Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts: Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound   Target Concepts: Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound

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Query: EC:4.6.1.2 (guanylate cyclase)
8,497 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The endothelial cells can release both relaxing and contracting substances. The former include prostacyclin and endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF, which most likely is nitric oxide, or a nitrosoderivative releasing nitric oxide, derived from L-arginine). Candidates as endothelium-derived contracting factors (EDCF) include superoxide anions thromboxane A2 and the peptide endothelin. Endothelium-derived relaxing factor causes relaxation of vascular smooth muscle by activation of the soluble form of guanylate cyclase which leads to an accumulation of cyclic GMP; it also reduces platelet adhesion and aggregation. The latter effect is synergistic with the inhibition evoked by prostacyclin. The release of EDRF and prostacyclin plays a key role in the protective role of the endothelium against vasospasm and the unwanted coagulation of blood. Indeed, thrombin and aggregating platelets are potent stimuli for the release of EDRF. The platelet-products responsible are the adenine nucleotides, ADP and ATP, which activate P2y-purinergic receptors on the endothelial cells and 5-hydroxytryptamine (serotonin) that stimulates 5-HT1-like serotonergic receptors. The response to serotonin, but not that to the adenine nucleotides, is mediated by a pertussis toxin-sensitive mechanism. When endothelial cells regenerate, or are cultured, they selectively lose the pertussis toxin-sensitive mechanism of release, which results in a marked decrease in sensitivity to exogenous and platelet-released serotonin. As a consequence, the endothelial cells exhibit a considerably reduced response to aggregating platelets. This phenomenon, which can be exacerbated by hypercholesterolemia, favors ongoing platelet aggregation and vasospasm, and constitutes a first step toward atherosclerosis.
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PMID:Platelet-derived serotonin, the endothelium, and cardiovascular disease. 171 75

We investigated the molecular mechanisms whereby Ca2+ enters the endothelial cytosol and regulates endothelial nitric oxide synthesis L-arginine-dependent nitric oxide synthesis by isolated endothelial cytosol as quantified by activation of a purified soluble guanylate cyclase was concentration-dependently enhanced by free Ca2+ (EC50 0.3 microM). The Ca(2+)-dependent activation was inhibited by the calmodulin antagonists mastoparan, melittin, and calcineurin (IC50 450, 350, and 60 nM, respectively) in a calmodulin-reversible manner. After removal of endogenous calmodulin the Ca(2+)-dependency of endothelial NO synthase was lost, but could be reconstituted with exogenous calmodulin. The results indicate that Ca(2+)-calmodulin directly activates the endothelial nitric oxide synthase, thereby transducing agonist-induced increases in intracellular free Ca2+ concentration to nitric oxide formation from L-arginine, K(+)-induced depolarization of the endothelial cells markedly inhibited the sustained, but not initial phase of the intracellular Ca2+ response to bradykinin, indicating that K(+)-induced depolarization depresses the transmembrane Ca2+ influx. On the contrary, the K+ channel activator Hoe 234 which elicits hyperpolarization of the endothelial cell membrane, augmented the sustained phase of the agonist-induced intracellular Ca2+ signal, but not the resting intracellular Ca2+ level. The effects of K+ and Hoe 234 on the agonist-induced Ca(2+)-response were reflected by corresponding changes in agonist-induced EDRF/NO release. From these data, we suggest that the endothelial membrane potential may play an important role for the extent of agonist-induced Ca2+ influx and, thereby, the endothelial EDRF/NO synthesis.
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PMID:Cellular mechanisms controlling EDRF/NO formation in endothelial cells. 171 54

1. Semicarbazide-sensitive amine oxidase (SSAO) is an enzyme activity which can be found in the plasma membrane of rat vascular smooth muscle cells. We have investigated the possibility that the products of deamination by this enzyme, namely ammonia, hydrogen peroxide and the aldehyde, may be important in the modulation of the responses of vascular smooth muscle to extracellular stimuli. 2. The isolated perfused mesenteric arterial bed of the rat was used and dose-pressure response curves (DRC) to bolus injections of adrenaline (Ad) or ATP were plotted by non-linear curve fitting. The relaxant effects of carbachol (CCh), which releases endothelium dependent relaxing factor (ERDF), were studied by co-administering CCh with Ad. The effects of including the preferred SSAO substrate, benzylamine (BZ; 25 microM), in the perfusion fluid throughout the experiment and of inhibition of SSAO by treatment of rats with (E)-2-(3',4'-dimethoxyphenyl)-3-fluoroallylamine (MDL 72145; 1 mg kg-1) 1 h before dissection, have been studied. 3. Neither BZ nor SSAO inhibition affected the DRC to ATP. BZ shifted Ad responses to the left, inhibition of SSAO increased this shift indicating that the amine, but not its metabolites, were responsible for the potentiation of the responses to Ad. DRC to CCh showed a shift to the left and a significant decrease in the Hill slope with BZ, indicative of a potentiation of low doses of CCh more than high doses. Inhibition of SSAO prevented this change and so the metabolites of BZ deamination appeared to be involved in the potentiation. 4. Ammonia generated by SSAO may contribute to the production of EDRF or hydrogen peroxide may sensitize guanylate cyclase to stimulation by EDRF and so explain these findings.
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PMID:Effect of benzylamine and its metabolites on the responses of the isolated perfused mesenteric arterial bed of the rat. 174 92

Several circulating agonists and hydromechanic factors such as the viscous drag-induced shear forces of the bloodstream stimulate the release of EDRF/NO from endothelial cells. Abluminally released EDRF controls vascular tone, luminally released EDRF diffuses into the platelets, especially when they come into contact with the endothelial cell lining. Stimulating soluble guanylate cyclase in the platelets causes a rise in cGMP and a reduction in intracellular Ca(2+)-concentrations which suppresses platelet adhesion and aggregation, and potentiates the effects of PGI2-induced cAMP-increases. Nitrovasodilators which spontaneously release NO, such as molsidomine and sodium nitroprusside, can substitute for diminished EDRF-release from deficient endothelial cells and, likewise, suppress platelet aggregation in vitro and in vivo.
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PMID:[Inhibition of platelet activation by endothelium-derived relaxing factor EDRF/NO and NO releasing dilator substances]. 177 30

EDRF is a potent, endogenous vasodilator that is produced and released from endothelial cells and subsequently causes the relaxation of VSM through the activation of soluble guanylate cyclase and an increase in VSM cyclic GMP. Structurally, EDRF is likely to be NO or a related nitrogen oxide-containing compound. It is synthesized in endothelial and other cell types from L-arginine by a calcium-calmodulin and NADPH-dependent enzyme. Its action is very similar to the nitrovasodilators that act directly on VSM. EDRF is present in all vascular beds, large and small vessels, and in a wide range of species. Its role in human vascular physiology and pathophysiology is just beginning to be understood. EDRF is a potent endogenous vasodilator and inhibitor of platelet aggregation and adhesion. Its activity is impaired in hypertension and atherosclerosis, and its absence due to endothelial damage may play a role in cerebral and coronary vasospasm. It is a mediator of flow-dependent vasodilation, and its inhibition by hypoxia may contribute to the hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstrictor response. Endothelial cell damage and impairment of EDRF production may also contribute to acute and chronic pulmonary hypertension. A further understanding of the chemical nature and synthetic pathways of EDRF should lead to the production of analogs and antagonists, which may play an important role in future treatments for atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, angina, hypertension, and other vascular diseases. The recent realization that EDRF serves as the second messenger for guanylate cyclase activation and cyclic GMP production in a variety of cell types outside of the cardiovascular system, including renal and respiratory epithelium, cerebellar neurons, macrophages, and adrenocytes, suggests even broader implications. The importance of EDRF to the anesthesiologist may go beyond an understanding of its role in cardiovascular physiological and pathophysiological states. Initial studies have shown that the endothelium may play a role in mediating the vascular actions of anesthetics, and that anesthetics can inhibit the production, release, or action of EDRF. How are these interactions mediated? Are there significant differences between anesthetics with regard to their effects on EDRF? Is there a clinically significant effect of anesthetics on basal activity of EDRF, or only in response to exogenous stimulation? Conversely, it is important to determine if alterations in endothelial cell function by various disease states such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, adult respiratory distress syndrome, cerebral vasospasm, and others cause changes in the vascular actions of anesthetics. The potential interactions of anesthetics with EDRF production and action in cell types other than the endothelium have not yet been explored.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
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PMID:Endothelium-derived relaxing factor: basic review and clinical implications. 186 89

To determine a role for endothelium-derived relaxing factor/nitric oxide (EDRF/NO) in regulation of human platelet reactivity by human endothelial cells (EC), we studied combined suspensions of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HU-VEC, passage 2 through 3) and washed human platelets. Confluent HUVEC monolayers were treated with aspirin (1 mmol/L) to prevent prostacyclin (PGI2) formation, washed, and harvested. Aspirin-treated platelets alone (58 x 10(6)) were fully aggregated by thrombin at 0.05 U/mL or more. In the presence of 10(6) HUVEC, however, platelet serotonin release and aggregation in response to thrombin at doses as high as 0.5 U/mL were blocked. We demonstrated for the first time that inhibition of aggregation and serotonin release, due to EDRF/NO, occurred in parallel. HUVEC-dependent inhibition of platelet responsiveness was enhanced by superoxide dismutase (SOD) and reversed by hemoglobin. The inhibitory effect was also reversed by preincubation of HUVEC with NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (NMA) or NG-nitro-L-arginine (NNA) through competitive blockade of arginine metabolism. Pretreatment of platelets with methylene blue indicated that EC-dependent inhibition of platelet reactivity occurred through activation of platelet soluble guanylate cyclase. When platelets and HUVEC were separated by a permeable membrane and both cells were stimulated by thrombin, platelets remained unresponsive. This indicated that inhibition was induced by a fluid-phase mediator, independent of direct cell-cell contact. These data demonstrate that EDRF/NO formation from L-arginine by human EC plays an important role as an aspirin-insensitive fluid-phase inhibitor of human platelet reactivity.
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PMID:Inhibition of human platelet reactivity by endothelium-derived relaxing factor from human umbilical vein endothelial cells in suspension: blockade of aggregation and secretion by an aspirin-insensitive mechanism. 186 38

Key discoveries in the past decade revealed that the endothelium can modulate the tone of underlying vascular smooth muscle by the synthesis/release of potent vasorelaxant (endothelium-derived relaxing factors; EDRF) and vasoconstrictor substances (endothelium-derived contracting factors; EDCF). It has become evident that the synthesis and release of these substances contribute to the multitude of physiological functions the vascular endothelium performs. Accumulating evidence suggests that at least one of the EDRFs is identical with nitric oxide (NO) or a labile nitroso compound, which is produced from L-arginine by an NADPH- and Ca(2+)-dependent enzyme, arginine oxidase. The existence of more than one chemically distinct EDRF has been proposed, including an endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF). The target of EDRF (NO) is soluble guanylate cyclase (increase in cyclic GMP) while EDHF appears to activate a K(+)-channel in vascular smooth muscle. Recent data suggest that muscarinic receptor subtypes selectively mediate the release of EDRF(NO) (M2) and EDHF (M1). EDRF(NO) affects not only the underlying vascular smooth muscle, but also platelets, inhibiting their aggregation and adhesion to the endothelium. The antiaggregatory effect of EDRF is synergistic with prostacyclin, so their combined release may represent a physiological mechanism aimed at preventing thrombus formation. An additional proposed biological function of EDRF(NO) is cytoprotection by virtue of scavenging superoxide radicals. The endothelium can also mediate vasoconstriction by the release of a variety of endothelium-derived contracting factors (EDCF). Other than the unique peptide endothelin, the nature of EDCFs has not yet been firmly established. Autoregulation of cerebral and renal blood flow and hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction may represent the physiological role of endothelium-dependent vasoconstriction. Growing evidence indicates that the endothelium can serve as a unique mechanoreceptor, sensing and transducing physical stimuli (e.g., shear forces, pressure) into changes in vascular tone by the release of EDRFs or EDCFs. In physiological states, a delicate balance exists between endothelium-derived vasodilators and vasoconstrictors. Alterations in this balance can result in local (vasospasm) and generalized (hypertension) increase in vascular tone and also in facilitated thrombus formation. Endothelial dysfunction may also contribute to the pathophysiology of angiopathies associated with hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis.
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PMID:Endothelium-derived relaxing and contracting factors. 187 96

Native and oxidized low-density lipoproteins (LDL) were investigated for their direct influence on EDRF-formation, EDRF-activity, and vascular smooth muscle tone. Native (n) LDL, isolated from fresh human plasma, was oxidized by Cu(2+)-incubation. EDRF released from cultured endothelial cells was inactivated by both n-LDL and ox-LDL (1 mg/ml) as detected in a bioassay system. n-LDL reduced the EDRF-mediated vasodilations of the detector segments by 38.5 +/- 5.3%, and ox-LDL by 55.5 +/- 4.6%. The effects of lipoproteins on EDRF-formation were studied on cultured endothelial cells, preincubated with either n-LDL or ox-LDL (1 mg/ml, 1 h) and stimulated for EDRF-release with bradykinin after washout of the lipoproteins. EDRF was assessed by measuring its stimulatory effect on the activity of a purified soluble guanylate cyclase. Preincubation with both n-LDL and ox-LDL did not reduce the bradykinin-induced EDRF-formation. Accordingly, acetylcholine-induced, EDRF-mediated dilations of intact rabbit femoral artery segments were not impaired by luminal exposure to n-LDL or ox-LDL (1 h, 1mg/ml). Effects of n-LDL and ox-LDL on vascular smooth muscle tone were investigated in isolated perfused rabbit femoral arteries. Perfusion of endothelium-intact and -denuded segments with ox-LDL (80-500 micrograms protein/ml) caused no or only weak vasoconstrictions in the absence of contractile agonists. However, in the presence of ox-LDL, vasoconstrictions to threshold concentrations of norepinephrine (NE), serotonin (5-HT), phenylephrine (PE) or potassium were significantly enhanced. Native LDL (80-1000 micrograms/ml) had no effect on vascular tone, neither in presence nor in absence of contractile agonists. Preincubation with verapamil, diltiazem, and nitrendipine inhibited vasoconstrictions evoked by ox-LDL. The contractile responses to ox-LDL were significantly greater in endothelium-denuded segments than in endothelium-intact segments. In conclusion, neither n-LDL nor ox-LDL acutely impair the formation of EDRF, but do inactivate EDRF after its release from endothelial cells. n-LDL has no direct influence on vascular smooth muscle tone, but ox-LDL greatly enhances vasoconstrictions to various contractile agonists by direct interaction with vascular smooth muscle. Thus, in regions of lipoprotein-accumulation in the arterial wall, both n-LDL and ox-LDL may favor inappropriate vasoconstrictions.
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PMID:Effects of native and oxidized low-density lipoproteins on endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent vasomotion. 195 5

The role of nitric oxide (NO) in the genesis of motor and electrocortical seizures elicited by administration of excitatory amino acid agonists into the deep prepiriform cortex (DPC) has been evaluated. Motor and electrocortical seizures occurred in rats receiving unilateral microinjections into the DPC of either N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA, 5 and 10 nmol) or kainate (KA, 100 pmol). The selective NMDA receptor antagonist 2-amino-7-phosphonoheptanoate (APH), when microinjected into DPC, prevented the development of seizures induced by both NMDA and KA injected in the same site. In addition, methylene blue (20 nmol, which prevents activation of soluble guanylate cyclase) or NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (NMMA, 40 nmol; a specific inhibitor of nitric oxide synthesis), when microinjected into DPC 15 min prior to either NMDA or KA, significantly protected against seizures elicited by both excitatory amino acid agonists. These data confirm the role of excitatory amino acid transmission in the genesis of seizures elicited from the deep prepiriform cortex. They further suggest that activation of excitatory amino acid receptors within the DPC leads to the release of a substance which shares properties with EDRF/NO and contributes to the genesis of seizure activity in this area.
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PMID:Role of nitric oxide in the genesis of excitatory amino acid-induced seizures from the deep prepiriform cortex. 195 95

NO is obviously identical with the relaxation factor produced by the vascular endothelium (EDRF) and is also the substance responsible for some other biological activities. It is formed in the organism from L-arginine by the action of the enzyme NO synthetase. The main mechanism of action is the activation of the enzyme guanyl cyclase and the result is an increase of the intracellular level of cyclic guanyl monophosphate. Depending on the type of effector cell, either vasodilatation occurs and adhesion is inhibited and the blood platelets coagulate or the cytotoxicity of macrophages increases. With the development of new, more effective inhibitors of NO synthetase there is also the possibility to study the physiological importance of NO in more detail. These new discoveries provide a more profound biochemical and pharmacological basis and perhaps also new indications or preventive possibilities of the known treatment of vascular spasms by nitroderivatives; moreover, there is the possibility to seek new ways in the anti-tumourous and antimicrobial treatment and elsewhere.
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PMID:[Nitric oxide--a new and nontraditional transmitter]. 197 39


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