Prof. A. M. Vollmar PD Dr. V. M. Dirsch Thomas Roos Nancy Lopez

WP 5: Cardiovascular diseases5.1: The Interaction of garlic

with mediators of inflammation

Deliverables

1. Publication on the influence of garlic on the expression of adhesion molecules and its relevance to the atherosclerotic process

2. Publication on the influence of garlic on cytokines, NF-B, and TGF-1 as important factorsinfluencing the cellular mechanisms of atherosclerosis

Eur J Nutr., in press

J. Nutr., 2003

Additional targets

VSMC proliferation in atherosclerosis

Effect of garlic constituents on VSMC

proliferation

The blood vessel

Endothelium Intima

Smooth muscle cells

Connective tissue

Media

Adventitia

Robbins pathologic basis of disease 1999

Physiological function: vasoconstriction vasorelaxation

Vascular smooth muscle cells

and their response to injury

Robbins pathologic basis of disease 1999

Endothelium

Migration of smooth muscle cells to the intima

Smooth muscle cell mitosis

Elaboration of extracellular matrix

Intima

Media

Robbins pathologic basis of disease 1999C: core of lipid; F: fibrous cap; L: llumen, moderately narrowed

+ Serum

Primary rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC)

?garlic

VSMC proliferation

Rat

250000

500000

750000

Num

ber

of c

ells

serum 10% - + + + +25 50 100

DADS (µM)

n.s.n.s.

n.s.

Cell proliferation - DADS

Eve

nts

DNA content

Quiescent cells CS-activated cells

25 µM DADS + CS 50 µM DADS + CS

100 µM DADS + CS 100 µM RV + CS

Cell cycle analysis

Outlook

Human intervention study