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)

The metabolism in vitro of exogenous and endogenous arachidonic acid was studied in circulating blood monocytes obtained from control (control group) and cholesterol (0.5%)-fed (cholesterol group) rabbits. The production of superoxide anion (O2-), tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA) and adherence of monocytes were assessed in both groups of animals. The amounts of cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase products derived from exogenously added [1-14C]AA were not significantly different in monocytes collected from both groups of animals. However, the amounts of PGD2, TXB2 and PGE2 formed from endogenous substrate were decreased significantly in monocytes obtained from the cholesterol group compared to those from the control group. The production of immunoreactive LTB4 was not suppressed significantly in monocytes collected from the cholesterol group. The production of O2- and t-PA was suppressed significantly in monocytes obtained from the cholesterol group and these cells adhered onto glass surfaces more efficiently than control cells. Since the formation of prostanoids from endogenous but not exogenous substrate is reduced, an effect of cholesterol on the liberation of AA from phospholipid pools is implicated.
Atherosclerosis 1986 Aug
PMID:Influence of cholesterol feeding on the production of eicosanoids, tissue plasminogen activator and superoxide anion (O2-) by rabbit blood monocytes. 301 60

Platelets from patients with familial hypercholesterolemia (type IIa hyperlipoproteinemia), a condition associated with a high prevalence of atherosclerosis and its ischemic complications, are claimed to be hyperresponsive to aggregating stimuli. We investigated the platelet responsiveness to and the binding of PGD2, a potent endogenous inhibitor of platelet aggregation via stimulation of adenylate cyclase, in a group of 7 patients affected by IIa hyperlipoproteinemia (IIa HLP) and in a control group of 10 healthy subjects. Inhibition by PGD2 of ADP-induced platelet aggregation was significantly lower in IIa HLP patients than in controls. The number of binding sites for PGD2 of platelets from IIa HLP patients was significantly reduced in comparison with that from controls (93 +/- 19 and 232 +/- 23 receptors/platelet, respectively), whereas the affinity for PGD2 was comparable to that of controls (Kd = 68.8 +/- 19.8 nM in patients and 66.1 +/- 15.9 nM in controls). The reduced number of platelet PGD2 binding sites in IIa HLP patients may account for the impaired sensitivity to PGD2 shown in vitro by platelets and may contribute to the increased tendency to thrombotic manifestations observed in IIa HLP.
Atherosclerosis 1985 Feb
PMID:Decreased number of PGD2 binding sites on platelets from patients with type IIa hyperlipoproteinemia. 385 47

The effect of prostaglandins (PG) on initiation of DNA synthesis in arterial smooth muscle cells (SMC) stimulated with platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) was examined. A concentration of 10 ng/ml PGE1 inhibited DNA synthesis, measured as autoradiographically labeled nuclei, by about 70%. Similar results were obtained with PGE2 and PGD2 but at concentrations 10-20 times higher, whereas PGF2 alpha lacked effect. The inhibitory action of the prostaglandins was restricted to the first 6 h of the lag phase. Treatment with PGE1 also raised the intracellular concentration of cyclic AMP, indicating that the inhibition may be mediated via changes in the levels of cyclic nucleotides.
Atherosclerosis 1984 Oct
PMID:Prostaglandin E1 inhibits DNA synthesis in arterial smooth muscle cells stimulated with platelet-derived growth factor. 609 30

Dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid ( DHLA ), a precursor of monoenoic anti-aggregatory prostaglandins (PGE1, PGD2), was administered for 4 weeks in a daily dose of 1.0 g into 33 patients with atherosclerosis on a basis of a double-blind trial. Comparison of treatment and placebo groups revealed elevation of DHLA in red cell lipids in DHLA -treated subjects. No differences, however, between the two groups could be observed in platelet aggregability, thromboxane A2 generation by platelets, serum cholesterol, PGE1 and PGE2 levels, and in inhibitory activity of low-density lipoproteins against prostacyclin synthetizing system in arteries. The dietary supplementation used did not lead to distinct antithrombotic effects.
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PMID:Dihomo-gamma-linolenic acid in patients with atherosclerosis: effects on platelet aggregation, plasma lipids and low-density lipoprotein-induced inhibition of prostacyclin generation. 637 63

The platelet sensitivity to the antiaggregatory prostaglandins (PGI2, PGE1 and PGD2) was studied in patients with angiographically verified coronary heart disease. The sensitivity was tested in vitro by inhibiting the ADP-induced platelet aggregation by various concentrations of these prostaglandins. Beside the age dependent alterations of platelet sensitivity reported earlier, there is a statistically significant decrease in sensitivity for PGI2 and PGE1 in patients with coronary heart disease. In contrast, no significant change for the PGD2-sensitivity could be observed. In angina pectoris a further significant decrease in sensitivity (again only for PGE1 and PGI2) was found which returned back to the starting values within a few hours. In patients with maturity onset diabetes and coronary heart disease the sensitivity was always lower than in those patients with coronary heart disease alone. Changes in platelet sensitivity might play a key role in initiating and progressing atherosclerosis by an immediate disturbance of hemostatic balance. The studies further support the hypothesis that PGI2 and PGE1 share the same receptor on the platelet surface.
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PMID:Sensitivity of platelets to prostaglandins in cornary heart disease and angina pectoris. 703 25

Abnormal smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation is observed in several pathological situations such as atherosclerosis, pulmonary hypertension, and venous pathologies, resulting in a thickening of the vessel wall. If endothelial cells have been assumed to play a role in the triggering of this proliferation, no direct evidence is available. As ischemia is often linked to these situations, we exposed human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) to hypoxia. The HUVEC-conditioned medium was then added to SMC and the proliferation of these cells was measured. We observed a pro-proliferative activity for SMC of the hypoxic HUVEC-conditioned medium but not of the normoxic HUVEC one. This pro-proliferative activity could not be inhibited if HUVEC were treated with cycloheximide but was blocked if the synthesis of prostaglandins by HUVEC was inhibited during hypoxia. PGD2, and especially PGF2 alpha at the concentration found in the hypoxic HUVEC-conditioned medium, were demonstrated to have a mitogenic effect on SMC. PGE2 also showed a pro-proliferative activity but at higher concentrations. In addition, the kinetics of increase in SMC proliferation induced by a mixture of the four prostaglandins at the corresponding concentrations was the same as the one observed with hypoxic HUVEC-conditioned medium. However, when tested on fibroblasts which do not respond to PGF2 alpha, hypoxic HUVEC-conditioned medium also had a pro-proliferative activity. In addition, anti-bFGF antibodies but not anti-PDGF blocked the mitogenic activity of this conditioned medium for SMC. Finally, the mitogenic effects of PGF2 alpha and of bFGF on SMC are additive. These results indicate that bFGF is probably also involved. These results indicate that these prostaglandins act in synergy with bFGF and are the molecules responsible for the pro-proliferative activity observed in hypoxic HUVEC-conditioned medium. We propose that these findings can explain the excessive growth of SMC in blood vessels following chronic ischemic situations.
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PMID:Hypoxia stimulates human endothelial cells to release smooth muscle cell mitogens: role of prostaglandins and bFGF. 802 Jun 5

The role of blood platelets in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, thrombosis, thromboembolism and stroke (hemorrhagic/thrombotic) is well established. In view of this recognized role played by platelets in the complications associated with coronary artery disease and cerebrovascular disease, there is considerable interest in the pharmacology of platelet activation inhibitory drugs. These drugs exert their effect by blocking several different activation signalling mechanisms. Some of the known compounds that modulate platelet function include: inhibitors of arachidonic acid metabolism (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and thromboxane synthetase inhibitors), drugs that alter membrane phospholipid composition (omega 3 fatty acids), stimulators of adenylyl cyclase and guanylyl cyclase (PGE1, PGI2, PGD2/ERRF [nitric oxide], nitroglycerin, nitroprusside), phosphodiesterase inhibitors (dipyridamole and methylxanthines) and calcium antagonists (verapamil, nifedipine, diltiazem). Current research on the pharmacology of platelet activation inhibitory drugs is focused on the development of specific receptor antagonists (antibodies, peptides, receptor antagonists). Since platelets have multiple mechanisms for achieving activation, and the process of thrombosis involves multicellular modulation of platelet activity, it will be rather difficult to develop a compound that is capable of causing complete inhibition of activation mechanisms. Therefore, future research will be devoted to development of designer drugs that will be used for preventing discrete platelet responses. This approach may be useful as total inhibition of platelet activation, although it may prevent thrombotic events, may possibly precipitate hemorrhagic conditions. A better understanding of cell signalling pathways and the mechanisms involved in the pathogenesis of cardiovascular cerebrovascular disease will facilitate the development of efficient antiplatelet drugs.
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PMID:Pharmacology of platelet activation-inhibitory drugs. 806 66

It is known that thromboxane A2 (TXA2) contributes to various diseases such as bronchial asthma, ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disorders and allergic rhinitis. A number of TXA2 synthase inhibitors and TXA2 receptor (TP receptor) antagonists have been developed to treat these diseases. Ramatroban (BAY u 3405) was developed as a potent TP receptor antagonist with excellent efficacy against allergic rhinitis in many animal models and patients. Recent studies also revealed that ramatroban can block the newly identified PGD2 receptor, chemoattractant receptor-homologous molecule expressed on Th2 cells (CRTh2). PGD2 induces migration and degranulation of eosinophils through CRTh2 and contributes to late-phase inflammation and cell damage. Accordingly, it was considered that ramatroban suppresses the late-phase inflammation via TP receptor and CRTh2 blockade. In terms of the efficacy on vascular systems, it was revealed that ramatroban can suppress the expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and adhesion molecules in endothelial cells and prevent exacerbation of inflammation by blocking these responses. According to our recent studies in hypercholesterolemic rabbits ramatroban prevents macrophage infiltration through MCP-1 downregulation and neointimal formation after balloon injury and attenuates vascular response to acetylcholine. Therefore, ramatroban may be beneficial in the treatment of atherosclerosis.
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PMID:Ramatroban (BAY u 3405): a novel dual antagonist of TXA2 receptor and CRTh2, a newly identified prostaglandin D2 receptor. 1517 46

The regulation of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation, migration, and apoptosis plays a clear role in the atherosclerotic process. Recently, we reported on the inhibition of the exaggerated growth phenotype of VSMCs isolated from hypertensive rats by lipocalin-type prostaglandin D2 synthase (L-PGDS). In the present study, we report the differential effects of L-PGDS on VSMC cell cycle progression, migration, and apoptosis in wild-type VSMCs vs. those from a type 2 diabetic model. In wild-type VSMCs, exogenously added L-PGDS delayed serum-induced cell cycle progression from the G1 to S phase, as determined by gene array analysis and the decreased protein expressions of cyclin-dependent kinase-2, p21(Cip1), and cyclin D1. Cyclin D3 protein expression was unaffected by L-PGDS, although its gene expression was stimulated by L-PGDS in wild-type cells. In addition, platelet-derived growth factor-induced VSMC migration was inhibited by L-PGDS in wild-type cells. Type 2 diabetic VSMCs, however, were resistant to the L-PGDS effects on cell cycle progression and migration. L-PGDS did suppress the hyperproliferation of diabetic cells, albeit through a different mechanism, presumably involving the 2.5-fold increase in apoptosis and the concomitant 10-fold increase of L-PGDS uptake we observed in these cells. We propose that in wild-type VSMCs, L-PGDS retards cell cycle progression and migration, precluding hyperplasia of the tunica media, and that diabetic cells appear resistant to the inhibitory effects of L-PGDS, which consequently may help explain the increased atherosclerosis observed in diabetes.
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PMID:Inhibition of cell cycle progression and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells by prostaglandin D2 synthase: resistance in diabetic Goto-Kakizaki rats. 1524 Mar 44

Recent reports suggested that lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase (L-PGDS) is implicated in atherogenesis. In the present study, we investigated the polymorphism of the L-PGDS gene and examined its relationship with the severity of carotid atherosclerosis which is determined as the maximum intima-media thickness in the common carotid artery (C-IMT(max)). We identified 6 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the L-PGDS gene in Japanese. A rare SNP with an amino acid change (1535C>G in exon 4, Leu79Val) and a common SNP (4111 A>C in 3'-untranslated region) were selected for genotyping in 782 Japanese hypertensive subjects. There was no significant difference among genotypes in 1535C>G, however, in 4111 A>C, serum levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol were significantly higher in subjects with A/A genotype than those with A/C and C/C genotypes. C-IMT(max) was significantly smaller in subjects with A/A genotype than those with A/C and C/C. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the presence of A/A genotype significantly reduced the risk for increased C-IMT(max), even after adjustment for other known risk factors [adjusted odds ratio: 0.71 (95% CI: 0.58-0.88)]. Our results suggested that 4111 A>C polymorphism in the L-PGDS gene contributes to the development of carotid atherosclerosis in Japanese hypertensive patients.
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PMID:Identification of gene polymorphism in lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase and its association with carotid atherosclerosis in Japanese hypertensive patients. 1532 47


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