Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0020538 (hypertension)
 170,190 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor (LOX-1) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) are molecules involving in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis. In order to examine a possible difference in LOX-1 and MCP-1 expressions depending on the severity of early stage of atherosclerosis, we investigated atherosclerotic changes by exposure to hypertension and hyperlipidemia in common carotid arteries (CCAs) of stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR-SP). Three rat model groups such as control [Wistar Kyoto rat (WKY) group], hypertension (SHR-SP group) and hypertension + hyperlipidemia [SHR-SP + high fat and cholesterol (HFC) group] were used. Body weights, brain weights, systolic blood pressures and serum levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein and triglyceride were measured at 0, 5, 10 and 15 days after appropriate diet. Immunohistochemistry showed that the positive area and the strength of LOX-1 and MCP-1 were larger in the SHR-SP + HFC group than in the SHR-SP group, while no immunoreactivities were found in the WKY group. Conventional RT-PCR and real-time PCR analyses showed that mRNAs of those in the SHR-SP group were higher with greater up-regulation in the SHR-SP + HFC group. LOX-1 and MCP-1 expressions were coordinately up-regulated at mRNA and protein levels in an early stage of sclerosis depending on the severity of atherosclerotic stress. Activations of LOX-1 and MCP-1 are collectively involved in the early stage of atherosclerosis.
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PMID:Severity dependent up-regulations of LOX-1 and MCP-1 in early sclerotic changes of common carotid arteries in spontaneously hypertensive rats. 1549 20

The leukocyte-type 12/15-lipoxygenase (12/15-LO) has been implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, hypertension, and diabetes. 12/15-LO and its products are associated with LDL oxidation, cellular growth, migration, adhesion, and inflammatory gene expression in monocytes/macrophages, endothelial cells, and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Our objective, therefore, was to develop novel expression vectors for short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) targeting 12/15-LO to evaluate its functional relevance in macrophages and VSMCs. We used a PCR-based approach to rapidly identify effective siRNA target sites on mouse 12/15-LO and initially tested their efficacy on a fusion construct of 12/15-LO cDNA and enhanced green fluorescent protein. We then cloned these U6 promoter+siRNA PCR products into plasmid vectors [short hairpin siRNAs (shRNAs)] to knockdown endogenous 12/15-LO expression in mouse macrophages and also rat and mouse VSMCs. Furthermore, the functional effects of shRNA-mediated 12/15-LO knockdown were noted by the reduced oxidant stress and chemokine [monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1)] expression in a differentiated mouse monocytic cell line as well as by the reduced cellular adhesion and fibronectin expression in VMSCs. Knocking down 12/15-LO expression also reduced the expression of inflammatory genes, MCP-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, and interleukin-6 in VSMCs. Our results illustrate the functional relevance of 12/15-LO activation in macrophages and VSMCs and its relationship to oxidant stress and inflammation.
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PMID:Effects of silencing leukocyte-type 12/15-lipoxygenase using short interfering RNAs. 1557 42

Hemodynamic abnormalities are important in the pathogenesis of the glomerular damage in diabetes. Glomerular macrophage infiltration driven by the chemokine monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) is an early event in diabetic nephropathy. The thiazolidinedione rosiglitazone ameliorates albumin excretion rate in diabetic patients with microalbuminuria and has anti-inflammatory properties, raising the possibility of a relationship between its renoprotective and anti-inflammatory activity. Investigated was whether mesangial cell stretching, mimicking in vitro glomerular capillary hypertension, enhances MCP-1 expression and monocyte chemoattractant activity. The effect of the combination of stretch with high glucose on MCP-1 production was studied and, finally, the effect of rosiglitazone on these processes was assessed. Stretching of human mesangial cells significantly enhanced their monocyte chemoattractant activity. This effect was mediated by MCP-1 as it was paralleled by a significant rise in both MCP-1 mRNA and protein levels and was completely abolished by MCP-1 blockade. Combined exposure to both stretch and high glucose further increased MCP-1 production. Stretch activated the IkappaB-NF-kappaB pathway, and NF-kappaB inhibition, with the use of the specific inhibitor SN50, completely abolished stretch-induced MCP-1, indicating that stretch-induced MCP-1 was NF-kappaB dependent. The addition of rosiglitazone significantly diminished stretch-induced NF-kappaB activation, MCP-1 production, and monocyte chemotaxis. In conclusion, stretching of mesangial cells stimulates their monocyte chemoattractant activity via an NF-kappaB-mediated, MCP-1-dependent pathway, and this effect is prevented by rosiglitazone.
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PMID:Mechanical stretch induces monocyte chemoattractant activity via an NF-kappaB-dependent monocyte chemoattractant protein-1-mediated pathway in human mesangial cells: inhibition by rosiglitazone. 1567 12

Interleukin-6 (IL-6), the major proinflammatory cytokine, has been described to be associated with the hypertensive and atherosclerotic states. We aimed to explore whether the concentration of circulating IL-6 and adhesion molecules could be modified by decreasing blood pressure in hypertensive subjects. A total of 30 subjects (18 men), aged 34-48 years, were enrolled in this study, 17 hypertensive never-treated patients (HTA) and 13 normotensive subjects (C). HTA subjects were treated with irbesartan, 150-300 mg/day for 3 months, and serum IL-6, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, sP-selectin, sE-selectin and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 were measured at 0 and 12 weeks. The two study groups were similar in age, body mass index (BMI) and gender. At baseline, circulating IL-6 levels, but not adhesion molecules, were significantly associated with systolic blood pressure (r=0.41; P=0.03) and BMI (r=0.53; P=0.005). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased significantly (P<0.01) in parallel to serum IL-6 levels (from 3.72+/-0.82 to 3.23+/-0.19 pg/ml, P=0.02) reaching a similar concentration to normotensive patients (3.33+/-0.3 pg/ml) after treatment with irbesartan. No significant changes were observed in any other of the tested parameters. In conclusion, the treatment of high blood pressure lowers circulating IL-6 in young hypertensive patients.
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PMID:Lowering of blood pressure leads to decreased circulating interleukin-6 in hypertensive subjects. 1575 24

The present study was undertaken to examine the effects of a calcium channel blocker, azelnidipine (1 mg/kg/day), an angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor, temocapril (10 mg/kg/day), an angiotensin II type 1 (AT1) receptor blocker (ARB), olmesartan (5 mg/kg/day), and their combination on Dahl salt-sensitive rats (DS rats) developing heart failure with preserved systolic function. DS rats were fed a high-salt diet (8% NaCl) from 7 weeks of age and progressively developed hypertension. Although monotherapy with azelnidipine lowered the blood pressure of DS rats to a greater extent than monotherapy with temocapril or olmesartan, the three drugs had similar effects on cardiac hypertrophy, cardiac fibrosis, the expressions of brain natriuretic peptide, transforming growth factor-beta1, collagen I, collagen III and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 mRNA (as estimated by Northern blot analysis), and cardiac diastolic dysfunction (as estimated by echocardiography). These results show that ACE and AT1 receptor, as well as hypertension, are involved in the development of heart failure with preserved systolic function in DS rats. The combination of azelnidipine with olmesartan or temocapril produced no additive hypotensive effect in DS rats and no additive effect on cardiac hypertrophy or gene expressions. However, the combination therapy prolonged the survival rate of DS rats more than azelnidipine (p <0.01) or temocapril alone (p <0.05), and this additive beneficial effect by the combination therapy was associated with a greater reduction of cardiac fibrosis, urinary albumin excretion and serum creatinine. Our results thus showed that the combination of a calcium channel blocker with an ARB or an ACE inhibitor had additive preventive effects on a rat model of hypertensive heart failure with preserved systolic function. Thus, combination therapy with these agents seems to be a useful therapeutic strategy for the prevention of hypertensive heart failure.
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PMID:Additive beneficial effects of the combination of a calcium channel blocker and an angiotensin blocker on a hypertensive rat-heart failure model. 1578 13

Insulin resistance and central obesity are often associated with hypertension. The metabolic syndrome is a cluster of these common clinical disorders, and is related with an increased risk for cardiovascular diseases. A number of pro-inflammatory cytokines derived from adipose tissues have been thought to contribute to the development of insulin resistance and accelerated atherosclerosis. Among them, TNF-alpha has been most widely studied; it not only suppresses the insulin signaling, but also elicits vascular inflammation. Indeed, inhibition of TNF-alpha was found to improve insulin resistance in obese rats and reduce the progression of atherosclerosis in apolipoprotein E knockout mice, respectively. These observations demonstrate that TNF-alpha could play a central role in the pathogenesis of insulin resistance and accelerated atherosclerosis in the metabolic syndrome. Considering that the primary goals of treatment for hypertensive patients with the metabolic syndrome are prevention of the development of diabetes and cardiovascular events, anti-hypertensive drugs that have abilities to block the TNF-alpha signaling would be desirable as a first-line therapy for these patients. In the process of the search for such a unique anti-hypertensive drug, we have recently found that azelnidipine, a newly developed and commercially used long-acting dihydropyridine-based calcium antagonist (DHP), inhibited TNF-alpha-induced activator protein-1 activation and interleukin-8 expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells by suppressing NADPH oxidase-mediated reactive oxygen species generation. The concentration of azelnidipine that was found effective in these in vitro-experiments is well within the therapeutic range. Since endothelial cells do not possess voltage-operated L-type calcium channels, these observations suggest that the beneficial effects of azelnidipine are not likely due to calcium channel blocking property, but due to its unique anti-oxidative ability. Furthermore, we have very recently found that serum levels of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, a biomarker for subclinical atherosclerosis, were significantly decreased by the treatment of azelnidipine in patients with essential hypertension. In this paper, we would like to hypothesize that due to its unique TNF-alpha signal modulatory, anti-oxidative property, azelnidipine may be a promising DHP that targets diabetes and cardiovascular diseases in hypertensive patients with the metabolic syndrome.
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PMID:Unique atheroprotective property of azelnidipine, a dihydropyridine-based calcium antagonist. 1589 34

Calcitonin gene-related peptide, a potent vasodilator neuropeptide, is localized in perivascular sensory nerves. We have reported that alpha-calcitonin gene-related peptide knockout mice have elevated baseline blood pressure and enhanced hypertension-induced renal damage compared with wild-type controls. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine the mechanism and functional significance of this increased hypertension-induced renal damage. We previously demonstrated by telemetric recording that the deoxycorticosterone-salt protocol produces a 35% increase in mean arterial pressure in both alpha-calcitonin gene-related peptide knockout and wild-type mice. Both strains of mice were studied at 0, 14, and 21 days after deoxycorticosterone-salt hypertension. Renal sections from hypertensive wild-type mice showed no pathological changes at any time point studied. However, on days 14 and 21, hypertensive knockout mice displayed progressive increases in glomerular proliferation, crescent formation, and tubular protein casts, as well as the inflammatory markers intercellular adhesion molecule-1, vascular adhesion molecule-1, and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1. There was a significant increase in 24-hour urinary isoprostane, a marker of oxidative stress-induced lipid peroxidation, levels at days 14 and 21 in the hypertensive knockout compared with hypertensive wild-type mice. Urinary microalbumin was significantly higher (2-fold) at day 21 and creatinine clearance was significantly decreased 4-fold in the hypertensive knockout compared with hypertensive wild-type mice. Therefore, in the absence of alpha-calcitonin gene-related peptide, deoxycorticosterone-salt hypertension induces enhanced oxidative stress, inflammation, and renal histopathologic damage, resulting in reduced renal function. Thus, sensory nerves, via alpha-calcitonin gene-related peptide, appear to be renoprotective against hypertension-induced damage.
Hypertension 2005 Jul
PMID:Role of calcitonin gene-related peptide in hypertension-induced renal damage. 1628 67

The angiotensin II type 2 (AT2) receptor is upregulated in pathological conditions such as vascular injury and exerts antagonistic effects against AT1 receptor-mediated actions. We examined the possibility that the sex difference in vascular remodeling is associated with altered AT2 receptor expression, which is located on the X chromosome. In this study, we examined this possibility by using AT2 receptor-null (Agtr2-) mice. Vascular injury was induced by polyethylene cuff placement around the femoral artery of wild-type (Agtr2+) and Agtr2- mice. In Agtr2+ mice, AT2 receptor expression in the injured artery was enhanced, and this increase was greater in female than in male mice, with no significant difference in AT1 receptor expression between male and female mice. Increases in neointimal formation, DNA synthesis, expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, production of superoxide anion, and NADPH oxidase activity in the injured artery were attenuated in female compared with male mice. These parameters were augmented in Agtr2- mice, whereas the sex differences in these parameters were smaller in Agtr2- than in Agtr2+ mice. Treatment with a nonhypotensive dose of the AT1 receptor blocker valsartan decreased these parameters significantly in Agtr2+ mice, and these inhibitory effects of valsartan were greater in female mice. This sex difference in valsartan's inhibitory effect was less marked in Agtr2- mice. Our results suggest that the sex difference in response to vascular injury could be at least partially attributed to the exaggerated AT2 receptor expression in the injured vessel in female mice.
Hypertension 2005 Sep
PMID:Sex difference in vascular injury and the vasoprotective effect of valsartan are related to differential AT2 receptor expression. 1610 65

Aldosterone may be involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. We investigated the effect of eplerenone, a selective mineralocorticoid receptor blocker, on atherosclerosis in monkeys fed a high-cholesterol diet. Monkeys fed a high-cholesterol diet for 9 months were divided into 3 groups: those treated with a low dose of eplerenone (30 mg/kg per day); those treated with a high dose of eplerenone (60 mg/kg per day); and the placebo-treated group. The normal group consisted of monkeys fed a normal diet. There were no significant differences in blood pressure and cholesterol levels between the placebo- and eplerenone-treated groups. On the other hand, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and malondialdehyde-modified LDL were significantly higher in the placebo-treated group than in the normal group, whereas they were suppressed in the eplerenone-treated groups. The ratio of intimal volume to total volume by intravascular ultrasound analysis imaging of the aortas was dose-dependently lower in the eplerenone-treated groups than in the placebo-treated group. Acetylcholine-induced vasorelaxation was significantly weaker in the placebo-treated group than in the normal group, but the vasorelaxation was strengthened in the eplerenone-treated groups. A significant upregulation of angiotensin-converting enzyme activity was observed in the placebo-treated group, but the activity was suppressed in the eplerenone-treated groups. In conclusion, eplerenone may strengthen the endothelium-dependent relaxation and suppress angiotensin-converting enzyme activity in the vasculature, thus preventing the development of atherosclerosis in nonhuman primates.
Hypertension 2005 Nov
PMID:Eplerenone inhibits atherosclerosis in nonhuman primates. 1643 23

Cardiac activator protein-1 (AP-1), composed of c-Jun, is significantly activated by hypertension or angiotensin II (AngII). This study was undertaken to elucidate whether c-Jun could be the potential target for treatment of cardiac hypertrophy. We constructed recombinant adenovirus carrying dominant-negative mutant of c-Jun (Ad.DN-c-Jun). Using catheter-based technique of adenoviral gene transfer, we achieved global myocardial transduction of DN-c-Jun in rats, to specifically inhibit cardiac AP-1. (1) AngII (200 ng/kg/min) infusion in rats caused cardiac hypertrophy, increased cardiac p70S6 kinase activity by 1.3-fold (P<0.05) and enhanced the gene expression of cardiac hypertrophic markers. Ad.DN-c-Jun, which was transferred to the heart 2 days before AngII infusion, prevented cardiac hypertrophy (P<0.01), decreased p70S6 kinase phosphorylation (P<0.05), and suppressed cardiac gene expression of brain natriuretic peptide, collagen I, III, and IV, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) (P<0.01). (2) In genetically hypertensive rats with cardiac hypertrophy, cardiac gene transfer of Ad.DN-c-Jun, without affecting hypertension, regressed cardiac hypertrophy (P<0.05), and suppressed p70S6 kinase phosphorylation by 20% (P<0.05) and suppressed the enhanced expression of collagen I, III, and IV, MCP-1 and PAI-1. These results provided the first evidence that in vivo blockade of cardiac c-Jun inhibits pathologic cardiac hypertrophy.
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PMID:Dominant-negative c-Jun inhibits rat cardiac hypertrophy induced by angiotensin II and hypertension. 1625 94


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