Nitric oxide and oxidative stress in vascular disease

Endothelium-derived nitric oxide (NO) is a paracrine factor that controls vascular tone, inhibits platelet function, prevents adhesion of leukocytes, and reduces proliferation of the intima. An enhanced inactivation and/or reduced synthesis of NO is seen in conjunction with risk factors for cardiovascular disease. This condition, referred to as endothelial dysfunction, can promote vasospasm, thrombosis, vascular inflammation, and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells. Vascular oxidative stress with an increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) contributes to mechanisms of vascular dysfunction. Oxidative stress is mainly caused by an imbalance between the activity of endogenous pro-oxidative enzymes (such as NADPH oxidase, xanthine oxidase, or the mitochondrial respiratory chain) and anti-oxidative enzymes (such as superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, heme oxygenase, thioredoxin peroxidase/peroxiredoxin, catalase, and paraoxonase) in favor of the former. Also, small molecular weight antioxidants may play a role in the defense against oxidative stress. Increased ROS concentrations reduce the amount of bioactive NO by chemical inactivation to form toxic peroxynitrite. Peroxynitrite-in turn-can "uncouple" endothelial NO synthase to become a dysfunctional superoxide-generating enzyme that contributes to vascular oxidative stress. Oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction can promote atherogenesis. Therapeutically, drugs in clinical use such as ACE inhibitors, AT(1) receptor blockers, and statins have pleiotropic actions that can improve endothelial function. Also, dietary polyphenolic antioxidants can reduce oxidative stress, whereas clinical trials with antioxidant vitamins C and E failed to show an improved cardiovascular outcome.