Soluble epoxide hydrolase inhibition modulates vascular remodeling

Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2010 Mar;298(3):H795-806. doi: 10.1152/ajpheart.00543.2009. Epub 2009 Dec 24.

Abstract

The soluble epoxide hydrolase enzyme (SEH) and vascular remodeling are associated with cardiovascular disease. Although inhibition of SEH prevents smooth muscle cell proliferation in vitro, the effects of SEH inhibition on vascular remodeling in vivo and mechanisms of these effects remain unclear. Herein we determined the effects of SEH antagonism in an endothelium intact model of vascular remodeling induced by flow reduction and an endothelium denuded model of vascular injury. We demonstrated that chronic treatment of spontaneously hypertensive stroke-prone rats with 12-(3-adamantan-1-yl-ureido) dodecanoic acid, an inhibitor of SEH, improved the increment of inward remodeling induced by common carotid ligation to a level that was comparable with normotensive Wistar Kyoto rats. Similarly, mice with deletion of the gene responsible for the production of the SEH enzyme (Ephx2(-/-)) demonstrated enhanced inward vascular remodeling induced by carotid ligation. However, the hyperplastic response induced by vascular injury that denudes the endothelium was unabated by SEH inhibition or Ephx2 gene deletion. These results suggest that SEH inhibition or Ephx2 gene deletion antagonizes neointimal formation in vivo by mechanisms that are endothelium dependent. Thus SEH inhibition may have therapeutic potential for flow-induced remodeling and neointimal formation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blood Pressure / physiology
  • Carotid Arteries / pathology
  • Carotid Arteries / physiopathology*
  • Carotid Artery Injuries / etiology
  • Carotid Artery Injuries / physiopathology*
  • Cell Proliferation
  • Endothelium, Vascular / pathology
  • Endothelium, Vascular / physiopathology
  • Epoxide Hydrolases / antagonists & inhibitors*
  • Epoxide Hydrolases / genetics
  • Epoxide Hydrolases / physiology*
  • Hyperplasia / pathology
  • Hyperplasia / physiopathology
  • Lauric Acids / pharmacology
  • Ligation
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Models, Animal
  • Rats
  • Rats, Inbred SHR
  • Rats, Inbred WKY
  • Tunica Intima / pathology
  • Tunica Intima / physiopathology

Substances

  • Lauric Acids
  • lauric acid
  • Epoxide Hydrolases