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)

Endothelial cells provide an antithrombotic and anti-inflammatory barrier for the normal vessel wall. Dysfunction of endothelial cells has been shown to promote atherosclerosis, and normalization of previously dysfunctional endothelial cells can inhibit the genesis of atheroma. In normal arteries, endothelial cells are remarkably quiescent. Acceleration of the turnover rate of endothelial cells can lead to their dysfunction. Apoptosis is a physiological process that contributes to vessel homeostasis, by eliminating damaged cells from the vessel wall. However, increased endothelial cell turnover mediated through accelerated apoptosis may alter the function of the endothelium and therefore, promote atherosclerosis. Apoptotic endothelial cells can be detected on the luminal surface of atherosclerotic coronary vessels, but not in normal vessels. This finding links endothelial cell apoptosis and the process of atherosclerosis, although a causative role for apoptosis in this process remains hypothetical. Estrogen metabolites have been shown to be among the most potent anti-atherogenic agents available to date for post-menopausal women. The mechanism of estrogen's protective effect is currently incompletely characterized. Here we show that 17beta-estradiol, a key estrogen metabolite, inhibits apoptosis in cultured endothelial cells. Our data support the hypothesis that 17beta-estradiol's anti-apoptotic effect may be mediated via improved endothelial cell interaction with the substratum, increased tyrosine phosphorylation of pp125 focal adhesion kinase, and a subsequent reduction in programmed cell death of endothelial cells. Inhibition of apoptosis by estrogens may account for some of the anti-atherogenic properties of these compounds.
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PMID:17beta-estradiol inhibits apoptosis of endothelial cells. 926 19

Mechanical stresses are important environmental cues for both normal cellular functions and pathophysiological changes in conditions such as cardiac hypertrophy and atherosclerosis. There is increasing evidence that mechanotransduction processes in response to mechanical stresses share many common features with processes in cell adhesion, such as an increase in tyrosine phosphorylation of proteins in the focal adhesion sites. Recent findings suggest that integrins may function as mechanotransducers in cells.
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PMID:Role of integrins in cellular responses to mechanical stress and adhesion. 933 Aug 75

Platelet-derived growth factors (PDGFs) and their receptors (PDGFRs) have been linked to vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) migration and proliferation leading to atherosclerosis, restenosis, and chronic allograft rejection. This study describes the effect of CGP 53716, a specific PDGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitor on SMC proliferation and migration in vitro and in neointimal formation in vivo. CGP 53716 inhibited dose dependently tyrosine phosphorylation of both the known PDGFRs: the PDGFR-alpha and PDGFR-beta. In primary rat SMC cultures, a dose-dependent inhibition of PDGF-AA and PDGF-BB induced migration, and tritiated thymidine incorporation of SMC was seen at nontoxic concentrations. After rat carotid artery ballooning injury in vivo, the migration of alpha-actin-positive cells on the luminal side of internal elastic lamina was decreased with 50 mg x kg(-1) x day(-1) of CGP 53716 from 38 +/- 10 (control group) to 4 +/- 2 (P<0.0001, Mann-Whitney U test, N=18). CGP 53716 did not inhibit the number of replicating bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU)-incorporating cells in the intima, media, or adventitia during BrdU labeling at 0-96 postoperative h, though it inhibited significantly (P<0.01) the replication of medial and intimal cells from 93 h onward. Intima/media ratio was inhibited by 40% after 14 days in the CGP 53716-treated group (P=0.028) after rat aortic denudation. The results indicate that inhibition of the PDGFR tyrosine kinase inhibits SMC migration and proliferation in vitro, SMC migration, and, to a lesser extent, proliferation after ballooning injury in vivo, confirming a causal role for activation of the PDGFR and the formation of neointimal lesions.
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PMID:Inhibition of platelet-derived growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibits vascular smooth muscle cell migration and proliferation. 936 46

PD 166285, a novel protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor of a new structural class, the 6-aryl-pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidines, was synthesized as the most potent and soluble analog of a series of small molecules originally identified by screening a compound library with assays that measured protein tyrosine kinase activity. PD 166285 was found to inhibit Src nonreceptor tyrosine kinase, fibroblast growth factor receptor-1, epidermal growth factor receptor and platelet-derived growth factor receptor beta subunit (PDGFR-beta), tyrosine kinases with half-maximal inhibitory potencies (IC50 values) of 8.4 +/- 2.3 nM (n = 6), 39.3 +/- 2.8 nM (n = 16), 87.5 +/- 13.7 nM (n = 6) and 98.3 +/- 7.9 nM (n = 16), respectively. PD 166285 also demonstrated inhibitory activity against mitogen-activated protein kinase (IC50 = 5 microM) and protein kinase C (IC50 = 22.7 microM). PD 166285 was further characterized as an ATP competitive inhibitor of Src nonreceptor tyrosine kinase, PDGFR-beta, fibroblast growth factor receptor-1 and epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinases. In addition, PD 166285 inhibited PDGF- and EGF-stimulated receptor autophosphorylation in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and A431 cells, respectively, and basic fibroblast growth factor-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation in Sf9 cells, with IC50 values of 6.5 nM, 1.6 microM and 97.3 nM, respectively, further establishing a tyrosine kinase mechanism of inhibition. The inhibition of PDGF receptor autophosphorylation in VSMCs by PD 166285 was long lasting and persisted for 4 days after a single 1-hr exposure followed by extensive washing. The PDGF-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of the 44- and 42-kDa mitogen-activated protein kinase isoforms was also blocked as a result of the inhibition of PDGF-stimulated receptor autophosphorylation by PD 166285 in VSMCs. The effects of PD 166285 were also demonstrated in functional assays of cell attachment, migration and proliferation, in which vascular cell adhesion to vitronectin, PDGF-directed chemotaxis and serum-stimulated cell growth were all potently inhibited with IC50 values of 80 yo 120 nM. Finally, PD 166285 uniquely demonstrated potent inhibition of phorbol ester-induced production of 92-kDa gelatinase A (MMP-9) in VSMC without affecting 72-kDa gelatinase B (MMP-2) as measured by gelatin zymography. These results highlight the biological characteristics of PD 166285 as a broadly active protein tyrosine kinase capable of potently inhibiting a number of kinase mediated cellular functions, including cell attachment, movement and replication. The potential therapeutic utility of this broadly acting inhibitor as an antiproliferative and antimigratory agent could extend to such diseases as cancer, atherosclerosis and restenosis, in which redundancies in protein kinase signaling pathways are known to exist.
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PMID:In vitro pharmacological characterization of PD 166285, a new nanomolar potent and broadly active protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor. 940 19

There is now growing evidence that the oxidative modification of LDL plays a potential role in atherosclerosis. In this study, genistein, a compound derived from a soy diet with a flavonoid chemical structure (4',5,7-trihydroxyisoflavone), which was found to inhibit angiogenesis, has been evaluated for its ability to act as an LDL antioxidant and a vascular cell protective agent against oxidized LDL. The results showed that genistein was able to inhibit the oxidation of LDL in the presence of copper ions or superoxide/nitric oxide radicals as measured by thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance formation, alteration in electrophoretic mobility, and lipid hydroperoxides. Bovine aortic endothelial cell- and human endothelial cell-mediated LDL oxidation was also inhibited in the presence of genistein. The 7-O-glucoside of genistein, genistin, was much less effective in inhibiting LDL oxidation in the cell-free and cell-mediated lipoprotein-oxidating systems. Incubating human endothelial cells in the absence or presence of genistein and challenging the cells with already oxidized lipoprotein revealed that in addition to its antioxidative potential during LDL oxidating processes, genistein effectively protected the vascular cells from damage by oxidized lipoproteins. The tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein was found to block upregulation of two tyrosine-phosphorylated proteins of 132 and 69 kDa in endothelial cells induced by oxidized LDL. Parallel experiments with the inactive analogue daidzein, however, showed that the cytoprotective effect of the isoflavones seems not to be dependent on tyrosine phosphorylation. Our findings will support the suggested and documented beneficial action of a soy diet in preventing chronic vascular diseases and early atherogenic events.
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PMID:Genistein, the dietary-derived angiogenesis inhibitor, prevents LDL oxidation and protects endothelial cells from damage by atherogenic LDL. 940 68

In recent years it has become apparent that peroxynitrite, which is one of the toxic metabolites originating from the reaction of nitric oxide and superoxide presents a number of pathologic states in which free radicals are thought to be involved. Peroxynitrite is capable of oxidizing a wide variety of biomolecules including plasma, proteins, lipids, carbohydrates and nucleic acids. Peroxynitrite is involved in the hydroxylation of aromatic compounds and acts as a nitrating agent. It modifies free or protein-associated tyrosine residues to give nitrotyrosines, leaving a marker detectable in vivo. Peroxynitrite has been implicated in the pathophysiology of a variety of diseases including inflammation, atherosclerosis, arthritis, endotoxemia, ischaemia-reperfusion injury, or acute respiratory distress syndrome. Development of specific peroxynitrite scavengers may provide new approaches for the effective treatment of these disease states.
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PMID:Peroxynitrite: a putative cytotoxin. 955 87

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

Oxidized low density lipoproteins (oxLDL) are thought to play a major role in atherosclerosis. OxLDL exhibit a wide variety of biological effects resulting from their ability to interfere with intracellular signaling. The cellular targets and primary signaling events of oxLDL are unknown. We report that oxLDL elicit, in intact cells, tyrosine phosphorylation of the epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR) and activation of its signaling pathway. This activation triggered by oxLDL was associated with derivatization of reactive amino groups of EGFR and was mimicked by 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE, a major lipid peroxidation product of oxLDL). Immunopurified EGFR was derivatized and activated in vitro by oxLDL lipid extracts and 4-HNE, thus indicating that 1) EGFR may be a primary target of oxidized lipids and 2) EGFR derivatization may be associated with activation. The reported data suggest that EGFR acts as a sensor for oxidized lipids. We therefore propose a novel concept of the mechanism by which oxidized lipids (contained in oxLDL or more generally produced during oxidative stress) are able to activate receptor tyrosine kinase and subsequent signaling pathways, resulting finally in a gain of function.
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PMID:Activation of EGF receptor by oxidized LDL. 961 45

Angiotensin II (AII) receptor type 1 (AT1), a G-protein-coupled receptor, is involved in the development of cardiovascular diseases such as hypertensin, cardiac hypertrophy, and atherosclerosis. Recent reports indicate that tyrosine phosphorylation of multiple intracellular molecules is responsible for most of these AII actions mediated by AT1, similar to receptor tyrosine kinase signaling pathways. AII activates MAPK by tyrosine phosphorylating the EGF receptor by the mechanism called transactivation with subsequent Ras activation in vascular smooth muscle and cardiac fibroblast cells. In contrast, AT1 leads to MAPK activation through PKC in cardiac myocytes. In addition to these signals, JAK/STAT pathways, which mediate cytokine actions, are also important for several AII functions through AT1.
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PMID:[Intracellular signaling pathways of angiotensin II receptor type 1 involved in the development of cardiovascular diseases]. 970 74

1. The mechanisms of the antiproliferative effect of epigallocatechin, one of the catechin derivatives found in green tea, in vascular smooth muscle cells were studied. The proliferative response was determined from the uptake of tritiated thymidine. 2. In the concentration range of 10(-6) to 10(-4) M, catechin, epicatechin, epigallocatechin, epicatechin gallate and epigallocatechin, epigallocatechin gallate, concentration-dependently inhibited the proliferative response stimulated by serum in rabbit cultured vascular smooth muscle cells. Catechin and epicatechin were less effective in inhibiting the serum-stimulated smooth muscle cell proliferation, indicating that the galloyl group may be important for full inhibitory activity. 3. Epigallocatechin (EGC) inhibited the proliferative responses in different cells including rat aortic smooth muscle cells (A7r5 cells), rabbit cultured aortic smooth muscle cells, human coronary artery smooth muscle cells, and human CEM lymphocytes in a concentration-dependent manner. The possible mechanisms of the antiproliferative effect of EGC were further studied in A7r5 cells. 4. The membranous protein tyrosine kinase activity stimulated by serum in A7r5 cells was significantly reduced by 10(-5) M EGC. In contrast, the cytosolic protein kinase C activity stimulated by phorbol ester was unaffected by directly incubating with EGC (10(-6)-10(-4) M). 5. We also performed Western blot analysis using the anti-phosphotyrosine monoclonal antibody PY20. EGC (10(-5) M) reduced the levels of tyrosine phosphorylated proteins with different molecular weights, indicating that EGC may inhibit the protein tyrosine kinase activity or stimulate the protein phosphatase activity. 6. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis of c-fos, c-jun and c-myc mRNA levels demonstrated that c-jun mRNA level after serum-stimulation was significantly reduced by 10(-5) M EGC. However, the reduction of c-fos and c-myc mRNA levels by 10(-5) M EGC did not achieve significance. 7. Western blot analysis using the antibody against JNK (c-jun N-terminal kinase) and ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase) demonstrated that the level of phosphorylated JNK1, but not phosphorylated ERK1 and ERK2, was reduced by 10(-5) M EGC. Direct measurement of kinase activity by immune complex kinase assay confirmed that JNK1 activity was inhibited by EGC treatment. These results demonstrate that EGC preferentially reduced the activation of JNK/SAPK (stress-activated protein kinase) signal transduction pathway. 8. It is suggested that the antiproliferative effect of epigallocatechin on vascular smooth muscle cells may partly be mediated through inhibition of protein tyrosine kinase activity, reducing c-jun mRNA expression and inhibiting JNK1 activation. Tea catechins may be useful as a template for the development of drugs to prevent the pathological changes of atherosclerosis and post-angioplasty restenosis.
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PMID:Epigallocatechin suppression of proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells: correlation with c-jun and JNK. 972 Jul 95


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