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)

Platelets are responsible for maintaining vascular integrity. In thrombocytopenic states, vascular permeability and fragility increase, presumably due to the absence of this platelet function. Chemical or physical injury to a blood vessel induces platelet activation and platelet recruitment. This is beneficial for the arrest of bleeding (hemostasis), but when an atherosclerotic plaque is ulcerated or fissured, it becomes an agonist for vascular occlusion (thrombosis). Experiments in the late 1980s cumulatively indicated that endothelial cell CD39-an ecto-ADPase-reduced platelet reactivity to most agonists, even in the absence of prostacyclin or nitric oxide. As discussed herein, CD39 rapidly and preferentially metabolizes ATP and ADP released from activated platelets to AMP, thereby drastically reducing or even abolishing platelet aggregation and recruitment. Since ADP is the final common agonist for platelet recruitment and thrombus formation, this finding highlights the significance of CD39. A recombinant, soluble form of human CD39, solCD39, has enzymatic and biological properties identical to the full-length form of the molecule and strongly inhibits human platelet aggregation induced by ADP, collagen, arachidonate, or TRAP (thrombin receptor agonist peptide). In sympathetic nerve endings isolated from guinea pig hearts, where neuronal ATP enhances norepinephrine exocytosis, solCD39 markedly attenuated norepinephrine release. This suggests that NTPDase (nucleoside triphosphate diphosphohydrolase) could exert a cardioprotective action by reducing ATP-mediated norepinephrine release, thereby offering a novel therapeutic approach to myocardial ischemia and its consequences. In a murine model of stroke, driven by excessive platelet recruitment, solCD39 reduced the sequelae of stroke, without an increase in intracerebral hemorrhage. CD39 null mice, generated by deletion of apyrase-conserved regions 2 to 4, exhibited a decrease in postischemic perfusion and an increase in cerebral infarct volume when compared with controls. "Reconstitution" of CD39 null mice with solCD39 reversed these changes. We hypothesize that solCD39 has potential as a novel therapeutic agent for thrombotic diatheses.
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PMID:Metabolic control of excessive extracellular nucleotide accumulation by CD39/ecto-nucleotidase-1: implications for ischemic vascular diseases. 1264 47

In response to cerebral ischemia, neurons activate survival/repair pathways in addition to death cascades. Activation of cyclic AMP-response-element-binding protein (CREB) is linked to neuroprotection in experimental animal models of stroke. However, a role of the mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase kinase (MAPK/ERK or MEK), an upstream kinase for CREB, and its relation to CREB phosphorylation in neuroprotection in cerebral ischemia has not been delineated. Previously, we reported that N-acetyl-O-methyldopamine (NAMDA) significantly protected CA1 neurons after transient forebrain ischemia [J Neurosci 19 (1999b) 87.8]. The current study is to investigate whether NAMDA-induced neuroprotection occurs via the activation of ERK and its downstream effector, CREB. NAMDA induced ERK1/2 and CREB phosphorylation with increased survival of HC2S2 hippocampal neurons subjected to oxygen-glucose deprivation. These effects were reversed by U0126, a MEK kinase inhibitor. Similarly, animals treated with NAMDA following ischemia showed increased ERK and CREB phosphorylation in the CA1 subregion of the hippocampus during early reperfusion period with increased number of surviving neurons examined 7 days following ischemia. The NAMDA-induced neuroprotection was abolished by U0126 administered shortly after reperfusion. The results showed that the ERK-CREB signaling pathway might be involved in NAMDA-induced neuroprotection following transient global ischemia and imply that the activation of the pathway in neurons may be an effective therapeutic strategy to treat stroke or other neurological syndromes.
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PMID:A neuroprotective role of extracellular signal-regulated kinase in N-acetyl-O-methyldopamine-treated hippocampal neurons after exposure to in vitro and in vivo ischemia. 1466 49

Inhibitors of phosphodiesterases 3 and 4, the main cyclic AMP (cAMP) degrading enzymes in arteries, may have therapeutic potential in cerebrovascular disorders. We analysed the effects of such phosphodiesterases in guinea pig cerebral arteries with organ bath technique and cyclic nucleotide assays. Guinea pig and human cerebral arteries were used for phosphodiesterase assays. Cilostazol (6-[4-(1-cyclohexyl-1H-tetrazol-5-yl)butoxy]-3,4-dihydro-2(1H)-quinolinone), a phosphodiesterase 3 inhibitor, was compared to conventional phosphodiesterase 3 and 4 inhibitors. Phosphodiesterases 3 and 4 were the major contributors to total cAMP hydrolysis in the arteries examined. The phosphodiesterase 3 inhibitors additionally attenuated cyclic GMP (cGMP) hydrolysis, but relaxant responses were not dependent on an intact endothelium or on the nitric oxide-cGMP pathway. Conversely, the phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor used was endothelium-dependent and affected by cGMP levels. This suggests that phosphodiesterase 3 inhibitors are still effective under conditions with possible dysfunctional nitric oxide-cGMP pathway, such as in ischemic stroke or cerebral vasospasm.
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PMID:Analysis of the effects of phosphodiesterase type 3 and 4 inhibitors in cerebral arteries. 1506 60

RhoA is commonly activated in the aorta in various hypertensive models, indicating that RhoA seems to be a molecular switch in hypertension. The molecular mechanisms for RhoA activation in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) were here investigated using cultured aortic smooth muscle cells (VSMC). The level of the active form of RhoA was higher in VSMC from SHRSP than in those from Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). The phosphorylation level of myosin phosphatase target subunit 1 (MYPT1) at the inhibitory site was also significantly higher in SHRSP, and the phosphorylation levels in both VSMCs were strongly inhibited to a similar extent by treatment with Y-27632, a Rho-kinase inhibitor. The expression levels of RhoA/Rho-kinase related molecules, namely RhoA, Rho-kinase, MYPT1, CPI-17 (inhibitory phosphoprotein for myosin phosphatase) and myosin light chain kinase, were not different between SHRSP and WKY. Valsartan, an angiotensin II (Ang II)- type 1 receptor antagonist, selectively and significantly reduced the RhoA activation in VSMC from SHRSP. The expression levels of the Rho GDP-dissociation inhibitor (RhoGDI) and leukemia-associated Rho-specific guanine nucleotide exchange factor (RhoGEF) did not differ between SHRSP and WKY. In cyclic nucleotide signaling, cyclic GMP (cGMP)-dependent protein kinase Ialpha (cGKIalpha) was significantly downregulated in SHRSP cells, although there were no changes in the expression levels of guanylate cyclase beta and cyclic AMP (cAMP)-dependent protein kinase or the intracellular contents of cGMP and cAMP between the two rat models. These results suggest that the possible mechanisms underlying RhoA activation in VSMC from SHRSP are autocrine/paracrine regulation by Ang II and/or cGKIalpha downregulation.
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PMID:RhoA activation in vascular smooth muscle cells from stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats. 1512 84

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the adenosine A1/A2a receptor agonist AMP-579 induces acute and delayed preconditioning against in vivo myocardial stunning. Regional stunning was produced by 15 min of coronary artery occlusion and 3 h of reperfusion (RP) in anesthetized open-chest pigs. In acute protection studies, animals were pretreated with saline, low-dose AMP-579 (15 microg/kg iv bolus 10 min before ischemia), or high-dose AMP-579 (50 microg/kg iv at 14 microg/kg bolus + 1.2 microg.kg(-1).min(-1) for 30 min before coronary occlusion). The delayed preconditioning effects of AMP-579 were evaluated 24 h after administration of saline vehicle or high-dose AMP-579 (50 microg/kg iv). Load-insensitive contractility was assessed by measuring regional preload recruitable stroke work (PRSW) and PRSW area. Acute preconditioning with AMP-579 dose dependently improved regional PRSW: 129 +/- 5 and 100 +/- 2% in high- and low-dose AMP-579 groups, respectively, and 78 +/- 5% in the control group at 3 h of RP. Administration of the adenosine A1 receptor antagonist 8-cyclopentyl-1,3-dipropylxanthine (0.7 mg/kg) blocked the acute protective effect of high-dose AMP-579, indicating that these effects are mediated through A1 receptor activation. Delayed preconditioning with AMP-579 significantly increased recovery of PRSW area: 64 +/- 5 vs. 33 +/- 5% in control at 3 h of RP. In isolated perfused rat heart studies, kinetics of the onset and washout of AMP-579 A1 and A2a receptor-mediated effects were distinct compared with those of other adenosine receptor agonists. The unique nature of the adenosine agonist AMP-579 may play a role in its ability to induce delayed preconditioning against in vivo myocardial stunning.
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PMID:Adenosine A1/A2a receptor agonist AMP-579 induces acute and delayed preconditioning against in vivo myocardial stunning. 1527 62

Pathological conditions such as ischaemic stroke and inflammatory disorders cause c-fos activation in the brain. This activation contributes to the initiation of the brain's inflammatory response, orchestrated by activated glial cells. The inflammatory signalling cascades leading to c-fos activation in glial cells are not well characterized. Thus, we have attempted a detailed analysis of the cis-acting elements, transcription factors and upstream kinase pathways involved in the activation of c-fos by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in primary rat cortical glial cells. We found that (1) LPS-induced c-fos mRNA levels were sensitive to p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitors but not to mitogen-activated/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) or calcium-calmodulin-dependent kinase inhibitors, (2) LPS activated both serum response element (SRE) and cyclic AMP/calcium response element (CRE)-driven luciferase reporters in transient transfection assays, (3) LPS induced the phosphorylation of Elk1 CRE-binding protein (CREB)/activated transcription factor-1 (ATF-1) and the activation of GAL4-Elk1 and GAL4-CREB chimeric proteins, and (4) mutation of both SRE and CRE elements was necessary and sufficient to completely abolish LPS induction of a rat c-fos proximal promoter-luciferase reporter. Thus, c-fos activation by LPS in glial cells occurs via the SRE or CRE in an independent manner, and involves the Elk1 or CREB/ATF-1 transcription factors. Elk1-mediated transactivation was dependent on p38 MAPK, suggesting a crucial role of these factors in mediating inflammatory responses in the CNS.
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PMID:Activation of c-fos by lipopolysaccharide in glial cells via p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase-dependent activation of serum or cyclic AMP/calcium response element. 1568 94

During the past few years, elevated blood levels of homocysteine (Hcy) have been linked to increased risk of premature coronary artery disease, stroke and thromboembolism. These processes can be also related to the ratio adenine nucleotide/adenosine, since extracellularly these nucleotides are associated with modulation of processes such as platelet aggregation, vasodilatation and coronary flow. Furthermore, there are some studies that suggest a relationship between Hcy and plasma adenosine concentrations. The sequential hydrolysis of ATP to adenosine by soluble nucleotidases constitutes one of the systems for rapid inactivation of circulating adenine nucleotides. Thus, the main objective of this study was to evaluate if Hcy can participate in the modulation of the extracellular adenine nucleotide hydrolysis by rat blood serum. Our results showed that Hcy, at final concentrations of 5.0 mM, inhibits in vitro ATP, ADP and AMP hydrolysis by 26, 21 and 16%, respectively. Also Hcy, at final concentrations of 8.0mM, inhibited the in vitro hydrolysis of ATP, ADP and AMP by 46, 44 and 44%, respectively. Kinetic analysis showed that the inhibitions of the three adenine nucleotide hydrolyses in the presence of Hcy, by serum of adult rats, is of the uncompetitive type. The IC50 calculated from the results obtained were 6.52+/-1.75 mM (n = 4), 5.18 +/- 0.64 mM (n = 3) and 5.16 +/- 1.22 mM (n = 3) for ATP, ADP and AMP hydrolysis, respectively.
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PMID:In vitro effect of homocysteine on nucleotide hydrolysis by blood serum from adult rats. 1646 6

Cilostazol was developed as a selective inhibitor of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase 3 (PDE3). The anti-platelet and vasodilator properties of cilostazol have been extensively characterized and considered to contribute to the variety of clinical effects such as intermittent claudication and recurrent stroke. In this review, the novel action mechanism (s) of cilostazol are overviewed with the focus on the action of cilostazol in in vitro and in vivo studies as a maxi-K channel opener targeting anti-apoptotic signaling pathways. Under treatment with cilostazol (10 mg/kg intravenously or 30 mg/kg orally), a significant reduction in cerebral infarct area was evident in rats subjected to ischemia/reperfusion. Increase in cyclic AMP and decrease in TNF-alpha levels were identified in the ipsilateral cortex under treatment with cilostazol accompanied by decreased Bax formation and cytochrome c release with increased Bcl-2 production in the penumbral area as well as in the in vitro human umbilical endothelial cells. Cilostazol suppressed TNF-alpha-induced decrease in viability of SK-N-SH (human neuroblastoma) cells and HCN-1A (human cortical neuron) cells in association with decrease in PTEN phosphorylation and increase in Akt/CREB phosphorylation with suppression of DNA fragmentation, all of which were antagonized by iberiotoxin, a maxi-K(+) channel blocker. Further, cilostazol prevented TNF-alpha-induced PTEN phosphorylation and apoptotic cell death via increased CK2 phosphorylation in the SK-N-SH cells. Cilostazol increased K(+) current in SK-N-SH cells by opening the maxi-K channels. Thus, it was suggested that the action of cilostazol to promote cell survival was ascribed to the maxi-K channel opening-coupled upregulation of CK2 phosphorylation and downregulation of PTEN phosphorylation with resultant increased phosphorylation of Akt and CREB. These in vitro data were confirmed in the in vivo results of rats subjected to focal transient ischemic damage.
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PMID:Cilostazol: therapeutic potential against focal cerebral ischemic damage. 1647 48

The 5'-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a metabolic and stress sensor that has been functionally conserved throughout eukaryotic evolution. Activation of the AMPK system by various physiological or pathological stimuli that deplete cellular energy levels promotes activation of energy restorative processes and inhibits energy consumptive processes. AMPK has a prominent role not only as a peripheral sensor of energy balance, but also in the CNS as a multifunctional metabolic sensor. Recent work suggests that AMPK plays an important role in maintaining whole body energy balance by coordinating feeding behaviour through the hypothalamus in conjunction with peripheral energy expenditure. In addition, brain AMPK is activated by energy-poor conditions induced by hypoxia, starvation, and ischaemic stroke. Under these conditions, AMPK is activated as a protective response in an attempt to restore cellular homeostasis. However in vivo, it appears that the overall consequence of activation of AMPK is more complex than previously imagined, in that over-activation may be deleterious rather than neuroprotective. This review discusses recent findings that support the role of AMPK in brain as a multidimensional energy sensor and the consequences of its activation or inhibition under physiological and pathological states.
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PMID:Developing a head for energy sensing: AMP-activated protein kinase as a multifunctional metabolic sensor in the brain. 1669 Jul 4

Adenosine is an inhibitory modulator of brain activity with neuroprotective and anticonvulsant properties. Adenosine levels are regulated mainly by adenosine kinase (ADK), an enzyme that is responsible for the removal of adenosine via phosphorylation to AMP. Recent evidence indicates that expression of ADK undergoes rapid coordinated changes during brain development and following brain injury, such as after epileptic seizures and stroke. Thus, transient downregulation of ADK after acute brain injury protects the brain from seizures and cell death. Conversely, chronic overexpression of ADK causes seizures in epilepsy and promotes cell death in epilepsy and stroke. These findings have direct implications for the rational definition of ADK as a therapeutic target. In recent years, novel treatment strategies have been developed that make use of the intracerebral transplantation of cells that are ADK deficient and, thus, release adenosine. A new era of cell-based delivery of adenosine has begun, which holds great promise for novel therapies for epilepsy and stroke.
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PMID:Adenosine kinase, epilepsy and stroke: mechanisms and therapies. 1705 28


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