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

Cerebrovascular accidents (CVA) are serious complications of sickle cell anemia (SS) in children. Factors that predispose children to this complication are not well established. In an effort to elucidate the risk factors associated with CVA in SS, we have determined the alpha-globin genotype and the beta(S) haplotype of children with this complication. Among 700 children with SS followed at Children's Hospital of Michigan, 41 (6%) are on chronic transfusions because of stroke due to cerebral infarction. The mean age of patients with CVA at the time of stroke was 5.6 +/- 3.2 years (mean +/- SD). The male/female ratio was 2/3. Only 8 of 41 patients (19.5%) had one alpha-gene deletion, compared to the reported prevalence of 30% in African-Americans. None of the patients had two alpha-gene deletions, and two (5%) had five alpha-genes. These findings are different than those in our adult patients with SS, where the prevalence of -alpha/-alpha and alphaalphaalpha/alphaalpha is 4% and <2%, respectively. Ten different beta(S)-haplotypes were detected in the patients studied. The majority of the patients (31%) were doubly heterozygous for the Ben/CAR haplotypes followed by Ben/Ben, Ben/Sen, and CAR/CAR haplotypes, respectively. The prevalence of these haplotypes, with the exception of the CAR/CAR haplotype, was higher in females than males. All the patients with CAR/CAR haplotype were males, had four alpha-genes, and ranked third in prevalence. Three patients were heterozygous for the Cameron haplotype. The Cameron and atypical haplotypes were more prevalent than reported in patients with SS at large. The data suggest that CVA in children seems to occur more frequently in females and in patients with certain beta(S) haplotype. alpha-Gene deletion seems to offer a protective effect against this complication. Neonates with four or more alpha-genes whose beta(S) haplotype is Ben/CAR, atypical, or CAR/CAR seem to be at a higher risk for CAV than other patients. A prospective study on a larger group of patients with or without CVA may clarify this issue.
...
PMID:Molecular characteristics of pediatric patients with sickle cell anemia and stroke. 1139 15

Effects of chronic treatment of normotensive Wistar rats with N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) on blood pressure and on endothelium-dependent relaxation of the aorta, carotid and iliac arteries were studied. The endothelium-dependent relaxation was compared in arteries from normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY) and genetically hypertensive rats (stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats, SHRSP). Chronic treatment of normotensive Wistar rats with L-NAME caused an elevation of blood pressure. The elevated blood pressure at 15 weeks of age was significantly higher in these animals than that of untreated Wistar rats, but lower than that of SHRSP. Endothelium-dependent relaxation of the arteries induced by acetylcholine (ACh) was almost abolished by chronic treatment with L-NAME. The remaining small relaxation in arteries from L-NAME-treated rats was completely inhibited by application of L-NAME (10(-4) M). In such preparations, higher concentrations of ACh induced a contraction, which was abolished by removal of the endothelium or by an application of indomethacin (10(-5) M). Endothelium-independent relaxation induced by sodium nitroprusside was similar between preparations from untreated and L-NAME-treated Wistar rats. Endothelium-dependent relaxation was significantly impaired in preparations from SHRSP, when compared with that in those from WKY. However, the impairment was less prominent in preparations from SHRSP than in those from L-NAME-treated rats. These results suggest that the impairment of endothelium-dependent relaxation in the arteries from L-NAME-treated rats is not due to the elevated blood pressure resulting from the chronic treatment, and that impairment of NO synthesis by the endothelium does not play a major role in the initiation of hypertension in SHRSP.
...
PMID:Hypertension and impairment of endothelium-dependent relaxation of arteries from spontaneously hypertensive and L-NAME-treated Wistar rats. 1159 85

Besides necrosis, apoptosis is the other major mode of cardiomyocyte loss in ischemic cardiovascular disease. In the present study, we examined the hypothesis that nitric oxide (NO) protects myocardial function by improving myocardial microcirculation and attenuating cardiomyocyte apoptosis in a rat model of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (MI/R). The left main coronary artery of anesthetized male rats was ligated for 40 min, followed by 4 h reperfusion. Four groups of animals were studied: sham operated control + saline; sham operated control + N(W)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME); MI/R + saline; MI/R + L-NAME (10 mg/kg, iv, 10 min prior to reperfusion). Results show that MI/R caused a decrease in mean arterial blood pressure (MABP), cardiac index (CI), and stroke volume index (SVI). Inhibition of NO synthesis by L-NAME attenuated plasma NO levels, but increased MABP and SVR in sham control rats and rats subjected to MI/R, and further depressed left ventricular function in rats subjected to MI/R as indicated by decreased CI and SVI. Furthermore, administration of L-NAME to rats subjected to MI/R enhanced cardiomyocyte apoptosis as indicated by a significant increase in DNA fragmentation compared to rats with MI/R alone. Histological study revealed that L-NAME caused arterial constriction and congestion of red blood cells in arteries and capillaries in the peri-ischemic areas of the hearts in rats subjected to MI/R and, interestingly, also in the sham control rats. Data suggest that the mechanism of increased reperfusion injury may be attributable to a "no-reflow" phenomenon induced by L-NAME, resulting in increased cardiomyocyte apoptosis secondary to ischemia and enhanced cytochrome-c release from mitochondria. In addition, cardiac injury may be increased due to the augmented oxygen consumption of cardiomyocytes caused by the increased SVR and afterload. These results suggest that endogenous NO may act to improve myocardial microvascular perfusion, reduce SVR, and limit cardiomyocyte apoptosis, thereby, attenuating myocardial dysfunction induced by MI/R.
...
PMID:L-NAME enhances microcirculatory congestion and cardiomyocyte apoptosis during myocardial ischemia-reperfusion in rats. 1190 Mar 36

Cortical spreading depression (CSD) is a temporary disruption of local ionic homeostasis that propagates slowly across the cerebral cortex. Cortical spreading depression promotes lesion progression in experimental stroke, and may contribute to the initiation of migraine attacks. The purpose of this study was to investigate the roles of the marked increase of nitric oxide (NO) formation that occurs with CSD. Microdialysis electrodes were implanted in the cortex of anesthetized rats to perform the following operations within the same region: (1) elicitation of CSD by perfusion of high K+ medium; (2) recording of CSD elicitation; (3) application of the NO synthase inhibitor, NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME); and (4) recording of dialysate pH changes. The primary effect of l-NAME (0.3 to 3.0 mmol/L in the perfusion medium) was a marked widening of individual CSD wave, resulting essentially from a delayed initiation of the repolarization phase. This change was due to NO synthase inhibition because it was not observed with the inactive isomer d-NAME, and was reversed by l-arginine. This effect did not appear to be linked to the suppression of a sustained, NO-mediated vascular change associated with the superposition of NO synthase inhibition on high levels of extracellular K+. The delayed initiation of repolarization with local NO synthase inhibition may reflect the suppression of NO-mediated negative feedback mechanisms acting on neuronal or glial processes involved in CSD genesis. However, the possible abrogation of a very brief, NO-mediated vascular change associated with the early phase of CSD cannot be ruled out.
...
PMID:Nitric oxide formation during cortical spreading depression is critical for rapid subsequent recovery of ionic homeostasis. 1204 66

Abnormalities in physical properties of the cell membranes may underlie the defects that are strongly linked to hypertension, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases. Recently, there has been an indication that leptin, the product of the human obesity gene, actively participates not only in the metabolic regulations but also in the control of cardiovascular functions. In the present study, to assess the role of leptin in the regulation of membrane properties, the effects of leptin on membrane fluidity of erythrocytes in humans are examined. The membrane fluidity of erythrocytes in healthy volunteers by means of an electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and spin-labeling method is determined. In an in vitro study, leptin decreased the order parameter (S) for 5-nitroxide stearate (5-NS) and the peak height ratio (ho/h-1) for 16-NS obtained from EPR spectra of erythrocyte membranes in a dose-dependent manner in healthy volunteers. The finding indicated that leptin increased the membrane fluidity and improved the microviscosity of erythrocytes. The effect of leptin on the membrane fluidity was significantly potentiated by the nitric oxide (NO) donors, L-arginine and S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP), and a cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) analog, 8-bromo-cGMP. In contrast, the change evoked by leptin was significantly attenuated in the presence of the NO synthase inhibitors, N(G)-nitro-L-arginine-methyl-ester (L-NAME) and asymmetric dimethyl-L-arginine (ADMA). The results of the present study showed that leptin increased the membrane fluidity and improved the rigidity of cell membranes to some extent via an NO- and cGMP-dependent mechanism. Furthermore, the data also suggest that leptin might have a crucial role in the regulation of rheological behavior of erythrocytes and microcirculation in humans.
...
PMID:Leptin improves membrane fluidity of erythrocytes in humans via a nitric oxide-dependent mechanism--an electron paramagnetic resonance investigation. 1227 Jan 47

We recently reported the novel finding of expression and function of connexin45 (Cx45) in cerebrovascular smooth muscle cells. We examined the hypothesis that Cx45 is altered in hypertension. Immunoblots for Cx45 showed a significant increase in Cx45 in cerebral arteries from adult spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) compared with adult Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats, with no difference in aorta or femoral artery. Patch-clamp of cerebral smooth muscle cells pairs from SHR versus WKY showed a significantly steeper voltage dependence of deactivation and partial block of junctional currents by quinine and by a peptide that interferes with docking of Cx45, consistent with dominance of functional Cx45 channels in SHR. We examined potential roles of blood pressure versus angiotensin in elevated Cx45 in SHR by measuring Cx45 protein in 4 groups: (1) long-term administration in Wistar rats of the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-NAME; (2) long-term administration in SHR of the ACE inhibitor captopril; (3) long-term administration in Wistar rats of angiotensin; and (4) exposure of basilar artery segments in organ culture to angiotensin. Blood pressure was significantly elevated in groups 1 and 3 and was normal in group 2. In groups 1, 2, and 4, there was no significant change in Cx45 protein. In group 3, there was a modest but insignificant increase in Cx45 protein but no change in voltage dependence of deactivation of junctional currents. Overall, our data show increased Cx45 in SHR that is unlikely to be due to either elevated blood pressure or to angiotensin. Relative dominance of Cx45 over Cx43 in cerebral vessels may predispose SHR to ischemic stroke.
...
PMID:Increase in Cx45 gap junction channels in cerebral smooth muscle cells from SHR. 1246 83

To evaluate whether the elevated blood pressure induced by chronic treatment with N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) contributes to an impairment of endothelium-dependent relaxation (EDR), the effects of chronic treatment of Wistar rats with L-NAME on systolic blood pressure, pulmonary arterial blood pressure and EDR of the pulmonary arteries were studied and compared with those of stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP). While the systolic blood pressure (SBP) of Wistar rats was increased above that of controls by chronic treatment with L-NAME, it was still significantly lower than that of SHRSP. Chronic treatment with L-NAME did not affect pulmonary arterial blood pressure. On the other hand, the pulmonary arterial blood pressure of SHRSP was slightly but significantly higher than that of the control normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY). EDR in response to acetylcholine in the pulmonary artery of L-NAME-treated rats was significantly smaller than that in control Wistar rats. The EDR markedly increased in the presence of L-arginine and completely disappeared in the presence of N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine. Indomethacin hardly affected EDR. In preparations from SHRSP, the EDR was not different from that in those from WKY. Relaxation induced by sodium nitroprusside was identical in all preparations. Elevation of SBP and the impairment of EDR observed in L-NAME-treated rats recovered two weeks following cessation of treatment. These results suggest that the impaired EDR in the pulmonary artery of L-NAME-treated rats is not due to an L-NAME-induced increase in blood pressure but due to the inhibition of nitric oxide synthase by the drug remaining in the endothelium.
...
PMID:Endothelium-dependent relaxation in pulmonary arteries of L-NAME-treated Wistar and stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats. 1259 91

Two mechanisms are proposed to account for the inhibition of myosin phosphatase (MP) involved in Ca2+ sensitization of vascular muscle, ie, phosphorylation of either MYPT1, a target subunit of MP or CPI-17, an inhibitory phosphoprotein. In cultured vascular aorta smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), stimulation with angiotensin II activated RhoA, and this was blocked by pretreatment with 8-bromo-cGMP. VSMCs stimulated by angiotensin II, endothelin-1, or U-46619 significantly increased the phosphorylation levels of both MYPT1 (at Thr696) and CPI-17 (at Thr38). The angiotensin II-induced phosphorylation of MYPT1 was completely blocked by 8-bromo-cGMP or Y-27632 (a Rho-kinase inhibitor), but not by GF109203X (a PKC inhibitor). In contrast, phosphorylation of CPI-17 was inhibited only by GF109203X. Y-27632 dramatically corrected the hypertension in N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME)-treated rats, and this hypertension also was sensitive to isosorbide mononitrate. The level of the active form of RhoA was significantly higher in aortas from L-NAME-treated rats. Expression of RhoA, Rho-kinase, MYPT1, CPI-17, and myosin light chain kinase were not significantly different in aortas from L-NAME-treated and control rats. Activation of RhoA without changes in levels of other signaling molecules were observed in three other rat models of hypertension, ie, stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats, renal hypertensive rats, and DOCA-salt rats. These results suggest that independent of the cause of hypertension, a common point in downstream signaling and a critical component of hypertension is activation of RhoA and subsequent activation of Rho-kinase.
...
PMID:Activation of RhoA and inhibition of myosin phosphatase as important components in hypertension in vascular smooth muscle. 1260 Aug 88

Cortical spreading depression (CSD) is a transient disruption of local ionic homeostasis that may promote migraine attacks and the progression of stroke lesions. We reported previously that the local inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) synthesis with Nomega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) delayed markedly the initiation of the recovery of ionic homeostasis from CSD. Here we describe a novel method for selective, controlled generation of exogenous NO in a functioning brain region. It is based on microdialysis perfusion of the NO donor, 2-(N,N-diethylamino)-diazenolate-2-oxide (DEA/NO). As DEA/NO does not generate NO at alkaline pH, and as the brain has a strong acid-base buffering capacity, DEA/NO was perfused in a medium adjusted at alkaline (but unbuffered) pH. Without DEA/NO, such a microdialysis perfusion medium did not alter CSD. DEA/NO (1, 10 and 100 microM) had little effect on CSD by itself, but it reversed in a concentration-dependent manner the effects of NOS inhibition by 1 mM L-NAME. These data demonstrate that increased formation of endogenous NO associated with CSD is critical for subsequent, rapid recovery of cellular ionic homeostasis. In this case, the molecular targets for NO may be located either on brain cells to suppress mechanisms directly involved in CSD genesis, or on local blood vessels to couple flow to the increased energy demand associated with CSD.
...
PMID:Effects of the nitric oxide donor, DEA/NO on cortical spreading depression. 1272 26

Previous investigations using an He-Ne laser-induced thrombosis method have shown that stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) have an enhanced thrombotic tendency in vivo compared to normotensive, Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY). In addition, studies in the presence of acetylcholine have suggested the presence of endothelial dysfunction in SHRSP. In contrast, shear-induced platelet reactivity in vitro appeared to be depressed in SHRSP. The aim of the present study was to investigate endothelial function in SHRSP using a new physiological in vivo model, and to determine the response of platelets to nitric oxide (NO) in non-anticoagulated blood using a shear-induced platelet function in vitro method (haemostatometry). Endothelial function was estimated by measuring flow-mediated vasodilation (FMV) of the femoral artery. Vessels were exposed and blood flow was arrested using a silicone-coated arterial clamp. Vasodilation was measured by computer-assisted image analysis 3 min after release of stasis. Arterial vasodilation was observed in the femoral artery of WKY, but not in SHRSP. Vasodilation was seen in both WKY and SHRSP; however, in response to the NO donor, 1-hydroxy-2-oxo-3-(3-aminopropyl)-3-isopropyl-1-triazene (NOC 5). In contrast, 100 microM NOC 5 did not affect platelet reactivity in SHRSP. The NO scavenger, 2-(4-carboxyphenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazoline-1-oxyl 3-oxide, sodium salt (carboxy-PTIO) and the NO synthase inhibitor, N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, hydrochloride (L-NAME), did not affect shear-induced platelet reactivity. NOC 5 at 10 microM (final concentration) inhibited shear-induced platelet reactivity in WKY. These results confirm the presence of endothelial dysfunction in SHRSP and indicate that platelets are non-responsive to NO in this hypertensive model. The data suggest that defective endothelial reactions or disturbed thrombogenic mechanisms outweigh the platelet hyporeactivity and contribute to the prothrombotic status in SHRSP.
...
PMID:Impaired flow-mediated vasodilation in vivo and reduced shear-induced platelet reactivity in vitro in response to nitric oxide in prothrombotic, stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats. 1275 20


<< Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Next >>