Exercise capacity and cardiac hemodynamic response in female ApoE/LDLR(-/-) mice: a paradox of preserved V'O2max and exercise capacity despite coronary atherosclerosis
Scientific Reports
The authors assessed exercise performance, coronary blood flow and cardiac reserve of female ApoE/LDLR(-/-) mice with advanced atherosclerosis compared with age-matched, wild-type C57BL6/J mice. Exercise capacity was assessed as whole body maximal oxygen consumption (V'O2max), maximum running velocity (vmax) and maximum distance (DISTmax) during treadmill exercise.  Read more

Antiatherosclerotic Effects of 1-Methylnicotinamide in Apolipoprotein E/Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor-Deficient Mice: A Comparison with Nicotinic Acid
Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
1-Methylnicotinamide (MNA), the major endogenous metabolite of nicotinic acid (NicA), may partially contribute to the vasoprotective properties of NicA. Here we compared the antiatherosclerotic effects of MNA and NicA in apolipoprotein E (ApoE)/low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR)-deficient mice. ApoE/LDLR(-/-) mice were treated with MNA or NicA (100 mg/kg).  Read more

1-methylnicotinamide and its structural analog 1,4-dimethylpyridine for the prevention of cancer metastasis
Journal of Experimental and Clinical Cancer Research
BACKGROUND: 1-methylnicotinamide (1-MNA), an endogenous metabolite of nicotinamide, has recently gained interest due to its anti-inflammatory and anti-thrombotic activities linked to the COX-2/PGI2 pathway. Given the previously reported anti-metastatic activity of prostacyclin (PGI2), we aimed to assess the effects of 1-MNA and its structurally related analog, 1,4-dimethylpyridine (1,4-DMP), in the prevention of cancer metastasis.  Read more

Alterations in plasma biochemical composition in NO deficiency induced by L-NAME in mice analysed by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy
Journal of Biophotonics
Mouse model of nitric oxide deficiency, induced by prolonged treatment with NG -nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) was used for infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis of plasma. L-NAME leads to increased peripheral resistance and systemic hypertension.  Read more

3D Raman imaging of systemic endothelial dysfunction in the murine model of metastatic breast cancer
Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry
It was recently reported in the murine model of metastatic breast cancer (4T1) that tumor progression and development of metastasis is associated with systemic endothelial dysfunction characterized by impaired nitric oxide (NO) production. Using Raman 3D confocal imaging with the analysis of the individual layers of the vascular wall combined with AFM endothelial surface imaging, we demonstrated that metastasis-induced systemic endothelial dysfunction resulted in distinct chemical changes in the endothelium of the aorta.  Read more

1-Methylnicotinamide protects against liver injury induced by concanavalin A via a prostacyclin-dependent mechanism: A possible involvement of IL-4 and TNF-α
International Immunopharmacology
The authors have recently demonstrated that concanavalin A (Con A)-induced hepatitis is associated with the release of endogenous 1-methylnicotinamide (MNA). Here the authors study the mechanism by which exogenous MNA alleviates Con A-induced liver inflammation and injury in vivo.  Read more

Endothelial Antioxidant-1: a Key Mediator of Copper-dependent Wound Healing in vivo
Scientific Reports
Copper (Cu), an essential nutrient, promotes wound healing, however, target of Cu action and underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Cu chaperone Antioxidant-1 (Atox1) in the cytosol supplies Cu to the secretory enzymes such as lysyl oxidase (LOX), while Atox1 in the nucleus functions as a Cu-dependent transcription factor. Using mouse cutaneous wound healing model, here we show that Cu content (by X-ray Fluorescence Microscopy) and nuclear Atox1 are increased after wounding, and that wound healing with and without Cu treatment is impaired in Atox1-/- mice.  Read more