Current Medicinal Chemistry - Volume 21, Issue 19, 2014

Atherosclerosis is a widespread disease of the arterial system that is generated by injury to the vasculature due to hypercholesterolemia, hypertension and inflammatory diseases. In the current review, we discuss the role of different risk factors, including obesity, hypertension and hypercholesterolemia in atherosclerosis, which may ultimately lead to either cardiovascular or cerebral complication. Inflammation play Read More

Ischemic stroke remains a leading cause of death worldwide. While the underlying causes of stroke remain poorly defined, brain inflammation appears to be a characteristic response to the vascular insult and there is growing evidence suggesting a cause-effect relationship between the inflammatory response and stroke-induced brain dysfunction and tissue injury. In this review, we summarize evidence that implicates leu Read More

CD147, a transmembrane glycoprotein, is expressed on all leukocytes, platelets, and endothelial cells. It has been implicated in a variety of physiological and pathological activities through interacting with multiple partners, including cyclophilins, monocarboxylate transporters, Caveolin-1, and integrins. While CD147 is best known as a potent inducer of extracellular matrix metalloproteinases (hence also called EMMPRIN), it Read More

Ischemic stroke is caused by critical reductions in blood flow to brain or spinal cord. Microglia are the resident immune cells of the central nervous system, and they respond to stroke by assuming an activated phenotype that releases cytotoxic cytokines, reactive oxygen species, proteases, and other factors. This acute, innate immune response may be teleologically adapted to limit infection, but in stroke this response can exace Read More

Stroke is one of the most-frequent causes of death and the first cause of disability worldwide. Different mechanisms are related to the pathogenesis of stroke, involving multiple biological systems, which are often inter-connected. Besides age, hypertension is the most important risk factor for stroke and may also predispose to the development of more subtle cerebral damage based on arteriolar narrowing or patholo Read More

Synaptic plasticity requires careful synchronization and coordination of neurons and glial cells via various mechanisms of intercellular communication. Among them, are those mediated by i) connexin gap junction channels (GJCs), ii) connexin hemichannels and iii) pannexin channels. Whereas GJCs directly communicate the cytoplasm of contacting cells and coordinate electric and metabolic activities, connex Read More

Mitochondria play a crucial role in multitude of cellular processes including energy production, calcium signaling, and apoptosis. This remarkable organelle constantly undergoes a complex cycle of fusion and fission, a crucial quality control system for maintaining homeostasis of the cell. Any impairment in this dynamic behavior is linked to a wide range of cellular abnormalities. Consistent with this concept, neuronal apoptosis Read More

The vascular system distributes oxygen and nutrients to all tissues in the body. Additionally, the vascular system also functions in hosting and instructing tissue-specific stem and progenitor cells. Both cell- or blood-derived signals from the vascular system regulate stem cell properties in health and disease. Studies in animal models and in human disease have begun to uncover that signals from the vascular system are no Read More

Mitochondrial dysfunction plausibly underlies the aging-associated brain degeneration. Mitochondria play a pivotal role in cellular bioenergetics and cell-survival. Oxidative stress consequent to chronic hypoperfusion induces mitochondrial damage, which is implicated as the primary cause of cerebrovascular accidents (CVA) mediated Alzheimer's disease (AD). The mitochondrial function deteriorates with aging, and the mitoch Read More