Resistin-like molecule alpha enhances the proliferation and migration of aortic vascular smooth muscle cells.

Objective: The mitogenic and chemotactic effects of resistin-like molecule alpha (RELMα) are thought to contribute to vascular remodeling in pulmonary arterial hypertension. Here we evaluate the expression of RELMα in atherosclerotic plaque and investigate its effects on the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs).

Methods: An atherosclerotic model was established by feeding 4-week-old C57BL/6J ApoE-/- mice (n = 9) with a high-fat diet.

[Prevention of atherosclerotic plaque development by modulating heme oxygenase-1-endogenous carbon monoxide system in rabbit model].

Objective: To investigate the effect of heme oxygenase/carbon monoxide (HO-1/CO) system on lipid deposition at aortic intima and the mechanism involved in hyperlipidemic rabbits.

Methods: Totally 32 rabbits, were divided into four groups. One group as control.

Effect of the haeme oxygenase-1/endogenous carbon monoxide system on atherosclerotic plaque formation in rabbits.

Background: To investigate the effect of the haeme oxygenase-1/carbon monoxide (HO-1/CO) system on atherosclerotic plaque formation and its possible mechanism.

Methods: For 12 weeks, rabbits were given a 1.5% cholesterol diet (Ch group, n = 8) or a 1.

High serum resistin level may be an indicator of the severity of coronary disease in acute coronary syndrome.

Objective: To investigate the correlation between serum resistin level, cardiovascular risk factors and severity of coronary disease in acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Methods: After evaluated by clinical history, electrocardiography, exercise tolerance tests, laboratory tests, and coronary angiography, 220 consecutive patients with suspected chest pain were divided into normal control group, stable angina pectoris (SAP) group, and ACS group, respectively. Baseline clinical characteristics, including height, weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, white blood cell count, high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), total cholesterol, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, were compared among three groups.

[Apoptosis of hypertrophic cardiomyocytes stimulated by hypoxia-reoxygenation is partially mediated by apoptosis-inducing factor].

Cardiomyocyte apoptosis leads to the functional incapacitation of myocardial plasmodium and plays an important role in the pathogenesis of heart failure transformed from compensable cardiac hypertrophy. Mitochondria are the main source of apoptosis-inducing molecule of various cells, and the role of caspartate-specific cysteinyl proteinase (caspase)-dependent mechanism has generally been accepted in the cardiomyocyte apoptosis. However, the significance of caspase-independent apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF) mechanism is not yet understood.

[Heme oxygenase-1 and carbon monoxide are key mediators for vascular smooth muscle cells proliferation induced by insulin-like growth factor-I].

Objective: To determine the role and related mechanisms of heme oxygenase-1/carbon monoxide (HO-1/CO) on VSMCs proliferation induced by insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I).

Methods: VSMCs isolated from rabbit aorta were cultured in vitro and proliferation was induced by IGF-I. Hemin (a substrate and inducer of HO-1) or zinc protoporphyrin-IX (Znpp-IX, an inhibitor of HO-1) was added to stimulate or inhibit the expression of HO-1.

[Relationship between apoptosis and alteration of the energetic metabolism pathways of hypertrophic cardiomyocytes induced by hypoxia-reoxygenation].

The apoptosis of cardiomyocytes plays a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of cardiac failure transformed from cardiac hypertrophy, so that suppression of cardiomyocytes apoptosis is an effective pharmacotherapeutic target to prevent cardiac failure. This study focused on the relationship between apoptosis and alteration of the energetic metabolism pathways of hypertrophic cardiomyocytes induced by hypoxia-reoxygenation. Cardiomyocyte hypertrophy was induced by angiotensin II (0.

[Change and correlation of heme oxygenase/carbon monoxide and nitric oxide synthase/nitrogen monoxide system in atherosclerotic progress of rabbits].

Objective: To investigate the change and correlation of carbon monoxide/heme oxygenase and nitrogen monoxide/nitric oxide synthase system in atherosclerosis and the influence of the two systems on atherosclerotic progress.

Methods: The rabbits received 1% cholesterol diet (chol group, n = 8), or 1% cholesterol diet plus L-arginine (L-arg group, n = 8) or L-NAME (L-NAME group, n = 8) by drinking water, or 1% cholesterol diet plus heme-L-lysinate (Heme group, n = 8) or ZnPP-IX (ZnPP group, n = 8) by injection in abdominal cavity for 10 weeks.

Results: Compared with those in control group, aortic NO production and expression of NOS decreased markedly; while CO production (P < 0.

[The roles of nuclear Ca2+/CaM dependent kinases and calcineurin on the development of myocardial hypertrophy in rat].

Aim: To evaluate whether protein phosphorylation and dephosphorylation in nuclei play roles in the development of myocardial hypertrophy, distribution of protein kinases and phosphatases in cell fractions were determined.

Methods: The model of hypertensive rat was established by abdominal aortic constriction. Velocity and isopyknic gradient centrifugation was employed to fractionate rat myocardium to membrane, cytosol and nuclei.

[Investigation of nuclear Ca2+ regulation in the isolated cardiac nuclei].

To investigate the regulation of Ca2+ in the isolated cardiac nuclei from rats which may illuminated the mechanism of nuclear calcium transport system. Elocity and isopyknic gradient centrifugation were employed to fractionate rat cardiac nuclei. Then fluo-4 confocal microscopy techniques was used to verify the changes of nuclear Ca2+.

Apolipoprotein E gene polymorphisms and risk for coronary artery disease in Chinese Xinjiang Uygur and Han population.

Objective: To examine the relationship between apolipoprotein E (Apo E) gene polymorphism and risk of coronary artery disease (CAD), analyzing association of polymorphism with classical risk factors.

Methods: A total of 124 patients (including 84 Han population and 40 Uygur population) with angiographically verified CAD or myocardial infarction were prospectively evaluated. Data referring to hypertension, diabetes, and tobacco consumption were recorded.

[Effects of dry red wine on experimental atherosclerosis in rabbits].

Objective: To study the effects of dry red wine in the different stages of experimental atherosclerosis (AS) at the cell, molecular and gene regulation levels in order to provide scientific basis for using dry red wine in the prevention of atherosclerosis.

Methods: Blood vessel wall pathological changes, activity of NF-kB and the expressions of monocyte chemotactic protein-1 (MCP-1) and protein kinase C (PKC alpha) were observed in dietary induced atherosclerosis rabbit model by morphology study, electrophoretic mobility shift assay (EMSA), and in situ hybridyzation, and the effects of dry red wine intervention were examined.

Results: Dry red wine significantly suppressed the proliferation of atherosclerosis intima and NF-kappaB activation (4w: 18.

[Effects of insulin on the distribution of actins in vascular smooth muscle cells in the process of proliferation via mitogen-activated protein kinase in vitro].

Proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) is often accompanied by changes in intracellular actin distribution. The changes are controlled by the signal transduction pathways of protein kinase C/mitogenic activated protein kinase (PKC-MAPK), but the mechanism is unclear. In order to study the effect of insulin on the intracellular signal transduction (PKC-MAPK) probably involved in the modulation of proliferation and redistribution of actins in the VSMCs, the DNA synthesis, MAPK activities and its gene expression, and the redistribution of intracellular actins were investigated in the isolated VSMCs of SHR pretreated with PKC inhibitor and/or insulin, respectively.