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)

As little as 1 microliter of serum-free supernatant from Mo(t), an established lymphocyte line, when added to a 500-microliters incubation of macrophages derived from human monocytes, significantly decreased the receptor-mediated uptake and degradation of three cholesterol-rich molecules: low density lipoprotein (LDL); LDL complexed to dextran sulfate; and LDL modified by malondialdehyde (MDA-LDL). In contrast, the receptor-mediated uptake and degradation of mannosyl bovine serum albumin was increased three-fold. The Mo(t) supernatant did not contain competitive inhibitors of the cholesterol-rich ligands, and it did not alter macrophage receptor-independent endocytosis, protein synthesis, or phagocytosis of heat-killed yeast. The effect of the Mo(t) supernatant was specific for macrophages and was abolished by preincubation of the supernatant with trypsin, which indicates that the active substances are protein in nature. The decrease in the uptake and degradation of MDA-LDL induced by preincubating the macrophages with Mo(t) supernatant appeared to result from a decrease in the number of receptors for this ligand at the cell surface. The isolation of these lymphokines should offer new insights into macrophage receptor-mediated endocytosis, and may yield substances useful in preventing foam cell formation in atherosclerosis.
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PMID:Lymphokines secreted by an established lymphocyte line modulate receptor-mediated endocytosis in macrophages derived from human monocytes. 631 4

Primary cultures of confluent human endothelial cells (ECM) were grown in media containing the major lipoproteins (LP) and lipoprotein deficient serum (LDS). The release of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, von Willebrand factor (VIII RAg) and apolipoproteins (apo) A-I and A-II were investigated by radioimmunoassay. The cell-associated VIII RAg, apo A-I and apo A-II were also confirmed by fluorescein antibodies, and the synthesis of the apolipoproteins was examined by incorporation of [3H]leucine. Apo A-I and apo A-II were located and synthesized in ECM, yet only apo A-I was released into the medium. Very low density (VLDL) and low density lipoproteins (LDL) in concentrations of 50-600 micrograms/ml stimulated release of apo A-I. Stimulation of ECM for 5 min with thrombin (T) or arachidonic acid (A) did not induce apo A-I release. VIII RAg was always released into the media from ECM. The release was not affected by the lipoproteins. VIII RAg was also localized on the cell surface (VIII RAgC) and approximately 80% was released by trypsin. LDL stimulated the occurrence of factor VIII RAg on the cell surface. 6-Keto PGF1 alpha was always released into the medium and the production was stimulated by T and AA. The main lipoproteins (50-600 micrograms/ml) and apo A-I and A-II did not affect the release of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha. This study shows that endothelial cells synthesize and release proteins important for thrombogenesis and atherosclerosis. The release of apolipoproteins A-I was stimulated by VLDL and LDL, and the concentration of cell-related factor VIII RAg was stimulated by LDL.
Atherosclerosis 1984 Mar
PMID:The effect of lipoproteins on the synthesis of prostacyclin, von Willebrand factor and apolipoproteins A-I and A-II in cultured human endothelial cells. 642 92

This review deals with some structural features of the collagen molecules involved in the adhesion of platelets representing the initial step of hemostasis, thrombosis, and (partly) atherosclerosis. The adhesion occurs at the level of a vascular lesion or deendothelialized area, whatever the genetic type of collagen. In vitro experiments with purified collagens have shown that vascular interstitial collagens (types I and III, the latter present in subendothelium) as well as basement membrane-derived collagens (types IV and V) induce an adhesion of platelets, provided that an ordered arrangement linked to the quaternary and tertiary structures of their molecule is preserved. Whatever the quaternary structure, the important point seems to be the size of the fibers and more precisely the availability of an optimal number of adhesion sites on multimerized fibers. Various direct or indirect proofs (for example, the occurrence of the impairment of collagen multimerization on platelet adhesion/aggregation) are reviewed. Our recent studies on interstitial collagens have shown the involvement of certain specific amino-acid sequences obtained after cyanogen bromide cleavage of collagen. These are the C-terminal alpha1 (I) CB6 peptide of the alpha 1 chains of type I collagen (216 amino acids) and the central alpha1 (III) CB4 peptide from type III collagen (149 amino acids) Cleavage of this last peptide by chymotrypsin, hydroxylamine, and trypsin has suggested the possibility that a nonapeptide (sequence gly-lys-hyp-gly-glu-hyp-gly-pro-lys) is a minimum site of adhesion for platelets. This assumption has been reinforced by the fact that a synthetic nonapeptide with this sequence specifically inhibits the aggregation of platelets to collagen in vitro. The adhesion of platelets may consequently be due to the repetitive staggering of short amino acid sequences (such as this nonapeptide from type III collagen) along the rigid structure formed by a multimerized collagen fiber.
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PMID:[The adhesion of blood platelets to collagen: molecular features of collagen (author's transl)]. 702 81

To understand the balance of proteinase antiproteinase activity and the production of extracellular matrix (ECM) at the site of arterial injury, we analyzed the composition of ECM and proteinase activity in normal internal mammary arteries, tissue samples obtained from atherosclerotic coronary lesions and restenotic lesions obtained during directional coronary atherectomy. Histologically and biochemically, collagen and proteoglycans increased, and elastin decreased in samples from restenotic lesions when compared to samples taken from patients undergoing their first revascularization (de novo). In contrast, cellularity was increased in samples obtained from de novo patients as compared to samples obtained from restenotic lesions. Intrinsic activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) was measured by using zymography and scanning all the lytic bands in zymographic gel. In these gels, identical amounts of total protein were loaded in each lane. MMP activity was determined as % of the total (latent and active) MMPs after trypsin activation (100%) in the normal artery. Intrinsic MMP activity was reduced to 6% +/- 1% in atherosclerotic lesions and 1% +/- 1% in restenotic lesions, when compared to activity found in normal (10% +/- 3%) arteries. Based on solubilization of fluorescein-conjugated elastin by the extracts, the MMP-mediated elastinolytic activity was 0.2 +/- 0.1, 8.8 +/- 1.5, and 24.0 +/- 3 nmol/min/mg in restenotic, native atherosclerotic and normal tissue, respectively. The results suggested that, in arterial tissue from patients with angiographic restenosis, there is an increased production of ECM collagen and a decrease in MMP activity compared to both normal artery and atherosclerotic samples from de novo patients undergoing an initial revascularization procedure of a significant coronary artery lesion.
Atherosclerosis 1995 Jul
PMID:Proteinases and restenosis in the human coronary artery: extracellular matrix production exceeds the expression of proteolytic activity. 748 32

Combined treatment with trypsin, cholesterol esterase, and neuraminidase transforms LDL, but not HDL or VLDL, to particles with properties akin to those of lipid extracted from atherosclerotic lesions. Single or double enzyme modifications, or treatment with phospholipase C, or simple vortexing are ineffective. Triple enzyme treatment disrupts the ordered and uniform structure of LDL particles, and gives rise to the formation of inhomogeneous lipid droplets 10-200 nm in diameter with a pronounced net negative charge, but lacking significant amounts of oxidized lipid. Enzymatically modified LDL (E-LDL), but not oxidatively modified LDL (ox-LDL), is endowed with potent complement-activating capacity. As previously found for lipid isolated from atherosclerotic lesions, complement activation occurs to completion via the alternative pathway and is independent of antibody. E-LDL is rapidly taken up by human macrophages to an extent exceeding the uptake of acetylated LDL (ac-LDL) or oxidatively modified LDL. After 16 h, cholesteryl oleate ester formation induced by E-LDL (50 micrograms/ml cholesterol) was in the range of 6-10 nmol/mg protein compared with 3-6 nmol/mg induced by an equivalent amount of acetylated LDL. At this concentration, E-LDL was essentially devoid of direct cytotoxic effects. Competition experiments indicated that uptake of E-LDL was mediated in part by ox-LDL receptor(s). Thus, approximately 90% of 125I-ox-LDL degradation was inhibited by a 2-fold excess of unlabeled E-LDL. Uptake of 125I-LDL was not inhibited by E-LDL. We hypothesize that extracellular enzymatic modification may represent an important step linking subendothelial deposition of LDL to the initiation of atherosclerosis.
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PMID:On the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis: enzymatic transformation of human low density lipoprotein to an atherogenic moiety. 750 42

Mast cells and their chemical mediators play a role in cardiac and systemic anaphilaxis. Perivascular and cardiac mast cells have been implicated in the pathogenesis of coronary artery spasm, atherosclerosis, myocardial ischemia, and cardiomyopathy. Despite this, nothing is known about the immunological and biochemical characteristics of the human heart mast cell (HHMC). We have isolated and partially purified HHMC and compared them with mast cells isolated from lung (HLMC) and skin (HSMC) tissues. Cross-linking of the high-affinity receptor for IgE (Fc epsilon RI) by a polyclonal anti-Fc epsilon antibody caused the release of preformed (histamine and tryptase) and de novo synthesized mediators [peptide leukotriene C4 (LTC4) and prostaglandin D2 (PGD2)]. The tryptase content of HHMC (19.4 +/- 1.5 micrograms/10(6) cells) was lower than HSMC (33.4 +/- 2.5 micrograms/10(6) cells) and higher than HLMC (10.6 +/- 1.9 micrograms/10(6) cells). Maximal stimulation of HHMC with anti-IgE led to the release of LTC4 (17.5 +/- 5.1 ng/10(6) mast cells) and PGD2 (17.8 +/- 5.0 ng/10(6) mast cells, whereas HSMC synthesized more PGD2 (65.0 +/- 6.8 ng/10(6) mast cells) and much less LTC4 (< 5 ng/10(6) cells). Recombinant human C5a anaphylatoxin and protamine induced histamine release from HHMC and HSMC, but not from HLMC. Substance P and morphine selectively induced the release of histamine from HSMC, but not from HHMC and HLMC. Compound 48/80 caused histamine release from HSMC and HHMC, but not from HLMC. The pattern of mediators synthesized and the responsiveness of HHMC to different secretagogues appear unique providing strong evidence of human mast cell heterogeneity.
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PMID:Human heart mast cells: a definitive case of mast cell heterogeneity. 753 2

A chondroitin sulfate-dermatan sulfate proteoglycan was isolated from bovine aorta intima by extraction of the tissue with 4 M guanidine hydrochloride. The proteoglycan was purified by CsCl isopycnic centrifugation followed by gel filtration and ion exchange chromatography. A monoclonal antibody C8F4 was developed to this core protein. The characteristics and specificity of the antibody were studied by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using an alkaline phosphatase conjugated antibody (goat anti-mouse IgG). The antibody binding to the core protein was found specific and optimal at pH 7.0. The antibody recognizes either intact chondroitin sulfate-dermatan sulfate proteoglycan monomer, chondroitinase ABC digested monomer or chemically deglycosylated proteoglycan. Free chondroitin sulfates, keratan sulfate and hyaluronic acid did not compete for the antigenic sites in ELISA. Limited hydrolysis of the core protein by trypsin resulted in three peptides and only the peptide with a molecular weight M(r) = 40,000 was found capable of binding to hyaluronic acid. The antibody C8F4 recognized this hyaluronic acid binding peptide but did not recognize the other two peptides suggesting that the epitope(s) for this antibody is in the hyaluronic acid-binding region of the core protein. The antibody recognized the core proteins from bovine nasal cartilage proteoglycan and human aorta proteoglycan but did not recognize bovine aorta link protein, bovine serum albumin, human serum albumin, human transferrin, collagen Type I and fibronectin. The antibody was found useful to localize proteoglycans in atherosclerotic lesions in human aorta by immunohistochemical techniques.
Atherosclerosis 1993 Jan 25
PMID:A monoclonal antibody that recognizes hyaluronic acid binding region of aorta proteoglycans. 768 Dec 90

Cultures of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) are commonly used to study the events and defects found in hypertension and atherosclerosis. In particular Ca2+ homeostasis in cellular signalling has been the focus of extensive research. Since trypsin has been shown to mobilise Ca2+ in some cell types, we have investigated its effect on various aspects of Ca2+ homeostasis in rat aortic smooth muscle cells (RASMC). The effects of trypsin, alpha-chymotrypsin and elastase (other serine proteases) on intracellular Ca2+ in cultured aortic cells isolated from Wistar rats have been investigated. Trypsin (24 micrograms/ml) elicits intracellular Ca2+ mobilisation, after which cells become nonresponsive to thrombin Ca2+ mobilisation but retain responsiveness to Angiotensin II (AII). alpha-Chymotrypsin (24 micrograms/m) inhibits the thrombin Ca2+ mobilising response, without itself initiating a Ca2+ transient or affecting AII Ca2+ mobilisation. Elastase (24 micrograms/ml) was not effective in mobilising intracellular Ca2+ or inhibiting the thrombin response. We have also observed diminished thrombin Ca2+ mobilisation responses between cells in suspension and cell monolayers, which appeared to be unrelated to proteolysis but due to morphological changes of the cells. Our results suggest that trypsin acts on the thrombin receptor via a specific proteolysis mechanism to mobilise intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) in RASMC. The amount of Ca2+ released by thrombin or trypsin is dependent on the morphology of the cell and the state of the tethered ligand of the thrombin receptor exposed by the protease.
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PMID:The effect of thrombin and serine proteases on intracellular Ca2+ in rat aortic smooth muscle cells. 779 84

Elevated levels of lipoprotein(a), which consists of apolipoprotein(a) [apo(a)] covalently linked to a low-density lipoprotein-like moiety, is an independent risk factor for the development of atherosclerosis. We show that a recombinant form of apo(a) [r-apo(a)] binds strongly to fibronectin and fibrinogen, weakly to laminin, and not at all to von Willebrand factor, vitronectin, or collagen type IV. In contrast to the binding of plasminogen to fibronectin, r-apo(a) binding does not appear to be mediated by lysine-dependent interactions, based on the inability of epsilon-aminocaproic acid concentrations up to 0.2 mol/L to significantly decrease r-apo(a) binding to fibronectin. Plasminogen competed weakly for the binding of r-apo(a) to fibronectin, whereas r-apo(a) completely abolished plasminogen binding. The 29- and 38-kd heparin-binding thermolysin fragments of fibronectin, previously identified as the lipoprotein(a) binding domains, were digested with trypsin, and a peptide that retained the ability to bind r-apo(a) was isolated; the sequence of the peptide (AVTTIPAPTDLK) corresponds to the amino terminus of the 29- and 38-kd domains. A synthetic peptide with this sequence was able to compete effectively with fibronectin for r-apo(a) binding.
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PMID:Binding of recombinant apolipoprotein(a) to extracellular matrix proteins. 794 5

Vascular smooth muscle cell (vSMC) proliferation is important in atherosclerosis. We previously demonstrated that methylamine-activated alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2M) and transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGF-beta 1) cause a synergistic proliferative response in quiescent rat aortic vSMCs [Stouffer, G. A., La-Marre, J., Gonias, S. L. & Owens, G. K. (1993) J. Biol. Chem. 268, 18,340-18,344]. The first goal of this study was to determine whether the synergy is due to the ability of alpha 2M-methylamine (alpha 2M-MeNH2) to bind TGF-beta 1 and target the growth factor to vSMCs that express the alpha 2M receptor. Receptor-recognized alpha 2M derivatives without TGF-beta 1-binding activity, including ternary alpha 2M-trypsin, an 18-kDa proteolytic fragment of the alpha 2M subunit, and the corresponding recombinant receptor-binding fragment (rRBF) increased vSMC [3H]thymidine incorporation and cell number in a manner similar to alpha 2M-MeNH2. In combination with TGF-beta 1, each alpha 2M derivative caused a synergistic vSMC proliferative response. vSMCs responded comparably when treated with alpha 2M-MeNH2 and TGF-beta 1 simultaneously or in sequence. Furthermore, alpha 2M-MeNH2-TGF-beta 1 complexes increased [3H]thymidine incorporation no more than alpha 2M-MeNH2 alone. These results indicate that TGF-beta 1 binding to alpha 2M is not responsible for the synergistic mitogenic activity. Additional studies were undertaken to determine whether activated alpha 2M independently induces a signal-transduction response in vSMCs. alpha 2M-MeNH2 and rRBF caused a rapid, transient increase in vSMC inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate. This response was pertussis-toxin insensitive. Receptor-associated protein (RAP; 170 nmol/L) inhibited 91-95% of the specific binding of 125I-alpha 2M-MeNH2 and 125I-rRBF to vSMC; however, RAP did not affect the inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate response or the mitogenic response. These studies suggest that vSMCs express a receptor, other than low-density-lipoprotein-receptor-related protein, that transduces a signal in response to activated alpha 2M. This receptor may mediate the mitogenic activity of alpha 2M in vSMC culture.
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PMID:Activated alpha 2-macroglobulin promotes mitogenesis in rat vascular smooth muscle cells by a mechanism that is independent of growth-factor-carrier activity. 857 27


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