Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0004153 (atherosclerosis)
 77,401 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Fractalkine (CX3CL1) is of particular interest in atherogenesis because it can serve as an adhesion molecule and a chemokine. Fractalkine and its receptor CX3CR1 are expressed in atherosclerotic lesions of humans and mice. However, the effect of fractalkine deficiency on atherosclerosis susceptibility is unknown. Fractalkine-deficient mice on the C57BL/6 (B6) background were bred to the atherosclerosis-sensitizing B6.ApoE(-/-) and B6.LDLR(-/-) backgrounds. Compared with controls, aortic-root lesion area was unchanged in fractalkine-deficient male and female B6.ApoE(-/-) mice at 16 weeks of age and males at 12 weeks of age, but it was mildly reduced (30%, P = 0.005) in females at 12 weeks of age. In contrast, lesion area at the brachiocephalic artery (BCA) was reduced dramatically by approximately 85% in fractalkine-deficient females [42,251 +/- 26,136 microm(2) (n = 15) vs. 6,538 +/- 11,320 microm(2);(n = 24), P < 0.0001] and males [36,911 +/- 32,504 microm(2) (n = 24) vs. 6,768 +/- 8,595 microm(2) (n = 14); P = 0.001] at 16 weeks of age. Fractalkine-deficient B6.ApoE(-/-) mice were comparable with controls in body weight, plasma cholesterol, plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and white blood cell counts. On the B6.LDLR(-/-) background, lesion areas were reduced by 35% at the aortic root (P < 0.01) and by 50% at the BCA (P < 0.05) in fractalkine-deficient females at 16 weeks of age. Lesions in fractalkine-deficient mice on the B6.ApoE(-/-) and B6.LDLR(-/-) backgrounds were less complex and contained significantly fewer macrophages than controls. In conclusion, the major reduction of atherosclerosis in fractalkine-deficient mice appears to be at the BCA rather than the aortic root.
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PMID:Major reduction of atherosclerosis in fractalkine (CX3CL1)-deficient mice is at the brachiocephalic artery, not the aortic root. 1559 19

There is a significant genetic component in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). CX3CR1, which encodes the fractalkine (chemokine, CX3CL1) receptor, has two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs): V249I and T280M. These SNPs are correlated with other aged-related diseases such as atherosclerosis. We have reported an association of CX3CR1 SNP and AMD. In this study we examined CX3CR1 SNP frequencies and protein expression on archived sections of AMD and normal eyes. We microdissected non-retinal, peripheral retinal and macular cells from archived slides of eyes of AMD patients and normal subjects. CX3CR1 SNP typing was conducted by PCR and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. CX3CR1 transcripts from retinal cells were also measured using RT-PCR. CX3CR1 protein expression was evaluated using avidin-biotin complex immunohistochemistry. We successfully extracted DNA from 32/40 AMD cases and 2/2 normal eyes. Among the 32 AMD cases, 18 had neovascular AMD and 14 had non-neovascular AMD. The M280 allele was detected in 19/64 (32 cases x2) with a frequency of 29.7%, which was significantly higher as compared to the frequency in the normal population (11.2%). We detected CX3CR1 expression in the various retinal cells. CX3CR1 transcript and protein levels were diminished in the macular lesions. This study successfully analyzed CX3CR1 SNP and transcript expression in microdissected cells from archived paraffin fixed slides. Our data suggest that the M280 allele, a SNP resulting in aberrant CX3CR1 and CX3CL1 interaction, as well as lowered expression of macular CX3CR1, may contribute to the development of AMD.
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PMID:Detection of CX3CR1 single nucleotide polymorphism and expression on archived eyes with age-related macular degeneration. 1594 36

The migration of leukocytes into inflamed peripheral tissues and lymphoid organs involves a cascade of molecular events finely regulated by cell adhesion molecules and chemokines. Fractalkine/CX3CL1 is a membrane-bound chemokine that functions not only as a chemoattractant but also as an adhesion molecule, and is expressed on endothelial cells activated by proinflammatory cytokines. The fractalkine receptor, CX3CR1, is expressed on cytotoxic effector lymphocytes including NK cells and cytotoxic effector T cells (T(CE)), mature monocytes/macrophages, and mucosal dendritic cells, all of which play important roles in elimination of pathogens and cancer cells. Recently, accumulating evidence in both clinical studies and animal disease models has shown that fractalkine is also involved in the pathogenesis of various chronic inflammatory diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis and atherosclerosis. This article reviews the unique functions of fractalkine and its pathophysiological roles in various clinical conditions.
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PMID:[Fractalkine and inflammatory diseases]. 1599 76

Vascular inflammation induced by the proinflammatory cytokine/NF-kappaB pathway is one of the key mechanisms in the development of neointimal hyperplasia. Accumulating evidence suggests that a recently identified chemokine, fractalkine, is involved in arterial inflammation and atherogenesis. However, no study has examined the expression of neointimal fractalkine and the effects of pharmacological agents on this process. The purposes of this study were to measure neointimal fractalkine expression in the rat carotid artery following balloon injury and to determine if alpha-lipoic acid (ALA) inhibits fractalkine expression and neointimal hyperplasia. Balloon injury of the rat carotid artery induced fractalkine expression in the medial as well as neointimal regions. ALA inhibited this expression and consequently prevented neoinitmal hyperplasia in a balloon-injured rat carotid artery. Additionally, ALA inhibited TNF-alpha-stimulated fractalkine expression in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), a process which is mediated through the NF-kappaB pathway. In addition to fractalkine, ALA successfully inhibited TNF-alpha-stimulated expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 and monocyte chemotactic protein-1 in cultured VSMCs. These data suggest that the cytokine-fractalkine system is involved in the pathogenesis of restenosis. The present study supports the possibility that ALA, which inhibits the NF-kappaB/fractalkine pathway, may be used to prevent neointimal hyperplasia after angioplasty or stenting.
Atherosclerosis 2006 Nov
PMID:Alpha-lipoic acid inhibits fractalkine expression and prevents neointimal hyperplasia after balloon injury in rat carotid artery. 1641 26

Vascular inflammation induced by the proinflammatory cytokine/NF-kappaB pathway is one of the key mechanisms in the development of atherosclerosis. Peroxisome proliferators-activated receptor-gamma (PPARgamma) plays an important role in the prevention of arterial inflammation and formation of atherogenesis. Herein we examine the effects of a newly identified synthetic PPARgamma ligand, ascochlorin-6 (AS-6), on TNF-alpha-stimulated NF-kappaB activity and inflammatory molecule expression in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). AS-6 successfully inhibited TNF-alpha-stimulated NF-kappaB activity and inflammatory molecule expression, including vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1), monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1), and fractalkine (CX3CL1). Transient transfection with an [NF-kappaB]x4 luciferase reporter construct showed that AS-6 inhibition of TNF-alpha-stimulated NF-kappaB activation was PPARgamma-dependent. The effects of AS-6 on TNF-alpha-stimulated VCAM-1 and CX3CL1 expression were abolished in cells transfected with an adenovirus expressing dominant-negative PPARgamma and in cells treated with a PPARgamma specific inhibitor, GW9662, confirming again that the anti-inflammatory effect of AS-6 was PPARgamma-dependent. The inhibitory effects of AS-6 on TNF-alpha-stimulated inflammatory gene expression and NF-kappaB activation were more potent than those of rosiglitazone and pioglitazone. This study shows that AS-6 reduces the inflammatory response to TNF-alpha in VSMCs. The data suggest the possibility that AS-6 can be used to prevent the development and progression of atherosclerosis.
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PMID:The ascochlorin derivative, AS-6, inhibits TNF-alpha-induced adhesion molecule and chemokine expression in rat vascular smooth muscle cells. 1698 70

Recent genetic evidence has implicated the adhesive chemokine CX3CL1 and its leukocyte receptor CX3CR1 in atherosclerosis. We previously proposed a mechanism involving foam cell anchorage to vascular smooth muscle cells because: 1) CX3CL1 and CX3CR1 are expressed by both cell types in mouse and human atherosclerotic lesions; 2) foam cells are reduced in lesions in cx3cr1(-/-)apoE(-/-) mice; and 3) proatherogenic lipids (oxidized low density lipoprotein [oxLDL] and oxidized linoleic acid derivatives) induce adhesion of primary human macrophages to primary human coronary artery smooth muscle cells (CASMCs) in vitro in a macrophage CX3CR1-dependent manner. Here we analyze this concept further by testing whether atherogenic lipids regulate expression and function of CX3CL1 and CX3CR1 on CASMCs. We found that both oxLDL and oxidized linoleic acid derivatives indirectly up-regulated CASMC CX3CL1 at both the protein and mRNA levels through an autocrine feedback loop involving tumor necrosis factor alpha production and NF-kappaB signaling. Oxidized lipids also up-regulated CASMC CX3CR1 but through a different mechanism. Oxidized lipid stimulation also increased adhesion of macrophages to CASMCs when CASMCs were stimulated prior to assay, and a synergistic pro-adhesive effect was observed when both cell types were prestimulated. Selective inhibition with a CX3CL1-specific blocking antibody indicated that adhesion was strongly CASMC CX3CL1-dependent. These findings support the hypothesis that CX3CR1 and CX3CL1 mediate heterotypic anchorage of foam cells to CASMCs in the context of atherosclerosis and suggest that this chemokine/chemokine receptor pair may be considered as a pro-inflammatory target for therapeutic intervention in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.
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PMID:Atherogenic lipids induce adhesion of human coronary artery smooth muscle cells to macrophages by up-regulating chemokine CX3CL1 on smooth muscle cells in a TNFalpha-NFkappaB-dependent manner. 1745 71

Within the chemokine family of small chemotactic polypeptides CX3CL1 (fractalkine) and CXCL16 (SR-PSOX) are exceptional in that they are synthesized as transmembrane molecules and can be cleaved from the cell surface to produce a soluble chemoattractant. As transmembrane molecules on the surface of endothelial cells, CX3CL1 and CXCL16 can interact with their receptors CX3CR1 and CXCR6, respectively, which are expressed on leukocyte subtypes. This interaction leads to cell-cell adhesion that is resistant to shear forces. Transmembrane CX3CL1 and CXCL16 are constitutively shed from the cell surface by the activity of a disintegrin and metalloproteinase (ADAM) 10, and cleavage can be rapidly enhanced by activation of the closely related enzyme ADAM17. This cleavage leads to the downregulation of adhesive properties and may even result in the detachment of bound cells. Functionally, both chemokines appear to exert homeostatic and inflammatory activities. Basal expression of CX3CL1 or CXCL16 may be relevant for positioning and survival of tissue-homing leukocytes. Upregulated expression is found under inflammatory conditions such as atherosclerosis where CXCL16 may have a dual function by acting as an adhesion molecule and by promoting uptake of oxidized LDL as a scavenger receptor. Accumulating evidence from knockout mice and genetic polymorphisms in humans points towards a differential contribution of CX3CL1 and CXCL16 in atherosclerosis, where shedding may serve to further regulate their biological functions. Small molecules that block either the receptors or the shedding enzymes of transmembrane chemokines need to be tested in animal models of vascular inflammation.
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PMID:Transmembrane chemokines: versatile 'special agents' in vascular inflammation. 1747 79

Atherosclerosis is a chronic inflammatory disease that represents the primary cause of heart disease and stroke. The recruitment of inflammatory cells in the intima is an essential step in the development and progression of atherosclerosis. This process is triggered by local production of chemokines and chemokine receptors from activated endothelial cells and inflammatory cells. Various members of the CC chemokine family (e.g. MCP-1/CCL2) as well as CXC family (e.g. IL-8/CCL8, IP-10/CXCL10, SDF-1/CXCL12) and, more recently, fractalkine/CX3CL1 have been implicated in atherosclerosis development. Latest findings in animal models suggest that blocking chemokine/chemokine receptor interactions may serve as a suitable approach to treat atherosclerosis. Likewise, chemokine antagonists that inhibit leukocyte recruitment could particularly be interesting to treat inflammation in response to myocardial infarction, the major consequence of atherosclerosis.
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PMID:The specific role of chemokines in atherosclerosis. 1747 81

In consideration of the important role of inflammation in plaque progression and stability, recent work has focused on whether plasma markers of inflammation can non-invasively diagnose and predict coronary artery disease (CAD) and other forms of atherosclerotic disorders. Although several studies support an important pathogenic role of chemokines in atherogenesis and plaque destabilization, potentially representing attractive therapeutic targets in atherosclerotic disorders, this does not necessarily mean that chemokines are suitable parameters for risk prediction. In fact, the ability to reflect up-stream inflammatory activity, stable levels in individuals and high stability of the actual protein (e.g. long half-life and negligible circadian variation), are additional important criteria for an ideal biomarker in cardiovascular disease. Although plasma/serum levels of certain chemokines (e.g. interleukin 8 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1) have been shown to be predictive for future cardiac events in some studies, independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors and C-reactive protein, and although certain gene polymorphisms of chemokines/chemokine receptors (e.g. fractalkine receptor) have been shown to be predictive of future atherosclerotic disease, further prospective studies, including a larger number patients, are needed to make any firm conclusion. While the demonstrations of an association between chemokines and CAD are a necessary first step, such studies do not establish the full clinical utility of a biomarker, which is a more demanding process that requires validation in multiple cohorts, and clear demonstration of incremental prognostic value over traditional risk models. If successful, such new biomarker will be a useful indicator for better risk assessment, diagnosis, and prognosis, as well as monitoring pharmacological treatments for atherosclerosis.
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PMID:Chemokines in cardiovascular risk prediction. 1747 85

Knowledge about the in vivo role of endothelium in chronic human atherosclerosis has mostly been derived by insights from mouse models. Therefore, we set out to establish by microarray analyses the gene expression profiles of endothelium from human large arteries, as isolated by laser microbeam microdissection, having focal atherosclerosis of the early or the advanced stage. Within individual arteries, the endothelial transcriptomes of the lesional and unaffected sides were compared pairwise, thus limiting genetic and environmental confounders. Specific endothelial signature gene sets were identified with changed expression levels in either early (n = 718) or advanced atherosclerosis (n = 403), relative to their paired plaque-free controls. Gene set enrichment analysis identified distinct sets of chemokines and differential enrichments of nuclear factor-kappaB-, p53-, and transforming growth factor-beta-related genes in advanced plaques. Immunohistochemistry validated the discriminative value of corresponding endothelial protein expression between early (fractalkine/CX3CL1, IP10/CCL10, TBX18) or advanced (BAX, NFKB2) stages of atherosclerosis and versus their plaque-free controls. The functional involvement of transforming growth factor-beta signaling in directing its downstream gene repertoire was substantiated by a consistent detection of activated SMAD2 in advanced lesions. Thus, we identified truly common, local molecular denominators of pathological changes to vascular endothelium, with a marked distinction of endothelial phenotype between early and advanced plaques.
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PMID:Distinctive expression of chemokines and transforming growth factor-beta signaling in human arterial endothelium during atherosclerosis. 1759 77


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