The use of doxorubicin (Dox) in cancer patients carries the risk of cardiotoxicity via an increase in oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and disturbed endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homeostasis in cardiomyocytes. The present study explores which of the ER transmembrane sensors is involved in Dox-induced apoptosis and whether interleukin-10 (IL-10) has any mitigating effect. There was a time-related increase in apoptosis in cardiomyocytes exposed to 5.43 µg/mL Dox for 0 to 48 h. Dox treatment for 24 h significantly upregulated glucose-regulated proteins 78 and 94, protein disulfide isomerase, cleavage of activating transcription factor 6α, and X-box binding protein 1. These Dox-induced changes in ER stress proteins as well as apoptosis were blunted by IL-10 (10 ng/mL). In Dox-exposed cardiomyocytes, IL-10 also promoted expression of protein kinase-like endoplasmic reticulum kinase and inositol-requiring kinase 1α, which helped in maintaining ER homeostasis. Additionally, under Dox-treatment, IL-10 downregulated caspase-12 activation as well as phosphorylation of c-JUN NH2-terminal kinase, thereby promoting cardiomyocyte survival. IL-10 was able to reduce the overexpression of mitochondrial apoptotic proteins caspase-3 as well as Bax, which were upregulated upon Dox treatment. Thus, a reduction in Dox-induced ER stress as well as apoptosis through IL-10 may provide a significant benefit in improving cardiac function.

The ‘no-reflow’ phenomenon (NRP) after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is a serious complication among acute ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients. Herein, a comprehensive lipidomics approach was used to quantify over 300 distinct molecular species in circulating plasma from 126 patients with STEMI before and after primary PCI. Our analysis showed that three lipid classes: phosphatidylcholine (PC), alkylphosphatidylcholine (PC(O)), and sphingomyelin (SM), were significantly elevated (p < 0.05) in no-reflow patients before primary PCI. The levels of individual fatty acids and total fatty acid levels were significantly lower (p < 0.05) in no-reflow subjects after PCI. The grouping of patients based on ECG ST-segment resolution (STR) also demonstrated the same trend, confirming the possible role of these differential lipids in the setting of no-reflow. Sphingomyelin species, SM 41:1 and SM 41:2, was invariably positively correlated with corrected TIMI frame count (CTFC) at pre-PCI and post-PCI. The plasma levels of SM 42:1 exhibited an inverse association (p < 0.05) consistently with tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) at pre-PCI and post-PCI. In conclusion, we identified plasma lipid profiles that distinguish individuals at risk of no-reflow and provided novel insights into how dyslipidemia may contribute to NRP after primary PCI.

Background: Despite restoration of systemic and pulmonary circulation and normalized oxygen saturation, patients with Fontan circulation experience frailty, exercise intolerance, and impaired exercise hemodynamics. Altered cytokine-chemokine profiles have been reported, but their relationship with Fontan pathophysiology remains poorly defined. Methods: Adult Fontan patients and matched controls were assessed for frailty, cardiopulmonary exercise capacity, and resting/exercise-augmented hemodynamics. Plasma cytokine-chemokine concentrations were measured using multiplex ELISA. Results: Twenty Fontan patients (mean age 28.8 ± 9.8 years; 35% female) and 20 controls (29.7 ± 6.0 years; 30% female) were studied. Fontan patients had slower 5× sit-to-stand times (9.6 ± 3.1 vs. 5.7 ± 1.3 sec; p<0.0001), lower VO₂max (% predicted), and reduced stroke index, cardiac index, and cardiac power index. TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IFN-γ, IL-8, IP-10, MCP-1, and SDF-1α were elevated in Fontan patients, while IL-10 and MIP-1α were not different. SDF-1α and IP-10 correlated with frailty, impaired oxygen uptake, and hemodynamic parameters. Conclusion: Elevated SDF-1α and IP-10 are associated with frailty and impaired exercise hemodynamics in Fontan patients. These novel findings suggest a role for inflammation in Fontan-associated dysfunction and warrant further investigation.

Shigellosis, caused by Shigella is the most common cause of bacillary dysentery. The disease is associated with high morbidity and mortality rate owing to its multiple drug resistance. Hence recovery from the disease would primarily depend on the development of an effective immune-modulator for strong mucosal immune response. The role of cellular immunity may be a critical factor in protection against shigellosis as Shigella remains an intracellular pathogen during most of its life-cycle. Development of a potent immunomodulator may provide strong and long-lasting immunity to shigellosis. In this review, we have attempted to highlight the disease dimension and its deviation due to the effect of various Shigella surface antigens that would help in the development of an effective immune response. Cellular innate immune modulation will be a new generation target for the development of mucosal candidate vaccines where proper receptor activation such as Toll-Like Receptors (TLRs), Cytokine Receptors (CyRs) and/or T-Cell Receptors (TCRs) on the host cell could be aimed at producing mucosal immunity. An effort has been made to better understand the effect of these immunomodulators against shigellosis by way of modulating the host immune mechanism to Shigella outer membrane component.