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Objectives The activation of mast cell (MC) plays an important part in the pathogenesis of chronic urticaria (CU), and the expression of MRGPRX2 (Mas-related G-protein coupled receptor X2) and the circulating levels of SP (substance P) in skin MC of CU patients increased. Fisetin is a natural flavonoid with anti-inflammatory and antiallergic pharmacological effects. This study aimed to investigate the inhibitory effect of fisetin on CU via MRGPRX2 and its possible molecular mechanisms. Methods OVA/SP co-stimulated and SP-stimulated CU like murine models were used to evaluate the effect of fisetin on CU. MRGPRX2/HEK293 cells and LAD2 cells were used to perform the antagonism effect of fisetin on MC via MRGPRX2. Key findings The results indicated that fisetin prevented urticaria-like symptoms in murine CU models, and inhibited MCs activation by suppressing calcium mobilization and degranulation of cytokines and chemokines via binding to MRGPRX2. The bioinformatics analysis showed that fisetin might have an interaction relationship with Akt in CU. The western blotting experiments showed that fisetin downregulated the phosphorylation levels of Akt, P38, NF-κB, and PLCγ in C48/80 activated LAD2 cells. Conclusions Fisetin alleviates CU progression by inhibiting mast cell activation via MRGPRX2, which may be a novel therapeutic candidate for CU.

Background and ObjectiveWhite matter lesions (WMLs) are imaging changes in MRI of cerebral small vessel disease associated with vascular risk factors, increasing the risk of dementia, depression, and stroke. Aldosterone (ALD) or activation of mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) causes cerebrovascular injury in a mouse model. We aimed to analyze the relationship between ALD and WMLs in a population with hypertension.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective review of all patients screened for causes of secondary hypertension. We enrolled 547 patients with WMLs and matched these to controls without WMLs at a 1:1 ratio. White matter lesion load was assessed by using a modified Scheltens’ scale.ResultsAmong the analytic sample (N = 1,094) with ages ranging from 30 to 64 years, 62.2% were male. We divided plasma ALD concentration (PAC), plasma renin activity (PRA), and ALD–renin ratio (ARR) into the third tertile (Q3), second tertile (Q2), and first tertile (Q1). We also analyzed them simultaneously as continuous variables. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that participants in Q3 (>17.26 ng/dl) of PAC (OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.15, 2.19), Q3 (<0.80 ng/dl) of PRA (OR 2.50, 95% CI 1.81, 3.44), and Q3 (>18.59 ng/dl per ng/ml*h) of ARR (OR 2.90, 95% CI 2.10, 4.01) had a significantly higher risk of WMLs than those in Q1 (<12.48) of PAC, Q1 (>2.19) of PRA, and Q1 (<6.96) of ARR. In linear regression analysis, we separately analyzed the correlation between the modified Scheltens’ scale score and log(PAC) (β = 2.36; 95% CI 1.30, 3.41; p < 0.001), log(PRA) (β = −1.76; 95% CI −2.09, −1.43; p < 0.001), and log(ARR) (β = 1.86; 95% CI 1.55, 2.17; p < 0.001), which were all significantly correlated with white matter lesion load, after adjusting for confounding factors. Simple mediation analyses showed that systolic blood pressure (SBP) or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) mediated −3.83% or −2.66% of the association between PAC and white matter lesion load, respectively. In stratified analyses, there was no evidence of subgroup heterogeneity concerning the change in the risk of WMLs (p > 0.05 for interaction for all).ConclusionHigher PAC, especially in PAC >17.26 ng/dl, increased the risk of WMLs. PAC was positively associated with white matter lesion load independent of SBP or DBP.

Background: Mounting evidence suggests that endothelial cell-derived microparticles (EMPs) and red blood cell-derived microparticles (RMPs), which have procoagulant and vasoconstriction effects, are involved in the development of vascular acute cardiovascular events. The aim of this study was to analyze the circulating levels of EMPs and RMPs in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and to explore the correlations between EMPs and RMPs and the severity of coronary artery disease.Methods: Plasma samples from 110 patients with AMI and 57 non-coronary artery disease group (non-CAD) were collected in the present study. The flow cytometry was used to measure the EMPs (CD31) and RMPs (CD235a) qualitatively and quantitatively.Results: The levels of EMPs and RMPs in the AMI group were higher than that in the Non-CAD group, yet no significant difference was found between STEMI and non-STEMI subjects. The levels of EMPs and RMPs in multi-vessel were higher than in the single-vessel l disease. In the Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) risk assessment, the levels of EMPs in the high-risk group were higher than that in both intermediate-and low-risk group. The low-risk group had the lowest EMP levels, the difference between the groups being statistically significant (P=0.001). No significant difference in RMP levels was noted upon TIMI stratification. According to the ROC curve analysis, the areas under the curve (AUC) of EMPs and RMPs were 0.706 and 0.668, respectively. Conclusions:The circulating levels of EMPs and RMPs in patients with AMI are elevated, and the level of EMPs is related to the degree of coronary artery disease and the prognosis risk. The EMPs are more likely to be potential biomarkers than RMPs to provide diagnostic value for AMI.