Valvular heart disease leads to ventricular pressure and/or volume overload. Pressure overload leads to fibrosis, which might regress with its resolution, but the limits and details of this reverse remodeling are not known. To gain more insight into the extent and nature of cardiac fibrosis in valve disease, we analyzed needle biopsies taken from the interventricular septum of patients undergoing surgery for valve replacement focusing on the expression and distribution of major extracellular matrix protein involved in this process. Proteomic analysis performed using mass spectrometry revealed an excellent correlation between the expression of collagen type I and III, but there was little correlation with the immunohistochemical staining performed on sister sections, which included antibodies against collagen I, III, fibronectin, sarcomeric actin, and histochemistry for wheat germ agglutinin. Surprisingly, the immunofluorescence intensity did not correlate significantly with the gold standard for fibrosis quantification, which was performed using Picrosirius Red (PSR) staining, unless multiplexed on the same tissue section. There was also little correlation between the immunohistochemical markers and pressure gradient severity. It appears that at least in humans, the immunohistochemical pattern of fibrosis is not clearly correlated with standard Picrosirius Red staining on sister sections or quantitative proteomic data, possibly due to tissue heterogeneity at microscale, comorbidities, or other patient-specific factors. For precise correlation of different types of staining, multiplexing on the same section is the best approach.

• Klíčová slova
• Collagen, Fibronectin, Fibrosis, Pressure overload, Valvular heart disease,
• MeSH
• aortální insuficience metabolismus   patologie   chirurgie   MeSH
• aortální stenóza * metabolismus   patologie   chirurgie   MeSH
• extracelulární matrix - proteiny * metabolismus   analýza   MeSH
• fibróza * metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mezikomorová přepážka patologie   metabolismus   MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• extracelulární matrix - proteiny * MeSH

There are unexplained geographical variations in the incidence of kidney cancer with the high rates reported in Baltic countries, as well as eastern and central Europe. Having access to a large and well-annotated collection of "tumor/non-tumor" pairs of kidney cancer patients from the Czech Republic, Romania, Serbia, UK, and Russia, we aimed to analyze the morphology of non-neoplastic renal tissue in nephrectomy specimens. By applying digital pathology, we performed a microscopic examination of 1012 frozen non-neoplastic kidney tissues from patients with renal cell carcinoma. Four components of renal parenchyma were evaluated and scored for the intensity of interstitial inflammation and fibrosis, tubular atrophy, glomerulosclerosis, and arterial wall thickening, globally called chronic renal parenchymal changes. Moderate or severe changes were observed in 54 (5.3%) of patients with predominance of occurrence in Romania (OR = 2.67, CI 1.07-6.67) and Serbia (OR = 4.37, CI 1.20-15.96) in reference to those from Russia. Further adjustment for comorbidities, tumor characteristics, and stage did not change risk estimates. In multinomial regression model, relative probability of non-glomerular changes was 5.22 times higher for Romania and Serbia compared to Russia. Our findings show that the frequency of chronic renal parenchymal changes, with the predominance of chronic interstitial nephritis pattern, in kidney cancer patients varies by country, significantly more frequent in countries located in central and southeastern Europe where the incidence of kidney cancer has been reported to be moderate to high. The observed association between these pathological features and living in certain geographic areas requires a larger population-based study to confirm this association on a large scale.

• Klíčová slova
• Frozen kidney tissue, Kidney cancer, Microscopy, Non-neoplastic kidney, Renal cell carcinoma, Renal parenchyma,
• MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• fibróza patologie   MeSH
• hodnoty glomerulární filtrace fyziologie   MeSH
• karcinom z renálních buněk patologie   MeSH
• ledviny patologie   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nádory ledvin patologie   MeSH
• nefrektomie metody   MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Evropa MeSH
• Rusko MeSH

T-2 toxin, the most virulent toxin produced by the Fusarium genus, is thought to be the main cause of fatal cardiomyopathy known as Keshan disease. However, the mechanisms of T-2 toxin-induced cardiac toxicity and possible targets for its treatment remain unclear. In the present study, male Wistar rats were administered with 2 mg/kg b. w. T-2 toxin (i.g.) and sacrificed on day 7 after exposure. The hematological indices (CK, LDH) and electrocardiogram were significantly abnormal, the ultrastructure of mitochondria in the heart was changed, and the percentage of collagen area was significantly increased in the T-2 toxin-treated group. Meanwhile, T-2 toxin activated the TGF-β1/Smad2/3 signalling pathway, and also activated PPAR-γ expression in rats and H9C2 cells. Further application of PPAR-γ agonist (pioglitazone) and antagonist (GW9662) in H9C2 cells revealed that the up-regulation of PPAR-γ expression induced by T-2 toxin is a self-preservation phenomenon, and increasing exogenous PPAR-γ can alleviate the increase in TGF-β1 caused by T-2 toxin, thereby playing a role in relieving cardiac fibrosis. These findings for the first time demonstrate that T-2 toxin can regulate the expression of PPAR-γ and that PPAR-γ has the potential to serve as an effective therapeutic target in T-2 toxin-induced cardiac fibrosis of rats.

• Klíčová slova
• Cardiac fibrosis, PPAR-γ, T-2 toxin, TGF-β1, Therapeutic target,
• MeSH
• anilidy farmakologie   MeSH
• buněčné linie MeSH
• fibróza chemicky indukované   komplikace   metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• kardiomyopatie chemicky indukované   komplikace   metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• kolagen metabolismus   MeSH
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• myokard metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• pioglitazon farmakologie   MeSH
• potkani Wistar MeSH
• PPAR gama agonisté   antagonisté a inhibitory   metabolismus   MeSH
• signální transdukce účinky léků   MeSH
• T-2 toxin toxicita   MeSH
• transformující růstový faktor beta1 metabolismus   MeSH
• upregulace účinky léků   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• 2-chloro-5-nitrobenzanilide MeSH Prohlížeč
• anilidy MeSH
• kolagen MeSH
• pioglitazon MeSH
• PPAR gama MeSH
• PPAR gamma, rat MeSH Prohlížeč
• T-2 toxin MeSH
• transformující růstový faktor beta1 MeSH

Liver stiffness is a reliable non-invasive predictor of Hepatic Venous Pressure Gradient (HVPG) above 10 mm Hg. However, it failed to predict higher thresholds of HVPG. Our aim was to investigate whether liver stiffness and selected previously published non-invasive blood biomarkers could predict higher HVPG thresholds in liver transplant candidates without ongoing alcohol use. One hundred and nine liver transplant candidates with liver cirrhosis of various aetiologies underwent direct HVPG measurement, liver stiffness measurement by 2D shear-wave elastography (Aixplorer Multiwave, Supersonic Imagine, France) and assessment of blood HVPG biomarkers (osteopontin, VCAM-1, IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1ra/IL-1F3 and ELF score). The correlation between liver stiffness and HVPG was linear up to 30 mm Hg of HVPG (r = 0.765, p < 0.0001). The regression lines had similar slopes for HVPG values below and above 16 mm Hg (p > 0.05) and the correlation in patients with HVPG <16 mm Hg (r = 0.456, p = 0.01) was similar to patients with HVPG ≥ 16 mm Hg (r = 0.499, p < 0.0001). The correlation was similar in the subgroup patients with alcoholic (r = 0.718, p < 0.0001), NASH (r = 0.740, p = 0.008), cryptogenic (r = 0.648, p = 0,0377), cholestatic and autoimmune (r = 0.706, p < 0.0001) and viral cirrhosis (r = 0.756, p < 0.0001). Liver stiffness distinguished patients with HVPG above 16, and 20 mm Hg with AUROCs 0.90243, and 0.86824, sensitivity 0.7656, and 0.7027, and specificity 0.9333, and 0.8750. All studied blood biomarkers correlated better with liver stiffness than with HVPG and their AUROCs did not exceed 0.8 at both HVPG thresholds. Therefore, a composite predictor superior to liver stiffness could not be established. We conclude that liver stiffness is a clinically reliable predictor of higher HVPG thresholds in non-drinking subjects with advanced liver cirrhosis.

• MeSH
• biologické markery krev   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• elastografie metody   MeSH
• fibróza patologie   MeSH
• jaterní cirhóza patologie   MeSH
• játra patologie   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• lineární modely MeSH
• portální hypertenze patologie   MeSH
• portální tlak fyziologie   MeSH
• prospektivní studie MeSH
• pružnost fyziologie   MeSH
• senioři nad 80 let MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• senzitivita a specificita MeSH
• venae hepaticae patologie   MeSH
• venózní tlak fyziologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři nad 80 let MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Česká republika MeSH
• Názvy látek
• biologické markery MeSH

Inflammatory aortic diseases are broadly classified into three categories according to the degree of inflammation: atherosclerosis, atherosclerosis with excessive inflammation, and aortitis/periaortitis. This paper presents a case of a 39-year old man with aneurysmal dilatation of thoracic aorta and aortic valve insufficiency. The aortic wall showed thickening and wrinkled "tree bark" appearance as well as apparent scarring of the intima. Histological examination revealed intimal hyperplasia, a granulomatous/giant cell pattern in the inner tunica media, a few epithelioid macrophages, abundant chronic lymphoplasmacytic and histiocytic inflammation and discrete fibrinoid necrosis. The histological findings were indicative of Horton's disease, but no typical clinical features were present. The case illustrates the difficulties involved in diagnosing inflammatory aortic diseases where it may be challenging to arrive at a specific diagnosis despite the knowledge of medical history, and available macroscopic and histological findings.

• Klíčová slova
• Aortic aneurysm, Giant cell arteritis, Horton’s disease, Inflammatory aortic diseases, Non-infectious aortitis,
• MeSH
• aneurysma hrudní aorty patologie   MeSH
• aorta patologie   MeSH
• aortální insuficience patologie   MeSH
• aterosklerotický plát patologie   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• dysfunkce levé srdeční komory etiologie   MeSH
• fibróza patologie   MeSH
• hyperplazie MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• makrofágy patologie   MeSH
• myokard patologie   MeSH
• nemoci koronárních tepen patologie   MeSH
• obrovskobuněčná arteritida patologie   MeSH
• tunica media patologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• kazuistiky MeSH

Circulating miRNAs have been proposed as the effective diagnostic biomarkers for muscular fibrosis-associated diseases. However, circulating biomarkers for early diagnosis of contracture muscles are limited in gluteal muscle contracture (GMC) patients. Here we sought to explore the abnormally expressed miRNAs in plasma and contraction bands of GMC patients. The results showed miR-29a-3p expression in plasma and contraction bands tissue was significantly reduced in GMC patients compared with normal control. Cell viability and levels of proliferation-associated protein cyclin D1 and cyclin-dependent-kinase 2 (CDK2) were powerfully inhibited by miR-29a mimics and enhanced by miR-29a inhibitor compared with negative control. Furthermore, miR-29a mimics effectively impeded, while miR-29a inhibitor enhanced the expression of collagen I and collagen III, followed by the secretion of transforming growth factor beta1 (TGF-beta1), TGF-beta3 and connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) in primary human contraction bands (CB) fibroblasts. The miR-29a-3p negatively regulated the expression of TGF-beta1 through binding to the 3´ UTR region of SERPINH1 (encoding heat shock protein HSP47), but had no effect on Smad2 activity. The miR-29a-3p was inversely correlated with HSP47 in contraction bands tissue from GMC patients. Collectively, miR-29a was notably depressed and regulated cell viability and fibrosis by directly targeting HSP47 in GMC, which suggest that circulating miR-29a might be a potential biomarker for early diagnosis and provides a novel therapeutic target for GMC.

• MeSH
• biologické markery metabolismus   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• fibroblasty metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• fibróza genetika   patologie   prevence a kontrola   MeSH
• hýždě patologie   MeSH
• kontraktura genetika   patologie   prevence a kontrola   MeSH
• kultivované buňky MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mikro RNA genetika   MeSH
• proteiny tepelného šoku HSP47 genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• studie případů a kontrol MeSH
• svaly metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• transformující růstový faktor beta1 genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• viabilita buněk fyziologie   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• biologické markery MeSH
• mikro RNA MeSH
• MIRN29a microRNA, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• proteiny tepelného šoku HSP47 MeSH
• SERPINH1 protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• TGFB1 protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• transformující růstový faktor beta1 MeSH

This study aimed to investigate the anti-fibrotic effects of ghrelin in isoproterenol (ISO)-induced myocardial fibrosis and the underlying mechanism. Sprague-Dawley rats were randomized to control, ISO, and ISO + ghrelin groups. ISO (2 mg/kg per day, subcutaneous) or vehicle was administered once daily for 7 days, then ghrelin (100 microg/kg per day, subcutaneous) was administered once daily for the next 3 weeks. Ghrelin treatment greatly improved the cardiac function of ISO-treated rats. Ghrelin also decreased plasma brain natriuretic peptide level and ratios of heart weight to body weight and left ventricular weight to body weight. Ghrelin significantly reduced myocardial collagen area and hydroxyproline content, accompanied by decreased mRNA levels of collagen type I and III. Furthermore, ghrelin increased plasma level of growth differentiation factor 15 (GDF15) and GDF15 mRNA and protein levels in heart tissues, which were significantly decreased with ISO alone. The phosphorylation of Akt at Ser473 and GSK-3beta at Ser9 was decreased with ISO, and ghrelin significantly reversed the downregulation of p-Akt and p-GSK-3beta. Mediated by GDF15, ghrelin could attenuate ISO-induced myocardial fibrosis via Akt-GSK-3beta signaling.

• MeSH
• agonisté adrenergních beta-receptorů farmakologie   MeSH
• fibróza chemicky indukované   farmakoterapie   patologie   MeSH
• ghrelin aplikace a dávkování   MeSH
• isoprenalin farmakologie   MeSH
• kardiomyopatie chemicky indukované   farmakoterapie   metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• modely nemocí na zvířatech MeSH
• myokard metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• potkani Sprague-Dawley MeSH
• protoonkogenní proteiny c-akt metabolismus   MeSH
• růstový diferenciační faktor 15 metabolismus   MeSH
• srdce účinky léků   patofyziologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• krysa rodu Rattus MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• agonisté adrenergních beta-receptorů MeSH
• Gdf15 protein, rat MeSH Prohlížeč
• ghrelin MeSH
• isoprenalin MeSH
• protoonkogenní proteiny c-akt MeSH
• růstový diferenciační faktor 15 MeSH

BACKGROUND: Polyomavirus BK (BKV) infection of the renal allograft causes destructive tissue injury with inflammation and subsequent fibrosis. METHODS: Using a prospective cohort of patients after kidney transplantation performed between 2003 and 2012, we investigated the role of BKV viraemia in the development and progression of interstitial fibrosis and tubular atrophy (IFTA). The primary outcome was moderate-to-severe IFTA assessed by protocol biopsy at 36 months. RESULTS: A total of 207 consecutive recipients were enrolled. Of these, 57 (28%) developed BKV viraemia with 10 (5%) cases of polyomavirus-associated nephropathy (PVAN). Transient (<3 months) BKV viraemia occurred in 70% of patients, and persistent (≥3 months) BKV viraemia in 30%. A high viral load (≥10 000 copies/mL) was detected in 18% and a low viral load (<10 000 copies/mL) in 61%, while the viral load could not be determined in 21%. Moderate-to-severe IFTA was significantly increased in high [71%; odds ratio (OR) = 12.1; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.62-90.0; P = 0.015] or persistent BKV viraemia (67%; OR = 6.33; 95% CI 1.19-33.7; P = 0.031) with corresponding rise in 'interstitial fibrosis + tubular atrophy' scores. Only patients with transient low BKV viraemia showed similar incidence and progression of IFTA to the no-BKV group. Persistent low BKV viraemia was uncommon yet the progression of fibrosis was significant. Only recipients with PVAN experienced inferior graft survival at 5 years. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that only transient low BKV viraemia does not negatively affect the progression of allograft fibrosis in contrast to excessive risk of severe fibrosis after high or persistent BKV viraemia.

• Klíčová slova
• BK polyomavirus, BKV viraemia, fibrosis, renal transplantation, viral load,
• MeSH
• fibróza etiologie   patologie   MeSH
• homologní transplantace MeSH
• infekce onkogenními viry komplikace   virologie   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nemoci ledvin etiologie   patologie   MeSH
• polyomavirové infekce komplikace   virologie   MeSH
• přežívání štěpu MeSH
• progrese nemoci MeSH
• prospektivní studie MeSH
• replikace viru MeSH
• transplantace ledvin škodlivé účinky   MeSH
• viremie komplikace   virologie   MeSH
• virová nálož * MeSH
• virus BK izolace a purifikace   patogenita   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• klinické zkoušky MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a prevalent cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. A hallmark of CKD progression is renal fibrosis characterized by excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. In this study, we aimed to investigate the correlation of the urinary proteome classifier CKD273 and individual urinary peptides with the degree of fibrosis. In total, 42 kidney biopsies and urine samples were examined. The percentage of fibrosis per total tissue area was assessed in Masson trichrome stained kidney tissues. The urinary proteome was analysed by capillary electrophoresis coupled to mass spectrometry. CKD273 displayed a significant and positive correlation with the degree of fibrosis (Rho = 0.430, P = 0.0044), while the routinely used parameters (glomerular filtration rate, urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio and urine protein-to-creatinine ratio) did not (Rho = -0.222; -0.137; -0.070 and P = 0.16; 0.39; 0.66, respectively). We identified seven fibrosis-associated peptides displaying a significant and negative correlation with the degree of fibrosis. All peptides were collagen fragments, suggesting that these may be causally related to the observed accumulation of ECM in the kidneys. CKD273 and specific peptides are significantly associated with kidney fibrosis; such an association could not be detected by other biomarkers for CKD. These non-invasive fibrosis-related biomarkers can potentially be implemented in future trials.

• MeSH
• chronická renální insuficience patologie   moč   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• elektroforéza kapilární MeSH
• fibróza patologie   moč   MeSH
• hmotnostní spektrometrie MeSH
• kolagen moč   MeSH
• ledviny patologie   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• peptidy moč   MeSH
• tekutá biopsie metody   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• multicentrická studie MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• kolagen MeSH
• peptidy MeSH

Fibrosis with excessive amounts of type I collagen is a hallmark of many solid tumours, and fibrosis is a promising target in cancer therapy, but tools for its non-invasive quantification are missing. Here we used magnetic resonance imaging with a gadolinium-based probe targeted to type I collagen (EP-3533) to image and quantify fibrosis in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. An orthotopic syngeneic mouse model resulted in tumours with 2.3-fold higher collagen level compared to healthy pancreas. Animals were scanned at 4.7 T before, during and up to 60 min after i.v. injection of EP-3533, or of its non-binding isomer EP-3612. Ex-vivo quantification of gadolinium showed significantly higher uptake of EP-3533 compared to EP-3612 in tumours, but not in surrounding tissue (blood, muscle). Uptake of EP-3533 visualized in T1-weighted MRI correlated well with spatial distribution of collagen determined by second harmonic generation imaging. Differences in the tumour pharmacokinetic profiles of EP-3533 and EP-3612 were utilized to distinguish specific binding to tumour collagen from non-specific uptake. A model-free pharmacokinetic measurement based on area under the curve was identified as a robust imaging biomarker of fibrosis. Collagen-targeted molecular MRI with EP-3533 represents a new tool for non-invasive visualization and quantification of fibrosis in tumour tissue.

• MeSH
• biologické markery metabolismus   MeSH
• duktální karcinom slinivky břišní metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• fibróza metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• gadolinium metabolismus   MeSH
• kolagen metabolismus   MeSH
• kontrastní látky metabolismus   MeSH
• magnetická rezonanční tomografie metody   MeSH
• modely nemocí na zvířatech MeSH
• molekulární zobrazování metody   MeSH
• myši MeSH
• nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
• nádory slinivky břišní metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural MeSH
• Názvy látek
• biologické markery MeSH
• gadolinium MeSH
• kolagen MeSH
• kontrastní látky MeSH