AMPK activation by metformin protects against pulmonary hypertension in rats and relaxes isolated human pulmonary artery.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is associated with pulmonary vasoconstriction and endothelial dysfunction leading to impaired nitric oxide (NO) and prostacyclin (PGI) pathways. Metformin, the first line treatment for type 2 diabetes and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activator, has been recently highlighted as a potential PH treatment. AMPK activation has been reported to improve endothelial function by enhancing endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) activity and to have relaxant effects in blood vessels.

DHA, RvD1, RvD5, and MaR1 reduce human coronary arteries contractions induced by PGE.

In patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), plasma levels of pro-inflammatory lipid mediators such as PGE and TxA are increased. They could increase vascular contraction while EPA and DHA could reduce it. Studies have been mostly conducted on animal vessels.

Comparative study on the effect of aspirin, TP receptor antagonist and TxA synthase inhibitor on the vascular tone of human saphenous vein and internal mammary artery.

Aims: Thromboxane (TxA) is synthesized from arachidonic acid (AA) via thromboxane synthase (TxS) enzyme and induces vasoconstriction via TP receptor. Our aim is to compare the effects of aspirin, TxS inhibitor and TP receptor antagonist on vascular reactivity of bypass grafts (saphenous vein and internal mammary artery).

Main Methods: Using isolated organ bath, saphenous vein and internal mammary artery preparations were incubated with TP receptor antagonist, TxS inhibitor, aspirin, IP or EP4 receptor antagonist.

MMPs and TIMPs levels are correlated with anthropometric parameters, blood pressure, and endothelial function in obesity.

The association between matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) and obesity as well as obesity-related disease including metabolic syndrome is not fully explored. Our aims are that: (i) to evaluate the plasma levels of MMP-1, MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-9, TIMP-1, TIMP-2 and their ratios in non-obese people, overweight and obese people with or without metabolic syndrome, (ii) to investigate correlations between MMPs or TIMPs levels and several anthropometric parameters, blood pressure, endothelial function. Anthropometric and biochemical parameters were determined in 479 randomly selected participants, subdividing according to body mass index (BMI) and metabolic syndrome status.