title: Impact of apocynin on vascular disease in hypertension.
abstract: Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are generated by cell metabolism of oxygen and represent signaling molecules playing an active role in vascular biology. In pathological conditions, including hypertension, a ROS excess, together with reduced endogenous antioxidant defenses, occurs, determining a state of oxidative stress. NAD(P)H oxidase (Nox) is a major ROS source within the vasculature. A large body of literature has demonstrated that hypertension-associated vascular functional and structural changes are attributable to Nox-driven intravascular ROS generation. Apocynin is a methoxy-catechol discovered as an inhibitor of superoxide. It has been utilized in several laboratories and in different models of hypertension as an inhibitor of Nox. Recent evidence proposes that apocynin predominantly acts as an antioxidant. The present review will discuss the role of ROS in vascular disease in hypertension and the impact of apocynin on these vascular changes.
authors: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Italy. Electronic address: agostino.virdis@med.unipi.it.
authors: Agostino
authors: A
authors: Virdis
authors: Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Italy.
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Gesi
authors: Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Italy.
authors: Stefano
authors: S
authors: Taddei
mesh_terms: D000098:Acetophenones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D019255:NADPH Oxidases / Q000378:metabolism; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D000098:Acetophenones; D000975:Antioxidants; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; C056165:acetovanillone; D019255:NADPH Oxidases; D010100:Oxygen
keywords: Apocynin; Hypertension; Nitric oxide; Reactive oxygen species; Small vessels