Injury of endothelial cells has been assumed to be an initial trigger of the development of atherosclerosis. In this study, we investigated the molecular mechanisms of endothelial cell death induced by hypoxia, which leads to oxidative stress. To study the relation between hypoxia-induced cell death and activation of nuclear factor-kB (NF-kB) in a hypoxic state, we evaluated the effect of 2 ant...

Objective—This study was conducted to examination whether Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE), a Chinese herb with antioxidant activity, could reduce cytokine-induced monocyte/human aortic endothelial cell (HAEC) interaction, a pivotal early event in atherogenesis. Methods and Results—Pretreatment of HAECs with GBE (50 and 100 mg/mL for 18 hours) significantly suppressed cellular binding between the hu...

BACKGROUND Increased vascular oxidative stress induced by hyperlipidemia may alter the phenotype of vascular smooth muscle (SM) cells and play a crucial role in the progression of atherosclerosis. To clarify the mechanisms underlying vascular dysfunction and oxidative stress in hypercholesterolemia, we compared the effects of antioxidant probucol with those of pravastatin on aortic stiffness, p...

BACKGROUND Shear stress caused by arteriovenous fistula (AVF) enhances endothelium-dependent relaxation (EDR) but oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox- LDL) counteracts its effect. Probucol, a lipid soluble antioxidant, may preserve EDR of AVF by limiting oxidation of LDL. METHODS Twenty New Zealand rabbits, fed with 2% cholesterol chow for 4 weeks, underwent AVF. They were then divided into ...

Objective—This study was conducted to examination whether Ginkgo biloba extract (GBE), a Chinese herb with antioxidant activity, could reduce cytokine-induced monocyte/human aortic endothelial cell (HAEC) interaction, a pivotal early event in atherogenesis. Methods and Results—Pretreatment of HAECs with GBE (50 and 100 g/mL for 18 hours) significantly suppressed cellular binding between the hum...

Dr. Tsutomu Hirano, The First Department of Internal Medicine, Showa University School of Medicine, 1-5-8 Hatanodai, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 142 (Japan) Dear Sir, Studies in experimental models have suggested that hyperlipidemia may play a role in the development of focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) [1]. We reported that the development of FSGS was able to be suppressed by a lipid-lower...