Estradiol counteracts oxidized LDL-induced asymmetric dimethylarginine production by cultured human endothelial cells.

Objective: Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), an endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide (NO) synthase, is a novel cardiovascular risk factor produced by endothelial cells. ADMA levels are mainly regulated by the activity of dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolases (DDAH). Endothelial release of ADMA is increased in the presence of oxidized LDL cholesterol (oxLDL), whereas estrogens stimulate NO production by endothelial cells by increasing both expression and activity of NO synthase and by reducing ADMA levels. Thus, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the estradiol effects on the DDAH/ADMA/NO pathway in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) exposed to LDL. Methods…

The levels of quinone reductases, superoxide dismutase and glutathione-related enzymatic activities in diethylstilbestrol-induced carcinogenesis in the kidney of male Syrian golden hamsters.

The level of quinone oxidoreductases (microsomal and cytosolic DT-diaphorase, NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase and NADH-cytochrome b5 reductase), superoxide dismutase and glutathione-related enzymatic activities in diethylstilbestrol (DES)-induced carcinogenesis in kidney from Syrian golden hamsters are presented. Animals that exhibited two different stages of DES-induced carcinogenesis in kidney--pre- and neoplastic lesions and tumorous lesions (after 6 and 8 months of continuous exposure to DES respectively)--were studied in comparison to kidneys from control animals. A dramatic decrease in microsomal and cytosolic DT-diaphorase activities (13.6 and 37.8% of controls), as well as in glutat…

Estradiol, acting through estrogen receptor alpha, restores dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase activity and nitric oxide production in oxLDL-treated human arterial endothelial cells

Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) is an endogenous inhibitor of nitric oxide (NO) synthase. ADMA accumulation, mainly due to a decreased dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase (DDAH) activity, has been related to the development of cardiovascular diseases. We investigate whether estradiol prevents the changes induced by oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL) on the DDAH/ADMA/NO pathway in human umbilical artery endothelial cells (HUAEC). HUAEC were exposed to estradiol, native LDL (nLDL), oxLDL and their combinations for 24 h. In some experiments, cells were also exposed to the unspecific estrogen receptor (ER) antagonist ICI 182780, the specific ERα antagonist MPP or specific agonists …

Some glutathione-related enzymic activities in skeletal muscle and myocardium of the rat : adaptations to endurance training

The activity of glutathione S-transferase in hepatopancreas of Procambarus clarkii: Seasonal variations and the influence of environmental pollutants

Abstract 1. 1The glutathione S -transferase activity in hepatopancreas of the American red crayfish Procambarus clarkii after 15 days' acclimatization in tap water aquaria was measured in specimens collected monthly for a whole year, and shows seasonal variation. 2. 2. Previous data on the environmental pollution of Lake Albufera suggest a possible correlation with the activity tested in the different seasons of the year considering the results of non-acclimatized animals.

Activity and immunohistochemistry of DT-diaphorase in hamster and human kidney tumours.

We have studied the biochemical and immunohistochemical changes of DT-diaphorase in diethylstilbestrol (DES)-induced hamster kidney tumours and human biopsies from normal kidneys and renal clear cell carcinoma. The activities of primary and secondary antioxidants in these hamster and human tissues are also reported. DT-diaphorase is decreased in the different subcellular fractions of hamster and human tissues. In hamster kidney the activities of the one-electron quinone reductases show a nearly two-fold increase. Immunohistochemical findings confirm the decrease in DT-diaphorase in hamster and human tissues. This image is of special interest in the case of nephroblastoma (Wilms' tumour), si…

Antioxidant and glutathione-related enzymatic activities in rat sciatic nerve

Abstract The present work tries to establish the antioxidant capacity of the peripheral nervous tissue of the rat, in terms of the enzymatic activities present in this tissue that either prevent the formation of activated species as the semiquinone radical (DT-diaphorase), protect against activated oxygen species (superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase), conjugate natural toxic products or xenobiotics (glutathione S-transferases, especially the activity conjugating 4-hydroxy-nonenal), or complete the glutathione system metabolism (glutathione disulfide reductase, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase). All the activities studied are lower in this tissue than they are in liver, except for γ-glutam…

Estradiol, acting through ERα, induces endothelial non-classic renin-angiotensin system increasing angiotensin 1–7 production

Intracellular renin-angiotensin system (RAS) can operate independently of the circulating RAS. Estrogens provide protective effects by modulating the RAS. Our aim was to investigate the effect of estradiol (E2) on angiotensin converting enzymes (ACE) 1 and ACE2 expression and activities in human endothelial cells (HUVEC), and the role of estrogen receptors (ER). The results confirmed the presence of active intracellular RAS in HUVEC. Physiological concentrations of E2 induced a concentration-dependent increase of ACE1 and ACE2 mRNA expression and ACE1, but not ACE2, protein levels. ACE1 and ACE2 enzymatic activities were also induced with E2. These effects were mediated through ERα activati…

Some aspects of cardiac antioxidant defence: Ebselen (PZ 51) treatment increases glutathione peroxidase activity in the rat heart

Ebselcn (PZ 5 1 : 2-phenyl1.2-benzisoelenazol-3-( 2H)-one 1 is ii synthetic organoselenium compound with anti-inflammatory activity ( I . 21, which exhibits glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px)-like activity, catalysing the reduction o f hydrogen peroxide as well as other organic peroxides [3-5]. Its antiinflammatory effect may be mediated by either the GSH-Px activity, the inhibition of leukotriene B4 formation [6], the antioxidant capacity, or a combination of all of them. Many attempts have been made to increase the antioxidant capacity of the myocardium, since free radical generation has been demonstrated in ischaemia-reperfusion damage [7, 81; superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase have be…