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Frank T Ruschitzka

Publications and source records attributed to Frank T Ruschitzka.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

Anti-inflammatory strategies in hypertension: focus on COX-1 and COX-2.

An increasing body of evidence suggests that elevated levels of blood pressure may induce a proinflammatory response. Indeed, both C-reactive protein and blood pressure are independent determinants of cardiovascular risk, and, in combination, each parameter has additional predictive value. Hence, strategies targeted to lower blood pressure and reduce vascular inflammation may potentially provide clinical benefit. In this review, we discuss the role of chronic low-grade inflammation in the context of cardiovascular disease with a focus on roles of cyclooxygenase-1 and -2 in potential anti-inflammatory treatment strategies.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗
PubMed2002

Pattern of prepro-endothelin-1 expression revealed by reporter-gene activity in kidneys of erythropoietin-overexpressing mice.

Transgenic overexpression of erythropoietin (Epo) in mice increases haematocrit to a mean of 80% in adult mice, leading to an increase in blood viscosity and volume. As a consequence, renal tissue endothelin-1 (ET-1) concentrations are significantly elevated in erythropoietin-overexpressing (Epo+) mice (mean+/-S.E.M; Epo+, 798+/-71; Epo-, 400+/-25 pg/g tissue; P<0.01). To investigate the pattern of expression of the primary translation product of the ET-1 gene, prepro-ET-1, in kidneys of (Epo+) mice, we generated crossbred mice overexpressing the human EPO gene with mice carrying a reporter gene construct expressing the LacZ gene under the control of the human prepro-ET-1 promotor sequence (LacZ+/Epo+). For comparison, we generated (LacZ+/Epo-) mice from the same strains. After Bluo-Gal staining of frozen kidney sections (n=10 in each group), intracellular blue precipitates as indicators of prepro-ET-1 promotor activity were detectable in tubular and vascular endothelium and glomerular cells in (LacZ+/Epo-) as well as (LacZ+/Epo+) mice. Comparison of the amount of blue precipitates by semiquantitative scoring showed a significant increase in reporter gene activity in tubular epithelium of (LacZ+/Epo+) mice (mean+/-S.E.M.; LacZ+/Epo+, 1.64+/-0.18; LacZ+/Epo-, 1.00+/-0.19; P<0.05). Reporter gene activity was not significantly elevated in epithelium of small intrarenal arteries of (LacZ+/Epo+) mice (mean+/-S.E.M.; LacZ+/Epo+, 0.86+/-0.14; LacZ+/Epo-, 0.38+/-0.21; P=0.08) and was similar in glomerular cells (mean+/-S.E.M.; LacZ+/Epo+, 1.28+/-0.16; LacZ+/Epo-, 1.14+/-0.21; P=0.6). The main source of elevated ET-1 tissue concentration in kidneys of (Epo+) mice therefore seems more likely to be tubular than vascular endothelium or glomerular cells.

Animals↗