Article
Physiology
Adriana Moreno-Salgado, Nayeli Coyotl-Santiago, Roberto Moreno-Vazquez, Mayte Lopez-Teyssier, Mario Garcia-Carrasco, Francesco Moccia, Roberto Berra-Romani
Summary: Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) is a rapidly rising disease with cardiovascular complications as the most common cause of death among diabetic patients. Chronic hyperglycemia can induce vascular dysfunction through damage to vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), which play a role in vascular tone regulation and repair. The mechanisms by which T2DM affects calcium handling in VSMCs are still not well understood. This study aimed to investigate the impact of T2DM on calcium homeostasis in VSMCs. Results showed that T2DM decreases calcium release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) and increases the activity of store-operated channels (SOCs). Furthermore, T2DM enhances the activity of calcium extrusion mechanisms during the early stage of ATP-induced calcium transient decay and alters calcium entry during the late stage of the signal decay. These findings suggest that enhanced cytosolic calcium activity in VSMCs may contribute to vascular dysfunction associated with T2DM.
FRONTIERS IN PHYSIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Helga Helgadottir, Teresa Tropea, Sveinbjorn Gizurarson, Maurizio Mandala
Summary: The study demonstrates that aspirin induces vasodilation in mesenteric resistance arteries by acting through the endothelial-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF) and calcium-activated potassium channels. This mechanism suggests that aspirin may be beneficial for pregnancies complicated by hypertension by reducing peripheral vascular resistance.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Sou Inagaki, Yoshiaki Suzuki, Keisuke Kawasaki, Rubii Kondo, Yuji Imaizumi, Hisao Yamamura
Summary: In this study, the role of mitochondrial fusion protein 2 (Mfn2) in the coupling of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) and mitochondria in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) was examined. It was found that Mfn2 is responsible for tethering mitochondria to SR, which regulates calcium signaling, ATP production, and cell proliferation in VSMCs.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PHYSIOLOGY-CELL PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Mohammad Alqudah, Rima Abdul Razzaq, Mahmoud A. Alfaqih, Othman Al-Shboul, Ahmed Al-Dwairi, Safa Taha
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the signaling pathways involved in oxytocin-induced contractions in gastric smooth muscle, and found that oxytocin directly stimulates its cell surface receptor to activate PLC beta 1, which in turn liberates IP3, leading to an elevation in intracellular calcium and smooth muscle contraction.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sou Inagaki, Yoshiaki Suzuki, Keisuke Kawasaki, Rubii Kondo, Yuji Imaizumi, Hisao Yamamura
Summary: Mitochondria play a crucial role in cytosolic Ca2+ buffering and energy metabolism. Recent research has shown that Mfn2 regulates Ca2+ signaling by tethering mitochondria and sarco-plasmic reticulum, enhancing mitochondrial function and VSMC proliferation. However, the physiological role of Mfn1 in Ca2+ signaling and mitochondrial function is still unclear.
BIOCHEMICAL AND BIOPHYSICAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Pathology
Min Hu, Yuehui Zhang, Xu Zhang, Xiuying Zhang, Xinyue Huang, Yaxing Lu, Yijia Li, Mats Brannstrom, Amanda N. Sferruzzi-Perri, Linus R. Shao, Hakan Billig
Summary: This study found that polycystic ovary syndrome may increase pregnancy complications through impaired uterine spiral artery remodeling, placental dysfunction, and placental senescence.
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Veterinary Sciences
Xin-Yue Liu, Hak Myong Choe, Zhou-Yan Li, Zheng-Yun Jin, Shuang-Yan Chang, Jin-Dan Kang, Xi -jun Yin, Biao-Hu Quan
Summary: This study found that knockout of myostatin (MSTN) can increase the smooth muscle content of uterine horns, providing potential therapeutic targets for pregnancy disorders caused by increased smooth muscle content.
RESEARCH IN VETERINARY SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Cicero Andre Ferreira Macedo, Gabriela Olinda de Paiva, Pedro Modesto Nascimento Menezes, Tiago Feitosa Ribeiro, Mariana Coelho Brito, Deisy Azevedo Dourado Vilela, Luiz Antonio Miranda de Souza Duarte Filho, Fernanda Pires Rodrigues de Almeida Ribeiro, Angelica Maria Lucchese, Julianeli Tolentino de Lima, Fabricio Souza Silva
Summary: The essential oil of L. origanoides has shown to have tocolytic activity in experimental models, possibly by opening potassium channels, increasing cAMP, and reducing intracellular calcium levels. This relaxing effect may help reduce pain in animal dysmenorrhea models, and can be potentiated by the drugs nifedipine or mefenamic acid.
JOURNAL OF ETHNOPHARMACOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Iain L. O. Buxton, Hazik Asif, Scott D. D. Barnett
Summary: Preterm labor leading to preterm birth is currently not preventable. Beta 2 agonists and nitric oxide, which are effective in relaxing smooth muscles, have been ineffective in preventing preterm birth. However, recent studies suggest that the repurposing of approved medication, such as mirabegron, may advance the prevention of preterm birth.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Marc Q. Mazzuca, Kadir Buyukcelebi, Chen Lin, Raouf A. Khalil
Summary: The study suggests that the increased microvascular intrinsic tone and arterial stiffness may contribute to hypertensive disorders in pregnancy. It further reveals the involvement of increased active myogenic tone, changes in arterial wall structure and mechanics, and elevated levels of collagen-I in the regulation of blood flow and vascular resistance during hypertensive pregnancy.
BIOCHEMICAL PHARMACOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maria Alicia Carrillo-Sepulveda, Nicole Maddie, Christina Mary Johnson, Cameron Burke, Osina Lutz, Bamwa Yakoub, Benjamin Kramer, Dhandevi Persand
Summary: The study demonstrated that vascular hyperacetylation is associated with vascular smooth muscle cell dysfunction in advanced type 2 diabetes mellitus. Inhibition of hyperacetylation by garcinol reduced high glucose-induced ROS production in VSMCs, highlighting a potential novel therapeutic approach for diabetic vascular complications.
MOLECULAR MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Maria Giovanna Lupo, Silvia Marchiano, Maria Pia Adorni, Francesca Zimetti, Massimiliano Ruscica, Maria Francesca Greco, Alberto Corsini, Nicola Ferri
Summary: Overexpression of PCSK9 in rat SMCs led to downregulation of LDL receptor and marker of contractile phenotype. This resulted in increased cell proliferation rate and partial resistance to simvastatin, indicating a potential role of PCSK9 in atherosclerotic plaque development and pharmacological response to statins.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Lucile Grzesiak, Ana Amaya-Garrido, Guylene Feuillet, Nicole Malet, Audrey Swiader, Marie-Kerguelen Sarthou, Amandine Wahart, Damien Ramel, Stephanie Gayral, Joost Peter Schanstra, Julie Klein, Muriel Laffargue
Summary: This study identified LRG1 as a contributor to vascular calcification, suggesting its role in the development of plaque complications in patients with atherosclerosis.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Enio Setsuo Arakaki Pacini, Edwin Kerry Jackson, Rosely Oliveira Godinho
Summary: In the respiratory tract, extracellular 3',5'-cAMP is metabolized by enzymes to produce 5'-AMP, adenosine, and inosine, affecting airway smooth muscle contraction and relaxation. This extracellular enzymatic system plays a role in respiratory physiology and pathophysiology by generating interstitial adenosine from 3',5'-cAMP.
BIOCHEMICAL PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Raina Ardasheva, Natalia Prissadova, Valentin Turiyski, Anna Tolekova, Athanas Krastev, Mina Pencheva, Veselin Popov
Summary: Accelerated electron radiation can affect the signal transduction of 5-HT2A and 5-HT2B receptors in gastric smooth muscle cells, leading to increased receptor expression and altered contractile reactions to exogenous serotonin.