Gene/Protein Disease Symptom Drug Enzyme Compound
Pivot Concepts:   Target Concepts:
Query: UNIPROT:P05231 (interleukin-6)
 23,907 document(s) hit in 31,850,051 MEDLINE articles (0.00 seconds)

Statins are lipid-lowering agents which act by inhibition of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase. This enzyme is responsible for the conversion of HMG-CoA to mevalonate. Products of mevalonate metabolism are critical for several cellular processes of eukaryotic cells, and inhibition of the mevalonate pathway by statins has pleiotropic effects. It has been reported that statins inhibit the migration and proliferation of vascular smooth cells (VSMCs) and macrophages, decrease interleukin-6 and inducible nitric oxide synthase expression in VSMCs, improve endothelial function and up-regulate endothelial nitric oxide synthase expression. The above effects of statins are independent of plasma cholesterol levels, and are completely blocked by exogenous mevalonate and some isoprenoids. These findings suggest that, in addition to their effects on plasma lipids, statins exert direct antiatherosclerotic effects on the cells primarily involved in atherosclerosis.
 ...
PMID:Direct effects of statins on cells primarily involved in atherosclerosis. 1077 Feb 67

The potent vasoconstrictor peptide endothelin-1 (ET-1) has been implicated in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis and its complications. Since inflammation of the vessel wall is a hallmark of atherosclerosis, the purpose of the present study was to investigate the influence of ET-1 on cytokine production in human vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC) as a marker of inflammatory cell activation. ET-1 (100 pM - 1 microM) stimulated interleukin-6 (IL-6) secretion from human vascular SMC in a concentration-dependent manner. The ET-A-receptor antagonist BQ-123 (10 microM), but not the ET-B-receptor antagonist BQ-788, inhibited IL-6 release. ET-1 also transiently increased IL-6 mRNA compatible with regulation of IL-6 release at the pretranslational level. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays demonstrated time- and concentration-dependent activation of the proinflammatory transcription factor nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) in ET-1-stimulated human vascular SMC. A decoy oligodeoxynucleotide bearing the NF-kappaB binding site inhibited ET-1-stimulated IL-6 release to a great extent suggesting that this transcription factor plays a key role for cytokine production elicited by ET-1. Moreover, the antioxidant pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (10 microM) inhibited ET-1-induced IL-6 release indicating involvement of reactive oxygen species in ET-1 signaling. ET-1-stimulated IL-6 secretion was also suppressed by diphenylene iodonium (40 microM), an inhibitor of flavon-containing enzymes such as NADH/NADPH oxidase. The results demonstrate the ability of ET-1 to induce an inflammatory response in human vascular SMC. These observations may contribute to a better understanding of the role of ET-1 in inflammatory activation of the vessel wall during atherogenesis.
 ...
PMID:Endothelin-1 induces interleukin-6 release via activation of the transcription factor NF-kappaB in human vascular smooth muscle cells. 1082 1

Vascular endothelial cell activation and dysfunction are critical early events in atherosclerosis. Selected dietary lipids (eg, fatty acids) may be atherogenic by activating endothelial cells and by potentiating an inflammatory response. Due to their prooxidant property, unsaturated fatty acids may play a critical role in endothelial cell activation and injury. To test this hypothesis, porcine endothelial cells were exposed to 18-carbon fatty acids differing in the degree of unsaturation, ie, 90 micromol/L stearic (18:0), oleic (18:1n-9), linoleic (18:2n-6), or linolenic acid (18:3n-3) for 6 to 24 hours and/or tumor necrosis factor alpha ([TNF-alpha] 500 U/L) for up to 3 hours. Compared with control cultures, treatment with 18:0 and 18:2 decreased glutathione levels, suggesting an increase in cellular oxidative stress. Both 18:2 and 18:0 activated the transcription factor nuclear factor kappaB (NF-kappaB) the most and 18:1 the least. This NF-kappaB-dependent transcription was confirmed in endothelial cells by luciferase reporter gene assay. The fatty acid-mediated activation of NF-kappaB was blocked by preenrichment of the cultures with 25 micromol/L vitamin E. All fatty acids except 18:1 and 18:3 increased transendothelial albumin transfer, and 18:2 caused the most marked disruption of endothelial integrity. Preenrichment of endothelial cells with 18:2 followed by exposure to TNF-alpha resulted in a 100% increase in interleukin-6 (IL-6) production compared with TNF-alpha exposure alone. In contrast, cellular preenrichment with 18:0, 18:1, or 18:3 had no effect on TNF-alpha-mediated production of IL-6. Cellular release of radiolabeled arachidonic acid (20:4) was markedly increased only by cell exposure to 18:2 and 18:3, and the release of 20:4 appeared to be mainly from the phosphatidylethanolamine fraction. These data suggest that oleic acid does not activate endothelial cells. Furthermore, linoleic acid and other omega-6 fatty acids appear to be the most proinflammatory and possibly atherogenic fatty acids.
 ...
PMID:Fatty acid-mediated activation of vascular endothelial cells. 1095 18

Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR) are ligand-activated transcription factors which form a subfamily of the nuclear receptor gene family. PPAR activators have effects on both metabolic risk factors and on vascular inflammation related to atherosclerosis. PPAR have profound effects on the metabolism of lipoproteins and fatty acids. PPAR alpha binds hypolipidemic fibrates, whereas PPAR gamma has a high affinity for antidiabetic glitazones. Both PPAR are activated by fatty acids and their derivatives. Activation of PPAR alpha increases the catabolism of fatty acids at several levels. In the liver, it increases uptake of fatty acids and activates their beta-oxidation. The effects that PPAR alpha exerts on triglyceride-rich lipoproteins is due to their stimulation of lipoprotein lipase and repression of apolipoprotein CIII expression, while the effects on high-density lipoproteins depend upon the regulation of apolipoproteins AI and AII. PPAR gamma has profound effects on the differentiation and function of adipose tissue, where it is highly expressed. PPAR are also expressed in atherosclerotic lesions. PPAR are present in vascular endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, monocytes, and monocyte-derived macrophages. Via negative regulation of nuclear factor-kappa B and activator protein-1 signalling pathways, PPAR alpha inhibits expression of inflammatory genes, such as interleukin-6, cyclooxygenase-2, and endothelin-1. Furthermore, PPAR alpha inhibits expression of monocyte-recruiting proteins such as vascular cell adhesion molecule (VCAM)-1 and induces apoptosis in monocyte-derived macrophages. PPAR gamma activation in macrophages and foam cells inhibits the expression of activated genes such as inducible nitric oxide synthase, matrix metalloproteinase-9 and scavenger receptor A. PPAR gamma may also affect the recruitment of monocytes in atherosclerotic lesions as it is involved in the expression of VCAM-1 and intracellular adhesion molecule-1 in vascular endothelial cells. The involvement of PPAR in atherosclerosis, a disease with a chronic inflammatory character, suggests that they may play a role in other inflammatory-related diseases as well.
 ...
PMID:Role of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR) in atherosclerosis. 1100 63

Type 2 diabetic subjects have an increased propensity to premature atherosclerosis. Alpha tocopherol (AT), a potent antioxidant, has several anti-atherogenic effects. There is scanty data on AT supplementation on inflammation in Type 2 diabetic subjects. The aim of the study was to test the effect of RRR-AT supplementation (1200 IU/d) on plasma C-reactive protein (CRP) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) release from activated monocyte in Type 2 diabetic patients with and without macrovascular complications compared to matched controls. The volunteers comprised Type 2 diabetic subjects with macrovascular disease (DM2-MV, n = 23), Type 2 diabetic subjects without macrovascular complications (DM2, n = 24), and matched controls (C, n = 25). Plasma high sensitive CRP (Hs-CRP) and Monocyte IL-6 were assayed at baseline, following 3 months of supplementation and following a 2 month washout phase. DM2-MV subjects have elevated HsCRP and monocyte IL-6 compared to controls. AT supplementation significantly lowered levels of C-reactive protein and monocyte interleukin-6 in all three groups. In conclusion, AT therapy decreases inflammation in diabetic patients and controls and could be an adjunctive therapy in the prevention of atherosclerosis.
 ...
PMID:Alpha tocopherol supplementation decreases serum C-reactive protein and monocyte interleukin-6 levels in normal volunteers and type 2 diabetic patients. 1105 81

The functional 5A/6A polymorphism of the stromelysin-1 promoter has been implicated as a potential genetic marker for the progression of angiographically determined atherosclerosis in patients with coronary artery disease. Recently, a novel interleukin-6 (IL-6) gene functional G/C polymorphism at -174 in the promoter has also been reported. In this study, we analyzed the relation of these two polymorphisms with carotid artery atherosclerosis in 109 randomly selected, middle-aged men without exercise-induced ischemia. Atherosclerosis was quantified as intima-media thickness (IMT) by high-resolution ultrasonography. Univariately, stromelysin genotype was significantly (P:=0.015) associated with IMT, and this relation remained (P:=0.033) after adjustments for age, cardiorespiratory fitness, body mass index, smoking, LDL cholesterol, and systolic blood pressure and for sonographers. The 5A/6A polymorphism independently explained 7% of the variance in carotid bifurcation IMT. The IL-6 polymorphism was also significantly associated (P:=0. 036) with increased IMT, with men homozygous for the G allele having IMT that was 11% greater than men homozygous for the C allele. Men who were homozygous for both the 6A and G alleles had an covariate adjusted IMT that was 36% greater than men who were homozygous for neither allele (P:<0.003). These data suggest that genetic factors that predispose to reduced matrix remodeling (stromelysin 6A allele) and to increased inflammation (IL-6 G allele) combine to increase susceptibility for intima-media thickening in the carotid bifurcation, a predilection site for atherosclerosis.
 ...
PMID:Stromelysin-1 and interleukin-6 gene promoter polymorphisms are determinants of asymptomatic carotid artery atherosclerosis. 1111 68

Immunosuppression may have an important impact on early graft coronary endothelial injury. We investigated functional and morphologic coronary alterations, myocardial expression, and cardiac release of possible mediators of allograft vasculopathy within 6 months after cardiac transplantation with respect to different immunosuppressive regimens. Epicardial and microvascular endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent vasomotor function and epicardial intimal thickening were measured in 8 transplant recipients treated with cyclosporin A (CyA), azathioprine, and prednisone (group 1), 9 transplant recipients treated with tacrolimus (TKL), azathioprine, and prednisone (group 2), and 14 patients treated with TKL, mycophenolate mofetil (MMF), and prednisone (group 3). The gene expressions of inducible and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (iNOS and eNOS), endothelin-1, prostacyclinsynthase, and thromboxansynthase were analyzed in endomyocardial biopsy specimens using semiquantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Transcardiac cytokine release, endothelin-1, and nitrate-release were determined from plasma samples. Epicardial endothelial dysfunction (vasoconstriction to acetylcholine > 10%) and microvascular smooth muscle cell dysfunction (flow velocity increase to adenosine and nifedipine < 2.0) were enhanced in heart transplant recipients immunosuppressed with TKL, azathioprine, and prednisone. The prevalence of epicardial dysfunction was 78% in group 2 versus 44% and 46% in group 1 and 3 (p < 0.05), respectively. The prevalence of microvascular dysfunction was 56% in group 2 versus 13% and 7% in group 1 and 3 (p < 0.02), respectively. Coronary vasomotor dysfunction was associated with increased myocardial iNOS expression (p < 0.05), decreased eNOS expression (p < 0.05), and enhanced cardiac immunoreactive interleukin-6 (p < 0.01). Coronary intimal thickening was not different between the groups. The combination of TKL and MMF appears to be superior to TKL and azathioprine (and comparable to CyA and azathioprine) concerning preservation of early coronary vasomotor function, eNOS expression, iNOS suppression as well as cardiac interleukin-6 release. This may have an important impact on subsequent development of transplant coronary atherosclerosis.
 ...
PMID:Coronary vasomotor dysfunction in the cardiac allograft: impact of different immunosuppressive regimens. 1111 79

Inflammation is one of the most important mechanisms that contribute to coronary artery disease (CAD). One of the micro-organisms that is mentioned as a source of the inflammation is Chlamydia pneumoniae. In this study, we investigated the relationship between titres of IgG and IgA antibodies to C. pneumoniae and the clinical course, during hospitalisation and during an 18-month follow-up, in 211 patients admitted to hospital with unstable angina pectoris. Slightly more patients who were refractory during their hospitalisation were positive for C. pneumoniae antibodies than patients who could be stabilised by drug treatment (53 vs. 43%, for IgG and 16 vs. 11% for IgA, respectively)(n.s.). In logistic regression analysis no significant predictive values were observed for the relationship between antibody titres and clinical course. The antibody titres to C. pneumoniae were lower in the unstable angina patients who had plasma levels of interleukin-10 (IL-10) above 5 pg/ml than in the patients with levels below 5 pg/ml, and higher in smokers than in non-smokers. No associations were observed between antibody titres to C. pneumoniae and C-reactive protein (CRP), interleukin-6 (IL-6), age, total cholesterol levels, fibrin degradation products (FDP), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR). In conclusion, there was no significant association between antibody titres to C. pneumoniae and risk of events during hospitalisation and the 18-month follow-up period in patients admitted for unstable angina pectoris.
Atherosclerosis 2000 Dec
PMID:Antibodies to Chlamydia pneumoniae and clinical course in patients with unstable angina pectoris. 1116 40

Inflammation plays a key role in susceptibility to coronary atherosclerosis and response to therapy. A diverse array of factors modulates inflammation, including interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and CD14 receptors on the surface of macrophages. Genes encoding for inflammatory markers have variants that regulate their expression and are potential risk factors for atherosclerosis. We prospectively analyzed the possible association of CD14 -260C/T, TNF-alpha -308G/A, and IL-6 -174G/C variants, located in the promoter regions, with the severity, progression, and response to therapy of coronary atherosclerosis in a well-characterized cohort. We studied 375 subjects enrolled in the Lipoprotein and Coronary Atherosclerosis Study (LCAS). Genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction mapping. Fasting plasma lipids and quantitative coronary angiograms were obtained at baseline and 2.5 years following randomization to fluvastatin or placebo. Distributions of genotypes were--for CD14: 100 CC, 184 CT, and 86 TT; IL-6: 152 GG, 153 GC, and 62 CC; and TNF-alpha: 244 GG, 110 GA, and 17 AA. The CD14 CC genotype was associated with incidence of new coronary occlusion (P=0.026); TNF-alpha AA genotype with history of myocardial infarction (MI, P=0.04), and A allele with total occlusions at baseline (P=0.027), and systolic blood pressure (P=0.046); and IL-6-174 CC genotype with baseline minimum lumen diameter (P=0.043) and reduction in lipoprotein(a) with fluvastatin (P=0.03). Otherwise, no association between the genotypes and the biochemical, angiographic, and clinical phenotypes was detected, and neither were genotype-treatment interactions. Functional variants of CD14 -260C/T, TNF-alpha -308G/A, and IL-6 -174G/C, implicated in the susceptibility to infection, are unlikely to confer major risk for susceptibility to coronary atherosclerosis and its progression or response to therapy in the LCAS population.
 ...
PMID:A prospective study of genetic markers of susceptibility to infection and inflammation, and the severity, progression, and regression of coronary atherosclerosis and its response to therapy. 1119 26

GH deficiency is associated with increased cardiovascular mortality and early manifestations of atherosclerosis. Elevated serum homocyst(e)ine levels have been found to be associated with increased cardiovascular risk. The effect of GH replacement on homocyst(e)ine has not been investigated to date. We evaluated the effect of GH replacement on fasting homocyst(e)inemia in a group of men with adult-onset GH deficiency in a randomized, single blind, placebo-controlled trial. Forty men with adult-onset GH deficiency were randomized to GH or placebo for 18 months, with dose adjustments made according to serum insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) levels. Fasting serum homocyst(e)ine, folate, vitamin B12, and total T(3) levels were determined at baseline and 6 and 18 months. Anthropometry, IGF-I levels, insulin, and glucose were measured at 1, 3, 6, 12, and 18 months. Nutritional assessment, body composition, total T(4), thyroid hormone binding index, and free T(4) index were assessed every 6 months. Homocyst(e)ine decreased in the GH-treated group compared with that in the placebo group (net difference, -1.2 +/- 0.6 micromol/L; confidence interval, -2.4, -0.02 micromol/L; P = 0.047). Homocyst(e)ine at baseline was negatively correlated with plasma levels of folate (r = -0.41; P = 0.0087). Total T(3) increased in the GH-treated group vs. that in the placebo group (net difference, 0.17 +/- 0.046 ng/dL; confidence interval, 0.071, 0.26 nmol/L; P = 0.0012). Folate and vitamin B12 levels did not significantly change between groups. Changes in homocyst(e)ine were negatively correlated with changes in IGF-I. For each 1 nmol/L increase in IGF-I, homocyst(e)ine decreased by 0.04 +/- 0.02 micromol/L (P = 0.029). In contrast, changes in homocyst(e)ine did not correlate with changes in folate, vitamin B12, total T(3), C-reactive protein, interleukin-6, or insulin levels. This study shows that GH replacement decreases fasting homocyst(e)ine levels compared with placebo. This may be one of the mechanisms involved in the putative modulation of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular risk by GH replacement.
 ...
PMID:Effects of growth hormone (GH) administration on homocyst(e)ine levels in men with GH deficiency: a randomized controlled trial. 1129 77


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