title: Molecular analysis of cocaine-induced endothelial dysfunction: role of endothelin-1 and nitric oxide.
abstract: Cocaine remains the most frequently used illicit substance. Although cocaine-induced atherosclerosis is well documented, its mechanism of action on human vascular endothelial cells has not been determined. Nitric oxide (NO) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) are involved in endothelial cell activation and leukocyte recruitment. The present study monitored the effects of cocaine on NO and ET-1 production in human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) and the effects of sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and BQ-123 on leukocyte adhesion to HAECs. Acute exposure to cocaine (1 and 3 muM) significantly increased ET-1 production (2-fold) and ET-1 receptor type-A (ET(A)R) protein expression, within 6-12 h. Cocaine exposure for a longer duration (24-72 h) showed a temporal decrease in both NO production and endothelial NO-synthase (eNOS) expression. The cocaine-mediated suppression of NO was ameliorated by co-treatment of cells with the ET(A)R blocker, BQ-123 (5 muM). Furthermore, both short-term (24 h) and long-term (72 h) exposure to cocaine increased endothelial adhesion of monocytes (U937 cells) by 20% and 40%, respectively, which were also suppressed by BQ-123 and SNP co-treatment. These data suggest that a concomitant increase in both ET-1 and ET(A)R expression in cocaine exposed HAECs may enhance signaling via the ET(A)R which decreases eNOS expression and NO production, and ultimately results in endothelial activation and leukocyte adhesion. Our findings implicate a molecular mechanism of action of cocaine and a therapeutic effect of ET(A)R-specific inhibitor in suppressing the cocaine-induced endothelial dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Tulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue SL-83, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
authors.forename: Leena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pradhan
authors.forename: Debasis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mondal
authors.forename: Surabhi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chandra
authors.forename: Mussa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ali
authors.forename: Krishna C
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Agrawal
mesh_terms: D001011:Aorta / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D002448:Cell Adhesion / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D003042:Cocaine / Q000633:toxicity*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D065130:Endothelin A Receptor Antagonists; D065131:Endothelin B Receptor Antagonists; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D015870:Gene Expression / Q000187:drug effects*; D005987:Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000378:metabolism; D011498:Protein Precursors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism; D044022:Receptor, Endothelin A / Q000378:metabolism; D044023:Receptor, Endothelin B / Q000378:metabolism; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D020298:U937 Cells; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D065130:Endothelin A Receptor Antagonists; D065131:Endothelin B Receptor Antagonists; D019332:Endothelin-1; D011498:Protein Precursors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D044022:Receptor, Endothelin A; D044023:Receptor, Endothelin B; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D009569:Nitric Oxide; C496314:NOS3 protein, human; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D005987:Glyceraldehyde-3-Phosphate Dehydrogenases; D003042:Cocaine