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)

Epinephrine at concentrations varying between 3.3 and 12.5 nM had no effect on blood platelets when added alone, but augmented the in vitro platelet response to collagen and thrombin. Both aggregation and secretion responses were enhanced. Norepinephrine produced similar effects but was 50-60% less active than epinephrine. The minimum concentration of epinephrine or norepinephrine to achieve potentiation of platelet responses was even lower in the presence of 5-hydroxy- tryptamine. In contrast to the effects observed with higher concentrations of catecholamines, the synergistic interaction of these low concentrations of catecholamines with other agonists was not transient. The augmented response to catecholamines was mediated by platelet alpha 2-adrenoceptors. The response was inhibited by aspirin indicating that metabolism of arachidonic acid contributes to the synergy between low concentrations of catecholamines and other agonists. These studies show that the levels of the hormones epinephrine and norepinephrine obtained in circulating blood in humans, can be sufficient to enhance platelet responses. The action of catecholamines on platelets may be important in hemostasis and could provide an explanation for the association between certain risk factors and cardiovascular disease.
Atherosclerosis 1985 Dec
PMID:Effect on human platelets of catecholamines at levels achieved in the circulation. 300 19

Production of prostacyclin by endothelial cells is considered to be important in rendering the vessel wall nonthrombogenic. Cigarette smoking is an important risk factor in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Here we show that the incubation of cultured human endothelial cells with a cigarette smoke condensate impaired the basal prostacyclin release. Also, the enhanced release of prostacyclin provoked by phorbol myristate acetate was inhibited by cigarette smoke condensate. Furthermore, cigarette smoke condensate impaired the thrombin-induced prostacyclin production. The production of prostacyclin from exogenous arachidonate was not affected by cigarette smoke condensate, indicating that cigarette smoke condensate constituents exert their inhibitory properties on the level of arachidonate mobilization from cellular phospholipids, rather than on cyclooxygenase or prostaglandin synthetase. The effects noted for cigarette smoke condensate could not be attributed to the cigarette smoke constituents nicotine and cadmium. While inhibiting the endothelial cell prostacyclin production significantly, cigarette smoke condensate did not cause cell death or impairment of secretory function, as measured by the release of von Willebrand factor. This in vitro study shows that impairment of an endothelial cell function is related to a risk factor for atherosclerosis.
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PMID:Cigarette smoke impairs endothelial cell prostacyclin production. 308

To test the hypothesis that atherosclerosis impairs endothelium-dependent vascular relaxation, we examined the effect of the endothelium-dependent vasodilators acetylcholine and thrombin and the endothelium-independent vasodilator nitroglycerin on iliac arteries from normal cynomolgus monkeys and cynomolgus monkeys with diet-induced atherosclerosis. Rings of iliac artery were suspended in organ chambers at their optimal length for generating tension. After preconstriction with prostaglandin F2 alpha, cumulative concentration-response curves to acetylcholine, thrombin, and nitroglycerin were examined. The presence of endothelium was confirmed in each vessel by scanning electron microscopy. Atherosclerotic vessels showed morphologic evidence of moderate to severe atherosclerosis. Acetylcholine produced a maximal relaxation of 65 +/- 10% in the normal group and 27 +/- 10% in atherosclerotic vessels (P less than 0.05). Thrombin (10.0 U/ml) produced relaxation of 39 +/- 9% in the normal group and 13 +/- 7% in atherosclerotic iliac arteries (P less than 0.05). Nitroglycerin relaxed both normal and atherosclerotic blood vessels to an equal extent; maximal relaxation was 92 +/- 4% in normal vessels and 98 +/- 2% in atherosclerotic vessels. To determine if hypercholesterolemia alone produces an abnormality in endothelium-dependent relaxation, we performed two additional studies. First, because veins are exposed to hypercholesterolemia, but do not develop atherosclerosis, we studied relaxation responses to acetylcholine and thrombin in veins from normal monkeys and monkeys with diet-induced atherosclerosis. Veins from normal and atherosclerotic monkeys relaxed to a similar extent upon exposure to the endothelium-dependent vasodilators acetylcholine and thrombin.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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PMID:Atherosclerosis impairs endothelium-dependent vascular relaxation to acetylcholine and thrombin in primates. 308 55

Apolipoprotein B (apoB) release from activated washed human platelets was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using monospecific rabbit antibodies to human low density lipoprotein (LDL). Activation of platelets with thrombin, Ca2+-ionophore A23187 or stable analogue of prostaglandin endoperoxides U46619 stimulated release of approximately 20 ng apoB/10(8) platelets. Thrombin-induced apoB release was inhibited by the prostacyclin analogue carbacyclin. Dose-response curves of thrombin stimulation and carbacyclin inhibition of apoB and beta-thromboglobulin (beta-TG) release were very similar. Treatment of platelets with heparin did not remove significant amounts of apoB or affect the subsequent release of apoB induced by thrombin. The results of density gradient ultracentrifugation indicated that most of the apoB was released in the LDL density range. These data suggest that human platelets contain immunoreactive apoB, which can be released during platelet activation.
Atherosclerosis 1986 Sep
PMID:Apolipoprotein B release from activated human platelets. 309 50

Platelets play an important role in the development of atherosclerosis. The arachidonic acid, whose oxygenated metabolites are potent regulators of the platelet-vessel wall interactions, is released from membrane phospholipids by the phospholipase (s) system (s). These membrane-linked phenomena are strongly modulated by the membrane physical properties. The present study was carried out to investigate the relationship between membrane fluidity and arachidonic acid metabolism in platelets from atherosclerotic patients. Twenty-one patients with peripheral vascular disease and twelve controls were studied. Platelets from patients showed an increase in membrane fluidity and enhanced thrombin-stimulated thromboxane synthesis. No alterations were found, however, in total phospholipid fatty acid composition. A significant decrease in the cholesterol/phospholipid ratio could account for the alterations in the membrane physical properties described in the platelets from patients.
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PMID:Membrane fluidity and thromboxane synthesis in platelets from patients with severe atherosclerosis. 309 71

Injury to the endothelial lining of arteries is an important mechanism in both the early and late stages of the development of atherosclerosis. Platelets can contribute to the early lesions by releasing factors that cause smooth muscle cell migration and proliferation. In the later stages, the formation of large platelet-fibrin thrombi that become organized into the vessel wall contributes to the development of focal atherosclerotic narrowing of arteries. Injury to the vessel wall can also be a factor in causing spasm of coronary arteries, particularly at sites of stenosis. The spasm may cause ischemia, anginal pain, and, in some individuals, ventricular fibrillation and death. In other individuals, the spasm may not cause death but may persist long enough for an occlusive thrombus to form and cause myocardial infarction. The events leading to thrombosis involve not only the release of arachidonic acid and the formation of TXA2, but other pathways that are independent of the arachidonate pathway. In some circumstances thrombin (which causes platelet aggregation and release that are largely independent of the arachidonate pathway and TXA2 formation) is the primary stimulus causing the initiation and growth of the thrombus. The role of products of the arachidonate pathway in causing spasm is not understood. PGI2 produced by the vessel wall could be important in preventing or minimizing coronary artery spasm. The best way to prevent the development of atherosclerosis and its clinical complications is to prevent or minimize injury of the endothelium.
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PMID:Platelets, endothelium, and vessel injury. 315 7

Vascular cell procoagulant activity may be important in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. In previous studies, we described the ability of the atherogenic metabolite homocysteine to activate endothelial cell Factor V, a key coagulation cofactor for thrombin generation. The present study was designed to investigate Factor V activity and Factor Xa-catalyzed prothrombin activation by control and atherosclerotic aorta from normal and hypercholesterolemic rabbits. Factor Xa generated ninefold more thrombin on atherosclerotic aortic segments than on control segments. Atherosclerotic segments activated 125I-prothrombin with Factor Xa in the presence of the thrombin inhibitor dansyl arginine-4-ethylpiperidine amide and cleaved 125I-Factor V. This suggests that increases in vessel-wall Factor V activity and Factor Xa-catalyzed prothrombin activation result from activation of vessel-wall Factor V. 125I-Factor Va peptides generated by atherosclerotic aorta were very similar in molecular weight to those generated by homocysteine-treated cells. When vascular endothelium was mechanically removed by brushing, atherosclerotic vessels still generated four- to fivefold more thrombin than control vessels. These data and results from immunocytochemical studies suggest that Factor V in atherosclerotic vessels is associated with both endothelium and other cells of the lesion. In contrast, Factor V in control vessels is associated primarily with endothelium. The increases in Factor V activity and thrombin formation in the blood vessel wall of hypercholesterolemic rabbits may contribute to the development of atherosclerosis and its complications.
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PMID:Formation of factor Va by atherosclerotic rabbit aorta mediates factor Xa-catalyzed prothrombin activation. 316 15

Platelets from rats made hypercholesterolaemic with a diet enriched with milk fat and cholesterol and containing taurocholate to promote hypercholesterolaemia aggregated more extensively to a low concentration of thrombin than platelets from rats given a milk fat-enriched diet containing sitosterol. Total and specific binding of thrombin to platelets from hypercholesterolaemic rats was significantly greater than in controls when expressed per mg platelet protein, per mumol platelet cholesterol, or per unit relative surface area. Total and specific binding of thrombin per platelet were not different between the groups. However, platelets from hypercholesterolaemic rats had less protein and cholesterol, were smaller and had less surface area than control platelets; platelet cholesterol content expressed per mg platelet protein was not different. Thus, the increase in thrombin-binding to the smaller platelets from hypercholesterolaemic rats during the first 10 s after its addition may be responsible, at least in part, for the hypersensitivity of these platelets to thrombin.
Atherosclerosis 1988 Oct
PMID:Thrombin binding to platelets from hypercholesterolaemic rats. 319 Aug 19

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is known to enhance platelet sensitivity to some aggregating agents. In this study, we observed that LDL isolated from patients with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) enhanced thrombin-induced platelet aggregation to a greater extent than LDL isolated from matched controls (P less than .01). Thromboxane B2 production during aggregation was also significantly more enhanced by LDL isolated from IDDM than by control LDL (P less than .01). There was no difference in the lipid composition (free and esterified cholesterol, total phospholipids, and triglycerides) of LDL isolated from diabetic and control subjects. In contrast, the extent of glycosylation of LDL isolated from diabetic patients was significantly greater than that observed in LDL from normal subjects (P less than .01), and a positive correlation (r = .605, P less than .01) between the degree of LDL glycosylation and the rate of platelet aggregation was observed. LDL glycosylated in vitro enhanced thrombin-, collagen-, and adenosine 5'-diphosphate-induced platelet aggregation to a greater extent than control LDL (P less than .01). Although LDL glycosylated in vitro was taken up by platelets to a greater extent than control LDL (P less than .05), the lipid composition (free cholesterol and phospholipid) of platelets was not significantly changed. We postulate that an increased degree of glycosylation of LDL may enhance its uptake by platelets and lead to increased platelet reactivity to aggregating agents, probably by altering the structure of the platelet membrane. The enhancement of platelet aggregation by LDL may contribute to the accelerated development of atherosclerosis in diabetes mellitus.
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PMID:Enhancement of platelet aggregation by low-density lipoproteins from IDDM patients. 319 39

A 66-year-old man with homozygous deficiency of factor VII (less activity than 4 percent of normal) had a minimal hemorrhagic tendency and severe coronary atherosclerosis, and underwent aortocoronary saphenous vein bypass surgery. Although plasma factor VII coagulant activity and cross-reacting material were markedly reduced, comparable amounts of factor VII antigen were detected in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of both the patient and of a normal subject by Western blotting techniques. Accelerated coagulation was observed following brief exposure of the patient's phytohemagglutinin-stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells to low concentrations of ambient factor VII in vitro. Evidence indicates that factor VII plays a role in vivo in both hemostasis and atherogenesis and it might be assumed that factor VII deficiency would both predispose to excessive bleeding and forestall atherosclerosis. However, these observations suggest that factor VII-mediated thrombin generation may proceed by partitioning of small amounts of factor VII on tissue factor-expressing cells and that factor VII contained within monocytes may facilitate tissue factor-induced coagulation by these cells. These features may provide efficient coagulation activation despite a deficiency of the plasma coagulant protein. The current results may explain, at least in part, the minimal bleeding tendency, and also the occurrence of thrombosis and atherosclerosis in certain persons with factor VII deficiency.
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PMID:Atherosclerosis and coronary bypass surgery in hereditary factor VII deficiency. 325 74


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