Background: Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 (PCSK9), mainly secreted by the liver and released into the blood, elevates plasma low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol by degrading LDL receptor. Pleiotropic effects of PCSK9 beyond lipid-metabolism have been shown. However, the direct effects of PCSK9 on platelet activation and thrombosis, as well as the underlying mechanisms, still remain unclear. Methods: We detected the direct effects of PCSK9 on agonists-induced platelet aggregation, dense granule ATP release, integrin αIIbβ3 activation, α granule release, spreading, and clot retraction. These studies were complemented by in vivo analysis of FeCl3-injured mouse mesenteric arteriole thrombosis. We also investigated the underlying mechanisms. Using myocardial infarct (MI) model, we explored the effects of PCSK9 on microvascular obstruction and infarct expansion post-MI. Results: PCSK9 directly enhances agonists-induced platelet aggregation, dense granule ATP release, integrin αIIbβ3 activation, P-selection release from α granules, spreading, and clot retraction. In line, PCSK9 enhances in vivo thrombosis in a FeCl3-injured mesenteric arteriole thrombosis mouse model, while PCSK9 inhibitor evolocumab ameliorates its enhancing effects. Mechanism studies revealed that PCSK9 binds to platelet CD36 and thus activates Src kinase and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)- extracellular signal-regulated kinase 5 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase, increases the generation of reactive oxygen species, as well as activates the p38MAPK/cytosolic phospholipase A2/cyclooxygenase-1/thromboxane A 2 signaling pathways downstream of CD36 to enhance platelet activation. Using CD36 knockout mice, we showed the enhancing effects of PCSK9 on platelet activation are CD36 dependent. Consistently and importantly, aspirin abolishes the enhancing effects of PCSK9 on platelet activation and in vivo thrombosis. Finally, we showed that PCSK9 activating platelet CD36 aggravates microvascular obstruction and promotes MI expansion post-MI. Conclusions: PCSK9 in plasma directly enhances platelet activation and in vivo thrombosis, as well as MI expansion post-MI, by binding to platelet CD36 and thus activating the downstream signaling pathways. PCSK9 inhibitors or aspirin abolish the enhancing effects of PCSK9, supporting the use of aspirin in patients with high plasma PCSK9 levels in addition to PCSK9 inhibitors to prevent thrombotic complications.

Chinese sorghums [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] are reputed to have a narrow genetic base, resulting from infrequent introduction of exotic germplasm into China. We have used several different molecular approaches to evaluate diversity and relatedness in a selection of 34 Chinese sorghums. The results indicated that different DNA marker technologies for germplasm assessment yield comparable results, but that a relatively new technique termed inter‐simple sequence repeat amplification (ISSR) was relatively rapid, reproducible, and inexpensive. Extensive diversity was observed within the Chinese sorghums, and all lines could be easily differentiated. Different lines collected from the same locality were found to exhibit particularly high levels of relatedness. Contrary to expectations, improved varieties were found to contain more diversity and to be more different from each other than were the Chinese landraces studied, suggesting recent introduction of non‐Chinese germplasm into these improved materials.

Rationale: Targeting inflammation has been shown to provide clinical benefit in the field of cardiovascular diseases. Although manipulating regulatory T-cell function is an important goal of immunotherapy, the molecules that mediate their suppressive activity remain largely unknown. IL (interleukin)-35, an immunosuppressive cytokine mainly produced by regulatory T cells, is a novel member of the IL-12 family and is composed of an EBI3 (Epstein-Barr virus–induced gene 3) subunit and a p35 subunit. However, the role of IL-35 in infarct healing remains elusive. Objective: This study aimed to determine whether IL-35 signaling is involved in healing and cardiac remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI) and, if so, to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms. Methods and Results: IL-35 subunits (EBI3 and p35), which are mainly expressed in regulatory T cells, were upregulated in mice after MI. After IL-35 inhibition, mice showed impaired infarct healing and aggravated cardiac remodeling, as demonstrated by a significant increase in mortality because of cardiac rupture, decreased wall thickness, and worse cardiac function compared with wild-type MI mice. IL-35 inhibition also led to decreased expression of α-SMA (α-smooth muscle actin) and collagen I/III in the hearts of mice after MI. Pharmacological inhibition of IL-35 suppressed the accumulation of Ly6C low and major histocompatibility complex II low /C-C motif chemokine receptor type 2 − (MHC II low CCR2 − ) macrophages in infarcted hearts. IL-35 activated transcription of CX3CR1 (C-X3-C motif chemokine receptor 1) and TGF (transforming growth factor) β1 in macrophages by inducing GP130 signaling, via IL12Rβ2 and phosphorylation of STAT1 (signal transducer and activator of transcription family) and STAT4 and subsequently promoted Ly6C low macrophage survival and extracellular matrix deposition. Moreover, compared with control MI mice, IL-35–treated MI mice showed increased expression of α-SMA and collagen within scars, correlating with decreased left ventricular rupture rates. Conclusions: IL-35 reduces cardiac rupture, improves wound healing, and attenuates cardiac remodeling after MI by promoting reparative CX3CR1 + Ly6C low macrophage survival.

The transcription factor BTB and CNC homology 1 (Bach1) is expressed in the embryos of mice, but whether Bach1 regulates the self-renewal and early differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) is unknown. We report that the deubiquitinase ubiquitin-specific processing protease 7 (Usp7) is a direct target of Bach1, that Bach1 interacts with Nanog, Sox2, and Oct4, and that Bach1 facilitates their deubiquitination and stabilization via the recruitment of Usp7, thereby maintaining stem cell identity and self-renewal. Bach1 also interacts with polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) and represses mesendodermal gene expression by recruiting PRC2 to the genes’ promoters. The loss of Bach1 in hESCs promotes differentiation toward the mesendodermal germ layers by reducing the occupancy of EZH2 and H3K27me3 in mesendodermal gene promoters and by activating the Wnt/β-catenin and Nodal/Smad2/3 signaling pathways. Our study shows that Bach1 is a key determinant of pluripotency, self-renewal, and lineage specification in hESCs.

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Object: To evaluate the clinical efficacy and safety of α-Lipoic acid (ALA) for critically ill patients with coronavirus disease 2019 .

We conclude that p38α serves as a critical regulator of platelet activation and potential indicator of highly thrombotic lesions and no-reflow, and inhibition of platelet p38α may improve clinical outcomes in subjects with ST-segment-elevation myocardial infarction.

Key Points• MEKK3 regulates platelet activation through ERK1/2 and JNK2.• MEKK3 2/2 mice are protected from microthrombosis and myocardial infarct expansion post-MI.MAPKs play important roles in platelet activation. However, the molecular mechanisms by which MAPKs are regulated in platelets remain largely unknown. Real-time polymerase chain reaction and western blot data showed that MEKK3, a key MAP3K family member, was expressed in human and mouse platelets. Then, megakaryocyte/platelet-specific MEKK3-deletion (MEKK3 2/2 ) mice were developed to elucidate the platelet-related function(s) of MEKK3. We found that agonist-induced aggregation and degranulation were reduced in MEKK3 2/2 platelets in vitro. MEKK3 deficiency significantly impaired integrin aIIbb3-mediated inside-out signaling but did not affect the outside-in signaling.At the molecular level, MEKK3 deficiency led to severely impaired activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2 (ERK1/2) and c-Jun NH 2 -terminal kinase 2 but not p38 or ERK5. In vivo, MEKK3 2/2 mice showed delayed thrombus formation following FeCl 3 -induced carotid artery injury. Interestingly, the tail bleeding time was normal in MEKK3 2/2 mice. Moreover, MEKK3 2/2 mice had fewer microthrombi, reduced myocardial infarction (MI) size, and improved post-MI heart function in a mouse model of MI.These results suggest that MEKK3 plays important roles in platelet MAPK activation and may be used as a new effective target for antithrombosis and prevention of MI expansion.