Oxidized LDL from subjects with different dietary habits modifies atherogenic processes in endothelial and smooth muscle cells.

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) activates a number of processes involved in atherogenesis and vasoconstriction. Evidence suggests that oxidation increases the atherogenicity of LDL. We investigated the effects of oxidized LDL (ox-LDL) on cytotoxicity, prostacyclin (PGI2), and cyclic guanosine-3',5'-monophosphate (cGMP) production in rat vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) and rat heart endothelial cell (EC) culture, as well as EC- and VSMC-mediated LDL oxidation. Native LDL (n-LDL) was isolated from subjects on three long-term diets with differing fatty acid content (control diet rich in saturated fat and vegetarian and fish diets). The Cu2+-catalyzed oxidation of n-LDL was monitored using conjugated diene formation and stopped at various time points to achieve 20%, 45%, 70%, and 100% levels of ox-LDL. The lag phase of oxidation by Cu2+ was shortest and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substance (TBARS) formation by VSMC-mediated oxidation was highest with n-LDL obtained from the fish diet group. There were no differences between the ox-LDLs obtained from the different diet groups in their cytotoxicity in EC culture. The degree of oxidation did not influence LDL cytotoxicity. In VSMC culture PGI2 production was increased by ox-LDLs from all diet groups. In EC culture only the extensively oxidized LDLs obtained from the vegetarian diet group were able to induce PGI2 production. The LDLs did not affect basal cGMP production in either EC or VSMC culture.

Proliferative effects of oxidized low-density lipoprotein on vascular smooth muscle cells: role of dietary habits.

The effects were studied of native, partially-oxidized and totally-oxidized human low-density lipoprotein (LDL) on the proliferation of cultured rat aortic smooth muscle cells (VSMC), measured as an altered DNA synthesis. The LDL was obtained from three different human long-term diet groups (a control diet rich in saturated fats, a vegetarian diet, and a fish diet). The oxidized LDLs were prepared by oxidizing the LDL with copper sulfate. The DNA synthesis was measured by [3H]-thymidine incorporation into the DNA. The partially-oxidized LDL was the most potent promoter of DNA synthesis compared to the native or totally-oxidized LDL of the same diet group. The partially-oxidized LDL had a true mitogenic effect in the absence of exogenous growth factors. The native and totally-oxidized LDL induced a significant increase in DNA synthesis, if they were obtained from the fish diet group. This study suggests an enhanced proliferative effect of partially-oxidized LDL on VSMC growth.

Nitric oxide as a regulator of prostacyclin synthesis in cultured rat heart endothelial cells.

The effects of nitric oxide (NO) and its second messenger cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMT) on prostacyclin (PGI2) synthesis were studied in cultured rat heart endothelial cells using three different non-enzymatic nitric oxide releasing substances as well as inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase and of soluble guanylate cyclase. Production of prostacyclin, measured as 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha (6-keto-PGF1 alpha), was stimulated up to 1.7 fold in endothelial cells treated with the NO donors SIN-1 (3-morpholino sydnonimine), GEA 3162 (3-aryl-substituted oxatriazole imine) and GEA 3175 (3-aryl-substituted oxatriazole sulfonyl), chloride). In each case the synthesis of cGMP increase as much as 40-100 fold. An inhibitor of NO synthase, NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), decreased the basal production of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha in non-stimulated endothelial cells, an effect that could be reversed by the NO donors SIN-1, GEA 3162 and GEA 3175. cGMP formation in the L-NAME treated endothelial cells was unaltered. The guanylate cyclase inhibitors, methylene blue (100 mumol/l) and LY83583 (100 mumol/l), caused a 1.5-10 fold increase in 6-keto-PGF1 alpha production while NO-donor-stimulated endothelial cGMP production was decreased by 10 to 90%. However, when SIN-1 was used as a stimulant, LY83583 had no significant effect on the production of cGMP. These findings support the hypothesis that NO stimulates prostacyclin production directly by activating cyclooxygenase. The results also suggest that NO could have an indirect effect on prostacyclin production via cGMP.

Antihypertensive drugs reduce noradrenaline-induced hypertrophy of cultured myocardial cells.

The cellular mechanisms of cardiac hypertrophy are still largely unknown. In-vivo studies have demonstrated that antihypertensive drugs can regress hypertrophy independently of reductions in blood pressure. The antihypertrophic effects of metoprolol, propranolol, felodipine, verapamil and captopril were studied in neonatal cardiac myocyte culture. Prazosin was used as a positive control. Hypertrophy was defined as an increase in protein content measured by [3H]leucine incorporation. Noradrenaline induced a 1.5-fold increase in protein synthesis over 48 h. Prazosin prevented the hypertrophic effect of noradrenaline. Adrenergic beta-receptor blocking agents and calcium antagonists reduced myocyte hypertrophy in a dose-dependent manner. The angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor captopril was ineffective. These results indicate that adrenergic beta-receptor blockers and calcium antagonists may have direct nonhaemodynamic effects on the growth of cultured cardiac myocytes.