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)

Acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT) plays important roles in cellular cholesterol homeostasis and is involved in atherosclerosis. ACAT-1 protein is located mainly in the ER. The hydropathy plot suggests that ACAT-1 protein contains multiple transmembrane segments. We inserted either the hemagglutinin tag or the HisT7 tag at various hydrophilic regions within the human ACAT-1 protein and used immunofluorescence microscopy to determine the topography of the tagged proteins expressed in mutant Chinese hamster ovary cells lacking endogenous ACAT. All of the tagged proteins are located mainly in the ER and retain full or partial enzyme activities. None of the tagged proteins produces detectable intracellular degradation intermediates. Treating cells with digitonin at 5 micrograms/ml permeabilizes the plasma membranes while leaving the ER membranes sealed; in contrast, treating cells with 0.25% Triton X-100 or with cold methanol permeabilizes both the plasma membranes and the ER membranes. After appropriate permeabilization, double immunostaining using antibodies against the N-terminal region and against the inserted tag were used to visualize various regions of the tagged protein. The results show that human ACAT-1 in the ER contains seven transmembrane domains.
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PMID:Human acyl-CoA:cholesterol acyltransferase-1 in the endoplasmic reticulum contains seven transmembrane domains. 1043 3

Nonesterified fatty acids (NEFAs) are acutely liberated during lipolysis and are chronically elevated in pathological conditions, such as insulin resistance, hypertension, and obesity, which are known risk factors for atherosclerosis. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect and mechanism of action of NEFAs on the epithelial growth factor (EGF) receptor (EGFR). In the ECV-304 endothelial cell line, unsaturated fatty acids triggered a time- and dose-dependent tyrosine phosphorylation of EGFR (polyunsaturated fatty acids [PUFAs] were the most active), whereas saturated FAs were inactive. Although less potent than PUFAs, oleic acid (OA) was used because it is prominent in the South European diet and is only slightly oxidizable (thus excluding oxidation derivatives). EGFR is activated by OA independent of any autocrine secretion of EGF or other related mediators. OA-induced EGFR autophosphorylation triggered EGFR signaling pathway activation (as assessed through coimmunoprecipitation of SH2 proteins such as SHC, GRB2, and SHP-2) and subsequent p42/p44 mitogen-activated protein kinase (as shown by the use of EGFR- deficient B82L and EGFR- transduced B82LK(+) cell lines). OA induced in vitro both autophosphorylation and activation of intrinsic tyrosine kinase of immunopurified EGFR, thus suggesting that EGFR is a primary target of OA. EGFR was also activated by mild surfactants, Tween-20 and Triton X-100, both in vitro (on immunopurified EGFR) and in intact living cells, thus indicating that EGFR is sensitive to amphiphilic molecules. These data suggest that EGFR is activated by OA and PUFAs, acts as a sensor for unsaturated fatty acids (and amphiphilic molecules), and is a potential transducer by which diet composition may influence vascular wall biology.
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PMID:Activation of epithelial growth factor receptor pathway by unsaturated fatty acids. 1055 35

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a common disease of human aorta with increased incidence. It is a complication to atherosclerosis and it is closely associated with alterations in extracellular macromolecules. In this study, the levels of mRNA for versican--the major extracellular arterial proteoglycan (PG)--present in AAA and normal aortas were evaluated by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. The concentration of versican was also examined in corresponding tissue samples. Versican was almost completely extracted with 4 M guanidine hydrochloride in the presence of Triton X-100, isolated by chromatography on DEAE-Sephacel and characterized using treatment with specific chondro-/dermato-lyases and agarose gel electrophoresis. Versican localization in tissue as well as the variation and distribution of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and macrophages were also investigated immunohistochemically. The mRNAs coding for versican isoforms V(0) and V(1) were identified in both tissues, whereas V(2) was absent. The expression of V(0) was decreased 40% in aneurysmal vessel wall, whereas that for V(1) remained constant. This change was simultaneous with a significant decrease in versican concentration by 89%. In normal aortas, most versican was seen in the intima, whereas in AAA, this layer is characterized by advanced atherosclerotic lesion, rich in lipids and macrophages but poor in versican. The decreased transcription and the still lower amount of versican in the AAA may correlate to (i) a decrease in density of SMCs, these cells being the major source of versican in aorta, and (ii) the presence of macrophages, which may induce versican degradation and modulate versican synthesis. It is proposed that the decreased synthesis and increased degradation of versican, particularly of isoform V(0), and the resulting low concentration in the intima are crucial factors contributing to the altered viscoelastic and compressive properties and thereby to the deformity and dilatation of aorta.
Atherosclerosis 2001 Feb 01
PMID:Human abdominal aortic aneurysm is characterized by decreased versican concentration and specific downregulation of versican isoform V(0). 1116 69

The membrane glycoprotein CD36 is involved in platelet aggregation, inhibition of angiogenesis, atherosclerosis, and sequestration of malaria-parasitized erythrocytes. In this study, immunoprecipitations with anti-CD36 antibodies were performed to identify proteins that associate with CD36 in the platelet membrane. Platelets were solubilized in 1% Triton X-100, 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate (CHAPS), Brij 96, or Brij 99, and the proteins that coprecipitated with CD36 were identified by peptide mass spectrometry and Western blotting. The tetraspanin protein CD9 and the integrins alphaII(b)beta3 and alpha6beta1 specifically coprecipitated with CD36 from platelets that were solubilized in CHAPS and Brij 99 but not from platelets that were solubilized in Triton X-100. Only CD9 is coprecipitated with CD36 from platelets that were solubilized in Brij 96. Reciprocal immunoprecipitations with antibodies to CD9, alpha6, alphaIIb, or beta3 from Brij 99-solubilized platelets coprecipitated CD36. Coprecipitation of CD36, CD9, and alpha6beta1 was also observed on platelets from a patient with Glanzmann thrombasthenia, indicating that alphaII(b)beta3 is not required for the other proteins to associate. Colocalization of alpha6 and CD36, of CD9 and CD36, and of alpha6 and CD9 was observed on intact platelets prior to solubilization, using double immunofluorescence microscopy. These data indicate that CD36 associates with CD9 and integrins on human blood platelets. These associated proteins may mediate or participate in some of the diverse biological functions of CD36.
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PMID:CD36 associates with CD9 and integrins on human blood platelets. 1123 9

Natural polyphenols (PP) are known as potent antioxidants, which are believed to prevent many degenerative diseases, including cancer and atherosclerosis. Much attention in the literature has been given to the antioxidant activity of PP-containing products; however, information on the antioxidative properties of individual PP is rather poor and controversial. In this work, the chain-breaking antioxidant activities of several natural PP and their synthetic analogs were determined during the chain oxidation of methyl linoleate in an aqueous buffered, pH 7.40, micellar solution of Triton X-100, induced by 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropan) dihydrochloride at 37 degrees C. Use of the mode of the controlled chain reaction allowed separate determination of the rate constant for the reaction of PP with the lipid peroxy radical and the stoichiometric factor of inhibition (f), which shows how many kinetic chains can be terminated by one molecule of PP. All the PP studied display a pronounced antioxidant activity. A significant difference in f value between catechol derivatives and pyrogallol derivatives was found. While with pyrogallol derivatives (gallic acid, epigallocatechin, propyl gallate, myricetin), f was found to be around 2, the theoretically expected value, f, for catechol derivatives (catechol, catechin, epicatechin, quercetin, rutin, caffeic acid) was found to be within the range 3.6-6.3. The elevated antioxidant capacity of catechol derivatives may be explained by the contribution of products of PP oxidative transformation, most likely by dimers, to inhibition. With catechin, epicatechin, and quercetin, the reactivity of products exceeds that of original PP. A real chain-breaking antioxidant activity of PP is likely determined not so much by the reactivity of the original PP as by the probability of the formation of active products and their antioxidant activities. The above findings were applied to explain some features of the antioxidant activity of teas and red wines.
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PMID:Chain-breaking antioxidant activity of natural polyphenols as determined during the chain oxidation of methyl linoleate in Triton X-100 micelles. 1278 78

The formation and stability of ordered lipid domains (rafts) in model membrane vesicles were studied using a series of sterols and steroids structurally similar to cholesterol. In one assay, insolubility in Triton X-100 was assessed in bilayers composed of sterol/steroid mixed with dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine (DPPC), dioleoylphosphatidylcholine, or a 1:1 mixture of these phospholipids. In a second assay fluorescence quenching was used to determine the degree of ordered domain formation in bilayers containing sterol/steroid and a 1:1 mixture of DPPC and a quencher-carrying phosphatidylcholine. Both methods showed that several single modifications of the cholesterol structure weaken, but do not fully abolish, the ability of sterols and steroids to promote ordered domain formation when mixed with DPPC. Some of these modifications included a shift of the double bond from the 5-6 carbons (cholesterol) to 4-5 carbons (allocholesterol), derivatization of the 3-OH (cholesterol methyl ether, cholesteryl formate), and alteration of the 3-hydroxy to a keto group (cholestanone). An oxysterol involved in atherosclerosis, 7-ketocholesterol, formed domains with DPPC that were as thermally stable as those with cholesterol although not as tightly packed as judged by fluorescence anisotropy. It was also found that 7-ketocholesterol has fluorescence quenching properties making it a useful spectroscopic probe. Lathosterol, which has a 7-8 carbon double bond in place of the 5-6 double bond of cholesterol, formed rafts with DPPC that were at least as detergent-resistant as, and even more thermally stable than, rafts containing cholesterol. Because lathosterol is an intermediate in cholesterol biosynthesis, we conclude it is unlikely that sterol biosynthesis continues past lathosterol in order to create a raft-favoring lipid.
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PMID:Relationship between sterol/steroid structure and participation in ordered lipid domains (lipid rafts): implications for lipid raft structure and function. 1474 46

Urokinase-type plasminogen activator (UPA) has been implicated in a broad spectrum of pathogenic processes involved in the formation and disruption of atherosclerotic lesions. Up to now, there is no consensus on the contribution of membrane-bound UPA and its receptor CD87 (UPAR) to the development of atherosclerosis. In this study, we determined comparatively the levels of UPAR and UPAR-bound UPA in segments of human coronary and aortic vessels with different degrees of atherosclerotic lesions (macroscopically normal areas, early atherosclerotic lesions, fibrous and calcified plaques). The UPAR content increased progressively with the severity of atherosclerosis. In aortic segments, in which intima and media layers were analyzed separately, the content of UPAR in the intima significantly exceeded the levels measured in the media. Using a detergent-phase separation method with a Triton X-114-containing buffer, we could demonstrate that the levels of membrane (glycosylphosphatidylinositol)-anchored UPAR were significantly higher in the intima of early atherosclerotic lesions as well as in the cap areas of fibrous plaques compared with macroscopically normal areas. However, only 20-25% of the intimal and 30-50% of the medial glycosylphosphatidylinositol-UPAR was occupied by UPA as determined on a molar basis. These data confirm that the overexpression of UPAR in advanced atherosclerotic lesions contributes to lesion development. Whether UPAR's excess over cell surface UPA provides an additional role for this receptor in atherogenesis besides UPA-mediated proteolysis remains to be elucidated.
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PMID:Overexpression of urokinase receptor and cell surface urokinase-type plasminogen activator in the human vessel wall with different types of atherosclerotic lesions. 1520 86

Functional deficiency of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) was found in a patient with severe hypertriglyceridemia. The patient was 39-year-old man with a plasma triglyceride level of 2032 mg/dl, and suffered from recurrent pancreatitis. His post heparin plasma LPL mass was almost normal, but the LPL activity was remarkably decreased. Gene analysis showed that homozygote missense mutation (204 Asp (GAC)-Glu (GAG)) exists in exon 5 of LPL gene. The patient LPL purified from post heparin plasma scarcely hydrolyzed VLDL-triglyceride and also triolein emulsified with Triton X-100 or phosphatidylcholine. When phosphatidylethenolamine, phosphatidylserine and cardiolipin were used as an emulsifier for triolein, triolein-hydrolyzing activity of the patient's LPL was observed and was much higher than that of wild-type LPL. Mutant LPL gene (Asp204-Glu) was made by site-direct mutagenesis and was transfected to COS-1 cell. The expressed LPL (Asp204-Glu) also showed the same properties. These results suggested that the LPL (Asp204-Glu) is a functional deficiency, and the activity could be recovered by using acidic phospholipids as an emulsifier.
Atherosclerosis 2005 Nov
PMID:The recovery of dysfunctional lipoprotein lipase (Asp204-Glu) activity by modification of substrate. 1587 72

It was previously observed that lipid membranes accelerate *NO disappearance (Liu et al. (1998) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 95, 2175), and here, we demonstrate that this translates into increased rates of *NO2 production and nitrosative chemistry. Not only the phospholipid membranes but also the atherosclerosis-related low-density lipoprotein (LDL) were able to accelerate the formation of *NO2, studied by stopped-flow spectrophotometry using ABTS as a probe. In addition, membranes, LDL, and Triton X-100 micelles significantly accelerated S-nitrosation of glutathione and captopril. It is shown here that autoxidation of *NO occurs 30 times more rapidly within the hydrophobic interior of these particles than in an equal volume of water, approximately 1 order of magnitude less than previous reports. This acceleration can be explained by the approximately 3 times higher solubility of *NO and O2 into these hydrophobic phases relative to water, which results in a higher local concentration of reactants ("lens effect") and, therefore, a higher rate of reaction. It is predicted that 50% of the oxidizing and nitrosating species derived from *NO autoxidation in cells will be formed in the small volume comprising cellular membranes (3% of the total); thus, biomolecules near the membranes will be exposed to fluxes of reactive nitrogen species 30-fold higher than their cytosolic counterparts.
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PMID:Membrane "lens" effect: focusing the formation of reactive nitrogen oxides from the *NO/O2 reaction. 1738 8

Chlamydophila pneumoniae is a gram-negative obligate intracellular bacterial pathogen that causes pneumonia and bronchitis and may contribute to atherosclerosis. The developmental cycle of C. pneumoniae includes a morphological transition from an infectious extracellular elementary body (EB) to a noninfectious intracellular reticulate body (RB) that divides by binary fission. The C. pneumoniae genome encodes a type III secretion (T3S) apparatus that may be used to infect eukaryotic cells and to evade the host immune response. In the present study, Cpn0712 (CdsD), Cpn0704 (CdsQ), and Cpn0826 (CdsL), three C. pneumoniae genes encoding yersiniae T3S YscD, YscQ, and YscL homologs, respectively, were cloned and expressed as histidine- and glutathione S-transferase (GST)-tagged proteins in Escherichia coli. Purified recombinant proteins were used to raise hyper-immune polyclonal antiserum and were used in GST pull-down and copurification assays to identify protein-protein interactions. CdsD was detected in both EB and RB lysates by Western blot analyses, and immunofluorescent staining demonstrated the presence of CdsD within inclusions. Triton X-114 solubilization and phase separation of chlamydial EB proteins indicated that CdsD partitions with cytoplasmic proteins, suggesting it is not an integral membrane protein. GST pull-down assays indicated that recombinant CdsD interacts with CdsQ and CdsL, and copurification assays with chlamydial lysates confirmed that native CdsD interacts with CdsQ and CdsL. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report demonstrating interactions between YscD, YscQ, and YscL homologs of bacterial T3S systems. These novel protein interactions may play important roles in the assembly or function of the chlamydial T3S apparatus.
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PMID:Interactions between CdsD, CdsQ, and CdsL, three putative Chlamydophila pneumoniae type III secretion proteins. 1828


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