apyrase and Arteriosclerosis

The pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States, is multifactorial. Many factors that have been shown to influence the development of atherosclerosis also affect the function of the endothelium through soluble or cell-cell interactions. Among these, interactions between platelets and endothelial cells have only recently begun to receive systematic study. This article reviews recent evidence showing how the interaction between platelets and endothelial cells may play a important role in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, suggesting an underappreciated potential locus for pharmacologic intervention.

Topics: Antigens, CD; Apyrase; Arteriosclerosis; Blood Platelets; Carrier Proteins; Cell Adhesion; Cell Adhesion Molecules; Cell Communication; Endothelium, Vascular; Epoprostenol; Humans; Hypolipidemic Agents; Nitric Oxide; Nitric Oxide Synthase; P-Selectin; Platelet Activating Factor; Receptors, LDL; Receptors, Oxidized LDL; Scavenger Receptors, Class E; Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases

ADP plays a key role in platelet aggregation and the enzymatic removal of this nucleotide may be important in the pathogenesis of intravascular thrombosis and atherosclerosis. Aortic intima extracts have ADPase activity and is able to remove small quantities of ADP efficiently. ADPase activity was assayed by measuring the catabolism of 2 micrometer 14C-ADP (final concentration) by the tissue extracts. Extracts prepared from normal, moderately and severely atherosclerotic human aortic initimas showed a significant progressive decrease in ADPase activity with increasing atherosclerosis. ADPase activity of the arch, thoracic and abdominal regions of normal aortas did not vary significantly, and thus did not correlate with the anatomical distribution of atherosclerosis. Vascular ADPase activity seems relevant in thrombogenesis since it may be a link between blood platelets and blood vessel wall interaction.

Topics: Aorta; Aorta, Abdominal; Aorta, Thoracic; Apyrase; Arteriosclerosis; Humans; Phosphoric Monoester Hydrolases; Platelet Aggregation