scholarly journals Calycosin and Formononetin Induce Endothelium-Dependent Vasodilation by the Activation of Large-Conductance Ca2+-Activated K+ Channels (BKCa)

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hisa Hui Ling Tseng ◽  
Chi Teng Vong ◽  
George Pak-Heng Leung ◽  
Sai Wang Seto ◽  
Yiu Wa Kwan ◽  
...  

Calycosin and formononetin are two structurally similar isoflavonoids that have been shown to induce vasodilation in aorta and conduit arteries, but study of their actions on endothelial functions is lacking. Here, we demonstrated that both isoflavonoids relaxed rat mesenteric resistance arteries in a concentration-dependent manner, which was reduced by endothelial disruption and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibition, indicating the involvement of both endothelium and vascular smooth muscle. In addition, the endothelium-dependent vasodilation, but not the endothelium-independent vasodilation, was blocked by BKCa inhibitor iberiotoxin (IbTX). Using human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) as a model, we showed calycosin and formononetin induced dose-dependent outwardly rectifying K+ currents using whole cell patch clamp. These currents were blocked by tetraethylammonium chloride (TEACl), charybdotoxin (ChTX), or IbTX, but not apamin. We further demonstrated that both isoflavonoids significantly increased nitric oxide (NO) production and upregulated the activities and expressions of endothelial NOS (eNOS) and neuronal NOS (nNOS). These results suggested that calycosin and formononetin act as endothelial BKCa activators for mediating endothelium-dependent vasodilation through enhancing endothelium hyperpolarization and NO production. Since activation of BKCa plays a role in improving behavioral and cognitive disorders, we suggested that these two isoflavonoids could provide beneficial effects to cognitive disorders through vascular regulation.

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (19) ◽  
pp. 10287
Author(s):  
Chih-Hsien Wu ◽  
Yi-Lin Chiu ◽  
Chung-Yueh Hsieh ◽  
Guo-Shiang Tsung ◽  
Lian-Shan Wu ◽  
...  

Cilostazol was suggested to be beneficial to retard in-stent atherosclerosis and prevent stent thrombosis. However, the mechanisms responsible for the beneficial effects of cilostazol are not fully understood. In this study, we attempted to verify the mechanism of the antithrombotic effect of cilostazol. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were cultured with various concentrations of cilostazol to verify its impact on endothelial cells. KLF2, silent information regulator transcript-1 (SIRT1), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), and endothelial thrombomodulin (TM) expression levels were examined. We found cilostazol significantly activated KLF2 expression and KLF2-related endothelial function, including eNOS activation, Nitric oxide (NO) production, and TM secretion. The activation was regulated by SIRT1, which was also stimulated by cilostazol. These findings suggest that cilostazol may be capable of an antithrombotic and vasculoprotective effect in endothelial cells.


1998 ◽  
Vol 274 (1) ◽  
pp. C245-C252 ◽  
Author(s):  
Junsuke Igarashi ◽  
Masashi Nishida ◽  
Shiro Hoshida ◽  
Nobushige Yamashita ◽  
Hiroaki Kosaka ◽  
...  

The effects of nitric oxide (NO) produced by cardiac inducible NO synthase (iNOS) on myocardial injury after oxidative stress were examined. Interleukin-1β induced cultured rat neonatal cardiac myocytes to express iNOS. After induction of iNOS,l-arginine enhanced NO production in a concentration-dependent manner. Glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity in myocytes was attenuated by elevated iNOS activity and by an NO donor, S-nitroso- N-acetyl-penicillamine (SNAP). Although NO production by iNOS did not induce myocardial injury, NO augmented release of lactate dehydrogenase from myocyte cultures after addition of H2O2(0.1 mM, 1 h). Inhibition of iNOS with Nω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester ameliorated the effects of NO-enhancing treatments on myocardial injury and GPX activity. SNAP augmented the myocardial injury induced by H2O2. Inhibition of GPX activity with antisense oligodeoxyribonucleotide for GPX mRNA increased myocardial injury by H2O2. Results suggest that the induction of cardiac iNOS promotes myocardial injury due to oxidative stress via inactivation of the intrinsic antioxidant enzyme, GPX.


2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Purum Kang ◽  
Seung Ho Han ◽  
Hea Kyung Moon ◽  
Jeong-Min Lee ◽  
Hyo-Keun Kim ◽  
...  

The purpose of the present study is to examine the effects of essential oil ofCitrus bergamiaRisso (bergamot, BEO) on intracellular Ca2+in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Fura-2 fluorescence was used to examine changes in intracellular Ca2+concentration[Ca2+]i. In the presence of extracellular Ca2+, BEO increased[Ca2+]i, which was partially inhibited by a nonselective Ca2+channel blocker La3+. In Ca2+-free extracellular solutions, BEO increased[Ca2+]iin a concentration-dependent manner, suggesting that BEO mobilizes intracellular Ca2+. BEO-induced[Ca2+]iincrease was partially inhibited by a Ca2+-induced Ca2+release inhibitor dantrolene, a phospholipase C inhibitor U73122, and an inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (IP3)-gated Ca2+channel blocker, 2-aminoethoxydiphenyl borane (2-APB). BEO also increased[Ca2+]iin the presence of carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone, an inhibitor of mitochondrial Ca2+uptake. In addition, store-operated Ca2+entry (SOC) was potentiated by BEO. These results suggest that BEO mobilizes Ca2+from primary intracellular stores via Ca2+-induced and IP3-mediated Ca2+release and affect promotion of Ca2+influx, likely via an SOC mechanism.


2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dafeng Yang ◽  
Shenglan Tan ◽  
Zhousheng Yang ◽  
Pei Jiang ◽  
Caie Qin ◽  
...  

Accumulating studies demonstrate that dihydromyricetin (DMY), a compound extracted from Chinese traditional herb, Ampelopsis grossedentata, attenuates atherosclerotic process by improvement of endothelial dysfunction. However, the underlying mechanism remains poorly understood. Thus, the aim of this study is to investigate the potential mechanism behind the attenuating effects of DMY on tumor necrosis factor alpha- (TNF-α-) induced endothelial dysfunction. In response to TNF-α, microRNA-21 (miR-21) expression was significantly increased in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), in line with impaired endothelial dysfunction as evidenced by decreased tube formation and migration, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) (ser1177) phosphorylation, dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolases 1 (DDAH1) expression and metabolic activity, and nitric oxide (NO) concentration as well as increased asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) levels. In contrast, DMY or blockade of miR-21 expression ameliorated endothelial dysfunction in HUVECs treated with TNF-α through downregulation of miR-21 expression, whereas these effects were abolished by overexpression of miR-21. In addition, using a nonspecific NOS inhibitor, L-NAME, also abrogated the attenuating effects of DMY on endothelial dysfunction. Taken together, these data demonstrated that miR-21-mediated DDAH1/ADMA/NO signal pathway plays an important role in TNF-α-induced endothelial dysfunction, and DMY attenuated endothelial dysfunction induced by TNF-α in a miR-21-dependent manner.


2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (9) ◽  
pp. 2753 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nina Zippel ◽  
Annemarieke Loot ◽  
Heike Stingl ◽  
Voahanginirina Randriamboavonjy ◽  
Ingrid Fleming ◽  
...  

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is frequently reported to phosphorylate Ser1177 of the endothelial nitric-oxide synthase (eNOS), and therefore, is linked with a relaxing effect. However, previous studies failed to consistently demonstrate a major role for AMPK on eNOS-dependent relaxation. As AMPK also phosphorylates eNOS on the inhibitory Thr495 site, this study aimed to determine the role of AMPKα1 and α2 subunits in the regulation of NO-mediated vascular relaxation. Vascular reactivity to phenylephrine and acetylcholine was assessed in aortic and carotid artery segments from mice with global (AMPKα−/−) or endothelial-specific deletion (AMPKαΔEC) of the AMPKα subunits. In control and AMPKα1-depleted human umbilical vein endothelial cells, eNOS phosphorylation on Ser1177 and Thr495 was assessed after AMPK activation with thiopental or ionomycin. Global deletion of the AMPKα1 or α2 subunit in mice did not affect vascular reactivity. The endothelial-specific deletion of the AMPKα1 subunit attenuated phenylephrine-mediated contraction in an eNOS- and endothelium-dependent manner. In in vitro studies, activation of AMPK did not alter the phosphorylation of eNOS on Ser1177, but increased its phosphorylation on Thr495. Depletion of AMPKα1 in cultured human endothelial cells decreased Thr495 phosphorylation without affecting Ser1177 phosphorylation. The results of this study indicate that AMPKα1 targets the inhibitory phosphorylation Thr495 site in the calmodulin-binding domain of eNOS to attenuate basal NO production and phenylephrine-induced vasoconstriction.


2002 ◽  
Vol 282 (6) ◽  
pp. H2066-H2075 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guohao Dai ◽  
Olga Tsukurov ◽  
Michael Chen ◽  
Jonathan P. Gertler ◽  
Roger D. Kamm

External pneumatic compression (EPC) is effective in preventing deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and is thought to alter endothelial thromboresistant properties. We investigated the effect of EPC on changes in nitric oxide (NO), a critical mediator in the regulation of vasomotor and platelet function. An in vitro cell culture system was developed to simulate flow and vessel collapse conditions under EPC. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells were cultured and subjected to tube compression (C), pulsatile flow (F), or a combination of the two (FC). NO production and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) mRNA expression were measured. The data demonstrate that in the F and FC groups, there is a rapid release of NO followed by a sustained increase. NO production levels in the F and FC groups were almost identical, whereas the C group produced the same low amount of NO as the control group. Conditions F and FC also upregulate eNOS mRNA expression by a factor of 2.08 ± 0.25 and 2.11 ± 0.21, respectively, at 6 h. Experiments with different modes of EPC show that NO production and eNOS mRNA expression respond to different time cycles of compression. These results implicate enhanced NO release as a potentially important factor in the prevention of DVT.


Blood ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 93 (4) ◽  
pp. 1399-1405 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gerd Lärfars ◽  
Frédérique Lantoine ◽  
Marie-Aude Devynck ◽  
Jan Palmblad ◽  
Hans Gyllenhammar

Abstract Because arachidonate metabolites are potent mediators of inflammation, we have studied the effects of leukotriene B4(LTB4) and the cysteinyl leukotrienes C4 and D4 (LTC4 and LTD4) on the release of nitric oxide (NO), in vitro, by human polymorphonuclear granulocytes (PMN). Two independent and highly sensitive real-time methods were used for these studies, ie, the NO-dependent oxidation of oxyhemoglobin (HbO2) to methemoglobin and a NO-sensitive microelectrode. When activated with LTB4, LTC4, or LTD4, but not with other lipoxygenase products such as 5S-HETE, 5-oxo-ETE or 5S,12S-diHETE, PMN produced NO in a stimulus- and concentration-dependent manner. The rank order of potency was LTB4 = LTC4 > LTD4, corresponding to 232 ± 50 pmol of NO/106 PMN for 100 nmol/L LTB4 after 30 minutes. The kinetic properties of the responses were similar for all three leukotrienes with a maximum response at 13 ± 3 minutes. Cysteinyl leukotriene and LTB4 antagonists inhibited the agonist-induced NO production by 70%, and treatment with Bordetella pertussis toxin, or chelation of cytosolic Ca2+, [Ca2+]i, also efficiently inhibited this response. In contrast, treatment of PMN with cytochalasin B (5 μg/mL) enhanced the LTB4-induced NO formation by 86%. Thus, this is the first demonstration that the cysteinyl leukotrienes LTC4 and LTD4, as well as LTB4, activate NO release from human PMN by surface receptor, G-protein and [Ca2+]i-dependent mechanisms. This effect differs from activation of the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NADPH) oxidase, for which only LTB4is an activator.


2007 ◽  
Vol 293 (1) ◽  
pp. C458-C467 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jian-Zhong Sheng ◽  
Andrew P. Braun

The contribution of small-conductance (SKCa) and intermediate-conductance Ca2+-activated K+ (IKCa) channels to the generation of nitric oxide (NO) by Ca2+-mobilizing stimuli was investigated in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) by combining single-cell microfluorimetry with perforated patch-clamp recordings to monitor agonist-evoked NO synthesis, cytosolic Ca2+ transients, and membrane hyperpolarization in real time. ATP or histamine evoked reproducible elevations in NO synthesis and cytosolic Ca2+, as judged by 4-amino-5-methylamino-2′,7′-difluorofluorescein (DAF-FM) and fluo-3 fluorescence, respectively, that were tightly associated with membrane hyperpolarizations. Whereas evoked NO synthesis was unaffected by either tetraethylammonium (10 mmol/l) or BaCl2 (50 μmol/l) + ouabain (100 μmol/l), depleting intracellular Ca2+ stores by thapsigargin or removing external Ca2+ inhibited NO production, as did exposure to high (80 mmol/l) external KCl. Importantly, apamin and charybdotoxin (ChTx)/ triarylmethane (TRAM)-34, selective blockers SKCa and IKCa channels, respectively, abolished both stimulated NO synthesis and membrane hyperpolarization and decreased evoked Ca2+ transients. Apamin and TRAM-34 also inhibited an agonist-induced outwardly rectifying current characteristic of SKCa and IKCa channels. Under voltage-clamp control, we further observed that the magnitude of agonist-induced NO production varied directly with the degree of membrane hyperpolarization. Mechanistically, our data indicate that SKCa and IKCa channel-mediated hyperpolarization represents a critical early event in agonist-evoked NO production by regulating the influx of Ca2+ responsible for endothelial NO synthase activation. Moreover, it appears that the primary role of agonist-induced release of intracellular Ca2+ stores is to trigger the opening of both KCa channels along with Ca2+ entry channels at the plasma membrane. Finally, the observed inhibition of stimulated NO synthesis by apamin and ChTx/TRAM-34 demonstrates that SKCa and IKCa channels are essential for NO-mediated vasorelaxation.


2018 ◽  
Vol 115 (18) ◽  
pp. 4672-4677 ◽  
Author(s):  
Seung-Hyun Lee ◽  
Jaesung Seo ◽  
Soo-Yeon Park ◽  
Mi-Hyeon Jeong ◽  
Hyo-Kyoung Choi ◽  
...  

Programmed cell death 5 (PDCD5) has been associated with human cancers as a regulator of cell death; however, the role of PDCD5 in the endothelium has not been revealed. Thus, we investigated whether PDCD5 regulates protein kinase B (PKB/AKT)-endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS)–dependent signal transduction in the endothelium and affects atherosclerosis. Endothelial-specific PDCD5 knockout mice showed significantly reduced vascular remodeling compared with wild-type (WT) mice after partial carotid ligation. WT PDCD5 competitively inhibited interaction between histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) and AKT, but PDCD5L6R, an HDAC3-binding–deficient mutant, did not. Knockdown of PDCD5 accelerated HDAC3–AKT interaction, AKT and eNOS phosphorylation, and nitric oxide (NO) production in human umbilical vein endothelial cells. Moreover, we found that serum PDCD5 levels reflect endothelial NO production and are correlated with diabetes mellitus, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and coronary calcium in human samples obtained from the cardiovascular high-risk cohort. Therefore, we conclude that PDCD5 is associated with endothelial dysfunction and may be a novel therapeutic target in atherosclerosis.


2008 ◽  
Vol 389 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Munekazu Yamakuchi ◽  
Clare Bao ◽  
Marcella Ferlito ◽  
Charles J. Lowenstein

Abstract Consumption of green tea is associated with a decrease in cardiovascular mortality. The beneficial health effects of green tea are attributed in part to polyphenols, organic compounds found in tea that lower blood pressure, reduce body fat, decrease LDL cholesterol, and inhibit inflammation. We hypothesized that epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), the most abundant polyphenol in tea, inhibits endothelial exocytosis, the initial step in leukocyte trafficking and vascular inflammation. To test this hypothesis, we treated human umbilical-vein endothelial cells with EGCG and other polyphenols, and then measured endothelial exocytosis. We found that EGCG decreases endothelial exocytosis in a concentration-dependent manner, with the effects most prominent after 4 h of treatment. Other catechin polyphenols had no effect on endothelial cells. By inhibiting endothelial exocytosis, EGCG decreases leukocyte adherence to endothelial cells. In searching for the mechanism by which EGCG affects endothelial cells, we found that EGCG increases Akt phosphorylation, eNOS phosphorylation, and nitric oxide (NO) production. NOS inhibition revealed that NO mediates the anti-inflammatory effects of EGCG. Our data suggest that polyphenols can decrease vascular inflammation by increasing the synthesis of NO, which blocks endothelial exocytosis.


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