Biomaterial Database

Heparin protects cultured arterial endothelial cells from damage by toxic oxygen metabolites. 1990

L M Hiebert, and J M Liu

Department of Physiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Canada.

Toxic oxygen metabolites can damage endothelial cells and may play an important role in the initiation and progression of atherosclerotic lesions. Since the antithrombotic drug heparin, interacts with endothelium, we wished to determine if heparin would protect endothelial cells from free radical injury. Endothelial cell injury was produced by the addition of xanthine and xanthine oxidase to cultured cells and assessed by changes in cell viability and release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) to the media. Pretreatment with heparin 24 h prior to addition of xanthine and xanthine oxidase significantly decreased cell damage. We suggest that heparin (and related compounds) can protect endothelium from free radical damage, and is therefore prophylactic for ischemic and inflammatory injury, and the development and progression of atheroma.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007511	Ischemia	A hypoperfusion of the BLOOD through an organ or tissue caused by a PATHOLOGIC CONSTRICTION or obstruction of its BLOOD VESSELS, or an absence of BLOOD CIRCULATION.	Ischemias
D002478	Cells, Cultured	Cells propagated in vitro in special media conducive to their growth. Cultured cells are used to study developmental, morphologic, metabolic, physiologic, and genetic processes, among others.	Cultured Cells,Cell, Cultured,Cultured Cell
D004730	Endothelium, Vascular	Single pavement layer of cells which line the luminal surface of the entire vascular system and regulate the transport of macromolecules and blood components.	Capillary Endothelium,Vascular Endothelium,Capillary Endotheliums,Endothelium, Capillary,Endotheliums, Capillary,Endotheliums, Vascular,Vascular Endotheliums
D005609	Free Radicals	Highly reactive molecules with an unsatisfied electron valence pair. Free radicals are produced in both normal and pathological processes. Free radicals include reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS). They are proven or suspected agents of tissue damage in a wide variety of circumstances including radiation, damage from environment chemicals, and aging. Natural and pharmacological prevention of free radical damage is being actively investigated.	Free Radical
D006493	Heparin	A highly acidic mucopolysaccharide formed of equal parts of sulfated D-glucosamine and D-glucuronic acid with sulfaminic bridges. The molecular weight ranges from six to twenty thousand. Heparin occurs in and is obtained from liver, lung, mast cells, etc., of vertebrates. Its function is unknown, but it is used to prevent blood clotting in vivo and vitro, in the form of many different salts.	Heparinic Acid,alpha-Heparin,Heparin Sodium,Liquaemin,Sodium Heparin,Unfractionated Heparin,Heparin, Sodium,Heparin, Unfractionated,alpha Heparin
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D001161	Arteriosclerosis	Thickening and loss of elasticity of the walls of ARTERIES of all sizes. There are many forms classified by the types of lesions and arteries involved, such as ATHEROSCLEROSIS with fatty lesions in the ARTERIAL INTIMA of medium and large muscular arteries.	Arterioscleroses
D013552	Swine	Any of various animals that constitute the family Suidae and comprise stout-bodied, short-legged omnivorous mammals with thick skin, usually covered with coarse bristles, a rather long mobile snout, and small tail. Included are the genera Babyrousa, Phacochoerus (wart hogs), and Sus, the latter containing the domestic pig (see SUS SCROFA).	Phacochoerus,Pigs,Suidae,Warthogs,Wart Hogs,Hog, Wart,Hogs, Wart,Wart Hog
D014969	Xanthine Oxidase	An iron-molybdenum flavoprotein containing FLAVIN-ADENINE DINUCLEOTIDE that oxidizes hypoxanthine, some other purines and pterins, and aldehydes. Deficiency of the enzyme, an autosomal recessive trait, causes xanthinuria.	Hypoxanthine Oxidase,Hypoxanthine Dehydrogenase,Hypoxanthine-Xanthine Oxidase,Purine-Xanthine Oxidase,Dehydrogenase, Hypoxanthine,Hypoxanthine Xanthine Oxidase,Oxidase, Hypoxanthine,Oxidase, Hypoxanthine-Xanthine,Oxidase, Purine-Xanthine,Oxidase, Xanthine,Purine Xanthine Oxidase
D014970	Xanthines	Purine bases found in body tissues and fluids and in some plants.