Prostacyclin and its analogues (prostanoids) are potent vasodilators and possess antithrombotic, antiproliferative and anti-inflammatory properties. Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is associated with vasoconstriction, thrombosis and proliferation, and the lack of endogenous prostacyclin may considerably contribute to this condition. This supports a strong rationale for prostanoid use as therapy for...

OBJECTIVE To use intravascular ultrasound to investigate the effects of antiplatelet agents and other factors on neointimal proliferation after stent implantation for iliac artery stenosis. PATIENTS AND METHODS The subjects were 109 patients with peripheral arterial disease who underwent stent implantation in the iliac artery. Intravascular ultrasound was performed to evaluate lesion area, st...

Beraprost sodium (BPS), an orally active prostacyclin analogue, has been reported to be beneficial in the treatment of primary pulmonary hypertension and obstructive peripheral arterial disease. Although BPS was originally described for its effects on platelet aggregation and vasodilatory response, the effect on endothelial cells has been poorly understood. In this study, we examined the effect...

Background. p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) plays a crucial role in regulating signaling pathways implicated in inflammatory processes leading to diabetic nephropathy (DN). This study aimed to examine p38 MAPK activation in DN and determine whether beraprost sodium (BPS) ameliorates DN by inhibiting inflammation and p38 MAPK signaling pathway in diabetic rats. Methods. Forty male Sp...

OBJECTIVE Expression of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) is a critical determinant for vascular homeostasis. We examined the effects of Beraprost sodium (BPS), a stable analogue of prostacyclin, on the eNOS gene expression in the presence of inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)-1beta in cultured endothelial cells. METHOD AND RESULTS Exposure of human and bovine endothelial cells to ...

BACKGROUND Hypoxia induces the proliferation of pulmonary arterial smooth muscle cell (PASMC) in vivo and in vitro, and prostacyclin analogues are thought to inhibit the growth of PASMC. Previous studies suggest that p27kip1, a kind of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, play an important role in the smooth muscle cell proliferation. However, the mechanism of hypoxia and the subcellular interact...

BACKGROUND Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is public health concern even in Asian countries. TRK-100STP, a sustained release tablet of an orally-active prostacyclin analogue, beraprost sodium, is suggested to suppress worsening of some parameters of renal filtration function, containing in slope of 1/serum creatinine (1/SCr) vs. time in a phase II clinical trial. METHODS/DESIGN We describe the d...

BACKGROUND Congenital heart disease patients who have pulmonary hypertension (PH) require an evaluation for pulmonary vascular reactivity before surgical repair. In the present study the acute pulmonary vasodilating effects of 100% oxygen (O2), beraprost sodium (BPS) and 40 ppm inhaled nitric oxide (iNO) during cardiac catheterization were compared. METHODS AND RESULTS There were 90 patients ...

Chronic inflammation, imbalance of proteolytic and anti-proteolytic activities, oxidative stress, and apoptosis of lung structural cells contribute to the pathogenesis of COPD. Prostacyclin protects cells against apoptosis, has anti-inflammatory properties, partially prevents cigarette smoke extract (CSE)-induced apoptosis of the pulmonary endothelium, and thus may be relevant in the pathogenes...