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)

Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B)/Rel transcription factors may be involved in atherosclerosis, as is suggested by the presence of activated NF-kappa B in human atherosclerotic lesions. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of oxidized LDL (oxLDL) on the NF-kappa B system in human THP-1 monocytic cells as well as adherent monocytes. Our results demonstrate that short-term incubation of these cells with oxLDL activated p50/p65 containing NF-kappa B dimers and induced the expression of the target gene IL-8. This activation of NF-kappa B was inhibited by the antioxidant and H2O2 scavenger pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate and the proteasome inhibitor PSI. The oxLDL-induced NF-kappa B activation was accompanied by an initial depletion of I kappa B-alpha followed by a slight transient increase in the level of this inhibitor protein. In contrast, long-term treatment with oxLDL prevented the lipopolysaccharide-induced depletion of I kappa B-alpha, accompanied by an inhibition of both NF-kappa B activation and the expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1 beta genes. These observations provide additional evidence that oxLDL is a potent modulator of gene expression and suggest that (dys)regulation of NF-kappa B/Rel is likely to play an important role in atherogenesis.
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PMID:Dysregulation of monocytic nuclear factor-kappa B by oxidized low-density lipoprotein. 935 52

Recently, we have found that aggregated low density lipoprotein (agLDL) inhibits apoptosis of lipid-bearing macrophages, thereby facilitating foam cell formation and atherosclerosis. To clarify the mechanisms by which agLDL inhibits apoptosis of macrophages, we isolated the genes specifically induced by agLDL by using a subtraction-based cloning strategy. One of the cloned genes, termed low density lipoprotein (LDL)-inducible gene (LIG), encodes a human homologue of bovine ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme E2-25K. Although LIG mRNA was ubiquitously expressed among human tissues, including hematopoietic cells, the abundance of transcripts was markedly increased by agLDL treatment in activated monocytes. LIG mRNA expression was not enhanced by nonatherogenic lipoproteins such as native LDL and high density lipoprotein, suggesting a role in atherosclerosis. Polyubiquitination of intracellular proteins was observed in monocytes cultured with agLDL, which coincided with upregulation of LIG. Furthermore, ubiquitin-dependent degradation of p53, an inducer of apoptosis, was accompanied by LIG induction in agLDL-treated monocytes. The antiapoptotic effect of agLDL was abrogated by a specific proteasome inhibitor, which also increased the half-life of p53 in monocytes. These results suggest that LIG contributes to foam cell formation by the suppression of apoptosis of lipid-bearing macrophages through ubiquitination and subsequent degradation of p53.
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PMID:Induction of ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme by aggregated low density lipoprotein in human macrophages and its implications for atherosclerosis. 1063 9

Oxidized low-density lipoproteins (oxLDL) play a role in the genesis of atherosclerosis. OxLDL are able to induce apoptosis of vascular cells, which is potentially involved in the formation of the necrotic center of atherosclerotic lesions, plaque rupture, and subsequent thrombotic events. Because oxLDL may induce structural modifications of cell protein and altered proteins may impair cell viability, the present work aimed to evaluate the extent of protein alterations, the degradation of modified proteins through the ubiquitin-proteasome system (a major degradative pathway for altered and oxidatively modified proteins) and their role during apoptosis induced by oxLDL. This paper reports the following: 1) oxLDL induce derivatization of cell proteins by 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) and ubiquitination. 2) Toxic concentrations of oxLDL elicit a biphasic effect on proteasome activity. An early and transient activation of endogenous proteolysis is followed rapidly by a subsequent decay (resulting probably from the 26S proteasome inhibition) and followed later by the inhibition of the 20S proteasome (as assessed by inhibition of sLLVY-MCA hydrolysis). 3) Specific inhibitors of proteasome (lactacystin and proteasome inhibitor I) potentiated considerably the toxicity of oxLDL (nontoxic doses of oxLDL became severely toxic). The defect of the ubiquitination pathway (in temperature-sensitive mutants) also potentiated the toxicity of oxLDL. This suggests that the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway plays a role in the cellular defenses against oxLDL-induced toxicity. 4) Dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPH), an aldehyde reagent, prevented both the oxLDL-induced derivatization of cell proteins and subsequent cytotoxicity. Altogether, the reported data suggest that both derivatization of cell proteins (by 4-HNE and other oxidized lipids) and inhibition of the proteasome pathway are involved in the mechanism of oxLDL-induced apoptosis.
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PMID:Oxidized LDLs alter the activity of the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway: potential role in oxidized LDL-induced apoptosis. 1069 69

There is substantial evidence that cytokines induce apoptosis of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in atherosclerosis. Its regulation, however, is not completely defined. The aim of this study is to investigate whether proteasome activity is related with apoptosis in VSMCs by tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). Rat aorta smooth muscle cells were treated with TNF-alpha and proteasome inhibitor MG132 and then cell death was determined by morphology, viability, and DNA fragmentation. MG132 or TNF-alpha alone did not induce cell death. In contrast, co-treatment of TNF-alpha and proteasome inhibitor induced death and DNA degradation in VSMCs, suggesting proteasome inhibitor enhanced death activity of TNF-alpha. The death was not blocked by ascorbic acid but by nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N(G)-monomethyl-L-arginine. Both caspase-3 and -8 were activated during the death by the proteasome inhibitor and TNF-alpha. The death was effectively blocked by the caspase-3 inhibitor z-DEVD-fmk, suggesting a role of caspase-3 in the death. Nonetheless, there were no significant alterations in the level of Bcl-2, Bcl-X(L), Bax and Bak by the proteasome inhibitor, nor any evidence of cytochrome (cyt) c release into cytosol from dying cells, suggesting that cyt c is not involved. These results suggest that proteasome inhibition potentiates TNF-mediated death in VSMCs in a cyt c-independent pathway. The present study proposes a new mechanism by which VSMCs undergo death by cytokines.
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PMID:Enhancement of TNF-alpha-mediated cell death in vascular smooth muscle cells through cytochrome c-independent pathway by the proteasome inhibitor. 1256 Jan 2

Oxidized low-density lipoproteins (oxLDL) exhibit proinflammatory properties and play a role in atherosclerosis plaque formation, rupture, and subsequent thrombosis. OxLDL alter the activity of the transcription factor NF-kappaB that is involved in the expression of immune and inflammatory genes. In contrast, high-density lipoproteins (HDL) are anti-atherogenic and exhibit anti-inflammatory properties. This work aimed to investigate how oxLDL activate NF-kappaB and whether and how HDL may prevent NF-kappaB activation. In cultured rabbit smooth muscle cells, mitogenic concentrations of mildly oxLDL trigger a rapid and transient NF-kappaB activation, which is strongly inhibited by HDL. Growth factors, phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/Akt, and sphingosine kinase pathways are not implicated in the oxLDL-induced NF-kappaB activation and are not targets of HDL. OxLDL induce reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation and proteasome activation, which are implicated in NF-kappaB activation, as suggested by the inhibitory effect of the antioxidants N-acetyl-L-cysteine and pyrrolidinedithiocarbamate and the proteasome inhibitor PSI. HDL were able to prevent the intracellular ROS rise triggered by oxLDL or H2O2, thereby inhibiting the subsequent proteasome activation, IkappaB degradation, and NF-kappaB activation. In conclusion, the oxLDL-induced NF-kappaB activation involves ROS generation and proteasome activation, both events being inhibited by HDL. This 'antioxidant' and potentially anti-inflammatory effect of HDL may participate in their general anti-atherogenic properties.
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PMID:HDL counterbalance the proinflammatory effect of oxidized LDL by inhibiting intracellular reactive oxygen species rise, proteasome activation, and subsequent NF-kappaB activation in smooth muscle cells. 1258 48

The mechanisms involved in the anti-angiogenic actions of the proteasome inhibitors are poorly understood. Here, we report that the gene expression of the VEGF receptor Flt-1 (vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1) was down-regulated by the reversible proteasome inhibitor MG262 in explant cultures of the developing chicken pecten oculi, a vascular organ consisting of endothelial cells, pericytes, and macrophages. In addition, the inhibitor prevented the induction of Flt-1 by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in macrophages and down-regulated the expression of Flt-1 after LPS induction. Flt-1 gene expression was also down regulated by MG262 in cultures of human microvascular endothelial cells. Interestingly, a transcript of Flt-1, coding for a soluble form of the receptor (sFlt-1) with anti-angiogenic properties, was not down-regulated in the same extent. Only a small decrease in the expression of VEGF and Ang-2 was detected in the pecten oculi upon inhibition of the proteasome, while no major changes were observed in the expression of other angiogenic molecules, such as KDR or Ang-1. Since recent experiments have demonstrated the importance of anti-Flt-1 therapy in the inhibition of tumor angiogenesis, retinal angiogenesis, arthritis, and atherosclerosis (Luttun et al. [2002]: Nat Med 8:831-840), our observation on down-regulation of Flt-1 in microvascular endothelial cells and macrophages by MG262 supports the postulated role of the proteasome inhibitors as potential candidates for therapeutic modulation of angiogenesis and inflammation.
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PMID:Down-regulation of Flt-1 gene expression by the proteasome inhibitor MG262. 1289 12

Smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation is suppressed in intact blood vessels but stimulated in atherosclerosis, restenosis after angioplasty, and vein graft disease. The cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors, including p27(Kip1), play important roles in maintaining SMC quiescence. Levels of p27(Kip1) are dependent on attachment to and the composition of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Here we sought to elucidate mechanisms underlying the ECM-dependent regulation of p27(Kip1) and hence, SMC proliferation. Serum stimulation decreased p27(Kip1) levels in isolated SMC but not in rat aorta. The effect was post-translational and mediated by proteasomal degradation. We studied the S-phase-associated kinase protein-2 (Skp-2), an F-box protein involved in ubiquitination and proteasome-mediated degradation. Skp-2 protein is strongly induced by serum from undetectable levels in isolated SMCs but remains undetectable in aorta; Skp-2 mRNA is also lower in aorta. Overexpression of wild-type Skp-2 in SMCs decreased p27(Kip1) levels, whereas dominant negative F-box deleted mutant (DeltaF-Skp-2) Skp-2 increased p27(Kip1) levels. Furthermore, hyperphosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein and SMC proliferation were also reciprocally affected by wild-type and dominant negative Skp-2. Skp-2 expression was absolutely dependent on cell attachment to the ECM and was inhibited by laminin and type-1 fibrillar collagen but increased by fibronectin. Expression of Skp-2 protein, but not mRNA, was associated with focal adhesion kinase (FAK) activity and inhibited by overexpression of FAK-related non-kinase and a dominant negative FAK(Y397F) mutant. Furthermore, the inhibition of Skp-2 expression by dominant negative FAK was reversed by the proteasome inhibitor MG-132. Taken together, these data demonstrate that the vascular ECM controls SMC proliferation via FAK-dependent regulation of Skp-2 protein stability.
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PMID:Focal adhesion kinase (FAK)-dependent regulation of S-phase kinase-associated protein-2 (Skp-2) stability. A novel mechanism regulating smooth muscle cell proliferation. 1520 31

The conference covered the most exciting recent advances in industry and academia in areas related to drug discovery and development. Topics included candidates currently in clinical development, new technologies aimed at facilitating the drug discovery process and potential new targets. Targets in clinical development included inhibitors of lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 for atherosclerosis, IL-1beta converting enzyme inhibitors for inflammatory disorders and a novel proteasome inhibitor for cancer therapy. New technologies covered a novel system for screening ion channel function, various applications for RNA interference, different imaging modalities, as well as mRNA microarrays to facilitate toxicological assessment. New targets included the ATP-binding cassette family of transporters and the recently elucidated sulfation pathways.
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PMID:New advances in drug discovery. 1533 Jul 53

Therapies with antiretroviral protease inhibitors (ARPI) are correlated with a higher risk for dyslipidemia, hypercholesterolemia, and atherosclerosis. The original aim of this study was to establish whether alpha-tocopherol can reduce CD36 scavenger receptor overexpression occurring after treatment of monocytes with the ARPI ritonavir. We show here that treatment of THP-1 monocytes with ritonavir increases total protein and surface expression of CD36; however, only weak changes are observed at the mRNA level, suggesting that CD36 overexpression occurs mainly at the posttranscriptional level. Concentrations of ritonavir that upregulate CD36 expression inhibit proteasome activity in THP-1 cells, indicating a possible regulatory role of the proteasome in CD36 overexpression. Similar to ritonavir, the proteasome inhibitor ALLN increases the CD36 surface expression on THP-1 cells. alpha-Tocopherol efficiently normalizes CD36 protein overexpression after ritonavir treatment and reduces oxLDL uptake. Furthermore, in THP-1 monocytes, alpha-tocopherol reverses the proteasome activity inhibited by ritonavir. This study indicates that an increased CD36 protein expression in THP-1 monocytes induced by ritonavir can be normalized by alpha-tocopherol. CD36 overexpression is caused by inhibition of proteasome activity by ritonavir, which is efficiently restored by alpha-tocopherol.
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PMID:CD36 overexpression in ritonavir-treated THP-1 cells is reversed by alpha-tocopherol. 1578 Jul 63

Intake of flavanol-rich food or beverages was previously shown to ameliorate endothelial function and to enhance bioactivity of nitric oxide with individuals at risk for cardiovascular disease. Here, we examined whether the major dietary flavanol, (-)-epicatechin, counteracts the action of oxidized LDL on endothelial cells, an action considered pivotal for endothelial dysfunction in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Oxidation by myeloperoxidase plus nitrite rendered human LDL cytotoxic towards endothelial cells, more so than oxidation by Cu2+. Oxidized LDL also caused a marked loss of endothelial NO synthase protein which did not occur in the presence of a proteasome inhibitor, lactacystin. Both actions of oxidized LDL, which were not evoked by native LDL, were effectively counteracted by (-)-epicatechin. We conclude that dietary flavanols contribute to protection of the integrity of endothelial cells not only by scavenging free radicals but also by maintaining endothelial NO synthase.
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PMID:Epicatechin protects endothelial cells against oxidized LDL and maintains NO synthase. 1588 14


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