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Query: UMLS:C0004153 (atherosclerosis)
 77,401 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

The recent discovery of endothelium-derived relaxation factor (EDRF) has altered the traditional classification of vasodilators used in angina pectoris and heart failure. If a vasodilator induces release of EDRF from the epithelium it is classified as endothelium-dependent, if not it is independent. Sodium nitroprusside and SIN-1 (active metabolite of molsidomine) are the main independent vasodilators since the endothelium relaxation factor appears to be principally a nitric oxide radical in these synthetic vasodilators. In contrast, calcium-channel blockers and a good number of endogenous chemical mediators (acetylcholine, bradykinin, serotonin, etc.) are endothelium-dependent. Furthermore, simple increase in blood flow through the large vessels can result in endothelium-dependent vasodilation (flow rate-dependence) the extent of which depends on the drug examined. The fact that the pharmacologic response of a vasodilator can be altered under certain pathologic conditions (atherosclerosis, hypertension, diabetes, etc.) further increases the importance of the role of the vascular endothelium in the action of vasodilators since endothelial modulation may then be completely diverted to secretion of endothelium-derived contracting factors (EDCFS).
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PMID:[Vasodilator agents and the vascular endothelium]. 262 13

Cultured human endothelial cells synthesize prostacyclin (PGI2), a potent inhibitor of platelet function, when stimulated with histamine, bradykinin, or ATP. Paradoxically, we report that these agonists also induced the rapid and sustained synthesis of platelet-activating factor (PAF) by endothelial cells. In fact, the synthesis of this potent activator of platelets and neutrophils was induced by stimulation of the same receptor subtype that induced PGI2 synthesis: stimulation of a histamine H1 or a bradykinin B2 receptor induced both PAF and PGI2 synthesis. However, two physiologically important differences exist between the production of PAF and PGI2 by endothelial cells. The synthesis of PGI2 proceeded for only 7.5 min before the abrupt termination of synthesis, whereas the synthesis of PAF was clearly detectable even 45 min after stimulation. Although maximal accumulation of PAF occurred after 10-15 min of stimulation, the prolonged synthesis resulted in the presence of PAF for up to 1 h after stimulation. Secondly, whereas PGI2 was released from the cell monolayer, PAF remained cell-associated without significant release to the external medium. Endothelial cell-generated PAF, therefore, does not function as a hormone. The prolonged association of this potent activator of platelets and neutrophils with endothelial cells may mediate some of the inflammatory properties of histamine and bradykinin. It may also be a factor in the formation of a thrombogenic vascular surface, an event suggested to play a primary role in the pathogenesis of thrombosis and atherosclerosis.
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PMID:Cultured endothelial cells synthesize both platelet-activating factor and prostacyclin in response to histamine, bradykinin, and adenosine triphosphate. 286 64

This review discusses the role of three mediators, synthesized by vascular endothelial cells, that help to keep the surface of the normal endothelium nonthrombogenic. The first is prostacyclin, a product of arachidonic acid metabolism discovered in 1976. This labile prostanoid, with a half-life of approximately 3 minutes, relaxes vascular smooth muscle and inhibits the aggregation of blood platelets. Prostacyclin and its analogues are currently being tested clinically for use in cardiovascular diseases such as primary pulmonary hypertension. The second mediator discussed is endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF), discovered in 1980, which also relaxes smooth muscle and inhibits the aggregation and adhesion of platelets. Substances that stimulate the release of EDRF include acetylcholine, bradykinin, and adenosine 5'-diphosphate. EDRF is even more labile than prostacyclin, with a half-life of about 6 seconds, and it has recently been identified as nitric oxide. Prostacyclin and EDRF are released together following stimulation of endothelial receptors and synergize to inhibit platelet aggregation. 13-Hydroxy-9,11-octadecadienoic acid, a third suggested mediator, is not released but acts from inside the cell to make the endothelial surface nonadhesive for circulating blood cells. It is proposed that these three mediators form the endothelial defense mechanism against blood-borne cells and chemicals and that breakdown of this barrier results in diseases such as hypertension and atherosclerosis.
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PMID:Mediators produced by the endothelial cell. 306 Apr 28

The effect of a thromboxane receptor antagonist (Daltroban, BM 13.505) on platelet function, vascular PGI2 formation and the severity of atherosclerotic lesions was studied in rabbits, fed for 4 months a cholesterol rich (1%) diet. Daltroban (10 mg/kg x day) significantly antagonized the hypercholesterolemia induced enhanced platelet aggregability, thromboxane formation and ATP secretion. The vascular PGI2 biosynthesis ("basal" or bradykinin stimulated), the number of PGI2 receptors on platelet membranes and the atherosclerotic plaque formation in the aorta were not affected by Daltroban. We suggest that in addition to a reduction of platelet hyperreactivity, protection of the vessel wall appears to be required for prevention of atherosclerosis in this model.
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PMID:Beneficial effects of a thromboxane receptor antagonist (BM 13.505) on platelet hyperreactivity and thromboxane formation in cholesterol-fed rabbits. 307 72

The synthesis of prostaglandins (PGs) was determined in endothelial cells obtained from various vessels from baboon, human and rat both by radioimmunoassay and prelabel of the cells with [3H] arachidonate. Cells were stimulated with bradykinin, ionophore A23187 or 10 microM arachidonate. Although prostacyclin (PGI2) has proven to be the major prostaglandin product of human umbilical vein and calf pulmonary artery endothelial cells, our results show that PGI2 is frequently not the major prostaglandin product of endothelial cells from other vessels. For example baboon endothelial cells lining the large vessels, aorta and cephalic vein produce mainly PGF2a with only small amounts of PGE2 and PGI2. Human endothelial cells from saphenous vein also produce mainly PGF2a. Baboon, human and rat adipose capillary endothelial cells make predominantly PGE2 and PGI2 with rat making significant amounts of PGF2a in addition. Endothelial cells from the rat aorta produced predominantly prostacyclin.
Atherosclerosis 1987 Jun
PMID:Comparison of prostaglandin synthesis by endothelial cells from blood vessels originating in the rat, baboon, calf and human. 311 42

This study examined the effects of dietary supplementation with cod-liver oil on impaired endothelium-dependent relaxations in hypercholesterolemia and in atherosclerosis in porcine coronary arteries. Sixteen male Yorkshire pigs underwent balloon endothelium removal of the left coronary arteries and were fed a 2% high-cholesterol diet for 10 weeks, with or without dietary supplementation of cod-liver oil (30 ml/day) (oil-fed and cholesterol-fed groups, respectively). This model allowed the simultaneous examination of the effects of dietary cod-liver oil on vascular reactivity in hypercholesterolemia alone (right coronary artery) and in atherosclerosis (left coronary artery). After 10 weeks of feeding, the dietary treatment with cod-liver oil caused an increase in plasma levels of eicosapentaenoic acid and a decrease in the plasma levels of arachidonic acid, whereas the treatment had no significant effect on the increases in plasma lipid levels induced by the high-cholesterol feeding. Morphometric analysis showed significant inhibition of coronary atherosclerosis by the treatment. Endothelium-dependent responses were examined in vitro in ring preparations and in bioassay experiments. Endothelium-dependent relaxations to bradykinin, serotonin, and adenosine 5'-diphosphate were larger in both right and left coronary arteries from oil-fed than from cholesterol-fed animals. Aggregating platelets from cholesterol-fed and oil-fed pigs induced comparable, larger endothelium-dependent relaxations in rings from oil-fed than from cholesterol-fed pigs. The contractions induced by serotonin or aggregating platelets were significantly inhibited in rings with endothelium from oil-fed pigs, whereas they were comparable in rings without endothelium in both groups. Relaxations to sodium nitroprusside and contractions to potassium chloride or serotonin were comparable in rings without endothelium in both groups. The bioassay experiments revealed that the release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor in response to bradykinin and the relaxations of vascular smooth muscle to the endothelial factor were greater after the fish-oil diet. These results indicate that dietary supplementation of cod-liver oil delays the impairment of endothelium-dependent relaxations in hypercholesterolemia and in atherosclerosis, partly because of an improved release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor and partly because of an improved relaxation of coronary smooth muscle to the factor.
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PMID:Dietary cod-liver oil improves endothelium-dependent responses in hypercholesterolemic and atherosclerotic porcine coronary arteries. 319 96

Under physiological conditions prostacyclin (PGI2) is the main metabolite of arachidonic acid that is generated and released by lungs. The generation of PGI2 by lungs seems to be a continuous process and, therefore, PGI2 can be considered as a circulating hormone whose concentration is by 100--200 pg/ml higher in arterial blood than in mixed venous blood. The generation of PGI2 by lungs can be augmented by angiotensin ll, bradykinin and arachidonic acid provided that low concentrations of these substances are infused into pulmonary artery. Also air pulmonary emboli and mechanical hyperventilation stimulate the lungs to generate more prostacyclin. Respiratory stimulants such as lobeline or almitrine are even more effective in this respect. It is proposed that this para-endocrine function of the lung constitutes an important physiological mechanism that protects coronary and cerebral arteries against thrombosis and atherosclerosis. The efficacy of this mechanism can be increased by pharmacological procedures. A link between ventilatory and non-ventilatory function of the lungs is proposed. Hyperventilation increases the hormonal function of the lungs i.e. stimulates generation of prostacyclin. On the other hand we also propose a link between these functions of the lungs and homeostasis in cardiovascular system.
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PMID:[The lung, producer of prostacyclin]. 611 Dec 68

The effects of gemfibrozil on plasma prekallikrein, kallikrein inhibitors, kininogen and plasma lipids were investigated in 31 male subjects having either type IIA or IIB dyslipidaemia. During gemfibrozil use, plasma prekallikrein and kininogen were increased significantly while kallikrein inhibitors increased only slightly. Total cholesterol and triglycerides decreased while HDL cholesterol was increased. Changes in prekallikrein and HDL cholesterol were correlated, whereas no other significant correlations between changes in lipid and kinin parameters were seen. The observed changes in prekallikrein and kininogen possibly indicate a shift in the thrombo-haemorrhagic balance in favour for increased fibrinolysis. If so, the effects of gemfibrozil in prevention and management of atherosclerosis would not be solely due to correlation of the dyslipidaemia but also to protection against the accelerated coagulation tendency seen in type II dyslipidaemia.
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PMID:Plasma prekallikrein, kallikrein inhibitors, kininogen and lipids during gemfibrozil treatment in type II dyslipidaemia. 618 30

In order to evaluate the effect of the angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitor, captopril, on lipid metabolism, we measured serum lipoperoxides concentration ( LPX ) as well as plasma levels of renin activity (PRA), aldosterone (PAC) and bradykinin ( PBK ) before and after captopril administration in 15 hypertensive patients. Captopril significantly lowered the LPX (p less than 0.05 by repeated measures ANOVA) from the control value of 3.25 +/- 1.16 (mean +/- S.D.) to 2.92 +/- 0.94, 2.83 +/- 1.10, and 2.89 +/- 1.31 nmol/ml 30, 60, and 120 min after the administration, respectively. A significant reduction of blood pressure (p less than 0.0001) and PAC (p less than 0.01) was observed following captopril administration, while PBK increased significantly (p less than 0.001) from a baseline level of 10.85 +/- 4.07 to 13.95 +/- 5.29, 16.25 +/- 6.85, and 15.71 +/- 7.65 pg/ml 30, 60, and 120 min after captopril administration, respectively. There was no significant correlation between changes in serum LPX and in mean blood pressure, PRA and PAC, though a significant inverse relationship was found between changes in serum LPX and in PBK 120 min after the administration (r = -0.576, p less than 0.05, n = 13). Although the mechanisms by which serum LPX is decreased by captopril are not clear, it is suggested from the results that captopril is a beneficial antihypertensive agent for preventing LPX -induced atherosclerosis in hypertensive patients.
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PMID:[The effects of the angiotensin I-converting enzyme inhibitor, captopril, on serum lipoperoxides level and the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone and kallikrein-kinin systems in hypertensive patients]. 637 99

Under physiological conditions prostacyclin is the main metabolite of arachidonic acid that is generated and released by the lungs. In man and in cat prostacyclin seems to be a circulating hormone whose concentration is 100-200 pg ml-1 higher in arterial blood than in mixed venous blood. Generation of prostacyclin by lungs can be increased by angiotensin II, bradykinin and arachidonic acid provided that low concentrations of these substances are infused into the pulmonary artery. Air pulmonary emboli and mechanical hyperventilation stimulate the lungs to generate more prostacyclin. Respiratory stimulants such as lobeline or almitrine are also effective prostacyclin releasers from the lung. It is proposed that this para-endocrine function of the lung protects coronary and cerebral arteries against thrombosis and atherosclerosis while pharmacological amplification of the pulmonary release of prostacyclin may constitute a new means of treating thromboembolic diseases.
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PMID:The lung as a generator of prostacyclin. 700 95


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