During cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), the septic patient has markedly decreased peripheral vascular resistance as a consequence of endotoxin release from microorganisms. This decrease in peripheral vascular resistance is the result of endotoxin-induced nitric oxide (NO) produced by inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). iNOS and eNOS are responsible ...

We have previously established a model inducing hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) production of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) to revascularize ischemic injury in adult mouse retina. The unique vascular environment of the retina results in new blood vessel formation primarily from HSC-derived EPCs. Using mice deficient (-/-) in inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and endothelial...

Activation of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) receptor II (BMPRII) promotes pulmonary artery endothelial cell (PAEC) survival, proliferation, and migration. Mutations to BMPRII are associated with the development of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Endothelial dysfunction, including decreased endothelial nitric-oxide synthase (eNOS) activity and loss of bioactive nitric oxide (NO), plays...

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) uncoupling is a mechanism that leads to endothelial dysfunction. Previously, we reported that shear stress-induced release of nitric oxide in vessels of aged rats was significantly reduced and was accompanied by increased production of superoxide (18, 27). In the present study, we investigated the influence of aging on eNOS uncoupling. Mesenteric arterie...

Rat and human studies have shown that good glycemic control alone is not sufficient to prevent the complications associated with diabetes, such as nephropathy. A proposed culprit is excessive oxidative stress in the cells and vasculature of the kidney resulting in endothelial cell dysfunction, which is one of the earliest and most pivotal consequences seen in early diabetes. We hypothesized tha...

Miller MW, Knaub LA, Olivera-Fragoso LF, Keller AC, Balasubramaniam V, Watson PA, Reusch JE. Nitric oxide regulates vascular adaptive mitochondrial dynamics. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 304: H1624–H1633, 2013. First published April 12, 2013; doi:10.1152/ajpheart.00987.2012.—Cardiovascular disease risk factors, such as diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity, and physical inactivity, a...

Decreased endothelial nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability as it relates to endothelial dysfunction plays an important role in various cardiovascular disorders, including athero-sclerosis. Recent research has provided evidence that endothelial dysfunction in atherosclerosis is not primarily caused by decreased endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) gene expression, but rather deregulation of eNOS enzymati...

Abstract Objectives Aside from the activity of gaseous transmitter molecule nitric oxide (NO) and cyclic GMP producing enzyme soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) in human penile erectile tissue, intracellular receptor proteins activated by binding have been considered to play a significant role erection process. In animal models, down-regulation GMP-dependent/binding protein kinase I (cGKI) has link...

Endothelial dysfunction is a critical factor during the initiation of cardiovascular complications in diabetes. Berberine can ameliorate endothelial dysfunction induced by diabetes. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective effect and mechanism of berberine on palmitate-induced endothelial dysfunction in human umbilical vein endot...

BACKGROUND Preeclampsia, the most common serious complication of pregnancy, is characterized by vasoconstriction, dysfunction of the vascular endothelium, and hypertension. Unidentified genetic factors and impaired nitric oxide (NO)-mediated vasodilation are thought to contribute to the development of the syndrome. Polymorphisms of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene affect NO pro...