Both left ventricular (LV) and left atrial (LA) dysfunction and remodelling contribute to adverse outcomes in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). Danicamtiv is a novel, cardiac myosin activator that enhances cardiomyocyte contraction.

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G-protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) 48, also known as leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein-coupled receptor (LGR) 4, is an orphan receptor belonging to the GPCR superfamily, which plays an important role in the development of various organs and multiple cancers. However, the function of GPCR48/LGR4 in prostate cancer has not been fully investigated. Herein, GPCR48/LGR4 was overexpressed and silenced in prostate cancer cells via plasmid and shRNA transfection, respectively. The expression of GPCR48/LGR4 in mRNA and protein levels was analyzed using RT-qPCR and Western blotting, respectively. Subsequently, we demonstrated the effects of GPCR48/LGR4 on the migration, invasion, proliferation and apoptosis of prostate cancer cells, including Du145 and PC-3 cells. Next, we investigated the relationship between GPCR48/LGR4 and phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt signaling pathway. The results showed that the overexpression of GPCR48/LGR4 was associated with the up-regulation of Akt, a key effector of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway, which meantime up-regulated the expression of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) and glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β), while down-regulated forkhead box, class O (FOXO), all of whom are the downstream targets of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Hence, the results suggested that GPCR48/LGR4 may regulate prostate cancer cells and tumor growth via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway and could provide a better therapeutic target for the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer.

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Voltage-gated chloride channels (ClCs) are important mediators of cellular ion homeostasis and volume regulation. In an earlier study, we used immunohistochemical, Western blot, and reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) approaches to identify ClC-K variants in types II, IV, and V fibrocytes of the rodent spiral ligament. We have now confirmed the expression of ClC-K2 in these cells by in situ hybridization. All three of these fibrocyte subtypes are thought to be involved in cochlear K + recycling; thus, it is important to understand the precise mechanisms regulating their membrane conductance and the role played by ClCs in this process. In this study, we report the characterization of a secondary cell line derived from explants from the region of the rat spiral ligament underlying and inferior to the spiral prominence. The cultured cells were immunopositive for vimentin, Na,K/ATPase, Na,K,Cl-cotransporter, carbonic anhydrase isozyme II, and creatine kinase isozyme BB, but not for cytokeratins or Ca/ATPase, an immunostaining profile indicative of the type IV subtype. Evaluation of the cultures by RT-PCR and Western blot analysis confirmed the presence of both ClC-2 and -K2. Whole-cell patch clamp recordings identified two biophysically distinct Cl _ currents in the cultured cells. One, an inwardly rectifying Cl _ current activated by hyperpolarization or decreasing extracellular pH corresponded with the properties of ClC-2. The other, a weak outwardly rectifying Cl _ current regulated by extracellular pH, Cl _ , and Ca 2+ resembled the channel characteristics of ClC-K2 when expressed in Xenopus oocytes. These findings suggest that at least two functionally different chloride channels are involved in regulating membrane anion conductance in cultured type IV spiral ligament fibrocytes.

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Objectives Most bone fracture heals through enchondral bone formation that relies on the involvement of periosteal progenitor cells. However, the identity of periosteal progenitor cells and the regulatory mechanism of their proliferation and differentiation remain unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate whether Gli1‐CreERT2 can identify a population of murine periosteal progenitor cells and the role of TGF‐β signalling in periosteal progenitor cells on fracture healing. Materials and methods Double heterozygous Gli1‐CreERT2;Rosa26‐tdTomatoflox/wt mice were sacrificed at different time points for tracing the fate of Gli1+ cells in both intact and fracture bone. Gli1‐CreERT2‐mediated Tgfbr2 knockout (Gli1‐CreERT2;Tgfbr2flox/flox) mice were subjected to fracture surgery. At 4, 7, 10, 14 and 21 days post‐surgery, tibia samples were harvested for tissue analyses including μCT, histology, real‐time PCR and immunofluorescence staining. Results Through cell lineage‐tracing experiments, we have revealed that Gli1‐CreERT2 can be used to identify a subpopulation of periosteal progenitor cells in vivo that persistently reside in periosteum and contribute to osteochondral elements during fracture repair. During the healing process, TGF‐β signalling is continually activated in the reparative Gli1+ periosteal cells. Conditional knockout of Tgfbr2 in these cells leads to a delayed and impaired enchondral bone formation, at least partially due to the reduced proliferation and chondrogenic and osteogenic differentiation of Gli1+ periosteal cells. Conclusions TGF‐β signalling plays an essential role on fracture repair via regulating enchondral bone formation process of Gli1+ periosteal cells.