Neopterin Counters Vascular Inflammation and Atherosclerosis.

ABSTRACT: Neopterin, a metabolite of GTP, is produced by activated macrophages and is abundantly expressed within atherosclerotic lesions in human aorta and carotid and coronary arteries. We aimed to clarify the influence of neopterin on both vascular inflammation and atherosclerosis, as neither effect had been fully assessed. We investigated neopterin expression in coronary artery lesions and plasma from patients with coronary artery disease. We assessed the atheroprotective effects of neopterin in vitro using human aortic endothelial cells, human monocyte-derived macrophages, and human aortic smooth muscle cells. In vivo experiments included a study of aortic lesions in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice. Neopterin expression in coronary artery lesions and plasma was markedly increased in patients wi

SUBMITTER: Shirai R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5850243 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature