AIMS Atypical chemokine receptor 1 (Ackr1; previously known as the Duffy antigen receptor for chemokines or Darc) is thought to regulate acute inflammatory responses in part by scavenging inflammatory CC and CXC chemokines; however, evidence for a role in chronic inflammation has been lacking. Here we investigated the role of Ackr1 in chronic inflammation, in particular in the setting of athero...

OBJECTIVE 12/15 lipoxygenase (12/15LO) has been implicated as a mediator of inflammation and atherosclerosis. In the current study, we identified mechanisms through which 12/15LO mediates monocyte:endothelial interactions in vivo in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice (apoEKO), a well-characterized mouse model of atherosclerosis. METHODS AND RESULTS In apoEKO mice that are also deficient in 12/15...

OBJECTIVE Cells of adaptive immunity have been implicated in atherogenesis. Though substantial information is available on immune cells in atherosclerotic lesions of the lamina intima, cells in the lamina adventitia have received less attention. METHODS AND RESULTS The composition of immune cells in the innominate artery and abdominal aorta was examined in young, adult, and old apolipoprotein...

Inflammation and oxidative stress are considered the main drivers of vasomotor dysfunction and progression of atherosclerosis after inhalation of particulate matter. In addition, new studies have shown that particle exposure can induce the level of bioactive mediators in serum, driving vascular- and systemic toxicity. We aimed to investigate if pulmonary inflammation would accelerate nanopartic...

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is regarded as a state of Klotho deficiency and FGF23 excess. In patients with CKD a strong association has been found between increased serum FGF23 and mortality risk, possibly via enhanced atherosclerosis, vascular stiffness, and vascular calcification. The aim of this study was to examine the hypothesis that soluble Klotho and FGF23 exert direct, rapid effects on...

Heparin-binding epidermal growth factor (EGF)-like growth factor (HB-EGF), a member of the EGF family, has a potent mitogenic activity for vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs). We previously reported that HB-EGF is involved in atherogenesis of human aorta and coronary arteries. ProHB-EGF (the membrane-anchored form of HB-EGF) has also been demonstrated to possess a mitogenic activity, which is a...

The first mouse adult-repopulating hematopoietic stem cells emerge in the aorta-gonad-mesonephros region at embryonic day (E) 10.5. Their numbers in this region increase thereafter and begin to decline at E12.5, thus pointing to the possible existence of both positive and negative regulators of emerging hematopoietic stem cells. Our recent expression analysis of the aorta-gonad-mesonephros regi...

SEE PAGE 1324 T he discovery of a thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) or aortic dissection requires evaluation of relatives for similar disease because 20% will have an affected relative. Heritable TAA diseases are due to mutations in a number of genes that affect the aorta and its branches with differing severity. Many disorders are associated with wellcharacterized syndromic features (e.g., Marfan...

background and objective: cardiovascular disorders continue to constitute major causes of morbidity and mortality in diabetic patients. in this study, the effect of chronic administration of tribulus terrestris (tt) feeding was studied on aortic reactivity of streptozotocin (stz)-diabetic rats and some underlying mechanisms were investigated.    materials and methods: male diabetic rats receive...

background: the interaction between the blood and the vessel wall is of great clinical interest in studying cardiovascular diseases, the major causes of death in developed countries. objective: to understand the effects of incorporating fluid-structure interaction into the simulation of blood flow through an anatomically realistic model of abdominal aorta and renal arteries reconstructed from c...