Ionizing radiation to prevent arterial intimal hyperplasia at the edges of the stent: induces necrosis and fibrosis

Anti-inflammatory effects of a Chinese herbal medicine in atherosclerosis via estrogen receptor β mediating nitric oxide production and NF-κB suppression in endothelial cells

Bu-Shen-Ning-Xin Decoction (BSNXD) administration has alleviated the early pathologic damage of atherosclerosis by inhibiting the adhesion molecule expression and upregulating the estrogen receptor (ER) β expression in endothelial cells, and increasing the serum nitric oxide (NO) level without any effect on serum lipid status, endometrium and fat deposition in liver in ovariectomized rabbits. The BSNXD-derived serum increases ER β expression in the human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), and decreases malondialdehyde (MDA) production, and upregulates eNOS expression then increases NO synthesis through ERβ-dependent pathway. NO not only suppresses the LPS-induced NF-κB transcription in HUVECs, but also decreases apoptosis of endothelial cells. The BSNXD-derived serum decreases monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 production, and suppresses cell adhesion molecules (ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and E-selectin) expression in HUVECs injured by oxidized low-density lipoproteins (ox-LDL), and these effects can be abolished by ERβ antagonist (R,RTHC) and NO synthase inhibitor (L-NAME). The BSNXD-derived serum-treated HUVECs supernatant reduces CCR2, LFA-1 and VLA-4 expression in monocytes cell line U937 cells, which in turn inhibits adherence of U937 to injured endothelial cells. NO synthesis increases, and MDA production decreases through ERβ-mediated pathway that suppresses apoptosis and NF-κB activity in endothelial cells that downregulates adhesion molecules expression on endothelial cells via ERβ/NO/NF-κB pathway, and in turn leukocyte adhesion, which suggests BSNXD potential value in prophylaxis atherosclerosis.

Protective effects of dehydroepiandrosterone on atherosclerosis in ovariectomized rabbits via alleviating inflammatory injury in endothelial cells

OBJECTIVE

The risk for atherosclerosis is increased in postmenopausal women. Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is postulated to have anti-atherogenic properties, but the mechanism remains unclear. The aim of this study was to elucidate the protective effect of DHEA on atherosclerosis in ovariectomized rabbits.

METHODS

The lipid status and atherosclerotic lesions were examined in vivo in ovariectomized rabbits. The effects of DHEA on expression of inflammatory molecules were evaluated in vitro, such as nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA), monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), adhesion molecules (ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and E-selectin) in the human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) injured by oxidized low-density lipoproteins (ox-LDL). The adhesion of the monocytic U937 cells to HUVECs was treated with supernatants of ox-LDL treated HUVECs with or without DHEA, and then the expressions of CCR2, LFA-1, VLA-4 were analyzed in U937 cells. The HUVECs with or without LPS treatment were then treated with DHEA, and NF-κB activity was measured by luciferase activity.

RESULTS

DHEA administration alleviates efficiently the early pathologic damage of atherosclerosis, increases the serum NO level, and up-regulates the endothelial cell estrogen receptor (ER) expression of ovariectomized rabbits. DHEA in vitro significantly promotes NO synthesis, suppresses MDA and MCP-1 secretion of endothelial cells, and decreases ICAM-1, VCAM-1 and E-selectin expression in HUVECs; neither selective ERα antagonist (methyl-piperidino-pyrazole, MPP) nor ERβ antagonist (R,R-tetrahydrochrysene, R,RTHC) can abolish these effects. Furthermore, DHEA reduces CCR2, LFA-1 and VLA-4 expression in U937 cells, which in turn inhibits the adherence of monocytes to the injured endothelial cells. DHEA significantly decreased the LPS-induced NF-κB transcription.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings suggest that DHEA can alleviate inflammation in endothelial cells. The effects of DHEA on endothelial cells are independent of ERα or ERβ pathway, but at least in part, through suppression of NF-κB activity, which protects from atherosclerosis triggered by monocyte adherence.