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)

HB-EGF is a heparin-binding member of the EGF family that was initially identified in the conditioned medium of human macrophages. Soluble mature HB-EGF is proteolytically processed from a larger membrane-anchored precursor and is a potent mitogen and chemotactic factor for fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells but not endothelial cells. HB-EGF activates two EGF receptor subtypes, HER1 and HER4 and binds to cell surface HSPG. The transmembrane form of HB-EGF is a juxtacrine growth and adhesion factor and is uniquely the receptor for diphtheria toxin. HB-EGF gene expression is highly regulated, for example by cytokines, growth factors, and transcription factors such as MyoD. HB-EGF has been implicated as a participant in a variety of normal physiological processes such as blastocyst implantation and wound healing, and in pathological processes such as tumor growth, SMC hyperplasia and atherosclerosis.
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PMID:Heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor. 942 3

A cyclic peptide analogue of platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB), P1 [77IVRKK81-C-73RKIE76], has recently been shown to inhibit specifically [125I]PDGF-BB/receptor binding, and PDGF-BB-induced DNA synthesis in cells expressing PDGF receptors. Here we demonstrate that P1 induces apoptosis in exponentially growing human fibroblasts as confirmed by characteristic changes in cell and nuclear morphology, by TUNEL staining and by flow cytometry. Following incubation with P1 (100 microM), the percentage of cells exhibiting DNA fragmentation increased from 24% after 8 h to 76% after 28 h as exponentially growing cells progressed through the cell cycle. We conclude from these findings taken together that apoptosis accounts for the major proportion of P1-induced cell death. Omission of the Cys residue from P1 or replacement by Ser did not alter the potency of the peptide confirming that peptide dimerisation is not important for its activity. PDGF-BB, EGF, FGF, thrombin and foetal bovine serum were not able to rescue cells from the effects of P1. P1 is a useful tool for investigation of the balance of cellular proliferation/apoptosis in wound healing, atherosclerosis and restenosis, and constitutes a basis from which to design compounds with greater potency.
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PMID:A cyclic peptide analogue of loop III of PDGF-BB causes apoptosis in human fibroblasts. 942 27

Heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (HB-EGF), a potent mitogen and migration factor for vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC), promoted neovascularization in vivo in the rabbit cornea. MRI demonstrated quantitatively the angiogenic effect of HB-EGF when introduced subcutaneously into nude mice. HB-EGF is not directly mitogenic to endothelial cells but it induced the migration of bovine endothelial cells and release of endothelial cell mitogenic activity from bovine vascular SMC. This mitogenic activity was specifically blocked by neutralizing anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) antibodies. In contrast, EGF or transforming growth factor-alpha (TGF-alpha) had almost no effect on release of endothelial mitogenicity from SMC. In addition, RT-PCR analysis demonstrated that VEGF165 mRNA levels were increased in vascular SMC 4-10-fold by 0.35-2 nM of HB-EGF, respectively. Our data suggest that HB-EGF, as a mediator of intercellular communication, may play a new important role in supporting wound healing, tumor progression and atherosclerosis by stimulating angiogenesis.
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PMID:Intercellular communication between vascular smooth muscle and endothelial cells mediated by heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor and vascular endothelial growth factor. 956 10

1. Extracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is mitogenic for vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) and stimulates several events that are important for cell proliferation: DNA synthesis, protein synthesis, increase of cell number, immediate early genes, cell-cycle progression, and tyrosine phosphorylation. 2. Receptor characterization indicates mitogenic effects of both P2U and P2Y receptors. The P2X receptor is lost in cultured VSMC and is not involved. Several related biological substances such as UTP, ITP, GTP, AP4A, ADP, and UDP are also mitogenic. 3. Signal transduction is mediated via Gq-proteins, phospholipase C beta, phospholipase D, diacyl glycerol, protein kinase C alpha, delta, Raf-1, MEK, and MAPK. 4. ATP acts synergistically with polypeptide growth factors (PDGF, bFGF, IGF-1, EGF, insulin) and growth factors acting via G-protein-coupled receptors (noradrenaline, neuropeptide Y, 5-hydroxytryptamine, angiotensin II, endothelin-1). 5. The mitogenic effects have been demonstrated in rat, porcine, and bovine VSMC and cells from human coronary arteries, aorta, and subcutaneous arteries and veins. 6. The trophic effects on VSMC and the abundant sources for extracellular ATP in the vessel wall make a pathophysiological role probable in the development of atherosclerosis, neointima-formation after angioplasty, and possibly hypertension.
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PMID:Extracellular ATP: a growth factor for vascular smooth muscle cells. 959 70

Dietary omega-3 fatty acids retard coronary atherosclerosis. Previously, we demonstrated that dietary omega-3 fatty acids reduce platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-A and PDGF-B mRNA levels in unstimulated, human mononuclear cells (MNCs). In a randomized, investigator-blinded intervention trial, we have now compared the effect of ingestion of 7 g/d omega-3, omega-6, or omega-9 fatty acids for 4 weeks versus no dietary intervention on PDGF-A, PDGF-B, heparin-bound epidermal growth factor (HB-EGF), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and interleukin-10 gene expression in unstimulated MNCs and in monocytes that were adherence-activated ex vivo in a total of 28 volunteers. In unstimulated MNCs, mRNA steady-state levels of PDGF-A, PDGF-B, and MCP-1 were reduced by 25+/-10%, 31+/-13%, and 40+/-14%, respectively, after omega-3 fatty acid ingestion, as assessed by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (all P<0.05). In monocytes that were adherence-activated ex vivo for 4 and 20 hours, mRNA steady-state levels of PDGF-A, PDGF-B, and MCP-1 were reduced by 25+/-13%, 20+/-15%, and 30+/-8%, respectively (all P<0.05). Interleukin-10 and HB-EGF mRNA steady-state levels were not influenced by omega-3 fatty acid ingestion. Expression of all respective mRNAs in control volunteers or in those ingesting omega-6 or omega-9 fatty acids were not altered. We conclude that human gene expression for PDGF-A, PDGF-B, and MCP-1, factors thought relevant to atherosclerosis, is constitutive, is constant, and can be reduced only by dietary omega-3 fatty acids in unstimulated and adherence-activated monocytes.
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PMID:Dietary omega-3, omega-6, and omega-9 unsaturated fatty acids and growth factor and cytokine gene expression in unstimulated and stimulated monocytes. A randomized volunteer study. 988 67

Enhanced activity of receptor tyrosine kinases such as the PDGF beta-receptor and EGF receptor has been implicated as a contributing factor in the development of malignant and nonmalignant proliferative diseases such as cancer and atherosclerosis. Several epidemiological studies suggest that green tea may prevent the development of cancer and atherosclerosis. One of the major constituents of green tea is the polyphenol epigallocathechin-3 gallate (EGCG). In an attempt to offer a possible explanation for the anti-cancer and anti-atherosclerotic activity of EGCG, we examined the effect of EGCG on the PDGF-BB-, EGF-, angiotensin II-, and FCS-induced activation of the 44 kDa and 42 kDa mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase isoforms (p44(mapk)/p42(mapk)) in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) from rat aorta. VSMCs were treated with EGCG (1-100 microM) for 24 h and stimulated with the above mentioned agonists for different time periods. Stimulation of the p44(mapk)/p42(mapk) was detected by the enhanced Western blotting method using phospho-specific MAP kinase antibodies that recognized the Tyr204-phosphorylated (active) isoforms. Treatment of VSMCs with 10 and 50 microM EGCG resulted in an 80% and a complete inhibition of the PDGF-BB-induced activation of MAP kinase isoforms, respectively. In striking contrast, EGCG (1-100 microM) did not influence MAP kinase activation by EGF, angiotensin II, and FCS. Similarly, the maximal effect of PDGF-BB on the c-fos and egr-1 mRNA expression as well as on intracellular free Ca2+ concentration was completely inhibited in EGCG-treated VSMCs, whereas the effect of EGF was not affected. Quantification of the immunoprecipitated tyrosine-phosphorylated PDGF-Rbeta, phosphatidylinositol 3'-kinase, and phospholipase C-gamma1 by the enhanced Western blotting method revealed that EGCG treatment effectively inhibits tyrosine phosphorylation of these kinases in VSMCs. Furthermore, we show that spheroid formation of human glioblastoma cells (A172) and colony formation of sis-transfected NIH 3T3 cells in semisolid agar are completely inhibited by 20-50 microM EGCG. Our findings demonstrate that EGCG is a selective inhibitor of the tyrosine phosphorylation of PDGF-Rbeta and its downstream signaling pathway. The present findings may partly explain the anti-cancer and anti-atherosclerotic activity of green tea.
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PMID:Epigallocathechin-3 gallate selectively inhibits the PDGF-BB-induced intracellular signaling transduction pathway in vascular smooth muscle cells and inhibits transformation of sis-transfected NIH 3T3 fibroblasts and human glioblastoma cells (A172). 1019 59

The cellular adhesion molecule E-selectin is expressed on activated endothelial cells, and is involved in the process of adherence of blood cells to vessel endothelium in inflammatory events such as atherosclerosis. In a recent study we found a Ser128Arg mutation in the EGF domain as well as a Leu554Phe mutation in the membrane domain of E-selectin. We also established increased frequencies of both mutations among young patients with severe coronary atherosclerosis. In the present study we investigated the influence of these mutations on cell adhesion and on the release of soluble E-selectin. Mutants were created by site-directed mutagenesis and COS cells were transfected with E-selectin, either wild-type or mutant. Antibody-binding studies and cell-adhesion assays were performed on transfected COS cells and on interleukin-1 beta-stimulated HUVECs. Soluble E-selectin in supernatants of wild type and Leu554Phe mutant-transfected COS cells was measured by ELISA. We discovered significant differences in the strength of HL-60 cell adhesion for the Ser128Arg mutant: in comparison with the wild type, the strength of adhesion to the mutant was reduced on transfected COS cells (P < 0.01) as well as on stimulated HUVECs (P < 0.01). Significantly diminished release of soluble E-selectin was detected for the Leu554Phe membrane domain mutant, in comparison with the wild type. In summary, the mutations studied here influence the E-selectin function in vitro and may be considered as one of the risk factors involved in the complex pathogenesis of atherosclerosis.
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PMID:Functional characterization of atherosclerosis-associated Ser128Arg and Leu554Phe E-selectin mutations. 1043 30

Prebeta HDL are small, protein rich lipoproteins that are predominantly composed of apo A-I, without apo A-II. Prebeta HDL are secreted from the liver as nascent HDL and/or are produced in the incubated plasma by cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP). However, the role of CETP in the secretion of HDL from the liver has yet to be determined. In the present study, we examined the effect of the suppression of hepatic CETP by antisense oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) against CETP targeted to the liver on the secretion of apo A-I using a Hep G2 cell culture. The ODNs against CETP were coupled to asialoglycoprotein (ASOR) carrier molecules, which serve as an important method for the regulation of liver gene expression. Hep G2 cells were cultured in DMEM supplemented with 10 FBS. After 2 days, the medium was changed to DMEM with EGF and the cells were divided into three groups. The control group received saline, while the sense group was mixed with the sense ODNs complex and the antisense group was mixed with the antisense ODNs complex, respectively, for 2 days. Both the hepatic CETP mRNA and the CETP mass in the medium in the antisense group decreased significantly more than in the sense and the control groups (CETP mass: 1.697 + /- 0.410 ng/mg cell protein vs. 2.367 + /- 0.22 and 2.360 + /- 0.139, n = 3 in each determination). In contrast, both the hepatic apo A-I mRNA and the apo A-I mass in the medium in the antisense group were significantly higher than those in the sense and the control groups (apo A-I mass; 1.877 + /- 0.215 micro/mg cell protein vs. 1.213 + /- 0.282 and 1.097 + /- 0.144, n = 3 in each determination). The increase in apo A-I was mainly due to the increase in prebeta apo A-I. These findings may partly explain why HDL and apo A-I increase in patients with CETP deficiency, while also indicating the possibility that the original level of prebeta HDL is sufficient in such patients.
Atherosclerosis 1999 Oct
PMID:Secretion of prebeta HDL increases with the suppression of cholesteryl ester transfer protein in Hep G2 cells. 1053 85

The aim of this study was to develop a mutation screening protocol for familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH) patients and to assess genotype/phenotype effects in terms of pre-treatment lipid profiles and presentation of tendon xanthomata (TX). A total of 158 families with clinical definitions of possible (120) or definite (38) FH were studied using a tiered screening protocol. Mutations were identified in 52 families, 44 families showing 23 different LDLR gene defects and eight families showing the common Apo B100 gene defect R3500Q. LDLR defects were detected in various regions of the gene with 56% in the LDL binding domain (exons 2-6) and 37% in the EGF precursor homology domain (exons 7-14). The most common mutations were D461N(7), C210X(5), 932delA(5), and C163Y(4). Frameshift mutations accounted for 20% with nonsense 13%, mis-sense 35%, splice 3%, Apo B 13% and 2% large deletion, 13% of clinically definite FH remained undefined. In conclusion, DNA based diagnosis is possible in 79% (30/38) of clinically definite FH families and of the 120 possible FH families at the start of the screening program, 18% (22/120) now have defined mutations. Overall 60 families from the original 158 meet the clinical and/or genetic criteria for definite FH. Tendon xanthomata were present in only 58% (30/52) of genetically defined FH families, thus limiting its use as a strict diagnostic criteria. Families with low density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR) defects present with higher total and LDL cholesterol levels and a higher incidence of TX than do those with the common Apo B variant, and frameshift mutations appear to have the most severe presentation.
Atherosclerosis 1999 Dec
PMID:Mutation screening and genotype:phenotype correlation in familial hypercholesterolaemia. 1055 17

The association of atherosclerosis with the most common risk factors including elevation of low density lipoprotein (LDL) levels, diabetes, hypertension and cigarette smoking, led to the hypothesis of "response to injury" to explain how the lesions develop. According to this hypothesis, one of the earliest events in atherogenesis is the accumulation of LDL in the arterial wall where they undergo oxidation. These LDL impair endothelial function, and thus, all the antiatherogenic properties of the endothelium. In addition, macrophages and smooth muscle cells take up these LDL, through different receptors, and become foam cells. The accumulation of foam cells in the arterial wall contributes to lesion development. Therefore, lesion development involves the activation of endothelial cells, as well as smooth muscle cells and monocytes/macrophages. In this activation different growth factors (PDGF, EGF, etc.), cytokines (IL-1b, TNFa, etc.) and the modified LDL themselves, play an important role. Through several signal transduction pathways these molecules activate transcription factors, such as the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kB) or protooncogenes such as c-fos, c-myc, that regulate the expression of genes involved in the inflammatory/proliferative response of the lesions.
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PMID:[Cellular and molecular biology of atherosclerotic lesions]. 1118 11


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