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)

Inducible NO synthase (iNOS) present in human atherosclerotic plaques could contribute to the inflammatory process of plaque development. The role of iNOS in atherosclerosis was tested directly by evaluating the development of lesions in atherosclerosis-susceptible apolipoprotein E (apoE)-/- mice that were also deficient in iNOS. ApoE-/- and iNOS-/- mice were cross-bred to produce apoE-/-/iNOS-/- mice and apoE-/-/iNOS+/+ controls. Males and females were placed on a high fat diet at the time of weaning, and atherosclerosis was evaluated at two time points by different methods. The deficiency in iNOS had no effect on plasma cholesterol, triglyceride, or nitrate levels. Morphometric measurement of lesion area in the aortic root at 16 wk showed a 30-50% reduction in apoE-/-/iNOS-/- mice compared with apoE-/-/iNOS+/+ mice. Although the size of the lesions in apoE-/-/iNOS-/- mice was reduced, the lesions maintained a ratio of fibrotic:foam cell-rich:necrotic areas that was similar to controls. Biochemical measurements of aortic cholesterol in additional groups of mice at 22 wk revealed significant 45-70% reductions in both male and female apoE-/-/iNOS-/- mice compared with control mice. The results indicate that iNOS contributes to the size of atherosclerotic lesions in apoE-deficient mice, perhaps through a direct effect at the site of the lesion.
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PMID:Deficiency in inducible nitric oxide synthase results in reduced atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice. 1097 63

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR) are ligand-activated transcription factors which form a subfamily of the nuclear receptor gene family. PPAR activators have effects on both metabolic risk factors and on vascular inflammation related to atherosclerosis. PPAR have profound effects on the metabolism of lipoproteins and fatty acids. PPAR alpha binds hypolipidemic fibrates, whereas PPAR gamma has a high affinity for antidiabetic glitazones. Both PPAR are activated by fatty acids and their derivatives. Activation of PPAR alpha increases the catabolism of fatty acids at several levels. In the liver, it increases uptake of fatty acids and activates their beta-oxidation. The effects that PPAR alpha exerts on triglyceride-rich lipoproteins is due to their stimulation of lipoprotein lipase and repression of apolipoprotein CIII expression, while the effects on high-density lipoproteins depend upon the regulation of apolipoproteins AI and AII. PPAR gamma has profound effects on the differentiation and function of adipose tissue, where it is highly expressed. PPAR are also expressed in atherosclerotic lesions. PPAR are present in vascular endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, monocytes, and monocyte-derived macrophages. Via negative regulation of nuclear factor-kappa B and activator protein-1 signalling pathways, PPAR alpha inhibits expression of inflammatory genes, such as interleukin-6, cyclooxygenase-2, and endothelin-1. Furthermore, PPAR alpha inhibits expression of monocyte-recruiting proteins such as vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1 and induces apoptosis in monocyte-derived macrophages. PPAR gamma activation in macrophages and foam cells inhibits the expression of activated genes such as inducible nitric oxide synthase, matrix metalloproteinase-9 and scavenger receptor A. PPAR gamma may also affect the recruitment of monocytes in atherosclerotic lesions as it is involved in the expression of VCAM-1 and intracellular adhesion molecule-1 in vascular endothelial cells. The involvement of PPAR in atherosclerosis, a disease with a chronic inflammatory character, suggests that they may play a role in other inflammatory-related diseases as well.
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PMID:Role of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR) in atherosclerosis. 1100 63

In atherosclerosis and tumor initiation, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) has been implicated in the damage of vascular walls and DNA, respectively. Moderate consumption of red wine has been ascribed as a preventive for coronary heart disease; however, there has been much debate over whether the beneficial effect is from grape polyphenolic components or ethanol. We studied the interaction of grape compounds on nitric oxide (NO) production by macrophages, mediators of blood vessel damage in atherosclerosis. For the murine macrophage cell line RAW 264.7, stimulation with lipopolysaccharide and interferon-gamma led to expression of the iNOS gene and production of NO. The polyphenols quercetin and resveratrol at a micromolar range suppressed iNOS gene expression and NO production, as determined by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and nitrite assay. The polyphenols were also found to be scavengers of NO in an acellular system using sodium nitroprusside under physiological conditions. Ethanol, at a moderate level, did not produce any appreciable level of reduction of iNOS or NO activity. However, its presence at 0.1 to 0.75% enhanced the effect of grape polyphenols concentration-dependently. Thus, the interaction between these components plays a significant role in the health effects of red wine, especially with respect to their effect on the NO pathway.
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PMID:Synergy between ethanol and grape polyphenols, quercetin, and resveratrol, in the inhibition of the inducible nitric oxide synthase pathway. 1102 Apr 57

Immunosuppression may have an important impact on early graft coronary endothelial injury. We investigated functional and morphologic coronary alterations, myocardial expression, and cardiac release of possible mediators of allograft vasculopathy within 6 months after cardiac transplantation with respect to different immunosuppressive regimens. Epicardial and microvascular endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent vasomotor function and epicardial intimal thickening were measured in 8 transplant recipients treated with cyclosporin A (CyA), azathioprine, and prednisone (group 1), 9 transplant recipients treated with tacrolimus (TKL), azathioprine, and prednisone (group 2), and 14 patients treated with TKL, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), and prednisone (group 3). The gene expressions of inducible and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (iNOS and eNOS), endothelin-1, prostacyclinsynthase, and thromboxansynthase were analyzed in endomyocardial biopsy specimens using semiquantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Transcardiac cytokine release, endothelin-1, and nitrate-release were determined from plasma samples. Epicardial endothelial dysfunction (vasoconstriction to acetylcholine > 10%) and microvascular smooth muscle cell dysfunction (flow velocity increase to adenosine and nifedipine < 2.0) were enhanced in heart transplant recipients immunosuppressed with TKL, azathioprine, and prednisone. The prevalence of epicardial dysfunction was 78% in group 2 versus 44% and 46% in group 1 and 3 (p < 0.05), respectively. The prevalence of microvascular dysfunction was 56% in group 2 versus 13% and 7% in group 1 and 3 (p < 0.02), respectively. Coronary vasomotor dysfunction was associated with increased myocardial iNOS expression (p < 0.05), decreased eNOS expression (p < 0.05), and enhanced cardiac immunoreactive interleukin-6 (p < 0.01). Coronary intimal thickening was not different between the groups. The combination of TKL and MMF appears to be superior to TKL and azathioprine (and comparable to CyA and azathioprine) concerning preservation of early coronary vasomotor function, eNOS expression, iNOS suppression as well as cardiac interleukin-6 release. This may have an important impact on subsequent development of transplant coronary atherosclerosis.
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PMID:Coronary vasomotor dysfunction in the cardiac allograft: impact of different immunosuppressive regimens. 1111 79

Although atherosclerosis causes a marked inhibition of the endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation it also leads to expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), accompanied by an increase in cyclic GMP content, in the arterial wall. The aim of our present study as to evaluate the influence of atherosclerosis on the soluble guanylyl cyclase pathway in viable cultured smooth muscle cells (SMC) from rabbit atherosclerotic rabbit aortas (atherosclerotic SMC) and from control rabbit aortas (control SMC). In response to 100 microM sodium nitroprusside (SNP), the intracellular production of cyclic GMP was similar in both types of cells, reaching a maximum after 5 min of incubation. In the culture medium, SNP evokes an increased cyclic GMP concentration lasting 6 h in control SMC and 24 h in atherosclerotic SMC. Interleukin-1beta (100 IU/mL), which induces iNOS in SMC from both control and atherosclerotic aortas causes accumulation of cyclic GMIP in the extracellular medium between 3 and 6 h for control SMC and between 3 and 24 h with atherosclerotic SMC. These results demonstrate a long-lasting egression of cyclic GMP in the extracellular medium of cultured SMC from rabbit aortas in response to endogenous or exogenous NO. Since this egression of cyclic GMP lasts longer in atherosclerotic than in control SMC, we suggest that atherosclerosis dysregulates the long-term soluble guanylyl cyclase response to NO in SMC.
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PMID:Long-lasting cyclic guanosine-3',5'-monophosphate accumulation in the medium of cultured smooth muscle cells from atherosclerotic rabbit aortas in response to exogenous or endogenous nitric oxide. 1112 85

It was recently reported that inducible nitric oxide synthase was expressed in advanced atheromatous plaques. So we investigated the effect of NO or peroxynitrite reactive product of NO or O(2)(-) released by iNOS induced in macrophages or T lymphocytes on inflammatory cells in atheromatous plaques of human coronary arteries by immunohistochemistry. We found that iNOS was expressed in T lymphocytes and macrophages in T lymphocytes and macrophages coexisted advanced atheromatous areas. Most of the smooth muscle cells are not coexisted with T lymphocytes. We could not find iNOS in those smooth muscle cells. Only a small number of iNOS-positive smooth muscle cells were found close to T lymphocytes and macrophages. Markers for apoptotic cells induced in situ terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) showed that many apoptotic T lymphocytes and macrophages existed near iNOS induced cells. Fas and Fas ligand were expressed in almost same areas that iNOS was expressed. By double-label immunostaining, Fas was expressed in T lymphocytes but Fas ligand was expressed in macrophages and in some T lymphocytes. These results suggest that NO from iNOS induces Fas and Fas ligand-mediated apoptosis and associates with regression of atherosclerosis. On the other hand, nitrotyrosine was detected wider areas than iNOS. So peroxynitrite from iNOS damages cells and tissues widely and may associate with progression of atherosclerosis. These results suggest an important role of iNOS in mediating both regressive changes and progressive change in atheromatous plaques.
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PMID:Expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase and Fas/Fas ligand correlates with the incidence of apoptotic cell death in atheromatous plaques of human coronary arteries. 1113 64

We investigated the effect of testosterone, the main sexual steroid hormone in men, upon inducible nitric oxide synthesis in murine macrophages. Incubation of murine macrophages (RAW 264.7 cells) stimulated by bacterial lipopolysaccharide (2 microg/ml) with increasing amounts of testosterone (0.1-40 microM) showed a dose dependent inhibition of inducible nitric oxide synthesis. Inducible nitric oxide synthase protein expression was reduced in a dose dependent manner as revealed by immunoblotting when cells were incubated with increasing amounts of testosterone. This was associated with a decline in iNOS mRNA-levels as determined by competitive semiquantitative PCR. As nitric oxide plays an important role in immune defense and atherosclerosis prevention, testosterone-induced iNOS inhibition could lead to an elevated risk of infection as well as to the development of atherosclerotic lesions.
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PMID:Testosterone inhibits expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase in murine macrophages. 1120 91

Garlic has been used as a traditional medicine for prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. However, the molecular mechanism of garlic's pharmacological action has not been clearly elucidated. We examined here the effect of garlic extract and its major component, S-allyl cysteine (SAC), on nitric oxide (NO) production by macrophages and endothelial cells. The present study demonstrates that these reagents inhibited NO production through the suppression of iNOS mRNA and protein expression in the murine macrophage cell line RAW264.7, which had been stimulated with LPS and IFNgamma. The garlic extract also inhibited NO production in peritoneal macrophages, rat hepatocytes, and rat aortic smooth muscle cells stimulated with LPS plus cytokines, but it did not inhibit NO production in iNOS-transfected AKN-1 cells or iNOS enzyme activity. These reagents suppressed NF-kappaB activation and murine iNOS promoter activity in LPS and IFNgamma-stimulated RAW264.7 cells. In contrast, these reagents significantly increased cGMP production by eNOS in HUVEC without changes in activity, protein levels, and cellular distribution of eNOS. Finally, garlic extract and SAC both suppressed the production of hydroxyl radical, confirming their antioxidant activity. These data demonstrate that garlic extract and SAC, due to their antioxidant activity, differentially regulate NO production by inhibiting iNOS expression in macrophages while increasing NO in endothelial cells. Thus, this selective regulation may contribute to the anti-inflammatory effect and prevention of atherosclerosis by these reagents.
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PMID:Differential regulation of NO availability from macrophages and endothelial cells by the garlic component S-allyl cysteine. 1127 74

Genistein, daidzein, and glycitein, as primary isoflavones in soybeans, are reported to have beneficial effects on atherosclerosis, chronic inflammatory diseases, and cancers that are conducted by nitric oxide (NO) injury. The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects and mechanisms of these soy isoflavones on the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) system in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-activated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Genistein, daidzein, and glycitein dose-dependently suppress NO production (IC(50) = 50 microM) in supernatants of LPS-activated macrophages as measured on the basis of nitrite accumulation. In addition, direct inhibition of iNOS activity, determined by means of the conversion of L-[(3)H]arginine to L-[(3)H]citrulline, and markedly reduced iNOS protein and mRNA levels, evaluated by means of Western blot and RT-PCR, respectively, were found in homogenates of LPS-activated cells treated with each isoflavone. Moreover, genistein was found to have a greater inhibitory effect on NO production but no significant effect on iNOS activity or protein and gene expression to daidzein and glycitein. These observations reveal that the suppression of NO production by genistein, daidzein, and glycitein might be due to the inhibition of both the activity and expression of iNOS in LPS-activated macrophages. The result suggests that soy isoflavones might attenuate excessive NO generation at inflammatory sites.
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PMID:Suppression effect of soy isoflavones on nitric oxide production in RAW 264.7 macrophages. 1130 24

Nitric oxide (NO) has been implicated in various aspects of the atherogenic process and has been shown to possess both protective and cytotoxic properties. Recently, increased expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) has been detected in atherosclerotic lesions, although there is no consensus as to its pathogenetic significance [1,2]. In this longitudinal study we show that iNOS plays an important protective role in the atherogenic process. Indirect systolic blood pressure was measured by photoplethysmography in unanesthetized mice fed either a basal or high salt diet, and found to be significantly higher in iNOS-deficient mice than in wild type controls at three months of age (P=0.038 (basal diet) and P=0.0005 (high salt diet)). In addition, relative to controls, the iNOS-deficient mice had significantly elevated serum cholesterol levels at 3, 9 and 12 months of age (P=0.0017, 0.0001 and 0.0002 for the respective ages) as well as a significantly higher incidence of atherosclerotic plaques. These findings suggest that iNOS targeted mutant mice, historically used as an animal model to investigate the role of nitric oxide in the inflammatory response [3,4], may also serve as a model for the study of cholesterol homeostasis and atherogenesis.
Atherosclerosis 2001 May
PMID:Mice lacking inducible nitric oxide synthase develop spontaneous hypercholesterolaemia and aortic atheromas. 1136 2


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