Chen X, Zhang H, McAfee S, Zhang C. The reciprocal relationship between adiponectin and LOX-1 in the regulation of endothelial dysfunction in ApoE knockout mice. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 299: H605–H612, 2010. First published June 25, 2010; doi:10.1152/ajpheart.01096.2009.—We hypothesized that the reciprocal association between adiponectin and lectin-like oxidized LDL (ox-LDL) receptor (L...

Previous studies confirmed that the methanolic extract from Curcuma longa L. (CLME) lowers arterial blood pressure and heart rate in rats due to the blockade of extracellular Ca(2+) influx. The aim of this study was to investigate the involvement of Na(+)-Ca (2+) exchanger in the vasorelaxant effects elicited by CLME in isolated rat superior mesenteric arteries. CLME (1-1,000 microg/ml) concent...

AIMS β-Sitosterol has become a popular cholesterol-lowering functional food product worldwide. β-Sitosterol can be oxidized to β-sitosterol oxidation products (SOPs) during food processing. Little is known about the impact of SOPs and β-sitosterol on the functionality of arteries. This study investigated the effects of SOPs and β-sitosterol on vasorelaxation and the possible cellular mechanisms...

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) induces hypotension in normotensive subjects, which is considered to be a major side effect for treatment of ischemic diseases. However, the hypotensive effect of VEGF has not been investigated in the setting of hypertension. This study determined effects of VEGF on hemodynamics, pharmacokinetics, and release of NO and prostaglandin I2 (PGI2) in vivo an...

Novel AT(2)R ligands were designed by substituting individual β-amino acid in the sequence of the native ligand angiotensin II (Ang II). Relative ATR selectivity and functional vascular assays (in vitro AT(2)R-mediated vasorelaxation and in vivo vasodepressor action) were determined. In competition binding experiments using either AT(1)R- or AT(2)R- transfected HEK-293 cells, only β-Asp(1)-Ang ...

Resveratrol (Res) is a specific agonist of sirtuin 1, and has many cardioprotective effects. Although Res is able to relax various vascular beds, its pharmacological properties in rat superior mesenteric arteries and the underlying mechanism are not well clarified. The aim of present study was to investigate the vasorelaxant effects of Res on rat superior mesenteric arteries and the mechanisms ...

Resveratrol has been shown to induce vasorelaxation. In this study, we investigated the mechanism(s) of resveratrol-induced vasorelaxation in resistance mesenteric arteries from male lean and dietary-induced obese rats. Compared with lean rats, arteries from dietary-obese rats showed significant (P<0.001) endothelial dysfunction, as indicated by a decrease (>20%) in maximal acetylcholine-induce...

Apurinic/Apyrmidinic Endonuclease 1/Redox Factor-1 (APE1/Ref-1) is a reductant which is important for vascular homeostasis. SIRTUIN1 (SIRT1) is a lysine deacetylase that also promotes endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation. We asked if APE1/Ref-1 governs the redox state and activity of SIRT1, and whether SIRT1 mediates the effect of APE1/Ref-1 on endothelium-dependent vascular function. APE1/Ref-...

Nitric oxide generated by endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) plays an important role in maintaining cardiovascular homeostasis. Under various pathological conditions, abnormal expression of eNOS contributes to endothelial dysfunction and the development of cardiovascular diseases. A variety of pathological stimuli has been reported to decrease eNOS expression mainly through decreasing eNO...