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En Face Detection of Nitric Oxide and Superoxide in Endothelial Layer of Intact Arteries
Published on: February 25, 2016
Vascular nitric oxide and oxidative stress: determinants of endothelial adaptations to cardiovascular disease and to
James W E Rush1, Steven G Denniss, Drew A Graham
1Department of Kinesiology, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.
Insights
Regular physical activity improves vascular endothelial function by enhancing nitric oxide bioavailability and reducing oxidative stress. Exercise training offers a lifestyle approach to manage cardiovascular disease risk factors.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular physiology
- Endothelial function
- Exercise science
Background:
- Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of death, characterized by vascular endothelial dysfunction.
- Endothelial dysfunction disrupts vasodilation, perfusion, hemostasis, and thrombosis.
- Oxidative stress significantly contributes to endothelial dysfunction in conditions like hypertension and diabetes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of exercise training in improving vascular endothelial function.
- To explore the mechanisms by which exercise enhances nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability.
- To understand how exercise impacts oxidative stress in the vascular endothelium.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing studies on exercise training and endothelial function.
- Analysis of molecular targets affected by exercise, including endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and superoxide dismutase (SOD).
- Examination of the link between physical activity, NO bioavailability, and oxidative stress.
Main Results:
- Exercise training improves vascular endothelial function, particularly in individuals with pre-existing risk factors.
- Evidence suggests exercise enhances NO synthesis and reduces its oxidative destruction.
- Key molecular targets like eNOS and SOD are modulated by exercise training.
Conclusions:
- Exercise training can reverse cellular mechanisms contributing to endothelial dysfunction in cardiovascular disease.
- Improved NO bioavailability and reduced oxidative stress are key benefits of physical activity.
- Lifestyle interventions like exercise training complement medical treatments for cardiovascular disease management.
Abstract:
Cardiovascular disease is the single leading cause of death and morbidity for Canadians. A universal feature of cardiovascular disease is dysfunction of the vascular endothelium, thus disrupting control of vasodilation, tissue perfusion, hemostasis, and thrombosis. Nitric oxide bioavailability, crucial for maintaining vascular endothelial health and function, depends on the processes controlling synthesis and destruction of nitric oxide as well as on the sensitivity of target tissue to nitric oxide. Evidence supports a major contribution by oxidative stress-induced destruction of nitric oxide to the endothelial dysfunction that accompanies a number of cardiovascular disease states including hypertension, diabetes, chronic heart failure, and atherosclerosis. Regular physical activity (exercise training) reduces cardiovascular disease risk. Numerous studies support the hypothesis that exercise training improves vascular endothelial function, especially when it has been impaired by preexisting risk factors. Evidence is emerging to support a role for improved nitric oxide bioavailability with training as a result of enhanced synthesis and reduced oxidative stress-mediated destruction. Molecular targets sensitive to the exercise training effect include the endothelial nitric oxide synthase and the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase. However, many fundamental details of the cellular and molecular mechanisms linking exercise to altered molecular and functional endothelial phenotypes have yet to be discovered. The working hypothesis is that some of the cellular mechanisms contributing to endothelial dysfunction in cardiovascular disease can be targeted and reversed by signals associated with regular increases in physical activity. The capacity for exercise training to regulate vascular endothelial function, nitric oxide bioavailability, and oxidative stress is an example of how lifestyle can complement medicine and pharmacology in the prevention and management of cardiovascular disease.
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