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Query: UMLS:C0004153 (atherosclerosis)
 77,401 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

This review discusses recent experimental findings in prostacyclin, nitric oxide and endothelin research. Prostacyclin formation by endothelial cells in atherosclerosis and diabetes is reviewed and the synthesis of prostacyclin by cyclooxygenase 1 and 2 (COX-1 and COX-2) is discussed. Further work on nitric oxide describes its involvement in septic and haemorrhagic shock and its interactions with the cyclooxygenase pathway. Recent studies in endothelin research include the development of both selective and orally active receptor antagonists, characterization of endothelin converting enzymes and the involvement of endothelin-1 in inflammation and wound repair.
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PMID:Regulatory mechanisms of the vascular endothelium: an update. 762 May 13

Oxidized derivatives of cholesterol, the oxysterols, have been implicated in the development of atherosclerosis. We have found that the oxysterol, 25-hydroxycholesterol (25OHC), is a potent stimulator of eicosanoid production in endothelial cells. Confluent monolayers of bovine coronary artery endothelial cells (BCAECs) were treated with 25OHC (10 micrograms/ml) or interleukin-1 beta (IL-1 beta, 1 ng/ml), a known prostaglandin G/H synthase-2 (PGHS-2) inducer, for 48 h at 37 degrees C. Following incubation with [14C]arachidonic acid, the 14C-labeled metabolites of arachidonic acid were extracted and resolved using both normal and reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) systems. 25OHC-treated cells had a five-fold increase in their prostaglandin production when compared to untreated cells. Eicosanoid production in IL-1 beta treated cells was not as pronounced. The major component in both sets of cells comigrated with 6-ketoPGF1 alpha. Other PGHS metabolites, 15- and 11-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETEs) and 12-hydroxyheptadecatrienoic acid (HHT) were also identified and increased following 25OHC treatment. Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids, metabolites of cytochrome P450, were not effected. Enhanced production of 6-ketoPGF1 alpha, 15-HETE, 11-HETE and HHT were inhibited by indomethacin. Thus, all eicosanoids induced by 25OHC treatment were PGHS products. Western immunoblot analysis of lysates from 25OHC, IL-1 beta, or vehicle treated cells using anti-PGHS-1 and -2 antibodies revealed a significant increase in PGHS-2, but not PGHS-1, in both 25OHC and IL-1 beta treated cells. The notion that oxysterols can modulate vascular eicosanoid production through enzyme induction may be important in ultimately understanding their role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.
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PMID:25-Hydroxycholesterol enhances eicosanoid production in cultured bovine coronary artery endothelial cells by increasing prostaglandin G/H synthase-2. 908 8

The present investigation was performed to clarify the effect of EPA on PGI2 production in vitro using cultured rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). To simulate in vivo conditions, a triacylglycerol (TG) emulsified form of EPA was used. An increase in EPA content was achieved without alteration of arachidonic acid concentration. These experiments clearly demonstrated that co-incubation of EPA-TG increased PGI2 production by cultured VSMC in a dose dependent fashion. Among polyunsaturated fatty acid TG examined (docosahexaenoic acid, linoleic acid, oleic acid and EPA), only EPA-TG was effective. Cyclooxygenase (COX) was activated, but neither phospholipase A2 nor PGI2 synthase activity was changed. EPA treatment did not alter the amount of COX-1 and COX-2 protein in VSMC. Addition of antioxidants, such as butylated hydroxytoluene or vitamin E, decreased MDA levels in the medium and cells and reversed the enhanced PGI2 production in EPA rich-VSMC. Therefore, the high polyunsaturation of EPA could generate low levels of lipid peroxides and thereby lead to activation of COX and an increased PGI2 production. Although EPA increased PGI2 production, only a negligible amount of PGI3 was produced by rat aortic tissues. Enhanced production of PGI2 might contribute to the anti-atherogenic effect of EPA.
Atherosclerosis 1997 Jun
PMID:Mechanisms of enhanced production of PGI2 in cultured rat vascular smooth muscle cells enriched with eicosapentaenoic acid. 919 75

The cyclooxygenase (COX) product, prostacyclin (PGI(2)), inhibits platelet activation and vascular smooth-muscle cell migration and proliferation. Biochemically selective inhibition of COX-2 reduces PGI(2) biosynthesis substantially in humans. Because deletion of the PGI(2) receptor accelerates atherogenesis in the fat-fed low density lipoprotein receptor knockout mouse, we wished to determine whether selective inhibition of COX-2 would accelerate atherogenesis in this model. To address this hypothesis, we used dosing with nimesulide, which inhibited COX-2 ex vivo, depressed urinary 2,3 dinor 6-keto PGF(1alpha) by approximately 60% but had no effect on thromboxane formation by platelets, which only express COX-1. By contrast, the isoform nonspecific inhibitor, indomethacin, suppressed platelet function and thromboxane formation ex vivo and in vivo, coincident with effects on PGI(2) biosynthesis indistinguishable from nimesulide. Indomethacin reduced the extent of atherosclerosis by 55 +/- 4%, whereas nimesulide failed to increase the rate of atherogenesis. Despite their divergent effects on atherogenesis, both drugs depressed two indices of systemic inflammation, soluble intracellular adhesion molecule-1, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 to a similar but incomplete degree. Neither drug altered serum lipids and the marked increase in vascular expression of COX-2 during atherogenesis. Accelerated progression of atherosclerosis is unlikely during chronic intake of specific COX-2 inhibitors. Furthermore, evidence that COX-1-derived prostanoids contribute to atherogenesis suggests that controlled evaluation of the effects of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and/or aspirin on plaque progression in humans is timely.
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PMID:Acceleration of atherogenesis by COX-1-dependent prostanoid formation in low density lipoprotein receptor knockout mice. 1124 83

Ibuprofen is a cyclooxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2) inhibitor known to reduce the production of prostaglandins that play prominent role in inflammation. Other properties of the drug, aside from its anti-inflammatory effects, have been recently studied. In this paper we shall discuss several properties of ibuprofen that making the drug interesting for treatment of conditions associated with atherosclerosis. Ibuprofen exerts pleiotropic effects such as inhibition of adhesion and transendothelial migration of leukocytes, suppressing intracellular production of reactive oxygen species and oxidative modification of LDL. Interestingly, ibuprofen increased HDL cholesterol levels and reduced the level of triglicerides. Ibuprofen can also modulate efficiency of fibrynolisis by inhibiting production of plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI-1). This properties of ibuprofen may be due to changing the activity of transcription factors. Ibuprofen inhibits the activation of NF-kB and activates PPARa and PPARg.
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PMID:A pleiotropic antiatherogenic action of ibuprofen. 1143 18

Prostacyclin (PGI(2)) is a potent vasodilator and inhibitor of platelet aggregation that is produced by prostacyclin synthase via the cyclooxygenase (COX) pathway of arachidonic acid metabolism. We investigated the potential role of COX-2 in the production of vasoactive prostanoids by aortic tissue in a rabbit model of dietary cholesterol-induced atherosclerosis. COX-1 was detected as the major isoform by immunoblot analysis in extracts from aortas of normal and 8 week cholesterol-fed animals with COX-2 being induced in atherosclerotic plaques from cholesterol-fed animals. Aortic tissue from cholesterol-fed animals showed decreased levels of basal 6-keto-PGF(1 alpha) and PGE(2) production as compared to the normal controls but showed no difference with respect to their ability to synthesize these prostanoids in response to exogenous arachidonic acid. The highly selective COX-2 inhibitors rofecoxib and the furanone DFP at concentrations of up to 10 micromol/l had no effect on the arachidonic acid-dependent production of 6-keto-PGF(1 alpha), in contrast to indomethacin, which caused a complete inhibition at 0.5 micromol/l. Celecoxib caused a significant inhibition of 6-keto-PGF(1 alpha) at 10 micromol/l but had little effect when the dose was lowered to 1 micromol/l. Similar effects of these inhibitors were observed with respect to the production of PGE(2) and no major difference was observed between aortic tissues from normal and cholesterol-fed animals with regard to inhibitor sensitivity. These results indicate that in a rabbit model of early stage cardiovascular disease, the basal production of 6-keto-PGF(1 alpha) and PGE(2) by aortic tissue is decreased. Furthermore, COX-2 expression is induced in atherosclerotic plaques and may play a role in altering localized synthesis of prostanoids in these lesions but does not appear to significantly impact the arachidonic acid-dependent prostacylin production of aortic tissues, which is largely mediated by COX-1.
Atherosclerosis 2001 Aug
PMID:Effects of COX-2 inhibitors on aortic prostacyclin production in cholesterol-fed rabbits. 1147 39

Inflammation is involved in the genesis and rupture of atherosclerotic plaques. We assessed the effect of atorvastatin (ATV) on the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and other proinflammatory molecules in a rabbit model of atherosclerosis. Fourteen animals underwent injury of femoral arteries and 2 weeks of atherogenic diet. Afterwards, they were randomized to receive either 5 mg/kg per day of ATV (n=8) or no treatment (NT, n=6) during 4 weeks, and were finally killed. ATV reduced lipid levels, neointimal size (0.13 (0.03-0.29) mm(2) vs 0.65 (0.14-1.81) mm(2), P=0.005) and the percentage of neointimal area positive for macrophages (1% (0-3) vs 19% (5-32), P=0.001), COX-2 (32% (23-39) vs 60% (37-81) P=0.019), interleukin-8 (IL-8) (23% (3-63) vs 63% (25-88) P=0.015), and metalloproteinase-3 (19% (12-34) vs 42% (27-93), P=0.010), without significant differences in COX-1 expression (immunohistochemistry). In situ hybridization confirmed a decreased expression of COX-2 mRNA (22% (5-40) vs 43% (34-59) P=0.038). The activity of nuclear factor-kappaB, which controls many proinflammatory genes including COX-2, was reduced in atherosclerotic lesions (3538 (2663-5094) vs 8696 (5429-11312)) positive nuclei per mm(2), P=0.001) and circulating mononuclear cells (2966 vs 17130 arbitrary units). In cultured vascular smooth muscle cells, ATV reduced the expression of COX-2 mRNA induced by IL-1beta and TNF-alpha without affecting COX-1 expression. In conclusion, ATV, besides decreasing a number of inflammatory mediators in the atherosclerotic lesion, significantly downregulates COX-2 both in vivo and in vitro. These anti-inflammatory actions could partially account for the reduction of acute coronary events achieved by statins.
Atherosclerosis 2002 Jan
PMID:Atorvastatin reduces the expression of cyclooxygenase-2 in a rabbit model of atherosclerosis and in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells. 1175 22

Peroxynitrite, a marker of oxidative stress, is elevated in conditions associated with vascular endothelial cell dysfunction, such as atherosclerosis, preeclampsia, and diabetes. However, the effects of peroxynitrite on endothelial cell function are not clear. The endothelium-derived enzymes nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and prostaglandin H synthase (PGHS) mediate vascular reactivity and contain oxidant-sensitive isoforms (iNOS and PGHS-2) that can be induced by nuclear factor (NF)-kappaB activation. We investigated the effect(s) of peroxynitrite on NOS and PGHS pathways in endothelial cells. We hypothesized that peroxynitrite will increase levels of iNOS and PGHS-2 through activation of NF-kappaB. Western immunoblots of endothelial cells show that 3-morpholinosydnonimine (SIN-1; 0.5 mM), a peroxynitrite donor, increased iNOS protein mass, which can be inhibited by pyrroline dithiocarbamate (an NF-kappaB inhibitor) (167 +/- 24.2 vs. 78 +/- 19%, P < 0.05, n = 6). SIN-1 treatment also significantly increased NF-kappaB translocation into endothelial cell nuclei (135 +/- 10%, P < 0.05). Endothelial NOS, PGHS-1, and PGHS-2 protein levels were not altered by SIN-1. However, prostacyclin synthase protein mass, but not mRNA, was significantly reduced in SIN-1-treated endothelial cells (78 +/- 8.9%, P < 0.05). Our results illustrate novel mechanisms through which peroxynitrite may modulate vascular endothelial function.
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PMID:Peroxynitrite increases iNOS through NF-kappaB and decreases prostacyclin synthase in endothelial cells. 1178 51

The effects of ip administration of NSAIDs in experimentally induced hyperlipidemia in rats was studied. An isotonic solution of Triton WR1339 (tyloxapol) was administered ip to rats one hour after ip administration of the examined anti-inflammatory drug. After 24 h, blood was collected for the determination of plasma total cholesterol (TC), LDL and trigluceride (TG) concentrations. The NSAIDs used in our experimental model are selective or non selective COX-1 inhibitors as well as one non selective COX-2 inhibitor. Most of the drugs significantly reduced the TC, TG and LDL concentrations in the plasma of hyperlipidemic rats. While studies link atheromatosis to inflammation, our results potentially also link anti-inflammatory activity with hypolipidemia. Thus, NSAIDs not only may address the inflammatory aspect of atherosclerosis but also may contribute directly by inducing hypolipidemia.
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PMID:Experimental hyperlipidemia and the effect of NSAIDs. 1223 Dec 15

In this study, we investigated the effects of various nitrogen oxide (NO(x)) species on the extent of prostaglandin H(2) synthase-1 (PGHS-1) nitration in purified protein and in vascular smooth muscle cells. We also examined PGHS-1 activity under these conditions and found the degree of nitration to correlate inversely with enzyme activity. In addition, since NO(x) species are thought to invoke damage during the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, we examined human atheromatous tissue for PGHS-1 nitration. Both peroxynitrite and tetranitromethane induced Tyr nitration of purified PGHS-1, whereas 1-hydroxy-2-oxo-3-(N-methyl-aminopropyl)-3-methyl-1-triazene (NOC-7; a nitric oxide-releasing compound) did not. Smooth muscle cells treated with peroxynitrite showed PGHS-1 nitration. The extent of nitration by specific NO(x) species was determined by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. Tetranitromethane was more effective than peroxynitrite, NOC-7, and nitrogen dioxide at nitrating a tyrosine-containing peptide (12%, 5%, 1%, and <1% nitration, respectively). Nitrogen dioxide and, to a lesser extent, peroxynitrite, induced dityrosine formation. Using UV/Vis spectroscopy, it was estimated that the reaction of PGHS-1 with excess peroxynitrite yielded two nitrated tyrosines/PGHS-1 subunit. Finally, atherosclerotic tissue obtained from endarterectomy patients was shown to contain nitrated PGHS-1. Thus, prolonged exposure to elevated levels of peroxynitrite may cause oxidative damage through tyrosine nitration.
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PMID:Tyrosine nitration in prostaglandin H(2) synthase. 1236 56


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