Tributyrin Intake Attenuates Angiotensin II-Induced Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm in Mice.

Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a multifactorial cardiovascular disease with a high risk of death, and it occurs in the infrarenal aorta with vascular dilatation. High blood pressure acts on the aortic wall, resulting in rupture and causing life-threatening intra-abdominal hemorrhage. Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) dysregulation and extracellular matrix (ECM) degradation, especially elastin breaks, contribute to structural changes in the aortic wall.

CC-01 (chidamide plus celecoxib) modifies the tumor immune microenvironment and reduces tumor progression combined with immune checkpoint inhibitor.

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have shown clinical benefit in solid tumors, with modest rates of clinical response. Hence, improved therapeutic approaches need to be investigated. Herein, we assessed a combination of chidamide plus celecoxib (called CC-01) combined with programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) blockade in a CT26 model as potent tumor microenvironment (TME) regulator.

Sitagliptin attenuates arterial calcification by downregulating oxidative stress-induced receptor for advanced glycation end products in LDLR knockout mice.

Diabetes is a complex disease characterized by hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, and insulin resistance. Plasma advanced glycation end products (AGEs) activated the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) and the activation of RAGE is implicated to be the pathogenesis of type 2 diabetic mellitus (T2DM) patient vascular complications. Sitagliptin, a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) inhibitor, is a new oral hypoglycemic agent for the treatment of T2DM.

Fenofibrate attenuates doxorubicin-induced cardiac dysfunction in mice via activating the eNOS/EPC pathway.

Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) improve endothelial impairment, which in turn restores endothelial function in patients with heart failure (HF). In the present study, we tested whether fenofibrate, with its anti-inflammatory and vasoprotective effects, could improve myocardial function by activating EPCs through the eNOS pathway in a doxorubicin (DOX)-induced cardiomyopathy mouse model. Wild-type mice were divided into 4 groups and treated with vehicle, DOX + saline, DOX + fenofibrate, and DOX + fenofibrate + L-NAME (N(ω)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester).

Inhibition of Serine Protease Activity Protects Against High Fat Diet-Induced Inflammation and Insulin Resistance.

Recent evidence suggests that enhanced protease-mediated inflammation may promote insulin resistance and result in diabetes. This study tested the hypothesis that serine protease plays a pivotal role in type 2 diabetes, and inhibition of serine protease activity prevents hyperglycemia in diabetic animals by modulating insulin signaling pathway. We conducted a single-center, cross-sectional study with 30 healthy controls and 57 patients with type 2 diabetes to compare plasma protease activities and inflammation marker between groups.

Activation of heme oxygenase-1 by Ginkgo biloba extract differentially modulates endothelial and smooth muscle-like progenitor cells for vascular repair.

Vascular progenitors such as endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and smooth muscle-like progenitor cells (SMPCs) may play different roles in vascular repair. Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) is an exogenous activator of heme oxygenase (HO)-1, which has been suggested to improve vascular repair; however, the detailed mechanisms have yet to be elucidated. This study aimed to investigate whether GBE can modulate different vascular progenitor cells by activating HO-1 for vascular repair.

Fenofibrate Reverses Dysfunction of EPCs Caused by Chronic Heart Failure.

The enhanced activity of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) by AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) agonists might explain the reversal of chronic heart failure (CHF)-mediated endothelial dysfunction. We studied baseline circulating EPC numbers in patients with heart failure and clarified the effect of fenofibrate on both circulating angiogenic cell (CAC) and late EPC activity. The numbers of circulating EPCs in CHF patients were quantified by flow cytometry.

Tocilizumab, a Humanized Monoclonal Antibody Against the Interleukin-6 Receptor, Inhibits High Glucose-Induced Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Migration Through Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase Signaling Pathways.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) with diabetes increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) promotes the disease activity of RA and insulin resistance. This study aimed to evaluate the potential effects and molecular mechanisms of IL-6 blocker, tocilizumab, in atherosclerosis with diabetes.

Aliskiren directly improves endothelial progenitor cell function from Type II diabetic patients.

Background: Endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) functions are impaired in the presence of diabetes mellitus. Aliskiren is a direct renin inhibitor, which is expected to modify proangiogenic cells. This study aimed to investigate whether and how aliskiren could improve the function of EPCs from patients with type II diabetes (T2DM).

Coenzyme Q10 Attenuates High Glucose-Induced Endothelial Progenitor Cell Dysfunction through AMP-Activated Protein Kinase Pathways.

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), an antiapoptosis enzyme, is stored in the mitochondria of cells. We investigated whether CoQ10 can attenuate high glucose-induced endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) apoptosis and clarified its mechanism. EPCs were incubated with normal glucose (5 mM) or high glucose (25 mM) environment for 3 days, followed by treatment with CoQ10 (10 μM) for 24 hr.

Simvastatin Attenuates Oxidative Stress, NF-κB Activation, and Artery Calcification in LDLR-/- Mice Fed with High Fat Diet via Down-regulation of Tumor Necrosis Factor-α and TNF Receptor 1.

Simvastatin (SIM) is anti-inflammatory. We used low density lipoprotein receptor knockout (LDLR-/-) mice and human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMCs) as model systems to study the effect of SIM on arterial calcification and to explore the potential mechanisms contributing to this protective effect. High-fat diet (HFD) caused the LRLR -/- to develop dyslipidemia, diabetics, atherosclerosis and aortic smooth muscle calcification.

The level of circulating endothelial progenitor cell is associated with cerebral vasoreactivity: a pilot study.

Endothelial progenitor cell is known to be able to repair injured vessels. We assessed the hypothesis that endothelial progenitor cell also modulates cerebral endothelial function in healthy status. We used transcranial color-coded sonography to measure middle cerebral arterial vasoreactivity to CO2 (breath-holding index) in healthy subjects and observed its relationship with the number of circulating CD34CD133+ cells.

Direct Renin Inhibition with Aliskiren Improves Ischemia-Induced Neovasculogenesis in Diabetic Animals via the SDF-1 Related Mechanism.

Objective: Aliskiren is a direct renin inhibitor which is suggested to modify proangiogenic cells in addition to lower blood pressure. Given that angiogenesis is impaired in the presence of diabetes mellitus, we would like to investigate whether and how aliskiren enhances endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) and improves ischemic-induced neovasculogenesis by an effect independent of blood pressure reduction in diabetic animals.

Methods: Streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice were administered with either aliskiren (5 or 25 mg/kg/day) using an osmotic pump or hydralazine (2 or 10 mg/kg/day) given in drinking water for two weeks prior to a hind-limb ischemia surgery.

Rivaroxaban, a factor Xa inhibitor, improves neovascularization in the ischemic hindlimb of streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice.

Background: Factor Xa inhibitor is used for preventing venous thromboembolism (VTE) in adult patients receiving orthopedic operation. However, the role of factor Xa inhibitor, rivaroxaban, in angiogenesis is still unknown.

Methods And Results: Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice with model of hind-limb ischemia, were divided into non-diabetic control, diabetic control, and low- and high-dose rivaroxaban treatment groups, in order to evaluate the effect of rivaroxaban in angiogenesis.

Effects of pitavastatin versus atorvastatin on the peripheral endothelial progenitor cells and vascular endothelial growth factor in high-risk patients: a pilot prospective, double-blind, randomized study.

Background: Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) reflect endothelial repair capacity and may be a significant marker for the clinical outcomes of cardiovascular disease. While some high-dose statin treatments may improve endothelial function, it is not known whether different statins may have similar effects on EPCs.This study aimed to investigate the potential class effects of different statin treatment including pitavastatin and atorvastatin on circulating EPCs in clinical setting.

Ginkgo biloba extract reduces high-glucose-induced endothelial reactive oxygen species generation and cell adhesion molecule expression by enhancing HO-1 expression via Akt/eNOS and p38 MAP kinase pathways.

Aim: Hyperglycemia is one of the major risk factors leading to vascular complications in clinical diabetes mellitus. Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE), an antioxidant herbal medicine, possesses anti-inflammatory effects. We examined whether GBE can reduce high glucose-induced endothelial adhesiveness to monocytes, an in vitro sign mimicking in vivo early atherogenesis, through selective regulation of heme oxygenase (HO)-1 expression.

Reduced number and impaired function of circulating endothelial progenitor cells in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Aim: Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are associated with coronary artery disease (CAD) and predict its outcome. Although the pathophysiology of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is different, it shares some risk factors with CAD. Therefore, the correlation between EPCs and AAA was investigated.

Ginkgo biloba extract reduces high-glucose-induced endothelial adhesion by inhibiting the redox-dependent interleukin-6 pathways.

Background: Chronic elevation of glucose level activates vascular inflammation and increases endothelial adhesiveness to monocytes, an early sign of atherogenesis. This study aimed to elucidate the detailed mechanisms of high-glucose-induced endothelial inflammation, and to investigate the potential effects of Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE), an antioxidant herbal medicine, on such inflammation.

Materials And Methods: Human aortic endothelial cells were cultured in high glucose or mannitol as osmotic control for 4 days.

Niacin improves ischemia-induced neovascularization in diabetic mice by enhancement of endothelial progenitor cell functions independent of changes in plasma lipids.

Niacin was shown to inhibit acute vascular inflammation and improves endothelial dysfunction independent of changes in plasma lipids. Here, we investigated whether niacin can increase blood flow recovery after tissue ischemia by enhancing endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) functions in diabetic mice. Starting at 4 weeks after the onset of diabetes, vehicle or niacin (40 mg/kg/day) was administered daily by gavage to streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice and diabetic endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS)-deficient mice.

Globular adiponectin improves high glucose-suppressed endothelial progenitor cell function through endothelial nitric oxide synthase dependent mechanisms.

Plasma levels of adiponectin, an adipose-specific protein with putative anti-atherogenic properties, could be down-regulated in obese and diabetic subjects. Recent insights suggest that the injured endothelial monolayer is regenerated by circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), but high glucose reduces number and functions of EPCs. Here, we tested the hypothesis that globular adiponectin can improve high glucose-suppressed EPC functions by restoration of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activity.

Nrf-2 mediated heme oxygenase-1 expression, an antioxidant-independent mechanism, contributes to anti-atherogenesis and vascular protective effects of Ginkgo biloba extract.

Aims: Vascular protective effects of Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE) may involve both antioxidant-related and anti-inflammatory mechanisms. GBE was recently suggested as a heme oxygenase (HO)-1 inducer. The role of HO-1 in anti-atherogenesis and related vascular protective effects of GBE awaited further clarification.

Moderate intake of red wine improves ischemia-induced neovascularization in diabetic mice--roles of endothelial progenitor cells and nitric oxide.

Objective: Circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) play a significant role in postnatal neovascularization. Patients with diabetes have attenuated EPC functions and impaired angiogenic response after tissue ischemia. We investigated whether moderate red wine consumption can enhance blood flow recovery in response to tissue ischemia by enhancement of EPC functions in diabetic mice.

Increased circulating CD31+/annexin V+ apoptotic microparticles and decreased circulating endothelial progenitor cell levels in hypertensive patients with microalbuminuria.

Objective: Microalbuminuria is associated with an increased risk for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, but the pathophysiologic mechanism underlying the association between urinary albumin excretion and cardiovascular disease remains unclear. Here, we tested the hypothesis that enhanced endothelial apoptotic microparticles and decreased endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) levels might contribute to the pathophysiology of microalbuminuria or macroalbuminuria in cardiovascular disease.

Methods: Flow cytometry was used to assess endothelial cell apoptosis and circulating EPC levels by quantification of circulating CD31/annexin V apoptotic microparticles and EPC markers (defined as KDRCD133, CD34CD133, CD34KDR) in peripheral blood.