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)

Gel-filtered platelets (GFP) from normal human subjects bound both low density lipoproteins (LDL) and high density lipoproteins (HDL). This binding was saturable and 125I-labelled lipoprotein uptake was inhibited by plasma. Platelets are also able to degrade lipoproteins but only to a limited extent. LDL appeared to compete with 125I-labelled HDL for platelet uptake, whereas the ability of HDL to displace 125I-LDL was limited. Cyclohexanedione-treated LDL (CHD-LDL), unlike CHD-HDL, did not compete with [125I]LDL for platelet accumulation, suggesting that arginine residues are necessary for LDL but not HDL binding. Addition of HDL or LDL to GFP did not alter platelet aggregation. However, in the presence of thrombin (0.5 U/ml), 1 mg/ml LDL incubated for 1 h at 23 degrees C enhanced platelet aggregation (215% increase) whereas HDL under similar conditions decreased aggregation by 53%. LDL also shortened the time of maximal aggregation whereas HDL had the opposite effect.
Atherosclerosis 1983 Mar
PMID:Platelet interaction with high and low density lipoproteins. 684 42

To evaluate the significance of repeated denudation injury in progression of atherosclerosis, we performed a single and then a second balloon denudation on the rabbit carotid arteries. Morphological examinations and organ chamber experiments were performed, and the results were compared. On morphological examinations, reendothelialization was almost completed in 2 wk after redenudation, whereas it required 6 wk after a single denudation. Intimal thickening progressed after redenudation. Organ chamber experiments showed that contractile responses and endothelium-independent relaxation remained unchanged after redenudation. Endothelium-dependent relaxations to acetylcholine, ADP, and substance P decreased progressively by repeating denudation. These relaxation responses were inhibited by NG-nitro-L-arginine, hemoglobin, and methylene blue and were considered to be associated with the production and/or release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor-nitric oxide (EDRF-NO). The diffusion barrier mechanism for the decreased endothelium-dependent relaxations was ruled out using sandwich experiments. In conclusion, repeated endothelial denudation caused progression of intimal thickening and acceleration of endothelial regeneration, and repeated endothelial regeneration resulted in progressively less production and/or release of EDRF-NO.
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PMID:Repeated endothelial removal augments intimal thickening and attenuates EDRF release. 751 59

The L-arginine: nitric oxide pathway is widely recognized as an important regulator of cell function and communication in a variety of physiological and pathophysiological situations. Recent advances in the biochemistry and molecular biology of nitric oxide synthases have contributed significantly to our understanding of the regulation of nitric oxide synthesis in health and disease. This pathway has been implicated in the pathogenesis of septic shock, hypertension, and atherosclerosis as well as in the antihypertensive action of converting enzyme inhibitors. Progress in this field, which spans the cardiovascular, immune, and nervous systems, has been rapid, and its full potential is yet to be realized.
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PMID:The L-arginine: nitric oxide pathway. 752 10

Vascular endothelial cells produce various biologically active factors regulating blood pressure, coagulation, and possibly cell growth of the vascular wall. Of the factors, nitric oxide (NO) has been the object of attention because of its quite simple molecular structure and variety of biological functions. In the present review, we focused on the physiologic and pathologic aspects of NO in hypertension. In experimental animals, both acute and chronic inhibition of NO synthase (NOS) with arginine derivatives produce a significant rise in blood pressure, indicating that tonic production of NO regulates basal vascular tonus. The chronic hypertension caused by NOS inhibitor is associated with cardiac hypertrophy and renal insufficiency. Sodium retention, though transient, and the plasma and tissue renin/angiotensin system in addition to the reduced production of NO have been implicated in the development of hypertension. Hypertension and the associated target organ failure can be reversed by co-administration of L-arginine or blockades of the renin/angiotensin system. Studies in which L-arginine as the substrate of NO or NOS inhibitor was administered demonstrated an important role of NO in the regulation of tonic vascular tonus also in normal subjects. In hypertensive subjects, however, endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation and production of NO are impaired, possibly due to a deficiency of L-arginine and/or a disorder of its utilization. Recent advances in the methods of detecting NO enabled us to demonstrate its diminished production from endothelial cells of hypertensive rats in vitro, although no definite biochemical evidence has been obtained in hypertensive subjects. The endothelial dysfunction, however, is not a primary cause of hypertension but a secondary result since it is commonly observed in various types of hypertension and can be reversed by correcting the blood pressure. Other common diseases including atherosclerosis and diabetes mellitus are also associated with similar abnormalities of the endothelium. NO has anti-atherogenic actions: inhibition of platelet functions and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells. Therefore, potentiation of endogenous NO and/or supplement of exogenous NO donors could be novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment of hypertension and atherosclerosis, while potential adverse effects of NO including cytotoxicity, immunosuppressibility, and hypotensive shock should be taken into account.
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PMID:[Clinical significance of nitric oxide in hypertension]. 752 65

Adhesion molecules like the members of the selectin family participate in the interaction between leukocytes and the endothelium. They are also involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerotic processes. To contribute to the analysis of the genetic background of atherosclerosis we searched for DNA polymorphisms in the genes encoding adhesion molecules especially E-selectin which seems to be expressed only in activated endothelium. An adenine to cytosine substitution for cDNA position 561 resulting in an amino acid exchange from serine to arginine (position 128) was detected in the epidermal growth factor like domain. A significantly higher mutation frequency (P = 0.02) was observed in 97 patients aged 50 years or less with angiographically proven severe atherosclerosis (allele frequency of arginine 0.155) compared with an unselected population (allele frequency of arginine 0.088) as well as in 40 patients aged 40 years or less (allele frequency of arginine 0.21, P = 0.0025). These data suggest that the 128-serine/arginine polymorphism is associated with a higher risk for early severe atherosclerosis.
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PMID:E-selectin polymorphism and atherosclerosis: an association study. 753 25

Endothelium-derived relaxing factor/nitric oxide (EDRF/NO) is produced by the vascular wall and is a key modulator of vascular tone and blood pressure. Since reduced EDRF/NO release from the endothelium is a major key event in the development of atherosclerosis, we investigated the effect of cholesterol on endothelial cell particulate (membrane-bound) NO synthase activity. Low concentrations (up to 0.2 mM) of liposomal cholesterol progressively activated plasma membrane-bound NO synthase. Increasing cholesterol concentration above that which maximally stimulated enzyme activity produced a progressive inhibition with respect to the control value. In time course experiments using endothelial cell plasma membranes enriched with cholesterol, changes in NO production were followed by analogous changes in soluble guanylate cyclase activity (sGC). N-Monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) (1 mM) inhibited particulate NO synthase activity at all cholesterol concentrations used with subsequent decreases in cGMP production. Egg lecithin liposomes (free of cholesterol) had no effect on NO synthase activity. A three-fold increase in superoxide (O2-) and a 2.5-fold increase in NO formation followed by an eight-fold increase in peroxynitrite (ONOO-) production by cholesterol-treated microsomes isolated from endothelial cells was observed, one which rose further up to eight-fold in the presence of superoxide dismutase (SOD) (10 U/mL). Cholesterol had no effect on Lubrol-PX solubilized membrane-bound NO synthase or on cytosolic (soluble) NO synthase activities of endothelial cells. Cholesterol modulated lipid fluidity of plasma membranes labelled with 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH) as indicated by the steady state fluorescence anisotropy [(ro/r)-1]-1. Arrhenius plots of [(ro/r)-1]-1 indicated that the lipid phase separation of the membranes at 26.2 +/- 1.5 degrees was elevated to 34.4 +/- 1.9 degrees in cholesterol-enriched membranes, consistent with a general decrease in membrane fluidity. Cholesterol-enriched plasma membranes treated with egg lecithin liposomes showed a lipid phase separation at 27.5 +/- 1.6 degrees, indicating the reversible effect of cholesterol on membrane lipid fluidity. Arrhenius plots of NO synthase activity exhibited break point at 26.9 +/- 1.8 degrees which rose to 35.6 +/- 2.1 degrees in 0.5 mM cholesterol-treated plasma membranes and decreased to 21.5 +/- 1.4 degrees in plasma membranes treated with 0.2 mM cholesterol. The allosteric properties of plasma membrane-bound NO synthase inhibited by Mn2+ (as reflected by changes in the Hill coefficient) were changed by cholesterol, consistent with modulations of the fluidity of the lipid microenvironment of the enzyme.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)
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PMID:Modulation of particulate nitric oxide synthase activity and peroxynitrite synthesis in cholesterol enriched endothelial cell membranes. 754 Mar 91

The promoter region of the endothelial cell nitric oxide synthase (ecNOS) gene contains potential response elements for transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF beta 1). TGF beta 1 plays an important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, vascular hypertrophy, and angiogenesis. We therefore sought to determine whether TGF beta 1 might modulate ecNOS expression in bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC). TGF beta 1 increased ecNOS mRNA in a dose-dependent manner. TGF beta 1 also increased ecNOS protein content. The production of nitrogen oxides (NOx), assessed by chemiluminescence, and nitric oxide synthase activity, assessed by arginine/citrulline conversion were increased in TGF beta 1-treated cells. Transcriptional activity of the 5'-flanking promoter region of the ecNOS gene was increased by TGF beta 1, as assessed by transfection with promoter/luciferase constructs. Deletion analysis suggested that the TGF beta 1-response element was present between nucleotides -1269 and -935 from the first transcription start site, in which a putative nuclear factor-1 (NF-1) binding site existed. Gel shift assays showed that nuclear protein(s), immunologically similar to CCAAT transcription factor/NF-1, bound to the putative NF-1 binding site in a sequence-specific manner. Mutation of the putative NF-1 binding site in the promoter/luciferase construct significantly decreased the responsiveness to TGF beta 1. In conclusion, TGF beta 1 increases ecNOS expression associated with an increase in production of NO in BAEC. This response is probably mediated by transcriptional activation of the ecNOS gene promoter.
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PMID:Molecular regulation of the bovine endothelial cell nitric oxide synthase by transforming growth factor-beta 1. 754

Nitric oxide (NO), a potent vasodilator produced by endothelial cells, is thought to be the endothelium-dependent relaxing factor (EDRF) which mediates vascular relaxation in response to acetylcholine, bradykinin and substance P in many vascular beds. NO has been implicated in the regulation of blood pressure and regional blood flow, and also affects vascular smooth-muscle proliferation and inhibits platelet aggregation and leukocyte adhesion. Abnormalities in endothelial production of NO occur in atherosclerosis, diabetes and hypertension. Pharmacological blockade of NO production with arginine analogues such as L-nitroarginine (L-NA) or L-N-arginine methyl ester affects multiple isoforms of nitric oxide synthase (NOS), and so cannot distinguish their physiological roles. To study the role of endothelial NOS (eNOS) in vascular function, we disrupted the gene encoding eNOS in mice. Endothelium-derived relaxing factor activity, as assayed by acetylcholine-induced relaxation, is absent, and the eNOS mutant mice are hypertensive. Thus eNOS mediates basal vasodilation. Responses to NOS blockade in the mutant mice suggest that non-endothelial isoforms of NOS may be involved in maintaining blood pressure.
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PMID:Hypertension in mice lacking the gene for endothelial nitric oxide synthase. 754 86

Nitric oxide (NO), synthesized from L-arginine by a family of NO synthases (NOS), is a widespread biological mediator implicated in many physiological and pathophysiological processes, including a variety of cardiovascular diseases. Endothelium-derived NO, synthesized by a constitutive NOS, is involved in hypertension, atherosclerosis and certain heart diseases. In hypertension and atherosclerosis the role of NO is still controversial and seems to vary depending on the stage of the disease and model studied. In spontaneous hypertension, the production of NO is increased, but inefficacious, probably because of increased inactivation. In salt-induced hypertension NO production may be impaired. In atherosclerosis, an enhanced degradation of NO by superoxide radicals may explain the reduced endothelium-dependent relaxations. In pulmonary hypertension, the use of NO gas inhalation has been proposed as a future therapy for this condition. In the heart, NO regulates coronary flow and myocardial function; both functions are altered in coronary artery disease and cardiomyopathy. Nitric oxide synthesized by the inducible NOS takes part in several immunopathological diseases, such as endotoxin shock, which can particularly affect the heart. In endotoxaemia inducible NOS is overexpressed and the excess in NO production may account for the impaired cardiac performance of this condition. The overproduction of NO occurring in endotoxin shock is also responsible for the hypotension, catecholamine resistance and tissue damage characteristic of this disease. Treatment with inhibitors of NO synthesis is a promise for the future.
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PMID:Nitric oxide in cardiovascular diseases. 754 24

The uptake of oxidized low density lipoprotein (ox-LDL) by macrophages and the resulting accumulation of low density lipoprotein (LDL) lipids within the cells has been implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The effect of fibronectin (FN) on the binding and uptake of ox-LDL by macrophages was investigated using thioglycollate-induced mouse peritoneal macrophages. The ability of the macrophages to bind ox-LDL was assessed by the binding of mouse red blood cells (RBC) pre-coated with ox-LDL (ox-LDL-RBC) prepared in vitro to macrophages at 37 degrees C. The binding of ox-LDL-RBC to macrophages was significantly enhanced when the macrophages were plated on a FN-coated substrate. Similar enhancement was observed when the macrophages were plated on a substrate pre-coated with Gly-Arg-Gly-Asp-Ser-Pro (GRGDSP) peptide, an adhesive sequence of FN involved in binding to the cells, but not with the control Gly-Arg-Gly-Glu-Ser-Pro (GRGESP) peptide. The effect of FN was inhibited when GRGDSP, but not GRGESP, was present during the macrophage attachment to the FN-coated substrate, suggesting that the specific interaction of this sequence and the FN-receptor is responsible for the effect of FN. The addition of FN or GRGDSP in solution to the macrophage layers on an uncoated substrate was ineffective. Thus, attachment to a substrate is necessary for FN to be effective on the macrophages.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Binding and uptake of oxidized low density lipoprotein (LDL) by macrophage scavenger receptors are enhanced by substrate-bound fibronectin. 755 Jan 11


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