Search results for "Smooth Muscle"
showing 10 items of 156 documents
Association between reduced bronchodilatory effect of deep inspiration and loss of alveolar attachments.
2005
Abstract Background We have previously shown that the bronchodilatory effect of deep inspiration is attenuated in individuals with COPD. This study was designed to investigate whether the impairment in this effect is associated with loss of alveolar attachments. Methods We measured deep inspiration (DI)-induced bronchodilation in 15 individuals with and without COPD (67 ± 2.2 yrs of age, mean ± SEM) undergoing lobar resection for peripheral pulmonary nodule. Prior to surgery, we measured TLCO and determined the bronchodilatory effect of deep inspiration after constricting the airways with methacholine. The number of destroyed alveolar attachments, as well as airway wall area and airway smoo…
Clinical implications of airway hyper-responsiveness in COPD
2006
COPD represents one of the leading causes of mortality in the general population. This study aimed at evaluating the relationship between airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) and COPD and its relevance for clinical practice. We performed a MEDLINE search that yielded a total of 1919 articles. Eligible studies were defined as articles that addressed specific aspects of AHR in COPD, such as prevalence, pathogenesis, or prognosis. AHR appears to be present in at least one out of two individuals with COPD. The occurrence of AHR in COPD is influenced by multiple mechanisms, among which impairment of factors that oppose airway narrowing plays an important role. The main determinants of AHR are reduct…
The effects of metoclopramide on acetylcholine release and on smooth muscle response in the isolated guinea-pig ileum
1982
The effects of metoclopramide on smooth muscle contraction and on release of acetylcholine were studied in the guinea-pig myenteric plexus longitudinal muscle preparation. Acetylcholine was determined either as endogenous acetylcholine, or as labelled transmitter from strips preloaded with 3H-choline. Metoclopramide caused an increase in resting tension of longitudinal muscle as well as an increase in resting output of either endogenous or labelled acetylcholine. Tetrodotoxin abolished the metoclopramide-evoked increase in transmitter release. The increase in smooth muscle tension was clearly related to the increase in resting output. The effects of metoclopramide on both longitudinal muscl…
CO-releasing binuclear rhodium complexes as inhibitors of nitric oxide generation in stimulated macrophages.
2013
Nontoxic CO-releasing dirhodium complexes act as inhibitors of NO in stimulated macrophage cells, suggesting that novel antiinflammatory treatments could involve the use of these types of binuclear complexes.
Efficient differentiation of embryonic stem cells into mesodermal precursors by BMP, retinoic acid and Notch signalling
2012
The ability to direct differentiation of mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells into specific lineages not only provides new insights into the pathways that regulate lineage selection but also has translational applications, for example in drug discovery. We set out to develop a method of differentiating ES cells into mesodermal cells at high efficiency without first having to induce embryoid body formation. ES cells were plated on a feeder layer of PA6 cells, which have membrane-associated stromal-derived inducing activity (SDIA), the molecular basis of which is currently unknown. Stimulation of ES/PA6 co-cultures with Bone Morphogenetic Protein 4 (BMP4) both favoured self-renewal of ES cells and…
Inhibitory influence of chromogranin A N-terminal fragment (vasostatin-1) on the spontaneous contractions of rat proximal colon
2005
Very little is known about the role played by CGA and its fragments in the gastrointestinal physiology. We have studied the role of CGA N-terminal fragments in the regulation of intestinal smooth muscle contractility by measuring the influence of recombinant CGA 1-78 (VS-1) and synthetic CGA 7-57 peptides on the spontaneous mechanical activity of rat proximal colon in vitro. The mechanical activity was recorded as changes in the intraluminal pressure. VS-1 (0.1-30 nM) and CGA 7-57 (10-300 nM) produced concentration-dependent inhibitory effects, characterized by a progressive decrease in the mean amplitude of circular muscle spontaneous contractions, without affecting the resting tone. The r…
Tubulin-folding cofactor E deficiency is associated with vascular dysfunction and endoplasmatic reticulum stress of vascular smooth muscle cells
2021
Abstract Introduction Endothelial function assessed via flow mediated dilatation (FMD) has shown to predict risk in individuals with established cardiovascular diseases, whereas its predictive value is uncertain in the setting primary prevention. Purpose The aim of the current work was to discover and evaluate novel mediators of vascular dysfunction in the general population and in conditional knock-out transgenic animal models. Methods In order to identify novel targets that were negatively correlated with FMD and investigate their contribution in vascular function, a Genome Wide Association Study (GWAS) of 5,000 participants was performed and subsequently immune cell-, endothelial- and va…
Ovine Carotid Artery-Derived Cells as an Optimized Supportive Cell Layer in 2-D Capillary Network Assays
2014
PLoS one 9(3), e91664 (2014). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0091664
Microphthalmia, persistent hyperplastic hyaloid vasculature and lens anomalies following overexpression of VEGF-A188 from the αA-crystallin promoter
2007
Purpose During growth of the embryonic eye, dose- and site-specific expression of heparin-binding growth factors is critical for the formation of an appropriate vascular supply. Overexpression of vascular endothelial growth factor-A188 (VEGF-A188), a strongly heparin-binding, endothelial-specific mitogen, leads to severe disturbance of vascular and overall ocular morphology. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of VEGF-A188 overexpression on growth of ocular tissue components. Methods Stereological and immunohistochemical methods were employed to identify the vascular profiles, ocular tissue proportions, and cell types in VEGF-A188 transgenic mice and compare them with wild-type mice. R…
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…