title: Human endothelial dysfunction: EDRFs.
abstract: Since the detection of nitric oxide two and a half decades ago, there has been an incredible boost in endothelial function research, which is fascinating the research community. Physiologically, endothelial cells synthesize a number of vasoactive substances. In particular, several endothelium-derived relaxing factors (EDRFs) have been characterized, whereby nitric oxide is the most important. In humans, endothelial dysfunction is one of the first clinically detectable alterations in the development of atherosclerosis and is characterized by an imbalance in the release of vasoactive substances. Thus, it is the aim of this article to give an overview about endothelial function in humans, to summarize the different possibilities to assess endothelial function in this species, and to give an overview of the role of EDRFs in different cardiovascular diseases.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Center, Cardiology University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Andreas J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Flammer
authors.forename: Thomas F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Lüscher
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D001685:Biological Factors / Q000502:physiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000502:physiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D045462:Endothelium-Dependent Relaxing Factors / Q000502:physiology*; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000502:physiology; D005542:Forearm / Q000098:blood supply; D006801:Humans; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology; D010991:Plethysmography; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D001685:Biological Factors; D045462:Endothelium-Dependent Relaxing Factors; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; C067410:endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization factor; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D011464:Epoprostenol; D000109:Acetylcholine
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