For noninvasive in vivo measurements of intra-and extracellular ion concentrations, we produced transgenic Arabidopsis expressing pH and calcium indicators in the cytoplasm and in the apoplast. Ratiometric pH-sensitive derivatives of the green fluorescent protein (At-pHluorins) were used as pH indicators. For measurements of calcium ([Ca 2ϩ ]), luminescent aequorin variants were expressed in fusion with pHluorins. An Arabidopsis chitinase signal sequence was used to deliver the indicator complex to the apoplast. Responses of pH and [Ca 2ϩ ] in the apoplast and in the cytoplasm were studied under salt and "drought" (mannitol) stress. Results are discussed in the frame of ion flux, regulation, and signaling. They suggest that osmotic stress and salt stress are differently sensed, compiled, and processed in plant cells.

Coronary heart disease (CHD) is closely related to oxidative stress and inflammatory response and is the most common cardiovascular disease (CVD). Iron is an essential mineral that participates in many physiological and biochemical reactions in the human body. Meanwhile, on the negative side, iron has an active redox capacity, which leads to the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation. There is growing evidence that disordered iron metabolism is involved in CHD’s pathological progression. And the result of disordered iron metabolism is associated with iron overload-induced programmed cell death, often called ferroptosis. That features iron-dependent lipid peroxidation. Ferroptosis may play a crucial role in the development of CHD, and targeting ferroptosis may be a promising option for treating CHD. Here, we review the mechanisms of iron metabolism in cardiomyocytes (CMs) and explain the correlation between iron metabolism and ferroptosis. Meanwhile, we highlight the specific roles of iron metabolism and ferroptosis in the main pathological progression of CHD.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are the member of multipotency stem cells, which possess the capacity for self-renewal and multi-directional differentiation, and have several characteristics, including multi-lineage differentiation potential and immune regulation, which make them a promising source for cell therapy in inflammation, immune diseases, and organ transplantation. In recent years, MSCs have been described as a novel therapeutic strategy for the treatment of cardiovascular diseases because they are potent modulators of immune system with the ability to modulating immune cell subsets, coordinating local and systemic innate and adaptive immune responses, thereby enabling the formation of a stable inflammatory microenvironment in damaged cardiac tissues. In this review, the immunoregulatory characteristics and potential mechanisms of MSCs are sorted out, the effect of these MSCs on immune cells is emphasized, and finally the application of this mechanism in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases is described to provide help for clinical application.

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Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) belong to the family of pluripotent stem cells, which have an obvious multi-directional differentiation potential and can regulate the immune response of the organism by influencing immune cell subsets, thus they have excellent prospects for application in inflammation, immune diseases, and organ transplantation. Numerous studies have shown that MSCs are a promising strategy for the treatment of cardiovascular disease by modulating immune cell subsets and coordinating local and systemic innate and adaptive immune responses, thereby enabling the formation of a stable inflammatory microenvironment in damaged cardiac tissues. In this review, we summarize the mechanisms by which MSCs interact with immune cells and exert immunomodulatory effects, and explain the therapeutic effects of this mechanism in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. A feasibility analysis is provided for the application of MSCs in cardiovascular diseases.