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

It has been known for more than 30 years that growth hormone has a lipolytic properties and growth hormone excess (acromegaly) and growth hormone deficiency have been reported to be associated with abnormalities in serum lipoprotein concentrations. Due to the lipolytic effect of growth hormone, its administration in man has been reported to increase plasma nonesterified fatty acid (NEFA) concentrations. Ketone body production increases during acute growth hormone excess as a result of increased NEFA concentrations; similarly, the increase in serum triglycerides may be explained by an increase in substrate (NEFA) supply to the liver for VLDL production. The effect may be enhanced by a simultaneous decrease of serum lipoprotein lipase activity. The cholesterol-lowering effect of growth hormone administration has not been investigated in detail, specifically, the effect of growth hormone on LDL kinetics is unknown. Growth hormone-excess and growth hormone deficiency have been reported to be associated with increased risk for atherosclerosis; an association with serum lipoprotein changes is likely but evidence for a causal link is yet lacking.
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PMID:Growth hormone and lipids. 180 82

Humoral regulation of somatic and hematopoietic cell growth has been intensely investigated during the past decade. Growth hormone is unique because it regulates the size of the person within the constraints of the genetic program. The somatomedins and insulin growth factors are low molecular weight polypeptides believed to mediate some functions of growth hormone. Epithelial growth factor and nerve growth factor are well-characterized polypeptides that influence the growth and differentiation of epithelial and neural tissues and interact with specific cell surface receptors. The hematopoietins are a family of polypeptide hormones that specifically regulate the proliferation and differentiation of stem cells giving rise to erythrocytes, granulocytes, monocytes, megakaryocytes, and B and T lymphocytes. Platelet-derived growth factor modulates the proliferation of fibroblasts in vitro and may have a role in the development of atherosclerosis and myelofibrosis. New knowledge on the biochemistry and physiology of growth factors will probably have a substantial impact on our understanding of human diseases involving abnormal cell growth.
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PMID:Growth factors. 699 74

The large vessel disease develops slowly and progressively among most diabetics. According to the concept of a specific diabetic macroangiopathy, the alterations in the large vessels are part of the general diabetic angiopathy and are different from the spotty atherosclerosis. This hypothesis proposes that the changes develop a consequence of the metabolic situation in diabetes. The concept is based on epidemiologic, clinical, and patho-anatomical observations. A model of large-vessel disease in diabetes is briefly described. Diabetic serum causes proliferation of the aortic myomedial cells in culture. Growth hormone causes a similar proliferation. Type 1 procollagen and fibronectin elaboration is enhanced by diabetic serum. The same effect has been found with growth hormone. Insulin treatment in experimental diabetes prevents the proliferation of arterial myomedial cells in the coronary arteries. The presented data are compatible with the concept of a diabetic macroangiopathy distinct from atherosclerosis.
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PMID:Diabetic macroangiopathy and growth hormone. 729 69

Growth hormone (GH) has significant effects on hepatic lipoprotein metabolism, stimulating triglyceride biosynthesis, secretion of VLDL, apolipoprotein (apo)E, and the editing of apoB while simultaneously increasing the expression of LDL receptors. Clinical observations support the concept that GH may have a protective role in the prevention of atherosclerosis, and treatment with GH could thus be beneficial in states of GH deficiency.
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PMID:Growth hormone and hepatic lipoprotein metabolism. 795 9

Growth hormone (GH) deficiency and acromegaly may be associated with increased cardiovascular risk. Little is known about alterations in high density lipoproteins (HDL) in these conditions. Lecithin:cholesterol acyl transferase (LCAT) has the ability to esterify free cholesterol (FC) in HDL. Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) is able to transfer cholesteryl esters (CE) from HDL to very low and low density lipoproteins (VLDL and LDL). During phospholipid transfer protein (PLTP)-mediated HDL remodelling, small pre beta-HDL particles are generated which serve as acceptors for cellular cholesterol and provide the initial LCAT-substrate. We documented plasma lipids, LCAT, CETP and PLTP activity levels as well as plasma cholesterol esterification (EST) and cholesteryl ester transfer (CET) in 12 adult men with acquired GH deficiency, 12 acromegalic men and 24 healthy male subjects. All GH deficient and acromegalic patients received conventional hormonal replacement therapy if necessary. VLDL + LDL cholesterol and plasma triglycerides were higher in GH deficient (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05) and acromegalic patients (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01) than in healthy subjects. HDL cholesterol and HDL CE were lower (P < 0.05 for both) and the HDL FC/CE ratio was higher (P < 0.01) in these patient groups compared to healthy subjects. Plasma LCAT, CETP and PLTP activity levels were lower in acromegalic patients (P < 0.01 for all) and CETP activity was lower in GH deficient patients (P < 0.01) compared to healthy subjects. Plasma EST and CET were decreased in both acromegalic (P < 0.01 for both) and GH deficient patients (P < 0.05 for both). Multiple regression analysis demonstrated independent negative relationships of plasma insulin-like growth factor I with plasma LCAT (P = 0.0001), CETP (P = 0.009) and PLTP activity levels (P = 0.021). Plasma LCAT (P = 0.0001) and CETP activity (P = 0.0001) were also negatively associated with (substitution therapy for) adrenal insufficiency. In conclusion, GH deficient and acromegalic patients show abnormalities in HDL, consistent with impaired LCAT action. Decreases in plasma EST and CET in such patients, as well as a low PLTP activity in acromegaly suggest that reverse cholesterol transport may be impaired, contributing to increased cardiovascular risk.
Atherosclerosis 2000 Dec
PMID:Low plasma lecithin:cholesterol acyltransferase and lipid transfer protein activities in growth hormone deficient and acromegalic men: role in altered high density lipoproteins. 1116 39

Cardiovascular risk is increased in GH deficiency (GHD). GHD adults are frequently abdominally obese and display features of the metabolic syndrome. Otherwise healthy abdominally obese subjects have low GH levels and show features of the metabolic syndrome as well. We investigated in healthy nonobese males the effect of the GH receptor antagonist pegvisomant in different metabolic conditions. This is a model for acute GHD without the alterations in body composition associated with GHD. We compared the effect of pegvisomant with that of placebo before and after 3 d of fasting. In addition, we investigated the effect of pegvisomant under normal, i.e. fed, conditions. Three days of fasting as well as pegvisomant alone decreased serum free IGF-I levels (1.0 +/- 0.15 vs. 0.31 +/- 0.05 ng/ml and 0.86 +/- 0.23 vs. 0.46 +/- 0.23 ng/ml, respectively). Fasting in combination with pegvisomant also decreased serum free IGF-I levels (1.0 +/- 0.15 vs. 0.31 +/- 0.07 ng/ml). Treatment with pegvisomant had no additional influence on the decline of free IGF-I induced by fasting. Pegvisomant alone had no influence on insulin sensitivity. The increase in insulin sensitivity induced by fasting was comparable to the increase in insulin sensitivity induced by fasting combined with pegvisomant. Among serum lipid concentrations, only serum triglycerides increased significantly as a result of pegvisomant alone (1.0 +/- 0.2 vs. 1.6 +/- 0.4 mmol/liter). The changes in lipid concentrations induced by fasting alone or pegvisomant were not different from those induced by pegvisomant alone. von Willebrand factor antigen levels declined significantly under the influence of pegvisomant alone (1.1 +/- 0.07 vs. 0.8 +/- 0.06 U/ml). In conclusion, in different metabolic conditions the GH receptor antagonist pegvisomant induces no significant acute changes in the major risk markers for cardiovascular disease. These data suggest that the secondary metabolic changes, e.g. abdominal obesity or inflammatory factors, that develop as a result of long-standing GHD are of primary importance in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in patients with GHD.
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PMID:Acute effect of pegvisomant on cardiovascular risk markers in healthy men: implications for the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in GH deficiency. 1170 72

Growth hormone-deficient hypopituitary patients on conventional replacement therapy have increased mortality and morbidity from atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is a key event in the development and progression of atherosclerosis. Antibodies against oxidatively modified LDL may reflect in vivo oxidation processes. The aim of this study is to determine the effect of growth hormone deficiency on oxidised-LDL antibody titres in panhypopituitary patients taking conventional replacement therapy. Twenty-one GH deficient, adult panhypopituitary patients and 17 age, sex and body mass index-matched healthy controls were studied. After an overnight fast, anthropometric parameters were measured and body composition was determined by a bioelectrical impedance analyser. Venous blood samples were obtained for the measurements of biochemical parameters. Antibodies to oxidised-LDL were analysed by an ELISA system in the patients' and controls' serum. No significant difference was observed between the oxidised-LDL antibody titres in hypopituitary patients and controls (395.4+/- 183.2 mU/ml and 393.2 +/- 186.2 mU/ml respectively, p = NS). A significant positive correlation was observed between oxidised-LDL antibody titres and total cholesterol concentrations in the patients (r = 0.449, p < 0.05). No significant correlation was observed between oxidised-LDL antibody titres and anthropometric/biochemical variables in the controls. It is concluded that relatively increased LDL oxidation may not contribute to the progression of atherosclerosis in hypopituitary patients.
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PMID:Antibodies against oxidised low-density lipoprotein in hypopituitary patients with growth hormone deficiency. 1178 63

Growth hormone-releasing peptides (GHRPs) are known as potent growth hormone secretagogues whose actions are mediated by the ghrelin receptor, a G protein-coupled receptor cloned from pituitary libraries. Hexarelin, a hexapeptide of the GHRP family, has reported cardiovascular activity. To identify the molecular target mediating this activity, rat cardiac membranes were labeled with a radioactive photoactivatable derivative of hexarelin and purified using lectin affinity chromatography and preparative gel electrophoresis. A binding protein of M(r) 84 000 was identified. The N-terminal sequence determination of the deglycosylated protein was identical to rat CD36, a multifunctional glycoprotein, which was expressed in cardiomyocytes and microvascular endothelial cells. Activation of CD36 in perfused hearts by hexarelin was shown to elicit an increase in coronary perfusion pressure in a dose-dependent manner. This effect was lacking in hearts from CD36-null mice and hearts from spontaneous hypertensive rats genetically deficient in CD36. The coronary vasoconstrictive response correlated with expression of CD36 as assessed by immunoblotting and covalent binding with hexarelin. These data suggest that CD36 may mediate the coronary vasospasm seen in hypercholesterolemia and atherosclerosis.
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PMID:CD36 mediates the cardiovascular action of growth hormone-releasing peptides in the heart. 1198 84

Growth hormone (GH) deficiency is associated with abnormal vascular reactivity and development of atherosclerosis. GH treatment in GH deficient states restores systemic vascular resistance, arterial compliance, endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent vasodilation, and may reverse markers of early atherosclerosis. However, very little is known about the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects. In the present study, male Sprague Dawley rats were hypophysectomized and treated for two weeks with GH (recombinant human GH, 2 mg/kg/day) or saline as s.c. injections twice daily. GH decreased aortic systolic blood pressure compared with saline-treated animals, while the diastolic blood pressure was not significantly changed. GH treatment increased cardiac output as determined by Doppler-echocardiography and the calculated systemic vascular resistance was markedly reduced. In order to identify GH-regulated genes of importance for vascular function, aortic mRNA levels were analyzed by the microarray technique and correlated to the systolic blood pressure levels. Using this approach, we identified 18 GH-regulated genes with possible impact on vascular tone and atherogenesis. In particular, mRNA levels of the inwardly rectifying potassium channel Kir6.1 and the sulfonylurea receptor 2B, which together form the vascular smooth muscle ATP-sensitive potassium channel, were both up-regulated by GH treatment and highly correlated to systolic blood pressure. Our findings establish a major role for GH in the regulation of vascular physiology and gene expression. Increased expression of the ATP-sensitive potassium channel, recently shown to be crucial in the regulation of vascular tone, constitutes a possible mechanism by which GH governs vascular tone.
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PMID:Growth hormone-induced blood pressure decrease is associated with increased mRNA levels of the vascular smooth muscle KATP channel. 1552 87

Growth hormone has been implicated in the regulation of cardiovascular function and growth hormone deficiency (GHD) has been postulated to be one of the main factors responsible for the increased morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease in both young and older patients with childhood- and adulthood-onset GHD. Growth hormone also influences bone turnover and mineral deposition. Subjects with growth hormone deficiency have been shown to have an increased cardiovascular risk as manifested by elevated fasting and postprandial lipids and by increased body fat. In addition, premature atherosclerosis, decreased fibrinolytic activity, increased peripheral insulin resistance, abnormal cardiac structure and impaired cardiac performance have also been reported in this group of patients. Short and long term growth hormone treatment has been shown to exert beneficial effects on several of these parameters. While most of these abnormalities have been reported in adult GHD patients, metabolic changes in GHD children and adolescents have only recently begun to be investigated in more detail.
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PMID:Metabolic abnormalities in growth hormone deficiency. 1642 8


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