Endothelium-Derived Nitric Oxide as an Antiatherogenic Mechanism: Implications for Therapy

• Published in: Methodist DeBakey cardiovascular journal Vol. 11; no. 3; pp. 166 - 171
• Main Authors: Sukhovershin, Roman A, Yepuri, Gautham, Ghebremariam, Yohannes T
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States The Methodist Hospital Houston, Texas 01.07.2015
• Subjects: Animals; Atherosclerosis - drug therapy; Atherosclerosis - enzymology; Atherosclerosis - genetics; Atherosclerosis - pathology; Atherosclerosis - physiopathology; Cardiovascular Agents - therapeutic use; Endothelium, Vascular - drug effects; Endothelium, Vascular - enzymology; Endothelium, Vascular - pathology; Endothelium, Vascular - physiopathology; Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; Humans; New Concepts and Therapies for Atherosclerosis; Nitric Oxide - metabolism; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III - genetics; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III - metabolism; Plaque, Atherosclerotic; Signal Transduction - drug effects; Vasodilation; atherosclerosis; dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase; endothelium; antiatherogenic; nitric oxide; vascular dysfunction; endothelial nitric oxide synthase; asymmetric dimethylarginine
• ISSN: 1947-6094; 1947-6108
• DOI: 10.14797/mdcj-11-3-166

Endothelium-derived nitric oxide (eNO) is a multifunctional signaling molecule critically involved in the maintenance of metabolic and cardiovascular homeostasis. In addition to its role as a potent endogenous vasodilator, eNO suppresses key processes in vascular lesion formation and opposes atherogenesis. This review discusses eNO as an antiatherogenic molecule and highlights factors that influence its bioavailability and therapeutic approaches to restore or enhance its levels.