Diltiazem Inhibits Coronary Spasm via Inhibition of Cav1.2Phosphorylation and Protein Kinase C Activation in a Mouse Model of Coronary Spastic Angina.

Calcium antagonists are used for coronary spastic angina (CSA) treatment. We previously identified a phospholipase C (PLC) -δ1 gene variant that results in enhanced PLC activity in patients with CSA and developed a CSA animal model by generating vascular smooth muscle cell-specific human variant PLC-δ1 overexpression (PLC-TG) mice. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanism of CSA using the PLC-TG mice and the inhibitory effect of a calcium antagonist, diltiazem hydrochloride (DL).

Coupling factor 6 enhances the spontaneous microaggregation of platelets by decreasing cytosolic cAMP irrespective of antiplatelet therapy.

The spontaneous microaggregation of platelets (SMAPs) is a marker for the prognosis of patients with cardiovascular diseases. Coupling factor 6 (CF6) binds to the plasma membrane ATP synthase and functions as a pro-atherogenic molecule in the cardiovascular system. However, the role of CF6 in SMAPs and stroke remains unknown.

Estrogen attenuates coupling factor 6-induced salt-sensitive hypertension and cardiac systolic dysfunction in mice.

In male coupling factor 6 (CF6)-overexpressing transgenic (TG) mice, a high-salt diet induces hypertension and cardiac systolic dysfunction with excessive reactive oxygen species generation. However, the role of gender in CF6-mediated pathophysiology is unknown. We investigated the effects of ovariectomy and estrogen replacement on hypertension, cardiac dysfunction and Rac1 activity, which activates radical generation and the mineralocorticoid receptor, in female TG mice.

Matrix metalloprotein-9 activation under cell-to-cell interaction between endothelial cells and monocytes: possible role of hypoxia and tumor necrosis factor-α.

Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 plays an important role in cardiovascular events. However, the mechanisms underlying in vivo activation of MMP-9 are largely unknown. We investigated the secretion and activation of MMP-9 under a cell-to-cell interaction, and the effects of hypoxia and cytokine.

Randomized study on the efficacy and safety of landiolol, an ultra-short-acting β1-adrenergic blocker, in patients with acute myocardial infarction undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention.

Background: It is still controversial whether intravenous administration of β-blocker in the very acute phase of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is beneficial. Landiolol is an ultra-short-acting β-blocker that has less effect on blood pressure, but little is known about its efficacy and safety for patients with AMI undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Methods And Results: A consecutive 96 patients with AMI not manifesting cardiogenic shock were prospectively randomized to landiolol (n = 47) or a control group (n = 49).