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Tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha) is a pleiotropic cytokine exerting both inflammatory and cell death activity and is thought to play a role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis. The present study was designed to examine whether the raloxifene analogue, LY117018 could inhibit TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis in vascular endothelial cells and to clarify the involved mechanisms. Apoptosis of endothelial cells was determined by DNA fragmentation assay and the activation of caspase-3. LY117018 significantly inhibited TNF-alpha-induced caspase-3 activation and cell DNA fragmentation levels in bovine carotid artery endothelial cells. The inhibitory effect of LY117018 was abolished by an estrogen receptor antagonist ICI 182,780. p38 MAPK, JNK, ERK1/2 and Akt have been shown to act as apoptotic or anti-apoptotic signals. TNF-alpha stimulated the phosphorylation levels of p38 MAPK, JNK, ERK1/2 and Akt in vascular endothelial cells. TNF-alpha-induced apoptosis was significantly decreased by SB203580, a p38 MAPK inhibitor or SP600125, a JNK inhibitor, but was enhanced by an ERK1/2 pathway inhibitor, PD98059 or a PI3-kinase/Akt pathway inhibitor, wortmannin. The anti-apoptotic effect of LY117018 was abrogated only by PD98059 but was not affected by the inhibitors for p38 MAPK, JNK, or Akt. LY117018 stimulated the further increase in phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in TNF-alpha treated endothelial cells but it did not affect phosphorylation levels of p38 MAPK, JNK or Akt. These results suggest that LY 110718 prevents caspase-3 dependent apoptosis induced by TNF-alpha in vascular endothelial cells through activation of the estrogen receptors and the ERK1/2 signaling pathway.

A selective estrogen receptor modulator, raloxifene, has been shown to reduce cardiovascular events in relatively high-risk postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. However, the mechanisms by which raloxifene exerts a pharmacological effect on cardiovascular organs have not been fully elucidated. The present study was designed to examine whether the raloxifene analogue, 6-hydroxy-2-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-benzo(b) thien-3-yl-p-(2-(pyrrolidinyl)ethoxy phenyl ketone (LY117018), could inhibit apoptosis and to clarify the signaling pathway in vascular endothelial cells. LY117018 significantly inhibited hydrogen peroxide-induced apoptosis in bovine carotid artery endothelial cells. The anti-apoptotic effect of LY117018 was abolished by an estrogen receptor antagonist, 7alpha,7beta-(9[(4,4,5,5,5-Pentafluoropentyl)sulfinyl]nonyl) estra-1,3,5(10)-triene-3,17-diol (ICI 182,780). Mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK), including p38, c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase1/2 (ERK1/2), and Akt, have been shown to act as apoptotic or anti-apoptotic signals. Phosphorylation of p38, JNK, ERK1/2 and Akt was examined. LY117018 increased ERK1/2 phosphorylation but did not enhance the phosphorylation of p38, JNK, or Akt. The anti-apoptotic effect of LY117018 was prevented by treatment with 2-[2'-amino-3'-methoxyphenyl]-oxanaphthalen-4-one (PD98059), an upstream inhibitor of ERK1/2. LY117018 stimulated an increase in ERK1/2 phosphorylation, which was diminished by ICI 182,780. The activation of ERK/1/2 by LY117018 was not inhibited by the transcription inhibitor, actinomycin D. These results suggest that estrogen receptors and the ERK1/2 signaling pathway are involved in the anti-apoptotic action of LY117018 in vascular endothelial cells.

Abstract: Hyperphosphatemia has emerged as a cardiovascular risk factor that stimulates calcification in vessels. We explored molecules that were induced by inorganic phosphate (Pi) at an early stage in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). In the present study, we examined the role of thrombomodulin (TM) in Pi-induced VSMC calcification based on the results of DNA microarray analysis. Both mRNA and protein expression of TM were markedly augmented in Pi-induced calcification. Conversely, knockdown of TM by siRNA significantly inhibited calcification, in addition to Pi-induced apoptosis which plays critical roles in VSMC calcification. We further found that TM suppressed both of mRNA and protein expression of growth arrest-specific gene 6 (Gas6), a key molecule regulating apoptosis. Recombinant extracellular epidermal growth factor (EGF)-repeat domain of TM exaggerated calcification and this effect was abrogated by a neutralizing antibody for EGF receptor, suggesting that the cleaved and secreted form of TM may activate EGF receptor. We also found that downregulation of Gas6 by TM/EGF receptor axis was mediated by ERK in VSMC calcification. In the aorta of adenine-fed rat, a typical medial calcification model with hyperphosphatemia, we found that TM expression was increased. Furthermore, in human calcified aorta, increased TM expression was also observed. These results indicate that TM is a novel molecule that promotes apoptosis and vascular calcification by regulation of Gas6, presumably via EGF receptor/ERK axis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objective: Effects of potent free radical scavenger, edaravone, on oxidative stress-induced endothelial damage and early atherosclerosis were investigated using animal models and cultured cells. Methods and results: Endothelial apoptosis was induced by 5-min intra-arterial exposure of a rat carotid artery with 0.01mmol/L H2O2. Edaravone treatment (10mg/kg i.p.) for 3 days suppressed endothelial apoptosis, as evaluated by chromatin staining of en face specimens at 24h, by approximately 40%. Similarly, edaravone dose-dependently inhibited H2O2-induce apoptosis of cultured endothelial cells in parallel with the inhibition of 8-isoprostane formation, 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4-HNE) accumulation and VCAM-1 expression. Next, apolipoprotein-E knockout mice were fed a high-cholesterol diet for 4 weeks with edaravone (10mg/kg i.p.) or vehicle treatment. Edaravone treatment decreased atherosclerotic lesions in the aortic sinus (0.18±0.01 to 0.09±0.01mm2, P <0.001) and descending aorta (5.09±0.86 to 1.75±0.41mm2, P <0.05), as evaluated by oil red O staining without influence on plasma lipid concentrations or blood pressure. Dihydroethidium labeling and cytochrome c reduction assay showed that superoxide anions in the aorta were suppressed by edaravone. Also, plasma 8-isoprostane concentrations and aortic nitrotyrosine, 4-HNE and VCAM-1 contents were decreased by edaravone treatment. Conclusions: These results suggest that edaravone may be a useful therapeutic tool for early atherosclerosis, pending the clinical efficacy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Apoptosis is essential for the initiation and progression of vascular calcification. Recently, we showed that 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl (HMG) CoA reductase inhibitors (statins) have a protective effect against vascular smooth muscle cell calcification by inhibiting apoptosis, where growth arrest-specific gene 6 (Gas6) plays a pivotal role. In the present study, we clarified the downstream targets of Gas6-mediated survival signaling in inorganic phosphate (Pi)-induced apoptosis and examined the effect of statins. We found that fluvastatin and pravastatin significantly inhibited Pi-induced apoptosis and calcification in a concentration-dependent manner in human aortic smooth muscle cells (HASMC), as was found with atorvastatin previously. Gas6 and its receptor, Axl, expression were downregulated in the presence of Pi, and recombinant human Gas6 (rhGas6) significantly inhibited apoptosis and calcification in a concentration-dependent manner. During apoptosis, Pi suppressed Akt phosphorylation, which was reversed by rhGas6. Wortmannin, a specific phosphatidylinositol 3-OH kinase (PI3K) inhibitor, abolished the increase in Akt phosphorylation by rhGas6 and eliminated the inhibitory effect of rhGas6 on both Pi-induced apoptosis and calcification, suggesting that PI3K-Akt is a downstream signal of the Gas6-mediated survival pathway. Pi reduced phosphorylation of Bcl2 and Bad, and activated caspase 3, all of which were reversed by rhGas6. The inhibitory effect of statins on Pi-induced apoptosis was accompanied by restoration of the Gas6-mediated survival signal pathway: upregulation of Gas6 and Axl expression, increased phosphorylation of Akt and Bcl2, and inhibition of Bad and caspase 3 activation. These findings indicate that the Gas6-mediated survival pathway is the target of statins'' effect to prevent vascular calcification. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]