Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
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Query: UMLS:C0406810 (NAME)
 13,345 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

It has been well established that erythropoietin (EPO) can limit myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury in a variety of acute settings. However, despite EPO being used chronically to treat anemia the infarct limiting effects of long term treatment (chronic) have never been fully investigated. In this study we examined the effects of a 3 week treatment of EPO (5,000 IU/Kg) in male Sprague Dawley rats in limiting myocardial infarction after 35 min ischemia and 2 h reperfusion in an in vitro isolated heart perfusion model. Treating the animals 'once a week' failed to limit infarct size significantly compared to a saline control (54.1% +/- 3.5 v 52.3% +/- 4.4), whereas a '3 times a week' regime succeeded in significantly reducing infarct size (36.2% +/- 3.2 v 52.3% +/- 4.4, p < 0.05). To demonstrate that the effect was not due to improved oxygen supply caused by a raised hematocrit level, we also administered EPO 24 h prior to ischemia/reperfusion. This treatment again reduced infarct size compared to a saline control (39.9% +/- 4.4 v 58.4% +/- 5.0, p < 0.05). To examine the mechanism of protection we used the PI3K inhibitor wortmannin and the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-NAME to try to abrogate EPO mediated protection. Where wortmannin failed to block the effects of EPO (31.7% +/- 6.0 v 36.2% +/- 3.2), L-NAME did abrogate protection (51.6% +/- 5.6 v 36.2% +/- 3.2, p < 0.05). We demonstrate that chronic EPO treatment limits infarct size and that it does so in a nitric oxide dependent manner.
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PMID:Chronic erythropoietin treatment limits infarct-size in the myocardium in vitro. 1638 95

PPAR-gamma agonists (thiazolidinediones, TZDs) may improve endothelial function independently of insulin sensitizing. Bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) contribute to neoangiogenesis. Mice were treated with pioglitazone, 20mg/kg/day for 10 days. Treatment with TZD upregulated circulating Sca-1/VEGFR-2 positive EPC in the blood (235+/-60%) and the bone marrow (166+/-30%), cultured spleen-derived DiLDL/lectin positive EPC increased to 231+/-21% (n=24 per group). Upregulation of EPC was persistent after 20 days. TZD increased SDF-1-induced migratory capacity per number of EPC by 246+/-73% and increased expression of telomere repeat-binding factor 2 by 320+/-50%. In vivo neoangiogenesis was increased two-fold (214+/-42%, 20 days). The NOS inhibitor L-NAME did not inhibit the TZD-induced upregulation of EPC. EPC from TZD-treated animals showed reduced in vivo apoptosis (65+/-2.8% of vehicle). In cultured human EPC, pre-treatment with pioglitazone prevented H(2)O(2)-induced apoptosis. Inhibition of EPC apoptosis by TZD was abolished in the presence of wortmannin but not by LNMA. In summary, TZD upregulates both number and functional capacity of endothelial progenitor cells. Pioglitazone prevents apoptosis of EPC in mice as well as in human EPC in a PI3K-dependent but NO-independent manner. Reduction of EPC apoptosis by TZD may be a potentially beneficial mechanism for patients with vascular diseases.
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PMID:The PPAR-gamma agonist pioglitazone increases neoangiogenesis and prevents apoptosis of endothelial progenitor cells. 1687 72

We previously reported that CD151 promotes neovascularization and improves blood perfusion in rat hind-limb ischemia model, but the precise mechanism is still unclear. Endothelial cell proliferation and cell migration play critical roles in angiogenesis. Many growth factors and hormones have been shown to regulate cell proliferation, cell migration and angiogenesis, including the activation of eNOS activity, via the PI3K/Akt signaling pathway. Whether CD151 induces cell proliferation and cell migration via PI3K/Akt signaling pathway is not known. Here we showed that CD151 promotes human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) proliferation, migration and tube formation in vitro, accompanied by increased phosphorylation of Akt and eNOS, leading to increased eNOS activity and nitric oxide (NO) levels after rAAV-CD151 infection, whereas infection with rAAV-anti-CD151 attenuated the effects of CD151, which suggested that CD151 can activate PI3K/Akt pathway. Moreover, inhibitors of PI3K (LY294002) and eNOS (l-NAME) can attenuate CD151-induced cell proliferation and cell migration. The results suggested that activation of PI3K/Akt signaling pathway mediates CD151-induced cell proliferation and migration.
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PMID:Activation of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/protein kinase Akt pathway mediates CD151-induced endothelial cell proliferation and cell migration. 1704 34

GSEs (grape seed extracts) which contain polyphenolic compounds cause an endothelium-dependent relaxation of blood vessels. The aim of the present study was to examine the mechanisms involved in this response. A well-characterized GSE was applied to rabbit aortic rings suspended in organ baths containing Krebs-Henseleit buffer maintained at 37 degrees C. In aortic rings pre-contacted with noradrenaline (norepinephrine), the extract produced a dose-dependent relaxation. The maximum relaxations elicited by the extract (71.9+/-1.0%) were similar to those elicited by acetylcholine (64.2+/-1.5%) (n=12 for each). As expected, the relaxations were abolished by removal of the endothelium and by prior incubation with L-NAME (N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester), confirming the essential role of eNOS (endothelial NO synthase) in the response. The responses to the GSE were also abolished by incubation with wortmannin and LY294002, which are inhibitors of PI3K (phosphoinositide 3-kinase). These compounds had no effect on the responses to acetylcholine. Using immunoblotting, we also demonstrated that the GSE induced the phosphorylation of both Akt and eNOS in HUVECs (human umbilical vein endothelial cells). Finally, the extract was modified by methylation of the hydroxy groups in the polyphenolic groups and was applied to the aortic rings. The modified extract failed to cause a relaxation. Taken together, these findings suggest that the endothelium-dependent relaxation induced by the GSE was mediated by activation of the PI3K/Akt signalling pathway through a redox-sensitive mechanism, resulting in phosphorylation of eNOS.
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PMID:Mechanism of the endothelium-dependent relaxation evoked by a grape seed extract. 1792 67

Recently it was demonstrated that the elevated concentration of glucose but not lack of insulin is responsible for suppression of equilibrative nucleoside transporter (ENT1) in diabetic rat cardiac fibroblasts (CFs). The present study was undertaken to determine the signaling pathway utilized by glucose to regulate the expression of ENT1 in the primary culture of rat CFs. Pretreatment of CFs with Go 6983, an isozyme non-selective PKC inhibitor, prevented the high glucose (25 mM) effect on ENT1 mRNA level and nitrobenzylthioinosine (NBTI)-sensitive adenosine uptake. Similar effect was observed with a cell-permeable PKC-zeta pseudosubstrate, whereas Go 6976 a selective inhibitor of Ca(2+)-dependent PKC-alpha and PKC-beta isozymes had little effect on high glucose-induced suppression of ENT1 mRNA level. Incubation of CFs with nitric oxide (NO) donors (SNAPE, SNP) or NO synthase inhibitors (L-NAME, L-NMMA) prior to exposition of CFs to high glucose did not change the glucose effect on ENT1 mRNA level. The high glucose-induced suppression of ENT1 expression was blocked by PD9859 (an inhibitor of MEK), whereas neither wortmannin (an inhibitor of PI3K) nor rapamycin (an inhibitor of mTOR) affected the glucose action on ENT1 transcript level. Highly effective in preventing the high glucose effect on ENT1 mRNA level were GW 5074 (an inhibitor of Raf kinase) and SB 203580 (selective p38 MAPK inhibitor). These findings indicate that high glucose suppresses the expression of ENT1 in CFs by NO independent manner involving the signaling through PKC-zeta, Raf-1, MEK, and p38 MAPK pathways.
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PMID:High glucose suppresses expression of equilibrative nucleoside transporter 1 (ENT1) in rat cardiac fibroblasts through a mechanism dependent on PKC-zeta and MAP kinases. 1794 Oct 87

Leptin, a pleiotropic cytokine secreted by adipocytes but also identified in salivary glands and saliva, is recognized as an important element of oral mucosal defense. Here, we report that in sublingual salivary glands leptin protects the acinar cells of against ethanol cytotoxicity. We show that ethanol- induced cytotoxicity, characterized by a marked drop in the acinar cell capacity for NO production, arachidonic acid release and prostaglandin generation, was subject to suppression by leptin. The loss in countering capacity of leptin on the ethanol-induced cytotoxicity was attained with cyclooxygenase inhibitor, indomethacin and nitric oxide synthase (cNOS) inhibitor, L-NAME, as well as PP2, an inhibitor of Src kinase. Indomethacin, while not affecting leptin-induced arachidonic acid release, caused the inhibition in PGE2 generation, pretreatment with L-NAME led to the inhibition in NO production, whereas PP2 exerted the inhibitory effect on leptin-induced changes in NO, arachidonic acid, and PGE2. The leptin-induced changes in arachidonic acid release and PGE2 generation were blocked by ERK inhibitor, PD98059, but not by PI3K inhibitor, wortmannin. Further, leptin suppression of ethanol cytotoxicity was reflected in the increased Akt and cNOS phosphorylation that was sensitive to PP2. Moreover, the stimulatory effect of leptin on the acinar cell cNOS activity was inhibited not only by PP2, but also by Akt inhibitor, SH-5, while wortmannin had no effect. Our findings demonstrate that leptin protection of salivary gland acinar cells against ethanol cytotoxicity involves Src kinase-mediated parallel activation of MAPK/ERK and Akt that result in up-regulation of the respective prostaglandin and nitric oxide synthase pathways.
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PMID:Leptin protection of salivary gland acinar cells against ethanol cytotoxicity involves Src kinase-mediated parallel activation of prostaglandin and constitutive nitric oxide synthase pathways. 1834 Apr 8

Advances in understanding the functional aspects of leptin in the processes affecting peripheral tissues have brought to the forefront the role of this pluripotent cytokine in the processes of gastric mucosal defense and repair. Here, we report that leptin protects the gastric mucosal cells against ethanol cytotoxicity. We show that ethanol cytotoxicity, characterized by a marked drop in the mucosal cells capacity for NO production, arachidonic acid release and prostaglandin generation, was subject to suppression by leptin. The loss in countering capacity of leptin on the ethanol-induced cytotoxicity was attained with cyclooxygenase inhibitor, indomethacin and nitric oxide synthase (cNOS) inhibitor, L-NAME, as well as PP2, an inhibitor of Src kinase. Indomethacin caused the inhibition in PGE(2) generation, pretreatment with L-NAME led to the inhibition in NO production, whereas PP2 exerted the inhibitory effect on leptin-induced changes in NO, arachidonic acid and PGE(2). The leptin-induced changes in arachidonic acid release and PGE(2) generation were blocked by ERK inhibitor, PD98059, but not by PI3K inhibitor, wortmannin. Moreover, the stimulatory effect of leptin on the mucosal cells cNOS activity was inhibited not only by PP2, but also by Akt inhibitor, SH-5. Our findings demonstrate that leptin protection of gastric mucosa against ethanol cytotoxicity involves Src kinase-mediated bifurcated activation of MAPK/ERK and Akt that leads to up-regulation of the respective prostaglandin and nitric oxide synthase pathways.
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PMID:Src kinase-mediated parallel activation of prostaglandin and constitutive nitric oxide synthase pathways in leptin protection of gastric mucosa against ethanol cytotoxicity. 1862 47

Oxidized cholesterols belong to a subgroup of oxLDLs which play major roles in atherosclerosis. In order to investigate the contribution of oxysterols from oxLDLs in atherosclerosis, cholesterol-3-beta, 5-alpha, 6-beta-triol (alpha-Triol) was studied in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. We found that alpha-Triol concentration- and time-dependently enhanced COX-2 protein expression and mRNA production followed by PGE(2) generation in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. In addition, alpha-Triol upregulated peNOS(1177) protein phosphorylation and concentration-dependently increased nitric oxide production. eNOS(1177) phosphorylation was abrogated by the PI3K inhibitor, LY294002. In studying the mechanisms involved in alpha-Triol-induced COX-2/PGE(2) production, inhibitors of NOS, PI3K, p38, and NF-kappaB, effectively attenuated COX-2 protein induction and mRNA expression, suggesting that the PI(3)K-Akt-eNOS pathway, p38MAPK, and NF-kappaB are involved in alpha-Triol-induced COX-2 expression, and following increases in p38 and Akt phosphorylation, the concentration-dependent inhibition of COX-2 protein expression by L-NAME further suggested their involvement at the translation level. We concluded that alpha-Triol increases COX-2 mRNA and protein expression via coordination with the PI(3)K-Akt-eNOS pathway and NF-kappaB. Moreover, COX-2 gene expression might be regulated by activated p38 MAPK in another unknown regulation pathway. Our findings also suggested that alpha-Triol might contribute to the effect of induced atherosclerosis in humans through COX-2 production in endothelial cells.
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PMID:Cholesterol-3-beta, 5-alpha, 6-beta-triol induced PI(3)K-Akt-eNOS-dependent cyclooxygenase-2 expression in endothelial cells. 1961 84

NO is generated by NOS activity and known to act as a negative regulator of mast cell activation. We reported previously that Ag (I) directly evokes mast cell degranulation and LTC(4) release via Ca(2+) influx through thiol-sensitive, store-independent channels. Here, we report that NO generated independently of NOS activity mediates the store-independent Ca(2+) influx. Exposure of mast cells to Ag (I) resulted in increased intracellular NO levels and NO(2)(-)/NO(3)(-) contents in the extracellular fluid. The NO increase was blocked by NO scavenger Hb and DTT but not by NOS inhibitors such as amino-BH(4) and L-NAME. This NO production occurred independently of the Src family kinase and PI3K activities, both of which were necessary for antigen-induced, NOS-dependent NO production. Hb and DTT reduced Ag (I)-induced beta-hexosaminidase release and LTC(4) release, whereas the NO scavengers and NOS inhibitors augmented antigen-induced mediator release. Moreover, Hb and DTT, but not the NOS inhibitors, abolished the Ag (I)-induced Ca(2+) influx, and none of the drugs blocked CRAC channel activity. Finally, Ag (I)-induced Ca(2+) influx was distinct from LTCC activity in terms of its sensitivities to wortmannin and LTCC antagonists and the effects of Ca(v)1.2 LTCC gene silencing. These data show that NOS-independent NO regulates mast cell activation positively via a unique store-independent Ca(2+) influx pathway. The present findings suggest multiple sources and functions of NO in mast cell biology.
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PMID:Nitric Oxide positively regulates Ag (I)-induced Ca(2+) influx and mast cell activation: role of a Nitric Oxide Synthase-independent pathway. 1970 39

Previous studies have shown that the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase / Akt / endothelial nitric oxide synthase / NO (PI3K/Akt/eNOS/NO) pathway is involved in high glucose-induced endothelial cell apoptosis and rosiglitazone has a protective effect on endothelium. In the present study, we investigated the antiapoptotic effect of rosiglitazone on human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) exposed to high glucose and explored its possible mechanism. Treatment of high glucose (33 mmol/L) for 48 h significantly induced the apoptosis of HUVECs, concomitantly with increased caspase-3 activity. High glucose treatment also decreased Akt and eNOS phosphorylation levels with subsequent NO production. All these alterations induced by high glucose were attenuated by rosiglitazone (1 micromol/L). Interestingly, the antiapoptotic effect of rosiglitazone was inhibited by PI3K inhibitor (LY294002, wortmannin) or eNOS inhibitor NG-<span class="smallcap">l</span>-nitro-arginine methyl ester (<span class="smallcap">l</span>-NAME). The reverse effects of rosiglitazone on phosphorylation of Akt and eNOS with subsequent NO production were also inhibited by LY294002, wortmannin or <span class="smallcap">l</span>-NAME, respectively. These findings suggest that rosiglitazone inhibits high glucose-induced apoptosis in HUVECs through the PI3K/Akt/eNOS pathway.
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PMID:Rosiglitazone inhibits high glucose-induced apoptosis in human umbilical vein endothelial cells through the PI3K/Akt/eNOS pathway. 1976 78


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