scholarly journals Homocysteine-Induced Endothelial Dysfunction

2015 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wai Keung Christopher Lai ◽  
Ming Yin Kan
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Cardiovascular Risk ◽  
Endothelial Dysfunction ◽  
Vascular Diseases ◽  
Plasma Homocysteine ◽  
Flow Mediated Dilation ◽  
Heart Attacks ◽  
Potent Vasodilator ◽  
Oxide Synthase ◽  
Endothelial Nitric Oxide

This review discussed and in particular emphasis the potential cellular pathways and the biological processes involved that lead to homocysteine-induced endothelial dysfunction, in particular in the impaired endothelial dependent dilatation aspect. Hyperhomocysteinemia is an independent cardiovascular risk factor that has been associated with atherosclerotic vascular diseases and ischemic heart attacks. The potential mechanisms by which elevated plasma homocysteine level leads to reduction in nitric oxide bioavailability include the disruptive uncoupling of nitric oxide synthase activity and quenching of nitric oxide by oxidative stress, the enzymatic inhibition by asymmetric dimethylarginine, endoplasmic reticulum stress with eventual endothelial cell apoptosis, and chronic inflammation/prothrombotic conditions. Homocysteine-induced endothelial dysfunction presumably affecting the bioavailability of the potent vasodilator ‘nitric oxide', and such dysfunction can easily be monitor by flow-mediated dilation method using ultrasound. Understanding the mechanisms by which plasma homocysteine alter endothelial nitric oxide production is therefore essential in the comprehension of homocysteine-induced impairment of endothelial dependent dilatation, and its association of cardiovascular risk and its pathophysiology.

scholarly journals Superoxide-mediated inactivation of nitric oxide and peroxynitrite formation by tobacco smoke in vascular endothelium: studies in cultured cells and smokers

2009 ◽  
Vol 296 (6) ◽  
pp. H1781-H1792 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gonzalo Peluffo ◽  
Pablo Calcerrada ◽  
Lucia Piacenza ◽  
Nelson Pizzano ◽  
Rafael Radi
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Endothelial Cells ◽  
Endothelial Dysfunction ◽  
Tobacco Smoke ◽  
Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase ◽  
Flow Mediated Dilation ◽  
Aortic Endothelial Cells ◽  
Bovine Aortic Endothelial Cells ◽  
Oxide Synthase ◽  
Endothelial Nitric Oxide

Tobacco smoke is known to cause nitric oxide (·NO) inactivation and endothelial dysfunction. In this work we evaluated the interplay between·NO and superoxide (O2·−) radicals and the consequent impact on·NO bioavailability and nitroxidative stress in bovine aortic endothelial cells exposed to cigarette smoke extract (CSE) and in smokers. Bovine aortic endothelial cells in the presence of CSE triggered O2·−production as indicated by spin-trapping electron paramagnetic resonance experiments. O2·−was produced both extracellulary (3.4 vs. 1.0 nmol·h−1·mg−1; CSE vs. control; cytochrome c3+reduction assay) and intracellularly (40% inhibition of cytosolic aconitase). CSE also led to the production of peroxynitrite as evaluated by dihydrorhodamine oxidation and protein tyrosine nitration on cells. O2·−and peroxynitrite formation were decreased by ascorbate and α-tocopherol. Additionally, CSE led to the oxidation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase increasing the monomeric inactive form of endothelial nitric oxide synthase. Smokers and age-matched healthy volunteers were supplemented orally with 500 mg ascorbate plus 400 IU all-rac-α-tocopherol every 12 h for 165 days. Smokers had endothelial dysfunction compared with control subjects (95% confidence interval: 2.5, 8.3 vs. 10.6, 14.2; P < 0.05) as assessed by flow-mediated dilation of the brachial artery, and plasma levels of protein 3-nitrotyrosine were 1.4-fold higher. The loss of flow-mediated dilation in smokers reverted after a long-term antioxidant supplementation (95% confidence interval: 13.9, 19.9; P < 0.05), reaching values comparable with the control population. Our data indicate that elements on tobacco smoke, most likely through redox cycling, divert·NO toward peroxynitrite by inducing O2·−production in vascular endothelial cells both in vitro and in vivo.

scholarly journals Endothelial PPAR-γ provides vascular protection from IL-1β-induced oxidative stress

2016 ◽  
Vol 310 (1) ◽  
pp. H39-H48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Masashi Mukohda ◽  
Madeliene Stump ◽  
Pimonrat Ketsawatsomkron ◽  
Chunyan Hu ◽  
Frederick W. Quelle ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Oxidative Stress ◽  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Endothelial Dysfunction ◽  
Nitric Oxide Synthase ◽  
Transgenic Mice ◽  
Stress Responses ◽  
Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase ◽  
Ppar Γ ◽  
Oxide Synthase ◽  
Endothelial Nitric Oxide

Loss of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ function in the vascular endothelium enhances atherosclerosis and NF-κB target gene expression in high-fat diet-fed apolipoprotein E-deficient mice. The mechanisms by which endothelial PPAR-γ regulates inflammatory responses and protects against atherosclerosis remain unclear. To assess functional interactions between PPAR-γ and inflammation, we used a model of IL-1β-induced aortic dysfunction in transgenic mice with endothelium-specific overexpression of either wild-type (E-WT) or dominant negative PPAR-γ (E-V290M). IL-1β dose dependently decreased IκB-α, increased phospho-p65, and increased luciferase activity in the aorta of NF-κB-LUC transgenic mice. IL-1β also dose dependently reduced endothelial-dependent relaxation by ACh. The loss of ACh responsiveness was partially improved by pretreatment of the vessels with the PPAR-γ agonist rosiglitazone or in E-WT. Conversely, IL-1β-induced endothelial dysfunction was worsened in the aorta from E-V290M mice. Although IL-1β increased the expression of NF-κB target genes, NF-κB p65 inhibitor did not alleviate endothelial dysfunction induced by IL-1β. Tempol, a SOD mimetic, partially restored ACh responsiveness in the IL-1β-treated aorta. Notably, tempol only modestly improved protection in the E-WT aorta but had an increased protective effect in the E-V290M aorta compared with the aorta from nontransgenic mice, suggesting that PPAR-γ-mediated protection involves antioxidant effects. IL-1β increased ROS and decreased the phospho-endothelial nitric oxide synthase (Ser1177)-to-endothelial nitric oxide synthase ratio in the nontransgenic aorta. These effects were completely abolished in the aorta with endothelial overexpression of WT PPAR-γ but were worsened in the aorta with E-V290M even in the absence of IL-1β. We conclude that PPAR-γ protects against IL-1β-mediated endothelial dysfunction through a reduction of oxidative stress responses but not by blunting IL-1β-mediated NF-κB activity.

scholarly journals Potential pitfalls in analyzing structural uncoupling of eNOS: aging is not associated with increased enzyme monomerization

2019 ◽  
Vol 316 (1) ◽  
pp. H80-H88 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fumin Chang ◽  
Sheila Flavahan ◽  
Nicholas A. Flavahan
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Endothelial Dysfunction ◽  
Nitric Oxide Synthase ◽  
Endothelial Nitric Oxide Synthase ◽  
Normal Activity ◽  
Aortic Endothelial Cells ◽  
Relative Expression ◽  
Fischer 344 ◽  
Oxide Synthase ◽  
Endothelial Nitric Oxide

Homodimer formation is essential for the normal activity of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). Structural uncoupling of eNOS, with generation of enzyme monomers, is thought to contribute to endothelial dysfunction in several vascular disorders, including aging. However, low-temperature SDS-PAGE of healthy arteries has revealed considerable variation between studies in the relative expression of eNOS dimers and monomers. While assessing structural uncoupling of eNOS in aging arteries, we identified methodological pitfalls that might contribute to such variation. Therefore, using human cultured aortic endothelial cells and aortas from young and aged Fischer-344 rats, we investigated optimal approaches for analyzing the expression of eNOS monomers and dimers. The results demonstrated that published differences in treatment of cell lysates can significantly impact the relative expression of several eNOS species, including denatured monomers, partially folded monomers, dimers, and higher-order oligomers. In aortas, experiments initially confirmed a large increase in eNOS monomers in aging arteries, consistent with structural uncoupling. However, these monomers were actually endogenous IgG, which, under these conditions, has mobility similar to eNOS monomers. Increased IgG levels in aged aortas likely reflect the aging-induced disruption of endothelial junctions and increased arterial penetration of IgG. After removal of the IgG signal, there were low levels of eNOS monomers in young arteries, which were not significantly different in aged arteries. Therefore, structural uncoupling of eNOS is not a prominent feature in young healthy arteries, and the process is not increased by aging. The study also identifies optimal approaches to analyze eNOS dimers and monomers. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Structural uncoupling of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) is considered central to endothelial dysfunction. However, reported levels of eNOS dimers and monomers vary widely, even in healthy arteries. We demonstrate that sample processing can alter relative levels of eNOS species. Moreover, endothelial dysfunction in aging aortas results in IgG accumulation, which, because of similar mobility to eNOS monomers, could be misinterpreted as structural uncoupling. Indeed, enzyme monomerization is not prominent in young or aging arteries.

Tackling endothelial dysfunction by modulating NOS uncoupling: new insights into its pathogenesis and therapeutic possibilities

2012 ◽  
Vol 302 (5) ◽  
pp. E481-E495 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rinrada Kietadisorn ◽  
Rio P. Juni ◽  
An L. Moens
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Endothelial Dysfunction ◽  
Endothelial Function ◽  
Ischemia Reperfusion Injury ◽  
Ischemia Reperfusion ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
Enos Uncoupling ◽  
Underlying Causes ◽  
Oxide Synthase ◽  
Endothelial Nitric Oxide

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) serves as a critical enzyme in maintaining vascular pressure by producing nitric oxide (NO); hence, it has a crucial role in the regulation of endothelial function. The bioavailability of eNOS-derived NO is crucial for this function and might be affected at multiple levels. Uncoupling of eNOS, with subsequently less NO and more superoxide generation, is one of the major underlying causes of endothelial dysfunction found in atherosclerosis, diabetes, hypertension, cigarette smoking, hyperhomocysteinemia, and ischemia/reperfusion injury. Therefore, modulating eNOS uncoupling by stabilizing eNOS activity, enhancing its substrate, cofactors, and transcription, and reversing uncoupled eNOS are attractive therapeutic approaches to improve endothelial function. This review provides an extensive overview of the important role of eNOS uncoupling in the pathogenesis of endothelial dysfunction and the potential therapeutic interventions to modulate eNOS for tackling endothelial dysfunction.

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