Recent studies have revealed an inverse association between height and cardiovascular disease. However, the background mechanism of this association has not yet been clarified. Height has also been reported to be positively associated with cancer. Therefore, well-known cardiovascular risk factors, such as increased oxidative stress and chronic inflammation, are not the best explanations for this inverse association because these risk factors are also related to cancer. However, impaired blood flow is the main pathological problem in cardiovascular disease, while glowing feeding vessels (angiogenesis) are the main characteristic of cancer pathologies. Therefore, endothelial maintenance activity, especially for the productivity of hematopoietic stem cells such as CD34-positive cells, could be associated with the height of an individual because this cell contributes not only to the progression of atherosclerosis but also to the development of angiogenesis. In addition, recent studies have also revealed a close connection between bone marrow activity and endothelial maintenance; bone marrow-derived hematopoietic stem cells contribute towards endothelial maintenance. Since the absolute volume of bone marrow is positively associated with height, height could influence endothelial maintenance activity. Based on these hypotheses, we performed several studies. The aim of this review is not only to discuss the association between height and bone marrow activity, but also to describe the potential mechanism underlying endothelial maintenance. In addition, this review also aims to explain some of the reasons that implicate hypertension as a major risk factor for stroke among the Japanese population. The review also aims to clarify the anthropological reasons behind the high risk of atherosclerosis progression in Japanese individuals with acquired genetic characteristics.
Aged ; Atherosclerosis/physiopathology* ; Body Height/physiology* ; Bone Marrow/physiology* ; Disease Progression ; Endothelium/physiology* ; Humans ; Hypertension/physiopathology* ; Japan/epidemiology* ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; Stroke/physiopathology*

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) is the deadliest disease in the world, with endothelial injury occurring throughout the course of the disease. Therefore, improvement in endothelial function is of essential importance in the prevention of ASCVD. Red yeast rice (RYR), a healthy traditional Chinese food, has a lipid modulation function and also plays a vital role in the improvement of endothelial reactivity and cardiovascular protection; thus, it is significant in the prevention and treatment of ASCVD. This article reviews the molecular mechanisms of RYR and its related products in the improvement of endothelial function in terms of endothelial reactivity, anti-apoptosis of endothelial progenitor cells, oxidative stress alleviation and anti-inflammation.
Apoptosis ; drug effects ; Atherosclerosis ; pathology ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; Biological Products ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; pathology ; physiopathology ; prevention & control ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; chemistry ; pharmacology ; therapeutic use ; Endothelium, Vascular ; cytology ; drug effects ; physiology ; Humans ; Inflammation ; prevention & control ; Lipid Metabolism ; drug effects ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects

The incidence and mortality rates of diabetes with cardiovascular complications are continually rising, and diabetic cardiovascular disease is becoming a major public health issue that threatens human health. Acute endothelial dysfunction and chronic cellular damage caused by diabetes are important risk factors for diabetic cardiovascular disease and related mortality. Adiponectin is an adipocyte-derived molecule with significant cytoprotective effects, including the protection against diabetes-induced vascular endothelial injury. Here we review the mechanisms of adiponectin protective effects on acute vascular endothelial dysfunction and chronic structural damage induced by diabetes.
Adiponectin ; physiology ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; complications ; Diabetes Mellitus ; pathology ; Endothelium, Vascular ; physiopathology ; Humans

BACKGROUND: Hypertension and atherosclerosis are bidirectionally related, while platelet count could serve as an indicator of endothelial repair. Therefore, high platelet counts could be associated with hypertension by indicating more intense endothelial repair activity. Furthermore, short stature has been shown to constitute a risk of atherosclerosis. Since inflammation-related single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP (rs3782886)) is reportedly associated with myocardial infarction and short stature, rs3782886 could be associated with a high platelet count and thus more intense endothelial repair activity. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 988 elderly Japanese who participated in a general health check-up. Short stature was defined as a height of at or under the 25th percentile of the study population, and high platelet count as the highest tertiles of the platelet levels. RESULTS: High platelet counts were found to be independently and positively associated with hypertension while rs3782886 was independently associated with high platelet levels and short stature. The classical cardiovascular risk factor-adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of high platelet count for hypertension was 1.34 (1.02, 1.77). With non-minor homo of the rs3782886 as the reference group, the adjusted OR and 95% CI for high platelet count and short stature of minor home were 2.40 (1.30, 4.42) and 2.21 (1.16, 4.21), respectively. CONCLUSION SNP (rs3782886) was shown to be associated with high platelet count and short stature. This result partly explains how a genetic factor can influence the impact of height on endothelial repair.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Blood Platelets ; metabolism ; Body Height ; genetics ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Endothelium, Vascular ; physiology ; Female ; Genetic Association Studies ; Genetic Predisposition to Disease ; Genotype ; Humans ; Hypertension ; blood ; epidemiology ; genetics ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Platelet Count ; Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide

Apoptosis ; Endoplasmic Reticulum ; pathology ; Endothelium, Vascular ; pathology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; physiology ; Humans ; Stress, Physiological

OBJECTIVE: Growth-arrest-specific protein 6 (Gas6) is a vitamin K-dependent protein and involved in cell proliferation, survival, adhesion and migration . Also it has been shown to play an important role in the inflammatory response .The aim of present study was to investigate the role of Gas6 in the process of the expression of adhesion molecules and chemokines of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) induced by Porphyromonas gingivalis lipopolysaccharide(P.g-LPS). METHODS: After up-regulation and down-regulation of the expression of Gas6, the vascular endothelial cells were stimulated with 1 mg/L P.g-LPS for 3 h and 24 h. Real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction(real-time PCR) was taken to detect the expression of the cell adhesion molecules:intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and E-selectin, as well as chemokines:interleukin-8 (IL-8) and monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1). Wound healing assay was taken to observe the migration ability of endothelium cells in different groups. RESULTS: After 3 h of P.g-LPS stimulation, the expression of adhesion molecules and chemokine in the down-regulation group was not significantly different from that in the control group,while in the up-regulation group the decrease of E-selectin, ICAM-1, IL-8 and MCP-1 was 81%±0%, 47%±3%, 76% ± 3%, 26% ± 6% respectively. After 24 h of P.g-LPS stimulation, the expression of adhesion molecules and chemokine in down-regulation group was significantly higher than that in control group (2.06±0.07, 1.99±0.11, 3.14±0.15, 1.84±0.03 flod), while these molecules in the down-regulation group was significantly lower than in the control group (29%±1%, 62%±3%, 69%±1%, 41%±2%). Differences were statistically significant (P<0.01). Wounding healing assay showed that down-regulation of Gas6 enhanced migration ability of endothelial cells while up-regulation of Gas6 weakened this ability,which was consistent with the trend of real-time PCR result. CONCLUSION Down-regulation of the Gas6 gene enhanced the expression of ICAM-1, E-selectin, IL-8 and MCP-1 in HUVECs after P.g- LPS stimulating, while up-regulaiton of the Gas6 gene weakened the expression of ICAM-1, E-selectin, IL-8 and MCP-1 in HUVECs after P.g-LPS stimulating,suggesting that Gas6 may play a role in the process of endothelial cell adhesion.
Cell Adhesion ; Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 ; Cells, Cultured ; Chemokines/metabolism* ; E-Selectin/metabolism* ; Endothelium, Vascular ; Humans ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/physiology* ; Lipopolysaccharides ; Porphyromonas gingivalis/metabolism* ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1/metabolism* ; Vitamin K

Men with diabetic erectile dysfunction (ED) respond poorly to the currently available oral phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitors. Therefore, functional therapies for diabetic ED are needed. Stromal vascular fraction (SVF) and the adenovirus-mediated cartilage oligomeric matrix angiopoietin-1 (Ad-COMP-Ang1) gene are known to play critical roles in penile erection. We previously reported that SVF and Ad-COMP-Ang1 have only a short-term effect in restoring erectile function. Further improvements to ED therapy are needed for long-lasting effects. In the present study, we aimed to test if the combination of SVF and Ad-COMP-Ang1 could extend the erection effect in diabetic ED. We found that the combination therapy showed a long-term effect in restoring erectile function through enhanced penile endothelial and neural cell regeneration. Combination therapy with SVF and Ad-COMP-Ang1 notably restored cavernous endothelial cell numbers, pericyte numbers, endothelial cell-cell junctions, decreased cavernous endothelial cell permeability, and promoted neural regeneration for at least 4 weeks in diabetic mice. In summary, this is an initial description of the long-term effect of combination therapy with SVF and Ad-COMP-Ang1 in restoring erectile function through a dual effect on endothelial and neural cell regeneration. Such combination therapy may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of diabetic ED.
Angiopoietin-1/genetics* ; Animals ; Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental/metabolism* ; Endothelium, Vascular/metabolism* ; Erectile Dysfunction/therapy* ; Genetic Therapy/methods* ; Intercellular Junctions/metabolism* ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stem Cell Transplantation ; Mice ; Penile Erection/physiology* ; Permeability

PURPOSE: Endothelial dysfunction (ED) is a pivotal phenomenon in the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients receiving hemodialysis (HD). Indoxyl sulfate (IS) is a known uremic toxin that induces ED in patients with chronic kidney disease. The aim of this study was to investigate whether AST-120, an absorbent of IS, improves microvascular or macrovascular ED in HD patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a prospective, case-controlled trial. Fourteen patients each were enrolled in respective AST-120 and control groups. The subjects in the AST-120 group were treated with AST-120 (6 g/day) for 6 months. Microvascular function was assessed by laser Doppler flowmetry using iontophoresis of acetylcholine (Ach) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) at baseline and again at 3 and 6 months. Carotid arterial intima-media thickness (cIMT) and flow-mediated vasodilation were measured at baseline and 6 months. The Wilcoxon rank test was used to compare values before and after AST-120 treatment. RESULTS: Ach-induced iontophoresis (endothelium-dependent response) was dramatically ameliorated at 3 months and 6 months in the AST-120 group. SNP-induced response showed delayed improvement only at 6 months in the AST-120 group. The IS level was decreased at 3 months in the AST-120 group, but remained stable thereafter. cIMT was significantly reduced after AST-120 treatment. No significant complications in patients taking AST-120 were reported. CONCLUSION: AST-120 ameliorated microvascular ED and cIMT in HD patients. A randomized study including a larger population will be required to establish a definitive role of AST-120 as a preventive medication for CVD in HD patients.
Acetylcholine ; Adult ; Carbon/*therapeutic use ; Cardiovascular Diseases/etiology/*prevention & control ; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness ; Endothelium, Vascular/*physiopathology ; Female ; Humans ; Iontophoresis ; Kidney Failure, Chronic/complications/*physiopathology/*therapy ; Laser-Doppler Flowmetry ; Male ; Microcirculation/physiology ; Middle Aged ; Nitroprusside ; Oxides/*therapeutic use ; Prospective Studies ; *Renal Dialysis ; Young Adult

In recent years, injuries induced by explosive blast have got more and more attention owing to weapon development and frequent terrorist activities. Tear, bleeding and edema of tissues and organs are the main manifestations of blast shock wave damage. Vascular endothelial barrier is the main defense of tissues and organs' integrity. This article aims to discuss possible mechanisms of endothelial barrier damage induced by explosive blast and main manifestations of blood brain barrier, bloodeair barrier, and intestinal vascular barrier impairments. In addition, the main regulatory factors of vascular permeability are also summarized so as to provide theoretical basis for prevention and cure of vascular endothelial barrier damage resulting from explosive blast.
Blast Injuries ; metabolism ; Blood-Brain Barrier ; Capillary Permeability ; Endothelium, Vascular ; metabolism ; Humans ; Nitric Oxide ; physiology ; Platelet Activating Factor ; physiology ; Serotonin ; physiology ; Thrombin ; physiology

OBJECTIVEThis study aimed to evaluate the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression and permeability of vascular endothelial cell under microvibration.

METHODSHuman umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) were cultured, randomly vibrated under low frequency of 0.2, 0.5, 2, 5 Hz, 30 min per day. The VEGF mRNA level was detected by Tagman probe real-time fluorescence quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and the VEGF protein expression level was detected by Western blot. The permeability of vascular endothelial cell was evaluated.

RESULTSCompared with the blank control group, the mRNA and protein expression level of VEGF were significantly increased under 0.2, 0.5 Hz thelial, and increase the permeability microvibration (P<0.05), and decreased under 2, 5 Hz microvibration (P<0.01). The vascular endothelial permeability in creased under 0.2, 0.5 Hz microvibration (P<0.01), whereas the permeability decreased under 2, 5 Hz microvibration (P<0.01).

CONCLUSION0.2-0.5 Hz microvibration can up-regulate the expression of VEGF mRNA and protein in vascular endothelial, and increase the permeability.

Blotting, Western ; Capillary Permeability ; physiology ; Endothelial Cells ; metabolism ; Endothelium, Vascular ; chemistry ; Humans ; Permeability ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Messenger ; analysis ; Umbilical Cord ; chemistry ; metabolism ; Up-Regulation ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A ; analysis ; genetics ; physiology