (LCX) (p = 0.0513), and right coronary artery (RCA) (p = 0.1249). The CaRi-Heart^® risk also decreased significantly (p = 0.0041). Linear regression analysis demonstrated a correlation between increased PCAT attenuation and higher volumes of NCPV (p < 0.0001, r = 0.3032) and lipid-rich plaque volume (p < 0.0001, r = 0.3281). Our study provides evidence that high-dose statin therapy significantly reduces CAD risk factors, inflammation, and plaque vulnerability, as evidenced by the notable decrease in PCAT attenuation, a critical indicator of plaque progression. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Inflammation and Endothelial Dysfunction in Cardio-Cerebrovascular Disease)

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15 pages, 3409 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Improving Diastolic and Microvascular Function in Heart Transplantation with Donation after Circulatory Death

by Lars Saemann, Adrian-Iustin Georgevici, Fabio Hoorn, Nitin Gharpure, Gábor Veres, Sevil Korkmaz-Icöz, Matthias Karck, Andreas Simm, Folker Wenzel and Gábor Szabó

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(14), 11562; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms241411562 - 17 Jul 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1295

Abstract

The impact of the machine perfusion of donation after circulatory death (DCD) hearts with the novel Custodiol-N solution on diastolic and coronary microvascular dysfunction is unknown. Porcine DCD-hearts were maintained four hours by perfusion with normothermic blood (DCD-B), hypothermic Custodiol (DCD-C), or Custodiol-N (DCD-CN), followed by one hour of reperfusion with fresh blood, including microvascular and contractile evaluation. In another group (DCD group), one hour of reperfusion, including microvascular and contractile evaluation, was performed without a previous maintenance period (all groups N = 5). We measured diastolic function with a balloon catheter and microvascular perfusion by Laser-Doppler-Technology, resulting in Laser-Doppler-Perfusion (LDP). We performed immunohistochemical staining and gene expression analysis. The developed pressure was improved in DCD-C and DCD-CN. The diastolic pressure decrement (DCD-C: −1093 ± 97 mmHg/s; DCD-CN: −1703 ± 329 mmHg/s; DCD-B: −690 ± 97 mmHg/s; p < 0.05) and relative LDP (DCD-CN: 1.42 ± 0.12; DCD-C: 1.11 ± 0.13; DCD-B: 1.22 ± 0.27) were improved only in DCD-CN. In DCD-CN, the expression of eNOS increased, and ICAM and VCAM decreased. Only in DCD-B compared to DCD, the pathways involved in complement and coagulation cascades, focal adhesion, fluid shear stress, and the IL-6 and IL-17 pathways were upregulated. In conclusion, machine perfusion with Custodiol-N improves diastolic and microvascular function and preserves the microvascular endothelium of porcine DCD-hearts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Inflammation and Endothelial Dysfunction in Cardio-Cerebrovascular Disease)

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Review

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18 pages, 598 KiB

Open AccessReview

Atherosclerosis and Its Related Laboratory Biomarkers

by Vittoriano Della Corte, Federica Todaro, Marco Cataldi and Antonino Tuttolomondo

Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2023, 24(21), 15546; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms242115546 - 24 Oct 2023

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4166

Abstract

Atherosclerosis constitutes a persistent inflammatory ailment, serving as the predominant underlying condition for coronary artery disease (CAD), peripheral artery disease (PAD), and cerebrovascular disease. The progressive buildup of plaques within the walls of medium- and large-caliber arteries characterizes the atherosclerotic process. This accumulation results in significant narrowing that impedes blood flow, leading to critical tissue oxygen deficiency. Spontaneous blockage of thrombotic vessels can precipitate stroke and myocardial infarction, which are complications representing the primary global causes of mortality. Present-day models for predicting cardiovascular risk incorporate conventional risk factors to gauge the likelihood of cardiovascular events over a ten-year span. In recent times, researchers have identified serum biomarkers associated with an elevated risk of atherosclerotic events. Many of these biomarkers, whether used individually or in combination, have been integrated into risk prediction models to assess whether their inclusion enhances predictive accuracy. In this review, we have conducted a comprehensive analysis of the most recently published literature concerning serum biomarkers associated with atherosclerosis. We have explored the potential utility of incorporating these markers in guiding clinical decisions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Inflammation and Endothelial Dysfunction in Cardio-Cerebrovascular Disease)

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