SummaryThe molecular basis of signal-dependent transcriptional activation has been extensively studied in macrophage polarization, but our understanding remains limited regarding the molecular determinants of repression. Here we show that IL-4-activated STAT6 transcription factor is required for the direct transcriptional repression of a large number of genes during in vitro and in vivo alternative macrophage polarization. Repression results in decreased lineage-determining transcription factor, p300, and RNA polymerase II binding followed by reduced enhancer RNA expression, H3K27 acetylation, and chromatin accessibility. The repressor function of STAT6 is HDAC3 dependent on a subset of IL-4-repressed genes. In addition, STAT6-repressed enhancers show extensive overlap with the NF-κB p65 cistrome and exhibit decreased responsiveness to lipopolysaccharide after IL-4 stimulus on a subset of genes. As a consequence, macrophages exhibit diminished inflammasome activation, decreased IL-1β production, and pyroptosis. Thus, the IL-4-STAT6 signaling pathway establishes an alternative polarization-specific epigenenomic signature resulting in dampened macrophage responsiveness to inflammatory stimuli.

Osteogenic differentiation of multipotent mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) plays a crucial role in bone remodeling. Numerous studies have described the deleterious effect of iron overload on bone density and microarchitecture. Excess iron decreases osteoblast activity, leading to impaired extracellular matrix (ECM) mineralization. Additionally, iron overload facilitates osteoclast differentiation and bone resorption. These processes contribute to iron overload-associated bone loss. In this study we investigated the effect of iron on osteogenic differentiation of human bone marrow MSCs (BMSCs), the third player in bone remodeling. We induced osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs in the presence or absence of iron (0-50μmol/L) and examined ECM mineralization, Ca content of the ECM, mRNA and protein expressions of the osteogenic transcription factor runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), and its targets osteocalcin (OCN) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). Iron dose-dependently attenuated ECM mineralization and decreased the expressions of Runx2 and OCN. Iron accomplished complete inhibition of osteogenic differentiation of BMSCs at 50μmol/L concentration. We demonstrated that in response to iron BMSCs upregulated the expression of ferritin. Administration of exogenous ferritin mimicked the anti-osteogenic effect of iron, and blocked the upregulation of Runx2, OCN and ALP. Iron overload in mice was associated with elevated ferritin and decreased Runx2 mRNA levels in compact bone osteoprogenitor cells. The inhibitory effect of iron is specific toward osteogenic differentiation of MSCs as neither chondrogenesis nor adipogenesis were influenced by excess iron. We concluded that iron and ferritin specifically inhibit osteogenic commitment and differentiation of BMSCs both in vitro and in vivo.

HE4 concentrations may be elevated in CKD patients with no ovarian and lung cancer. Thus, HE4 results should be interpreted cautiously in women with renal disorders.

Activated platelets are key components in many arterial disorders. P-selectin is an activation-dependent platelet receptor, which is also identified in endothelial cells. Together with E- and L-selectin it constitutes the selectin family. These transmembrane proteins have continued to attract great interest as they support rapid and reversible cell adhesion in flow systems and thus play an essential role in multicellular interactions during thrombosis and inflammation. Similarly to other lectins, selectins bind to different glycoconjugates with varying affinities. Protein ligands, equipped with the appropriate carbohydrate and sulfate moieties for P-selectin binding, have been identified in normal peripheral blood leukocytes and several non-hematopoietic organs, as well as on cancer cells. For diagnostic purposes, P-selectin can readily be detected on the platelet surface by flow cytometry and by ELISA as a soluble ligand in the plasma. Along with other markers, these data can be used in the assessment of platelet activation status. Such results bear clinical significance since P-selectin has been implicated in the pathogenesis of wide-spread disorders including coronary artery disease, stroke, diabetes and malignancy.

Protein kinase C (PKC) isoforms have been implicated in several platelet functional responses, but the contribution of individual isoforms has not been thoroughly evaluated. Novel PKC isoform PKC-is activated by glycoprotein VI (GPVI) and protease-activated receptor (PAR) agonists, but not by adenosine diphosphate. In human platelets, PKC--selective antagonistic (RACK; receptor for activated C kinase) peptide significantly inhibited GPVI and PARinduced aggregation, dense and ␣-granule secretion at low agonist concentrations. Consistently, in murine platelets lacking PKC-, platelet aggregation and secretion were also impaired. PKCmediated phosphorylation of tSNARE protein syntaxin-4 was strongly reduced in human platelets pretreated with PKC-RACK peptide, which may contribute to the lower levels of granule secretion when PKC-function is lost. IntroductionPlatelet activation plays an important role in hemostasis, and the abnormal activation of platelets leads to thrombosis. 1 After circulating platelets are exposed to collagen-rich subendothelium at the site of vascular injury, platelets become activated, release granule contents, and generate thrombin and the lipid mediator thromboxane A 2 (TXA 2 ). 2,3 Secreted adenosine diphosphate (ADP), serotonin, and TXA 2 amplify the initial stimulus in a positive feedback activation of platelets. 2,3 In addition, ␣-granule proteins, such as P-selectin, mediating adhesive interactions between platelets, leukocytes, and endothelial cells, play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of thrombosis and inflammation. 4 Glycoprotein VI (GPVI) and G-protein-coupled protease-activated receptors (PARs) are 2 dominant signaling receptors that mediate many of the important functional responses in platelets. [1][2][3] There are significant similarities in GPVI and PAR signaling, as phospholipase C (PLC) is activated by both pathways, which results in the generation of inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (IP3) and diacylglycerol (DAG). IP3 mediates the release of Ca 2ϩ from intracellular stores, whereas DAG causes direct protein kinase C (PKC) activation. 3,5 Platelet aggregation requires the ␣ IIb ␤ 3 receptor to undergo a conformational change from a low-to a high-affinity state to bind ligands, such as fibrinogen, which is considered inside-out signaling. On the other hand, the pathway of outside-in signaling is induced by ligand binding to ␣ IIb ␤ 3 . 6,7 Human platelets express several PKC isoforms: ␣, ␤, , ⑀, ␦, , and . 8,9 Many functional responses, including platelet secretion, aggregation, and actin reorganization, have been shown to be positively regulated by PKC isoforms. 10 PKC-, as a member of PKC novel subfamily, is Ca 2ϩ -insensitive but This isoform contains a carboxyl-terminal catalytic domain with 2 conserved regions, C3 and C4, which are essential for catalytic activity and substrate binding, but lacks the calcium-binding C2 region. 12,13 After activation, PKC-is phosphorylated at threonine, serine (autophosphorylation site), and tyrosine residues. Among these, phosphorylation ...

Megakaryocyte (MK)-derived miRNAs have been detected in platelets. Here, we analysed the expression of platelet and circulating miR-223, miR-26b, miR-126 and miR-140 that might be altered with their target mRNAs in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2). MiRNAs were isolated from leukocyte-depleted platelets and plasma samples obtained from 28 obese DM2, 19 non-DM obese and 23 healthy individuals. The effect of hyperglycaemia on miRNAs was also evaluated in MKs using MEG-01 and K562 cells under hyperglycaemic conditions after 8 hours up to four weeks. Quantitation of mature miRNA, pre-miRNAs and target mRNA levels (P2RY12 and SELP) were measured by RT-qPCR. To prove the association of miR-26b and miR-140 with SELP (P-selectin) mRNA level, overexpression or inhibition of these miRNAs in MEG-01 MKs was performed using mimics or anti-miRNAs, respectively. The contribution of calpain substrate Dicer to modulation of miRNAs was studied by calpain inhibition. Platelet activation was evaluated via surface P-selectin by flow cytometry. Mature and pre-forms of investigated miRNAs were significantly reduced in DM2, and platelet P2RY12 and SELP mRNA levels were elevated by two-fold at increased platelet activation compared to controls. Significantly blunted miRNA expressions were observed by hyperglycaemia in MEG-01 and K562-MK cells versus baseline values, while the manipulation of miR-26b and miR-140 expression affected SELP mRNA level. Calpeptin pretreatment restored miRNA levels in hyperglycaemic MKs. Overall, miR-223, miR-26b, miR-126 and miR-140 are expressed at a lower level in platelets and MKs in DM2 causing upregulation of P2RY12 and SELP mRNAs that may contribute to adverse platelet function.

Endothelial cells express surface angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), the main receptor for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) that promotes the infection of endothelial cells showing activation and damage. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) subjects showed a critical imbalance in the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system with the upregulated expression of ACE2. Recently, intravenous recombinant ACE2 was reported as an effective therapy in severe COVID-19 by blocking the viral entry to target cells. Here, we present a case of a critically ill COVID-19 patient with acute respiratory distress syndrome where circulating ACE2 was first measured to monitor disease prognosis. ACE2 activity increased about 40-fold over the normal range and showed a distinct time course as compared to 2-3-fold higher levels of endothelium biomarkers. Although the level of soluble E-selectin followed the clinical status of our patient similar to ferritin and IL-6 levels, the dramatic rise in serum ACE2 activity may act as an endogenous nonspecific protective mechanism against SARS-CoV-2 infection that preceded the recovery of our patient.

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