 Prof. A. M. Vollmar  PD Dr. V. M. Dirsch  Thomas Roos  Nancy Lopez WP 5: Cardiovascular diseases 5.1: 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 factors influencing 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 1999 C: core of lipid; F: fibrous cap; L: llumen, moderately narrowed

+ Serum Primary rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) ? garlic VSMC proliferation Rat

Number of cells serum 10% DADS (µM) n.s. Cell proliferation - DADS

Events DNA content Quiescent cells CS-activated cells 25 µM DADS + CS50 µM DADS + CS 100 µM DADS + CS 100 µM RV + CS Cell cycle analysis

Outlook Human intervention study