scholarly journals L-Arginine/Nitric Oxide Pathway and KCa Channels in Endothelial Cells: A Mini-Review

Author(s):  
Marcelo González ◽  
José Carlos Rivas

The endothelium is an organ with a key role in the maintenance of cardiovascular health through the regulation of vascular tone, vascular resistance, blood flow, and arterial pressure. These functions are related with the synthesis and release of vasoactive molecules, mainly vasodilators like nitric oxide (NO) and endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF). Both factors are released and diffused from endothelial cells to the smooth muscle cells, where there is a subsequent activation of signaling pathways that finally decrease the intracellular calcium to induce the vascular relaxation. The study of the molecular mechanisms that underlie the endothelial function still is in development, but from the evidence obtained from the endothelial cells in vitro studies are possible to partially describe the pathways to regulate the physiological endothelial function and the disturbances in pathological conditions. In this mini-review, we describe the main mechanisms for NO synthesis and the role of potassium channels related with EDHF. We include schemes and graphical summaries for better understanding of the molecular regulation of vascular tone in the human cardiovascular system.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zheyi Yan ◽  
Xiaoming Cao ◽  
Chunfang Wang ◽  
Sha Liu ◽  
Lu Gan ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a severe microvasculature complication of diabetes. Restoration of dysfunctional endothelial cells represents a promising approach to treatment of DR. It has been demonstrated that a number of CTRP (C1q/tumor necrosis factor-related protein) members improves vascular endothelial function of the aortic vasculature. However, the role of CTRPs in the treatment of DR remains largely unresolved. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine whether members of the CTRP family improve diabetes-induced endothelial dysfunction of retinal vasculature, thus exhibiting a protective effect against diabetic injury of retina. Methods The vasoactivity of currently identified murine CTRP family members was assessed in vascular rings and the underlying molecular mechanisms elucidated in human retinal microvascular endothelial cells. We then mimicked diabetic retinopathy both in vitro and in vivo, after which they were treated with CTRP3, and the vasoactivity, apoptotic cell death and vascular leakage in the retina were evaluated. Discovery-drive approaches followed by cause-effect analysis were used to uncover the molecular mechanisms of CTRP3. Results Our results demonstrate that CTRP3, CTRP5, and CTRP9 exert vasorelaxant effects on macro- and micro-vessels, with CTRP3 being the most potent in micro-vessels. The effects of CTRP3 were found to be endothelium-dependent via the AdipoR1/AMPK/eNOS/Nitric Oxide (NO) pathway. In in vitro microvascular reactivity studies, CTRP3 successfully improved high glucose/high lipid-induced impairment of endothelium-dependent vasodilatation. Blockade of either AMPK or eNOS completely abolished the previously observed effects of CTRP3. In addition, in the murine diabetic retinopathy model, CTRP3 treatment increased endothelium-dependent relaxation and NO levels in microvessels, and inhibited apoptotic cell death and vascular leakage in the retina. Finally,blockade of NO synthesis completely abolished the effects of CTRP3 that had been measured previously. Conclusion Taken together, our findings reveal that the AdipoR1/AMPK/eNOS/NO signaling pathway, through which CTRP3 reverses endothelial dysfunction of the microvasculature by normalization of impaired vasodilatation, represents a novel intervention effective against diabetic injury of retina.


2018 ◽  
Vol 96 (9) ◽  
pp. 879-885 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thanaporn Sriwantana ◽  
Pornpun Vivithanaporn ◽  
Kittiphong Paiboonsukwong ◽  
Krit Rattanawonsakul ◽  
Sirada Srihirun ◽  
...  

Iron chelation can improve endothelial function. However, effect on endothelial function of deferiprone has not been reported. We hypothesized deferiprone could promote nitric oxide (NO) production in endothelial cells. We studied effects of deferiprone on blood nitrite and blood pressure after single oral dose (25 mg/kg) in healthy subjects and hemoglobin E/β-thalassemia patients. Further, effects of deferiprone on NO production and endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) phosphorylation in primary human pulmonary artery endothelial cells (HPAEC) were investigated in vitro. Blood nitrite levels were higher in patients with deferiprone therapy than those without deferiprone (P = 0.023, n = 16 each). Deferiprone increased nitrite in plasma and whole blood of healthy subjects (P = 0.002 and 0.044) and thalassemia patients (P = 0.003 and 0.046) at time 180 min (n = 20 each). Asymptomatic reduction in diastolic blood pressure (P = 0.005) and increase in heart rate (P = 0.009) were observed in healthy subjects, but not in thalassemia patients. In HPAEC, deferiprone increased cellular nitrite and phospho-eNOS (Ser1177) (P = 0.012 and 0.035, n = 6) without alteration in total eNOS protein and mRNA. We conclude that deferiprone can induce NO production by enhancing eNOS phosphorylation in endothelial cells.


2021 ◽  
Vol 23 ◽  
pp. 205-210
Author(s):  
Mayara Caldeira-Dias ◽  
Sarah Viana-Mattioli ◽  
Jackeline de Souza Rangel Machado ◽  
Mattias Carlström ◽  
Ricardo de Carvalho Cavalli ◽  
...  

2011 ◽  
Vol 340 ◽  
pp. 363-368 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao Qing Zou ◽  
Yong Lan Ding ◽  
Sheng Ming Peng ◽  
Chang Ping Hu ◽  
Han Wu Deng ◽  
...  

Angiogenesis, the development of new capillaries from pre-existing vessels, requires the coordinate activation of endothelial cells, which migrate and proliferate to form functional vessels. Endothelial dysfunction and decreased nitric oxide bioavailability may underscore the impairment of angiogenesis. As such, the delivery of exogenous NO is an attractive therapeutic option that has been used to therapeutic angiogenesis. In this paper, a novel group of hybrid nitric oxide-releasing chrysin derivatives was synthesized. The results indicated that all these chrysin derivatives exhibited promotion of endothelial migration and tubulogenesis in vitro as well as stimulation angiogenesis in vivo.Furthermore, all compounds released NO upon incubation with phosphate buffer at pH 7.4 and enhanced VEGF secretion and VEGF mRNA expression of endothelial cells. These hybrid ester NO donor prodrugs offer a potential drug design concept for the development of therapeutic or preventive agents for angiogenesis deficiency due to ischemic diseases.


2004 ◽  
Vol 82 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Norma Marchesini ◽  
Yusuf A Hannun

Ceramide, an emerging bioactive lipid and second messenger, is mainly generated by hydrolysis of sphingomyelin through the action of sphingomyelinases. At least two sphingomyelinases, neutral and acid sphingo myelinases, are activated in response to many extracellular stimuli. Despite extensive studies, the precise cellular function of each of these sphingomyelinases in sphingomyelin turnover and in the regulation of ceramide-mediated responses is not well understood. Therefore, it is essential to elucidate the factors and mechanisms that control the activation of acid and neutral sphingomyelinases to understand their the roles in cell regulation. This review will focus on the molecular mechanisms that regulate these enzymes in vivo and in vitro, especially the roles of oxidants (glu ta thi one, peroxide, nitric oxide), proteins (saposin, caveolin 1, caspases), and lipids (diacylglycerol, arachidonic acid, and ceramide).Key words: sphingomyelinase, ceramide, apoptosis, Niemann-Pick disease, FAN (factor associated with N-SMase activation).


2014 ◽  
Vol 115 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ha-Rim Seo ◽  
Hyo Eun Jeong ◽  
Hyung Joon Joo ◽  
Seung-Cheol Choi ◽  
Jong-Ho Kim ◽  
...  

Background: Human body contains many kinds of different type of endothelial cells (EC). However, cellular difference of their angiogenic potential has been hardly understood. We compared in vitro angiogenic potential between arterial EC and venous EC and investigated its underlying molecular mechanisms. Method: Used human aortic endothelial cells (HAEC) which was indicated from arterial EC and human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) indicated from venous EC. To explore angiogenic potential in detail, we adopted a novel 3D microfluidic angiogenesis assay system, which closely mimic in vivo angiogenesis. Results: In 3D microfluidic angiogenesis assay system, HAEC demonstrated stronger angiogenic potential compared to HUVEC. HAEC maintained its profound angiogenic property under different biophysical conditions. In mRNA microarray sorted on up- regulated or down-regulated genes, HAEC demonstrated significantly higher expression of gastrulation brain homeobox 2 (GBX2), fibroblast grow factor 2 (FGF2), FGF5 and collagen 8a1. Angiogenesis-related protein assay revealed that HAEC has higher secretion of endogenous FGF2 than HUVEC. HAEC has only up-regulated FGF2 and FGF5 in this part of FGF family. Furthermore, FGF5 expression under vascular endothelial growth factor-A (VEGF-A) stimulation was higher in HAEC compared to HUVEC although VEGF-A augmented FGF5 expression in both HAEC and HUVEC. Those data suggested that FGF5 expression in both HAEC and HUVEC is partially dependent to VEGF-A stimulate. HUVEC and HAEC reduced vascular density after FGF2 and FGF5 siRNA treat. Conclusion: HAEC has stronger angiogenic potential than HUVEC through up-regulation of endogenous FGF2 and FGF5 expression


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hai-Xia Shi ◽  
Jiajun Yang ◽  
Tao Yang ◽  
Yong-Liang Xue ◽  
Jun Liu ◽  
...  

α-Asarone is the major therapeutical constituent ofAcorus tatarinowiiSchott. In this study, the potential protective effects ofα-asarone against endothelial cell injury induced by angiotensin II were investigatedin vitro. The EA.hy926 cell line derived from human umbilical vein endothelial cells was pretreated withα-asarone (10, 50, 100 µmol/L) for 1 h, followed by coincubation with Ang II (0.1 µmol/L) for 24 h. Intracellular nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were detected by fluorescent dyes, and phosphorylation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) atSer1177was determined by Western blotting.α-Asarone dose-dependently mitigated the Ang II-induced intracellular NO reduction (P<0.01versus model) and ROS production (P<0.01versus model). Furthermore, eNOS phosphorylation (Ser1177) by acetylcholine was significantly inhibited by Ang II, while pretreatment for 1 h withα-asarone partially prevented this effect (P<0.05versus model). Additionally, cell viability determined by the MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] assay (105~114.5% versus control,P>0.05) was not affected after 24 h of incubation withα-asarone at 1–100 µmol/L. Therefore,α-asarone protects against Ang II-mediated damage of endothelial cells and may be developed to prevent injury to cardiovascular tissues.


1996 ◽  
Vol 270 (2) ◽  
pp. H442-H446 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. M. Martin ◽  
A. Beltran-Del-Rio ◽  
A. Albrecht ◽  
R. R. Lorenz ◽  
M. J. Joyner

To determine whether local cholinergic mechanisms evoke nitric oxide (NO)-mediated flow-induced vasorelaxation, canine coronary artery rings without endothelium were suspended beneath an organ chamber that contained a stainless steel tube and a femoral artery segment with endothelium. The rings were superfused at a basal rate of 1 ml/min with physiological salt solution that was bubbled with 95% O2-5% CO2 and maintained at 37 degrees C. They were stretched to optimal length and contracted with prostaglandin F 2 alpha (2 x 10(-6) M). When flow through the stainless steel tube (direct superfusion) was increased from the basal rate of 1 to 4 ml/min, coronary force did not change. Superfusion of the rings (n = 8) with effluent from the femoral segment (endothelial superfusion) at 4 ml/min to study flow-induced vasodilation caused a 67.3 +/- 10.8% relaxation. Treatment of the segment with the NO synthase blocker NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (10(-4) M) eliminated the relaxation seen during endothelial superfusion (P < 0.05 vs. control). Application of atropine (10(-6) M) to additional femoral segments (n = 8) abolished the coronary relaxation observed during endothelial superfusion at 1 ml/ min, and the flow-induced relaxation observed at 4 ml/min was reduced from 64 +/- 8.3 to 27 +/- 5.6% (P < 0.05 vs. control). In studies on additional segments and rings (n = 6), the flow-induced relaxations at 4 ml/min of endothelial superfusion were blunted from 86 +/- 10 to 28 +/- 13% after the segments were treated with acetylcholinesterase (0.00028 U/min for 20 min). These data indicate that basal- and flow-induced release of NO from the vascular endothelium can be mediated by local cholinergic mechanisms. It is possible that flow causes acetylcholine release from certain endothelial cells, which stimulates NO release from these cells or from neighboring endothelial cells.


Author(s):  
А.А. Московцев ◽  
А.Н. Мыльникова ◽  
Д.В. Колесов ◽  
А.А. Микрюкова ◽  
Д.М. Зайченко ◽  
...  

Эндотелиальные клетки, выстилающие стенки сосудов, преобразовывают деформацию собственных структур, вызванную током крови, в химические сигналы, одним из которых является важный регулятор просвета сосуда - оксид азота (NO). К настоящему моменту накоплен большой объём данных о клеточных механизмах активации продукции NO, однако сведений о динамике генерации оксида азота эндотелиальными клетками в зависимости от гидродинамических условий недостаточно. В этой связи разработка микрофлюидных систем in vitro, имитирующих кровеносное русло, и изучение в них эндотелия в сложных гидродинамических условиях является актуальной задачей. В данной работе для создания контролируемых гидродинамических условий для монослоя эндотелиоцитоподобных клеток EA.hy926 была спроектирована и разработана микрофлюидная система, имитирующая линейные участки микрососудистого русла. Методом непрямого определения содержания оксида азота (II) NO с использованием флуоресцентного зонда 4,5-диаминофлуоресцеина DAF-2 впервые получены данные об увеличении продукции NO клетками EA.hy926 при механическом стрессе, создаваемом потоком ростовой среды. Представлены расчетные гидродинамические характеристики микрофлюидной системы, а также методика измерения продукции NO. Возможность исследования функциональной активности эндотелия позволяет использовать разработанную микрофлюидную модельную систему как для изучения клеточно-автономных регуляторных свойств эндотелия при действии ряда вазоактивных фармакологических препаратов и других методов воздействия на эндотелий, так и при моделируемой дисфункции эндотелия. Endothelial cells lining vascular walls transform the flow-induced deformation of their own structures into chemical signals, one of which, nitric oxide (NO), is an important regulator of the vascular lumen diameter. By present, a large amount of data on cellular mechanisms for activation of NO production has been accumulated. However, there is insufficient information on changes in endothelial NO generation under different hydrodynamic conditions. Therefore, development of microfluidic systems that model blood vessels in vitro and using them to study the endothelium under complex hydrodynamic conditions are relevant tasks. In this study, a microfluidic system was developed to create controlled hydrodynamic conditions for a monolayer of endotheliocyte-like cells EAhy.926. This system simulates linear sections of the microvasculature. By indirect measurement of NO (II) content with a fluorescent 4,5-diaminofluorescein (DAF-2) probe, we showed an increase in the NO production by EAhy.926 cells under mechanical stress generated by the medium flow. The article presents the method for measuring NO production and the calculated hydrodynamic characteristics of the microfluidic system. The results showed that the developed microfluidic model system is promising for studying cell-autonomous regulatory properties of the endothelium both under the action of vasoactive agents and in simulated endothelial dysfunction.


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