cyclic-gmp and Down-Syndrome

Impaired endothelial homeostasis underlies the pathophysiology of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). We speculated that PAH patients are deficient in circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), potentially contributing to endothelial dysfunction and disease progression.. We recruited 41 patients with Eisenmenger syndrome (13 with Down syndrome), 55 with idiopathic PAH, and 47 healthy control subjects. Flow cytometry and in vitro assays were used to quantify EPCs and to assess cell function. The number of circulating CD34+, CD34+/AC133+, CD34+/KDR+, and CD34+/AC133+/KDR+ progenitor cells was low in Eisenmenger patients compared with healthy control subjects, and those with Down syndrome displayed even fewer EPCs. Reductions in EPC numbers correlated with New York Heart Association functional class, 6-minute walk distance, and plasma brain-type natriuretic peptide levels. The capacity of cultured peripheral blood mononuclear cells to form colonies and incorporate into tube-like structures was impaired in Eisenmenger patients. Idiopathic PAH patients had reduced numbers of EPCs, and the number of circulating EPCs correlated with invasive hemodynamic parameters in this cohort. Levels of immune inflammatory markers, cGMP, stable nitric oxide oxidation products, and asymmetric dimethylarginine were abnormal in patients with PAH and related to numbers of EPCs. Within the idiopathic PAH population, treatment with the phosphodiesterase inhibitor sildenafil was associated with a dose-dependent rise in EPC numbers, resulting in levels consistently above those found with other therapies.. Circulating EPC numbers are reduced in 2 well-characterized forms of PAH, which also exhibit raised levels of inflammatory mediators. Sildenafil treatment may represent a pharmacological means of increasing circulating EPC numbers long-term.

Topics: AC133 Antigen; Aged; Antigens, CD; Antigens, CD34; Arginine; Cells, Cultured; Cyclic GMP; Down Syndrome; Eisenmenger Complex; Endothelium, Vascular; Exercise; Female; Flow Cytometry; Glycoproteins; Hematopoietic Stem Cells; Humans; Hypertension, Pulmonary; Inflammation Mediators; Male; Middle Aged; Natriuretic Peptide, Brain; Peptides; Piperazines; Pulmonary Artery; Purines; Sildenafil Citrate; Stem Cells; Sulfones; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2; Vasodilator Agents

An extra copy of chromosome 21, a small chromosome or a specific segment of it, is the cause of the disorder known as Down's syndrome (DS). Genes mapped to this chromosome include superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD-1) along with other enzymes. Gene dosage effects have been shown for some of these enzymes, including SOD-1. Increased SOD-1 has been suggested to stimulate the cGMP-forming enzyme, guanylate cyclase (GC). In the present study we have used amnion cells from DS subjects and normal subjects in order to indirectly test the effects of SOD-1 on the cGMP metabolism. We have measured the cAMP and cGMP content, SOD-1 activity, GC activity and cGMP phosphodiesterase (G-PDE) activity in amnion cells from DS subjects and normal subjects, respectively. The levels of cGMP in DS amnion cells were lower than in normal cells, although the SOD-1 activity was higher in DS amnion cells. Furthermore, the GC activity and the G-PDE activity were found to be lower in the trisomic cells. Our results do not support the suggestion that SOD-1 has a stimulatory effect on the GC activity.

Topics: 3',5'-Cyclic-GMP Phosphodiesterases; Amnion; Cells, Cultured; Cyclic AMP; Cyclic GMP; Cytochrome c Group; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Down Syndrome; Humans; In Vitro Techniques; Superoxide Dismutase

Topics: Adult; Aged; Aging; Alzheimer Disease; Cyclic AMP; Cyclic GMP; Dementia; DNA Repair; Down Syndrome; Energy Metabolism; Histocompatibility Testing; Humans; Immunologic Capping; Isoantigens; Lymphocyte Activation; T-Lymphocytes

The levels of cyclic adenosine 3'5'-monophosphate (cAMP) in unstimulated (resting) peripheral blood thymus-derived lymphocytes (T cells) from normal old humans and young-adult Down's syndrome (DS) patients were markedly decreased when compared with those of young normal humans. By contrast, the cyclic guanosine 3'5'-monophosphate (cGMP) in resting T cells from normal old and young-adult DS patients were greatly increased. The cAMP/cGMP ratios for unstimulated T cells therefore declined in normal aged and DS subjects. The specific activity of adenylate cyclase (ATP pyrophosphate-lyase[cycling]E.C.4.6.1.1) was elevated in T cells from the aged and DS groups, whereas that of guanylate cyclase (GTP pyrophosphate-lyase[cycling]E.C.4.6.1.2) decreased with age and in DS. These results denote the existence of substantial age-related biochemical changes in peripheral T cells. An imbalance in resting cyclic nucleotide levels and their generating enzymes in T cells of normal aging and DS subjects might contribute to the immune dysfunction occurring both with aging and in DS.

Topics: Adenylyl Cyclases; Adult; Aged; Aging; Cyclic AMP; Cyclic GMP; Down Syndrome; Female; Guanylate Cyclase; Humans; Male; Spleen; T-Lymphocytes