Vascular function

Olsson AK, Dimberg A, Kreuger J et al (2006) VEGF receptor signaling in control of vascular function. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 7(5) 3 59-371... 

Furthermore, there is some evidence for pleiotrophic effects (e.g., effects on hemostasis, vascular function, anti-inflammatory effects, and stabilizing effects on atherosclerotic plaques) of statins. The clinical relevance of this (and the potential difference between the various statins) is at present uncertain but subject to intense investigation. 

Analysis of ESRB 7 mice showed fewer and smaller litters than wild type mice as well as abnormal vascular function and hypertension. The reduction in fertility was attributed to reduced ovarian efficiency. Mutant females had normal breast development and lactated normally. Older mutant males displayed signs of prostate and bladder hyperplasia. s -2-deficient mice furthermore display diverse regulatory defects in the function of brain, lung, and white blood cells. The results indicated that ESRB is essential for normal ovulation efficiency but is not essential for lactation, female or male sexual differentiation, or fertility. 

White RE (2002) Estrogen and vascular function. Vascul Pharmacol 38 73... 

Griffiths KA, Sader MA, Skilton MR, Harmer JA, Celermajer DS (2003) Effects of raloxifene on endothelium-dependent dilation, lipoproteins, and markers of vascular function in postmenopausal women with coronary artery disease. J Am Coll Cardiol 42 698-704... 

Besides cholesterol efflux from arterial wall and its role in RCT, additional properties of HDL have been proposed for its protective anti-atherogenic activities. HDL protects vascular function by a number of potential alternative mechanisms, including inhibition of LDL oxidation [8,9], platelet aggregation and coagulation [10], and endothelial monocyte adhesion [11], as well as promotion of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) [12], and prostacyclin synthesis [13-15]. The proposed alternate protective mechanisms for HDL are attractive but many of them lack validation under in vivo conditions. 

Similarly to carotenoids, flavonoids also show considerable biological activity. Their beneficial effect in cancer and heart diseases has been proven many times [86-89], It has further been established that flavonoids improve cardiovascular remodelling and vascular function in NO-deficient hypertension [90], Moreover, flavonoid intake reduces the risk of chronic diseases [91], and beneficially influences inflammations [92], and ulcer formation [93,94],... 

I. Bernatova, O. Pechanova, P. Babal, S. Kysela, S. Stvrtina and R. Andriantsitohaina, Wine polyphenols improve cardiovascular remodelling and vascular function in NO-deficient hypertension. Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol. 282 (2002) H942-H951. 

Fernandez-Real, J. M., Penarroja, G., Richart, C., et al. (2003) G protein beta3 gene variant, vascular function, and insulin sensitivity in type 2 diabetes. Hypertension. 41, 124-129. 

Vascular function and vascular endothelial growth factor, fasting-induced... 

It is noteworthy that a cross-sectional study in 301 postmenopausal women (60 to 75 years of age) in the Netherlands, where isoflavone and lignan intakes were assessed with a food frequency questionnaire covering habitual diet during the year prior to the study, reported no associations between isoflavone intake and vascular function, including endothelial function, blood pressure, and hypertension, and this is in contrast to the observed protective effect of dietary lignan intake on blood pressure and hypertension. 

Kreijkamp-Kaspers S, Kok L, Bots ML, Grobbee DE, Van Der Schouwy T. Dietary phytoestrogens and vascular function in postmenopausal women a cross-sectional study. J. Hypertens. 22, 1381-1388,2004. 

The vascular functions of the A3 are perhaps least well understood of the adenosine receptor family, exacerbated by incomplete characterisation of cellular localisation of the A3 receptor. There is some molecular evidence of A3 AR expression in rat aortic... 

Yim SF, Lau TK, Sahota DS, Chung TK, Chang AM, Haines CJ. Prospective randomized study of the effect of add-back hormone replacement on vascular function during treatment with gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists. Circulation 1998 98(16) 1631—5. 

Schroeter H, Heiss C, Balzer J, Kleinbongard P, Keen CL, Hollenberg NK, Sies H, Kwik-Uribe C, Schmitz HH, Kelm M. 2006. (—)-Epicatechin mediates beneficial effects of flavanol-rich cocoa on vascular function in humans. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 103 1024-1029. 

There is now emerging data that specific dietary flavonoids may improve endothelial function by increasing NO bioavailability. Longer term human intervention studies are required to establish a proven benefit on vascular function in healthy subjects as well as those who may be at increased risk of cardiovascular disease. 

Balzer J, Rassaf T, Heiss C, Kleinbongard P, Lauer T, Merx M, Heussen N, Gross HB, Keen CL, Schroeter H, Kelm M. 2008. Benefits in vascular function through flavanol-containing cocoa in medicated diabetic patients a double-masked, randomized, controlled trial. J Am Coll Cardiol 51 2141-2149. 

Schewe T, Steffen Y, Sies H. 2008. How do dietary flavanols improve vascular function A position paper. Arch Biochem Biophys 476 102-106. 

Cardiovascular diseases, such as hypertension, coronary heart disease (CHD), and atherosclerosis, are associated with increased oxidative stress and are more common in men than in premenopausal women of similar age, with the incidence of CHD increasing significantly after menopause, with loss of cardiovascular protection attributed to estrogen deficiency [Forte et al., 1998]. Differences in the regulation of blood pressure and vascular function between males and females have been investigated extensively over the past... 

Laufe U, Wassmann S, Hilgers S, Ribaudo N, Bohm M, Nickenig G. Rapid effects on vascular function after initiation and withdrawal of atorvastatin in healthy, normocholesterolemic men. Am J Cardiol 2001 88 1306-1307. 

It is now obvious that cell-based repair is feasible—both early and later in the CVD continuum. In fact, cell therapy may offer an unparalleled opportunity for cardiac and vascular functional improvement to millions living with CVD. Yet, many questions about the technology remain unanswered. Whether the best cell type, delivery method, or route of administration exists is unclear. The mechanisms associated with cardiovascular repair remain unknown, and, whether cell-based disease prevention is feasible is still unanswerable. 

Hill JM, Zalos G, HalcoxJR et al, Circulating endothelial progenitor cells, vascular function, and cardiovascular risk, N EnglJ Med 2003 348 593-600. 

Halcox JPJ, Nour KRA, Zalos G, et al. The effect of sildenafil on human vascular function, platelet activation and myocardial ischaemia. J Am Coll Cardiol 2002 40 1232-1240. 

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