Evidence for the involvement of matrix metalloproteinases in the cardiovascular effects produced by nicotine.

Nicotine plays a role in smoking-associated cardiovascular diseases, and may upregulate matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9. We examined whether nicotine induces the release of MMP-2 and MMP-9 by rat smooth muscle cells (SMC), and whether doxycycline (non-selective MMP inhibitor) inhibits the vascular effects produced by nicotine. SMC were incubated with nicotine 0, 50, and 150 nM for 48 h.

Lercanidipine decreases vascular matrix metalloproteinase-2 activity and protects against vascular dysfunction in diabetic rats.

Abnormal matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) activity causes cardiovascular diseases. Because hyperglycemia increase MMPs activities through increased oxidative stress, we hypothesized that antioxidant effects produced by lercanidipine could attenuate the increases in MMP-2 expression/activity in diabetic rats. Control and diabetic (alloxan-induced diabetes) rats received lercanidipine 2.

Lercanidipine reduces matrix metalloproteinase-2 activity and reverses vascular dysfunction in renovascular hypertensive rats.

Increased expression/activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), especially MMP-2, plays a role in the vascular alterations induced by hypertension, and increased oxidative stress is a major factor activating MMPs. Here, we hypothesized that lercanidipine, a calcium channel blocker, could attenuate the increases in oxidative stress and MMP-2 expression/activity in the two-kidney, one-clip (2K-1C) hypertensive rats. Sham-operated or 2K-1C hypertension rats were treated with lercanidipine 2.

Lercanidipine reduces matrix metalloproteinase-9 activity in patients with hypertension.

Increased levels of metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 have been shown in hypertensive patients. Lercanidipine is a calcium channel blocker with antioxidant actions. We examined whether lercanidipine produces antioxidant effects and reduces MMP-9 activity in hypertensive patients in a placebo-controlled, crossover, single-blinded design study including 18 healthy volunteers (control group), and 14 hypertensive patients without (N = 7) or with (N = 7) diabetes mellitus.