title: Endothelial function and oxidant stress.
abstract: Both endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells are capable of producing reactive oxygen species from a variety of enzymatic sources. In disease states such as atherosclerosis and hypertension, vascular production of these reactive oxygen metabolites can increase substantially. Increases in the production of superoxide anion can lead to decreases in ambient levels of nitric oxide via a facile radical/radical reaction that occurs more rapidly than the reaction of superoxide anion with superoxide dismutase. This phenomenon alters endothelial regulation of vasomotion in a variety of disease conditions. Recent evidence suggests that the major source of vascular superoxide ion and hydrogen peroxide is a membrane-bound, reduced nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide (NADH)-dependent oxidase. The activity of this enzyme system is regulated by angiotensin II and is elevated following prolonged exposure to nitroglycerin. Alterations of vascular oxidant state caused by angiotensin II may contribute substantially to vascular pathology and may also provide a link between hypertension and atherosclerosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30329, USA.
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Harrison
mesh_terms: D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000378:metabolism; D009097:Multienzyme Complexes / Q000378:metabolism; D009247:NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis; D005996:Nitroglycerin / Q000494:pharmacology; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000502:physiology*; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D009097:Multienzyme Complexes; D013481:Superoxides; D000804:Angiotensin II; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; C023107:NADH oxidase; D009247:NADH, NADPH Oxidoreductases; D005996:Nitroglycerin