Ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is an inevitable consequence of organ transplant procedure and associated with acute and chronic organ rejection in transplantation. IRI leads to various forms of programmed cell death, which worsens tissue damage and accelerates transplant rejection. We recently demonstrated that necroptosis participates in murine cardiac microvascular endothelial cell (MVEC) death and murine cardiac transplant rejection. However, MVEC death under a more complex IRI model has not been studied. In this study, we found that simulating IRI conditions in vitro by hypoxia, reoxygenation and treatment with inflammatory cytokines induced necroptosis in MVECs. Interestingly, the apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) translocated to the nucleus during MVEC necroptosis, which is regulated by the mitochondrial permeability molecule cyclophilin D (CypD). Furthermore, CypD deficiency in donor cardiac grafts inhibited AIF translocation and mitigated graft IRI and rejection (n = 7; p = 0.002). Our studies indicate that CypD and AIF play significant roles in MVEC necroptosis and cardiac transplant rejection following IRI. Targeting CypD and its downstream AIF may be a plausible approach to inhibit IRI-caused cardiac damage and improve transplant survival.
BACKGROUND
Paragangliomas (PGLs) are rare neoplasms that may be associated with hereditary PGL syndromes and variable risk of metastasis. Middle ear adenomas are extremely rare tumors with no known hereditary predisposition and extremely low risk of metastasis. Although often easily differentiated, they may share clinical and pathological features that misdirect and confuse the diagnosis.
OBSERVATIONS
The authors discussed a 35-year-old woman with left-sided hearing loss and bleeding from the external ear canal who presented to an outside hospital. She underwent resection of a middle ear and mastoid mass, initially diagnosed as a middle ear adenoma with neuroendocrine features, with later mastoidectomy and ligation of the sigmoid sinus with microsurgical excision of persistent tumor in the jugular foramen and temporal bone. Histopathologically, her tumor was vascular, composed of benign-appearing epithelioid cells with “salt and pepper” neuroendocrine chromatin arranged in vague nests. Lesional cells were GATA3-immunopositive, glucagon-negative, and succinate dehydrogenase-immunonegative, consistent with PGL rather than middle ear adenoma, and required further workup for hereditary PGL syndromes.
LESSONS
This case demonstrates potential challenges in differentiating a PGL from a middle ear adenoma. The authors offer clinical, histopathological, and imaging principles to aid in diagnosis and workup.
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