Abstract
The atherogenic 7-oxysterols, 7-ketocholesterol (7-KC) and 7β-hydroxycholesterol (7βOHC), can directly impair arterial function. Inter-conversion of 7-KC and 7βOHC has recently been shown as a novel role for the glucocorticoid-metabolizing enzyme 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11β-HSD1). Since this enzyme is expressed in vascular smooth muscle cells, we addressed the hypothesis that inter-conversion of 7-KC and 7βOHC by 11β-HSD1 may contribute to regulation of arterial function. Incubation (4-24 h) of aortic rings with either 7-KC (25 μM) or 7βOHC (20 μM) had no effect on endothelium-dependent (acetylcholine) or -independent (sodium nitroprusside) relaxation. In contrast, exposure to 7-KC (but not to 7βOHC) attenuated noradrenaline-induced contraction (E(max)) after 4 h (0.78 ± 0.28 vs 0.40 ± 0.08 mN/mm; p
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 548-55 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Biochemistry and Cell Biology |
Volume | 95 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2013 |