Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UMLS:C0004153 (atherosclerosis)
 77,401 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Twenty necroptic atherosclerotic aortas were studied using a modified en face Hautchen preparation method. Endothelium of 1 x 1 cm pieces of aortas was frozen onto slides with the help of dry ice. Endothelial cells on atherosclerotic lesions were irregularly oriented, had ununiform shape and giant multinucleated endothelial cells were present. The endothelial pavement on atheromatous lesions was usually defective. There was increased activity of ATPase and 5'Nase in endothelial cells on atherosclerotic lesions and on their borders. It is suggested that the high activity of ectonucleotidases of the endothelium on atherosclerotic lesions results in rapid dephosphorylation of ATP and ADP released by platelets aggregating to adenosine. Adenosine accumulated in the unstirred layer of plasma in the macrovasculature can effectively inhibit platelet aggregation and subsequent thrombosis on pathologically changed vascular pavement in atherosclerosis.
 ...
PMID:Activity of ATPase and 5'nucleotidase in endothelium of human atherosclerotic aortas. 130 20

There is no doubt that under normal conditions powerful local metabolic regulation adjusts coronary blood flow to myocardial oxygen consumption. However, despite substantial experimental efforts the responsible mediators are still largely unknown. Adenosine, a purported mediator of local metabolic control of coronary blood flow, is probably only involved in transient flow adaptations but not in steady state coronary autoregulation. Even below the autoregulatory range a substantial vasodilator reserve persists, and recruitment of such a vasodilator results in improved regional myocardial blood flow and attenuated regional ischaemic dysfunction. Beta-adrenergic coronary dilation is of minor functional importance. Alpha-adrenergic coronary constriction acts to attenuate increases in coronary blood flow during sympathetic activation under normal conditions, so that myocardial oxygen extraction increases to match the increased oxygen consumption. Alpha-adrenergic coronary constriction remains operative in ischaemic myocardium, thus precipitating or contributing to acute myocardial ischaemia during sympathetic activation and exercise in experimental animals, as well as in patients with stable angina. The vagal transmitter acetylcholine-upon exogenous intracoronary infusion-induces critical constriction of epicardial coronary arteries with endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis. However, a vagal initiation of coronary spasm or myocardial ischaemia has not been documented so far. Similarly, peptide hormones/transmitters such as NPY, vasopressin and angiotensin can induce myocardial ischaemia upon exogenous administration. Their pathophysiological role in myocardial ischaemia, however, remains to be established.
 ...
PMID:Control of coronary vasomotor tone in ischaemic myocardium by local metabolism and neurohumoral mechanisms. 166 59

Fluid shear stress in arteries and arterioles partially obstructed by atherosclerosis or spasm may exceed the normal time-average level of 20 dyne/cm2. In vitro, at fluid shear stresses of 30 to 60 dyne/cm2 applied for 30 seconds, platelet aggregation occurs. At these shear stresses, either large or unusually large von Willebrand factor (vWF) multimers in the suspending fluid exogenous to the platelets mediates aggregation. Adenosine diphosphate (ADP) is also required and, in these experiments, was released from the platelets subjected to shear stress. At 120 dyne/cm2, the release of endogenous platelet vWF multimers can substitute for exogenous large or unusually large vWF forms in mediating aggregation. Endogenous released platelet vWF forms, as well as exogenous large or unusually large vWF multimers, must bind to both glycoproteins Ib and the IIb/IIIa complex to produce aggregation. Shear-induced aggregation is the result of shear stress alteration of platelet surfaces, rather than of shear effects on vWF multimers. It is mediated by either large plasma-type vWF multimers, endogenous released platelet vWF forms, or unusually large vWF multimers derived from endothelial cells, requires ADP, and is not inhibited significantly by aspirin. This type of aggregation may be important in platelet thrombus formation within narrowed arterial vessels, and may explain the limited therapeutic utility of aspirin in arterial thrombosis.
 ...
PMID:Shear-induced platelet aggregation can be mediated by vWF released from platelets, as well as by exogenous large or unusually large vWF multimers, requires adenosine diphosphate, and is resistant to aspirin. 325 70

This study was designed to determine whether human hearts release adenosine, a possible regulator of coronary flow, during temporary myocardial ischemia and, if so, to examine the mechanisms involved. Release of adenosine from canine hearts had been reported during reactive hyperemia following brief coronary occlusion, and we initially confirmed this observation in six dogs hearts. Angina was then produced in 15 patients with anginal syndrome and severe coronary atherosclerosis by rapid atrial pacing during diagnostic studies. In 13 of these patients, adenosine appeared in coronary sinus blood, at a mean level of 40 nmol/100 ml blood (SE = +/-9). In 11 of these 13, adenosine was not detectable in control or recovery samples; when measured, there was concomitant production of lactate and minimal leakage of K(+), but no significant release of creatine phosphokinase, lactic acid dehydrogenase, creatine, or Na(+). THERE WAS NO DETECTABLE RELEASE OF ADENOSINE BY HEARTS DURING PACING OR EXERCISE IN THREE CONTROL GROUPS OF PATIENTS: nine with anginal syndrome and severe coronary atherosclerosis who did not develop angina or produce lactate during rapid pacing, five with normal coronaries and no myocardial disease, and three with normal coronaries but with left ventricular failure. The results indicate that human hearts release significant amounts of adenosine during severe regional myocardial ischemia and anaerobic metabolism. Adenosine release might provide a useful supplementary index of the early effects of ischemia on myocardial metabolism, and might influence regional coronary flow during or after angina pectoris.
 ...
PMID:Release of adenosine from human hearts during angina induced by rapid atrial pacing. 482 35

The mechanism of the unimpaired relaxant effect of ATP in the Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic rabbit aorta was investigated to elucidate the involvement of P2y purinoceptor at the endothelial level during atherosclerosis. Experiments were carried out on isolated thoracic aorta from such rabbits that were 12 months of age. The potent P2y purinoceptor agonist, 2-methylthio-ATP, did not induce any endothelium- or smooth muscle-dependent relaxation, thus excluding any involvement by the P2y purinoceptor. ADP, but not AMP, produced relaxation of the aorta by acting at both endothelial and smooth muscle levels. Adenosine relaxed the vessel by acting only in smooth muscle. The maintained endothelial relaxant effect of ATP and ADP is therefore not due to activation of P1 or P2y purinoceptors but may involve activation of a remodeled purinergic receptor site that emerges with the progression of atherosclerosis. This site is antagonized by methylene blue. The disorganization of the endothelial monolayer observed in the morphological analysis may be related to functional remodeling of the endothelial purinergic activity in atherosclerosis.
 ...
PMID:Atherosclerosis-related remodeling of aortic relaxation to purines in the Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic rabbit. 835 83

The powerful local metabolic regulation adjusting coronary blood flow to myocardial oxygen consumption under normal conditions is beyond doubt. However, despite substantial experimental efforts the responsible mediators are still largely unknown. Adenosine, a purported mediator of local metabolic control of coronary blood flow, is probably only involved in transient flow adaptations, but not in steady-state coronary autoregulation. Even below the autoregulatory range a substantial vasodilator reserve persists. Recruitment of such vasodilator reserve results in improved regional myocardial blood flow and attenuated regional ischemic dysfunction. beta-adrenergic coronary dilation is of minor functional importance. alpha-adrenergic coronary constriction acts to attenuate increases in coronary blood flow during sympathetic activation under normal conditions, such that myocardial oxygen extraction increases to match the increased oxygen consumption. alpha-adrenergic coronary constriction remains operative in ischemic myocardium, thus precipitating or contributing to acute myocardial ischemia during sympathetic activation and exercise in experimental animals as well as in patients with stable angina. The vagal transmitter acetylcholine--upon exogenous intracoronary infusion--induces critical constriction of epicardial coronary arteries with endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis. However, a vagal initiation of coronary spasm or myocardial ischemia has not been documented so far. Similarly, peptide hormones/transmitters such as NPY, vasopressin, and angiotensin can induce myocardial ischemia upon exogenous administration. Their pathophysiological role in myocardial ischemia and reperfusion, however, remains to be established.
 ...
PMID:Local and neurohumoral control of coronary blood flow. 839 71

Several endogenous factors generated within the vessel wall have been implicated in contributing to the vascular remodeling process associated with hypertension and atherosclerosis. Furthermore, substances generated by smooth muscle cells (SMCs) are known to regulate SMC proliferation in an autocrine fashion. Adenosine is a vasodilator synthesized by SMCs, and exogenous adenosine inhibits SMC proliferation. However, whether adenosine produced endogenously has antimitogenic effects is not known. Hence, we evaluated the effects of SMC-derived adenosine on 2.5% fetal calf serum-induced proliferation of rat aortic SMCs. SMC proliferation was assayed by measurement of DNA synthesis ([3H]thymidine incorporation) and cell counting. To determine the effects of endogenous adenosine on SMC proliferation, we stimulated growth-arrested SMCs with 2.5% fetal calf serum in the presence and absence of modulators of adenosine levels, including (1) erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl)adenine hydrochloride (EHNA; inhibits adenosine deaminase), (2) dipyridamole (blocks adenosine transport and inhibits phosphodiesterase), (3) dipyridamole plus EHNA, and (4) adenosine with or without EHNA. [3H]Thymidine incorporation and cell number were measured after 24 and 96 hours, respectively. EHNA and dipyridamole inhibited both FCS-induced DNA synthesis and cell proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, extracellular (in medium) adenosine levels were significantly increased when cultured cells were treated with EHNA, and the inhibitory effects of dipyridamole as well as exogenous adenosine were enhanced in the presence of EHNA. Additionally, the inhibitory effects of dipyridamole and EHNA on DNA synthesis were significantly reduced in the presence of KF17837, an A2 adenosine receptor antagonist. These results indicate that SMC-derived adenosine can inhibit SMC proliferation. Hence, it is possible that a defect in localized adenosine synthesis within the vessel wall could contribute to vascular thickening and neointima formation.
 ...
PMID:Smooth muscle cell-derived adenosine inhibits cell growth. 861 38

1. There is evidence to suggest that adenosine may regulate arterial smooth muscle cell (SMC) growth and proliferation, which is a key event in atherogenesis. This regulation may be mediated via adenylate cyclase. As diabetes is a known risk factor for atherosclerosis, we investigated the growth of aortic SMC from diabetic rats in primary culture and their sensitivity to adenosine and to adenylate cyclase activity. 2. Diabetes was induced with streptozotocin (STZ, 66 mg kg-1, i.p.) Aortic SMC primary cultures were prepared from STZ-diabetic and age-matched rats 5 weeks after the STZ injection. 3. SMC from STZ-diabetic rats grew faster and reached greater densities at confluence than those from non-diabetic animals. 4. Adenosine inhibited growth in both control and diabetic SMC. However, cells from STZ-diabetic rats were apparently more sensitive to adenosine. 5. Direct activation of adenylate cyclase by forskolin induced a dose-dependent growth inhibition, similar in both groups of cells. 6. Cholera toxin, an activator of stimulatory GTP-binding protein (Gs), induced a similar growth inhibitory response in non-diabetic and diabetic SMC. Pertussis toxin (PTX), an inactivator of inhibitory GTP-binding protein (Gi), did not itself affect SMC growth. However, PTX increased dose-dependently the growth inhibition induced by adenosine in SMC from non-diabetic rats but not in SMC from diabetic rats. 7. These findings suggest a functional abnormality in Gi activity in SMC from diabetic rats, that would explain the increased sensitivity to the nucleoside. This impaired inhibitory pathway may reflect changes in the growth regulation of SMC in experimental diabetic states.
 ...
PMID:Adenosine inhibitory effect on enhanced growth of aortic smooth muscle cells from streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. 876 8

Adenosine inhibits growth of vascular smooth muscle cells. The goals of this study were to determine which adenosine receptor subtype mediates the antimitogenic effects of adenosine and to investigate the signal transduction mechanisms involved. In rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells, platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) (25 ng/mL) stimulated DNA synthesis ([(3)H]thymidine incorporation), cellular proliferation (cell number), collagen synthesis ([(3)H]proline incorporation), total protein synthesis ([(3)H]leucine incorporation), and mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase activity. The adenosine receptor agonists 2-chloroadenosine and 5'-N-methylcarboxamidoadenosine, but not N(6)-cyclopentyladenosine or CGS21680, inhibited the growth effects of PDGF-BB, an agonist profile consistent with an A(2B) receptor-mediated effect. The adenosine receptor antagonists KF17837 and 1,3-dipropyl-8-p-sulfophenylxanthine, but not 8-cyclopentyl-1, 3-dipropylxanthine, blocked the growth-inhibitory effects of 2-chloroadenosine and 5'-N-methylcarboxamidoadenosine, an antagonist profile consistent with an A(2) receptor-mediated effect. Antisense, but not sense or scrambled, oligonucleotides to the A(2B) receptor stimulated basal and PDGF-induced DNA synthesis, cell proliferation, and MAP kinase activity. Moreover, the growth-inhibitory effects of 2-chloroadenosine, 5'-N-methylcarboxamidoadenosine, and erythro-9-(2-hydroxy-3-nonyl) adenine plus iodotubericidin (inhibitors of adenosine deaminase and adenosine kinase, respectively) were abolished by antisense, but not scrambled or sense, oligonucleotides to the A(2B) receptor. Our findings strongly support the hypothesis that adenosine causes inhibition of vascular smooth muscle cell growth by activating A(2B) receptors coupled to inhibition of MAP kinase activity. Pharmacological or molecular biological activation of A(2B) receptors may prevent vascular remodeling associated with hypertension, atherosclerosis, and restenosis following balloon angioplasty.
 ...
PMID:A(2B) receptors mediate antimitogenesis in vascular smooth muscle cells. 1064 9

Endothelial activation and leukocyte recruitment are early events in atherosclerosis and the vascular response to injury. Adenosine has anti-inflammatory effects on leukocytes and endothelial cells mediated through its A(2A) receptor. We tested the hypothesis that A(2A) activation would reduce inflammation and neointimal formation in a murine carotid ligation model. Before injury, mice were randomized to a 7-day subcutaneous infusion of a specific A(2A) receptor agonist (ATL-146e, 0.004 microg/kg per minute), vehicle control, ATL-146e plus ZM241385 (a selective A(2A) antagonist), or ZM241385 alone. Leukocyte recruitment and adhesion molecule expression were assessed at early time points, and the neointimal area was measured at 14 and 28 days after injury. Compared with control mice, ATL-146e-treated mice had significantly less neutrophil and macrophage recruitment and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, and P-selectin expression in the first 7 days after injury. Neointimal area was markedly and persistently reduced by 80% at 14 and 28 days, despite termination of ATL infusion at 7 days. ATL-146e+ZM241385-treated and ZM241385-treated animals had neointimal areas similar to those of control animals, confirming that the observed effects of ATL-146e were mediated specifically by the A(2A) receptor. These data demonstrate that novel stimulation of adenosine A(2A) receptors can inhibit early inflammatory processes that are important in neointimal formation after vascular injury.
 ...
PMID:Adenosine A(2A) receptor stimulation reduces inflammation and neointimal growth in a murine carotid ligation model. 1134 76


1 2 3 4 Next >>