Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0038454 (stroke)
 147,016 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Expression of TNF-alpha, a pleiotropic cytokine, is elevated during stroke and cerebral ischemia. TNF-alpha regulates arterial diameter, although mechanisms mediating this effect are unclear. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that TNF-alpha regulates the diameter of resistance-sized ( approximately 150-microm diameter) cerebral arteries by modulating local and global intracellular Ca(2+) signals in smooth muscle cells. Laser-scanning confocal imaging revealed that TNF-alpha increased Ca(2+) spark and Ca(2+) wave frequency but reduced global intracellular Ca(2+) concentration ([Ca(2+)](i)) in smooth muscle cells of intact arteries. TNF-alpha elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) in smooth muscle cells of intact arteries, and this increase was prevented by apocynin or diphenyleneiodonium (DPI), both of which are NAD(P)H oxidase blockers, but was unaffected by inhibitors of other ROS-generating enzymes. In voltage-clamped (-40 mV) cells, TNF-alpha increased the frequency and amplitude of Ca(2+) spark-induced, large-conductance, Ca(2+)-activated K(+) (K(Ca)) channel transients approximately 1.7- and approximately 1.4-fold, respectively. TNF-alpha-induced transient K(Ca) current activation was reversed by apocynin or by Mn(III)tetrakis(1-methyl-4-pyridyl)porphyrin (MnTMPyP), a membrane-permeant antioxidant, and was prevented by intracellular dialysis of catalase. TNF-alpha induced reversible and similar amplitude dilations in either endothelium-intact or endothelium-denuded pressurized (60 mmHg) cerebral arteries. MnTMPyP, thapsigargin, a sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase blocker that inhibits Ca(2+) sparks, and iberiotoxin, a K(Ca) channel blocker, reduced TNF-alpha-induced vasodilations to between 15 and 33% of control. In summary, our data indicate that TNF-alpha activates NAD(P)H oxidase, resulting in an increase in intracellular H(2)O(2) that stimulates Ca(2+) sparks and transient K(Ca) currents, leading to a reduction in global [Ca(2+)](i), and vasodilation.
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PMID:TNF-alpha dilates cerebral arteries via NAD(P)H oxidase-dependent Ca2+ spark activation. 1653 72

In monolayer of HeLa cells treated with tumor necrosis factor (TNF), apoptotic cells formed clusters indicating possible transmission of apoptotic signal via the culture media. To investigate this phenomenon, a simple method of enabling two cell cultures to interact has been employed. Two coverslips were placed side by side in a Petri dish, one coverslip covered with apoptogen-treated cells (the inducer) and another with non-treated cells (the recipient). TNF, staurosporine, or H2O2 treatment of the inducer cells is shown to initiate apoptosis on the recipient coverslip. This effect is increased by a catalase inhibitor aminotriazole and is arrested by addition of catalase or by pre-treatment of either the inducer or the recipient cells with nanomolar concentrations of mitochondria-targeted cationic antioxidant MitoQ (10-(6 -ubiquinolyl)decyltriphenylphosphonium), which specifically arrests H2O2-induced apoptosis. The action of MitoQ is abolished by an uncoupler preventing accumulation of MitoQ in mitochondria. It is concluded that reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by mitochondria in the apoptotic cells initiate the release of H2O2 from these cells. The H2O2 released is employed as a long-distance cell suicide messenger. In processing of such a signal by the recipient cells, mitochondrial ROS production is also involved. It is suggested that the described phenomenon may be involved in expansion of the apoptotic region around a damaged part of the tissue during heart attack or stroke as well as in "organoptosis", i.e. disappearance of organs during ontogenesis.
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PMID:Hydrogen peroxide produced inside mitochondria takes part in cell-to-cell transmission of apoptotic signal. 1645 20

Epidemiological studies indicate that the intake of flavonoids is inversely associated with risk of stroke, cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Isoliquiritigenin (ISL), a flavonoid constituent in the root of Glycyrrhiza glabra, is known to have vasorelaxant effect, antioxidant, anti-platelet, anti-tumor, anti-allergic, antiviral activities and estrogenic properties. However, there is no report on the effects of ISL in cerebral ischemia. Evidence demonstrate that the impaired energy metabolism and the excessive generation of reactive oxygen radicals (ROS) contribute to the brain injury associated with cerebral ischemia. In the present study, the protective effects of ISL were investigated in transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO)-induced focal cerebral ischemia-reperfusion injury in rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups: sham-operated group, vehicle-pretreated group, and three ISL-pretreated groups (5, 10 and 20 mg kg(-1), i.g.). ISL were administered once a day, for 7 days prior to ischemia. The rats were subjected to 2 h right MCAO via the intraluminal filament technique and 22 h reperfusion. Pretreatment with ISL significantly reduced the cerebral infarct volume and edema and produced significant reduction in neurological deficits. In this study, in order to clarify the mechanism of ISL's protection against cerebral ischemia damage, cerebral energy metabolism, brain Na+K+ATPase activity, malondialdehyde (MDA) content and antioxidant enzyme activities were measured. ISL pretreatment increased the brain ATP content, energy charge (EC) and total adenine nucleotides (TAN) in a dose-dependent manner. The brain Na+K+ATPase activity was protected significantly by pretreatment of ISL for 7 days. Pretreatment with ISL significantly inhibited the increases of brain MDA content and prevented the activities of brain superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) from declines caused by cerebral ischemia-reperfusion. All these findings indicate that ISL has the protective potential against cerebral ischemia injury and its protective effects may be due to the amelioration of cerebral energy metabolism and its antioxidant property.
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PMID:Protective effects of isoliquiritigenin in transient middle cerebral artery occlusion-induced focal cerebral ischemia in rats. 1645 97

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) potentiate angiotensin II (Ang II) responses in diabetic vasculature. However, superoxide scavengers partially restore this effect, suggesting free radicals other than superoxide could be involved. Edaravone (3-methyl-1-phenyl-2-pyrazolin-5-one) is an antioxidant, which primarily scavenges hydroxyl radicals and is approved for use in stroke patients. Hence, to evaluate the role of hydroxyl radical stress in diabetic vascular complications, we studied the effect of edaravone (3 mgkg(-1), i.p., b.i.d.) treatment on Ang II responses in thoracic aorta isolated from streptozotocin (60 mgkg(-1) i.p.) induced 8 weeks diabetic male Sprague-Dawley rats. Ang II (10(-10) to 10(-6)M), tert-butyl hydro peroxide (tBHP; 10(-6) to 10(-2)M) or hydrogen peroxide (H2O2; 10(-6) to 10(-3)M) induced contractile response was significantly enhanced in aortic strips from diabetic as compared to control rats. Lipid peroxidation was significantly enhanced while the superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase activity was significantly lower in aorta of diabetic rats as compared to control rats. Acute (in vitro) exposure of edaravone (10(-5)M) to aortic strips from diabetic rats in the organ bath restored the augmented Ang II but not tBHP or H2O2-induced contractile response. In vivo edaravone (3mgkg(-1), i.p., b.i.d.) treatment for 2 weeks selectively attenuated the augmented Ang II- but not tBHP- or H2O2-induced contractile response. The enhanced systolic pressure, lipid peroxidation and the reduced SOD and catalase activity were restored to control values following 2 weeks edaravone treatment. From our results we infer that hydroxyl radical stress augments Ang II response in diabetic rat thoracic aorta and edaravone could be an ideal antioxidant adjuvant in the therapy of diabetic vascular complications.
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PMID:Edaravone attenuates hydroxyl radical stress and augmented angiotensin II response in diabetic rats. 1654 76

As part of a basic study on the prevention of cerebral injury, ajoene (0.5 mg/d) and oil-macerated garlic extract (OMGE, containing 0.5 mg ajoene/d) were administrated to stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) among 8 weeks from 9 weeks of age. In the control group, 3 of 10 rats died (30%), whereas all SHRSP treated by ajoene or OMGE survived. Our results suggested that ajoene and OMGE-treatment reduced the mortality and cerebral injury in SHRSP. The levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) and the enzymatic activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) in the serum of stroke stage of SHRSP were measured. The results obtained were as follows; the TBARS level of the ajoene and OMGE-treated groups were lower than those of control groups. On the other hand, the GSH-Px and SOD activities of the ajoene and OMGE-treated groups were higher. Our results suggested that ajoene and OMGE were capable of having prophylactic effects on cerebral injury in SHRSP.
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PMID:Prophylactic effects of ajoene on cerebral injury in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP). 1659 90

Homocysteine (Hcy) is a thiol-containing amino acid that is considered to be medically important because it is linked to the development of several life-threatening diseases in humans, including cardiovascular disease and stroke. It inhibits the growth of Escherichia coli when supplied in the growth medium. Growth inhibition is believed to arise as a result of partial starvation for isoleucine, which occurs because Hcy perturbs the biosynthesis of this amino acid. This study attempted to further elucidate the inhibitory mode of action of Hcy by examining the impact of exogenously supplied Hcy on the transcriptome. Using gene macroarrays the transcript levels corresponding to 68 genes were found to be reproducibly altered in the presence of 0.5 mM Hcy. Of these genes, the biggest functional groups affected were those involved in translation (25 genes) and in amino acid metabolism (19 genes). Genes involved in protection against oxidative stress were repressed in Hcy-treated cells and this correlated with a decrease in catalase activity. The gene showing the strongest induction by Hcy was cspA, which encodes the major cold-shock protein CspA. RT-PCR and reporter fusion experiments confirmed that cspA was induced by Hcy. Induction of cspA by Hcy was not caused by nutritional upshift, a stimulus known to induce CspA expression, nor was it dependent on the presence of a functional CspA protein. The induction of cspA by Hcy was suppressed when isoleucine was included in the growth medium. These data suggest that the induction of CspA expression in the presence of Hcy occurs because of a limitation for isoleucine. The possibility that Hcy-induced cspA expression is triggered by translational stalling that occurs when the cells are limited for isoleucine is discussed.
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PMID:Global effects of homocysteine on transcription in Escherichia coli: induction of the gene for the major cold-shock protein, CspA. 1684 89

The purpose of the present study was to assess the therapeutic effect of hypothermic retrograde jugular vein flush (HRJVF) on heatstroke. HRJVF was accomplished by infusion of 4 degrees C isotonic sodium chloride solution via the external jugular vein (1.7 mL/100 g of body weight over 5 min). Immediately after the onset of heatstroke, anesthetized rats were divided into 2 major groups and given the following: 36 degrees C or 4 degrees C isotonic sodium chloride solution, i.v. They were exposed to ambient temperature of 43 degrees C to induce heatstroke. Another group of rats was exposed to room temperature (24 degrees C) and used as normothermic controls. When the 36 degrees C saline-treated rats underwent heat exposure, their survival time values were found to be 23 to 28 min. Immediately after the onset of heatstroke, resuscitation with an i.v. dose of 4 degrees C saline significantly improved survival during heatstroke (208-252 min). All heat-stressed animals displayed systemic inflammation and activated coagulation, evidenced by increased tumor necrosis factor alpha, prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, and d-dimer, and decreased platelet count and protein C. Biochemical markers evidenced cellular ischemia and injury/dysfunction: plasma levels of blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase, glutamic pyruvic transaminase, and alkaline phosphatase; and striatal levels of glycerol, glutamate, and lactate/pyruvate; dihydroxy benzoic acid, lipid peroxidation, oxidized-form glutathione reduced-form glutathione, dopamine, and serotonin were all elevated during heatstroke. Core and brain temperatures and intracranial pressure were also increased during heatstroke. In contrast, the values of mean arterial pressure, cerebral perfusion pressure, and striatal levels of local blood flow, partial pressure of oxygen, superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, and glutathions reductase activities were all significantly lower during heatstroke. The circulatory dysfunction, systemic inflammation, hypercoagulable state, and cerebral oxidative stress, ischemia, and damage during heatstroke were all significantly suppressed by HRJVF. These findings demonstrate that brain cooling caused by HRJVF therapy may resuscitate persons who had a stroke by attenuating cerebral oxidative stress, systemic inflammation, activated coagulation, and tissue ischemia/injury during heatstroke.
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PMID:Brain cooling causes attenuation of cerebral oxidative stress, systemic inflammation, activated coagulation, and tissue ischemia/injury during heatstroke. 1687 31

Oxidative stress is involved in the pathogenesis of cocaine-induced cardiomyopathy. In the present study, we aimed to determine the enzymatic sources of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, namely NADPH oxidase and xanthine oxidoreductase (XOR) in male Wistar rats treated for 7 days with cocaine (2x7.5 mg/kg/day, ip) or cocaine with a NADPH oxidase inhibitor (apocynin, 50 mg/kg/day, po) or a XOR inhibitor (allopurinol, 50 mg/kg/day, po). Cocaine-induced cardiac dysfunction is associated with an increase in NADPH oxidase and XOR activities (59% and 29%, respectively) and a decrease in catalase activity. Apocynin or allopurinol treatment prevents the cocaine-induced cardiac alteration by restoration of cardiac output, stroke volume and fractional shortening. This is associated with a reduction of the myocardial production of superoxide anions and an enhancement of catalase activity. Surprisingly, apocynin treatment prevents XOR up-regulation supporting the hypothesis that NADPH oxidase-derived ROS play a role in modulating ROS production by XOR. These data suggest that NADPH and xanthine oxidase act synergically to form myocardial ROS and clearly demonstrate that their inhibition may be critical in preventing the initiation and progression of cocaine-induced LV dysfunction.
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PMID:NADPH oxidase inhibition prevents cocaine-induced up-regulation of xanthine oxidoreductase and cardiac dysfunction. 1721 56

The free radical-generating system of xanthine and xanthine oxidase is commonly used experimentally as a source of superoxide anion, which can produce oxidative stress, leading to cellular damage and death. Models of oxidative stress are important in elucidating pathologies associated with increased levels of reactive oxygen species, including stroke and neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. We therefore, examined the effect of the xanthine/xanthine oxidase system on the viability of postnatal cerebellar granule neurones obtained from 8-day old Sprague-Dawley rat pups. Xanthine (100 microM) and xanthine oxidase (0.02 U/ml) applied for 1 or 6h reduced the viability of cells at 8 div assessed using the alamar blue assay, and induced morphological changes, such as shrinkage of the cell bodies and neurites. Heat-inactivation of xanthine oxidase resulted in complete loss of its activity. Superoxide dismutase (250 U/ml) failed to modify the damage by xanthine and xanthine oxidase, while catalase (250 U/ml) completely prevented it. When applied alone, xanthine oxidase significantly lowered cell viability, an effect that was blocked by allopurinol and catalase, but not by superoxide dismutase. The results indicate that xanthine and xanthine oxidase can produce predominantly hydrogen peroxide instead of the superoxide anion. Cerebellar granule cells in culture may also possess significant levels of endogenous xanthine.
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PMID:Hydrogen peroxide mediates damage by xanthine and xanthine oxidase in cerebellar granule neuronal cultures. 1736 Jan 18

Thiazolidinediones (TZDs) are synthetic agonists of the ligand-activated transcription factor peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma (PPARgamma). TZDs are known to curtail inflammation associated with peripheral organ ischemia. As inflammation precipitates the neuronal death after stroke, we tested the efficacy of TZDs in preventing brain damage following transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) in adult rodents. As hypertension and diabetes complicate the stroke outcome, we also evaluated the efficacy of TZDs in hypertensive rats and type-2 diabetic mice subjected to transient MCAO. Pre-treatment as well as post-treatment with TZDs rosiglitazone and pioglitazone significantly decreased the infarct volume and neurological deficits in normotensive, normoglycemic, hypertensive and hyperglycemic rodents. Rosiglitazone neuroprotection was not enhanced by retinoic acid x receptor agonist 9-cis-retinoic acid, but was prevented by PPARgamma antagonist GW9662. Rosiglitazone significantly decreased the post-ischemic intercellular adhesion molecule-1 expression and extravasation of macrophages and neutrophils into brain. Rosiglitazone treatment curtailed the post-ischemic expression of the pro-inflammatory genes interleukin-1beta, interleukin-6, macrophage inflammatory protein-1alpha, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, cyclooxygenase-2, inducible nitric oxide synthase, early growth response-1, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein-beta and nuclear factor-kappa B, and increased the expression of the anti-oxidant enzymes catalase and copper/zinc-superoxide dismutase. Rosiglitazone also increased the expression of the anti-inflammatory gene suppressor of cytokine signaling-3 and prevented the phosphorylation of the transcription factor signal transducer and activator of transcription-3 after focal ischemia. Thus, PPARgamma activation with TZDs might be a potent therapeutic option for preventing inflammation and neuronal damage after stroke with promise in diabetic and hypertensive subjects.
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PMID:Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma agonists induce neuroprotection following transient focal ischemia in normotensive, normoglycemic as well as hypertensive and type-2 diabetic rodents. 1739 60


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