title: Mitochondria, nitric oxide, and cardiovascular dysfunction.
abstract: Cardiovascular diseases encompass a wide spectrum of abnormalities with diverse etiologies. The molecular mechanisms underlying these disorders include a variety of responses such as changes in nitric oxide- (NO) dependent cell signaling and increased apoptosis. An interesting aspect that has received little or no attention is the role mitochondria may play in the vascular changes that occur in both atherosclerosis and hypertension. With the changing perspective of the organelle from simply a role in metabolism to a contributor to signal transduction pathways, the role of mitochondria in cells with relatively low energy demands such as the endothelium has become important to understand. In this context, the definition of the NO-cytochrome c oxidase signaling pathway and the influence this has on cytochrome c release is particularly important in understanding apoptotic mechanisms involving the mitochondrion. This review examines the role of compromised mitochondrial function in a variety of vascular pathologies and the modulation of these effects by NO. The interaction of NO with the various mitochondrial respiratory complexes and the role NO plays in modulating mitochondrial-mediated apoptosis in these systems will be discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
authors.forename: Anup
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ramachandran
authors.forename: Anna-Liisa
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Levonen
authors.forename: Paul S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Brookes
authors.forename: Erin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ceaser
authors.forename: Sruti
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Shiva
authors.forename: Maria Cecilia
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Barone
authors.forename: Victor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Darley-Usmar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D004249:DNA Damage; D053938:DNA Fragmentation; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000378:metabolism; D004579:Electron Transport; D005609:Free Radicals; D006801:Humans; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D010101:Oxygen Consumption
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial; D005609:Free Radicals; D009569:Nitric Oxide