Nitric oxide-releasing aspirin decreases vascular injury by reducing inflammation and promoting apoptosis

Lab Invest. 2002 Jul;82(7):825-32. doi: 10.1097/01.lab.0000018828.61722.bd.

Abstract

Endothelial dysfunction, defined as a deficit in the bioavailability of nitric oxide (NO), occurs as sequelae of many vascular diseases; however, the utility of supplementing NO to obviate the extent of disease is understudied. Here, we examined if prolonged treatment with an NO-releasing form of aspirin (NO-ASA) can influence neointimal remodeling of femoral arteries of hypercholesterolemic ApoE (-/-) mice. Treatment of ApoE (-/-) mice with NO-ASA, but not aspirin (ASA), improved neointimal remodeling post-injury. NO-ASA treatment increased lumen diameters and reduced intimal-to-medial ratios of injured femoral arteries compared with ASA- or vehicle-treated mice. The reduction in lumen diameter in NO-ASA-treated mice was associated with a marked reduction in CD45-positive inflammatory cells and an increased number of TUNEL-positive cells. Thus, NO-ASA, by virtue of releasing NO, can reduce vascular inflammation and promote apoptosis during vascular remodeling associated with neointimal thickening.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Apolipoproteins E / deficiency
  • Apoptosis / drug effects*
  • Aspirin / analogs & derivatives*
  • Aspirin / pharmacology
  • Aspirin / therapeutic use*
  • Cholesterol / blood*
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Femoral Artery / drug effects
  • Femoral Artery / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Inflammation / prevention & control*
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / drug effects
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / pathology*
  • Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / therapeutic use*

Substances

  • Apolipoproteins E
  • Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors
  • nitroxy-butyl-acetylsalicylic acid
  • Cholesterol
  • Aspirin