Premium
Role for NADPH/NADH Oxidase in the Modulation of Vascular Tone a
Author(s) -
MÜNZEL THOMAS,
HINK ULRICH,
HEITZER THOMAS,
MEINERTZ THOMAS
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1111/j.1749-6632.1999.tb09253.x
Subject(s) - modulation (music) , chemistry , vascular tone , nadph oxidase , tone (literature) , biophysics , biochemistry , enzyme , physics , biology , acoustics , nitric oxide , philosophy , organic chemistry , linguistics
A bstract : The endothelium modulates vascular tone by producing vasodilator andvasoconstrictor substances. Of these, the best characterized and potentially most important are nitric oxide (NO • ) and O 2 −• . These small molecules exhibit opposing effects on vascular tone and chemically react with each other in a fashion that negates their individual effects and leads to the production of potentially toxic substances, such as peroxynitrite (ONOO−). These dynamic interactions may likely have important implications, altering not only tissue perfusion but also contributing to the process of atherosclerosis. The precise O 2 −• source within vascular tissue remains to be determined. Recent work demonstrated that in endothelial cells as well as in vascular smooth muscle cells, a membrane‐associated NAD(P)H‐dependent oxidase represents the most significant O 2 −• source. Interestingly, this oxidase is activated upon stimulation with angiotensin II, suggesting that under all conditions of an activated circulating and/or local renin‐angiotensin system endothelial dysfunction secondary to increased vascular O 2 −• production is expected.