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 extensive homology between apolipoprotein(a) and plasminogen has led to the hypothesis that the increased risk for atherosclerosis, cardiac disease and stroke associated with elevated levels of apolipoprotein(a) may reflect modulation of fibrinolysis. We have investigated the role of apolipoprotein(a) on clot lysis in transgenic mice expressing the human apolipoprotein(a) gene. These mice develop fatty streak lesions resembling early lesions of human atherosclerosis. Pulmonary emboli were generated in mice by injection, through the right jugular vein, of a human platelet-rich plasma clot radiolabelled with technetium-99m-labelled antifibrin antibodies. Tissue plasminogen activator was introduced continuously via the right jugular vein. Clot lysis, determined by ex vivo imaging, was depressed in mice carrying the apolipoprotein(a) transgene relative to their sex-matched normal littermates. These results directly demonstrate an in vivo effect of apolipoprotein(a) on fibrinolysis, an effect that may contribute to the pathology associated with elevated levels of this protein.
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PMID:Antifibrinolytic activity of apolipoprotein(a) in vivo: human apolipoprotein(a) transgenic mice are resistant to tissue plasminogen activator-mediated thrombolysis. 758 43

The lipoprotein Lp(a), a major inherited risk factor for atherosclerosis, consists of a low density lipoprotein-like particle containing apolipoprotein B-100 plus the distinguishing component apolipoprotein(a) (apo(a)). Human apo(a) contains highly repeated domains related to plasminogen kringle four plus single kringle five and protease-like domains. Apo(a) is virtually confined to primates, and the gene may have arisen during primate evolution. One exception is the occurrence of an Lp(a)-like particle in the hedgehog. Cloning of the hedgehog apo(a)-like gene shows that it is distinctive in form and evolutionary history from human apo(a), but that it has acquired several common features. It appears that the primate and hedgehog apo(a) genes evolved independently by duplication and modification of different domains of the plasminogen gene, providing a novel type of "convergent" molecular evolution.
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PMID:The recurring evolution of lipoprotein(a). Insights from cloning of hedgehog apolipoprotein(a). 759 97

The accumulation of excessive cholesterol-rich lipoproteins within vascular cells, the proliferation of vascular cells, and fibrin deposition are hallmark features of atherosclerosis. Evidence accumulated over the past few years supports the hypothesis that one member of the LDL receptor family, the low density lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP), affects the dynamics of each of these processes. LRP is expressed in several vascular cell types, including smooth muscle cells, and in macrophages, and is also expressed in these cells in atherosclerotic lesions. This receptor is a large endocytotic receptor that mediates the catabolism of a number of molecules known to be important in vascular biology, including apolipoprotein E- and lipoprotein lipase-enriched lipoproteins, thrombospondin, and plasminogen activators. The capacity of LRP to mediate lipoprotein catabolism may be a factor in the development of the lesion by contributing to the formation of foam cells. LRP has recently been shown to mediate the catabolism of thrombospondin, a molecule that has potent biological effects on cells of the vasculature. The regulation of its extracellular accumulation by LRP might modulate the dynamic processes of tissue remodeling associated with the response to vascular injury. In addition, LRP regulates the expression of plasmin activity by directly binding and mediating the cellular internalization of urokinase- and tissue-type plasminogen activators. The cellular removal of these two enzymes decreases the local profibrinolytic potential, possibly leading to a thrombotic state at lesion sites.
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PMID:LDL receptor-related protein: a multiligand receptor for lipoprotein and proteinase catabolism. 761 59

The plasminogen/plasmin or fibrinolytic system with its physiological triggers, tissue-type plasminogen activator, and urokinase-type plasminogen activator has been presumed to participate in normal and pathological processes of the vessel wall such as blood clot dissolution (thrombolysis), hemostasis, aneurysm formation, neovascularization, restenosis, and atherosclerosis. The implied role of the fibrinolytic system in vivo is, however, deduced from correlations between fibrinolytic activity and (patho)physiological phenomena, which does not allow establishing a cause/consequence relationship. Gene targeting and gene transfer technologies allow establishment of the in vivo role of gene products more conclusively. This article reviews briefly the findings of such studies on thrombolysis/thrombosis, hemostasis, neointima formation, atherosclerosis, and associated effects on survival.
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PMID:Gene targeting and gene transfer studies of the plasminogen/plasmin system: implications in thrombosis, hemostasis, neointima formation, and atherosclerosis. 761 62

We investigated the vessel status of coronary and peripheral arteries and those arteries supplying the brain in 929 consecutive male patients admitted to a coronary rehabilitation unit. The severity of coronary atherosclerosis was scored using coronary angiography. Changes in extracranial brain vessels and manifest cerebrovascular disease (CVD) were determined by B-mode ultrasound and Doppler examination. Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) was diagnosed using base-line and stress oscillography. We assessed variables of coagulation, fibrinolysis, and the acute phase response. There was a significant increase in plasma fibrinogen, plasminogen, d-dimer and C-reactive protein (CRP) with increasing severity of coronary heart disease. Compared to men with unaffected arteries, men with 3 diseased coronary arteries had 58% greater d-dimer concentrations. Patients with CVD and PAD, respectively, also had significantly higher fibrinogen, d-dimer and CRP concentrations. We did not find an association between plasminogen activator inhibitor activity and the severity of coronary atherosclerosis. In conclusion, plasma fibrinogen, d-dimer and CRP concentrations were significantly related to atherosclerosis in the coronary, peripheral and extracranial brain arteries.
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PMID:Association of variables of coagulation, fibrinolysis and acute-phase with atherosclerosis in coronary and peripheral arteries and those arteries supplying the brain. 766 18

Elevated blood levels of apolipoprotein(a), the component of lipoprotein(a) that distinguishes it from low density lipoprotein, are a major risk factor for atherosclerosis. The apolipoprotein(a) gene is highly similar to the plasminogen gene and to at least four other genes or pseudogenes. The 5' untranslated and flanking sequences of these six genes contain extensive regions of near identity and share sequence elements involved in the initiation of transcription and translation. About 1000 base pairs of flanking DNA of each gene are sufficient to promote transcription in cultured hepatocytes. The apolipoprotein(a) gene promoter contains functional interleukin 6-responsive elements, consistent with the reported acute-phase response of apolipoprotein(a). Flanking genomic fragments of the apoliprotein(a) gene from two individuals with vastly different plasma apolipoprotein(a) concentrations have sequence differences that are reflected in differences in the rate of in vitro transcription.
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PMID:5' control regions of the apolipoprotein(a) gene and members of the related plasminogen gene family. 767 4

Most large studies of the blood parameters that act as risk factors for myocardial infarction, stroke and atherosclerosis have identified elevated circulating levels of lipoprotein(a) as an important risk factor. Lipoprotein(a) consists of an LDL particle that is covalently bound to the distinguishing protein component apolipoprotein(a). Ever since apolipoprotein(a) was cloned in 1987 and the marked sequence homology to plasminogen was noted, mechanisms for the atherogenic activity of lipoprotein(a), based on the competitive inhibition of plasminogen activity, have been proposed. However, with the availability of transgenic mice expressing both human apolipoprotein(a) and lipoprotein(a), recent studies have demonstrated that lipoprotein(a) acts to inhibit plasminogen activation in vivo. One consequence of this is reduced activation of the cytokine transforming growth factor-beta, an important regulator of vessel wall structure.
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PMID:Transforming growth factor-beta: the key to understanding lipoprotein(a)? 777 72

Lipoprotein(a) or Lp(a) is similar to low density lipoproteins (LDL), but also contains a large glycoprotein molecule called apo-lipoprotein(a) or apo(a). The lipid composition of Lp(a) is nearly identical to that of LDL. The structure of apo(a) is similar to that of plasminogen. Several genetic polymorphisms have been described for apo(a). The increasing interest in Lp(a) is due to the positive correlation which exists between the plasma level of Lp(a) and the incidence of ischaemic heart disease. Plasma Lp(a) level varies greatly from one individual to another and is basically dependent on genetic factors, especially for the isoforms of apo(a). A level above 30 mg.dl is associated with increased risk of atherosclerosis-related diseases. There are few treatments which are effective in significantly reducing raised levels of Lp(a).
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PMID:[Lipoprotein (a)]. 782 70

Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] consists like the low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) in the structure protein apolipoprotein B, but is additionally connected with apolipoprotein(a), which is highly homologous to plasminogen. The physiological function of Lp(a) is yet not entirely clear. Lp(a) is established to be an independent factor in the genesis of atherosclerosis however. With occurrence of high Lp(a) Lp(a) plasma levels and other atherogenous risk factors at the same time a potentiation of their effects on genesis of atherosclerosis is observed. Unfortunately the therapeutic possibilities of counteracting the high atherogenicity of Lp(a) are still limited, because LDL apheresis as the only known effective technique today cannot be applied in all cases. In several studies it has been shown, that Lp(a) concentrations can be reduced mainly by long term treatment with lipid-lowering sustained-release bezafibrate, ACE-inhibitor fosinopril, alpha-tocopheryl-nicotinate and N-acetylcysteine. Because of the synergistic effects of atherogenous risk factors patients with high Lp(a) concentrations should avoid additional risk factors such as hypertension, smoking, diet increasing LDL, etc.
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PMID:[The significance of lipoprotein(a) in assessment of risk for atherosclerosis]. 783 88

Apo (a) consists of multiple tandem repeat of kringle 4, which resembles a counterpart of plasminogen. Plasma Lp (a) levels are genetically determined primarily by alleles at the apo (a) gene. Apo (a) shows size heterogeneity on the analysis of the protein and the mRNA. Pulse field gel electrophoresis revealed that size heterogeneity is largely due to different numbers of kringle 4-encoding sequences in the apo (a) gene. The cloning of apo (a) gene and identification of the 5'-flanking promoter region provide tools to study the regulation of apo (a) gene. The development of transgenic mice expressing human apo (a) offered a good model for understanding of atherosclerosis associated with elevated plasma levels of Lp (a).
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PMID:[Apolipoprotein (a)]. 785 1


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