Relaxation of potassium chloride-induced contractions by amlodipine and its interaction with the 1,4-dihydropyridine-binding site in pig coronary artery

1989 ◽  
Vol 64 (17) ◽  
pp. I51-I57 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohammed A. Matlib
Circulation ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 116 (suppl_16) ◽  
Author(s):  
Christos E Chadjichristos ◽  
Sandrine Morel ◽  
Jean-Paul Derouette ◽  
Anne Brisset ◽  
Isabelle Roth ◽  
...  

Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is commonly used to treat atherosclerotic coronary arteries, but its efficacy is limited by restenosis at the site of the intervention. We reported previously that reducing the expression of the gap junction protein connexin43 (Cx43) in mice restricted neointima formation after acute vascular injury by limiting the inflammatory response as well as the proliferation and migration of smooth muscle cells (SMCs) towards the damaged site. SMC populations isolated from the pig coronary artery exhibit distinct phenotypes: spindle-shaped (S) and rhomboid (R). S-SMCs are predominant in the normal media, whereas R-SMCs are recovered in higher proportion from stent-induced intimal thickening suggesting that they participate in the intimal thickening. Here, we further investigate the relationship between connexin expression and SMC phenotype using the distinct types of pig coronary artery SMCs. We show that Cx40 was highly expressed in normal media of porcine coronary artery in vivo, whereas Cx43 was barely detectable. In contrast, Cx40 was down-regulated and Cx43 was markedly up-regulated in SMCs of stent-induced intimal thickening. In vitro, S-SMCs expressed Cx40 and Cx43. Cx43 expression was increased in R-SMCs and these cells no longer expressed Cx40. When S-SMCs were treated with 10 ng/ml platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF-BB) they acquired a rhomboid phenotype and their migratory activity increased (from 40.3±5.7 to 185.9±27.3 migrating cells; mean±SEM, N=4, P<0.01). These changes were accompanied by an increase in Cx43 and loss of Cx40 expression. Importantly, PDGF-BB-induced phenotypic change of S-SMCs was prevented by reducing Cx43 expression with 100 uM antisense for Cx43. Thus, Cx43 antisense-treated SMCs retained their typical elongated appearance and the expression of some SMC differentiation markers, such as alpha-SM actin, whereas the appearance of S100A4, a typical marker of R-SMCs, was prevented. In conclusion, limiting Cx43 expression in SMCs prevents growth factor-induced changes towards a deleterious phenotype. Our findings suggest that Cx43 might be an additional target for local delivery strategies aimed at reducing restenosis after PCI.


1997 ◽  
Vol 272 (4) ◽  
pp. H1996-H2003 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. C. Bhalla ◽  
K. F. Toth ◽  
R. A. Bhatty ◽  
L. P. Thompson ◽  
R. V. Sharma

Epidemiological evidence and estrogen replacement studies suggest that estrogen has a protective effect on the cardiovascular system against coronary artery disease. Vascular smooth muscle (VSM) cell replication has been shown to play a causative role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the effect of chronic treatment of cultured guinea pig coronary artery VSM cells with physiological concentrations of 17beta-estradiol (E2) on thymidine incorporation, cell proliferation, and bradykinin-stimulated cytosolic calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i). Bradykinin at physiological concentrations causes contraction of endothelium-denuded guinea pig coronary artery rings in a concentration-dependent manner. VSM cells were first treated with low doses of E2 (10 pg/ml) for 1-2 days followed by treatment for 4-6 days with 50 pg/ml of E2, a concentration similar to that found in pregnancy. Using these protocols, we consistently observed the presence of E2-receptor mRNA in VSM cells by a ribonuclease protection assay. Fetal calf serum-stimulated [3H]thymidine incorporation was significantly reduced (P < 0.05) in E2-treated cells compared with untreated control cells. Similarly, E2 treatment significantly inhibited fetal calf serum-stimulated VSM cell proliferation compared with untreated control cells (P < 0.05). We also tested the hypothesis that E2 treatment attenuates agonist-stimulated [Ca2+]i in VSM cells because acute E2 treatment has been shown to produce relaxation of precontracted isolated coronary artery preparations. E2 treatment of VSM cells resulted in a significant decrease in bradykinin-stimulated [Ca2+]i compared with untreated cells (P < 0.05). In conclusion, our data demonstrate that estrogen at physiological concentrations directly regulates coronary VSM cell function.


2002 ◽  
Vol 88 (07) ◽  
pp. 26-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rehana Lovely ◽  
Lisa Falls ◽  
Hamid Al-Mondhiry ◽  
Charles Chambers ◽  
Gary Sexton ◽  
...  

SummaryγA/γ’ fibrinogen is a fibrinogen isoform that constitutes about 15% of total plasma fibrinogen. This isoform contains an additional binding site for zymogen factor XIII and for active thrombin, and forms fibrin clots that are resistant to fibrinolysis in vitro. Little is known about the variability of γA/γ’ fibrinogen levels in human populations, whereas total fibrinogen levels are known to increase with age and are higher in women than in men. In this report, evidence is presented that, in contrast to total fibrinogen levels, γA/γ’ fibrinogen levels showed no significant association with age or gender in a population of normal blood donors. A study of γA/γ’ fibrinogen levels in patients undergoing coronary angiography also showed that γA/γ’ fibrinogen levels were higher on average in coronary artery disease patients than in patients without coronary artery disease, and that this association was independent of total fibrinogen levels.


1991 ◽  
Vol 261 (3) ◽  
pp. H830-H835 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. L. Cowan ◽  
R. A. Cohen

The role of nitric oxide and guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) accumulation in the endothelium-dependent relaxation of the porcine coronary artery to bradykinin was investigated by comparing relaxation and cGMP accumulation in the presence or absence of NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) and methylene blue. Rings were treated with indomethacin to eliminate the effects of prostaglandins. Relaxation to bradykinin of rings contracted with the thromboxane A2 mimetic U-46619 was not affected by L-NMMA and was only minimally inhibited by methylene blue. Rings contracted with elevated potassium (25 mM) also relaxed completely to bradykinin. However, L-NMMA or methylene blue effectively inhibited relaxation to bradykinin in rings contracted with potassium. cGMP accumulation was stimulated by bradykinin and inhibited by L-NMMA or methylene blue in rings contracted with either U-46619 or potassium. These results suggest that in the absence of nitric oxide-induced cGMP accumulation, a nonprostanoid mechanism exists that is capable of completely relaxing U-46619-contracted coronary artery. This mechanism is either inhibited in or unable to relax potassium-contracted rings. These results also demonstrate that nitric oxide mediates the bradykinin-induced cGMP accumulation that is largely responsible for the relaxation during contraction with potassium.


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