Search results for " aorta"
showing 10 items of 185 documents
Decreased bioavailability of nitric oxide in aorta from ovariectomized senescent mice. Role of cyclooxygenase.
2015
This study investigates the effects of aging and/or ovariectomy on vascular reactivity to thromboxane A2 (TXA2) receptor stimulation with U46619, and the modulation by nitric oxide (NO) and cyclooxygenase (COX) in aorta from female senescence-accelerated mice (SAMP8) and from senescence resistant mice (SAMR1). Five-month-old female SAMR1 and SAMP8 were divided into three groups: sham-operated, ovariectomized and ovariectomized plus estradiol. Twenty-eight days after surgery, thoracic aortic rings were mounted for isometric recording of tension and concentration-response curves for U46619 (10(-10)-3 × 10(-7) M) were performed in the absence and in the presence of the NO synthase inhibitor N(…
On the prospect of serum exosomal miRNA profiling and protein biomarkers for the diagnosis of ascending aortic dilatation in patients with bicuspid a…
2018
Background: To determine the impact of circulating miRNA and protein activity on the severity of ascending aortic dilatation in patients with bicuspid (BAV) and tricuspid aortic valve (TAV). Methods: By reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, exosomal circulating expression levels (versus healthy aorta) of miRNAs and absolute levels of transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2, -3 and -9), tissue inhibitors (TIMP-1, -2, -3 and -4), and soluble receptors for advanced glycation end products AGEs (sRAGE) were evaluated in ascending dilated aortas of 71 patients with different valve morphotype. Results: Less-dilated ascending aorta exhibited a specific miRN…
Patterns of ascending aortic dilatation and predictors of surgical replacement of the aorta: A comparison of bicuspid and tricuspid aortic valve pati…
2019
Abstract Background Predictors of thoracic aorta growth and early cardiac surgery in patients with bicuspid aortic valve are undefined. Our aim was to identify predictors of ascending aorta dilatation and cardiac surgery in patients with bicuspid aortic valve (BAV). Methods Forty-one patients with BAV were compared with 165 patients with tricuspid aortic valve (TAV). All patients had LV EF > 50%, normal LV dimensions, and similar degree of aortic root or ascending aorta dilatation at enrollment. Patients with more than mild aortic stenosis or regurgitation were excluded. A CT-scan was available on 76% of the population, and an echocardiogram was repeated every year for a median time of 4 ye…
Red fruit (Pandanus conoideus Lam) oil stimulates nitric oxide production and reduces oxidative stress in endothelial cells
2018
Abstract Red fruit oil (RFO) is used in traditional medicine for the treatment of a number of diseases. However, evidence for the biological effects and action mechanisms is still lacking. In the present study, we show for the first time that RFO stimulated the phosphorylation of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and enhanced the NO production in human endothelial cells. In isolated mouse aorta, RFO induced a vasodilation, with a significant effect evident at a concentration as low as 1:100,000 dilution. The RFO-induced vasodilation could be completely prevented by eNOS inhibition, indicating that RFO contains highly potent substances stimulating eNOS activity. In addition, RFO r…
Regulation of PDE5 expression in human aorta and thoracic aortic aneurysms
2019
AbstractAneurysms and dissections affecting thoracic aorta are associated with smooth muscle cell (SMC) dysfunction. NO/cGMP signaling pathway in smooth muscle cells has been shown to be affected in sporadic thoracic aortic aneurysms. We analyzed the mRNA levels of PDE5, a cGMP-hydrolyzing enzyme highly expressed in aortic SMCs, that regulates arterious vascular tone by lowering cGMP levels. We found that aortic tissue obtained from Marfan, tricuspid and bicuspid thoracic aneurysms expressed lower levels of PDE5 mRNA compared to control aortas. In particular, we found that affected aortas showed lower levels of all the PDE5A isoforms, compared to control aortas. Transfection of vascular SMC…
Stenosis coexists with compromised α1-adrenergic contractions in the ascending aorta of a mouse model of Williams-Beuren syndrome
2020
Williams-Beuren syndrome (WBS) is a rare disorder caused by a heterozygous deletion of 26-28 contiguous genes that affects the brain and cardiovascular system. Here, we investigated whether WBS affects aortic structure and function in the complete deletion (CD) mouse model harbouring the most common deletion found in WBS patients. Thoracic aortas from 3-4 months-old male CD mice and wild-type littermates were mounted in wire myographs or were processed for histomorphometrical analysis. Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms and oxidative stress levels were assessed. Ascending aortas from young adult CD mice showed moderate (50%) luminal stenosis, whereas endothelial function and oxidative str…
Toll-like receptor-4 signaling pathway in aorta aging and diseases: “its double nature”
2017
Recent advances in the field of innate immunity have revealed a complex role of innate immune signaling pathways in both tissue homeostasis and disease. Among them, the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR-4) pathways has been linked to various pathophysiological conditions, such as cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). This has been interrogated by developing multiple laboratory tools that have shown in animal models and clinical conditions, the involvement of the TLR-4 signaling pathway in the pathophysiology of different CVDs, such as atherosclerosis, ischemic heart disease, heart failure, ischemia-reperfusion injury and aorta aneurysm. Among these, aorta aneurysm, a very complex pathological condition w…
Restoration of perivascular adipose tissue function in diet-induced obese mice without changing bodyweight
2017
Background and Purpose We have recently shown that a reduced function of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in the perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) contributes crucially to obesity-induced vascular dysfunction in mice. The current study was conducted to test the hypothesis that vascular dysfunction in obesity can be reversed by in vivo improvement of PVAT eNOS activity. Experimental Approach Male C57BL/6 J mice were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) for 22 weeks to induce obesity. During the last 4 weeks of HFD feeding, the obese mice were treated orally with the standardized Crataegus extract WS® 1442 which has been shown previously to improve eNOS activity. Key Results Diet-induced obesit…
Cardiovascular disease in aging: an overview on thoracic aortic aneurysm as an emerging inflammatory disease
2017
Medial degeneration associated with thoracic aortic aneurysm and acute aortic dissection was originally described by Erdheim as a noninflammatory lesion related to the loss of smooth muscle cells and elastic fibre fragmentation in the media. Recent evidences propose the strong role of a chronic immune/inflammatory process in aneurysm evocation and progression. The coexistence of inflammatory cells with markers of apoptotic vascular cell death in the media of ascending aorta with aneurysms and type A dissections raises the possibility that activated T cells and macrophages may contribute to the elimination of smooth muscle cells and degradation of the matrix. On the other hand, several infla…
Genotyping strategy of SMAD-3 rs3825977 gene variant for a differential management of ascending aorta aneurysm in women people: Gender oriented diagn…
2020
Abstract Background and objectives The research of opportune strategies for facilitating the management of complex pathologies, such as ascending aorta aneurysm (AAA), currently represents the principal object of clinicians, clinical pathologists included. Herein, we propose genotyping of gene variants related to TGF-β pathway as useful strategy to improve the complex AAA management, exclusively based on imaging evaluations. Precisely, we investigated four functional SNPs in SMAD and VEGF genes, encoding molecules able to modulate functions and cross-talks of TGF-β pathway. Populations and methods Our study included 92 individuals (70 men (76%) and 22 (24%) women; mean age: 71.4 ± 2.6 years…