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)

Thrombin is a potent mitogen for vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and plays an important role in the progression of atherosclerosis. Although recent reports have suggested that cAMP response element-binding protein (CREB) is necessary for the survival of neuronal cells, the role of CREB in VSMC proliferation is not determined. We examined the role of CREB in thrombin-induced VSMC proliferation and the effect of thrombin on phosphorylation of CREB at Ser133, which is a critical marker for activation by Western blot analysis. Thrombin induced phosphorylation of CREB in a dose-dependent manner. An oligopeptide, SFLLRN, which activates the thrombin receptor, also induced the phosphorylation of CREB. Inhibition of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase or inhibition of p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase suppressed the thrombin-induced CREB phosphorylation. Inhibition of the epidermal growth factor receptor by AG1478 also inhibited the thrombin-induced CREB phosphorylation. Overexpression of the dominant-negative form of CREB inhibited thrombin-induced c-fos mRNA expression and incorporation of [(3)H]thymidine and [(3)H]leucine. These results suggest that CREB-dependent gene transcription plays a critical role in thrombin-induced proliferation and hypertrophy of VSMCs. Transactivation of the epidermal growth factor receptor and 2 mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways are involved in this process. CREB may be a novel transcription factor mediating the vascular remodeling process induced by thrombin.
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PMID:cAMP response element-binding protein mediates thrombin-induced proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells. 1170 63

Antioxidants have been proposed as a promising treatment for restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), but their mechanism of action remains unclear. Here, we investigated the effect of antioxidants on gene expression in the artery after balloon denudation. We developed a sensitive ribonuclease (RNase) protection assay for the messenger RNA (mRNA) levels of immediate early (IE) genes (c-jun, c-fos and c-myc), as well as platelet-derived growth factor-A (PDGF-A), platelet-derived growth factor-beta receptor, transforming growth factor-beta 1, and vascular endothelial growth factor. New Zealand White rabbits were fed a 0.17% cholesterol diet containing vehicle, BO-653 or probucol, and balloon denudation for iliac arteries was performed. The iliac arteries were then removed at 4 h after the denudation, for IE genes, and 10 days after for growth factors and receptors. Both BO-653 and probucol significantly reduced neointimal thickening, compared with the control. In terms of gene expression, BO-653, but not probucol, significantly inhibited c-myc induction. On the other hand, probucol, but not BO-653, significantly inhibited PDGF-A expression. Neither treatment had any effect on the expression of other genes. These results suggest that antioxidants affect the gene expression of the neointimal response and that both BO-653 and probucol inhibit gene expression in specific manners.
Atherosclerosis 2002 Apr
PMID:Effect of BO-653 and probucol on c-MYC and PDGF-A messenger RNA of the iliac artery after balloon denudation in cholesterol-fed rabbits. 1188 18

Angiotensin II (Ang II) is a potent stimulator of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) expression, which is an important regulator of pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Rho-kinase, a downstream target protein of small GTP-binding protein Rho, plays a key role for various cellular functions. We evaluated the cardioprotective effects of a specific Rho-kinase inhibitor, (R)-(+)-trans-N-(4-pyridyl)-4-(1-aminoethyl)-cyclohexanecarboxamide (Y-27632), and an Ang II type 1 receptor antagonist, candesartan, on PAI-1 gene expression and cardiovascular remodeling in Ang II-induced hypertensive rats. Rats given Ang II alone (200 ng.kg(-1).min(-1)) were compared with rats also receiving Ang II plus Y-27632 or Ang II plus candesartan. Ang II-induced PAI-1 mRNA up-regulation in the left ventricle was inhibited by Y-27632 and candesartan. In addition, increased RhoA protein, Rho-kinase, and c-fos gene expression, and myosin light chain phosphorylation were suppressed by Y-27632 and candesartan. In contrast, Y-27632 had no effect on Ang II-stimulated phospho-p42/p44 extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) and phospho-p70S6 kinase activities, which are reported to be involved in Ang II-induced protein synthesis. Moreover, activated Ang II-induced phosphorylation of ERK and p70S6 kinase were blocked by candesartan. Y-27632 or candesartan administration resulted in significant improvements in the wall-to-lumen ratio, perivascular fibrosis, and myocardial fibrosis. These results suggested that differential activation of Rho-kinase and ERK pathways may play a critical role in Ang II-induce PAI-1 gene expression, and up-regulation of Rho-kinase plays a key role in the pathogenesis of Ang II-induced hypertensive rats. Thus, inhibition of the Rho-kinase pathway may be at least a useful therapeutic strategy for treating cardiovascular remodeling.
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PMID:Involvement of Rho-kinase pathway for angiotensin II-induced plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 gene expression and cardiovascular remodeling in hypertensive rats. 1196 Oct 44

Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation is a key event in the progression of atherosclerosis. Induction of both c-fos (through the transcription factor Elk-1) and c-jun, both immediate early genes, is important for the stimulation of VSMC proliferation and migration. It was earlier found that p38 mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase upregulates c-jun gene transcription through phosphorylation of two myocyte enhancer factor 2 (MEF2) family transcription factors, MEF2A and MEF2C, while big MAP kinase 1 (BMK1) may upregulate c-jun gene transcription through MEF2A, MEF2C, and also MEF2D. Here, we report that inhibition of BMK1 by a dominant negative form of MEK5 or pharmacologic inhibition of p38 by SB 203580 additively suppress serum-induced VSMC proliferation. This additive effect of p38 and BMK1 inhibition implies that these two kinases coordinately regulate MEF2 transcription factors. The exclusive activation of MEF2D by BMK1 appears required for this cooperative upregulation of c-jun in VSMC, and coactivation of p38 and BMK1 also has additive effects on the activation of a reporter gene linked to the c-jun promoter in our experimental system. Thus, coordinate activity of both the p38 and BMK1 pathways appears necessary for optimal transcription of c-jun and, pari pasu, VSMC proliferation. These results may have implications for the future design of pharmacologic agents for inhibition of VSMC growth.
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PMID:Vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation requires both p38 and BMK1 MAP kinases. 1205 30

Excessive proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) in the intima is an important etiologic factor in vascular proliferative disorders such as atherosclerosis and restenosis after balloon angioplasty. Therefore, control of VSMC growth may be a suitable therapeutic intervention in vascular proliferative disorders. In the present work, we have studied the 2-benzyloxybenzaldehyde (CCY1a)-mediated antiproliferative effect and its mechanisms of action. CCY1a inhibited serum-induced VSMC proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner, as demonstrated using [(3)H]thymidine incorporation and MTT assays; the IC(50) values were calculated to be 7.0 x 10(-6) and 1.2 x 10(-5) M, respectively. Furthermore, it also significantly suppressed serum-induced progression of the cell cycle, as shown by flow cytometric analysis. CCY1a as well as PD98059 almost completely abolished serum-induced activation of p42/44 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), the downstream effectors of c-fos and c-jun mRNA expression and activator protein-1 (AP-1) DNA binding activity, suggesting the central roles of these signaling cascades. Interestingly, CCY1a also effectively blocked serum-induced Ikappa B-alpha phosphorylation, Ikappa B-alpha degradation and nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B) binding activity. Based on these observations, we examined the effect of CCY1a on serum-mediated Ras activity, an upstream regulator of the above signaling events. The data demonstrated a marked inhibition of Ras activation by CCY1a. We conclude that CCY1a blocks cell proliferation via inhibition of the upstream effector of Ras and downstream events, including p42/44 MAPK activation and c-fos and c-jun mRNA expression, as well as NF-kappa B and AP-1 DNA binding activities.
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PMID:Inhibition of Ras-mediated cell proliferation by benzyloxybenzaldehyde. 1243 28

Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) migration and proliferation play a key role in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease. However, the transcription factors that regulate VSMC activation are not completely characterized. By a mRNA-differential display approach, we have identified neuron-derived orphan receptor-1 (NOR-1), a transcription factor within the NGFI-B subfamily of nuclear receptors, as a immediate-early gene in VSMCs. Two NOR-1 isoforms (alpha and beta) were identified and cloned from serum-induced porcine VSMC that shared high homology with the human isoforms. Northern blot analysis revealed a strong and transient (1 to 6 hours) upregulation of NOR-1 in both porcine and human coronary SMCs by growth factors (serum, platelet-derived growth factor-BB, and epidermal growth factor) and alpha-thrombin but not by cytokines. NOR-1 upregulation is processed through G protein-coupled receptors and tyrosine kinase receptors, and involves Ca2+ mobilization, protein kinase C activation, and the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. This induction was closely dependent of the cAMP response elements present in NOR-1 promoter as transfection assays indicate. Human coronary atherosclerotic lesions overexpress NOR-1, and balloon angioplasty transiently induces NOR-1 in porcine coronary arteries with a pattern similar to that observed in VSMCs in culture. Antisense oligonucleotides against NOR-1 inhibited human coronary SMC proliferation (reduced de novo DNA synthesis, cell cycle progression, and VSMC wound repair) as efficiently as antisense against the protooncogene c-fos. These results show that NOR-1 modulates VSMC proliferation, and suggest that this transcription factor may play a role in both spontaneous and accelerated atherosclerosis.
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PMID:Neuron-derived orphan receptor-1 (NOR-1) modulates vascular smooth muscle cell proliferation. 1252 26

Free radicals and oxidative stress play a crucial role in the pathophysiology of a broad spectrum of cardiovascular diseases including congestive heart failure, valvular heart disease, cardiomyopathy, hypertrophy, atherosclerosis and ischemic heart disease. We have demonstrated that IH636 grape seed proanthocyanidin extract (GSPE) provides superior antioxidant efficacy as compared to Vitamins C, E and beta-carotene. A series of studies were conducted using GSPE to demonstrate its cardioprotective ability in animals and humans. GSPE supplementation improved cardiac functional assessment including post-ischemic left ventricular function, reduced myocardial infarct size, reduced ventricular fibrillation (VF) and tachycardia, decreased the amount of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as detected by ESR spectroscopy and reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) formation in the heart perfusate. Cardiomyocyte apoptosis detected by terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining. In concert, the proapoptotic signals mediated by JNK-l and c-fos proteins were also reduced suggesting that the novel cardioprotective properties of GSPE may be at least partially attributed to its ability to block anti-death signaling mediated through the proapoptotic transcription factors and genes such as JNK-1 and c-JUN. In a separate study, GSPE pretreatment significantly inhibited doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity as demonstrated by reduced serum creatine kinase (CK) activity, DNA damage and histopathological changes in the cardiac tissue of mice. Concentration-dependent efficacy of GSPE was also assessed in a hamster atherosclerosis model. Approximately 49 and 63% reduction in foam cells, a biomarker of early stage atherosclerosis, were observed following supplementation of 50 and 100 mg GSPE/kg body weight, respectively. A human clinical trial was conducted on hypercholesterolemic subjects. GSPE supplementation significantly reduced oxidized LDL, a biomarker of cardiovascular diseases. Finally, a cDNA microarray study demonstrated significant inhibition of inducible endothelial CD36 expression, a novel cardioregulatory gene, by GSPE. These results demonstrate that GSPE may serve as a potential therapeutic tool in promoting cardiovascular health via a number of novel mechanisms.
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PMID:Molecular mechanisms of cardioprotection by a novel grape seed proanthocyanidin extract. 1262 6

The proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) induced by injury to the intima of arteries is an important etiologic factor in vascular proliferative disorders such as atherosclerosis and restenosis. Esculetin, derived from the Chinese herb Artemisia scoparia, is well known as a lipoxygenase inhibitor. We have investigated the inhibitory effects of esculetin on VSMC proliferation and intimal hyperplasia by balloon angioplasty in the rat. We determined, using [3H]thymidine incorporation and the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, that esculetin inhibited the proliferation of VSMCs via a lipoxygenase-independent pathway. Three predominant signaling pathways were identified to be inhibited by esculetin: (a) the activation of p42/44 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) and the downstream effectors of c-fos and c-jun immediate early genes by means of western and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analyses; (b) the activation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) and activator protein-1 (AP-1), using the electrophoretic mobility shift assay; and (c) the activation of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) and cell cycle progression, by western blot analysis and flow cytometric detection. Furthermore, esculetin also profoundly inhibited Ras activation, a shared upstream event of the above signaling cascades. In vascular injury studies, intraperitoneal administration of esculetin significantly suppressed intimal hyperplasia induced by balloon angioplasty. We conclude that esculetin blocks cell proliferation via the inhibition of an upstream effector of Ras and downstream events including p42/44 MAPK activation, PI 3-kinase activation, immediate early gene expression, as well as NF-kappaB and AP-1 activation. It also inhibits intimal hyperplasia after balloon vascular injury in the rat, indicating the therapeutic potential for treating restenosis after arterial injury.
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PMID:Esculetin inhibits Ras-mediated cell proliferation and attenuates vascular restenosis following angioplasty in rats. 1278 42

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) plays an important role in the pathogenic course of atherosclerosis, pulmonary fibrosis, and glomerulonephritis, and increased activity of the PDGF signaling pathway has been implicated as a contributing factor in the progression of the diseases. Taurine may be a prophylactic amino acid for atherosclerosis not only by decreasing plasma cholesterol level, but also by inhibiting the cell proliferation-signaling pathway. To elucidate how taurine affects the signaling pathway, we investigated the effect of taurine on the expression of immediate-early genes and activation of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in NIH/3T3 cells as standard mesenchymal cells. Taurine inhibited PDGF-BB-induced c-fos and c-jun mRNA expressions dose-dependently, although structural analogues of taurine did not. Taurine decreased the PDGF-induced p44/p42 ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase) phosphorylation state dose-dependently, although no phosphorylation was observed on JNK/SAPK (c-Jun N-terminal kinase/stress-activated protein kinase) and p38 MAPK. Further, PDGF-BB-induced tyrosine phosphorylation of the PDGF-beta receptor was not influenced by treatment with taurine, indicating that taurine never affects ligand-receptor interaction, and may act downstream of the PDGF receptor. Thus, the inhibitory mechanism of taurine on PDGF-induced c-fos and c-jun mRNA expressions may depend on the p44/p42 ERK pathway, but not on PDGF-beta receptor tyrosine phosphorylation, JNK/SAPK or p38 MAPK pathway. These results suggest that taurine may suppress the cell proliferation-signaling pathway through the inhibition of ERK activity and immediate-early gene expression.
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PMID:Suppressive effect of taurine on platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) BB-induced c-fos and c-jun mRNA expressions through extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) in mesenchymal cell lines. 1295 97

Tetrandrine (TET) is a well known naturally occurred nonspecific Ca(2+) channel blocker. It has long been used for the treatment of arrhythmia, hypertension, and occlusive cardiovascular disorders. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effect of TET on the proliferation of primary cultured rat aortic smooth muscle cells (RASMCs). TET significantly inhibited both 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) and 50 ng/ml platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF)-BB-induced proliferation, [(3) H] ]thymidine incorporation into DNA, and p42/p44 mitogen-activated protein kinase (ERK1/2) phosphorylation at the concentration of 1.0 and 5.0 microM. Flow cytometry analysis of DNA content in synchronized cells revealed blocking of the FBS-inducible cell cycle progression by TET. In accordance with these findings, TET 5 microM caused a 48% decrease in the early elevation of c-fos expression induced after 10% FBS addition. Furthermore, in contrast to its distinguishable higher potency of Ca(2+) antagonistic activity, verapamil showed lower potent antiproliferative activities than TET. These results suggest that TET can exert antiproliferative effects against mitogenic stimuli for RASMCs in vitro by a mechanism that involves the MAPK pathway, altering cell cycle progression, and the inhibitory action cannot be limited to its Ca(2+) modulation.
Atherosclerosis 2004 Jun
PMID:Inhibitory effects of tetrandrine on the serum- and platelet-derived growth factor-BB-induced proliferation of rat aortic smooth muscle cells through inhibition of cell cycle progression, DNA synthesis, ERK1/2 activation and c-fos expression. 1513 51


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