UMLS:C0004153 - FACTA Search

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

The renin-angiotensin system contributes to atherogenesis. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) are thought to participate in plaque destabilization through degradation of extracellular matrix. This study tested whether angiotensin II (ANG II) induces MMP in human vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC). ANG II induced expression of MMP-1, -3, and -9, but not of MMP-2 in SMC. The expression of MMP-1, a key enzyme for collagen degradation, was studied in detail. SMC stimulated with ANG II concentration-dependently released enzymatically active MMP-1. The ANG II type 1 receptor antagonists losartan and candesartan blocked ANG-II-induced MMP-1 release. Inhibition experiments with actinomycin D suggest ANG-II-induced MMP-1 mRNA regulation at the transcriptional level. Decoy oligodeoxynucleotides against nuclear factor-kappaB and activator protein 1 inhibited MMP-1 secretion, demonstrating participation of these transcription factors in MMP-1 transcription. Stimulation of MMP-1 by ANG II depended on cyclooxygenase 2. The antioxidants pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate and N-acetylcysteine, the flavin protein inhibitor diphenylene iodonium, and the NADP(H) oxidase inhibitor apocynin blocked MMP-1 release, suggesting a redox-sensitive mechanism involving NADP(H) oxidase. The reactive oxygen species (ROS) donor 2,3-dimethoxy-1,4-naphthoquinone induced MMP-1 secretion and enhanced ANG-II-stimulated MMP-1 expression. These findings indicate that ROS may increase their own production by activation of NADP(H) oxidase. The capability of ANG II to induce functionally active MMP in human SMC may contribute to the altered plaque composition seen in complicated stages of atherosclerosis.
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PMID:Angiotensin II stimulates matrix metalloproteinase secretion in human vascular smooth muscle cells via nuclear factor-kappaB and activator protein 1 in a redox-sensitive manner. 1610 92

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF), initially discovered as a result of its antitumor activity, has now been shown to mediate tumor initiation, promotion, and metastasis. In addition, dysregulation of TNF has been implicated in a wide variety of inflammatory diseases including rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn's disease, multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, scleroderma, atopic dermatitis, systemic lupus erythematosus, type II diabetes, atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, osteoporosis, and autoimmune deficiency disease. TNF, however, is a critical component of effective immune surveillance and is required for proper proliferation and function of NK cells, T cells, B cells, macrophages, and dendritic cells. TNF activity can be blocked, either by using antibodies (Remicade and Humira) or soluble TNF receptor (Enbrel), for the symptoms of arthritis and Crohn's disease to be alleviated, but at the same time, such treatment increases the risk of infections, certain type of cancers, and cardiotoxicity. Thus blockers of TNF that are safe and yet efficacious are urgently needed. Some evidence suggests that while the transmembrane form of TNF has beneficial effects, soluble TNF mediates toxicity. In most cells, TNF mediates its effects through activation of caspases, NF-kappaB, AP-1, c-jun N-terminal kinase, p38 MAPK, and p44/p42 MAPK. Agents that can differentially regulate TNF expression or TNF signaling can be pharmacologically safe and effective therapeutics. Our laboratory has identified numerous such agents from natural sources. These are discussed further in detail.
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PMID:TNF blockade: an inflammatory issue. 1633 57

Animal models of vein graft disease are used as preliminary tools to study and understand the pathogenesis of the disease in humans and improve its diagnosis, prevention and therapy. Several animal models that manifest lesions resembling neointimal hyperplasia of human vein grafts have been developed, but there are limitations in studying the mechanism of this disease in these models. We previously established a mouse model of vein bypass graft atherosclerosis that allows us to take advantage of transgenic and knockout techniques. Using this model, we studied the pathogenesis of vein graft atherosclerosis. The lesion in the grafts was characterised by mononuclear cell infiltration followed by smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation and matrix protein deposition, which is similar to the human lesion. Studies of the molecular mechanism of pathogenesis in this model revealed that physical force initiated signal pathways, particularly mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), leading to vascular cell death and an inflammatory response, followed by SMC proliferation, which contributed to the development of arteriosclerosis. Suramin inhibited SMC migration and proliferation in vivo and in vitro by blocking platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-initiated PDGF receptor activation and MAPK-AP-1 signalling, and was also effective in inhibition of neointima hyperplasia in mouse vein bypass grafts. This new mouse model of vein bypass graft atherosclerosis affords us with a valuable new approach to attain further understanding of the mechanism of vein graft disease with the use of transgenic mice, and in evaluating the effects of drugs and gene therapy on vascular diseases.
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PMID:New mouse model of vein bypass graft atherosclerosis. 1635 95

The proliferation and migration of arterial smooth muscle cells (SMCs) are key events in the vascular restenosis that frequently follows angioplasty. Furthermore, SMC migration and neointimal hyperplasia are promoted by degradation of the extracellular matrix by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Because we demonstrated previously that the proinflammatory and proatherogenic cytokine interleukin-18 (IL-18) stimulates SMC proliferation (Chandrasekar, B., Mummidi, S., Valente, A. J., Patel, D. N., Bailey, S. R., Freeman, G. L., Hatano, M., Tokuhisa, T., and Jensen, L. E. (2005) J. Biol. Chem. 280, 26263-26277), we investigated whether IL-18 induces SMC migration in an MMP-dependent manner and whether the 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-CoA reductase inhibitor atorvastatin can inhibit this response. IL-18 treatment increased both mRNA and protein expression of MMP9 in human coronary artery SMCs. Gel shift, enzyme-linked immunosorbent, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays revealed a strong induction of IL-18-mediated AP-1 (c-Fos, c-Jun, and Fra-1) and NF-kappaB (p50 and p65) activation and stimulation of MMP9 promoter-dependent reporter gene activity in an AP-1- and NF-kappaB-dependent manner. Ectopic expression of p65, c-Fos, c-Jun, and Fra-1 induced MMP9 promoter activity. Specific antisense or small interfering RNA reagents for these transcription factors reduced IL-18-mediated MMP9 transcription. Furthermore, IL-18 stimulated SMC migration in an MMP9-dependent manner. Atorvastatin effectively suppressed IL-18-mediated AP-1 and NF-kappaB activation, MMP9 expression, and SMC migration. Together, our results indicate for the first time that the proatherogenic cytokine IL-18 induces human coronary artery SMC migration in an MMP9-dependent manner. Atorvastatin inhibits IL-18-mediated aortic SMC migration and has therapeutic potential for attenuating the progression of atherosclerosis and restenosis.
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PMID:Interleukin-18-induced human coronary artery smooth muscle cell migration is dependent on NF-kappaB- and AP-1-mediated matrix metalloproteinase-9 expression and is inhibited by atorvastatin. 1655 98

Many cardiovascular studies have suggested that 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl co-enzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins) have anti-inflammatory effects independent of cholesterol lowering. As a chronic inflammatory disease, periodontitis shares some mechanisms with atherosclerosis. Since oral epithelial cells participate importantly in periodontal inflammation, we measured simvastatin effects on interleukin-6 and interleukin-8 production by cultured human epithelial cell line (KB cells) in response to interleukin-1alpha. Simvastatin decreased production, an effect reversed by adding mevalonate or geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate, but not farnesyl pyrophosphate. Simvastatin was found to reduce NF-kappaB and AP-1 promoter activity in KB cells. Dominant-negative Rac1 severely inhibited interleukin-1alpha-induced NF-kappaB and AP-1 promoter activity. Our results may indicate an anti-inflammatory effect of simvastatin on human oral epithelial cells, apparently involving Rac1 GTPase inhibition.
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PMID:Simvastatin decreases IL-6 and IL-8 production in epithelial cells. 1672 48

Investigation into the etiology of atherosclerosis has identified cigarette smoking as a major risk factor. Although it has been established that cellular adhesion molecule expression on endothelial cells is stimulated by nicotine, the mechanism by which this occurs is not clear. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of nicotine on the expression of the adhesion molecules, intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1 in endothelial cells and to determine the involvement of important known intermediaries, protein kinase C (PKC), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK), and the transcription factors NF-kappaB and AP-1. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) were exposed to 10-8 M nicotine for up to 24 h. Expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 and phosphorylation of p38 were examined by immunoblot. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay was performed to determine NF-kappaB and AP-1 activation. We observed that nicotine increased the expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 with a peak at 6 h. p38 MAPK was activated after 5 min exposure to 10-8 mol/L nicotine and returned to baseline levels by 30 min. Exposure of HUVEC to nicotine resulted in a 4.1-fold increase of PKC activity at 5 min, which subsequently returned to control levels by 15 min. Nicotine (10-8 mol/L) also increased NF-kappaB and AP-1 activity. Inhibitors of p38 MAPK, PKC, and NF-kappaB suppressed nicotine-stimulated expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1. Our results indicate that nicotine enhances the expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 on the endothelial cell surface via a second messenger pathway which involves PKC and p38 MAPK-mediated activation of NF-kappaB and AP-1, resulting in increased expression of these cellular adhesion molecules.
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PMID:Nicotine enhances human vascular endothelial cell expression of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 via protein kinase C, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, NF-kappaB, and AP-1. 1684 81

CXCL16 is a transmembrane non-ELR CXC chemokine that signals via CXCR6 to induce aortic smooth muscle cell (ASMC) proliferation. While bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) has been shown to stimulate CXCL16 expression in SMC, its effects on CXCR6 are not known. Here, we demonstrate that LPS upregulates CXCR6 mRNA, protein, and surface expression in human ASMC. Inhibition of TLR4 with neutralizing antibodies or specific siRNA interference blocked LPS-mediated CXCR6 expression. LPS stimulated both AP-1 (c-Fos, c-Jun) and NF-kappaB (p50 and p65) activation, but only inhibition of AP-1 attenuated LPS-induced CXCR6 expression. Using dominant negative expression vectors and siRNA interference, we demonstrate that LPS induces AP-1 activation via MyD88, TRAF6, ERK1/2, and JNK signaling pathways. Furthermore, the flavoprotein inhibitor diphenyleniodonium chloride significantly attenuated LPS-mediated AP-1-dependent CXCR6 expression, as did inhibition of NOX4 NADPH oxidase by siRNA. Finally, CXCR6 knockdown inhibited CXCL16-induced ASMC proliferation. These results demonstrate that LPS-TLR4-NOX4-AP-1 signaling can induce CXCR6 expression in ASMC, and suggest that the CXCL16-CXCR6 axis may be an important proinflammatory pathway in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.
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PMID:TLR4-NOX4-AP-1 signaling mediates lipopolysaccharide-induced CXCR6 expression in human aortic smooth muscle cells. 1687 Jan 45

Platelet derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB is one of the most potent vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferative factors, and abnormal VSMC proliferation by PDGF-BB plays an important role in the development and progression of atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of NQ304 [2-chloro-3-(4-hexylphenyl)-amino-1,4-naphthoquinone], a newly synthesized 1,4-naphthoquinone derivative, on the proliferation of PDGF-BB-stimulated rat aortic VSMCs. Antiproliferative effects of NQ304 on rat aortic VSMCs were examined by direct cell counting and by using [(3)H] thymidine incorporation assays. It was found that NQ304 potently the growth of VSMCs. Preincubation with NQ304 (1-10 microM) significantly inhibited proliferation and DNA synthesis of 50 ng/ml PDGF-BB-stimulated rat aortic VSMCs in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, we investigated the mechanism of proliferation suppression by NQ304 in PDGF-BB-stimulated rat aortic VSMCs, and found that PDGF-BB-stimulated immediate-early gene expression (c-fos), activator protein (AP)-1 activation, extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1 and 2 (ERK1/2) phosphorylation, and Akt kinase were significantly inhibited by NQ304. An examination of the suppressive effects of NQ304 on PDGF-BB-stimulated VSMC cycle progression showed that NQ304 (10 microM) induced the G1 phase arrest of PDGF-BB-stimulated cell cycle progression by elevating p21(cip1) mRNA expression. These findings suggest that the inhibitory effects of NQ304 on DNA synthesis, proliferation, and cell cycle progression on PDGF-BB-stimulated VSMCs are mediated via the downregulations of AP-1 activation and c-fos expression achieved in turn via the suppressions of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt and ERK1/2 signaling pathways.
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PMID:Antiproliferative activity of NQ304, a synthetic 1,4-naphthoquinone, is mediated via the suppressions of the PI3K/Akt and ERK1/2 signaling pathways in PDGF-BB-stimulated vascular smooth muscle cells. 1687 83

A proteomic analysis of procyanidin B(2) isolated from cocoa against oxidized low-density lipoprotein-induced lipid-laden macrophage formation was performed. Of approximately 400 detected proteins, 12 were differentially expressed as a result of B(2) treatment. They were subsequently identified by liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry and the SWISS-PROT database. Further reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis revealed that B(2) strongly inhibited arachidonic acid inflammatory reactions, apoptosis, and their coupled mitogen-activated protein kinase and NF-kappaB pathways. To highlight proteins or genes with similar expressed patterns and similarly biological function induced by B(2) in lipid-laden macrophages, a cluster and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis were performed. The data were mapped to multiple pathways. Further validation of the bioinformatic results revealed that activation of Wnt signaling may contribute to the cardioprotection of B(2). The differentially expressed genes and proteins mentioned above induced by B(2) are through regulating nuclear transcription factors, activating peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma and inhibiting AP-1 mRNA expressions. These in vitro data help to interpret the beneficial effects of B(2) in reducing the risk of atherosclerosis after consumption of flavonoid-rich foods. Many differentially expressed genes induced by B(2) help to uncover novel targets and may help to target disease interactions in atherosclerosis in the future.
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PMID:Inhibitory effects of procyanidin B(2) dimer on lipid-laden macrophage formation. 1695 22

Conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) have attracted scientific interest due to their potential beneficial effects on atherosclerosis. Recently, a mixture of CLA isomers was demonstrated to upregulate LDL receptor expression in the human hepatoma cell line HepG2. However, the underlying mechanisms remain to be resolved. Thus, the aim of this study was to elucidate how CLA mediates upregulation of LDL receptor in HepG2 cells and whether this upregulation is isomer-specific. The results revealed that LDL receptor promoter activity and mRNA expression were strongly induced upon treatment with t10c12-CLA (P<0.05), whereas c9t11-CLA and linoleic acid (LA) had no effect. In addition, only treatment with t10c12-CLA markedly induced mRNA expression of SREBP-2 and HMG-CoA reductase and slightly induced that of SREBP-1 (P<0.05). Using SREBP-2 knockdown cells, we could demonstrate that the effect of t10c12-CLA on LDL receptor gene transcription was significantly reduced when compared to control cells (P<0.05). When using SREBP-1 knockdown cells the effect of t10c12-CLA on LDL receptor mRNA only slightly decreased compared to control cells. In addition, using different deletion constructs of the LDL receptor gene promoter we showed that the induction of the LDL receptor by t10c12-CLA is independent of the AP-1 motif in the LDL receptor promoter. In conclusion, the present study revealed that transcriptional activation of the LDL receptor gene by t10c12-CLA is dependent on the upregulation of SREBP-2 and is probably due to the activation of the SRE-1 in the LDL receptor gene promoter in HepG2 cells. Thus, the decreased plasma cholesterol levels in response to CLA as observed in a limited number of animal and human studies might be explained by an enhanced uptake of VLDL and LDL cholesterol via hepatic LDL receptors. However, it provides no explanation for the outcome of most human studies reporting unaltered or even increased plasma and LDL cholesterol concentrations in response to supplementation with CLA.
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PMID:LDL receptor gene transcription is selectively induced by t10c12-CLA but not by c9t11-CLA in the human hepatoma cell line HepG2. 1698 10

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