Apigenin, a natural flavonoid found in a variety of vegetables and fruits, has been shown to possess many biological functions. The present study was undertaken to investigate the influence of apigenin on vascular smooth muscle contractility and to determine the mechanism involved. Denuded aortic rings from male rats were used and isometric contractions were recorded and combined with molecular experiments. Apigenin significantly relaxed fluoride-, thromboxane A2 mimetic- or phorbol ester-induced vascular contraction, which suggests that apigenin could be an anti-hypertensive that reduces agonist-induced vascular contraction regardless of endothelial nitric oxide synthesis. Furthermore, apigenin significantly inhibited fluoride-induced increases in pMYPT1 levels and phorbol ester-induced increases in pERK1/2 levels, which suggests the mechanism involving the inhibition of Rho-kinase and MEK activity and the subsequent phosphorylation of MYPT1 and ERK1/2. This study provides evidence regarding the mechanism underlying the relaxation effect of apigenin on agonist-induced vascular contraction regardless of endothelial function.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.4062/biomolther.2014.012 | DOI Listing |
Int J Cardiol Heart Vasc
February 2025
Department of Internal Medicine I, University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany.
Background: Cardioversion, a rhythm control treatment for atrial fibrillation (AF), requires ruling out cardiac embolic sources, often originating from the left atrial appendage (LAA). Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) is used for LAA evaluation, but it is invasive and not widely available. This study aimed to identify cardiovascular risk factors linked to LAA abnormalities and predictors of thromboembolic events and all-cause mortality.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIran J Pharm Res
October 2024
Laboratory of Molecular Parasitology, Scientific Center of Zoology and Hydroecology, Yerevan, Armenia.
Background: transmission can occur during pregnancy if the mother contracts the infection for the first time. Treatment strategies include the use of antimicrobial medications and providing supportive care. Spiramycin is commonly used to treat toxoplasmosis in pregnant women and to hinder the disease's transmission.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCirculation
January 2025
Pulmonary Hypertension Research Group, Québec Heart and Lung Institute Research Center, Quebec City, QC, Canada (S.-E.L., Y.G., T.Y., T.S., M.M., C.R., M.S., S.B.-B., A.B., C.T., A.P., R.E.K., S.M., K.Y., F.P., S.P., O.B., S.B.).
Background: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is characterized by obliterative vascular remodeling of the small pulmonary arteries (PAs) and progressive increase in pulmonary vascular resistance leading to right ventricular failure. Although several drugs are approved for the treatment of PAH, mortality rates remain high. Accumulating evidence supports a pathological function of integrins in vessel remodeling, which are gaining renewed interest as drug targets.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCirc Heart Fail
January 2025
The CardioVascular Center, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA (S.L.H., K.D.E., G.G., N.K.K.).
The integrative physiology of the left ventricle and systemic circulation is fundamental to our understanding of advanced heart failure and cardiogenic shock. In simplest terms, any increase in aortic stiffness increases the vascular afterload presented to the failing left ventricle. The net effect is increased myocardial oxygen demand and reduced coronary perfusion pressure, thereby further deteriorating contractile function.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFBr J Pharmacol
January 2025
Department of Pharmacology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Background And Purpose: TMEM16A chloride channels constitute a depolarising mechanism in arterial smooth muscle cells (SMCs) and contractile cerebral pericytes. TMEM16A pharmacology is incompletely defined. We elucidated the mode of action and selectivity of a recently identified positive allosteric modulator of TMEM16A (PAM_16A) and of a range of TMEM16A inhibitors.
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