title: Mechanisms and consequences of endothelial nitric oxide synthase dysfunction in hypertension.
abstract: Reduced nitric oxide bioavailability contributes to endothelial dysfunction and hypertension. The endothelial isoform of nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) is responsible for the production of nitric oxide within the endothelium. Loss of eNOS cofactor tetrahydrobiopterin to initial increase in oxidative stress leads to uncoupling of eNOS, in which the enzyme produces superoxide anion rather than nitric oxide, further substantiating oxidative stress to induce vascular pathogenesis. The current review focuses on recent advances on the molecular mechanisms and consequences of eNOS dysfunction in hypertension, and potential novel therapeutic strategies restoring eNOS function to treat hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Divisions of Molecular Medicine and Cardiology, Departments of Anesthesiology and Medicine, Cardiovascular Research Laboratories, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, USA.
authors.forename: Qiang
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ji-Youn
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Youn
authors.forename: Hua
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Cai
mesh_terms: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001708:Biopterins / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D013481:Superoxides / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D013481:Superoxides; D001708:Biopterins; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; C003402:sapropterin