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)

The adherence of monocytes to the arterial endothelium followed by its migration into the arterial intima is the earliest event in atherogenesis. The vasoconstrictive peptide, Endothelin-1 (ET-1), is elevated in patients with atherosclerosis. We were interested to know whether ET-1 was a chemoattractant for blood monocytes. Using the modified membrane filter technique for chemotaxsis assessment, ET-1 increased monocyte chemotaxis in a dose-dependent manner. Ca2+ channel blockers, Nifedipine, Diltiazem and Verapamil (5 microM), reduced ET-1 chemotaxsis more than 60% (P < 0.001). Aspirin and Indomethacin (1 mM and 100 microM, respectively) reduced migration by 23% (P < 0.05). Alpha-Lipoic acid, Probucol and Neomycin (100 microM) were also migration inhibitory (37%, P < 0.01). These results suggest that ET-1 is a strong chemoattractant for blood monocytes; Ca2+ influx is probably the major stimulus for the accelerated migration induced by ET-1.
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PMID:Chemotaxis of human blood monocytes toward endothelin-1 and the influence of calcium channel blockers. 147 72

We evaluated the effect of a low level of hyperlipidemia and the effects of in vitro exposure to atherogenic lipoproteins (LDL, VLDL) on the vascular responsiveness of isolated porcine coronary arteries. Firstly we studied the change in vascular responsiveness induced by feeding a cholesterol-rich diet to pigs for 4 and 9 weeks (C4 and C9 pigs). The serum cholesterol level in pigs fed a cholesterol-rich diet reached 218.5 +/- 32.9 mg/dl compared with 85.5 +/- 8.4 mg/dl in the controls. Segments of the left descending coronary artery were examined. The contraction induced by KCl or prostaglandin F2 alpha was not altered significantly by hypercholesterolemia nor was the relaxation induced by the Ca2+ ionophore, A23187, or by nitroglycerin. Endothelium-dependent relaxation (EDR) evoked by high, but not low, concentrations of bradykinin was reduced in the C4 pigs as compared with those in normal animals. EDRs evoked by bradykinin, substance P, and serotonin were significantly reduced in C9 pigs. Histologically, as observed by light and electron microscopy, fatty changes or intimal thickenings were not seen in the coronary arteries of the C4 pigs. Minimal changes (intimal thickening and fragmentation of internal elastic lamina) were observed only in parts of arteries of the C9 pigs. Secondly, the direct effects of LDL and VLDL on vascular responsiveness were studied. Although preincubation with LDL inhibited the EDR caused by exposure to bradykinin and A23187 in the coronary arteries of normal and cholesterol-fed pigs, preincubation with LDL inhibited the arterial relaxation induced by exposure to substance P or serotonin in both the C4 and the C9 pigs, but not in the control animals. The degree of inhibition was especially marked in the C9 pigs. The inhibitory effect of VLDL on EDR was weaker than that of LDL. Indomethacin (5 microM) did not alter this inhibitory effect of lipoproteins. Neither LDL nor VLDL had any effect on the vascular relaxation induced by nitroglycerin. These results are consistent with the idea that endothelium-dependent arterial relaxation is attenuated even at the very early stage of cholesterol-induced atherosclerosis. Atherogenic lipoproteins may further impair the decreased EDR in the arteries of hyperlipidemic pigs by two factors: one released on stimulation with bradykinin and the calcium ionophore A23187, the other released on stimulation with substance P and serotonin.
Atherosclerosis 1991 Mar
PMID:Low level hyperlipidemia impairs endothelium-dependent relaxation of porcine coronary arteries by two mechanisms. Functional change in endothelium and impairment of endothelium-dependent relaxation by two mediators. 171 35

Atherosclerosis impairs endothelium-dependent relaxation of large conduit arteries. Because coronary resistance vessels are spared from the development of overt atherosclerosis, endothelium-dependent responses were examined in these vascular segments. Malaysian cynomolgus monkeys (n = 6) were made atherosclerotic by being fed a 0.7% cholesterol diet for 18 months. Control monkeys (n = 6) were fed a standard diet. Coronary microvessels (122-220 microns) were studied in a pressurized (20 mm Hg), no-flow state using a video-imaging apparatus. Relaxations of microvessels, preconstricted with the thromboxane analogue U46619, were determined in response to acetylcholine, bradykinin, the calcium ionophore A23187, adenosine, and sodium nitroprusside. Microvascular relaxations to bradykinin and A23187 were reduced in atherosclerotic monkeys compared with controls, whereas acetylcholine produced additional contraction in atherosclerotic monkeys. Responses of preconstricted microvessels to adenosine and sodium nitroprusside were identical in atherosclerotic and control animals. Indomethacin did not alter responses in control or atherosclerotic animals. Histologic examination revealed neither intimal thickening nor plaque formation in microvessels of this size class despite marked changes in conduit arteries. Electron microscopy showed minor alterations of endothelial cell morphology in microvessels of atherosclerotic animals. In conclusion, long-term hypercholesterolemia markedly impairs endothelium-dependent vascular relaxation in the coronary microcirculation where overt atherosclerosis does not develop. These changes in endothelial cell function may significantly alter regulation of myocardial perfusion by neurohumoral stimuli.
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PMID:Endothelium-dependent vascular relaxation is abnormal in the coronary microcirculation of atherosclerotic primates. 211 36

Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a vasoactive peptide that is released by endothelial cells. This study was performed to determine whether vascular responses to ET-1 are altered by atherosclerosis. ET-1 (1 or 10 nmol) was injected intra-arterially into the perfused hind limb of normal cynomolgus monkeys and monkeys fed an atherogenic diet for 19 months. We calculated the resistance of the total limb and large arteries and estimated the resistance of the small vessels. The major finding was that ET-1 had minimal effects on large arteries in normal monkeys but produced pronounced constriction of large arteries in atherosclerotic monkeys. In both groups, ET-1 produced dilatation of small vessels at 1 nmol and constriction at 10 nmol. Indomethacin (6 mg/kg intravenously) did not affect the responses to ET-1 in normal or atherosclerotic monkeys. In summary, the major finding is that the constrictor responses of large arteries to ET-1 are potentiated by atherosclerosis.
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PMID:Vascular responses to endothelin-1 in atherosclerotic primates. 224 59

This study was undertaken to determine whether atherosclerosis impairs relaxations mediated by endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) in human coronary arteries. Epicardial coronary arteries were obtained from the hearts of cardiac transplantation patients with or without histologically documented coronary atherosclerosis (atherosclerotic arteries were from patients aged 42-55 years, nonatherosclerotic arteries were from patients aged 14-24 years). Transverse strip preparations were mounted in organ baths for isometric tension recording. Tension was induced with prostaglandins F2 alpha. Indomethacin (10(-5) M) was present to prevent possible interference from endogenously formed prostaglandins. The EDRF-mediated relaxations in response to substance P (10(-10) to 10(-8) M), bradykinin (10(-9) to 10(-7) M), and Ca2+-ionophore A23187 (10(-9) to 10(-7) M) were significantly attenuated in atherosclerotic arteries. In deendothelialized tissues these compounds had no effect. In contrast, endothelium-independent relaxations induced by isoprenaline (10(-7) to 10(-5) M) were not affected by atherosclerosis. Atherosclerotic arteries showed also normal relaxations with high concentrations of glyceryl trinitrate (10(-8) to 10(-7) M), but reduced relaxations with a lower concentration of the compound (10(-9) M). Acetylcholine (10(-7) to 10(-6) M) only produced endothelium-dependent relaxations in 8 of 60 arterial preparations (with or without atherosclerosis). In most of the arteries, it was a direct vasoconstrictor (which may have masked EDRF release in many cases). Omission of indomethacin from the bath solution increased the incidence of moderate acetylcholine-induced relaxations (9 of 16 preparations). It is concluded that atherosclerosis attenuates EDRF-mediated vasospasm and myocardial ischemia.
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PMID:Selective attenuation of endothelium-mediated vasodilation in atherosclerotic human coronary arteries. 244 55

The negative control system for proliferation by prostaglandin I2 (PGI2) was studied in the smooth muscle cells (SMC) cultured from the thickened intima (intimal SMC) of rabbit aortas. Indomethacin was found to enhance DNA synthesis of medial SMC but not that of intimal SMC. Exogenously added PGI2 or its stable analogue, CS-570, was observed to inhibit DNA synthesis of medial SMC enhanced by indomethacin but not that of intimal SMC. These results indicate that medial SMC are negatively controlled by endogenous PGI2 and that intimal SMC have no such negative control system for cell proliferation. This lack of negative control may be one of the mechanisms underlying the rapid growth behavior of intimal SMC as compared to medial SMC.
Atherosclerosis 1988 Sep
PMID:Lack of inhibition of DNA synthesis by prostaglandin I2 in cultured intimal smooth muscle cells from rabbits. 305 79

WHHL rabbits develop progressive atherosclerosis. There are no visible signs of the disease at 1 month, however, by 12 months, the formation of aortic plaques is extensive. This study characterized arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism in 1 and 12 month old WHHL and NZW rabbit aortas. Vessels incubated with 14C-AA and A23187 metabolized AA to a number of oxygenated products as identified by high pressure liquid chromatography. The major AA metabolites produced by WHHL and NZW aortas were 6-keto PGF1 alpha, PGE2, 12- and 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (HETEs). The structures of the HETEs were confirmed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Indomethacin blocked the synthesis of prostaglandins (PGs) but not HETEs whereas ETYA, NDGA or removal of the endothelium attenuated the production of both PGs and HETEs. Measurement of 6-keto PGF1 alpha, 12- and 15-HETE by specific radioimmunoassays indicated that as the rabbits aged and as atherosclerosis progressed, aortas lost the ability to synthesize 6-keto PGF1 alpha and 15-HETE. Prior to the development of atherosclerosis, 1 month old WHHL aortas produced 70% less 15-HETE than did NZW aortas. Atherosclerotic aortas from 12 month old WHHLs synthesized 60% less 6-keto PGF1 alpha during stimulation with AA or A23187 than did 12 month old NZW aortas. We conclude that the development and expression of atherosclerosis in WHHL rabbits impairs the ability of aortas to metabolize AA to both PGs and HETEs.
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PMID:Characterization of arachidonic acid metabolism in Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic (WHHL) and New Zealand white (NZW) rabbit aortas. 323 4

Cuff-treatment of the rabbit carotid artery produced a diffuse intimal thickening which resembled early lesions of atherosclerosis. A limited amount of focal endothelial damage occurred first (0.5 h), leukocytes infiltrated the subendothelium and extensive endothelial denudation occurred at 24 h. At 3 days, the regenerating endothelium covered the denuded area, and the media was edematous. At 7 days proliferation of intimal cells became visible. Maximum intimal thickening occurred at 3 weeks. Daily injection of dexamethasone (0.01-10 mg/kg i.m.) and ticlopidine (1-100 mg/kg i.m.) dose-dependently attenuated the intimal thickening. Indomethacin had little effect. Inflammatory exudate from zymosan-activated air pouch induced chemotaxis of rat smooth muscle cells (SMC) in vitro. Similar chemotactic activity was observed with leukotriene B4 (LTB4) but not with the other lipoxygenase products tested. The exudate contained reasonable amounts of LTB4, which would account for its chemotactic activity. Dexamethasone inhibited the chemotaxis by the exudate and proliferation of SMC. These results are discussed in relation to the mechanism of atherogenesis. It is concluded that leukocytes play a major role in cuff-induced intimal thickening, and that their products cause endothelial denudation and SMC chemotaxis. Involvement of platelet aggregation in atherogenesis is also suggested.
Atherosclerosis 1987 Apr
PMID:Inflammatory responses in cuff-induced atherosclerosis in rabbits. 360 22

Selective inhibitors of thromboxane (TX) formation have potential utility in the treatment of hypertension, atherosclerosis, thrombosis, myocardial ischemia, cancer metastasis, etc. This class of compounds not only removes TX, a potent vasoconstrictor and inducer of platelet aggregation, but may also enhance the production of a potent vasodilator and inhibitor of platelet aggregation, viz., prostacyclin (epoprostenol, PGI2). The specific thromboxane synthetase (TXS) inhibitor 1-benzylimidazole (1-BI) demonstrated a weak and OKY-1581 (OKY) a potent inhibition of TX formation in SHR-derived platelets in vitro. The acute antihypertensive effects produced by 1-BI were marked while those of OKY were less significant in SHR. 1-BI and OKY did not demonstrate an inhibition of PGI2 formation in SHR-derived aortic rings in vitro. Indomethacin (I), which inhibits the formation of both TX and PGI2, was not antihypertensive and did not antagonize the blood pressure lowering effects of 1-BI in the present studies. Oral and intravenous dosing with 1-BI, unlike OKY, produced epinephrine reversal in SHR, indicating the blockade of alpha-adrenoceptors. In conclusion, the acute antihypertensive effects of 1-BI in SHR result mainly from alpha-adrenoceptor blockade, not inhibition of TXS activity.
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PMID:1-Benzylimidazole, a thromboxane synthetase inhibitor acutely lowers blood pressure mainly by alpha-adrenoceptor blockade in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). 614 61

The role of thromboxane in human, rabbit, dog, pig and sheep platelet aggregation has been studied. Each of these species showed a concentration-dependent relationship between collagen concentrations and the thromboxane B2 (TXB2) released from aggregating platelets, however sheep platelets produced only 17.5% of the amount of TXB2 released from human platelets under the same collagen stimulus. Indomethacin did not inhibit sheep platelet aggregation in the concentration range 0.114 mM - 0.114 muM, yet proved to be a potent inhibitor of human platelet aggregation. The prostaglandin endoperoxide analogue, U.46619, induced human platelet aggregation at a dose of 100 ng, however the analogue, at doses as high as 500 micrograms was much less active on sheep platelets when compared to human platelets. Thus we have demonstrated that there are differences in the extent of thromboxane involvement in platelet aggregation between different species, which must be considered with other criteria, before choosing an animal model for studying human atherosclerosis.
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PMID:A comparative study of collagen induced thromboxane release from platelets of different species: implications for human atherosclerosis models. 712 12


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