title: Antiobesogenic role of endothelial nitric oxide synthase.
abstract: The prevalence of obesity has increased remarkably in the past four decades. Because obesity can promote the development of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, understanding the mechanisms that engender weight gain and discovering safe antiobesity therapies are of critical importance. In particular, the gaseous signaling molecule, nitric oxide (NO), appears to be a central factor regulating adiposity and systemic metabolism. Obese and diabetic states are characterized by a deficit in bioavailable NO, with such decreases commonly attributed to downregulation of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS), loss of eNOS activity, or quenching of NO by its reaction with oxygen radicals. Gain-of-function studies, in which vascular-derived NO has been increased pharmacologically or genetically, reveal remarkable actions of NO on body composition and systemic metabolism. This review addresses the metabolic actions of eNOS and the potential therapeutic utility of harnessing its antiobesogenic effects.
authors.affiliation: Diabetes and Obesity Center, Institute of Molecular Cardiology, Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Louisville, Kentucky, USA.
authors.forename: Brian E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Sansbury
authors.affiliation: Diabetes and Obesity Center, Institute of Molecular Cardiology, Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Louisville, Kentucky, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, Kentucky, USA. Electronic address: bradford.hill@louisville.edu.
authors.forename: Bradford G
authors.initials: BG
authors.lastname: Hill
mesh_terms: D001823:Body Composition; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000378:metabolism*; D009765:Obesity / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D009569:Nitric Oxide; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III
keywords: Adipose tissue; Diabetes; Metabolism; Mitochondria; Nitric oxide; Obesity