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Biomedical subjects

U Landmesser

Publications and source records attributed to U Landmesser.

7 recordsLinked to original sources

Endothelial dysfunction in patients with chronic heart failure is independently associated with increased incidence of hospitalization, cardiac transplantation, or death.

BACKGROUND: Endothelial dysfunction of coronary and peripheral arteries has been demonstrated in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) and appears to be associated with functional implications. However, it is unknown whether endothelial dysfunction in CHF is independently associated with impaired outcome or progression of the disease. METHODS AND RESULTS: We assessed the follow-up of 67 consecutive patients with CHF [New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class II-III] in which flow-dependent, endothelium-mediated vasodilation (FDD) of the radial artery was assessed by high resolution ultrasound. The primary endpoint was defined by cardiac death, hospitalization due to worsening of heart failure (NYHA class IV, pulmonary oedema), or heart transplantation. Cox regression analysis was used to determine whether FDD was associated with these heart failure-related events. During a median follow-up of 45.7 months 24 patients had an event: 18 patients were hospitalized due to worsening of heart failure or heart transplantation, six patients died for cardiac reasons. Cox regression analysis demonstrated that FDD (P<0.01), diabetes mellitus (P<0.01), and ejection fraction (P<0.01) were independent predictive factors for the occurrence of the primary endpoint. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve revealed a significantly better clinical outcome in patients with FDD above the median (6.2%) compared with those with FDD below the median (P<0.013). CONCLUSION: These observations suggest that endothelium-mediated vasodilation represents an independent predictor of cardiac death and hospitalization in patients with CHF, consistent with the notion that endothelium-derived nitric oxide may play a protective role in heart failure.

Chronic Disease↗

Comparative effect of ace inhibition and angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonism on bioavailability of nitric oxide in patients with coronary artery disease: role of superoxide dismutase.

BACKGROUND: Flow-dependent, endothelium-mediated vasodilation (FDD) and activity of extracellular superoxide dismutase (EC-SOD), the major antioxidative enzyme of the arterial wall, are severely impaired in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). We hypothesized that both ACE inhibitor (ACEI) and angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonist (AT(1)-A) increase bioavailability of nitric oxide (NO) by reducing oxidative stress in the vessel wall, possibly by increasing EC-SOD activity. METHODS AND RESULTS: Thirty-five patients with CAD were randomized to 4 weeks of ACEI (ramipril 10 mg/d) or AT(1)-A (losartan 100 mg/d). FDD of the radial artery was determined by high-resolution ultrasound before and after intra-arterial N-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) to inhibit NO synthase and before and after intra-arterial vitamin C to determine the portion of FDD inhibited by oxygen free radicals. EC-SOD activity was determined after release from endothelium by heparin bolus injection. FDD was improved after ramipril and losartan (each group P<0.01), and in particular, the portion of FDD mediated by NO, ie, inhibited by L-NMMA, was increased by >75% (each group P<0.01). Vitamin C improved FDD initially, an effect that was lost after ramipril or losartan. After therapy, EC-SOD activity was increased by >200% in both groups (ACEI, 14.4+/-1.1 versus 3.8+/-0.9 and AT(1)-A, 13.5+/-1.0 versus 3.9+/-0.9 U. mL(-1). min(-1); each P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS-Four weeks of therapy with ramipril or losartan improves endothelial function to similar extents in patients with CAD by increasing the bioavailability of NO. Our results suggest that beneficial long-term effects of interference with the renin-angiotensin system may be related to reduction of oxidative stress within the arterial wall, mediated in part by increased EC-SOD activity.

Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists↗

Vascular extracellular superoxide dismutase activity in patients with coronary artery disease: relation to endothelium-dependent vasodilation.

BACKGROUND: Increased inactivation of nitric oxide by oxygen free radicals contributes to endothelial dysfunction in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). We therefore determined the activity of extracellular superoxide dismutase (EC-SOD), the major antioxidant enzyme system of the vessel wall, and its relation to flow-dependent, endothelium-mediated dilation (FDD) in patients with CAD. METHODS AND RESULTS: SOD isoenzyme activity was determined in coronary arteries from 10 patients with CAD and 10 control subjects. In addition, endothelium-bound EC-SOD activity (eEC-SOD), released by heparin bolus injection, and FDD of the radial artery were measured in 35 patients with CAD and 15 control subjects. FDD, determined by high-resolution ultrasound, was assessed at baseline, after intra-arterial infusion of vitamin C, N-monomethyl-L-arginine, and combination of both. EC-SOD activity in coronary arteries (control subjects: 126+/-14; CAD: 63+/-11 U/mg protein; P<0.01) and eEC-SOD activity in vivo (control subjects: 14.5+/-1.1; CAD: 3.8+/-1.1 U. mL(-1). min(-1); P<0.01) were reduced in patients with CAD. Activity of eEC-SOD was positively correlated with FDD (r=0.47; P<0. 01) and negatively with the effect of the antioxidant vitamin C on FDD (r=-0.59; P<0.01). In young individuals with hypercholesterolemia, however, eEC-SOD activity was increased (21. 0+/-1.2 U. mL(-1). min(-1); n=10; P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with CAD, vascular EC-SOD activity is substantially reduced. The close relation between endothelium-bound EC-SOD activity and FDD suggests that reduced EC-SOD activity contributes to endothelial dysfunction in patients with CAD. In young hypercholesterolemic individuals, however, endothelium-bound EC-SOD activity is increased and may, in part, counteract impairment of endothelial function as the result of increased formation of oxygen free radicals.

Adult↗

Endothelial dysfunction in hypercholesterolemia: mechanisms, pathophysiological importance, and therapeutic interventions.

Since the demonstration of the obligatory role of the endothelium in arterial relaxation by Furchgott and Zawadzki (1980), there has been great interest in the role of the endothelium in vascular disease. Apart from endothelium-dependent vasodilation, other important functions of the endothelium have now been studied, that is, the regulation of adhesion and infiltration of leukocytes and inhibition of platelet adhesion and aggregation. Many functions of the endothelium are influenced by nitric oxide (NO), which is synthesized by endothelial NO synthase. Endothelial dysfunction in hypercholesterolemic patients is in large part due to a reduced bioavailability of NO. Multiple factors contribute to this, including increased inactivation of NO by radicals and inhibition of NO formation by different mechanisms. The functional implications of endothelial dysfunction are not completely defined. However, recent studies suggest that endothelial dysfunction contributes to myocardial perfusion abnormalities. Furthermore, endothelial dysfunction may play an important role with respect to development and progression of atherosclerosis because the endothelium is involved in the regulation of key events of the atherosclerotic process. Endothelial dysfunction in hypercholesterolemia is reversible by cholesterol-lowering treatment, that is treatment with HMG-CoA-reductase inhibitors. First experimental data suggest that maneuvers that increase the bioavailability of NO in hypercholesterolemia may even result in regression of preexisting atherosclerotic lesions.

Animals↗

Reactive oxygen species and antioxidant defense in puromycin aminonucleoside glomerulopathy.

Results from several radical scavenger studies indirectly suggested an involvement of reactive oxygen species in the pathogenesis of puromycin aminonucleoside glomerulopathy. In this study, generation of reactive oxygen species was examined directly in glomeruli isolated from rats in the acute phase of puromycin aminonucleoside nephrosis and related to the changes in the glomerular antioxidant defense. Five and nine days after puromycin aminonucleoside injection, gross proteinuria, reduced creatinine clearances, and typical changes of glomerular morphology were present. Levels of reactive oxygen species were increased eightfold in glomeruli isolated 15 min after puromycin aminonucleoside injection, returned to baseline levels on days 1 and 5 after injection, and rose again to 14-fold on day 9 after injection, as determined by chemiluminescence with luminol. Further analysis of increased glomerular radical generation, using the chemiluminescence enhancer lucigenin and different radical scavengers, suggested a predominant involvement of hydroxyl radical and hydrogen peroxide in the initial increase in reactive oxygen species 15 min after puromycin aminonucleoside. Nine days after induction of nephrosis, primarily superoxide anion and hydroxyl radical were found to contribute to increased reactive oxygen species. Despite oxidative stress, antioxidant enzymes were not induced in the course of nephrosis. On the contrary, catalase and glutathione peroxidase activities declined 9 d after puromycin aminonucleoside injection. The results indicate that a transient increase in glomerular reactive oxygen species is sufficient to induce the oxidative glomerular injury observed in this model and that the glomerulus may not necessarily respond to oxidative stress with an induction of antioxidant enzymes.

Animals↗