Oxidized low density lipoprotein inhibits prostacyclin generation by rat aorta in vitro: a key role of lysolecithin

Targeting endothelial cells with golden spice curcumin: A promising therapy for cardiometabolic multimorbidity

Cardiometabolic multimorbidity (CMM) is an increasingly significant global public health concern. It encompasses the coexistence of multiple cardiometabolic diseases, including hypertension, stroke, heart disease, atherosclerosis, and T2DM. A crucial component to the development of CMM is the disruption of endothelial homeostasis. Therefore, therapies targeting endothelial cells through multi-targeted and multi-pathway approaches hold promise for preventing and treatment of CMM. Curcumin, a widely used dietary supplement derived from the golden spice Carcuma longa, has demonstrated remarkable potential in treatment of CMM through its interaction with endothelial cells. Numerous studies have identified various molecular targets of curcumin (such as NF-κB/PI3K/AKT, MAPK/NF-κB/IL-1β, HO-1, NOs, VEGF, ICAM-1 and ROS). These findings highlight the efficacy of curcumin as a therapeutic agent against CMM through the regulation of endothelial function. It is worth noting that there is a close relationship between the progression of CMM and endothelial damage, characterized by oxidative stress, inflammation, abnormal NO bioavailability and cell adhesion. This paper provides a comprehensive review of curcumin, including its availability, pharmacokinetics, pharmaceutics, and therapeutic application in treatment of CMM, as well as the challenges and future prospects for its clinical translation. In summary, curcumin shows promise as a potential treatment option for CMM, particularly due to its ability to target endothelial cells. It represents a novel and natural lead compound that may offer significant therapeutic benefits in the management of CMM.

An Updated Review of Pro- and Anti-Inflammatory Properties of Plasma Lysophosphatidylcholines in the Vascular System

Lysophosphatidylcholines are a group of bioactive lipids heavily investigated in the context of inflammation and atherosclerosis development. While present in plasma during physiological conditions, their concentration can drastically increase in certain inflammatory states. Lysophosphatidylcholines are widely regarded as potent pro-inflammatory and deleterious mediators, but an increasing number of more recent studies show multiple beneficial properties under various pathological conditions. Many of the discrepancies in the published studies are due to the investigation of different species or mixtures of lysophatidylcholines and the use of supra-physiological concentrations in the absence of serum or other carrier proteins. Furthermore, interpretation of the results is complicated by the rapid metabolism of lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC) in cells and tissues to pro-inflammatory lysophosphatidic acid. Interestingly, most of the recent studies, in contrast to older studies, found lower LPC plasma levels associated with unfavorable disease outcomes. Being the most abundant lysophospholipid in plasma, it is of utmost importance to understand its physiological functions and shed light on the discordant literature connected to its research. LPCs should be recognized as important homeostatic mediators involved in all stages of vascular inflammation. In this review, we want to point out potential pro- and anti-inflammatory activities of lysophospholipids in the vascular system and highlight recent discoveries about the effect of lysophosphatidylcholines on immune cells at the endothelial vascular interface. We will also look at their potential clinical application as biomarkers.

Aorta fluorescence imaging by using confocal microscopy

The activated leukocyte attacked the vascular endothelium and the associated increase in VEcadherin number was observed in experiments. The confocal microscopic system with a prism-based wavelength filter was used for multiwavelength fluorescence measurement. Multiwavelength fluorescence imaging based on the VEcadherin within the aorta segment of a rat was achieved. The confocal microscopic system capable of fluorescence detection of cardiovascular tissue is a useful tool for measuring the biological properties in clinical applications.

Application of Water-Soluble Radical Initiator, 2,2′-Azobis-[2-(2-imidazolin-2-yl)propane] Dihydrochloride, to a Study of Oxidative Stress

It is essential to generate free radicals at a controled and constant rate for specific duration and at specific site to study the dynamics of oxidation and also antioxidation. Both hydrophilic and lipophilic azo compounds have been used for such purpose. In the present work, the action of 2,2'-azobis[2-(2-imidazolin-2-yl)propane] dihydrochloride (AIPH) was examined and compared with those of 2,2'-azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride (AAPH) and 2,2'-azobis[2-methyl-N-(2-hydroxyethyl)-propionamide] (AMHP). The rate constant of free radical formation (ek(d)) for AIPH was 2.6 x 10(-6)/s at 37 degrees C in PBS (pH 7.4) solution, indicating that AIPH gives 3.8 times more free radicals than AAPH under the same conditions. It was found that the dynamics of oxidation and antioxidation induced by AIPH can be studied satisfactorily in the oxidation in micelles, LDL and erythrocyte suspensions, plasma, and cultured cells. The extent of cell death induced by AIPH and AAPH was directly proportional to the total free radicals formed. Interestingly, it was found that rats would not drink water containing AAPH, but they drank water containing AIPH. The levels of 8-iso-prostaglandin F2alpha (8-isoPs), 7-hydroxycholesterol (FCOH), lysophosphatidylcholine in the plasma of rats given water containing 50 mM AIPH for 1 month increased compared with those of control rats which drank water without AIPH. It may be concluded that AIPH is useful for kinetic and mechanistic studies on oxidative stress to membranes, lipoproteins, cells, and even animal models.

High density lipoprotein can modulate the inhibitory effect of oxLDL on prostacyclin generation by rat aorta in vitro

To examine the effect of oxidized low density lipoprotein (oxLDL) on prostacyclin (PGI2) generation by rat aorta in vitro and whether high density lipoprotein (HDL) has any protective effect against the inhibition of PGI2 generation induced by oxLDL is the objective of this study. Preincubation of aortas with oxLDL resulted in significant inhibition of PGI2 generation compared to preincubation with normal low density lipoprotein (nLDL) or buffer only. The inhibitory effect of oxLDL resided in its lipid moiety while the lipid fraction of nLDL showed no effect. Aortas preincubated with 10 microg/ml of lyso phosphatidycholine (lyso PC) also showed 30% inhibition of PGI2 generation, indicating that lyso PC was among the lipid components of oxLDL which inhibited PGI2 generation. Preincubation of aortas with a mixture of HDL and oxLDL at a ratio of 10:1 showed a significant recovery of PGI2 generation compared to aortas preincubated with only oxLDL, indicating a protective role for HDL. When HDL was incubated with oxLDL the transfer of lyso PC from oxLDL to HDL suggested that HDL trapped lyso PC from oxLDL thus preventing it from acting on the aorta. However, when a mixture of HDL and oxLDL at a ratio of 3:1 was preincubated with aortas, no protective effect of HDL was observed. Preincubation of aortas with a mixture of HDL plus oxLDL at a ratio of 8:1, which was incubated for 1 h at 37 degrees C, produced significantly less PGI2 than aortas preincubated only with oxLDL, indicating that HDL under these conditions was not protective but even enhanced the inhibitory effect of oxLDL. Similarly, aortas preincubated with HDL plus whole oxLDL (at a ratio of 10:1); containing all the small molecular weight oxidation products and characterized by high levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) and lipid hydroperoxides; produced significantly less PGI2 than aortas preincubated with whole oxLDL. These results were evaluated in light of possible modification of HDL by oxLDL and its lipid oxidation products such as aldehydes and lipid peroxides. The modified HDL can add more lipid peroxides and increase the effectiveness of lipid peroxides originally present in oxLDL.