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)

Nicorandil increases cyclic 3'5'-guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) in vascular smooth muscle. However, high concentrations are required to activate guanylate cyclase (GC). We examined the relationship between activation of GC, increases in cGMP and relaxation in canine mesenteric artery and vein, renal and coronary artery and thoracic aorta. Nicorandil (10-100 microM) relaxed in each of the blood vessels. Relaxation was associated with elevations of cGMP but independent of release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor, and inhibited by methylene blue and hemoglobin. The organic nitrate esters nitroglycerin, pentaerythritol tetranitrate, isosorbide dinitrate, 2-isosorbide mononitrate, and 5-isosorbide mononitrate each behaved in a similar manner. In each blood vessel pentaerythritol tetranitrate was the most potent and 5-isosorbide mononitrate the least potent relaxant and stimulant of cGMP. Each of the organic nitrate esters (1 microM to 1 mM) except nicorandil stimulated soluble GC activity in the presence of 10 mM cysteine. Nicorandil (EC50 38 mM) increased GC activity. Moreover, nicorandil (0.1 microM to 30 microM) did not inhibit cGMP phosphodiesterase. The EC50 for vascular relaxation was directly correlated with the EC50 for elevation of cGMP for each of the agonists in each blood vessel type. The EC50 for activation of GC was directly related to the reciprocal of the rate constant for nitric oxide formation for each of the organic nitrate esters. However, a direct correlation existed between the EC50 for activation of GC and the EC50 for 1) elevation of cGMP and 2) relaxation, for each of the organic nitrate esters except nicorandil. Thus, the high concentrations of nicorandil required to activate GC cannot account for the low concentrations required to elevate cGMP or relax smooth muscle. We postulate that nicorandil may interact with a membrane receptor or release a second messenger, distinct from nitric oxide or endothelium-derived relaxing factor, which then activates GC. This may represent a physiologic mechanism for regulation of GC activity in smooth muscle.
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PMID:Comparison of nicorandil-induced relaxation, elevations of cyclic guanosine monophosphate and stimulation of guanylate cyclase with organic nitrate esters. 167 47

All nitrovasodilators act intracellularly by a common molecular mechanism. This is characterized by the release of nitric oxide (NO). They are, thus, prodrugs or carriers of the active principle NO, responsible for endothelial controlled vasodilation. The rate of NO-formation strongly correlates with the activation of the soluble guanylate cyclase in vitro, resulting in a stimulation of cGMP synthesis. Nitrovasodilators thus are therapeutic substitutes for endogenous EDRF/NO. The pathways of bioactivation, nevertheless, differ substantially, depending on the individual chemistry of the nitrovasodilator. Besides NO, numerous other reaction products such as nitrite and nitrate anions are formed. The guanylate cyclase is only activated if NO is liberated. In the case of organic nitrates such as GTN, NO is only formed if certain thiol compounds are present as an essential cofactor. The rate of NO-formation correlates with the number of nitrate ester groups and proceeds with a simultaneous nitrite formation (with a ratio of 1:14 in the presence of cysteine). Nitrosamines such as molsidomine do not need thiol compounds for bioactivation. They directly liberate NO from the ring-open A-forms. This process basically depends on the presence of oxygen as electron acceptor from the sydnonimine molecule. Therefore, besides NO also superoxide radicals are formed, which may react with the generated NO under formation of nitrate ions. Organic nitrites (such as amyl nitrite) require the preceding interaction with a mercapto group to form a S-nitrosothiol intermediate, from which finally NO radicals are liberated. Nitrosothiols (like S-nitroso-acetyl-penicillamine) and sodium nitroprusside spontaneously release NO. The molecules themselves do not possess a direct enzyme activating potency. In the presence of thiol compounds organic nitrites (e.g., amyl nitrite) and nitrosothiols may act as intermediary products of NO generation.
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PMID:Molecular mechanisms of nitrovasodilator bioactivation. 168 27

We investigated the possible involvement of reduced nitric oxide (NO) formation in development of nitrate tolerance in an intact organ circulation. NO formation was measured spectrophotometrically on-line in the coronary effluent of Langendorff hearts of rabbits. Short-term (3 min) infusion of glyceryl trinitrate (GTN, 40 microM) or a sydnonimine (SIN-1, 2.3 microM), the active metabolite of molsidomine, into the coronary inflow tract resulted in a decrease in coronary vascular resistance and NO release into the coronary effluent. Pretreatment with 250 microM GTN for 30 min resulted in considerably reduced NO formation and coronary vasodilation, whereas NO release and coronary vasodilation subsequent to SIN-1 remained unchanged. In hearts pretreated with 250 microM SIN-1 for 30 min, there was no effect on GTN- or SIN-1-induced vasodilation and NO release. Studies of cyclic GMP formation in rat lung fibroblasts further indicated that GTN bioconversion rather than desensitization of the soluble guanylate cyclase is involved in GTN tolerance. These data suggest metabolic, endothelium-independent NO release from GTN during passage through the coronary circulation. This NO release is reduced in nitrate-tolerant cells and appears to be the major cause of nitrate tolerance in intact circulatory systems.
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PMID:Reduced nitric oxide release causes nitrate tolerance in the intact coronary circulation. 171 8

Nitroglycerin and the organic nitrates (RONO2) can be considered prodrugs that require conversion to an active intracellular moiety that initiates vascular smooth muscle relaxation. Vasodilation of veins and arteries occurs when the enzyme guanylate cyclase (GC) is activated, initiating the conversion of guanosine triphosphate (GTP) to cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP); this is the final pathway for vascular dilation caused by the nitrovasodilators (organic nitrates, sodium nitroprusside, and molsidomine) as well as endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF). The common denominator appears to be the intracellular production of nitric oxide (NO), which is the activated product of organic nitrate denitration. Nitrate tolerance has been associated with a relative depletion or unavailability of thiol groups that are involved in the initial step of denitration of RONO2. Sulfhydryl groups (SH) are oxidized during this process; with continuous nitrate exposure, decreased nitrate metabolism within the vascular smooth muscle cell occurs as a direct result of the depletion of reduced SH groups. Thus, less NO is formed and cGMP production is diminished, with a subsequent decrease or absence of vasodilation. In addition, SH groups or thiols are required for the production of S-nitrosothiols (RSNO). These short-lived compounds have been identified as an end product of organic nitrate metabolism and as possibly obligatory for the induction of GC. It is unclear, however, as to whether S-nitrosothiols are a necessary by-product of NO production from organic nitrates. It appears that RSNO can be formed outside the cell membrane and may be able to induce vasorelaxation after penetrating the cell and initiating GC activation. Exogenous SH donors, particularly N-acetylcysteine (NAC), have been employed to provide intracellular thiols in efforts to prevent or reverse nitrate tolerance. Nitrate physiologic actions are accentuated following NAC administration in the absence of tolerance. Although controversial, the concept that NAC or other thiols might be able to prevent the development of nitrate tolerance is being actively studied in laboratories around the world. Methionine has also been utilized as an SH donor with some success. Not all data are consistent, however, and the ultimate role of thiol donors for the prevention or reversal of nitrate tolerance remains uncertain. Finally, there has been considerable interest in supplying thiols by use of the SH-containing angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, such as captopril. This approach does not seem promising, probably because insufficient thiol can be supplied by therapeutic dosages of these drugs.
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PMID:Interactions between organic nitrates and thiol groups. 192

The development of unstable angina pectoris and acute myocardial infarction is a process of platelet aggregation and thrombus formation associated with local coronary vasoconstriction. Regional deficiencies in endothelial vasodilator function, due to reduced formation of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF), may predispose to platelet aggregation and coronary vasoconstriction. Nitroglycerin (NTG), frequently utilized in the management of unstable angina pectoris and acute myocardial infarction, undergoes bioconversion, via a sulfhydryl-dependent process, to nitric oxide, which is identical or closely related to EDRF. Other products of the nitrate bioconversion "cascade" are various S-nitrosothiols, which, like nitric oxide, activate soluble guanylate cyclase, inducing increased formation of cyclic guanosine monophosphate. NTG potentially may act to correct a localized deficiency of EDRF effect, at both the vasculature and platelet levels. In patients with unstable angina, hemodynamic effects and therapeutic efficacy of intravenously infused NTG may be attenuated within hours. Combined therapy with NTG and intravenously infused N-acetylcysteine (NAC) results in potentiation of hemodynamic responses to NTG, markedly augments the effects of NTG on platelet aggregation, and reduces the incidence of acute myocardial infarction in patients with severe unstable angina pectoris. The combination of NTG with intermittent NAC infusion may increase the risk of hypotensive episodes in such patients, whereas continuous coinfusion of the drugs is better tolerated. The combination of NTG with thiol-containing agents, such as NAC, may be of therapeutic value in unstable angina pectoris and in evolving acute myocardial infarction. This is currently under investigation.
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PMID:Thiol-containing agents in the management of unstable angina pectoris and acute myocardial infarction. 192 1

Nitrates are among the most widely prescribed drugs in cardiovascular disease. They are able to prevent and to interrupt episodes of myocardial ischaemia, alleviate anginal symptoms, and exert favourable effects in acute myocardial infarction and in congestive heart failure. Most of these effects can be explained by their ability to relax smooth muscle cells: peripheral vasodilation, in veins and in arteries, reduces cardiac workload, thereby decreasing oxygen consumption; furthermore, nitrates dilate coronary arteries directly, thereby increasing myocardial oxygen supply. However, nitrates also exert effects on blood platelets. These occur by the same mechanisms operating on blood vessels, a stimulation of soluble guanylate cyclase and a consequent increase in cytosolic levels of cyclic GMP. When added to platelet suspensions nitrates inhibit platelet aggregation by almost all known stimuli. Such effects in vitro generally require high concentrations of drugs; evidence has been obtained, however, that nitrates may inhibit platelet function also in vivo. Such evidence derives from ex vivo studies with platelet aggregometry, from experiments showing the synergism of nitrates and prostacyclin and the requirement for nitrate action of sulphydryl group donors such as N-acetyl-cysteine, and from studies on bleeding time. Antiplatelet effects of nitrates may be an explanation for the protection from death and reinfarction, inferred on the basis of meta-analysis of several studies in acute myocardial infarction.
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PMID:[Antiplatelet effects of nitrate derivatives]. 193 57

Recently, it was shown that in LLC-PK1 kidney epithelial cells hormones such as vasopressin or oxytocin increase cyclic GMP in a receptor-mediated and L-arginine-dependent manner. In the present study, the possible existence of cross-tolerance to vasopressin and oxytocin was investigated in nitrate-tolerant LLC-PK1 cells. Pretreatment with 1 mM glyceryl trinitrate for 3 h decreased cyclic GMP stimulation by 1 microM vasopressin and 1 microM oxytocin by 49% and 54%, respectively. Under the same conditions, cyclic GMP stimulation at 1 microM sodium nitroprusside was diminished by 56% whereas the cyclic GMP response to 100 microM glyceryl trinitrate was virtually abolished. Our results demonstrate that a substantial degree of cross-tolerance to L-arginine-dependent guanylate cyclase activators occurs in nitrate-pretreated nonvascular cells which may be due to glyceryl trinitrate-induced desensitization of soluble guanylate cyclase.
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PMID:Cross-tolerance to L-arginine-dependent guanylate cyclase activators in nitrate-tolerant LLC-PK1 kidney epithelial cells. 197 70

Organic nitrates were the first peripherally-active vasodilators to be used for the treatment of heart failure. Currently, three nitrate derivatives, glycerol trinitrate, isosorbide dinitrate and isosorbide 5-mononitrate as well as the nitrate-like substance molsidomine are employed clinically. For treatment of heart failure, the decisive hemodynamic effect is a meaningful reduction in ventricular filling pressures with maintenance or even a slight increase in cardiac output. The individual response to nitrates is variable. An important indicator for the effect achievable for a certain dose or for the necessary dosage to affect a defined reduction in ventricular filling pressures, is the magnitude of right atrial pressure. It can be assumed that the latter statement is also valid for the nitrate-like substance molsidomine. An inherent problem with any long-term treatment with nitrates is the incurrence of tolerance. This can be expected with any dosing regimen which leads to nitrate cumulation in the plasma or to nearly-constant, high, plasma concentrations as rendered by multiple daily administration of orally-active nitrates or with continuous transdermal or intravenous nitrate administration. The cause of nitrate tolerance is regarded as an insufficient or absent stimulation of guanylate cyclase and, consequently, inadequate generation of cyclic GMP due to availability of thiol substrate. Since the nitrate-like substance molsidomine appears to be able to stimulate guanylate cyclase independent of thiol groups, tolerance development may not be a limiting factor with this agent. Comparable reduction of diastolic pulmonary artery pressure after acute administration and at the end of one week of treatment with 4 mg molsidomine four times daily has been reported.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:[Nitrates in the treatment of heart failure]. 211 55

Molsidomine is an established drug for the treatment of coronary heart disease. It acts via the metabolite SIN-1 through liberation of NO. Experiments have proven the identity of NO and EDRF. Investigation of the molecular mechanism of action of molsidomine/SIN-1 indicate that molecular oxygen initiates NO formation through a one-electron abstraction from the intermediate. Ex vivo experiments in rats and in vitro studies in human coronary arteries showed that marked tolerance is induced with glyceryl trinitrate, whereas prolonged exposure to SIN-1 does not cause tolerance. Responsiveness to SIN-1 is not modified in nitrate-tolerant human arteries. Stimulation of soluble guanylate cyclase underlies the antiaggregatory actions of EDRF. Likewise SIN-1 inhibits platelet aggregation in various models. In dogs and pigs with critical stenosis molsidomine reduced significantly the frequency and the severity of cyclical reductions of coronary blood flow.
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PMID:Molsidomine. 224 48

Nicorandil (SG-75) is a new organic nitrate with pronounced vasodilator properties. We studied whether nicorandil, in analogy to other nitrovasodilatators, exerted its relaxing effects on vascular smooth muscle by stimulating guanylate cyclase, and whether this effect was susceptible to tolerance development. Dose-response curves for the relaxing and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) increasing effects of nicorandil were obtained in isolated strips of bovine coronary arteries and compared with those of other nitrovasodilatators. It was found that nicorandil dose-dependently relaxed the strips precontracted with 26.7 mM K+ and that this effect was closely associated with increases in cGMP levels (measured by RIA under various conditions). The correlation between relaxation and rises in cGMP was steeper than with other nitrovasodilatators, suggesting that nicorandil, in addition to its cGMP-mediated effect, also relaxed vascular smooth muscle by a cGMP independent mechanism. In contrast to nitroglycerin (NG), nicorandil caused little development of tolerance or cross-tolerance toward ISDN or IS-5-MN when tested after preincubation of the strips toward the respective substance. Pretreatment with N-acetylcysteine during the preincubation period prevented tolerance towards nicorandil. The results indicate that the relaxant effects of nicorandil consist of a larger cGMP-mediated component and a smaller one which is independent of this nucleotide.
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PMID:Cyclic GMP in nicorandil-induced vasodilatation and tolerance development. 244 21


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