Search results for " Smooth Muscle"

Regulation of NOS expression in vascular diseases

2020

Nitric oxide synthases (NOS) are the major sources of nitric oxide (NO), a small bioactive molecule involved in the regulation of many cellular processes. One of the most prominent functions of NO is regulation of vasodilatation and thereby control of blood pressure. Most important for vascular tone is NOS3. Endothelial NOS3-generated NO diffuses into the vascular smooth muscle cells, activates the soluble guanylate cyclase resulting in enhanced cGMP concentrations and smooth muscle cell relaxation. However, more and more evidence exist that also NOS1 and NOS2 contribute to vascular function. We summarize the current knowledge about the regulation of NOS expression in the vasculature by tra…

Untersuchungen zur Wirkung von Angiotensin II auf einen autorhythmischen glatten Gefäßmuskel (Pfortader der Ratte)

1971

Die isolierte Pfortader der Ratte gehort zu den Gefaspraparaten, die in vitro eine mechanische Spontanrhythmik zeigen und auch elektronenmikroskopisch die Charakteristika solcher spontan aktiver glatter Gefasmuskeln aufweisen. Es wurde der Einflus von Angiotensin II (Val5-Angiotensin-II-Asp-β-amid) auf die Kontraktilitat und Autorhythmik gepruft. Angiostensin II fuhrt in einer Konzentration von 5×10−10 g/ml bereits zu einer signifikanten Zunahme der Kontraktionsamplitude, der Effekt ist bei einer Konzentration von 10−8 g/ml maximal. Diese Wirkung von Angiotensin ist durch Senkung der Inkubationstemperatur auf 5°C ebenso wie die Wirkung anderer Agonisten zu hemmen. Ca2+-Entzug inhibiert eben…

Organic Nitrate Therapy, Nitrate Tolerance, and Nitrate-Induced Endothelial Dysfunction: Emphasis on Redox Biology and Oxidative Stress

2015

Abstract Organic nitrates, such as nitroglycerin (GTN), isosorbide-5-mononitrate and isosorbide dinitrate, and pentaerithrityl tetranitrate (PETN), when given acutely, have potent vasodilator effects improving symptoms in patients with acute and chronic congestive heart failure, stable coronary artery disease, acute coronary syndromes, or arterial hypertension. The mechanisms underlying vasodilation include the release of •NO or a related compound in response to intracellular bioactivation (for GTN, the mitochondrial aldehyde dehydrogenase [ALDH-2]) and activation of the enzyme, soluble guanylyl cyclase. Increasing cyclic guanosine-3′,-5′-monophosphate (cGMP) levels lead to an activation of…

Pro-inflammatory effects of interleukin-17A on vascular smooth muscle cells involve NAD(P)H- oxidase derived reactive oxygen species.

2010

T cells are known for their contribution to the inflammatory element of atherosclerosis. Recently, it has been demonstrated that the Th17 derived cytokine IL-17 is involved in the pro-inflammatory response of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). The aim of the present study was to examine whether reactive oxygen species (ROS) might be involved in this context. The effect of IL-17A on ROS generation was examined using the fluorescent dye 2′7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein (H<sub>2</sub>DCF) in primary murine VSMC. IL-17A induced an increase in H<sub>2</sub>DCF fluorescence in VSMC, and this effect was blocked by the NAD(P)H-oxidase inhibitor apocynin and siRNA targeting …

Multifibrillar bundles of a self-assembling hyaluronic acid derivative obtained through a microfluidic technique for aortic smooth muscle cell orient…

2018

A hyaluronic acid derivative that is able to physically crosslink in a saline aqueous environment was employed for the production of fibers with a mean diameter of 50 μm using a microfluidic technique. The microfibers were collected in a tailored rotating collector and assembled to form multifibrillar bundles. The orientation of the microfibers on the collected bundles was evaluated by microCT analysis. The bundles were biofunctionalized by physical addition of fibronectin or chemical tethering of a cyRGDC peptide to achieve control of Aortic Smooth Muscle Cell (AoSMC) attachment, elongation and alignment. The mechanical performances of these bundles were evaluated by elongation tests, rela…

Uncoupling of Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase in Cardiovascular Disease and its Pharmacological Reversal

2010

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the role of oxidative stress in vascular dysfunction and atherogenesis, and strategies for its prevention. Endothelial dysfunction and oxidative stress have been identified as a common denominator of many cardiovascular risk factors. They support pro-inflammatory, prothrombotic, proliferative, and vasoconstrictor mechanisms that are involved in the initiation, progression, and complications of atherosclerosis. The pathophysiologic causes of oxidative stress involve changes in a number of different enzyme systems. Increased production of ROS by uncoupled eNOS is likely to contribute significantly to vascular oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunctio…

Commentaries on Viewpoint: Airway smooth muscle and airway hyperresponsiveness in human asthma: have we chased the wrong horse?

2014

Endocannabinoid anandamide mediates hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction

2013

Endocannabinoids are important regulators of organ homeostasis. Although their role in systemic vasculature has been extensively studied, their impact on pulmonary vessels remains less clear. Herein, we show that the endocannabinoid anandamide (AEA) is a key mediator of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) via fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH)-dependent metabolites. This is underscored by the prominent vasoconstrictive effect of AEA on pulmonary arteries and strongly reduced HPV in FAAH(-/-) mice and wild-type mice upon pharmacological treatment with FAAH inhibitor URB597. In addition, mass spectrometry measurements revealed a clear increase of AEA and the FAAH-dependent metabolite arac…

Can you blame cold feet on Epac (and Rap1A)? Focus on “Cyclic AMP-Rap1A signaling activates RhoA to induce α2C-adrenoceptor translocation to the cell…

2012

Intracellular signaling by the second messenger cyclic AMP (cAMP) activates the Ras-related small GTPase Rap1 through the guanine exchange factor Epac. This activation leads to effector protein interactions, activation, and biological responses in the vasculature, including vasorelaxation. In vascular smooth muscle cells derived from human dermal arterioles (microVSM), Rap1 selectively regulates expression of G protein-coupled α2C-adrenoceptors (α2C-ARs) through JNK-c-jun nuclear signaling. The α2C-ARs are generally retained in the trans-Golgi compartment and mobilize to the cell surface and elicit vasoconstriction in response to cellular stress. The present study used human microVSM to exa…

Effects of sodium fluoride on the mechanical activity in mouse gastric preparations.

2005

The aim of the present study was to investigate the responses induced by sodium fluoride (NaF) on gastric mechanical activity, using mouse whole-stomach preparations. The mechanical activity was recorded in vitro as changes of intraluminal pressure. In most of the preparations, NaF induced a tetrodotoxin-insensitive biphasic effect characterized by early relaxation followed by slowly developing contractile response. The contraction was dependent on the concentration of NaF, whereas the relaxation was observed at only 10–30 mmol/L NaF. The contractile effect was significantly reduced by nifedipine (an L-type Ca2+channel blocker), ryanodine or ruthenium red (inhibitors of Ca2+release from sar…