Search results for " Smooth"
showing 10 items of 455 documents
Characterization of Membrane-Bound Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases from Bovine Aortic Smooth Muscle
1992
This study reports the isolation and characterization of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDEs) associated with membrane fraction in comparison to cytosolic forms from bovine aorta. DEAE-Sephacel chromatography of a solubilized membrane fraction from a homogenate, prepared under isotonic conditions in the presence of protease inhibitors, yielded one major peak of PDE activity that specifically hydrolyzed cAMP and was not stimulated by calmodulin: It appeared to contain two subtypes of PDE. The first subtype belonged to the cyclic GMP (cGMP)-inhibited PDE family, (PDE III): It had an apparent Km value of 0.4 microM and was potently inhibited by cGMP, LY186126, and cilostamide. The secon…
Oxidative stress in vascular disease: causes, defense mechanisms and potential therapies
2007
Endothelial cells control vascular homeostasis by generating paracrine factors that regulate vascular tone, inhibit platelet function, prevent adhesion of leukocytes, and limit proliferation of vascular smooth muscle. The dominant factor responsible for many of those effects is endothelium-derived nitric oxide (NO). Endothelial dysfunction characterized by enhanced inactivation or reduced synthesis of NO, alone or in combination, is seen in conjunction with risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Endothelial dysfunction can promote vasospasm, thrombosis, vascular inflammation, and proliferation of the intima. Vascular oxidative stress and increased production of reactive oxygen species con…
Staphylococcus aureus alpha toxin mediates polymorphonuclear leukocyte-induced vasocontraction and endothelial dysfunction.
2002
The effect of Staphylococcus aureus alpha toxin (alpha-toxin) on selectin-mediated neutrophil adhesion was investigated in polymorphonuclear leukocyte- (PMN) induced vasocontraction and endothelial dysfunction. Adherence of human PMNs to rat aortic endothelium increased significantly following stimulation of the endothelium with alpha-toxin (0.1, 0.5, and 1 microg/mL). This effect could be significantly attenuated by monoclonal antibodies directed against P-selectin or fucoidin, a carbohydrate known to block selectins. Unstimulated human PMNs (10(6)cells/mL) were added to organ chambers containing rat aortic rings stimulated with alpha-toxin (0.5 microg/mL). PMNs elicited a significant vaso…
Transmembrane signalling mechanisms regulating expression of cationic amino acid transporters and inducible nitric oxide synthase in rat vascular smo…
1999
The signalling mechanisms involved in the induction of nitric oxide synthase and l-arginine transport were investigated in bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- and interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma)-stimulated rat cultured aortic smooth muscle cells (RASMCs). The expression profile of transcripts for cationic amino acid transporters (CATs) and their regulation by LPS and IFN-gamma were also examined. Control RASMCs expressed mRNA for CAT-1, CAT-2A and CAT-2B. Levels of all three transcripts were significantly elevated in activated cells. Stimulated CAT mRNA expression and l-arginine transport occurred independently of protein kinase C (PKC), protein tyrosine kinase (PTK) and p44/42 mitogen-activat…
Vascular Contraction Model Based on Multi-agent Systems
2017
This paper presents a first approximation to the simulation of vascular smooth muscle cell following an agent-based simulation approach. This simulation incorporates mathematical models that describe the behaviour of these cells, which are used by the agents in order to emulate vascular contraction. A first tool, implemented in Netlogo, is provided to allow the performance of the proposed simulation.
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 …
The Euro Area Crisis; Need for a Supranational Fiscal Risk Sharing Mechanism?
2013
The aim of this paper is to assess the effectiveness of risk sharing mechanisms in the euro area and whether a supranational fiscal risk sharing mechanism could insure countries against very severe downturns. Using an unbalanced panel of 15 euro area countries over the period 1979â2010, the results of the paper show that: (i) the effectiveness of risk sharing mechanisms in the euro area is significantly lower than in existing federations (such as the U.S. and Germany) and (ii) it falls sharply in severe downturns just when it is needed most; (iii) a supranational fiscal stabilization mechanism, financed by a relatively small contribution, would be able to fully insure euro area countries …