title: Hypercholesterolemia enhances 15-lipoxygenase-mediated vasorelaxation and acetylcholine-induced hypotension.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Arachidonic acid (AA) metabolites from 15-lipoxygenase-1 (15-LO-1), trihydroxyeicosatrienoic acid (THETA), and hydroxyepoxyeicosatrienoic acid (HEETA) relax arteries. We studied 15-LO-1 expression, THETA and HEETA synthesis, and their effect on arterial relaxations and blood pressure in hypercholesterolemic nonatherosclerotic rabbits.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Immunoblots, RTPCR analysis, and (14)C-AA metabolism revealed that hypercholesterolemia increased 15-LO-1 expression in the endothelium and THETA and HEETA synthesis in the arteries. Isometric tension recording, in presence of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) and cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors, showed greater relaxations to acetylcholine (ACH) and AA (max 76.0+/-4.6% and 79.5+/-2.4%, respectively) in aortas from hypercholesterolemic rabbits compared with normal rabbits (max 39.1+/-2.8% and 39.9+/-2.2%, respectively). AA induced greater hyperpolarization in the smooth muscle cells of hypercholesterolemic aortas (-45.85+/-3.0 mV) compared with normal aortas (-31.45+/-1.9 mV). The ACH- and AA-relaxations were inhibited by 15-LO-1 inhibitors. ACH induced hypotensive responses were greater in hypercholesterolemic rabbits in absence (-54.9+/-3.3%) or presence (-48.5+/-3.2%) of NOS and COX-inhibitors compared with control rabbits (-31.6+/-3.3% and -24.3+/-1.6%, respectively). BW755C reduced these responses in hypercholesterolemic rabbits to -29.3+/-2.3%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hypercholesterolemia increases endothelial 15-LO-1 expression, THETA and HEETA synthesis and enhances vasorelaxation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical College of Wisconsin, 8701 Watertown Plank Road, Milwaukee, WI 53226, USA.
authors.forename: Nitin T
authors.initials: NT
authors.lastname: Aggarwal
authors.forename: Sandra L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Pfister
authors.forename: William B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Campbell
mesh_terms: D015126:8,11,14-Eicosatrienoic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000378:metabolism; D001093:Arachidonate 15-Lipoxygenase / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D016718:Arachidonic Acid / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D001158:Arteries / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006937:Hypercholesterolemia / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D007022:Hypotension / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D016859:Lipoxygenase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D011817:Rabbits; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: C528813:15-hydroxy-11,12-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid; D016859:Lipoxygenase Inhibitors; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; C066049:11,12,15-trihydroxyeicosatrienoic acid; D001093:Arachidonate 15-Lipoxygenase; D015126:8,11,14-Eicosatrienoic Acid; D000109:Acetylcholine