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Vasomotor dysfunction in the thoracic aorta of Marfan syndrome is associated with accumulation of oxidative stress.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
We have described that the progression of thoracic aortic aneurysm in Marfan syndrome is accompanied with aortic vascular dysfunction. In the present study, w hypothesized that the impaired contractile function and endothelial-dependent relaxation could be resulted from oxidative stress in the thoracic aorta. Adrenergic contraction and cholinergic relaxation of thoracic aortae from mice (n=40; age=3, 6, 9months) heterozygous for FBN1 allele (Fbn1C(1039G/+)), a well-defined model of Marfan syndrome, were compared with those from control (n=40). The aortic 8-isoprostane level, an oxidative stress marker, was 32-50% great...
Source: Vascular Pharmacology - October 29, 2009 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Yang HH, van Breemen C, Chung AW Tags: Vascul Pharmacol Source Type: journals

Thyroid hormone and chronically unloaded hearts.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The heart is subjected to chronic mechanical unloading during prolonged spaceflight and microgravity. The heart in patients with end-stage heart failure is also unloaded in prolonged duration after left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) are implanted. Heterotopic heart transplantation in rats is an established model of chronic cardiac unloading, and has been used to investigate the effects of chronic cardiac unloading on the heart. Observations that have been found using this experimental model are as follow. Chronic cardiac unloading induces time-dependent depressions of Ca(2+) handling and myocyte contractility, whic...
Source: Vascular Pharmacology - October 29, 2009 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Ito K, Kagaya Y, Shimokawa H Tags: Vascul Pharmacol Source Type: journals

Thyroid hormone and angiogenesis.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In models of thyroid hormone-induced cardiac hypertrophy, there is appropriate, supportive angiogenesis. Twenty years ago in one such model, angiogenesis in response to the hormone was observed before hypertrophy developed and it is now understood that iodothyronines induce neovascularization in a variety of settings, including the heart, ischemic striated muscle and tumor beds. The molecular mechanism of the pro-angiogenic action of thyroid hormone is both nongenomic and genomic. It is initiated nongenomically at the cell surface receptor for the hormone on integrin alphavbeta3. Kinase transduction of the hormone sign...
Source: Vascular Pharmacology - October 29, 2009 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Luidens MK, Mousa SA, Davis FB, Lin HY, Davis PJ Tags: Vascul Pharmacol Source Type: journals

Macrophage cholesteryl ester mobilization and atherosclerosis.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Accumulation of cholesteryl esters (CE) stored as cytoplasmic lipid droplets is the main characteristic of macrophage foam cells that are central to the development of atherosclerotic plaques. Since only unesterified or free cholesterol (FC) can be effluxed from the cells to extracellular cholesterol acceptors, hydrolysis of CE is the obligatory first step in CE mobilization from macrophages. This reaction, catalyzed by neutral cholesteryl ester hydrolase (CEH), is increasingly being recognized as the rate-limiting step in FC efflux. CEH, therefore, regulates the process of reverse cholesterol transport and ultimate el...
Source: Vascular Pharmacology - October 28, 2009 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Ghosh S, Zhao B, Bie J, Song J Tags: Vascul Pharmacol Source Type: journals

Thyroid hormone and Myocardial Mitochondrial Biogenesis.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Mitochondria have been central in the development of some of the most important ideas in modern biology. Since the discovery that mitochondria have its own DNA and specific mutations and deletions were found in association with neuromuscular and heart diseases, as well as in aging, an extraordinary number of publications have followed, and the term mitochondrial medicine was coined. Recently, it has been found that thyroid hormone (TH) stimulates cardiac mitochondrial biogenesis increasing myocardial mitochondrial mass, mitochondrial respiration, oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), enzyme activities, mitochondrial prot...
Source: Vascular Pharmacology - October 23, 2009 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Marín-García J Tags: Vascul Pharmacol Source Type: journals

The cross-talk between Thyroid hormones and the Renin-Angiotensin System.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Thyroid hormones (THs) exert multiple effects on the heart and vascular system. As consequence, altered cardiovascular function observed in the thyroid diseases correspond to one of the most important and clinically relevant aspects found in both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism. Beside THs' direct effects on the heart and vascular system, in the last three decades several studies have implicated the Renin-Angiotensin System (RAS) in some of the cardiovascular effects of THs, with this interaction suggesting that RAS may be an important mediator of THs actions. In the present review, we discuss the alterations in the...
Source: Vascular Pharmacology - October 23, 2009 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Barreto-Chaves ML, Carrillo-Sepúlveda MA, Carneiro-Ramos MS, Gomes DA, Diniz GP Tags: Vascul Pharmacol Source Type: journals

Anti-angiogenic activity of triptolide in anaplastic thyroid carcinoma is mediated by targeting vascular endothelial and tumor cells.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Triptolide is confirmed to suppress angiogenesis of anaplastic thyroid carcinoma. Here we further expound the precise mechanism involved in this activity. Triptolide downregulated nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) pathway and its targeting genes associated with endothelial cells mobilization in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and impaired VEGF expression in thyroid carcinoma TA-K cells. Furthermore, both triptolide and the conditioned medium from triptolide-treated TA-K cells (CMT) significantly attenuated proliferation, migration and tube formation of HUVECs. In vivo, triptolide inhibited TA-K cells-i...
Source: Vascular Pharmacology - October 22, 2009 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Zhu W, He S, Li Y, Qiu P, Shu M, Ou Y, Zhou Y, Leng T, Xie J, Zheng X, Yan G Tags: Vascul Pharmacol Source Type: journals

Regulation of arteriolar density in adult myocardium during low thyroid conditions.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Low thyroid function induced by either propylthiouracil (PTU) treatment or thyroidectomy surgery led to a reduction of arteriolar density in adult rat myocardium, which can be prevented by treatment with thyroxine or the thyroid hormone analogue 3,5-diiodothyropropionic acid (DITPA). However, many questions related to pathophysiological changes and the regulation of arteriolar density in the heart due to hypothyroidism remain unanswered. Sprague Dawley rats were treated with PTU in drinking water for 1, 3, and 6weeks, or co-treated with the vasodilator dipyridamole and PTU for 6weeks, or treated with PTU for 6weeks and...
Source: Vascular Pharmacology - October 19, 2009 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Liu Y, Sherer BA, Redetzke RA, Gerdes AM Tags: Vascul Pharmacol Source Type: journals

Thyroid hormones and cardiac arrhythmias.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Thyroid hormone plays an important role in cardiac electrophysiology and Ca(2+) handling through both genomic and nongenomic mechanisms of action, while both actions can interfere. Chronic changes in the amount of circulating thyroid hormone due to thyroid dysfunction or systemic disease result in structural, electrophysiological and Ca(2+) handling remodeling, while acute changes may affect basal activity of cardiac cells membrane systems. Consequently, long-term or rapid modulation of sarcolemmal ion channels, Ca(2+) cycling proteins and intercellular communicating channels by thyroid hormone may affect heart functio...
Source: Vascular Pharmacology - October 19, 2009 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Tribulova N, Knezl V, Shainberg A, Seki S, Soukup T Tags: Vascul Pharmacol Source Type: journals

Alterations in lung arginine metabolism in lambs with pulmonary hypertension associated with increased pulmonary blood flow.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This study provides further insights into the molecular mechanisms leading to decreased NO signaling in Shunt lambs and suggests that altered arginine metabolism may play a role in the development of the endothelial dysfunction associated with pulmonary hypertension secondary to increased pulmonary blood flow. PMID: 19818875 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Vascular Pharmacology)
Source: Vascular Pharmacology - October 6, 2009 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Sharma S, Kumar S, Sud N, Wiseman DA, Tian J, Rehmani I, Datar S, Oishi P, Fratz S, Venema RC, Fineman JR, Black SM Tags: Vascul Pharmacol Source Type: journals

Androgen deficiency and atherosclerosis: The lipid link.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The relationship between androgens deficiency and atherosclerosis is complex, poorly understood, and remains controversial. The aim of this review is to evaluate the data in the literature to determine if androgen deficiency modulates lipid profiles and contributes to atherosclerosis development or progression. Studies in animal and humans suggest that androgen deficiency is associated with increased triglycerides (TG's), total cholesterol (TC), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Although the effects of androgen deficiency on high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) remains controversial, recent data ...
Source: Vascular Pharmacology - October 5, 2009 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Traish AM, Abdou R, Kypreos KE Tags: Vascul Pharmacol Source Type: journals

Alendronate affects calcium dynamics in cardiomyocytes in vitro.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Therapy with bisphosphonates, including alendronate (ALN), is considered a safe and effective treatment for osteoporosis. However, recent studies have reported an unexpected increase in serious atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients treated with bisphosphonates. The mechanism that explains this side effect remains unknown. Since AF is associated with an altered sarcoendoplasmic reticulum calcium load, we studied how ALN affects cardiomyocyte calcium homeostasis and protein isoprenylation in vitro. Acute and long-term (48h) treatment of atrial and ventricular cardiomyocytes with ALN (10(-8)-10(-6)M) was performed. Changes...
Source: Vascular Pharmacology - October 4, 2009 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Kemeny-Suss N, Kasneci A, Rivas D, Afilalo J, Komarova SV, Chalifour LE, Duque G Tags: Vascul Pharmacol Source Type: journals

Thyroid Hormone and Atherosclerosis.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
It is generally accepted that euthyroid state is preferred for the cardiovascular system because both hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism cause or accelerate cardiovascular diseases. And hypothyroidism is known to be associated with atherosclerosis and ischemic heart diseases. The accelerated atherosclerosis in hypothyroid state has been traditionally ascribed to atherogenic lipid profile, diastolic hypertension and impaired endothelial function. In addition, recent studies suggest that hypothyroidism is associated with the emerging risk factors for atherosclerosis such as hyperhomocysteinemia and an increase in C-react...
Source: Vascular Pharmacology - October 2, 2009 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Ichiki T Tags: Vascul Pharmacol Source Type: journals

Interaction between bone morphogenetic proteins and endothelin-1 in human pulmonary artery smooth muscle.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This study examines the regulation of endothelin-1 (ET-1), a potent vasoconstrictor and comitogen that is implicated in the pathogenesis of heritable PAH, by ligands for the BMPR2. Immunohistochemical studies showed that pulmonary artery segments removed from normotensive human lungs express BMPR2 and bone morphogenetic proteins 2, 4 and 7 (BMP2, BMP4 and BMP7). In the presence of BMP7 and BMP4 there was a significant inhibition of ET-1 release, induced by cytokines, from cultured pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells. Fresh ring segments of pulmonary artery were assessed for their response to ET-1 in the presence and absen...
Source: Vascular Pharmacology - September 24, 2009 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Din S, Sarathchandra P, Yacoub MH, Chester AH Tags: Vascul Pharmacol Source Type: journals

Pharmacological inhibition of the hypertensive response to combretastatin A-4 phosphate in rats.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In this study, we examined the potential cardiac toxicity and hypertensive effects of CA4P, and defined the most effective pharmacological inhibition of CA4P-induced hypertension in rats. There was a significant, concentration dependent increase in mean arterial blood pressure with a maximum increase of about 60% of the baseline MAP at 30 mg/kg of CA4P compared to the saline control. However, there was no significant increase in the cardiac troponin I level after CA4P injection. Nitroglycerin and the calcium channel blocker diltiazem effectively blocked the hypertensive effects of CA4P while the beta blocker metoprolol was...
Source: Vascular Pharmacology - September 4, 2009 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Ke Q, Bodyak N, Rigor DL, Hurst NW, Chaplin D, Kang PM Tags: Vascul Pharmacol Source Type: journals

Diminished Omega-3 Fatty Acids are Associated with Carotid Plaques from Neurologically Symptomatic Patients: Implications for Carotid Interventions.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The omega-3 fatty acids, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), are prevalent in fish oil and their cardioprotective effects are thought to be mediated by anti-inflammatory mechanisms. The aim of this study is to determine whether omega-3 fatty acids are associated with carotid plaques from neurologically symptomatic patients. Plaques were obtained from 41 patients (mean age 62 [44 - 84]; 24-asymptomatic, 17-symptomatic). Intra-plaque lipids were assessed with mass spectrometry. Compared to asymptomatic patients, significantly diminished omega-3 fatty acids DHA (545.8+/-98ng/g vs. 270.7+/-19.6ng/g,...
Source: Vascular Pharmacology - September 2, 2009 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Bazan HA, Lu Y, Thoppil D, Fitzgerald TN, Hong S, Dardik A Tags: Vascul Pharmacol Source Type: journals

Withdrawal of fenofibrate treatment partially abrogates preventive neuroprotection in stroke via loss of vascular protection.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
To explore the mechanisms of action of preventive neuroprotection induced by PPAR-alpha activation, we have evaluated the neuronal, vascular effects of preventive treatment with fenofibrate up until the induction of experimental brain ischaemia and fenofibrate treatment withdrawn 3days before ischaemia induction. Fenofibrate (200mg/kg/day) was administered in rats for 14days or withdrawn 3days before induction of cerebral ischaemia. Animals underwent a 1-hour middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAo), followed by reperfusion for 24h. The MCA's vasoreactivity was analyzed and brain sections were used to assess infarct siz...
Source: Vascular Pharmacology - September 1, 2009 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Ouk T, Laprais M, Bastide M, Gautier S, Mostafa K, Bordet R Tags: Vascul Pharmacol Source Type: journals

Enhancement of vascular relaxation in rat aorta by phytoestrogens from Curcuma comosa Roxb.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The present study aims to examine the effects and mechanisms of C. comosa Roxb., an indigenous medicinal plant containing phytoestrogens, on vascular relaxation. Using an organ bath system, acute exposure of intact or endothelium-denuded aortic rings to the hexane extract of C. comosa or an isolated diarylheptanoid compound, D3, did not induce relaxation. However, pre-incubation of aortic rings for 20 mins with hexane extract of C. comosa (10microg/ml) or the isolated diarylheptanoid compound, D3, (0.1, 1 and 10microg/ml) markedly enhanced endothelial-dependent relaxation in response to ACh. The hexane extract did not ...
Source: Vascular Pharmacology - August 4, 2009 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Intapad S, Suksamrarn A, Piyachaturawat P Tags: Vascul Pharmacol Source Type: journals

Hyperhomocysteinemia Induced by Feeding Rats Diets Rich in DL-Homocysteine Thiolactone Promotes Alterations on Carotid Reactivity Independent of Arterial Structure.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
We aimed to investigate whether hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy) interfers on carotid vascular reactivity, and how morphological and functional aspects are related. With this purpose male Wistar rats received a solution of DL-Homocysteine-thiolactone (1g/kg body-weight/day) in the drinking water for 4, 15 and 30days. Lipid profile, carotid artery-morphology and -responsiveness to acetylcholine, phenylephrine and endothelin-1 were analyzed. Similar increase on homocysteine plasmatic levels occurred in rats treated for 4, 15 and 30days. High levels of serum-cholesterol and triglycerides were observed after HHcy 30days. Vascul...
Source: Vascular Pharmacology - August 2, 2009 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: de Andrade CR, Tirapelli CR, Haddad R, Eberlin MN, Ramalho LN, Iyomasa MM, Uyemura SA, de Oliveira AM Tags: Vascul Pharmacol Source Type: journals

Two dissimilar AT(1) agonists distinctively activate AT(1) receptors located on the luminal membrane of coronary endothelium.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Diverse intracoronary agonists cause cardiac effects while acting on coronary endothelial luminal membrane (CELM) receptor. Our data show: a) the presence of AT(1)R in isolated CELM and in all cardiac cell types. b) Sustained Intracoronary infusions of: Ang II-POL; a large sized molecule (~15,000kDa) confined to the vessel lumen, that can only act on CELM's AT(1)R or Ang II (~1kDa), both exert the same maximum positive inotropic (PIE) and coronary constriction (CPP). The effects of these two agonists are blocked by Losartan and Sar-POL (~15,000kDa only acts on CELM). Ang II effects are transient due to desensitization ...
Source: Vascular Pharmacology - July 26, 2009 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Castillo-Hernández J, Torres-Tirado D, Barajas-Espinosa A, Chi-Ahumada E, Ramiro-Díaz J, Ceballos G, Rubio R Tags: Vascul Pharmacol Source Type: journals

Resorcylidene aminoguanidine induces antithrombotic action that is not dependent on its anti-glycation activity.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In conclusion, although RAG and PAG displayed similar anti-glycation and anti-oxidation activities in vitro, only RAG showed antithrombotic activity in vivo that involved activation of COX-2/PGI(2) pathway. Our results indicate that designing novel RAG derivatives with optimal antithrombotic and anti-glycation activities may prove useful to treat diabetic complications. PMID: 19635586 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Vascular Pharmacology)
Source: Vascular Pharmacology - July 23, 2009 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Watala C, Dobaczewski M, Kazmierczak P, Gebicki J, Nocun M, Zitnanova I, Ulicna O, Durackova Z, Waczulíková I, Carsky J, Chlopicki S Tags: Vascul Pharmacol Source Type: journals

Call for a reference model of chronic hind limb ischemia to investigate therapeutic angiogenesis.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In conclusion, chronic, moderate hind limb ischemia with consistently reduced perfusion levels persisting over a prolonged period can be established reliably in rnu athymic nude rats and is responsive to pro-angiogenic treatments such as EPC transplantation. This study provides a detailed protocol of a highly reproducible reference model to test novel therapeutic options for limb ischemia. PMID: 19619670 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Vascular Pharmacology)
Source: Vascular Pharmacology - July 16, 2009 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Yang Z, von Ballmoos MW, Diehm N, Baumgartner I, Kalka C, Di Santo S Tags: Vascul Pharmacol Source Type: journals

Anti-angiogenic effect of caffeic acid on retinal neovascularization.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Pathological angiogenesis is the most common cause of vision loss at all ages including retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), diabetic retinopathy, and age-related macular degeneration. ROP is a proliferative disease of the retinal vasculature in premature infants. Herein, we demonstrated caffeic acid (CA) has the anti-angiogenic activity to retinal endothelial cells and retinal neovascularization in a mouse model of ROP, which might be related to the suppression of ROS-induced VEGF expression. CA effectively inhibited VEGF-induced proliferation of retinal endothelial cells in concentration-dependent manner. In addition, V...
Source: Vascular Pharmacology - July 5, 2009 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Kim JH, Lee BJ, Kim JH, Yu YS, Kim KW Tags: Vascul Pharmacol Source Type: journals

Counter-regulation by atorvastatin of gene modulations induced by L-NAME hypertension is associated with vascular protection.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In conclusion, our data show that atorvastatin specifically antagonizes a set of genes modulated by L-NAME-induced accelerated hypertension. PMID: 19586617 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Vascular Pharmacology)
Source: Vascular Pharmacology - July 4, 2009 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Dupuis M, Nadaud S, Brocheriou I, Haloui M, Louedec L, Capron F, Michel JB, Soubrier F Tags: Vascul Pharmacol Source Type: journals

Transfection of HGF gene enhances endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) function and improves EPCs transplant efficiency for balloon-induced arterial injury in hypercholesterolemic rats.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Risk factors for coronary heart disease can reduce the number of endothelial progenitor cells (EPC) and impair EPC function, thus hindering their utility in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases. In the present study, we began exploring the feasibility of genetic modification of EPCs with hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) to counter the effects of these risk factors and enhance the biological functions of EPCs. The effects of HGF transfection on proliferation, migration and angiogenesis of EPCs were investigated. Additionally, the role of ERK1/2 in this process was evaluated through the observation of ERK1/2 and ERK1/2...
Source: Vascular Pharmacology - July 1, 2009 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Song MB, Yu XJ, Zhu GX, Chen JF, Zhao G, Huang L Tags: Vascul Pharmacol Source Type: journals

Early inhibition of EGFR signaling prevents diabetes-induced up-regulation of multiple gene pathways in the mesenteric vasculature.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Diabetes mellitus is associated with vascular complications including an impairment of vascular function and alterations in the reactivity of blood vessels to vasoactive hormones. However, the signaling mechanisms leading to vascular dysfunction in diabetes are not fully understood. This microarray-based study was designed to identify differential gene expression between the normal and diabetic mesenteric vasculature and to investigate the effect of inhibiting epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) signaling on global gene expression in the mesenteric bed of streptozocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. Transcriptome anal...
Source: Vascular Pharmacology - June 30, 2009 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Benter I, Benboubetra M, Hollins AJ, Yousif M, Canatan H, Akhtar S Tags: Vascul Pharmacol Source Type: journals

TW96, a synthetic 1,4-naphthoquinone, differentially regulates vascular and endothelial cells survival.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In this study, we examined the effects of the novel synthetic naphthoquinone, 2-pyrrilidino-3-(p-hydroxyphenylamino)-1,4-naphthoquinone (TW-96), on cultured VSMCs and endothelial cells (ECs). Pharmacological concentrations of the derivative TW96 were found to induce VSMCs death, probably by increasing ROS levels while decreasing mitochondrial potential DeltaPsi(m)) without affecting ECs. Treatment of tissue cultures with ROS is known to induce MAPK activity. Our observations showed prolonged phosphorylation and perinuclear accumulation of ERK1/2 and p38 simultaneously with an inhibition of MKP1. Increased expression of Bax...
Source: Vascular Pharmacology - June 30, 2009 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Aviv Y, Etzion S, Win T, Bittner S, Granot Y Tags: Vascul Pharmacol Source Type: journals

Specific p38 inhibition in stimulated endothelial cells: A possible new anti-inflammatory strategy after hypothermia and rewarming.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
To protect immature organ systems during corrective cardiac surgery, patients are cooled to a minimal temperature of 17 degrees C during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). However hypothermic CPB triggers the whole body inflammatory response and results in unwanted prolonged inflammation. The present study was designed to clarify the hypothermia and rewarming induced mechanisms and examine interventional pharmacological strategies that could prevent prolonged inflammation. Stimulated primary human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were exposed to a dynamic temperature protocol analogous to clinical settings. Further...
Source: Vascular Pharmacology - June 29, 2009 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Diestel A, Roessler J, Pohl-Schickinger A, Koster A, Drescher C, Berger F, Schmitt KR Tags: Vascul Pharmacol Source Type: journals

Enhanced hypertrophy in ob/ob mice due to an impairment in expression of atrial natriuretic peptide.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
CONCLUSION: This study establishes the role of leptin as an anti-hypertrophic agent during pressure overload hypertrophy, and suggests that a key molecular event is the leptin mediated activation of NFATc4 that regulates the transcriptional activation of the ANP gene promoter. PMID: 19560554 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Vascular Pharmacology)
Source: Vascular Pharmacology - June 24, 2009 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Mascareno E, Beckles D, Dhar-Mascareno M, Siddiqui MA Tags: Vascul Pharmacol Source Type: journals

Effects of propofol on responses of rat isolated renal arteriole to vasoactive agents.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Rat renal arterial rings were suspended in organ chambers for isometric tension recording. The effects of propofol on the resting tone, KCl-, norepinephrine (NE)-, serotonin- and thromboxane A(2) analog U46619-induced contractions were observed. The relaxation responses to propofol on KCl-, NE- and U46619-induced contractions were assessed in the absence or presence of cyclooxygenase inhibitor, nitric oxide synthetase inhibitor or specific K(+) channel inhibitor. Propofol did not significantly affect the resting tone, but inhibited the contractions induced by KCl-, NE-, serotonin- and U46619. Propofol (1-100 muM) conce...
Source: Vascular Pharmacology - June 17, 2009 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Liu Y, Chang H, Niu L, Xue W, Zhang X, Liang Y, Zhang M Tags: Vascul Pharmacol Source Type: journals

2-Methoxyestradiol Attenuates Bleomycin-Induced Pulmonary Hypertension and Fibrosis in Estrogen-Deficient Rats.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This study suggests that 2ME may have protective effects in bleomycin-induced PH and fibrosis. Further investigation of 2ME in pulmonary fibrosis and PH is warranted. PMID: 19540933 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Vascular Pharmacology)
Source: Vascular Pharmacology - June 17, 2009 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Tofovic SP, Zhang X, Jackson EK, Zhu H, Petrusevska G Tags: Vascul Pharmacol Source Type: journals

PPAR gamma protects cardiomyocytes against oxidative stress and apoptosis via Bcl-2 upregulation.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of death and disabilities worldwide. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma) agonists possess potent anti-inflammatory actions and have recently emerged as potential therapeutic agents for CVD. Here we show that H(2)O(2) induced apoptosis in cardiomyocytes with a marked down-regulation of Bcl-2 protein. The PPARgamma agonist rosiglitazone protected cardiomyocytes from oxidative stress and apoptosis. Cardiomyocytes constitutively overexpressing PPARgamma were resistant to oxidative stress-induced apoptosis and protected against impairment of mitochondr...
Source: Vascular Pharmacology - June 17, 2009 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Ren Y, Sun C, Sun Y, Tan H, Wu Y, Cui B, Wu Z Tags: Vascul Pharmacol Source Type: journals

Reduction of oxidative stress does not attenuate the development of angiotensin II-dependent hypertension in Ren-2 transgenic rats.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Results of our previous studies have suggested that enhanced generation of superoxide (O(2)(-)) may contribute to the pathophysiology of hypertension in Ren-2 transgenic rats (TGR). The present study was performed to evaluate in TGR the effects of chronic treatment with the O(2)(-) scavenger tempol and the antioxidant apocynin on the development of hypertension. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was monitored from 30 to 99 days of age in TGR and in normotensive Hannover-Sprague Dawley (HanSD) rats. At the end of the experiment, urinary protein and 8-isoprostane excretion were determined and angiotensin II (ANG II) and malo...
Source: Vascular Pharmacology - June 15, 2009 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Kopkan L, Husková Z, Vaňourková Z, Thumová M, Skaroupková P, Malý J, Kramer HJ, Dvořák P, Cervenka L Tags: Vascul Pharmacol Source Type: journals

NK(1) receptor-mediated endothelium-dependent relaxation and contraction with different sensitivity to post-receptor signaling in pulmonary arteries.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In rabbit intrapulmonary arteries, substance P (SP) has been reported to induce endothelium-dependent relaxation (EDR) and endothelium-dependent contraction (EDC) via tachykinin NK(1) receptors, and endothelium-independent contraction (EIC) via tachykinin NK(2) receptors. The present study pharmacologically examined whether these opposite responses (EDR and EDC) are mediated by the same NK(1) receptor. Five tachykinin agonists, including septide, a reportedly atypical NK(1) agonist, caused concentration-dependent EDR in the presence of NK(2) antagonist (SR-48968)+TXA(2) synthetase inhibitor (ozagrel), which blocked EIC...
Source: Vascular Pharmacology - June 15, 2009 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Miike T, Shirahase H, Kanda M, Kunishiro K, Kurahashi K Tags: Vascul Pharmacol Source Type: journals

Inhibition of endothelial cell adhesion by the new anti-inflammatory agent alpha-iso-cubebene.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The current study explored if alpha-iso-cubebene, a novel cubebene sesquiteroene compound purified from Schisandra chinensis, could attenuate the activities of adhesion molecules in tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha)-stimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). The study was performed on HUVECs that were pretreated with 25 microg/ml of alpha-iso-cubebene before TNF-alpha treatment. Treatment of HUVECs with alpha-iso-cubebene for 6 h significantly inhibited TNF-alpha-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation. HUVECs treated with alpha-iso-cubebene showed markedly suppressed TNF-alpha-induced mR...
Source: Vascular Pharmacology - June 14, 2009 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Choi YW, Kim HJ, Park SS, Chung JH, Lee HW, Oh SO, Kim BS, Kim JB, Chung HY, Yu BP, Kim CD, Yoon S Tags: Vascul Pharmacol Source Type: journals

Role of cyclooxygenase in vasodilation of retinal blood vessels induced by bradykinin in Brown Norway rats.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
We investigated the role of cyclooxygenase (COX) in bradykinin (BK)-induced vasodilation of retinal blood vessels in Brown Norway rats using a novel in vivo fluorescent fundus imaging technique. Under artificial ventilation, the animals were treated with tetrodotoxin, and the decreased blood pressure and heart rate were adjusted to the normal ranges by infusing pressor agents. Diameters of retinal blood vessels contained in the fluorescent fundus images were measured. Intravenous infusion of BK (1-30 microg/kg/min) increased diameters of retinal blood vessels and decreased blood pressure in a dose-dependent manner. The...
Source: Vascular Pharmacology - June 10, 2009 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Kojima N, Saito M, Mori A, Sakamoto K, Nakahara T, Ishii K Tags: Vascul Pharmacol Source Type: journals

HIF-1 attenuates Ref-1 expression in endothelial cells: Reversal by siRNA and inhibition of geranylgeranylation.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Redox factor-1 (Ref-1), a multifunctional protein with DNA repairing activities, plays a cytoprotective function by post-translational redox modification of numerous transcription factors, including hypoxia inducible factor-1 (HIF-1). In the present study, activation of HIF-1 by hypoxia and dimethyloxaloylglycine (DMOG), a hypoxia mimic, diminished Ref-1 mRNA and protein expression in human microvascular endothelial cells (HMEC-1). Similarly, adenoviral delivery of the stabilized form of HIF-1alpha decreased Ref-1 mRNA and protein levels. Accordingly, HIF-1alpha siRNA abolished the hypoxia-induced inhibition of Ref-1 e...
Source: Vascular Pharmacology - June 10, 2009 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Loboda A, Stachurska A, Dorosz J, Zurawski M, Wegrzyn J, Kozakowska M, Jozkowicz A, Dulak J Tags: Vascul Pharmacol Source Type: journals

Prolyl hydroxylase inhibition attenuates post-ischemic cardiac injury via induction of endoplasmic reticulum stress genes.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) unleashes cellular events that threaten organ survival. I/R affects endoplasmic reticulum (ER) integrity and initiates the unfolded protein response (UPR). The adaptive arm of the UPR attenuates ER stress by increasing expression of chaperones promoting proper protein folding. However, failure to resolve ER stress leads to apoptotis. We recently showed that prolyl hydroxylase inhibition (PHI) attenuated post-ischemic cardiac injury. We hypothesized that PHI attenuated myocardial I/R injury through modulation of the UPR. We show for the first time that PHI activates all three regulatory arms o...
Source: Vascular Pharmacology - June 10, 2009 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Natarajan R, Salloum FN, Fisher BJ, Smithson L, Almenara J, Fowler AA Tags: Vascul Pharmacol Source Type: journals

Effects of a PPAR-gamma agonist, on growth factor and insulin stimulated endothelial cells.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
CONCLUSION: PPAR-gamma agonists may have detrimental cardiovascular effects post angioplasty especially in patients with insulin resistance. We have shown that one of the mechanisms may be inhibition of endothelial regrowth and re-endothelialization by inhibition of VEGF/FGF stimulation of the ERK 1/2 pathways in endothelial cells. PMID: 19520186 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Vascular Pharmacology)
Source: Vascular Pharmacology - June 8, 2009 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Desouza CV, Gerety M, Hamel FG Tags: Vascul Pharmacol Source Type: journals

Alteration of endothelium-mediated vasodilator response in the rat hindlimb vasculature consecutive to chronic hypoxic stress: NO and EDHF involvement.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The previously documented impairment of hindlimb blood flow consecutive to chronic hypoxia might be related to endothelial vasomotor dysfunction. The aim of this study was to assess in-vivo the effect of chronic hypoxic stress on endothelium-mediated vasodilator response of hindlimb vascular bed, especially as regards to endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF) and nitric oxide (NO) pathway contribution. Dark Agouti rats were randomly assigned to live at barometric pressure approximately 760 mmHg (N rats) or approximately 550 mmHg (CH rats). Under anesthesia, catheters were placed in the carotid artery for art...
Source: Vascular Pharmacology - June 8, 2009 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Reboul C, Gibault A, Tanguy S, Dauzat M, Obert P Tags: Vascul Pharmacol Source Type: journals

Exercise increases the phenylephrine effects in isolated portal vein of trained rats.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
In conclusion, these data indicate that the training adapted the rat portal vein to respond vigorously to sympathetic stimuli even when the animal is exposed to this exercise. This increased response to sympathetic stimuli appears to involve an enhancement of the vasocontractile influence of endothelin that supplants the modulation exerted by nitric oxide (NO) and vasodilator prostanoids. PMID: 19520188 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Vascular Pharmacology)
Source: Vascular Pharmacology - June 8, 2009 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Chies AB, de Souza Rossignoli P Tags: Vascul Pharmacol Source Type: journals

Role of gender and estrogen receptors in the rat aorta endothelium-dependent relaxation to red wine polyphenols.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Regular intake of moderate amounts of beverages rich in polyphenols such as red wine is associated with a protective effect on the vascular system, in part, by increasing the endothelial formation of nitric oxide (NO), a major vasoprotective factor. Since estrogens are potent inducers of NO formation and polyphenols have been shown to have phytoestrogen properties, we determined whether estrogen receptors mediate the stimulatory effect of red wine polyphenols (RWPs) on the endothelial formation of NO using isolated rat aortic rings and cultured endothelial cells. RWPs caused endothelium-dependent relaxations, which wer...
Source: Vascular Pharmacology - June 8, 2009 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Kane MO, Anselm E, Rattmann YD, Auger C, Schini-Kerth VB Tags: Vascul Pharmacol Source Type: journals

Global upregulation of gene expression associated with renal dysfunction in DOCA-salt-induced hypertensive rats occurs via signaling cascades involving epidermal growth factor receptor: A microarray analysis.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Renal dysfunction is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with hypertension. In an attempt to understand the molecular mechanisms leading to renal dysfunction and in particular that of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and RasGTPase signaling, we analyzed global gene expression changes in the kidneys of deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt-induced hypertensive rats with and without treatment with AG1478, a selective inhibitor of EGFR tyrosine kinase, or FPTIII, a farnesyl transferase inhibitor known to inhibit RasGTPase. Microarray-based global gene expression analysis was performed in triplica...
Source: Vascular Pharmacology - May 2, 2009 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Benter IF, Canatan H, Benboubetra M, Yousif MH, Akhtar S Tags: Vascul Pharmacol Source Type: journals

Chronic epigallocatechin-gallate improves aortic reactivity of diabetic rats: Underlying mechanisms.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Diabetes mellitus is associated with major cardiovascular risk factors which are responsible for excess morbidity and mortality. Green tea catechins including epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) could exert beneficial health effects to ameliorate cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Thus, the effect of chronic administration of EGCG was studied on aortic reactivity of streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic rats. Male diabetic rats received EGCG 25 mg/kg/day for 8 weeks 1 week after diabetes induction. Contractile responses to KCl and phenylephrine (PE) and relaxation responses to acetylcholine (ACh) and sodium nitroprusside (SN...
Source: Vascular Pharmacology - April 21, 2009 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Roghani M, Baluchnejadmojarad T Tags: Vascul Pharmacol Source Type: journals

Sildenafil therapy in secondary pulmonary hypertension: Is there benefit in prolonged use?Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
CONCLUSION: Long-term use of sildenafil in patients with secondary forms of pulmonary hypertension is associated with a sustained improvement in cardio-pulmonary haemodynamics. Lack of improvement may be attributed to other factors apart from treatment failure, such as underlying disease progression or unrelated concurrent illness at time of assessment. PMID: 19386283 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Vascular Pharmacology)
Source: Vascular Pharmacology - April 19, 2009 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Chapman TH, Wilde M, Sheth A, Madden BP Tags: Vascul Pharmacol Source Type: journals

Post-transcriptional silencing of TRPC1 ion channel gene by RNA interference upregulates TRPC6 expression and store-operated Ca(2+) entry in A7r5 vascular smooth muscle cells.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
This study investigates functional consequences of TRPC1 ion channel downregulation observed in aging rat aorta by employing RNA interference in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells. For this purpose, A7r5 aortic smooth muscle cells were used in quantitative gene and protein expression as well as in functional analyses. According to quantitative RT-PCR results, TRPC3, TRPC4 and TRPC5 mRNAs were not at detectable levels. In siTRPC1-transfected cells, TRPC1 mRNA and protein levels were decreased by 40% and 64%; however, those of TRPC6 were drastically increased by 100% and 200%, respectively. In fura-2-loaded TRPC1 knockdow...
Source: Vascular Pharmacology - April 19, 2009 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Selli C, Erac Y, Kosova B, Tosun M Tags: Vascul Pharmacol Source Type: journals

Effects of U50,488H on hypoxia pulmonary hypertension and its underlying mechanism.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
The aim of the present study was to determine whether U50,488H, a selective kappa-opioid receptor agonist, inhibits the remodeling of the pulmonary artery (PA). In addition, changes in the concentrations of nitric oxide (NO), endothelin (ET) and angiotensin II (AngII) in hypoxic pulmonary hypertensive (HPH) rats were investigated to explore the mechanisms underlying the effects of U50, 488H on HPH. We found that intraperitoneal administration of U50,488H (every other day) during hypoxia depressed mean pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP) and attenuated right ventricular pressure (RVP) and right ventricular hypertrophy, a...
Source: Vascular Pharmacology - April 4, 2009 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Li J, Zhang P, Zhang QY, Zhang SM, Guo HT, Bi H, Wang YM, Sun X, Liu JC, Cheng L, Cui Q, Yu SQ, Kaye AD, Yi DH, Pei JM Tags: Vascul Pharmacol Source Type: journals

The vasorelaxant effect of caffeic acid phenethyl ester on porcine coronary artery ring segments.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) is a naturally occurring compound isolated from honeybee propolis whose cardiovascular properties remain uncertain. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible mechanisms of CAPE-induced vasorelaxation in porcine coronary artery rings. It was found that both the quiescent and pre-contracted coronary artery ring segments were relaxed by CAPE (10(-7)~10(-4) M). N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA), methylene blue and removal of endothelium significantly attenuated CAPE-induced relaxation of both quiescent and pre-contracted artery rings. This relaxing effect of CAPE on coron...
Source: Vascular Pharmacology - April 2, 2009 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Long Y, Han M, Chen J, Tian XZ, Chen Q, Wang R Tags: Vascul Pharmacol Source Type: journals

Inhibition of voltage-gated L-type calcium channels by labedipinedilol-A involves protein kinase C in rat cerebrovascular smooth muscle cells.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
Labedipinedilol-A, a novel calcium channel blocker with alpha/beta-adrenoceptor blockade properties, inhibits L-type calcium channels (LTCCs) in rat cerebrovascular smooth muscle cells (CSMCs). We used conventional whole cell patch-clamp electrophysiology to investigate Ba(2+) currents (I(Ba)) through LTCCs in rat CSMCs enzymatically dissociated from rat cerebral arteries. Labedipinedilol-A (1, 10 muM) reversibly inhibited I(Ba) in a voltage-dependent manner without modifying the I(Ba) current-voltage relationship. The I(Ba) was also abolished by the LTCC blocker nifedipine (1 muM), but enhanced by the LTCC activator B...
Source: Vascular Pharmacology - March 16, 2009 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Wu BN, Chen ML, Dai ZK, Lin YL, Yeh JL, Wu JR, Chen IJ Tags: Vascul Pharmacol Source Type: journals

A potent and nitric oxide-dependent hypotensive effect induced in rats by semi-purified fractions from Maytenus ilicifolia.Email this article to a colleague. Save this article to My Clippings. Discuss or comment on this article.
PMID: 19268563 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher] (Source: Vascular Pharmacology)
Source: Vascular Pharmacology - March 4, 2009 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Crestani S, Rattmann YD, Cipriani TR, de Souza LM, Iacomini M, Kassuya CA, Marques MC, da Silva-Santos JE Tags: Vascul Pharmacol Source Type: journals