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 activity of phosphofructokinase (PFK, 2.7.1.11) was measured in arteries of very young (5-8 week old) pigeons known to differ in susceptibility to atherosclerosis. The activity of the arterial enzyme was significantly higher in the atherosclerosis-susceptible White Carneau (WC) pigeons than in the resistant Show Racers (SR). The difference was significant whether enzyme activity was calculated on the basis of extract protein, DNA content or fat-free dry weight. In the White Carneau arteries the activity of the enzyme was higher in the female than the male pigeons. PFK is a key regulatory enzyme of glycolysis and is subject to fine control adjustments. A low ATP/ADP ratio and a fall in citrate concentration, as for example, induced by hypoxia, are meditors of a feedback mechanism leading to a rise in PFK activity and enhancement of glycolysis for energy production. This mechanism appears to be the cause of the higher PFK activity in the WC arteries, because related studies indicate impaired Krebs cycle activity in these vessels. It is suggested that the increased dependence of the WC arteries on glycolysis facilitates the development of atherosclerosis in this pigeon strain and that the mechanism is similar to the mechanism by which tissue hypoxia causes lipid accumulation and connective tissue alterations in the arterial wall.
Atherosclerosis
PMID:Elevation of arterial phosphorfuctokinase activity associated with susceptibility to atherosclerosis in pigeons. 23 61

Fourteen male rabbits born at elevation 4000 ft (first experimental series) were transferred at age of 2 months to elevation 12470 ft and raised there for 18 weeks. Half of the animals remained on a commercial rabbit chow (group H) while the other half was on the same diet supplemented with cholesterol (group C). Eight male rabbits raised at sea level served as controls (group S). Intima-media homogenates from the thoracic aortas were assayed for lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), malate dehydrogenase (MDH), lipoamide dehydrogenase, pyruvate kinase (PK), phosphofructokinase (PFK) and the lysosomal hydrolases beta-glucuronidase and N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase (NAGA). Aortic lactate and glucose were also measured. Thirty-two male rabbits (second experimental series) were subdivided into 4 groups. Rabbits were fed a cholesterol-supplemented diet not only at high altitude (8 rabbits matching group C) but also 8 animals raised at sea level. The degree of atherosclerosis in the aortas of these 4 groups was assessed by measuring the aortic cholesterol contents. Plasma cholesterol was also determined. In the aortas of the rabbits of group H the activity of PK was significantly elevated, and the activity of the lysosomal hydrolases significantly decreased compared with aortas of group S rabbits. There was no difference in the other enzyme activities or in the aortic glucose and lactate content of these groups. Cholesterol feeding of the animals of group C resulted in a significantly increased activity of the lysosomal hydrolases as well as of LDH and PK. The lipid analyses (second experimental series) revealed a trend to a lower concentration of aortic cholesterol in the high altitude than in the sea level animals, both fed a cholesterol diet, in spite of the higher plasma cholesterol concentrations in the high altitude animals. The low aortic lysosomal hydrolase activities in the high altitude rabbits are in accord with their comparatively lower susceptibility to experimental atherosclerosis. This metabolic feature may be due to a lower degree of exposure of these aortas to injurious factors, such as infections or lower blood pressure. The elevated activity of PK without increased lactate content in group H animals seems to parallel the well-known general adaptation of the organism to high altitude hypoxia, and does not indicate a metabolic switch toward anaerobic glycolysis.
Atherosclerosis 1984 Aug
PMID:Aortic enzymes and lactate in high altitude-raised and cholesterol-fed rabbits. 623 25

The percentage of slow-twitch (ST) fibers in a person's skeletal muscle, e.g. muscle fiber composition (ST-%), may have a significant impact on physical activity, fitness level, serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) concentration, and ultimately, on the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). We studied the effect of a 12 month home-based exercise training program on skeletal muscle metabolic activity, serum lipids, and hormones in 12 healthy middle-aged men (sedentary men) with a low level of fitness and leisure-time physical activity (LTPA). Their parameters and changes in them were compared with 12 men of the same age with defined CHD and with two groups (15 each) of physically active men, who had either a high ST-% (high-ST-men) or a low ST-% (low-ST-men). In the sedentary men, CHD-patients and low-ST-men, the mean ST-% (42, 44, and 49%, respectively) was similar but was significantly higher in the high-ST-men (73%). The sedentary men whose LTPA mean was 34 and 19% of the mean of low-ST-men (mean of 2137 kcal/week) and high-ST-men (mean of 3845 kcal/week), respectively, increased their LTPA from a mean of 728-1526 kcal/week (P < 0.01). After training, we found an increase in serum HDL-C by 21%, (P < 0.01) and apo A-I by 36% (P < 0.01), and a decrease in serum LDL-C by 8%. The cholesterol/HDL-C ratio decreased by 17(% (P < 0.01) and the LDL-C/HDL-C ratio decreased by 22% (P < 0.01). Skeletal muscle lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity increased by 65% (P < 0.001). Moreover, the increase in LPL as well as in HDL-C concentration tended to be more pronounced the higher the level was before training. The oxidative enzyme activity of alpha-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase (KGDH) in skeletal muscle and the activity of carnitine palmitoyltransferase (CPT) in lipid metabolism increased, whereas glycolytic phosphofructokinase (PFK) did not change but the PFK to CPT ratio decreased, which was reflected as a decrease of lactate accumulation during exercise. Increase in CPT activity correlated significantly (r(s) = 0.81, P < 0.01) with the increase in HDL-C concentration. In all men (n = 54), the CPT activity correlated negatively with serum triglyceride concentration (r(s) = -0.34, P < 0.05) but positively with serum HDL-C concentration and ST-% (r(s) = 0.34, P < 0.05 and r(s) = 0.47, P < 0.01, respectively). In all healthy men, (n = 42) LTPA correlated with both Vo2max, and ST-% (r(s) = 0.76, P < 0.001 and r(s) = 0.54, P < 0.001, respectively) and with serum HDL-C and apo A-I concentrations (r(s) = 0.35, P < 0.05 and r(s) = 0.54, P < 0.001, respectively). Serum sex hormones did not show significant associations with serum lipids, but in sedentary men, serum total and free testosterone as well as the ratio of free testosterone to free estradiol decreased significantly after training. These findings confirm the pronounced effects of a home-based exercise training program on CHD risk factors and they underline the importance of considering skeletal muscle properties when studying serum lipids and lipoproteins and their modifications in the field of health-related fitness and physical activity.
Atherosclerosis 1999 Feb
PMID:Significance of skeletal muscle properties on fitness, long-term physical training and serum lipids. 1003 Mar 88

Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors are effective at reducing blood pressure, whereas statins decrease plasma cholesterol impeding atherosclerosis. It is hypothesized that these medications may improve blood pressure and serum cholesterol by modifying the antioxidative status and energy metabolism of erythrocytes. In this study, the effects of 2 treatments are compared: lisinopril alone versus lisinopril + simvastatin, on erythrocyte antioxidant and energy metabolic enzymes. Patients with atherosclerosis and moderate hypertension are randomly assigned to receive lisinopril 10 to 20 mg/d or lisinopril 10 to 20 mg/d plus simvastatin 20 mg/d for 24 weeks. Higher catalase activity and lower glutathione peroxidase activity are observed in 94% to 100% patients from both groups after 12 and 24 weeks of treatment. Superoxide dismutase activity is increased significantly only after 24 weeks. No changes of glutathione reductase, lactate dehydrogenase, and phosphofructokinase activities are found under any conditions indicated. Both treatments decrease systolic and diastolic blood pressure equally. Only lisinopril + simvastatin treatment decreases plasma total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. The results show for the first time that lisinopril monotherapy and combined lisinopril + simvastatin therapy exhibit specific and pronounced effects on antioxidant and energy metabolic enzyme activities in erythrocytes of hypertensive patients.
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PMID:Specific and pronounced impacts of lisinopril and lisinopril plus simvastatin on erythrocyte antioxidant enzymes. 1984 Nov 60